“Changli’s mother was from the Western Sea Merfolk Clan, who once rebelled like our Nine-Tailed Clan. The Candle Dragon Clan was responsible for suppressing them…”

Zhu Rongrong’s answer was ambiguous. “This all happened long ago. I’m younger than Changli, so I don’t know much about the elders’ affairs. I can only say that the elders are now on high alert and paying close attention to you… So, I hope you…”

Xiang Haikui listened with furrowed brows.

As she paused, Bai Xingxian and Lu Xiqiao naturally stopped as well, turning their heads to look at her.

Yin Changli, who had been focusing on Xiang Haikui, saw this and his eyes darkened. He immediately scolded Zhu Rongrong: “Shut up!”

Without asking, he knew she had been secretly transmitting messages to Xiang Haikui, speaking idle gossip.

“Wait for me a moment.” After pondering briefly, Xiang Haikui instructed Bai Xingxian and the others, then leaped down, landing beside Yin Changli and Zhu Rongrong.

At her request, Yin Changli set up a sound barrier around them to ensure that only he and Zhu Rongrong could hear what Xiang Haikui said.

Xiang Haikui asked: “Senior, do you know about your parents’ situation?”

Zhu Rongrong was slightly surprised: “Miss Xiang…”

Xiang Haikui completely ignored her, focusing solely on Yin Changli.

“My parents?” Yin Changli was puzzled. “Which matter?”

“Senior Zhu told me that due to the special nature of Candle Dragon heritage, your mother bore children only to weaken your father. She didn’t like children—she wanted revenge…” Xiang Haikui recounted everything in detail.

She observed Yin Changli, who maintained slightly furrowed brows throughout the narration, his expression showing minimal change. “Senior Zhu intends to persuade me to convince you to return to the clan for an explanation. Preferably, I should accompany you so the elders can personally verify that I haven’t continued to integrate those two energy masses and won’t harm you. Otherwise, the Great Elder will send people to capture me. What’s your view on this matter?”

After being interrupted several times, Zhu Rongrong finally spoke once Xiang Haikui finished, her tone full of surprise: “Miss Xiang, you just stated everything outright?”

“What else should I do?” Xiang Haikui finally turned to look at her. “Your reason for persuading me was fear that Senior Yin couldn’t bear it. But I think this reasoning doesn’t hold water at all.”

For Yin Changli, who had weathered great storms, what could he possibly not bear?

“If you think he can’t bear it, that only proves you don’t understand him.” Xiang Haikui lowered her eyelashes slightly. “Or perhaps you do understand him, but you don’t understand me, thinking you could intimidate me…”

She didn’t believe that with her intelligence, she could fathom the thoughts of the Mountain Sea Clan’s second-in-command—a Nine-Tailed Fox. It was better to leave it to Yin Changli.

Zhu Rongrong’s expression changed slightly as she pursed her lips, saying nothing.

After a pause, Yin Changli finally smiled: “Little Kui, go ahead with your seclusion without worry. Everything will be fine.”

Xiang Haikui nodded, her gaze sweeping across Yin Changli’s face before turning away again.

Zhu Rongrong watched her retreating figure: “Having heard so many shocking rumors about Miss Xiang recently, I wondered how someone so young could… Now that I’ve met her, no wonder…”

“No wonder what?” Yin Changli quickly withdrew his smile, his voice three degrees colder than the Ice Spring Mountain.

“No wonder she could severely wound Di Jun, no wonder she could make you lose your composure.” Zhu Rongrong looked back at him fearlessly. “However, I truly can’t believe that a mere mortal woman like her could severely wound Di Jun. Have you considered that this might be a play staged by her in collusion with Di Jun?”

Yin Changli found it amusing: “Oh? And the purpose?”

Zhu Rongrong: “The purpose, naturally, is to make you completely drop your guard and fully trust her, so she can obtain the divine artifact left by Shuluoye that can annihilate the Heavenly Race.”

Yin Changli didn’t even need to think: “Impossible.”

Zhu Rongrong questioned: “How can you be so certain?”

Yin Changli remained silent.

