Chapter 644 - 651: The Curse is Broken

Her sword rose and fell, swiftly taking the lives of those monsters.

Li Qingya still intended to retreat.

Song Wanning, however, had no intention of letting her go.

Li Qingya definitely had someone backing her, and it was highly likely to be Gong Ye.

Letting Li Qingya go now would only lead to more trouble later.

Song Wanning’s mind raced. Suddenly, she shouted, "Li Qingya, how about we make a bet?"

"If you lose, you’ll take me to Gong Ye!"

"And if you lose?"

Li Qingya stopped dead in her tracks and asked coldly.

"If I lose, I’m at your mercy!"

Song Wanning smiled. All she needed was for Li Qingya to accept the wager.

"So, what’s the bet?"

Li Qingya didn’t agree right away, a shrewd glint in her eyes.

She quieted the monsters and had them retreat to her side, forming a tight protective circle around her.

She scrutinized Song Wanning’s every expression, trying to make sure she wasn’t lying.

Song Wanning’s expression was serene, her aura continuing to grow stronger.

The Flower Clan Leader was also steadily recovering. With her mind at ease, she could now focus all her attention on Li Qingya.

The corners of her lips curled into a smile, a chill rising in her eyes.

"Let’s bet on whether you can kill me."

"What?"

Li Qingya was stunned, thinking she had misheard.

"You heard me right. The bet is whether or not you can kill me."

Song Wanning strolled a step forward, her gaze on Li Qingya deep and meaningful.

"I know you’re targeting me because someone put you up to it. Otherwise, you’d be lying low and hiding somewhere right now."

"So, I’m giving you this chance."

As she spoke, she put away her Longsword and descended from mid-air.

Completely defenseless, she walked toward Li Qingya.

"I’m giving you a chance. A chance to kill me."

And so, step by step, Song Wanning walked right up to Li Qingya.

Li Qingya was utterly stunned, staring at Song Wanning as if she were a fool.

"Are you crazy? Or is this some kind of trick?"

She couldn’t believe Song Wanning would simply offer herself up to be killed.

’It must be a trap!’

But Song Wanning simply shrugged. "I just want you to face reality."

"Following Gong Ye will only lead to your death."

"If you don’t believe me, you can try right now."

She leaned forward, clearly exposing her neck to Li Qingya.

A single strike was all it would take to snap that elegant, swan-like neck in two.

Li Qingya’s fingers twitched, her eyes still full of suspicion.

But such a perfect opportunity was right in front of her. If she passed it up, she would regret it forever.

A murderous glint flashed in her eyes. "You said it!"

"I’d like to see what gives you the audacity to make such an empty boast!!!"

Li Qingya snorted coldly, then quickly drew a Longsword and viciously swung it at Song Wanning’s neck.

To prevent Song Wanning from playing tricks, she was prepared to flee at any moment.

Yet Song Wanning remained completely still, just watching her with a smile.

Her gaze held a profound meaning.

A flicker of panic went through Li Qingya’s heart, but her Longsword continued its path toward Song Wanning without hesitation.

With this strike, Song Wanning’s death was certain.

However, just as the Longsword was about to strike her neck, the sky let out a sudden BOOM. A bolt of Heavenly Thunder descended, blasting Li Qingya away.

The Heavenly Thunder, filled with potent rage, unleashed its full fury upon Li Qingya.

She was struck so hard she coughed up a mouthful of blood, her internal organs shattered. Collapsing to the ground, she was already more than half dead.

She was completely dazed by the blow, unable to regain her senses for a long moment.

Until a pair of shoes entered her line of sight.

Li Qingya dazedly lifted her head to see Song Wanning’s triumphant, smiling face.

The sight shocked her back to her senses. She stared at Song Wanning’s face, her eyes numb, a feeling of utter helplessness welling up inside her.

Disbelief flooded her, but it was quickly overshadowed by despair.

Because she knew exactly what that bolt of thunder represented.

"You lose."

Song Wanning’s soft voice sounded, but it was like a chilling curse.

Li Qingya felt as if a core belief within her had just crumbled.

’How could the Heavenly Dao casually obliterate one living being for the sake of another?’

’And why would the Heavenly Dao protect Song Wanning like this?’

’She couldn’t understand.’

’She just couldn’t understand!’

’No wonder Song Wanning was so brazen.’

"Heh heh heh..."

Li Qingya lay on the ground and suddenly started laughing.

It was a laugh of absurdity and helplessness.

’Gong Ye was still scheming to kill Song Wanning, completely unaware that it was all just a pipe dream.’

’Thinking back on her own preparations made it all seem even more farcical.’

’She was a joke. A complete and utter joke.’

"Hahahaha..."

...

Her Cultivation was continuously rising, but Song Wanning’s expression remained calm.

By the time the gift from the Plant and Wood Clan stopped, her Cultivation had stabilized at the Peak of Integration.

She had jumped several minor realms in one go.

Meanwhile, the Flower Clan Leader had not only recovered but was even showing faint signs of impending ascension.

Somewhat dazed, but with a trace of joy, he climbed out of the deep pit.

"The curse... the curse is broken?"

The Flower Clan Leader found it incredible. He had been so sure he was going to die.

But when he awoke, not only was his Cultivation restored, it was even stronger than before!

’It’s like a dream.’

Song Wanning smiled and walked towards him, "Congratulations, your wish has come true!"

She told the Flower Clan Leader what had happened at the end. When he heard that the Plant and Wood Clan had rushed out to protect him at the final moment, his eyes reddened once more.

He hadn’t cried when he was on the verge of death.

But now, he found he couldn’t hold back his tears.

The Flower Clan Leader took a deep breath, suppressing the powerful emotions in his heart, and gave Song Wanning a solemn bow.

"Song Dao You, I will never forget the great debt the Plant and Wood Clan owes you. In the future, if you ever need anything, I will not hesitate to help!!!"

If it weren’t for Song Wanning, the curse never would have been broken.

The Plant and Wood Clan would have been trapped here forever.

Song Wanning accepted his bow graciously, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"You’re too kind, Clan Leader. If not for the mutual devotion between you and the Plant and Wood Clan, this curse could not have been broken."

The true key to breaking the curse wasn’t the number of Divine Thunder bolts, but the final act of the Plant and Wood Clan rushing out to shield the Flower Clan Leader, exposing themselves to the Divine Thunder.

That was the true final step to breaking the curse.

She hadn’t understood it, the Bodhi Tree Spirit hadn’t understood it, and naturally, the Flower Clan Leader hadn’t either.

If the Plant and Wood Clan had been heartless, the curse-breaking ritual would have failed.

And the Flower Clan Leader truly would have died.

Hearing her explanation, a wave of retrospective fear washed over the Flower Clan Leader.

’Thankfully, the outcome was a good one!’

He started to laugh and strode towards the members of the Plant and Wood Clan.

One after another, Tree Spirits and Spirit Grasses emerged from their physical forms, no longer bearing the grief and despair of the past.