“What place is this?” Jiang Wang inquired.

Zhao Xuan Yang glanced at him, a flicker of surprise in his eyes at the youth’s composure, yet he paid it little mind.

“Due to certain historical peculiarities, some places in the present world are not as they seem,” Zhao Xuan Yang stated succinctly, then added, “We are presently in such a place.”

During their descent, Jiang Wang had already surveyed his surroundings. This was a place…

A lightless cavern.

Strange, rugged rocks protruded everywhere, and an eerie chill permeated the air. Above the cave mouth, lava flowed, yet not a single drop fell. This scene… Jiang Wang found it strangely familiar.

Zhao Xuan Yang’s voice, tinged with a hint of pride, continued, “When a True Person of the age beholds reality, they perceive the present world clearly. Without external aid to conceal ourselves, we two would have nowhere to hide. But in a place like this, they are greatly restricted in comparison.”

“Just where is this?” Jiang Wang asked, “I don’t feel particularly restricted.”

“Ah, that’s because you are relatively weak,” Zhao Xuan Yang replied with blunt honesty. “The deeper one’s connection to the present world, the greater the restrictions they suffer in places governed by different rules.” He paused, then thoughtfully added, “Of course, weakness is not your fault, after all, you are still very young.”

“Thank you. I am indeed comforted,” Jiang Wang said.

Zhao Xuan Yang looked left and right, then cast a meaningful gaze upon him. “You shouldn’t be unfamiliar with this place.” He paused, then asked, “Do you still remember the bottom of the Qingjiang River?”

Jiang Wang had always known that any evidence the Zhuang Gao Xian monarch and his ministers could produce regarding matters involving demons would undoubtedly be linked to the ancient demon cave beneath the Qingjiang River. For he had indeed been to that place and had indeed come into contact with demons. Though in truth, it was Song Hengjiang who raised demons, and it was Zhuang Chengqian who both colluded with and opposed the White Bone Evil God. From beginning to end, he had merely been a pawn manipulated by Zhuang Chengqian, a passerby who mistakenly stumbled into that centuries-old game of life and death, one who had relied solely on his own courage and tenacity to struggle free from the chessboard.

But these matters, his words held no weight. Truth that cannot be acknowledged by others is fundamentally not truth. If he could not escape the trial at Yujing Mountain, he would not even have the opportunity to speak.

Why Zhao Xuan Yang asked such a question, he speculated, was because he knew something of the situation, at least that Jiang Wang had indeed been to the ancient demon cave beneath the Qingjiang River. But Zhuang Gao Xian’s side surely had no genuine words to offer. Jiang Wang could fully imagine how Zhuang Ting had orchestrated his downfall, how logical and seemingly real and believable that narrative was. As a descendant of Zhuang Chengqian, Zhuang Gao Xian possessed that kind of talent, and Du Ruhui had that kind of seasoned wisdom.

“Ancient demon cave?” Jiang Wang furrowed his brow. “Did they not say I colluded with the demon race? Why bring me to an ancient demon cave to hide?”

Zhao Xuan Yang chuckled warmly. “I don’t trust Zhuang Gao Xian in the slightest. I take all his truths as falsehoods. You needn’t resent me. The old fellows agreed to conveniently eliminate you, and I merely followed orders. Everyone living in this world, no matter how transcendent, cannot entirely escape worldly affairs. More or less, one must give face to the kingdom and the sect.” He paused, adding, “Of course, it’s also irrelevant if you resent me. That is your right.”

Jiang Wang felt no particular anger, merely asked, “I am genuinely curious. What virtues and abilities do I possess to warrant Jing Country’s vigilance, to the point of seeking my premature demise? Jing Country has you, has Chunyu Gui, and also has Li Yi, the youngest True Person in history. Could they possibly still fear a mere Inner Treasury Realm cultivator named Jiang Wang?”

