"Why? How should I know?" Xia Yi smiled and shook his head.
Yali really had guessed correctly. Back then, because of Leng Yulai and Leng Yaozhu, Di Tian and the others had indeed harbored murderous intent toward them.
If it hadn't been for Gu Yue's firm opposition…
Things might not be the way they are now.
At that time, although Leng Yulai was only a Level 97 Super Douluo, her spiritual power had already reached the second-level Divine Origin Realm.
If a real fight had broken out, even if Di Tian and all the other ferocious beasts under him attacked together, they wouldn't have been her match.
However, judging by Leng Yulai's current attitude and behavior, she would definitely take Xia Yi's feelings into consideration and wouldn't truly strike to kill Di Tian and the others.
Still, regardless of whether blood had been shed or not, if Leng Yulai had really fought against Gu Yue's subordinates in the Star Dou Forest, the situation today would be completely different.
Leng Yulai was never the type to stay quiet and submissive.
She respected Gu Yue and voluntarily yielded to her—that was because Gu Yue hadn't opposed her and her sister's relationship with Xia Yi.
She could endure things for herself, but if Gu Yue had firmly opposed Leng Yaozhu being with Xia Yi back then, Leng Yulai would have found a way to make her agree.
"I can only think of one possibility, Xia Yi: you and the Soul Beast Empress, the Silver Dragon King, are using Yaozhu-jie. Because it's just exploitation, the Soul Beast Empress doesn't care, and neither do her subordinates." Yali, unaware of the true situation, could only assume Xia Yi was using Leng Yaozhu.
"So what?" Xia Yi looked at Yali with calm eyes and said, "Are you trying to take revenge on me for your Yaozhu-jie?"
"Xia Yi, do you know where this place is?" Yali bit her red lips and asked.
"What place?" Xia Yi asked curiously.
"This is the Valley of Love and Judgement," Yali said softly. "I asked you before, and you said you were truly sincere toward Yaozhu-jie and the others. If that's the case, this place won't affect you."
"But if you're just using Yaozhu-jie, or even deceiving her, then this place will make you pay the price—and you can forget about ever deceiving her again." Yali explained.
"The Valley of Love and Judgement..." Xia Yi raised an eyebrow. He had heard of it. The Spirit Pagoda had records of it—ten thousand years ago, its founder, the Ice Spirit Douluo Huo Yuhao, had once visited this place.
According to Huo Yuhao's notes, the Valley of Love and Judgement, like the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well, was one of the Three Great Earthly Treasure Grounds, and ranked even higher than the Ice and Fire Yin Yang Well—it was the number one treasure ground.
Legend has it the valley was created when the Goddess of Love, betrayed by her lover in the God Realm, fell to the human world in despair and grief.
Heaven and earth reversed, the sun and moon became a lake.
Because of her betrayal, the Love Goddess developed a deep hatred for those who betray love.
Anyone who enters the Sun-Moon Lake of this valley and has betrayed love will incur her wrath and trigger the Judgement of Love and Heaven.
Only those who are truly devoted lovers can leave alive—and may even be blessed.
All liars and deceivers will be severely punished.
"According to the Spirit Pagoda's records, the Valley of Love and Judgement can only be opened by sacrificing a pair of lovers who have betrayed each other. How did you open it?" Xia Yi asked curiously.
"I have my ways. What, are you scared?" Yali lifted her head to look at Xia Yi.
"Why would I be scared? Since this is the Valley of Love and Judgement, you're here too. Are you scared?" Xia Yi asked with a grin, though his gaze was completely fearless.
"I..." Yali opened her mouth again but didn't know what to say.
Seeing that Xia Yi wasn't afraid at all…
She quietly let out a sigh of relief.
At least for now, it looked like Xia Yi hadn't deceived Leng Yaozhu.
At least in his heart, he was not ashamed of Leng Yaozhu and the others.
No guilt—no fear!
"What now? Are you truly guiltless, or are you just giving up and lying flat?" Xia Yi teased as he stared at Yali.
"If I really get punished, then I'll accept it," Yali replied.
"I wasn't really interested before, but since you went to all this trouble to bring me here, I'll accompany you on this journey into this so-called Valley of Love and Judgement," Xia Yi said calmly.
Indeed, with his strength, leaving this place by normal means would be difficult.
But in his hand, he held one of the core artifacts of the Genesis Origin God Realm, the Cauldron of the Earth—he could leave at any time.
But this is just the Valley of Love and Judgement—so let's go through it.
He didn't back down when harvesting the Yearning Heartbroken Red back then; he wouldn't back down now either.
His conscience was clear. He had no reason to back down.
Just as Xia Yi and Yali were speaking, suddenly—a sharp sense of danger erupted.
"It's coming!" Both Xia Yi and Yali instinctively turned their heads. From the distant shadows, a wave of gold-and-silver colored light surged forward like a tidal wave, instantly engulfing the two of them.
Although they knew it wasn't dangerous, Xia Yi still instinctively activated his soul power in defense. But this overwhelming gold-and-silver light didn't cause any harm.
Instead, a strange sensation spread through both of their hearts.
What is this?
As they looked at each other, their bodies were now faintly glowing with a layer of golden-silver shimmer. Both took deep breaths, trying to calm their emotions.
The next moment, a strong pulling force surged from the light. A golden-yellow glow gathered into a massive yellow orb that enveloped the two of them completely.
Then, this orb, guided by the gold-and-silver light, soared into the sky.
Their inability to fly no longer mattered—this force made it irrelevant.
Soon, the two were drawn into a dense fog. All around them was a blinding white mist—visibility was zero.
Xia Yi and Yali stopped resisting and allowed themselves to be carried by the pulling force. Unable to sense anything nearby and with the mist obscuring everything, they both felt like they were lost in clouds and fog.
After about fifteen minutes, the fog suddenly disappeared.
Light burst into their eyes—they had flown out of the mist.
What greeted them was a vast lake, embraced by mountains. The water was crystal clear. Most peculiar was that the lake was gold-and-silver in color.
At the very center of the lake was a circular golden region, glowing like a sun, radiating intense golden light.
Next to it, a curved silver moon shimmered gently, nestled close beside the golden "sun," radiating soft silver light.
This entire lake was dominated by gold and silver. The two lights extended outward, climbing the surrounding mountains and spreading into the distance. It was breathtakingly gorgeous, dazzling beyond belief!
"This is the Valley of Love and Judgement? It's exactly like the records described." Even though she'd seen it in Shrek Academy's ancient tomes, Yali couldn't hide the awe in her eyes.
Before she finished speaking, they were already being pulled by the mysterious force to the center of the lake—above the golden sun and silver moon.
(End of Chapter)