Zhu Rongrong pressed further: “Unless you can give me a convincing reason, this possibility remains.” After saying this, she added, “It’s not that I don’t trust you, but the Great Elder ordered me to test her. I need a reason to report back.”

Only after Xiang Haikui and the others had disappeared did Yin Changli slowly say: “There’s no particular reason. I believe in her, without doubt.”

Zhu Rongrong frowned: “You…”

Yin Changli continued: “Go back and tell the Great Elder that the two energy masses in her belly have dissipated. It was her own decision. Similarly, if she had decided to integrate them, you could try threatening her and see if she cares about your threats. Of course…”

His tone shifted, “I won’t allow anyone to threaten her, no one at all. Before taking action, I advise you to think carefully.”

The warning and killing intent in his tone were quite obvious. Zhu Rongrong’s frown deepened: “Yin Changli, is this how a clan leader should speak?”

“No, it’s not.”

“Then you…”

“You can go back and report truthfully, convene the elders’ council, strip me of my clan leader position, and select someone more worthy.” Yin Changli curled his lips, giving her a “you-do-it-if-you-can” look.

Zhu Rongrong’s face instantly darkened: “You truly believe the Mountain Sea Clan can’t function without you, don’t you?”

Yin Changli replied with complete self-assurance: “Isn’t that the truth?”

Zhu Rongrong was speechless: “If you know this, then you should understand why the Great Elder and others are anxious…”

Yin Changli interrupted: “Let me ask you first, with your cultivation level, you can sense her physical condition. You could simply report back to the Great Elder. Why go to such lengths to make her accompany me back to the clan?”

Zhu Rongrong tried to explain: “I…”

“Do you, like Di Jun, think that I now have a weakness and can be manipulated at will?” Yin Changli interrupted again, his tone growing more fierce. “You know exactly who you’re targeting, and so do I!”

The righteous Zhu Rongrong was forced back two steps by his sudden burst of ferocity, a flash of panic crossing her eyes.

But Yin Changli advanced a step, his black, lustrous eyes growing colder.

She had come for Xiao Bai.

Currently, it was the most critical moment for Xiao Bai’s integration of his spiritual sense.

“If Xiang Haikui had believed your nonsense and persuaded me to return with her, I couldn’t possibly leave Bai Xingxian here in seclusion. I would inevitably bring him along.” Yin Changli laughed coldly, looking at her with contempt. “I’ve never brought Bai Xingxian back before. After this visit, what would happen next?”

Zhu Rongrong’s expression changed abruptly as she retreated another step.

He had only started his thought, but Zhu Rongrong already knew he had uncovered her scheme.

Yin Changli answered his question: “After I provide an explanation and bring the three of them back to the Ice Spring for seclusion, the clan would be ambushed by the Heavenly Race. Many would die, possibly including several highly respected elders. Then, who would have exposed our location? It could only be one of the three outsiders—Xiang Haikui, Bai Xingxian, or Lu Xiqiao.”

“Under your instigation, Bai Xingxian would become the target of public criticism. Can’t be helped—who told him to be from the Heavenly Race? Who told him to be Di Jun’s nephew? After his spiritual sense returns, a leopard can’t change its spots—he would be the prime suspect. Thus, emotions would run high, and clan members would come to the Ice Spring to demand justice, challenging me…”

His voice was calm and light, yet like countless penetrating needles, it sent chills down one’s spine.

Zhu Rongrong slightly lowered her head, her chest rising and falling unevenly.

Previously, after his repeated manipulation by Di Jun and Han Qi, she truly thought he was troubled by emotions and not as sharp as before.

Yin Changli: “Your goal is to destabilize Bai Xingxian’s mental state, making him succumb to demonic thoughts when integrating his spiritual sense while facing public condemnation. This way, I would have no choice but to abandon my support for him.”

If the path to peace became impassable, the only option would be to activate the divine artifact.

Currently, except for Yin Changli and Xiang Haikui, everyone believed this mysterious divine artifact could annihilate the entire Heavenly Race.

After the Heavenly Race’s destruction, the Mountain Sea Clan would naturally become the rulers of the Three Realms.

