Chapter 376: Ice Cloud Invitation
“Ah? You want to leave the imperial palace? Where are you going?” Cang Yue grabbed Yun Che’s arm and asked nervously. Yun Che did not belong to the imperial palace—Cang Yue understood that very well—but she never expected he would leave so hastily.
Yun Che smiled reassuringly. “I haven’t decided yet. Maybe I’ll leave the Cang Feng Kingdom… but don’t worry. There’s a seventy percent chance the Fenghuang God Sect doesn’t know about what happened yesterday, and a ninety-nine percent chance they won’t make a move against me in the short term. I’m only leaving to guard against the slim possibility, and at the same time, it can serve as training before the Seven Nation Ranking Battle.”
Cang Wanhe pondered for a moment, then said, “Che’er, are you really going to participate in the Seven Nation Ranking Battle? You’ve made an enemy of the Thirteenth Prince now. Once you’re on Shenhuang Empire’s territory, I fear you will… ah. Although your talent is astonishing, the Fenghuang God Sect is simply too powerful. So powerful that every time I think of them, I can’t help but tremble… Within the Fenghuang God Sect, there exist Overlord Emperors! And more than one!”
“I must go,” Yun Che said calmly. “After exposing the Phoenix Flame, a collision with the Fenghuang God Sect was inevitable. Since I can’t avoid it, I might as well meet it head-on.”
Cang Wanhe’s face was full of worry, but soon he suppressed it. He looked at Yun Che and said slowly, “Che’er, I believe in you. With your talent and intellect, I believe you can come out unscathed even from the Fenghuang God Sect!”
“Mm, I definitely won’t let Father Emperor down.” Yun Che thought briefly and asked, “Father Emperor, do you know what the ‘Primordial Mystic Ark’ really is?”
“Primordial Mystic Ark…” Cang Wanhe’s expression grew solemn, and his eyes showed clear longing. “It is an incredibly mysterious existence. Its appearance is like a gigantic flying ark, and its size is almost comparable to the entire Cangfeng Imperial City.”
“That big!” Yun Che was astonished.
“No one knows what it truly is, let alone where it comes from. The name ‘Primordial Mystic Ark’ was given by the people of the Shenhuang Empire. A long, long time ago, it began appearing above the imperial capital of Shenhuang, floating at an extremely high altitude—a height that only Overlord Emperors can reach.”
“Each time it appears, it drifts in the same place for half a year. On the last day of that half-year, the ark’s door will open automatically. After twelve hours, it will close again, and then the Primordial Mystic Ark will vanish eerily… Its next appearance will be three hundred years later. On the last day before the ark disappears, some supremely powerful individuals will board the ark to explore and seek out its treasures. But over countless years, no one has ever found anything.”
“Why do people believe there are treasures inside the Primordial Mystic Ark?” Yun Che asked.
“Within the Fenghuang God Sect, there is a peculiar branch sect whose duty is to search for supreme treasures throughout the world. It is said that every time the Primordial Mystic Ark appears, the detection spirit stones used by this branch to locate treasures release an extremely intense golden light. Some spirit stones even burst outright. This phenomenon proves that the Primordial Mystic Ark must contain a treasure so powerful it is beyond imagination! Because on the Tian Xuan Continent, nothing has ever caused detection spirit stones to emit golden light.”
“Therefore, although over countless years, the seniors who boarded the Primordial Mystic Ark have never gained anything, the Fenghuang God Sect has never given up. Every time the ark appears, exploring it becomes the sect’s top priority!” Cang Wanhe paused, then said, “Feng Xichen mentioned yesterday that the top three sects in the ranking will be allowed to explore the Primordial Mystic Ark together with the Fenghuang God Sect… The Primordial Mystic Ark always appears above the Shenhuang imperial capital. The Fenghuang God Sect never allows others to interfere—not even the Four Sacred Grounds. That they would voluntarily offer others the chance to explore alongside them—this is the first time.”
Pri…mor…di…al… Mys…tic… Ark…
What kind of thing is that?
“Mo Li, do you know what it is? It sounds extremely bizarre.” Yun Che asked in his mind.
Mo Li said indifferently, “I have indeed seen mystical arks as large as this imperial city, or even larger. And I’ve seen many. But an ark that repeatedly appears and disappears over several millennia or even longer? Hmph, this is the first I’ve heard of it. This emperor’s description has suddenly made me quite interested in this so-called ‘Primordial Mystic Ark.’”
Yun Che: “…”
At that moment, with two announcements, two men in luxurious robes entered with cautious steps. When they saw Yun Che and Cang Yue, their expressions changed noticeably.
These two were none other than Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo.
“Your sons pay respects to Father Emperor, wishing Father Emperor good health and longevity.”
Cang Lin and Cang Shuo were extremely careful and respectful, with none of their former arrogance. Cang Wanhe raised an eyebrow and waved his hand. “Since you’ve paid your respects, if there’s nothing else, withdraw. I am discussing important matters with Yue’er and her husband.”
The methods Yun Che had employed yesterday still made Cang Lin and Cang Shuo tremble with fear. Seeing Yun Che now made their scalps tingle. They dared not linger and quickly excused themselves. Yun Che looked sideways at the departing Cang Lin and Cang Shuo, then turned back and said in a serious tone, “Father Emperor, how do you plan to deal with these two?”
