"The one who infected Mingyue is misfortune," Wei Cangyun began to explain misfortune to Ye Kunlun. "Mingyue is plagued by misfortune, and I am more anxious than anyone. People from the capital have also seen her, but there is no solution."
"Besides that, cultivators have also seen her, and there's still no good solution. I was out looking for a way to save Mingyue these past two days."
"I brought this girl back from Qingcheng all those years ago. I can't just watch her die in front of me."
Wei Cangyun's eyes held a touch of affection, and he chuckled. "I've already heard about what happened between you two. Originally, you were betrothed. Forget it... let's not talk about it. You young people should make your own decisions."
"You wounded her with a sword afterward," Wei Cangyun's gaze turned a bit colder. "Now you've saved her life. I won't hold that against you."
Ye Kunlun gave a wry smile, not expecting the old man Wei Cangyun to be so vindictive.
However, he understood.
Anyone else would hold a grudge.
"Misfortune originates from the barbarian tribe. Thousands of years ago, the place where the barbarian tribe resided was called the Land of Calamity, also known as the Land of Misfortune."
"Misfortune is a strange power. Anyone infected will die within a week, their bodies turning to white bones."
Ye Kunlun listened intently. Even his all-knowing masters in Kunlun, after ten years of cultivation, had never mentioned the Land of Misfortune to him.
He figured there must be some hidden reason for this.
"Logically speaking, if Mingyue was infected with misfortune, she shouldn't have lived for more than seven days, yet she persisted for fifteen. Truly, heaven has blessed her."
Ye Kunlun nodded. Nalan Mingyue's condition was indeed dire. To have pulled through was not only due to her willpower but also the pill Ye Buyu had given her back then.
The medicinal power hadn't been fully depleted; a portion was stored within her, suppressing some of the misfortune's power.
"The method of infection by misfortune is extremely simple. Non-barbarian tribesmen, upon rashly entering the barbarian territory, will become infected and plagued by misfortune."
"I sensed a strange power within her, extremely cunning and adept at concealment. Is the power of misfortune this very power?" Ye Kunlun interjected.
Wei Cangyun nodded. "Besides the power of misfortune, I can't think of any other strange power in this land of the Northern Frontier."
"Have you heard about people in Kanda Town and the surrounding towns suffering from dream-soul syndrome? Do you know about this, old sir?" Ye Kunlun asked.
Wei Cangyun sighed. "I know, but there's nothing we can do. Ordinary people cannot detect the power of misfortune at all. Once detected, it inevitably means you've been targeted by it!"
Looking at the helpless Wei Cangyun, Ye Kunlun understood.
The vast majority of people in the Northern Frontier War Department were ordinary individuals, at most martial artists.
Of course, there were cultivators as well, but their cultivation levels were generally in the Spirit Opening Realm.
Based on his understanding of the power of misfortune these past two days, cultivators in the Spirit Opening Realm would be helpless!
Thinking of this, Ye Kunlun asked with a solemn tone, "Elder Wei, we haven't heard of the power of misfortune before. Why has it been occurring frequently recently? What exactly is the relationship between the power of misfortune and the barbarian tribe?"
"For thousands of years, we haven't been able to completely eliminate the barbarian tribe precisely because the barbarian tribe can suppress the Land of Misfortune!"
Upon hearing this answer, Ye Kunlun was slightly moved.
This outcome was truly beyond his expectations.
"However, the barbarian tribe doesn't know this. Fewer than a handful of people in the entirety of Huaxia know about it, and this secret has been passed down through generations by the Shanhe Platform."
"This is also why the Northern Frontier War Department is here, keeping an eye on the barbarian tribe to prevent any unforeseen changes!"
"In the past few months, the barbarian tribe has indeed become restless. It's not impossible that the Northern Seven Kingdoms are instigating the barbarian tribe to harass Huaxia."