After finishing, Yin Changli raised his right hand, his index fingernail gradually elongating and sharpening like a dagger, lightly tracing across the beautiful curve of her swan-like neck: “After the war ends, whether I could preserve my life would be uncertain. Who in the Mountain Sea Clan would be your match? The supremacy of the Three Realms would fall into your possession—is that right, little fox?”

With a bloodline drawn across her neck, Zhu Rongrong bit her lip for a long moment before raising her head with a smile: “I believe I can go back to report now. The Great Clan Leader is still the same Great Clan Leader as before. The elders’ concerns are simply groundless fears.”

The ferocity vanished in an instant, and Yin Changli also smiled: “Yes, then I’ll trouble you to return and explain thoroughly to the elders on my behalf…”

Zhu Rongrong slightly cupped her trembling hands, and after bidding farewell, her feet remained motionless for a long while.

Yin Changli: “Anything else?”

After a moment of silence, Zhu Rongrong suddenly smiled: “The Great Clan Leader’s foresight is godlike, but there’s one thing you said wrong.”

Yin Changli: “Oh?”

Zhu Rongrong contemplated again before saying: “Though I had ulterior motives, every word I told Miss Xiang was the truth, not nonsense.”

She was naturally referring to the matter of Yin Changli’s parents.

Having lost face, she had to regain some ground; she couldn’t live in such a miserable state.

She also wanted to see him in a miserable state.

Unexpectedly, Yin Changli countered with a question: “So what?”

Zhu Rongrong was taken aback.

His complete indifference didn’t seem feigned.

“Between a husband and wife, one willing to strike and one willing to endure—it has nothing to do with me as their child, let alone with outsiders like you.”

After entering the mountain, away from the howling winds outside, the temperature dropped severely. Xiang Haikui and the others were so cold they could barely feel their toes.

Upon finally reaching their destination, they spent some time marveling at the “Ice Spring.”

This Ice Spring, which rendered ten thousand mountains barren, was located in a valley. Its area was even smaller than a bathtub, resembling a puddle.

If not for Yin Changli’s precise “coordinates,” finding it would have been extremely difficult.

Muxi kept watch from a distance while the three sat cross-legged around the Ice Spring.

Xiang Haikui and Bai Xingxian sat on the same side, while Lu Xiqiao, still emitting a foul odor, was banished to the opposite side.

The cold air emanating from the small puddle indeed had the effect of focusing one’s mind. However, after half a day of meditation, Xiang Haikui was still lost in thought, naturally pondering the matter of Yin Changli’s parents.

Turning her head, she glimpsed a faint golden light surrounding Bai Xingxian.

Her breath caught slightly as she recalled the scene by the Soul-Nurturing Pool, where the reincarnated Jing Ran had been enveloped in just such a faint golden light.

She had witnessed with her own eyes how his golden light grew increasingly radiant, personally experiencing his transformation from “Senior” to “Emperor.”

At this moment, it gave her an eerie sense of history repeating itself.

Suddenly, Bai Xingxian opened his eyes and turned to look at her with concern: “Sister Kui, what’s wrong?”

Xiang Haikui’s expression worsened: “You can sense my emotional changes, too?”

Bai Xingxian hesitated before nodding: “Yes.”

She had used the word “too,” and Bai Xingxian thought of Di Jun. Surely it was his golden aura that reminded her of unpleasant matters.

After some thought, he rose and sat behind her instead of beside her, allowing her to be out of sight and out of mind.

Xiang Haikui knew she should stop him, saying it was “unnecessary” to prevent him from developing thoughts of “being blamed for possessing something valuable.”

But she didn’t intervene, as his golden light indeed made her uncomfortable: “I’m sorry, Xiao Bai. It’s been a short time; I haven’t completely recovered from the psychological trauma Jing Ran caused me.”

Bai Xingxian hurriedly said, “No need to explain, I understand.”

He didn’t feel hurt; in fact, he felt somewhat pleased.

When he first learned of his identity, he hadn’t thought much about it.

