Purple lightning, glowing with the intense light of the Thunder Attribute, crackled throughout the grand hall.

In the blink of an eye, the purple lightning shot toward Song Wanning.

Unafraid, Song Wanning coolly raised her Longsword and advanced to meet Feng Jiuxiao.

The attack came before any words were exchanged.

"BOOM—"

The two attacks collided, and with a tremendous roar, a massive shockwave engulfed the entire hall.

The Merfolk, hiding in a corner, shouted in terror, "Master, save me—"

By now, both Song Wanning and Feng Jiuxiao had been forced back more than ten steps. Each stood on one side of the hall, the furious shockwave causing their skirts to flap violently.

Strands of their hair flew about wildly, whipping past eyes filled with killing intent.

Feng Jiuxiao’s ears suddenly twitched. She frowned deeply and looked at the Merfolk.

"What did you call her?"

The Merfolk trembled under her gaze. It clutched a nearby stool and held it up for protection, terrified as it stared into Feng Jiuxiao’s sparking eyes.

It answered, its voice on the verge of tears, "Ma... Master..."

"She is... my master."

Although it didn’t know why Feng Jiuxiao had asked, it could clearly feel the menacing aura around her shift the moment it answered.

She recalled her purple lightning and narrowed her eyes, her tone accusatory. "You formed a contract with it?"

’My own Guardian Beast... was contracted by someone else!’

’Now that the two are bound together, killing Song Wanning means killing the Merfolk as well!’

Song Wanning’s expression remained unchanged. She planted the tip of her Longsword on the ground and stared at Feng Jiuxiao, her killing intent chilling.

"So what?"

’It’s not like I need to explain myself to her.’

"Heh!"

Feng Jiuxiao was so angered by Song Wanning’s reaction that she laughed.

"You’re quite arrogant—"

She stared straight into Song Wanning’s eyes, as if trying to peer through them and see the nervousness and fear within her heart.

But she was disappointed.

Song Wanning’s eyes held only killing intent.

A sudden smile touched Feng Jiuxiao’s lips. She was starting to get interested.

"It’s been a long time since I’ve met someone as arrogant as you. Are you truly not afraid of death?"

’In the past, wasn’t everyone who came in here respectful and full of worship for me?’

’This is the first time I’ve met someone who actually wants to kill me.’

Song Wanning glanced down at her sword and replied without raising her head, "Who lives and who dies isn’t for you to decide, Senior."

’No matter how powerful or tyrannical Feng Jiuxiao is, that’s in the Immortal Realm. Here in the Lower World, she has to play by its rules.’

’Since the peak here is the Divinity Transformation realm, I naturally have a fighting chance. Why should I be afraid of her?’

Song Wanning’s brazen attitude made Feng Jiuxiao laugh in anger once again.

’So young, but what a big mouth.’

But she didn’t attack rashly again. She had only struck so fiercely because she saw Song Wanning performing a Soul Search on the Merfolk.

Now that she knew it was a misunderstanding, she had no reason to attack again.

Feng Jiuxiao languidly sat back down, propped her chin on her hand, and gave Song Wanning a flirtatious look. "Little girl, how would you like to receive my inheritance?"

"If you apologize to me, and I’m in a good mood... I might just consider it..."

’She just wanted to see how tough this girl’s spine really was, to dare be so insolent in her presence.’

"Impossible."

Song Wanning cut her off directly.

’I didn’t do anything. Feng Jiuxiao attacked me the moment she saw me, so what do I have to apologize for?’

’Apologize?’

’In her dreams!’

Song Wanning fastened her Longsword to her waist and, without a glance at Feng Jiuxiao’s shifting expression, walked directly to a nearby stool and sat down.

Her casual manner made it seem as if she owned the place.

This made Feng Jiuxiao even more furious, yet deep down, she inexplicably felt a sliver of admiration.

’She’d always had a bad temper, but she never expected to meet someone with an even worse one!’

Annoyed by Song Wanning’s inability to recognize a good offer, yet admiring her fearless courage, the two conflicting emotions made Feng Jiuxiao’s expression shift repeatedly, creating quite a spectacle.

The Merfolk peeked furtively between the two of them. Only after confirming they wouldn’t start fighting again did it dare to sidle up to Song Wanning.

Seeing her Guardian Beast get close to someone else, Feng Jiuxiao grew even more incensed.

She scowled, glaring at the Merfolk with bitter disappointment.

’It goes out one time and gets contracted by another human. What an absolute idiot!’

’As a Mutant Beast, it should have been able to hide its Sea of Consciousness perfectly...’

The more she thought about how stupid it was, the more annoyed she got, so Feng Jiuxiao simply turned her head and refused to look at the Merfolk anymore.

The Merfolk, having been glared at, was completely bewildered. It rubbed its nose, unsure of how it had angered Feng Jiuxiao.

Although it had guarded the pearl for several hundred years, it had never seen Feng Jiuxiao before and naturally didn’t understand her intentions.

It turned its head, and its eyes suddenly fell upon the Water Mirror. It shot to its feet in an instant.

"It’s Jiao Jiao! Jiao Jiao!"

"Master, it’s Jiao Jiao!!!!!"

The Merfolk pointed at the image of Ye Chuxue in the Water Mirror, so overjoyed its eyes looked like they were about to pop out of its head.

"My Jiao Jiao, thank goodness nothing happened... WAHHH..."

As it spoke, the Merfolk began to cry from excitement, tears and snot streaming down its face.

Feng Jiuxiao and Song Wanning looked away. "..."

’This is too embarrassing to watch!’

Song Wanning’s gaze quickly fell upon the Water Mirror.

At this moment, Feng Lansi was still on the fifth level, a step slower than she was.

Meanwhile, Yu Cheng and Ye Chuxue were on the sixth level, completely focused on breaking the Array.

Yu Cheng’s brow was tightly furrowed, and his every step was extremely cautious.

Ye Chuxue’s face was deathly pale and she was drenched in sweat, clearly struggling a great deal more.

Both her Cultivation and her Divine Soul were inferior to Yu Cheng’s. Just persisting this long was already her limit.

She was now running on sheer willpower alone.

Song Wanning glanced over at Feng Jiuxiao and, just as she expected, saw the admiration for Ye Chuxue in her eyes.

Her heart sank, and she said coldly, "Yu Cheng’s talent is clearly stronger, and his Cultivation is higher. If chosen as your successor, he will surely carry on your legacy and bring it to new heights, Senior!"

’I have no affinity for Arrays, but Yu Cheng is an upright person, dedicated to his studies and passionate about cultivation.’

’It would be far better for Yu Cheng to receive the inheritance than Ye Chuxue.’

But her words did not win Feng Jiuxiao’s approval.

"On the contrary, I think that little girl is quite good. She’s young but exceptionally talented. To go from having no foundation to reaching this level in such a short time... her potential is limitless!"

Feng Jiuxiao lifted her eyelids lazily, and as if deliberately provoking Song Wanning, she glanced at Yu Cheng and said, "That boy’s only advantage is that he’s a bit older and knows a little more."

Hearing this, Song Wanning silently rubbed her fingers, her eyelids lifting slightly.

"Yu Cheng is single-minded and devoted to his research. He’s far more reliable than certain people with complicated thoughts."

"I hope you won’t be deceived by certain people, Senior."

Although she kept calling her "Senior," there wasn’t a trace of respect in her tone.

Feng Jiuxiao’s mouth twitched.

’This little devil... She’s really good at being passive-aggressive!’

"My eyes can see through anything, far better than certain people’s!"

"I’m just worried that some people, for their own selfish gain, only know how to slander others behind their backs!"