Zanxing (Retranslated)

Chapter 327 - The Legend from a Thousand Years Ago (2)

Jinhua Hall was silent.

After a moment, Fu Ronghua hesitantly spoke, “Shaoyang, what do you mean by this? What do you mean only the Demon Clan has the key to unlock the Golden Gate Ruins?”

“Back then, when the Demon King Gui Diaotang was cornered by the major sects and unable to win, he fled into the Golden Gate Ruins. Qinghua chased after him. You were all present that day. The Golden Gate Ruins only existed for an instant before disappearing, with no way to enter again. After the Demon King died, the Ruins were sealed once more, and for many years, they’ve been untraceable,” Shaoyang Zhenren raised his eyes. “And the one who originally opened the Golden Gate Ruins was the Demon King, Gui Diaotang.”

“Qinghua later told me that it was the Demon King who used a key to open the seal on the Golden Gate Ruins in Douzhou. That key was condensed from the Demon King’s demonic power, and after his death, the key disappeared.”

“The Golden Gate Ruins are the point where the human and celestial realms connect, but only someone from the Demon Realm can open it. This is the balance of the Three Realms.”

Daosit Lingxin narrowed his eyes. “Speaking of which, why did the Demon King Gui Diaotang flee into the Golden Gate Ruins back then?”

“I heard that his Xiao Yuan Pearl came from the Golden Gate Ruins,” Fu Ronghua thought for a moment. “Could it be that there is a great fortune hidden there?”

“If it is indeed the point where the celestial and human realms connect, then there must be countless treasures within. Setting aside the celestial method to control the floods, the answer to reviving the withering spiritual veins might also be found in the Golden Gate Ruins,” Rong Shuang said.

The people in the hall paused. This might be the true intention of the leader of the Xiang Ling Sect. The rain might stop, and the floods could eventually recede, but once the spiritual veins wither, reviving them would be nearly impossible. Over the years, they had searched for solutions everywhere, but all efforts had been in vain. Most of the great secret realms in Douzhou had been destroyed in the war between humans and demons. This mysterious place, said to be where one could encounter celestial beings, had become their last hope.

“Are we supposed to head to the Demon Clan?” Fu Ronghua looked at Shaoyang Zhenren.

“Hmph,” Daosit Lingxin’s face darkened. “Then we’ll just kill those demons and force them to hand over the key!”

Xuan Lingzi finally couldn’t bear it any longer and let out a light cough. “Not to mention whether we can even cross the Mingming River, even if we do make it to the Demon Realm, those demons won’t just obediently hand over the key. Besides, the Xiao Yuan Pearl is still in the hands of the Demon Clan. We can’t win a fight against them.” His voice trailed off under the warning gaze of Daoist Yueguang, though he still looked dissatisfied.

At present, the Xiao Yuan Pearl was split into two halves: one half was in the hands of the Demon King’s daughter, and the other half was held by the Demon King’s son. While the Demon Clan was currently embroiled in an internal conflict, if those two joined forces, wouldn’t Douzhou face the same situation as twenty years ago? With the floods ravaging the land and spiritual energy withering, the people of Douzhou would truly be cursed if the Demon King’s children reappeared.

“I don’t think we need to be so aggressive,” Fu Ronghua waved his hand and tentatively spoke. “Earlier at Mount Yue, didn’t that Demon Clan’s Yang Zanxing help us with the Demon Extermination Army? After all, she spent quite some time at the Taiyan Sect and has some connections with them. Aren’t Martial Nephew Gu and the others doing fine in Heishi City? Now, since they also want to deal with Gui Yansheng, and we also want to deal with Gui Yansheng, the enemy of our enemy is our friend. Borrowing something from a friend shouldn’t be a problem, right?”

Known for his smooth-talking ways, Fu Ronghua’s words were met with a cold sneer from Cui Yufu, who grumbled in his deep voice, “What kind of friend throws their ally into the Ten Thousand Killing Formation? Your Yinfeng Sect’s way of making friends is rather unique.”

