101 - All Eyes Are On The Peasant Family’ Adorable Baby Girl

The little parrot nestled obediently in Shen Su's hair, its snow-white feathers neat and smooth, reflecting a faint luster in the dim light. Perhaps it was because Lin Shuiyan and the others were laughing too heartily that the parrot’s forehead had turned a bit rosy, its small yellow-brown beak slightly lowered, seemingly avoiding the gaze of Lin Shuiyan and her companions. It had been a long time since she had seen them, but she missed them. She just didn’t know how to express her longing without being able to see or speak. Wei Nanyi was a parrot that couldn't mimic human speech. However, Lin Shuiyan and the others didn't mind. They tirelessly chatted with Wei Nanyi, regardless of whether she responded or not, pouring out the hardships they had endured over the years. Facing Shen Su, they tried to maintain a facade for the sake of pride. But in front of Wei Nanyi, all that was left were their grievances. Ah Ran was the most dramatic; her eyes filled with tears of injustice. As the warm tears rolled down and her stomach growled softly, she immediately pulled out a flatbread from her storage pouch and began to eat in large bites. It was only when Ruan Tong nudged her that she remembered the hungry little parrot. Ah Ran quickly crumbled the flatbread and, under Shen Su's stunned gaze, sprinkled the crumbs over her head. "Master, eat up. This flatbread is really delicious." Shen Su stared incredulously at the chubby-cheeked Ah Ran, who apparently had not realized her mistake. Ah Ran grabbed the fragrant flatbread with her soft hand and brought it to Shen Su's mouth, while her other hand gently tapped the little parrot's wings. “Master, you eat too.” Being at the fifth level of the Qi Condensation Period was far from the point of sustenance-free living. The little parrot indeed felt hunger, especially when the aroma of the food wafted over. She instinctively lowered her head, pecking slowly at the flatbread crumbs with her small yellow-brown beak. Even after years apart, the girl who loved to eat, still loved to eat. But fortunately, she had a good heart and knew to share the food with Wei Nanyi, although her own hair suffered. If she could move, Shen Su would certainly be weeping with her face covered at this moment. Out of the corner of her eye, she suddenly noticed the storage pouch at Ah Ran's waist. Shen Su remembered that she had only left Ah Lian with one storage pouch before, but she just saw Lin Shuiyan holding one, and now Ah Ran had one too. Where did they come from? “Ruan Tong, where did you get these storage pouches?” Shen Su asked with caution, aware that she should inquire of Ruan Tong if she wanted an honest answer, as opposed to Lin Shuiyan who was known to hold grudges. Lin Shuiyan also understood why Shen Su suddenly directed her question to Ruan Tong. Before Ruan Tong could even speak, Lin Shuiyan cut in, “We picked them off dead people.” Shen Su stared at her suspiciously but said nothing, turning her gaze to Ruan Tong instead. With soft, tender fingers, Ruan Tong rubbed her fingertips together and spoke in a gentle voice, "They hunted us down, so we killed them. We saw they had things on them, so we took them." Shen Su should have known. Given Lin Shuiyan and the others' capabilities, they couldn't have been at a disadvantage for long. She didn't blame them for it. Ruan Tong was just too kind, feeling guilty for killing and looting. But since those people attacked first, there was no wrong done. “You did well,” Shen Su did not hide her praise, but the little parrot on her head suddenly pecked her sharply, as if disagreeing with Shen Su’s opinion. Yet, just after pecking her, the parrot seemed to recall something and nodded slightly. In an instant, it looked like she was agreeing with Shen Su’s thoughts again. After becoming a little parrot, Wei Nanyi’s temperament seemed to have improved. Though Shen Su felt no pain, it was rather amusing watching Wei Nanyi use her sharp beak to express her thoughts. Suddenly, loud “thud thud” sounds of heavy footsteps on the ice drew everyone’s attention. At the tear in the barrier, two tall monsters barged in. Leading the way was a tiger, Lin Shuiyan’s parasite beast, looking terrified as it sprinted forward, as if something monstrous was chasing it. There was no monster behind it, but there