One word: 'Wait!'

Xiao Lanle leaned on Liang Jingxuan’s shoulder, her teeth sinking into her lower lip.

She had vaguely seen her senior brother on the shore with a strange woman, her senior brother’s hand intimately caressing her face.

If she hadn’t called out, her senior brother would have continued holding that woman’s filthy hands.

Xiao Lanle had encountered many women who sought her senior brother’s attention, but this one was exceptionally different.

Not only had her senior brother not shaken off her hand, he had even lost his mind as he parted ways with her.

Xiao Lanle’s gaze fell upon Liang Jingxuan’s silver ring, clutched tightly at the foot of the slope. The coldness in her heart intensified. She knew not what means that person had employed to not only captivate her senior brother but also cause him to cherish the token she had left behind as a precious treasure during their brief separation.

Her arched willow-leaf brows rose slightly, and her serene and picturesque face darkened momentarily. In the past, she had effortlessly dealt with such minor annoyances, but this time, things were different. She had yet to ascertain the most basic details of this woman’s background.

“Lanle, I hear there is a top-grade Marrow Cleansing Pill at the Imperial City’s Treasure Battle Tournament. It is a rare and precious elixir. You are approaching a bottleneck in your cultivation. I will surely seize it for you!”

Liang Jingxuan’s voice, which stirred her heart, reached her once more.

Xiao Lanle cast aside the lingering gloom in her mind, and a smile adorned her elegant and beautiful face. It was a dignified and proper smile, her lips parted just enough to reveal her teeth.

She released Liang Jingxuan, her eyes sparkling with joy, but a hint of hesitation lingered in her voice. “Jingxuan, the Treasure Battle Tournament attracts many formidable warriors. If Senior Brother were to sustain any injuries, I would be filled with guilt.”

Liang Jingxuan perceived the concern in Xiao Lanle’s gaze, but it only fueled his resolve to acquire the Marrow Cleansing Pill. With unwavering confidence, he proclaimed, “Lanle, behold my resolve. This very night, I shall claim the Marrow Cleansing Pill and bestow it upon you!”

Senior Brother Liang’s affection for her was profound and unwavering. Xiao Lanle felt a twinge of remorse for her jealous suspicions, which had led her to behave in a manner unbefitting the daughter of the sect master.

Her eyes brimming with tenderness, Xiao Lanle planted a kiss upon Liang Jingxuan’s cheek, a gesture of appreciation for his pledge to rectify the situation.

Lin Qianshuang examined the favorability interface. Not only had Liang Jingxuan’s hostility profile turned crimson, but Xiao Lanle’s strategic objectives were also clearly displayed beneath her avatar.

Beneath Xiao Lanle’s favorability avatar, two tasks were listed. The first was to cultivate her favorability to the level of life and death, mirroring Han Shengyao’s strategic goal.

The second objective was to assist Xiao Lanle in severing her romantic ties with Liang Jingxuan, uniting the righteous great sects, and assuming the mantle of the leader of the Immortal Alliance upon the establishment of the Immortal Alliance by the righteous sects in the future.

Upon seeing the second article, Lin Qianshuang’s expression froze for a moment. She had to repeatedly confirm the task with the system.

She truly couldn’t have imagined that Xiao Lanle, who had just been so tender and sensitive in the stallion protagonist’s arms, would become the leader of the most cunning Immortal Alliance in the entire book.

In her mind, the leader of the Immortal Alliance should have a free and uninhibited demeanor and a strong and courageous approach, not the kind of hesitant, demure young lady that her junior sister was.

“Host, this is the goal you wrote in your initial comment. It’s hard to take back your words once they’re out there.”

“Since you started writing, you should have considered the possibility of Xiao Lanle becoming the leader of the Immortal Alliance. You should have imagined that Xiao Lanle would ascend to the position of the Immortal Alliance’s leader.”

“Don’t you want to achieve this exciting and great goal?”

The system’s words hung in the air, darkening Lin Qianshuang’s expression. She had penned the comment in a moment of excitement, not giving it much thought.

However, her comment was not without logic.

The leader of the Immortal Alliance, akin to the leader of a martial arts alliance in a martial arts novel, wields immense power, influencing the fate of the four realms with a single command.

Three conditions are paramount. Firstly, a prestigious lineage as a second-generation immortal and a high social status. Secondly, a keen and composed mind, capable of making wise choices and possessing an unwavering heart. Thirdly, even with suppressed cultivation, they must command respect and support.

Xiao Lanle meets at least two of these criteria. In the original text, she is one of Liang Jingxuan’s harem’s trusted advisors and the daughter of the Penglai Immortal Sect, the leader of the human cultivation world. Liang Jingxuan’s rise to power was inseparable from her support.

