Chapter 658: Ice Cloud Bad News (Part 1)

"Sect Master... Sect Master, something terrible has happened!"

Outside the Phoenix Main Hall, someone rushed over. Before he even arrived, his frantic voice carried from afar. Feng Hengkong put down the map in his hand and frowned, "What is causing such panic?"

The man quickly approached Feng Hengkong, took a deep breath, and said in terror, "The life-red crystals of Elder Nineteen and Elder Forty-Three... they're... shattered... They are already..."

"What?" Feng Hengkong's expression changed abruptly, and his voice suddenly deepened. "When did this happen!"

"Just now. The time difference between their shattering was less than thirty breaths. I immediately tried to contact them with my sound transmission jade, but I couldn't connect. It seems even their sound transmission jades have been destroyed."

Feng Hengkong's brows furrowed deeply. "Elder Nineteen and Elder Forty-Three were supervising this expedition to the Azure Cloud Nation. Yesterday, they personally sent me a message saying that they had reached the Azure Cloud Imperial City and would breach its walls in a few days... Could there possibly be experts in the Azure Cloud Imperial City capable of killing them?"

"That's impossible!" Feng Hengkong quickly dismissed the possibility. The highest level of cultivation in the Azure Cloud Profound Realm was the Throne Realm. Even if all the Throne Realm practitioners in Azure Cloud united, they couldn't defeat either Elder Nineteen or Elder Forty-Three, let alone kill them. "Immediately send a sound transmission to Commander-in-Chief Qi Zhencang and ask what exactly happened!"

"Yes!"

However, before the sound transmission talisman could be picked up, a strong profound formation aura emanated from Feng Hengkong's sound transmission jade. This aura was clearly that of a thousand-mile transmission! A thousand-mile transmission required the consumption of incredibly precious thousand-mile sound transmission talismans. Even his Divine Phoenix Sect would not easily use such a transmission unless it was a matter of extreme importance. Feng Hengkong quickly picked up the jade, and a terrified voice immediately rang out: "Sect Master... this is bad... this is very bad... our main army... we've completely lost contact with them..."

"Completely lost contact... What does that mean!" Feng Hengkong's face turned dark, and his voice held a hint of irritation.

"Commander Qi, Vice Commander Duan... even all those we could contact, the myriad chiefs, thousand chiefs, even hundred chiefs, and everyone with a sound transmission imprint – we can't reach any of them... It's not just that there's no reply... it's that we can't send a transmission at all... Their sound transmission jades seem to have all been destroyed. It's as if they've all vanished."

"Wha... what!!" Feng Hengkong's hand trembled violently, and the person beside him turned deathly pale with shock.

Feng Hengkong transmitted with a grave expression, "How many troops do you have now? How far are you from Azure Cloud Imperial City?"

"Your subordinate has a total of two hundred and seventy thousand troops, six hundred miles from Azure Cloud Imperial City... with Elder Fifty-Two as a supervising officer."

"Immediately deploy all flying profound beasts, take at least fifty thousand troops, and along with Elder Fifty-Two, proceed to Azure Cloud Imperial City at the fastest possible speed to ascertain what happened! I don't care what methods you use... you must arrive before nightfall today! Whatever you see, you must report to me immediately!"

"...Your subordinate obeys!"

Feng Hengkong silently put away the sound transmission jade, his face incredibly grim. Taking control of Azure Cloud within three years was the deadline he had set three years ago. Now, three years had passed, and yesterday, they had successfully reached the Azure Cloud Imperial City, on the verge of piercing the heart of the Azure Cloud Nation... Yet, at this final moment, such a massive, incomprehensible anomaly had occurred.

This gave him an extremely ominous premonition.

The smoke of battle before the Azure Cloud Imperial City had completely ceased, and even the battlefield didn't need to be cleared.

