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

Gu Xiang lay on the bed at Zuixianju, his heart pounding heavily in his chest.

That was the heart left behind by Su Qing.

Each throb sent shivers down his spine.

The Imperial Advisor sat on a wooden stool by the bed, holding a piece of the broken bronze mask in his hand.

The wind blowing in from outside the window dispersed some of the smell of medicine in the room.

Gu Xiang opened her eyes and looked at the beam on the ceiling.

He didn't turn his head, his voice hoarse.

"Is she really not coming back?"

The Imperial Advisor didn't move, his fingers tracing the cracks in the mask.

That was her essence. She gave her life to you.

Gu Xiang closed his eyes.

There were no tears in the corners of my eyes, only a dry, aching pain.

"Grand Preceptor, you have guarded this place for three hundred years."

"What exactly are you guarding?"

The Imperial Advisor put down the broken mask in his hand, stood up, and walked to the window.

She looked in the direction of the capital.

That place once shone with golden light, but now it's just ruins.

"Keep a promise, and keep a secret."

The Imperial Advisor turned around and looked at Gu Xiang.

"You think Fallen Phoenix Slope is just a name?"

Gu Xiang didn't say anything.

He is waiting.

The Imperial Advisor sat down again, his voice becoming distant and resonant.

"Three hundred years ago, I hadn't yet worn this mask."

"Back then, I was just a little fox who had just transformed into human form, running around in the forest of Luofeng Slope."

"There, I met a monk."

Gu Xiang's finger twitched slightly upon hearing the name.

Bhikkhu.

The scholar who ripped out his heart and gave it to the fox.

"A monk is no ordinary scholar."

"He is the smartest person in the world."

"He read all the ancient books in the world, and even went to those forbidden places."

The Imperial Advisor's tone conveyed an indescribable emotion.

"He told me that Luofengpo didn't have this name a long, long time ago."

"Back then, this was a wasteland."

"There are two divine birds in the sky, one is the Phoenix, and the other is the Phoenix."

As Gu Xiang listened, she felt her heart beat a little faster.

The Imperial Advisor continued.

"The phoenix and the dragon are the strongest creatures in the world."

"They were just one step away from becoming emperors."

"But Heaven will not tolerate it."

"During that tribulation of attaining enlightenment, the Phoenix withstood the Heavenly Tribulation to protect the Phoenix."

"His blood was spilled all over this wasteland."

"When the phoenix saw that the phoenix had perished, she did not want to live alone, so she dispersed her divine soul in that pit and went with him."

"Two divine birds at the peak of the Quasi-Emperor realm have both perished here."

"Their bones turned into hillsides, and their blood stained the soil red."

"This is the origin of the name Luofengpo (Falling Phoenix Slope)."

Gu Xiang propped himself up and sat up.

He felt like his throat was on fire.

"And what about the exquisite heart?"

The Imperial Advisor looked at Gu Xiang's chest.

"The phoenixes have fallen, but their Dao fruits have not dissipated."

"The Dao Fruit of a Quasi-Emperor is the most precious thing in this world."

"That fruit sank into the earth's veins and was swallowed by this land."

"In order to digest this power, the earth's veins will condense an essence every three hundred years."

"This essence is the Seven-Aperture Exquisite Heart."

"It wasn't born that way; it's a remnant of a failed phoenix rebirth."

Gu Xiang looked down at his hands.

"So, this heart is actually the opportunity for becoming an emperor?"

The Imperial Advisor nodded.

"The monk saw through this back then."

"He told me that this heart is both the key and the curse."

"The patriarch of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect discovered this secret a long time ago."

"He imprisoned Da Zhou and turned Luofengpo into a medicinal herb field."

"He comes to harvest every three hundred years."

"It's all for that Phoenix Dao Fruit hidden in his heart, to help him take that final step."

Gu Xiang sneered.

"So, the monk offered his heart back then actually to save you?"

The Imperial Advisor remained silent for a long time.

She picked up the broken mask again.

"The monk told me then that this mind was given to me by this land."

"It's too heavy; I'm just a mortal, I can't bear it."

"If returning it now can save your life and bring three hundred years of peace to this capital, it's worth it."

"He died smiling happily."

"But I know he didn't want me to feel guilty."

The Imperial Advisor pressed his fingers hard on the mask.

"He told me that the true fire of the phoenix is ​​hidden beneath Falling Phoenix Slope."

"As long as someone can completely merge with the Exquisite Heart, they can unleash that power."

"At that time, all those so-called Supreme Forgetfulness Sect members and immortals would die."

Gu Xiang looked at the Imperial Advisor.

"Then why don't you merge?"

The Imperial Advisor chuckled self-deprecatingly.

"I tried."

"But I'm not that person."

"The exquisite heart recognized its master; it chose the monk, and three hundred years later, it chose you."

"Su Qing may have seen through this, which is why she is willing to do anything to protect you."

Gu Xiang felt the fire in his chest burning even brighter.

He recalled Su Qing's dying words.

Tell him not to look for her.

Make him forget her.

"Did she already know all this?"

The Imperial Advisor nodded.

"She is a nine-tailed celestial fox, and is naturally sensitive to such opportunities."

"She entered the capital city, originally for this very reason."

"But she changed her mind in the end."

Gu Xiang clenched his fist.

He felt a surge of power within his body.

That is the spirit of righteousness, and also the remnant of the phoenix.

