The Ghost Domain is located in an extremely cold place.
In the beginning, it was a desolate wasteland.
There was only a single demonic vine. This vine had been growing in damp and shady areas all year round. As time passed, its branches and roots had undergone strange mutations.
The Ghost Domain.
One single vine had formed a forest.
This single vine had split into thousands upon thousands of tendrils.
Its tendrils were deeply rooted in the ground, intricate and complex.
The trunk was extremely similar to that of ordinary trees, so few people bothered to investigate it. Thus, it gradually managed to survive in the Ghost Domain.
When Zhao Shuning rescued Kong Shishuang before, Zhang Tianyuan had used this blood vine to control the people from the Misty Rain Tower.
However, Zhang Tianyuan's ability was simply too low.
The killing power of the blood vine, when wielded by him, was pitifully weak.
This plant was good at strangling and devouring its own kind.
Moreover, it could withstand the harsh environment in the cold and gloomy areas.
It was precisely this plant that could give birth to extremely powerful strength.
Yes.
Yan Ruyu suddenly seemed to understand something.
Or perhaps...
Could the Millennium Stone Soul be related to this blood vine?
So, was the blood vine absorbing the nutrients from all the living things and its own kind around it to supply the Millennium Stone Soul within its body?
Yan Ruyu calmed herself down.
She established a video communication with Feng Zhan.
After learning that there were no abnormalities with the Star Disk Formation for the time being, she tried to contact Zhao Shuning.
However, at that moment...
Perhaps Zhao Shuning was inside a powerful protective shield, so she didn't immediately receive Yan Ruyu's video call.
Yan Ruyu then sent a secret message to Zhao Shuning using her spiritual power and attached the aura of the Red Lotus Karma Fire to it. In due time, this secret message would surely reach Shuning.
Once she saw it, she would be on her guard.
"Excuse me, senior. Are you here to look for someone?"
Yan Ruyu lowered her head.
Following the indication,
She arrived at the first place, which was the Misty Rain Tower.
Was this Misty Rain Tower related to the Demon Star Society?
"Senior, this is the Misty Rain Tower. I'm Ye Xingrui, a disciple of the Misty Rain Tower. May I ask if you have any business?"
Ye Xingrui?
Taking a closer look at the space between his eyebrows,
He should be a descendant of Ye Xuan from that year.
It was unexpected that the descendant of someone like Ye Xuan was merely a disciple in the Misty Rain Tower.
However...
The aura surrounding this person...
Seemed...
Somewhat different.
"Senior?"
Yan Ruyu replied, "I'm just passing by."
With that, she disappeared from Ye Xingrui's sight.
Ye Xingrui was utterly confused, but he didn't think much of it.
On the other hand,
In the Flower Capital,
Time flew by quickly.
Now,
It had come to the day when Qi Huan was about to make his move.
The twilight had not yet descended.
Gu Zhiruo went to the Phoenix Perch Palace.
At that time, Concubine Mei Xuan was still resting in bed. When she heard that the king had come to visit her, a look of panic flashed across her pale face. After instructing the maids to help her dress and groom herself,
She appeared before Gu Zhiruo in a proper manner.
Today, Gu Zhiruo was not wearing the eye - catching bright yellow imperial robe.
Instead, he was dressed in a crescent - white gorgeous robe. His hair was half - tied up just like how he used to appear back then. He stood at the entrance of the Phoenix Perch Palace without taking a seat.
The afterglow shone on Gu Zhiruo.
Concubine Mei Xuan felt somewhat dazed.
It seemed as if time had returned to many years ago.
He had appeared in the backlight with a gentle smile on his face, holding a scroll in his hand, carefully correcting the mistakes in her poems.
One glance was enough to make her fall in love for a lifetime.
"Cough, cough, cough..."
Concubine Mei Xuan suddenly coughed a few times.
Finally, she snapped out of her memories.
It was all in the past.
It could never go back.
Gu Zhiruo quickly stepped forward. His face was still as gentle as water.
Even his tone was as soft as ever.
"Is your illness still not better, my lady?"
"I'm mostly recovered, Your Majesty. There's no need for you to worry."
Concubine Mei Xuan's hand naturally rested on Gu Zhiruo's arm.
