Ning Yuzhou only briefly mentioned what he had learned from Feng Sanniang, yet it was still enough to greatly shock Emperor Chenghao.
“So that’s how it is.”
Emperor Chenghao suddenly understood. At last, he knew why so many foreign cultivators had appeared in Lin Tai Hunting Valley this time. One could say that the cultivators of Dongling had suffered an undeserved calamity, unlucky enough to run into the Sacred Martial Hall’s search for the Chosen One and be treated by those foreign cultivators as prey in a hunting ground.
But even so, what could they say? Could they blame the Sacred Martial Hall for searching for the Chosen One?
The matter of the Chosen One had always been of immense importance, concerning the entire Shengwu Continent. A tiny place like Dongling had no right to interfere.
Moreover, given the Sacred Martial Hall’s status, no one in a small land like Dongling could possibly contend with them, let alone when Ning Zhezou was already one of the candidates recorded on the Sacred Martial Stele as the Chosen One.
Thinking back to his earlier conversation with Yin Xingheng and his junior brother from the Sacred Martial Hall, Emperor Chenghao sighed inwardly.
When Emperor Chenghao finally composed himself, he saw Ning Yuzhou looking as though the matter had nothing to do with him. He was using ying sand to polish a flowerpot carved from spirit jade. Every movement he made was elegant and gentle, as if all the troubles of the world had drifted far away.
The complicated agitation Emperor Chenghao had felt because of the Sacred Martial Hall soon settled.
He smiled and asked, “Why are you carving a flowerpot out of spirit jade?”
“Naturally, I have a use for it.”
Only then did Emperor Chenghao notice the white jade pot on the table and the demon rabbit nibbling on a spirit pill. He could not help but pause.
The little seedling in the white jade pot was trying hard to pretend it was just a blade of grass. Not even its leaves moved. Its acting was extremely convincing.
The demon rabbit had no interest in Emperor Chenghao. It leaned against the white jade pot, licked the spirit pill, then looked at the little seedling, appearing docile and harmless. No one would know that this little rabbit was actually a mutated sixth-rank demon rabbit—and an extremely ferocious one at that.
Whether it was the little seedling in the white jade pot or the demon rabbit holding a spirit pill and gnawing on it, both looked far too ordinary. It was difficult for them to attract attention, and Emperor Chenghao could not see anything special about them.
But since they were here, they were obviously being kept by Ning Yuzhou.
Emperor Chenghao only glanced at them and did not pay them much attention. He asked, “Why don’t I see your wife?”
“We got separated,” Ning Yuzhou said lightly.
Emperor Chenghao froze again. “When did that happen? Where did you get separated?” After asking, he quickly seemed to realise something. His expression became somewhat subtle, and he could not help looking at his youngest son. Seeing that his expression was calm, his brows still gentle as usual, with no anxiety or sorrow in sight, Emperor Chenghao began to doubt his own guess.
“Little Seven, your wife…” He hesitated, as if afraid of touching on his son’s grief.
Although Ning Yuzhou did not want to explain too much, he could not let his old father make wild guesses either, so he said, “Ah Rao and I were separated, but she is still alive.”
Hearing Ning Yuzhou’s words, Wen Qiao almost wanted to move her leaves to show that she really was still alive, so her father-in-law did not need to overthink things.
Still alive, but nowhere to be found. Could it be…
“Was your wife captured by those foreign cultivators?” Emperor Chenghao’s face turned ugly.
Earlier, when Ning Huayuan had discovered the foreign cultivators, quite a few of them had fled toward Lin Tai Mountain. Because there were too many people, they had only managed to stop some of them, while many had escaped. It was not that no one had been sent into Lin Tai Mountain to search, but those people had been able to flee under everyone’s eyes, so their cultivation was naturally not low. By now, they had probably already escaped Dongling.
Ning Yuzhou had not expected him to imagine things to this extent, but it saved him the trouble of finding an excuse for Ah Rao, so he did not explain further.
His silence only made Emperor Chenghao even more certain. He could not help sighing and comforting him. “Don’t worry. I will send people to search for her. I believe your wife is blessed by fortune and will definitely be fine…”
The more he spoke, the less certain Emperor Chenghao felt.