The surviving Divine Phoenix soldiers were tending to their wounds, a dazed expression occasionally appearing on each of their faces as they wondered if they were truly awake or still dreaming... They, who had resigned themselves to death, had survived. The Azure Cloud Imperial City they had desperately defended had not been touched by the Divine Phoenix army... All Divine Phoenix soldiers, hundreds of thousands of them, were dead!

Turned into the finest dust by one person... in an instant.

That scene would be unforgettable for them their entire lives. And when that person slowly descended from the sky... their gazes, their entire nervous system, and their blood trembled... as if they were looking up at a destructive demon god from hell.

The Azure Cloud Imperial Family's only Imperial Son-in-law, now the husband of Empress Cang Yue, the man who had shaken the entire Profound Sky Continent three years ago and was almost a myth, had returned... No, now he was no longer "mythical"... The power he unleashed was truly the power of a legendary god!

The Azure Cloud Imperial City, once always bustling, was now exceptionally quiet, permeated with an air of desolation. With the arrival of the Divine Phoenix army, most of the citizens had fled far away. However, a small portion of people who had lived there for generations defiantly remained, vowing to live and die with the Imperial City. What they awaited was not the Divine Phoenix army breaching the city walls, but news that the seven hundred thousand Divine Phoenix soldiers had been annihilated, and that Yun Che, the Imperial Son-in-law who had fallen in the Divine Phoenix Empire three years ago, was alive and had returned... Instantly, countless cheers and tears filled this last bastion of dignity for the Azure Cloud Nation.

The myth of annihilating hundreds of thousands of Divine Phoenix soldiers in a single breath... had allowed them to see a dream-like hope amidst their endless shock.

The one who had continuously created miracles for the Azure Cloud Imperial Family and the Azure Cloud Nation... he wasn't dead! This time, would he once again bring a miracle to the crumbling Azure Cloud Nation...?

Moon Embracing Palace.

This had been Empress Cang Yue's residence when she was a princess, and even after ascending the throne, she continued to use it as her bedchamber... because it was her and Yun Che's bridal room. For the past three years, only here could she sleep with a slight sense of peace.

On the phoenix bed, Cang Yue slept very peacefully, perhaps from sheer exhaustion or unwilling to awaken from a dream. Yun Che sat by the bed, holding her small hand... Since bringing her here, he had stayed by her bedside, not leaving even a step, and his gaze never left her. His heart was filled with endless heartache and self-reproach... After their marriage, they had only spent a month together before he left for Ice Cloud Immortal Palace, then returned to say farewell and headed for Divine Phoenix... After that, all he brought her was the merciless news of his death, followed by the pain of her father's demise... the peril of their nation's collapse and the immense pressure akin to the sky falling...

For these three years, when Cang Yue needed him most... he had not been by her side. Not only had he failed to protect her, but he couldn't even shoulder the danger and immense pressure alongside her.

Her body was much thinner than before, and her internal energy was exceptionally weak. She had remained standing purely by sheer willpower. If she wasn't treated soon, she would certainly fall seriously ill... an illness that could be life-threatening.

Yun Che took out a small emerald green pill and placed it between her lips, guiding it with his profound energy for her to swallow. He had refined this type of emerald green pill based on the Tyrannical Emperor Pill, and he carried many of them. However, for Cang Yue's body, directly consuming it would only result in her profound veins bursting, leading to death. But with Yun Che present, such a thing was absolutely impossible. Yun Che slowly and carefully refined it with his own profound energy... Once this pill was fully refined, it would be enough to completely transform Cang Yue.

Her pale complexion gradually turned rosy, and her crescent brows slightly trembled... Then, she slowly opened her eyes.

Her blurry vision slowly cleared, and Yun Che's face appeared in her sight. She immediately froze.

She had been unconscious for two hours, not a very long time, yet she had experienced over a dozen dreams... The chaotic mix of reality and dreams made it impossible for her to distinguish one from the other. Her greatest fear was that Yun Che, who had reappeared in her world, might just be a fleeting illusion in a dream.

