I cultivate the Purple Mansion Golden Elixir Dao on Earth

"...A predestined connection with immortals!?"

Shang Yin's words drew Xu Xiu's attention to the bright light emanating from that fist.

"This light... refers to your destiny with immortality?"

Xu Xiu forcibly looked away, shook her head and smiled:

"If the so-called 'divine affinity' refers to this kind of radiating light source, then radium is the greatest 'divine affinity' in the world. Marie Curie should have become an immortal long ago."

Now that things have come to this, Xu Xiu has become more relaxed and even made a cold joke.

Upon hearing her words, Shangyin's face immediately darkened.

"It seems you still don't understand the situation..."

"...Let me tell you about the divine gift I obtained—[Ganmu], that's its name, and its wonder is hidden within this light."

"This light suddenly appeared in front of me when we landed in the back room... Although I can't fully understand it yet, I at least know that this [Ganmu] contains incredibly powerful energy."

"...However, to obtain that power, one needs a special ingredient to cultivate a supernatural power called the 'Essence of Immortality'."

"The Elixir of Immortality...a catalyst"

Xu Xiu slowly read out these words.

But just then, as if she had eyes in the back of her head, she jumped to the side, just managing to dodge a gust of wind that swept from behind her head.

"call out!"

Xu Xiu turned around and saw Jiang Wanren standing behind her with the steel pipe in his hand, a surprised smile on his face.

"So agile, so amazing... no wonder he's the school's sports star."

As he spoke, he flashed a sunny and cheerful smile.

This smile was completely different from the exaggerated or manic expressions that Jiang Wanren used to make.

But after reading it, Xu Xiu felt even more chilled.

Shang Yin slowly walked over, standing shoulder to shoulder with Jiang Wanren facing Xu Xiu. She shook her clenched fist and sneered:

"The so-called 'elixir of immortality' is, of course, the elixir of eternal life. And its key ingredient is actually quite simple... it requires the lives and lifespans of other people as the key to cultivating this power."

"I see……"

Xu Xiu's pupils contracted as she looked at the two of them, and her mind immediately cleared.

Everything was explained, and she felt a little relieved.

It seems... they didn't act because of the darkest possibility I suspected...

Jiang Wanren was completely unaware of Xu Xiu's subtle change in expression, but Shang Yin did notice it.

So while one fist remained clenched tightly, she covered her mouth with her other hand, amused:

"Hahaha, Xu Xiu, you're so cute... Do you really think that we've only been down here for such a short time, and we'd turn others into food reserves just because we're worried about food?"

"...Oh my, really, your heart is so dark!"

Xu Xiu was speechless and made a sarcastic remark.

But when she noticed a certain spot on Jiang Wanren's steel pipe, it was as if a lightning bolt had struck her mind, and her eyes immediately narrowed.

Upon recalling something Shang Yin had just said, Xu Xiu's expression changed drastically!

"Shangyin...you just said 'the few of you'..."

"...Also, I saw a congealed bloodstain on the steel pipe..."

"...So where's Chen Fangyuan? She should have come down with you, right?! Where did she go?!"

Xu Xiu asked slowly, but her tone grew colder and colder.

Upon hearing this, Shang Yin turned her head away, but Jiang Wanren smiled.

"As expected of the main character at school... his observation skills are truly keen."

"Just like you guessed, we did initially enter the back room together as a group of three..."

"At that moment, this light containing the power of [Gamwood] fell before us."

"I originally wanted to try to touch it, but the light repelled my hand... Later I learned that only women can obtain the [Ganmu], but Chen Fangyuan was very scared at the time. Only Shangyin dared to reach out, but she didn't expect to get the inheritance inside in one go and also learn the secret of using a medicinal catalyst to obtain the power of the [Ganmu]."

"Look, at that time, wasn't there a perfect medicinal catalyst on site?"

"So, as soon as I heard Shang Yin's words, before Chen Fangyuan could even react, I pulled out a steel pipe and slammed it down on her."

"It's a pity... I haven't had any real combat experience in years, so this shot went astray and only hit her shoulder, letting her escape, tsk tsk tsk..."

"I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it with my own eyes—such a bulky body, yet it runs so fast... Indeed, when people are pushed to the brink, even fat people can unleash extraordinary potential."

