Song Wanníng pushed her movement technique to the limit. Spacefolding Technique layered again and again until she finally managed to dodge the blast's lingering shockwaves.
When she stopped and glanced back, the entire mountainside behind her had already turned into rubble.
Endless dust rolled upward and refused to settle.
The nearby birds and beasts had long fled in terror. Those who were a step too slow had been swallowed by the explosion's aftershock, not even leaving behind a single bone.
Song Wanníng's expression tightened. She hovered in midair, a faint sadness flickering through her gaze.
That Dragon Soul Senior had completely disappeared. Even though he escaped the clan extermination battle from back then, he still didn't manage to survive until today.
And he only chose such a drastic path because of her. If not for her, he could have simply driven those people out of the space. There was no need for him to self destruct. He worried she would die once she appeared outside and feared those two would cut her down. He also wanted to preserve the Dragon Clan's final hope.
Song Wanníng felt the weight of his intention. She stood there without moving. By the time the dust finally started to settle, half an hour had passed. Everything became quiet again, yet the ruins beneath her feet would never return to what they once were.
She flew toward where the inner space had been. She released her spiritual sense and began searching the ruins for any trace of the system.
Since the Dragon Soul mentioned she needed to deal with the system before his self destruction, that meant the system wouldn't be destroyed.
So it had to still be nearby.
She searched with absolute focus. She didn't let even the smallest detail slip past her. After a long effort, she finally found the system buried beneath a pile of shattered stone. She carefully dug it out, scanned the surroundings to confirm nothing else was left, then took off.
…
Once she reached a safe place, Song Wanníng took out the system and began thinking about how to destroy it.
The previous system had been destroyed easily, so that one must have been low level. But this one, which even Dragon Soul couldn't eliminate, survived both the ancient battle and the recent explosion without a scratch. This meant it was no ordinary system. And she didn't have the slightest idea how to remove it.
The little ones were troubled as well. Fire didn't work, stabbing didn't work. Nothing could shake this thing.
"Sister, this thing's way too tough. We can't break it at all."
Xiao Jin was incredibly frustrated. They all hated anything from the Mùsù star system, but this system was unreal. They worked themselves breathless and the thing didn't even get a scratch.
They were the ones panting like they were dying. It drove them mad.
Song Wanníng looked calm and spoke evenly. "Dragon Soul Senior couldn't destroy it after all these years, so you definitely can't. We'll need to take our time."
A faint light flashed in her eyes. She planned to store the system for now. She wouldn't be tempted by it anyway. As long as she kept it from falling into anyone else's hands, that was enough.
Right now, she had to deal with the Yao family. Even though those later generations were innocent, they were descendants of invaders. One day, they might awaken that will and become a blade aimed at other immortals.
But she'd already figured out a way to handle them without adding too much karmic burden. The Yao family needed to be eliminated, but she didn't need to do it herself.
With her decision made, Song Wanníng summoned her clone.
The clone shimmered before her and transformed into the Patriarch's exact appearance. Even the tiniest details were identical.
No one would notice a thing.
The clone left with its mission, heading toward the Yao family. Song Wanníng didn't follow. Just like before, she stayed at a distance where she wouldn't be seen yet could intervene if needed.
She couldn't let the Yao family spot her, or everything would be ruined. However, she hadn't flown far when the system that had been pretending to be dead suddenly spoke.
[Ding, the Prosperity Through Many Children System has activated. Suitable host detected. Would you like to bind now?]
The cold mechanical voice echoed from inside her storage ring, making Song Wanníng pause mid step.
"It's not pretending anymore?"
Her brows lifted as she immediately pulled it out.
The icy voice became clearer, stiff and strange. It didn't sound like a living being at all. Song Wanníng tightened her grip on the system. A defensive barrier formed around her. She had to make sure it wouldn't run off. That would be a nightmare.
Since she didn't answer, the system asked again.
[Would you like to bind? Ten. Nine. Eight.]
It began counting down. There seemed to be a hint of urgency in its tone. But listening closely, it felt like an illusion. It was still just a cold mechanical sound.
Song Wanníng's gaze darkened. There was no way she'd bind with this useless thing. She wouldn't even try. If it messed with her sea of consciousness, that would be truly dangerous.
[Four. Three.]
When she still didn't react, the system seemed to panic.
[Host, I'm the Prosperity Through Many Children System. Bind with me and I'll help you rise to the top and stand at the peak of life.]
It stopped counting and began spouting promises.
[The current Immortal Realm has barely one in ten thousand who can ascend to the God Realm, but as long as you bind with me, I'll ensure you ascend and become someone others can only dream of reaching.]
"Heh."
Song Wanníng let out two cold laughs.
"Your so called peak of life is just having a bunch of kids?"
This system really didn't even bother making its lies sound convincing.
She had already asked around. No one in the Yao family had ascended to the God Realm. After so many generations, none of them even improved. They only kept getting worse.
Only a fool would believe its words.
The system didn't think so. It even sounded proud. [Reproduction is the greatest purpose of life. Only through continuing the bloodline can our lineage endure.
And those children will become your greatest assets.
You only need to give birth to them. One day they'll give back to you and you'll gain enormous energy that will push your cultivation higher and higher.]
It spoke with confidence, as if every word was absolute truth.
Song Wanníng only found it laughable.
What asset?
It was treating her like some ignorant fool. It was nothing more than a baby making machine. Give a bit of benefit, lure her into producing endlessly, and prepare the way for the Mùsù star system's next invasion. Its intentions were vile.
[Host, why aren't you speaking? Are you content staying stuck at the peak of Renxian?
Trust me. Contract with me and we'll ascend to the peak of life together.]
The system grew frantic. It had finally awakened and even found an incredibly compatible host, yet she didn't react at all.
Shouldn't she be excited? Shouldn't she agree immediately?
Opportunities like this weren't common.
Thinking of this, the system suddenly remembered its first host.
The first host contracted it and immediately started searching for women to have children with.