Chapter 169: Resolute Departure
"Ah?" Yun Che's sudden remark left Lan Xueruo stunned for a good while, then she nodded directly: "If you're willing, of course you can. After all, regardless of the outcome, participating in the ranking battle is an excellent training experience, and it can also lay a good foundation for participating three years later. However, the imperial clan can only send three participants, and those three must be selected through fair competitions—I don't have absolute authority over that either. So, if Junior Brother Yun truly wants to participate in this edition of the ranking battle, you'll need to enter the top three of the inner palace's Heavenly Xuan List within half a year."
Yun Che had currently replaced Murong Yi's ranking on the Heavenly Xuan List, standing at seventy-third place. Going from seventy-third to the top three within half a year—anyone who heard that would think it impossible... nor would anyone believe it. The seventh-ranked Xue Lang and the thirty-sixth-ranked Feng Baiyi had already died at Yun Che's hands.
That meant Yun Che's current strength was at least above seventh place.
"I know." Yun Che nodded, his gaze soft yet firm as he looked at Lan Xueruo: "I will strive to earn the qualification for the ranking battle, and this time I'm participating not just for training, but with utmost seriousness... So, Senior Sister, I will be leaving for a while."
"Leaving?" Lan Xueruo's eyes flickered, and she quickly grabbed Yun Che's hand: "Where are you going? Why are you leaving?"
Yun Che turned his hand and held Lan Xueruo's small hand, saying softly: "Senior Sister, do you still remember what I said to you that night? I said I would give you a shoulder to lean on and rely on, and bear even the heaviest burdens for you... However, even though I have that intention, I am still too weak right now and simply don't have such a shoulder. The things you endure, I can't even get involved in, or else instead of bearing them for you, I would become your burden and worry, and might even become your weakness."
"When I received the simultaneous invitations from the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, Mentor Qin advised me to distance myself from you, because only that would be best for you and also protect myself. But that's something I could never do. I've thought a lot these past few days about how to handle the joint invitation from the Crown Prince and the Third Prince. In the end, after weighing everything I currently have, even with all my pride and arrogance, I cannot deny that I lack the ability and qualifications to get involved in the imperial clan's turmoil, let alone share your burden. At the very least, if the Crown Prince or the Third Prince wanted me dead, it would be far too easy."
"So, regarding their invitations, I can't make a choice. I can't choose one side, nor can I choose both or neither at the same time. The only thing I can do is make no choice and leave quietly and unnoticed."
This was the decision Yun Che had made after days of careful consideration.
As the Crown Prince and a prince of a nation, the scale of their forces and the number of experts under them were unimaginable to ordinary people. After leaving Liuyun City, most of Yun Che's time had been spent among the younger generation's circles, where he could still stand out. But the imperial clan power struggle was entirely different from the younger generation's circles. In terms of profound practitioners, under the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, there were no fewer than several hundred Earth Xuan Realm experts, surely some Heaven Xuan Realm experts existed, and it might even involve King Xuan Realm—countless Spirit Xuan Realm practitioners, too many to count. No matter whom Yun Che chose, he would be dragged into that circle. He had no power, and his profound strength was pitifully low in that context. All he had was influence among the younger generation. What waves could he stir up besides increasing Lan Xueruo's worry and concern?
And Lan Xueruo, as an imperial princess, saw this even more clearly than Yun Che.
Her lips moved several times, each time she wanted to speak but held back. These past days, she had been constantly worried about Yun Che being drawn into it. Leaving was the safest choice for him. But at the same time, she simply couldn't bear his departure, because she could no longer imagine days without seeing him. At some point, Yun Che had become her spiritual pillar and anchor. If he left now, she would be at a loss.
In the end, she chose to nod and said softly: "Leaving is good... no, it's best. If you were just an ordinary inner palace disciple, they might try to recruit you, but it wouldn't be so urgent and intense. But now your influence in the imperial capital is too great. Your choice will largely guide the tendencies of the younger generation of profound practitioners. So no matter whom you choose, you'll be completely dragged in, and at the same time, earn the resentment of the other side... even assassination."
"These days, I've also wanted to persuade you to leave the imperial capital temporarily... but, but I can't bear to part with you. In the imperial capital, my heart can never truly settle down. If even you leave my side, I... I..." Lan Xueruo tightly gripped Yun Che's hand and bit her lip.
Yun Che shook his head and said: "Senior Sister, rest assured. I'm only leaving temporarily, and it won't be for very long. Actually, half the reason I want to leave the imperial capital is to escape the invitations from the Crown Prince and the Third Prince; the other half is that I want to go out and train. The Cangfeng Mystic Palace is indeed the cultivation paradise dreamed of by countless profound practitioners, but this place is too comfortable—there's pressure but no coercion, there's injury but no threat of death. I need a place that can temper me even more, so that I can sooner have shoulders strong enough for you to lean on. Half a year... Senior Sister, give me half a year. After half a year, I will definitely return—return with a much stronger self."
