For Zhang Yiyi's deliberate disregard, Mo Yan let out a cold sneer. He wanted to see just how ignorantly arrogant Zhang Yiyi could be.

From following Yuan Ying around and now trying to assert herself over him, did she really think that having a Great Ascension Stage master gave her the right to be so presumptuous? It was laughable to the extreme. Who didn't have a Great Ascension Stage master? It was utterly ridiculous.

"Does Junior Sister Zhang really think that your cousin will believe your nonsense and follow you?"

Mo Yan sneered again, confident in his judgment. He knew very well the relationship between Zhang Tongtong and Zhang Yiyi. The cousins were not on the same side at all, and he had no worry that Zhang Tongtong would side with Zhang Yiyi.

"It seems that Senior Brother Mo indeed holds a strong opinion of me. In that case, let's part ways as you suggest," Zhang Yiyi said, no longer interested in arguing.

It was clear that Senior Brother Mo and she were not on the same path. Parting ways would be better, avoiding the risk of becoming a stepping stone if any trouble arose.

As for Zhang Tongtong's plans, she no longer wished to ask, so as not to make Mo Yan think she was trying to compete for support with him.

"Alright, Junior Sister Zhang is so confident in herself. We will naturally not obstruct you, lest you think I, as your senior brother, am deliberately hindering your quest for immortal artifacts to benefit the sect."

Mo Yan mocked Zhang Yiyi's overconfidence. Since she was bent on self-destruction, he had no need to force her to stay.

"Tongtong, let's go!"

He gestured to Zhang Tongtong, indicating that they should leave immediately, not wishing to waste any more time.

However, Zhang Tongtong, who had remained silent all this time, did not follow Mo Yan's lead as she usually did, nor did she comply with his arrangement.

"Senior Brother Mo, please wait."

Zhang Tongtong cleared her throat and, somewhat awkwardly, called out to Mo Yan, who was about to leave.

Mo Yan paused and looked back at Zhang Tongtong, who was still standing in place, not following as he had expected. His face darkened.

"Is there something more, Tongtong?" he urged. "Time is of the essence; don't delay too long."

"Senior Brother Mo, my cousin is still in the Qi Refining stage and can't even fly with a spirit tool. Leaving her alone in the secret realm is really worrisome." Zhang Tongtong said, her face full of concern and sincerity. "Although our relationship isn't the best, we are still cousins of the same sect. Why don't we trust Yiyi this time and follow her together?"

"No way, that would only waste time!"

Mo Yan's face turned dark with anger, but he couldn't vent his frustration directly at Zhang Tongtong. Instead, he redirected his anger towards Zhang Yiyi. "You still care about this bloodline bond, but she may not. Tongtong, don't be foolish at a crucial moment."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Tongtong sighed lightly and said, "It's not about being foolish, but rather seeking some peace of mind."

"So, you intend to go with her?" Mo Yan was surprised by Zhang Tongtong's firm stance, even though her words were still somewhat polite.

"If Senior Brother Mo insists on separating, as her elder cousin, I can only follow Yiyi. Please understand, Senior Brother."

Zhang Tongtong spoke apologetically but with a gentle tone. Mo Yan, though fuming inside, could only suppress his anger and gave Zhang Tongtong and Zhang Yiyi one last look. With a heavy snort, he turned and left on his spirit tool.

"Why didn't you go with him?" Zhang Yiyi broke the silence after a moment.

Although Zhang Tongtong's earlier display still seemed somewhat insincere, she was no longer as annoying as before. Zhang Yiyi understood the real reason for Zhang Tongtong not following Mo Yan wasn't about maintaining familial bonds or seeking peace of mind.

"Following you should be safer, and there is a greater chance of finding the immortal artifact."

With no outsiders present, Zhang Tongtong spoke more frankly. "It's just my intuition."

Despite the significant difference in cultivation between Mo Yan and Zhang Yiyi, Zhang Tongtong felt her cousin's luck was likely greater than Mo Yan's. Since there were no clear clues, it was better to follow Zhang Yiyi and see if they could gain anything extra.

"Your honesty in front of me is quite different from before," Zhang Yiyi said with a smile. "That's good. There's no need for pretense between us."

"To you, my usual behavior might seem hypocritical, but to me, it's just a normal way of communication." Zhang Tongtong frowned. "Everyone has their own way of dealing with things, and it's not about right or wrong. You might not like it, just as I don't particularly like your ways."

After clearly stating her stance, Zhang Tongtong added, "If you don't want me to follow, I can go alone. Although I trust your intuition and believe following you is safer, that doesn't mean I'm taking advantage of you."

Her words were reasonable and well-supported, causing Zhang Yiyi to reflect for a moment.

After a while, Zhang Yiyi smiled at Zhang Tongtong again and said, "You're right, although I still don't particularly like you, I can't hold that against you."

She paused and continued, "I trust my intuition, and you trust yours. Since that's the case, let's travel together from now on. We are both acting according to our choices, so there's no question of who is taking advantage of whom."

"Having prejudices is fine; I still don't like you much. But as companions, we should understand what is appropriate and what isn't. This way, we can have more peace of mind."

Zhang Tongtong reiterated her stance. It was better to be straightforward and clear, without emotional entanglements, which suited them well.

Zhang Yiyi agreed with this approach and after a short rest, they set off again.

The journey remained smooth after leaving the desert, and no more dangers appeared in the secret realm.

However, the two sisters remained vigilant, keeping their attention sharp.

"Not good, there's an ambush!"

Suddenly, Zhang Tongtong's mind was struck with a heavy blow, causing her to lose her balance and almost fall off her flying sword.

"Be careful!"

Zhang Yiyi reacted swiftly, grabbing her unsteady cousin and dodging the immediate attack. With a nimble move, she safely landed on the ground.