Chapter 1734. Encountering the Source of the Dark Power, the Mysterious Master of the Yin Ruins Cave

“Your old servant greets Princess.”

The Divine Martial Grand General Zhu Cangning was dressed in plain clothes. His face was firm, his features sharp as if carved by a blade, his deep eyes carrying the iron-blooded aura of one long tempered by war and hardship. Seeing Princess Weiyang arrive, relief immediately appeared on his face as he bowed in salute.

“General, there is no need for such courtesy. May I ask why you have come to see me?” Jiang Weiyang asked in confusion.

Hearing this, Zhu Cangning did not answer directly. Instead, he looked around. Only after confirming that no one else had followed did he lower his voice and say, “Princess Weiyang, please do not be puzzled for now. This old servant will explain everything shortly and clear up the many doubts in your heart from this period of time.”

“Inside the Qingyou Pavilion, I have already set up Heaven-Deceiving Array Patterns. For a short time, no one will be able to spy on this place — not even His Majesty the Emperor.”

“As for your maid, I will also find a way later to erase the relevant memories from her mind.”

Hearing this, Princess Weiyang was slightly startled, and her expression immediately turned solemn and cautious.

Zhu Cangning’s extreme seriousness was enough to show the gravity of the matter.

She herself had been puzzled lately as to why her father had been making a series of strange decisions — they were not in line with his usual style at all. She had therefore been guessing that the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty might be facing some sort of crisis.

Or perhaps her father had foreseen some terrifying event about to occur, which was why he had been acting so unusually.

It was precisely for this reason that she had calmly accepted Emperor Weiyang’s arrangements and requests, putting the greater good first.

And as the Divine Martial Grand General of the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, Zhu Cangning would never fabricate lies or spread rumors.

“Since Your Highness returned from the Yaoguang Ancient Domain, you must have noticed some of His Majesty’s abnormal behaviors. I have followed His Majesty for a very long time. Even before he unified and established the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty, I fought and campaigned alongside him, earning merit together. I understand him quite well. His Majesty’s love and doting care for you are obvious to all — how could he possibly choose a husband for you so hastily…?”

Zhu Cangning sighed, then began to explain.

Jiang Weiyang nodded thoughtfully. She fully agreed with what Zhu Cangning said.

At the same time, this was exactly what had been confusing her all along.

“General, I understand all that you’ve said. But why would Father act like this? Has something happened that I don’t know about?” she asked.

During this period, the situation in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty had remained very calm. It had not fallen into chaos because of the coming Dark Calamity, nor had it joined the Orthodox Unity Alliance.

Could this merely be the calm before the storm?

“I suspect that His Majesty… has been tainted by dark matter.”

Zhu Cangning looked at Jiang Weiyang and shook his head. After a moment of silence, he finally spoke, his tone incomparably heavy, mixed with a fear and unease even he himself could not fully explain.

This unease stemmed from fear of the unknown and confusion.

Because even he did not understand how even Emperor Weiyang could have been contaminated by dark matter.

“What?”

Jiang Weiyang felt as if struck by lightning. Beneath the white veil covering her eyes, they widened instantly. She stood frozen like a clay statue, unable to believe what she had just heard.

That wise and mighty father of hers — revered across the ages, dominating the cosmos — had actually been invaded by dark matter?

How was that possible? How could such a thing happen to him?

Zhu Cangning had long anticipated her reaction.

When he himself had first made this conjecture, the shock and horror he experienced had been no less than Jiang Weiyang’s now. It had taken him a long time to calm down.

Of course, he could not guarantee that this guess was true.

But all the scattered clues pointed toward this possibility.

“General, what are you basing this suspicion on?” Jiang Weiyang forced herself to calm down, but her voice still trembled slightly, filled with fear and dread.

For her, this news was like the sky collapsing — terrifying and unbelievable.

Zhu Cangning said gravely, “His Majesty once traveled deep into various layers of spacetime in search of a breakthrough opportunity. On one occasion, he encountered an unprecedentedly terrifying enemy and was gravely injured, nearly failing to return. Only a handful of people in the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty know of this matter, and this old servant is one of them.”

