At the same time, Zhu Cangning felt that a simple bronze box had appeared in his spatial storage.
The box was square, with intricate and primitive patterns carved on its surface, surrounded by wisps of primordial purple energy, exuding an air of profound mystery.
If it weren't for the fact that this was within his mental space, he might not have even noticed the bronze box.
This made Zhu Cangning's heart tighten. Although he didn't know the purpose behind State Preceptor Xingming's words, he vaguely sensed that something was amiss.
Why would State Preceptor Xingming say this to him?
A personal item carrying Zhu Fuyi's aura? Was it to deduce something through divination?
Moreover, why was it so secretive and cautious, not daring to speak openly? Was it because he feared being overheard or detected by someone?
Zhu Cangning continued to converse with State Preceptor Xingming as if nothing had happened, his expression unchanged.
State Preceptor Xingming was the same, his demeanor as gentle and smiling as ever, as if he hadn't just spoken those words.
Afterward, Zhu Cangning invited him to a courtyard for tea.
On the way, he thought for a moment and placed a birthday gift that Zhu Fuyi had once given him into the mysterious bronze box.
The gift had been something Zhu Fuyi had gone to great lengths to obtain and had later refined with various materials. It was a token of his affection and naturally carried his aura.
Zhu Cangning trusted State Preceptor Xingming's character, which was why he had so easily believed his words.
The two of them chatted calmly in the courtyard, discussing the recent changes in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, their concerns about the future, and their confusion over the Weiyang Emperor's recent behavior.
It wasn't until noon that State Preceptor Xingming left, satisfied.
Zhu Cangning was filled with confusion, but he never brought up or asked about anything.
Only after seeing State Preceptor Xingming leave did he let out a slight sigh of relief, though a heavy feeling still lingered in his heart.
The Weiyang Immortal Dynasty might be facing an unseen upheaval.
And the Weiyang Emperor, State Preceptor Xingming, and others seemed to have foreseen this long ago and were making preparations for it.
Only they were left in the dark.
"Perhaps Princess Weiyang's escape from the marriage wasn't an accident."
Thinking of this possibility, Zhu Cangning was suddenly startled, his expression shifting between dark and light. After some contemplation, he ordered the recall of many of his clansmen.
Then, Zhu Cangning found several vines shrouded in chaotic mist, stripped to the waist, and carried them on his back. With heavy steps, each step leaving a bloody footprint, he led his clansmen into the palace to plead for punishment.
His actions shocked the entire capital of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, causing a stir among the various ministers and clans.
After Princess Weiyang's escape from the marriage the previous night, the Weiyang Emperor had personally ordered the dispatch of powerful experts to capture her and bring her back.
Some well-informed individuals had already learned that among those who had assisted Princess Weiyang in her escape was a great-grandson of the Divine Martial General, Zhu Cangning.
"Zhu Cangning has failed in his duties and leads the Zhu family to seek punishment."
Zhu Cangning's powerful voice echoed through the ancient streets, resounding through the heavens.
Countless beings and cultivators trembled and turned their heads, their blood boiling.
This general, who had once fought alongside the Emperor to conquer various regions and subdue numerous clans, had made countless contributions to the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty.
Yet now, even he could not escape the Emperor's wrath, showing how furious the Emperor had been over Princess Weiyang's escape from the marriage.
Zhu Cangning led his clansmen to kneel outside the palace, the vines on his back covered in thorns that pierced his skin, leaving him bloodied and battered. Behind him was a pool of blood, a shocking sight.
He dared not use any magical power, his forehead covered in cold sweat as he endured the pain.
The entire capital of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty fell into a deathly silence.
The various ministers and clans did not dare to provoke the Emperor's anger at this time, nor did they dare to plead for Zhu Cangning.
In the sky, rumbling sounds echoed as ancient warships and chariots rose from various palaces and training grounds, crushing through the air as they carried numerous powerful experts away.
On a simple banner, the words "Weiyang" fluttered, exuding a majestic pressure that made people tremble. These were the troops sent to capture Princess Weiyang.
In the palace, Jiang Yun stood with a calm and cold expression, his hands behind his back.
Beside him stood several ministers, all powerful figures in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, with connections to vast clans and civilizations. There were also several deities from the Divine Dao Civilization.
"On the way, we encountered an attack by dark beings. Fortunately, we were lucky to escape. We arrived in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty today, only to find that such a thing had happened here."
A smiling old man stood in the hall.
He wore a wide gray robe, his eye sockets slightly sunken, his hair sparse, and his teeth yellow. He looked no different from an old farmer sitting on a doorstep smoking a pipe.
But no one in the hall dared to underestimate him, for he was an Ancestral Dao Realm existence.
"The Alliance of Righteous Unity has sent an Ancestral Dao Realm existence to deliver a message. It seems they truly value our Weiyang Immortal Dynasty."