Half a year, as a cultivation period for a profound practitioner, is actually very short. Yun Che compressed the time to this extent partly because the Cangfeng ranking battle would be held in half a year, but more importantly, he was afraid that if he stayed away too long, something major might happen in the imperial clan while he wasn't by Lan Xueruo's side.
"Then... where are you going for these six months? Have you decided?" Lan Xueruo asked worriedly.
"Not yet, but I believe I'll find a place soon after leaving the imperial capital." Yun Che said with a relaxed expression.
Lan Xueruo suppressed the overwhelming reluctance surging in her heart and said gently: "Six months isn't that long, either. Since you've already decided, I... I will stay in the imperial capital and wait for your return peacefully. But no matter what, don't put too much pressure on yourself, and don't put yourself in danger... The reason I still remain in the palace is that I can't abandon my imperial father. Yesterday, I personally went to the Black Moon Merchant Guild... but even the Black Moon Merchant Guild has never obtained a Blazing Soul Flower. If this is my father's fate, then after he passes, I will abandon my princess identity and go wherever you go... The imperial clan struggles, the hatred for my father's death—none of it really matters. My future life will be complete as long as I have you. So you must not put too much pressure on yourself, okay?"
Yun Che's heart trembled violently. He reached out and pulled Lan Xueruo into a tight embrace... Her words were enough to ensure he would never betray her for all eternity.
But for Lan Xueruo and for Yun Che, the greatest pressure had never been the imperial clan turmoil—it was Fen Juecheng of the Fen Tian Gate!
"Junior Brother Yun, when do you plan to leave?"
"...Now."
"Ah?"
"I won't give up my identity as a disciple of the Cangfeng Mystic Palace. Please inform Palace Master Qin and Yuanba for me, Senior Sister... I will return in half a year—I will definitely return!"
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Carrying all his belongings, under Lan Xueruo's tearful gaze, Yun Che quietly left the Cangfeng Mystic Palace, leaving the Cangfeng imperial capital.
"Why such a sudden decision?" Behind him, the ethereal, icy voice of Xiao Xiannü sounded.
Xiao Xiannü had taken the initiative to speak with him again, and Yun Che felt quite pleased: "It's not that sudden. The thought of leaving has crossed my mind many times in the past couple of days."
He had entertained the idea but had always been hesitant. He certainly wouldn't tell Xiao Xiannü that the reason he had suddenly become so decisive about leaving was that her account of Xia Qingyue had greatly stimulated him.
"Then where have you decided to go?"
Yun Che gazed toward the northeast and said slowly: "A land where profound beasts roam rampant... the eighteen-hundred-mile Death Wasteland!"
"What?"
The name "Death Wasteland" actually made Xiao Xiannü, who possessed the strength of Half-step King Xuan, sound startled: "You want to train there? Do you know that place is called the paradise of profound beasts and the hell of profound practitioners? The number of trainers who die there every year is incalculable."
"I know. I heard about it from my grandfather when I was very young. I just never thought I would set foot there one day. I think there is no place better suited for training in the entire Cangfeng Empire." Yun Che said calmly.
"Since you've already decided where to go, why didn't you tell her?"
Yun Che sighed softly: "The Death Wasteland is one of the three great dangerous grounds of the Cangfeng Empire, with a hundred times more profound beasts than the Ten Thousand Beast Mountain Range. If I had told her, she would worry day and night about my safety and be unable to eat or sleep in peace."
Xiao Xiannü made no further sound.
Yun Che strapped his heavy sword onto his back, took out a map he had prepared earlier, glanced at it, and then set off on foot toward the north at a brisk pace. Soon, he disappeared at the end of the road, leaving behind the turbulent undercurrents of the Cangfeng imperial capital.
He was proud, but by no means reckless.
Temporary retreat was only for an even more forceful return!
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Ten days later.
The Death Wasteland. One of the Cangfeng Empire's infamous dangerous grounds, stretching eighteen hundred miles from north to south and sixteen hundred miles from east to west. Countless profound beasts lurked within the wasteland, most of them with violent temperaments. Its fearsome reputation and dense concentration of profound beasts also attracted many trainers and treasure hunters. But every year, hundreds of thousands of profound practitioners lost their lives there. Hence the name "Death Wasteland."
The night sky was clear, a bright moon hung high, and a sinister aura perpetually shrouded the surrounding area of the Death Wasteland. In the distance, the long, drawn-out roars of profound beasts echoed continuously, rising and falling one after another.
A row of inns stood here, each one full of profound practitioners from all directions. Thirty miles ahead lay the Death Wasteland proper. The inn guests were all people determined to brave the Death Wasteland.
Under the night sky, a young man with a heavy sword on his back and a calm expression walked slowly forward, facing the sinister aura.
"I've finally arrived."
Looking at the lamplight spilling from the inn windows, listening to the chilling roars of profound beasts in the distance, the young man stopped, gazed into the distance, and murmured to himself.