On the day Shaoyang Zhenren came to Heishi City, the entire city was deserted of its usual activities as everyone gathered to watch.

Early in the morning, the demon clan members emerged from their demon caves one after another, crowding at the city gates to see this mysterious visitor.

In the churning waves of the Nether River, the shadow of a black giant beast gradually appeared. The person sitting on the beast had an ethereal, immortal bearing, with snow-white hair and stunning otherworldly beauty.

Several others accompanied him: one was Putao from Xiangling Sect, and another was Nie Xinghong from Yinfeng Sect. The sects were all filled with shrewd people who feared Shaoyang Zhenren might secretly make some deal with the demon clan, so they forcibly inserted two pairs of eyes into the group. Putao was young with cultivation not high enough to make the demon clan wary, while Nie Xinghong claimed to have a decent relationship with Zanxing and shamelessly asked Fu Ronghua for this opportunity. As for Chihua Gate, since Zanxing had no favorable impression of anyone from that entire sect, she naturally refused without hesitation.

Hong Su also came along.

After Zanxing left Taiyan Sect, Hong Su was protected by Xuan Lingzi and remained in Miaokong Palace. However, what was originally a lively little girl had rapidly become taciturn, rarely even showing a smile over the past two years. For this trip to Heishi City, Xuan Lingzi had Shaoyang Zhenren bring Hong Su along as well – from now on, Hong Su would stay by Zanxing’s side.

Zanxing and Gu Baiying’s group waited at the city gates to receive everyone. When the dragon fish reached shore and people stepped onto Heishi City’s soil, Hong Su immediately threw herself into Zanxing’s embrace like a blooming flower.

“Young Miss!” she wailed, “Hong Su thought she’d never see you again in this lifetime!”

Zanxing touched her head. Hong Su had grown a bit taller compared to two years ago, and also a bit thinner. Her cheeks no longer looked as round as before, gaining some of a young maiden’s delicate beauty.

“I’m perfectly fine, aren’t I?” Zanxing said while wiping her tears. “From now on, you’ll live in my palace. It happens that my palace is quite empty – with you there, it’ll be much livelier.”

Hong Su wiped away her tears and smiled at Zanxing: “That’s natural! How could others serve Young Miss as attentively as Hong Su?”

Zanxing also smiled, but as she smiled, her gaze turned to the person behind Hong Su.

Shaoyang Zhenren’s gaze fell on Zanxing. Noticing his look, Zanxing hesitated for a moment before calling out: “Sect Master.”

Shaoyang Zhenren quietly looked at her, saying nothing for a moment.

Zanxing frowned slightly. Honestly, sometimes she couldn’t figure out what Shaoyang Zhenren was thinking. If you said Shaoyang Zhenren was kind-hearted, back at Gufeng Mountain, he was the one who deployed the Ten Thousand Kill Formation that caused Zanxing’s Golden Core to dissolve. If you said Shaoyang Zhenren wasn’t good, he had openly and secretly allowed Gu Baiying to assist her.

Seeing this, Gu Baiying silently stepped in front of Zanxing and said, “Master.”

Putao, watching this, felt her eyes dim slightly.

Meanwhile, Nie Xinghong, who still couldn’t quite grasp the situation, was startled by the crowd of demon clan members gathered at Heishi City’s gates to watch the excitement. He couldn’t help but exclaim: “So many people! Heishi City is indeed as lively as I imagined!”

The demon clan of Heishi City had been hiding in the city for years, rarely venturing out, so naturally, they had little opportunity to see outsiders. Now with visitors from the cultivation world’s sects arriving, the entire city’s demon population had come to the gates to gawk like monkeys watching. Occasional comments drifted to everyone’s ears.

“So those are people from the sects? Tsk, the same bland look day after day. Look at that woman’s dress – even my cleaning rag has brighter colors than her dress!”

“And that man, the gems on his clothes are so tiny! He’s even stingy with gold thread. The cultivation world has gotten poorer over the years!”

“That little girl is pitiful, too. They say she’s the little palace lord’s servant, but she barely has any jewelry. Such a good-looking girl dressed so drearily – what a waste of her appearance. The sects are relentless in ruining people.”

These comments floated over from near and far. Hong Su looked completely bewildered, Putao’s expression showed restraint, while Nie Xinghong’s fan-waving posture became stiff. How were the gems on his clothes small? The gold thread was quite intricate, too! For this trip to Heishi City to bring honor to Yinfeng Sect, he had specifically worn his most gorgeous outfit! How could these demon clan members dismiss it as worthless, as if he were wearing some shabby clothes?

Of course, not all reviews were negative. There was one who passed the demon clan crowd’s scrutiny.

“That must be the little palace lord’s former sect master? He looks much better than the others beside him.”

“His hair color is nice, I like it.”

“His clothes are acceptable too – gold and red, looks festive, much better than those bland whites and grays. This person has good taste, quite good for someone from the sects.”

“Exactly! No wonder he can be a sect master.”

Nie Xinghong: “…” He looked at Shaoyang Zhenren’s snow-white long hair, then at the golden-threaded embroidered “hundred sons and thousand grandsons” pattern on his deep red robes, and began to deeply doubt his aesthetic sense.

Perhaps this was what truly looked good?

Xiao Shuang, following behind, bowed to the group and smiled: “Esteemed immortals, His Highness awaits in Yaoming Palace. Please follow me.”

…

Xiao Shuang had ordered people to thoroughly clean Yaoming Palace inside and out two days in advance. Every crystal stone paving the entrance path had been polished to a brilliant shine, with large patches of Seven Nether Vine grass planted outside the windows. A snow-white large cat lay on the silk carpet in front of the palace, with a golden, gleaming large bowl placed not far away, filled to the brim with pills – the cat’s food.

Even Nie Xinghong, coming from the wealthy Yinfeng Sect, was startled by Heishi City’s luxurious extravagance.

Upon entering the palace, they saw a black-robed woman reclining on the high seat in the hall. This woman’s black robe was embroidered with exquisite vermilion patterns. Though the great hall was dim, her dark-colored robes made her strikingly beautiful face even more captivating. She had a pair of infinitely alluring eyes that seemed capable of stealing one’s soul with just a casual glance.

“Your Highness.” Xiao Shuang stepped forward: “The people from the sects have arrived.”

Bujiang set down the round mirror in her hands, swept a glance over the visitors, and curved her lips slightly: “Honored guests grace us with their presence. Please, sit.”

Everyone took their respective seats. Nie Xinghong from Yinfeng Sect smiled slightly: “I’ve long heard that Her Highness the Demon Empress possesses unparalleled beauty with no equal. Seeing you today, the reputation is indeed well-deserved.”

Hearing this, Bujiang smiled charmingly: “Your mouth is quite sweet, though compared to your sect master, you’re still lacking in skill.”

Nie Xinghong was stunned: “Your Highness knows our sect master?”

“I met him once many years ago.” Bujiang sighed: “Speaking of which, there are still many old acquaintances of mine in the cultivation world. I never expected to see old friends again today.” She raised her eyes to look at the white-haired man sitting upright, her smile carrying deep meaning, “Isn’t that right, Shaoyang Zhenren?”

Zanxing’s heart stirred – so Shaoyang Zhenren and Bujiang were also old acquaintances?

Shaoyang Zhenren said nothing, but Bujiang shook her head and spoke with some emotion: “After years of separation, you’ve changed quite a bit, Zhenren.”