Zhuang Gaoxian turned and looked at Du Ruhui, who had arrived almost simultaneously with Song Hengjiang: “Prime Minister Du, do you know what this place is?”

Du Ruhui furrowed his brow in contemplation.

He wasn’t pondering the answer itself, but rather whether he should speak, and how to phrase it.

Finally, he said, “This cavern can evade the perception of even a present-day True Person. After much thought, this old minister can only surmise one possibility. Ancient texts record that an ancient Demonic Cave once existed within the borders of Zhuang. I have never known its location, but it seems… it is beneath this Clear River!”

Song Hengjiang lowered his eyes in resignation, knowing that all hope of salvage was lost.

He and a friend had accidentally discovered this ancient Demonic Cave in his early years. He believed no one else in this era knew of its existence.

But he never expected Zhuang Gaoxian to ascend to the Dongzhen realm, and then, today, to suddenly arrive and expend his divine sense to survey the entire Clear River region, finding it. And then there was Du Ruhui, with his vast knowledge, who even knew of such ancient secrets as Demonic Caves.

“So, it is an ancient Demonic Cave!”

Zhuang Gaoxian exclaimed in realization. The essence of demons was no longer human, and naturally, Demonic Caves possessed unique qualities. The Dongzhen realm grasped the essence of heaven and earth, and could perceive the present world, but was greatly separated from Demonic Caves.

But to find this place was already a formidable feat.

If it were a God-Realm cultivator, even with their spiritual sense covering the area, they would be utterly unable to detect the Demonic Cave’s presence.

“River Lord.”

He looked back at Song Hengjiang with a solemn expression: “It seems I cannot agree. This involves an ancient Demonic Cave, and concerns the safety of Zhuang’s millions of subjects. I must see it with my own eyes to be at ease.”

His words were righteous and high-sounding.

“The Demonic Tide was extinguished eons ago. The Jing-Mu allied forces suppressed it, and not a single True Demon could escape the borderlands. All Demonic Caves within the human realm have long been purged of demonic energy. There is no need for Your Majesty to worry. This cavern is where the Water Mansion nourishes the spirits of the departed…”

Song Hengjiang stopped there.

Because Zhuang Gaoxian did not continue listening to his fabricated explanations, but instead, with a single palm strike, swept away all the water vines on the cliff face! Then, he strode into the Demonic Cave.

The water vines let out cries of unwillingness and sharp, pitiful screams, before abruptly ceasing.

Before a present-day True Person, they had no room for struggle.

Song Hengjiang silently exchanged a glance with Du Ruhui. He knew that Du Ruhui would keep a close watch on him, preventing him from escaping or doing anything else.

But his face showed no anger. Instead, a strange smile appeared in his eyes at this moment.

“Would you like to come in and take a look?” he asked.

Du Ruhui felt a vague unease in his heart, but showed nothing on his face, simply saying, “I am willing to accompany the River Lord.”

“Then come.”

Song Hengjiang turned and strode into the Demonic Cave.

Even with Du Ruhui’s wisdom, he was somewhat confused at this moment.

He was originally tracking down the murderer who killed Dong A, so how did he discover an ancient Demonic Cave in Zhuang?

What secrets could the Clear River aquatic tribes, currently undergoing subjugation and integration, be hiding within an ancient Demonic Cave?

Most importantly, what did that look in Song Hengjiang’s eyes mean?

Both he and Song Hengjiang were God-Realm cultivators, who were normally above worldly concerns, but at this moment, listening to the heavy footsteps ahead, he did not find it strange at all.

The secret that Song Hengjiang would sacrifice his prized daughter for must be extremely heavy.

So heavy, in fact, that even a powerful figure like himself could not remain calm.

As Du Ruhui followed Song Hengjiang into the enormous circular cavern before him, he felt a terrifying sense of displacement.

A powerful pressure descended.

The God-Realm powerhouse, Song Hengjiang, was helplessly lifted into the air.

He was being held up by an arm that had gripped his neck!