Upon reflection, Lin Qianshuang realized that the strategic task was not unreasonable.

She stroked her chin and pondered. As long as she drove away Liang Jingxuan, that flashy cheat, she could use her identity as a disciple of Jinghua Fairy from Penglai Immortal Sect to attempt an approach to Xiao Lanle.

However, turning obstinate stones into exquisite jades, with her exceptionally awkward identity, this would likely be an arduous polishing process.

“I changed my attire, going through a great deal of trouble to save that drowning woman.”

Bai Wan murmured as she descended from the inn’s second floor and approached Lin Qianshang’s dining table, taking a seat opposite her.

Slightly embarrassed, Lin Qianshang poured a cup of hot tea and handed it to Bai Wan, saying, “I don’t know how I was suddenly swept away by the river’s undercurrent, and you ended up saving that girl.”

“Initially, I was worried about you, but who would have thought you would vanish into thin air?”

Bai Wan gave Lin Qianshuang a plaintive look, not reaching for the teacup. Instead, she seized her wrist that held it and declared, “This cup of tea hardly suffices as an apology. You must show me your gratitude. At the very least, play a melody for me.”

Bai Wan had extended significant assistance to her, so playing a song for her was the least Lin Qianshuang could do.

Having digested the Qi Gathering Pill, Lin Qianshuang now possessed an abundance of demonic energy.

With a gentle flick of her sleeve, demonic energy flowed from her fingertips. Her natal sword materialized on the wooden table, transforming into a guqin in an instant.

Lin Qianshuang winked playfully at Bai Wan, pretending to strum the strings haphazardly. The discordant notes drew the attention of the neighboring cultivators.

Once the melody faded, everyone in the inn turned to look at her.

To attract the attention of this crowd, she needed to showcase her talent. Additionally, she aimed to lure Liang Jingxuan, who was staying at this inn and would likely dine here with Xiao Lanle by his side.

“Qin music, what would you like to hear?” she inquired of Bai Wan with a bright smile.

Bai Wan’s eyes were deep, yet her expression hinted at a mischievous nature. Her body was slightly inclined, and her every gesture exuded an alluring charm that seemed to penetrate one’s very being. She rested her chin in her hand and gazed at Lin Qianshuang with amusement, saying, “Phoenix Seeks its Mate¹. I wonder if Miss Lin would be inclined to perform it for me?”

“Phoenix Seeks its Mate,” Lin Qianshuang mused. “An excellent selection.”

She cast a glance at the musical score displayed by the system, and a faint smile graced her lips. This piece perfectly aligned with her current intentions.

After the Treasure Battle Tournament concluded, she planned to depart the human realm and return to the demon realm.

Prior to this, she had intended to leave an indelible impression on Liang Jingxuan, deliberately misleading him to believe that his Senior Sister Bai Yueguang (herself) still harbored feelings for him and was preoccupied with thoughts of him.

Lin Qianshuang refused to believe that Liang Jingxuan, knowing that Senior Sister Bai Yueguang was still in love with him despite being trapped in shackles, could still remain indifferent and happily pick her up other girls.

Bai Wan’s expression was focused as she watched Lin Qianshuang play the qin. As the other woman touched the strings, her heart couldn’t help but jump wildly.

She knew that Lin Qianshuang had only responded to this piece of music casually and had not intended to play it for her, but the lingering, gentle, and shy courtship sound transmitted by the strings still made her ecstatic, as if the other party had already understood her thoughts and was quietly transparent in a gentle way.

“Qianshuang, the way you play the piano reminds me of my sister.”

Bai Wan held a teacup, but she hadn’t tasted it for a long time. She was completely focused on the person playing the qin in front of her, and after a long time, she drank the already cold tea in one gulp. With a coquettish smile, she said, “Sister, she’s so straightforward. It would be great if she had your delicate thoughts.”

“Do you have a sister? What’s she like?”

Lin Qianshuang asked casually, glancing out of the corner of her eye at the inn’s second floor.

“Her? Hmph, I’d rather not talk about her. She’s more cunning than me and farts in front of others every day. On the surface, she seems charming and manipulative, but in reality, she’s incredibly naive and awkward.”

“Anyway, if she met you, she’d definitely like you.”

Bai Wan playfully winked at Lin Qianshuang, leaning in closer with an air of mystery. “Because I really like… you as a friend.”

As Bai Wan’s words fell, Lin Qianshuang caught a glimpse of Liang Jingxuan and Xiao Lanle. She quickly grabbed Bai Wan’s hand, leapt out the window, and landed in the bamboo forest behind the inn.

