Sun Yuying felt impatient as she addressed the young human girl further.

  You said you could interest me. Now speak.

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm did not want to be idle when the threat of a Human Sect of unknown power loomed around her.

  Zhu Mei had a calm smile as she said, “Of course! I know plenty of such things, such as you not being meant to be here, how the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion watches over this place, and I can not only help you get through it all, but prosper from it.”

  Such as you not being meant to be here? Did the young girl utter those words? How could she know such things?

  Instantly, that caught her interest as she purred out the words.

  Continue.

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm thought nothing the young girl said could truly surprise her more than the previous revelations she just told her until she threw her off with the next words she spoke.

  “Of course I will, I can first off help you scrounge the Lingshou Forest for the remaining natural treasures that are of use to you, and not only that, but also more, though I will reveal the extent of my plans later, for now, we can start with you sorting out the inevitable problem that will emerge soon. That is killing the man who embraced me earlier, Min Feng, and his bandit-like rogue cultivator friends who will follow us.” Zhu Mei's expressive eyes contained utter coldness as she uttered the last words.

  What? Was that man her enemy?

  And I thought I was the cold-blooded serpent here. Why must the man die?

  Sun Yuying felt curious about it. Zhu Mei and the man seemed amiable. He was also mortal and, from her perspective, weak and insignificant.

  She did not know how he seemed to earn Zhu Mei's ire.

  Zhu Mei smiled deviously as she looked back at her. The young girl looked every bit a village girl, with a sun-kissed, glowing complexion, bright, spirited eyes, though with lean, agile features that showed she was well-practised and physically able, yet there was something else hidden in the depths of those carefree eyes.

  Despite her youthful village-girl appearance, the serpent saw her visage transform as she adopted a commanding, sharp presence.

  Her soft voice uttered, “The man is a good actor. Min Feng killed my Father and has been working with a group of rogue cultivators for years, those who prey on herb gatherers like him. The thing is, he is both foolish and arrogant enough to underestimate both you and me. I do not doubt that he will inform them, and they will try to steal the natural treasure they had been trying to take from my Father.”

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm felt irritated at the utterance of these words.

  A bunch of no-good rogue human cultivators believed they could challenge her? And a Mortal human actually dared to provoke her?

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  You lie!

  Sun Yuying hissed those words with a tad too much venom, causing Zhu Mei's composure to crack slightly as she stepped back in readiness.

  Despite this, Zhu Mei continued as she said, “They dare! Perhaps ordinary rogue cultivators would be wary, yet these are fairly strong, despite being far older and not meeting sect standards compared to the average Outer Sect disciple; they have some high-Qi Refinement members who match the top Outer Sect disciples in this region in cultivation. They belong to a Rogue Cultivator group that is practically a masquerade of a Bandit group, known as the Iron Blade Gang. The group has grown bolder in recent times; they usually prey on weaker rogue cultivators and mortal herb gatherers, yet the sharp increase in their stagnant cultivation over the years, fueled by the resources they pillage, has emboldened them. The Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion knows that only Foundation Stage cultivators pose a real threat to the Spirit Beast in this place; and the vast majority of them belong to opposing sects, and sending them here would be pointless and start a worthless conflict. It is why they permit Qi Refinement cultivators entry, only Foundation Establishment cultivators gain their attention. The Iron Blade Gang knows they have some leeway from being in the Qi Refinment.”

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm still felt it strange that rogue cultivators would dare challenge a territory belonging to a human sect far beyond them.

  And they dare cross The Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion?

  Zhu Mei chuckled lightly as she replied, “Of course not. Yet these grounds are well known by now, and they know that the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion has dozens of places like this around the Iron Willow Dynasty alone. They are still months away from appearing, and the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion does not mind Qi Refining rogue cultivators entering these grounds to an extent. In fact, they encourage it even; they enjoy Spirit Beasts getting a taste of human blood. The Iron Blade Gang leader is very close to the peak of Qi Refinement, and the natural treasure he tried to extract from my Father urgently is the key to that. He is desperate and will even take on a Spirit Beast as fearsome as you to get it. After all, it has been years since then, and he still has found no alternative despite terrorising countless Villages like mine. Also, the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion keeps the Iron Willow Dynasty largely unhindered from Spirit Beasts, leading to a general underestimate of their capabilities.”

  It seemed the world was truly gigantic if the Whispering Spirit Beast Pavilion held many such places alone.

  Sun Yuying already understood the situation far more. And though she disliked being used, the promise of heavenly treasures, and to test herself against human cultivators, even if they were rogue and not sect cultivators, did excite her to an extent.

  I agree to your proposal. Now tell me, why did you not kill that Min Feng before? I can tell you are no Mortal.

  The young girl smiled at that. Zhu Mei had a rather cold, calculating look in her eye as she said, “And potentially alert his backers, giving the true culprits a warning? I wanted to slaughter them all at once, and I am not quite strong enough for that at the moment. I have only begun cultivating recently, after all, Min Feng is scum, and I have thought of driving my blade into his heart for countless nights, yet that is too good for him. You can slaughter the others; leave that one to me. Now, I will take you to a treasure that will greatly benefit you, yet don’t consume it right away. I need it to draw the rats out.”

  The Lesser Venom Wyrm met the young girl's gaze and enjoyed her ruthlessness.

  It reminded her of herself. After all, she didn’t consider herself a true human, though she had the memories of one, and felt deep satisfaction at adopting the traits needed to survive.

  The young girl, despite her appearance, had the look of a survivor—an apex predator among humans.

  Perhaps this partnership could work out after all.

  Take me to the treasure. Let us slaughter that Iron Blade Gang, then I will expect more favours from you. The treasure is surely not worth more than your revenge, is that correct?

  Sun Yuying would not let the young girl take complete advantage of her.

  “Of course. I have many things I can tell you that will be more than sufficient. Now follow me, you have no idea how long I have been waiting for this.” Zhu Mei said with a bloodthirsty smile.

  And that was when the Lesser Venom Wyrm followed Zhu Mei deep into the Lingshou Forest, a new goal in their minds.