As Jiang Wanren spoke, he continued to approach Xu Xiu.

"But now that things have come to this, there's nothing to regret. After all, we still have you and Su Xu, don't we?"

As he spoke, he moved closer to Xu Xiu, revealing a cat-and-mouse expression.

Xu Xiu stood there, seemingly stunned, just staring blankly at him.

This made Jiang Wanren feel somewhat bored.

He picked up the steel pipe, ready to smash it down directly.

But just then—

Shangyin's scream rang out from behind!

"ah--!"

The shout made Jiang Wanren turn around involuntarily.

But he had only turned his head halfway when he realized something was wrong, but by then the opportunity had already been seized!

A shadow was looming over him!

Xu Xiu, who had been being relentlessly pursued by him, suddenly pounced like a ferocious tiger and charged at him in an instant!

There was no time to resist.

The immense force caused Jiang Wanren to stagger backward and fall to the ground. His grip on the steel pipe loosened involuntarily as he fell, letting the pipe drop onto the soft carpet.

Can……

Even after falling to the ground, Jiang Wanren's first reaction was to look towards Shang Yin, only to see a young man with a blood-stained face half-getting up from the ground.

Although he still had a gash on the back of his head, he remained calm, grabbing Shang Yin's leg and throwing the girl to the ground like a demon who had returned from hell!

"Su...Xu!"

Jiang Wanren roared, calling out the boy's name, and struggled to get up from the ground.

But the next second, a sharp pain shot through his leg bone, causing him to cry out involuntarily:

"ah--!"

Holding the steel pipe she had just picked up, Xu Xiu walked up to Jiang Wanren with a sigh and a lingering fear in her eyes.

She spoke coldly to the boy lying on his back on the ground, his face ashen.

"It's really hard to get your attention and prevent you from noticing Su Xu's little movements during his awakening."

Then, Xu Xiu muttered to herself:

"I'm sure what I'm doing is illegal."

He then raised his hand and mercilessly smashed the steel pipe down onto Jiang Wanren's other leg!

"Bang!"

With a crisp sound of bones shattering, the girl roared mercilessly:

"Then when you leave the 'back room' in the future... go ahead and sue me!"

Jiang Wanren was in so much pain that not only his face was contorted, but his entire body was also convulsing.

Despite the excruciating pain, he did not let out a second scream.

Those wolf-like eyes were fixed on Xu Xiu.

Xu Xiu then walked step by step toward Shang Yin, who had collapsed to the ground and was bound by Su Xu.

"Xu Xiu! If you dare to hurt her—"

"So what?"

Xu Xiu did not turn around, but coldly walked step by step to Shang Yin.

Shang Yin was still clenching her fist tightly, the light inside her fist flickering, sometimes bright and sometimes dim.

It still possesses that same radiance that draws the eye in at first glance.

Xu Xiu only glanced at the light before walking straight to Shang Yin and squatting down.

"Shangyin... let go of my fist..."

Xu Xiu's voice was slightly bitter.

Looking at the stubborn and aloof girl in front of her, she felt strangely unable to feel any disgust or hatred.

"This thing..."

In fact, the "fate to immortality" that Shang Yin mentioned made Xu Xiu feel a little wary.

Neither the so-called "Ganmu" nor that "elixir of immortality" seemed like anything good to her.

...This so-called "divine connection" that requires human lives as sacrifices, and appears in this very "back chamber"...

...Shouldn't it be some kind of evil spirit or something eerie?!

Before she could finish speaking, Shangyin's gaze was already fixed on her face, and a dangerous glint gradually appeared in his eyes.

"...They're even taking away my last shred of hope..."

"...Nothing can be left behind..."

"Am I...am I destined to be a supporting character for the rest of my life in your presence?!"

"...I don't believe it!"

With Shangyin's angry roar, she finally opened her fist.

But as soon as the fist was released, the light inside did not dissipate; instead, it instantly covered Xu Xiu's vision completely!

Amidst Shang Yin's shrill laughter and Su Xu's final, bewildered, and angry gaze, Xu Xiu felt as if her consciousness had fallen into a strange world.

And before she fell into that world...

The last words I heard were Shangyin's angry roar and a struggle-like declaration:

"...I'm determined to fight back!"