"This old man greets Her Highness the Princess…"
The Divine Martial General, Zhu Cangning, dressed in casual attire, had a stern face with sharp, chiseled features and deep, weathered eyes that carried an iron-blooded resolve tempered by years of hardship.
Upon seeing Princess Weiyang arrive, his expression immediately relaxed, as if a great burden had been lifted. He bowed respectfully and spoke.
"General, there's no need for such formalities. May I ask why you've sought me out?" Jiang Weiyang asked, puzzled.
Hearing this, Zhu Cangning did not answer directly. Instead, he glanced around, ensuring that no one else was present besides the two of them, before speaking in a low voice, "Princess Weiyang, please do not be confused. This old servant will explain everything to you in detail, unraveling the many doubts and questions that have been weighing on your mind recently."
"Within the Qingyou Pavilion, I have set up a Heaven-Deceiving Formation. For a short time, no one will be able to detect or spy on this place, not even His Majesty the Emperor."
"As for your maid, I will also find a way to erase her memories of this matter."
Hearing this, Princess Weiyang was slightly stunned, her expression turning serious and solemn.
Zhu Cangning's cautious attitude was enough to indicate the gravity of the situation.
She had also been puzzled recently, wondering why her father had been acting so strangely. It was completely unlike his usual demeanor.
She had even begun to suspect that the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty might be facing some kind of crisis.
Or perhaps her father had foreseen some terrible event about to occur, prompting him to take these unusual actions.
This was why she had calmly accepted the Weiyang Emperor's arrangements, considering the bigger picture.
As the Divine Martial General of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, Zhu Cangning would never deceive or spread false rumors.
"Princess, since your return from the Radiant Ancient Domain, you must have noticed some unusual behavior from His Majesty. This old servant has followed His Majesty for a long time, even before he unified the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty. I fought alongside him in countless battles, helping him establish his legacy. I know him well. His Majesty's love for you is evident to all, so how could he possibly make such a hasty decision in choosing a husband for you…"
Zhu Cangning sighed, then began to explain.
Jiang Weiyang nodded thoughtfully, agreeing with Zhu Cangning's words.
At the same time, this was also the source of her confusion.
"General, I understand what you're saying, but why would my father act this way? Has something happened that I'm unaware of?" she asked.
Recently, the situation in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty had been calm. There had been no turmoil or chaos due to the impending Black Calamity, nor had they joined the Alliance of Righteous Unity.
Could this simply be the calm before the storm?
"I suspect that His Majesty… has been tainted by Dark Matter…"
Zhu Cangning looked at Jiang Weiyang, shook his head, and after a moment of silence, spoke in an extremely heavy tone, laced with a fear and unease that even he could not fully explain.
This unease stemmed from a fear of the unknown and the uncertain.
Because even he did not know why the Weiyang Emperor had been contaminated by Dark Matter.
"What?"
Jiang Weiyang felt as if she had been struck by lightning. Her eyes, hidden behind a white veil, widened in shock, and she stood frozen in place like a statue, unable to believe what she had just heard.
Her wise and mighty father, revered by all, who had shaken the heavens and earth, had been invaded by Dark Matter?
How could this be? How could something like this happen to him?
Zhu Cangning had long anticipated this reaction from Jiang Weiyang.
When he had first speculated this, the shock and horror he felt were no less than what Jiang Weiyang was experiencing now, and it had taken him a long time to calm down.
Of course, he could not guarantee the truth of this speculation.
But all the clues pointed to this possibility.
"General, what led you to this speculation?"
Jiang Weiyang forced herself to remain calm, but her voice trembled slightly, carrying a hint of fear and dread.
This news was like the sky falling for her—terrifying and unbelievable.
Zhu Cangning spoke gravely, "His Majesty once sought opportunities for a breakthrough, venturing deep into various realms of time and space. On one occasion, he encountered an unprecedented and terrifying enemy. He suffered severe injuries and almost didn't make it back. This matter is known to only a few in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, and I am one of them."