Jiang Weiyang grew even more shocked and incredulous. Even her nearly invincible father had been severely wounded and almost failed to come back — just how terrifying must that enemy have been?

And yet Emperor Weiyang had never mentioned this to her.

“At the time, His Majesty told me that that figure was absolutely one of the most terrifying beings he had ever encountered in his life.”

“He even speculated then that in the future, an unimaginable catastrophe might befall all the worlds. What he had accidentally witnessed deep within spacetime might be related to the fate and direction of the entire vast cosmos…”

“A horrifying dark power was brewing deep in spacetime, like a volcano that had slept for countless eras, waiting for the moment it would erupt.” Zhu Cangning’s gaze was heavy as he continued.

Even as he spoke, he himself felt waves of suffocation and helplessness, as if smelling thick blood and fire and seeing endless darkness.

“You mean… Father may have once encountered the source of the dark power deep within spacetime?” Jiang Weiyang was extremely intelligent and quickly grasped his implication. Her beautiful face turned pale, her delicate body trembling slightly as she too felt an indescribable fear and pressure.

“I don’t know. This is only my speculation. I also do not understand why His Majesty told me these things back then — perhaps he had his own intentions. If not for His Majesty’s recent strange actions, I would never have guessed in that direction. Because the injuries he suffered back then never truly healed; they often flared up and required him to suppress them deliberately,” Zhu Cangning sighed helplessly.

Jiang Weiyang fell silent. Had Zhu Cangning not told her this today, she might never have known.

Of course, it was also possible that when these events happened, she was still sealed within a Dao Source and had not yet been born into the world.

Given Emperor Weiyang’s personality, he would never have taken the initiative to tell her such things and cause her needless worry.

“This old servant speculates that His Majesty’s hasty decision to choose a husband for you is likely because he fears that if something happens to him in the future, there will be no one left to protect you. Therefore, he is paving the road in advance and making preparations. In the face of dark matter, even His Majesty is powerless. We ministers simply do not know how to help him.”

“And if this matter were to spread or leak out, the consequences for the entire Weiyang Immortal Dynasty would be no less than a mountain collapsing and the sea overturning. The aftermath would be unimaginable. After much deliberation, this old servant decided to inform Your Highness.” Zhu Cangning’s gaze remained heavy.

Jiang Weiyang struggled to recover from this earth-shattering revelation.

At this moment, she did not know what to do. She only felt a deep sense of helplessness.

After all, she was merely a young woman, inexperienced in worldly affairs, raised in sheltered luxury since childhood — truly a flower from a greenhouse.

Her first reaction, aside from panic, was a blank mind, completely unsure how to face all this.

Of course, she understood Zhu Cangning’s implication: he was advising her not to be overly willful, to consider the greater good, and not to treat this husband-selection matter as a joke.

It might concern her future destiny.

“Fu Yi is a junior I have watched grow up. His character and temperament are trustworthy, and his talent goes without saying. In the pavilion earlier, Your Highness must have already witnessed his strength.”

“During this period, many troubles may appear around you. This old servant boldly requests to arrange for Fu Yi to stay by Your Highness’s side to resolve difficulties and help you discern a worthy husband.”

Zhu Cangning suddenly clasped his hands and spoke.

Jiang Weiyang, whose mind was still buzzing from the shocking news, was startled again upon hearing this.

What did this mean?

Though flustered, she was not foolish. This Divine Martial Grand General, who seemed to be kindly informing her, apparently also had his own little scheme.

Was he arranging his descendant by her side in hopes of gaining an advantage through proximity?

“Thank you for your kindness, General,” Jiang Weiyang said.

She did not know Zhu Cangning’s true intentions, and at this moment, she found it difficult to refuse his goodwill.

A relieved smile appeared on Zhu Cangning’s face.

Although what he had said earlier sounded alarming, it was not entirely groundless — it was a mixture of speculation and concern.

