Chapter 655: Chapter 655 - 649 Sky-piercing Array ?_2

When the Old Island Master Yun uttered those words, the Emperor suddenly recalled what Princess Ata had said when she first arrived in the capital.

Both he and Ji Youzhi had long harbored suspicions. While they didn’t believe Princess Ata was lying, they hadn’t dared to readily accept it all as truth without substantial evidence.

And now, having heard the words of the Old Island Master Yun, the Emperor believed firmly.

"It’s true! I don’t want to be a marionette, and I absolutely don’t want the people of Nanjiang plunged into the fires of war, displaced, and their homes destroyed!"

As Princess Ata spoke, her gaze unintentionally drifted toward the Emperor.

The Emperor smiled at her and met her gaze openly.

From the chief seat, the Old Island Master Yun smiled faintly. "You have a righteous heart, young lady. You will undoubtedly achieve great things in the future!"

Princess Ata smiled and nodded sincerely. "I pray your auspicious words come true!"

Suddenly, the sound of hurried footsteps approached. The first to rush in was Yun Kuo, followed by several of his younger brothers.

"Grandfather! You..." Yun Kuo’s voice trembled. "Why must you do this?"

All those years of painstaking effort, handed over to a mere infant... Was Grandfather’s choice truly worthwhile?

The Old Island Master Yun waved his hand at his grandsons.

"There’s no need for such displays. Death comes to everyone eventually. My decision today is the will of Heaven."

The older children of the Yun Family already had tears welling in their eyes. The younger ones looked at their elder brothers with puzzled faces, not understanding the reason for their tears.

But the sight of their grandfather’s and great-grandfather’s white hair filled them with a subtle, unsettling feeling of unease.

The Old Island Master Yun’s gaze returned to the Emperor and the National Master.

"I know you are determined to leave the island, but Yunzhou Island has its rules. Anyone who comes here must stay; no one can leave!"

"You speak too gravely, Old Island Master," the National Master said. "If my memory serves me right, the Bright Moon Pavilion’s ships visit Yunzhou Island once a year. They are free to come and go, are they not?"

The National Master’s words made the Old Island Master Yun close his eyes.

"The people of Bright Moon Pavilion can come and go freely because they possess a Token left by our Yunzhou Island Ancestors. In the presence of that Token, Yunzhou Island can only obey."

"A Token?"

Neither the National Master nor the Emperor had expected this.

"It is the Yunzhou Token. Whoever possesses this Token can enter and exit Yunzhou Island at will. However, for the safety of Yunzhou Island, I informed the owner of Bright Moon Pavilion—my third maternal grandson—that he may only visit once a year."

"Ah..."

The National Master, Xie Pan’Er, and the Emperor all looked astonished.

"You... you knew that the owner of Bright Moon Pavilion is Old Madam Ji’s third son?" the National Master asked.

Old Island Master Yun chuckled. "I can discern the blood connection between young friend Ji Youzhi and myself, so naturally, I can also perceive the ties between Ji Youcheng and my Yun Family!"

"This National Master had an inkling!" he exclaimed. "Since Old Island Master Yun could discern the blood ties between Divine Hunter Ji and Yunzhou Island, you must have long recognized the connection between the Bright Moon Pavilion’s owner and the Yun Family. Why, then, have you not sought out Old Madam Ji all these years?"

"Naturally, I perceived it. But sometimes, true happiness lies in understanding yet not exposing. Wan’Er did not wish to return; she wanted to roam the world. As her father, I naturally wished to grant her that freedom."

"If that’s the case, why not continue to observe without intervening this time? Why not let everything remain peaceful?"

"It is because I have found a better path. I have seen a light!"

A light?

Everyone looked at each other in confusion, their faces full of bewilderment.

The Old Island Master leisurely turned his head, looking toward the Main House where, on the bed, Xiaosuisui was slowly waking up.

She looked around in a daze, raised her hand, and lightly waved it. A brilliant white light swiftly shot out, piercing the barrier outside. A powerful force of the Celestial Dao descended abruptly, causing everyone to feel an immense increase in pressure.

"This is...?"

Everyone in the Flower Hall turned pale and rushed outside. They looked up to see rainbows arching across the sky and birds flocking from all directions. On the ground, all the beasts roared in unison.

"It worked!"

Old Island Master Yun looked up and smiled faintly, stroking his beard. He spoke to his eldest grandson, "Yun Kuo, send a message to your father. Activate the island’s Array of Heaven!"

Array of Heaven?

"What is that?" the Emperor asked anxiously.

Far away, atop a high mountain, Ji Youzhi posed the same question to his eldest maternal uncle, Yun Cang.

"Judging by its name, it seems to be an Array. But the words ’Array of Heaven’, while straightforward, are also perplexing!"

"It is a trial Array. You and Suisui will enter it together. As long as one of you passes, you will be able to leave Yunzhou Island!"

"Is this true?"

Ji Youzhi was overjoyed, his excitement palpable as he eagerly urged his eldest maternal uncle.

"Where is the Array of Heaven? Hurry and take me to challenge it!"

Yun Cang looked at him, a hesitant expression on his face, as if wanting to say something more. However, Ji Youzhi, in his excitement, did not notice at all.

"Follow me!"

Back with the Yun Family, Old Island Master Yun watched Xiaosuisui happily run into the Flower Hall, a kind and gentle smile on his face.

Before he could speak, Xiaosuisui rushed to him and hugged his leg tightly.

"Great-Grandfather! I suddenly have so much more True Qi! It’s like I’ve gained hundreds of years’ worth of Power! I feel that if I return to the Central Plains, I could probably even defeat my eldest maternal uncle!"

Xiaosuisui looked up, her young face beaming with pure joy as she shared her excitement with the Old Island Master.

The Old Island Master kindly stroked her head. "Your eldest maternal uncle is a Grandmaster?"

Xiaosuisui nodded. "Yes!"

"Then he must have inherited your maternal grandfather’s Illusion Technique."

"My eldest maternal uncle is the Sect Leader of the Illusion Sect!"

Xiaosuisui and Old Island Master Yun chattered away happily, engaged in a lively exchange of questions and answers.

"Then your eldest maternal uncle must possess exceptional talent. Why didn’t he cultivate Dao Techniques or Profound Techniques?"

Xiaosuisui shook her head. "I don’t know! I didn’t ask!"

Xiaosuisui answered honestly and was about to say more when Yun Kuo reported from the Flower Hall.

"Grandfather! The Array of Heaven has been activated. Suisui should enter the Array now!"

Xiaosuisui looked puzzled and quickly inquired.

"What Array of Heaven? Why do I need to go in?"