Chapter 15: Xu Changge

In "Cangyuan," entering the cave sanctuary requires nothing more than leaping from the precipice of the sky. The screen darkens, then flashes—within an instant, one is already within the cave's depths.

But when this becomes a lived reality, the sensation of falling through empty air seems to have no end.

The roar of wind rushing past his ears, a strange drowsiness creeps over Xu Yuan's mind, spreading swiftly into a heavy weariness that seeps through every limb and bone.

Time dissolves during the descent—slowly, inevitably, Xu Yuan closes his eyes. His consciousness slips away, piece by piece, from his body.

Amid endless drifting mist, only two figures remain, embracing each other...

...

At the summit of the precipice, the wind howls bitterly.

Less than a minute after Xu Yuan leapt from the cliff, several figures had already arrived upon this vast summit—four or five in total.

A silence falls.

Then, another sound of rushing air—two figures, a man and a woman, land upon the peak.

The man with a beard and a sword scanned the surroundings, a smile instantly spreading across his face. He waved cheerfully at the few figures around him:

"Everyone's here early—where is the third prince?"

"..."

Silence reigned atop the mountain; no one answered.

The bearded man didn't feel the slightest embarrassment. After so many years working alongside these people, he'd grown accustomed to it.

They all loved to stay silent and pretend to be masterful.

At that moment,

Beside the Hanging Sky Ridge, a slender man with arms folded across his chest and leaning against a tree trunk suddenly glanced at him. His eyes held a faint smile, yet his voice remained neither cold nor warm:

"Zhou Chen, the third prince has been taken by a woman. The mist beneath the Hanging Sky Ridge can block spiritual detection."

Upon hearing this, the bearded man turned toward the man, his eyes narrowing slightly.

The next instant,

the stubbled man materialized beside his old friend, a hearty chuckle on his lips:

"Well now, Si Ziyu, your aura-concealing technique grows more refined by the day. Had you not spoken, I wouldn't have even noticed you here."

As the words left his mouth, he reached out with familiar warmth, intending to throw an arm around the other's shoulder:

"It has been far too long. Weren't you accompanying the Crown Prince on his diplomatic mission to the Northern Barbarians? When did you return? Once this business is concluded and we are back in Jingjiang City, this elder brother of yours will treat you to wine at Zuixian Tavern..."

Yet before his voice could trail off...

"Buzz—"

A faint tremor in the air rippled outward from Si Ziyu's form, directly deflecting Zhou Chen’s outstretched hand, as a cold voice warned:

"The Eldest Young Master has already descended into the Hanging Sky Cliff. Restrain yourself."

Zhou Chen felt a sudden numbness in his palm. He gave it a gentle shake, attempting no further overtures of intimacy:

"Alright, let's talk about drinking privately."

Having said that,

Zhou Chen straightened himself from his lethargic posture, directing his gaze toward the colossal serpent's head perched at the very summit.

The two serpent eyes on the seven-life serpent's head remained wide open, their accumulated stillness after half a day radiating a deathly aura that seemed to engulf the entire mountain peak.

When a great demon perishes and is left unattended, it corrupts the land and spawns malevolent creatures—but this aura clearly posed no threat to anyone present.

Staring at it for a long while, Zhou Chen's eyes softened with a touch of sorrow.

Just two days prior, he had tracked the creature's trail through battle marks. Now, upon seeing it again, he found only its head remained.

A great demon who had cultivated for thousands of years—vanished so suddenly.

In that moment of reflection, Zhou Chen suddenly turned to his companion, Si Zi Yu, and casually asked:

"Zi Yu, who of you arrived first?"

On hearing this, Si Ziyu silently glanced toward the distance.

Zhou Chen followed his gaze.

At a distance of several dozen meters, beside a large boulder, a bald man with kind eyes was reclining, eyes closed, meditating.

Seeming to sense their presence, the bald man opened his eyes and nodded gently at them.

Si Ziyu knew what Zhou Chen was about to ask, and spoke softly:

"I traveled with Juexing. After he was locked by Ran Qingmo's spiritual presence, we immediately sent a signal to her."

Zhou Chen's pupils constricted, his gaze shifting toward the opposite cliff face:

"What? Juexing, that monk, sent a signal, yet Ran Qingmo still escaped with the third prince?"

Si Ziyu nodded slowly, saying:

"Yes. You should understand what this means, right? Zhou Chen. The Master of the Monastery and the Prime Minister... "

"No, Si Ziyu, shut up!"

Zhou Chen quickly waved his hand, cutting off Si Ziyu's words: "I have no idea what you're talking about. I know nothing. I'll invite you to drink again next time. I'm leaving now."

With that, Zhou Chen raised his hand and gave Si Ziyu's shoulder a firm pat, turning abruptly and walking away, leaving him no chance to speak.

"..."

Si Ziyu glanced at the fellow classmate with a mixture of helplessness, but said nothing further, simply leaning against the tree trunk to rest.

