After being reborn, the villain comes with a spoiler tag.

After voicing his questions like beans spilling from a bamboo tube, Long Yucheng remembered Guan Fengyue's current identity and added somewhat embarrassedly:

"If it involves your sect's secrets, it's fine if Junior Sister Guan doesn't answer."

Upon hearing this, Guan Fengyue hesitated slightly, but ultimately decided to tell the truth:

"The headquarters of the Zoroastrian Church is located beneath the imperial palace in the center of Vermilion Bird City. The number of followers is enormous, possibly as many as five thousand, but fewer than two thousand are active in Vermilion Bird City at any given time."

"These disciples are required to take turns serving in the mortal government offices throughout the Vermilion Bird Kingdom. For example, Qi Refining stage disciples like myself are responsible for patrolling the streets. Foundation Establishment stage senior brothers and sisters are stationed in important places such as county and government offices."

"However, because this year's Thousand Candles Ceremony is the most important one in six hundred years, all the Zoroastrian disciples in the Vermilion Bird Kingdom have been summoned back to the Holy City. Not only has the number of disciples patrolling the streets increased dramatically, but Golden Core stage senior uncles are also either openly or secretly stationed in various parts of Vermilion Bird City."

"As for the one with the highest cultivation, it is naturally the Sect Leader himself. However, he has been in seclusion at the main altar, and my strength and status are too low to have the opportunity to meet him."

At this point, Guan Fengyue's heart stirred, and her eyes revealed barely concealed excitement:

"However, it is said that the leader will emerge from seclusion to personally preside over the Thousand Candles Ceremony."

Huo Yu lowered his eyes, memorized the information, and then asked:

Do you know any Nascent Soul stage cultivators within the sect?

Guan Fengyue gently shook her head and frankly said:

"A disciple like me, who is at the Qi Refining stage, can at most come into contact with a senior master at the Golden Core stage."

She paused for a moment, then added:

"However, I have a senior sister in the sect with whom I have a close relationship. According to her, she and Elder Ouyang, who is in the Nascent Soul stage, belong to the same clan. Therefore, on the day she joined the Fire Worshiping Sect, she was fortunate enough to meet Elder Ouyang. But if I want to seek an introduction through this relationship, it will probably be quite difficult."

Huo Yu nodded slightly and said nothing more.

If he was only 70% certain before, he was now certain that the five Nascent Soul cultivators he saw in the Fire Worship Sect that night were all projections of spiritual energy.

Guan Fengyue, unaware of Huo Yu's thoughts, continued:

"As for why we can use spiritual power in Vermilion Bird City, it's actually because we've formed a 'connection' with the Sacred Flame."

Seeing Long Yucheng's curious expression, Guan Fengyue patiently explained:

"I can't quite explain how this 'connection' happened. I only remember that during the Thousand Candles Ceremony, I was in the crowd, but my eyes were involuntarily drawn to the Vermilion Bird Sacred Fire on the altar, and then I lost consciousness."

"When I came to my senses, I was already holding a Sacred Flame Token in my hand. Soon a Zoroastrian disciple appeared in front of me and told me that I had become connected with the Sacred Flame. I was given two choices: join the Zoroastrian Church or hand over the Sacred Flame Token. I chose the former."

As she spoke, Guan Fengyue took out a red jade token from her storage bag and handed it to Long Yucheng.

Her name was engraved on the front of the token, while the back read "Zhuque Kingdom Zoroastrianism".

Huo Yu also had one of these, but the name on the front was different. The rest of the shape and font were exactly the same as the one Huo Yu obtained from the old man's storage bag.

"This is the Sacred Flame Token. As long as one possesses this item, the Zoroastrian disciple can use spiritual power within Vermilion Bird City. However, this item is only effective on the holder; it has no effect on others."

Long Yucheng curiously took the token, and as expected, nothing unusual happened; he still couldn't sense any spiritual power.

On the contrary, after Guan Fengyue handed over the token, all the spiritual power in her body immediately dissipated, and she became an ordinary person no different from Long Yucheng.

Long Yucheng immediately realized the importance of this token to the Fire Worship Cult disciples, and hurriedly returned it to Guan Fengyue, his expression showing a hint of apology.

"I'm sorry, Junior Sister Guan, I didn't know this item was so valuable..."

