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

Wu Chou looked at Zhou Yuan with a newfound caution.

"Heh, what's wrong, scared?"

Zhou Yuan glanced at the sea without making a sound.

Now she could see it clearly.

Even though they were far apart, she recognized her daughter at a glance.

My heart felt like it was being gripped by a giant hand, then suddenly released.

Ning'er is still alive.

Ning'er is indeed not dead!

The moment this thought exploded in her mind, Zhou Yuan felt every bone in her body lighten. All the fatigue, the pain, and the pressure of the past few days became insignificant.

But she quickly forced herself to calm down.

Now is not the time to relax.

She withdrew her gaze and looked at Wu Chou, a half-smile on her face.

Wu Chou stared at her for a few moments, then suddenly laughed, "It seems that Madam has some hidden cards up her sleeve."

"but--"

Before he finished speaking, his figure suddenly disappeared from the spot.

Zhou Yuan felt a chill run down her spine and subconsciously used her remaining magical power to protect herself.

"Watch out, Senior Sister Fan!"

A childish voice came from the sea, fast and urgent.

Zhou Yuan's heart skipped a beat, and she turned her head sharply.

late!

A dark, ugly figure suddenly appeared behind Fan Jingmei. A large, jet-black hand emerged from the sleeve and grabbed Fan Jingmei in its palm like a chick.

As she clenched her fingers, Fan Jingmei's face turned deathly pale, and her bones creaked and cracked.

But Wu Chou's complexion was not good.

He stared at the suddenly appearing Zi Ling, his brows furrowing into a knot.

"You're still alive?"

"That Heavenly Thunder Pearl from the Blazing Flame, could it have been your doing?"

Eyes facing each other.

Wu Chou narrowed his eyes.

Zhou Yuan had already rushed to her daughter's side, shielding her behind her:

"Ugly crow. Tell me, what exactly do you want?"

"Hehehe."

Wu Chou grinned, his laughter tinged with smugness: "As expected of the de facto leader of the Miaoyin Sect, Madam Wang is indeed clever."

Zhou Yuan remained unmoved, looking worriedly at Fan Jingmei, who was being held tightly in her grasp.

"Simple."

Wu Chou's smile vanished, and his tone became serious: "Hand over the Thunder Bamboo you possess, and I will spare her life. From now on, our grudges will be settled, and Ji Yin Island will never again trouble your Miao Yin Sect."

"it is good."

Zhou Yuan hardly hesitated.

"No!"

"No!"

Two voices rang out simultaneously.

Zi Ling and Fan Jingmei spoke in unison.

In an instant, all eyes were focused on Zi Ling.

Zhou Yuan turned her head and frowned as she looked at her daughter.

Fan Jingmei also looked over, her eyes filled with complex emotions—surprise, confusion, and a hint of distress.

She knew the young sect leader was right.

Reason also told her that the value of a Heavenly Thunder Bamboo far exceeded that of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator like Fan Zuo Shi. The reputation of Ji Yin Island was even less significant; even if she handed over the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, the other party might not keep their word.

But when she shouted "No!" in front of everyone, she still felt as if something had stabbed her in the chest.

You should know that you treat her like a younger sister, and you will try your best to fulfill any request she makes.

"Ning'er."

Zhou Yuan's voice lowered.

She didn't understand why her daughter would say such a thing at this time.

Zi Ling opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but when the words reached her lips, she didn't know where to begin.

She couldn't possibly say to Wu Chou's face, "The Heavenly Thunder Bamboo is related to the future of the human world and even the spirit world, and it is of great use," could she?

Fan Jingmei took a deep breath, calmed herself down, and struggled to lift her head.

"Madam, don't worry about me! How can we trust the words of that scoundrel from the demonic path? Even if I were worth that price, we can't agree to it! Otherwise, wouldn't any Tom, Dick, or Harry be able to threaten my Wonderful Sound Sect in the future!"

After saying that, she closed her eyes and stopped looking at anyone.

Wu Chou raised an eyebrow.

"Tsk tsk tsk, what a touching scene of master and disciple affection."

Then he raised his hand, and a beam of black light sealed Fan Jingmei's mouth. Fan Jingmei could only make muffled sounds; she couldn't speak even if she wanted to.

Wu Chou looked at Zhou Yuan again.

"Mrs. Wang, have you thought this through?"

His voice was calm and unhurried: "A thousand soldiers are easy to find, but a good general is hard to come by. Are you really willing to give up such a loyal subordinate? If the other disciples of the Miaoyin Sect knew, wouldn't they be disheartened?"

