Chapter 469: Who is Coming? (First Update)

The bamboo forest was silent, save for the rustling sound of the wind blowing through the bamboo leaves.

Chu Liuyue felt as if everything around her had frozen in an instant, leaving only the features of the person before her vividly clear.

Her voice was light, seemingly destined to dissipate into the wind in a mere moment.

But she knew that Rong Xiu had heard her.

This was her greatest secret.

She had thought this would be difficult to say, but facing the impending separation, she found that being honest with Rong Xiu was much easier than she had imagined.

Because she truly wanted to continue being with him.

A ripple seemed to rise in the depths of Rong Xiu's eyes.

After a moment, he looked into her eyes and said

"If you cannot return, then this Prince shall go."

Chu Liuyue was suddenly stunned.

"...Your Highness, you do not ask me why I have enemies in the Tianling Empire?"

For the past dozen or so years, she had merely been a useless, abandoned daughter of a declining noble family in the Yaochen Kingdom; logically, it should have been absolutely impossible for her to have any connection to the Tianling Empire.

Yet, Rong Xiu did not seem surprised or curious.

The corners of his lips curled slightly into a smile.

"This Prince only cares whether Yue'er's revenge is satisfying."

Chu Liuyue froze.

Rong Xiu leaned close to her ear, his warm breath brushing against her, making her skin feel slightly heated.

"Wherever Yue'er goes, so shall this Prince."

The sky was clear and the air was bright, without a single cloud in sight.

Jian Fengchi traveled on a flying sword, with Chu Liuyue standing behind him.

"Are you really just leaving like this?" Jian Fengchi glanced at Chu Liuyue. "For a long time after this, you won't be able to see your father or that fiancé of yours."

Chu Liuyue raised an eyebrow slightly

"Can Young Master Jian help bring them to the Tianling Empire as well?"

Jian Fengchi immediately replied

"I cannot."

The Tianling Empire's regulations were extremely strict; everyone's identity had to undergo multiple layers of screening.

Especially since the place they were heading to this time was the imperial capital of the Tianling Empire—Xiling!

Even if they could cross the Sky Curtain Realm, they would not be able to enter Xiling without a proper reason and identity.

Chu Liuyue spread her hands.

Since the path ahead was unknown for this trip, being alone was more convenient.

Jian Fengchi scanned her from head to toe, a wicked smile suddenly curling at the corner of his mouth.

"However, that Prince Li is hiding quite deep. Given his strength, entering the Sky Curtain Realm shouldn't be a problem."

Chu Liuyue shot him a glance.

Jian Fengchi seemed very interested in Rong Xiu's affairs, constantly steering the conversation toward him throughout the journey.

She shook her head once more

"He has his own plans."

Seeing that Chu Liuyue remained as unyielding as a bronze wall, Jian Fengchi's smile finally faded, and he let out a huff.

"I really don't know what you're thinking, being with someone so unpredictable."

Chu Liuyue couldn't be bothered to respond to him.

The two fell silent again. After about half an hour, they finally came to a halt at a mountain peak.

Jian Fengchi leaped down, lightly waving his sleeve.

Dust rose into the air.

A teleportation array appeared before their eyes!

Chu Liuyue's gaze tightened slightly as she jumped down after him, walking to Jian Fengchi's side.

"This is the teleportation array I used to get here."

Jian Fengchi tilted his chin up.

Chu Liuyue frowned slightly.

This mountain peak was located southeast of the Imperial Capital and was uninhabited; why would there be a teleportation array here?

Seeing the shock and confusion on Chu Liuyue's face, Jian Fengchi assumed she was curious about the array and explained

"This array can quickly teleport us to the Sky Curtain Realm. But to reach the Tianling Empire, we still have to pass through two more arrays."

Chu Liuyue nodded slightly.

Aside from cultivators attempting to break through to the Seventh Rank, who could actively summon the Sky Curtain Realm, everyone else had to physically travel to the location where the Sky Curtain Realm resided to enter.

But what she was curious about was something else.

"This teleportation array looks like it has some history."

Jian Fengchi rubbed his chin

"Indeed. And it doesn't look like it's used frequently. The only reason I know about this is because Mu Qinghe said we could take this route. Actually, I was quite curious myself when I arrived—that there would actually be a teleportation array connecting to the Sky Curtain Realm here."

Emperor Jiawen had visited the Tianling Empire before, so there was indeed such an array within the Imperial Capital.

But appearing in a place like this was somewhat strange.

"Perhaps it was built by a cultivator from the past; it's not certain."

Jian Fengchi didn't pay much attention to the array.

As he spoke, the primal force in his palm condensed, and he struck the teleportation array with a palm!

A flash of silver light streaked through, and the array activated!

The figures of the two vanished from the spot instantly!

Surrounded by darkness, Chu Liuyue could only hear the sound of endless spatial turbulence whistling past her ears.

Fortunately, Jian Fengchi had set up a barrier, so she did not suffer from too much pressure from the forces.

After an unknown amount of time, a light finally appeared before her eyes!

Jian Fengchi said

"We're almost out."

Chu Liuyue's heart tightened abruptly.

In the next moment, the sky before her brightened intensely!

She felt a powerful force surge from behind, pushing both her and Jian Fengchi out!

She stumbled a step before regaining her footing.

"Look! This is the Sky Curtain Realm guarded by the Tianling Empire!"

Jian Fengchi raised his hand and pointed forward.

Chu Liuyue's entire body stiffened, and then she slowly raised her head to look.

At this moment, the two of them were standing atop a cliff. Below the cliff was a boundless, surging, dark blue sea!

In the distance, where the sea met the sky, a massive Sky Curtain Realm descended from the somber heavens.

Thousands of flowing lights flickered, like a distant galaxy!

The vast, boundless pressure of the Heavenly Dao poured out, nearly covering this entire world!

And in the middle of the Sky Curtain Realm, a troop of soldiers clad in black armor and wielding longswords stood in a single, perfectly disciplined line!

Even from such a great distance, Chu Liuyue could clearly feel the murderous aura emanating from those soldiers!

In the entire Tianling Empire, only the most elite and powerful soldiers were qualified to guard the Sky Curtain Realm!

Therefore, every single one of these people was a powerhouse chosen from thousands!

They stood there, majestic and solemn, as if they had already merged with this world!

The hand inside Chu Liuyue's sleeve trembled slightly, and the blood in her body seemed to freeze in an instant! Yet, between her chest and abdomen, it felt as if something was burning intensely, on the verge of erupting!

How familiar this scene was!

In the year 1645 of the Tianling Empire, she had just reached her coming-of-age age, and had personally come here to inspect in her capacity as the Imperial Princess.

At that time, thousands of soldiers had welcomed her, military flags fluttered, and the procession had stretched grandly for hundreds of miles.

Back then, she could never have imagined that one day, she would return to this place in such a manner!

Seeing that Chu Liuyue's expression seemed slightly off, Jian Fengchi couldn't help but ask

"What's wrong?"

Chu Liuyue's eyes flickered, and a perfect smile surfaced on her face.

"I'm just a little nervous. Young Master Jian needn't worry."

Jian Fengchi nodded.

After all, it was her first time here; it was normal to be nervous.

"This is the Sky Curtain Realm of the Tianling Empire! Who goes there!?"

A voice filled with majesty drifted from afar!