[Middle Ring: Eastern Side]
(Blooming Pavilion)
"Who was that?" asked Zhuyuan, surprised and confused, having arrived. Ying Pu, hearing his voice, turns around in shock, not knowing what to say, "I don't know", said Ying Pu quickly without thinking, nervousness filling his answer. He did not dare look Zhuyuan directly in the face, for fear of being caught, "I bore the sigil of the Di Clan, if that's not weird enough, his robes are worn by important members of the Di Clan", said Zhuyuan, with a look of certainty. Ying Pu, nervous and scared of his identity getting revealed, turned his face and did not answer. Zhuyuan then proceeded to walk closer.
As Zhuyuan approached closer, Ying Pu moved back, but Zhuyuan kept closing the distance. Zhuyuan stopped walking closer, having cornered Ying Pu against a pillar, a slight moment of shyness swept over Ying Pu, and he looked Zhuyuan directly into his eyes. Zhuyuan leaned closer, "Who was that?" he asked softly. Ying Pu pushed him back, "Why does it matter to you, your highness?" asked Ying Pu dismissively, "My comings and doings aren't of your concern".
"You're right, but mysterious people entering the capital, in secret is very suspicious and should be given to the Capital guard", said Zhuyuan looking at Ying Pu who turned his back, "Then do it, I don't care", responded Ying Pu unbothered, "Very well", said Zhuyuan and he walked to the door but was stopped by Ying Pu. "Okay, I'll tell you, just don't report it, please", said Ying Pu. "Okay, I am listening", said Zhuyuan, proceeding to sit down. Ying Pu took a deep breath, which caused Zhuyuan to pull back and give an expression of worry about what could be so important that it had to be kept a secret.
"Okay, that was the personal guard of my mother", said Ying Pu in a fast-speaking voice. "Mother?", said Zhuyuan, confused. "Shangtian…", said Ying Pu reluctantly, "Shangtian… Di Shangtian!", said Zhuyuan, shocked, with his eyes wide, "Now that's revelation". Zhuyuan stood up from his seat, "Your mother is, Di Shengtian?" asked Zhuyuan, "Yes", responded Ying Pu with a nervous expression, "The same Di Shangtian, who is the Head of the Di Clan, the second most powerful clan in the Eternal Realm, who commands the Tiger Battalion and Realm Protecting Army, who apart from Grand uncle Xuan Ye, is the Lord Protector of the Realm, that Di Shangtian?", said Zhuyuan out of breath, "Yes", responded Ying Pu nervous with shy look on his face.
Zhuyuan again fell to his seat, in complete shock and he looked at Ying Pu with a look of complete surprise, "Wait but why kept it a secret?" asked he curious, "Yes, we must, no one can know about me, my mother has ordered it, she does not want to get involved in the affairs of the capital and me helping you guys already alerted her", said Ying Pu with slight smile of nervousness. Zhuyuan nodded in agreement.
"Okay, fine, I'll keep your secret, but answer this question: how were you able to do the Celestial Judgement array?" asked Zhuyuan curiously, having pondered the question himself. Ying Pu looked at him suspiciously and shook his head and said no, as if he could not tell him. Zhuyuan looked at him with even more suspicion, "No!", said he in disbelief, and Ying Pu smiled nervously. "You're uncle Arceus's disciple", said Zhuyuan in disbelief and amazement, pointing at Ying Pu. "Yes", responded Ying Pu reluctantly.
"But how is that possible, uncle Arceus does not like disciples and does not even want us as his disciples", said Zhuyuan disappointed, "Well, my mother persuaded Lord Arceus to take me as his disciple", said Ying Pu letting out a nervous laugh, "Of course she did, they grew up together", responded Zhuyuan not being surprised at all. Ying Pu let out a joyful giggle and a warm smile. "Water?" asked he, "Yes, I need to cool down, too much information", said Zhuyuan. Ying Pu called a servant to bring some water, "No wonder you're able to live here", said Zhuyuan in disbelief with slight sarcastic annoyance.
"So, what is your real name?" asked Zhuyuan calmly. "Di Yingyuan", answered Ying Pu confidently with a warm smile. "Cute", said Zhuyuan, and Ying Pu blushed.
As they continue to chat and wait for the water, elsewhere, things are unraveling.
