"Gao Qiu... Gao Xia..."
"Greetings, Your Excellency the Imperial Preceptor."
Inside the tea room, two figures lowered their heads.
On the left, Gao Qiu, dressed in an official robe, has an arrogant expression.
On the right, Gao Xia is wearing a suit and has a smile on her lips.
Ignoring Gao Qiu's disgusted look, Gao Xia took off her magician's hat first.
He gave Guyue Xuyu a gentlemanly bow.
"Lord Void, what exactly has happened to the Desolate God Society?"
Why can't we contact Lord Helge?
Guyue Xuyu frowned slightly, and was about to speak when Gu Yueai raised her hand to interrupt him.
"It's more appropriate for me to answer this question."
Gu Yueai picked up the purple clay teapot and filled a cup with hot tea.
"Your Lord Helge has indeed encountered some problems recently."
"As has been the case for the past hundred years, he is temporarily unable to cross the boundary and return to the Barbaric Realm."
"But..."
He pushed the cup of hot tea towards Gao Xia.
"You can rest assured. Because I'm still here."
"The current Dragon God can't cause any trouble."
Gao Xia stared at the cup of tea for two seconds, then chuckled softly and put the magician's hat back on her head.
"Since the Imperial Advisor has said so, I am relieved."
"Your subordinate takes his leave."
Having said that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows outside the door.
Watching Gao Xia leave, Gao Qiu stepped forward.
"Greetings, Your Excellency Imperial Preceptor. Minister of War Gao Qiu expresses his sincere respects."
Gu Yueai poured him a cup of tea as well, "The Destruction Five Days are approaching. Are you confident in dealing with the Dragon God?"
Gao Qiu took the teacup with both hands, a cold smile on his face.
"Rest assured, Your Excellency, there is certainly one!"
"This Destruction Five Days will surely leave that Dragon God there forever!"
Upon hearing these bold words, Gu Yueai a cup of tea, paused.
He raised his eyelids and glanced at Gao Qiu.
Having courage is a good thing.
"But to speak too definitively... is nothing but arrogance."
Gu Yueai put down her teacup, her gaze deep and thoughtful. "My whole life has been like walking on thin ice."
"And that Dragon God is the most unpredictable person I have ever seen in my life."
"Once the Destruction Five Days begin, remember not to act rashly. Your task is to assist the Void, understand?"
Gao Qiu's smile froze instantly, and the veins on the back of his hand holding the teacup bulged.
"Yes..."
He gritted his teeth, his tone clearly showing his resentment.
He then put down his teacup, turned around, and left.
Outside the corridor.
As soon as Gao Qiu stepped out of the room, he heard a soft laugh coming from a dark corner.
Gao Xia leaned against the wall, tossing a coin in her hand, and said sarcastically.
"Oh dear, my good brother, you've been scolded like a dog by the Imperial Advisor again?"
"Don't force me to kill you here."
Gao Qiu suddenly turned his head and stared at Gao Xia.
"Oh? You want to make a move?"
Gao Xia was not afraid at all; on the contrary, she exaggeratedly stretched her neck out.
"Do you dare? You know better than anyone where you are."
"Come on, my dear brother, go ahead and chop here if you dare!"
Gao Qiu took a deep breath, suppressing the murderous intent in his heart.
"If you're trying to get yourself killed with this cheap trick of provocation, you'd better save your breath, my dear brother."
As he spoke, Gao Qiu suddenly sneered, his tone full of malicious implications.
"After all, the outside world is very dangerous."
"Those Blue Star have such sensitive noses, who knows when they might follow the scent and find some shady rats?"
You're right, aren't you?
Gao Xia's smile gradually faded.
He certainly understood the implied meaning.
The reason he was discovered by the China military, and even lost one of his disciples because of it, was all thanks to this good brother in front of him!
But he quickly put on Smile Face and let out a strange laugh.
"That gift is really nice, I really like it!"
Gao Xia straightened her suit tie.
"So... to repay my brother's kindness, I've already prepared a big gift for you."
"I hope you will be well during the next Destruction Five Days..."
"It will feel pleasant~"
The moment the words left her lips, Gao Xia removed her tall hat, and her entire body turned into scraps of paper and vanished from the spot.
Gao Qiu stood in the empty corridor, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.
"Don't worry, my dear brother."
"This time..."
"I'll make sure you, you piece of trash, break all your teeth!"
About two hours later.
The sea breeze caressed the ravaged Deep Pool Fortress.
The China military has taken full control of this area.
The roar of machinery echoed as the ruins were being renovated and transformed.
This place will become the strongest barrier for China's advance into the Dragon Xia Imperial City.
At the same time...
It is also the key to finding the hidden passage into the Imperial City.
Inside the fortress, in some still-uncleared ruins.
Jiangnan walked alone among the ruins, stepping on the pebbles.
Soon, he arrived at Gao Nantong's former study.
After being ravaged by war, the place was in such a state of chaos that it was impossible to look at it properly; broken books and pieces of wood were scattered everywhere.
