Chapter 657: Chapter 657 - 650: In the Sky-piercing Array, there is something you want - Part 2

"The Emperor is protected by Dragon Qi, and the Profound Sect also has a divination technique similar to the Qi Observation Technique. Elder Island Master Yun has long transcended worldly matters. Surely he discerned the Emperor’s identity as soon as we landed on the island."

"Correct!" Elder Island Master Yun generously admitted, gave Yun Kuo an amused glance, and then ordered, "Light the guiding lanterns and let them leave!"

Yun Kuo accepted the order and departed.

"I... I will not leave!" the Emperor refused.

Princess Ata abruptly looked up at the Emperor. "Your Majesty, Great Han cannot be without its sovereign! If you remain here and something untoward happens to you, the Central Plains will be thrown into chaos!"

The National Master also chimed in, "This place is perilous, Your Majesty. You must not take such a risk!"

The Emperor insisted on staying. "The people inside are my brother and my daughter! You expect me to abandon them here and flee alone?"

"Your Majesty, the stability of the nation rests upon your shoulders. You cannot stay and risk danger. You truly should return. I will remain here and wait for the Eldest Princess and the Seventh Young Master to emerge. I will explain everything to them!" Xie Pan’Er also tried to persuade the Emperor.

However, no sooner had she finished speaking than Elder Island Master Yun interjected, "You cannot stay either!"

Xie Pan’Er hurriedly responded, "I must stay. I am merely a frail woman, unburdened by matters of state. My duty and mission are to accompany the Eldest Princess. I will wait here for her."

"No! You have your own destiny! As the mother of the nation, you bear the crucial responsibility of assisting the Emperor in governing the realm!"

Elder Island Master Yun’s words made Xie Pan’Er’s eyes widen. She asked in disbelief, "What are you saying? I am just a common woman, not the mother of the nation!"

"You will be!" After saying this, Elder Island Master Yun waved his hand, preventing the bewildered Xie Pan’Er from speaking further.

Yun Kuo had taken some men to light the guiding lanterns. The National Master rose and clasped his hands towards the Emperor in a salute. "Your Majesty! Let us depart!"

The Emperor shook his head. "I came with my brother and my daughter. Naturally, I shall return with them. National Master, do not try to persuade me. I trust Suisui; she will undoubtedly emerge safely!"

The Emperor waved his hand, cutting off the National Master’s impending words of persuasion.

However, the National Master was not one to blindly obey the Emperor. He was a disciple of the Daoist Sect, undergoing training in the mortal realm. His duty was to protect the peace of the common people and ensure the well-being of the nation’s sovereign.

Therefore, the National Master raised his hand, waved it towards the Emperor, and said in a low voice, "Forgive my transgression, Your Majesty!"

Then, the Emperor fainted.

The National Master turned to the stunned Xie Pan’Er. "Miss Xie, you are likely unaware, but your physiognomy is that of a nation’s mother. If you do not return with us today, the fortunes of the Great Han Country will surely be affected. At that time, the imperial harem will be restless, the imperial court will be unstable, and evil influences will proliferate!"

Hearing this, Xie Pan’Er was startled and couldn’t help but exclaim softly, "National Master, are your words true?"

Elder Island Master Yun answered in place of the National Master, "The National Master’s words are not false, Miss Xie. The fate of a nation is a burden too great for Yunzhou Island to bear. Please, depart!"

Xie Pan’Er looked at the white mist, its form indistinct, and said with great reluctance, "I cannot leave Suisui here alone!"

"Alas... it must be so for you as well!"

Elder Island Master Yun glanced at Yun Cang. Yun Cang understood his intention. Mimicking the National Master, he too waved his sleeve, rendering Xie Pan’Er unconscious. He then had her carried onto the ship.

When Li Yanyan heard that Xiaosuisui and Ji Youzhi had entered some Array of Heaven and couldn’t get out, she was ecstatic. "It would be best if they died in there and never came out! I detest her the most."

Hearing this, the National Master frowned. "You’ve copied those scriptures in vain. After we leave this place, continue copying them another hundred times for me."

Li Yanyan’s eyes widened upon hearing this. "Master, why are you punishing me by making me copy scriptures again?"

"Because you talk too much!" After the National Master said this curtly, he ordered the men to set sail.

However, at that moment, a figure suddenly appeared on the ship. It was pitch-black, its body as thick as a barrel, and its crimson eyes glinted with an intense, sharp light!

"Great Black!" the National Master whispered, uttering the name of the colossal snake.

Li Yanyan, somewhat alarmed, hid behind the National Master. "Master! Will it eat me? I’m scared!"

The National Master remained silent, watching as Great Black slowly disembarked from the ship and slithered onto Yunzhou Island.

The Yun Family members on Yunzhou Island paled upon seeing Great Black descend. Such a massive python, with faint horns visible on its head—this was clearly a powerful python demon that had reached the Jiao Transformation Realm!

"Form the array!" Yun Kuo suddenly shouted. The men who had accompanied him quickly took their positions and began forming hand seals. However, the black python then opened its mouth and spoke, "My Master has entered the Array of Heaven! I must go in!"

Everyone was aghast, exchanging bewildered glances.

Yun Kuo, thinking he must have misheard, quickly asked, "How can you speak?"

"With sufficient cultivation, speaking naturally follows. I should have reached the stage of Jiao transformation long ago. However, my destined opportunity has not yet arrived, and the Celestial Thunder tarries, so I remain in my original form—still a python!"

Hearing this, Yun Kuo was secretly astonished. So the rumors were true! "You are the Water Jiao of Black Water Ridge! You are tasked with guarding the First Level, the passage between the thirteen overseas islands and the Central Plains."

"Correct! Until I meet my fated Master and the time is right, I cannot yield the way. In this, I am the same as you!"

"If that is so, then you may go!"

Yun Kuo stepped aside, clearing the path. He stood watching as the large ship carrying the National Master and the others followed the dim guiding lights into the distance.

The python coiled and sprang, disappearing into the Array of Heaven.

"That is...?" Elder Island Master Yun’s expression changed. "How did a black python get in? What is to be done?"

"That is a black python which has already reached the Jiao Transformation Realm. It is already too late to find a white demon of comparable cultivation!"