Chapter 378: Ice Cloud Invitation

"Huh? You're leaving the palace? Where are you going?" Cang Yue grabbed Yun Che's arm, asking nervously. Cang Yue knew very well that Yun Che didn't belong in the palace, but she hadn't expected him to be leaving so abruptly.

Yun Che smiled reassuringly, "I haven't decided yet; perhaps I'll leave the Azure Wind Nation... But don't worry, there's a seventy percent chance the Divine Phoenix Sect won't know about yesterday's events, and a ninety-nine percent chance they won't act against me anytime soon. My decision to leave is just a precaution for a slight possibility, and it also serves as training before the Seven Nation Ranking Tournament."

Cang Wanhe pondered for a moment, then said, "Che'er, are you truly going to participate in the Seven Nation Ranking Tournament? Given the animosity between you and the Thirteenth Prince from yesterday, I'm afraid that once you're on the Divine Phoenix Empire's territory, you might... Alas, even though your talent is astonishing, the Divine Phoenix Sect is simply too powerful. So powerful that I can't help but tremble every time I think of it... There are Overlords in the Divine Phoenix Sect! And more than one!"

"I must go," Yun Che said calmly. "After exposing the Phoenix Flame, a confrontation with the Divine Phoenix Sect is inevitable. Since it's destined to happen, I might as well meet it head-on."

Cang Wanhe's face was filled with worry, but he quickly concealed it. He looked at Yun Che and slowly said, "Che'er, I trust you. With your talent and intellect, I believe that even against the Divine Phoenix Sect, you can emerge unscathed!"

"Yes, I won't disappoint Imperial Father." Yun Che paused to think, then asked, "Imperial Father, do you know what the 'Primordial Profound Ark' truly is?"

"The Primordial Profound Ark..." Cang Wanhe's expression became solemn, yet a clear longing appeared on his face. "It is an incredibly mysterious existence. Its shape resembles an enormous flying vessel, and its size is almost comparable to the entire Azure Wind Imperial City."

"That big!" Yun Che was astonished.

"No one knows what it truly is, nor where it came from. The name 'Primordial Profound Ark' was given by the people of the Divine Phoenix Empire. It began appearing above the Divine Phoenix Imperial Capital a very long time ago, hovering at an extremely high altitude that only an Overlord can reach."

"Each time it appears, it floats in the same spot for half a year. On the last day of that half-year period, the ark's gate automatically opens. Twelve hours later, it closes, and then the Primordial Profound Ark mysteriously vanishes... Its next appearance will be three hundred years later. On the final day before the ark disappears, some peerless experts board it to search for its supreme treasures, but for countless years, no one has ever found anything."

"Why do people believe there are treasures within the Primordial Profound Ark?" Yun Che asked.

"Within the Divine Phoenix Sect, there's a unique branch whose sole purpose is to seek out the world's greatest treasures. It's said that every time the Primordial Profound Ark appears, the 'Detection Spirit Stones' used by this branch to locate treasures emit an intensely brilliant golden light; some even explode directly. This anomaly proves that the Primordial Profound Ark must conceal immensely powerful and unimaginable treasures! Because on the Profound Sky Continent, nothing else has ever caused a Detection Spirit Stone to emit golden light."

"Therefore, even though countless generations of predecessors who boarded the Primordial Profound Ark have never found anything, the Divine Phoenix Sect has never given up on its quest. Every time the Primordial Profound Ark appears, exploring it becomes the sect's top priority!" Cang Wanhe paused, then added, "Feng Xichen seemed to mention yesterday that the top three ranked sects would be allowed to explore the Primordial Profound Ark together with the Divine Phoenix Sect... The Primordial Profound Ark always appears above the Divine Phoenix Imperial Capital, and the Divine Phoenix Sect has never allowed anyone else to touch it, not even the Sacred Grounds. This is the first time they've actively offered others the chance to explore it together."

Pri...mor...dial... Pro...found... Ark...What exactly could that be?

"Jasmine, do you know what that is? It sounds incredibly strange," Yun Che mused in his mind.

Jasmine replied indifferently, "I have indeed seen profound arks as large as this imperial city, or even larger, many times. But a profound ark that repeatedly appears and vanishes for thousands of years, or even longer... Hmph, this is the first I've heard of it. The emperor's description has suddenly piqued my interest in this so-called 'Primordial Profound Ark'."

Yun Che fell silent.

Just then, after two announcements, two luxuriously dressed men entered with reserved steps. Upon seeing Yun Che and Cang Yue, their expressions immediately changed significantly.

These two were none other than Crown Prince Cang Lin and Third Prince Cang Shuo.

"Your sons respectfully greet Imperial Father and wish you long life and good health."

Cang Lin and Cang Shuo were cautious and respectful, completely devoid of their former arrogance. Cang Wanhe raised an eyebrow, then lifted a hand and said, "Since you've offered your greetings, if there's nothing else, you may withdraw. My daughter Yue'er and her husband are currently discussing important matters with me."

Yun Che's actions from yesterday left Cang Lin and Cang Shuo with lingering fear. Seeing Yun Che again made their scalps tingle; they dared not linger and quickly bowed out. Yun Che squinted at the departing Cang Lin and Cang Shuo, then turned back and asked with a serious tone, "Imperial Father, how do you plan to deal with these two?"

