Chapter 189: Burning Heaven Young Lord

The trial required him to kill 99,999 profound beasts within a year, all while being relentlessly pursued by countless others. Each of these beasts was also far more powerful than him. The sheer difficulty and outrageousness of this trial weren't just cruel; they were absolutely insane.

What infuriated Yun Che the most was, "Couldn't they have just added one more to make it a round number? What's the deal with 99,999?!"

As the Ancient Azure Dragon's voice fell silent, the atmosphere around them suddenly shifted from fresh to sinister.

Innumerable roars of profound beasts echoed in the distance. Around Yun Che, dozens of profound beast shadows began to stir, their auras firmly locking onto him before they all charged.

Not a single one of the profound energy auras released by these beasts was below the Spirit Profound Realm.

In the blink of an eye, Yun Che was surrounded by a multitude of profound beasts. The Ancient Azure Dragon had stated that the beasts here would actively approach Yun Che's position, guided by its aura, and once they spotted him, they would pursue him relentlessly. These words were clearly not an idle threat.

Yun Che swiftly drew Dragon Fault with one hand and confronted the beasts. As he swung Dragon Fault, it unleashed streaks of dancing Phoenix flames, repeatedly forcing back the surrounding profound beasts. However, these creatures were far stronger than the Rock Dragon Warriors from the first trial. Dozens of them swarming him at once created far more pressure than a siege by hundreds of Rock Dragon Warriors. What's more, as Yun Che fought, the number of profound beasts didn't decrease; instead, it rapidly multiplied, with hordes of them rushing in from all directions every moment.

Within dozens of breaths, the pressure on Yun Che became so immense it nearly suffocated him. After another few dozen breaths, he found himself in extreme peril. Firmly protecting Chu Yuechan, he pleaded with Jasmine for help: "Jasmine, what should I do now!"

"There's only one way," Jasmine said calmly.

Yun Che's spirits lifted. "What way?"

"To run, of course!" Jasmine snapped, her voice tinged with anger. "Are you just going to wait here to die if you don't run?! Was the Star God's Broken Shadow I taught you just for show?!"

"Hup!"

Flames erupted from Yun Che's body, and a small, layered Blazing Star Lotus unfurled, rapidly forcing back the surrounding powerful profound beasts. Taking advantage of the fire's cover, he leaped high. After a long-distance sprint using Phoenix Wing Sky-Splitting, he then executed several consecutive flashes with Star God's Broken Shadow, finally breaking free from the profound beasts' encirclement. He returned Dragon Fault to the Sky Poison Pearl, instantly feeling incredibly light. Concentrating his profound energy in his feet, he then dashed away wildly, carrying Chu Yuechan.

"This trial," Jasmine said with a heavy voice, "far surpasses the first one in terms of enemy strength, danger, and the time it will take. Although the method to pass this trial is to kill 99,999 profound beasts, given how terrifying this place is, disturbing even one beast will alert all the surrounding ones, putting you in a dangerous situation—and you're carrying a burden! So, most of your time here won't be spent hunting, but escaping!"

"For the past few months," Jasmine continued, "all your cultivation has focused on heavy swords and the Great Way of the Buddha, neglecting the Star God's Broken Shadow I taught you! If you want to pass this trial, you must first master your life-saving abilities. To survive in this dangerous place filled with Spirit Profound Beasts, you must cultivate the Star God's Broken Shadow to the second stage of 'Double Shadow' in the shortest possible time!"

"I'll give you a month. During this month, stay in the safest possible place. And unless absolutely necessary, do not attack any profound beasts; that way, you'll be much safer. In this period, you must cultivate the Star God's Broken Shadow to the second stage."

"You were even able to break through to the second stage of the Great Way of the Buddha in such a short time," Jasmine continued. "Given your comprehension, this goal shouldn't be difficult for you! Once you can manifest a double shadow and possess stronger life-saving and escape abilities, then you can begin hunting these profound beasts... Understood!"

"...Understood," Yun Che replied, not objecting to any of Jasmine's words. The immense pressure and sense of crisis from being surrounded by dozens of Spirit Profound Beasts moments ago still left him with lingering fear.

One thing Jasmine said was absolutely right: to pass this trial, he first needed to preserve his own life!

***

Imperial City of Azure Wind, Moon-Embracing Palace.

Princess Cang Yue, dressed in splendid attire, stood by a lotus pond, gazing at her peerlessly beautiful reflection in the water. Her eyes held a lost expression, as if she were deep in thought.

A palace maid hurried over, bowing respectfully. "Your Royal Highness, Mansion Master Qin of Azure Wind Profound Palace requests an audience."

Cang Yue's gaze shifted from the water. "Show him in at once."

Soon after, Qin Wushang walked in alone and bowed to Cang Yue. "Qin Wushang pays his respects to Your Royal Highness."

"Mansion Master Qin, there's no need for such formalities," Cang Yue, also known as Lan Xueruo, said with clear urgency in her voice. "Have you come with news of Yun Che?"

Qin Wushang slowly shook his head, then sighed. "I'm ashamed to say, I still haven't found any trace of him. Ah, Your Royal Highness, forgive my frankness, but even I wouldn't dare to easily enter a place like the Death Bog. Five months ago, many people saw him enter, but no one has ever seen him emerge. In that place, far too many geniuses have perished. It's been five full months... Ah, Your Royal Highness, please don't cling to hope any longer."