Guan Fengyue smiled, put the Sacred Flame Token back into her storage bag, and interrupted Long Yucheng:

“Senior Brother Long, there’s no need for this between us. These are not secrets in Vermilion Bird City. It’s just that I haven’t been in the sect for long, so I really know very little about the situation of the sect’s higher-ups.”

“However, if you need anything, Senior Brother Long, you can come to me. I will be on duty at the government office before the ceremony. I left a trace of spiritual power in this item. If you leave it near the government office, I will come to the inn to find you.”

Long Yucheng took the token and saw that it was an exquisitely crafted bamboo bird. He carefully put it away and thanked Guan Fengyue again.

Guan Fengyue simply waved her hand lightly:

"Senior Brother Long, you are the only old friend I have encountered since leaving the Qiongshan Sect. There's no need for such small thanks. Rather than these empty words, is there anything else Senior Brother Long would like to know?"

Long Yucheng's heart stirred, and he thought of a certain task in the task bar, so he asked:

"Junior Sister Guan, have you ever seen the Eighth Prince?"

Guan Fengyue nodded slightly, a hint of reminiscence flashing in her eyes:

"I met him once when I was on duty at the palace. Why did you suddenly bring him up, Senior Brother Long?"

Long Yucheng wanted to say, "I'd like to get to know you," but he couldn't think of a reasonable reason, so he changed his words and said:

"It's nothing, I'm just a little curious about this legendary Son of Heaven. I wonder what makes him different from ordinary people?"

Upon hearing this, Guan Fengyue couldn't help but chuckle.

“Senior Brother Long, the Eighth Prince is just a mortal. Naturally, he has two eyes and a nose. What’s so special about him? At most, he is of noble birth, so his manners and demeanor are naturally different from those of commoners.”

Long Yucheng was amused by her, but then he noticed another problem:

"Hasn't this Eighth Prince joined the Fire Worship Cult? Since he was chosen by the Vermilion Bird, he should have a strong affinity with the Vermilion Bird Sacred Flame, right?"

Guan Fengyue shook her head, her expression somewhat serious:

"The Eighth Prince has no spiritual root, so even if he has a connection to immortality, it will be useless. Moreover, the royal bloodline has always been forbidden from joining the Zoroastrian Church. This is an ironclad rule established since the founding of the Zoroastrian Church."

"I see……"

Long Yucheng seemed to be deep in thought.

Seeing his apparent interest in the Eighth Prince, Guan Fengyue smiled and said:

"It's a pity I can't bring anyone into the palace, otherwise I could take you to see the Eighth Prince with your own eyes and see how many eyes and noses he has. In fact, apart from the disciples on duty, the disciples of the Fire Worship Cult are not allowed to enter the palace."

Long Yucheng stubbornly replied:

"I was just asking casually. These royal relatives are too far removed from our world, and there's nothing interesting about them."

Guan Fengyue didn't expose him, and instead brought up some palace secrets, which Long Yucheng listened to with great interest.

Just as they were getting into a lively conversation, the command token at Guan Fengyue's waist suddenly lit up, forcing her to get up and take her leave.

"Senior Brother Long, the sect has sent word that our reunion today can only end here."

Long Yucheng understood completely. After watching Guan Fengyue leave, he turned to Huo Yu, who had been silently drinking tea, and asked in a low voice:

"Senior brother, why do you think the Zoroastrianism strictly forbids members of the royal family from joining?"

Huo Yu had already made a guess about this:

"There is a balance of power, or there is no one with spiritual roots in the royal bloodline."

Long Yucheng had clearly not considered the second possibility, and couldn't help but ask in surprise:

"Is this possible? There are so many people in the royal bloodline, yet not a single one has possessed spiritual roots in thousands of years?"

Huo Yu put down his teacup and fell into deep thought.

After waiting a moment, seeing that Huo Yu showed no intention of continuing to explain, Long Yucheng turned to ask another question that had been lingering in his mind:

"Senior brother, do you think the Eighth Prince sometimes goes on incognito visits or something?"

"..."

Huo Yu looked up at him through the steam rising from the teacup, but did not answer.

Long Yucheng clearly didn't mind Huo Yu's silence and continued talking to himself:

"How about we ask Brother Hu if he has any connections in the palace later..."

Huo Yu found it somewhat amusing, already understanding that Long Yucheng's mission in Vermilion Bird City was definitely intricately connected to the Eighth Prince.