The moment Yun Che said this, Cang Yue was startled. She turned her eyes and nervously watched Cang Wanhe’s reaction.
Cang Wanhe was stunned for a moment, and then his expression suddenly became somewhat dejected. “Che’er, what do you think I should do?”
Without hesitation, Yun Che replied calmly, “‘The cruelest are the imperial families.’ This saying is a satire and criticism of royalty, but it also reflects certain helplessnesses within imperial households. History has proven time and again with bloody lessons that if an emperor governs with emotion, the imperial household is sure to be endangered. Therefore, sometimes, even if it is extremely unbearable, one must be ruthless… especially when the other party was ruthless first! If Father Emperor forgives them now, it will undoubtedly tell future imperial descendants that even the crime of rebellion can be pardoned! It might induce more people to commit heinous treason like them.”
Cang Wanhe closed his eyes, his face full of helplessness. “I know all this. They nearly destroyed the entire imperial household. Moreover, they must be involved in the plot to murder me. Che’er, if it weren’t for you, I might have already passed away, and Yue’er’s fate would certainly have been miserable. The entire imperial household would have been puppeted by the Xiao Sect and the Fen Tian Gate. I truly hate them enough to kill them with my own hands. But… alas, among my sons, only Cang Lin and Cang Shuo have the capability to be emperors. Otherwise, I would not have turned a blind eye to their open and secret struggles back then. If I passed the throne to any of my other five sons, I would die uneasy. And Yue’er, unfortunately, is a woman… On one side is the crime of rebellion; on the other, bloodline and the future of the imperial household. It is truly hard for me to choose.”
“In fact, Father Emperor doesn’t need to agonize so much. This matter is very easy to resolve.”
Yun Che stepped forward and whispered mysteriously into Cang Wanhe’s ear.
At first, Cang Wanhe looked surprised, then his entire body trembled, and his eyes shone with extreme excitement. He grabbed Yun Che and said ecstatically, “Che’er, what you said… is it true?”
“Of course.” Yun Che smiled slyly. “With my medical skills, this matter is utterly simple. I will go prepare the medicine later, and I guarantee that Father Emperor… hehe, can fight for another three hundred years!”
Cang Wanhe had absolutely no doubt about Yun Che’s medical skills. His half-long beard even trembled with excitement. Suddenly, he stood up, slammed the table, and roared, “Come! Arrest those traitors Cang Lin and Cang Shuo at once and throw them into the heavenly prison! Summon Minister Shen of the Ministry of Punishments for an audience immediately! I will personally list the crimes of these two traitors!”
After leaving the imperial hall, Cang Yue could not hold back and asked, “Husband, what did you just say to Father Emperor? Why did his attitude change so drastically?”
“Well… it’s a secret between men.” Yun Che grinned. The root of Cang Wanhe’s hesitation was that he had overindulged in his youth and lost the ability to father children. After Cang Yue, no more children were born. So every prince who died meant one less, and there was no possibility of producing and raising new princes.
But if the problem of infertility were resolved, Cang Wanhe would have no need to agonize. Give him a few years, and he could easily father over a dozen princes and princesses. With careful cultivation, excellent heirs could naturally be raised.
“Yun Che.”
A cold, soft woman’s voice came from above. Chu Yueli and Xia Qingyue descended slowly and stood before Yun Che and Cang Yue.
Cang Yue’s gaze met Xia Qingyue’s, and then both looked away. Xia Qingyue’s icy eyes appeared remote and calm, while Cang Yue’s were far more complex. After all, Xia Qingyue was Yun Che’s lawful wife—properly wed and openly married. In that respect, Cang Yue was the secondary wife who came later. Standing opposite Xia Qingyue, her heart naturally felt strange. She pursed her lips and said softly, “Senior Chu, Senior… Xia.”
A somewhat awkward atmosphere arose between Cang Yue and Xia Qingyue. Chu Yueli slightly raised an eyebrow and went straight to the point, saying to Yun Che, “Yun Che, besides attending your wedding with Princess Cang Yue, we master and disciple came for another important matter.”
“…Please tell me, Senior Chu.” Yun Che said.
“Our Supreme Palace Master wishes to see you.”
Yun Che looked up in surprise. “Supreme Palace Master? Wants to see me?”
“That’s right.” Chu Yueli gazed at him steadily. “My elder sister’s matter has already reached the Supreme Palace Master’s ears, and naturally, she also knows about the Ice Cloud Art within you. The Supreme Palace Master also knows everything about your big commotion at the Ice Palace last time… However, she wants to see you not to call you to account, nor to harm you. I can guarantee that. If you have no pressing matters soon, would you come to the Bing Yun Fairy Palace?”
The Supreme Palace Master of the Bing Yun Fairy Palace wanted to see him—that was something Yun Che had not expected. He thought for a moment and nodded slightly. “Alright. Last time, in my extreme anger, I lost control and offended the Bing Yun Fairy Palace. I ought to go apologize to Palace Master Yuxian anyway… I will go alone in one month.”
Chu Yueli nodded gently. “I hope you won’t go back on your word… Qingyue, let’s go.”
Xia Qingyue’s gaze lingered on Yun Che for a moment. Then she rose into the air and flew far away, becoming a distant snow shadow on the horizon.