(Xuanfang Tower)
As Arceus lay on his bed, and Qingyu sat beside him, Xuanyu entered the chamber, shocked. Qingyu stood up, "Father", sighed she softly. Zhi'an and Taiyu also enter after him. "Was it really necessary to imprison Shangyu?" asked Zhi'an, concerned. "Yes, it's for his own safety", responded Xuanyu coldly, and Taiyu giggled softly while stroking his beard. "Is something funny? State Preceptor" asked Xuanyu, annoyed, "Hhm, no, not at all, Lord Xuanyu", responded Taiyu submissively.
"Elder brother is imprisoned?" asked Qingyu, confused. "Yes, your father was imprisoned right after he stripped him of his Phoenix bloodline", explained Zhi'an. "What, why?" asked Qingyu, shocked, but Xuanyu did not answer; instead proceeding to walk closer to Arceus. Qingyu stood back. "You're fading", said Xuanyu as he looked at Arceus. Xuanyu then proceeded to gather Qi in his right hand and infused it with the Phoenix bloodline of Shangyu in his left hand; he transferred it into Arceus. Zhi'an and Taiyu looked on.
"Ahh I see, you plan to warm up Arceus body, so that his body can gather Qi again, for that you needed Shangyu's pure Phoenix bloodline, which is perfect considering he just came out of narvine", explained Taiyu, "Yes", said Xuanyu, "I cannot use my own Phoenix bloodline because it would overdrive his core, and none of our children except Shangyu possess a pure Phoenix body and core, along with the fact that he is the only one closest to Arceus in terms of his Eternal Body", explained Xuanyu.
"Why would Shangyu have an Eternal body that's identical to Arceus?" asked Zhi'an, curious, "Isn't that odd?". "No, it's not, when Shangyu was conceived, me and Arceus were at our most vulnerable, which happened to the nigh we consummated our marriage, it allowed for Arceus's Soul Qi and Heart of Qi to infuse with small fetus that was being formed during that heated and intense processes", explained Xuanyu, Qingyu uncomfortable lowered her head and Taiyu softly smile having noticed it. "How is that possible, even if it is as you describe, it would still not be possible", said Zhi'an confused, "It's not, that night was the first time Arceus truly let down his barriers of his Sea of Qi and allowed me to enter, the energy released from his Sea of Qi then in turn infused itself to the newly formed fetus", explained Xuanyu.
"Ahh, I see, interesting", said Zhi'an, understanding. "But what I don't understand is why his body is reacting this way", asked Xuanyu, confused, "It started to act like this ever since that day".
"Grand Empress Dowager arrives!!"
Everyone turned around as Qinghuan entered the room with her eunuch and Xinyu. "Greetings, Grand Empress Dowager", said Taiyu and Xuanyu, bowing. "Greetings, Great Grandmother", said Qingyu, bowing, and Zhi'an gave a slight head nod. She walked up to the bed where Arceus was lying and looked at him, "Yes, he has greatly weakened after separating his core", said she, and Taiyu looked at Zhi'an, who sighed.
"That's the reason for his current condition, an act of love for his brother", said Qinghuan as she turned to look at Zhi'an, who lowered his head. "But do not feel guilty, your majesty, he did it willingly", said she. "Great-grandmother, what do you mean, father separated his core?" asked Xinyu, confused. "I thought it was because of the Celestial Alignment", said Qingyu with a look of confusion. "Yes, that's true, but it is not entirely the reason, you see, Arceus was born with the extremely rare occurrence, even for the High Gods and Primordial Gods, he was born with Dual-core, the Mythical Winter Core and Legendary Three Headed Golden Dragon Core", explained Qinghuan seriously, "Just like me", said Xinyu, surprised.
"Yes, just like you, it made him extremely valuable to your grandfather, his father, Xuan Zhu'an, the previous emperor, who brutally abused and trained him to be his military and political pawn", said Qinghuan with a tone of sadness and regret. "Really, but how does that affect Father now?" asked Xinyu curiously. "It doesn't but his dual-core does, you see when the young crown, the now emperor, Xuan Zhi'an, married the Xearrion Princess Qingtian, now deposed empress, she fell pregnant but the baby was born without a core and that was a problem for the baby could not gather any Qi or Inner force to survive without a core, the then emperor, Zhu'an saw it as a betrayal and bad omen for the Imperial clan and nearly ordered the baby be killed if not for Arceus", explained Qinghuan seriously with a sense of sadness.
