The Heroine Must Die

Edmund studied her. Two years ago, she wouldn’t have pieced that together so quickly. Now, she did it almost instinctively.

He nodded. “You’re right. A large number of near-ascension cultivators are blocking the Heavenly Gate. The true Will of Heaven senses this. They cannot permanently prevent the Gate from opening.”

Understanding dawned in Lauren’s eyes. No wonder her master was helping Herbert.

No wonder he had Edmund assist in thawing those Mahayana cultivators trapped in the Icefield Secret Realm.

If enough near-ascenders gathered— Pressure would mount. The Gate would be forced open.

“The dozen in the Icefield Secret Realm,” she said slowly. “Plus my master. Is that enough?”

Edmund shook his head. “Not enough.”

She grimaced. “Then we wait for Herbert? Or gather more?”

“No. We have enough people.”

Lauren blinked. “Then what the hell are we missing?”

“Something else.”

She narrowed her eyes. “Boundary Breaking Talisman?”

“Too weak.”

“There must be something in this world that works like it—only stronger.” She stared at him intently.

“There is,” Edmund said. “The Boundary Breaking Stone. With it, we can shatter their reinforced Boundary Force.”

Lauren inhaled sharply.

“Ulysses said the rest is up to us. The location of the Boundary Breaking Stone… it was on the Gossip Plate, wasn’t it?”

“Yes.”

“Where?”

“We’ll discuss that after we return to the mountain,” Edmund replied. “Call them back.”

She waved a hand dismissively. “Not yet. I found out where to collect beast cores. I’ll gather a batch for you first.”

“Good.”

“I’m putting it on your tab.”

“…I don’t even have a tab.”

“You do.”

Edmund: “…”

......

After leaving the inner space, Lauren called Wayne and Briar.

She dismantled the protective array, removed the talismans, and checked out of the inn.

The moment they stepped outside—

She felt it. Eyes. Following.

Briar looked around curiously.

Wayne chattered happily, explaining human customs to Briar as they walked, completely oblivious.

Lauren spoke to Edmund telepathically.

“Some idiots are planning to rob me. We’ll buy beast cores, then head to the outskirts. I don’t like being tailed.”

Edmund replied lazily, “A young woman with two small children, staying in the only suite in town? Of course you’re a target.”

“I couldn’t exactly book two separate rooms. That’d be even worse.”

He paused. “You’re going to kill them again?”

She raised a brow. “What? Feeling sorry for them?”

“…Speak like a human.”

“You pity them?”

He rolled his eyes—though she couldn’t see it.

“I’m concerned about unnecessary karma. You’re far from Mahayana. You may not have time to repay it.”

Lauren’s voice cooled.

“I won’t slaughter innocents. If they only want to rob me, I’ll rob them back. If they try to kill for money—then they don’t get to walk away.”

She looked ahead, expression steady.

“That’s not unnecessary karma. That’s removing a plague from the road. People who kill for profit have done it before. They’ll do it again.”

Edmund was silent for a moment.

Then he said quietly, “Good. As long as you know what you’re doing.”

.......

Lauren led the two children to West Street’s trading market.

After asking around and confirming the going rate for fourth-tier beast cores, she didn’t hesitate.

She set up a stall of her own. Then she began buying.

Not haggling. Not arguing. Just calmly purchasing every fourth-tier beast core she could find—at a price slightly above market.

Spirit stones changed hands like flowing water.

The group that had been tailing her since the inn watched from a distance. Their eyes practically glowed.

“Brother,” one of them muttered under his breath, “robbing her would set you up for at least three years. Hell, maybe thirty. Look at her—she doesn’t even blink when she spends spirit stones.”

The leader narrowed his eyes. “Keep watching. The moment she leaves town, we move.”

“Got it.”

Lauren ignored them entirely. She focused on business.

When someone brought fresh demonic beast meat to sell, she bought that too. Soon she had filled two storage bags.

She handed them to Briar. “Here.”

Briar held the bags stiffly. Its expression was… complicated.

In human society, it had learned something important: nothing was free. Everything required spirit stones.

And it didn’t have any. The few it once had were long gone.

It had seen Lauren pay just now. Those two bags of meat were not cheap. Even if it sold itself, it probably couldn’t afford that much.

Lauren noticed its hesitation. “What’s wrong?”

Briar’s face turned faintly red. “I… don’t have spirit stones to pay you.”

Lauren blinked. Edmund, come look at this.

She couldn’t help laughing. “It’s fine. I’ll lend it to you.”

“Lend?” Briar tilted its head. “What does that mean?”

Lauren lifted one of the bags of beast cores. “This is valuable, right?”

Briar nodded vigorously. Very valuable.

Lauren leaned closer and lowered her voice. “This batch is for your God Venerable. Consider it a loan. I’m paying for him now. When he recovers his cultivation and earns Immortal Crystals, he can pay me back.”

Briar’s eyes lit up in understanding. “Oh!”

Then it puffed up proudly. “Then count mine as a loan too. I’ll raise chickens when we return to the mountain. I’ll sell eggs to repay you.”

Lauren: “…”

“Alright,” she said solemnly. “Then raise your chickens well.”

Briar clutched the storage bags happily.

It was already planning—half for fertilizing its chickens, half for Wayne. He had said he could use it to roast meat.

It had tried absorbing energy from roasted meat before.

Inefficient. But… fragrant. Very fragrant.

......

Originally, Lauren intended to lure the group of pursuers to the outskirts and deal with them there.

But after recalling Edmund’s warning about unnecessary karma—

She changed her mind. There were too many like them in the cultivation world.

If she killed every greedy fool who looked her way, she’d drown in blood.

Better to avoid trash than step in it. So she did something simple.

She released her Core Formation aura. The pressure rolled outward like a tidal wave. Then she calmly walked away with the two children.

Behind her, the Foundation Establishment cultivators froze. “…Core Formation?”

“Brother, that’s Core Formation. We might not handle that.”

The leader’s expression darkened. But greed still burned in his eyes.

“She’s young. Probably stuffed full of spirit stones from some rich family. Fake foundation. All show.”

“Yeah. She looks soft. Scare her and she’ll cry.”

“If we’re fierce enough, she’ll beg for her parents and hand everything over.”

“And those kids—look at their clothes. Expensive.”

“Brother, Third Brother’s right. She’s just a girl with two brats. We outnumber her.”

Men die for wealth. Birds die for food. Once greed takes root, nine oxen can’t drag a man back.

Lauren felt them accelerating. She touched her nose unconsciously. Do I really look that easy to rob?

“Briar,” she said lightly, “watch Wayne.”

Briar looked up just in time to see Lauren step off the flying boat.

She rose into the air. Mid-sky. Arms crossed. A faint, almost amused smile on her lips.

The pursuers hesitated for half a breath— Then their expressions hardened. The leader gestured sharply.

They split apart, forming a circle around Lauren and the flying boat.

“If you know what’s good for you,” the leader sneered, “leave your storage bracelet and we’ll spare your life.”

Lauren’s lips curved slightly.

“Fine,” she replied calmly. “Leave your storage bags and I’ll spare yours.”

The man’s face twisted. “You little brat! Do you even know who we are?”

“I don’t need to.” Her gaze sharpened. “You have one chance.”

She lifted a finger.

“One.”

The air tightened.

“Two.”

Visit and read more novel to help us update chapter quickly. Thank you so much!