In that instant, she failed to suppress the malice in her heart, and it was written plainly across her face.

Ye Chuxue looked up at the Water Mirror.

What appeared before her was not reality, but a projection of her innermost thoughts.

But she was unaware of this. All she saw was Song Wanning walking toward the beautiful woman.

The inheritance was in the woman’s hands, about to be passed to Song Wanning.

Ye Chuxue’s face twisted. At that moment, completely driven by the evil festering in her heart, she reached out and snatched the unconscious Jiao Jiao.

She began to desperately absorb Jiao Jiao’s healing energy. Even knowing it would cause irreparable harm, she had no intention of stopping.

’Jiao Jiao is just a demon beast. Strictly speaking, it isn’t even a person. If it dies, it dies.’

’If its death can help me, then it will have been worthwhile!’

In that moment, Ye Chuxue finally chose to confront the evil and ambition within her heart.

The veil of her feigned benevolence was torn away.

Feng Jiuxiao clenched her fists, her rage burning to its peak.

’I was actually so blind!’

"You bastard!"

Having lost the bet, Feng Jiuxiao’s anger toward Ye Chuxue intensified.

She shot to her feet and swung her palm at the Water Mirror.

Song Wanning watched with cold eyes, making no move to stop her.

In her past life, without the appearance of herself, Yu Cheng, and the others, Ye Chuxue had no need to rush. She’d had ample time to display her talents.

Feng Jiuxiao had seen a strong, independent, kind, and pure Ye Chuxue.

And so, the inheritance had naturally fallen into her hands.

This life, everything was different.

Song Wanning stared at Ye Chuxue’s twisted expression, feeling not joy, but a deep sense of irony.

’So this is the kind and pure person they all spoke of.’

A palm strike landed, sending Ye Chuxue—who had been absorbing energy—flying backward to crash heavily against a wall.

PTHOO—

She spewed mouthfuls of blood, her body curling into a pained ball on the floor.

Gazing at Feng Jiuxiao, who had suddenly appeared before her, Ye Chuxue snapped to her senses, her eyes filled with shock and astonishment.

As she saw Jiao Jiao cradled in Feng Jiuxiao’s arms, her heart was instantly filled with guilt and remorse.

"I... I didn’t mean to..."

She opened her mouth, trying to explain, but didn’t know where to begin.

’Just now... I must have been possessed to attack Jiao Jiao.’

’I must have been insane! Insane!’

"Hmph!"

Feng Jiuxiao had no desire to hear Ye Chuxue’s excuses. She raised her palm and struck again.

This strike held nothing back, carrying with it the aura of the Divinity Transformation Stage.

Ye Chuxue’s pupils contracted, her face a mask of terror.

But she was grievously wounded and couldn’t even open her Storage Bag. She could do nothing but watch death approach!

’Am I going to die here?’

Ye Chuxue refused to accept it.

’I’m the transmigrated heroine! These people, these inheritances... they’re all supposed to be my stepping stones!’

The fatal attack was upon her.

Suddenly, a Divine Thought erupted from her body, raising a palm to meet Feng Jiuxiao’s attack.

It was the wisp of life-saving Divine Thought that Gu Qingyuan had left on Ye Chuxue.

The two palms collided with a BOOM, and the entire room was instantly torn apart by a tremendous shockwave.

Ye Chuxue bore the brunt of it. She was battered by falling debris until she was covered in blood, the pain causing veins to bulge on her skin and her face to contort.

However, Gu Qingyuan had no time to spare for her. His eyes, filled with killing intent, locked onto Feng Jiuxiao. "Don’t you dare touch my disciple!"

"Heh!"

Feng Jiuxiao sneered at the newly emerged Divine Thought, her mind flashing back to Song Wanning’s words.

’So this must be the master who’s sleeping with his own disciple, right?’

’Scumbags really do flock together!’

"A mere Nascent Soul cultivator dares to posture before this Immortal Monarch? You’ve got some nerve!"