The foreign cultivators who had escaped had extremely high cultivation. Could Wen Qiao, a low-level female cultivator at the Entry Yuan Realm, really survive by luck? Even if she had luckily survived, her body was weak. Where could she escape to? The world beyond Dongling was vast, with countless cultivators and innumerable powerful experts. One could imagine what kind of fate awaited Wen Qiao, a frail low-level female cultivator.
Ning Yuzhou glanced at him, his eyes flickering slightly. “I will go look for her myself.”
“What?” Emperor Chenghao was shocked. “You’ve decided to go yourself? Absolutely not! Little Seven, you’ve endured all these years. Endure one more year. Once the seal inside your body is lifted, you…”
“It has already been broken,” Ning Yuzhou said.
Emperor Chenghao was stunned. Then, as if realising something, he hurriedly asked, “Broken? How? Wasn’t there still one year left? Then your body…”
Ning Yuzhou quickly soothed his worried old father and said gently, “Father, do not worry. There is no problem. I can already cultivate now.”
As for the seal in his body being broken a year early, Ning Yuzhou had already prepared an excuse. He only said that he had obtained an opportunity in the demon cultivator’s cave dwelling, allowing him to cultivate ahead of time. He did not let anyone know that it was related to Wen Qiao’s essence blood. Although he trusted his father, at this stage, Ning Yuzhou did not intend to let anyone other than himself know that Wen Qiao possessed a miraculous bloodline.
After hearing this, Emperor Chenghao felt much more relieved and was extremely happy.
He had always thought that his son would only be able to cultivate after reaching adulthood. At that time, the reputation of being a useless waste would be washed away as he shone brilliantly. The excuse was already prepared: they could say that the Ning clan’s alchemists had finally refined a detoxification pill that removed the poison, and his Yuan spirit root had recovered.
Back then, it was precisely because of this consideration that they had publicly claimed he had been poisoned and his Yuan spirit root damaged.
“In that case, return to the imperial city first and cultivate. Wait until you reach the Yuan Martial Realm before going out,” Emperor Chenghao said, worried that his cultivation was too low and he would be bullied outside.
In Dongling, the imperial Ning clan’s word was law. Even though Ning Yuzhou had been unable to cultivate for years and was known outside as a waste, no one dared bully him. But outside was different. The Ning clan counted for nothing there. If a Ning disciple went out, they could no longer rely on the Ning clan’s protection and could only depend on themselves.
This was also why Emperor Chenghao did not want Ning Yuzhou to go out looking for her.
Ning Yuzhou said, “I will return to the imperial city first, then go out after some time.”
Hearing this, Emperor Chenghao knew that he already had arrangements. Thinking of how this son had never needed him to worry, he finally felt much more at ease. He comforted him again. “Your wife will definitely be fine. She will surely wait for you to find her. You like her so much, and she will not be willing to leave you either…”
Wen Qiao could not help trembling her leaves, almost turning red from root to tip.
She felt extremely embarrassed. What father-in-law said such things in front of his daughter-in-law? She had never known that Emperor Chenghao, so dignified outside, was such a loving and gentle father before Ning Yuzhou, able to say such embarrassing things so naturally.
What made her even more shy was that Ning Yuzhou looked at her while agreeing, “Yes. Ah Rao definitely won’t be willing to leave me.”
Wen Qiao: “…………”
Then Emperor Chenghao continued with a gratified expression, “It was not in vain that you waited for her for so long, from when she was young until she reached marriageable age, and urged me to issue an imperial decree granting you marriage. In the past, you stayed in the forbidden grounds all the time, cultivating alchemists and talisman masters for the Ning clan. If it weren’t to protect her, you would not have let her remain alone and lonely in the Wen family. I always felt sorry toward Wen Boqing. Fortunately, on the surface, the Wen family did not dare mistreat her…”
Wen Qiao: “…………”
This was far too much information. Wen Qiao felt she needed a moment to recover.
Ning Yuzhou still wore that warm, gentle smile. His mild eyes looked with interest at the little seedling whose leaves had unknowingly curled up, while his mouth said shyly, “Father, don’t say any more. Ah Rao still doesn’t know about this.”
Emperor Chenghao smiled in response, picked up the tea on the table and took a sip. Suddenly, he let out a sound of surprise. “Little Seven, why has this grass changed colour?”
