"What's the meaning?"
All eyes were on him.
Tang San then said in a deep voice, "If the Ruthless Empress is waiting for Lin Hao, then Lin Hao has clearly already appeared. Why hasn't the Ruthless Empress come yet?"
"After all, judging from personality and style of doing things..."
Ruthless Empress, so decisive, independent, and ruthless, must have an extremely focused obsession.
Since she said she was "waiting for only one person," that person must hold an irreplaceable place in her heart.
And Lin Hao..."
Tang San recalled Jiang Xiaoxiao's awe-inspiring yet affectionate attitude towards Lin Hao: "In their hearts, Lin Hao was the supreme ruler, an object they served."
If Lin Hao is indeed the person the Ruthless Empress was waiting for, her tone shouldn't be so calm when she mentions him; she should at least reveal some clues that connect them.
But they didn't.
Jiang Xiaoxiao was only guessing that something was going on between the two based on her 'feeling', rather than having any concrete evidence.
Jiang Wanwan had absolutely no idea that the Ruthless Empress was still alive.
Tang San's analysis was clear and logical, which made everyone nod in agreement.
" The Little San has a point," Yu Xiaogang agreed. "So, in your opinion, what exactly is the relationship between His Majesty Lin Hao and the Ruthless Empress?"
Tang San pondered for a moment, "I suspect there might be a few possibilities."
"First, they are indeed old friends, perhaps even comrades-in-arms, having fought side by side in the same era. Therefore, His Majesty understands and appreciates her, but it is not romantic love."
"Secondly, as an being capable of traversing the past and present, His Majesty may have observed the Empress's growth and rise at some point in the river of time, and admired her spirit of defying the heavens. That is why he commented, 'Truly worthy of being called the Ruthless Empress' —this is a strong person's recognition of another strong person."
"Third..."
Tang San paused, "Perhaps their relationship is more complex, transcending simple friendship or love; it's a kind of struggle over principles, an entanglement of cause and effect that we cannot comprehend."
He looked at everyone. "But in any case, one thing is certain - these two are both supreme powerhouses who stand at the pinnacle of their respective eras, and may even have transcended the limitations of their eras."
Their intersection will inevitably involve the greatest secret in the world.
Ma Hongjun was completely confused, but he grasped the key point. "So... are they a couple or not?"
Tang San chuckled, "I'm afraid not. At least, not entirely."
"Cut--"
Ma Hongjun immediately deflated, "I thought I was going to hear some earth-shattering love story."
Oscar stroked his chin and said, "But Third Brother, even if they're not boyfriend and girlfriend, their relationship is definitely not simple!"
For someone like Lin Hao to express such admiration, the Ruthless Empress must hold a special place in his heart!
Ning Rongrong nodded vigorously. "Exactly! And think about it, if the Ruthless Empress were really still alive, and His Majesty knew her..."
"Perhaps one day, we'll be able to see this legendary empress in person?!"
This audacious idea left everyone breathless.
Did you see the Ruthless Empress person?
That Ruthless who slaughtered his way across the Nine Heavens and Ten Lands, created the Heaven-Devouring Demonic Art, and may have lived for countless ages?
Meanwhile, in the Shrouding the Heavens World the Eastern Wasteland, near the Spirit Ruins Paradise, in an unknown small town.
Ye Fan walked on the cobblestone street. The early spring wind still carried a chill, but it couldn't dispel the gloom in his heart.
The town is small, but the bustling crowds, the sounds of vendors hawking their wares, haggling over prices, and children playing all blend together, creating a vibrant and lively atmosphere.
All of this should have been novel and exciting for him, a "stranger" from the stars, but at this moment, he only felt out of place in this bustling scene.
After leaving the Desolate Ancient Forbidden Land, he joined the Spirit Ruins Paradise, and then...
" The Bitter Sea is as solid as divine iron, the Life Spring is nowhere to be found... Desolate Ancient Sacred Body, ah, what a ' Desolate Ancient Waste Body ' indeed."
Ye Fan muttered to himself, a bitter, self-deprecating smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Spiritual energy entering the body is like a clay ox sinking into the sea; the Bitter Sea is stagnant and lifeless. The resources consumed are ten or a hundred times that of ordinary cultivators, yet there is hardly any progress.
Those who learn of his constitution will soon find their initial curiosity and envy turning into pity, mockery, and even avoidance.
He touched the few remaining "sources" in his pocket, which Li Dan and Pang Bo had secretly given him. In this small town where cultivators and mortals lived together, it was barely enough to feed him for a while.
But what about cultivation?
Without a continuous influx of "source" or divine medicine essence, this so-called Sacred Body would probably be completely "useless".
"Perhaps, I could find a place to live out the rest of my life peacefully, like most people in this city, get married, have children, and live a mundane life..."
The thought flashed through his mind, but he immediately dismissed it.
His eyes hardened again. "I'm not reconciled... How can I, Ye Fan, accept this!"
My stomach rumbled at just the right moment, interrupting my thoughts.
He looked up and saw a steamed bun shop on the street corner, its steam rising and the aroma of dough and meat wafting in the wind, incredibly tempting.
The shop was doing good business, with a small queue forming.
"Never mind, nothing is more important than eating."
Ye Fan shook his head, temporarily suppressing his worries, and walked over to join the end of the line.
When it was his turn, he bought three steaming hot meat buns and wrapped them in oil paper.
Just as I turned around, my gaze was drawn to a small figure at the entrance of an alley not far away.
It was a little girl, about five or six years old, wearing a faded floral print dress, with two small pigtails, a rosy face, and big, bright eyes. She stood at the alley entrance, looking left and right, seemingly unsure of where to go.
She was tightly clutching a fluffy, golden thing in her arms.
Ye Fan initially thought it was a toy, but upon closer inspection, he was slightly startled.
It was a living creature!
It was smaller than a typical domestic dog puppy, and its entire body was covered with soft fur that seemed to flow with a faint golden glow. Most strangely, there was a shallow vertical line in the middle of its forehead, like a closed third eye.
At that moment, the "little dog" was quietly curled up in the little girl's arms, with only a pair of eyes that also shone with a faint golden light, alertly surveying its surroundings.
Occasionally, it would stick out its pink little tongue and lick the back of the little girl's hand.
A man and his dog stood there on a busy street, looking somewhat out of place and helpless.
The little girl's eyes were pure, yet they carried a calmness beyond her years, and a faint, barely perceptible sense of detachment.
The three-eyed, golden-haired beast faintly exuded an indescribable aura, causing even the dormant Sacred Body Essence of Ye Fan's Bitter Sea to tremble slightly before returning to silence.
Ye Fan paused in his tracks.
He wasn't one to meddle in other people's business; in this unfamiliar world, caution was paramount.
But this combination was too peculiar; the "puppy" was no ordinary animal, and the little girl...