Zhao Xuan Yang grasped his arm and walked towards the interior of the demon cave, saying casually, “You needn’t lump me and Li Yi together to give me face. Whether I can compare to him remains to be seen after reaching the Cave True realm. As for your question… truthfully, I am also not entirely clear. I am merely a laborer. But I surmise it’s likely those old fellows originally intended to pressure Jiang Shu a bit, and Zhuang Gao Xian just happened to offer a hammer. It cost them nothing to strike, so they conveniently did?” He sighed. “Qi Country has indeed been too imposing recently.”

Thinking carefully, it was indeed so. Qi Country had first annihilated Yang Country, completely annexing its territory. Subsequently, on the nearby sea islands, they had forced Diaohai Tower to establish the Zhenhai Alliance for self-preservation. But while the Zhenhai Alliance’s move was grand, its effectiveness remained questionable. The newly opened sea frontier list’s deputy list saw Jiang Wang claim first place as soon as it opened. Not long after, Ji Zhaonan easily took the main list’s first place, demonstrating a crushing dominance over Diaohai Tower’s young generation of prodigies. Following this, Equality Country caused trouble at the Grand Master Ceremony, with many waiting to see Qi Country’s embarrassment. Yet, Qi Country turned around and sent troops to Xia Country, planted its flag at Jianfeng Mountain, forced Xia Country to hand over a God臨 Realm member of Equality Country, and conveniently launched a large-scale sweep. Furthermore, at Guanhe Terrace, they seized the chief of the Yellow River, the Ziwei Zhongtian Taihuang flag, showcasing their might throughout history. It could be said that whether in the nearby sea islands, or in the East Domain and South Domain, and at Guanhe Terrace, Qi Country was a scene of boundless glory, unparalleled in strength. Their momentum directly rivaled that of the Great Yang Empire of yesteryear. Such a Qi Country was, of course, not something Jing Country was pleased to see.

Jiang Wang let out a bitter laugh. “So, in a way, I was quite the convenient target?”

Zhao Xuan Yang continued walking, saying, “Don’t belittle yourself. Your own talent is also very significant. Zhuang Gao Xian paid a considerable price to deal with you. Frankly, at first, I thought it was an exaggeration. But after genuinely coming into contact with you, I can actually understand. I can only say, those with the surname Zhuang indeed never do losing business.”

Jiang Wang sighed again, as he had done so many times that day. “Does this count as praise?”

“I am merely a person who enjoys speaking the truth,” Zhao Xuan Yang responded with a smile, then added, “Don’t be nervous. These demon caves in the present world have been abandoned for a long time. There is no danger to speak of. Just follow me. It’s very safe.”

As he spoke, the two had already entered a vast cavern. This ancient demon cave’s layout was different from the one beneath the Qingjiang River. This place was larger, and the environment more complex. There were more than a dozen cave mouths, hanging on the cavern walls, dark and unknown where they led. Extraordinary cultivation granted vision unaffected by the lack of light, but there was indeed nothing particularly noteworthy to see here. The demon cave beneath the Qingjiang River at least had some of the arrangements made by Song Hengjiang and Zhuang Chengqian from that year. This one, however, had no traces left whatsoever.

“What do you plan to do next?” Jiang Wang asked.

“I plan to do nothing,” Zhao Xuan Yang said with a smile. “We’ll live here for seven or eight days. Monk Ku Jue won’t be able to find us forever, and he will naturally give up. Then I will bring you, and we will grandly proceed to Yujing Mountain. How impressive!”

Jiang Wang sighed, he was constantly sighing today. “Is this what you meant by ‘avoiding a True Person across ten thousand li’?”

“How is hiding not considered avoiding?” Zhao Xuan Yang countered.

Jiang Wang was speechless.

“Don’t dwell on these details,” Zhao Xuan Yang released his grip and motioned. “Come, don’t be shy. Please sit.” He sat down on a giant stone resembling a millstone and began to close his eyes and nurture his spirit. It seemed that coping with the pursuit of a True Person of the age was not as effortless as he made it out to be.

Jiang Wang looked around, then walked towards another stone that caught his eye.

“Don’t walk too far,” Zhao Xuan Yang’s voice reminded him. “Sit by my side.”

