"I can't get too close to that Dragon Den, or I'll be detected."
"You'll have to go over there yourself," Shangguan Huangquan said.
"Senior, how should I lure him out?" Chu Feng asked.
"That's something you'll have to figure out on your own. If I knew, I wouldn't need to ask for your help."
"But let me warn you — since ancient times, no one has ever succeeded," Shangguan Huangquan said.
"I'll trouble you to wait here, Senior."
As Chu Feng spoke, he darted toward the Dragon Den.
But Sikong Changsheng's voice rang out.
"Chu Feng, think this through."
"This remnant consciousness of a True Dragon is extremely cunning and ruthless."
"Countless experts have perished at his hands, most of them far surpassing you in cultivation," Sikong Changsheng said.
"I'll be careful." With that, Chu Feng launched himself toward the Dragon Den once more.
But even as he flew, he had already begun setting up a concealing barrier.
"What, soft spot for talent?"
Shangguan Huangquan looked at Sikong Changsheng with a smile.
Though her face bore a pleasant expression, her gaze was razor-sharp, like two blades that could pierce straight through a person's heart.
"My apologies, Sect Master. Chu Feng is truly a rare talent."
"And with this journey, there is almost no chance of survival."
Not daring to hide his thoughts, Sikong Changsheng bowed deeply.
"Do you have any wine?" Shangguan Huangquan asked.
"Sect Master, I don't drink, so I don't carry wine on me. But I do have Dragon Spring."
As Sikong Changsheng spoke, he produced a gourd.
"Dragon Spring brewed by the Dragon Breath Clan?" Shangguan Huangquan asked.
"Yes, and it's the finest quality," Sikong Changsheng said.
"Let me try it."
Shangguan Huangquan opened the gourd, tilted it back, and took a large swig. Then, with a splutter, she spat it all out.
"Pah — just as awful as ever." Shangguan Huangquan tossed the gourd back to Sikong Changsheng and continued: "This treasure I left behind — one that can connect to my true body — the reason I've been so reluctant to activate it is that once it's activated, the power it sustains won't last more than twenty days."
"When that power dissipates, I will be completely severed from this Cultivation Martial World," Shangguan Huangquan said.
Sikong Changsheng's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't known that Shangguan Huangquan had left behind such a means.
He had thought she was no longer among the living, which was why seeing her again had moved him to tears.
But he also understood the implication behind her words, so he said: "Sect Master, you've revealed yourself because of Chu Feng?"
Shangguan Huangquan didn't answer directly. Instead, she said: "The Seven Realms Sacred Palace entered the Ninth Heavenly River and recruited talent widely. Their strength has grown rapidly."
"They've already carved out a place for themselves within the Ninth Heavenly River."
"But among the current powers, they've still been kept one step behind by our Ancestral Martial Realm Sect."
"However, recently, something has changed."
"What change?" Sikong Changsheng's face clouded with worry.
"The Seven Realms Sacred Palace has gained an extraordinarily powerful ally. Her existence threatens the standing of our Ancestral Martial Realm Sect."
"I originally tried to recruit her, but I was unable to prevent her from joining the Seven Realms Sacred Palace."
At this point in Shangguan Huangquan's words, Sikong Changsheng blurted out: "Jie Ranqing?"
In the early era, the most powerful figures of the Seven Realms Sacred Palace had all entered the Ninth Heavenly River.
But the same was true for their Ancestral Martial Realm Sect.
Those who came later — the ones who could shift the balance — apart from the juniors the Seven Realms Sacred Palace had cultivated within the Ninth Heavenly River, the only person he could think of was Jie Ranqing.
And he had personally witnessed Jie Ranqing being tricked by Jie Tianran into entering the Ninth Heavenly River.
That was why he had made this guess.
Shangguan Huangquan looked at Sikong Changsheng. "How did you come to that guess?"