The crowd was filled with hope, their eyes brimming with gratitude as they looked at the Patriarch of the Hua Clan.
"I hereby declare, from this day on, the Hua Clan returns to the embrace of the Cao Mu Clan!"
The Patriarch's voice rang out like thunder, and in an instant, both the flower spirits and the entire Cao Mu Clan erupted into cheers.
Watching everyone's joy, Song Wanníng couldn't help but smile too.
…
The Hua Clan had finally returned to the Cao Mu Clan, ending a curse that had lasted ten thousand years.
Song Wanníng was showered with their gratitude, so much that rare herbs were being stuffed into her arms like they cost nothing.
Even the Soul-Molding Flower ended up in her hands.
"I, Hua, always keep my word! If you ever need my help, Song Daoyou, I'll do everything I can to assist you!"
The one who had once been the Patriarch of the Hua Clan was now the Patriarch of the entire Cao Mu Clan.
They looked at Song Wanníng with deep gratitude and awe.
At first, they'd only wanted to heal Xiao Shiba, never dreaming that the curse could actually be broken.
Now, not only was Xiao Shiba fully recovered, but the curse was gone too. It all felt like a dream, almost unreal.
Song Wanníng smiled knowingly.
"Good, I'll remember that."
She accepted the gifts, then took the Patriarch's message talisman as well.
Who knew, maybe she'd really need their help someday.
For a moment, she felt oddly sentimental. Somehow, without realizing it, she'd already built up quite a few connections.
She chuckled quietly, then turned toward Li Qingya.
By now, Li Qingya seemed to have figured a few things out. Her gaze toward Song Wanníng had changed completely. Her expression was complicated, but she no longer looked like the bristling hedgehog she'd been at the start.
Still, she couldn't swallow her pride entirely. She'd always thought she was exceptional, her talent in alchemy even astonishing her Master. Otherwise, she wouldn't have been invited to join.
But after seeing Song Wanníng, she finally understood what a true heaven's chosen really looked like.
"I didn't expect you to stay."
Song Wanníng curved her lips, looking at Li Qingya with faint amusement. Anyone else probably would've run off by now. But Li Qingya had guts, actually waiting here.
"Hmph!"
Li Qingya snorted coldly, defiance flashing in her eyes. "I may have lost, but I'll accept it fair and square! Don't you dare look down on me!"
She'd always been proud, but since she'd lost to Song Wanníng, she'd follow through on her promise and take her to find Gong Ye.
Besides, she already had an escape plan in mind.
Song Wanníng was protected by the Heavenly Dao, someone she couldn't deal with head-on. The best move was to pull herself out cleanly.
Let Song Wanníng and Gong Ye tear each other apart like dogs fighting over a bone. A calculating light flashed in her eyes, though she hid it quickly.
Song Wanníng watched her for a few seconds, then lifted an eyebrow. "Let's go, take me to him. I think you know what to do."
If Li Qingya dared warn Gong Ye, she'd have only herself to blame for what came next.
Li Qingya's face stiffened for an instant before turning colder than ever. "Don't worry, I'll make sure you find him!"
She summoned her flying artifact and shot into the sky.
Song Wanníng followed right after, eyes fixed on her the whole time. She didn't trust Li Qingya one bit.
But right now, she had to find Gong Ye as fast as possible and end this once and for all.
She had a strong feeling the merging of the two worlds was coming soon, and if Gong Ye wasn't dealt with first, her entire clan might be in danger.
This risk, she had to take.
The green canopy blurred past as the flying artifact sped through the Beast Realm.
Meanwhile, deep inside a cave, Gong Ye had no idea that his former lover was bringing Song Wanníng straight to his doorstep. He was still focused on refining his powder.
He wasn't worried about Li Qingya at all. He'd already planted a trick on her—if she died, her Primordial Soul would return to the soul tablet he kept on hand.
That would be the perfect time to search her soul.
No matter how things turned out, he'd never lose.
He'd considered countless possibilities, but never the one where those two would actually set aside their differences and come straight for him.
So when Song Wanníng appeared outside his cave, Gong Ye froze completely. His face darkened, and he immediately put away the powder into his storage ring.
That little reflex didn't escape Song Wanníng's eyes. "So that powder… had secrets, huh?"
"What, not happy to see me?"
Song Wanníng smiled faintly, folding her arms across her chest as she looked at him like he was an old acquaintance.
Li Qingya stood behind her, guilt flickering across her face as she avoided Gong Ye's gaze. But what choice did she have? Gong Ye was doomed to lose. If she stayed by his side, she'd only be dragged down with him.
She might've had feelings for him once, but when life and death were on the line, what did love even matter?
She had to save herself first.
"Heh."
Gong Ye laughed in fury at Song Wanníng's arrogance, but what infuriated him even more was Li Qingya's betrayal.
His fists clenched tight, veins bulging as he glared at her, wishing he could tear her apart right then and there. He'd thought he'd played this woman like a fool, but now she'd slapped him right in the face, making him look utterly ridiculous.
What shattered him even more was realizing that Song Wanníng's cultivation had risen again.
Impossible.
Hadn't she just advanced to early Unity stage?
That didn't make sense!
His expression cracked, disbelief tearing through him.
There was no way. Song Wanníng wasn't normal.
"You… you're a transmigrator too, aren't you?!" His voice came out rough, thick with jealousy. "You've got a system, don't you? No one could advance that fast otherwise!"
He refused to believe it. In his mind, only transmigrators could have that kind of protagonist's halo—overshadowing everyone else's light.
Just like him. He looked down on native cultivators, believing only those who'd lived through modern education were true geniuses destined for greatness.
Song Wanníng's eyes went cold.
That same self-righteous gaze—she hated it.
She really wanted to dig out his eyes.
Suppressing the urge, she let out a soft laugh.
"Transmigrators? You mean those people I killed? They all called themselves children of the Heavenly Dao, chosen by destiny. But to me, they were nothing more than invaders—thieves."
A mocking smile tugged at her lips.
How amusing. All these outsiders thought alike. What gave them such confidence, thinking they were better than the natives?
They were all the same.
Just thieves who couldn't stand the light.
Her words made Gong Ye's pupils shrink. It took him several seconds to even process what she'd said.
"You… you've met other transmigrators? And you killed them?"
The shock hit him like a hammer. For the first time, Gong Ye felt genuine fear.