Mortal: I really didn't want to be reborn as Zi Ling!

Wu Chou grew angrier and angrier, and punched a tree trunk next to him, snapping the thick tree in two.

"If it weren't for the Ancestor possessing me in time, I would have almost died at the hands of the Sixth Elder!"

He gasped for breath; clearly, the taste of death was unpleasant, and the feeling of being possessed by the ancestor was even worse, but he had to force himself to calm down.

Now is not the time to lose your temper.

Before leaving, the old ancestor gave him two instructions.

First, the daughter of Wang Heng and his wife.

Even with the two working together, the ancestor's divine skills were not yet fully developed, and they couldn't defeat him in a short time by simply possessing him.

However, this couple was related to the legendary Thunder Bamboo, something that the ancestor specifically requested.

Another matter is the kid who uses the Profound Yin Scripture. He finally managed to catch a glimpse of Ji Xuan, but if the other party gets away...

Wu Chou's teeth were clenched so tightly they made a grinding sound.

"waste."

Wu Chou's voice was full of disdain.

"What a piece of trash. He actually got ambushed and killed by that little vixen Zhou Yuan!"

He was naturally cursing Elder Gu.

That old man lived for hundreds of years, but in the end he died at the hands of a woman in the early stage of Core Formation.

Calling him trash is being too kind!

He still wants immortality and the Heaven-Mending Pill? He's really letting the other party off easy by not refining it himself!

Wu Chou stood beside the empty teleportation array, hesitated for a moment, and finally gritted his teeth and chased after Han Li in the east.

The Wang Heng couple had a large and wealthy family, and there were other ways to obtain Tianlei Bamboo.

But if that guy who received the Extreme Brilliance Inheritance gets away, the Chaotic Star Sea is so vast that finding him again would be as difficult as climbing to the heavens.

-

The sea stretched to the horizon, and the pale light of the sky hung low, making it difficult to distinguish between day and night.

A five-zhang-long, entirely silver-white flying boat hovered in mid-air. Gusts of salty sea wind blew, fluttering the Miaoyin Sect flag hanging at the bow.

Zhou Yuan stood at the bow of the boat, her eyes red-rimmed, but she couldn't squeeze out a single tear.

Her divine sense enveloped the surroundings, leaving no corner unchecked, her eyes occasionally glancing towards the horizon.

"lady."

Fan Jingmei came out of the cabin, holding a cup of hot tea, while Zhou Yuan's eyes were vacant, as if she hadn't heard a thing.

-

One hour later.

Several streaks of light rushed in from different directions, including disciples dressed in the robes of the Miaoyin Sect and patrolling cultivators in the standard armor of the Star Palace.

"There is none three hundred li to the east."

"There's none to the west either."

"We've searched the north side and explored the seabed, but we haven't found any trace of anything."

The fourth person's mouth agape slightly, and finally he shook his head.

To the south, they found nothing as well.

More and more people came to report, but their voices grew softer and softer, and none of them dared to look Zhou Yuan in the eye.

Messages kept coming in, but none of them were what Zhou Yuan was hoping for.

When she heard the last "no," she suddenly smiled.

Even Fan Jingmei felt a chill run down her spine at that sound.

"try to find."

Zhou Yuan's fingers dug into the gunwale, causing the ironwood to creak and groan. Her knuckles had an unnatural bluish-gray hue.

A disciple of the Miaoyin Sect nearby subconsciously took a half step back.

"Even if it means searching high and low, you must find Ning'er for me, alive or dead!"

Everyone nodded in agreement, not daring to utter the slightest complaint.

A young disciple moved his lips as if he wanted to say something, but was pulled to the back of the cabin by his senior brother.

Anyone could see that Mrs. Wang was on the verge of collapse, and speaking recklessly at this time was tantamount to courting death.

not to mention--

After the battle three days ago, the names of Wang Heng and Zhou Yuan had already spread around Kuixing Island.

The couple joined forces to defeat Wu Chou of Ji Yin Island, and Zhou Yuan even personally killed the ancient elder who betrayed the Star Palace.

A female cultivator in the early stage of Core Formation directly killed a veteran Core Formation cultivator.

Based on this battle alone, no one dares to provoke her at this time.

Moreover, the Sixth Elder praised them publicly afterward, saying that they were "commendable for their loyalty and bravery, and had made great contributions to the Star Palace."

With this statement in place, coupled with the couple's actions, Miaoyin Sect's influence around Kuixing Island has more than doubled compared to before.

But everyone knew in their hearts that the young sect leader, Zi Ling, was probably in grave danger.

It's not uncommon for a twelve-year-old girl, even with the cultivation level of the early Foundation Establishment stage, to disappear on the vast ocean.

They either encountered demonic beasts or cultivators undergoing tribulations.

Otherwise, there should have been news by now, three days ago.

No one dared to say these words aloud; they could only do their best to find any clues to avoid being implicated in the wrath of the Core Formation cultivators.

-

Fan Jingmei stood half a step behind Zhou Yuan.

That once seemingly steady and reliable figure has suddenly become somewhat shaky these past few days.

"lady."

"Yesterday, Sect Master Wang went to great lengths to ask Senior Tian Xuanzi to perform a divination for the young sect master."

Zhou Yuan withdrew her gaze and turned to Fan Jingmei: "What did Tian Xuanzi say?"

Fan Jingmei reported truthfully: "The hexagram is - Heaven over Lake (履), treading on the tiger's tail, it will not bite, auspicious."

She paused, as if recalling Tian Xuanzi's original words.

"According to Tian Xuanzi, this divination is an auspicious sign. Although it is accompanied by some risks, there is good fortune hidden within the danger, and the young sect leader will surely be able to turn misfortune into good fortune."

She took a step forward and stood side by side with Zhou Yuan.

"With my junior sister's intelligence... she might already be alright and on her way back."

Fan Jingmei glanced at Zhou Yuan's expression and continued, "Besides, my junior sister is the most filial. If she came back and saw you like this..."

She didn't finish saying "she felt even worse," she just sighed.

"Is that really what Tian Xuanzi said?"

Before Fan Jingmei could answer, her brows furrowed again: "My husband is idle all day long, all he does is hang out with these unreliable people. Fortune telling? He believes in that too?"

After complaining about Wang Heng, Zhou Yuan looked visibly more relaxed. She leaned against the ship's railing and sighed.

Fan Jingmei handed over the still slightly warm teacup, which Zhou Yuan took, sipped, and continued:

"Last time, Xuanzi said that the righteous and demonic paths, along with the demon beast race, couldn't cause any trouble!"

She raised her hand and pointed in the direction of Kui Xing Island.

To this day, streaks of blue lightning still remain in the sky above that sea area, and the sky looks as if it has been torn apart, with the clouds churning endlessly.

"And the result? The grand formation on Kui Xing Island was destroyed!"

"How many demonic beasts have recently infiltrated the Inner Star Sea through that breach?"

Fan Jingmei did not respond.

She noticed that although Zhou Yuan was scolding Wang Heng, her tightly furrowed brows had clearly relaxed a little.

A glimmer of light returned to those reddened eyes.

Fan Jingmei prayed silently in her heart.

I hope the young master is alright; Tian Xuanzi's divination worked!

As Zhou Yuan's right-hand woman, she was all too aware of the undercurrents in the chaotic Star Sea recently.

Miaoyin Sect was commended for its role in this incident, and its reputation grew even stronger, but it also attracted more attention.

She vaguely sensed that several unknown forces had begun targeting the Miaoyin Sect.

If at this moment, the two pillars that stabilize the Miaoyin Sect fell—

Fan Jingmei didn't dare to think any further.