"Imperial Advisor, are you telling me all this so I'll risk my life?"

The Imperial Advisor looked at Gu Xiang.

"The patriarch of the Supreme Forgetfulness Sect is not dead yet."

"Master Xuanyin is just a gofer."

"That old bastard will definitely not let this go after losing the key ingredient."

"The great formation of the capital has been destroyed, and the earth's veins have dried up."

"The next time he personally descends, the Great Zhou Dynasty will truly be gone."

Gu Xiang stood up, her feet touching the ground.

It's a bit superficial, but it stands very firmly.

When is he coming?

The Imperial Advisor shook his head.

"I don't know. Maybe tomorrow, maybe next year."

"Your most important task right now is to completely process this feeling."

"Su Qing absorbed her essence into her heart, just to help you suppress that Phoenix True Fire."

Otherwise, you would be ashes by now.

Gu Xiang walked to the table and poured a glass of cold tea.

The water was very cold, but drinking it didn't quell the fire.

"I want to become stronger."

Gu Xiang's voice was very soft.

But the Imperial Advisor sensed the murderous intent within.

This is a tone that a scholar shouldn't have.

"In the letter Su Qing left for you, she told you to live a normal life."

The Imperial Advisor offered a reminder.

Gu Xiang put down his cup and looked out the window.

"She lied to me for three years, and now she wants to lie to me for the rest of her life."

"I'm not going to listen to her."

"Since she gave her life to me, then that life belongs to both of us."

"I'm going to Luofengpo."

The Imperial Advisor was taken aback.

"Go now? It's already in ruins."

Gu Xiang shook his head.

"I want to go to the deepest part where the phoenix fell."

"The secrets that a monk can discover, I can also discover."

"I want to show that old man that even the herbs in this medicinal field can kill."

The Imperial Advisor looked at Gu Xiang.

She felt that the scholar had changed.

In the past, Gu Xiang's eyes were full of reason.

Gu Xiang's eyes are now burning with rage.

"Okay. I'll go with you."

The Imperial Advisor stood up and tucked the shattered mask into his sleeve.

"I also want to see how far you can go on the path that the monk didn't finish back then."

Gu Xiang didn't say anything.

He walked out of the room.

In the backyard of Zuixianju, the old locust tree had fallen leaves all over the ground.

That was Su Qing's favorite place to lie down.

Gu Xiang walked over and picked up a fallen leaf.

The leaves are red.

Like blood, and like the wedding dress from that day.

Where is Li Yu?

Gu Xiang asked.

"He was handling the aftermath at the front."

"Many people have died in the capital, so he, as the prince, will be very busy."

Gu Xiang nodded.

"Have him prepare a carriage for me."

"No red silk, no decorations."

"As long as I can run fast, that's fine."

The Imperial Advisor followed him outside.

"How do you plan to explain this to the villagers?"

Gu Xiang stopped.

He thought of his grandfather and his second uncle.

They are still alive, but the Gu Xiang they know is already dead.

"Just tell them I'm going to the capital to get a higher official position."

"Let them farm properly and eat well."

"I'll come back and kowtow to them after I've finished my work."

After Gu Xiang finished speaking, he strode towards the front hall.

His back was very straight.

It's like a sword that's just been drawn from its sheath.

The Imperial Advisor followed behind, watching his retreating figure.

She seemed to see that scholar from three hundred years ago.

And so, with her foolishness, she walked into a deadly trap.

"Monk, did you see that?"

"The fruit this season seems to have grown crooked."

The Imperial Advisor murmured a sentence.

On the streets of the capital city.

The people are clearing the rubble.

When Gu Xiang came out, some people wanted to greet him, but they were intimidated by the aura emanating from him.

The gentle Lord Gu is gone.

Instead, a menacing figure emanating a chilling aura appeared.

Li Yu was squatting by the roadside, directing the Imperial Guards to move stones.

When he saw Gu Xiang, he quickly ran over.

"Brother Gu, you're awake?"

Gu Xiang looked at him.

"Is the carriage ready?"

Li Yu was stunned for a moment.

"Where are you going? Your injuries haven't healed yet."

"Let's go to Luofeng Slope."

Gu Xiang's voice was devoid of emotion.

Li Yu opened her mouth, wanting to persuade him, but seeing Gu Xiang's eyes, she swallowed her words back.

"Okay, I'll take care of it right away."

"Brother Gu, if you want to cry, just cry."

"It's uncomfortable to hold it in."

Gu Xiang ignored him.

He looked in the direction of the city gate, which led back to Qingniu Town.

It was also the path that Su Qing had once led him along.

"I won't cry."

Gu Xiang said softly.

"I will save these tears to pay tribute to that old bastard's head."

Li Yu shivered.

He thought Gu Xiang had gone mad.

But he didn't dare to stop him.

Half an hour later, an ordinary blue carriage stopped at the city gate.

Gu Xiang sat down.

The Imperial Advisor sat next to him.

The coachman cracked his whip.

"drive!"

The carriage started moving, and the gods were getting further and further away behind.

Gu Xiang leaned against the carriage, his hand touching his chest.

He jumped very steadily there.

"Su Qing, you watch."

"No one in this world can lie to me anymore."

The carriage disappeared at the end of the official road.

The setting sun cast long shadows.

From the direction of Luofengpo, a faint phoenix cry could be heard.