was a black fox with ebony fur and a bell hanging around its neck. As the bell jingled, the fox ran faster and faster. This black fox had accompanied them through perilous forbidden lands. Shen Su was unaware of what had transpired after Wei Nanyi left with the black fox, but the scenes in the forbidden land still lingered vividly. She felt a sense of familiarity looking at the black fox. Those experiences of life-and-death coexistence, hanging by a thread, were unforgettable. Lin Shuiyan and the others didn't recognize the black fox. Seeing her white tiger frightened out of its wits, Lin Shuiyan rushed forward, shielding the white tiger protectively, “Where’d this fox come from?” The black fox ignored her, leaping over Lin Shuiyan and the white tiger, heading straight for Shen Su. Ruan Tong and the others feared the black fox might decapitate Shen Su in an instant and swiftly moved to block it. Unexpectedly, the black fox halted, its gaze fixed on Shen Su. It extended a paw and then lightly patted the bell around its neck, as if asking Shen Su something. Shen Su stared at the black fox, puzzled, and asked, “Are you waiting for me?” A妖傀 has no self-awareness. After leaving its owner's control, it can only live like an unthinking animal. However, the black fox had always been different. Twenty years had passed, and its awareness seemed clearer. It seemed to understand Shen Su’s words, nodding quickly but soon shook its head. The fox forcefully patted the bell on her chest again, then gestured frantically about a person’s height with some urgency. Shen Su found it more bizarre, "Are you waiting for Madam?" This time, the black fox calmed down and nodded vigorously, then pointed at Shen Su. Shen Su finally understood. This black fox was saying it was waiting not only for Wei Nanyi but also for her. The black fox’s awareness was so clear that it hardly resembled a妖傀 anymore. Recalling the fox chasing the tiger earlier, it seemed improbable for a妖傀 without control to exhibit such speed — unless Shen Su considered the bell’s sound. Unless the fox was controlling herself with the bell. The black fox was unfamiliar with Sheng Lianmen’s tactics but knew the sound her bell should make to obey. But such actions were too unreasonable. Considering the special nature of its bloodline and the fact that Shen Su had given it so much of her blood, the black fox was a friend, not a foe. Enlightened, Shen Su immediately commanded the fox, “Black Fox, kill them.” With newfound aid, Shen Su wasn’t going to die under the Zhi Po Pearl’s power. She wanted the black fox to kill Si Hua and Lin Qinghuai, sharing the same body. Without hesitation, the black fox opened its mouth wide and bit Si Hua, the huge jaws enveloping Si Hua’s entire head, the teeth grinding against her pale neck. A Yin squirmed, tugging at her clothes, and mumbled, “Sect Master, why didn’t you call on us to act? Why trust a fox instead?” Her lifelong wish was to protect those around her, and she naturally wanted Shen Su to trust her and rely on her more. Shen Su hadn’t anticipated that A Yin would be so particular about her command. With an awkward chuckle, she explained, “A Yin, she has Golden Core peak-level cultivation after all.” That’s a conservative estimate. The black fox had helped them out of the forbidden territory, and despite Shen Su’s major role in it, the black fox deserved much credit. With talent that even the elder masters couldn't sense, the black fox must’ve been a top-tier妖 before becoming a妖傀. Learning that the black fox possessed Golden Core peak cultivation, A Yin momentarily felt downhearted. Among their twelve, only Ruan Tong had reached high-level Golden Core because of her special cultivation method, and Lin Shuiyan, due to her shared symbiosis with the white tiger, had also broken through to Golden Core. The rest were still in the Foundation Establishment stage. A Yin, the youngest and most talented, had no notable opportunities along the way, still seeking a breakthrough from high-stage Foundation Establishment. Pouting in aggrieved, she pleaded, “Sect Master, even though A Yin's only at the Foundation Establishment stage, I can defeat someone at Golden Core peak.” Shen Su hadn’t expected A Yin to be so hung up on her command, rendering her momentarily speechless. She didn’t think lesser of them; it’s just that Si Hua, a nascent