Though she had fallen behind at first, Song Wanníng caught up step by step. In less than an hour, she had overtaken Ye Chuxue and reached the tenth trial.
At first, Mu Zixu would still grumble now and then. But by the end, he could only glare in silence, so angry that even his beard looked crooked.
Immortal Lord Moyang was still observing from here. That black-clad girl was clearly doing this on purpose, trying to step on the white-clad one to rise above her.
Fortunately, he had sharp eyes and saw through her schemes. He would never let her get her way.
Before long, Song Wanníng passed the tenth trial smoothly and arrived at the final inheritance hall. Her pace was so fast that even Wang Yang couldn't help feeling a little sorry for her. It was obvious Mu Zixu didn't like her. Even though she arrived first, it wouldn't change his opinion.
"She's fast, I'll give her that."
Mu Zixu glanced at the white-clad girl. She was now challenging the tenth trial. It wouldn't take long before she entered the inheritance hall as well.
He gave a cold snort. "Then I suppose I should go meet this girl myself."
He had left a trace of his divine sense in the lower realm's inheritance hall. It hadn't dissipated yet, so he could use it as a vessel to build a bridge between them.
...
Inside the inheritance hall, row upon row of spirit tablets lined the shelves.
Too many to count.
Song Wanníng paused, surprised.
She had expected the inheritance hall to be filled with secret techniques or precious artifacts, maybe even rare pills. She never imagined it would be spirit tablets, and nothing but spirit tablets.
Layer after layer, row after row, neatly arranged.
The air carried a solemn, tragic weight.
How many lives had been lost here?
Her brows furrowed slightly as she scanned the hall.
The topmost row of tablets belonged to Nascent Soul stage cultivators from the Yaowang Sect. They surrounded one central name—an expert from the Soul Transformation stage.
After the ancient war, the Yao Void Realm had been split in two. In the lower realm where they now lived, cultivation was capped at the Soul Transformation stage.
The upper realm, known as the Spirit Realm, held denser spiritual energy and was the dream of every lower realm cultivator.
A complete cultivation path should go from Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and Core Formation, to Nascent Soul, Soul Transformation, Void Refinement, Unity, and Great Ascension, before finally ascending to the Immortal Realm.
Her master had already ascended more than fifty years ago. Was he doing well now?
Song Wanníng's gaze became distant, but her heart grew firmer.
Not only would she ascend herself, she would bring her family with her. It was what she owed them from her past life. Bai Yang and Ye Chuxue would be the stepping stones for that.
Just as this thought settled in her heart, a vague silhouette appeared in the hall. It was Mu Zixu.
"State your name. Who are you?"
Mu Zixu's eyes were cold as he stared at Song Wanníng. His thoughts, however, were on Ye Chuxue. That white-clad girl should have succeeded by now.
Before Song Wanníng could answer, the grand doors opened. As expected, Ye Chuxue stepped through.
Her face had been lit with joy, but the moment she saw Song Wanníng already inside, her expression froze. Someone had arrived before her. Could she have already claimed the inheritance?
Her heart sank, but upon seeing Mu Zixu nearby, she quickly forced a smile and greeted him. "Senior."
Mu Zixu felt immediately pleased and gave a satisfied nod.
His judgment was always spot on.
And this time was no different.
Song Wanníng had been watching his eyes the entire time, naturally noticing the change in his expression and attitude. Her own eyes narrowed slightly.
So even though she passed first, Mu Zixu's favoritism still leaned toward Ye Chuxue. She glanced at Ye Chuxue, the corners of her lips curving faintly under the mask. This time, she would watch with her own eyes how Ye Chuxue planned to take what belonged to her.
"This is the inheritance hall of the Yaowang Sect," Mu Zixu declared, his tone lofty. Suspended in the air, he looked down on the two girls.
His presence carried an oppressive weight, naturally evoking awe and deference.
"This really is the inheritance hall?"
Ye Chuxue's eyes lit up. She clenched her fists with excitement. "The Yaowang Sect's reputation is legendary. To witness it in person, it truly lives up to its name!"
"Meeting you, Senior, is the fortune of a lifetime."
If she wanted to stand out, she had to try harder.
Sweet words cost nothing, and they might make up for the disadvantage of arriving second.
Everyone liked praise. That included seniors.
Ye Chuxue's eyes burned with determination. She had to obtain this inheritance. Without it, how could she surpass Song Wanníng?
She could already imagine Song Wanníng's shocked, defeated expression, scrambling away in disgrace.
"Heh... what a clever little girl."
Mu Zixu's mood brightened. The girl had a sharp tongue and a quick mind. The more he looked, the more he liked her.
In contrast, the black-clad girl was full of killing intent, unruly and defiant. She didn't look like someone seeking an inheritance at all.
She looked more like someone here to cause trouble.
He grew even more displeased.
"And you?" he said, turning to Song Wanníng. "Nothing to say?"
Song Wanníng tilted her head slightly, looked up at him, and spoke in a disguised voice. "I came here seeking the Yaowang Sect's inheritance as well. I just didn't expect the sect to have withered so much. Most are already dead."
In her past life, she had bowed her head too many times for Gu Qingyuan.
In this life, she would bow to no one.
Especially not someone whose hostility was so obvious. She wasn't a fool.
Her words struck Mu Zixu's sorest spot. His expression darkened, and he barked, "Watch your tongue! The Yaowang Sect's legacy continues. Even in the Spirit Realm, we still stand tall. Who are you to speak so ignorantly?"
"You came here just to stir up trouble, didn't you?"
He made no effort to hide his disdain. Ye Chuxue couldn't help feeling pleased.
What a fool. Offending a senior like that—was she stupid?
With that kind of emotional intelligence, she dared dream of competing for the inheritance?
Pure delusion.
"Senior, please don't be angry," she said gently. "I'm sure this fellow cultivator simply doesn't know much about the Yaowang Sect. That's why she spoke out of ignorance. If she could witness the Sect's past glory, I'm sure she would understand how mistaken she was."
She smiled considerately, her words carefully crafted to steer the conversation.
Before her transmigration, she had been a director at a large company, managing over a hundred people. How else could she have risen through the ranks without emotional intelligence and skill?
Now that she was in another world, she would continue to crush every obstacle in her path.
That falsely modest, smug expression made Song Wanníng narrow her eyes.
Ye Chuxue had always been like this. Deep down she clearly despised her, yet always pretended to be noble and understanding, as if putting on a show of virtue.
Fake to the core.
Utterly disgusting.
"You said it yourself—that was the past.
But times have changed. The Yaowang Sect has already been erased from the lower realm. That is a fact, not an opinion. For someone who claims to know the sect so well, don't tell me you didn't know even that?
Seems to me the one who knows little about the Yaowang Sect... is you."