Chapter 69

Chapter 69: The Whole City Kneels

The Spirit Bead shuddered.

It was as if it saw King Yama coming to claim its life.

Cowering in the corner, it hovered toward Song Wan Ning under that smile—hesitant, unwilling, trembling.

There was no path left.

It could only submit.

In the end, the Spirit Bead obediently settled into Song Wan Ning’s palm, perfectly well-behaved, not daring to show the slightest defiance.

Song Wan Ning blinked, mildly surprised by how compliant it had become.

After all, she still wasn’t favored by the Heavenly Dao. Spiritual treasures had spirits. It shouldn’t want to follow a “villain.”

She toyed with it for a moment, but she didn’t relax her guard. Instead, she flicked her wrist and tossed it straight into her Sword Dao True Realm.

The Spirit Bead panicked instantly.

But the moment it entered, it was sealed inside, unable to get out.

In the vastness of the true realm, it became a speck of dust.

Thoughts were wiped away in an instant. It forgot its identity. It forgot its mission.

It drifted in a daze, as if it had nowhere to return—until a figure appeared before it and picked it up.

The Spirit Bead immediately felt close to that person. It nuzzled their hand like a tame creature.

Not a trace of resistance remained.

Song Wan Ning’s smile faded slightly, a small crease forming between her brows. She had expected a fight. Instead, it had been controlled almost too easily.

Still, she didn’t hesitate.

She squeezed a drop of blood from her fingertip and formed a contract with the Spirit Bead.

This time, it went smoothly.

With a soft whoosh, the Spirit Bead drilled into her dantian and settled there obediently.

When Song Wan Ning sent her consciousness inward, she saw it releasing pure spiritual qi, wave after wave washing through her.

Outside spiritual qi poured into her endlessly. The Spirit Bead absorbed it—then released it again, not only purified, but multiplied several times over.

Her cultivation speed increased dramatically, roughly three times faster than before.

So that was its effect.

No wonder Ye Chu Xue’s cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds in her previous life. Song Wan Ning had assumed it was because of Ye Chu Xue’s Chaos Spiritual Root. It turned out this Spirit Bead had played a huge role, too.

And now it belonged to her.

Satisfied, Song Wan Ning withdrew her consciousness and used her jade pendant to open the confinement chamber.

Several people were already waiting outside.

“Miss,” the steward said, head lowered in deep respect, his tone carrying a hint of worship, “the Family Head asked us to invite you to the front hall. Several factions in the city are there, asking about the strange event from just now.”

“A strange event?” Song Wan Ning frowned as she walked. “Tell me. What happened?”

The steward’s excitement spilled out as he described the spectacle—how the entire city had been forced to kneel, how even the mountains had trembled.

When she heard nearly everyone had dropped to their knees, Song Wan Ning stopped short, genuinely startled.

She hadn’t expected it to be that powerful.

Immortal Lord Mo Yang’s inheritance…

Truly formidable.

She had traded a sesame seed for a watermelon.

By rights, Immortal Lord Mo Yang was like another master to her now. She simply hadn’t paid formal respects yet.

Song Wan Ning clenched her fists, a rare sincerity tightening her chest.

One day, she would go to the Immortal Realm in person.

One day, she would thank Immortal Lord Mo Yang.

.

In the Song Family front hall, five or six people sat gathered together, their voices overlapping as they discussed what had happened.

“Family Head Song, don’t hide it. The Song Family has obtained a treasure—we’re happy for you. We only want to take a look and broaden our horizons. Why be so secretive?”

“Exactly. We’ve known each other for many years. Surely Family Head Song trusts our character?”

“Hahaha! Family Head Song must be afraid we’ll snatch the treasure, so he doesn’t dare show it, right?”

“What nonsense. Family Head Song wouldn’t be that petty. Why are you in such a hurry?”

They played off each other, singing in unison, every word pressing Song Qing Yun to produce the “treasure.”

Though they had cooperated for years, the different forces competed openly and secretly. No one truly respected the others.

Now the Song Family had produced such a strange phenomenon. Naturally, everyone wanted to know what it was—and whether it could be taken.

Song Qing Yun’s face remained calm, a polite smile fixed in place, but inside he was cursing nonstop.

What family wouldn’t hide a treasure they had gained? Who would willingly pull it out for others to gawk at?

Worse, he didn’t even know what had happened. How was he supposed to answer?

All he knew was that it probably had something to do with his precious daughter.

So he tried to laugh it off, to brush it aside. But they refused to leave. They kept pressing, smiling while their eyes stayed sharp and greedy.

Song Qing Yun’s smile nearly froze.

Then, at last, Song Wan Ning arrived.

The moment she stepped into the doorway, Song Qing Yun hurriedly sent her a voice transmission, telling her to make up any excuse—anything—to send them away.

Cut off their desire before it grew teeth.

Song Wan Ning entered at an unhurried pace, bold and unrestrained. Her fiery red dress looked like a flame that lit the entire hall.

As her cultivation rose and her bearing matured, her beauty became even more striking—unforgettable at a glance.

Several people held their breath. Every pair of eyes flashed with amazement, though each expression carried its own calculation.

“I heard you’re curious about the strange phenomenon in the city just now,” Song Wan Ning said, voice smooth. “What kind of treasure caused it?”

She walked straight to the seat of honor and sat without hesitation. Though she sat beside Song Qing Yun, her presence pressed down harder than his, making the room instinctively wary.

For a moment, it felt as if she, not Song Qing Yun, were the true head of the Song Family.

The Wen Lai Pavilion Master chuckled, stroking his beard. “Exactly. This matter is important. We’re all concerned about the Song Family.”

“If we see what treasure it is,” he continued, smiling wider, “we can help explain it. That way outsiders won’t misunderstand the Song Family. Isn’t that right?”

The Thousand Mountain Academy Headmaster nodded along. “Yes. We’re concerned about the Song Family, too. We’re all friends—of course we wouldn’t harm you.”

Everyone present represented a larger force. Their branches in the city might be small, but the powers behind them were not to be underestimated.

More importantly, they were eyes and mouths for their respective forces. What happened today would be reported back to their main clans tomorrow.

Song Wan Ning looked at them with lazy disdain. Their hypocritical faces were laughable.

Sometimes people like this were worse than bandits.

At least bandits didn’t steal while pretending to be righteous.

She nodded lightly as if she agreed completely, then turned to Song Qing Yun. “Father, since they all want to know what treasure our Song Family obtained, let’s tell them. That way they won’t keep thinking about it.”

“Huh?” Song Qing Yun froze, then his expression changed. He blurted out, “No.”

“Father, you can’t hide it anyway.” Song Wan Ning leaned forward slightly, wearing an expression of sincere concern. “You might as well tell them everything.”

The others nodded repeatedly, voices eager. “Yes, yes, yes. True Lord Song is the one who understands reason.”