Cang Yue flinched when Yun Che spoke. She turned her eyes, nervously watching Cang Wanhe's reaction.

Cang Wanhe was momentarily stunned, his expression suddenly becoming somewhat disheartened. "Che'er, what do you think I should do?"

Yun Che didn't hesitate. He calmly said, "'The most heartless are those of the imperial family'—this saying is a satire and criticism of royalty, yet it also reflects some of the helplessness within royal families. Countless historical events have brutally proven that if an emperor handles matters with emotion, the imperial family will inevitably be imperiled. Therefore, sometimes, even if it's extremely difficult, one must be ruthless... especially when the other party was ruthless first! If Imperial Father pardons them now, it would undoubtedly send a message to future generations of the imperial family that even acts of rebellion can be forgiven! This might incite more people to commit similar acts of unfilial defiance."

Cang Wanhe closed his eyes, his face full of resignation. "I know all of this. They nearly destroyed the entire imperial family, and they certainly cannot be absolved from their involvement in the attempt on my life. Che'er, if not for you, I might already be dead, Yue'er's fate would surely be tragic, and the entire imperial family would be puppeted by the Xiao Sect and Burning Heaven Clan. I truly wish I could kill them with my own hands. However... alas, among my sons, only Cang Lin and Cang Shuo possess the most kingly abilities. Otherwise, I wouldn't have tolerated their open and secret struggles back then. If I were to pass the throne to my other five sons, I wouldn't rest easy even in death, and Yue'er, unfortunately, is a girl... On one side, there's the crime of rebellion; on the other, there's the imperial bloodline and the future of the empire. I truly find it difficult to choose."

"Actually, Imperial Father doesn't need to be so conflicted. This matter is quite easy to resolve."

Yun Che leaned forward and whispered something mysteriously into Cang Wanhe's ear.

Cang Wanhe's expression was initially surprised, then he suddenly trembled all over, his eyes gleaming with extreme excitement. He grabbed Yun Che, asking with immense agitation, "Che'er, what you just said... is it true?"

"Of course," Yun Che said with a sly smile. "With my medical skills, this is incredibly simple. I'll go prepare the medicine shortly and guarantee that Imperial Father... hehe, can be vigorous for another three hundred years!"

Cang Wanhe, of course, had not an ounce of doubt about Yun Che's medical skills. His half-long beard trembled faintly from excitement. Suddenly, he stood up, slammed the table, and roared, "Guards! Quickly apprehend the rebellious sons Cang Lin and Cang Shuo and confine them to the Sky Prison! Summon Shen Tiemian of the Ministry of Punishments to an immediate audience! I shall personally enumerate the crimes of these two rebellious sons!"

After leaving the imperial hall, Cang Yue eagerly asked, "Husband, what did you just say to Imperial Father? Why did his attitude suddenly change so drastically?"

"Well... that's a secret between men," Yun Che chuckled. The fundamental reason for Cang Wanhe's earlier concerns was that he had indulged excessively in his younger years and had long lost his fertility, having no more children after Cang Yue. Thus, every prince who died meant one less, with no possibility of conceiving and raising new ones. However, if the fertility issue no longer existed, Cang Wanhe would have no cause for hesitation. Given a few years, it would be easy for him to have a dozen or more princes and princesses, and with careful nurturing, he could naturally raise excellent heirs to the throne.

"Yun Che."A cool, gentle female voice came from above. Chu Yuechan and Xia Qingyue slowly descended, standing before Yun Che and Cang Yue.

Cang Yue and Xia Qingyue's gazes met instantly, then simultaneously shifted away. Xia Qingyue's icy eyes appeared serene and calm, while Cang Yue's expression was far more complex. After all, Xia Qingyue was Yun Che's legitimate wife, married through proper rites... In that regard, Cang Yue was a later concubine. Facing Xia Qingyue, she naturally felt a sense of awkwardness. She pursed her lips and softly said, "Fairy Chu, Fairy Xia..."

A somewhat strange atmosphere arose between Cang Yue and Xia Qingyue, causing Chu Yuechan to raise an eyebrow slightly. She directly addressed Yun Che, "Yun Che, my disciple and I are here not only for your wedding with Princess Cang Yue, but also for another important matter."

"...Please tell me, Fairy Chu," Yun Che said.

"Our Grand Palace Mistress wishes to see you."

Yun Che looked up in surprise. "The Grand Palace Mistress? See me?"

"That's right." Chu Yuechan slightly narrowed her eyes. "The Grand Palace Mistress already knows about you and my sister, and naturally, she also knows that you cultivate some Ice Cloud Arts. She's also fully aware of the commotion you caused in the Ice Palace last time... However, she wishes to see you not to condemn you, nor to harm you; I can guarantee that. If you have no other urgent matters recently, how about a visit to my Ice Cloud Immortal Palace?"

That the Grand Palace Mistress of Ice Cloud Immortal Palace wanted to see him was something Yun Che hadn't expected. After a brief thought, he nodded slightly. "Alright. Last time, in my extreme rage, I lost control and offended the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. I should have gone to apologize to Palace Mistress Bingyun anyway... I will go alone in a month."

Chu Yuechan 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 fading snowy silhouette in the distance.