If Emperor Weiyang were to encounter problems, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty might face collapse and fragmentation.

At that time, the person behind Emperor Weiyang would likely make a move.

With that person present, the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty would not fall apart, and all problems could be resolved.

Having followed Emperor Weiyang for so long, Zhu Cangning knew that behind him always stood a mysterious existence.

Emperor Weiyang’s achievements today owed much to that being.

When Jiang Weiyang left the Qingyou Pavilion, she was still somewhat dazed.

Zhu Fu Yi, who had long been waiting outside, saw this and followed behind her like a guard.

From afar, he saw his grandfather Zhu Cangning nod toward him.

Zhu Fu Yi’s eyes immediately filled with excitement and joy. No matter what, compared to the other young prodigies, his chances of pursuing Princess Weiyang had increased significantly.

At the same time, in a deserted palace within Weiyang Immortal City, a blind old woman sat cross-legged on a prayer mat, seemingly dozing.

Ye Wudao, who had left the banquet earlier, returned here. He put away his arrogant and domineering expression and bowed respectfully. “Senior Sister Xingying.”

“It’s been a long time. Your cultivation has improved considerably,” the blind old woman nodded slightly. Her eyes were entirely silver-white, as if containing countless stars — extremely dazzling. She was the very same Old Woman Xingying who had once appeared in the Immortal Chu Vast Land.

Before the Immortal Chu Vast Land was destroyed, she had already fled and did not care about its fate.

Even her junior brother, the White-Browed Star Lord who had once served as the Star Monarch of Immortal Chu, she ignored as well.

She allowed him to be captured by the Xiyuan Holy Hall, where he was still imprisoned in the Spacetime Heavenly Prison.

Ye Wudao said respectfully, “Compared to Senior Sister, this little bit of cultivation is nothing.”

On his way back, he had already heard this senior sister’s voice transmission; she too had arrived at the Weiyang Immortal Dynasty.

He was quite surprised by her arrival and message.

He rarely interacted with Old Woman Xingying and the others, but they were indeed fellow disciples.

In his youth, he had once been led by a green dragon and carried by a blue phoenix to a place called the Yin Ruins Cave to cultivate, where he received guidance from a mysterious existence who called himself the Master of the Yin Ruins Cave and gained many benefits.

He could also be considered a disciple of the Yin Ruins Cave.

However, the Yin Ruins Cave had a rule — it emphasized fate and origin, and disciples were not allowed to mention anything related to the Yin Ruins Cave outside.

Even his father, the king of the Nanzhao Ancient Kingdom, did not know he had once encountered such an opportunity.

The blind old woman before him held an extremely high status in the Yin Ruins Cave, with unfathomable strength.

No matter how arrogant Ye Wudao might be, he did not dare show disrespect in front of her.

Moreover, in his eyes, the mysterious Master of the Yin Ruins Cave was far stronger than his father, the king of Nanzhao.

“Since you’ve returned, then come with me to present a grand gift to Emperor Weiyang. Judging by your appearance, you must have suffered a setback with his daughter,” Old Woman Xingying stood up from the mat and walked toward the palace exit.

Ye Wudao hesitated slightly but still followed, puzzled. “May I ask what kind of grand gift Senior Sister intends to give Emperor Weiyang?”

He felt that her emotions seemed somewhat off — as if suppressing anger.

Moreover, going there so openly, would Emperor Weiyang even agree to meet her?

Could it be that Emperor Weiyang was also connected to the Yin Ruins Cave?

“No need to ask further. For you, what comes next will be a good thing. This was personally mentioned by Master — Jiang Yun cannot possibly refuse.”

Old Woman Xingying walked ahead and said indifferently. With a sweep of her wide sleeve, the void blurred and a golden path appeared, directly piercing through spacetime before them, carrying Ye Wudao away.

Only then did Ye Wudao notice that she was holding a square sandalwood box in her hand, as if containing something. A faint bloody smell seeped out from it.

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