High-level martial arts: Long spear with black flames to suppress demons.

Lu Qingyan sighed softly again and continued speaking.

"Unfortunately, her reign was short-lived. Before ascending the throne, she was already the patriarch of the Phoenix Clan. Not many years after officially taking control of the royal court, she suddenly disappeared."

Du Yue asked, "Then where did she go?"

Lu Qingyan shook his head: "I don't know. She didn't leave any trace, and we couldn't find any evidence of her death. The royal court and the Phoenix Clan both searched, but they still couldn't find out."

Du Yue then looked at the jade platform: "This hairpin, was it left behind by her?"

"Yes, each generation of demon emperors would leave a personal item here. Some were as souvenirs, and some served as proof of bloodline. This phoenix feather hairpin was something she used to frequently."

Du Yue leaned forward a little and looked carefully through the transparent light shield.

Just then, a wisp of fire suddenly appeared on the golden phoenix with its eyes closed on the hairpin, flashing along the fine feather patterns before returning to its original state.

Lu Qingyan was gazing at the portrait and didn't notice the change.

Shen Chang'an, however, saw it clearly. He noticed Du Yue's expression and saw that she was also turning her head to look at him. He shook his head slightly, indicating that she should not speak yet.

The three continued along the corridor.

Beyond Du Qiongyu's portrait, behind it are the records left by the True Dragon Clan. The dragon demon emperors in the portraits have different expressions; some appear in human form, while others reveal their true forms, perched among mountains and clouds.

The relics on the jade platform were also different: shed dragon scales, broken dragon horns, and dragon pearls that had lost their luster.

Further along, at the end of the corridor, is the last portrait of the Phoenix Demon Emperor.

The painting still depicts a man and a woman standing side by side at the foot of Kunlun Mountain. Behind them is the silhouette of a huge phoenix tree, its lush canopy obscuring a large portion of the sky. Flames flicker among the drooping leaves, making their figures appear somewhat blurry.

Shen Chang'an initially thought it was due to the painting technique, but upon closer inspection, he realized that no matter how he adjusted the angle, he couldn't see their faces clearly. Their features were right in front of him, but his gaze could not leave a clear impression.

He paused in front of the painting for a moment, and Lu Qingyan also slowed down his pace.

"This is the last portrait of the Demon Emperor preserved by the royal court."

She gave a brief introduction without further explanation. Du Yue looked up at them for a moment before continuing on her way.

After passing through the long corridor, the actual living area is just ahead.

Several palaces are scattered among the paulownia trees, surrounding a clear lake. Pale golden lotuses float on the water, and occasionally a few slender, spirited fish swim among the petals, creating ripples. The lake shore is paved with light red flagstones, and a long corridor along the shore connects the various courtyards, revealing different views around every bend.

The place was still spacious, but it lacked the solemnity of a council hall that made people hesitant to speak. The wind rustled through the sycamore leaves, carrying a light fragrance, and even the footsteps seemed to soften.

Lu Qingyan pointed to a sleeping quarters by the lake: "Your Highness will stay here for the time being. All your daily necessities have been prepared. If there is anything you don't like or are not used to, just tell the servants."

Upon reaching the front of the hall, Shen Chang'an stopped and said, "You may go in; I will wait outside."

Du Yue turned to look at him: "Aren't you coming along?"

"You can see all the way to the residence now. Take a look inside for yourself."

He gestured towards the shade of a nearby tree: "I won't go far. Call me if you need anything."

This time, Du Yue didn't insist. She nodded and followed Lu Qingyan into the bedchamber.

The bedchamber was quieter than Du Yue had imagined.

The window opened to the lake, and the thin gauze was gently blown by the wind. A soft couch was placed by the window, and spiritual fruits and tea were already prepared on the small table next to it. Further inside, there were bed curtains, wardrobes and dressing tables. The wooden furniture was carved with small phoenix patterns. The style was simple and ancient, but it was very clean.

Du Yue put her backpack on the table, walked to the window and looked out. From there, she could see the sycamore trees by the lake and Shen Chang'an standing under one of them.

She reached out and touched the wooden frame by the window. The wood grain beneath her fingertips exuded a subtle warmth, much like the murals in the corridor, only softer.

Lu Qingyan looked at her, paused for a moment, and then spoke again: "Your Highness, there are some things I still want to tell you."

Du Yue turned her head and saw that she looked serious, so she withdrew her hand as well.

"What is it?"

Lu Qingyan did not answer immediately, but walked up to her, gathered her skirt, and slowly knelt down on one knee.

Du Yue was startled and quickly reached out to help her up: "What are you doing? Just get up and talk."

"Please let me finish, Your Highness."

Lu Qingyan looked up at her, his tone still gentle, but much more solemn than in the main hall.

"I know that you all promised you in the mortal realm that you would not force you to succeed to the throne. I am not saying this now to make things difficult for you by invoking the rules of the royal court, but there are some things that I cannot let go of if I do not let you know them."

Du Yue held her arm, then stopped exerting force for a moment: "Go on."

"The cities, clan territories, and this royal court that you have seen along the way are still functioning normally. But some things are getting worse year by year."

Lu Qingyan looked out the window at the sycamore trees, her voice lowering.

"The spiritual veins in the ancestral land, the long-unresponsive inheritance, and the ancestral wutong tree deep in the royal court... We have been trying to maintain them, but we can only slow down their decline. The eight royal families can take turns handling affairs, but they cannot fill the void left by the true dragon and the phoenix."

"With your return, the palace's array will begin to respond. If you are willing to inherit the throne of the Demon Emperor and re-establish contact with the royal court, those dormant powers will have a chance to truly come into play. At that time, not only this palace, but many places will also regain their vitality."

Du Yue looked at her: "Will that ancestral wutong tree also get better?"

"There is hope."

Lu Qingyan didn't finish her sentence: "It hasn't shown its former appearance for many years, but it's still alive and has retained the legacy of the Demon Emperors of all generations. If you're willing to accept it, that legacy will help you understand your bloodline and learn how to use the power that originally belonged to you."

She paused briefly, then continued, "We will find a way to make up for the losses you suffered. Once you've recovered, we'll take it one step at a time. You don't need to take on everything immediately."

Upon hearing this, Du Yue suddenly asked, "If I don't agree to become the Demon Emperor, will you stop helping me recover?"

Lu Qingyan paused for a moment, then shook her head.

"Of course not. Whether you succeed to the throne or not, we will restore your original form. You are a descendant of the Phoenix Clan, and these are things we should do in the first place. We cannot use them to obtain your consent."

Du Yue looked at her intently for a while, as if to confirm her words, before pulling her hand again.

"Then get up first. I don't know what to say to you kneeling like this."