Ling Luoyi was highly sensitive to killing intent, detecting even the slightest trace. She also realized this intent was directed not only at Xuan He but also at herself. Ling Luoyi suddenly became curious about why Xuan He bore the name of a traitor. The Asura King had publicly declared that Xuan He had stolen a precious treasure of the Asura tribe, but what kind of treasure would lead someone to be branded a traitor and have the entire tribe relentlessly pursue him, even demanding a live capture?
Although curious, Ling Luoyi did not ask directly. In response to the Asura King's question, she replied nonchalantly, "Asura King, the injuries on him are because he killed my human race's citizens. As the Saintess of the human race, I should have killed him to avenge our people. However, considering the good relations between our two races and your request for a live capture, I have merely administered a small punishment and spared his life."
Upon hearing Ling Luoyi's words, the Asura King's killing intent towards her lessened.
Xuan He, who was about to retort, fell silent as Ling Luoyi's gaze drifted towards him.
"Since he killed human citizens, it is only natural for Saintess Sizan to act this way. This King should be grateful to Saintess Sizan for apprehending my tribe's traitor."
"Asura King, there is no need for thanks. Our two races have good relations, and this殿 merely did you a favor. Since the person has been handed over to the Asura King, what happens next is no longer my concern."
"Very well. My tribe has matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."
"We bid the Asura King farewell."
Upon returning to the Sacred Palace, Ling Luoyi encountered the Domain Lord blocking her at the entrance.
"Domain Lord."
The Domain Lord probed Ling Luoyi, and upon sensing her current cultivation level, even he couldn't help but be secretly astonished. Ling Luoyi's cultivation had been exceptionally smooth; what took others years, decades, or even centuries to break through, she accomplished in mere months.
After reaching the third stage of Golden Immortal, Ling Luoyi had encountered a bottleneck, and several attempts at closed-door cultivation failed to yield a breakthrough. The Domain Lord had expected her to require more time, but less than half a year after descending to the lower realm, she had successfully broken through, directly reaching the first stage of Profound Immortal, and had even grown a second divine bone. Within a year and a half, she had advanced directly to the ninth stage of Profound Immortal!
Regaining his composure, the Domain Lord spoke with a poker face, "Sizan, you've returned."
"Yes."
Knowing Ling Luoyi to be a woman of few words, the Domain Lord did not prolong the conversation and stated the purpose of his wait. "Sizan, a month ago, an ancient ruin suddenly appeared on Linghua Island. Take your people and investigate."
An ancient ruin? What kind of ancient ruin required her to lead an expedition?
"Domain Lord, may I know where on Linghua Island this ancient ruin is located?"
"It is on Sacred Spirit Lake. Initially, it was not necessary for you to go personally, but people from below reported that after waiting for nearly half a month, there were no signs of the barrier above the ancient ruin dissipating. They also attempted to open it with immortal power, not only failing but also sustaining serious injuries themselves. I also went to see it a few days ago and faintly sensed the aura of divine power above the barrier. I believe divine power is required to open it. However, you are the only one in the entire human realm who possesses divine power, so you must go in person."
"Yes."
Ruins. Since arriving in this world, Ling Luoyi had only encountered two such sites. The first was in the Falling Sunset Forest on the Ancient Spirit Continent, which led to a surge in her cultivation. The second was this current one. She wondered whose ruins these were. Judging by the Domain Lord's description, this should be the遗迹 of some deity from ancient times.
"By the way, today, the Demon Emperor has also arrived and is currently in Luo Yun Palace. You two..." Seeing that Ling Luoyi's thoughts had already drifted towards the person he mentioned, the Domain Lord said helplessly, "Be mindful. When preparations are complete, I will send someone to fetch you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Ling Luoyi vanished. Witnessing her eagerness, the Domain Lord felt he truly couldn't bear to watch.
The moment Ling Luoyi heard the words 'Demon Emperor,' her thoughts became entirely focused on that person. Since the Domain Lord had finished speaking, Ling Luoyi could no longer wait and returned to Luo Yun Palace at full speed.
Upon reaching her courtyard, she saw a familiar figure standing beneath a flowering branch. Hearing the sound, Gu Yuncheng turned around. Before he could clearly see the person he had been longing for, he felt something rush into his embrace, and his hands instinctively tightened around the person before his mind could even register it.
"Luoluo, I missed you so much."
"A'Su, I missed you too."
For over a year, they had never been apart for so long, nor had they spoken even once during that time. Gu Yuncheng, fearing that news of his injury might reach Ling Luoyi, had unilaterally blocked the connection through the bone jade, effectively shielding himself from Ling Luoyi's words.
"Luoluo, I won't leave you for so long again, I promise." Feeling Ling Luoyi's longing for him, Gu Yuncheng comforted her.
However, these words caused Ling Luoyi's initially happy mood to plummet.
Suppressing her unhappiness, Ling Luoyi asked with concern, "A'Su, you were in the outer realms during this time. Were you injured? Has your soul issue affected you? Is it peaceful in the outer realms now that you've returned?"
Gu Yuncheng led Ling Luoyi into the room and explained everything.
"Luoluo, I was not injured; my soul has become more stable during this period. I went because my father was severely injured and on the verge of death, and my mother was worried, unable to focus on resisting the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons. That's why I was called upon. I have returned now because my father has recovered from his injuries, and the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons have retreated, bringing a period of peace to the outer realms."
After hearing Gu Yuncheng's words, Ling Luoyi finally relaxed. "It's good that you're alright."
"Luoluo, enough about me. How have things been on your end?" Gu Yuncheng asked caringly, noticing that Ling Luoyi seemed different.
"It's nothing major. You know about the Ancient Spirit Continent; the only significant event was the Outer Realm Heavenly Demons opening a passage between the outer realms and the Ancient Spirit Continent and invading. However, they were all dealt with. There were some casualties, but the outside world remained unaffected," Ling Luoyi said, though a hint of disappointment couldn't be concealed.
Seeing her like this, Gu Yuncheng comforted her, "Luoluo, you don't need to feel disappointed. If not for over a year of preparation, the Ancient Spirit Continent would likely have been completely annihilated. I once saw a low-level continent that, due to lack of preparation, was directly occupied by Outer Realm Heavenly Demons and became their granary. In the end, the Demon Realm and the Monster Realm had to join forces to destroy that continent, otherwise, the Demon Realm would have been in danger."
"A'Su, I'm not disappointed because of their deaths, but because they didn't even have a chance to reincarnate."
The Outer Realm Heavenly Demons had not only devoured their spiritual energy, lifespan, and vitality but also their souls. Without souls, they could not reincarnate. What truly saddened Ling Luoyi was that among them were many children, even infants, and these individuals also had no chance of reincarnation.
"Alright, Luoluo, you've done all you could. Their deaths are not your fault, so don't blame yourself," Gu Yuncheng said, comforting her, fearing she might fall into a negative spiral again.
Hearing Gu Yuncheng's words, Ling Luoyi looked at him with a hint of strangeness. "A'Su, are you overthinking things? I won't blame myself for this. Let whoever killed them blame the killer. What does it have to do with me?"
Gu Yuncheng was stunned for a moment, then burst into laughter. "That's right, let them blame the murderer. It has nothing to do with our Luoluo."
Gu Yuncheng had assumed Ling Luoyi would feel guilty for not being able to save those people and had tried to comfort her. He hadn't expected Ling Luoyi's personality to revert to its previous state, but he found it quite pleasing.