Her profound cultivation and upright character had already been proven by factual evidence. Moreover, she had no entanglements with New Xia, none of those deeply intertwined relationships, and naturally maintained a distance from royal power and bureaucracy.

Yun Ya added: “If you become the Queen of Wei Kingdom, you can freely enter and exit the royal court, without needing to guard the inner palace.”

Yu Haizhen remained silent, seemingly weighing the conditions offered by both countries.

If she married Xiao Yan, she would be the Queen who received countless affections, without needing to observe all those tedious royal protocols. If she accepted the invitation to Xia, she would manage the national fortunes of the Changle Princess, overseeing all cultivators in the country.

Both seemed to be excellent choices.

At this moment, Hu Tian finished bandaging Chen Dachang and stepped back two paces, dusting off his hands: “Done!”

Even though he despised this man, in the current situation he had to be meticulous, so the wound was treated impeccably.

Chen Dachang nodded slightly toward him, his expression blank, but his gaze shifted over, coincidentally meeting Yu Haizhen’s eyes.

With just that one glance, both quickly averted their gaze.

Feng Miaojun lightly tapped her fingertips on the stone twice: “You can name any conditions. If you come to New Xia as State Preceptor, there’s one more substantial benefit.”

A gleam flashed through Yu Haizhen’s beautiful eyes, showing obvious interest.

Only then did Feng Miaojun continue: “With me, you won’t have to concern yourself with any man.”

Yun Ya couldn’t help but laugh: “How is that a benefit?”

This was too amusing. An’an herself was a woman, so naturally wouldn’t have inappropriate thoughts toward Yu Haizhen; Fu Lingchuan was about to take a bride, and with Yu Haizhen’s pride, even if she were interested in him, she wouldn’t possibly become his concubine; as for other men, with the State Preceptor’s transcendent position, Yu Haizhen indeed had the capital to disregard them.

But how could this be considered a benefit?

However, before his smile faded, Yu Haizhen unexpectedly turned to him and said: “Please return and inform Xiao Yan that I appreciate his intentions, but Yu Haizhen is unwilling to marry into an imperial family.”

Yun Ya was silent for several breaths before nodding: “Very well, I won’t insist, but I need a reason.”

The corner of Yu Haizhen’s mouth curved slightly: “I don’t share a man with other women.”

Having once been the State Preceptor, touching the mysteries of heaven and earth, understanding the principles of the human world, how could she bind herself to a mere consort position and waste even a bit of energy dealing with the filthy affairs of the imperial harem?

Yun Ya raised an eyebrow, and Feng Miaojun applauded, praising with three consecutive “good”s before laughing: “Excellently said. State Preceptor Yu is indeed extraordinary.”

Yu Haizhen then addressed her: “I’m very tempted by the Princess’s invitation. However, I must deliberate carefully before deciding.”

“This concerns great matters and indeed warrants thorough consideration,” Feng Miaojun was not surprised by her answer. “Does Madam Yu have any urgent matters at present?”

Yu Haizhen smiled faintly: “I no longer have mundane entanglements and am perfectly content to be a wanderer, roaming freely across the world.” With the Xi Kingdom gone, she was no longer the State Preceptor; setting aside the lingering sentiments for her fallen country, she had now shed responsibilities and obligations as heavy as mountains, instead gaining leisure and freedom.

Feng Miaojun liked her even more. How many good men could never escape the words fame and profit throughout their lives, tightly clinging to their obsessions, unlike this woman who could let go?

Of course, Feng Miaojun also didn’t miss the disillusionment in this woman’s eyes. She clapped her hands and smiled:

“Perfect, why not accompany me back to New Xia to relax? The scenery of Wuse’er City is completely different from the Southern Continent, quite worth seeing.” After a pause, she added, “The Prince of Yan has set up a dragnet in Yinggong City to hunt for you and me. Soon, all of Xi Kingdom will no longer be a haven. Why not leave earlier?”

Upon hearing this, Yun Ya couldn’t help but smile. This girl was good at pinning labels. Yinggong City was indeed under martial law, but the person the Prince of Yan most wanted to capture was her, Feng Miaojun. Whether Yu Haizhen lived or died no longer posed a threat to him; capturing her would be best, but her escape wouldn’t matter either.

Yu Haizhen pondered.

She had grown up in Xi Kingdom since childhood, with her masters and relatives all within the country. Even when she traveled abroad in her youth, she always returned promptly. Now with her homeland fallen, in this vast world, she truly didn’t know where to go.

Only one thing was certain:

Staying in the old place would only increase her sadness.

After all, she was now alone in the world, so where couldn’t she go? Thinking this way, the heaviness between her brows lessened somewhat.

The others were all shrewd individuals—how could they not see the change in her psychology? Yun Ya immediately smiled and said: “In that case, Wei’s capital is even more prosperous. Would Princess Yu like to visit and play there?”

Before Yu Haizhen could speak, Feng Miaojun had already followed with a cool remark: “Not only prosperous but also full of stinking men.”

Trying to steal away the prospect? No chance. Women understand women best.

Sure enough, Yu Haizhen was very sensitive to these three words. Whether she thought of Xiao Yan or the King of Xi, a flash of disgust passed through her eyes. Feng Miaojun didn’t miss her expression and pointed at Chen Dachang, saying: “Chen Dachang was injured because of you. By reason and emotion, you should give him face, shouldn’t you?”

Yu Haizhen’s gaze shifted toward Chen Dachang. Hearing his name unexpectedly, he instinctively looked up, his gaze meeting hers directly.

His expression was calm. Yu Haizhen stared at his arm for two glances before nodding: “Very well. I’ve never been to New Xia before. It’s rumored to be ever-changing and innovative. This trip should indeed open my eyes.”

Feng Miaojun’s face immediately lit up with joy. Yu Haizhen had nodded and agreed to go to New Xia. Even if only as a guest, she was confident she could eventually persuade her to accept the position of State Preceptor.

Yun Ya watched the smile on her face, the corner of his mouth lifting slightly.

Yu Haizhen then pointed outside the cave: “My country is already lost; they may not necessarily follow me anymore. If State Preceptor Yun with his silver tongue can persuade them to leave, Yu Haizhen won’t stop them.”

“They” naturally referred to the cultivators from the former Xi Kingdom.

Yu Haizhen gathered the Xi Kingdom cultivators together and said gently: “There is no longer a Xi Kingdom in this world. You may all decide your paths. I am no longer the State Preceptor and have accepted the Changle Princess’s invitation to tour New Xia soon. State Preceptor Yun of Wei Kingdom intends to recruit you all. Those interested can stand behind him.”

The cultivators looked at each other, all filled with emotion.

Xi Kingdom originally had over one hundred and thirty cultivators, with nearly forty perishing in the great war. After the Kingdom of Yan occupied Yinggong City, more than ten were recruited, leaving about eighty scattered across various places. Those summoned here by Hu Tian were just a small portion.

The scene fell into silence, a heavy atmosphere slowly expanding.

Yu Haizhen and Yun Ya were not in a hurry, quietly waiting. Yun Ya did not make any impassioned speech; he was the golden signboard, standing there radiant and dazzling.

After a long while, someone finally spoke hoarsely: “State Preceptor Yu, are you abandoning us?”

Yu Haizhen’s eyes grew moist, but she smiled and said: “It is I who am useless, unable to settle matters properly for you all. If you have better places to go, I wish you all a bright future.”

The people before her had once lived and died together with her. Now with the great edifice collapsed and everyone going their separate ways, how could her heart not ache? But most cultivators needed to find and join a country’s register to have an endless flow of elemental power for cultivation.