It was so frightened that it thought the Heavenly Dao had come to punish it with a thunder tribulation.

These words caused the Joyful Union Sect disciples behind Gu Ranran to nearly lose their composure, their lips twitching slightly.

You call that a performance?

And you want to participate in it?

Are you trying to get yourself killed?

Gu Ranran told herself not to dwell on these details, but a trace of irritation still flickered across her usually cold expression. "Enough nonsense," she snapped.

"If you have the heart for it, then go fetch the stone."

"My patience is limited."

Su Ji—the actor—instantly plastered a look of panic on his face, waving his hands frantically.

"You misunderstand, Holy Maiden! I’m not refusing!"

"It’s just… I’m not a rogue cultivator. I’m Wang San, an outer disciple of the Love-Longing Sect. Our sects share some history—could you spare me this once, for old times’ sake? Maybe we’ll cross paths again someday."

He pulled out the identity he’d prepared in advance.

"Love-Longing Sect?"

Gu Ranran let out a derisive laugh, as if she’d just heard the biggest joke of her life.

"That stagnant ninth-rank sect that hasn’t budged from the bottom of the first-tier rankings in decades?"

"You think they have any history with my Joyful Union Sect?"

Her tone dripped with undisguised contempt.

"I’ll say this one last time."

"Go. Fetch. The stone. For me."

A chilling pressure radiated from her, making Su Ji’s breath hitch.

Damn it.

Where are the options?

If they don’t show up soon, this game’s over.

The panic on Su Ji’s face vanished, replaced by an expression that was both lecherous and foolish.

He rubbed his hands together, sidling closer and lowering his voice. "Well… Holy Maiden, I don’t mind getting the stone, but I just gotta ask…"

"Does what you said earlier still stand?"

He grinned. "If I really bring you that stone… you’ll really let me perform for free?"

The moment these words left his mouth, the air in the underground cavern seemed to freeze solid.

Even the rushing sound of the underground river grew faint.

The dozen Joyful Union Sect female disciples behind Gu Ranran gaped at Su Ji as if he were some kind of monster.

Is this guy insane?

Does he even know who he’s talking to?

He dares… to flirt with the Holy Maiden like this?

A crack finally appeared in Gu Ranran’s perpetually icy demeanor.

Why "finally"?

Don’t dwell on the details.

At first, she seemed stunned, as if unable to process Su Ji’s words.

Then, an uncontrollable fury erupted from the depths of her heart, shattering all pretense of restraint.

"You… are… dead!"

Each word was ground out between clenched teeth.

A terrifying killing intent surged forth like a tidal wave, plunging the temperature in the cavern to freezing.

Yet, just as the tension reached its breaking point—

Su Ji finally heard the heavenly chime he’d been waiting for.

[Conversation with Gu Ranran meets aesthetic criteria. Romance options triggered.]

[Option 1: A true man knows when to bend. Kneel immediately to pledge loyalty to the Joyful Union Sect’s Holy Maiden, offering to retrieve the Dragon’s Saliva Stone for her first.]

[Reward: Green Destiny [Lightning Kneel] + a small stolen fragment of [Dragon’s Saliva Stone] (Lightning Kneel: Increases kneeling speed tenfold without damaging your knees.)]

[Option 2: Righteously condemn her despicable actions, denouncing her cruelty and vowing never to join the ranks of the hundreds of rogue cultivators who became her "fellow practitioners," even if it means death.]

[Reward: Green Destiny [Trash Talker] (Trash Talker: Greatly enhances speech speed and logical coherence during verbal confrontations.)]

[Option 3: Drop all pretenses and reveal your spiritual roots, showcasing your extraordinary cultivation talent.]

[Reward: Gu Ranran’s favorability +80 (Current: 0)]

[Permanent Option: My heart may pity, but my sword does not. (Current kill count: 2)]

Hmm.

Good.

The tables have turned.

But wait—

Su Ji glanced again at the sword-sacrifice option.

Why is the kill count 2?

He’d just killed two Joyful Union Sect female disciples.

Logically, it should either count neither (if they didn’t meet aesthetic standards) or all kills of female cultivators.

So shouldn’t it be 1 or 3?

Maybe the spear kill didn’t count as a sword sacrifice?

No time to dwell on that now.

Su Ji could feel the killing intent thickening around him, its icy edge scraping against his skin.

He had no doubt that one more word out of his mouth would turn him into "Su Ji, deceased."

He briefly wondered if slashing Gu Ranran with his sword would send the shockwave far enough to wipe out the rest.

If it didn’t, he was screwed.

If it did, he’d still have to fetch the stone himself.