spirit cultivator, demanded caution. Even compared to peak-level Wei Nanyi, Si Hua was more formidable, and despite her current plight, she made Shen Su uneasy. Though she acknowledged the girls’ newfound strength, Shen Su still saw them as children. She watched the black fox, and so did the rest of them. The black fox's sharp teeth ground against Si Hua's neck for a long time but failed to sever it. Her entire head was as hard as iron. After releasing Si Hua's neck, the black fox bit all around her head, unable to draw even a drop of blood. Utterly disheartened, the black fox released Si Hua, moved next to Shen Su, and lay down beside her, pointing at her own almost-loosened teeth with a pitiful expression. Couldn't bite through. When the black fox fully manifested her妖 form strength, its fangs would become exceptionally thick and sharp, possessing an attack power comparable to spiritual weapons and sufficient bite force to crush boulders—yet it still couldn’t sever Si Hua’s neck. Swallowing the last bite of her flatbread, Ah Ran asked, “Sect Master, what’s her cultivation level for her skin to be this tough?” Shen Su paused for a moment before slowly responding, “Nascent Soul.” “Isn’t that strong...” Ah Ran instinctively murmured, then quickly realized, gasping and immediately squatting before Si Hua, “Wow, my first time seeing Nascent Soul stage!” Not just her, it was the first time Ruan Tong and the others had seen a Nascent Soul cultivator too. Their admiration for Shen Su soared to a new height. Ah Ran was too close to Si Hua, and a faint rosy hue emerged in Si Hua’s eyes. Even as her head was covered in shoe prints from Lin Shuiyan’s kick, Ah Ran seemed to envision a graceful, snow-white beauty. A very light veil fluttered in front of her, and when she reached out, it was as if she could touch the delicate, warm skin. Her eyes glazed over with admiration. So beautiful. Shen Su, most familiar with Si Hua’s origins, immediately sensed danger and shouted, “Ah Ran, don't look at her!” Ruan Tong's expression changed drastically. She pulled Ah Ran up immediately. “Ah Ran, are you okay?” The clarity in Ah Ran’s eyes dimmed. She swallowed unconsciously, mumbling, “So beautiful, don’t hurt her.” Spikes sprouted from Ah Ran’s body, piercing Ruan Tong’s hand that was gripping her arm. The blood drops, fragrant and alluring, made Si Hua instinctively twitch her nose. Her eyes brightened. Unlike Shen Su, she could still use her spiritual power, only constrained from full exertion because of Wei Nanyi’s spell. Ruan Tong's blood was enticingly fragrant to the point of it being detectable by humans; its power, wrapped in her神灵之体 blood, was irresistible. Si Hua’s spiritual power directed the blood droplets her way, and she eagerly opened her mouth, anticipating the taste. Just as Ruan Tong’s blood was about to drop into Si Hua’s mouth, a pair of small hands appeared, catching the droplets. The blood did not continue to flow through the fingers; instead, it crystallized into red ice crystals in her palms. The person was Ah Yin. Ah Yin flicked her wrist, and a handful of ice crystals dangled before Si Hua's eyes then slipped into her storage pouch. “Drink my senior sister’s blood! Old witch, maybe next life.” Ah Yin placed her hand on Si Hua’s head. Her palm revealed a snow lotus as frost began covering Si Hua’s face. The frost grew thicker, seemingly about to cut off Si Hua’s breath when suddenly her skin turned crimson, and eerie flaming colors burst out. Ah Yin’s palm reddened from the heat, but the frost showed no sign of dissipating. Ah Yin smirked, “Idiot, you think I fear fire?” Suddenly, Si Hua’s skin shifted texture, becoming slippery as if oiled. Ah Yin’s hand slid from Si Hua’s forehead to her lips, causing the frost to peel away layer by layer. Si Hua’s lips twitched forward, the warmth startling the pure-hearted girl. Ah Yin yelped, promptly withdrawing her hand, her face flushed. “You cheat! You don't play fair; I want to kill you, and you kiss me?” Shen Su had to stifle her urge to call Ah Yin a silly girl, as it was foolish to reveal one’s weakness to the enemy. Seeing Ah Ran’s mind clouded and Ah Yin taking advantage, Lin Shuiyan finally realized something was wrong. “Sect Master, this old witch isn't normal, is she?” “She’s the ancestor of the Hehuan Sect.” Certainly no normal origins. Si Hua’s