Gu Sheng casually took out a black tight-fitting garment from his storage ring and put it on, covering the scars that had almost faded away.
He stretched his muscles, producing cracking sounds, with a satisfied expression on his face.
"Now, we can talk about the matter of Purple Mist Cave Heaven you mentioned before."
Gu Sheng stared directly at Ye Yiyi’s eyes, his gaze intense as a torch.
Ye Yiyi worked hard to calm the shock in her heart.
She walked to the window, looking at the distant, indistinct outline of Purple Mist Mountain, her voice low.
"The Purple Mist Divine Pool is not a naturally occurring object..."
"Oh?"
Gu Sheng raised an eyebrow.
"Its true name should be ’Creation Immortal Pool’."
Ye Yiyi turned around, her eyes carrying a mysterious light.
"It was established by a Great Power during the Ancient Times, specifically to recreate the body—an object defying the heavens."
A brilliant light flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes.
"Recreate the body?"
"Exactly."
Ye Yiyi nodded.
"Legend has it that as long as the soul doesn’t disperse, even if only a wisp of residual soul remains, one can rely on the power of the Creation Immortal Pool to reshape the body and be reborn."
Gu Sheng touched his chin thoughtfully.
"No wonder..."
"No wonder what?"
"No wonder the soul coexisting within the Southern Emperor’s Holy Daughter is so fixated on Purple Mist Cave Heaven."
Gu Sheng’s eyes showed clarity.
"She wishes to use the Creation Immortal Pool to break free from the shackles of the body and regain form."
Ye Yiyi’s expression was grave.
"Not just that. Do you know the origin of the Southern Border Seventy-two Divine Sects?"
Gu Sheng shook his head.
"The Seventy-two Divine Sects are, in fact, branches passed down by the Southern Emperor Lineage."
Ye Yiyi lowered her voice.
"If the Southern Emperor Lineage decides resolutely on something, the Divine Sects cannot possibly stop them."
Upon hearing this, Gu Sheng’s pupils slightly contracted.
"You mean..."
"I suspect that the residual soul within Miao Muxue might very well be..."
Ye Yiyi’s voice grew increasingly softer.
"The Southern Emperor herself."
The air in the room seemed to solidify, and the gaze between Gu Sheng and Ye Yiyi was like two sharp swords directed at Miao Muqing.
The sound of the wind outside suddenly ceased, and the entire space became enveloped in a mysterious energy, completely isolated from the outside world.
"You... are not the Southern Emperor?"
Ye Yiyi’s voice quivered slightly, and the teacup in her hand fell to the floor with a "crack," tea splattered onto the hem of her skirt embroidered with wisteria flowers.
Miao Muqing’s lips curved into a mysterious smile, her slender fingers gently brushed away the stray hair on her forehead, revealing a faint vermilion mark.
"No, I’m certainly not the Southern Emperor herself, but her daughter... Miao Muqing."
A brilliant light flashed in Gu Sheng’s eyes, and his right hand instinctively moved to press the Green Blade Sword at his waist.
He could feel that the energy fluctuations emanating from Miao Muqing far exceeded his imagination, something no ordinary martial artist could achieve.
"The Southern Emperor’s daughter..."
Gu Sheng squinted his eyes, his voice low like distant thunder.
"Then where is the real Southern Emperor?"
Miao Muqing sighed softly, sadness in her eyes.
"Mother has long fallen in that rebellion a century ago."
She raised her hand, and a wisp of blue flame gathered at her fingertips.
"But before that, she used a Secret Technique to seal her soul within me, her distant descendant."
Ye Yiyi gasped.
"So you are... the dual soul coexistence?"
"Smart."
Miao Muqing looked at Ye Yiyi approvingly.
"My body carries two souls: my own, and my mother’s residual soul."
Gu Sheng suddenly let out a cold laugh.
"No wonder the Seventy-two Halls have never truly controlled the Southern Border."
His sharp gaze was fixed on Miao Muqing.
"The Imperial Seal is with you, isn’t it?"
The temperature in the room seemed to suddenly drop.
Miao Muqing’s smile gradually faded, replaced by a solemn expression.
"Young Master Gu indeed has a discerning eye."
She placed her right hand on her chest.
"The legitimate Imperial Seal of the Southern Border is sealed within my soul origin."
Ye Yiyi sprang up, the sandalwood chair issuing a harsh grinding sound.
"So the Seventy-two Halls outwardly worship the Southern Emperor bloodline, but in reality..."
"They are monitoring me, seeking the opportunity to seize the Imperial Seal."
Gu Sheng sneered.
"Since the incident with the Five Poison Divine Sect’s branch, everything has gone too smoothly."
Miao Muqing nodded slightly.
"Mu Xue’s Spiritual Sense is naturally sensitive. When she first saw you, she identified you as the sole variable in this deadlock."
"So you’ve been following me all along?"
Gu Sheng’s voice carried a dangerous tone.
"Even in the territory of the Five Poison Divine Sect..."
"We did indeed aid you secretly."
Miao Muqing candidly admitted.
"Did you really think you could escape the encirclement of the Five Poison Divine Sect on your own?"
Gu Sheng furrowed his brow, his eyes sharp.
He hadn’t expected to be targeted so early.
"Since the Heavenly Ghost Sect started spreading the news?"
Gu Sheng’s voice was deep and calm, his fingers unconsciously rubbing the Jade Talisman at his waist.
"It seems the Southern Emperor Lineage’s informants are more widespread than I imagined."
Miao Muqing smiled slightly, with a touch of mystery and confidence.
She brushed the strands of hair off her forehead, revealing eyes that seemed to see through people’s hearts.
"Tang Qingyun from Sun City arrived at Heavenly Ghost City with Eastern Desolate Martial Artists ahead of everyone else, and about your situation..."
She paused, her eyes cunning.
"It was your old acquaintance Situ Qingfeng who told me."
"Situ Qingfeng?"
Gu Sheng’s pupils contracted, his fingers abruptly stopped on the Jade Talisman.
That name was like a key, instantly unlocking a box deep in his memory.
The matter concerning the Jade Talisman was indeed known only to the two of them.
Miao Muqing caught the subtle change in Gu Sheng’s expression, and her smile deepened.
"Seems I wasn’t mistaken. Situ believes you might be able to help me."
She stepped forward, her dress fluttering lightly.
"And my sister Mu Xue is also certain you can help us get out of this deadlock."
Gu Sheng remained silent for a moment, his gaze like a knife scrutinizing the seemingly frail yet unfathomable woman before him.
"What sincerity is the Southern Emperor Lineage prepared to offer?"
He asked directly.
Miao Muqing did not answer immediately but instead asked rhetorically.

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