"Elder Wu, when the cart gets to the hill, there’ll always be a way through. Some things are destined in the dark; you really don’t need to be this stubborn," the assistant advised.

"But I’m not willing to just destroy Tuo Shi like this!" Elder Wu suddenly clenched his fist, his eyes full of unwillingness.

The assistant shook his head. It wasn’t just Elder Wu—who didn’t want Tuo Shi to continue on? But reality was what it was: Tuo Shi was declining bit by bit, and no one could make it burst with life again in a short time.

If only Su Changfeng hadn’t died. If only he hadn’t died in the Infinite Cave, maybe Tuo Shi could’ve stepped onto a new starting line.

In the Yellow Level.

Just as the assistant had said, ever since Yin Lulu came to the Yellow Level, Guan Shan would drop by from time to time. He’d liked Yin Lulu before, but he never showed it on his face. Lately though, his intentions had become more and more obvious.

Of course Yin Lulu noticed, but in her eyes, Guan Shan was no longer qualified to be with her. Even if she was now just a tiny Yellow Level member, her father was still Yin Zhengyuan—that was a fact that couldn’t be changed. So the arrogance in her heart had never disappeared.

"Guan Shan, I understand what you mean. Even though I ended up here, my status hasn’t changed. I’m still the daughter of the Squad Leader of Lingxiao Pavilion. Stop having those unrealistic dreams," Yin Lulu looked at Guan Shan with contempt in her eyes.

"Do you really think you still have a chance to go back?" Guan Shan said calmly.

"Hmph, my dad’s just trying to scare me. I’m sure he’ll take me back before long," Yin Lulu said as if it were only natural.

Guan Shan let out a helpless sigh. Yin Lulu was still that arrogant little princess, so arrogant it was laughable. Everyone in Tuo Shi was watching now. The mistake Yin Lulu had made was obviously not going to be forgiven so easily.

In Tuo Shi, strength had always decided everything. Changes in status and identity only shifted along with strength. Without sufficient strength, you had no power to change your situation.

Rules like these were something not even the Squad Leader could change.

All these years, the reason Yin Lulu could live up in Lingxiao Pavilion was mainly because no one had deliberately brought this matter up. Now that she’d already been sent here, even Yin Zhengyuan had no way to just casually take someone away.

Unless she had enough strength and could win in the advancement matches, otherwise, going back to Lingxiao Pavilion was almost impossible.

The laughable thing was, this pampered rich girl still seemed to be hanging onto some impossible fantasy, naively thinking Yin Zhengyuan was just angry and would bring her back after a while.

"Yin Lulu, I’m the only one who can get you back to Lingxiao Pavilion," Guan Shan said lightly.

"Hmph!" Yin Lulu suddenly snorted, looking at Guan Shan with disdain. "Guan Shan, you’re really flattering yourself, aren’t you? My dad will take me back soon. What the hell do you count as?"

"Yin Lulu, don’t tell me you don’t understand Tuo Shi’s rules? Your father may be the Squad Leader of Lingxiao Pavilion, but even he can’t violate them. If you still don’t believe it, why don’t we make a bet? Yin Zhengyuan definitely won’t take you back to Lingxiao Pavilion—unless you rely on your own ability to win in the arena competition," Guan Shan said.

"Nonsense, my dad would never be that heartless!" Yin Lulu shouted. If she had to rely on her own strength to return to Lingxiao Pavilion, that was undoubtedly impossible for her.

Yin Lulu had been raised in Yin Zhengyuan’s doting love from childhood. So even within Tuo Shi, under rules where strength was everything, she had never thought about training hard or improving her power.

In her eyes, since her father was the Squad Leader of Lingxiao Pavilion, she could enjoy the best life Tuo Shi had to offer. So why would she need to work hard? Everything was already within reach.

So Guan Shan’s words inevitably pierced straight into Yin Lulu’s heart. Winning in the advancement matches, for her, was nothing short of a fantasy.

"You don’t need to get this worked up. You know everything I’m saying is true. If you don’t believe me, we’ll just wait and see," Guan Shan said.

"Get out, get out!" Yin Lulu glared viciously at Guan Shan. She didn’t know, she understood nothing, and she didn’t want to hear a single one of these despair-inducing words.

"I can help you. Maybe you can’t accept it for now, but think it over carefully. If you come around, just tell me. My condition is simple—be my woman," Guan Shan said with a smile.

"In your dreams. Guan Shan, maybe to others you’re some Proud son of heaven, but to me you’re not even worthy to carry my shoes. You want me to be your woman? Try again in your next life!" Yin Lulu snapped angrily.

Just then, someone walked past nearby, whispering about something, their faces visibly flustered.

"Stop." Guan Shan shouted loudly.

The few of them hurried to a halt. Guan Shan was a Proud son of heaven in Tuo Shi; naturally they didn’t dare offend him.

"What were you just talking about? What happened?" Guan Shan asked with a frown.

The few exchanged looks. They’d only overheard it from others as well, and they didn’t know whether the news was true or not.

"It’s nothing big, just that we heard someone came out of the Infinite Cave," one of them said.

What? Someone came out of the Infinite Cave?

The first person Guan Shan thought of was Su Changfeng. After all, the last people who went into the Infinite Cave had been gone for years without coming out. Su Changfeng was the only one who had gone in just a few days ago. If someone really had come out, it had to be him!

But he was obviously already dead, wasn’t he? It’d been so long, and he’d actually walked out just like that?

"Where did you hear this? This is ridiculous. Are you sure you didn’t mishear?" Guan Shan asked darkly.

"Someone in the Xuan-level said it. We’re actually very skeptical too. But whether the news is true or not, the Earth Level side probably knows. You can go back and check."

Guan Shan glanced at the stunned Yin Lulu and said, "Think it over. I’ll come back tomorrow."

With that, Guan Shan strode out of the Yellow Level.

Yin Lulu, left where she stood, didn’t come back to her senses for a long time.

Su Changfeng... came out?

No way, no way. Everyone knew what kind of place the Infinite Cave was. He was clearly already dead—how could he come out?

Yin Lulu obviously couldn’t accept this outcome, especially with her current status—just a bottom-level member of Tuo Shi. If Su Changfeng really had come out, then he’d be a lofty Heavenly Level member now.

That stark contrast was like a slap in the face, fiercely smacking Yin Lulu across the cheek. She suddenly felt a strong sense of humiliation.

In her current state, how could she possibly still have the nerve to face Su Changfeng?

"Damn it, no way, absolutely not. There’s no way you could’ve walked out of the Infinite Cave alive!" Yin Lulu couldn’t help clenching her fists.

...