"It's also not impossible that someone has learned this secret and wants to use this opportunity to have the barbarian tribe leave the Land of Misfortune."
"In any case, the barbarian tribe cannot leave the Land of Misfortune, otherwise, the outbreak of misfortune will be a catastrophic disaster."
After listening to Wei Cangyun, Ye Kunlun fell into deep thought.
According to Wei Cangyun's explanation, the barbarian tribe wasn't inherently malicious but rather had made a contribution.
For thousands of years, their blood had been used to suppress the Land of Misfortune.
In Ye Kunlun's eyes, the barbarian tribe seemed more like livestock raised in a cage, waiting to be slaughtered at any moment.
Wei Cangyun seemed to have perceived Ye Kunlun's thoughts and asked, "Do you think the barbarian tribe is a bit pitiful?"
Ye Kunlun remained silent. He couldn't clearly distinguish right from wrong.
Wei Cangyun offered an explanation, "Three thousand years ago, the ancestors of the barbarian tribe voluntarily chose to stay here; they were not forced."
"The ancestors of the barbarian tribe are indeed worthy of respect."
Ye Kunlun's words were heartfelt.
To voluntarily leave their kin in the Land of Misfortune, solely to suppress the power of misfortune and ensure peace for the world.
He doubted he possessed such courage.
"The annual sacrifices of the barbarian tribe require the blood of their people, with the purpose of suppressing misfortune."
"However, thousands of years have passed. Nowadays, the sacrifices are merely a traditional festival and activity for the barbarian people; they are unaware of their connection to misfortune."
Hearing this, Ye Kunlun interrupted Wei Cangyun again. "Old sir, do you mean that no one among the current barbarian tribe knows? Not even the divine temple?"
Wei Cangyun was surprised that Ye Kunlun, after only two days, knew about the barbarian divine temple.
He shook his head. "The barbarian divine temple is too mysterious. Whether anyone knows about it, I am also unsure."
Ye Kunlun said thoughtfully, "I have seen the divine shadow attendants of the divine temple. Based on my deductions, perhaps someone within the divine temple knows, and that person does not wish to be kept in the Land of Misfortune any longer!"
Wei Cangyun agreed with Ye Kunlun's statement, his expression becoming more solemn. "There is a possibility, but it is merely speculation. If this is the case, the situation will be far more dire than the instigation by the Northern Seven Kingdoms."
"The Northern Frontier War Department will be the first to suffer from the power of misfortune. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers will be afflicted and turn into withered bones."
At this point, Wei Cangyun's breathing became heavier.
"Therefore, no matter what, we cannot let the misfortune erupt."
Wei Cangyun gazed intently at Ye Kunlun. "I believe this might be one of the reasons why that person from the Shanhe Platform sent you to the Northern Frontier."
Ye Kunlun was too lazy to speculate on Long Qi's intentions.
In any case, he believed Long Qi would not harm him.
Just then, Nalan Mingyue entered with tea.
Upon hearing Wei Cangyun's words, she already knew that Wei Cangyun had revealed the matter of the Land of Misfortune to Ye Kunlun.
"Elder Wei, didn't you say that as long as we find the Golden Scale Blood, we can suppress the Land of Misfortune?" Nalan Mingyue couldn't help but interject.
As she spoke, she poured tea for Ye Kunlun and Wei Cangyun.
Ye Kunlun was stunned by Nalan Mingyue's words and looked at Wei Cangyun with confusion.
Wei Cangyun chuckled in exasperation.
He explained to Ye Kunlun, "Legend has it that in the beginning of heaven and earth, there was a person who possessed the blood of an ancient Golden Dragon, also known as Golden Scale Blood. As long as their blood is used, the Land of Misfortune can be suppressed."
"However, legends are just legends. Even if such a person truly exists, it's impossible to find them easily."
Wei Cangyun picked up his teacup and sighed.
Ye Kunlun thought to himself: This damn description sounds exactly like me!