Chapter 501: Bridge of Two Eras

Chapter 501: A Bridge Between Two Epochs

Over there, Sisi had clearly noticed the pair standing in the distance, watching. Her heart inexplicably began to race, and her once fluent speech grew halting, stumbling over words.

How strange—nothing like this had ever happened before. She had helped him greatly, repaid her debt of gratitude, so why was she suddenly flustered?

Was it because she had already given away her last physical bargaining chip, leaving everything to await his judgment?

Sisi was silent for a moment, then spoke slowly: "Since the Holy Envoy has come, why... why stand outside? Please, take a seat of honor."

Zhao Changhe watched her with suspicion all the way as he slowly entered.

Seeing that Sisi seemed about to yield her seat, Zhao Changhe shook his head and pulled Yue Hongling to sit on one side: "We're just here to listen. Continue."

Sisi steadied herself and resumed establishing the various offices and assigning official posts.

But no matter how she tried, her words came out stumbling and awkward, as if she were sitting on pins and needles under his gaze.

Her beautiful eyes couldn't help darting toward him. Their gazes met, then each quickly looked away.

In the end, Zhao Changhe, who had claimed to come and "offer some suggestions," didn't utter a single word. He probably hadn't even understood what Sisi had said, his mind clearly wandering somewhere far off.

Yue Hongling couldn't be bothered with the strange atmosphere between these two. The deed was done—why not just come clean already, instead of exchanging these furtive glances?

As for the lofty perspective she had hoped to learn, it was clearly beyond her grasp. The female martial artist, with no political foundation whatsoever, found her head spinning just from hearing the names of the various posts. But some things Sisi mentioned did pique her interest—like the Beast Taming Bureau and the Spirit Clan's methods of taming beasts and communicating with beast spirits.

Earlier, the Heaven Book had granted her the meaning of the eagle striking the blazing sun, helping her sword intent to transform and ascend, breaking through to the second secret vault. Whatever that page of silk might be, this alone was enough to set a martial artist's mind wandering: if one traced back to antiquity, where did humans acquire their combat techniques? Surely not bestowed by the Heavenly Dao?

Of course, it came from learning from nature, from beasts, and from summing up experience in battles with beasts or enemies.

And in the last epoch, that age of gods and demons, it likely didn't start with common beasts like wolves and tigers, but at least with strange beasts like the Blood Ao.

Lie's Blood Fiend Art clearly drew much inspiration from the Blood Ao, and perhaps from others as well. Both Dorje Zunzhe and Zhao Changhe had also gained insights into body forging from the Blood Ao—this was evident.

Beyond the Blood Ao, the Spirit Clan should have many other strange beasts, but they hadn't been used in this battle. It was well worth a look. The Blood Ao didn't suit her; if she could see more ancient beasts that resonated with her, might she gain further enlightenment in the way of the sword?

Moreover, the Spirit Clan's secret realm was, after all, an ancient land from the last epoch. It should contain many products and phenomena unseen in the outside world. Surely it wasn't just about obtaining the Cloud Sun Leaf and the Heaven's Equal Blood Jade and then being done?

This was the greatest value of exploring such a large ancient secret realm—a true bridge between the ancient and the present, a link between heaven and earth.

When she had told Sisi earlier, "We'll obviously be staying here for a while," this was mainly what she meant. Otherwise, with her old temper, she might have run off even earlier than Han Wubing. How could she have voluntarily offered to stay here?

"Th-then, that's it for today. We'll adjourn for now. Please think over some of the proposals this afternoon, and we'll discuss them again tomorrow." Sisi finally ended one agenda item, hurriedly dismissed everyone, and grabbed her skirt to flee toward the back of the hall.

"Hey, hey, hey! What are you running for?" Yue Hongling called out to her in exasperation. "Your Majesty, I see you're the one in charge now, right? There's something I'd like to ask..."

Sisi smiled ingratiatingly: "If Sister Yue says so, then of course anything is possible."

"Oh?" Yue Hongling said with a half-smile. "Anything? Then I'll say it: stay away from him?"

Sisi: "?"

Zhao Changhe: "..."

He quickly coughed twice and said seriously, "I also have a small favor I'd like Sisi to help with."

Sisi smiled coquettishly: "Please command me, my lord."

