Transforming into a stunningly beautiful fox spirit, leaving a scar on the heart of a prodigy.

The forbidden area behind the Mountain Moving Sect is a long passageway.

There were no lights on either side of the passageway, only the fluorite embedded in the walls emitted a faint, cold glow.

The old ancestor walked at the front, tapping his cane on the bluestone slabs, the sound echoing in the empty passageway.

Gu Xiang held Su Qing's hand and followed behind.

Tu Ling poked half its head out of Gu Xiang's pocket, its beady green eyes darting around, but it dared not make a sound.

There's an oppressive atmosphere here, a heavy weight that comes from the passage of time.

"Prime Minister Gu."

The old ancestor did not turn around; his voice sounded somewhat faint in the passageway.

"Is the Great Zhou Dynasty still well?"

Gu Xiang looked at the old man's back; his hunched body seemed to be carrying a huge mountain on his back.

"It's alright."

Gu Xiang's answer was very brief.

"The people have clothes to wear and food to eat, demons dare not invade the borders, and the administration is relatively clean and efficient."

The old ancestor chuckled.

"That's good, that's good."

"That young monk back then was a man of great perseverance. He gave his heart for the sake of this Great Zhou Dynasty."

"Now it seems that his suffering was not in vain."

Su Qing pursed her lips.

"Old Stone, stop acting like you're old and condescending."

"You dare to criticize what that foolish monk did?"

The old ancestor wasn't annoyed, but he paused for a moment.

"Your Majesty is right."

"I've lived for so many years, I'm really not qualified to judge heroes."

The group continued on their way.

As the tunnel deepened, the surrounding air grew increasingly cold.

That kind of cold wasn't the harshness of winter, but a chilling cold that penetrated straight to the soul.

Su Qing is a spirit, and is particularly sensitive to this feeling.

She subconsciously moved closer to Gu Xiang.

Gu Xiang immediately grasped her hand tightly; his palm was warm, and a surge of righteous energy silently flowed over her.

The ancestor seemed to sense something and stopped in his tracks.

Ahead was a huge stone gate, covered with intricate runes.

The runes were somewhat blurred, clearly indicating their antiquity.

"arrive."

The old ancestor turned around, his cloudy gaze falling on Gu Xiang and Su Qing.

He didn't rush to open the door, but looked at Gu Xiang with a deep gaze.

"Prime Minister Gu, this old man has a question I'd like to ask you."

Gu Xiang remained calm.

"Please speak, Ancestor."

The old ancestor pointed to the stone gate behind him.

"Behind this door lies the core of the Burial Abyss, and also the array eye of this Forsaken Land of Gods."

"The rules here are different from those outside."

"If we go inside, we might be able to retrieve the Empress's true form, but what if we can't get out?"

Gu Xiang frowned slightly.

"What do you mean?"

The old ancestor sighed.

"This land forsaken by God is a giant prison."

"Back then, the entire Mountain Moving Sect migrated here to guard the area and also to avoid disaster."

"This area is protected by a barrier; you may enter, but you may not leave."

"If the Empress's true form becomes completely connected to this earth's veins and becomes part of this cage, she will never be able to escape."

"And what will you do then?"

Su Qing was taken aback.

She was about to scold the old man for exaggerating when she felt the hand holding her tighten suddenly.

Gu Xiang looked at the ancestor without flinching.

He didn't even think about it.

"Then stay."

These four words are spoken so casually.

It's as simple as deciding what to eat tonight.

The old ancestor stared into Gu Xiang's eyes, as if trying to discern a trace of hesitation or hypocrisy within them.

But all he saw was calm.

That kind of taken-for-granted calm.

"Prime Minister Gu, you are the Prime Minister of the Great Zhou Dynasty."

The ancestor reminded him.

"You bear the weight of the nation's destiny and the well-being of all its people on your shoulders."

"If you stay here, what will happen to the Great Zhou? What will happen to your ambitions?"

Gu Xiang smiled.

He turned his head and glanced at Su Qing beside him.

Su Qing stared at him with wide eyes, a hint of panic flashing in them.

Gu Xiang raised his hand and gently tidied the stray hairs by her ear.

"The Great Zhou will continue to turn even without me."

"Although Li Yu is sometimes unreliable, he's good enough at maintaining the status quo."

"As for ambitions..."

Gu Xiang paused, his gaze never leaving Su Qing's face.

"I read the books of sages and worthies to learn how to govern the country and bring peace to the world."

"But if you can't even protect your own wife, how can you talk about bringing peace to the world?"

"Wherever she is, that is my home."

"If this barrier traps her, then I will stay inside the barrier with her for the rest of my life."

"There's nothing wrong with farming a few acres of land and raising a few chickens."

Su Qing opened her mouth, wanting to call him an idiot and say, "Who wants to farm with you?"

But the words that came out of his mouth turned into a soft hum.

"fool."

"Who wants to raise chickens with you? They're filthy."

Gu Xiang didn't refute, he just smiled foolishly.

The old ancestor looked at this scene with a hint of bewilderment in his cloudy eyes.

He felt as if he were seeing ten thousand years ago.

The woman in red sat on the treetop, swinging her legs.

Under the tree, the phoenix, who always had a stern face, awkwardly handed her a bunch of freshly picked spiritual fruits.

At that time, the wind was gentle and the sun was warm.

"Okay, okay, okay."

The old ancestor said "good" three times.

He turned around to face the massive stone door.

He slammed his cane heavily on the ground.

"Since Prime Minister Gu is so determined, then this old man can rest assured."

Of the eighty thousand words in this world, only the word "love" is the most deadly.

"But only love can save people."

The old ancestor stretched out his withered hand and placed it on the stone door.

Spiritual energy surged, and runes lit up.

The heavy stone door rumbled as it slowly opened to both sides.

An ancient and desolate aura wafted in from behind the door.

The old ancestor stepped inside.

The sound echoed in the empty darkness.

"Keep up."

Gu Xiang, holding Su Qing's hand, followed.

Tu Ling huddled in his pocket, muttering to himself.

"That old man is acting strangely."

"But what my brother-in-law said just now was really insightful."

"If a female radish is willing to treat me like that in the future, I'd be willing to give her all my earth spirits."

Upon hearing this, Su Qing couldn't help but reach out and pinch Gu Xiang's waist.

"Listen to that, even a radish can talk better than you."

Gu Xiang grimaced in pain, but felt a sweet warmth in her heart.

At the end of the passageway, the light gradually brightened.

That wasn't sunlight, but a dark red glow.

It looks like blood, and it looks like fire.

Linjiangxian: Questioning the Heart

The west wind blows through the ancient road, white hair flutters, a frail body guards the desolate hill alone.

In this vast world, how many remain?

Fame and fortune are but dust and dirt, but a promise is worth a thousand autumns.

Do not say that deep affection is short-lived; we will travel together through life and death.

Drawing a prison as a place is also quite romantic.

Where the heart finds peace, there is no need to ask about the returning boat.