Liu Wenyuan’s disappearance steeped Wuyang Palace in chaos. Liu Yichen sent all capable men and women from the wolf clan to search for their missing prince all over the Heavenly Realm. Alas, their efforts were met with failure.
He was burning to scour every inch of the Human Realm for traces of his missing son, but Heavenly Realm residents were not allowed to descend in large numbers upon the Human Realm.
Liu Yichen thus had no choice but to report the case to the Golden Dragon Palace.
Early the next morning, representatives from the nine palaces gathered in front of the Heavenly Emperor to talk about the issue at hand.
Liu Yichen, the Wuyang Palace Master, threw himself before the Emperor’s throne and wept sorrowfully.
"My son... aaaaaaahhh, my son...!!!"
"Tell the story from the beginning, Liu Yichen," the Emperor spoke. "What happened?"
Liu Yichen wanted to answer, but only incoherent sobs came out in place of words.
Unable to watch further, Zhou Guizheng, the master of Qingyuan Palace, cupped his hands in front of the Emperor and answered on Liu Yichen’s behalf.
"Reporting to the Emperor, Palace Master Liu and this subject went ghost-hunting at the Human Realm around the time Liu Wenyuan disappeared. According to the news that we received from Liu Wenyuan’s trusted maids, he was abducted through a black-purplish portal that suddenly emerged in the sky."
Everyone assumed a tense expression upon hearing Zhou Guizheng’s report.
"Could it be?" Song Weiyang furrowed his brows.
"Someone ripped open a Forbidden Space Portal," Yang Jiali whispered in disbelief.
The Forbidden Space Portal technique was a secret skill that demonic art practitioners learned when they reached the apex of demonic art. Despite its popularity, it was not easy to learn and consumed a lot of energy upon usage.
Most demons were merely able to summon portals within the same realm. The high-ranking demons could connect portals between the Demonic Realm and the Human Realm.
To date, there was only one person who could summon a forbidden portal between the Demonic Realm and the Heavenly Realm. Her name was known throughout all three realms and was spoken with a lot of respect.
"The Three-Eyed Realm Wanderer."
The Emperor clawed into his throne.
The Three-Eyed Realm Wanderer was technically not a demonic art practitioner. She used to be a mere human being, a mortal who lived in the Human Realm.
When she was a child, she wanted to go to school and learn. Alas, girls were not allowed to go to school. She had to waste her talent and learning drive at home by doing menial work alongside other women in her family on farms.
Her thirst for knowledge prompted her to veer off the righteous path, causing her to lose her humanity. Born a human but with a heart soiled with darkness through and through, she then ingratiated herself with the First Demon King.
The First Demon King himself invaded Underworld and eliminated the woman’s name from the Book of Life and Death. The Three-Eyed Realm Wanderer was forever free from the samsara cycle and became the First Demon King’s loyal subordinate.
Zhang Zhiyuan shook his head in regret.
"Unfortunately, Liu Wenyuan has been taken to the Demonic Realm."
Liu Yichen howled like a wounded animal.
"But why him?"
"He’s just an..."
The alpha who just spoke up was unable to end his sentence because two pairs of eyes glared at him. A moment later, Zhang Fengxi’s fist landed on the wall next to him. The alpha shrieked like a little girl.
"He is not just an omega," Zhang Fengxi gritted his teeth.
He was his Wenyuan.
"I am sorry!" the other party quickly apologized. "I didn’t mean to... I mean, of course, he is a prince of Wuyang Palace..."
With his elbows resting on his knees, the Emperor leaned forward.
"Supreme General, any thoughts?"
Supreme General Liang Yuxuan stepped forward and cupped his hands before the Emperor.
"Reporting to Your Majesty, now that the Three-Eyed Realm Wanderer is involved, it is safe to conclude that the First Demon King is involved.
A few months ago, three demon kings ran rampant on the Human Realm and killed many innocent human beings by utilizing the Celestial Mayhem Sect. This time, they launched a direct attack on one of the Heavenly Realm residents.
This is clearly a war declaration!"
The Emperor pinned the Supreme General with a look.
"Another war, after only a month?" he slowly said. "A war between the Heavenly Realm and the Demonic Realm must never be taken lightly. The Human Realm might just get destroyed."
Liu Yichen whimpered. He threw himself to the ground and prostrated before the Emperor again and again.
"Your Majesty, please! My son, what will happen to my son...!!!"
The Emperor raised a hand, and an invisible force pulled Liu Yichen back to his feet.
"I will send my own son to investigate. Is it good enough for you?"
Xie Jianyu stepped forward and cupped his hands at his father in response.
"I humbly accept the task."
Zhang Fengxi broke through the crown and stepped next to Xie Jianyu, surprising the crowd.
"Your Majesty, please allow me to join the Crown Prince. I care deeply for the abducted Liu Wenyuan. I cannot just stay behind and wait."
Liu Yichen grabbed Zhang Fengxi and started sobbing at his shoulder.
"Prince Zhang Fengxi...! Please, bring Wenyuan back safely. He missed you so much after you two broke your relations... he could not sleep or eat... No father can bear it... And now this happens..."
"Uncle Liu, don’t worry," Zhang Fengxi said. "I promise that I will bring Wenyuan back to Wuyang Palace, safe and sound. I swear this on my honor."
"Very well," the Emperor spoke. "Jianyu, bring whatever help you need, but remember that you must not stand out. Recover Liu Wenyuan at all costs, and gather any supporting evidence of the Demonic Realm’s crimes. If we need to go to war in the future, we will."
Xie Jianyu bowed.
"Yes, Father."