"What!" Old Liu nearly fainted hearing this. "What has what to do with what? Are you saying Ksitigarbha only managed to take down the Devil Realm's Sha Jun Tian Xia by borrowing the power of the Underworld?"

"Nothing in the world is absolute; there are no absolutes. Did you think the Human Realm alone could repel an outside enemy?" Mei Yi strode toward Ye Xiu on her long legs. She leaned down, the view of her chest faintly visible. "And this Death God isn't as wicked as the legends claim, is he?"

Ye Xiu's entire impression of Mei Yi was instantly overturned. High school classmate? A delicate and pitiful woman? The Mei Yi before him now was a sexy and mysterious lady. He tested the waters: "Then, are the people of the Yu Yu Feng Dao Alliance from the Human Realm or the Underworld? What is your intention in finding us now?"

"What, you don't trust your old classmate that much?" Mei Yi chuckled softly, staring at Ye Xiu. "The Yu Yu Feng Dao Alliance is just a group of smiths, proud only of forging divine weapons and sharp tools. I merely sensed the return of Sha Jun Tian Xia to the Human Realm, and the divine weapon that accompanied Ksitigarbha's Great Vow has yet to appear. Coincidentally, you aren't carrying a single weapon, so I just wanted to offer some guidance."

"You mean you can find the divine weapon that slew Sha Jun back then?" Old Liu also became interested. He pictured the Blood Light Glare Blade from moments ago—such a magnificent blade should be able to stand against Sha Jun's Yu Huang Zhan.

"What is your goal?" Ye Xiu moved closer to Mei Yi, catching the scent of her fresh, fragrant hair.

Mei Yi snorted dismissively. "Yan Luo established the Yu Yu Feng Dao Alliance to facilitate exchange among smiths from various realms. But everyone knows only he truly grasps the essence of forging, which is why Sha Jun Tian Xia wields the Yu Huang Zhan, and why Ksitigarbha possesses that unknown divine weapon from his Great Vow. I have no interest in that old man at all; I only care about how that peerless divine weapon was completed. It's that simple."

Ye Xiu nodded. It seemed Mei Yi was undeniably a smith too, but he still had a lingering question: "Since Yan Luo is from the Underworld, the Underworld Twin Holy Swords must also have been forged by him."

Old Liu brandished the Demon-Breaking Sword. It was indeed a fine sword, but sadly, he couldn't channel its power using the Sea of Blood like Ming Luo Sheng could.

"The Yue Tu and Abi are the Underworld Twin Holy Swords, both held by Yan Luo. Furthermore, there is another weapon forged from the remnants of a holy sword whose power cannot be underestimated." Mei Yi pointed to some scars on her body and confirmed, "If I'm not mistaken, the owner of the Blood Light Glare Blade is no longer here. That blade is fully capable of contending with the Twin Holy Swords."

"Hmph... it is as I thought," Ye Xiu pursed his lips and gave Mei Yi a slight smile. "To tell you the truth, Abi is with Old Liu, and Yue Tu is in my hand. The only trouble is that it was broken by the Yu Huang Zhan. I was just worrying about how to repair Yue Tu when you appeared."

"Now that we've gotten this far, you belong to me alone tonight. Perhaps I can tell you everything you want to know?" As Mei Yi spoke, she playfully tilted her head, gazing past the main entrance. The teeming masses under the bronze statue were still performing rituals for the grand festival. Sadly, few knew that their fate rested in the hands of these few people.

"Oh, looks like I really have no choice but to take the Birdman to get patched up," Old Liu let out a strange laugh at Ye Xiu and hobbled toward the Birdman. He grabbed the Birdman roughly. "Let's go. It seems we're not needed here anymore."

"Damn it!" The Birdman, usually silent and composed, cried out as Old Liu roughly pulled him up, aggravating his wound painfully. He cursed, wanting to fly away on his own, but the Spirit Eagle was also badly injured. He could only allow Old Liu to guide him.

"Wait for me at a decent restaurant tonight. I will naturally find you," Mei Yi glanced back with a smile and leaped into the air. She only left one instruction: "I want steak tonight. Medium-rare!"

"I'm hungry enough to eat a whole cow!" Old Liu grumbled as he left with the Birdman, waving at Ye Xiu. "I'll come find you after I've recovered. Don't go too wild tonight..."

"Damn!" Ye Xiu wiped the blood from his mouth and walked alone to the main gate. After all these events, he began to believe that saying: Never underestimate any ordinary person beside you; they might just surprise you at any moment.

...

Bright moonlight illuminated a romantic Western restaurant. Waiters and patrons bustled throughout the scene. The lighting was slightly dim but felt very comforting because no one paid attention to anyone else. This was a world where one could be free.

"Miss, how many are in your party?" The voice was cultured and gentle. Behind the speaker, a woman dressed in a Qipao patterned with blue and white porcelain stepped into the establishment.

"I'm sorry, I have an appointment," the woman smiled toward a corner and began to move slowly. She wore white high heels, and as her calves moved, the slit of the Qipao parted, revealing a flash of fair skin that playfully peeked out then retreated, as if teasing the countless eyes watching her.

"Is this considered a date? Dressing so formally." Ye Xiu was still in dark casual wear paired with ordinary jeans. He gestured for Mei Yi to sit down. "The steak is being prepared. Is there anything you can tell me?"

Mei Yi sat down gracefully, deliberately undoing one of the buttons at her neck to reveal the scenery beneath. "Can't you be a little romantic besides discussing ancient, primordial matters? You were always cold and taciturn in school, completely devoid of humor."

Ye Xiu nodded helplessly. "Go on then. How can I find Yan Luo? Where is he located?"

"Heh heh, you are truly impatient. Don't you think I look especially beautiful today? Am I not much sexier than when we were in school?" Mei Yi deliberately played with her hair, teasing Ye Xiu. "After dinner, let's go see a movie, and then you can do whatever you want!"

"With your own strength, you likely couldn't find him, so you thought of me?" Ye Xiu said coldly. "Yan Luo must be hiding somewhere. Where could it be?"

Mei Yi shot Ye Xiu a look, instantly losing interest. She fiddled with the flower centerpiece on the table. "Legend says Yan Luo abandoned the entire Yu Yu Feng Dao Alliance for a woman. He should currently be in the ruins of the Yu Yu Feng Dao!"

"A woman, ruins?" Ye Xiu understood the riddle immediately and asked eagerly, "Who is the woman? And where are the ruins?"

"That's enough talk! My steak is here. Stop asking so many questions; I'll guide you where you need to go," Mei Yi placed both hands on the table in front of Ye Xiu. All her previous allure had vanished. She complained as she took the knife and fork from the waiter, attacking her food fiercely. "I'll leave as soon as I finish eating. Who would be foolish enough to keep company with a heartless person like you? It's truly a case of the flower desiring the flowing water, yet the water is unfeeling. You are the coolest!"

"Oh, is that so..." Ye Xiu gave a cold laugh and pointed to the food on the table. "You know I've never had money since school days. You're dressed so elegantly; a few hundred yuan shouldn't be a problem, right? I'm done eating and want to go to sleep. Eat quickly!"

"Ye Xiu! You..." Mei Yi was nearly collapsing.