"Greetings, Lord Dugu."
Seeing Chen Cuo again, Dugu Xin wore a deeply conflicted expression.
"I never imagined that when we met again, it would be under circumstances like these."
In his heart, he admired Chen Cuo greatly. He had even wanted to befriend him for some time.
After he and Chen Cuo had gone through the Beyond-Mundane River Realm together, Dugu Xin had returned and urged his sovereign to establish friendly relations with Chen Cuo, even though Chen Cuo was a member of Southern Chen's Imperial Clan. He had hoped to arrange a meeting between them.
At the time, Yuwen Yong had ambitions of his own, though various constraints held him back. He had taken some of Dugu Xin's advice, but as events unfolded, the opportunity never arose. When the two finally met, it was under circumstances like these.
"Lord Dugu, you find it surprising, but I find it fitting." Seeing this old Ghost God acquaintance, Chen Cuo showed a trace of nostalgia. Then realization struck him.
He pointed to the vertical mark on his forehead and smiled. "The cause was planted that day; today comes the consequence. It seems the matter of the River Domain has come full circle."
Dugu Xin froze. He had no way of knowing that, after many twists and turns, the Beyond-Mundane River Realm had once again become closely linked to Chen Cuo. Drawing on his experience of illuminating a Grotto-Heaven with the Heart Moon, Chen Cuo had now condensed a tiny but stable passage to it within his Vertical Eye.
Dugu Xin did not understand, but he did not dwell on it. Cupping his hands, he said, "Your words grow ever more profound and unfathomable, my lord, much like your Dao Attainment. It has risen like water behind a dam, beyond my ability to