Chapter 1451: Great Departure

The next day, when the palace guards and maids hurried to the side hall where the prince's wedding was held, they were astonished to find that a barrier had suddenly appeared around the area. Though seemingly faint, the barrier blocked everyone, preventing entry.

This unexpected development shocked the palace guards, who immediately reported the news to the King and Queen without delay.

Meanwhile, the King and Queen were still immersed in the joy of their son's wedding, awaiting the newlyweds to serve the traditional wedding tea.

The sudden news startled Zhou Qing and Qin Yu, who immediately rushed to the scene.

Arriving at the barrier-covered area, Zhou Qing's face was stern as he demanded in a harsh voice, "What's going on?! Who dares to act so presumptuously in my palace?" He could sense that the barrier contained an extremely terrifying power, far beyond what any ordinary person could erect.

The guards exchanged glances; they had been guarding the palace and hadn't noticed anything unusual.

"Yuan'er, Yao Yao!" Qin Yu called out towards the barrier, her face etched with worry. A vague sense of unease made her face instantly pale. "Nothing could have happened to them, could it?" she anxiously looked at Zhou Qing.

Zhou Qing said in a deep voice, "Don't talk nonsense. Yuan'er is now the Lord of Cangxuan Heaven. Who could possibly trap him here?"

"Then..." Qin Yu bit her lip tightly.

Zhou Qing took a deep breath and slowly said, "This barrier wasn't set up by someone else; it should be Yuan'er's own doing." Although Zhou Yuan's current power far exceeded Zhou Qing's imagination, he understood Zhou Yuan's supreme status in Cangxuan Heaven. Who could possibly erect a barrier to trap him without his resistance? Therefore, it was most likely Zhou Yuan who had created this situation.

"What is this foolish child thinking?!" Qin Yu exclaimed, both angry and worried. "On such a grand wedding day, why suddenly cause such trouble?"

Zhou Qing's brows were also tightly furrowed. Immediately, he said in a deep voice, "Guards, go invite Elder Cang Yuan."

"No need." Just as Zhou Qing's voice fell, an ancient voice echoed, and Cang Yuan's figure appeared out of thin air beside Zhou Qing. Behind him, several figures flashed into view. Master Qing Yang, Venerable Heavenly Sword, Chu Qing, and Li Chunjun, having sensed the commotion, had all rushed over.

"What happened?" Luoluo was the first to speak, her large, clear eyes looking with surprise and doubt towards the barrier covering the area.

Everyone could sense that the atmosphere was wrong. It should have been a joyous occasion, yet Zhou Qing and Qin Yu wore expressions of panic, and even Elder Cang Yuan was silent, gazing heavily at the barrier.

After a moment of heavy silence, Cang Yuan sighed and said softly, "The barrier was indeed set up by Zhou Yuan himself."

"Has something happened?" Zhou Qing's heart jolted as he asked.

Cang Yuan nodded. At this point, there was no need to hide it, so he revealed all the information regarding Yao Yao's true identity. As his words fell, expressions of profound shock appeared on the faces of those around him.

Yao Yao was actually a Primal God?! That was an existence beyond even Saints!

Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan, Luoluo, and the others couldn't help but widen their eyes. They had never imagined that Yao Yao possessed such a terrifying identity.

A faint realization dawned upon them. No wonder Yao Yao always exuded an aura of indifference; it wasn't a deliberate act, but inherent to her nature as a Primal God. After all, isn't that how gods view mortals—with detached condescension?

"Elder Cang Yuan," Zhou Qing asked with difficulty, "Are you saying that Yao Yao, she has fallen into a sealed state because she was poisoned? And in the future, when she awakens, she might no longer be Yao Yao but the so-called Third God?"

Qin Yu's face turned pale, and tears immediately streamed down. At this moment, she finally understood why Zhou Yuan had set up the barrier, blocking everyone. It was because he was currently in extreme pain; otherwise, he wouldn't have done such a thing. The barrier seemed to block their approach, but more profoundly, it represented Zhou Yuan's inner self, which had also closed off.

This so-called grand wedding contained no joy, but a bone-piercing pain of separation. A grand wedding yesterday, a great parting today.

The thought brought a fresh flow of tears to Qin Yu's eyes. "These two children are truly worrying," she lamented. "It's all my fault for always rushing him."

Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan, Luoluo, and the others nearby also fell silent, gazing blankly at the barrier.

When Yao Yao awakened, would she become the Third God? Would she erase all her past and become a true deity? At that time, she wouldn't remember Zhou Yuan, and surely she wouldn't remember them, her former acquaintances?

At this moment, Zuoqiu Qingyu and the others exchanged glances. A wave of profound sadness washed over them, and in an instant, their eyes turned red, welling up with tears.

"This damned, ruined wedding!" Zuoqiu Qingyu muttered, biting her lip, her nose red.

Li Chunjun, Zhen Xu, Ning Zhan, Chu Qing, and the others behind them also fell silent. Leaning against the rockery, they sighed with a sense of loss. Ever since they met Zhou Yuan and Yao Yao, the two had been inseparable, their bond enviable. Yet, they had never imagined that one day, they would be separated for such a reason. Such a result felt like fate playing a cruel trick. The most intimate people, eventually becoming strangers? This was truly the cruelest punishment in the world.

"Elder Cang Yuan, can the barrier be broken?" Zhou Qing asked. "Let us speak with Yuan'er."

Cang Yuan said softly, "The best thing now is to let him be quiet. Time is the only cure, and no one can help him." Since Zhou Yuan had set up the barrier, he clearly didn't want anyone to disturb him.

Zhou Qing's expression was bitter, while Qin Yu beside him covered her face, weeping.

In the end, Zhou Qing nodded. Then, turning to Master Qing Yang and the others, he said, "Everyone, please forgive our poor hospitality on this occasion." Master Qing Yang and the others understood Zhou Qing's implicit request for them to leave. They also knew he was suffering deeply, so they didn't say much, merely bowed slightly, and turned to leave, their faces etched with complex emotions.

Zuoqiu Qingyu, Li Qingchan, and the others stayed for a while but eventually left. There was no point in staying, and it only made their hearts feel heavy.

As the numerous guests were escorted away, the festive decorations in the palace were quietly taken down. The palace, which had been brightly lit and adorned just the day before, instantly became quiet and desolate. Those unaware of the situation were puzzled but could sense the unusual atmosphere within the palace. They didn't dare to ask, only quietly keeping their questions to themselves.

Thus, the grand wedding that had once captured the attention of all heavens gradually faded into obscurity. Everyone tacitly maintained their silence.

Afterward, every day, Zhou Qing and Qin Yu would come before the barrier. They would gaze into it, sometimes for most of the day, before finally turning to leave, their eyes dim. And time quietly flowed by with each passing day. Unbeknownst to them, spring turned to autumn, leaves withered, and snow fell. Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, it was spring again, a year later.