Chapter 381: The Secret of Eternal Night, The Millennial Calamity
"Eternal Night Royal Clan?" This was the first time Yun Che had heard this name.
"The Five Sacred Grounds have existed for far longer than the seven nations of Tian Xuan. They have existed for thousands of years, perhaps tens of thousands, or even longer. Although the Five Sacred Grounds have always balanced and checked each other, on the surface they also support and unite with one another, upholding the same ideal... that is, to guard the Tian Xuan Continent, to prevent invasion from forces outside the continent, serving as the continent's most powerful and most important bulwark. At the same time, they do not interfere with various internal conflicts, thus earning the reverence and worship of the continent's people, who regard them as divine... But, this absolutely does not mean they are all righteous people!"
Feng Qianhui raised her eyes to look at Yun Che and said calmly, "I have no right to judge whether the Sacred Grounds are good or evil, right or wrong, but the disciples of our clan are forbidden from having any close relations with the people of Tian Wei Sword Domain for life. This is a decree left by our Ice Cloud Ancestor! Because one of the Five Sacred Grounds, the Eternal Night Royal Clan, was annihilated through the vicious scheming of Tian Wei Sword Domain a thousand years ago!"
Yun Che: "?"
"Among the Five Sacred Grounds, the Eternal Night Royal Clan was the only family-style force. Unless through marriage, they never recruited outsiders, so among the Five Sacred Grounds, the Eternal Night Royal Clan was the most united and stable. Although there were occasional frictions between the Five Sacred Grounds, there were never any major grudges. But, a thousand years ago, a new Sword Master ascended in Tian Wei Sword Domain... who is also the current Sword Master, Xuanyuan Wentian. A decade or so after his ascension, several small cities around the core territory of the Eternal Night Royal Clan were suddenly shrouded in black mist overnight. Everyone in the cities, whether powerful profound practitioners or defenseless elderly, women, and children, all died horribly in the black mist... Soon, all blame pointed to the Eternal Night Royal Clan, because when their core profound art 'Eternal Night Illusion Divine Scripture' was activated, black mist would swirl around the body! Those who died under 'Eternal Night Illusion Divine Scripture' also had their bodies turn black, shrouded in black mist... which would not dissipate for several days."
"..."
Hearing this, Yun Che roughly understood what had happened. The name Xuanyuan Wentian spoken from Feng Qianhui's mouth made Yun Che's heart tighten... Because his grandfather, Yun Canghai, had been defeated by Xuanyuan Wentian! The Demon Emperor of the Illusion Demon Realm, who was both master and friend to Yun Canghai, had also died at Xuanyuan Wentian's hands. He said in a low voice, "Could this be... a frame-up?"
"That's right, it was a vicious frame-up. But at the time, apart from the framer himself, no one knew it was a frame-up." Feng Qianhui continued, "Then, Tian Wei Sword Domain was the first to speak out, declaring the 'Eternal Night Royal Clan' as an evil demon clan that slaughtered innocent people to enhance their demonic power. Then, under the pretext of guarding the Tian Xuan Continent and eliminating demons to uphold the Way, they united the other three Sacred Grounds to encircle and annihilate the Eternal Night Royal Clan... Although the Eternal Night Royal Clan was powerful, it was utterly impossible for them to withstand the combined forces of the four Sacred Grounds, and they were eventually wiped out. Only the king of the Eternal Night Royal Clan remained. In extreme hatred and grief, the Eternal Night King suddenly became demonized."
"Demonized?"
"That's right. When various negative emotions reach their peak, the rules of the power one possesses can also become negative, transforming into terrible negative power. Such rumors had existed in ancient times, but the Eternal Night King was the first person to truly be 'demonized' in a meaningful sense, proving that the rumors were not false. After all, his entire clan was wiped out, his wife and children brutally killed—his hatred must have filled heaven and earth. And his demonization only further confirmed his name as a 'demon,' and he was jointly killed by the masters of the other four Sacred Grounds. After his demonization, his soul also underwent a drastic change. Though his body was destroyed, his soul lingered for a long time and could not be destroyed. Therefore, the Sun Moon Divine Palace used a Soul-Sealing Coffin to seal away the Eternal Night King's vengeful soul. The only key that could open the Soul-Sealing Coffin was thrown tens of thousands of miles away, ensuring the Eternal Night King's hateful soul would never be freed... And now, a thousand years have passed. The Eternal Night King's vengeful soul should have long since dissipated."
