King of Creation Chapter 1782 - 1767: The Last Day

With the simplest words and utmost speed, Princess Changle narrated the sudden turn of events that transpired during Ye Zhen’s three-day secluded cultivation for breakthrough.

She then presented him with all the urgent dispatches that had arrived from North Sea County over the preceding days.

Ye Zhen’s countenance immediately shifted to one of profound gravity.

Merely glancing at the terse reports, Ye Zhen could surmise with strong probability that this whole affair was inextricably linked to West Patrol Xio Qiangu.

An invasion by a disciplined Demon Clan army?

What a preposterous notion! Such a heinous event has not been witnessed for close to a millennium, let alone a mere century.

It is true that formidable individuals from the Demon Clan, employing various secret Divine Power Techniques, could infiltrate the heartlands of the Great Zhou.

However, their numbers would be exceedingly limited.

Even upon clandestinely entering the heartlands, they would be compelled to act with utmost caution and discretion; any lapse in vigilance would inevitably expose their presence.

Can anyone genuinely believe that the ever-vigilant Heavenly Patrol Department would remain idle?

Yet now, an organized invasion of one to three thousand Demon Clan troops has occurred, annihilating four villages within two days, without any prior warning or surviving witnesses to this invading force.

This is far too perplexing.

Under normal circumstances, such an occurrence is utterly inconceivable.

This is because the site of these atrocities, Lingzhou, lies in close proximity to the Demon Clan Territory and the Human-Demon Battlefield, where defenses against the Demon Clan are exceptionally stringent, with Border Armies densely stationed, not merely for appearances.

With advanced Divine Skills, infiltrating with a hundred or two hundred Demon Clan experts might be feasible, but a coordinated invasion followed by subsequent attacks on the following days is highly improbable.

Without external assistance, it is simply impossible.

Furthermore, the four settlements decimated by this organized Demon Clan incursion all fell under Ye Zhen’s jurisdiction as the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy of Lingzhou.

The timing and the location were suspiciously targeted at Ye Zhen; if anyone were to suggest that Xio Qiangu was not implicated in this matter, Ye Zhen would never lend it credence.

One must concede that this West Patrol Xio Qiangu has selected the most opportune moment to strike, coinciding precisely with Ye Zhen’s secluded breakthrough—a truly insidious maneuver.

"So, this implies I have merely two days remaining from the three-day ultimatum set forth by Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu in the military order," Ye Zhen’s brows knitted together in deep concentration.

"Precisely so."

Princess Changle affirmed with a nod. "Brother Ye, the journey from Luoyi to North Sea County requires a minimum of three days for you. Even if you were to hasten your return, there simply isn't sufficient time. The deadline has already passed, and they will undoubtedly invoke military law to deal with you summarily.

This situation offers no possibility of rectification..."

Ye Zhen suddenly lifted his gaze, his eyes alight with an unyielding resolve. "No, I still possess a chance!"

"In these extraordinary times, I can leverage the privileges afforded to the Heavenly Patrol Department; all the Ancient Teleportation Formations I intend to utilize will be temporarily suspended to allow for my immediate passage.

By this means, perhaps less than an hour will be required before I can directly reach the Ancient Teleportation Formation within Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom's territory. From there, I shall dispatch Xiaomao without regard for his exhaustion.

Merely one day!

It will take me but a single day to arrive at North Sea County, thus granting me an additional day!"

"But the crux of the issue, Brother Ye, is that even if you could gain an extra day, it still seems..."

"Changle, this is an urgent matter, I must depart immediately..." As he spoke, Ye Zhen’s figure moved with swift intent, poised to exit the Barbarian Spirit Hall.

However, Princess Changle’s form materialized like a persistent shadow, blocking Ye Zhen’s path.

"Brother Ye, please heed my words. Even with an additional day at your disposal, the prospect of altering the outcome remains exceedingly slim."

"On what grounds do you say that?" Ye Zhen turned back abruptly, posing the question.

"Because, based on the assessments of Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu and my father, should Xio Qiangu have any involvement in this incident, those organized Demon Clan forces must surely have been utterly annihilated by now.