However, as the integration of his spiritual sense progressed, just as Uncle had said, the spiritual sense was the Heavenly Race’s source of life and light of wisdom. He seemed to gradually become enlightened, belatedly realizing what great expectations Uncle had for him and how heavy the burden on his shoulders truly was.

The transformation of his identity left him feeling somewhat lost.

But gradually, he discovered he might have been overthinking.

Uncle didn’t concern himself with his mental state, still ordering him to pull the carriage, still scolding him at the slightest disagreement.

Lu Xiqiao similarly showed no change; since learning that Uncle wanted to support him as Emperor, he had started flattering him just as he did Xiang Haikui. His form of address changed from “Brother Bai” to “Elder Brother Bai,” constantly mumbling about “if you become wealthy, don’t forget me.”

Xiang Haikui had been in seclusion recently to recover from her injuries, so they hadn’t interacted much. He had been somewhat worried.

Now it was all good—she disliked his golden light and expressed it directly without any reservations. This was as it should be.

After Bai Xingxian resumed his meditation, Xiang Haikui quickly collected her thoughts, not wanting her emotional fluctuations to affect Bai Xingxian.

First, she concentrated her mental energy, then gradually emptied her mind. After entering this half-dreaming, half-awake state, her perception of time became blurred.

After an unknown period, Xiang Haikui sensed Tian Kuang growing restless.

It was probably frustrating at her continued inability to break through to the ninth rank.

It was worth noting that Lu Xiqiao, unassuming as he seemed, had already entered the middle-late stage of the Tribulation Period.

From the eighth rank upward was the ninth rank, and breaking through the ninth rank would lead to the Tribulation Period.

This meant Lu Xiqiao was now two major realms above her.

As for Bai Xingxian, there was no comparison—after integrating his spiritual sense, his cultivation level changed daily.

“There’s no comparison; they’re both not human.” One was the son of the Heavenly Race Crown Prince, and the other was the Jianmu Fusion Fruit. Xiang Haikui couldn’t possibly compare.

Her cultivation path had already accelerated like a rocket, but she still couldn’t match those born at the apex.

She tried to soothe Tian Kuang, but its restlessness grew increasingly intense.

Xiang Haikui became vigilant—could it be that the Mountain Sea Clan elders had truly sent someone to capture her?

Yet Tian Kuang’s agitation didn’t seem like a danger warning.

Reluctantly, Xiang Haikui awoke from her meditation. Strangely, there was nothing unusual around her. Lu Xiqiao was still sitting in meditation across from her, and turning to look at Bai Xingxian, the golden light around him had grown more radiant.

She frowned and continued to scan the surroundings.

Finally, she noticed something amiss with the Ice Spring before her.

This Ice Spring was just a small puddle, not deep, with a thick layer of ice at the bottom.

But now, a black shadow had appeared beneath the ice layer, resembling the top of a person’s head.

As her divine consciousness couldn’t penetrate the Ice Spring water, Xiang Haikui leaned forward, trying to see more clearly.

Indeed, it was the top of a person’s head. This person had a Daoist topknot, with hair so thick it made her envious.

Was someone sealed at the bottom of the Ice Spring?

While she pondered, the person suddenly looked up.

Caught off guard, Xiang Haikui saw his face, with steep eyebrows, handsome and heroic.

But he seemed unable to see her; he had only raised his head because he sensed someone watching.

After confirming no one was around, he lowered his head again. But after lowering it briefly, he raised it once more, his gaze filled with suspicion.

Then this handsome man slowly raised his arm above his head, constantly probing upward.

Xiang Haikui dared not breathe as she watched his arm penetrate the ice layer at the bottom of the Ice Spring and extend into the water.

His arm moved like a windshield wiper, sweeping left and right as if touching something.

Xiang Haikui’s body hair stood on end—the Ice Spring water, despite his stirring, didn’t show even the slightest ripple.

He was like a ghost, without physical form.

“What are you looking at?”

Yin Changli’s sudden transmission startled Xiang Haikui, nearly causing her to plunge headfirst into the Ice Spring puddle.

A small black snake slithered to her side.

