I turned around and looked toward the lake. A woman with disheveled hair slowly rose from the water. Her pale face and icy gaze sent a chill through the heart. Her cultivation also caused Shangguan Qiong's expression to shift slightly, though there was no fear in it. "Fellow Daoist Ni, I didn't come here to cause trouble just because I reached the Nine-Yang Realm. You once lent your strength to our Beyond the Mountains Sect, and our entire sect has always been grateful to you. We even designated this restricted area for you—isn't that precisely why? It's just that I came here for something as well. I stopped here because I'm looking for something left behind by Senior Brother Ren back then. Once I find it, we'll leave immediately."
"Hmph, Shangguan Qiong, I'm not one of your Beyond the Mountains Sect. I know I can't control what you do on your own territory, but your Beyond the Mountains Sect covers hundreds of miles. Since you designated these few dozen square miles for my use until I ascend to the upper realm, you should keep your word. Besides, I already said that every blade of grass and every tree here—whether you want to take it or use it—requires my consent, let alone taking something that belonged to Ren Zhi. You can forget about it!" The woman slowly flew upward, her eyes' sharp radiance sweeping over me, my wife, and Shao Zi. "Hmph, I don't care how many Nine-Yang Realm cultivators you brought. If you dare break our agreement, once I, Ni Shi, fight to the death, it won't be difficult for me to injure at least one of you."
Shangguan Qiong looked somewhat awkward on the surface and hurriedly glanced at me. "Fellow Daoist Ni..."
"Fellow Daoist Ni? Heh heh. Back