Furthermore, just a day prior, my father commanded Grand Celestial Official and Chief Yu to dispatch a contingent of no less than 20,000 elite scouts to Lingzhou, tasked with the meticulous pursuit of any Demon Clan traces.

Among this contingent were several hundred Void Hunting Kings, renowned for their exceptional speed and unparalleled tracking capabilities.

Yet, up to this present moment, a full day has elapsed; not only has no structured Demon Clan army been located, but not even a semblance of Demon Clan aura has been detected.

My father’s conjecture appears to have been conclusively validated," Princess Changle articulated.

"They dispatched several hundred Void Hunting Kings?"

This staggering number caused Ye Zhen to draw a sharp, audible gasp.

It was abundantly clear that this time, Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long and Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu were genuinely intent on intervening to save him.

However, as Princess Changle had stated, under the prevailing circumstances, the genuine possibility of turning the tide was already critically diminished.

"Indeed."

"Furthermore, Brother Ye, my father and Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu have devised a unique method to save you, and they implore you to implement it." Princess Changle conveyed this information.

"What is this method?" Ye Zhen’s curiosity was piqued by her words.

"Sacrifice the pawn to save the king."

Princess Changle didn't need to elaborate; those four words alone allowed Ye Zhen to grasp the full strategy conceived by Ren Venerate Emperor and Grand Celestial Official Wu Yu for his deliverance.

"My father and the Grand Celestial Official wish for Brother Ye to continue in secluded cultivation, preparing a letter of self-defense that explains the circumstances of your seclusion for a breakthrough. The Grand Celestial Official will handle the rest. What's more, ignorance often serves as innocence, and officials in our Great Zhou are permitted to undertake closed-door sessions for cultivation breakthroughs..."

"Absolutely not!"

Ye Zhen uttered these three words with unwavering resolve, turning to walk towards the exit.

"I, Ye Zhen, value my life and do not wish to perish, but I will never disgrace myself by shifting all blame onto my brothers to ensure my own survival."

Ye Zhen's firm declaration left Princess Changle momentarily stunned. After a brief pause, she hurried to intercept him, grasping his arm. "Must you go? Can't you reconsider? By going, you might..."

Ye Zhen gently patted Princess Changle's hand. "I must go, but rest assured, should things turn dire, I will accept the consequences. However, I will not passively await capture!"

"But, your actions..."

Princess Changle attempted to voice her objection further, but Ye Zhen had already vanished from the Barbarian Spirit Hall like a swift lightning bolt, every second now being critically important.

Gazing at Ye Zhen's departing figure, Princess Changle's expression hardened with determination.

With a swift, casual gesture, she sent a Dao Talisman Communication, its message brief and urgent. Moments later, she was enveloped by a gentle breeze and vanished from sight.

Only moments after her disappearance, Princess Changle reappeared beside Ye Zhen.

Ye Zhen expressed his surprise. "Changle, why are you here?"

"From this moment onward, wherever you go, I shall follow!" Princess Changle's voice chimed like a clear bell.

"This... return, please do not add to my troubles!" Ye Zhen turned and resumed his hasty departure.

"How could I be a burden? I wield Creation Power and can contend with experts of the Dao Realm; you might find my assistance useful." Princess Changle responded with a light laugh.

"Uh... very well then." Witnessing Princess Changle's unwavering resolve, Ye Zhen reluctantly acquiesced.

Yet, a subtle glint of pride flickered in Princess Changle's eyes. Her decision to accompany Ye Zhen stemmed from a sudden realization: she had conceived of another way to preserve his life.

While this alternative did not offer Ye Zhen a chance for redemption and resurgence as her father and the Grand Celestial Official had proposed, it could ensure his survival in a manner he might accept.

The method itself was remarkably straightforward.

Should the Heavenly Patrol Department arrive to apprehend Ye Zhen when the three-day deadline elapsed, she would intervene.

Given her elevated status and considerable strength, as long as she remained within the Great Zhou's borders, no one would dare to act against her. Facilitating the escape of Ye Zhen and his companions would likely be a minor transgression, resulting in nothing more than a few reprimands that would cause her no harm.

This was Princess Changle's plan. She had resolved that if the worst-case scenario unfolded, she would employ this tactic to grant Ye Zhen and his brothers an opportunity to flee.