Yun Che propped his chin on his hand and said, "Why did Tian Wei Sword Domain frame the Eternal Night Royal Clan? What benefit did Tian Wei Sword Domain gain from it? Since you know the truth, have the other three Sacred Grounds also come to know the truth?"
"Because of the sword guarded by the Eternal Night Royal Clan—the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword." Feng Qianhui said, "Xuanyuan Wentian is a man of great ambition. He wants to be invincible under heaven and become the sole master of the world. And the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword is the divine sword guarded by the Eternal Night Royal Clan for generations. It is also the only 'Lord Xuan Sword' and 'Emperor of Swords' in the Tian Xuan Continent. It is said that if one can harness the power of the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword, they can be invincible in the Tian Xuan Continent. However, for thousands of years, no one in the Eternal Night Royal Clan had ever been able to control the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword. Tian Wei Sword Domain uses the sword as their weapon and reveres the sword above all. The people of Tian Wei Sword Domain had coveted the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword for a long time. Xuanyuan Wentian was even more crazily determined to possess it for himself, leading to the vicious frame-up and the extermination of the Eternal Night Clan. After that, the Heavenly Sin Divine Sword vanished without a trace—no one knows where it fell... The most likely possibility is that it had long since fallen into Xuanyuan Wentian's hands. Not long after, the other three Sacred Grounds naturally sensed something was amiss and realized this was likely a scheme by Tian Wei Sword Domain, and that they had mistakenly wiped out the Eternal Night Royal Clan. But since they were Sacred Grounds, even if they knew they were very likely wrong and had even been used, they could only let the mistake stand and absolutely could not let the name of the Sacred Grounds be stained."
"Therefore, they absolutely would not rehabilitate the Eternal Night Royal Clan. Instead, they increasingly propagated the name of the 'sinful demon clan' for the Eternal Night Royal Clan. And to prevent future generations from tracing back the truth, they gradually erased all records and traces of the Eternal Night Royal Clan's existence across the continent. Now, a thousand years have passed. The name of the Eternal Night Royal Clan has long been forgotten under the cover-up of the Sacred Grounds. Only in some sects that have existed for over a thousand years might extremely rare records still exist."
These words from Feng Qianhui were secrets almost impossible to hear anywhere else. Yun Che naturally understood why Feng Qianhui was telling him all this. He thought for a moment and said, "Supreme Palace Master, this disciple ventures to ask: The grudges of a thousand years ago among the Sacred Grounds—truth that the four Sacred Grounds have jointly tried to cover up—why does our sect have such a detailed record?"
"Because the Eternal Night Queen once saved the life of our Ice Cloud Ancestor, Mu Bingyun. Although the Eternal Night Queen's profound strength was at its peak and her status was supremely noble, she was gentle and kind. Back then, she not only saved Ice Cloud Ancestor from the claws of an Overlord Xuan Beast, but after killing that beast, she bestowed its Profound Pill upon Ice Cloud Ancestor and gave her many pieces of guidance that benefited her for life. Without the Eternal Night Queen's rescue and guidance, there would have been no achievement of Ice Cloud Ancestor looking down upon Cang Feng back then, and there might not even be the Bing Yun Fairy Palace of today. Therefore, Ice Cloud Ancestor regarded the Eternal Night Queen as her lifelong benefactor and benefactress. She absolutely refused to believe that the Eternal Night Royal Clan could be a 'sinful demon clan.' But Ice Cloud Ancestor was powerless to seek justice or revenge for the Eternal Night Royal Clan. She could only preserve the truth, passing it down through generations in the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, preventing the truth from being forever buried, and also warning all Bing Yun disciples never to associate with Tian Wei Sword Domain!"
"Now, the Sword Master of Tian Wei Sword Domain is still Xuanyuan Wentian. With a Sword Master so ambitious and despicable in his methods, one can imagine how filthy Tian Wei Sword Domain must be. If you ever join Tian Wei Sword Domain in the future... our Bing Yun Fairy Palace will sever all ties with you." Feng Qianhui said sternly.
