Chapter 396: By Myself Alone

That day, Yun Che left the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. Riding the Snow Phoenix Beast south, he returned to the Blue Wind Imperial City two days later, landing at Moon Embracing Palace.

Cang Yue and Xiao Lingxi were already waiting for him there.

"Little Che!!" Watching Yun Che descend from the sky, Xiao Lingxi cried out softly and rushed forward. The moment Yun Che's feet touched the ground, he was tightly embraced by a soft, fragrant warmth. Xiao Lingxi wrapped her arms around his neck, bouncing happily.

"Husband, you're back," Cang Yue said, walking over. Her long hair was swept up, revealing a noble and graceful beauty that few ordinary women possessed.

"Oh dear!" Xiao Lingxi released Yun Che and stepped aside, saying with a giggle, "Sorry, Princess Sister, Che'er is your husband; you should have been the first to hug him... Ah! Little Che, hurry up and hug your Princess Wife! You just finished your honeymoon and ran off to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, leaving Princess Sister alone in Moon Embracing Palace! Hmph, I feel sorry for Princess Sister."

In the past few months, Xiao Lingxi and Cang Yue's bond had clearly deepened. Officially, Xiao Lingxi was Yun Che's aunt and Cang Yue was his wife, but they often addressed each other as sisters, and it didn't feel out of place at all.

Yun Che stepped forward, gently embracing Cang Yue, and said with guilt, "Xue Ruo, I was wrong. We just got married, and I've been away from you for so long. I promise you, after I return from Divine Phoenix Empire, I will spend every day with you."

Cang Yue gently shook her head and said with a soft, gentle smile, "Husband, you are the most extraordinary man in the world; never say you were 'wrong.' Marrying you is the luckiest and happiest thing that has ever happened to me in this life. You are destined to soar like a dragon emerging from the sea, reaching ever higher places, and I never want to be a burden or hindrance on your path. What you just said is already more than enough."

"Xue Ruo..." A warmth surged through Yun Che's heart, and he instinctively held Cang Yue even tighter, unwilling to let go. Despite being a princess, she was as gentle as a soft breeze and flowing water. After marrying him, she regarded him as her entire world, thinking of everything for his sake... After being married for only a month, he had been away for four consecutive months, yet when he saw her again, her beautiful eyes held only joy, not a hint of resentment. This made Yun Che feel even more guilty... He secretly resolved that after returning from Divine Phoenix Empire, he would always stay by her side and be a truly devoted and worthy husband to her.

Watching the two of them in such an intimate moment, Xiao Lingxi suddenly felt an inexplicable pang of sourness rise from her heart to her nose. She simply turned away, no longer looking at them, but her lips and nose were distinctly upturned, and her small hands were ceaselessly twisting the hem of her clothes.

"Where is Grandpa now? Has he adapted to life here?" Yun Che asked.

Cang Yue smiled faintly: "Grandpa is currently at the Grand Profound Hall of the Blue Wind Profound Palace, managing the profound arts and profound skills scriptures on the second floor. At first, the profound palace disciples were very respectful of Grandpa after they learned he was our grandfather. I heard from Palace Master Dongfang that they would tremble when speaking with Grandpa... But Grandpa has a gentle nature; he's completely unpretentious, even with the lowest-ranking profound palace disciples. Gradually, he became very close with the disciples and instructors in the Profound Palace. People now genuinely respect and like Grandpa, not just because of his connection to us. Now, Grandpa has made many friends, both young and old, there. He's radiant every day, sometimes even staying there for more than ten days, unwilling to return to the Imperial Palace... So, you don't need to worry about Grandpa at all. He might not even have time for you now."

"That's good..." Yun Che smiled from the heart.

"Father has been waiting for you. Judging by his anxious expression, he likely has something very important to discuss with you... He's in the imperial study now."

"Alright, I'll go now."

Yun Che left Moon Embracing Palace and headed straight for the central palace. The moment he stepped into the imperial study, Cang Wanhe eagerly came forward to greet him: "Che'er, you're finally back. I thought you would only stay in the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace for a few days; I never imagined it would be for several months."

"Judging by your expression, Father, is there something urgent and important?" Yun Che said, observing Cang Wanhe's look.

"Alas!" Cang Wanhe sighed: "It's not exactly an urgent matter, but it might significantly affect you. Since last month, I have been sending letters to various sects regarding the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, preparing to organize our nation's young profound practitioners to participate... However, seven days ago, I received a reply from the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, and they actually refused to let Xia Qingyue go to the Divine Phoenix Empire."

"I know about this matter," Yun Che said. "The Ice Cloud Immortal Palace certainly has its reasons for doing so."

"Oh?" Cang Wanhe glanced at Yun Che and continued, "A nineteen-year-old in the mid-stage of the King Profound Realm, the first in Blue Wind history! If she were to go, she would surely astound the other six nations, not only raising our national prestige but also bringing immense renown to the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. So, I truly don't understand why the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace refused to let Xia Qingyue go. However, it seems you already know the reason... But it's not just the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace; all the other sects I sent invitations to have also refused."

