"Exactly, Senior Brother's right. We don't dare claim anything else, but when it comes to alchemy, we're definitely above her!"
Feng San immediately picked up the thread, excitement flashing in his eyes.
"Master, please give us another chance. We'll make sure Song Wanníng pays for today!"
Their words finally calmed Mu Zixu down.
They really weren't wrong. No matter how heaven-defying Song Wanníng's talent was, she'd never had the chance to refine immortal-grade pills. Even if she crammed like crazy right now, there was no way she'd surpass disciples who'd spent years immersed in the pill arts.
When the alchemy competition came, she wouldn't have any room to act arrogant.
He pushed down the burning anger in his eyes and stared at them with a cold, unreadable expression.
"Fine, I'll give you one more chance. If you embarrass me again, you can wait for your punishment."
Mu Zixu's voice cracked like a whip, a trace of irritation flashing through his gaze.
"Master, don't worry, we won't lose again!"
"Right, right!"
The disciples rushed to make their promise, confidence blazing in their eyes.
Mu Zixu snorted coldly. "Then what are you standing around for? Get back and improve your pill techniques."
The moment the words left his mouth, they bolted like they'd been pardoned from execution, tumbling over themselves as they scrambled back to their courtyards. This alchemy competition would decide their place in Mu Zixu's heart, so they couldn't afford even the slightest mistake.
Watching them flee, Mu Zixu felt a deep sense of satisfaction. He loved this feeling of being feared and respected, and he enjoyed the weight of power resting in his hands. Only by constantly improving his alchemy could he keep his position unshakable.
As for Song Wanníng…
A cold light glinted in his eyes.
Dealing with her was only a matter of time. This wasn't an era where just anyone could fool him. If he personally made a move, Song Wanníng wouldn't stand a chance.
…
Inside the Scripture Pavilion, Song Wanníng was still searching through rows of manuals.
There were countless cultivation arts stored here. She'd already selected two books and planned to compare them, but for some reason, none of them resonated with her. Holding each technique gave her nothing more than the feeling of an ordinary manual, something that didn't quite fit with her. Because of that, she wasn't about to choose carelessly. She kept searching.
But there were simply too many manuals. She flipped through them until her eyes felt blurry, yet still couldn't find one that suited her. She sighed softly and resigned herself to keep looking.
Then, in the next moment, a faint glow flickered in the corner of her vision. Her brows lifted slightly. She turned toward the source of the light and found a manual sitting high on the shelf.
A gentle golden radiance shimmered from it, mixed with a strange, familiar aura.
Song Wanníng felt drawn to it. She lifted her hand, and the manual shot into her grasp.
It settled into her palms.
Song Wanníng lowered her head. On the cover were four characters: Hunyuan Heart Scripture.
A plain name, nothing flashy.
But the moment she held it, a warm, familiar sensation spread through her chest.
"Jiejie, this manual's not simple at all."
Long Ling poked her head out, drawn by the unusual aura.
Song Wanníng nodded and flipped open the first page.
She was instantly pulled in.
An hour passed before she finally closed it. Her fingers trembled with excitement. She couldn't wait to go back and start cultivating.
This was the one.
This manual's power was immense. She could cultivate it all the way to the Daluo Jinxian realm without ever needing to switch techniques. If her talent allowed, rising even higher wasn't impossible.
Song Wanníng returned the other manuals, then clutched the Hunyuan Heart Scripture tightly in her hands.
She also needed a sword manual.
Her swordsmanship had fallen behind. What used to be her strongest weapon was no longer something she could rely on.
And her physical strength… in the Immortal Realm, it wasn't nearly enough.
Song Wanníng felt time slipping through her fingers. Cultivation had no end. There were too many things she needed to fix.
After another round of careful searching, she finally found two sword manuals that matched her path well. But she didn't intend to just replicate someone else's techniques. Her true goal was to develop a sword path unique to her, just like the one Mo Yang Xiānzūn had forged.
Light flashed sharply in her eyes as she hugged the chosen books and headed toward the first-floor hall.
Everything had to be registered. They couldn't take manuals outside, only copy them into jade slips.
But this Hunyuan Heart Scripture was different. No material could reproduce it. The sect had tried countless times, but every attempt ended with the recording tool crumbling apart.
When Song Wanníng walked out holding the manual, Lan Yue and Luo Xingyao exchanged a look that said, of course she picked that one.
Song Wanníng found their stares strange. She raised a brow.
Lan Yue smiled lightly and explained, "Almost every disciple in the sect has tried cultivating that manual."
It was a divine-level manual. Rumor said the sect's founder found it in a hidden realm. With its overwhelming power, the founder slowly established the Wuji Sect.
Because of its importance, it had always been placed in the most visible, highest position in the pavilion, waiting for someone destined to cultivate it. But the problem was that it was nearly impossible to comprehend. Even the most talented disciples of the Wuji Sect had failed.
Even Mo Yang Xiānzūn had tried, but never managed to enter the first stage.
So it went without saying that Lan Yue and Luo Xingyao weren't able to do it either. Every disciple who tried believed they were the exception. Only after being crushed by its difficulty did they finally give up. Because of that, neither of them tried to stop her.
Song Wanníng understood immediately. It wasn't an easy manual to cultivate. But since she'd chosen it, she'd at least try.
"I'll give it a shot. If it doesn't work out, I'll switch to something else."
With that, she headed to the registration desk.
The presiding elder took one look at the manual and revealed the same knowing expression. He reminded her, "Because this manual's special and can't be copied, you're allowed to take it with you. If you can't comprehend it, return it as soon as possible."
He paused before adding, "If you can comprehend it, you may keep it. But once a cultivator dies, the manual will return to the Scripture Pavilion on its own to wait for the next destined person."
That was the unique nature of a divine-level manual. It wasn't sentient, but it behaved like it was.
In short, it could never be lost.
"I understand. Thank you, Elder."
Song Wanníng carefully stored the jade slips and the manual away. After thanking him, she turned to leave. But once she stepped out of the Scripture Pavilion, Lan Yue and Luo Xingyao grabbed her from both sides.
Neither intended to let go.
They insisted she go see their master first, telling her not to rush into seclusion. After all, once she shut herself inside, who knew when she'd come out again? Their master certainly wasn't going to wait forever.