CHAPTER 549: CHAPTER 298: THE PRIMORDIAL MAIDEN_2

"Hmph! Do you think this seat would believe your nonsense?" The purple-clad maiden snorted coldly, "This seat is not so easily deceived! Speak, what is your true purpose? Why have you come here?"

Xing Lie and Gu Sheng exchanged glances, seeing the helplessness in each other’s eyes. They knew convincing this purple-clad maiden wouldn’t be easy. Yet, they had no other choice but to try their best to explain.

Just at this moment, the big black dog tried to seize the chance to sneak away. However, the moment it moved, it was immediately discovered by the purple-clad maiden. A streak of purple energy shot out in an instant, firmly binding the big black dog.

"Woof woof!" The big black dog struggled, showing a sly smile. "Mercy, Senior! I’m actually not with them. I just came to stir up some fun without any malicious intent!"

The purple-clad maiden raised an eyebrow at its words, clearly doubting the black dog’s excuses. She coldly stared at the big black dog without saying anything.

The big black dog, sensing the tension, quickly continued, "Senior, please trust me! I truly have no bad intentions! If you let me go, I promise I’ll never come here and cause any trouble again!"

The purple-clad maiden still said nothing, her cold gaze fixed on it.

The big black dog grew increasingly flustered, unsure of what to do.

It knew escape would likely be impossible this time.

But, it wasn’t ready to just give up.

So, it racked its brains to concoct a story in hopes of deceiving the purple-clad maiden.

Yet, no matter how hard it tried, the purple-clad maiden remained utterly unmoved.

This filled the big black dog’s heart with despair.

Finally, it had no choice but to stop struggling, resigned to whatever fate awaited it.

At this moment, Gu Sheng seemingly thought of something. He took a deep breath and shouted, "Senior! I have something that might prove our innocence!"

As he spoke, he activated the Cultivation Technique within his body, his whole being emanating golden light as the Qing Vine Demon Soul emerged.

The Qing Vine Demon Soul radiated a faint green glow, pulsating gently like a living thing, coiling around Gu Sheng.

Seeing this, the purple-clad maiden’s eyes flickered with a strange light.

She carefully studied the Qing Vine Demon Soul surrounding Gu Sheng, seemingly recalling something.

After a while, she suddenly asked, "This Qing Vine Demon Soul... Where did you obtain it?"

Gu Sheng, hearing this, felt a surge of hope and quickly responded, "Senior, I came across it by chance during a training trial. I swear upon my life, this Qing Vine Demon Soul has absolutely no connection to the disturbances in the Taikoo Minefield!"

The purple-clad maiden remained silent, her gaze firmly fixed on Gu Sheng.

After a moment, she suddenly released the big black dog from its bindings and turned to walk toward the depths of the mine pit.

"You may leave," her voice cold and commanding. "But remember—don’t let this seat see you again!"

Xing Lie and Gu Sheng were overjoyed, quickly clasping their hands in gratitude. "Thank you, Senior, for sparing us! We will always remember your teachings!"

Saying this, they wasted no time fleeing the Taikoo Minefield.

The big black dog also seized its chance and slipped away.

Once they had left the Taikoo Minefield, both Xing Lie and Gu Sheng let out a long breath of relief.

They knew their escape was pure luck.

If it weren’t for the Qing Vine Demon Soul that reminded the purple-clad maiden of something, their fates might have been sealed.

"Brother Gu, oh Brother Gu!" Xing Lie remarked with admiration. "You really saved the day this time! Without the Qing Vine Demon Soul, I fear neither of us would’ve made it out alive!"

"Brother Xing is too kind," Gu Sheng said humbly. "Our escape was nothing short of fortune. We must tread even more cautiously in the future!"

The two smiled wryly and carried on.

They knew while the experience was fraught with peril, it had yielded valuable insight.

At least now, they were aware of a powerful purple-clad maiden residing in the depths of the Taikoo Minefield.

That would undoubtedly prove to be crucial knowledge for their future trials.

Just as Xing Lie and Gu Sheng thought their ordeal was behind them, they saw a familiar figure waiting on the path ahead—a purple-clad silhouette standing silently. That familiar posture instantly reminded them of the harrowing encounter in the Taikoo Minefield.

"Why is she here?" Xing Lie blurted out, his voice tinged with unease and astonishment.

Gu Sheng said nothing, but his gaze sharpened like never before. He stared intently at the purple-clad maiden, trying to discern clues from her expression.

Yet, her face remained serene, resembling a glacier frozen for millennia.

The two exchanged glances, seeing the gravity of the situation mirrored in each other’s eyes.

They understood that her sudden appearance heralded complications ahead. But they also knew, regardless of the challenges, they had to press forward.

The purple-clad maiden didn’t seem to notice their presence. She stood motionless, staring into the distance as if lost in reminiscence. Her gaze was deep and hazy, as though traversing countless ages to revisit that enigmatic Taikoo era.

"A million years ago," the purple-clad maiden suddenly spoke, her voice ethereal and dreamlike. "That was the Primordial Era of the Human Emperor Realm, when a world-shaking battle unfolded upon the Central Continent."

Xing Lie and Gu Sheng were taken aback, not expecting her to bring up such a topic.

However, they understood that this might hold the key to unraveling the mysteries of the purple-clad maiden and the Taikoo Minefield. Thus, they listened attentively, refraining from interrupting.

"That battle involved countless races and factions," she continued, "Among them, the two most formidable forces were the Human Clan and the Divine Race. They fought tirelessly for dominance over the Central Province, waging a fight to the death.

During that era, heroes emerged endlessly, and powerful figures gathered like clouds. Their battles shook the heavens and the myriad worlds."

Her eyes glimmered faintly, as though visualizing the blood-soaked battlefields of old, the warriors who fought for their ideals and glory.

"Just as the battle reached its peak," she said, her tone turning solemn,

"An unprecedented catastrophe struck the Central Continent. A calamitous heavenly tribulation wiped out countless beings, reducing them to ash. The Human Emperor Realm was nearly destroyed, leaving only a few survivors amidst infinite ruins."

Upon hearing this, Xing Lie and Gu Sheng gasped in shock. They couldn’t fathom the scale of the disaster, nor did they understand why the purple-clad maiden would suddenly recount such a grim history. Yet, they knew hidden secrets must lie within her words.

"After the heavenly tribulation," she continued, "The strongest figures of both the Human Clan and Divine Race fell one by one, their legacies and power gradually fading with time. When all seemed lost and the Human Emperor Realm appeared destined for eternal ruin, a mysterious prophecy began to circulate."

"What prophecy?" Xing Lie couldn’t help but ask.

The purple-clad maiden glanced at him, then quietly replied, "A prophecy about a mythical key capable of saving the Human Emperor Realm. It’s said this key possesses boundless strength and wisdom; only by finding it can the realm’s grandeur be restored."

"A mythical key?" Gu Sheng frowned, "What does that have to do with us?"

The purple-clad maiden didn’t answer directly but stared deeply into his eyes. "Your Qing Vine Demon Soul and Ancient Sacred Body are deeply intertwined with this key’s destiny. You may not realize it, but your fates have already been inexorably linked to it."

Xing Lie and Gu Sheng felt an overwhelming sense of shock. They could not have imagined how their origins and destinies were tied to an ancient prophecy.

They began to understand this encounter with the purple-clad maiden was no mere coincidence—it was predestined.

"What should we do now?" Xing Lie asked solemnly. He understood the path ahead would be fraught with peril and uncertainty, yet he knew retreat was not an option.