Song Qingsong's legs felt like jelly.
'What does this guy want now?'
Li Ran said, "You think you can just leave after attacking someone on my side? There's no way you're getting off that easily in this world."
He nervously asked, "So, what do you want?"
Li Ran thought for a moment and said, "Leave the monster bones you hunted just now."
"What?" Song Qingsong was shocked and immediately refused, "No, you're just trying to get me out in the first round!"
Yue Jianli furrowed her brow. Li Ran's intentions ran deep!
If Song Qingsong were to be eliminated right now, that wouldn't be good news for her!
Li Ran smirked and said, "Hey, you just tried to murder a girl under my protection, the very fact that I didn't kill you straight away is a miracle by itself. Don't think that just because you have this little girl backing you, I won't dare to kill you."
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
A trace of annoyance flashed in Yue Jianli's eyes.
Little girl?
She was one of the top three geniuses on the Heavenly Prodigy List, and nobody had ever dared to address her like that!
But she still couldn't fully gauge this fiend's strength.
Reason eventually prevailed.
"Give it to him. The trial isn't over yet, and if you go all out hunting now, you should have no problem making it into the top eight," Yue Jianli said.
"But..."
"Losing that thing is better than dying here, right?"
Hearing her words, Song Qingsong fell silent.
After some hesitation, he tossed over his storage ring and said, "All the monster bones are in here."
Li Ran caught the storage ring and checked it with his spiritual sense to ensure it was safe.
"Alright, you can leave now."
Song Qingsong didn't say another word and disappeared into the dense forest.
Yue Jianli, too, left without a word.
"Man…. What's with the pretentious act..." Li Ran grumbled.
Seemingly, attractive women were all quite aloof. His master had been like that at first, but now...
She had melted like ice into a pool of springwater.
Xiao Qingge expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for saving me again this time. I could never repay this debt, even if it cost me my life!"
"It's not a big deal, no need to be so melodramatic," Li Ran waved his hand.
The two had managed to get along reasonably well during this time. Before entering the secret realm, Xiao Qingge had entrusted him with the map, which in itself was a gesture of trust. Li Ran didn't want to watch her die here.
...
"This time, when you showed intent to kill Song Qingsong, what if he stabs us in the back?" Xiao Qingge looked worried.
Li Ran shook his head and said, "Who told you I intended to kill him?"
"Ah?" Xiao Qingge was puzzled.
Upon careful consideration, she realized that he had only engaged in physical combat and didn't use any of his supernatural abilities.
"From the beginning, I knew Yue Jianli was lurking nearby."
"She wanted to see my cards, and I wanted to test her attitude... As for Song Qingsong? He's just a pawn."
"A pawn?" Xiao Qingge was confused.
Li Ran explained, "More precisely, he's a bargaining chip."
Because with Song Qingsong present, the three of them maintained a delicate balance. Li Ran and Yue Jianli both had to consider whether the other would take advantage of the situation when making a move.
Li Ran continued, "In this perilous secret realm, Yue Jianli and I share the same idea: everyone competes based on their own abilities in the preliminary trials. We'll reveal our true strength when it comes to the final inheritance."
"But what if they team up against you?" Xiao Qingge asked.
"Team up?" Li Ran shook his head with a smile. "Only one person can ultimately obtain the inheritance."
"That person might be me, or it might be Yue Jianli, but it definitely won't be Song Qingsong."
Yue Jianli wasn't a fool. When it comes to the final inheritance, Song Qingsong will undoubtedly be eliminated.
"Oh," Xiao Qingge tilted her head, seemingly understanding but not entirely.
Li Ran lightly tapped her head and chuckled, "You're just a mortal; not a cultivator like me, why are you worrying so much?"
Xiao Qingge rubbed her head and said, "I hope you can obtain your immortality, after all."
"Immortality and such, I'm not that concerned... but what about you? Do you have something you desire?" Li Ran asked.
Xiao Qingge had risked her life to enter the secret realm, so she must be seeking something.
"Right, the Life Fruit! Oh no, time is running out!" Xiao Qingge slapped her forehead, looking regretful.
She had been so focused on worrying about Li Ran that she had forgotten about it.
"The Life Fruit?" Li Ran thought for a moment and said, "While there are many spiritual herbs here, genuine immortal materials are quite rare. Perhaps the second stage of the trial may have what you're looking for."
"But I can't advance at all..." Xiao Qingge lamented, lowering her head.
"Who said that?" Li Ran tossed a storage ring to her.
She hurriedly caught it, looking puzzled. "What's this?"
Li Ran explained, "This is a ring that contains the monster bones collected by Song Qingsong. According to the secret realm's judgment rules, as long as this ring is in your possession, it should be considered your spoils."
"Since having too many of these things is pointless, you might as well make use of them."
With the quantity of monster bones collected by Song Qingsong, advancing wouldn't be a difficult task at all.
Xiao Qingge lowered her head, her eyes misty. She asked, "Li Ran, you've been so kind to me. How can I ever repay you?"
Li Ran shrugged nonchalantly, "No need for grand gestures. Just keep being your cheerful self, and that'll be enough."
He wasn't one to expect grand favors or repayment.
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