Dusk Returns to the Ruined Building

Dubei Temple, the Pure Heart Stone has stood for a thousand years, but what it cannot purify is the word "love" in one's heart!

The mountain for stargazing, with its cliffs hanging in the air for a thousand years, remains unfathomable, its essence being the word "love" within the grand principles of heaven and earth.

From the beginning of the universe, the two polarities were born. No great path in the world can truly escape a tribulation—the tribulation of love.

In other words, one must not be tainted by emotions in any of the ways of the world; if emotions enter the heart, the heart of the Way will surely be broken!

Shen Yichen entered Yanquan, walking a path of purifying his heart and a path of questioning his conscience. What he really wanted to do was just one thing—forget love!

Alas, all our efforts have been in vain!

The moment Shen Yichen saw Mu Qingxue, his heart was truly pure. All thoughts of the martial world, the world at large, the Ji family, good versus evil vanished, leaving only one word—love!

The end of affection is love; affection may end, but love endures!

This is the final result of Shen Yichen's self-examination, which has nothing to do with good or evil, nor with the martial arts world.

Or to put it another way, who cares about the world of martial arts, who cares about good versus evil, I just love it!

Yi Xuan never dreamed that all along he had painstakingly tried to get Shen Yichen to face the road ahead and confront his own heart, but in the end, Shen Yichen did bravely face his heart, but in the opposite direction!

Yi Xuan felt a deep bitterness in his heart. He arrived at the foot of Luowu Ancient City, with only one question in his mind:

"Should one be sentimental or ruthless in this world of martial arts?"

Yi Xuan entered Luowu Ancient City without looking back; he didn't want to see that ambiguous scene.

In the maple forest, four legs swung back and forth in the air.

"Why aren't you running away anymore? You've been avoiding me the whole time in Jianying City!"

Mu Qingxue was poking at Shen Yichen's heart. This love, which he had longed for for a thousand days and nights, came so suddenly. Just now, she felt as if she were in a dream, and everything seemed so surreal.

"I don't want to hide anymore, and I can't hide anymore. Little Ling'er knows that I love you deeply, and I don't want it to look down on me!"

"You are the young master of the Ji family, and I am the young lady of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect. You'd better think this through, because once your heart is broken, it's hard to mend!"

Mu Qingxue poked Shen Yichen's chest while smiling at him, her eyes filled with deep affection and nothing else.

Shen Yichen suddenly hugged Mu Qingxue and whispered:

"Grapes have no heart, yet they are still sweet and delicious, aren't they?"

Mu Qingxue reached out to stop Shen Yichen.

"You bad guy, you're so annoying!"

In the maple forest, birdsong filled the air, and lovers mingled.

At the top of two giant trees in the maple forest, a masked man was drinking with his head tilted back, while Ji Xuanren, dressed in purple and wearing a mask, quietly watched the masked man.

The two had been hovering above the treetop for a very long time, wary and hostile, and had even exchanged blows three times in secret.

"Your young master's heart is in the martial world; he can't go back, unless the martial world belongs to the Ji family!"

The masked man stuck out his tongue, waiting for the last drop of wine.

"This martial world definitely belongs to the Ji family, it can't possibly belong to the Ten Thousand Demons Sect!"

Another person arrived at the maple forest, hovering atop another giant tree, forming a three-way alliance with Ji Xuanren and the masked man.

The newcomer was none other than Ji Qingli. At this moment, he was not a phantom, but his true form, a sign of respect for the masked man.

"The Ten Thousand Demons Sect never wanted the world of martial arts. We only wanted to take back what belonged to us. It was the Ji family that asked for too much. When the water is full, it overflows. The Ji family's well cannot hold all the water in the world!"

Ghost-faced man felt uneasy. He couldn't defeat these two members of the Ji family by himself, and he was afraid that he would be evenly matched with either of them.

"The Dragon Pool in Luowu Ancient City is said to have existed for a thousand years. Water still flows into the Dragon Pool, and the waterfall is still there. Senior, if the Ji family were to use the Dragon Pool to hold all the water in the world, do you think the water would still overflow?"

The masked man remained silent for a long time, then let out a soft sigh:

"Sigh, it seems the Ji family is really going to fight for the world. Surely you two won't start by attacking me?"

Ji Qingli knew that the man in purple was a member of the Ji family, but he didn't recognize him. He sensed the fluctuations of energy in Luowu Ancient City and came to take a look.

Ji Qingli was unsure what to do, but to his surprise, the man in purple robes attacked the masked man directly.

What Zishan Ji Xuanren really wanted to kill was Mu Qingxue—or rather, to stop her.