Just now, it had still been a tender green, clearly a little seedling that had only recently broken through the soil. But now, that tender green was mixed with a faint red, making it look somewhat strange.
Emperor Chenghao suddenly thought of something and said in surprise, “Could it be some high-level spiritual herb?”
Wen Qiao: “…………”
Wen Qiao did not dare move at all and continued pretending to be a weed. The colour soon faded.
Emperor Chenghao: “Sure enough, the colour changed again.”
Wen Qiao felt rather tired.
Ning Yuzhou found it amusing inwardly, but said aloud, “Perhaps. I still haven’t figured out what kind of spiritual herb she is, but she is certainly extraordinary.”
Emperor Chenghao was somewhat shocked. He had always known that this son of his had a discerning eye. It was not arrogance or aloofness, but because he was so knowledgeable that ordinary things simply did not enter his eyes. After all, after awakening his bloodline power, he possessed a complete bloodline inheritance. What he knew was vast; perhaps even the top sects of the Shengwu Continent did not know as much as his inheritance contained.
If Ning Yuzhou could be so certain, then this spiritual grass must be very impressive.
Emperor Chenghao immediately looked very favourably upon the little seedling in the white jade pot. By the time he discovered that the creature calmly gnawing on a spirit pill on the table was a sixth-rank mutated demon rabbit, he was already completely calm.
As expected of his son—he had a sharp eye for spiritual treasures. Truly impressive!
Demon rabbit: —It had only been attracted over by the spirit pills and the little seedling…
After finishing this matter, Emperor Chenghao brought up Yin Xingheng and his junior brother from the Sacred Martial Hall.
“According to Young Master Yin, Zhezhou is the candidate chosen by the Sacred Martial Stele this time as the Chosen One. In a few days, he will leave Dongling with Young Master Yin and his junior brother to go to the Sacred Martial Hall and accept the trials. In the future…” At this point, Emperor Chenghao frowned slightly.
Every ten years, a name would appear on the Sacred Martial Stele. That person would become a candidate for the Chosen One. After passing through many trials, if they gained the Sacred Martial Stele’s complete recognition, they would enter a mysterious place. It was said that what these Chosen Ones did concerned the life and death of the Shengwu Continent. Anyone chosen by the Sacred Martial Stele had no right to refuse.
As for what they went to do, outsiders had no way of knowing. These were secrets of the Sacred Martial Hall, and very few outsiders knew anything about them.
“Your third brother’s departure this time… who knows when he will return.”
Emperor Chenghao sighed softly. Ning Zhezou was an elite disciple the Ning clan had spared no effort to cultivate. In the future, if Emperor Chenghao stepped down, Ning Zhezou would have become the head of the Ning clan. Who would have thought something like this would happen? Although being the Chosen One was indeed an immense honour, it also meant leaving the clan. No one knew how many years would pass before he could return, nor whether he could retreat unharmed.
It was glory, but also danger.
One could say that once Ning Zhezou left with the Yin senior and junior brothers, he would no longer truly count as a member of the Ning clan.
Emperor Chenghao looked at Ning Yuzhou. After hesitating for a moment, he could not help asking, “Little Seven, what do you think of this Sacred Martial Hall?”
Ning Yuzhou said lightly, “I do not know either. I have never had contact with the Sacred Martial Hall. I know very little about it, and I also do not know how this Chosen One is selected or what they must do.” He paused, then continued, “Since this matter has already settled on Third Brother, the Sacred Martial Hall will naturally offer compensation. Father need not worry too much. If there is an opportunity in the future, I will go and see how Third Brother is doing.”
Hearing this, Emperor Chenghao felt his heart ease.
Now reassured, Emperor Chenghao sat for a while longer and casually asked about Ning Yuzhou previously having the Shadow Scaled Guards arrest Sun Hongmao.
After understanding the cause and effect, Emperor Chenghao’s anger and joy were difficult to distinguish. He said coldly, “You did exactly right. Since Sun Hongmao dared harm you and Ah Rao like this, he cannot be let off lightly. As for the Sun family, since they failed to discipline their disciple, let the Third Prince handle it when he returns.”
Ning Yuzhou nodded slightly and said no more.
Because the people from the Sacred Martial Hall were still there, Emperor Chenghao left soon after checking on his son and confirming that he was fine.
