Chapter 430 - 436: Discussing Cooperation

On the paper was a map.

Song Wanning glanced at it but couldn’t make out the details, so she looked away.

Baili Shang, however, unfurled the map right in front of Song Wanning.

"This is a map of the Central Domain. A Cultivator from my Demon Clan risked their life to bring it out several hundred years ago."

He then pointed to a location on the map and said, "This place is the Demon God Tomb, rumored to be where the ancient Demon God fell!"

’The Demon God Tomb?’

Song Wanning’s heart sank, and her gaze flew to the spot.

’Could it be the Demon God she knew?’

What Baili Shang said next shocked her even more.

"Rumor has it that the Demon God found the Demon God Origin... but with her fall, the Demon God Origin also vanished!"

"If I’m not mistaken, the Demon God Origin is most likely inside this Demon God Tomb!"

His expression was serious, his eyes filled with a powerful sense of determination.

’The Demon God Origin is crucial for me. Perhaps I will be the next Demon God!’

The only reason he dared to tell Song Wanning this was because she was a Spirit Cultivator. The Demon God Origin would be useless to her even if she obtained it, so she naturally wouldn’t compete with him for it.

But he didn’t know that Song Wanning was reeling, struggling to suppress her shock.

She had obtained the Demon God Origin long ago, and it had transformed into her internal world.

Her expression was calm, but her mind was racing.

’Did Baili Shang notice something unusual about me? Is he deliberately testing me?’

’I have to be on my guard!’

"Since you have the map, Young Master, you can go find it yourself. Why tell me?"

"I can’t be of any help."

Song Wanning lifted her teacup and took another sip, staring at Baili Shang’s expression without blinking, trying to discern his true intentions.

"There’s no way Huo Jinchuan brought us here for something as simple as a Pill Recipe. He must have other motives."

"That’s why I need to cooperate with you. Only by escaping will I have the chance to go looking for the Demon God Tomb."

Baili Shang’s gaze was deep as he said to Song Wanning, "I know you’re an intelligent woman. Your abilities are definitely greater than your current Cultivation level suggests."

"I trust my judgment."

’Song Wanning is definitely no ordinary person. My intuition is usually very accurate.’

"So, if you cooperate with me, I will certainly help you achieve your goals."

’Although I don’t know what brought Song Wanning here, I’ll do anything within my power to help her.’

’As for Xiao Heyun... forget that idiot.’

’He’ll just end up ruining the plan.’

After making his proposal, Baili Shang fell silent, lifting his teacup and draining it in one go.

’If Song Wanning chooses not to cooperate, that’s fine too. It will just be more difficult for me!’

The room was quiet. Song Wanning pretended to ponder Baili Shang’s words, but in truth, she had already made her decision.

’The Demon God Tomb... I want to see it too. Perhaps I can see the Demon God’s remnant soul again?’

’As for the Demon God Origin, since it has already fused with me, it’s impossible for him to detect it.’

’So, Baili Shang just wants to use me to deal with Huo Jinchuan together, is that it?’

’As for this map...’

Song Wanning sneered inwardly. ’It’s definitely a fake!’

"Alright, I can agree to your proposal, but I have a condition!"

She said with a solemn expression, "I want you to help me steal the Dan Sect’s Alchemy Dao inheritance."

Baili Shang was speechless.

’So Song Wanning was after the Alchemy Dao inheritance?’

He looked up, staring into Song Wanning’s eyes, trying to read her, but he could only see his own face reflected in their bright depths.

Averting his gaze, he nodded.

’Regardless, they had reached an agreement, at least on the surface.’

’As for what happened along the way... well, that was beyond anyone’s control.’

...

Baili Shang left Song Wanning’s room under the cover of night. Just as her door shut, he heard Xiao Heyun’s door next to it open.

Xiao Heyun’s icy gaze fell upon Song Wanning, full of criticism and scrutiny. He looked like a wife who had just caught her husband cheating, silently leveling accusations at her.

Song Wanning’s expression darkened. Then, as if suddenly thinking of something, she lifted her foot and kicked a nearby pebble into the air.

Xiao Heyun’s groin immediately clenched. He clamped his legs together out of what seemed like muscle memory, his expression one of horror for a split second.

"Pfft—"

Song Wanning burst into laughter, her clear peal of amusement spreading through the surroundings.

The blatant mockery in her laugh made Xiao Heyun’s face darken with rage, and he was so embarrassed he wished he could find a hole to crawl into.

He scrambled back into his room, slamming the door shut with a BANG.

In front of Song Wanning, his carefully constructed facade would crumble in less than a minute.

"Damn it! That bitch... she actually mocked me!"

Xiao Heyun trashed his room, his eyes filled with hatred.

[Host, please remember at all times that she is your enemy, not your woman!]

The system’s patience was gradually running out. Even now, Xiao Heyun harbored a strange sense of possessiveness toward Song Wanning.

Just moments ago, upon learning that Baili Shang had come to see Song Wanning in the middle of the night, he had rushed out in a panic.

’But what does she have to do with him?’

’No, this can’t go on. This idiot is going to drag me down with him.’

’I have to find a new host!’

’Baili Shang?’

’Huo Jinchuan?’

’Both of those men are the cream of the crop—powerful and influential. Courting women would be a breeze for them, yielding twice the results with half the effort. They’re a hundred times better than Xiao Heyun!’

’But how do I unbind from Xiao Heyun?’

The system fell silent.

...

The next morning, a Dan Sect elder personally led the trio on a tour of the sect’s various locations, even allowing them to enter the Book Collection Pavilion to peruse the books.

Soon, word of their arrival spread throughout the Dan Sect, and everyone knew they were there to repair a Pill Recipe.

"Hmph, if we can’t do it, how could a bunch of country bumpkins from the Four Domains possibly succeed?"

Some disciples questioned Huo Jinchuan’s decision, believing it to be pure fantasy.

But other disciples felt that Huo Jinchuan had done the right thing.

"The Alchemy Dao traditions of the Four Domains might not come from the same lineage as ours. Just because we can’t do it, doesn’t mean they can’t. It’s possible they might be able to."

"Do you think they’ll end up staying in the Dan Sect? After all, this is a rare chance to enter the Central Domain. Once they leave, they can never come back!"

"It’s very possible. They might even become our junior martial brothers and sisters."

"Tch, who would want to be martial siblings with them..."

Everywhere they went, disciples whispered about them. Song Wanning and the other two pretended not to notice the disdain in their eyes, but their hearts grew colder.

This was especially true for Song Wanning, as it reminded her of her time in the Lower World.

The people from the Secluded Land had been just as arrogant, looking down on outsiders like her as country bumpkins unworthy of their company.

She narrowed her eyes, a flicker of Evil Qi flashing in their depths.

’The Central Domain only dares to be this arrogant because it’s protected by the Space Barrier.’

’Once that barrier is destroyed, the dense Spiritual Energy will flow out to the Four Domains.’

’Then we’ll see who’s looking down on whom!’

But the thought was fleeting. Her priority right now was to diminish Huo Jinchuan’s good fortune!