292: The great formation was finally broken.

Li Danying tightened her grip on her hand and said softly,

"Imperial Sister-in-law, don't trap yourself too tightly. His Majesty has lost his composure due to the matter of the national fortune. In a few days, when he recovers, he will surely remember your virtues. Besides, you still have the people of Minglan Palace and me, your sister; you won't be all alone. In the future, if you're bored, come sit with me. We can admire the flowers, drink tea, and chat to pass the time."

Jiang Yan shook her head, the mist in her eyes gradually dispersing, leaving only a stagnant coldness.

"I no longer hope for him to remember my virtues. Now, I only think of quietly guarding Minglan Palace, watching the flowers bloom and fall, and seeing the seasons change. As for the honor of being Queen and his feelings, let them go. I am tired; I no longer wish to fight, nor do I wish to hope."

She paused, her voice carrying a trace of exhaustion.

"It's just that sometimes in the dead of night, hearing the sound of the watchman's clapper from outside the hall, one strike after another, and listening to the wind blowing through the window lattices, I still can't help but wonder... when will this empty palace ever have a bit of warmth that truly belongs to me? When will there be someone who treats me with sincerity, not for my status or position, but simply because I am Jiang Yan?"

Just as she finished speaking, the announcement of a eunuch suddenly came from afar, saying that the Imperial Astronomical Bureau had urgent business with His Majesty. The voice drifted over with the wind, carrying a hint of urgency.

"Your Majesty! The Imperial Astronomical Bureau has urgent business! They say regarding the matter of the Southern Border Immortal Cave Legacy, it officially opened last night!"

Jiang Yan subconsciously looked toward Yunlan Hall, a flash of complex emotions in her eyes—hope, worry, and a trace of hard-to-detect disappointment—before she quickly lowered her gaze again.

Her fingertips gently caught a falling peony petal. The petal was slightly crumpled by her touch, yet she was entirely unaware, merely remaining silent.

The courtyard fell silent again, save for the rustling of the wind through the flowering trees and the soundless sighs between the two women, which seemed exceptionally lonely in the bright sunlight.

The blooming peonies and the falling wisteria seemed to sense this desolation as well, for even their fragrance seemed to fade.

Li Danying also stood up and walked to her side, looking toward Yunlan Hall. From there, one could vaguely see the bright yellow palace roof, shining with a piercing light under the sun.

"Don't overthink it. Perhaps once the matter of the national fortune subsides, His Majesty will return to his former self and remember your virtues."

Jiang Yan shook her head, her voice full of exhaustion and disappointment.

"I fear I won't be able to wait until then. As long as this national fortune matter remains unresolved, his temper will not settle, and his distance from me will not diminish. The rift between us will only grow deeper, like a chasm that can never be crossed again."

She turned to look at Li Danying, her eyes filled with self-deprecation.

"Sometimes I even think that if I hadn't married into this deep palace, perhaps I could have found an ordinary family, working at sunrise and resting at sunset. A simple life of farming and weaving; though poor, I would have someone who cares for me by my side. We could watch the flowers bloom year after year and talk about trivial household matters. Such days, even if plain, would be much better than this—guarding a cold palace and a husband who has become a stranger."

The wind rose again, making the bronze bells on the eaves chime softly. The crisp sound was wrapped in an endless loneliness, like a series of silent sighs.

Jiang Yan watched the falling petal land on the bluestone path and said softly,

"Forget it, let's not talk about this anymore, lest I spoil your mood. It's rare for these peonies to bloom so well; let's admire them a while longer and not waste this beautiful spring light."

But this garden full of spring colors and brilliant peonies appeared only as a cold prosperity in Jiang Yan's eyes. No matter how beautiful or vibrant the petals were, they could not warm a heart that had long since been chilled by time and neglect... On the other side.

The attacks on the Nether Crow Cave Mansion had never stopped, coming wave after wave like the tide.

Under the continuous consumption, the light from those nine nodes on the light barrier had clearly dimmed significantly. Even the color of the entire barrier seemed to have lightened, and its circulation speed had slowed.

But it was clearly still quite a distance from being broken.

As night fell, the Cultivators lit campfires, illuminating the mountain forest.

The attacks continued, but compared to the madness of the day, the nighttime assault was more rhythmic and dull.

Many Cultivators showed signs of fatigue. Their Qi consumption was massive, and even with Medicinal Pills to supplement them, mental exhaustion began to set in.

During this time, not everyone behaved themselves.

Some small factions tried to slack off, putting in effort without real power; they were immediately called out and warned by the Cultivators overseeing for the Qingyun Chamber of Commerce.

There were also Loose Cultivators who withdrew due to exhausted Qi or recurring old injuries, carried to the rear by companions to rest.

Worse still, several small-scale conflicts broke out over positions closer to the light barrier that offered better attack effects, but these were all suppressed by the major powers working together. At this moment, maintaining the overall situation to break the array was key.

Situ Jun stood on the hillside the entire time, his gaze calmly observing the changes in the light barrier and the performance of various parties.

Hua Hanxiang had rotated out to rest several times and was currently sitting beside him regulating her breathing. Widow Ya had also returned to the Poison Scorpion Cult's camp for a brief respite.

This war of attrition, lasting a day and a night, was not only a test for the great array but also a test of people's hearts and the Alliance.

When the silver moonlight once again spilled over the mountains, the continuous attack had lasted for a full twelve double-hours.

By now, that massive gray light barrier had become extremely thin, like a candle in the wind. Its light was dim, the runes on its surface were almost indistinguishable, and its flow had nearly stopped.

At the nine nodes of the 'Nine Elements Earth Vein Array' that were the focus of the attack, tiny, translucent cracks like spiderwebs had even appeared!

All the Cultivators were greatly encouraged. Fatigue was dispelled by the excitement of impending success, and their attacks became even more vigorous.

"Fellow Daoists, hold on! Victory is in sight! The array's Qi is about to be exhausted!" Mo Chenggui's voice also carried a trace of hard-to-detect excitement.

Time passed bit by bit, and the hour of the Rat had long since passed.

Finally, under the continuous bombardment of over ten thousand Cultivators, that seemingly indestructible gray light barrier finally began to show obvious changes!

The color of the light barrier dimmed at a speed visible to the naked eye, and the runes on its surface flickered more and more urgently, as if it could collapse at any moment.

Furthermore, in the center of the light barrier, tiny cracks began to spread out like a spiderweb!

"The Restriction is about to break!"

Someone shouted excitedly.

Everyone's attacks became even more frenzied and dense!

"Crack... Crackle..."

The clear sound of shattering was exceptionally piercing, even amidst the roar.

Under the watch of countless feverish gazes, the gray light barrier surrounding the Nether Crow Cave Mansion finally could not withstand the violent attack that gathered the power of over ten thousand Cultivators. Accompanied by a tooth-aching crash, it shattered like broken glass!

Countless spots of light scattered like fireflies, then quickly vanished into the air.

The Nine Elements Earth Vein Array, which had blocked the outside world for untold years, finally dissipated completely after a full day and night of unremitting effort and continuous consumption by ten thousand Cultivators!