Somewhere in a dense forest to the west.
A beautiful woman in pink approached a plainly dressed woman on the ground, her clothes covered in patches. Two lackeys followed behind her, and malice filled her eyes with every step.
Xu Zhenzhen held a bloodied whip covered in densely packed barbs.
"Hah! Wei Lianyi, you wretched bitch, you certainly know how to run! You made me spend an entire month chasing you through the Divine Seclusion Mountains with my people."
Wei Lianyi's clothes were drenched in blood as Xu Zhenzhen and the others closed in on her.
She pressed her pale lips together, her eyes filled with determination and wariness.
Holding a rust-covered sword to defend herself, she retreated cautiously, one step at a time.
A hundred meters behind her lay a sheer cliff with a drop of tens of thousands of feet.
Wei Lianyi spoke calmly. "There has never been any grudge between us. Two months ago, I didn't even know you. I've never understood why you harbor so much malice and hatred toward me."
Ever since escaping that demon's clutches, she had lived in hiding, never knowing whether she would survive another day.
She lived cautiously, expending every ounce of her strength just to scrape by.
Before this, she had never even met Xu Zhenzhen, let alone offended her.
"Hahahaha..."
At her words, Xu Zhenzhen burst into crazed laughter.
She only stopped when tears formed at the corners of her eyes.
"Never offended me? Hmph! The fact that you're alive, that you exist at all, is an eyesore. That alone is an offense!"
Wei Lianyi, if you must blame something, blame the fact that you're Daddy's biological daughter!
As long as you're alive, Daddy might learn the truth.
She did not want to lose her father's love, nor her status and glory as the little princess of the Ten Thousand Swords Sect.
Why should I hand over everything I've enjoyed for decades? Why?!
So, Wei Lianyi, die!
Only when you're dead can I finally rest easy!
A chilling murderous intent filled Xu Zhenzhen's eyes. She flicked her whip, sending it straight at Wei Lianyi.
Wei Lianyi was horrified!
She was only at the peak of Foundation Building, while Xu Zhenzhen was at early Golden Core. Though only one minor stage separated them, the gap was like an impassable chasm.
Once Xu Zhenzhen became serious, Wei Lianyi stood no chance against her, especially with her severe injuries.
"Pfft!"
The whip sent Wei Lianyi flying. She collapsed to the ground and spat out a large mouthful of blood.
Despite her desperate resistance, she could not withstand Xu Zhenzhen at full strength.
Waves of darkness swept across her vision. Through her fading consciousness, she saw Xu Zhenzhen's whip lash viciously toward her again.
Profound sorrow and despair welled up in Wei Lianyi's heart.
Was this where she would die today?
She couldn't accept it. She hadn't found her biological parents yet. There were still so many things she hadn't done.
She didn't want to die!
The joy of victory had already appeared on Xu Zhenzhen's face.
But in the blink of an eye, everything changed.
An attack streaked down from the sky and slammed into Xu Zhenzhen's whip.
The bloodied, barbed whip shattered with a crack, and the attack caught Xu Zhenzhen herself as well.
Screaming repeatedly, she hurtled backward dozens of meters before crashing into a sturdy tree. Only then did she crumple to the ground, coughing up blood, half dead.
"Who's there?"
The old Divine Incarnation cultivator secretly protecting Xu Zhenzhen let out a furious roar, emerged from hiding, and shielded her.
"Hah!" A cold, savage scoff exploded in everyone's ears.
Xu You appeared out of thin air before Wei Lianyi in an instant. "Have you gone blind, you bastard?"
The old Divine Incarnation cultivator's expression changed. He hurriedly lowered his head in deference. "Venerable, it was my fault. I failed to sense your presence."
Realizing that the newcomer was her father, Xu Zhenzhen flashed a panicked look and struggled to her feet.
Clear tears instantly spilled from her eyes, making her look utterly pitiful.
"Daddy, it isn't what you think. This bit... she startled a demonic beast while I was gathering spirit herbs, and it chased us. Two of my companions have already died in its jaws. I only attacked her in the heat of the moment."
