"This bridge is rather peculiar."
As Li Xuan was about to step onto it, Yi Qin suddenly pulled him back, her brow furrowed. Hearing this, Li Xuan quickly retracted his foot. If even Yi Qin sensed something strange, the bridge must be no ordinary structure. It was a shame, though, as his toe had already touched its surface.
*Hum!*
With a humming sound, a hunched old woman materialized in the center of the bridge.
"It's been a long time since I've seen a living soul," the old woman said, approaching Li Xuan, her face a tapestry of wrinkles.
"A mere clone dares to play tricks," Yi Qin scoffed, glancing at the old woman.
"Are you three wishing to cross the bridge? Drink this bowl of soup, and you may pass," the old woman said, as if she hadn't heard Yi Qin. A bowl had somehow appeared in her hand, and her eyes were fixed on Li Xuan.
Li Xuan frowned, about to speak, when Yi Qin stepped forward and addressed the old woman, "Give me three breaths to see your true form, or this clone will have to be remade."
"Drink this bowl of soup, and you may pass," the old woman repeated.
Yi Qin's expression turned cold. With a swift palm strike, she unleashed her power.
*Boom!*
With a resounding boom, the old woman's figure was erased. Jian Chi and Li Xuan watched in stunned silence, marveling at Yi Qin's ferocity.
"Let's go," Yi Qin said, dusting off her hands before striding onto the bridge. Li Xuan and Jian Chi, eager to distance themselves from the eerie old woman, quickly followed.
After Yi Qin, Li Xuan, and Jian Chi had crossed, a figure slowly reappeared in the center of the bridge. Had Li Xuan turned back, he would have seen it was identical to the old woman from before.
"A living soul… has entered the ghost city," the old woman murmured, her bowl shattering in her hand.
"This is rather interesting," Yi Qin muttered to herself, a sense of awareness causing her to glance back at the bridge. She then turned and continued towards the city, which was now faintly visible in the distance. In the next instant, the bridge collapsed with a thunderous roar. The old woman's figure vanished once more, but this time, her eyes held a flicker of fear.
Ghost City.
Before the pitch-black high walls, Li Xuan and Jian Chi wore expressions of grave concern.
Logically, a city should be bustling with people, yet Li Xuan saw no one. This was not the strangest thing; even more unsettling was the atmosphere, akin to a dark, twilight night, so stark and desolate that Jian Chi had to circulate his spiritual energy to ward it off.
"Gaze into your heart. All illusions in this world are but a single sword strike away." Perhaps sensing Jian Chi's struggle, Yi Qin spoke, and then with a flash, she appeared atop the high wall.
Jian Chi closed his eyes briefly. In an instant, sword light flickered around him. When he reopened his eyes, his gaze was clear and resolute. Li Xuan sighed again, thinking how remarkable Jian Chi's talent truly was.
"If you don't show yourselves soon, do you intend to lose this ghost city entirely?" Yi Qin addressed the empty air, her expression remarkably calm.
As Yi Qin finished speaking, four figures materialized on the high wall. Li Xuan and Jian Chi exchanged glances before their bodies shot towards the wall.
"Esteemed one, it seems our ghost realm has not provoked you," a black-robed elder slowly stated.
Yi Qin smiled faintly and pointed at Li Xuan. "You indeed have not provoked me, but you have provoked him. I was entrusted to look after him for ten years. If he were here on his own, you could probably crush him with a single finger."
Li Xuan felt a bead of sweat trickle down his back. Was he really that weak? Yi Qin's words also piqued his curiosity. Entrusted to look after him for ten years – could it be the woman in the yellow dress?
"Him?" The black-robed elder's gaze fell on Li Xuan. After a brief glance, he shook his head. "Our ghost realm does not seem to have provoked him either."
"Your people took my sister away six months ago," Li Xuan stated immediately.
"Took your sister? Six months ago… you mean the Empress!" The black-robed elder pondered for a moment, his expression shifting dramatically.
The Empress!
Yi Qin's expression subtly changed upon hearing the black-robed elder's words. Anyone whose title included "Empress" was undoubtedly powerful. But how had Li Xuan's sister become the Empress of this ghost realm?
"What Empress, or not? My sister's name is Li Yao," Li Xuan said, frowning. With a thought, a projection stone appeared, and the image of the black-clothed woman materialized once more.
"You… are here for the Empress?" Seeing the image of the black-clothed woman, the four black-robed figures grew serious.
"Since you are not making a move, then lead the way," Yi Qin said, waving her hand. Yi Qin now sensed a hidden complexity to the situation. Since the black-robed elder and his companions were not attacking, there was no need to escalate the animosity.
"Follow me, the three of you," the black-robed elder said after a moment of silence, eventually nodding slowly.
Upon entering the city, Li Xuan realized it was not devoid of people. On the contrary, there were many. However, these individuals seemed to have lost their minds, shuffling aimlessly through the streets.
Besides them, numerous shops and inns dotted the city. In essence, all the facilities found in cities of the outside world were present here.
"Stop looking. These are no longer living people," Yi Qin said. Li Xuan was immediately intrigued. Not living people… did that mean they were all dead? Yet, the fact that the dead could still walk greatly challenged Li Xuan's understanding.
However, seeing that the four black-robed figures offered no explanation, Li Xuan decided not to inquire further. Everyone had their secrets, and prying too deeply was sometimes unwise.
Soon, a grand mansion appeared before Li Xuan and his companions. Under the guidance of the black-robed elder, Li Xuan and the other two entered.
"Did you destroy my clone?" An old woman, leaning on a cane, emerged from the main hall as Li Xuan and his companions stepped inside, her gaze fixed on Yi Qin. Li Xuan and Jian Chi were taken aback; this old woman was identical to the one on the bridge.
"What, do you want to settle the score?" Yi Qin scoffed, showing no deference to the old woman.
"Meng Naihe, these are friends of the Empress!" the black-robed elder declared sternly.
Meng Naihe!
Li Xuan's eyes narrowed, locking onto Meng Naihe. According to Cang Di Feng Ming, Shen Tu was Meng Naihe's daughter.
"The Empress has not yet awakened. It is not appropriate for her to be seen," Meng Naihe stated.
"Who is this Empress you speak of?" Li Xuan asked, a dawning realization on his face.
"Don't be afraid. The Empress they are referring to should be your sister, Li Yao. But judging by the current situation, she seems to be undergoing some sort of process. Rest assured, if your sister was forced into this, I will ensure justice is served," Yi Qin said, patting Li Xuan on the shoulder.
"Your words carry great weight!" Meng Naihe snorted.
Yi Qin's eyes narrowed slightly. Li Xuan knew this was the prelude to Yi Qin's attack.
Indeed!
In the next instant, Yi Qin vanished. When she reappeared, she had Meng Naihe by the throat.
"Come, tell me how much weight my words carry?"