But what Jiangnan found most unbearable was the fishy, pungent smell in the air.
He frowned, then snapped his fingers.
"Boom!"
A bolt of Purple Firmament Divine Thunder erupted from his fingertips!
The entire study, along with the disgusting smell, was blown to ashes.
Jiangnan's style of doing things has always been like this: physical purification is the most deadly.
However, this explosion caused the ground to collapse, creating a huge crater.
Jiangnan into the pit, and what came into view was an old stone wall.
Adhering to the fine tradition of achieving miracles through sheer force, Jiangnan didn't bother looking for any mechanisms and unleashed a burst of lightning armor around his body.
He leaped up and delivered a Knight's kick to the stone wall!
"Bang!"
The air surged, and debris flew everywhere.
But when the smoke and dust cleared, the old stone wall remained completely unmoved!
Moreover, Jiangnan even felt the thunderous energy contained in his kick just now.
It was completely absorbed by the patterns on the stone wall.
"It seems that brute force alone cannot break through this."
Jiangnan stroked his chin.
He did not attempt any other violent methods, as the stone wall likely required a specific token to open.
But that kick practically confirmed his guilt.
This is definitely the entrance to the secret passage leading to the Dragon Xia Imperial City!
After leaving the underground ruins, Jiangnan returned to the military RV parked in the Safe Zone.
Lin Bayi was not in the carriage.
Shen Lian was sitting in front of her computer processing intelligence.
Upon seeing Jiangnan enter, Shen Lian immediately stood up to report to her superior.
"The Chief has gone to the front lines to direct the soldiers in rebuilding the fortress. What are your orders?"
Jiangnan didn't speak, but instead took out Memo Pad, wrote a few lines, and handed it over.
How are Jiang Li and Guo Shuai doing?
"Guo Shuai has fallen into a coma again due to excessive exertion, and the medical team is currently taking care of him."
As for Jiang Li...
Shen Lian gave a wry smile. "She's still playing with her toys in her room; she seems to be in a pretty stable state."
Jiangnan nodded and handed over another note.
Please turn off the security camera in her room.
Shen Lian was slightly taken aback. Although she was a little confused, she nodded and typed a few words on the keyboard.
It's already turned off.
Then, Jiangnan turned around and went to the door of the Fool's room.
He pushed open the door, and there stood a little girl with silver hair and red eyes, her back to him, spinning a Rubik's Cube in her hand.
Jiangnan closed the door and walked behind her.
He pulled out a note he had written outside and stuck it directly on the back of her head, getting straight to the point.
[Who exactly are you? As a reincarnated being, you should have memories of the past.]
Jiangnan was certain ever since he saw the old photo Lin Bayi gave him.
This little girl is definitely a reincarnation from the past, just like me.
Moreover, the two must have a very close relationship.
Click.
Jiang Li suddenly stopped turning the Rubik's Cube.
Then, without turning around, she let out a laugh that didn't belong to the innocent joy of a child.
It was a cold, mocking laugh, like an adult who had successfully pulled off a scheme.
Then, she turned her head, her ruby-like eyes fixed on Jiangnan.
"Oh dear, we've been found out!"
Jiangnan's eyes sharpened, and his vigilance instantly spiked.
So he really is a reincarnated person?
Just as he was considering whether to directly send out a [Divine Edict] to forcibly investigate the other party's background...
"Thump!"
Jiang Li suddenly opened his mouth and uttered a sentence that made Jiangnan's soul leave his body.
"Father!!!"
This sudden outburst completely threw Jiangnan into disarray.
For the second time in his life, after living for so many years, Jiangnan Nan showed an expression of terror on his face.
Last time, it was Aunt Han Fei who thought she preferred married women.
He immediately lost his composure and blurted out, "What did you call me?!"
"Father!"
Jiang Li rushed forward and hugged Jiangnan's leg, looking up at him.
"I've missed you so much all these years!"
Jiangnan's feelings at this moment were extremely complicated.
He blurted out the question instinctively.
Who is your mother?
Jiang Li blinked and answered matter-of-factly.
"Who else could it be? My mom is my mother, of course!"
Jiangnan felt his blood pressure spike, grabbed her by the back of the neck, and lifted her into the air.
"Stop making excuses. I'm giving you one last chance to prove your identity."
"Otherwise..."
Jiangnan's other hand was itching to act.
Prepare to forcibly use the Word Spirit: Divine Edict.
No, no, no, no, no!
Jiang Li seemed to know what he was going to use.
It immediately started flailing its limbs in mid-air like a dehydrated turtle.
"I was wrong, Dad! I'll tell you, I'll tell you! Actually, I don't have a mother or a father, because..."
"I picked you up from the roadside!"
"Found it..."
Jiangnan frowned, then realized what he meant and moved closer, "Wait! Why were you the one who picked me up?"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Li immediately lost his fear.
She crossed her arms in mid-air, her chin almost pointing to the sky.
"Hmph, that story begins a thousand years ago!"
