Chapter 590: Intuition!
Yaohuang City, Mu Clan.
"Although the truth is far more terrifying than what we previously knew, the current situation is not necessarily too pessimistic." Mu Yubai said with a frown: "Over the past century, the main reason the Huai Wang Manor was able to gather so many forces under its submission was primarily due to Xiao Yaohou. First, she is a woman; second, she does not possess the Demon Emperor Seal; third, her bloodline cannot awaken, leaving her without overwhelming and awe-inspiring strength. Add to that her lack of an heir, so when the Huai Wang Manor displayed sufficiently powerful strength along with appropriate temptations and threats, those mansions and Guardian Clans naturally began to waver in their convictions..."
"But now, the entire world knows that Xiao Yaohou has recovered the Demon Emperor Seal, and in no time, she will awaken her bloodline and become invincible. I suspect that even now, the forces leaning toward the Huai Wang Manor have already begun to feel uneasy and panicked. Coupled with today, when Che'er managed to draw the hearts of the world's heroes toward the Yun Clan and subtly hinted at the Huai Wang Manor's ambitions... At the very least, within the next twenty years, the Huai Wang Manor will not dare to act rashly! Unless they want to go against the wrath of the entire world!"
"Indeed." Mu Yuqing and Mu Yukong also nodded in agreement.
Yun Qinghong glanced at Yun Che's expression and said, "Che'er, it seems you don't think so."
Yun Che lifted his head slightly and said calmly, "But what if Xiao Yaohou suddenly dies... Then for the Huai Wang Manor, the threat of the Demon Emperor Seal and all their concerns would vanish!"
Yun Che's words stunned everyone. Yun Qinghong said, "Are you worried... that the Huai Wang Manor might attempt to assassinate Xiao Yaohou?"
"Absolutely impossible!" Mu Feiyan waved his hand dismissively and said, "Even if the Huai Wang Manor's power were ten times greater than it is now, and even if they had ten times the courage, they would never dare to make a move against Xiao Yaohou! Xiao Yaohou's personal strength is extremely high, and she is surrounded by powerful experts. Even for the Huai Wang Manor, killing Xiao Yaohou would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. On the contrary, Xiao Yaohou has been eagerly hoping that the Huai Wang Manor would attempt an assassination, so she could gather evidence and openly proclaim to the world their ambition and treasonous crime, making the Huai Wang Manor the target of universal condemnation... What Huai Wang wants is to ascend..."
He suddenly stopped and glanced at Yun Che, then said, "Che'er, you asked earlier about the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, whether deep within where thunder and fire interweave densely, and where many thunder spirits and fire spirits are active... is it a world with rules entirely different from the outside?"
"That's right." Yun Qinghong nodded. "The origin of the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley is untraceable. The commonly accepted theory is that in ancient times, the divine beast Golden Crow descended upon the Huan Yao Realm, and the current Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley was the place where it once stayed. When it left, it left behind its soul spirit and bloodline inheritance, and with its supreme divine power, it transformed that region into a semi-independent world with transcendent flame laws... As for why thunder spirits exist there, it has always been a mystery, though it is widely rumored that a powerful thunder-type treasure exists somewhere within."
"I see... Since it is a semi-independent world with different laws from the outside, then the fire spirits and thunder spirits within would not escape from that world, and the fluctuations and eruptions of Profound Force inside would not affect the outside. Inside, it would also be impossible to send sound transmissions to the outside... Is that right?" Yun Che's brows furrowed even deeper.
"Indeed." Yun Qinghong nodded. He then understood Yun Che's meaning: "Che'er, are you worried... that Xiao Yaohou suddenly interrupted the grand ceremony today and left alone, heading to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley?"
"Yes!" Yun Che nodded solemnly. "Xiao Yaohou has endured a century of crisis and immense pressure. Her greatest desire should be to awaken her bloodline and gain supreme Profound Force. Today was Xiao Yaohou's first centennial grand ceremony, with heroes from all corners gathered, and I had already tilted the situation heavily in her favor. After she obtained the Demon Emperor Seal, she so decisively and hastily announced the suspension of the ceremony, then left without any explanation. I have never been able to accept her excuse of using the Demon Emperor Seal to pay respects to the Former Demon Emperor. I tried to think of many reasons, and the most likely one is that, to prevent any unexpected complications after obtaining the Demon Emperor Seal, she went to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley as quickly as possible to awaken her bloodline!"
"Furthermore, although her departure was decisive and hasty, she mentioned the phrase, 'There are still half a month until the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley opens,' which was completely unnecessary at the time. It almost seemed like... she was deliberately reminding everyone that the valley would open in half a month, thereby concealing the fact that she could open it immediately."
Yun Qinghong's brows rose slightly. He now fully understood why, after the grand ceremony was suspended, Yun Che had suddenly asked him if there was any other way to open the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley besides its natural opening. He turned to Mu Feiyan and said, "Father-in-law, have you ever heard of any secret technique within the Demon Emperor lineage that could forcibly open the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley?"
Mu Feiyan frowned deeply in thought, then slowly shook his head: "I have never heard of such a thing. The Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley has always opened and closed on its own. The barrier that seals the valley is unbreakable by anyone. The Demon Emperor lineage has been passed down for ten thousand years, and I have never heard of any Demon Emperor or anyone else entering the valley during its closed period. This concern should be unnecessary."