Yue Hongling crossed her arms in annoyance as she listened to Zhao Changhe say, "Do you still have any use for the Blood Ao corpse?"

Sisi replied, "There's definitely use for it. We can perform many blood and flesh witchcraft through it, maybe even curse very strong people to death. Does my lord want it?"

"Mm, I don't need all of it. Just some flesh and blood, and part of the bones..." Zhao Changhe was thinking of repairing the cracks in the Blood God Sect's formation disk. Something of the same origin should be able to do that. As for the other missing inlays, the Blood God Sect would have to find them on their own.

Sisi said, "Since you truly want it, even if you took the whole thing, no one would dare say anything. Why discuss it?"

"...I said I wouldn't enslave you."

Sisi said resentfully, "Then why did you make me kneel like that last night..."

Yue Hongling clenched her fists, wanting to hit someone.

Sisi shrank back.

But Yue Hongling didn't strike her. Instead, she let out a sigh of relief. She had thought Zhao Changhe's absent-mindedness was about something else, but he was actually thinking about things similar to what she had been pondering. After all, as a martial artist, having come to this place, it was impossible not to explore the steps between heaven and earth, the secrets of antiquity.

Sure enough, Zhao Changhe didn't take up Sisi's remark. He continued, "Anyway, I only need part of it. Taking the whole thing would be useless. It shouldn't affect your own needs."

Sisi pouted, feeling he was even more boring today. He had made her hurt so much just this morning...

Oh well, she'd finish the important business first.

She also composed herself and replied seriously, "I'll have someone cut it up... or would you like to choose which parts yourself?"

"Just pick some at random. There shouldn't be any special requirements." Zhao Changhe said, "Also, take us to your Beast Taming Bureau? Besides the Blood Ao, you should have many strange beasts not found in the outside world. I'd like to see them... and Hongling should be very interested too."

Yue Hongling's eyes finally curved into a smile.

So he had been thinking the same thing.

Sisi curled her lip: "There are some... but none very strong."

"That's fine." Zhao Changhe thought for a moment, then suddenly asked, "Back at the Sword Emperor's tomb, your familiarity with ancient burials impressed me. Was it because you learned tomb-raiding and geomancy from the Thief Saint, or because you've seen many ancient tombs here?"

"Both." Sisi said, "Our Spirit Clan worships ancestors, and while we do have tombs, we would never dig them up. But some clansmen have accidentally stumbled upon ancient graves, so I have a general idea."

"Could you take me to see these burial sites? Don't worry, I won't dig. I just want to look at the places."

Sisi asked curiously, "What's the point?"

Zhao Changhe shook his head. There had to be a reason why the Heaven Book had fallen in this land of the ancient Spirit Clan, right?

The scattering of the Heaven Book was unlikely to be random. There must be a cause.

The first page of gold leaf was carried by that woman beneath Sword Lake—let's not go into that. The second page was obtained from Kunlun, which had been a legendary immortal mountain since ancient times. It was perfectly normal for the Book of Nature to scatter toward Kunlun.

The third page, the Book of Life, had fallen here. Was it because the ancient Spirit Clan was connected to beast spirits, matching this page's attribute? Or was there some other factor that attracted this page to scatter here? He hadn't sensed anything special around the sacred mountain. He should go elsewhere to understand and confirm.

Crossing the bridge between these two epochs to explore the mysteries of antiquity—that was the most fundamental meaning of this journey.

Sisi said with little enthusiasm, "Alright, then which one should we go see first?"

Zhao Changhe sought Yue Hongling's opinion: "What do you think?"

Yue Hongling was very satisfied with Zhao Changhe's behavior, but when she glanced at Sisi's drooping head, the little annoyance she had felt toward her quickly dissipated. She found the girl rather pitiable.

She thought for a moment, then said, "I'm not very interested in burial sites. You two go ahead. I'll go see the beasts myself? Actually, what you and I need to verify might be different. I'm more inclined to look at eagles and falcons, while you might be better off with tigers, leopards, and bears."

This was deliberately creating a private environment for him and Sisi...

Zhao Changhe looked at her, then at Sisi, understanding dawning in his eyes.

Sisi wanted to hide it, but she had forgotten the days when she had disguised herself as a maidservant following her master to solve cases. This guy's detective skills had always been sharp—how could she possibly fool him?