Song Hengjiang sighed, “Since things have come to this, there’s nothing more to say.”

‘Zhuang Chengqian’ said with bitter resentment, “I have failed Wanxi, and the Zhuang family has failed the Song family. Seeing things as they are today, I truly wish I had died in the hands of the White Bones back then, body and soul obliterated!”

Song Hengjiang lowered his eyes, concealing the sorrow within, “Now that you have been reborn through a borrowed body, returning to your former cultivation is only a matter of time. In the future, guide Gao Xian well. After all, he is Wanxi’s grandson, and his nature might not be entirely wicked.”

“If Wanxi were still here, Mingqi wouldn’t have died, and Gao Xian wouldn’t be like this…” ‘Zhuang Chengqian’ said, his eyes reddened, his voice hoarse, “It’s all my fault for not taking good care of Wanxi, giving the White Bones Sect an opportunity.”

Song Hengjiang turned to look at the now-closed eyes of Song Wanxi, “Saying these words again and again won’t bring Wanxi back.”

Because of Song Wanxi’s death, he naturally harbored resentment towards Zhuang Chengqian. But it didn’t amount to hatred; after all, the true culprit was the White Bones Sect, the hidden enemy being the White Bones Divine Lord, and he and Zhuang Chengqian had indeed been brothers in arms in the past.

Moreover, objectively speaking about the current situation, Zhuang Chengqian’s resurrection should be a good thing for him and the Clear River aquatic race.

Zhuang Gao Xian and his court clearly lacked respect for the Clear River aquatic race, and his own body couldn’t hold on for much longer, constantly worrying about the future of the Clear River aquatic race.

If Zhuang Chengqian could return to his peak and regain power… then the future of the Clear River aquatic race would once again have hope. After all, during Zhuang Chengqian’s era, the human and aquatic races within Zhuang territory had always lived in equality.

No matter how Zhuang Chengqian treated outsiders, how ruthless he was, he had always been respectful to him, had genuine feelings for Song Wanxi, and had always maintained respect for the aquatic race.

He would never forget Zhuang Chengqian’s furious madness when facing the White Bones Divine Lord.

Even though the Zhuang court’s attitude had changed drastically in Zhuang Gao Xian’s era, he had never resented Zhuang Chengqian. After all, the person was already dead, and the end of an era leading to changes in policy was only normal.

Now that Zhuang Chengqian was resurrected and returned, after he passed away, Zhuang Chengqian could also take care of the young and hot-blooded Song Qingyue.

For all these reasons, Song Hengjiang’s resentment wasn’t deep.

He only blurted out one sentence, and immediately changed the subject, worried about stimulating Zhuang Chengqian, “I have always used the Water-Sunk Glazed Coffin to seal Wanxi’s demonic energy. How did you open her seal?”

He didn’t suspect that Song Wanxi and Zhuang Chengqian had fought; it was only natural for a Song Wanxi who had already fallen into demonhood and lost her senses and memories to attack living beings.

“It was only after entering the demonic cave that I learned that you led Wanxi into demonhood, allowing her life force to survive.”

‘Zhuang Chengqian’ slowly recounted, “It just so happened that I knew a secret art that could use another divine soul to replace her in demonhood, returning her memories and consciousness. And after so many years, the cause of her death had already dissipated, so her memories and consciousness would have a chance to be transferred using the Underworld Candle…”

His voice didn’t have any special quality, but it naturally possessed a power to bewitch people’s hearts.

The wrinkles on Song Hengjiang’s face trembled, and he instantly became excited, “Are you saying that Wanxi can be resurrected?”

‘Zhuang Chengqian’ said bitterly, “It’s just a possibility. I was just trying to do it, trying to replace her in demonhood myself. If Wanxi could be resurrected, I wouldn’t mind becoming a demon, and I would gladly die. But…”

He understood Song Hengjiang too well, knew his sworn brother’s personality too well, and knew his weaknesses, his vital spots. So he knew too well how to manipulate his choices.

“But what?” Song Hengjiang’s voice couldn’t hide his eagerness.

“But my current cultivation is too weak, and my divine soul is also very incomplete, not enough to replace her in demonhood. After just unlocking her seal, I was careless and almost killed by her. I could only find a way to seal her again, and then you came…”

Everyone has many choices in each lifetime. Left or right, sometimes it’s a completely different life.

Song Hengjiang asked directly, “What kind of divine soul can replace her in demonhood?”

“At least one must have opened the Divine Origin Sea, and have a Yuan Spirit sitting in the Spirit-Nurturing Hall to do it. Because Wanxi’s current body has the potential to become a true demon. An ordinary divine soul can’t withstand the invasion of demonic energy at all.”

Opening the Divine Origin Sea, with a Yuan Spirit sitting in the Spirit-Nurturing Hall, that was the God-Arrival Realm!