He suddenly smiled as he said this.

That smile made Zhou Yuan's heart tighten.

"Don't forget, we are demonic cultivators."

A large, black hand moved slowly, pulling Fan Jingmei to its side. Then, its ugly, dark fingernails lightly scratched across Fan Jingmei's collar.

tear-

Her clothes slipped off her shoulders, revealing a section of her snow-white shoulder and collarbone.

Her delicate skin shimmered faintly in the sunlight, creating a stark contrast with the dark, menacing hand.

"At that point, she'll have a hard time dying even if she wanted to!"

Wu Chou's voice was light and airy, as if he were talking about something perfectly normal.

"oh--"

"Oh oh oh—"

The Foundation Establishment cultivators on the surrounding Yin Island all had their eyes shining and started howling like ghosts.

Some people started whistling, while others licked their lips, their eyes glued to Fan Jingmei's sensitive areas like flies.

Fan Jingmei's face turned deathly pale instantly.

She struggled desperately, trying to pull out the Heavenly Thunder Pearl from her storage bag to perish together with the opponent, but the large black hand remained motionless, and she could only make whimpering sounds.

Tears welled up uncontrollably in her eyes, slid down her cheeks, and fell into the sea of ​​blood.

Even though she was scared, she kept shaking her head, signaling to the sect leader not to agree to his request.

Zhou Yuan's fingernails dug into her palm.

"Stop. I said I'd agree."

She turned to look at Zi Ling and raised her hand to cast a spell.

Zi Ling felt her body stiffen, as if she had been frozen in place. She opened her mouth, but no sound came out; she tried to use her divine sense to transmit her voice, but found that her divine sense was blocked by an invisible barrier.

She could only watch helplessly as her mother turned around and took out a jade box from her bosom.

The jade box is pure white, and its surface is covered with densely packed restriction patterns, with a faint spiritual light flowing through it.

Zhou Yuan gently stroked the jade box with her fingers.

This Heavenly Thunder Bamboo is one of the most valuable treasures of the Wonderful Sound Sect, but now—

She took a deep breath and looked up at Wu Chou.

"One hand delivers the person, the other hand delivers the goods."

"Good! Madam is much more decisive!"

Wu Chou's eyes lit up.

He hadn't expected the mission to be so simple. If he had just kidnapped Fan Jingmei, he wouldn't have had to go through all this trouble!

Fortunately, although things have taken some twists and turns, as long as we get the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, we can report back to the ancestor.

He had even begun to plan what reward he should ask the patriarch for when he returned.

As for what happens after obtaining the Thunder Bamboo—

Wu Chou's eyes darted around.

He glanced at Fan Jingmei, who was standing close by, and then at the little girl Ziling. No one knew what he was thinking at that moment.

Seeing that the two were about to reach a deal, Zi Ling was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan.

She wanted to move, but couldn't; she wanted to speak, but couldn't.

Once the Thunder Bamboo falls into Wu Chou's hands, getting it back will be as difficult as climbing to heaven.

She was hoping to use this thing to get back at Han Lizhu.

Moreover, she simply did not trust the credibility of Extreme Yin Island.

Even if she hands over the Heavenly Thunder Bamboo, Wu Chou will not let Senior Sister Fan off easily.

They wouldn't even spare their weakened mother.

Zi Ling closed her eyes and sank her mind into the depths of her consciousness.

In the sea of ​​consciousness, the broken bead floated lazily, emitting a faint purple light.

She wasn't sure if it was just her imagination, but she felt that the other person seemed to be in a better state than before.

"Feed".

Zi Ling's voice rang out in her mind.

"Can you deal with that ugly black thing and rescue my senior sister?"

The remaining bead glowed faintly.

"Hehehe—"

That childish yet deliberately mature voice resonated in Zi Ling's heart, carrying a smug air: "You finally got your way with me!"

"Stop talking nonsense and tell me if there's a solution."

"Of course I have a way, and I have plenty of ways."

The voice paused, then became meaningful: "If you agree to one condition, I will save her right now."

"it is good."

Zi Ling answered crisply and decisively, without the slightest hesitation.

There was a moment of silence in my mind.

When the voice rang out again, there was a hint of confusion in its tone: "Huh—you agreed so easily? You didn't even ask what the conditions were?"

Clearly, it hadn't expected Zi Ling to agree so readily.

As it expected, the little girl should struggle, hesitate, and bargain.

But she didn't even ask about the conditions?

For a moment, Canzhu couldn't feel happy at all. Instead, she felt a strange and inexplicable unease, as if she had been wronged.