At the end of the stone chamber stood a glowing mural.
As the Divine Phoenix's remnant soul approached, the mural suddenly erupted with dazzling spiritual light. Like a chain of stars across the night sky, it illuminated the entire chamber in an instant.
The remnant soul guided the two women before the mural and said,
"My inheritance lies within it.
Only one of you may inherit it. Whoever passes my trial shall become the successor to the Divine Phoenix's Origin Spirit."
Su Yunying immediately asked,
"What is the trial?"
"It's simple."
"You must liberate the fifty thousand wandering souls trapped in this place and send them to where they truly belong."
Yu Xiyan frowned.
"How is that even possible? Those spirits seem consumed by deep resentment."
"Their lingering obsession—you have already felt it."
"The dead who sink into this endless realm endure unimaginable loneliness and suffering."
"Granting them release is your task... and the only way to obtain my inheritance."
Su Yunying asked again,
"So how are we supposed to do that?"
"You must first learn how they died, and what they experienced during their lives."
"Only by uncovering the truth behind their past can you free them from the Land of Nirvana."
Yu Xiyan hesitated.
"But how can we learn about their pasts? Could you gather the spirits so we can question them?"
The remnant soul shook its head.
"It would be useless."
"When they entered the Land of Nirvana, most of their memories had already faded away."
"Besides, I am not their ruler. I have no authority over them."
"They are merely souls resting here."
Su Yunying immediately looked discouraged.
"Then what are we supposed to do? This won't work, and neither will that. How can we possibly investigate anything?"
The remnant soul pointed toward the glowing mural.
"Do you see the mural before you?"
"It was formed from a fragment of the Kunlun Mirror."
"It records everything that happened during their lives."
"The answers you seek... are within."
As soon as those words fell, the mural shone even more brilliantly.
In the blink of an eye, Su Yunying and Yu Xiyan felt as though they had crossed both time and space.
When their vision cleared, they found themselves standing inside a majestic imperial palace.
Civil and military officials stood in orderly rows on both sides of the grand hall, perfectly motionless, as though time itself had been frozen.
Su Yunying looked around curiously.
"Where is this?"
"What a magnificent palace..."
She wandered among the statue-like ministers.
Only Yu Xiyan's pupils suddenly contracted.
"This is..."
"...the Imperial Supreme Hall."
The next moment—
Time began to flow once more.
"Impudence!"
"I refuse!"
A commanding, imperial voice thundered from the dragon throne.
Su Yunying froze.
That voice...
It sounded strangely familiar.
She turned toward the throne—and was stunned.
"Sister... that's... you..."
Seated upon the dragon throne was Yu Xiyan, dressed in a crimson imperial robe.
She radiated overwhelming imperial authority as she glared coldly at the man standing in the center of the hall with his hands respectfully clasped.
The real Yu Xiyan remained silent, quietly watching this scene that was both familiar and strangely distant.
"The breaking of the Nine Nether Seal has yet to be conclusively proven."
"And even if it were true, none of the great powers of the Nine Martial Realms are willing to involve themselves."
"Yet you insist that the Yintian Empire take the initiative and confront the threat."
"What exactly are your intentions?"
Her sharp gaze locked onto the man below.
He wore black military armor.
The ministers all joined in persuasion.
"Marshal Shen, this matter requires careful deliberation."
"You must not act on impulse."
Yet the man standing proudly in the center of the hall replied with unwavering conviction,
"The calamity of the Nine Nether has long been recorded throughout the history of the Immortal Martial World."
"Every time it appears, countless lives are lost."
"The Yintian Empire governs nearly one-third of the Immortal Martial Continent—covering the eastern, southern, northern, coastal regions, and the northern Demon Domain."
"Tens of billions of citizens live under our rule."
"If the armies of the Nine Nether break through the Yellow Springs Gate, our people will be the first to suffer slaughter."
"Cities will fall."
"The people will become refugees."
"The entire situation will spiral beyond control."
"Does Your Majesty truly intend to stand by and do nothing while your people perish?"
Yu Xiyan's expression darkened.
"When did it become your place to teach me how to rule?"
"I am the sovereign of this empire."
"Do you think I do not understand the importance of my people?"
"It is precisely because I do that I oppose provoking the Nine Nether."
"The Nine Nether bears no grudge against the Yintian Empire."
"Even if they break through the barrier, I will dispatch troops to resist them."
"But I will not send the sons of my empire to die in a meaningless campaign."
"Your Majesty!"