Zhou Chen walked slowly back to the woman with the martial attire at his side, her face subtly troubled.

He knew exactly what Si Ziyu was about to say.

If Ran Qingmo didn't know their identities, it might still be acceptable. But now, knowing that the people who came were from the Imperial Estate, she still fled—this would firmly establish her as the one who kidnapped the Third Prince.

If the culprit were someone else, perhaps it wouldn't matter. But behind Ran Qingmo stood the Sword Sect—the current Imperial Master of the State!

Could such a development not hint at an unseen rift between the Imperial Chancellor and the Master of the State?

To be aware, the palace is now rife with whispers that the Emperor's health is deteriorating—what if these two were to turn against one another...?

Zhou Chen quickly silenced his thoughts. Such matters were not for a guest scholar like him, waiting to be paid his stipend. He should simply remain still and wait for the eldest son’s instructions.

Even Zhou Chen, the most talkative of them all, fell into silence. For a moment, the entire mountain peak lay still, as if the very air had been hushed.

The seven present sat in quiet stillness, each waiting for the arrival of the eldest son.

Time slipped by, tick by tick.

Suddenly, a gale swept across, and a figure in green robes leapt from beneath the sheer cliff face, landing at the edge of the ten-thousand-foot cliff.

The man had sharp, starry eyes and a finely sculpted countenance. He wore a dark, narrow-sleeved dragon-embroidered robe, golden clouds embroidered at the sleeve edges, a crimson and white jade belt at his waist. His sleeves and the ink-black hairband fluttered gently in the mountain wind.

And with him came a slender woman dressed in shadow-wardrobe, a shadow guard.

Her face was concealed beneath a black hood, only her cold, piercing eyes visible. She wore a thin, form-fitting black dress, her silhouette revealing a pronounced bust, two slender arms bare. On her forearms, a pair of sleeve-mounted arm guards gleamed with a sinister coldness under the sunlight.

As the man arrived, the seven on the mountain peak rose to their feet.

Xu Changge, dressed in a single blue robe, paid no heed to the crowd behind him, merely gazing silently at the misty sea below.

A long while passed.

Xu Changge seemed to sigh in resignation, gently shaking his head, whispering softly:

"The Inversion of the Primordial Mirage Array... Ah, truly a well-concealed plan. Ran Qingmo could have known of such a trap existing here."

As he spoke, Xu Changge slowly turned his gaze toward the few figures behind him, offering a faint, gentle smile.

His voice, smooth and warm, carried precisely to every listener by the enhancement of Yuan Qi:

"This array was built alongside Tianmen Mountain—cannot be forcibly broken. However, after one month, when the Yuan Qi fades, the mist will naturally dissipate. For now, I must ask all of you to remain and wait patiently."

Having finished speaking, Xu Changge bowed slightly to the gathered group.

Zhou Chen and the others remained silent, merely returning the gesture with quiet respect.

With that done,

Xu Changge glanced sideways at the woman behind him, her voice soft and gentle.

"By the way, Ying'er, you should stay back for now—just wait here."

The slender, shadow-guardian woman's eyes flickered slightly, her voice a bit rough.

"Master Chang... where are you going?"

Xu Changge glanced at the lifeless head of the Seven-Life Python, silent.

Ying'er seemed to realize something, but had not yet opened her mouth.

Suddenly, a gale seized Xu Changge, lifting him off the ground.

And with him, soaring into the sky,

was the enormous python head perched atop the mountain peak—over ten meters tall!

Xu Changge stood in midair, his long hair swirling behind him, his dark eyes gazing downward, his voice barely a whisper:

"Ladies and gentlemen, I must temporarily depart for the Ancient Abyss—the journey is long, and I may not return within a month. Ruan Qingmo shall be entrusted to you. Do not hesitate—find her and eliminate her at once. As for Chang Tian..."

At this point, Xu Changge's tone abruptly shifted. The gentle gaze in his sword-like eyes turned icy and sharp, slowly sweeping over every person present. Each word was spoken slowly, deliberately, with a soft, almost soothing cadence:

"Chang Tian may be foolish, may be a complete waste—yet no matter how useless he is, no outsider is entitled to interfere."

"I beg of you all to ensure Chang Tian's safety."

"Three years ago, Chang Tian had already passed on. If he meets harm now, what actions would my father take? As his son, I cannot stop him."

".........."

Silence.

The air atop Xuan Tian Cliff seemed to freeze, as if suspended in stillness, by the words of the cloaked man.

Back then, when the second prince died, countless lives were lost in the Imperial Capital.

After a long silence,

On the handsome face of Xu Changge, the familiar warmth and gentle kindness returned. With a smile, he spoke aloud:

"Regarding Long Tian's matter, I entrust it entirely to all of you. The efforts of the sages will be truthfully reported to my father afterward."

As the words faded, Xu Changge bowed slightly to the crowd below. Then, with the immense serpent's head now transformed into a stream of light, he soared into the western sky, breaking through the air.