"No... absolutely not! I believe he's fine!" Cang Yue's voice began to tremble slightly. Despite her efforts to suppress them, her emotions started to spiral out of control, and tears welled uncontrollably in her eyes. "He promised me... he would be safe... he would return within half a year... he must be fine... he must just not want us to find him... he must be..."

She repeated "must" six times and "absolutely" once, but it was unclear whether she was trying to convince Qin Wushang or herself.

Soon after Yun Che left, she couldn't suppress her longing and sent him a sound transmission. However, neither the thousand-mile sound transmission talisman nor the incomparably precious ten-thousand-mile sound transmission talisman received any reply. Later, she finally learned of Yun Che's whereabouts: many people near the Death Bog had seen a sixteen or seventeen-year-old male, carrying a dark greatsword, enter the Death Bog alone. The innkeeper of the inn where he had stayed further confirmed this.

But no one had ever seen him emerge.

If she had known Yun Che was heading to the Death Bog, she would never have let him leave. It was a nightmarish place, permeated with death. Countless people perished there every year, including numerous top geniuses who had absolute confidence in their own strength.

This news had once brought Cang Yue to the brink of a breakdown. Now, five full months had passed, and still no one had seen him emerge. Even expert teams who ventured deep into the Spirit Profound Beast territories had never encountered him.

Having entered the Death Bog for five full months without emerging and leaving no trace, the only possibility was that he had perished within, his body destroyed or devoured by profound beasts.

Qin Wushang sighed silently, deeply regretting Yun Che's presumed demise. He immediately changed the subject. "Your Royal Highness," he began, "I just met with His Majesty to discuss this year's Azure Wind Ranking Tournament. His Majesty instructed me to consult directly with you. Only one month remains until the tournament begins, and the profound practitioners who will represent the Azure Wind Imperial Family must be chosen. Does Your Royal Highness already have an internal candidate, or will you, as in previous years, select them through a competition among the inner palace disciples?"

Cang Yue averted her gaze. Only after her emotions had somewhat calmed did she reply with a vacant look in her eyes, "Mansion Master Qin, please wait... wait another half month. If... if there's still no news of him, then we'll proceed with the inner palace selection as in previous years."

"But, in that case, the timing will be..." Mid-sentence, Qin Wushang saw the desolate expression on Cang Yue's face and felt a pang of heartache, swallowing the words "too rushed." He clasped his hands and said, "I understand. Everything will be as Your Royal Highness wishes. Regarding Yun Che, I hope Your Royal Highness can come to terms with it. The Crown Prince and Third Prince are growing increasingly audacious these days, and you are His Majesty's last pillar of support. Please take utmost care of yourself... Ah, I'll take my leave."

As the Vice Mansion Master of Azure Wind Profound Palace, Qin Wushang was naturally no fool. When Yun Che first entered the palace, he could interpret Cang Yue's special attentions as her valuing him for representing the Imperial Family in the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament. But afterwards, she personally visited him in the inner palace every few days. While others might not know these things, as the Mansion Master, he certainly couldn't be unaware. After learning that Yun Che had entered the Death Bog, her various reactions made it increasingly clear to Qin Wushang that she had evidently fallen for Yun Che, and it was not merely simple "attention."

"...Mansion Master Qin, take care."

After watching Qin Wushang leave, Cang Yue slowly turned and closed her eyes.

Junior Brother Yun, why did you go to such a dangerous place? Have you truly stayed in that deathly bog forever, unable to ever return?

The Azure Wind Ranking Tournament is about to begin. You said you would directly participate in this year's tournament... But now, where are you? You made me accustomed to your presence, giving my floating heart attachment, reliance, and a sense of belonging because of you. Why then did you so hastily disappear from my world?

If you don't appear in this Azure Wind Ranking Tournament... then, after Father Emperor passes away, I will personally go to the Death Bog to search for you. If I can't find you, I'll stay with you... remain there forever... and won't let you be alone...

Her slender hands quietly clenched. Under her luxurious phoenix robe and crown, traces of mournful despair seeped out.

At this moment, a young man's presumptuous voice drifted over:

"Hahahaha, Imperial Sister, you are indeed here. Your Imperial Brother has come to see you. Quick, look who the palace has brought for you."

At this voice, Cang Yue's crescent-like eyebrows slightly furrowed, and the desolate expression on her face instantly shifted to calmness. She turned around, looking at the speaker and the person standing beside him. Her eyes were unruffled, and her voice was as calm as water: "Third Imperial Brother, Young Master Fen, long time no see."

Her "long time no see" was as faint as a wisp of breeze, devoid of any surprise or delight that typically accompanies meeting someone after a long separation.

Third Prince Cang Shuo appeared to be twenty-seven or twenty-eight. The person beside him was a bit younger, only twenty-two or twenty-three, yet he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with the imperial prince. The innate nobility and arrogance he exuded were not at all inferior to Cang Shuo's; in fact, they surpassed it.

He took a step forward and bowed slightly, his gaze fixed on Cang Yue, openly revealing a fiery admiration. "Fen Juecheng of the Burning Heaven Clan pays his respects to the beautiful and noble Princess Cang Yue. I heard Your Royal Highness returned to the palace eight months ago, but I, Juecheng, have been in secluded cultivation in the Blazing Sun Fire Domain during that time, only emerging two days ago. I hope Your Royal Highness will not hold it against me."

"Hahahaha," Cang Shuo laughed. "As soon as Young Master Fen emerged from seclusion, he couldn't wait, traveling day and night to visit Imperial Sister. Such profound sincerity is truly touching and enviable."