"I was only six years old then. I was tricked by the mother of an illegitimate child and abandoned in the wild to fend for myself."
"And guess what? I just happened to find you severely injured and unconscious on the roadside!"
"And coincidentally, I happened to have some life-saving pills on me, which I kindly fed to you."
"And so... you became my dad!"
"How about that? Pretty impressive, huh? Hurry up and praise me, Koi!"
She looked smug, her eyes clear, and she didn't seem to be faking it.
Jiangnan's eyelids twitched uncontrollably, and he felt a dull ache in his brainstem.
"So, what exactly is your identity?"
Jiangnan patiently continued questioning him.
"Hehe, that's a long story!"
Jiang Li became even more excited, gesturing wildly as he said, "Back then, your cheapskate father really managed to climb the social ladder..."
She suddenly stopped mid-sentence.
She remained with her arms crossed, blinking her eyes in a daze.
Then he raised his hand and scratched the top of his head.
"Uh... who am I again?"
"..."
Jiangnan lost patience with this guy who was spouting nonsense.
He threw Jiang Li back onto the bed.
"Stay here quietly and think it over yourself."
Jiangnan said coldly, "I have other things to take care of."
Upon hearing that Jiangnan was leaving, Jiang Li panicked and clung to his leg, refusing to let go.
"No! Dad, please take me with you!"
"No... or I'll poke your style and your Magic Core!"
As she spoke, she held up two fingers, "Swish swish swish!"
Jiangnan looked at her expressionlessly.
Are you kidding me?
Who would carry a human signal jammer around with them?
Jiangnan showed no mercy, using her legs to break free, then turned and locked herself out the door.
It was completed in one go, flowing smoothly like clouds and water.
"Bang!"
The door was closed, leaving Jiang Li inside, banging on the glass in protest.
After getting rid of that troublesome person, Jiangnan quickly left the area around the RV.
He only stopped when he was sure he had completely escaped Jiang Li's signal jamming zone.
He pulled out the [Human Emperor Lamp] with a backhand motion.
Looking at the churning clouds in the distance, Jiangnan's gaze became focused.
Having arrived in this new area, he now urgently needs to increase his word count and accumulate new Word Spirit.
Because tomorrow...
That was the decisive "Destruction Five Days"...
At the same time.
[Lamenting Imperial Mausoleum, the eternal flames of the lamps flicker in the wind.]
"Click..."
Ying Jiuchuan looked at the black wooden sign that had been cracked into several pieces.
In the center of the wooden sign, the three characters "[Du Linyuan]" had faded and turned to ashes.
The spirit tablet is broken.
Several golden spirits floated beside him.
Seeing this, all I could do was shake my head silently.
They closed their eyes and bowed their heads in silent mourning for the departed young soul.
Among them, a golden spirit waving a feather fan floated to Ying Jiuchuan's side.
He extended his illusory hand and patted Ying Jiuchuan on the shoulder.
"Jiuchuan, don't be too sad."
"For Lin Yuan, isn't this a kind of liberation?"
The old man with the feather fan looked at the broken wooden plaque on the ground.
"He has atoned for the crimes he committed back then, and he has done right by us old folks, and he has done right by himself."
"Most importantly..."
"He succeeded. The [Destruction Five Days] are about to begin. Our plan has finally reached its final stage."
No... he did nothing wrong!
Ying Jiuchuan raised his head, his eyes filled with heart-wrenching pain.
"He did nothing wrong! He was just paying off someone else's debts and taking the blame for me!"
"The one who bears the curse... should have been mine!"
"It should have been me who bore the despair of being forgotten by the whole world!"
Seeing Ying Jiuchuan on the verge of collapse, the old man with the feather fan felt a pang of pity.
But he knew that now was not the time to wallow in grief; the die was cast, and the final gears had to begin turning.
"You stay here and keep him company..."
The old man with the feather fan sighed again, "I'll go find the Ancestor Dragon Emperor first."
Time is running out.
Having said that, the old man turned around and drifted away into the deepest part of the imperial mausoleum.
The old man with the feather fan floated to the coffin and put away his feather fan.
"Great-great-grandchild... It's time to get up."
"Get lost, you old man! Don't bother me if you have a problem, go find my real father!"
With a sharp shout that shattered the void, the coffin lid exploded open!
Ying Liyi's figure rose from the black coffin!
However, faced with this Wrath, the old man with the feather fan did not back down, but simply answered calmly.
"Du Linyuan is dead."
The instant I heard those five words.
Ying Liyi sat stiffly in the coffin.
After a long while.
She lowered her head and said, "I understand."
She raised her hand, stroking the dragon patterns on the coffin wall, "I... will begin [Destruction Five Days] tomorrow, precisely on time."
"Also... old man, don't come looking for me again."
The old man with the feather fan paused slightly. "Your Majesty, do you mean..."
"My time has come."
Ying Liyi closed her eyes, "This body, which has been dormant for too long, has reached its limit and cannot hold on much longer..."
"But it doesn't matter..."
"Because a part of me has already gone ahead of time..."
"I've found him..."