“Prime Minister.” Zhuang Gaoxian mused for a moment, looking at Du Ruhui and saying, “Be it true or false. We conceal for the sake of the revered, and obscure for the departed. There are some things that I do not wish to mention again.”

“Yes.” Du Ruhui responded earnestly, “The heavens were unkind, and hardship ensued. The sudden passing of the late emperor caused many secrets to be lost. Otherwise, these matters would have been unknown to this old minister, but Your Majesty should be aware of them.”

Zhuang Gaoxian indicated that the past should remain in the past, unwilling to expose his grandfather’s blemishes, which also served to maintain his own legitimacy.

Du Ruhui agreed with this. He analyzed the truth and sought to recover history. Only because as the sovereign, one could choose to face, conceal, or deny the truth, but one could not be ignorant of it.

Zhuang Gaoxian looked towards the higher reaches of the sky, directly facing the blazing sun: “I followed the mandate of Heaven, and thus inherited the great lineage. Promoting literature and martial prowess, I expanded the nation’s borders. As far as the eye can see, as far as the will can reach. The ambition I hold, extends far beyond ten thousand *li*!”

Du Ruhui knew that Zhuang Gaoxian was still very concerned about the aquatic bloodline within him.

Therefore, he bowed and responded, “Your Majesty is naturally the legitimate and well-deserved sovereign. Not inferior to Yongming, and even surpassing the Great Ancestor! This minister’s heart is greatly encouraged, and I am willing to strive forward.”

Zhuang Gaoxian turned back, extended both hands, and helped him up: “The Prime Minister’s loyalty, I deeply understand. Otherwise, I would not entrust you with matters of state.”

He thought for a moment and asked, “I have already investigated, and the murderer who killed Minister Dong is not in the Clear River. Does Prime Minister Du wish to continue the investigation?”

Du Ruhui shook his head with a bitter smile, “I went to the Water Mansion earlier only because the Clear River Water Mansion was the only place nearby that could shield my search. Now it seems, the murderer should have already blocked my methods. The Heavenly Breath Incantation is incomplete after all, with many deficiencies. It was my blind confidence and rash intrusion into the Clear River Water Mansion that was truly reckless.”

“If not for Prime Minister Du’s recklessness this time, how would I have learned of the Devil’s Lair? It was truly an unintentional act that bore fruit.” Zhuang Gaoxian consoled him, and then said, “Since Minister Dong was unfortunate, and the murderer is nowhere to be found. How should this matter be handled appropriately? Prime Minister Du must have a plan.”

Du Ruhui responded, “Your Majesty, rest assured, this old minister has a contingency plan in place.”

The sovereign and the prime minister conversed in the high heavens.

Life had reached the most spirited moment.

Thousands of clouds floated around them, and ten thousand *qing* of mountains and rivers lay beneath their feet.

Zhuang Gaoxian and Du Ruhui had already left this ancient Devil’s Lair.

Song Hengjiang quietly remained in place, slowly leaning down and sitting on the stone steps for a while.

The secret hidden for two hundred and eighteen years had been exposed today, and the feelings in his heart were complex.

But in any case, Zhuang Gaoxian had not turned hostile on the spot, and the Clear River Water Clan had not headed towards the worst outcome. This, of course, should be a good thing.

He leaned against his younger sister’s crystal coffin, pulling at the corners of his mouth trying to smile, but unexpectedly felt a coolness on his face, and a few turbid tears fell down.

A being like him was not supposed to shed tears.

This was the sadness from two hundred and eighteen years ago, continuing to this day.

The old man helplessly wiped away these few tears, and then stood up again.

It was time to leave, he told himself.

No matter how much he missed his younger sister.

Over the years, he never lingered here for long, because the longer he stayed, the more likely he was to be noticed. He cherished the secrets here more than anyone else.

Taking one last look at his sister in the crystal coffin, he turned and walked out.

Inside this abandoned ancient Devil’s Lair, everything was familiar to him.

