Chapter 1770. An Unexpected Discovery — The Guide of the Uncrowned Emperor
“Is there a solution?”
Ji Hanjing still wore a faint, cold smile as she glanced at Zhu Cangning and said, “Of course there is. That would be to kill Jiang Yun and pletely set him free.”
The smile that had just begun to appear on Zhu Cangning’s face froze instantly upon hearing this answer, stiffening in place.
I’m afraid that throughout the entire Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty, only this old ancestor would dare to speak so directly and without restraint such words of great taboo.
“Is there really no other way, Ancestor?” Zhu Cangning asked bitterly.
“However, this is also the worst oute. If Jiang Yun’s will is strong enough, it may not be impossible for him to awaken from the boundless darkness, break free from his prison, and find his way back to the present world.” Ji Hanjing said calmly.
Upon hearing this, a trace of hope resurfaced in Zhu Cangning’s eyes.
Since the old ancestor had said so, then there must still be hope. After all, this old ancestor was the direct descendant of the sage-emperor among the predecessors who once resisted the Black Calamity.
Her understanding of the Black Calamity must far exceed that of ordinary people.
“I was previously wondering why the Emperor, who is described by you all as wise, saintly, and capable in both governance and military affairs, would make so many foolish decisions. Now it all makes sense. No wonder he became the leader of the Zhengyi Alliance and colluded with the dark beings, acting in league with them like close acplices, even going so far as to sign a humiliating, sovereignty-losing peace treaty…”
Ji Hanjing murmured thoughtfully, as if speaking to herself.
Zhu Cangning’s face turned ashen. Although there was still no direct evidence proving that the Uncrowned Emperor had fallen into darkness and bee corrupted by the dark beings, all these signs made it feel like an established fact.
“This matter is not to be spread for now. The fact that Jiang Yun has been corrupted by dark matter, once made public, will greatly affect the situation of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty. Before I have fully taken control of the situation, this must be concealed first.”
“Also, withdraw the arrest warrant for the Uncrowned Princess. The Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom has close ties with the Zhengyi Alliance. And at this time, Jiang Yun has also married his daughter to the Ninth Prince of the Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom. These two matters do not seem unrelated.”
Ji Hanjing’s gaze swept over Zhu Cangning as she issued her orders.
“Yes, Ancestor, I understand.” Zhu Cangning’s expression turned solemn, pletely shedding his previous despair.
The Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom, at its peak, possessed foundations no weaker than those of the strongest true worlds. Although it has now declined, a starving camel is still larger than a horse—its strength cannot be underestimated.
Moreover, judging from all these signs, the Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom is likely deeply entangled with the dark beings.
Perhaps even the king of the Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom has already fallen into darkness.
“I do not want any mistakes to occur at this time.” Ji Hanjing’s gaze was filled with authority, her tone stern.
“Rest assured, Ancestor. I swear upon my Dao heart that I will not reveal even the slightest bit of related information.” Zhu Cangning broke out in a cold sweat and hurriedly replied respectfully.
Although this old ancestor had only taken control of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty not long ago, he could clearly feel her formidable and terrifying methods.
Under her governance, the order of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty remained stable and everything was well organized, in no way inferior to the time when the Uncrowned Emperor presided over it.
“Leave,” Ji Hanjing said calmly after nodding.
Zhu Cangning felt as if he had been granted amnesty and quickly left the great hall, not daring to linger for even a moment. He had a premonition that the ing era of the boundless world was about to usher in the greatest upheaval and chaos since ancient times. He seemed to already see endless blood rain, and the entire sky being engulfed and submerged by darkness and war.
“Is all of this within your plan? Even the fact that the Uncrowned Emperor has been corrupted by dark matter—did you foresee it all?”
After Zhu Cangning left, Ji Hanjing’s cold expression also disappeared. She fell into thought, resting her elbow on the desk before her, a few strands of black hair slipping down from her temple, which she idly twirled around her fingers.
She did not know how Gu Changge had learned all of this. Before she had taken human form from the body of the civilization treasure itself, Gu Changge had already paved the path ahead for her. She only needed to obediently follow everything he had arranged.
From her emergence as the princess of the Yaoguang Ancestral Land, to everything that had happened up to now—it was all within Gu Changge’s plan and arrangement, without a single flaw.
Even though Ji Hanjing considered herself to have some understanding of Gu Changge, she still felt waves of chills rising within her heart, finding him unimaginably terrifying.
If one were to encounter such an enemy, one could not imagine how utterly hopeless it would be.
Neither in strength nor in methods did he leave even the slightest possibility or hope of resistance.
However, what exactly was Gu Changge doing all this for? With his strength and capabilities, even unifying the Boundless World would not be difficult at all.
Ji Hanjing pletely could not guess Gu Changge’s thoughts or intentions, let alone understand his purpose.
Could it really be, as the name of the “Fatian Alliance” implied, that he truly intended to “defy the heavens”?