tactics against these naive girls were too effective. Not everyone had Shen Su’s iron will. This is why sending the mindless black fox was preferable, but it couldn’t bite through Si Hua’s neck. Ruan Tong and another girl managed to subdue Ah Ran, while Ah Yin wiped her palm on the ice layer to cool the heat, her ears reddened. “Sect Master, she can use spiritual power. Why aren’t these ice patches melting?” Of course, it was because the璃破珠 are impervious to fire and water—defeatable only by absolute force. Si Hua was hampered by Wei Nanyi’s spell, unable to exert full power. In the book, twelve璃破珠weren’t categorized as divine artifacts, but each carried power comparable to divine artifacts, collectively surpassing such. This was the original male protagonist’s primary cheat, logically enabling higher-level suppression. Even Shen Su couldn’t fathom why one of the十二璃破珠, which should have appeared in井中林 and雁碧山, showed up in辟幽谷. Si Hua licked her lips, the lingering chill making her gaze at Ah Yin differently. “Born evil seed.” Such derogatory words enraged the fiercely protective Lin Shuiyan. She commanded her white tiger to swipe at Si Hua's head. Although it didn’t sever her head, it caused a momentary dizziness. Her pride, as a grand ancestor of the Hehuan Sect, being humiliated by a group of ants, boiled her blood. Her venomous gaze turned towards Shen Su, even extending to the little parrot, with bitterness. “Wei Nanyi, quite impressive. Your师叔 is a natural evil seed, your allies are natural evil seeds, and even your徒弟 is a natural evil seed. Yet you survive?” What did Si Hua mean? Shen Su understood she referred to江蕊平as the师叔,林青槐as the ally, and Ah Yin as the disciple. 江蕊平and林青槐’s greatest common trait is the九杀断灵根. Was Ah Yin also? “Are you saying Ah Yin has the九杀断灵根 as well?” Ah Yin's expression subtly changed, affecting even Ruan Tong and the others. Ruan Tong quickly pulled Ah Yin behind her, whispering, “Sect Master, Ah Yin isn’t an evil seed. Don’t expel her from the sect.” They knew too? Shen Su frowned, perplexed. “Who said I would expel Ah Yin?” Ah Yin peeked out from behind Ruan Tong, surprised. “Sect Master, you won’t expel me? But those cultivators always said九杀断灵根are born evil, undeserving of life. No sect would tolerate them. Our fate is to either join demon sects or be hunted and killed by our own.” Apparently, Si Hua wasn’t the first to discover Ah Yin’s bloodline. Others must’ve informed Ruan Tong and the rest about Ah Yin’s problematic bloodline. Hence, Ah Yin had faced more fierce pursuits than the others, leaving psychological scars. She hadn’t become radical, just fearful that Shen Su might expel her. Shen Su wasn’t one to judge based solely on bloodline and wouldn’t expel Ah Yin. “It’s just a bloodline. I know Ah Yin is a good child.” Ah Yin’s eyes grew misty. She buried her head in Ruan Tong’s shoulder, her dark eyes gradually turning ice-blue. The softness within resurfaced. “But they all said Ah Yin should die. Clearly, I didn't want to hurt them, but they wanted to kill me, so I had to kill them.” Unpleasant memories seemed triggered. As she spoke, snowflakes drifted down around Shen Su, a residual reaction from childhood when her emotional upheaval unwittingly harmed her companions, though not as severely now. Those snowflakes drew a manic expression from Si Hua. “Yes, that’s it, the极致力量from a full-power九杀断灵根. But I don’t understand—why would a half-demon possess such a血脉?” Regarding the九杀断灵根, Shen Su overheard a more complete account from Si Hua. It was a血脉 exclusive to human cultivators, differing according to spiritual root level. Those with this血脉 were naturally less sensitive to emotions, with inherently extreme dispositions, perceiving others as enemies and extending evil hands. It was natural to call them born evil seeds—they were born killers. Different spiritual root grades conferred different natural killing powers, with a consummate九杀断灵根wielding极端杀人力量, awakening upon drawing blood. 