Jiang Weiyang was even more shocked and disbelieving. Her nearly invincible father had been severely injured and almost didn't return. How terrifying must that enemy have been?
And yet, the Weiyang Emperor had never mentioned this to her.
"His Majesty once told me that the figure he encountered was undoubtedly one of the most terrifying existences he had ever faced."
"At the time, he speculated that an unimaginable calamity might befall the myriad worlds in the future. What he had accidentally witnessed deep in the realms of time and space might be related to the fate of the entire Vast Expanse…"
"A terrifying Dark Power is brewing deep within the realms of time and space, like a volcano that has slept for countless epochs, waiting for the moment to erupt." Zhu Cangning's gaze was filled with heaviness as he continued.
As he spoke of these things, even he felt a sense of suffocation and helplessness, as if he could smell the thick scent of blood and fire and see endless darkness.
"Are you saying that my father encountered the source of Dark Power deep within the realms of time and space?"
Jiang Weiyang, being quick-witted, quickly grasped Zhu Cangning's meaning. Her jade-like face turned pale, and her delicate frame trembled slightly, as she too felt an indescribable fear and pressure.
"I don't know. This is just my speculation. I'm not sure why His Majesty told me these things at the time. Perhaps he had his own reasons."
"If it weren't for His Majesty's recent strange behavior, I wouldn't have speculated in this direction. The injuries he sustained back then never fully healed and would often flare up, requiring him to suppress them deliberately." Zhu Cangning sighed, his face filled with helplessness.
Jiang Weiyang fell silent. If Zhu Cangning hadn't told her all this today, she might never have known.
Of course, it was also possible that when these events occurred, she was still sealed within the Dao Source and had not yet been born.
The Weiyang Emperor's personality was such that he would never have told her these things, not wanting to worry her unnecessarily.
"This old servant speculates that His Majesty's hasty decision to choose a husband for you might be due to his fear that, should something happen to him in the future, there would be no one left to protect you. Thus, he is preparing a path for you in advance, ensuring your safety. Faced with Dark Matter, even His Majesty is powerless, and we, his subjects, do not know how to help him."
"If this matter were to leak out, it would be no less than a cataclysm for the entire Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, with unimaginable consequences. After much deliberation, I decided to inform you, Princess." Zhu Cangning's gaze remained heavy.
Jiang Weiyang struggled to recover from the earth-shattering news.
At this moment, she didn't know what to do, feeling only a deep sense of helplessness.
After all, she was just a young woman, inexperienced in the ways of the world, raised in the sheltered gardens of the palace, never having faced any major storms—a true flower of the greenhouse.
Her first reaction was panic, her mind blank, completely unsure how to face all of this.
Of course, she understood Zhu Cangning's meaning: he was advising her not to be too willful, to consider the bigger picture, and not to treat the matter of choosing a husband as a trivial affair.
This might concern her future destiny.
"Fu Yi is a junior I've watched grow up. His character and temperament are trustworthy, and his talent is naturally beyond question. Earlier, in the pavilion, you must have witnessed his strength."
"In the coming days, you may face many troubles, Princess. I boldly suggest assigning Fu Yi to your side, to help you resolve these disturbances and assist in identifying a suitable husband."
Zhu Cangning suddenly clasped his hands and spoke.
Still reeling from the shocking news, her mind buzzing and unable to fully process what had happened, Jiang Weiyang was caught off guard by these words and was once again stunned.
What did this mean?
Though her heart was in turmoil, she was not foolish. The Divine Martial General seemed to be kindly informing her of these matters, but in reality, he had his own ulterior motives.
By placing his descendant by her side, was he hoping to take advantage of the situation?
"Weiyang thanks the General for his kindness."
Jiang Weiyang didn't know what the Divine Martial General's true intentions were, but at this moment, it was difficult to refuse his goodwill.
