After leaving Yaoming Palace, the Taiyan Sect group walked at the back, discussing what had just happened in the palace.

Mendong murmured, “I never imagined that our sect master once had a romance with Her Highness the Demon Empress. It’s truly unbelievable.”

One was a sect cultivator who was pure-hearted and aloof from worldly dust, the other was a demon realm lord who was infinitely romantic and played among beauties – no matter how you looked at it, they couldn’t be more different.

“However,” Meng Ying pondered, “why did our sect master need to avoid us when talking with Her Highness the Demon Empress?” Since they were discussing the matter of the Ruins of the Golden Gate, what was there that these disciples couldn’t hear?

“Need you even ask? Sending us away naturally means they want to reminisce about old times.” Mendong suddenly thought of something and looked at Zanxing with alarm, “They wouldn’t rekindle their old romance, would they?”

“It’s possible.” Tian Fangfang said casually, “Looking at it, our sect master seems quite devoted – he’s still carrying his love token even now. Her Highness the Demon Empress has outstanding grace and beauty. It wouldn’t be impossible for them to rekindle their old romance, it’s just…” He glanced at Zanxing, seeming somewhat troubled, “If those two did rekindle their romance, the generational hierarchy between junior sister and little martial uncle would be truly chaotic.”

Zanxing: “…”

She was speechless for a moment, then sighed: “Don’t worry. Our Demon Empress of Heishi City never goes back to old lovers. What’s past is past – rekindling old romance is impossible.”

“I see.” Tian Fangfang nodded: “What a pity.”

As they were talking, Mu Cengxiao reminded: “Fellow Cultivator Pu has walked ahead.”

Zanxing looked up and saw that Putao, who already harbored many prejudices against the demon clan, had just been subtly mocked by Bujiang in Yaoming Palace and was naturally angry. The young girl had walked ahead by herself, not even glancing at them.

Zanxing glanced at Gu Baiying, who looked puzzled: “What’s wrong?”

“Our sect master isn’t the only devoted one.” Zanxing’s words carried deeper meaning. Putao deeply detested the demon clan, yet still followed Shaoyang Zhenren to Heishi City. Coming to discuss the matter of the Ruins of the Golden Gate was probably false, but taking this opportunity to see her beloved was true. Zanxing still remembered that on Yuiga Mountain, this girl had made no effort to hide her hostility toward herself. This little junior sister, who had been pampered growing up, displayed her emotions clearly on her face.

Although she knew Gu Baiying didn’t like Putao, thinking about it carefully still left her feeling somewhat uncomfortable.

Zanxing sighed: “It’s been several days since I’ve seen Chuiden Gui and the others…”

Gu Baiying’s expression changed, his gaze suddenly becoming wary as he looked at her: “What do you want to do?”

Zanxing smiled slightly at him and uttered two words: “Reminisce.”

“Yang Zanxing…” He stared at her in disbelief.

Zanxing snorted and walked past Gu Baiying to move ahead.

…

In the palace, Xiao Shuang filled the tea cup in front of Shaoyang Zhenren and silently withdrew.

Bujiang smiled: “Why aren’t you speaking? Still angry that I exposed our relationship earlier?”

Shaoyang Zhenren said nothing, lowering his eyes to look at the tea cup before him.

The palace was quiet for a while before Bujiang sighed: “Regardless of everything else, I still thank you for concealing the matter of Heishi City’s spiritual veins from the sects.”

The key to the Ruins of the Golden Gate was in Bujiang’s hands, and it concerned all the sects’ spiritual veins, which was why those old fogeys from the cultivation world would humble themselves to beg Heishi City for help. Even Lingxin Daoren, who had always hated and detested the demon realm, tacitly approved of their approach this time. It was because the initiative was in Heishi City’s hands.

But Bujiang knew that even if they hadn’t come begging her, with Heishi City’s spiritual veins gradually withering, if there was an immortal method in the Ruins of the Golden Gate, they would also need to make the trip. And relying on the demon clan alone, they couldn’t use the key to the Ruins of the Golden Gate.

Shaoyang Zhenren understood this truth, but he hadn’t informed the other sects.

“And the Emotion-Severing Needle.” Bujiang raised her eyes: “When you used the Emotion-Severing Needle on your little disciple, it probably wasn’t really to silence those old fogeys from Chihua Gate, was it? The Emotion-Severing Needle is said to sever emotions, but it seals a segment of memory. This method was something I taught you.” Bujiang snorted with laughter, “You were afraid they would probe Gu Baiying’s memories and use soul resonance to sense Zanxing’s whereabouts?”

Shaoyang Zhenren’s grip on his teacup paused slightly.

“You’re always like this,” Bujiang smiled leisurely, speaking unhurriedly: “You do all the good deeds but don’t let people know. I told you before that such a temperament would be very disadvantageous. Doing ten parts but only claiming one part to others is not as good as doing one part but claiming ten parts to others. You’ve done quite well as a sect master, but as a person, after all these years, you still haven’t made much progress.”

Shaoyang Zhenren set down his tea cup and looked at the person on the high seat: “I came today for the matter of the Ruins of the Golden Gate.”

“I know.” Bujiang looked at him: “You said there might be an immortal method in the Ruins of the Golden Gate that could revive spiritual veins. But Shaoyang, you and I both know that’s just a legend. Regarding that flood from a thousand years ago, not a single person alive today has witnessed it with their own eyes.”

“It’s not a legend.” Shaoyang Zhenren spoke.

“What evidence do you have?”

Shaoyang Zhenren was silent for a moment, then placed his hand over his dantian. From his dantian, a golden-red shadow gradually emerged. This shadow was brilliant with light, its golden radiance illuminating the dim great hall, though it was only the size of a fist.

Bujiang’s brow gradually furrowed.

“Your Golden Core…” She hesitated: “How has it weakened so much?”

“I used the Taiyi Nine Palace Technique to divine the Ask the Immortals hexagram.”

“Ask the Immortals hexagram?” Bujiang’s expression shook: “The Ask the Immortals hexagram requires burning one’s lifespan as the price, you…”

Cultivators rarely used the Ask the Immortals hexagram because the cost of divination was too heavy. Ask the immortals, ask the immortals – for mortals to want to ask the immortals, they must naturally pay a tremendous price.

“What did you ask?” Bujiang inquired.

“How to revive the spiritual veins.”

Bujiang sat up straight, staring at him as she leaned forward slightly: “And the result?”

“The answer lies in the Ruins of the Golden Gate.” He said.

Bujiang didn’t speak immediately.

Shaoyang Zhenren said calmly, “I know what you’re worried about. Before the people from the cultivation world set out, I will cast the Connected Hearts Curse. Once the Connected Hearts Curse is cast, they won’t be able to harm the demon clan. You can safely open the Ruins of the Golden Gate.”

“That’s not what I’m worried about.” Bujiang said disdainfully, “After all these years, with the sects appearing to be near the end of their fate, they haven’t produced many talents worth paying attention to. What I’m worried about is what exactly lies within the Ruins of the Golden Gate.” She stared into Shaoyang Zhenren’s eyes, as if wanting to see through him completely: “Shaoyang, you’re not hiding anything from me, are you?”

Shaoyang Zhenren lowered his eyes, his expression very calm: “The floods are raging, and trouble will soon affect everyone. Both human and demon clans in Duzhou cannot escape. The Ruins of the Golden Gate is the last and only opportunity.”

Bujiang looked at him with furrowed brows for a long while, and Shaoyang Zhenren met her gaze seriously.

After a while, the person on the high seat relaxed her brow and eyes, as if she had figured out something.

She said straightforwardly: “Fine, I trust you.”