Liu Yao of the Mountain Gazing Sect was dead. The sect’s ancestor had purged him as a traitor, slaying him deep within the mountains.

At the direction of Meng Yang and the others, this news spread far and wide.

Along with it came other rumors. They said that while Liu Yao had indeed done wrong and been purged from the sect, the Sect Master’s death had been a revenge killing. The two incidents were unrelated.

One was a Sect Master, the other merely a Nascent Soul True Monarch. The impact of their deaths was worlds apart. The Mountain Gazing Sect chose this approach to minimize the fallout as much as possible.

Song Wanning scoffed at the news.

’Still, it was understandable. Sometimes, one had to act in the best interests of the sect, not based on personal feelings.’

But this whole affair with the Mountain Gazing Sect’s Master had put her plans on hold.

The Sect Master of the Heavenly Inquiry Sect had made several mistakes in a row, and was gradually losing the adoration of his disciples.

She had planned to expose his personal indiscretions and how he allowed his cronies to run wild, all to drag him from his position as Sect Master.

But now, compared to what the Mountain Gazing Sect’s Master had done, his own misdeeds seemed trivial.

’It seems I’ll have to find another way.’

Song Wanning wasn’t angry, though. A mischievous glint flashed in her eyes.

’Now that he’s crossed someone like me—someone who loves to hold a grudge—he can forget about sitting comfortably in that seat!’

"Sister, Liu Yao is dead now, but it seems Liu Yiyi wasn’t dragged down with him!"

The Golden Small Sword snorted in discontent. That woman, Liu Yiyi, bore its master extreme malice.

"It’s my fault. I overestimated the bond between them."

Song Wanning’s expression was nonchalant, her eyes betraying no emotion.

"For Liu Yiyi to be so ruthless even to her own brother... I really underestimated her!"

I had intended to use this opportunity to drag Liu Yiyi down, but who would have thought she’d play the part of the righteous hero, turning on her own kin? Now, the whole world is singing her praises for it.

’Climbing to the top by stepping on her own brother’s corpse... I wonder if she has nightmares.’

Song Wanning felt she had now seen Liu Yiyi for who she truly was.

’Family and friendship don’t mean shit to her; the only person she cares about is herself.’

"Now she probably blames me for Liu Yao’s death. She won’t rest until she gets rid of me!"

Song Wanning didn’t even have to think to guess what Liu Yiyi was planning.

"How shameless! She started it, but she’s great at turning the tables and blaming you!"

The Golden Small Sword was indignant on its master’s behalf and was about to say more, but Song Wanning stopped it.

"We have company."

Song Wanning arched a brow, her Divine Sense spreading out instantly.

She discovered the visitors were people sent by the Demon Lord, and two Nascent Soul Cultivators at that.

The moment the pair arrived, everyone in the inn shot to their feet. Their expressions were a mixture of respect and fear as they secretly wondered about the reason for the visit.

"Have any of you seen this person?"

A portrait was tossed into the air. The man depicted on it was none other than Mo Yuan.

"I... I have!"

"Upstairs! He’s upstairs!"

Someone immediately pointed to a room on the second floor.

Song Wanning had deliberately left Mo Yuan’s face uncovered for this exact reason—so they would be found.

"Oh?" The pair exchanged a glance and immediately headed for the second floor.

At the same time, Mo Yuan in the adjacent room also sensed that something was amiss. Before he could react, however, Song Wanning had already thrown his door open and said in a cold voice, "Quick, with me!"

Without another word, she grabbed Mo Yuan’s arm, pulled him along as she smashed through the window, and jumped out of the inn.

When the pair reached the second floor and saw what had happened, they immediately gave chase.

By now, Song Wanning was already fleeing toward the city outskirts with Mo Yuan in tow. Her expression was frosty as she pushed her speed to its absolute limit.

Mo Yuan clenched his fists. He glanced back with a look of pure hatred, only to see two small black dots rapidly closing in.

He turned back around and shot a frowning glance at Song Wanning, surprised that she hadn’t abandoned him.

...

Just as they turned onto a narrow path, the two Demon Monarchs caught up, cutting off their escape.

"Hmph. Still think you can escape?"

Mo Yun snorted, raising a hand to conjure a Magic Wall that trapped the pair inside.

Mo Yu, meanwhile, drew out a long whip and smiled at the two of them.

"So, it’s the Demon Monarchs Mo Yun and Mo Yu."

Mo Yuan stared at the two identical faces before him, his heart blazing with overwhelming hatred.

The two Demon Monarchs were a pair of twins, sister and brother. Not only were their appearances identical, but even their Spirit Roots were the same. They had been recruited into the Demon Palace at a young age.

Back when he was still young, his mother had valued the pair deeply and bestowed countless favors upon them.

Yet the moment his mother died, they had betrayed her. And now, they were here to hunt him down.

’The heartless bastards!’

"Tsk, how rare. The Young Master still recognizes us. In that case, just come back with us. It would be a shame to get rough; things could get ugly."

Mo Yun gave a wicked smile and beckoned to Mo Yuan with a crooked finger, her every move exuding a flirtatious charm.

Mo Yu, at her side, just snorted. "Why waste time talking to them? Let’s just capture them and claim our reward!"

The Demon Lord had summoned them from afar just to capture Mo Yuan. ’Let’s see what this kid is really made of,’ he thought.

From the very beginning, neither of the two paid Song Wanning any mind.

A long whip and a giant hammer flew toward Song Wanning and Mo Yuan. Mo Yun chose to face Song Wanning.

"Forced" to act, Song Wanning let go of Mo Yuan and engaged her opponent, the two of them instantly locked in a high-speed battle.

Her expression was dead serious, and the power she unleashed was surprisingly on par with Mo Yun’s. In the blink of an eye, the fighting grew fiercer.

That left Mo Yuan forced to face Mo Yu.

Mo Yu swung his giant hammer and brought it smashing down. Mo Yuan, with no strength to fight back, was sent flying.

But Mo Yu didn’t stop. He hammered down again and again. Mo Yuan coughed up blood in mid-air, tumbling away like a kite with a broken string.

SPIT—

The bones in his body shattered under the blow, and crimson blood soaked the ground where he landed.

Mo Yuan couldn’t muster any more strength and collapsed on the ground, paralyzed.

Mo Yu approached again, swinging his giant hammer.

’The Demon Lord only said he wanted him back alive. A cripple is still alive, isn’t it?’

A savage glint flashed in Mo Yu’s eyes. He raised the giant hammer high and brought it smashing down viciously toward Mo Yuan.

If this strike landed, Mo Yuan’s cultivation would be completely destroyed.

Mo Yuan stared intently as the giant hammer fell, but a sneer unexpectedly appeared on his face.

’That bastard is waiting for me to get back so he can try to open the Demon Sea...’

’Fine, I’ll grant his wish. Let that bastard feel the full power of the Demon Sea for himself.’

At that moment, Mo Yuan had resolved to take them all down with him.

But just as the giant hammer was about to land, a familiar figure flashed before his eyes once more.

She had her back to the giant hammer as she reached out to grab him.

BOOM—

The giant hammer slammed viciously into her.

"Ngh—"

Song Wanning let out a muffled grunt. Blood trickled from the corner of her mouth, but her expression didn’t change. Instead, she used the momentum from the blow to grab Mo Yuan and flee at high speed.

Mo Yuan froze. He remained in a daze even as her cold fingers wrapped around his arm.

’She...’

’She didn’t abandon me? She actually risked her life to save me?’

Mo Yuan’s first instinct was that Song Wanning must be after something. From childhood, his life had been filled with nothing but calculation and betrayal.