Wang Xiaohuan said, "I specifically asked Jiang Junci about this matter."

"He said that Xie Ban Gui was helping Xiang Kai and Bu Youming."

"It seems to involve the grudges between the Eight Earth Guards. Xiang Kai and the others also want to find the Right Fourth Guard to verify some Jianghu secrets."

Feng Ruoxing countered, "Do you suspect that the Coffin Gate is using the same trick again, setting up a trap in Miaojiang to use us as bait?"

I shook my head and said, "No! No matter how clever the trap, it can't be used repeatedly. Otherwise, it won't work."

"Besides, this trap requires someone in Miaojiang to fully cooperate. The Coffin Gate shouldn't use the same trick again."

"I think someone is targeting the Emperor."

"This person is most likely the Holy Lord of the Samsara Department or Zhu Zining hiding in the shadows."

Lin Zhao subconsciously said, "Isn't the Samsara Department also advocating for dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation?"

I sneered and said, "So what if they advocate for dealing with the Heavenly Tribulation?"

"People are like that. Even if they know the tribulation is coming, they still have their own thoughts."

"The Coffin Gate is purely for the sake of dealing with the tribulation, for the sake of the art."

"The Samsara Department is thinking about how much benefit they can get after dealing with the tribulation."

"If they want to profit, they have to act before the tribulation of the art arrives. Controlling the Emperor is their first step."

I said in a deep voice, "When the Heavenly Tribulation comes, the Samsara Department will use the tribulation to eliminate dissidents, sending those who are unwilling to submit to the Samsara Department to the front lines as cannon fodder."

"Using righteousness to suppress people is the Samsara Department's usual trick."

"They may be able to suppress other art sects, but they definitely cannot suppress the main force of the art, the Coffin Gate."

"In this situation, the only thing the Samsara Department can use is the Emperor."

"The tribulation of the art must have the Emperor lead the Three Star Generals. The three stars are all in the Coffin Gate. Only the Emperor can order the Coffin Gate to rush up and die."

"The Samsara Department can destroy the Coffin Gate without spending a single soldier, then lead the army to battle and steal the results."

"The Samsara Department will shine brightly from then on, and the Coffin Gate can only become a name on a tombstone."

"This is the most vicious method!"

Old Liu shook his fan and said, "My lord is right. The Samsara Department is counting on the Coffin Gate's sense of righteousness."

"They know that the Coffin Gate will not start a war with the Samsara Department at this time. Once a major war breaks out between the two sides, the elite of the art will be destroyed, and no one will be able to deal with the Heavenly Tribulation."

"At most, the two sides will reach an agreement, but what does an agreement mean to the Samsara Department?"

"In the face of absolute利益 (lìyì, benefit), any agreement can be unilaterally torn up."

Lin Zhao said anxiously, "Aren't Xie Ban Gui and Wang Hun both from evil sects? They..."

Old Liu shook his head and said, "You don't understand Xie Ban Gui and Wang Hun."

"They can walk between black and white in the Jianghu, seeking pleasure and revenge. When someone puts righteousness in their hands, they are no longer Jianghu people."

"They will eventually become tragic heroes."

"Heroes are silent!"

"They don't show off their achievements when they are alive, and they don't leave behind eternal legends when they die."

"Legends and glory belong only to the victors."

"The Samsara Department just wants to be the final victor."

Old Liu looked at Lin Zhao and said, "In fact, my lord is also such a person."

"Those who do not speak of righteousness die by righteousness."

"Laughable Jianghu, laughable righteousness!"

"The heart of the magician!"

"Lies in stabilizing the world!"

"Those who truly stabilize the world can only be buried in the battlefield!"

For a while, no one spoke in the carriage.

We drove all the way to the outskirts of Fenghuang Ancient Town before Ye Yang and the others split into two groups and headed towards Miaojiang from the other side.

Chen Shuyu also turned the car into a bend.

The Fenghuang Ancient Town that tourists can see is not our destination; there are no magicians there.

The Fenghuang City that we are really going to is the entrance to Miaojiang.

Miaojiang is a separate branch in術道 (shùdào, the art of magic). Any Jianghu people who enter Miaojiang without greeting the Miaojiang magicians are likely to have no return.

When the ancient city appeared in my sight, Chen Shuyu also said, "Park the car at the suspension bridge. The rules of Miaojiang are that no vehicles can cross the bridge."

Before we got out of the car, we saw an old man walking towards us from the opposite side of the suspension bridge. He looked me and Ye Yang up and down and said three words: "Liangjie Tang?" (Two Realms Hall).

"Liangjie Tang Li Po!" I took out the invitation and handed it over, saying, "How should I address you? And how did you know we were coming?"

The old man solemnly returned the invitation to my hand and said, "Just call me Ka Meng. The Holy Maiden only invited Han Chinese magicians from Liangjie Tang to attend the ceremony."

"Distinguished guests, please follow us!"

I walked into Fenghuang City and realized that it seemed unusually deserted. Ka Meng said as he walked, "The famous magicians in Fenghuang City have all gone to attend the Holy Maiden's wedding, so it's a bit deserted here."

"Are you all going up the mountain together, or will some people stay here?"

I said, "How did you know I was going to leave people here?"

"Um, um!" Ka Meng smiled and said, "You Han Chinese magicians have too many thoughts. People who come to Miaojiang always have some people going in and some people staying in Fenghuang City as a response. It's not new."

Ka Meng brought me to the back gate of Fenghuang City: "Hall Master Li, I have something to ask of you!"