Chapter 459: Sudden Crisis

Inside the Primordial Profound Ark was a desolate world.

They continued walking for over an hour, but the world before them remained a wasteland. If Yun Che had to describe his feelings about this place in two words, they would be...Boring!!

There was no excitement, tension, or mystery that usually came with exploring a new world. As far as the eye could see, it was barren, with hardly any large stones visible. Occasionally, a profound beast would appear, only to be smashed to pieces by Xia Yuanba's punch, leaving no room for Yun Che to act. Compared to his last journey to the Heavenly Lake Secret Realm, which had snow, dangers, and fortuitous encounters, this place was utterly dull. There were no scenic views, no adventures, and not even any risks.

Fortunately, the delightful Feng Xue'er was by his side.

"Jasmine, have you discovered anything?" Yun Che asked casually."...This is a desolate, independent world," Jasmine replied indifferently. "The place where you first set foot was essentially the only green area in this world. Everywhere else is barren, and the further you go, the more desolate it becomes."

"What does that imply?" Yun Che asked."It implies that this world is dying!" Jasmine stated. "Although profound beasts still exist here, you must have noticed their scarcity. Furthermore, the existing types are those with tough exoskeletons and exceptional resistance to harsh environments! Perhaps in a few thousand years, even these highly adaptable profound beasts will gradually become extinct. At that point, this world will truly become a dead world."

"...Why is this world dying?""This is an independent world, not a natural one created by the Primal Chaos. Since it's a self-created independent world, its existence relies on the support of certain powers. When the power sustaining this world disappears, it naturally becomes desolate and dies. However, for it to be able to form such a vast independent world, the origin of this Primordial Profound Ark must be absolutely extraordinary!"

Yun Che: "..."

"Brother Yun, yesterday I heard them say you're the Prince Consort of the Azure Cloud Nation, and your wife is also a princess... So, Brother Yun's wife must be very beautiful, right?" Feng Xue'er tilted her head, looking at Yun Che as she asked curiously.

Before Yun Che could answer, Xia Yuanba leaned in and solemnly stated, "Senior Sister Xueruo is indeed very beautiful, but she's definitely not as pretty as my sister... And, my sister is Brother-in-law's primary wife. Although Senior Sister Xueruo is a princess, she's only a concubine."

As Xia Qingyue's younger brother, Xia Yuanba instinctively felt a slight animosity towards Cang Yue, whom Yun Che married later. Coupled with Cang Yue's status as a princess and her gentle, virtuous nature, he felt a sense of crisis on behalf of his sister. Thus, when Feng Xue'er mentioned Yun Che's wife and specifically Princess Cang Yue, he immediately stepped forward to uphold his sister's status as the primary wife.

"..." If Yun Che couldn't defeat Xia Yuanba at that moment, he would have truly wanted to kick him flying.

"Ah?" As expected, Feng Xue'er's cherry lips parted in surprise. "Brother Yun, you actually have... two wives?"

"Ahem... well... you see, your Brother Yun is incredibly charming. Some things simply cannot be resisted by one's own will," Yun Che explained, rambling slightly.

Unexpectedly, Feng Xue'er nodded, stating very seriously, "Mm, that's right. Brother Yun is so good, surely many, many girls would like him. Brother Yun is nineteen this year, and two wives... doesn't seem like too many! My Imperial Father has over four hundred and sixty concubines, far more than Brother Yun!"

Four... four hundred... and sixty-something!?Yun Che secretly gasped. Becoming an emperor truly seemed enviably comfortable!

Wait... over four hundred and sixty concubines, but only fourteen sons and one daughter?That doesn't seem so great!

Thinking of the latter, Yun Che immediately felt much better. He nodded and said earnestly, "Yes! I will learn from your Imperial Father, Xue'er, and put more effort into this area... Xue'er, I have a few questions I'd like to ask you. Please answer if you can, but if it's inconvenient, you don't have to."

"Mm, go ahead, Brother Yun," Feng Xue'er happily agreed.

Yun Che briefly gathered his thoughts and asked, "Xue'er, in the years before you turned sixteen, did you spend most of your time with your sect's 'Phoenix God'?"

The words "Phoenix God" caused Feng Xue'er's steps to halt for a moment. She remained silent for a short while, then gently nodded. "Yes. On the very first day of my birth, the Phoenix God suddenly appeared and took me to its side. I didn't meet my Imperial Father until I was eight. After that, I still spent most of my time with the Phoenix God, until I was thirteen..."Feng Xue'er's voice abruptly trailed off, and she said no more.

Yun Che could guess that the "Phoenix God" she spoke of had died when Feng Xue'er was thirteen, which was three years ago. Of course, he wouldn't confirm this with Feng Xue'er, as the death of the Phoenix God was the greatest secret that few, even within the Divine Phoenix Sect, were likely to know, and it absolutely could not be revealed. He thought for a moment and then asked, "Did your Phoenix God ever mention another... Phoenix God to you?"

Feng Xue'er raised her head, her beautiful eyes silently observing Yun Che for a moment, and then... she gently nodded.