Zhuang Gaoxian’s arm!

At this moment, Zhuang Gaoxian had none of his usual composure. His expression was extremely stern, his anger barely contained.

He gripped Song Hengjiang’s neck, even roaring somewhat out of control, “Song Hengjiang! How will you explain all of this to me?”

And Du Ruhui fully understood where Zhuang Gaoxian’s anger came from.

From Du Ruhui’s own perspective,

Zhuang Gaoxian could be considered a great ruler. Decisive, calculating, and patient, he lacked nothing. Cold-blooded as he was, he could also treat his subordinates with respect and win over their hearts.

His personal visit to the Clear River Water Mansion today was, of course, partly for the death of Dong A, but also to warn Song Hengjiang. Yet, even while warning him, Zhuang Gaoxian had shown considerable restraint towards Song Hengjiang from beginning to end. Even after being punched, he had simply brushed it off.

His loss of control now was entirely because Song Hengjiang had crossed his bottom line.

The blood-veined stone coffins that densely packed this circular cavern, and the Yin Demons within them that were clearly still alive, all pointed to this place’s connection to demons.

Song Hengjiang was raising demons in this place!

This was a matter that could shake the very foundation of Zhuang.

Demons were the mortal enemies of the human race.

What were the Zhuang Kingdom’s intentions in raising demons?

If this were to spread, who would care that it was just Song Hengjiang’s own actions? Who would think that it was just the Clear River aquatic tribes’ actions?

Would the Daoist cultivators of Jing come to eliminate the demons and defend the righteous path?

Would the Yong Kingdom, which had just suffered a defeat in the war, and where a ruthless man like Han Xu had seized power by assassinating his father and abandoning his kingdom, let go of this great opportunity? He had just made contact with the Mo Sect and become the only nation to represent them thus far, and he would certainly not hesitate to display his strength.

Even if they knew that this matter had nothing to do with the Zhuang court, they would definitely ignore that point!

A man like Zhuang Gaoxian could be treated with disrespect, could be denied his honor, could even be cursed, beaten, and humiliated, as long as you had enough value, he could even greet you with a smile. But if you dared to shake his realm, he would absolutely not show any mercy.

Not to mention that Song Hengjiang was just his grandfather’s sworn brother, even his grandfather himself could not touch that bottom line.

At this moment, Du Ruhui’s first thought was how many aquatic tribes knew about this ancient Demonic Cave, and how to completely block the news. As for Song Hengjiang’s fate, he could no longer interfere.

Faced with Zhuang Gaoxian’s sudden outburst, Song Hengjiang was immediately captured.

His cultivation did not even have time to react, or rather, from the moment he followed them into the Demonic Cave, he had completely given up on reacting.

He simply looked quietly at Zhuang Gaoxian, allowing the hand of this present-day True Person to press against his throat.

He knew very well that as long as Zhuang Gaoxian exerted a little force, he would be saying goodbye to this world.

For a moment, he wanted to leave just like that.

He had been in so much pain these past few centuries!

He had once been a dazzling figure, arrogant and unrestrained, but he had long grown tired of this lingering existence.

But then he immediately thought of… he could not help but think of…

The scene of the entire Clear River aquatic tribe being slaughtered and the Clear River dyed red after Zhuang Gaoxian killed him here.

If he died just like that, who would be able to protect the Clear River aquatic tribe?

So he opened his cloudy eyes, struggling to resist the immense pressure, and barely managed to say, “Why not… go in and take a look?”

Zhuang Gaoxian subconsciously relaxed his grip slightly: “Go in?”

“The cavern on the left… has all my explanations inside,” Song Hengjiang said.

“I’ll see what kind of explanation you can give!”

Zhuang Gaoxian’s voice was icy cold.

He hated Song Hengjiang to the extreme, and with his hand still gripping Song Hengjiang’s neck, he turned around.

Like dragging a dead dog, he dragged the Clear River Water Lord towards the cavern on the left!