"Yue'er... Xueruo... Senior Sister... Princess Wife... you're awake." Meeting Cang Yue's fragile, glassy gaze, Yun Che smiled. His four gentle endearments told her that all of this was real, not a dream.

Cang Yue's beautiful eyes trembled, then she let out a soft cry and threw herself onto Yun Che with all her strength, bursting into tears. This girl, who had shown the world her unparalleled strength and propped up the Azure Cloud Nation through its peril for three full years, now unrestrainedly released her vulnerability in his arms... Her still-frail arms held him incredibly tightly, fearing that if she loosened her grip even slightly, she would lose him again...

Outside the door, Number One Under Heaven, Number Seven Under Heaven, and Xiao Yun leaned against the wall, each looking somewhat subdued. Number One Under Heaven sighed softly and said, "I never imagined that upon coming to the Profound Sky Continent, the first thing we'd encounter would be war."

"Indeed," Number Seven Under Heaven whispered, "We came back so happily for a reunion, but as soon as we returned, our homeland was in such a state... Big Brother Yun must be heartbroken right now."

Dongfang Xiu and Qin Wushang walked over. Facing these three clearly young individuals, their demeanor was exceptionally respectful... because the profound energy auras that occasionally emanated from these three people filled them with dread.

"I am Dongfang Xiu, Head of the Azure Cloud Profound Palace, and this is Vice Head Qin Wushang. May I ask how to address you all...?" Dongfang Xiu paused, unsure whether to call them "young friends" or "seniors," because given their profound energy level, they could maintain a youthful appearance even past a hundred years old. He simply said, "May I ask, distinguished guests... how should I address you?"

From Yun Che's previous actions and words, they could see he held these two in high regard. The three naturally dared not be remiss and quickly returned the greeting. Just as Number One Under Heaven was about to speak, Number Seven Under Heaven preempted him: "I am Number Seven Under Heaven, pleased to meet both Palace Heads. This is my husband Xiao Yun, who is Big Brother Yun Che's sworn brother. And this is my eldest brother, Number One Under Heaven... Oh dear! You must think our names are very strange, but our awful dad named us, so you're not allowed to laugh internally!"

Number One Under Heaven's face twitched... his little sister was indeed too naive, openly blurting out their full names. The surname "Tian Xia" (Under Heaven) was already extremely rare, and if names like "Number One Under Heaven" and "Number Seven Under Heaven" – names difficult to forget – were to spread and reach the ears of those in the Four Sacred Grounds, there was a risk they might be linked to the Tian Xia clan of the Illusory Demon Realm! What vexed him even more was that his little sister introduced Xiao Yun first, then him! It seemed she had indeed forgotten her brother after getting a man!

Dongfang Xiu and Qin Wushang were secretly astonished. They referred to themselves as "juniors" but called Yun Che "Big Brother," clearly indicating they were close to Yun Che's age! At such a young age, to possess such astonishing profound energy cultivation, there was no doubt they must be individuals from a very high realm.

"I see," Dongfang Xiu said, calming himself. "Since you are Yun Che's friends, you are honored guests of our Azure Cloud Nation... Yun Che truly is an extraordinary person who defies common understanding. Five years ago, he was sealed into the Sword Imperial Terrace of Heavenly Sword Villa with the demon, and everyone thought he was dead, yet he emerged alive, with his profound energy having grown many times over. Three years ago, everyone on the Profound Sky Continent knew he had perished in the Primordial Profound Ark, with no chance of survival. But... he returned alive again, and his profound energy has grown to a level that we cannot comprehend."

"This time, our Azure Cloud... might truly be saved," Qin Wushang said excitedly.

"I wonder how the Empress... uh, I mean Sister-in-law, is doing. Her aura... is so incredibly weak," Xiao Yun said with a worried expression.

"Don't worry," Number Seven Under Heaven reassured him, "Big Brother Yun's medical skills are so amazing, nothing bad will happen."