Outside Dongfang City, a carriage drawn by eight golden-maned horses slowly approached.
In the carriage, Zi Linling's eyebrows were nearly twisted into a knot.
"Father, Ye Lingyuan, something is not right with the atmosphere in the Azure Dragon Empire!"
Ye Lingyuan nodded and said, "Indeed, it's not right!"
Although he had been away for half a month longer than Zi Linling, he could still feel a kind of oppressive aura hanging over the Azure Dragon Empire.
Zi Guochang also felt uncomfortable, but having not returned for twelve years, he wasn't sure how long this feeling had persisted.
"Lin'er, the abnormality you're referring to, is it this feeling of great oppression?"
Zi Linling nodded and said, "That's right! What's going on? In just over a month, why has such a heavy, mountain-like atmosphere descended here?"
Ye Lingyuan raised his hand and smoothed her eyebrows. "Let's go back to Fengyu Tower first!"
Zi Linling nodded. To understand what had happened in the Azure Dragon Empire during their time in the Dark Abyss, Fengyun Tower was the best place to go.
The three of them put away the carriage, paid the city entrance fee, and headed straight for Fengyu Tower.
During this time, they did not conceal their movements.
Upon arrival, the three of them went directly to the Sky Room number one.
Inside the room, Fan Chou, the head of the Ye Chi organization, and Xue Jing, the head of the Ye Mei organization, were already waiting.
It was a joke; whether it was the Ye Chi organization or the Ye Mei organization, intelligence was their lifeline. If they didn't even know their master had returned, Fan Chou and Xue Jing might as well have gone to their deaths.
"Greetings, Prince... Your Highnesses!"
Fan Chou and Xue Jing knelt on one knee and said in unison.
They had originally intended to say, "Greetings, Prince and Princess," but upon seeing Zi Guochang, they immediately changed their address to "Your Highnesses."
"This is my father-in-law. He is not an outsider, so you don't need to be so formal!" Ye Lingyuan said with a clear, cold voice.
The implication was that there were no outsiders here, and they could address him as Prince.
"Yes! Your Highness!"
Fan Chou and Xue Jing stood up and stood to the side.
Ye Lingyuan said, "Speak!"
Fan Chou stepped forward and said, "Reporting to Your Highness: Since Your Highness left and the Princess fought the four great families in the desert, a toxin has suddenly appeared in the Azure Dragon Empire, which even cultivators cannot resist."
"A toxin? What kind of toxin?"
Zi Linling frowned and asked.
"Reporting to the Princess, it's still unclear. It's said to have spread from the vassal states. Initially, it only spread among the magical beasts, but it quickly spread to humans."
Zi Linling continued to ask, "Have you determined if it was man-made or a natural disaster?"
"It's not entirely clear yet. Valley Master Situ of the Medicine King Valley is researching it. He suspects it's an ancient, rare poison."
"An ancient, rare poison?"
Zi Linling and Ye Lingyuan exchanged glances, a hint of shock flashing in their eyes.
Because, on this continent, no one knew better than they did the power of ancient, rare poisons.
Especially Ye Lingyuan, who had resisted the ancient, rare poison Moonlit Glass with his flesh and blood for over twenty years, a feat that was nothing short of a miracle.
Fan Chou said, "That's right! This toxin is coming on fiercely. Several mortal villages have already lost all their people and livestock, becoming deserted villages."
Ye Lingyuan frowned and asked, "What is the situation outside now?"
He was the God of War protecting the Tianqi Kingdom and felt a sense of responsibility towards the common people.
"Today, envoys from the White Tiger Empire, the Black Tortoise Empire, and the Vermilion Bird Empire have all arrived in the Azure Dragon Empire and are currently at the Azure Dragon Imperial Palace. According to our intelligence, the four great empires have not been spared, including their vassal states!"
"It's that serious? My heavens!" Zi Guochang was extremely shocked.
After listening to Fan Chou's report, Ye Lingyuan looked at Zi Linling and asked, "What do you think, Lin'er?"
A cold glint flashed in Zi Linling's eyes. "If it is truly an ancient, rare poison, then it can only be man-made!"
"Mm!"
Ye Lingyuan nodded and said to Fan Chou, "Did you hear the Princess?"
Fan Chou cupped his fist and said, "Your subordinate heard the Princess. Your subordinate will investigate immediately!"
"Go!"
Ye Lingyuan nodded in agreement.
"Wait!"
Zi Linling stopped Fan Chou, who was about to leave, and said, "Have the people of Tianqi Kingdom investigate the origin of the Moonlit Glass poison that Ye Moyuan gave to His Highness back then!"
Ye Lingyuan nodded and said, "Go! Do as the Princess says!"
"Yes! Your Highness, Princess!"
Fan Chou responded and then withdrew from Sky Room number one.
Zi Guochang asked in bewilderment, "What do you mean by this?"
Zi Linling sneered, "Many years ago, Emperor Ye Moyuan of Tianqi, fearing that Ye Lingyuan would threaten his throne, administered the ancient, rare poison Moonlit Glass to Ye Lingyuan!"
"Slap!"
Zi Guochang angrily slapped the table and cursed, "Such a thing happened? Ye Moyuan is too much of a scoundrel!
For all these years, if it weren't for Xiao Yuan guarding the border for him, how could he have sat on the throne so peacefully? And he still had the nerve to poison Xiao Yuan?
When I go back, if I don't teach him a lesson, I'm not Zi Guochang!"
"Father! You should go back and teach him a lesson now!" Zi Linling said lightly.
"I..."
Zi Guochang was dumbfounded and replied awkwardly, "Isn't it a bit far? When I return to the Tianqi Kingdom, I will definitely avenge Xiao Yuan immediately!"
Saying this, he looked at Ye Lingyuan with concern and asked, "Xiao Yuan, how is your body now?"
He truly cared about Ye Lingyuan.
At first, it was because of his daughter.
In his heart, he unconditionally loved anything his daughter loved, perhaps this was what they called loving someone by association.
But later, after spending some time with Ye Lingyuan in the Dark Abyss, he genuinely grew to like this son-in-law.
Now, in his eyes, Ye Lingyuan was no longer just his son-in-law, but his half-son.
A warmth flowed through Ye Lingyuan's heart. He smiled and said, "Don't worry, Father-in-law, this Prince is doing very well now!"
Zi Linling quickly added, "Father, I have already detoxified him, so he is fine now!"
Zi Guochang patted his forehead. "Right! Father was just worried sick. With you by his side, why should I be worried?"
Ye Lingyuan smiled.
He accepted this sentiment!
Zi Linling shook her head, a look of helplessness on her face.
Zi Guochang then said, "By the way, Lin'er, what was the name of the poison Xiao Yuan was afflicted with earlier?"
Mentioning this, a chill emanated from Zi Linling, and she said coldly, "The ancient, rare poison Moonlit Glass!"
Ye Lingyuan held her hand and comforted her, "It's alright, it's all in the past. Lin'er, don't be angry anymore! By the way! Are you suspecting that the origin of this current toxin is related to the origin of Moonlit Glass?"
Zi Linling nodded. "Ancient, rare poisons do not appear so casually, do they?"