In other words… Song Hengjiang was very suitable.

As expected, Song Hengjiang didn’t hesitate, only asking, “Can I do it?”

“How could this be!”

‘Zhuang Chengqian’ refused outright, his tone as firm as a blade being drawn, “You are the Lord of Clear River, the hope of the clan, how can you take such a risk!”

His words were earnest, “When I recover to the God-Arrival Realm and replenish my divine soul, I can do this myself.”

“How long will it take for you to recover to the God-Arrival Realm?” Song Hengjiang asked.

“Judging by the talent of this body, at most twenty years…” ‘Zhuang Chengqian’ gritted his teeth, “At least ten years!”

Having retreated from his battle stance, the aged Song Hengjiang shook his head and sighed, “I’m afraid I can’t wait ten years.”

‘Zhuang Chengqian’ simply refused, “Or we can also find a way to capture a God-Arrival cultivator, it’s worth some infamy for Wanxi’s sake.”

“Capture who?” Song Hengjiang retorted, “Which God-Arrival cultivator doesn’t have a name and reputation, pulling out carrots bringing out mud. If the news leaks and people come knocking on our door, the aquatic race is already weak, and Wanxi is a demonic body, how can she survive? Even Qingyue and Qingzhi would be implicated.”

He sighed heavily, “I don’t have many years left to live. If I can save Wanxi with my remaining life, that would be the best. With the two of you taking care of the Clear River aquatic race in the future, I can rest assured.”

‘Zhuang Chengqian’s’ voice was even a bit choked up, “Brother… what should I do, what should I…”

“Don’t act like a sentimental child.” Song Hengjiang waved his hand, decisively, “Just tell me what are the odds of success of this secret art?”

‘Zhuang Chengqian’ wiped away his tears and gritted his teeth, “If it were with someone else’s divine soul, considering their struggle, there would only be a 30% chance of success. But if you voluntarily cooperate, brother… there’s a 60% chance!”

He didn’t say 100% certainty, because that was simply unrealistic.

Song Hengjiang gently closed his eyes, opening them again with utmost calm.

“That’s enough,” he said.

Deep within the First Inner Mansion, Jiang Wang was stunned.

Was Zhuang Chengqian going to talk Song Hengjiang to death?

He was 100% certain that Zhuang Chengqian was lying again. Before Zhuang Chengqian had revealed his identity, he had also tried to coax him into replacing Song Wanxi in demonhood, only that his argument at that time was to help Jiang Wang achieve the body of a true demon, giving him the power to seek revenge.

From this, it could be seen that Zhuang Chengqian was skilled in manipulating people’s hearts, always targeting the deepest weaknesses in everyone’s hearts.

But he had always been wary of Jiang Yan, so he didn’t fall for it at all.

But Song Hengjiang clearly trusted Zhuang Chengqian very much.

After all, more than 300 years ago, in the founding war, Song Hengjiang had fought for Zhuang Chengqian in the Ripple River, helping to establish the Zhuang Kingdom.

From their conversation just now, in the battle to exterminate the White Bones Sect, Song Hengjiang had joined hands with Zhuang Chengqian to fight the White Bones Divine Lord, to the point of leaving irreversible injuries.

While Song Wanxi was a factor, he was truly and completely devoted to Zhuang Chengqian, treating him like a close brother.

And now, with just a few words from Zhuang Chengqian, Song Hengjiang was actually preparing to sacrifice himself.

Although it was to save his loved one, wasn’t it also out of trust in Zhuang Chengqian?

It sounded too absurd, not at all like the wisdom of the Lord of the Eight Hundred Mile Clear River. But it truly happened.

Sometimes it’s not that the lies are so clever, it’s not that the deceived are so foolish.

Those who can be deceived are those who open their hearts to you, who are willing to believe you!

Just like Song Hengjiang to Zhuang Chengqian, just like Jiang Wang to Fang Pengju.

Jiang Wang could no longer wait. If he waited any longer, Zhuang Chengqian would have completely consumed Song Hengjiang, and he would have lost this variable that disrupted the chessboard, and he would surely die!

So he stopped exploring the depths of the Inner Mansion, seeking a breakthrough, gathered all his divine soul power, wrapped around the Divine Power Seed, and controlled the Inner Mansion.

Launching his only retaliatory force!

The Heaven-Reaching Palace was situated on the Isolated Island of Heaven and Earth, currently occupied by Zhuang Chengqian’s divine soul.

And above the Isolated Island of Heaven and Earth, the ruins of the Cloud-Top Immortal Palace, rumbled and shifted.

Above the Cloud-Top Immortal Palace, the First Inner Mansion, like a great sun…

Crashed down!

ps: Today is the first anniversary of the serialization of Crimson Heart Surveyor… I actually persevered for a year. Many emotions, difficult to express. Thank you to the readers who have been with me, thank you.