Zhu Cangning's face showed a relieved smile.
Although his earlier words were alarming, they were not baseless. They were his speculations and concerns.
If something were to happen to the Weiyang Emperor, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty might face a collapse.
But at that time, the person behind the Weiyang Emperor would likely step in.
With that person's presence, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty would not collapse, and all problems could be resolved.
Having followed the Weiyang Emperor for so long, Zhu Cangning knew that behind the Emperor stood a mysterious existence.
The Weiyang Emperor's achievements today were largely due to that person's contributions.
When Jiang Weiyang left the Qingyou Pavilion, she was still in a daze.
Zhu Fuyi, who had been waiting outside, followed her, acting like a guard.
From a distance, he saw his grandfather, Zhu Cangning, nod at him.
Zhu Fuyi's eyes immediately lit up with excitement and joy. No matter what, compared to other young talents, his chances of pursuing Princess Weiyang had greatly increased.
Meanwhile, in a cold and desolate hall within the Weiyang Immortal City, a blind old woman sat cross-legged on a cushion, seemingly in a meditative state.
Ye Wudao, who had left the banquet, returned here, his previously arrogant and domineering expression now replaced with respect as he bowed and said, "Senior Sister Xingying."
"It's been a long time. Your cultivation has improved greatly."
The blind old woman nodded slightly. Her silver-white eyes, which seemed to contain a galaxy of stars, were extremely dazzling. She was none other than Elder Xingying, who had once appeared in the Immortal Chu Dynasty.
Before the fall of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, she had already fled, not caring about its fate.
Including her junior brother, the White-Browed Star Lord, who had served as the Star Lord of the Immortal Chu Dynasty, she had not intervened.
She had allowed him to be captured by the Xiyuan Sacred Hall, where he remained imprisoned in the Temporal Prison.
Ye Wudao said respectfully, "Compared to Senior Sister, this level of cultivation is nothing."
On his way back, he had received a message from this senior sister, informing him that she had also come to the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty.
Her arrival and message had surprised him.
He had little contact with Elder Xingying and the others, but they were indeed from the same sect.
In his youth, he had been guided by a Green Dragon and carried by a Vermilion Bird to a place called the Yinxu Cave, where he had received guidance from a mysterious figure who called himself the Master of Yinxu Cave. He had gained many benefits from this experience.
He could be considered a disciple of the Yinxu Cave.
However, the Yinxu Cave had a rule: it valued fate and did not care about one's background. Disciples were also forbidden from mentioning anything related to the Yinxu Cave outside.
Even his father, the ruler of the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom, did not know about this opportunity.
The blind old woman before him held a high status within the Yinxu Cave, and her strength was unfathomable.
No matter how arrogant Ye Wudao was, he dared not show disrespect in her presence.
Moreover, in his eyes, the mysterious Master of Yinxu Cave was far more powerful than his father, the ruler of the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom.
"Since you've returned, come with me to present a great gift to the Weiyang Emperor. Judging by your expression, it seems you've been snubbed by his daughter."
Elder Xingying rose from her cushion and walked out of the hall.
Ye Wudao hesitated for a moment but followed, asking in confusion, "Senior Sister, what kind of gift are you planning to give to the Weiyang Emperor?"
He sensed that his senior sister's mood seemed off, carrying a suppressed anger.
Moreover, would the Weiyang Emperor even agree to meet her if she went so openly?
Could it be that the Weiyang Emperor was also connected to the Yinxu Cave?
"No need to ask. For you, this will be a good thing. This was personally mentioned by our master. Jiang Yun will not refuse."
Elder Xingying walked ahead, speaking indifferently. With a wave of her wide sleeve, the void blurred, and a golden path appeared, piercing through the fabric of space and time, carrying Ye Wudao away with her.
Only then did Ye Wudao notice that she was holding a square sandalwood box, which seemed to contain something, faintly emitting a bloody scent.