Morning glow rose from the horizon, and those strange human faces slowly withdrew back into the flowers.
As if nothing had happened, the surroundings fell silent, exuding an eerie calm.
Song Wanníng furrowed her brows and noticed that apart from these peculiar flowers, there were only towering trees around—not a single blade of grass in sight.
It was clear how domineering these flowers were, having completely drained all life energy nearby.
After a long while, once they confirmed nothing else unusual remained, Song Wanníng and Baili Shang jumped down from the tree and approached the human-faced flower again. After a night had passed, the face in the flower's core seemed slightly more vivid.
Whether that was just a trick of the mind, they couldn't tell.
Their expressions grew more serious.
"This matter might not be something we can intervene in. Let's leave for now and come back if we get another chance."
Song Wanníng felt there was more behind this and worried about provoking some powerful figure. She had come to make things difficult for Huo Jinchuan, not to cause trouble for herself.
Baili Shang also sensed the danger and nodded. Without hesitation, they decided to leave immediately.
But about an hour after they left, a figure suddenly appeared.
The man carried an extraordinary aura, his face obscured and indistinct.
He glanced down at the human-faced flower that looked the best among the rest. A satisfied glint flashed in his eyes.
"It won't be long before my wish is fulfilled. When that time comes… heh heh heh…"
The man let out a low laugh, his eyes full of boundless ambition.
One day, he would reach a height no one else could touch. When that happened, those in his family would all regret it!
...
Away from the human-faced flowers, Song Wanníng and Baili Shang resumed searching along the border.
However, unlocking the barrier had eluded all four realms for hundreds of thousands of years. Naturally, she would not succeed easily either.
But Song Wanníng firmly believed that if the Heavenly Dao knew of her plan, it would approve. Though it could not guide her directly, it would still find ways to assist her. Because of this, she felt no rush.
By the time they finished surveying the entire border line, more than a year had passed. Though they found no way to break the barrier, they came upon a strange place.
It was a severed cliff, with thick black demonic energy boiling below. Clouds and mist rose, filling the area with a mysterious and dangerous atmosphere.
Baili Shang sensed the aura and said, "The demonic energy here is extremely dense."
Song Wanníng took out the map and looked, "This is the Demon God Valley, said to be where the Demon God practiced in life…"
She frowned. This place gave no sense of familiarity, only hostility.
The legend was likely false.
"You feel it too?" Baili Shang asked with a dark expression, his face growing even sterner.
Song Wanníng nodded, realizing he also detected the heavy malice.
"Why would Huo Jinchuan come here? Isn't he a spirit cultivator?"
A flicker of doubt crossed Song Wanníng's eyes. If not for Huo Jinchuan's location on the map, they would never have chased him here.
She originally planned to profit from the situation, but the Huo clan's chase of Huo Jinchuan seemed over. His location had not moved for a long time.
Not wanting to give him a chance to recover, Song Wanníng decided to come and cause trouble again. But upon arrival, something felt wrong. How could a spirit cultivator like Huo Jinchuan be lingering here?
"Could Huo Jinchuan have fallen to demon?"
Baili Shang's brows tightened. Falling to demon was entirely different from being a demon cultivator. Although both were demons, those who fell lost their sanity over time, eventually becoming material for inner demons, breaking their immortal path for good.
Song Wanníng knew the feeling all too well. Memories from her past life flashed through her mind, her face slightly changing. She had not recalled those unbearable past life memories for a long time, and now they seemed distant.
"If that is true, this place might be Huo Jinchuan's lair."
Her heart skipped a beat. "Perhaps that great array is here…"
If so, it could explain the intense malice they sensed.
Because the array was watching them closely, waiting to absorb their Luck.
They exchanged a glance and instinctively retreated several hundred meters before stopping.
"Let's not rush closer. We need to think of a plan first."
Song Wanníng wanted to send Huo Jinchuan to eternal ruin, but it would take some effort.
She brought Baili Shang aside to discuss their strategy.
He understood her intention, though not the reason. It was clear she intended to fight Huo Jinchuan to the death, and this cliff bottom had to be investigated.
"If an array that absorbs Luck really exists, it must require a huge amount of energy to maintain. We know nothing about the size of the array. It's better not to take risks." He warned her kindly, hoping she would not let hatred lead her into danger.
Song Wanníng understood but insisted the array must be destroyed.
Huo Jinchuan might not be able to defeat them, but that didn't mean he couldn't take others. If he truly strengthened his Luck through such means, how could she ever destroy him later?
So it had to be wiped out at the cradle.
"Baili Shang, if I gave you an array inheritance, could you find a way to reverse the array? For example, the array could be turned against its caster, absorbing the caster's Luck instead?"
A terrifying thought flashed in Song Wanníng's mind. If it could be reversed, Huo Jinchuan would be finished.
That would be the safest approach.
The best way to lure him into a trap.
"Hmm?"
Baili Shang was stunned. He thought Song Wanníng's idea was pure fantasy.
An array that absorbs Luck was not so easily reversed.
"I doubt there is hope, unless it's the Super Grade Ninefold Star-Shift Array…
But that has long been lost. Even I have only heard of it. And even if one learned it, it might still not meet your demands."
His expression darkened as he spoke. It wasn't inability but how high Song Wanníng's expectations were.
Even he could not do it.
"Let's consider other options."
He sighed, about to say more when Song Wanníng took out a classic text and handed it to him.
"It's here. The array you mentioned is here. There may even be many arrays that can help!"
Song Wanníng ignored Baili Shang's surprise. This inheritance from Senior Feng Jiuxiao was finally useful.
Moreover, Baili Shang had exceptional talent in arrays and no sect background. After ascending, he could fully apprentice under Senior Feng Jiuxiao.