At the end of the stone chamber was a shimmering mural. As the divine phoenix's spiritual sense approached, the mural instantly transformed into a dazzling spiritual light, like a chain of stars in the night sky, illuminating the entire stone chamber in an instant.

The lingering spirit of the Divine Phoenix guided the two women to the mural, saying, "My inheritance resides within it."

Only one of you can inherit it. Whoever passes the test I give you will be the inheritor of the Divine Phoenix Primordial Spirit.

Su Yunying immediately asked, "And what is your test?"

"It's very simple. Just convert all 50,000 souls who have perished here and send them to where they belong."

Yu Xiyan pressed further, "How is this possible? Those souls seem to harbor deep resentment."

"You must have all felt the obsession of those departed souls; how desolate and painful it is for the endless dead to wallow in their suffering."

"Your task is to liberate them; it is also the only way to inherit their legacy."

Su Yunying: "Then what should we do?"

"Only by understanding the cause of death of the deceased and what they did in life, and finding the key to their fate, can we guide them out of the Land of Nirvana."

Yu Xiyan: "But how can we know about the past of these deceased people? Please gather them together so I can ask them."

"It's no use. Most of their memories from their lives were lost the moment they entered the Land of Nirvana."

Besides, I am not their leader and have no right to interfere with them; they are merely the souls of the dead dwelling here.

Su Yunying was immediately discouraged: "Then what should we do? This won't work, that won't work, how are we supposed to investigate?"

"Do you see the mural before you? It is formed from fragments of the Kunlun Mirror, recording everything that happened to them in their lives. The answers you are looking for are there."

As soon as the remnant of the Divine Phoenix finished speaking, the mural immediately flashed with an even more dazzling light.

In an instant, Su Yunying and Yu Xiyan seemed to have traveled through time and space.

When they came to their senses, they found themselves in a magnificent and solemn palace.

Inside the hall, civil and military officials stood motionless on either side, as if time had been frozen.

"Where is this? This palace is so magnificent."

Su Yunying curiously looked around at everything, weaving among the ministers who were like wooden sculptures.

Only Yu Xiyan's pupils shrank upon seeing this scene.

"This is... the Hall of Supreme Harmony..."

In the next instant, time, which had been frozen, began to flow again.

"Outrageous! I will not allow it!"

A majestic and domineering voice came from the dragon throne.

Su Yunying was taken aback, feeling that the voice was somewhat familiar. When she turned around and looked in the direction of the dragon throne, she was also stunned.

"Sister, this is...you..."

On the dragon throne, Yu Xiyan, dressed in a bright red dragon robe, exuded the aura of an emperor and glared angrily at the man standing in the center of the main hall, bowing with his hands clasped in greeting.

In reality, Yu Xiyan remained silent, quietly watching the familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar scene before her.

"There is no conclusive evidence that the Nine Netherworlds have broken their seal. Even if it were true, none of the forces in the Nine Realms of Immortals and Martial Arts would want to get involved. Yet you insist that the Yintian Dynasty take the initiative to fight back. What are your true intentions?"

Yu Xiyan's eyes were sharp and her expression was cold as she stared intently at the man in a dark military uniform below the steps.

All the officials and ministers advised, "General Shen, this matter should be carefully considered. You must not act impulsively."

However, facing the opposition of the entire court, the man standing in the center of the main hall retorted forcefully: "The calamity of the Nine Netherworlds is recorded in the annals of immortal martial arts. Every time it has occurred, it has brought untold suffering to the people."

The Yintian Dynasty's territory encompasses the east, south, north, the sea, and the northern part of the Demon Realm, occupying nearly one-third of the total territory of the Immortal Martial Continent.

The number of people under their rule is in the billions. Once the Nine Netherworld army breaks through the Yellow Springs Pass, these people will be the first to suffer the slaughter of the Netherworld race. At that time, there will be endless suffering and the people will be displaced.

The situation is bound to spiral out of control. Does Your Majesty truly disregard the lives of the people and intend to remain indifferent to the calamities brought upon the world by the netherworld?

"When did it become your turn to teach me how to do things?"

As the ruler of a nation, how could I not know the importance of the people and the country?

That is why I oppose your initiative to provoke the Nine Netherworlds.

Jiuyou and the Yintian Dynasty had no enmity between them, even if Jiuyou broke through the Yellow Springs barrier.

"I will then send troops to defend against them, instead of letting you lead my Great Yin men to their deaths in vain!"

"Your Majesty! The calamity of the Nine Netherworlds is different from the past; its purpose is to completely transform the Nine Realms into hell."

To reduce all living beings to livestock.

If we don't stop it now, once it fully enters the human world, few in the Nine Realms will be able to resist it.

"Enough! Stop spreading rumors and misleading the public. If that day really comes..."

"I will personally lead the troops to escort the Nine Netherworlds back to their rightful place. Do not mention the matter of sending troops to the Nine Netherworlds again!"

"His Majesty!"

"Court adjourned!"

Yu Xiyan glared angrily at the man, flicked her phoenix sleeves, and with a cold snort, opened the door to the Huangji Hall.

As the Empress departed, all the civil and military officials present left the court.

The man was left standing alone in the empty Huangji Hall, without uttering a word.

After a long while, the man sighed softly and turned away proudly.

"That is..."

Upon seeing the man's true face, Su Yunying couldn't help but cover her mouth.

This man was none other than Shen Zhao.

Looking at Shen Zhao's sorrowful face, Yu Xiyan felt as if her heart was being torn apart.

Shen Zhao strode towards the outside of the Hall of Supreme Harmony. Even though his suggestion was rejected, his face still held an unfathomable determination.

"General Shen, please wait."

Just as he reached the door, a civil official of similar age to Shen Zhao called out to him.

"What instructions do you have, Lord Chen?"

“General Shen, His Majesty has been in a bad mood these past few days. You shouldn’t go against his wishes at this time.”

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