Jiang Wang sighed and turned back, sitting by his side. Fortunately, the stone was large enough that two people could sit on either side without being cramped. After sitting down, Jiang Wang began to explore his inner treasury. Although Zhao Xuan Yang was sitting cross-legged, eyes closed and nurturing his spirit, his voice promptly sounded. “Don’t rashly move your divine soul.”

Jiang Wang had no choice but to disperse his divine soul power, saying helplessly, “Cultivation is also not allowed, so what do I do?”

“How about you just space out for a while?” Zhao Xuan Yang suggested.

“Is this how you treat your friends?” Jiang Wang asked.

“Then shall I keep you company and chat?”

“Forget it.” Jiang Wang lay down, hands clasped behind his head, his clear bright eyes gazing at the cave dome. “I’ll just space out then!”

There was truly nothing to see on the ceiling of the ancient demon cave, yet Jiang Wang looked so intently that his eyes even seemed a little glazed over. Zhao Xuan Yang couldn’t possibly know what kind of mood this young prodigy, whom he greatly admired, was in at this moment. After experiencing the dazzling glory of Guanhe Terrace, acclaimed by the world, not many days later, he bore the crime of colluding with demons and suffered worldwide scorn. How many people could bear the taste of going from peak to valley? And at this time, Jiang Wang… what was he thinking about?

The sky like a canopy, flowing clouds like galloping horses.

Within the Lingxiao secret realm.

The venerable elder of the sect, Lord Ah Chou, was currently playing with a small gray dog. At this moment, Ah Chou had shrunk to a very small size, only slightly larger than Stupid Gray, and was opening his large mouth, sticking out his tongue, happily frolicking with the small gray dog. Suddenly, he heard the sound of wind, and Ah Chou immediately became serious, his demeanor dignified. A paw immediately halted the jumping Stupid Gray who was following closely behind him. Stupid Gray blinked its eyes, very ignorant and innocent, not understanding why the new boss would stop playing just like that.

After a short while, Ye Qingyu gracefully arrived.

“You’ve come, Qingyu,” Ah Chou mused with a very elder-like demeanor. “Well, how is Anan’s schooling? That child is very playful; you must supervise her well.” He seemed to have completely forgotten that the reason Jiang Anan couldn’t complete her lessons on time was because he had taken her to sneak out and play.

“Almost finished,” Ye Qingyu replied casually, then asked, “And you, are you having fun playing with Stupid Gray?”

“Heh, what’s so fun about it? Just helping Anan take care of him a bit,” Ah Chou’s eyes were tilted towards the sky. “This kind of small earth dog, I could collapse a hundred with a single fart.”

Stupid Gray tilted its head, naturally unable to understand, and bounced towards him even more intimately.

Ah Chou still mercilessly blocked him with a fleshy paw. “Don’t get so close to this seat!”

“You you you you… what are you doing!”

But Stupid Gray stretched out its tongue and licked him enthusiastically.

Ah Chou quickly retracted his claws and retreated.

Stupid Gray thought he was playing a game with him! Even more happily bounced forward.

In front of Ye Qingyu, Ah Chou’s old face couldn’t take it. With two skillful paws, he flipped Stupid Gray over, leaving his four paws facing the sky. “Be honest with this seat!”

Stupid Gray’s four limbs were in the air, still very happy, his tail wagging rapidly.

Ye Qingyu silently watched all this and gave up the idea of trying to get something out of Stupid Gray. “Ugly Uncle,” she asked directly. “Someone is bullying me, are you going to do something about it?”

As soon as she spoke, Ah Chou suddenly jumped up, leaping into the air, revealing his true form three zhang long, fangs bared, a water ball attached to the tip of his slender tail, vaguely stirring up the sound of waves. For a time, he was imposing. “Who is so bold?” he roared like thunder. “This seat will tear him apart!”

“Zhao Xuan Yang,” Ye Qingyu said.

Ah Chou was stunned for a moment.

