Chapter 2056: Yumon Baisei is a Woman?

The Nine-Foot Mirror looked like a miniature ancient well. Its surrounding patterns were almost identical to the brick patterns of the well he had just seen.

Zu An smiled slightly. From the start, he had found that well somewhat peculiar, but he never expected it to be the Nine-Foot Mirror. This entire space was self-contained, with even the sun, moon, and buildings capable of movement, likely crafted using this item's divine power.

He walked over, about to retrieve the Nine-Foot Mirror, when he suddenly paused, his expression solemn as he gazed at the mirror. At that moment, a white mist suddenly rose from the Nine-Foot Mirror, and a spectral figure slowly emerged.

Zu An secretly prepared to strike. Legends said that rare treasures were often guarded; could this also be a trick left by Yumen Beiqing? But after all the effort to set up those mechanisms, to still have a guardian... wasn't Yumen Beiqing a bit too fussy?

The white figure gradually materialized, not as a monster he imagined, but as a graceful, very beautiful woman. She wore a loose, flowing robe primarily in black and white, and a tall hat on her head, somewhat resembling the attire of an Onmyoji he had seen online. Although she was stunningly beautiful, his first reaction upon seeing her wasn't admiration for her beauty, but rather for her serene and ethereal demeanor, as if she were a transcendental master, making it impossible for ill thoughts to arise.

Zu An, however, felt a sense of perplexity. He had clearly never seen this woman before, yet she seemed vaguely familiar. With his current cultivation, he had a photographic memory; he wouldn't forget even a passerby he had brushed shoulders with, let alone a woman with such a unique aura.

At this moment, the woman also looked at him, her eyes reflecting countless emotional fluctuations in that instant, though they ultimately coalesced into a soft sigh: "Though I wished to meet you, seeing you now is not a good sign. It seems circumstances are indeed progressing towards the worst possible outcome."

Zu An was taken aback: "You know me?"

Her tone suggested they were very familiar friends, perhaps even more than just ordinary acquaintances.

"What the hell? Did I lose my memory? Otherwise, why can't I remember anything at all?"

The woman nodded, then shook her head.

Zu An chuckled: "Miss, your way of striking up a conversation is a bit old-fashioned." Although countless questions swirled in his mind, he quickly calmed down, not showing a hint of his inner turmoil.

The woman smiled faintly: "Indeed, some things never change."

Hearing her familiar tone, Zu An's confusion deepened: "Are you the guardian Yumen Beiqing left to watch over the Nine-Foot Mirror? If there's a trial, tell me quickly, or let's just fight. I'm in a hurry." This woman was indeed beautiful, but he was long past the stage where he'd be mesmerized by a pretty face. Moreover, he had been delayed here for too long and feared the seal would be completely broken, leaving no time for anything.

The beautiful woman gently shook her head: "I am not some guardian of the Nine-Foot Mirror. I *am* Yumen Beiqing."

Hearing this, Zu An's eyes nearly popped out. He had made many conjectures, but never in a million years did he expect *this* answer. "Wait, wasn't Yumen Beiqing a man? Even children in the demon race know the legends about him. How did he become a woman, and such a beautiful one at that?"

Seeing his puzzled gaze, the woman smiled faintly: "Of course, this is not my true form, but a wisp of my lingering soul left within the Nine-Foot Mirror, awaiting the fated one. I just never expected that person to be you. Indeed, only you can solve my riddles, can't you?"

Zu An was speechless. "Beautiful lady, could you please stop talking in riddles and just tell me what's going on?" The more she spoke, the more confused Zu An became. Especially her mention of "the worst direction" which gave him a faint sense of ominous foreboding.

The beautiful woman did not answer his question. Instead, she gazed at him silently, her eyes filled with boundless reluctance. Her form also began to gradually fade, evidently a wisp of lingering soul could not be sustained for long.

Zu An grew anxious: "You're about to disappear, and you still won't tell me anything useful? Do you enjoy being a riddle-master so much? Or is there any way to preserve this wisp of your soul?"

The beautiful woman smiled faintly: "It's already a miracle I've lasted this long. There's no way to prolong my existence. But you needn't worry, we will meet again in the future."

Zu An was somewhat speechless: "My lady, you're an ancient senior who's been dead for who knows how many years. How could I meet you? Hmm, unless you've left other lingering souls elsewhere?"

The beautiful woman did not answer. Instead, she looked at him with a complex expression: "You only need to remember one sentence: 'Cause is not necessarily the beginning, nor is effect necessarily the end.'" After speaking these words, her entire form dissolved into countless specks of starlight and vanished.

Zu An was speechless. "What the hell was all that?"

"Empress Sister, why is this woman just like you, loving to speak in riddles?" Zu An grumbled.

"Hmph, 'Sister' indeed. Call me Master," Mi Li appeared nearby, seemingly displeased with his address. In this world of ice and snow, her red robes made her appear even more exquisitely alluring.

"Alright, Empress Sister." Zu An was both surprised and delighted. "You're awake!" He had only been casually complaining, never expecting Mi Li to actually wake up.

"I might not wake if you praise me, but I'll certainly wake if you speak ill of me," Mi Li scoffed.

Zu An gave an awkward laugh: "It's not really speaking ill. That Yumen Beiqing person appeared and said a bunch of confusing things without directly telling me anything. I don't know where she picked up that annoying habit."

"Why are you looking at me when you say that?" Mi Li retorted grumpily. "Do you think that Yumen Beiqing is a fool?"

Zu An shook his head: "Of course not." Throughout the demon race, various stories about Yumen Beiqing had been passed down since ancient times; he was practically synonymous with a sage. How could such a person be a fool?

"Exactly," Mi Li said with a straight face. "If she's not a fool, yet she didn't directly give you useful information, then she must have a compelling reason for doing so."

"What reason?" Zu An pressed.

Mi Li subconsciously replied, "For instance, she might be worried that knowing too much would bring danger, or attract certain entities..." Halfway through her sentence, she clamped her mouth shut and glared fiercely at him: "Trying to trick me again?"

"I'm just really confused," Zu An chuckled awkwardly.

"Don't overthink it," Mi Li said, stretching and arching her supple waist. "Just remember what she told you, and you'll understand when the time is right. Oh, it's rare for me to be able to come out now; I must go back to sleep."

Zu An was reluctant: "Who are you hiding from? Can't you stay with me a little longer?"

"Now that the world barrier has opened, I must try my best to remain in slumber, otherwise, I would attract the attention of entities you cannot possibly contend with right now," Mi Li sighed. If this place weren't a self-contained realm created by the Nine-Foot Mirror, she wouldn't have dared to emerge so easily. Seeing the reluctance on his face, a touch of warmth appeared on Mi Li's own: "If you want me to appear more often, then hurry and become stronger."

"How strong?"

"You'll know when the time comes."

Finally, Mi Li returned to the Tai'a Sword. Zu An retrieved the Nine-Foot Mirror and set off without delay towards the third location. He wondered what tricks awaited him at the place where the Soul-Hooking Jade was hidden. Thinking of Yumen Beiqing's demeanor just now made his teeth itch; he wanted to pin her over his knee and give her a good spanking. She had said so much, yet never told him how to obtain the Soul-Hooking Jade. Was she really that confident he could solve the riddles she left behind?

Soon, he arrived at the last area described on the map. After some searching, he finally pinpointed a bottomless ice cavern, glowing with a faint blue light and emitting a unique coldness. Even with his current cultivation, he couldn't help but shiver. The flames on his Wind-Fire Wheels had dwindled to their extreme, as if they could extinguish at any moment.