Jiang Yun looked at the old man with a calm expression.
The old man chuckled and shook his head, "The Alliance of Righteous Unity doesn't have the power to make me deliver a message for them. Someone else asked me to deliver this message."
As he spoke, he pointed a finger toward Jiang Yun's back, his smile meaningful.
Jiang Yun's pupils contracted, and he fell silent.
"The current situation in the vast expanse is chaotic. The Alliance of Righteous Unity is still struggling to establish itself. With a great enemy at hand, now is the perfect time to form an alliance. I hope Your Majesty will consider this carefully, for the sake of the people and for yourself." The old man chuckled, revealing his yellow teeth.
"Great enemy? Who do you mean?" Jiang Yun asked.
The old man smiled, "Your Majesty, let's not play dumb. We both know who it is."
"Your Majesty, what this fellow Daoist says is true. With a great enemy at hand, now is the perfect time to form an alliance. Moreover, with Princess Weiyang's escape from the marriage, the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom has lost face and may not be willing to ally with us so easily."
"Although the Alliance of Righteous Unity has only recently been established, it has already taken shape. The various supreme true worlds have joined forces to fight against the dark beings, and it has shown initial success. Although the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty can still protect itself now, what about in the future?"
Many ministers in the hall also urged, not understanding why the Weiyang Emperor was hesitating.
Joining the Alliance of Righteous Unity would bring countless benefits and no harm. It wouldn't affect the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty's ruling status, nor would it shake its foundations.
---
**Cold Sky Domain**, a territory of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, was named for its perpetual winter, with silver frost covering the ground and snow stretching as far as the eye could see.
In this vast and desolate land, few living beings could be seen, and the landscape was a sea of white.
At this moment, ripples spread through the void as a terrifying energy surged forth, and a spatial passage appeared.
Three heavenly horses pulled a carriage, rushing out of the passage and landing in an oasis not far away.
The oasis was lush with vegetation, clear springs, and a sparkling lake, standing out starkly against the white landscape.
The three heavenly horses landed by the lake, drinking water and grazing. Even though they were ancient beasts with spatial talents, capable of traveling billions of miles in a day, they were exhausted after traveling through the spatial passage all night.
Zhu Fuyi, holding the reins of the horses, closed his eyes to rest. Even he felt somewhat tired.
Both physically and mentally, the journey had taken a toll.
Most people would have been terrified upon hearing the news of the princess's escape from the marriage, but Zhu Fuyi, with his boldness, had volunteered to be the coachman, enduring the hardships without complaint.
He hoped that his sincerity would move Princess Weiyang.
Last night, while traveling through the spatial passage, he had vaguely sensed powerful figures chasing them. At one point, the spatial passage had nearly collapsed.
The terrifying energy had been world-destroying, making his heart tremble with fear.
Fortunately, Princess Weiyang had prepared well for her escape.
She had used ancient talismans to conceal their auras, allowing them to evade their pursuers.
Inside the carriage, Jiang Weiyang removed the veil she had been wearing, her eyes still closed.
Three maids, following her instructions, took out a cosmetic box and applied a black, jade-like substance to her face.
"The pursuers will arrive soon. We won't be able to rest for long. You should also find a way to disguise your appearances. It will save us a lot of unnecessary trouble."
Jiang Weiyang's voice was calm, carrying a soothing power.
"Yes, Princess."
The three maids replied in unison, though some couldn't bear to look and turned their eyes away.
A nearly flawless, perfect face was now covered with a black, birthmark-like substance, turning into a terrifying, yin-yang face that was truly horrifying.
Even in broad daylight, it would be enough to make people break out in a cold sweat.
Yet Princess Weiyang didn't seem to care, as if she didn't realize how much of a "waste" her actions were.
Not long after, the carriage set off again, tearing through the spatial passage and quickly disappearing into the distance.
After Jiang Weiyang and the others left, a black dog with a long nose and dark fur suddenly jumped out of the void.
A gloomy man with a scar running across his face walked out from behind, arriving at the oasis.
"Xiao Hei, how long ago did they leave?" the gloomy man asked.
The black dog's cold, green eyes looked at the spot where the carriage had been, sniffed for a while, and then spoke in human language, "No more than half an hour."
The gloomy man suddenly laughed, his eyes equally cold. "Heh, Jiang Yun treasures his daughter dearly. I don't believe he would force her into a political marriage. Let's see what tricks he's playing."
With that, the man and the dog stepped into the void and quickly disappeared.
---
The news of Princess Weiyang's escape from the marriage had caused a stir in various civilizations, sparking widespread discussion and attention.
As the central figures, Princess Weiyang and the Ninth Prince of the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom, Ye Wudao, had also drawn significant attention.
On the day of the incident, Ye Wudao had left the capital of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, claiming he would personally bring Princess Weiyang back. No one knew where he had gone afterward.