江蕊平and Ah Yin possessed such powers, but林青槐did not. The Nine Kill Soul Root, with its ultimate power, was referred to as "human weapons" in the demon sect. They were born as the sharpest blades in the world, capable of easily killing those above their own cultivation levels. However, Ah Yin was a half-demon; such power shouldn't logically appear in a half-demon. Si Hua didn’t know the reason, but Shen Su did. Ah Yin wasn’t born a half-demon; she was transformed by Mu Ling. Therefore, she could naturally possess the bloodline of the Nine Kill Soul Root. At first, she and Wei Nanyi had mistaken Ah Yin’s talent. Ah Yin didn’t possess two innate abilities. The ability to manipulate her aura was her true talent, while the heterochromatic eyes controlling snow and ice were the power of the Nine Kill Soul Root. This ultimate destructive power was puzzling — why would a妖物's talent harm her companions? It turned out to be the Nine Kill Soul Root’s power. It must have awakened alongside her innate talent because Ah Yin witnessed the villagers devouring Ruan Tong’s flesh. Yet Ah Yin didn’t seem devoid of emotion. She loved many people and wholeheartedly protected those around her. Any inadvertent harm wasn't her fault. Was it the infused bloodline that had altered the emotional nature of the Nine Kill Soul Root, or was it growing up with these children that instilled a sense of duty to protect them? Having a hard time sensing emotions didn't mean being emotionless. Both Jiang Ruiping and Lin Qinghuai seemed like people with feelings. The snowflakes intensified, the extreme cold making Ruan Tong gently nudge Ah Yin, “Ah Yin, sister is cold.” Ah Yin snapped out of it, her ice-blue eyes gradually returning to dark. She scratched her head sheepishly and knelt before Shen Su, casting a timid glance at Shen Su, then at the little parrot, her fearful yet resolute look reminiscent of her childhood. “Sect Leader, Master, you won't abandon me, will you?” Shen Su nodded, and Wei Nanyi extended a wing, gently patting Ah Yin’s head. As long as Shen Su didn't mind, Wei Nanyi certainly wouldn’t either. She was always defending those with the Nine Kill Soul Root, having even stood by her师叔. How could she abandon her own disciple? Think of her师叔, Jiang Ruiping — how is he now? Shen Su remembered that when she entered the forbidden land, Jiang Ruiping was already on the brink of death. It wasn’t just ten years past, but twenty. Could he still be alive? “Ruan Tong, have you heard any rumors about Jiang Ruiping of Linxian Mountain over the years?” “No,” Ruan Tong and Lin Shuiyan exchanged a glance, shaking their heads lightly. “But we’ve heard much about Linxian Mountain. About a year ago, the four great sects held a grand tournament to select seven prodigies to enter Xingliang Palace for training and inheritance. Linxian Mountain alone occupied four of those spots, and their prodigy even took the top spot, overshadowing all peers.” What? The four great sects’ grand tournament had already ended? In the original book, this tournament was a pivotal plot point. Each sect sent twenty disciples, transitioning from eighty to twenty in preliminary rounds, twenty to eight in finals, and the final eight battled it out for the top seven spots. In the finals, the male lead, Yu Muhuan, intentionally lost to Bai Ruoyi to win her heart, securing the second place himself. However, Bai Ruoyi, inferior in skill, lost the battle for first place to the Sheng Lianmen prodigy, Sheng Yufeng. Although Linxian Mountain took two spots, Sheng Lianmen's victory in first place led to considerable mockery of Linxian Mountain as the foremost sect. Bai Ruoyi and Yu Muhuan were both punished in seclusion. During this time, Bai Ruoyi and the male lead grew intimate, leading to further developments where the male lead, having lost sect honors, gained the goddess's affection and eventually avenged himself against Sheng Yufeng. But now it seemed someone else took the top spot. Intrigued, Shen Su asked, “What’s the name of the first place winner?” “Yu Muhuan, I think.” So the male lead took first—what about the female lead and Sheng Yufeng? Curiosity piqued, Shen Su inquired, “Who came in second? Someone from Sheng Lianmen?” “No, second was Jiang Xu, also from Linxian Mountain.” Ruan Tong recalled, speaking with a tinge of remorse, “It’s said their internal fight was fiercer than battling external foes, with bones shattered and fragments hitting onlookers. Terrifying. But rest assured, Sect Leader, our sect is united. If it comes to that, as Senior Sister, I’ll concede to let my juniors achieve better rankings.” Lin Shuiyan scoffed, “Naturally, we’re different from them.” Supporting Ah Ran, another girl chimed in, “Isn’t it rumored that Jiang Xu and Yu