For five or six peaceful days, nothing happened. Then, at last, Song Wanníng received news from Luo Hantian.
"I've asked around. A newly ascended cultivator mentioned that in a secret place, he once saw the Xirang. But it had a spirit of its own. He couldn't catch it at all and could only watch it run away. After that, he never saw it again. Now I'll tell you the approximate location. Whether you can find it will depend on yourself."
Luo Hantian had invested quite a bit in Song Wanníng and naturally did not want to see her get into trouble. Along with the coordinates he sent, there was also a map recorded by that cultivator. It marked several dangerous spots, helping Song Wanníng avoid many risks.
She was pleasantly surprised and thanked Luo Hantian.
In the lower realm, even if a cultivator knew about the Xi Rang, they would never share the information, in case they had a chance to seize it themselves. But the spirit realm was different. Since they had no fate with it anymore, they might as well sell the news to earn a favor from Luo Hantian. Naturally, some were willing to do it.
With this news in hand, Song Wanníng could no longer sit still. She could study her inheritance slowly, but if the Xi Rang ran away, it would be gone for good. Still, she quickly calmed herself. A congenital spiritual object like the Xi Rang would not be so easy to obtain, even if she found it.
Better to…
Her eyes flashed as she took out her message talisman.
Since Bai Yang was eager to prove his loyalty, wouldn't it be a waste not to make use of him?
A faint, cold curve lifted her lips. She finally replied to Bai Yang's talisman, telling him to leave Ye Chuxue for now and come help her find something.
She then gave him a meeting point.
Song Wanníng was cautious and did not tell Bai Yang the actual destination, in case he tried to get there ahead of her.
Once she received Bai Yang's excited reply, she packed up and set off.
…
At the same time, Bai Yang put away the talisman with a broad smile. His Master had finally replied to him, and she even wanted to take him along to find something. It was as if his life had returned to him. Days of frustration melted away in an instant.
Master must have forgiven him. This time, he had to perform well. He could not disappoint her again. With his heart burning with renewed determination, Bai Yang rushed toward the meeting point.
Several days later, he arrived.
Putting away his flying treasure, he strode toward Song Wanníng with obvious delight. "Master!"
Song Wanníng turned at the sound. Her expression was cool as she nodded slightly, her gaze sweeping over Bai Yang's cultivation. A faint trace of satisfaction flickered in her eyes. The stronger Bai Yang's cultivation, the greater their chance of capturing the Xi Rang.
Bai Yang misread her look, taking it as concern for him. His heart warmed further. He had made mistakes before. He would never act foolishly again.
Song Wanníng caught his "renewed resolve" and the corner of her mouth twitched faintly.
People were like this.
Treat them well without restraint and they would grow greedy, thinking it all a matter of course. Only when it was taken away would they realize how good they had it, and only then would gratitude be born.
Putting aside her private thoughts, she let Bai Yang onto her flying carpet, and together they headed toward the location Luo Hantian had given, moving at full speed.
On the way, she told Bai Yang about the Xi Rang. "I need the Xi Rang. When the time comes, you will give me your full support."
She offered no reward, and Bai Yang did not care. This was his chance to mend their relationship. He could not fail.
Even at their fastest pace, it still took them half a month to arrive.
The place had changed with time.
The mountains and valleys that were once here had turned into a great river flowing north to south. Its rushing current constantly sent up splashes and waves, the sound of water striking stone never ceasing.
Song Wanníng frowned slightly. It seemed that a long time had passed since that man had seen the Xi Rang. Whether it was still here was uncertain.
"Master, do we need to cross the river?"
Bai Yang's expression was cautious as he studied the water.
"Standing here, I feel something's not right."
It was a strong but vague feeling. He just could not find the source.
"No rush. Let's look around first."
Song Wanníng shook her head. If even Bai Yang's instincts sensed something amiss, this place would not be simple.
Guiding the carpet down, she led Bai Yang in a sweep around the area.
After several passes yielded nothing, she simply had them split up to search. Bai Yang agreed readily and began searching with even greater effort. If he could find the Xi Rang himself, it would surely earn Master's admiration. The past could be written off, and his guilt could be laid to rest.
After much searching, Bai Yang's foot suddenly sank into a hole.
"Hiss—"
He almost twisted his ankle. Looking down, he saw a dark hole in the ground. At the same time, something black splashed onto his shoe and held fast, refusing to come off no matter how he pulled.
"Master!"
Bai Yang shouted. In the next heartbeat, Song Wanníng flickered into place beside him.
"What happened?"
She glanced at the dark hole, a spark flashing in her eyes. They had searched this area earlier without seeing it, and now it had appeared out of nowhere.
"Take off your shoe and let me see."
"Alright!"
Bai Yang hurried to remove the shoe, but it remained firmly stuck in the hole.
They crouched down to examine it more closely.
Suddenly, a black, mud-like mass shot upward from the hole, whipping toward them.
Song Wanníng's reflexes were swift. She caught it in one hand, only to feel an instant of searing pain burn into her palm.
It could hurt her!
She tossed the black mud away without hesitation, sending it "by pure chance" toward Bai Yang.
"Hiss!"
A hole burned into Bai Yang's arm, and he quickly flung it away.
"What is this?"
He stared at the black mud in puzzlement. This was definitely not the Xi Rang.
Song Wanníng had never seen it either, but she had no time to answer. The black mud suddenly lunged at them again.
As if anticipating they would dodge, the mud split in an instant into countless tiny black specks, sweeping toward them like a storm.
"Not good."
Her palm was still tingling and burning. Without a second thought, both of them dodged aside while striking back at the same time.
A powerful sword-light sliced through the specks, breaking them into a mist of fine black particles.
Wherever those particles touched, the grass and trees burned away, turning to ash in just a few breaths.
Bai Yang's pupils contracted. "What in the world was this mud, to be so deadly?"
His expression grew tense, and he hurried after Song Wanníng as they retreated at full speed.
The black mud quickly reformed into a single mass, chasing them.
Whenever they struck back, it scattered into specks again, evading every attack.
After more than ten exchanges, the mud remained unharmed, while Song Wanníng and Bai Yang were forced to retreat farther and farther, looking increasingly disheveled.
Soon, they found themselves driven to the riverbank.
The water splashed up against them, and in the next moment, even the droplets turned into black specks.