“The wind is quite strong today.” His fangs retracted, his tail also drooped, and the long fur on his body became particularly smooth. He even swayed in the air, unable to stand steadily. “Why can’t I withstand the wind force a little? If I’m blown around too much, I’ll probably have a stroke. Alas, I’m getting old and can’t endure. I’ll go back to my room to rest first.”

Saying this, he swayed away and disappeared into the air.

Only Stupid Gray remained bewildered, not knowing why “Big Brother” had suddenly left. He flipped over on the spot, nimbly climbed up, and then wagged his tail at Ye Qingyu again, wanting to beg for some spiritual fruits to eat.

Ye Qingyu pursed her lips and didn’t speak.

After a while, a cluster of clouds descended, manifesting a form in the air and stretching out four limbs—it was Ah Chou, returned again. He flew to Ye Qingyu and said dejectedly, “Qingqing, ah, don’t be like this. It’s not that Ugly Uncle won’t help you, but we can’t beat Jing Country!”

“Then we’ll just watch Anan’s elder brother get into trouble and do nothing? How will we face Anan later? And Stupid Gray!” Ye Qingyu picked up Stupid Gray with one hand and showed him to Ah Chou, her beautiful eyes shimmering with moisture. “Stupid Gray is also his, and you play so happily with him every day.”

If Stupid Gray were a little cleverer, he would cooperate and act pathetic now. Unfortunately, he wasn’t. He was picked up in the air, but instead, he was extremely joyful, opening his mouth and wagging his tail madly, saliva flowing straight out.

Ah Chou patted his forehead with a fleshy paw, looking very troubled. “Then what should I do? A single leg hair from one of their people is thicker than my thigh. We at least need a True Monarch to speak in front of the people of Jing Country. Why is your dad in secluded cultivation? Isn’t it because he’s afraid of losing face in front of you?!”

As he spoke, his forehead was fiercely struck by a fist. White-robed Ye Lingxiao appeared. “All day long, you talk too much! You eat enough, but you talk more than you eat!”

Ah Chou rolled a huge white eye and didn’t speak.

Ye Lingxiao then turned around, looking at his precious daughter, and laughed gleefully. “I just said this boy wasn’t much. At first, he could only cause trouble in Qi Country. He even proudly said he was going to Chu Country to handle matters, and look at him now. In a blink, he can’t cause trouble anywhere in the world!”

Ye Qingyu lowered her eyelids and didn’t speak.

“Alright, alright,” Ye Lingxiao stopped laughing, and his voice softened. “Cloud Country’s neutral policy won’t change, but our stance on upholding the justice of the human race also won’t change. Colluding with demons is a great crime of the human race; it’s something we should all care about. It just so happens that your dad has some of Zhuang Someone’s dark history in his hands. When the public trial at Yujing Mountain happens, I’ll release it, and he might just not have time to find fault with others! You tell me, if he has problems, can his evidence still be believed?”

“Really?” Ye Qingyu looked up.

“Of course!” Ye Lingxiao said complacently. “Do you really think your dad only goes into secluded cultivation? As soon as Dad sees my precious daughter is unhappy, he’ll hurry and rummage through boxes and chests to find evidence, okay? You, ah, listen less to some unfounded rumors!”

Ah Chou was seven parts unconvinced and eight parts unconvinced. With a glare, he was just about to open his mouth. But a more stern gaze instantly glared back.

Goodness.

Ah Chou blinked his eyes, feeling wronged, yet still with a hint of caution. Destroying Ye Xiaohua’s majestic image in front of his daughter was absolutely one of Lingxiao Pavilion’s biggest crimes. Even someone as lofty as Ah Chou would inevitably be beaten if he dared to commit this crime.

Ye Qingyu smiled. “Dad, you’re amazing!”

“Jiang Wang is even more amazing,” Ye Lingxiao said disdainfully, pursing his lips. “When I was his age, I probably wasn’t chased and killed all over the world, let alone made so famous.” He sighed melancholily. “Alas, your dad only knows how to chase and kill others.”