Watching the Star Extremity Sect's Immortal Boat gradually sail away until it became a tiny black dot, Liu Yiyi and Li Rongrong both fell silent as they recalled Zhao Ming's final words.
"Palace Master, will what we did really make us miss out on some tremendous opportunity?"
Looking at Li Rongrong, who was staring back at her, Liu Yiyi shook her head.
"This one doesn't know either. I don't know whether Zhao Ming was telling the truth or lying. Normally, if someone had an opportunity, who wouldn't keep it all for themselves? Why would they seek others to share it with? Even if it really is an opportunity, it must be candy wrapped around poison."
"Besides, what's done is done. Don't dwell on it. We've already done the best we could. Only by keeping our Core Disciples can our Hundred Flowers Palace have any hope."
"Yes, only by keeping our Core Disciples can our Hundred Flowers Palace hope to drag the Star Extremity Sect down with us..."
Meanwhile, aboard the Star Extremity Sect's Magic Boat, Qian Renxue stared at the familiar person before her, her face full of astonishment.
"Wanwan, why are you..."
That was right. Standing before Qian Renxue was Lin Wanwan, the very person who had personally led her into this pit of fire. She had never expected Lin Wanwan to be here too. Clearly, the Hundred Flowers Palace's Palace Master had asked her to come in Lin Wanwan's place, yet even Lin Wanwan herself was here...
"I'm sorry, Xiao Xue. It was all my fault. I originally brought you to see Master because I wanted him to accept you as his disciple. With your talent, becoming an inner disciple wouldn't have been a problem."
"I just never expected Master to sell you out for my sake. Don't worry. Although I have no way to rescue you, I'll definitely die before you do. I have to make up for the mistake I made!"
Looking at Lin Wanwan's pleading expression, Qian Renxue let out a soft sigh and shook her head.
"Why do this, Wanwan? If someone has to go die as cannon fodder, having me alone is enough. There's really no need to drag you into this too."
"I know you didn't do it on purpose. This only happened because neither of us knew anything about it, so don't burden yourself with guilt. How about this? Find an opportunity later and leave. With your strength, it shouldn't be difficult, right?"
Hearing Qian Renxue say this, Lin Wanwan gave a bitter smile and shook her head. Then she said,
"Xiao Xue, do you know what this Immortal Boat represents? This is the Star Extremity Sect's most renowned Immortal Boat, the Star Extremity Battleship. A single blast from its main cannon can reduce an Array Realm king to ashes. Even peerless Venerable Realm experts must avoid its edge. The Star Extremity Sect possesses fewer than twenty of these warships, and the Star Extremity Sect is the overlord of our Heavenly Domain, enough to stand alongside those Ancient Kingdoms of the Eight Regions that have endured for ages."
"Security aboard a Magic Boat like this is beyond imagining. Cultivators stronger than me are everywhere, and there is even an Array Realm king out in the open. With my current Spirit Transformation Realm cultivation, there's no way I can escape their detection."
Although she had known that the odds of getting Lin Wanwan to leave were slim, hearing her say it still made Qian Renxue let out a heavy sigh.
"But, Wanwan, what about your Master..."
At the mention of her Master, Lin Wanwan's expression became deeply sorrowful. In the end, she still shook her head firmly.
"Master has seven disciples. I'm the youngest. Even without me, he still has six Senior Sisters. They'll take good care of Master."
"But you're different."
As she spoke, Lin Wanwan's gaze toward Qian Renxue became heated, giving Qian Renxue the feeling that goosebumps were rising all over her body.
"Xiao Xue, you only have me!"
Douluo Continent, Spirit City, Spirit Hall. Bibi Dong wore a profoundly strange expression.
"No, that look, that tone... Lin Wanwan... could she be... Xue'er..."
Standing beside Bibi Dong, Qian Daoliu's aged face had nearly twisted out of shape. It was impossible to tell whether he was holding something in or simply shocked. After a long while, he finally stammered,
"Maybe, probably, perhaps, possibly, perhaps, I guess..."
As Spirit Hall's longest-serving Title Douluo, the Second Elder, Jin'e Douluo, could not help but curse aloud.
"Shameless! This is absolutely shameless!"
"How can those two do that?!"
At Shrek Academy, the young woman who had been the mastermind behind all this wore the same shocked expression on her pretty face, her jaw nearly dropping open.
"Th-th-th-th-this, this is a pair, isn't it?"
"They're both women! How can they..."
"Did I just run into the lilies from the legends of my past life?"
At the same time, aboard the Magic Boat, Qian Renxue silently took several steps back. After remaining silent for a long time, she finally spoke with difficulty.
"Um, Wanwan, we're both the same kind..."
Lin Wanwan tilted her head slightly at that, unable to hide the confusion in her eyes. Just as she was about to say something, a tall figure appeared between them the next instant.
She was a woman who looked to be in her twenties, though her actual age was unknown. She had a tall figure, beautiful features, and an aloof, otherworldly temperament that naturally drew everyone's eyes toward her.
She did not even glance at Qian Renxue. Instead, she looked Lin Wanwan up and down, then nodded in satisfaction.
"Little girl, your talent is quite good. I didn't expect Liu Yiyi of the Hundred Flowers Palace to be willing to send up a disciple with talent like yours as well. Not bad, not bad. It seems her brain hasn't been kicked by a donkey yet."
Qian Renxue hurriedly spoke from the side.
"Senior, Wanwan only boarded this Magic Boat because of an accident. She isn't one of the people the Hundred Flowers Palace sent this time. Could you let her leave?"
The other woman ignored Qian Renxue. Her gaze remained on Lin Wanwan, her expression unchanged and her tone still gentle.
"Little girl, do you want to leave? If you do, I can lend you a hand."
No matter how pleading Qian Renxue's gaze was, Lin Wanwan still shook her head without hesitation.
"No, I won't leave. Xiao Xue was chosen because of me. I have to take full responsibility."
Qian Renxue:...
I'm really touched, but I truly don't need this, especially for the sake of my personal safety...
Ignoring Qian Renxue's speechless expression, Sun Yu's face was filled with satisfaction.
"Very good. You value loyalty and righteousness. You'll certainly gain greatly from this opportunity. Even if you only pass the first trial, ruling over the Eight Regions in the future will be well within your grasp. If your luck is good enough, you may even earn a place in the Upper Realm!"
The Upper Realm?
Why was this related to the Upper Realm again?
They hadn't mentioned it back at the Hundred Flowers Palace.