“If that is truly the case… can such a path—destined to be full of hardship and obstacles—really be walked to the end?” Ji Hanjing murmured to herself.
Soon after, the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty withdrew the wanted notice for Princess Jiang Weiyang. This incident quickly spread throughout the surrounding cosmic civilizations, causing quite a stir.
Many speculated that this was dissatisfaction from the current ruler of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty—the old ancestor—with the Uncrowned Emperor’s decision to arrange a political marriage for his daughter.
After all, she had once publicly erupted in anger in the great hall before many ministers, denouncing the Emperor for not being worthy as a father.
However, without the Uncrowned Emperor’s approval, the marriage alliance between the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty and the Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom could not be annulled.
Even though the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty had withdrawn the wanted order for Princess Jiang Weiyang, in name she still remained the fiancée of Ninth Prince Ye Wudao of the Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom.
The Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom still had grounds to pursue this runaway princess who fled on the day of her engagement.
—
In the Yinchuan Ancient Domain, Western Ridge Province, in the Chaos Corpse Forest.
Between towering and majestic mountain ranges, ancient trees reached into the sky and great peaks stood tall. Miasma filled the air, and a merchant convoy laden with goods was making its way forward.
Beasts as large as small mountains—resembling the ferocious Zhu Yan—were bound with chains and runes, carrying goods and clearing the path ahead of the convoy with extreme caution.
This place was a notorious deathland of Western Ridge Province. Danger lurked everywhere, and thick miasma filled the heavens, obscuring vision and divine sense.
Cultivators and beings alike could not fly across this region, making it the only passage for those wishing to traverse the provinces.
“Grandmother, please don’t make things difficult for us. To pass through this trade route, without an Immortal King-level expert escorting us, it’s basically no different from suicide.”
“Old man, I still have a ninety-year-old mother above me and a crying infant below me. If I die here, no one will be able to take care of them…”
A thin, gaunt old man pleaded desperately while looking at a young girl in a red dress.
The girl had fair skin, a delicate and exquisite face, and a peach blossom mark between her brows. Yet she sat there pletely unmoved, as though she had not heard a single word.
“I’m only asking you to escort the goods. It’s not like I’m asking for your life. What are you afraid of?” The red-dressed girl said indifferently, glancing at him.
“Besides, I’m here. No matter how dangerous this Chaos Corpse Forest is, could it possibly swallow you all?”
Her tone carried plete disregard for the danger of this place.
The gaunt old man let out another long sigh, full of worry and despair.
“Grandmother, I’m just a simple convoy leader trying to earn a living. Even major sects and ancient orthodoxies might not dare to transport this kind of cargo for you…”
As he spoke, his gaze couldn’t help but drift toward a carriage in the convoy wrapped tightly in black cloth. Its wheels rolled forward, crushing over stones, occasionally producing the clinking sound of chains. Faintly, low inhuman growls could be heard from inside.
Aside from him, no one in the convoy knew what exactly was inside that black-covered carriage.
The rest of the convoy did not dare to approach it. Even from a distance, they could feel a bone-chilling cold, as if it came from the depths of the Nine Hells.
Along the journey, even just passing through a few cities, they had already suffered multiple mysterious attacks from unknown cultivators—those attackers all wanted either to seize the “cargo” or destroy it. He was only an ordinary convoy manager and had never imagined being drawn into such a terrifying matter.
These past days, he had lived in constant fear, worried that a mysterious attack might strike at any moment.
“You only need to help me deliver the item out of the Yinchuan Ancient Domain. The reward will be more than enough for you to live fortably for the rest of your life—and even your next life. Besides, with me here, what is there to fear? This is a once-in-a-lifetime profitable deal.”
The red-dressed girl had a delicate face, a small elegant nose, and moist, glossy lips like flower petals, smiling faintly as she spoke.
Even so, the gaunt old man remained full of worry and dared not relax in the slightest. He had not expected that the cargo he was transporting this time would actually be that kind of thing.
By all reason, something like that should never appear in a place like this. In normal times, who would dare provoke it?
The red-dressed girl no longer paid attention to the anxious old man and turned back into the carriage. She opened her delicate palm, where a radiant glow flickered. A vague, mysterious furnace emerged, filled with swirling fortune. Ancient rune crystals were condensing within it, exuding profound mystique.
“This training trip has yielded quite a harvest. The Fortune Furnace has condensed quite a number of fortune crystals—enough for my cultivation going forward.”
“And… I’ve also discovered something unexpected…”
Her expression turned calm. With a wave of her hand, she set up a barrier restriction, then sat cross-legged in meditation, facing the heavens. The mysterious furnace hovered before her as strands of fortune mist circulated around her with each breath.
At the same time, at the very rear of the convoy, a simple black carriage also followed along with the merchant group.
Such wandering merchant convoys were often acpanied by powerful experts for protection, and they often became temporary escorts for smaller groups—of course, provided sufficient payment was given.