Ji Xuanren knew that the masked man was Mu Qiusi of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect, and the person the masked man was protecting was naturally a member of the Ten Thousand Demons Sect.

The masked man leaped forward to meet him, shouting loudly:

"Stop being so lovey-dovey, the Ji family is coming, I can't hold them off!"

Shen Yichen knew about Ji Xuanren's secret confrontation with the masked man. He was very sensitive to the Holy Emperor's Technique, but he was even more sensitive to Mu Qingxue. Since there was no direct conflict, Shen Yichen didn't care.

Now he and Mu Qingxue had no choice but to step forward. Both of them had flushed faces and were trying their best to hide their strange expressions.

"Sigh, it seems like we still have a long way to go. Even our first meeting wasn't peaceful!"

"Blame your Ji family! They're the ones who stopped you!"

"You dare say that no one in the Ten Thousand Demons Sect is stopping you? There are people in Sword Welcome City who want to kill you!"

"I can die for love, do you dare?"

Mu Qingxue's words were half a joke and half the truth, but they stumped Shen Yichen.

Shen Yichen would never die for a woman, much less accompany a woman to her death.

Mu Qingxue, of course, noticed Shen Yichen's unusual expression and said arrogantly:

"Hmph, you can't bear to part with those women, can you? Let me remind you, since the Ji family dares to deal with me, they will certainly deal with other women as well. You're doomed, but I hope you die for me!"

Shen Yichen reached out and hugged Mu Qingxue.

"Qingxue, do you think we'll regret this someday?"

"I do not regret!"

After Mu Qingxue finished speaking, she bit Shen Yichen's shoulder.

Shen Yichen endured the pain without uttering a sound. After a long while, he said firmly:

"I will walk my own path, without regrets!"

Shen Yichen patted Mu Qingxue on the shoulder.

"Alright, your uncle is in danger!"

Shen Yichen sensed that Ji Qingli had indeed made a move against the masked man.

In reality, Shen Yichen didn't want to face Ji Qingli, but now that he had encountered her, he would no longer run away. Whether it was matters of the martial world or his own feelings, he would face them directly.

"The Holy Emperor Art of Uniting Heaven and Earth!"

In the maple forest outside the ancient city of Luowu, Shen Yichen unleashed the Holy Emperor's Technique of Unity of Heaven and Earth. He not only wanted to block Ji Qingli's fatal attack, but also wanted to convey a message:

"Luowu Ancient City, I, Shen Yichen, have arrived!"

An awe-inspiring aura reached the heavens.

Shen Yichen knew that many people in Luowu Ancient City must be able to sense this aura.

At the top of the maple forest, the three sides are once again divided.

Shen Yichen, Mu Qingxue, and the masked man were together.

The masked man was injured; Ji Xuanren and Ji Qingli had truly intended to kill him.

"From now on, you are not allowed to kill anyone without my orders. This is my only requirement for you!"

The four were shocked by Shen Yichen's words; his tone was truly icy.

Mu Qingxue couldn't help but turn her head to look at Shen Yichen. Mu Qingxue was very happy. Perhaps their love really had hope!

To the shock of Mu Qingxue and the other two, the man in purple actually knelt on one knee. Although he did not speak, his meaning was very clear: submission, absolute submission!

Ji Qingli was stunned. Only now did he realize that the man in purple might be from one of the two royal branches of the Ji family. The man in purple was very powerful and must not be an unknown person, but Ji Qingli did not recognize him!

Shen Yichen turned to look at Ji Qingli. He remained silent for a long time before softly saying:

"Junior Shen Yichen greets Senior!"

Shen Yichen's actions were truly unexpected. He used the Heaven and Earth Unity Holy Emperor Technique to reveal his identity, introduced himself by stating his family name, but denied that he was a member of the Ji family. Yet, he had clearly given orders to members of the Ji family just now.

Ji Qingli, Mu Qingxue, and the masked man were all somewhat taken aback, because the man in purple robes didn't react at all and remained kneeling on one knee. The meaning was clear: no matter what Shen Yichen's identity was, they would swear allegiance to him to the death.

"What a dear nephew! Is he being so distant on our first conversation with your third uncle?"

Shen Yichen was slightly taken aback. He and Ji Qingli had met at the Jade Pavilion in Sword Welcome Holy City and had interacted before.

Shen Yichen quickly realized that Ji Qingli had escaped the quagmire of love and had truly let go of Ouyang Zhiqing.

Logically, Shen Yichen should have been happy, but for some reason, he felt a pang of sadness. How could someone as affectionate as Ji Qingli have let go of her feelings?

Was that feeling truly real and deep?