NOVPUBThe Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace gave a light laugh and said, "I had some matters to tend to before and hadn’t held you accountable yet.
If you really think you can take an inch and expect a mile, feel free to try."
Xu Zimei slowly picked up the Tyrant Shadow in her hand, looked at the Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace and said, "I know the Red Dust Palace has stood in the world for a very long time.
But to be honest, there are few places on Yuan Central Continent that I cannot obliterate."
Upon the Tyrant Shadow, Blade Intent began to diffuse bit by bit.
The space around, as if cutting tofu, was easily shattered into countless pieces.
Just as the situation was about to erupt, a woman in a blue dress was seen rushing over from a distance.
"Everyone stop," the woman in the blue dress landed gracefully from mid-air.
She said, "The elder ancestors are already aware of your matter, and there are solutions at hand."
"Why would the elder ancestors bother with such matters?" The Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace’s brow furrowed slightly.
After a glance at Gu Yue, she seemed to come to an understanding.
The Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace snorted coldly and said, "If that is so, then let the elder ancestors handle it."
After she finished speaking, she left with a flick of her sleeves.
"You all follow me," said the woman in the blue dress, looking at Xu Zimei and the others, then spoke in a soft voice.
Xu Zimei frowned slightly and followed the woman in the blue dress toward the inner recesses of the Divine Maiden Palace.
"The power structure of this Divine Maiden Palace is indeed complex," the monk Da Zhi commented from the side.
"My patience is almost exhausted," Xu Zimei said indifferently.
He looked at Gu Yue and asked, "You must know something.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have abducted you for no reason."
"I," Gu Yue hesitated for a moment before finally speaking.
"I have never been here before, but the Palace Master of the Divine Maiden Palace just now looked exactly like my mother."
"Exactly like her?" Xu Zimei’s frown deepened.
"But she is definitely not my mother, my mother wouldn’t be so cold," Gu Yue quickly explained.
"It seems there is quite a story behind your identity," Xu Zimei observed.
The three of them followed the woman in the blue dress through the quiet and lengthy corridor.
After passing several inner courtyards, they finally arrived at the back mountain of the Divine Maiden Palace.
This place resembled a barren ridge, utterly out of place with the Divine Maiden Palace.
The ground was barren without a blade of grass, and a few withered trees grew on the earth, scattered and desolate, their branches and leaves long withered.
The ridge was desolate, and several crows with gloomy pupils watched the people coming and going.
"Where is this?" Gu Yue said with a hint of fear.
The woman in the blue dress watched Gu Yue and then smiled, saying, "Don’t be afraid, this is the back mountain, and soon you’ll be able to meet our Red Dust Palace’s elder ancestors."
Speaking, the woman in the blue dress led everyone to a cave entrance.
A stone door blocked the entrance to this cave, flanked by two white crow sculptures.
White crows were rare indeed.
"Elder ancestors, I have brought the people," the woman in the blue dress said respectfully towards the cave mouth and then stepped aside.
"Little girl, come forward and let me have a look at you," an aged, somewhat hoarse voice of an old crone came from inside the cave.
Gu Yue glanced at Xu Zimei, then timidly walked forward, looking very nervous.
"The resemblance is uncanny, just like when you were young, carved from the same mold," the crone remarked with emotion.
Then composed her emotions and said in a flat voice, "I already know the purpose of your visit. It’s not impossible for you to have the Nirvana Beads."
"Just state your terms," said Xu Zimei, who was in no mood for idle chat, and directly asked.
"Good, help me kill someone," said the crone from inside the cave.
"Who?" Xu Zimei frowned and asked.
"The Sect Hierarch of Tianlun Sect, Gongsun Hongtian."
"What’s this now?" Xu Zimei asked with puzzlement.
"Lan’er will explain it to you in detail," the old woman inside the cave said aloud.
"You only need to know that when the time comes, bring Gongsun Hongtian’s head to exchange for the Nirvana Beads."
"Let’s go, everyone," the girl called Lan’er, wearing a blue dress, laughed.
"The elder does not wish to be disturbed; I can explain anything you need."
Following the girl in the blue dress, they left the rear mountain while the crows on either side cawed sharply, as if seeing them off.
"What is the Tianlun Sect?" Xu Zimei asked in bewilderment.
"A new power that has risen within our Red Dust Palace in recent tens of thousands of years.
Founded by Gongsun Hongtian, it is very strong," explained the girl in the blue dress.
"Isn’t your Divine Maiden Palace the dominator here? How can you ignore it?" Xu Zimei asked.
It’s well known that Red Dust Palace was established as a holy land by the World-weary Divine Girl, and the Divine Maiden Palace represents her.
It is the utmost here.
"Actually, because our Red Dust Palace is secluded, one cannot leave once they enter.
Thus, the flow of information might be a bit blocked," the girl in the blue dress said with a wry smile.
"To be precise, Tianlun Sect has become so powerful that we cannot disregard it, and we are even unable to deal with it.
Even the elder has no way with that place."
"Your elder is really killing two birds with one stone. What a smart plan," Xu Zimei scoffed.
"After all, the Nirvana Beads are a sacred treasure; it’s worth the condition," the girl in the blue dress laughed.
"Fine, I agree," Xu Zimei nodded, saying.
"Where is Tianlun Sect?"
"To the north of Red Dust Palace, they almost occupy one-third of the area," the girl in the blue dress said.
"If you want to go, I can use the Teleportation Array to send you to the city closest to there."
"Then let’s set off. It’s pointless to stay here anyway," Xu Zimei waved his hand, saying.
"You can go, but could this lady stay?" the girl in the blue dress looked at Gu Yue and said.
"Why?" Gu Yue quickly asked.
"After all, we’re afraid you’ll go and never return," the girl in the blue dress explained.
"Do you want to stay?" Xu Zimei looked at Gu Yue and asked.
"I don’t want to. I want to be with you," Gu Yue promptly replied.
"Then we won’t stay," Xu Zimei glanced at the girl in the blue dress, saying.
"If I never return, then I never return, and I will not let anyone affect my decision."
The girl in the blue dress hesitated briefly, but did not forcibly keep them; it seemed she was just testing.
From the Teleportation Array of the Divine Maiden Palace, one could nearly reach any city within Red Dust Palace.
However, since the rise of Tianlun Sect, the north had cut off communication with the Divine Maiden Palace.
The city they were heading to was called Flame Martial City, which was the closest place to Tianlun Sect.
Xu Zimei and his companions did not linger and directly entered the Teleportation Array under the lead of the girl in the blue dress.
Before leaving, he did ask the girl in the blue dress what kind of place Tianlun Sect was.
However, the girl in the blue dress did not answer; they seemed to despise that place intensely.
...…
After Xu Zimei and his group left through the Teleportation Array, the girl in the blue dress prepared to leave.