His mind raced as his lecherous expression flipped back to sheer terror.

His legs nearly gave out, almost delivering an impromptu Lightning Kneel.

"I’ll go! I’m going right now!"

Su Ji scrambled toward the [Dragon’s Saliva Stone] in a frantic, stumbling run, his voice trembling with faux despair.

The sight of his pathetic, cowering retreat made Gu Ranran’s murderous aura falter for a moment.

Her disciples sneered in disdain.

They’d thought he had some backbone, but he was just another coward.

With a cold snort, Gu Ranran held back.

He’d die anyway—might as well let him scout the path first. Waste not.

Su Ji skidded to a stop just five steps from the stone.

He didn’t take another step.

Behind him, Gu Ranran and her disciples watched in icy silence.

Turning around, Su Ji adopted a look of earnest negotiation.

"Holy Maiden, could you tell me what dangers I should watch out for when retrieving this stone?"

"If I blunder into a trap, your junior sisters and brothers would have to risk their lives next. That’d be a waste, wouldn’t it?"

"My life’s worthless, but your disciples—they’re all talented, quick-witted folks. Losing even one would be a shame."

His words were flawlessly diplomatic, giving Gu Ranran pause.

This guy’s mind worked fast—no wonder he hadn’t fallen for the earlier bait.

After a moment’s thought, she conceded the point.

Better he die informed than risk a mishap in their plans.

She feigned hesitation, as if weighing her options.

"I’ll tell you."

"But you must swear to keep everything you hear here a secret. Not a word leaves this place."

Seeing his chance, Su Ji’s face lit up with exaggerated relief. He nodded eagerly.

"I swear! I swear on my father’s life!"

He even raised three fingers solemnly.

"If I breathe a word of this, may my old man be struck by lightning and die horribly!"

Gu Ranran's lips curled into a barely perceptible sneer.

What use were the vows of a man already marked for death?

It was all just a formality.

With that thought, she no longer bothered to conceal the truth, her cold voice echoing through the vast molten cavern.

"Retrieving the [Dragon's Saliva Stone] isn't dangerous in itself."

"But did you know this place isn’t truly called Phoenix Roost Gorge?"

Su Ji maintained his expression of naive curiosity and shook his head.

Gu Ranran's tone dripped with the condescending pity one might reserve for an insect.

"According to my celestial divination, this is the Slumbering Dragon's Lair."

She paused, relishing the way Su Ji's face instantly drained of color, then continued.

"If that dragon wakes—even if just a wisp of its aura escapes—"

"Guess who it’ll come after first?"

The implication couldn’t be clearer.

Whoever touched the stone would be the first to die.

Gu Ranran smirked inwardly.

She had her own escape plan, of course.

The remnants of the blood sacrifice array hadn’t fully dissipated. With a single thought, she could activate its lingering power, offering up the flesh and blood of her fellow Joyful Union Sect disciples as a barrier to buy herself time to flee.

And Su Ji? The fool who dared lay hands on the forbidden artifact would make the perfect target for the dragon’s wrath.

When Su Ji remained frozen for too long, Gu Ranran’s patience wore thin.

"What’s wrong?"

"Scared?"

"Too late for regrets now."

A faint killing intent locked onto him once more.

Su Ji took a deep breath. The terror on his face slowly faded, replaced by grim resolve.

Idiots.

Intel was wrong.

That dragon can’t even come out.

"Scared?"

"You’ve got it all wrong, Holy Maiden."

"This life of mine was borrowed anyway—a worthless scrap. What’s there to fear?"

"Dying by a true dragon’s hand? Hell, that’s a story to make my ancestors proud!"

As he spoke, he strode forward, marching straight toward the [Dragon’s Saliva Stone].

His boldness, as if embracing death, gave Gu Ranran pause.

Even the Joyful Union Sect disciples behind her gaped in disbelief.

Was this man truly unafraid to die?

Su Ji reached the stone swiftly.

The pure spiritual energy radiating from the [Dragon’s Saliva Stone] washed over him, every pore on his body tingling in response.

Without hesitation, he drew the spear from his back.

And struck the rock.

"Watch closely, Holy Maiden—I’m damn good at mining!"

Meanwhile, in the darkness...

A pair of eyes snapped open.

Glanced at Su Ji.

Then closed again, unimpressed.

Tch.

Such a fuss.

Just a speck of dried spit, and these human cultivators treat it like treasure.

Would it intervene?

Of course not.

It was hiding here for a reason—waiting... for that moment.

Next time these humans scavenge, could they at least keep it down?

Almost gave it a heart attack, thinking Heaven’s Law had come to smite it with tribulation lightning.