Gu Zhiruo's body seemed to stiffen slightly.
However, it was only for a moment.
"What's wrong? Your Majesty hasn't visited my Phoenix Perch Palace for a long time. Why are you here today?"
Concubine Mei Xuan's heart was pounding rapidly.
Gu Zhiruo said, "Why are you so nervous, my lady?"
"I'm just concerned about Your Majesty's well - being."
Concubine Mei Xuan's eyes dodged slightly.
Gu Zhiruo said, "Did the imperial physician say anything to you, my lady? Would you be willing to tell me everything?"
There seemed to be a hidden meaning in his words.
Concubine Mei Xuan was stunned for a moment.
She just replied with a smile.
"Your Majesty is joking. It's just some ordinary advice on how to take care of my body. There's nothing special, so I didn't want to bother you."
"Is that so?"
"Yes, it is."
Gu Zhiruo slowly smiled.
A hint of disappointment finally appeared in his eyes.
His hand gently slipped away, and he motioned for the maids to support Concubine Mei Xuan.
Then he said, "The sunset is infinitely beautiful. I would like to invite my lady to go up on the palace wall with me and watch the sunset over the Flower Capital. I wonder if my Gu family's kingdom is going to decline just like this setting sun that is about to sink into the mountains."
It seemed like a joke, yet also seemed serious.
Concubine Mei Xuan felt her heart skip a beat.
"Your Majesty?"
Gu Zhiruo stopped walking.
He didn't turn around.
But his hand was slightly moist.
Fine sweat had already soaked his palm.
"My lady?"
"Your Majesty, I'm being bold, but I would like to ask you a question."
Gu Zhiruo gently parted his red lips and said, "Ask."
"Back then, when we met in the private school and you gave me a lot of guidance, was it premeditated or just a coincidence?"
Gu Zhiruo smiled.
She finally...
Asked this question.
"I'm also a student of Master Xu. I just happened to meet my lady when I was visiting. There was never any premeditation."
Concubine Mei Xuan's body was a bit weak, and she took a half - step backward.
Fortunately, the maids were there to support her.
"I also have something to ask my lady."
Concubine Mei Xuan said weakly, "Please go ahead, Your Majesty."
Gu Zhiruo looked back.
There was affection in his eyes, but also a hint of coldness.
"My lady once said that you like me most when I'm wearing this crescent - white robe. Is it because you like to see me dressed like this, or is it because I look like an old acquaintance of yours when I'm dressed like this?"
Concubine Mei Xuan's pupils constricted.
She suddenly stared at Gu Zhiruo.
This single action,
Without any words,
Said more than a thousand words.
There was disappointment in Gu Zhiruo's eyes.
Concubine Mei Xuan didn't answer for a long time.
"Your Majesty, I..."
"My lady, there's no need to say anything. The answer doesn't matter anymore." Because her performance just now had already said it all.
"Let's go. I haven't accompanied my lady to watch the sunset over the Flower Capital for a long time."
"Your Majesty..."
Concubine Mei Xuan tightly bit her lower lip.
She stretched out her hand.
But when her hand touched her slightly protruding abdomen, her expression finally became calm.
"Does my lady have something to say to me?"
"No."
In the end,
She still said nothing.
Gu Zhiruo no longer had any expectations.
He just said, "Then let's go."
Concubine Mei Xuan nodded.
Letting the maids support her, she followed Gu Zhiruo up the tall palace wall.
"Why did Your Majesty suddenly think of watching the sunset with me?"
Gu Zhiruo stared at the direction where the sun was slowly setting.
He said nothing.
Until...
The sun completely disappeared from their sight and sank behind the mountains.
"I'm afraid this will be the last time I watch the sunset with my lady."
"Your Majesty?"
"From now on, it will probably be Qi Huan who will accompany my lady to watch the sunset."
As soon as he said this,
Concubine Mei Xuan's hands that were held in front of her suddenly went limp and dropped heavily.
From her wide sleeves,
A fresh daisy fell out.
Concubine Mei Xuan's face turned deathly pale.
Gu Zhiruo just slowly bent down, picked up the daisy, and said with a smile, "Daisies symbolize hidden love. My lady, over the years, you have indeed been excessively tolerant."