Muhuan had old grudges, which led to such a fierce fight? Their sect leader had to intervene to prevent deaths.” Shen Su realized that without following the original path, Jiang Xu could not develop feelings for Yu Muhuan. But such a brutal internal battle? That must be a monumental grudge. Surprisingly, even with the Yu Ling sword, Jiang Xu couldn’t defeat Yu Muhuan. The male protagonist's halo indeed was potent. Reflecting on this, the little parrot on Shen Su's head stood up straight, flapping its wings as if wanting to speak volumes. Shen Su understood that as a mother, Wei Nanyi was undoubtedly concerned. But the tournament had already ended, as had the Xingliang Palace training. The male protagonist should now have obtained exclusive inheritances, reaching Golden Core peak and poised to breakthrough to Nascent Soul. Worried about instability and inner demons, he temporarily restrained his breakthrough. The next plotline should involve the Guangbi Mountain. The male lead, leading sect disciples to Guangbi Mountain to collect herbs, would exact revenge for previous humiliations by secretly killing妖物, provoking more powerful妖s for retribution. This led them to stumble upon ancient mechanisms in Guangbi Mountain, unveiling a once-hidden secret realm, inciting significant attention from all sects, thereby besieging Guangbi Mountain. This secret realm wasn’t a mortal challenge but a treasure trove only for those below Nascent Soul level. This led to a grand competition open to all sects, including demonic ones, with Jiang Xu entering the secret realm. Within this secret realm, Jiang Xu, while saving the male lead, was gravely injured. Coincidentally, Bai Ruoyi and Jiang Qian, who also forcibly suppressed her cultivation to enter, witnessed the murder of Jiang Xu’s mother, in rabbit form, perpetuating her descent into madness and becoming the final great villain. This death trap — there was no way they could go there. Recalling this plot nearly scared Shen Su senseless. Seeing the little parrot continuing to flap its wings, Ruan Tong, clueless, asked, “Sect Leader, what’s wrong with Master?” Regaining composure, Shen Su took a deep breath and said, “Jiang Xu is your Master’s daughter.” They knew of Wei Nanyi’s past and her daughter, but didn’t connect the dots. Ruan Tong muttered, “Ah, that Jiang girl then.” After calming down, Ah Yin's personality also reverted, shyly stammering, “Everyone says this Jiang girl is very fierce. Though a disciple of Linxian Mountain's sect leader, she’s tutored by some reclusive elder, always secluded in spiritual formations, never socializing, difficult to approach, with a foul temper. How can she be Master’s daughter when Master is so gentle?” She hesitated over her words, realizing it was improper to criticize Wei Nanyi’s daughter. With a complex expression, she mumbled, “Sect Leader, she won’t hit me because Master is good to me, right?” Surely Jiang Xu’s reputation was intact despite avoiding the antagonist path. Even if she wasn't following the villain’s path, her infamous reputation preceded her. She had likely been confined since the master ceremony debacle, as implied. Seeing Ah Yin's fear of Jiang Xu, Shen Su thought of herself and stifled a laugh, “Can't say for sure.” Shen Su had never spoken ill of Jiang Xu in front of Wei Nanyi, but now it wasn’t her talking—it was Ah Yin. She merely agreed and hoped Wei Nanyi wouldn't hold it against her. Ah Yin's face turned even paler. Despite also having the Nine Kill Soul Root, she seemed far more timid compared to Jiang Ruiping and Lin Qinghuai. Fearful that Jiang Xu might harm her, she muttered, "Jiang Xu is Master’s daughter, but if she hits me, can I fight back? I only know how to kill, not to fight. Would Master be sad if I hurt her?" Before Shen Su could respond, a sinister laugh suddenly echoed in her ears, “The human weapon is now under my control.” Turning towards Si Hua, Shen Su saw a faint pink mist in her eyes. That suggestive haze entwined around Ah Yin’s hand, silencing her and altering her aura. Her bodily energy merged with Ah Yin’s, and her gaze started to blur. Something's wrong; Si Hua's kiss to Ah Yin was planned. Before Lin Shuiyan and the others could react, Ah Yin's body emitted a strange ice-blue glow, her eyes shifting back to ice blue. She began to merge with the ice and, like a fish, swam towards