Song Wanníng smiled. "It's fine, they might not even be able to find me. You don't have to worry about me."
Although they were just strangers passing by, the female beast cultivator still felt a bit of familiarity. After all, this was the first dragon cultivator she'd ever met.
"Be careful. The Yao Clan might not be after you just because of old grudges," Song Wanníng said, giving a friendly warning. After all, for them to care this much even after so many years of hatred, something felt off.
Better safe than sorry, the female beast cultivator knew she had to be extra cautious.
"You mean…"
Suddenly, a thought hit her, and her expression changed sharply. If that was true, she was in serious danger.
"Yeah, just be careful. It won't hurt," Song Wanníng said, not elaborating. She didn't know the full story, only that something felt wrong.
They chatted a little longer, then parted ways.
The female beast cultivator went to find a new hiding place, while Song Wanníng sent a message to Mo Yang Xiānzūn. She reported the intruders and mentioned the Yao Clan, asking about their background.
Soon, Mo Yang Xiānzūn replied.
Regarding the intruders, he decided to communicate with the sect master. The higher-ups in the Immortal Realm needed to be informed and prepared. Whether they believed it or not, he couldn't guarantee. Not everyone trusted Song Wanníng.
As for the Yao Clan, they did indeed have a history with the dragons.
It was said that long ago, the clan's Ancestor had many children. During a journey, they made a deadly enemy of the dragons, and several of their children were killed in retaliation.
The Yao Clan Ancestor, burning with rage, struck back and hurt the dragons.
That was how the grudge was sealed forever.
"You're asking about the Yao Clan because…" Mo Yang Xiānzūn asked curiously.
"Because I carry the blood of the Golden Dragon clan," Song Wanníng replied.
Mo Yang Xiānzūn went silent. "This little one actually had the blood of the Golden Dragon clan?"
He remembered the anomalies in the Golden Dragon lineage back then—could it have been because of Song Wanníng?
Even he had to admire her. This girl could surpass him sooner than anyone imagined. She was chosen by the Heavenly Dao, different from everyone else.
"Then be careful. The Yao Clan still seems to bear hostility toward dragons," he warned.
"Stay hidden if you can, but if you can't, tell me immediately!"
Mo Yang Xiānzūn made his stance clear. If the Yao Clan dared to attack Song Wanníng, he wouldn't stand by.
"All right!"
Song Wanníng agreed firmly and ended the communication.
She quietly found a nearby city to stay in. The more dangerous a place seemed, the safer it actually was. The Yao Clan probably wouldn't bother with this area.
…
Within the Yao Clan's territory, the clan's Patriarch had already received the news.
Upon learning that two dragons had been discovered, a calculating gleam flashed in the Patriarch's eyes.
She immediately issued an order: search for the two with all their might.
Capture them alive if possible, but if they encountered danger, they could be killed and brought back.
To this end, she didn't hesitate to offer a hefty reward.
Seeing the reward, the Yao Clan disciples were instantly excited. Coupled with the fact that this was a matter of great prestige, everyone was pumped up and began the search in full force.
"Patriarch, we must be careful with this matter. We can't let others find out…" an Elder by her side said uneasily. "If we search for people so openly, what if someone notices… I'm afraid…"
As she spoke, the Elder cautiously glanced around. Even within the clan grounds, she was extremely careful, afraid of being seen.
A cold light flashed in the Patriarch's eyes. She snorted.
"Who knows about this besides you and me? Even if they knew, they'd just think it's about the old grudge. Who'd think of anything else? I want to make it known to everyone. That's how this secret will be kept safe."
A smile, tinged with boundless desire, rose on the Patriarch's face. "Lao San, this is our opportunity. If we miss it, our Yao Clan will continue to decline!
I can't let the Yao Clan go downhill under my watch… I want the Yao Clan to reach glorious heights, to make all those other powers look up to us! And all of this… there's hope for it very soon."
The Patriarch's eyes blazed with a sharp light as she addressed the Elder. "You must personally make a trip. You have to capture those dragons and bring them back.
You know… you're the only one I trust…" As she spoke, a hand reached out and rested on the Elder's shoulder.
The Elder's face flushed crimson, and she hurriedly bowed her head. "I'll go right now!!!"
She ran off without looking back, seeming almost… flustered.
No sooner had she left than a figure emerged from a hidden compartment.
"Hehe… still as naive as ever, dancing in the palm of your hand."
The man pulled the Patriarch into his embrace, one hand gripping her rear and giving it a firm squeeze.
The Patriarch let out a soft gasp, biting her lip, and shot the man a look that was half-reproachful, half-shy. "It's all for your grand ambitions. Otherwise, why would I deceive her?"
The Patriarch extricated herself from the man's embrace, her expression cooling considerably. She stared directly at the man. "Now another dragon has suddenly appeared. I wonder if its bloodline is pure. If it's pure… then we're practically guaranteed success this time."
"Hehehe, don't worry. Pure or not, I have my methods."
The man swept his robes aside and sat down, his eyes brimming with confidence.
"Once our plan succeeds, forget the Yao Clan, even you will be remembered for eternity, a legend of the Immortal Realm…
When we ascend to the God Realm, we'll never have to be apart again…"
To share the lifespan of the cosmos itself was the dream of every cultivator. Now, in the Immortal Realm, they finally saw hope. They wouldn't give up, no matter the cost.
Hearing this, the Patriarch's face flushed slightly, her eyes filled with ambition. Just thinking about ascending to the God Realm filled her gaze with hope. Generation after generation of the Yao Clan, not a single one had ascended to the God Realm.
In the entire Immortal Realm, those who could ascend were as rare as phoenix feathers. Just the thought of having this chance made her heart race.
But she hadn't lost her rationality. She said to the man, "You'd better not be lying to me, or I'll make sure you live a fate worse than death!"
Before the threat was fully out, the man's mouth covered hers. He pressed the Patriarch down beneath him, his hands roaming swiftly.
Soon, they indulged in passion together.
…
Song Wanníng stayed in the inn for a few days. Sure enough, she heard about the Yao Clan's widespread search for dragons.
She concealed her dragon aura and disguised herself as a demon cultivator. With her ability to release and absorb any aura, the disguise felt completely natural.
So when the Yao Clan came searching, she was sitting in the inn's lobby, watching the chaos unfold.