Yun Che was well aware of the ambitions of Tian Wei Sword Domain; otherwise, his birth parents would not have been hunted, his grandfather would not have died, and nineteen years ago, he would not have ended up in Flow Cloud City. But of course, Feng Qianhui would not know about these grievances. Yun Che's heart stirred, and he said seriously, "Thank you for the Supreme Palace Master's teaching. This disciple will keep it in mind."
"Good!" Feng Qianhui slowly nodded. "These words I have told you, you must never mention to others. I have told you because I believe you can distinguish between good and evil. Also..." Her gaze swept over Yun Che and Xia Qingyue. "Although you and Qingyue share the name of husband and wife, until Qingyue's Ice God Divine Art is cultivated to great perfection, you must absolutely not consummate the marriage. The yin energy within a woman's body can greatly assist in the cultivation of ice-type profound arts. Once a maiden's primordial yin is lost, Qingyue's cultivation of the Ice God Divine Art will inevitably be hindered, and it may even create a bottleneck that cannot be broken through for life. Qingyue is the future hope of our Bing Yun Fairy Palace, and I cannot allow any mishap in this regard... I believe you also understand the importance of this."
Xia Qingyue: "..."
Before the Ice God Divine Art reaches great perfection... ah! That is to say, after great perfection, it is completely fine!
Yun Che had originally been worried that the Bing Yun Fairy Palace would require Xia Qingyue to keep her primordial yin for life, but Feng Qianhui's warning was practically a blatant hint. He quickly replied, "Yes, this disciple will strictly follow the Supreme Palace Master's teachings."
"Good!" Feng Qianhui slowly nodded, a smile appearing on her face. "I have said all that I needed to say. To be frank, although you are the first male disciple in our palace's history, I am deeply comforted by your joining. After all, both of the two great young geniuses of the Cang Feng Continent have gathered in our Bing Yun Fairy Palace."
"We will not announce your joining the Ice Palace today; we will inform the entire sect at tomorrow's sect assembly. If there is nothing else... Qingyue, take Yun Che around the Ice Palace for a tour. You may take him to any place you are allowed to go. Yuxian, you stay."
"Yes."
Xia Qingyue rose, bowed to Feng Qianhui, and then left with Yun Che.
As soon as they left, Gong Yuxian immediately stood up and said urgently, "Senior Master, what exactly was the reason for your decision today? Was it really just because of Yun Che's current strength and influence?"
Feng Qianhui's eyes were deep. She slightly raised her head, her voice sounding like a sigh or a lament: "Yuxian, do you still remember the thousand-year prophecy left by our Ice Cloud Ancestor?"
Gong Yuxian was startled, then her eyes trembled violently, and her face changed color: "Senior Master, you mean... the 'Millennial Calamity'?"
"That's right." Feng Qianhui closed her eyes, her expression solemn. "Back then, the Ice Cloud Palace Master was a close friend of the Tianji Sanren of the Black Fiend Empire. At that time, the Tianji Sect was at its peak, able to peer into the Heavenly Dao and discern the secrets of heaven. Almost every secret they divined came true. Eventually, they too suffered the punishment of the Heavenly Dao and were wiped out. When the Ice Cloud Ancestor founded the Bing Yun Fairy Palace, the Tianji Sanren divined the secrets of heaven and told the ancestor that the Bing Yun Fairy Palace would enjoy glory for a thousand years, but after a thousand years, a great calamity would befall it. If the calamity could be overcome, the Bing Yun Fairy Palace would prosper for ten thousand years; if not, the name 'Bing Yun' would no longer exist in the world. And in terms of time... the thousand-year mark has already arrived. For the past year, I have been constantly restless, even plagued by nightmares during rest. Combined with the sudden appearance of a disciple like Qingyue with such extraordinary talent in our palace, and the re-emergence of the Ice God Divine Art after a thousand years of silence... all these anomalies seem to be heralding the arrival of the Millennial Calamity."
Gong Yuxian's expression fluctuated for a moment before she slowly sat down: "So, Senior Master, you didn't hesitate to break the sect rules and allow Yun Che into our Bing Yun Fairy Palace, in order to gain a bit more strength to resist the possible coming calamity?"
Feng Qianhui sighed and said, "Compared to the survival of the sect, what is breaking a sect rule? I only hope... if the Millennial Calamity truly arrives... may heaven protect our Bing Yun!"
...