Bai Wan was abruptly pulled away by Lin Qianshuang, her expression momentarily frozen. Then, with a smile on her face, she said, “If you hadn’t run away, I would have forgotten that we left our belongings behind when we came out, and we wouldn’t be able to settle our accounts.” Lin Qianshuang understood the gravity of the situation, so she responded casually and led Bai Wan to escape with her.

Her gaze deepened for a moment, and Liang Jingxuan noticed her tracks. He would undoubtedly dispatch his men to pursue them.

The two were relentlessly pursued by the human realm’s cultivation masters, but they finally managed to lose their pursuers in a small alley.

“It’s exhilarating to dine without paying in the human realm.”

Lin Qianshuang leaned against the wall, panting heavily. She smiled at Bai Wan, the corners of her mouth curving up significantly, giving her an appearance of carefree abandon.

Bai Wan gazed at Lin Qianshuang’s bold and smiling face, her thoughts drifting. Her heart also carried a hint of sweetness. Was this her true nature?

To be able to smile so freely before her, she must hold a place in her heart.

A warm breath brushed against her cheek.

Lin Qianshuang turned her head, and Bai Wan leaned closer. Her nose was mere centimeters from Lin Qianshuang’s profile.

Her mind froze for a moment. In Bai Wan’s eyes, she saw a familiar emotion.

It was the same emotion she had witnessed when she had forced Han Shengyao to kiss her at Yixiang Tower.

“There’s a fallen leaf in your hair.” Bai Wan’s gaze wandered over Lin Qianshuang’s hair before plucking off a withered yellow leaf. It had been a mistake. How could Bai Wan harbor such thoughts? Lin Qianshuang met Bai Wan’s playfully teasing expression, but she felt a twinge of disgust for having analyzed her friend’s actions strategically.

In her heart, Bai Wan may be the first friend she met in the book “Four Realms Conquest.” They are both well aware of each other’s goals, and surprisingly, their personalities are compatible.

Lin Qianshuang looked at Bai Wan’s shallow smile on her cheeks, and the deep blue entanglement in her eyes froze for a moment. She hoped that Bai Wan would not be affected by her strategy mission and would be able to smoothly take the Cold Cicada Zither and head to the Beast Realm. She will do everything in her power to help her, and it wouldn’t be in vain to have made such a friend.

In the Jiuyou Secret Realm.

With a languid figure, Han Shengyao stood atop the icy mountain where the wind howled. Her face was gloomy as she gazed at the ice mirror of frost floating in the air.

The mirror reflected the scene that had transpired at the inn.

Lin Qianshuang and Bai Wan, both clad in white silk garments, sat across from each other with an air of ease. Lin Qianshuang’s disciple gazed lovingly at Bai Wan as he played the melody of “Phoenix Seeks its Mate.”

The scene then shifted to an alleyway. From Han Shengyao’s perspective, Bai Wan pinned Lin Qianshuang against the wall, her hands caressing her hair as she kissed her. The relaxed postures of both women hinted at a mutual desire.

Han Shengyao pondered over how Bai Wan had grown so close to her disciple. Her disciple had even publicly played a song of romance to express her love for Bai Wan.

Han Shengyao recalled Bai Wan’s tantalizing words to her during her forced teleportation, her fingernails digging into her palms, drawing blood.

Her disciple must have fallen under the spell of Bai Wan, the demoness, who had likely employed seductive tactics.

With a deafening roar, the ice mirror shattered and plummeted into the abyss from the towering cliff. The opposite peak crumbled instantly, sending the entire mountain crashing to the ground with a thunderous boom.

The Tourmaline hovered beside Han Shengyao, its excitement evident in its swirling motion. The demon within cautioned, “My Lord, as the ruler of the demon realm, these lands, rivers, and mountains are the legacy of our ancestors. They must not be destroyed carelessly.”

Han Shengyao clutched the Tourmaline, her violet eyes blazing with destructive fury. Her grip tightened, threatening to shatter the translucent jade. “How long will it take to breach the Jiuyou Secret Realm?”

Intimidated by the new Lord of the Demon Realm’s unfathomable wrath, the Tourmaline stammered, “One more year… remains.”

One year?

Han Shengyao’s gaze fell upon the impenetrable barrier of the Jiuyou Secret Realm. The raging emotions in her eyes gradually subsided into a soft sigh. Turning around, she brushed her sleeves as she made her way back to the ice cave.

“I was too impulsive.”

“I shall claim what is mine, but now is not the opportune moment.”