Her expression darkened as she raised her palm and struck at Gu Qingyuan again.

This strike was far more powerful than the last. Gu Qingyuan’s pupils trembled, and without a second thought, he shoved Ye Chuxue away.

For the sake of his disciple, he chose to take the blow head-on. He would rather his Divine Thought be damaged than fail to get Ye Chuxue to safety.

Such profound devotion. It was enough to bring a tear to anyone’s eye.

A mocking smile played on Song Wanning’s lips, her eyes filled with a frosty, somber light.

Feng Jiuxiao was equally disgusted by his gesture, and killing intent flashed in her eyes.

The force of the palm strike arrived.

PTHOO—

With a muffled grunt from Gu Qingyuan, his Divine Thought was utterly shattered in the next instant. It dissolved into endless motes of starlight that faded into the room.

Meanwhile, Ye Chuxue had only been pushed just outside the room.

Her eyes widened in terror as she watched in despair while her master’s wisp of Divine Thought dissipated.

’Is this it? Am I doomed to die this time?’

’I won’t accept it!’

’Why does Song Wanning get everything she wants, while I have to die a miserable death here?’

’It’s not fair!’

Endless, frantic thoughts surged forth, completely consuming Ye Chuxue’s mind.

Song Wanning had become Ye Chuxue’s Heart Demon, one that could never be exorcised.

’Only with Song Wanning’s death is there any hope for a reversal!’

Feng Jiuxiao showed no mercy, striking fiercely at Ye Chuxue once more.

Once this strike landed, Ye Chuxue’s death was certain.

But in the next second, the sky and earth suddenly changed color. A terrifying pressure descended from the heavens, pressing down upon her.

It was immediately followed by a bolt of Heavenly Thunder that shot straight down at her.

Feng Jiuxiao looked up in shock, staring in disbelief at the descending Heavenly Punishment.

’I am but a wisp of Divine Thought. If that Heavenly Thunder strikes, I will surely dissipate!’

’How can this be?!!’

The Heavenly Thunder descended, fast and furious, filled with a destructive aura.

Suddenly, a figure appeared and pulled her into an embrace.

Feng Jiuxiao froze. Looking up, she saw Song Wanning’s cold yet breathtakingly beautiful face.

With one arm, she held Feng Jiuxiao, while her other hand shot out toward Ye Chuxue. An instant later, she had Ye Chuxue in her grasp and hurled her directly into the path of the Heavenly Thunder.

Her movements were clean and decisive, without a trace of hesitation.

The Heavenly Thunder, which had been so menacing, actually veered off course at that moment, striking empty ground to the side.

The mighty bolt of Heavenly Thunder, which had seemed so grand, fizzled out like a damp squib as it landed, coming to an abrupt halt.

BAM—

Ye Chuxue hit the ground hard and was knocked unconscious.

As the Heavenly Tribulation dissipated, Feng Jiuxiao stared at the wreckage, a thoughtful look in her eyes. The next moment, Song Wanning set her down.

A faint blush crept onto her face, and she gave an awkward cough.

"You knew all along that trying to kill her would incur Heavenly Punishment?"

Feng Jiuxiao shot Song Wanning a sidelong glance; the woman’s reactions were so quick, she looked like a ’repeat offender.’

’And that move, throwing Ye Chuxue like that... I have to admit, it was pretty cool!’

"Yes," Song Wanning admitted. She had also wanted to see how the Heavenly Dao would react when someone else was the aggressor.

’Seeing the pawn it chose become the very blade used to harm Ye Chuxue, the Heavenly Dao must be furious, right?’

The corners of her lips curved slightly, and she felt a thrill of successful revenge.

"Heh."

Feng Jiuxiao gave a wry laugh. She really couldn’t figure out Song Wanning.

She was like an ethereal cloud.

Impossible to see through, impossible to grasp.

But with things as they were, she walked over to Ye Chuxue.