Xuanyu sat down next to Arceus and looked at him, eyes filled with love and comfort. Zhi'an looked on with a feeling of regret and sadness, as if the guilt could spring out at any time. "Arceus then against the wishes of his husband Xuanyu and the strong disapproval of his father Zhu'an, he agreed to separated his dual-core, a gruesome process and painful ordeal for the body and mind, using a special array, Arceus began to separate his dual-core, it was a process so severe as if one was pulling one's skin of one's body bit by bit while conscious and fully aware, but Arceus finished it, the reason you might think, it was because he knew the feeling of losing a child, for he had previously lose one as well and did not want his beloved younger brother to experience the same grief and pain, when he was down, Arceus remained unconscious for 1000 years", explained Qinghuan with a sad tone.
"I had to watch him as he separated his dual-core; the pain and screams I heard and felt were unbearable, but I had to support him", said Xuanyu as he touched Arceus's head. "The core was then placed into the young baby prince, Xuan Zhinu, but Arceus put a restriction on his own core so that Zhinu could not use his powers or core, but it allowed him to live like a normal Eternal and one of the Imperial clan, gathering Qi and Inner force and also form his own core, all at the price of Arceus living with one core, that's the reason he is so weak right now and his fading for his body cannot live without both his cores, he is not like us", said Qinghuan looking at Arceus.
As the secret to Arceus' condition is revealed, elsewhere Zhuyuan and Ying Pu receive an unexpected guest, and shadows begin to creep upon the Eternal Realm and Heavenly Realm.
(Blooming Pavilion)
"This day has been quite unexpected", said Zhuyuan, utterly exhausted from the information he received. "Yes, it has been", said Xunyang, who walked into the room, and Zhuyuan and Ying Pu were shocked. "So, you are Di Yingyuan, hey", said Xunyang with a smile as he walked to a chair and sat down, "Don't worry, your secret is safe with me". Zhuyuan sighed, "Really your eavesdropped on our conversion?", said Zhuyuan annoyed, "I wasn't planning on but I heard you talk and decide to wait so I stood outside", said Xunyang as he started eating from the fruit on the table, "You stood outside this whole time and we didn't sense you", asked Ying Pu surprised, "Yes, I am the Crown prince of the Infinite Ocean, Bu Xunyang", said he giggling while chewing.
"We know who you are, wouldn't expect less from you", said Zhuyuan, annoyed but respectful. "You help us in the battle of the Eternal Forest", said Ying Pu. "Yes I did, so you're the son of the Lord Protector of the Eternal Realm, Di Shangtian, interesting, so that makes you heir to the Tiger Throne", said Xunyang confidently, "Yes", responded Ying Pu unsure of Xunyang intention, "But if I know correctly, the Di Clan only allows women to rule the clan not men, so how come you are the heir?" asked Xunyang curiously.
"That's because I am my mother's only child", answered Ying Pu, "I see", said Xunyang, "That's awesome, your quite timid compared to your mother who even makes the legendary Nation Defending General of the Eternal Realm tremble in fear, even my father the Emperor of the Infinite Ocean dares not talk lightly about her", said Xunyang with amazement. "You sure know a lot for someone whose been sealed inside the Infinite Ocean", said Zhuyuan suspiciously.
"Not really, we have a magical pearl that allows us to see outside the Infinite Ocean, that's why we know what goes on outside", explained Xunyang calmly. Ying Pu and Zhuyuan then looked at each other, "Don't worry I am not a bad guy, I just like confirming everything", said Xunyang having noticed them staring at each other, "I sense a powerful presence earlier, do you know who that was, even my gills were shivering" asked Xunyang, "It was my uncle, Bai Xuanyu", answered Zhuyuan unbothered, "The Seventh Warlord, interesting", said Xunyang with tone of amazement.
"So, are you two dating?" asked Xunyang out of the blue, "What!!", coughed Zhuyuan as he was chewing, "No, we're not", Ying Pu, shy and embarrassed. Xunyang gave a gentle smile with a sarcastic giggle as he looked at their shy faces, which gave slight glances at each other.