Seeing her try to run, Celeste Grant wasn’t about to give her the chance.

"Don’t run... It’s been so long. I’ve actually missed you. Let’s play for a bit."

As she spoke, she condensed her Cultivation in her hand, forming a green vine adorned with small flowers. The vine shot out and wrapped around her ankle. With a sharp tug, Celeste yanked her back.

Jocelyn Grant was dragged right in front of Celeste Grant, and an instant later, she was kicked into the pool of water.

"Get in there!"

Jocelyn Grant was furious. "Celeste Grant, you—GLUG GLUG GLUG..."

With a loud SPLASH, the water bubbled violently, and then Jocelyn Grant sank beneath the surface.

Standing on the bank, Celeste Grant stepped closer, staring at the water’s surface. She was waiting for Jocelyn to pop her head up so she could shove her back down, but after a while, no one emerged.

’Jocelyn Grant is a Golden Core Stage Cultivator; she definitely won’t drown. So, she’s either hiding at the bottom of the pool, refusing to come up, or she’s trying to escape underwater?’

’We’ve finally met again. How could I let her run away without making her suffer a little? As the wicked villainess, I have to do what a wicked villainess does.’

"I suddenly feel like making some splashes."

As she said this, she held out her hand, a Blast Flame Talisman appearing in her palm.

Standing to the side, Javier Sinclair gave a light cough and discreetly moved a little farther away.

Celeste Grant took a Blast Flame Talisman and tossed it into the air. The talisman’s runes lit up as it fell into the water. The next moment, a huge explosion erupted from the pool, sending a spray of water several dozen feet high.

"Well, well! Jocelyn Grant, consider this a reunion gift. Don’t mention it! Here’s a little explosion just for you."

"BOOM—"

Amidst the explosion, water splashed everywhere.

She then tossed in two more Blast Flame Talismans, and the explosions went off one after another. Waves rolled across the pool, one after another, but there was still no sign of Jocelyn Grant.

Celeste Grant frowned slightly and muttered to herself, "She’s still not coming up. I was hoping to play a game of whack-a-mole."

There were no fish in the pool, but the explosions did blast out a snake as thick as a bowl.

The snake was a glossy, polished black—venomous at a glance. It lunged through the air, mouth agape, attacking Celeste Grant. Its eyes were filled with a bloodthirsty light. Celeste simply held out a hand and froze it in place.

’This snake has eaten people. It carries the resentful souls of two victims—one adult, one child. All living things have a spirit, but one lacking any spiritual grace... well, it just needs to be killed.’

With a wave of her hand, she cast a simple spell of Magic, and the snake’s head was sliced clean off. Its body fell into the pool, and blood quickly stained the surface of the water, releasing a foul, coppery stench.

The stench was overwhelming. Deep underwater, Jocelyn Grant, who had been searching for an escape route, couldn’t stand it any longer and had no choice but to fly out of the pool.

She bent over and retched. 𝐟𝐫𝕖𝗲𝘄𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝕧𝐞𝚕.𝕔𝕠𝐦

"BLECH... Celeste Grant, you truly are vicious! You wouldn’t even spare a snake! You’re too cruel!"

’It was mainly just so disgusting.’

"BLECH..."

Celeste Grant gave her a smirk. "That’s right, I am vicious. It’s not like this is the first day you’ve known me. I have even more vicious tricks. Care to try them?"

As she spoke, she flew into the air, a massive Wolf Fang Club appearing in her hand.

"Get down, you bitch! It’s been a long time since I’ve played whack-a-mole, and your thick skull is just perfect for it. Oh, you’re so kind, so noble, so amazing? Then just go and die! If you’re so kind, why didn’t you hesitate for a second when you stabbed your Brother Hawthorne? Weren’t you two true loves? ’Love him so much you stab him to death?’ I spit on your hypocritical face."

’The villainess is destined to be killed by the heroine? The villainess is destined to be bullied, trampled upon, and die a miserable death?’

’Like hell I will!’

’Not only will I live well, I’m going to live it up!’

Jocelyn Grant raised a hand to defend herself, and their powers collided.

Jocelyn Grant was sick with jealousy over Celeste Grant’s current Cultivation. ’How has that bitch Celeste gotten even stronger after not seeing her for a while?’

"How have you gotten so much stronger than before?"

’Damn it!’

’If this keeps up, when will I ever get my revenge?’

"You dare bring up Brother Hawthorne? If you hadn’t forced my hand, he wouldn’t have died! Celeste Grant, you’re a jinx! You’re just too wicked!"

"Right, right... I’m wicked... That’s me, the wicked one. If I weren’t a little more wicked, how could I highlight your kindness as the heroine?"

’What heroine?’

’What the hell is that bitch Celeste talking about? It can’t be anything good.’

As they spoke, Celeste Grant swung the Wolf Fang Club in her hand straight at Jocelyn Grant. The two forces collided, instantly sending a spray of water dozens of feet into the air.

"Take that! And that!"

The huge Wolf Fang Club in her hand was also a Magic Artifact. Although it was only a top-grade treasure, its power was still immense—more than enough for a game of whack-a-mole. Celeste Grant swung the Wolf Fang Club, hammering and smashing away.

Jocelyn Grant spun her hands.

"Heaven-splitting Palm."

Hearing this, Celeste Grant retorted, "Jocelyn Grant, you’ve got a lot of nerve, calling it the Heaven-splitting Palm. You got a problem with old man Providence himself? Aren’t you afraid of getting struck by lightning?"

As she spoke, she poured her Cultivation into the Wolf Fang Club and swung it hard at Jocelyn Grant.

Even as they fought, Jocelyn Grant didn’t forget to talk tough. "What is the Heavenly Dao? I only know that my fate is in my own hands, not the heavens’!"

She was probably so incensed by Celeste Grant that she was starting to speak recklessly.

Hearing such a bold declaration, Celeste Grant raised an eyebrow.

"So arrogant? Careful you don’t get struck by lightning."

’For some reason, the World’s Will favors Jocelyn Grant. But what will happen when that favor runs out?’

Celeste Grant smiled, tilted her head back, and tattled, "Lord of Providence, you heard that! She was the one who cursed you and has a problem with you. Next time you’re smiting someone with lightning, aim for her. Make sure you don’t miss."

Jocelyn Grant froze at her words and subconsciously glanced up at the sky. It was clear and blue, with nothing in sight. She assumed Celeste Grant was just trying to distract her.

Jocelyn Grant sneered. "Celeste Grant, stop your mystical nonsense. Apart from when they’re undergoing tribulations, I’ve never heard of a Cultivator being struck by lightning. You want me to get smited? Who do you think you are, someone whose words become law? As if you’re worthy."

The moment the words left her mouth, a bolt of Heavenly Thunder descended from the sky and struck her right on the head.

The Heavenly Thunder strike was so sudden that even Celeste Grant was stunned for a second. The Wolf Fang Club she had been swinging paused subconsciously and missed its mark.

"It actually struck."

’I was really just saying that. Is old man Providence really giving me this much face?’

The bolt of Heavenly Thunder that just fell was quite powerful. Taking a direct hit like that without any preparation would severely damage one’s Divine Soul.

’Looks like I’ll have to be more careful with my words from now on. The Heavenly Dao of this world might be a bit childish. The kind that was just recently born, so it’s normal for it to have a bit of a temper.’

In contrast to Celeste Grant’s delight, Jocelyn Grant’s eyes were wide with disbelief.

’No!’

’How could this happen?’

’Where did Heavenly Thunder come from on a clear day?’