Ming Zhitian said, "Master Saint had his reasons. He said he was ambushed and killed by his brother, which led to him having only a wisp of his soul wandering in the Ten Thousand Fathom Cave, and even occupying his woman. Do you know who Master Saint's brother was?"
Empress Xingchen's heart already had an answer, she dared not imagine, let alone face it: "I don't know."
Sensing something was amiss, Ming Zhitian didn't dare to press further. Empress Xingchen suddenly thought of something: "I'll take you somewhere."
With a wave of her hand, Ming Zhitian felt a white light envelop him, and in an instant, he was in another place.
He couldn't help but exclaim, "Is this the power of an almighty being?"
Ling Shan...
The old site of the Divine Sect Gate...
Led by Empress Xingchen, Ming Zhitian entered the Divine Sect Gate. He looked at the dilapidated plaque and the run-down grounds, which seemed to have been abandoned for several hundred years.
Empress Xingchen stood tall and said, "This is your Master Saint Ran Yizhou's Divine Sect Gate. A thousand years ago, he, with one person and one sect, shook the cultivation world! He made twenty-three sects and thirty-nine gates fear him! The demonic path respected him and kept their distance, while the righteous path begged to join the Divine Sect Gate but was politely refused. How majestic, how infinitely glorious was the Divine Sect Gate during its prime..."
She suddenly became dejected: "Now, only a lone boat remains, unable to rise to the east."
Ming Zhitian asked, "What exactly happened to the Divine Sect Gate in the past?"
Empress Xingchen said, "Before Yizhou disappeared, the Divine Sect Gate was the barrier of the entire ancient cultivation world. Although the Divine Sect Gate only had nominal disciples within, not a single one was formally accepted, it was yearned for and envied by other sects, which led to the Divine Sect Gate becoming the target of public criticism. However, due to the title of Martial Saint, they could do nothing.
"As for after Yizhou disappeared, there's no need to say more. The righteous and demonic paths naturally eradicated the Divine Sect Gate. Nominal disciples were always just nominal, so they didn't sacrifice their lives to defend the sect, which led to the Divine Sect Gate's irreversible decline, resulting in its current state."
Ming Zhitian asked, "Why didn't Master Saint accept personal disciples?"
Empress Xingchen said, "I asked the same question. He said he hadn't found suitable ones yet."
Ming Zhitian said, "Then, Master's Wife, you are his wife. Why didn't you help Master Saint defend the Divine Sect Gate, and also the Xingchen Ancient Sect behind you?"
Empress Xingchen said, "No, at that time I was only his fiancée, and not even engaged. Let alone me, even if Piaoyan and I joined forces, it would be difficult to resist the public outcry. Moreover, the Xingchen Ancient Sect would not mobilize a large force for someone with whom they had no connection, so I was powerless."
Ming Zhitian asked, "Who is Piaoyan?"
Empress Xingchen said, "Piaoyan is my current husband."
"!!!"
Ming Zhitian was incredulous. He coughed twice, choked, and after recovering, widened his eyes and looked at her: "You actually got married? If Master Saint knew, have you considered his feelings?"
Tears fell from Empress Xingchen's eyes again: "Three hundred years, do you know how I've lived these three hundred years? I felt like each day was a year. I had no news of him. It was only when my heart was exhausted and I was about to collapse that Piaoyan gave me encouragement and hope. He waited for my second three hundred years, a full six hundred years. I promised him, was I wrong?"
If you haven't experienced another's suffering, don't preach kindness. For anyone else, let alone three hundred years, they would have remarried in three months.
Ming Zhitian felt very guilty for what he had just said: "I'm sorry, Master's Wife, I was rash."
Empress Xingchen said, "I don't blame you. Life is unpredictable, and I am just a woman. I also need to be loved. Upon learning of Yizhou's demise, I still hate myself for not being able to see him one last time. I have so many, so many words to say to him, to pour out my grievances."