"The danger posed by the Nine Nether is unlike anything before."
"Their goal is nothing less than turning all Nine Realms into hell."
"Reducing every living creature into livestock."
"If we do not stop them now, once they fully enter this world..."
"...there will be almost no force left capable of resisting them."
"Enough!"
"Stop spreading alarmist nonsense."
"If that day truly comes..."
"I shall personally lead the army and drive the Nine Nether back to where they belong."
"As for invading the Nine Nether..."
"Never mention it again."
"Your Majesty—"
"Court dismissed."
Yu Xiyan shot him one final angry glare before flicking her imperial sleeve and storming out of the Imperial Supreme Hall.
As the Empress departed, the ministers likewise dispersed.
Soon, only one man remained standing in the vast, empty hall.
He said nothing.
After a long silence, he sighed softly before turning proudly toward the exit.
"That is..."
The moment Su Yunying saw his face, she instinctively covered her mouth.
The man was none other than...
Shen Zhao.
Looking at the sorrow hidden beneath his resolute expression, Yu Xiyan felt as though knives were carving into her heart.
Despite having his proposal rejected, Shen Zhao strode toward the palace gates with unwavering determination.
"Marshal Shen, please wait."
A civil official about his age hurried after him.
"What advice do you have, Minister Chen?"
"The Emperor has been in poor spirits these past few days."
"You shouldn't have opposed her at a time like this."
"Matters of the nation cannot be delayed because of personal feelings."
"Everything I said in court was sincere."
Minister Chen sighed.
"I know your words came from the heart."
"But His Majesty's concerns are not without reason."
"Why should it be the Yintian Empire alone that bears the burden of the Nine Nether disaster?"
Shen Zhao's gaze became firm.
"Someone has to stand up and stop this catastrophe."
"Do you really believe hiding like a turtle will keep us safe forever?"
"But..."
"There are no 'buts.'"
"If we know disaster is coming, why wait until it arrives before acting?"
Minister Chen fell silent before speaking again.
"Your reasoning is sound."
"But if you fail..."
"Do you realize what kind of retaliation the Yintian Empire will face?"
"At least we will have tried."
"When the catastrophe arrives, no one will remain untouched."
"Minister Chen..."
"Please inform His Majesty."
"If she refuses to deploy the imperial army..."
"...then let the Po Jun Manor stop this calamity."
"The Po Jun Manor?"
"Shen Zhao!"
"You're planning to mobilize the Iron Flame Army on your own?"
"That amounts to rebellion!"
"From the day Po Jun Manor was founded..."
"I reached an agreement with His Majesty."
"The military and administrative systems within Po Jun Manor operate independently."
"The imperial authority cannot interfere."
"I alone have the right to command every soldier and every resource under its banner."
"But doing this will only make His Majesty distrust you even more!"
"Marshal Shen, please reconsider!"
"The relationship between you and His Majesty has already become so strained..."
Shen Zhao interrupted him.
"Do I still have the luxury of worrying about such trivial matters?"
"Misunderstanding."
"Distrust."
"They mean nothing to me."
"I only know one thing."
"Someone must bear the burden."
"If we keep waiting for someone else to stand up..."
"Why shouldn't that someone be us?"
"But this mission is almost certain death!"
"You may never return!"
Shen Zhao smiled faintly.
"Since ancient times, how many loyal heroes have sacrificed their lives for their country and their people?"
"They could do it."
"So why should we, their descendants, peacefully enjoy the world they protected while shrinking from our own duty?"
"I was born a soldier."
"If even I retreat..."
"...who can I expect to step forward?"
"The farmers who toil in the fields?"
"If that hopeless day truly comes..."
"To die wrapped in my horse's hide on the battlefield..."
"...would be the ending I desire."
"Minister Chen..."
"There is no need to persuade me further."
"Serve His Majesty well."
"That is your duty."
"Farewell."
With a sweep of his black cloak, Shen Zhao strode resolutely out of the Imperial Supreme Hall.
Behind him, Minister Chen bowed deeply.
"Marshal Shen..."
"Please accept this humble official's deepest respect."
Yu Xiyan stood there with a pale face, silently watching the man disappear into the distance.
Tears welled in her eyes.
"Why...?"
"Why did you never tell me any of this?"
"Why..."
As guilt consumed her, Su Yunying's voice suddenly rang out beside her like a question directed straight at her soul.
"Sister..."
"What were you thinking back then?"
-----------------------
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(End of Chapter)