Chapter 196: Return

"Even if he truly makes it into the top hundred this time, or even defeats Fen Juebi, no one will acknowledge this as an achievement for our Azure Wind Profound Palace or the Imperial Family. On the contrary, it will only invite ridicule, and my father will certainly not feel honored by it... What are your thoughts, Palace Master Qin?" Cang Yue asked calmly.

"Your Highness is absolutely right; it would indeed attract a great deal of criticism and even ridicule," Qin Wushang affirmed with a nod. He then added, with a hint of helplessness, "However, Fen Juechen joined our Profound Palace precisely to compete in this year's Azure Wind Ranking Tournament. He wishes to defeat Fen Juebi and erase his past humiliation. The Third Prince also specifically instructed us on this matter. Moreover, he is currently a recognized disciple of our palace, so removing him... I'm afraid that would be quite difficult."

"In that case, let him be. I will speak to my father about it," Cang Yue said directly, closing the list. Her tone was casual and listless, as if she no longer cared about the roster or even this year's Azure Wind Ranking Tournament.

Cang Yue's response elicited another sigh from Qin Wushang. Lowering his head, he said, "Everything will be done as Your Royal Highness commands. There are only three days left until the ranking tournament. How about we depart tomorrow morning? What time would be most convenient for Your Royal Highness?"

"Me?" Cang Yue shook her head, her voice tinged with melancholy. "I forgot to inform Palace Master Qin earlier. I won't be attending this year's Azure Wind Ranking Tournament. I'll have to trouble Palace Master Qin and Palace Master Dongfang to lead the team."

"Ah? This..." Though Qin Wushang had vaguely anticipated this based on Cang Yue's demeanor, hearing it stated so indifferently by Princess Cang Yue still made his heart sink. He looked troubled. "But Your Highness, Palace Master Dongfang is notoriously elusive. Since His Majesty fell ill, he has rarely remained in the palace. After he departed for travels over a year ago, no one has seen him, and he cannot be reached by communication talismans."

"Furthermore, even if Palace Master Dongfang were to return in time, it would be highly improper for him and me to lead the team. The Azure Wind Ranking Tournament is the most prestigious event for power competition within the Azure Wind Empire. Even the Ten Great Sects, which command immense influence, send at least Grand Elders or even their Sect Masters to personally lead. Our Imperial Family has always been represented by at least one Prince or Princess, and sometimes His Majesty himself. If only a Palace Master were to lead this time, the world's various sects might perceive it as our Imperial Family showing disrespect to the realm's heroes. Heaven's Sword Villa, in particular, could take offense."

"His Majesty is unwell and unable to travel. The Princes are all engrossed in their power struggles and utterly unwilling to get involved in this matter. This task can only fall to Your Royal Highness. Three years ago, although our Imperial Family ranked a mere two hundred and twenty-third, Your Royal Highness's grace and charm captivated the entire audience, completely overshadowing our family's dismal performance. For this year's tournament, I implore Your Royal Highness to honor us with your presence, otherwise... I truly do not know what I should do."

In previous Azure Wind Ranking Tournaments, Emperor Cang Wanhe of the Azure Wind Empire personally oversaw the selections, made decisions, and on many occasions, even led the team himself. Now that Cang Wanhe is ill and unable to preside, the Princes, despite their focus on seizing power, are not ignorant of the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament's imperial significance. However, the Imperial Family's past results have been consistently dismal; each visit to Heaven's Sword Villa resulted in complete humiliation, and none of them wished to take on the responsibility. That is precisely why Cang Yue led the team three years ago.

The situation this time was even more straightforward than three years prior. Cang Yue was the only one Qin Wushang could rely on.

Yun Che's matter had left Cang Yue heartbroken and emotionally drained, even giving rise to feelings of despair she had never experienced before. She simply had no desire to concern herself with the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament. However, with Qin Wushang's words having reached this point, Cang Yue had no other option. The Imperial Family's dignity could not be disregarded, and maintaining relations with Heaven's Sword Villa was paramount. She could only nod slightly, closing her eyes as she said, "I understand... Prepare the flying profound beasts. We will depart tomorrow morning."

"Understood," Qin Wushang replied, finally breathing a sigh of relief.

The next day, early in the morning, at the inner palace of the Azure Wind Profound Palace.

The sky was bright, and the inner palace was quiet. Although it was still early, nearly all the inner palace disciples had already entered the Profound Gathering Pagoda. Typically, within the inner palace, disciples would rise before dawn and enter the pagoda, some remaining inside for days and nights at a time. Every moment of cultivation within the Profound Gathering Pagoda was extremely precious, and they were determined not to waste it. Once they left the Azure Wind Profound Palace, re-entry would be virtually impossible for them.

In front of the Grand Profound Hall, three magnificent Giant Snow Eagles stood, exuding a subtle chill. Given their speed, they could travel thousands of *li* day and night, reaching Heaven's Sword Villa in no more than two days. Beside the three eagles, Qin Wushang was already waiting. To his right stood two young men, appearing to be around twenty years old, dressed in the robes of inner palace disciples. Both had unremarkable features, but their eyes held a concealed arrogance, and they regarded each other with clear hostility.

These two were Feng Bufan and Fang Feilong, who had long held the second and third positions on the inner palace's Heavenly Profound Ranking. Though only twenty years old, they were admired and respected by all Profound Palace disciples, well-known figures in the entire Azure Wind Imperial City, and recognized as peerless geniuses. They were also favored confidantes of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, poised to wield great power in the future.