After all, there existed realms in this world beyond the reach of the Great Zhou.

Ye Zhen, solely focused on his urgent journey, remained oblivious to Princess Changle's carefully laid plans on his behalf.

However, the advantage of traveling with Princess Changle, owing to her distinguished identity, soon became apparent.

As they approached the Luoyi City Gate, the city's regulations mandated inspections for all individuals entering or exiting.

Even with the token of the West Patrol Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy from the Heavenly Patrol Department in his possession, Ye Zhen was still subject to scrutiny at the Luoyi City Gate.

Conversely, upon Princess Changle’s simple display of her identity token, the guards at the city gate immediately prostrated themselves.

Subsequently, Princess Changle grasped Ye Zhen's arm, and they traversed the Luoyi City Gate with remarkable speed, heading directly towards the Ancient Teleportation Formation situated at Dragon Swimming Plain.

Meanwhile, within the opulent halls of the Luoyi Imperial Palace, Yu Chaoen was urgently reporting to Ren Venerate Emperor Ji Long about Ye Zhen's departure from Luoyi, en route to North Sea County.

"That young rascal, he even defies my counsel! I clearly offered him a path to survival, yet he insists on marching towards his own demise."

"The personnel you dispatched arrived over half a day ago, correct? And the Heavenly Patrol Department’s Void Hunting King has been present for nearly a day. Any significant findings?" Emperor Ji Long inquired once more.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, nothing as of yet! There are currently no discoveries!"

This response darkened Emperor Ji Long’s expression further. "In such circumstances, even if I wished to shield him, I am unable."

"Furthermore, that Changle girl, she was meant to guide Ye Zhen but instead, became erratic with him." Emperor Ji Long appeared incensed.

Observing the emperor's fury, Yu Chaoen immediately bowed. "Your Majesty, this humble servant dispatched a Dao Realm nanny, skilled in Escape Arts, to accompany them, ensuring Princess Hall Master and Ye Zhen would not overstep any boundaries."

Upon hearing this, Emperor Ji Long listlessly waved his hand. "I wasn't referring to that... After all these years, a crucial piece was finally placed, only for it to be compromised just as it was about to be useful..."

Yu Chaoen offered no further comment on the matter, remaining silent.

Nevertheless, the Chief Eunuch held immense admiration for Ye Zhen's ultimate choice.

Ye Zhen's actions displayed a profound sense of loyalty. Regardless of whether Princess Changle and Ye Zhen were fated to be together, his peace of mind was assured as long as they remained united.

Conversely, had Ye Zhen chosen self-preservation by abandoning his subordinates, though Yu Chaoen might deem it the most pragmatic course, he would not have felt comfortable with it.

Henceforth, he would undoubtedly impede Ye Zhen and Princess Changle's interactions, whether openly or discreetly.

Meanwhile, Ye Zhen, possessing the token of the Heavenly Patrol Department’s Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy, combined with Princess Changle’s royal status and the Ancestor God Temple Branch Hall Master's token,

when these three significant tokens were presented, even the Captains overseeing the Ancient Teleportation Formation would hesitate to impede them.

They immediately halted all ongoing teleports, prioritizing the swift transfer of Ye Zhen and Princess Changle.

In under an hour, they reached the Ancient Teleportation Formation within Marquis Haiyuan Kingdom.

Subsequently, with its Cultivation reaching the Dark Palace Realm Fifth Stage Peak, the Cloud Winged Tiger King Kitten was set into motion, accelerating towards North Sea County at an extraordinary speed of fifty miles per hour.

Eleven hours later, as the kitten approached utter exhaustion, Ye Zhen and Princess Changle arrived at the County City of North Sea County.

Almost instantly, Ye Zhen materialized within the Government Office of the Second Route Wind Patrol Envoy.

Unexpectedly, Ye Zhen's key subordinates—Gu Feng, Liuu Tiaoqi, Niu Er, Fengg Jiumo, County Captain Tang Biao, Governor Qiao Fu, and several Military Commanders—were congregated there.

However, these individuals' expressions were currently exceedingly grim; the sudden appearance of Ye Zhen caused their countenances to shift towards an even more peculiar and serious demeanor!