Yun Che's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he then said, "Is it not normal for them to refuse? When competing against others abroad, the main goal is naturally to gain fame and glory. But if going there means not only failing to gain prestige but instead suffering endless ridicule and humiliation, then no one would be willing to get involved."

"That's right." Cang Wanhe sighed heavily: "Actually, I had already anticipated this outcome. The previous Seven Nations Ranking Tournaments have largely been the same. In terms of profound strength, the gap between us and the other six nations is indeed too vast. In the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, excluding Divine Phoenix Empire, the participants from the other five nations are at least at the Sky Profound Realm. Yet, in the Blue Wind Nation's thousand-year history, there has never been a single Sky Profound Realm practitioner under twenty-five years old. Therefore, in the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, our Blue Wind Nation has always been a laughingstock. Those top talents within the Blue Wind Nation who went to participate with pride and confidence ended up utterly crushed, losing all dignity, and returning in humiliation... Over time, even the Four Great Sacred Grounds stopped sending their disciples to represent Blue Wind in the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament. I had thought that with Xia Qingyue emerging from the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, they would seize the opportunity to gain prestige, but unexpectedly, the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace still refused."

"The Ice Cloud Immortal Palace's refusal to let Xia Qingyue go to Divine Phoenix City this time is not due to a lack of confidence, nor is it because they don't want to use this opportunity to gain renown. Rather, they have a special reason that cannot be divulged to others." Yun Che simply explained on behalf of the Ice Cloud Immortal Palace. "Father, since the sect disciples are unwilling to go, how did Blue Wind Nation arrange its participation in previous Seven Nations Ranking Tournaments?"

Cang Wanhe shook his head and laughed, a self-deprecating laugh: "Although we don't want to participate and going only brings ridicule and humiliation, we still have to go. Otherwise, Blue Wind would lose even its last shred of dignity. So, in previous tournaments, we would select ten talented disciples under twenty-five years old who had graduated from the Blue Wind Profound Palace and joined our imperial forces, simply to fulfill the obligation... Subsequent emperors never even bothered to inquire about the results, because the outcome was obvious even to a blind man."

"...Ten? So, in the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, each nation sends ten participants?" Yun Che asked.

"That's right." Cang Wanhe nodded: "Each nation officially sends ten participants, but up to a thousand accompanying personnel are allowed! The Seven Nations Ranking Tournament is held every twenty-five years. It's rarely mentioned in our nation because whenever it is, all Blue Wind citizens think of is humiliation. But for the other six nations, it's considered the grandest event in the profound world! Even emperors will set aside national affairs to personally attend and observe the matches. Powerful sects will dispatch their most elite forces to go. A thousand accompanying personnel might sound like a lot, but these thousand slots are fiercely contested by those powerful sects. And those who cannot secure a spot among the thousand accompanying personnel will still flock to Divine Phoenix City... Some even arrive a month or several months in advance to vie for entry tickets to watch and cheer for their nation's profound practitioners... During the Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, the clamor in Divine Phoenix City will be far beyond your imagination."

Cang Wanhe was right. The "Blue Wind Ranking Tournament" garnered extremely high attention within the Blue Wind Nation, especially in the profound world. However, Yun Che had almost never heard anyone mention the "Seven Nations Ranking Tournament," the five words symbolizing the grandest event of the entire Profound Sky Continent... even though the event, held only once every twenty-five years, was less than a year away... If Feng Xichen hadn't disrupted his and Cang Yue's wedding ceremony and delivered the invitation to Cang Wanhe, Yun Che wouldn't even have known about the "Seven Nations Ranking Tournament."

At the same time, Cang Wanhe's simple words had clearly outlined just how grand an event the "Seven Nations Ranking Tournament" was in the other six nations, and indeed across the entire Profound Sky Continent! Perhaps, at this very moment, over eighty percent of the conversations in the other six nations revolved around the upcoming Seven Nations Ranking Tournament.

The sects that had qualified for participation in various nations were also in the midst of their most intense, careful, and excited preparations in twenty-five years.

Only the Blue Wind Nation was calm and stagnant like dead water, with no one paying attention or discussing it. It was as if it were an affair of other continents, completely unrelated to them.

This was a form of avoidance, but even more so, a sense of helplessness and shame.

He could even foresee that in Divine Phoenix City, profound practitioners from the six nations would throng in dense crowds, yet barely a single person from Blue Wind would be seen. On that grand competition stage, every participant's entrance would be met with fervent cheers and shouts from their nation's supporters, but when a profound practitioner from Blue Wind Nation stepped onto the stage...

That scene, just thinking about it, was incredibly desolate and sorrowful.

Yun Che suddenly looked up, and said with utmost seriousness, "Father, regarding this Seven Nations Ranking Tournament, you don't need to make any other arrangements or preparations. The Blue Wind Nation... I will participate alone!!"