"The Phoenix God was one of two remnant phoenix spirits left on the Profound Sky Continent by the divine beast Phoenix a long, long time ago, meant to guide the trials and inheritance of phoenix power. One was in the Divine Phoenix Empire, which was our Phoenix God, and the other was in the Azure Cloud Nation... This is something the Phoenix God told me a long time ago," Feng Xue'er said slowly, looking at Yun Che. "Brother Yun, yesterday you asked me why I taught you the World Ode of the Phoenix, even though I knew you were the inheritor of the other Phoenix God... Actually, yesterday I only told you half the reason. The other half... was the Phoenix God's will."

"The Phoenix God's will?" Yun Che's eyebrows twitched sharply.

"The Phoenix God was originally a pure and flawless phoenix spirit, but after residing on the Profound Sky Continent for a long time, its pure soul became tainted by worldly defilement, giving rise to desires it shouldn't have had. It wished to become the sole deity of the Profound Sky Continent and dominate it. So, it broke free from its restraints, left the trial grounds, and went to the Azure Cloud Nation to find the other phoenix spirit. After a fierce battle, it annihilated that spirit, but it also suffered severe injuries. Not only did its power greatly weaken, but its life, which should have lasted hundreds of thousands of years, was reduced to only a few thousand. Even the World Ode of the Phoenix was damaged and incomplete during that battle..."

What Feng Xue'er said was largely consistent with what Yun Che had heard from the phoenix spirit in the trial grounds back then. However, the phoenix spirit had not truly perished, though the World Ode of the Phoenix was incomplete, with only the fifth and sixth stages remaining.

"Later, as the Phoenix God's lifespan gradually approached its end, it saw through many things, and the desires and impurities in its heart slowly faded. It felt guilt and regret for having destroyed the other phoenix spirit. Then, three years ago, just as the Phoenix God was about to... the Phoenix God suddenly sensed the existence of another phoenix spirit and phoenix bloodline. It told me that if I encountered an inheritor of the other phoenix lineage, I should coexist peacefully with them and teach them the World Ode of the Phoenix... Because in that fierce battle, the Phoenix God only lost the last two stages of the World Ode of the Phoenix, while the other phoenix spirit's World Ode of the Phoenix was completely destroyed by it. Even if someone obtained that phoenix bloodline, they would be destined to be unable to cultivate Phoenix Profound Arts."

Yun Che listened intently, momentarily stunned.

Although Feng Xue'er tried her best to conceal it, many of her words hinted at the Phoenix God's death. What Yun Che hadn't expected was that the "Phoenix God," whom he had most dreaded before coming to the Divine Phoenix Sect and whom the phoenix spirit had warned him to be wary of, had long regretted and repented its past betrayal and sins. Indeed, things in the world were truly unpredictable.

"I really didn't expect that Brother Yun would be the inheritor of the other Phoenix God, and that you even received the inheritance of its source power and soul... Oh, right, Brother Yun, what does the other Phoenix God look like? Is it... doing well now?" Feng Xue'er asked with excitement and anticipation.

"Its appearance..." Yun Che thought for a moment, then said somewhat helplessly, "Actually, I haven't clearly seen what it looks like. Each time, I only saw two brilliant golden eyes. It's currently somewhere in the Azure Cloud Nation, and it also told me about some past grievances it had with your Phoenix God. After I return to Azure Cloud this time, it seems necessary to tell it these things. It should find some comfort in them, I hope."

"Mm!" Feng Xue'er nodded, then said with a dreamy expression, "Actually, the Phoenix God was really happy to learn that the other phoenix spirit hadn't actually perished. It was like... the biggest knot in its heart was suddenly untied. So, after learning that Brother Yun is the inheritor of the other phoenix spirit, I'm also very happy."

Just as Yun Che was about to speak, an unpleasant voice suddenly echoed from behind them:"Oh? Isn't this my beautiful and peerless Sister Xue'er? To meet you in such a mysterious and vast world truly is my good fortune."

Yun Che, Feng Xue'er, and Xia Yuanba turned their heads simultaneously. Less than a hundred feet behind them, Ye Xinghan, dressed in black, was walking unhurriedly towards them, embracing his two enchantingly seductive women. His smile clearly showed unbridled arrogance and lechery.

"Ye Xinghan?" Yun Che murmured, then his brows furrowed sharply. Ye Xinghan's dangerous smile and gaze immediately filled him with a strong sense of unease. He whispered, "Yuanba, be careful."

"Oh..." Yun Che's words made Xia Yuanba's body stiffen. He nodded slightly, and the veins on his thick arms instantly bulged.

Xia Yuanba was at the mid-stage of the Tyrannical Emperor Realm, Feng Xue'er was a Half-step Sovereign, and Ye Xinghan's profound strength was also at the mid-stage of the Tyrannical Emperor Realm. If Ye Xinghan were to attack, he would certainly not be a match for Xia Yuanba and Feng Xue'er... Yet, this only made Yun Che more uneasy, because in Ye Xinghan's eyes, there was clearly the look of someone who had their prey in hand and a plan already formed.

"Young Palace Master Ye," Feng Xue'er greeted politely.

"Oh," Ye Xinghan's narrow eyes narrowed as he stared directly at Feng Xue'er's graceful, fairy-like figure, completely disregarding Yun Che and Xia Yuanba. "Sister Xue'er is truly too formal. The title 'Young Palace Master Ye' is so boring and distant. I'd much rather hear Sister Xue'er call me... Brother Ye."