A little later, the Shadow Scaled Guards brought in several storage bags. Supposedly, they contained the Sun family’s apology gifts.
Ning Yuzhou casually looked through them, picked out a few things that interested him, and had the rest sent to the Ning clan’s steward to be added to the clan’s public stores.
—
That night, after the Lin Tai Hunting Valley trial ended, many cultivators in the camp below Lin Tai Mountain were unable to rest for a long time.
Whether it was the foreign cultivators slaughtering Dongling cultivators this time, or the arrival of Yin Xingheng and his junior brother, both matters cast a shadow over the hearts of Dongling’s cultivators. Unfortunately, even when they broke camp and left Lin Tai Mountain, apart from the Ning clan and the higher-ups of the major families, no one knew why Yin Xingheng and his junior brother had come.
Although Wen Mei was one of those in the know, the matter was too important, so she did not dare speak rashly.
Sitting in the demon beast carriage, Wen Mei lifted the curtain and looked outside.
Her gaze fell on the Ning clan’s demon beast carriage ahead. Thinking of something, her eyes dimmed slightly.
“Ah Mei, do you think Ah Rao really died in Lin Tai Hunting Valley?” Wen Xian asked. “When we left earlier, the Seventh Prince was the only one who boarded the carriage. There was no sign of her at all.”
“I don’t know,” Wen Mei said indifferently, clearly unwilling to say more.
Wen Xian’s eyes shifted, and she continued, “Ah Rao is truly pitiful. She had only just gotten married, yet she died in Lin Tai Hunting Valley. What a shame. Our Wen family had only just managed to rely on her to climb up to the royal family, and before we even enjoyed any benefit, she’s already gone.”
Wen Mei frowned and said stiffly, “Didn’t you hear the Seventh Prince say Ah Rao only went missing? Stop cursing her.”
Wen Xian’s face stiffened after being scolded by her, then she gave a dry laugh and said in a strange tone, “Aren’t I just worried about Ah Rao? Why are you aiming your temper at me? Those two martial brothers from some mysterious sect came to Dongling this time, and apparently they’re here to choose disciples for their sect. The Third Prince is one of the disciples they selected. Perhaps he has already left with them tonight, and no one knows when he can return. You two still have a marriage engagement…”
Wen Mei ignored her, closed her eyes and pretended to rest, but her mind was on what had happened the previous night.
Late last night, she had received a voice transmission from Ning Zhezou, asking her to meet him in a small forest near Lin Tai Mountain.
Naturally, Wen Mei went.
The small forest under the moonlight was not dark. Moonlight fell upon the handsome man, covering him in a veil of silver. Even the contours of his brows and eyes seemed to soften somewhat.
Although the two were an engaged couple, they were ten years apart in age and their cultivation levels were different. They had not met often, so they were very unfamiliar with each other.
Ning Zhezou had asked her out this time to discuss dissolving their engagement.
When Wen Mei learned that Ning Zhezou was the Chosen One the Sacred Martial Hall had been searching for, she had already had a premonition. Now, hearing him bring it up, her mood was very calm, and she even accepted it naturally.
There was a hint of apology in Ning Zhezou’s eyes. He said, “Once I leave this time, I do not know when I will return. In the future, perhaps I will be unable to… This marriage was arranged for us by our elders, but I do not wish to delay Fourth Miss Wen because of my own circumstances. If we meet again in the future and both of us still have the intention, we can form a dual-cultivation bond then.”
Wen Mei was somewhat surprised. She understood Ning Zhezou’s intention to dissolve the engagement. With his future uncertain, this engagement was dispensable and did not need to continue. But she had not expected him to add that last part. It sounded somewhat like compensation.
Could it be that he felt guilty because, in the demon cultivator’s cave dwelling, he had not saved her in time and had nearly caused her death?
However, Wen Mei felt he was overthinking it.
Although they had an engagement, they had never spent time together, so what feelings could there be? Moreover, after experiencing life and death several times, she had already understood that rather than relying on a man, she was more willing to walk an unrestrained path of becoming strong, yearning for the broader world outside.
He had his path as the Chosen One; she had her own path as a powerhouse.
After that, the two very amicably dissolved their engagement and returned their engagement tokens. After the dissolution, Ning Zhezou left Dongling overnight with his fellow disciples from the Yin family.
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