"Nothing is absolute!" Yun Che said calmly. "It has never happened before because the Demon Emperor lineage has never faced a crisis like the current one, so there was never a need to forcefully enter. Additionally, out of reverence for the Golden Crow's domain, they would never enter without reason... But that does not mean the Demon Emperor clan has no method of forcibly entering. If such a method exists... our Guardian Clans may not know about it, but that does not mean the various mansions are unaware, as they are all part of the Illusion Demon Royal Clan and naturally know certain secrets exclusive to the royal clan."
"And even if the various mansions do not know, it does not mean the Huai Wang Manor is ignorant. When the Huai Wang Manor first began its rebellion, the first thing it would have done was to use every possible method to uncover all the secrets and hidden cards of the Demon Emperor clan. Over the years, they caused the deaths of the Former Demon Emperor and the Little Demon Emperor, fractured the power of the Guardian Clans, and reduced the Demon Emperor lineage to only Xiao Yaohou, all while blinding the entire Huan Yao Realm with illusions. One cannot deny that the Huai Wang Manor's methods are vicious yet extremely sophisticated. I am absolutely certain they have the ability to learn many secrets of the Demon Emperor clan that are unknown to outsiders."
No one denied the Huai Wang Manor's power. Especially today, as the truth was gradually unveiled, they were shocked to realize that the Huai Wang Manor was far more terrifying than they had ever known. Yun Qinghong said with a deep frown, "So, your concern is: Xiao Yaohou might know a way to forcibly open the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley. She suddenly interrupted the grand ceremony to go straight there as quickly as possible. And to avoid alerting anyone, especially the Huai Wang Manor, she would definitely go alone... And the Huai Wang Manor might also know this secret and guess her destination, then follow her inside to assassinate her!?"
"Mmm." Yun Che slowly nodded. "It's just a guess, but if, even by the slightest chance, this guess is correct, then Xiao Yaohou is in danger! If Xiao Yaohou dies, the Demon Emperor bloodline will be completely extinguished, and then the Huai Wang Manor, with the greatest power, can openly take over the throne of the Demon Emperor!"
"Hahaha." Yun Che spoke with extraordinary gravity, but Mu Feiyan let out a hearty laugh and said, "As expected of my grandson, your mind is truly extraordinary, even more cautious and meticulous than that Huai Wang. However, this concern is still unnecessary."
Mu Feiyan said without worry, "Che'er, even if all your guesses are true, and Xiao Yaohou indeed knows a way to forcibly open the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley, then goes alone in secret, and the Huai Wang Manor also happens to know this secret and guesses her destination, sending experts to enter the valley after her... But Xiao Yaohou enters first, and even if the Huai Wang Manor reacts quickly enough, they will enter a step behind. With Xiao Yaohou's strength, she will definitely be able to reach the Golden Crow Ancestral Land before they catch up to her. The Golden Crow Ancestral Land can only be entered by someone with the Demon Emperor bloodline and holding the Demon Emperor Seal. Once Xiao Yaohou enters, even if the Huai Wang Manor's people all have three heads and six arms, they cannot harm her. If they try to force their way in, they might even provoke the wrath of the Golden Crow Soul Spirit and be burned to ashes."
"By the time Xiao Yaohou emerges from the Golden Crow Ancestral Land, she will have awakened her bloodline and possess the 'Golden Crow World-Incinerating Record.' Even if the entire Huai Wang Manor mobilizes, they won't be able to do anything to her."
"So there's no need to worry in that direction. Xiao Yaohou suddenly suspended the grand ceremony; perhaps it wasn't necessarily to pay respects to the Former Demon Emperor, but there must be a special reason and a cause she doesn't want us to know. If she really did go to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley to awaken her bloodline sooner and prevent unforeseen complications, that would be even better."
Compared to Yun Che's mere speculations, Mu Feiyan's words were reasonable and irrefutable. If Xiao Yaohou truly wanted to go to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley as soon as possible to awaken her bloodline, she would definitely travel at full speed, wasting not a single breath along the way...
Yun Che then silently recalled Huai Wang's reaction after the grand ceremony. He had left in fury, his killing intent toward Yun Che palpable, but his footsteps were not hurried, nor was his gaze panicked—only filled with murderous hatred. If things were as Yun Che feared, Huai Wang should have left in a hurry, since arranging manpower would take time.
Could it be that all these guesses and worries were just his overthinking?
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Since they were already at the Mu Clan, it was inevitable that Mu Feiyan strongly insisted they stay for dinner.
When they left the Mu residence, night had already fallen. The streets of Yaohuang City had begun to quiet down, seemingly even quieter than usual.
Less than a mile from the Mu Clan's main gate, Yun Che suddenly stopped and said seriously, "Father, Mother, Xiao Yun, you all go back first... I want to go to the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley."
"Ah? Why?" Xiao Yun asked with astonishment.
Yun Qinghong frowned. "Are you still worried that your guess might come true?"
"Che'er, didn't your grandfather say that even if all your worries turned out to be true, Xiao Yaohou wouldn't be in danger?" Mu Yurou said softly.
"What Grandfather said is indeed all correct, but I have a somewhat bad intuition." Yun Che said with a furrowed brow.
"Intuition... intuition?" Xiao Yun opened his mouth.
"I never doubt my intuition." Yun Che said solemnly. "Because it has saved my life countless times!"
"Uh..." Xiao Yun looked dumbfounded.