Chapter 342: Three Women Meet and the Third Elder of the
Ghost Demon Sacred Sect
At this moment, in one of the grand halls of the Jiang Dynasty, Jiang HuanYu and Qian Xinrui were
seated opposite each other.
Soon, after receiving Jiang HuanYu’s summons, Qian Xinrou and Xiao Qingli gracefully entered the
hall.
Qian Xinrui’s gaze turned toward the two women as they approached, meeting their eyes.
As the saying goes, “Three women make a play.” The first meeting of the three women carried a subtle
tension, yet their expressions remained calm and composed. What thoughts lay beneath their serene
facades, however, was impossible to discern.
“Your Majesty,” Qian Xinrou and Xiao Qingli greeted Jiang HuanYu with respectful bows, then took
their seats to his left and right, flanking him on either side.
“Saintess Qian,” Jiang HuanYu began with a slight smile, “allow me to make introductions.”
“This,” he gestured to Qian Xinrou, “is my empress and the mother of the crown prince of the Jiang
Dynasty.”
“And this,” he motioned to Xiao Qingli, “is my noble consort. Both are my trusted advisors.”
Turning to the two women, he added, “Ladies, this is Qian Xinrui, the Saintess of the Ghost Demon
Sacred Sect, whom I’ve mentioned to you before.”
Through his introductions, the three women came to know one another. However, after a brief
exchange of pleasantries, none continued the conversation.
Qian Xinrui maintained her signature aloofness, while Qian Xinrou and Xiao Qingli remained
composed, exuding grace and calm.
Seeing that none of them seemed inclined to speak further, Jiang HuanYu gave a faint, slightly
awkward smile and took the initiative to break the silence.
“Saintess Qian,” he said, “you may now explain—what was the purpose of your infiltration into the
Northern Mountain Prince’s mansion as a maid?”
Qian Xinrui’s expression grew serious. Her lips parted, and she uttered two words:
“To save someone.”
“Save someone?” Jiang HuanYu asked with a curious look. “Who is it you intend to save? Is this person
imprisoned in the Northern Mountain Prince’s mansion?”
Both Qian Xinrou and Xiao Qingli focused their attention on her, their curiosity evident.
“Emperor HuanYu,” Qian Xinrui began, “are you familiar with the history of the Ghost Demon Sacred
Sect?”
“I’ve studied it to some extent,” Jiang HuanYu replied. “Your sect, at its peak, rivaled the Qingyun Dao
Sect in strength. In terms of foundation and influence, you even surpassed factions like the
Shengming Immortal Dynasty. However, hundreds of thousands of years ago, the Qingyun Dao Sect
and several other factions united to launch a crusade against your sect, causing you to su er
devastating losses and leading to your downfall.”
“Exactly,” Qian Xinrui said with a nod. “The primary cause of our sect’s decline was indeed that war.
But even after the battle ended, the surviving members of our sect were relentlessly hunted by those
factions.
“It wasn’t until thirty thousand years ago that the intensity of the persecution began to subside, giving
us room to breathe.”
“And why did they stop after thirty thousand years?” Jiang HuanYu asked.
“Because,” Qian Xinrui explained, “at that time, those factions captured the last remaining Immortal
Emperor of the Ghost Demon Sacred Sect—our third elder.”
Her tone became grave as she continued.
“At the height of our power, the Ghost Demon Sacred Sect had nearly ten Immortal Emperors.
However, after the war, only the third elder survived. He led the remnants of our sect, protecting them
from annihilation. Tragically, during a mission to shield other elders and disciples, he was captured.”
“With his capture, our sect lost its guiding force, and the other factions shifted their focus away from
us. They no longer deemed us a threat.”
Jiang HuanYu frowned slightly. “The third elder of the Ghost Demon Sacred Sect… Are you saying your
mission is to rescue him?”
“Precisely,” Qian Xinrui a rmed. “He is still alive. The factions holding him would never kill him unless
they had obtained the information they seek.”
“What kind of information are they after?” Jiang HuanYu asked, sensing that this matter was far more
complex than it appeared.
Qian Xinrui cast him a glance and replied with a faint smile, “Emperor HuanYu, I believe that particular
secret isn’t covered by the agreement we signed, is it? Whether or not I choose to disclose it is entirely
my decision, correct?”
Jiang HuanYu paused, realizing he had overstepped. Smiling faintly, he said, “Of course. I’m merely
curious. Whether you choose to share or not is entirely up to you—I won’t insist.”
Qian Xinrui nodded slightly. “Your Majesty truly carries the demeanor of a ruler—worthy of respect.”
Jiang HuanYu chuckled. “That respect is reserved for extraordinary women like you, Saintess.”
The subtle undertone of his words didn’t escape Qian Xinrui, though she simply raised an eyebrow,
saying nothing further.
Meanwhile, Qian Xinrou and Xiao Qingli exchanged a silent glance. Though their expressions remained
neutral, it was clear they were keenly observing the dynamic between Jiang HuanYu and Qian Xinrui.
The room fell quiet again, though the tension lingered in the air. Jiang HuanYu leaned back in his chair,
his mind turning over the implications of what he’d just learned.
A secret so valuable that the combined might of multiple factions had kept an Immortal Emperor alive
for thirty thousand years… Such a secret could change the balance of power across the Immortal
World.
And Jiang HuanYu had no intention of letting it slip through his fingers.