Shen Su’s hand under the ice layer. Though her hand had no feeling, Shen Su knew it was the one holding the rupture pearl. Realizing what was happening, Shen Su deduced that Si Hua had targeted Ah Yin’s ability from the moment she helped break the icy seal on Shen Su’s throat. Si Hua's goal from the beginning was Ah Yin. Controlling Ah Ran was merely a distraction to lure Ah Yin, and it only took longer than expected due to Ah Yin’s Nine Kill Soul Root. Ah Yin’s unique constitution endowed her with the ultimate power to traverse through ice, which even allowed her to neutralize the power of the rupture pearl. Kneeling on the ice, Lin Shuiyan pounded the surface, “Ah Yin, stop!” But Ah Yin didn’t respond, continuing to approach Shen Su—inches away from prying open Shen Su’s hand. Shen Su hastily said, “It’s no use. The ice is breaking; you need to control Si Hua quickly.” Frustrated, Lin Shuiyan kicked Si Hua’s head and shouted, “Ruan Yu, now!” The girl standing behind Ruan Tong stepped forward, and vines rapidly sprouted from her body, extending roots from her feet. As she raised her hand, green vines grew from her sleeves and wound around Si Hua. Small seeds infiltrated Si Hua’s body through her mouth and nose, causing new branches to sprout from within her. Ruan Yu’s inherent power as a tree妖 allowed her seeds to parasitize flesh, gradually replacing internal organs with plants. While this posed a minimal threat to Si Hua, it was enough to restrain her temporarily. Shen Su felt the frost on her hand melt, then her palm was pried open by an overwhelming force. As the rupture pearl fell away, the frozen lake which had sealed Shen Su and Si Hua for twenty years melted almost instantaneously into flowing water, scattering across the ground. As their bodies descended, Lin Shuiyan and the others finally saw the place where Shen Su had sealed herself. A pitch-dark swamp emitting an indescribable stench lay below, and even the flowing water couldn't mask the smell of decaying corpses. Lin Shuiyan grimaced, “Sect Leader, you sure picked a fine place.” Shen Su knew Lin Shuiyan was being facetious; she had no time to banter. Her limbs, immobilized for so long, struggled to move after just escaping the ice. She called out, "Ruan Tong, help me." Ruan Tong's blessing power enveloped Shen Su, instilling warmth into her body. Gritting her teeth, Shen Su activated her meridians. As her spiritual power flowed, she finally saw her current state of cultivation. She looked towards the sky and quickly collected her scattered ring, double-edged green fire blades, and the Nether Phoenix Furnace. As Si Hua broke free from the ice, Lin Shuiyan and the others were quick to surround her. Due to the prolonged freezing and the seeds planted inside her, Si Hua's actions were slow and purely driven by her cultivation, preventing injury only because of her high level. She sneered, “You think this will control me? Human weapon, act!” In Si Hua's eyes, Ah Yin was merely a tool. Ah Yin climbed up from the ground, still clutching the rupture pearl, “You calling me?” Given that the rupture pearl was an artifact comparable to a divine tool, its attributes aligned exactly with Ah Yin’s, making it the perfect weapon for her. Its power snapped Ah Yin back to her senses. Realizing what she had nearly done, her hatred-filled eyes locked onto Si Hua. Before Ah Yin could act, thunderclouds gathered above, targeting both Si Hua and Shen Su. Disbelieving, Si Hua looked at Shen Su, just freed from the ice and now attracting a lightning tribulation. “Again with this?” Shen Su smiled, “Si Hua, this time it's for breaking through to Golden Core.” Angered, Si Hua clutched her chest, cursing, “Lin Qinghuai, how much of her blood have you absorbed?” Rumbling continued, as bluish lightning clouds joined the tribulation, focusing on both Si Hua and Ah Yin. Holding the rupture pearl, Ah Yin said confusedly, “Sect Leader, I think I’m also about to breakthrough to Golden Core.” She had been ready to advance for a while but lacked an opportunity. Holding the rupture pearl seemed to have provided it. Si Hua paused, her facial features twisted, staring at the two contrasting sets of thunderclouds above. She screamed hysterically, “Shen Su, does your sect always let others face your tribulations?” A deafening roar from the sky was the only response to her fury.