Invitation from the Soul Clan

After hearing Hunmei’s words, Bai Lan’s expression shifted, as if she were deep in thought.

The Soul Clan’s intention was to recruit the real-world Bai Lan into their sect.

They were willing to groom her as the next sect leader, promising her every conceivable benefit.

However, all these promises were, for now, nothing more than empty checks.

“Well? Speak up. Do you agree or not? If you do, tell me where you are in the Eastern Continent, and I’ll send someone to fetch you.”

Hunmei waited impatiently for Bai Lan’s reply.

After careful consideration, Bai Lan chose not to give an immediate answer.

“I need to think about this. Besides, I don’t know much about your Soul Clan. Agreeing rashly wouldn’t be realistic.”

“However, since your clan bears no ill will, I’ll attempt to remove the seal within you. Though, I can’t guarantee success,” Bai Lan stated.

Hunmei had initially been displeased that Bai Lan hadn’t immediately accepted the Soul Clan’s invitation.

Yet, upon hearing Bai Lan offer to remove her seal, her displeasure quickly turned to delight.

“Yes! Yes! Hurry! This girl has been utterly stifled lately.”

Lifting her own seal was the true outcome Hunmei desired.

With that, Bai Lan walked up to Hunmei and grasped her wrist.

She then closed her eyes, sensing the conditions within Hunmei’s body.

Sure enough, she soon felt a connection to her own power.

She attempted to communicate with her strength.

Before long, the Yin power lingering within Hunmei’s body was gradually withdrawn into Bai Lan.

As Bai Lan’s power departed Hunmei’s body, Hunmei immediately felt her own strength steadily recovering.

“This is wonderful! My power is finally restored!” Hunmei exclaimed, looking thoroughly relieved.

“Consider this as recompense for your Soul Clan demonstrating good intentions towards me,” Bai Lan stated, making her stance clear. “But if you or your clan provoke me again, I won’t be so courteous.”

“Oh, don’t worry! I’ll steer clear of you from now on!”

Hunmei was now eager to put as much distance as possible between herself and Bai Lan.

“Good. Farewell.” Bai Lan prepared to depart.

However, Hunmei suddenly recalled her father’s instructions, and her expression became conflicted.

“Hey! I advise you not to wander around carelessly. You snatched treasures right in front of so many top-tier Heavenly Talents.”

“Some of those with bad tempers have already posted bounties on the first floor, looking to hunt you down.”

“Right now, people are searching everywhere for you and that Long Lingyu,” Hunmei warned.

Bai Lan paused, taken aback.

She thought it wouldn’t be that serious.

Was stealing one item really cause for such deep resentment?

She inquired further, and only then did she learn the truth: someone had used her to kill nearly a thousand trial participants in one fell swoop.

Those who had been chasing her were also eliminated by Long Lingyu.

Thus, she and Long Lingyu had become targets of public outrage.

Of course, what Bai Lan didn’t know was that a portion of these individuals actually wanted to recruit her.

“So that’s what happened. Do you know what became of Long Lingyu?” Bai Lan asked.

Hunmei shook her head.

“I don’t know. But that guy is terrifying. He killed the Holy Son of Grand Beginning Holy Land, Ying Zhi of the Ying family, the Holy Maiden of Myriad Nether Holy Land, and other prominent figures from top factions.”

“His vendetta is even greater than yours.”

“Honestly, you two are quite a match. Even I wouldn’t dare provoke such formidable individuals all at once,” Hunmei said, a wry smile on her face.

Bai Lan fell into contemplation.

This was certainly not good news, but it was also a test.

“I don’t care. The Void Heaven Realm is a place for battle and tempering oneself. If one is afraid of trouble, they might as well stay home and embroider,” Bai Lan replied.

As soon as Bai Lan spoke, Hunmei couldn’t help but laugh.

She found Bai Lan’s way of speaking rather bold, at times even carrying a masculine edge.

This clashed with Bai Lan’s appearance.

“Hehe, your way of speaking is truly amusing. I find it hard to imagine a great beauty speaking with such a masculine tone. So, every time, I can’t help but wonder if you’re actually a man on the outside,” Hunmei remarked.

Bai Lan offered no explanation.

She was indeed a man originally.

Even after being a woman for some time, her manner of speech still carried a strong masculine flavor, making suspicion entirely normal.

“Very well, I’m leaving now. If I need you, I’ll let you know.” Bai Lan prepared to depart.

However, after only a few steps, Hunmei followed her.

This surprised Bai Lan.

“The seal has been removed, so why are you still following me?” Bai Lan turned back to Hunmei, a hint of exasperation in her voice.

“Eh? This? I… I’ll be honest with you. My father, the Soul Clan leader, told me to cultivate a good relationship with you.”

“But ever since I was little, others have always fawned over me. I’ve never actively tried to curry favor with anyone, much less someone who bullied me,” Hunmei stammered.

She spoke the truth, and Bai Lan knew Hunmei wasn’t lying.

“Cultivate a good relationship with me? I think that might be difficult. You’re not the type I enjoy spending time with, and I have no interest in little girls.”

Bai Lan directly conveyed her thoughts to Hunmei.

What Bai Lan didn’t realize was that her words dealt a heavy blow to the young girl’s tender heart.

“You? How hateful! I lowered myself to try and get along with you, and you say such things?”

“Do you think I like your type of woman? Cold and icy, like a giant iceberg, speaking so lifelessly!”

“And I’m at least a teenager now, what ‘little girl’?” Hunmei fumed.

“Still a little girl. Alright, that’s enough. Don’t follow me.” Bai Lan tossed out another sentence, then quickened her pace, disappearing from Hunmei’s sight in an instant.

“You, you hateful woman! What do you mean you’re not interested in ‘little girls’? Do you know how beautiful she is?”

Hunmei, embarrassed, yelled towards the direction Bai Lan vanished, “You’re not even a man!”

Bai Lan’s actions were purely driven by an adult male’s mindset.

To an adult, a ‘little girl’ like Hunmei held no appeal whatsoever.

For instance, in the past, a young Xue Linglong was also quite adorable, but Bai Lan harbored no particular thoughts about her.

However, once Xue Linglong matured physically, Bai Lan’s feelings towards her also changed.

It evolved from a general sentiment into one of admiration.

Simply put, little girls could not attract Bai Lan; everyone had their own aesthetic preferences.

Hunmei initially wanted to turn and leave immediately, but remembering her father’s assigned task, she felt helpless.

So, she followed, though she kept a considerable distance.

As for Bai Lan, what would she do next?

Currently, she was still in the twilight trial phase.

With her immediate tasks complete, it was time to engage in battle.

After all, many people had bounties out for her.

Let them come.

Indeed, Bai Lan hadn’t gone far before she encountered a group of people.

Upon seeing Bai Lan, they reacted as if they had stumbled upon a treasure.

“It’s Bai Lan! Capture her!” The group charged directly at Bai Lan.

Bai Lan snorted coldly.

She never showed mercy to those who sought trouble with her.

Instead of fleeing, she engaged the group in combat.

After about five minutes of fighting, all six members of the team were vanquished by Bai Lan.

However, after these six individuals returned to the resurrection point, they immediately spread the news of Bai Lan’s location through various channels.

This caused many trial participants to converge on the area where Bai Lan was.

Most of these people were after the treasures on Bai Lan’s person.

If Bai Lan was killed, all her possessions would drop, which was a sufficient lure for many.