He was the first to discover this place, one of his adventures when he was young. The inner chamber on the right was Song Wanxi’s boudoir, because she said she liked the mystery of the underwater Devil’s Lair, so she personally transformed it into a bedroom, occasionally staying there for a short time.

Later, that incident happened…

He took Song Wanxi away from Zhuang King’s Palace, saying that he would bury her in the clan’s ancient grounds. In reality, he came here. While arranging for Song Wanxi to enter demonization, he concealed it from everyone and personally arranged a hidden formation. He captured demonic spirits from the borderlands, placed them in the blood-veined stone coffin, and used the demonic energy of these demonic spirits to nourish his demonized younger sister.

He had silently lingered here, reminiscing about the past. Those joyful times were especially heartrending.

There wasn’t much time left, he thought.

The stooped old man walked alone to the outer chamber, his nostalgic gaze sweeping over the rows of blood-veined stone coffins, pausing slightly, and finally looking around once.

Then, along the entrance he had come through, he slowly walked away.

Inside the Clear River Water Mansion, in the former Elder Princess Song Wanxi’s bedroom.

Jiang Yan’s voice was urgent: “Song Hengjiang has left and will soon return to the Water Mansion. Now is the time!”

Jiang Wang did not hesitate, immediately reversing the hand seals, his entire being enveloped in a clear light, and in an instant, he returned to the underwater Devil’s Lair.

This inner chamber, paved with white jade and illuminated by pearl candles, was likely Song Wanxi’s boudoir in the underwater Devil’s Lair when she was “alive,” connected to her room in the Water Mansion.

The styles were consistent.

“Is it safe now?”

Stepping on the floor tiles engraved with fine patterns, Jiang Wang walked towards the outer chamber where the blood-veined stone coffins were displayed, while asking in the Towering Heaven Palace.

Jiang Yan responded very seriously, “If Song Hengjiang doesn’t return, this place is safe. But before Du Ruhui completely gives up searching, you must never leave this…”

His words stopped there, abruptly.

Inside the Towering Heaven Palace, a sudden change occurred!

The sea of divine soul flowers spread throughout the Towering Heaven Palace instantly withered, and the listless Constricting Star Serpent suddenly rose up, its eyes turning pitch black, and with a single bite, it devoured all the Hidden Serpents hidden in the sea of divine soul flowers.

Jiang Wang’s preparations to guard against his inner demon were instantly shattered.

And the Constricting Star Serpent, clearly controlled by the inner demon, had already flown over ferociously, heading to kill Jiang Wang.

With Zhuang Gaoxian, Du Ruhui, and Song Hengjiang already gone, this abandoned ancient Devil’s Lair was now the safest and most secluded place, with no one to disturb them.

The inner demon, which had been silent and seemingly sealed, launched a fierce attack at this moment.

The map has been unfurled, and the dagger is revealed!

The incident happened so suddenly, Jiang Wang had been wandering on the edge of life and death, and his mind had been affected for a long time, making it difficult to stay clear. At that time, he was listening to Jiang Yan speaking, and his little remaining attention was also drawn away.

Analyzing it from any angle, it would be difficult to have any other result. This attack should have been impossible for him to react to.

But just as the black-eyed Star Serpent pounced in front of Jiang Wang’s divine soul, and just as its blood basin mouth opened.

He heard continuous shrill screams erupt!

That violent, sharp sound.

Was the densely packed, nearly three thousand black Hidden Serpents shooting out from within Jiang Wang’s divine soul, covering the sky and the earth. Its sound was violent, like sharp arrows piercing the air, like a gust of wind, like a sudden rain, instantly covering the black-eyed Star Serpent.

The huge black-eyed Star Serpent was overturned and knocked away by the divine soul Hidden Serpent swarm in one encounter, falling to the ground. Dense divine soul Hidden Serpents crawled all over the black-eyed Star Serpent’s body, burying the muffled sounds within it.

Jiang Wang, who had been confused, flustered, and hesitant along the way…

Had been prepared all along!