Fu Ronghua was momentarily silenced, but after a brief pause, he continued, “Back then, it was your sect leader who set up the Ten Thousand Killing Formation. As for the one who relentlessly pursued Yang Zanxing, that was Chihua Sect, and it was Xiang Ling Sect that fanned the flames. We Yinfeng Sect didn’t do a thing.”

He distanced himself cleanly from the matter, while Rong Shuang’s face turned several shades darker, clearly on the verge of cursing.

Li Danshu smiled and said, “No need for the sect leaders to be so anxious. Even if we’re willing to ally with the Demon Clan now, it’s not certain that they’d agree.” After all, the sect’s cultivators had once forced Zanxing into the Ten Thousand Killing Formation. Had it not been for her fortuitous encounter and divine protection, she would have long turned to dust.

“Doesn’t Yang Zanxing have a good relationship with your sect? Even if she holds a grudge against us, she surely doesn’t hold one against you.” Fu Ronghua’s eyes gleamed as he continued, “And Martial Nephew Gu,” his tone became affectionate as he repeatedly called him ‘Martial Nephew’, “Martial Nephew Gu once had a romantic relationship with Zanxing and even split his soul in front of the Ten Thousand Killing Formation to give her a chance at survival. I’m sure Zanxing still has feelings for him, otherwise she wouldn’t have allowed him to stay safely in Heishi City. Why not have Martial Nephew Gu ask the Demon Clan? Yang Zanxing surely won’t refuse.”

“No!” Xuan Lingzi immediately spoke up, “You want my junior brother to beg Zanxing for you? You—” He swallowed back the words “aren’t worthy” and instead said, “Besides, my junior brother would never agree! He’d definitely stand by Zanxing’s side!”

“Hmph, I knew it. He’s surely conspiring with that demoness. Everyone in the Taiyan Sect is colluding with her!” Daosit Lingxin sneered mockingly.

“How can you say that?” Fu Ronghua glared at Daosit Lingxin, “Lingxin, don’t be so petty. Besides, it was Gui Yansheng who killed the disciples of your Chihua Sect, not Yang Zanxing. There’s no reason to hold a grudge to this day. As leaders, we should be more magnanimous, right? Sect Leader Rong Shuang?”

Rong Shuang ignored him and looked at Shaoyang Zhenren: “Shaoyang, what are your thoughts on this?”

After a moment of silence, Shaoyang Zhenren spoke: “To enter the Golden Gate Ruins, we can only seek help from Heishi City.”

“Then—”

“I’ll handle it,” he said.

*

A green paper crane circled in the hall before transforming into a beam of light and vanishing.

A woman’s crisp laughter rang out in the hall.

“Hahaha, how things have changed over thirty years! The tide has turned!” Bu Jiang leaned sideways on the soft couch, laughing until tears almost came out. “Those old geezers from various sects have been showing off in front of the demon race for years, causing us demons to hide and even avoid Heishi City. Now, it’s their turn to seek help from us. It’s really heartening!”

Today, a green paper crane flew to Heishi City, delivering a letter from Shaoyang Zhenren, the Sect Leader of Taiyan Sect. The letter was polite and respectful, requesting the demon race to lend them the key to open the Golden Gate Ruins.

The letter subtly expressed apologies and compensation for the previous misunderstandings. It mentioned that the conflicts between humans and demons had been cleared up with the death of Gui Diaotang years ago. The previous hostility towards Zanxing was merely the result of Gui Yansheng’s schemes. It asked the Demon Queen of Heishi City to be magnanimous and not hold a grudge.

After a while, Bu Jiang stopped laughing, looking at the long letter in her hand with raised eyebrows and said, “Although it has Shaoyang’s seal, it’s clear that it doesn’t sound like him. It’s more like the old fox from Yinfeng Sect.”

Xiao Shuang asked, “So, Your Majesty, do you intend to agree?”

“Agree?” Bu Jiang seemed amused, replying, “Just because they seek help from me, does that mean I have to agree?”