Feng Miaojun pressed her hand against the barrier, thought for quite a while, then lifted her leg and hurried toward the northeast.

Below, bursts of commotion erupted.

Looking down, she discovered people from Yingshui City pouring out from their homes into the streets, cheering and celebrating. Many large mansions set off firecrackers, the popping and cracking even more festive than the New Year.

It seemed the Haoli Empire had announced that the crisis of the Heavenly Demons’ attack on the city had passed. The royal city had successfully weathered the calamity, and people rushed out to celebrate their survival.

Feng Miaojun looked at the commoners below and shook her head in pity. These ecstatic people probably didn’t know that the fall of their nation was a predetermined fate that would come, no matter how hard they tried to resist. They had merely postponed it by about ten years.

Merciless destiny was already waiting for this ancient, decrepit empire.

She sighed softly, recalling the moment when her eyes met those of the Heavenly Demon leader. All of this had happened hundreds of years ago—could the other truly see her across different time-spaces?

Then, she passed by the majestic royal palace.

More than three hundred years ago, the Haoli royal palace was synonymous with magnificent jade pavilions—grand, solemn, and spectacular. Besides the Golden City, Feng Miaojun had never seen any architectural complex that could compare with it.

Not even the New Xia royal palace could.

Now the Haoli royal palace was brilliantly lit, with a towering building reaching into the clouds, closest to the barrier, called the Star-Plucking Tower.

Feng Miaojun’s footsteps slowed as she saw the vermilion door at the top of the Star-Plucking Tower suddenly open, with a person striding out quickly.

This man was tall and well-built, with graying temples. Though haggard in appearance, looking about fifty, his features remained outstanding—the kind of handsome, otherworldly appearance that would make young ladies clutch their hearts after just one glance.

Long having heard of his reputation, she unexpectedly had the fortune to see him tonight. Feng Miaojun stopped and examined him carefully.

How captivating he must have been in his youth—she had already witnessed this through another person.

Just by his features being six or seven parts similar to Yun Ya’s, Feng Miaojun could confirm his identity, not to mention he wore golden robes and was surrounded by countless palace attendants as soon as he emerged.

Emperor Li of Haoli, Hao Minghuan.

Feng Miaojun truly hadn’t expected to see him under these circumstances. Looking at him more closely, she was slightly shocked.

She had heard about his parents’ past from Yun Ya. At this time, Hao Minghuan should have been in his prime with deep cultivation, full of vigor, and maintaining his youth. Why did he already appear aged?

Moreover, his face now showed signs of violence, with an ashen complexion, clearly in an extremely displeased state.

Several old servants fell to their knees upon seeing him, weeping bitterly: “Your Majesty, what has happened to you!”

Hao Minghuan’s face was haggard, with red threads in his eyes. Hearing this, he waved his large sleeve: “Get away, none of you follow me!”

He strode forward, energy swirling around him, pushing aside anyone who blocked his path.

The servants, seeing his hurried manner and fierce demeanor, not knowing what had happened, could only kneel together behind him, not daring to advance an inch.

Feng Miaojun’s heart stirred as she recalled what the Heavenly Demon leader had said earlier:

“Divine power isn’t easily borrowed… Hao Minghuan must have paid a price.”

What price had Hao Minghuan paid?

Where he was going next, Feng Miaojun already knew. For her, this was a rare opportunity to witness firsthand that part of Yun Ya’s account.

But she had something urgent to attend to now.

Should she follow Hao Minghuan to see the entire process, or should she first seek that critically important treasure?

She was torn.

Feng Miaojun stood in place, hesitating for only a few breaths before stepping forward and continuing northeast.

The history of the Heavenly Demons’ attack on the city had come to an end at this point. Though the story of Emperor Li of Haoli and the White Dragon was moving, it was ultimately in the past. What Feng Miaojun needed to focus on was striving for the “present.”

Not long after, it suddenly darkened within the barrier.

Looking down, she saw that Yingshui City had changed from being brilliantly lit to pitch black.

All in an instant.

This was too strange. The repulsion of the Heavenly Demons was a major event concerning the lives of all citizens and glory worth singing about for countless years. How could the residents of Yingshui City cover their heads and fall into deep sleep in such a short time?

Moreover, not even a single torch was lit on the main street—what normal city would be like this?

After about a dozen more breaths, Feng Miaojun’s eyesight gradually adapted to the darkness, and she discovered that the city below was covered in a faint silver glow.

By moonlight, she once again saw the city clearly and stopped in her tracks.

Leaking roofs, houses collapsed on one side, broken walls, and ruins everywhere, and occasionally a furtive wild fox appeared on the deathly still streets.

That decrepit, lifeless Yingshui City had returned. Everything she had experienced upon entering this unknown space seemed like a fleeting dream without a trace.

Along with the noise and light, the prosperity of this city had also disappeared.

Feng Miaojun stood up abruptly, about to step forward. Her time was also running short.

Just then, a voice suddenly sounded from the side, with sighs of regret, unwillingness, and self-mockery:

“So the Heavenly Demons are no longer here.”

Feng Miaojun turned to see the King of Yan.

“It was just an illusion recording the process of the Heavenly Demons’ attack on the city.” She looked at the King of Yan, her gaze flickering. “What are you doing here?” From the Heavenly Demon leader’s appearance to slay the Jiao spirits, all the way to the Heavenly Demons’ all-out effort to ram the divine symbol, which event wasn’t magnificent? The King of Yan couldn’t have been unaware. Why hadn’t he gone to the South Gate to investigate but instead remained in the northeast direction?

The King of Yan didn’t answer but countered: “What are you doing here?”

His tone was intriguing. When these two who should have been in the same boat met again, they were like two lone wolves encountering each other on a narrow path, both eyeing each other warily.

“Looking for you.” Feng Miaojun lightly lifted her lotus feet, stepping twice on the barrier. “The Heavenly Demons couldn’t escape this space, and neither can we. That’s our problem.”

The King of Yan frowned: “This thing won’t disappear?”

“Probably not.” Feng Miaojun secretly observed his expression while showing some concern on her face. “Everything in the illusion was virtual, only this is real; everything in the illusion will disappear, only this continues to exist.”

This “this” referred to the barrier, the layer they were currently standing on.

Yes, everything the two had seen in this unknown space happened more than three hundred years ago, all in the past tense. Only this barrier truly existed. “In the past, it blocked the Heavenly Demons; now, it blocks us.”

The King of Yan also looked down at the dilapidated imperial city below: “Where do you think we are now?”

“Not certain, but we can deduce.” Feng Miaojun answered without hesitation. “We first entered the dream, then were drawn into the gods’ sealing place, and then thrown into this strange space. Three hundred years ago, the Heavenly Demons used all their tribal strength to try to break this barrier. From all this, we can deduce—”