Beyond the barrier, there stood a palace-like structure, magnificent and imposing, hidden in the depths of the lake, away from the sunlight.
Thanks to the barrier, the lake water had not caused the slightest bit of erosion to it.
Ji Yunxi and Feng Xingzhi were a bit tense. They cautiously and slowly made their way in. However, as soon as they entered the range of the barrier, it automatically restored to its original state, directly confining the two of them inside, just like an underground city.
Feng Xingzhi first turned around and realized that if they were to open the barrier, the lake water would surely pour in continuously.
Ji Yunxi asked, "What's wrong? Can't we get out of here?"
"Probably not. But if we open the barrier, the lake water might flood in. Let's keep it closed for now."
Ji Yunxi was a bit worried. If there were man - eating monsters inside, wouldn't they be left with no way out?
Feng Xingzhi sensed her concern. "Don't worry. With our spiritual power, even if we can't defeat them, we can at least outrun them."
Ji Yunxi shook her head helplessly. "Why are you being so straightforward about running now?"
"Running isn't a bad thing. After all, it's one of the top strategies among the Thirty - Six Stratagems, isn't it?"
The two looked at each other and smiled, and their slightly tense emotions were alleviated.
"Let's go." Feng Xingzhi reached out his hand, and the jade hairpin on his head faintly appeared.
Ji Yunxi placed her hand in his, whole - heartedly trusting everything that Feng Xingzhi would bring her.
After entering the palace, which was isolated from the sea water, Ji Yunxi used her spiritual power to light the everlasting lamps on both sides of the corridor, only then could she see the path ahead clearly.
"Azhi, don't you have a sense of deja - vu about this place?"
Feng Xingzhi looked puzzled. "No. Why do you say so?"
"But your spiritual power can unlock the seals here." Ji Yunxi seemed to think of something and suddenly murmured, "There must be something we've forgotten. What on earth is it?"
Feng Xingzhi grabbed her. "Xixi, let's deal with the matters here first. Finding the medicine is crucial. After your matter is resolved, we'll find a way to retrieve our memories."
There are priorities in things, and Ji Yunxi understood this principle. So she pulled Feng Xingzhi and continued walking forward.
However, at this moment, a man and a woman suddenly appeared by the Blue Water Lake.
The woman was Jiang Yaoji. She bowed respectfully to the masked man.
The man's tone was cold as he asked, "How's the matter going?"
Jiang Yaoji glanced at the Blue Water Lake and replied, "My lord, I've already led the two of them to the bottom of the lake."
The man suddenly smiled. "Good. Then use the things they built themselves to kill them. I must see their corpses tonight."
Jiang Yaoji was stunned for a moment and forgot to answer.
The man's eyes turned cold. "What? Do you have any doubts?"
His voice was like the coldest winter, making Jiang Yaoji shiver. "No."
"Heh, Jiang Yaoji, don't tell me you want to spare their lives?"
Jiang Yaoji quickly denied. "Of course not, my lord. I can't wait for them to die soon!"
The man saw the hatred in her eyes and nodded in satisfaction. "How's the business of the Moon - watching Pavilion recently?"
"Reporting to my lord, I threatened Lianzhi to poison the Northern Di Queen. Unfortunately... Lianzhi was incompetent and got found out. I've already sent people to handle it cleanly."
"But as far as I can see, the queen is still alive and well."
Jiang Yaoji quickly knelt down. "It's all my fault. Before, Feng Xingzhi and the others did believe me. But when I pretended to go back to the Jiang family to get the medicine, Feng Xingzhi actually sent people to find the antidote. My fake medicine... was finally not used."
"I should have been seen through."
The man thought for a moment and waved his hand indifferently. "Forget it. If you can't kill the queen for now, leave her alone. There's no need to be hasty."
"But Ji Yunxi and the queen..." Jiang Yaoji had previously heard that Ji Yunxi had arrived in the Northern Di, and the queen had tried every means to find her. She knew that the two of them intended to recognize each other.
So she quickly reported it to the man, and the order she received was to get rid of the queen as soon as possible and cut off Ji Yunxi's right - hand support.
It was a pity that this time Feng Xingzhi had slapped her in the face so hard.
Every time Jiang Yaoji thought of this, she felt extremely uncomfortable.
She hid her little thoughts well and was not discovered by the man.
The man now only wanted to kill the two of them as soon as possible. He twirled the prayer beads in his hand. "It doesn't matter. Ji Yunxi's main forces are not in the Northern Di now. It's estimated that the queen hasn't fully recognized her. We might as well continue to target the Dream - Blossom Pavilion and the Bamboo - Meaning Tower. As long as we can weaken her. After all, she's been around for a long time. A lean camel is still bigger than a horse."
Jiang Yaoji received the order. Suddenly, she thought of something that happened before and mentioned it. "My lord, there's another thing. Ji Yuyan is dead."
"Dead?"
"Yes, she died in the snowfield in the northern part of the Northern Di. By the time I got there, the body had already been buried, and the Ruoshui Sword... was also gone."
"Useless thing."
"I guess it was probably Ji Yunxi who did it. Although she couldn't defeat Ji Yuyan before, Ji Yunxi did go to Kunlun Mountain and learned a lot of things. So the Ruoshui Sword is probably in her hands!"
The man frowned and let out a rough breath. For him, Ji Yunxi getting stronger was not good news.
"I didn't expect her to be so powerful now..." He pondered. "You must be extremely careful in your actions from now on."
Jiang Yaoji knew in her heart that the man didn't care about her life. It was just that she was a useful tool to him.
But they were all in the same boat. Even if Jiang Yaoji was dissatisfied, she had no right to express it. This was the suppression of absolute power.
"Yes. Please rest assured, my lord. I will surely complete the task."
A mocking look flashed in the man's cold eyes. This woman was both evil and venomous. If she wasn't useful, he definitely wouldn't have kept her by his side.
He took out a small bottle from his body and threw it into Jiang Yaoji's arms. He said, "Don't underestimate the things in this bottle. Since the Ruoshui Sword is lost, let it be. It will come back sooner or later. Now, kill them first. I won't hold you accountable for what happened before, but if you lose this, you'll end up like Ji Yuyan."
Every word of his seemed to be devoid of emotion, but it made Jiang Yaoji extremely terrified.
The man touched Jiang Yaoji's chin with a hint of a smile. "Jiang Yaoji, Ji Yuyan was stupid enough, but you're not, right?"
Jiang Yaoji gritted her back teeth and forced a smile. "Naturally not."
The man smiled in satisfaction, withdrew his hand, took out a silk handkerchief, wiped it carefully, and then threw it into the Blue Water Lake. It was a clean and decisive move.
But his disgust for Jiang Yaoji couldn't be more obvious.
Jiang Yaoji lowered her head, enduring all kinds of humiliation in her heart, but still didn't say a single word.
After the man walked far away, she slowly opened the bottle in her arms.
However, the moment she saw what was inside, Jiang Yaoji widened her eyes and quickly closed the bottle, not daring to think any further.