You Can Do Nothing

"Opposing you? High Goddess, I'm afraid I don't understand what you mean." Grandpa Gene looked genuinely confused.

Sophie Shang took a deep breath, her grip tightening as a sharp, icy aura pressed down on Grandpa Gene. "Don't understand? That just means you're too stupid! If you're that dumb, what's the point of living?"

"Heh!" Suddenly, Grace burst out laughing. "Sophie, are you... actually scared of me?"

Sophie looked at Grace, her gaze completely unflinching.

"If you've got guts..." Grace raised an eyebrow at her. "Come at me! Why pick on an old man instead?"

"Grace." Sophie said. "Do you really think coming to Drake Abyss will change anything?"

Grace smiled. "If you think I can't change anything, then what exactly are you so afraid of?"

"Afraid?" Sophie raised her eyebrows slightly.

"If you're not afraid of me, then why don't you even dare talk to me? Instead, you go after Grandpa Gene, who knows nothing about all this?"

Sophie stared at her, her face dark as water. Slowly, she released Grandpa Gene and stepped in front of Grace.

She was tall—half a head taller than Grace—and looked down at her coldly. "Crushing you would be easier than squashing an ant."

"But you don't dare!" Grace retorted. "That prophecy... All the gods of Drake Abyss are scared to death of it, aren't they?"

Sophie glared at her, eyes dark and silent.

Grace beamed at her. "Sophie, do you know why I came to Drake Abyss?"

Sophie: "You can't do anything."

"I'm here to expose your scheme! That hexagram—the Divination Hexagram—was tampered with by you and your father, wasn't it?" Grace demanded.

Sophie stared at her, expressionless and silent.

"Not talking? That means you're admitting it!" Grace raised an eyebrow. "You're afraid I'll find a way to expose you, so you're desperate to get rid of me!"

Sophie was silent for a moment, then said, "Fine, I'll wait for you to expose me. But if the hexagram isn't fake, and Drake Abyss's safety is at stake—can you bear the consequences?"

Grace grinned. "Oh, I can! And you? If this really is a scam, can you handle the fallout, High Goddess Sophie Shang?"

Sophie curled her lips without saying a word, then turned and walked away.

"That woman is way too arrogant! She threatens to kill people over nothing," Rina Chu said indignantly. "Honestly, she's even worse than me! How much more can we take?"

"She's the High Priest's daughter and a High Goddess. We're no match for her, so let's keep a low profile," Grandpa Gene said, straightening his clothes.

"Grandpa Gene, did she hurt you?" Grace asked.

Grandpa Gene waved it off.

Grace frowned. "Sorry, Grandpa Gene. I dragged you into this. I don't know if she'll try to get back at you..."

"Just mind your own business!" Grandpa Gene replied. "The Divine Queen is protecting me! She hasn't become Crown Princess yet—she wouldn't dare mess with me!"

Grace bit her lip and nodded.

"Grace, didn't Steward Diao say we can go to the other side of the mountain and pick magical fruit? Let's check out that orchard!" Rina Chu suddenly suggested.

"Hungry again?"

"Let's go!" Rina Chu grabbed Grace and headed off.

"Wait!" Grandpa Gene called out.

The two of them stopped and looked at him.

"The magical fruit over there grows with the essence of the King's Spirit Tree—nowhere else has anything like it. You can only eat one a day; it's incredibly good for your cultivation. But remember, don't eat more than that! If you do, your body will explode!"

"Got it!" they chorused, heading off together.

At the top of the mountain, Rina Chu paused and asked Grace, "Grace, what are we really here for?"