His timing was perfect. Xiang Haikui quickly asked: “Please look…”

Before she could finish, that hand, along with its owner’s figure, flickered several times before disappearing completely.

Yin Changli followed her gaze, looking into the puddle, but only saw the reflection of Xiang Haikui’s bun.

“It’s gone,” she murmured in confusion.

“Hmm?”

Instead of explaining, Xiang Haikui first asked: “Why did you come over? Will someone come to capture me?”

“No, they won’t.” Yin Changli reassured her. “I’m always cautious, just taking precautions.”

“But aren’t you afraid of the cold?” Xiang Haikui worried he might hibernate again.

“Even if I am, there’s no alternative.” The small black snake tested the waters, trying to slither into her fluffy sleeve.

Xiang Haikui didn’t object, so he swiftly slipped in, then asked, “What were you looking at just now?”

“There was a person beneath the Ice Spring.” Xiang Haikui recounted what had just happened.

After listening, Yin Changli asked: “Did you feel any discomfort during your meditation?”

This suggested he thought her meditation posture might be incorrect, causing hallucinations.

“No.” Xiang Haikui shook her head. She was certain it wasn’t a hallucination, giving a very convincing reason: “I couldn’t have imagined such a strikingly handsome face.”

Yin Changli was briefly silent: “Perhaps you’ve seen him before…”

“Impossible.” Xiang Haikui directly denied this. “If I had seen him before, it would have left a deep impression.”

“Then…” Yin Changli fell silent again, “You might have seen someone from another world.”

Xiang Haikui was taken aback: “Another world?”

Yin Changli explained: “Yes, we call it the Three Thousand Realms. The small Ice Spring before you—its water doesn’t belong to our world. It has seeped through from the Three Thousand Realms.”

Xiang Haikui had heard of this—the Three Thousand Realms were three thousand worlds.

Yin Changli: “Within the Three Thousand Realms, there’s a small world called the Nineteen Continents. On one continent, there’s a pond that’s a water-attribute magical artifact with extremely strong spiritual power. It caused spatial fluctuations, creating cracks in the barrier between our world and the Three Thousand Realms, allowing the spring water to gradually seep through.”

Xiang Haikui was astonished: “So this pond is a passage between worlds?”

“It’s far from being a passage. After several tens of thousands of years of seepage, only this much spring water has come through, which shows how tiny the crack is. The sturdiness of the world barrier is beyond our imagination.” Yin Changli hesitated before saying, “Your homeland, Earth, I suspect, is also a member of the Three Thousand Realms.”

The judgment criterion was the flow rate of time.

Earth and this world had different time flows. Xiang Haikui’s father, Xiang Heng, had died ten years ago, yet had lived here for two hundred years.

One year on Earth was approximately equivalent to twenty years here.

The time difference between the Nineteen Continents, from which the spring water had seeped, and here was similar.

Earth and the Nineteen Continents should be located in the same spatial world, also part of the Three Thousand Realms.

Mentioning her homeland, Xiang Haikui’s heart raced, and she quickly asked: “You seem so knowledgeable about the Nineteen Continents. Have you been there?”

If Yin Changli had a way to reach the Nineteen Continents, then going to Earth should be relatively easy.

“I’ve never been there. The world barrier is extremely difficult to penetrate.” Mainly because Yin Changli had never bothered to research it. “Many, many years ago, a powerful figure from the neighboring Three Thousand Realms once shattered the void, penetrated the world barrier, and came to our world. Only then did we learn that next door was such a vast world system, far more developed than ours, with an expanse so broad that our tiny area couldn’t possibly compare.”

Their Mountain Sea ancestors, precisely through contact with this powerful figure, began to recognize their primitiveness. After the discussion, they decided to abandon their original survival state, establish various clan rules, and gradually align with “civilization.”

The snake tail emerged from her sleeve, brushing against the Tian Kuang sword case. “The three divine swords—Tian Kuang, Tian Bao, and Tian Ren—were brought by him. Besides these, there were other treasures and cultivation manuals…”

Xiang Haikui grew increasingly astonished as she listened. This powerful figure seemed like he had come for poverty alleviation.