After that, Liuli brought Yu Xin and Ge Yiyuan to Jinyuan Temple and used the same trick again. She summoned several demons, lured an outstanding disciple of Jinyuan Temple into becoming a demon, and then threw him into the temple to fight among themselves.

Because of the Nine-Colored Lotus Platform, the disciples of Jinyuan Temple could not catch up with her at all. Therefore, she was fearless and provoked the disciples with words before leaving leisurely.

It was the height of summer in May, and most of the Central Plains was scorching hot, with the dazzling sunlight making it scorching.

Fearing that Yu Xin and Ge Yiyuan would be unable to escape and would be captured or even killed by the disciples of Jinyuan Temple, Liuli ordered them to wait elsewhere. She used the Nine-Colored Lotus Platform to shake off the many Jinyuan Temple disciples who were pursuing her. When she passed through one of the peaks in the Yuming Mountains, which was a little further away from Cangyuan Mountain, which was occupied by Jinyuan Temple, she suddenly stopped.

She sat on the lotus platform, looking down at the mountain peak, and vaguely felt that the mountain was somewhat familiar, as if she had been here before.

After thinking for a while, she finally remembered that the mountain was called Lingxiao Peak, and the Imperial Seal of the State was originally hidden at the bottom of this mountain.

Liuli pondered for a while, tilting her head. She remembered that the Imperial Seal of the State had ended up in the hands of the current Emperor Xuanyuan Hao. She wondered if any cultivators had managed to steal the seal in the past twenty years.

A cold smile slowly appeared on Liuli's lips. She chuckled and muttered to herself, "Those cultivators, fearing divine punishment, certainly wouldn't dare to snatch the Imperial Seal from the Human Emperor. I'm afraid the Imperial Seal is still in the Human Emperor's hands!"

"Hmph, a bunch of fools! Even if there is divine punishment, how powerful can it be! Instead of seizing the Heaven-Mending Stone, you want to steal other divine artifacts. That Heaven-Mending Stone is a treasure that can be carved by anyone!"

The lotus platform on which Liuli sat turned, immediately preparing to fly towards Yingyang City. Suddenly, the platform abruptly stopped, and Liuli, seated on it, lowered her head deeply, strands of hair falling down to obscure her profile. At that moment, she was deep in thought, the image in her mind somewhat blurry, but she could vaguely make out that it was the outer city of Yingyang City under the cover of night, in a small alley, a woman in white skipping and hopping ahead, while a tall, thin monk in gray robes walked slowly behind.

The woman opened her arms, her face beaming with a triumphant smile.

"That Sky-Mending Stone must be destined for me!"

"All the treasures in this world are destined to be mine!"

The nine-colored lotus platform paused in the air for a long time. Liuli slowly raised her head, her face showing confusion and bewilderment.

After a while, she shook her head, sat down on the lotus platform, and with a flash of light, she disappeared into the distance.

--

The year was 2545 in the Gregorian calendar, the second year of Emperor Shengchang's reign, midsummer, the 25th day of the fifth month.

After unifying the country, Emperor Chang adopted the advice of his ministers and moved the capital back to Yingyang City, leaving only a portion of his ministers to guard the palace in Weicheng.

Time flies, and Emperor Chang, Xuanyuan Hao, is now over fifty years old, reaching the age of knowing one's destiny.

The former Buddha Incense Hall in Yingyang City Palace was rebuilt and renamed Jingxin Hall. Emperor Changhao spent most of his time resting in this hall after the morning court session.

It was afternoon, and a large vat containing huge blocks of ice was placed in the hall. As the ice melted, it emitted a cold aura, which significantly lowered the temperature in the hall.

There was a desk against the south wall of the main hall, and a chair behind the desk, but Xuan Yuanhao did not sit in the chair. Instead, he stood behind the desk and was drawing something.

He wore an imperial robe, his hair tied in a topknot, with traces of gray showing in the locks. Years later, he was no longer the sunny, handsome young man he once was. Fine lines appeared at the corners of his eyes, and two deep wrinkles formed between his brows, perhaps from frequent frowning—a sorrow that would never have remained in his youth.

Years later, the only thing that hasn't changed on his face is the gentle look in his eyes.

At that moment, he gently held the brush and was focused on painting on a sheet of rice paper.

The slender tip of the brush danced across the paper, creating an elegant scroll painting. The painting depicted several red plum trees, beneath which a woman in white gazed up at the blossoms, her face filled with admiration. Snow still clung to the plum trees, suggesting the depths of winter, yet the woman's clothing was thin, barely covering her arms and legs. Her radiant smile illuminated the entire painting.

This painting has been done countless times. Xuan Yuanhao's technique is exceptionally skilled, and he can complete the painting almost in one go.

Suddenly, a black light flashed outside the hall. After questioning a few palace maids, Liuli killed all the guards outside the Jingxin Hall and went straight into the hall.

Xuanyuan Hao frowned upon hearing the commotion outside the hall. He looked up and saw Liuli, dressed in black with an indifferent expression, slowly walking in.

"Miss Liuli?" Xuan Yuanhao was stunned. He stared blankly at Liuli, his eyes filled with bewilderment and longing, his gaze lingering. His gaze gradually lost focus as he looked at Liuli, as if he were not looking at the woman before him, but at a youthful dream.

Liuli entered the hall and looked around the spacious hall. She found it extremely quiet and there was no one accompanying or serving her.

She withdrew her gaze, looked calmly at Xuan Yuanhao, and said in a clear voice, "Hand over the Imperial Seal to me."

Xuan Yuanhao snapped out of his daze. He hadn't heard Liuli's words and chuckled to himself, "Is it really you, Miss Liuli? It's been so long since I've seen you. I thought I'd never see you again in this lifetime."

A hint of impatience flashed across Liuli's face. She frowned and repeated, "Give me the Imperial Seal!"

Xuan Yuanhao was so engrossed in his joy that he didn't listen to Liuli's words at all. He walked out from behind the table and muttered as he went, "I asked Yihan where she was several times, but she said she didn't know. I... miss her so much."

As Xuanyuan Hao approached, Liuli retreated step by step, her face now filled with anger. She roared, "Don't you understand what I'm saying? Hand over the Imperial Seal!"

Xuan Yuanhao abruptly stopped, and he hesitated before asking, "The Imperial Seal of the State? Miss wants... the Imperial Seal of the State? Why?"

A flash of silver light appeared in Liuli's hand, and the Winged Spirit Whip silently appeared. She raised her hand and drew out a whip shadow, which coiled around Xuanyuan Hao's neck like a serpent, spinning nimbly on its own.

Xuan Yuanhao felt a tightness in his throat. He subconsciously reached out to pull at the whip shadow on his neck, but the whip shadow was made of demonic energy. He could only feel his neck being tightened, but he couldn't grab anything.

Xuan Yuanhao's smiling face slowly darkened. He looked at Liuli with suspicion and asked, "You are not Miss Liuli, who are you?"

"Who else am I but Liuli?" Liuli's face darkened, and she said in a cold voice, "Hand over the Imperial Seal, or I will kill you!"

Xuanyuan Hao quickly calmed down and shook his head, saying, "No matter what you say, I believe you are definitely not Miss Liuli. Yi Han told me that I am the current Human Emperor, and you cultivators cannot kill me."

"You!" Liuli was furious, but she was helpless. Just as Xuanyuan Hao said, even if she dared to seize the Imperial Seal, she would never dare to kill the current emperor. The divine punishment she would then face would be something she could not bear.