The pill in Wen Ran's palm gleamed golden, its surface adorned with intricate engravings of layered clouds. A faint aura radiated from it, potent enough to make him squint. The sheer amount of spiritual energy emanating from the pill was overwhelming, and the sweet, relaxing fragrance it emitted filled the air.
Wen Ran squeezed it lightly. Sturdy… good. This is a high-quality pill. His sharp eyes narrowed in thought. If I'm right, it could instantly boost me to the sixth, maybe even the seventh circle of the Spirit Gathering stage. If I'm lucky, I might even advance to the eighth… But he quickly dismissed the idea, slipping the pill into the spiritual pouch he'd taken from the man he killed. Not right now.
He infused a small amount of spiritual energy into the pouch, and its contents revealed themselves in his mind. It was a marvelous artifact, crafted by the most skilled artisans—a cultivator's essential tool for storing items. The pouch could hold spiritual stones, potions, pills, and even weapons or secret techniques. Convenient, but dangerous, Wen Ran thought with a frown. If I ever lose it, who knows who could learn my secrets.
"Wen Ran!" a sharp voice rang from above. Fang Jinyao dropped down the ladder moments later, her eyes locking onto him as she landed beside him. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice trembling. "I… I think I forgot to say it earlier. If not for you, I'd… I'd…" Her voice faltered, the horrors of the night replaying in her mind.
Wen Ran barely spared her a glance, his focus already fixed on the spiritual bag dangling from the female cultivator's body. Without hesitation, he began rifling through her belongings, his movements swift and methodical. Fang Jinyao stood frozen, staring at him in disbelief. When did he become so shameless?
Satisfied with his findings, Wen Ran straightened and began climbing the ladder, his tone calm and detached as he said, "Forget it. I only did what was necessary. Besides…" He paused, his voice taking on a darker edge. "I don't think they came here just for you."
Fang Jinyao blinked, startled by his words. "What do you mean?"
He didn't turn back. "I may not know much about your family, but from the moment I entered this city, I could feel the hatred in the eyes of everyone who looked at me. It wasn't subtle. It's obvious those two weren't just after you." His voice darkened. "Each time they called me a slave, it felt personal."
Fang Jinyao stood in silence, her expression a mix of disbelief and guilt. She opened her mouth to speak, but the words caught in her throat.
"Why are you running away from me again?" she asked furiously.
Wen Ran paused midway up the ladder, his eyes briefly meeting hers. "Are you sure you don't remember anything?" she pressed, her tone laced with both worry and something more enigmatic.
He studied her carefully, catching a glimmer of something in her gaze—a spark of understanding she hadn't voiced.
"No," he replied finally, his tone deliberate. "As I told you before, I lost all of it."
"Right..." Her lips parted as her gaze fell on the headless corpse sprawled on the ground. Only then did the weight of the situation truly hit her. "This… will be difficult to mask," she muttered under her breath, the realization dawning on her. She knew exactly who these people were—individuals Wen Ran should never have killed. In the heat of the moment, she hadn't stopped him. She hadn't cared then, but now, the gravity of her mistake bore down on her like a tidal wave.
Fang Wei and Lin Yue… Why did these fools have to show up here? she fumed, her frustration bubbling beneath the surface. This is infuriating. Even with Great Grandfather's backing, there's no way I'll be able to save Wen Ran from what's coming. Maybe… maybe I should say I did it. That might be the only way to salvage this.
Her spiraling thoughts were abruptly cut off as her door sprang open, slamming against the wall. Fang Jinyao's heart plummeted into her stomach, panic setting in as she scrambled to her feet.
A towering old man strode into the room, his presence looming like a storm cloud ready to unleash its fury. Moments later, Wen Ran dangled in his grasp, held aloft by the throat as if he were nothing more than chicken. The old man's massive hand tightened its grip, his golden eyes radiating a suffocating authority and an aura of unyielding power.
Wen Ran dangled in his grip, his breathing labored but his face calm. The moment he saw the old man, he knew. I'm screwed. He had considered running, but fleeing would only have made him look guiltier. Now, he was paying the price for his decision.
The grip around his throat tightened, cutting off his air. The old man's gaze was piercing, his cultivation leagues above Wen Ran's, the disparity so vast it left no room for resistance.
"Grandfather!" Fang Jinyao screamed, rushing to Wen Ran's side, her golden eyes wide with desperation. "Let him go this instant! I order you!"
The old man's cold gaze shifted between the two. He had already known of her disgrace—losing her purity to this slave. It had been a stain on the family's honor and a source of personal shame for him. He had even sent Fang Jinhai to handle the problem, to silence Wen Ran and ensure the matter was swept away. The Wu Clan's young master had taken a liking to Fang Jinyao, and marrying her off would have solidified his plans to rise within the family. But now? Now, she was used goods to him. His jaw clenched as rage simmered beneath the surface, his carefully laid plans ruined by this lowly slave.
"Grandfather!" Fang Jinyao's voice rose, cutting through his anger like a blade. Her body began to glow with a mysterious golden light, her aura surging with a power that made even Wen Ran's eyes widen in disbelief. The golden energy radiating from her was far beyond the Spirit Gathering stage, an aura so profound it hinted at an extraordinary bloodline. Wen Ran's sharp gaze lingered on her, silently acknowledging the girl's hidden potential. This is no ordinary girl. Those eyes… they're special. Someday, she could stand at the peak.
"I cannot," the old man replied, his voice firm, though a hint of unease crept in as he observed the change in her aura. "This criminal must be punished. Look at what he's done! He killed disciples of the Azure Dragon Sky Sect. This cannot be taken lightly. Offending them will bring consequences we cannot afford, even with our backers. This slave isn't worth the price we'll pay!"
"How could he?!" Fang Jinyao snapped back, cutting him off. Her voice dripped with disdain. "How could someone who can't even cultivate kill anyone? Look at him!" She pointed at Wen Ran's scrawny figure, her tone sharp and scathing. "And that sword? That sword is mine. I ordered him to retrieve it after those fools attacked me. You have a problem with that? Fine. How about you summon the Azure Dragon Sky Sect to give us an explanation for this mess? I'll be waiting. But for now—" Her golden aura flared violently, shaking the room as it surged past the Spirit Gathering stage, possibly even beyond the Spirit Flow stage. "Let! Him! Go!"
The old man hesitated, her overwhelming power forcing him to reconsider. Wen Ran's gaze flickered with intrigue, his sharp mind piecing together the puzzle. That aura… His thoughts turned to the past, to a goddess he had once slain, one whose presence carried a similar divine energy. So that's it… She's her reincarnation. A hidden grin tugged at his lips, a spark of newfound plans igniting in his mind. This changes everything.