Hong Beimo gazed at the Spirit Firmament Palace ahead, and the memory of that harrowing battle rose unbidden before his eyes. Only by combining his strength with Li Yuncong's and Murong Zhan's had they managed to defeat Ji Feihua, and all three had paid a terrible price. Using the Blood-Transforming Prajnaparamita Art had cost him five years of his lifespan. Li Yuncong had lost his right eye in the duel, while Murong Zhan had suffered severe internal injuries. In truth, none of them had fully recovered even now. Yet what truly worried Hong Beimo was not any of that, but...
His gaze drifted toward the Jade Pool below. On the day of his defeat, Ji Feihua had leaped down the waterfall. Over the past month, Hong Beimo had mobilized every resource available within the palace to search the entire Jade Pool and Misty Mountain, yet they had found nothing. There was no sign of Ji Feihua alive, nor any trace of his corpse. Deep in Hong Beimo's heart lurked an ominous premonition: Ji Feihua was not dead!
Long Xuan'en's aged voice sounded beside his ear. "Do you think he might still be alive?"
Hong Beimo asked a question whose answer he already knew. "Whom does Your Majesty mean?"
Long Xuan'en glanced at Hong Beimo and sighed. "You need not hide it from me. I can guess well enough. The search of the Jade Pool has continued without pause for over a month. It seems you still haven't found Ji Feihua's body."
"Your Majesty sees clearly," Hong Beimo said. "We have indeed yet to find it. But rest assured, Your Majesty. Ji Feihua should already be dead."
Long Xuan'en sighed. He had heard far too much uncertainty in Hong Beimo's tone.
Unwilling to pursue the subject, Hong Beimo turned his gaze