The two rode the spirit jade coffin to the entrance of Xuan Ling Palace.
Xiao Man stood before the grand gate of Xuan Ling Palace, took a deep breath, condensed her battle qi into her palm, and channeled it in. The previously unmoving gate slowly creaked open.
Xiao Man turned to look at Jun Ruo. "The gate is open, let's go in."
Jun Ruo stood at the entrance, shaking his head. "Besides you, no one else can enter."
"You can't get in?" Xiao Man was surprised. This place required battle qi to open, and while many people could use battle qi, they might not be able to enter. If they could overcome the Ruo Shui River, perhaps they could all get in.
"You don't believe me?" Jun Ruo stepped forward, and as soon as he got close, he was repelled. "See? I can't get in."
Xiao Man tentatively extended her hand, testing the air. She felt no barrier and was not repelled. Only then did she step forward and leap inside. She was not flung back like Jun Ruo, and she let out a sigh of relief.
"Then you wait for me outside. I'll be back soon."
"Okay."
Jun Ruo watched Xiao Man's figure disappear inside before finding a spot to sit. Once she was in, it would likely be ten days to half a month before she emerged, and by then, everything would be too late.
"What is this place?" The Taotie transformed into human form, looking down at Jun Ruo.
"How did you follow?" Jun Ruo was somewhat surprised. "This is not a place you should be."
"There is nowhere I cannot go," the Taotie said slowly. "Besides, is this place yours?"
"Believe it or not, if I leave, you two will drown here," Jun Ruo said softly. Here, he was the master. Even though the Taotie was powerful, he was not afraid.
"A mere dragon fish dares to challenge me?" The Taotie flexed his fingers. "Just right, I haven't eaten dragon fish before. I wonder what dragon fish stew tastes like?"
Jun Ruo’s fingers crackled as he considered his chances of winning if they fought here. The current Ruo Shui River was not what it used to be, and he might not be able to control it. If the barrier was broken, and he freed the Taotie, he would also drown inside.
"Taotie, this is underwater. If we fight and the barrier is shattered, no one will survive," Jun Ruo reasoned calmly. "Moreover, Xiao Man is inside receiving her inheritance. If we implicate her, she might never cook delicious food for you again."
The Taotie snorted, glanced at the gate of Xuan Ling Palace, and attempted to enter. He was blocked at the threshold.
"Besides her, no one else can enter," Jun Ruo explained. "This is the palace where she once lived. To protect it, it was hidden at the bottom of the water."
"Xuan Xin is Xuan Xin, and she is she. They are not the same person."
"Is that so?" Jun Ruo smiled. "You've seen her attitude towards outsiders. Do you think she's still the same soft-hearted person?"
"Soft-hearted?" The Taotie chuckled. The old Xuan Xin might have been soft-hearted, especially towards her own people. But the current Xiao Man was not. She was now exceptionally patient with the villagers, not because they were her kin, but because she felt she had attracted the Pseudo-God tribe and might bring about their extinction. That was why she was rushing around. Once these people crossed her line, they wouldn't have to wait for the Pseudo-God tribe; Xiao Man would make them understand what regret was.
"How long will the inheritance take?"
"From three days at the shortest, to three months at the longest."
"If it takes three months, by the time we come out, the outside world might already be a dead land," the Taotie squinted at Jun Ruo. "Your intentions are as clear as day."
"To deal with the Pseudo-God tribe, without her inheritance, she cannot contend with them," Jun Ruo did not think he had done anything wrong. "As for the time it takes, it depends on her."
The Taotie merely sneered and did not reply. In his opinion, Jun Ruo trapping Xiao Man in Xuan Ling Palace at this time was a sign of fear, worried that Xiao Man was no match for the Pseudo-God tribe. Even though he had personally witnessed Xiao Man fighting the Pseudo-God tribe, he still didn't believe she could win.
"I am the King of Ferocious Beasts, and you are the Emperor of Sea Beasts. Together with Xiao Man, do you think we are a match for the Pseudo-God tribe?"
"I am not skilled in combat."
"Then what are you skilled at?"
"Healing," Jun Ruo explained. "I have always been responsible for healing."
"Alchemy?"
"The healing arts of the Merfolk tribe are different from human alchemy," Jun Ruo extended his hand, a ball of green light emanating from his palm. "Healing arts work on the surface."
The Taotie made a small cut on his palm and held it out to Jun Ruo. Jun Ruo's hand brushed over the cut, and it miraculously healed.
"High-level healing art. Humans can no longer perform this kind of healing," the Taotie said slowly, looking at his perfectly intact palm. "After the Primordial God War, many high-level spells were lost."
"After the Primordial God War, many ancient divine beasts and divine clan generals perished. It is our luck to have survived," Jun Ruo leaned against the doorpost, speaking gently. "After the Primordial God War, I fell into a deep slumber. I have no idea what the outside world has become. What about you?"
"After the Primordial God War, I went to Duan'e Mountain and lived there for tens of thousands of years. I occasionally went out to forage, so I don't know much," the Taotie took out a bottle of wine. "Want some? I got it from Xiao Man. She brewed it herself."
"She can also brew wine?" Jun Ruo was surprised. He took the bottle from the Taotie and took a sip. "Good wine."
"Indeed!" the Taotie said fiercely. "I was tricked by this little girl back then!"
"Tricked?"
"She came to my territory, offered me roasted meat, and fine wine. After I ate her roasted meat and drank her brewed wine, I couldn't stand anything else made by others. That's why I followed her here."
"Haha." Jun Ruo laughed. "You, you're just too easily swayed by your appetite." Su Dan Novel Network
"And you? The dignified Sea Emperor, how did you end up following her back then?"
"I fell for her sister," Jun Ruo said with a smile. "To win the love of my life, I chose to go with her."
"One for food, one for a woman, both fell for her," the Taotie took out some food. "Want some?"
"Yes," Jun Ruo took it. "I've been in slumber for tens of thousands of years, and I don't have much to treat you with at the moment. When we get out, if there's anything delicious, I'll definitely save some for you."
"You promise, if it's delicious, you must save it for me," the Taotie immediately chimed in. "If you go back on your word, I will be angry."
"It's a deal."
Suddenly, the ground trembled. They looked at each other, then turned to glance at Xuan Ling Palace.
"It seems we need to go out and deal with it first."