Patriarch Hua's expression shifted ever so slightly, their gaze sharpening as they studied the image before them. The longer they looked, the darker their face became, until it was practically black with dread.
Watching that change, Song Wanníng immediately understood. The suspicion in her heart had just been confirmed. So, that demonic creature's appearance wasn't a coincidence after all. But whether something even darker was hiding behind it, she still couldn't say.
"Song Daoyou, this demon… where did you see it? It's not exactly the same, but the aura's nearly identical. They must share the same origin!"
Patriarch Hua's tone grew tense. If that thing returned, could the Hua Clan really stand against it? The Cao Mu Clan was never skilled in combat, and the Hua Clan even less so. They didn't have any real confidence at all.
"Not long ago, we…"
Song Wanníng told them everything about the monster she'd encountered, including how it had appeared at the end.
Patriarch Hua fell silent for a long moment. So monsters had already shown up outside, and they hadn't heard a word about it after being isolated for so long.
When their eyes met, both of them were clearly thinking the same unpleasant thought.
After what felt like an eternity, Patriarch Hua finally said quietly, "Maybe we're overthinking things. For now, let's focus on breaking the curse. We can talk about everything else later. If the day comes when the Cao Mu Clan's strength is needed, I'll give everything I have to help."
Hatred flashed in their eyes. If that demonic creature really returned, even if it cost them their life, they'd fight it to the bitter end.
"Alright."
Song Wanníng knew it was all still just speculation. She understood perfectly well that every step she took was guided by the Heavenly Dao. The fact that she'd been led here to the Hua Clan probably wasn't a coincidence either. Maybe it was all because of that creature.
She forced down the unease twisting in her chest and began asking about the curse.
According to Patriarch Hua, the Cao Mu Clan hadn't been able to take human form for tens of thousands of years.
They didn't dare to absorb the essence of the sun and moon anymore, and at most could only awaken a faint trace of intelligence. They were trapped in their physical forms for life, unable to advance.
Later, things got even worse. A mysterious blood fiend started appearing without warning. Whenever it struck, countless members of the Cao Mu Clan were corrupted, and the most severely afflicted were destroyed before they could even mature.
When Song Wanníng finished listening, she stayed silent for a long time. She studied her surroundings carefully, wondering if this "curse" might actually be some kind of hidden restriction.
In her understanding, the Heavenly Dao would never punish its own children like this. There had to be some kind of misunderstanding.
Or maybe that demonic creature had used some sort of terrifying evil technique that had doomed the Cao Mu Clan to this miserable state.
"Patriarch, do you know any way to lift the curse?"
She finally spoke.
Patriarch Hua looked startled and quickly shook their head. "I don't. But the previous Patriarch once said that the one who fears no blood fiend will be the key to everything—the destined one we've been waiting for."
Song Wanníng fell silent. Her lips twitched helplessly. So even they didn't know how to break the curse. How was she supposed to figure it out?
While she was still thinking, a soft, childish voice suddenly piped up from her internal world.
"Master, I know…"
The Bodhi Tree Spirit poked out its head, lifting one tiny branch like a hand, voice timid and milky.
Nearby, the unlucky ghost gawked. "Wait, you can talk? Then why the hell do you ignore me every time I talk to you?"
He'd thought he'd finally found a companion to talk to, even if they were complete opposites in nature. He'd kept chatting at it every day despite being brushed off repeatedly.
But now, the Bodhi Tree Spirit was actually talking to Song Wanníng. His heart shattered instantly, eyes full of hurt as he stared pitifully at the tree spirit.
The little spirit grew even more nervous under his stare and ducked behind the trunk, only peeking out halfway. It wasn't that it was rude—it was that the ghost was so horrifyingly ugly that just looking at him was nightmare fuel.
How could it dare speak to him?
"What did you say?"
Song Wanníng's eyes lit up. Her Primordial Soul immediately appeared in the internal world, pushing the unlucky ghost aside.
"You know how?"
She'd almost forgotten she even had a Bodhi Tree living inside her.
"Yes, I think I do."
The little spirit finally gathered its courage when it saw her, clutching the side of its leg-like root nervously, though its eyes gleamed with excitement.
The unlucky ghost huffed and floated away, fuming. He really shouldn't have shown up at all. Neither of them paid him any attention.
The Bodhi Tree carried the essence of the Dao itself, far beyond the ordinary Cao Mu Clan, but its origin was still the same. So it was very possible that it held ancient knowledge about the curse within its inherited memories.
Song Wanníng's mood brightened immediately. She brought the Bodhi Tree Spirit out into the open.
The moment it appeared, an overwhelming pressure swept through the air.
Patriarch Hua, who was standing beside her, almost dropped to their knees on the spot. That was bloodline suppression. They couldn't help trembling in fear as they stared at the Bodhi Tree Spirit in shock.
"This… this is the legendary Bodhi Tree Spirit…"
A real Bodhi Tree was nearly impossible to nurture to maturity, let alone one that developed intelligence. And judging by the aura it emitted, this one had to be hundreds of thousands of years old at least.
For such a spiritual being to appear in Song Wanníng's hands—no wonder the previous Patriarch had spoken of a destined one.
Their eyes shone with growing excitement. They finally understood what that prophecy had meant.
"Patriarch, I think we might have found a way."
…
Inside the Hua Clan's forbidden grounds, Song Wanníng followed Patriarch Hua back once more.
Their first task was to deal with the blood fiend before addressing the curse itself.
Standing in the open clearing, she lifted her hand slightly. With a single thought, the phantom of the Twin Blood Lotus rose from her body and soared into the sky.
The moment it appeared, the air around them seemed to ignite, trembling with violent energy.
All around, strange disturbances rippled outward, each wave laced with fierce killing intent, all surging toward Song Wanníng.
But before any of that force could reach her, it scattered like mist, fading into a soft breeze that drifted harmlessly aside.
Song Wanníng's eyes hardened. She slowly spread her palms.
In an instant, countless blood lotuses bloomed around her, filling the entire forbidden land in a heartbeat.
Dressed in black, standing amid a sea of scarlet petals, she looked like a divine general descended from the heavens—beautiful and terrifying all at once.
Within moments, the distant sky began to change color.
"The blood fiend's coming!"
Patriarch Hua's eyes widened, lips parting in disbelief.
The Bodhi Tree Spirit had been right—Song Wanníng could actually summon the blood fiend!
Their pupils shrank as they braced themselves for the worst.
But this time, the blood fiend came faster and stronger than ever before. In the blink of an eye, it was right on top of them, pouring down like a crimson storm.
It spared no one.
And yet, the one who had drawn it forth, Song Wanníng herself, stood perfectly unharmed.