Achieving such accomplishments at their age was enough to make over ninety-nine percent of the young people in the Azure Wind Empire intensely envious; their arrogance stemmed from this very fact.

However, belonging to the respective factions of the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, they were naturally at odds. Not only did their eyes betray hostility, but their words were also constantly laced with sarcasm.

Just then, Cang Yue finally arrived, unhurriedly. She wore no heavy attire or makeup, and brought no attendants, coming completely alone.

Qin Wushang quickly stepped forward. "Greetings, Your Royal Highness. Princess, why... why have you come alone? You have no protective escort with you."

Cang Yue managed a faint smile and shook her head slightly. "It's not necessary. When traveling to Heaven's Sword Villa, fewer people are better than many, and with Palace Master Qin by my side, it surpasses thousands of attendants... These two must be Feng Bufan and Fang Feilong, correct?"

Feng Bufan and Fang Feilong also stepped forward to greet Princess Cang Yue. While they were respectful, they displayed none of the apprehension or excitement commoners usually showed in the presence of a princess. Having served alongside the Crown Prince and the Third Prince, they were well aware of Princess Cang Yue's limited influence in the imperial power struggles. She held no power beyond her noble title as a princess. Her sole remaining support, perhaps, lay in the current Emperor's dwindling authority—which included the Azure Wind Profound Palace. Once the Emperor passed away and the contest between the Crown Prince and the Third Prince reached its conclusion, Princess Cang Yue's fate would be sealed. In fact, even if Fen Juecheng of the Burning Heaven Sect did not favor her, whichever of Cang Lin or Cang Shuo ascended to power would undoubtedly use her as a means to secure benefits.

"Where is Fen Juechen?" Cang Yue asked, glancing around.

Qin Wushang shook his head, a helpless expression on his face. "Fen Juechen was informed yesterday to be here at the *chenshi* hour. However, we've waited for half an hour and he still hasn't arrived. Fen Juechen is arrogant and disdains waiting. Perhaps he intends to show up only at the very end of the *chenshi* hour. Aside from that, everything else is prepared. Your Royal Highness can rest assured."

"With Palace Master Qin personally arranging everything, I am naturally at ease," Cang Yue said placidly. "In that case, let us wait here for a moment. If Fen Juechen still hasn't arrived after the *chenshi* hour, there will be no need to wait further."

Cang Yue had not wanted Fen Juechen to represent the Imperial Family in the ranking tournament in the first place, so she naturally had little patience for him.

"Understood," Qin Wushang respectfully acknowledged. He was, however, confident that Fen Juechen would arrive within the *chenshi* hour. Fen Juechen had been cultivating ceaselessly, day and night, within the Profound Palace, all for the purpose of defeating Fen Juebi in the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament and avenging his past humiliation. In the year leading up to the tournament, his cultivation intensity within the Profound Gathering Pagoda reached a brutal level. Every day, he desperately pushed to improve his profound energy and profound arts as if possessed.

In just over a year, he had advanced directly from Spirit Profound Realm Level 1 to his current Spirit Profound Realm Level 5—a leap of four levels. Such astonishing progress filled Qin Wushang with a sense of awe and trepidation. This also reinforced his conviction that, in terms of talent, Fen Juechen was by no means inferior to Fen Juebi; he was perhaps even significantly superior! If Fen Juechen were the same age as Fen Juebi, Fen Juebi would be no match for him.

As they spoke, a figure appeared from the direction of the inner palace entrance, slowly walking towards them.

"Oh, that must be Fen Juechen," Qin Wushang remarked to Princess Cang Yue, his spirits lifting slightly at the sight of the distant figure. But almost immediately, he frowned, a look of profound astonishment spreading across his face.

The figure drew closer, gradually becoming clearer in their sight. It was a youth of seventeen or eighteen, dressed in simple white robes stained with dust and dew, as if he had spent the entire night exposed to the wind and mist. He exuded no overt aura—at least not the imposing arrogance of Fen Juechen. His face was handsome and fair, completely lacking the formidable presence typical of a profound practitioner, resembling more a delicate young man.

This person was not Fen Juechen.

It was Yun Che, who had traveled day and night to return!

It took Yun Che a full eleven days to travel from the center of the Death God's Wilderness to its outer edge. For Yun Che, these eleven days were a constant peril. Especially within the territories of Sky Profound Beasts and Earth Profound Beasts, every step he took was painstakingly cautious and difficult. He encountered no fewer than a hundred potentially fatal crises, all of which he successfully evaded or escaped. Thus, in eleven days, with his True Profound Realm strength, he managed to cross the Death God's Wilderness—a feat even half-Sky Profound Realm experts found challenging to survive. Then, traveling day and night for six more days, he finally returned to the Azure Wind Profound Palace this very morning.

Upon his return to the Azure Wind Profound Palace, the first person Yun Che encountered was Qin Wuyou. Qin Wuyou's expression upon seeing him was as if he had witnessed a ghost in broad daylight, and only then did Yun Che realize that news of his venture into the Death God's Wilderness had spread, with everyone believing he had perished there.

Subsequently, he learned from Qin Wuyou that the team bound for Heaven's Sword Villa, to participate in the Azure Wind Ranking Tournament, had already gathered in front of the Grand Profound Hall in the inner palace and was about to depart. He immediately left Qin Wuyou and rushed to the location with the utmost speed.

Upon arriving, he saw a stunned Qin Wushang and Cang Yue.

"Palace Master Qin, Senior Sister, long time no see... I'm back," Yun Che said, smiling as he stood before them.