Xu Zhenzhen's story was two parts truth and eight parts lies.
Wei Lianyi had indeed startled a demonic beast.
But she had lured it over to create chaos so she could escape Xu Zhenzhen.
Xu You stared at her coldly, his voice icy enough to freeze someone solid. "Is that so? Is that truly what happened?"
Xu Zhenzhen nodded hastily. "How would I dare lie to you, Daddy?"
Xu You snorted. "It had better be. If I discover you've been abusing your power to bully others, I won't spare you, even if you are my daughter."
Xu Zhenzhen's heart tightened, and she clenched her fingers until they turned white.
Beneath her lowered eyelids, intense murderous intent surged once more.
Wei Lianyi! That bitch really was her bane!
Daddy had only just met that bitch, yet he'd already scolded her because of Wei Lianyi! He'd even injured her!
Meanwhile, Wei Lianyi had initially been delighted that she had been saved.
But when she heard that the newcomer was Xu Zhenzhen's father, utter despair filled her heart.
She could not handle Xu Zhenzhen alone, much less this terrifying man whose oppressive aura and presence were suffocating.
Yet a moment later, the middle-aged man before her carefully helped her to her feet.
She sensed the profound heartache and tenderness in his eyes.
Wei Lianyi was dumbfounded. "???"
Xu You gazed at the young woman before him, who bore an uncanny resemblance to his late beloved wife.
Perhaps it was the pull of their blood ties. Even though he could not sense his own bloodline aura in Wei Lianyi, he immediately became certain that she was his biological daughter.
That venomous woman Jiang Liu'er must have tampered with Xu Zhenzhen and his daughter.
That was why Xu Zhenzhen carried his bloodline aura, while his daughter did not.
Xu You's hatred for Jiang Liu'er had reached its limit.
His expression softened, and he spoke gently to Wei Lianyi. "Child, you might find what I'm about to say absurd, but I swear it's true.
"You're my biological daughter! I'd like you to come with me to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect."
Xu You's eyes reddened, and tears streamed down his face.
Xu Zhenzhen's gaze grew even more terrified. She was about to speak when Xu You abruptly sealed her mouth with a spell.
"???" Wei Lianyi's eyes filled with disbelief.
Watching the older man before her weep, tears and snot streaming down his face, she felt her head buzz.
So Xu Zhenzhen had tried to kill her because she already knew she wasn't this older man's biological daughter?
Had she tried to murder her because she feared she would come back and compete for her father's affection?
Wei Lianyi quickly pieced everything together.
Then she warily took a step back and spoke coldly.
"How am I supposed to know whether you're telling the truth, Dao Venerable?"
Was she supposed to believe she was his daughter just because he said so? What if he was a fraud?
Still, Wei Lianyi did not think a mighty Void Insight Venerable would need anything from her.
Seeing his daughter's wary, guarded eyes, Xu You felt excruciating pain in his heart.
Without hesitation, he swore a heavenly dao oath.
"With the Heavenly Dao as my witness, nothing I have said today is false. If I have lied, may the Heavenly Dao punish me.
"Furthermore, if Miss Wei accompanies me to the Ten Thousand Swords Sect today, I will not allow anyone to harm her in the slightest. Should I break this oath, may my cultivation never advance another step for the rest of my life!"
The instant his words fell, a dazzling beam of white light shot into the sky.
Then a beam of white light descended from the heavens and landed on Xu You, sealing the heavenly dao contract.
Cultivators spent their entire lives contending with heaven for their fate. Their lifelong pursuit was to ascend to the upper realm and seek a higher Dao.
The heavenly dao oath Xu You had just sworn was no trivial matter.
If he broke it, his cultivation would remain at early Void Insight for the rest of his life, until his life ended and he returned to dust.
Wei Lianyi also saw that the Heavenly Dao had not punished Xu You, and her eyes widened slightly.
He really was her biological father!
After hesitating for two breaths, Wei Lianyi nodded in agreement.
Xu You immediately wept with joy. "Good, good, good."
Xu Zhenzhen's pale little face was filled with solemn despair.
It was over. Everything was over.
Before you continue