After Princess Weiyang's escape, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty had immediately dispatched numerous powerful experts to capture her and bring her back, but to no avail.
Even someone as powerful as the Weiyang Emperor had been caught off guard by this event.
To many, it seemed that Princess Weiyang had planned this long in advance, as even the State Preceptor of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty had been unable to deduce her whereabouts.
During this time, another incident in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty had also drawn attention.
An envoy from the Alliance of Righteous Unity had arrived in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, representing the alliance to discuss forming a coalition with the Weiyang Emperor and his ministers.
For the people of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, this was naturally excellent news.
The members of the Alliance of Righteous Unity were also pleased, eager for the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty to join, as it would greatly enhance the alliance's influence and deterrence.
At the same time, the envoy team that had been sent to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance but had been attacked by dark beings along the way, losing more than half their members, had finally arrived safely at the Heaven-Slaying Alliance.
The surviving members of the envoy team had immediately sent word back to their respective sects and factions upon being rescued.
Their movements had been closely watched by their respective sects and factions.
Now, seeing that they had finally reached the territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, the hearts of the various sects and factions, which had been momentarily at ease, were once again filled with tension.
The journey to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance had been no less perilous than the legendary eighty-one trials.
Having overcome these trials, they now faced even greater and more terrifying challenges and unknowns.
"Master is blessed and fortunate. She will surely return safely."
In the Crescent Moon Sect, the mountain breeze blew gently, and the valley was serene.
Lan Xin paced back and forth, her elegant face unable to hide her worry. She couldn't sit still for a moment.
Upon hearing that her master had finally reached the territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, her heart was once again filled with unease, even more so than before.
When she had first heard of her master's plight, she had been heartbroken and distraught, crying every day.
Fortunately, she later received news that her master had survived and been rescued, which had eased her mind.
But now that she was in the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, would she be so lucky as to have someone save her if danger arose?
"Senior Sister Lan Xin, you don't need to worry so much..."
In a nearby pavilion, Gu Xian'er was peeling a dragon eye fruit, popping the translucent flesh into her mouth and chewing with her cheeks puffed out, speaking in a muffled voice.
Lan Xin looked at her carefree and innocent demeanor, feeling both envious and helpless.
"I've heard that the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom, and other powers are planning to join the Alliance of Righteous Unity. I hope this will deter the Heaven-Slaying Alliance and prevent it from acting recklessly."
She thought with a bitter smile, though she held only a faint hope.
At the same time, an ancient and majestic warship hovered above an endless desert, where yellow sand blew in the wind, and the world seemed vast and desolate, filled with an ancient, primal aura.
Chen Yi, Huijue Layperson, and the others were saying their goodbyes, their faces filled with gratitude.
"Thank you for your assistance during this time. We have now reached the territory of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance, and we should not trouble you further. It's time for us to leave and attend to our duties."
"If we meet again in the future, we will find a way to repay your kindness."
"Take care on your journey. I believe we will meet again."
Gu Changge nodded slightly, his expression as gentle as ever.
With that, the ancient warship sped away, disappearing into the horizon.
Chen Yi and the others remained on the desert, feeling a mix of emotions, including reluctance.
Some of them surveyed their surroundings. As envoys of the Alliance of Righteous Unity, they now looked rather shabby, like a group of scavengers.
"This is indeed the border region of the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. It's so vast and open, with endless deserts. There's no sign of war or turmoil, and no cultivators or beings guarding it. Are they not worried about dark beings attacking?" someone remarked in admiration.
"However, the distant city is also built impressively, with towering walls stretching endlessly like a heavenly dam, enough to withstand most attacks."
"This is just one of the routes to the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. It was once part of the Immortal Chu Dynasty's territory but was later occupied by the Heaven-Slaying Alliance. Everyone must remain vigilant and not let their guard down."
"Fellow Daoist Chen Yi, it's time to come back to reality. That young senior has already left..." Huijue Layperson suddenly said with a smile.
Chen Yi was startled, then snapped out of her thoughts, feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"Will we meet again?"
She felt a sense of melancholy, as if she had experienced this emotion for the first time in her many years of cultivation.
Until the moment of parting, she hadn't mustered the courage to ask for his name.
She looked at the small white jade bottle she held tightly in her hand, feeling an even stronger sense of loss. The pills inside were long gone, but she had kept the bottle.
Back on the ancient warship, while recuperating from her injuries, she had accidentally triggered an old cold poison, causing her old wounds to flare up.
The intense pain had made her feel as if her limbs were being twisted and shattered, pierced by countless shards of ice, nearly causing her to pass out.
It was then that she felt a warm, powerful hand on her forehead, like soothing sunlight, suppressing all the cold poison and pain in her body.
At the same time, that small bottle of pills had been handed to her.