"Fine. If you say I killed them, then I'll take the blame. After all, a louse is nothing to fear when there are many, and having many enemies means death does not scare me."
Yao Ranran stared at him fearlessly.
The black-clad man seemed enraged by her words, his eyes widening. "Hmph, ignorant little girl. You were lucky the first two times. This time, there is no way I will let you leave alive!"
A surge of jade-green waves struck forward, filled with sharp blades and the undulating forms of water serpents. Venomous snake mouths snapped through the air. In the black-clad man's eyes, Yao Ranran could see the excitement of avenging a great grievance.
She held her breath and stepped back half a pace. The jade-green waves were easily avoided, leaving the black-clad man staring at her in shock.
Yao Ranran raised her Nine Lotus Ring, smiling. "My turn."
Mo Rui shouted urgently, "Do not give her a chance to strike!"
His warning came fast, but it was already too late.
Mu Xin did not even bother to stop him.
The Nine Lotus Ring floated lightly above the black-clad man's head. His confident expression gradually shattered, replaced instantly by pain.
"Senior!"
From the crowd, a sudden female voice called out. Yao Ranran turned toward it and glimpsed a familiar profile.
"Bai Qingwu?"
At that moment, Bai Qingwu had not yet noticed Yao Ranran had seen her. She ran to the black-clad man, hesitating as she looked at him.
"Senior… are you still alive?"
She wanted him to die, but not just yet.
The black-clad man's eyes moved stiffly. "Alive…"
The moment he said the word, his face instantly split into pieces, chunks falling to the ground.
Bai Qingwu paled, frozen in place.
Mo Rui's eyes widened in horror. "This time even his soul is destroyed…"
"He wronged me. I only killed one of his brothers."
Yao Ranran explained helplessly.
Mo Rui swallowed. "So that's why he died so fast?"
Mu Xin looked at her skeptically. With her killing speed, he did not believe the man was wronged. Poor brothers—three of them, and their deaths were this tragic.
Yao Ranran watched Bai Qingwu flee and chased after her.
"Where do you think you're going? You came to Hun Ling Mountain for Wuxiang Sect's treasures too, didn't you?"
Her words did not stop Bai Qingwu; if anything, she ran faster, using every secret technique at her disposal.
Mu Xin tangled with the remaining Spirit Realm cultivators, leaving Mo Rui alone.
"One more step and I'll cut off your head!"
Yao Ranran grabbed Bai Qingwu by the arm and pinned her to the ground.
Bai Qingwu turned to her in terror.
"You're not one of my people. You are a monster!"
Yao Ranran frowned. "I was once like you, but you focused your heart elsewhere, so naturally, you could not catch up to me."
"That's nonsense! I worked hard every day to defeat you, yet today, you were able to kill a Spirit Realm senior at a glance! Can this be achieved through effort alone? Is this even humanly possible?!"
Bai Qingwu poured out all her grievances. She truly felt wronged. Since being captured by the black-clad man, not a single day had been easy. She trained under torment every day, only to find that today, before she could act, the black-clad man was already dead before her.
Yao Ranran hesitated and let her go. "You sound reasonable. I have progressed a bit fast."
"A bit fast? That is not human!"
Bai Qingwu shouted in anger.
She truly hated it. How could someone else progress faster? She had barely gotten a chance to be the protagonist, yet now the main role went to this cannon-fodder female!
Yao Ranran nodded. "I know I am not human. Everyone says I am a fairy."
Bai Qingwu looked up at her helplessly.
Fine. She could not refute that, but could she be a little humble?
"Why are you following the Spirit Realm cultivators? Are you here for Wuxiang Sect's treasures? What do these treasures do that so many people are after them? Did the Spirit Realm cultivator bring you because they discovered your special nature?"
Yao Ranran went straight to the point, giving Bai Qingwu a headache.
"I don't know the answers to any of your questions!"
She silently vowed to tell her nothing.
Until a sword pressed against her throat, Yao Ranran's icy gaze met her. Her lips trembled. "I don't know, but I can help you analyze!"
"Speak," Yao Ranran demanded sharply.
Bai Qingwu swallowed. "They came to Hun Ling Mountain for the treasures, but these treasures do not truly belong to Wuxiang Sect. They are connected to the entire Lower Realm!"
She paused, a flicker of pride passing through hrt eyes.
"As if to say, I just told you a secret. Surprised?"
Yao Ranran remained calm. Seeing her pause, she glanced at her with mild curiosity.
"That's it? Nothing more?"
Bai Qingwu was stunned, then continued. "Also… they have released the Spirit Realm miasma. No one in the Lower Realm can escape it, so soon you will also be poisoned!"
She shouted the warning loudly.
Yao Ranran froze for a second. "Hasn't the miasma already been released?"
Bai Qingwu: "...You heard about it?"
"Of course. Who wouldn't know this news?"
Yao Ranran retorted.
Bai Qingwu glanced at Mu Xin and fell silent.
So they all knew!
"Good thing you didn't run, or more killing karma would have been added today."
Yao Ranran turned to Mo Rui.
Mo Rui's expression froze. He forced a smile. "Under the Xiānzhǔ's gaze, how could I dare to run!"
Mu Xin patted his shoulder, a sly grin on his face. "Xiānzhǔ, have you considered taking another mount? This old man seems sturdy enough!"
Mo Rui's face darkened. How could a sect master become a little girl's mount?
"Xiānzhǔ, I am loyal. If a mount is needed, no one in the world is more suitable than the divine phoenix!"
Yao Ranran waved dismissively. "Enough flattery. I do not want to carry you around."
Mo Rui breathed a sigh of relief.
Unexpectedly, Yao Ranran continued, "Once we find the treasures, we will strip his cultivation and throw him into the abyss."
Mu Xin paused a second, then burst into laughter.
"Ha ha ha. Fine. This idea is excellent!"
Bai Qingwu looked at her in fear. This woman was not any kinder than herself!
Mo Rui trembled, begging desperately.
"No! I am willing to be your mount, I am willing!"
Losing his cultivation was worse than death!
He would endure humiliation for a time rather than watch himself become worthless.
Yao Ranran's cold gaze swept over him. "First, we find the treasures."