The driver of the black carriage was a thin, sickly-looking man with a sallow plexion. He wore plain clothing and had a proper, upright face. Inside the carriage were four women.
The leading woman had a slender and graceful figure. She wore a bamboo hat, but her face bore a dark bluish-black mark that covered most of one side of her cheek, making her appearance somewhat frightening. The other three women were dressed as maidservants and had rather ordinary looks.
“Miss, this is wonderful! The Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty has withdrawn the wanted notice for you. They’ll probably also cancel your engagement to the Ninth Prince of the Southern Zhao Ancient Kingdom. Then you can return to the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty…”
“This is really great. During this period, we’ve had to evade pursuers, it’s been far too hard. Now we can finally catch our breath.”
At this moment, one of the maidservants spoke in a low voice, her eyes filled with joyful excitement.
The other two maidservants also showed expressions of delight, extremely happy and excited upon hearing the news.
“Can we return to the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty…?”
One of them looked full of longing and hope, clearly already weary of this life of fleeing and hiding, and wishing to return to their former peaceful days.
As personal maidservants of the Uncrowned Princess, they were naturally not ordinary people. In any orthodox lineage, they would have been considered prodigies.
During this period of escape, they had suffered hardships they had never experienced before, even once reduced to wandering the streets and being treated as beggars.
“Why would they withdraw the wanted notice against me at this time?”
The woman with the dark bluish facial mark was, of course, Princess Jiang Weiyang.
At that moment, she ignored the chattering of the three maidservants and fell into deep thought instead, showing no joy at all from this news.
She even suspected that something might have gone wrong on her father’s side. Because her escape and wanted order had originally been arranged by the Uncrowned Emperor himself—so why would it suddenly be withdrawn without reason?
Could it truly be as rumored, that the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty was now under the control of the old ancestor, and that she was the one who revoked the order?
“But no matter what, I will not return to the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty now. The Yinchuan Ancient Domain is already very far from the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty. Although I do not know where I will go next, I will follow my father’s instructions and continue to stay away from the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty—the farther, the better…”
Jiang Weiyang raised her beautiful yet sightless eyes, quietly gazing outside the carriage.
The Yinchuan Ancient Domain was no longer part of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty’s territory. It existed independently from all orthodox civilizations. This place was a mix of heroes and villains, with countless sects and factions. The most powerful forces were the Silver River Holy Church and the Corpse Taming Ancient Sect.
If one passed through the Chaos Corpse Forest, they would reach the border region of the Silver River Ancient Domain, where there was a cross-domain teleportation array—allowing escape to even more distant realms and universes.
Just as Jiang Weiyang was lost in thought and emotionally unsettled by this news—She suddenly felt that the wind outside the carriage had stopped. The sound of the wheels rolling over stones disappeared.
The entire world fell into silence. At that moment, an indescribable force seemed to descend, and the noisy environment around her was instantly severed from the space-time they had just been in.
Even the three maidservants who had been whispering excitedly were suddenly frozen in place, their faces still carrying expressions of joy and excitement, like clay statues.
Jiang Weiyang’s expression changed, her pupils contracting sharply, as she was about to stand up and step out of the carriage.
“Princess, are you alright?”
A somewhat anxious and uneasy voice came from outside the carriage.
The driver of the carriage—the thin man—was none other than Zhu Fuyi in disguise.
He had also sensed this terrifying change; it felt as though time itself had frozen.
Everyone was unable to move. Even the flow of time and traces of spiritual energy had disappeared.
It was as if someone had extracted them from the previous timeline and pletely isolated them from the universe itself.
“I am fine. It seems the visitor is specifically targeting me.”
Jiang Weiyang’s voice remained calm and steady.
As expected of the princess of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty, the daughter of the Uncrowned Emperor—her vision was far beyond ordinary people.
Such methods of freezing space-time were something even her father could easily acplish.
What puzzled her slightly, however, was why Zhu Fuyi was not affected.
“Indeed worthy of the Princess. Even at such a moment, you remain calm and posed without panic.”
Suddenly, a gentle voice echoed within the void before them.
In shock, Zhu Fuyi looked up—and saw an elderly man step out.
The man wore a white robe and a hood. His entire body was snow-white, yet his plexion was unusually rosy, and his expression carried a warm smile.
“Who are you…?” Zhu Fuyi’s eyes widened in disbelief, as though he had recognized the man’s identity.
“Starlight National Preceptor?”
At the same moment, Jiang Weiyang’s surprised voice also rang out.
Although her eyes were blind and she could not see, her perception was extremely sharp. From subtle changes in aura alone, she could identify the newer.
This man was the National Preceptor of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty—an existence of mysterious origin who had once assisted her father in founding the dynasty, and supported him in raising troops against the ancient Great Yang Kingdom, forcing Emperor Yang to end his own life within the imperial capital.
It could be said that the Starlight National Preceptor was the guide of the Uncrowned Emperor. Every member of the Uncrowned Immortal Dynasty held him in the highest respect.
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