"Yang Cheng, be careful!"
Lin Xinglan was startled. She hadn't expected Yang Xiu to act like this.
But how could Yang Cheng ever let his guard down against Yang Xiu? He stretched out his hand like lightning and easily caught Yang Xiu's sword.
Yang Xiu used all his strength, but he couldn't move Yang Cheng's fingers at all.
"Impossible."
Yang Xiu's face instantly went pale. He couldn't accept this reality. His strength had been advancing by leaps and bounds, and just moments ago, he had devoured a Martial Saint.
So why was the gap between him and Yang Cheng not closing but instead growing wider and wider?
Not only Yang Xiu—even Lin Xinglan was shaken. She hadn't expected Yang Cheng's strength to be this overwhelming.
Then she thought about it again. Yang Cheng had cultivated to this level entirely on his own. If he received her guidance in the future, how terrifying would his growth be? Just thinking about it filled her with anticipation.
"Sixth Brother, you're too weak."
With casual ease, Yang Cheng snatched the sword from Yang Xiu's hand.
"Stop!"
A cold shout rang out.
Tang Yun'er entered with her people.
Yang Cheng and Yang Xiu had been in the tomb for too long without coming out, and she couldn't stay at ease. She had entered to check on them. Seeing Yang Cheng holding the sword, she thought he was about to harm Yang Xiu.
Instinctively, she prepared to strike Yang Cheng's back.
At that instant, Lin Xinglan, floating in mid-air, cast a glance at Tang Yun'er.
Buzz!
Tang Yun'er's mind felt like it had been struck by lightning.
What kind of existence was Lin Xinglan?
Even if she could only use a trace of spiritual power, Tang Yun'er could not possibly withstand it.
"Pu."
Tang Yun'er coughed up blood on the spot, her spirit severely wounded.
Beside her, Tang Yuan was shocked and instantly wary of Lin Xinglan. "Who are you, and why would you attack my lady?"
The figure before her was clearly only a soul, yet she exuded such terrifying pressure it felt like a single thought of hers could snuff out their lives.
Of course, that was only an illusion. Lin Xinglan's soul was still too weak. Unless she was willing to injure herself, killing them would not be so easy.
"It was this little girl who struck first, then had the gall to twist the truth."
Lin Xinglan's eyes turned cold.
Tang Yun'er didn't argue with Lin Xinglan. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Yang Cheng. "Yang Cheng, why would you go back on your word? You swore in front of me you had no hostility toward my brother, yet now you seek to harm him."
Lin Xinglan grew even more furious. "Are you blind? It was Yang Xiu who attacked Yang Cheng, and Yang Cheng who defended himself and took his sword."
"Is… is that so?"
Tang Yun'er was dumbfounded. She turned to Yang Cheng with shame in her eyes. "Your Highness, I'm sorry, I misunderstood you."
"Miss Tang, once Yang Xiu receives the Azure Emperor's legacy, take him away."
Yang Cheng sighed.
Tang Yun'er's guilt deepened. Even now, Yang Cheng was magnanimous enough to spare Yang Xiu.
Yang Xiu only grew more aggrieved. "Yang Cheng, why don't you just die!"
At these words, Tang Yun'er frowned. "Little brother, why are you so filled with hatred? His Highness has already spared you and even left the Azure Emperor's legacy for you, yet you continue acting so unreasonably."
Yang Cheng's gaze turned cold. "My patience is limited. Within half a cup of tea, Sixth Brother—if you haven't taken the Azure Emperor's legacy and left, don't blame me for being ruthless."
Once again, Yang Xiu's tenacity showed. Enduring the searing pain in his heart, he stepped forward to receive the Azure Emperor's inheritance.
At the end of the tomb lay a skeleton.
From the bones, a majestic figure floated up and merged into Yang Xiu's body.
Tang Yun'er let out a breath. "Little brother, let's go."
Yang Cheng looked at Lin Xinglan. "Senior, you should leave too. I need some time alone."
Lin Xinglan sighed, understanding his mood.
Yang Cheng had given up the Azure Emperor's inheritance for her sake. His heart surely wasn't at peace.
After they all left, Yang Cheng smiled faintly. "Sixth Brother, I'll let the Azure Emperor's inheritance sit with you for a few days."
Lin Xinglan had already severed ties with Yang Xiu.
Soon, Tang Yun'er would likely part ways with him too.
When that time came, Yang Cheng could finally finish him off.
Then he could claim his own chance.
He walked to the Azure Emperor's remains.
Without Dao essence, the skeleton had become fragile.
Yang Cheng moved the bones aside. As expected, the earth below was loose.
Whoosh!
With one slash, the ground split open, revealing a massive underground lake.
Yang Cheng descended. His spiritual sense swept across the waters and locked onto a slippery, loach-like creature.
Sensing it carefully, he realized this "little loach" carried the aura of a Monster King.
He couldn't help but sigh inwardly. No wonder it was a young Azure Dragon. Even in infancy, it possessed Monster King strength. No wonder it would grow so fearsome later.
Yang Cheng wasted no time. With one grab, he caught it in his hand.
The "little loach" stared at him wide-eyed, full of confusion.
The Azure Emperor's Tomb had always been sealed, and so it had remained an egg until recently.
When the tomb was opened, the seal broke, and it hatched just days ago.
This underground lake had no dangers.
So in its mind, there was no such thing as "danger."
At this moment, the way it looked at Yang Cheng was filled only with confusion and curiosity, much like the gaze of a newborn human baby.
With just a thought, Yang Cheng lightly pressed his spiritual power into its soul, leaving his spiritual imprint there.
Right away, the "little loach" looked at Yang Cheng with even more closeness.
At the same time—
[Host has encountered the Azure Dragon, please beware of danger… Host has successfully imprinted spirit mark on the Azure Dragon's soul and conquered it.]
[???]
[Late bloomers are supposed to achieve what others cannot, but Host seems a little too powerful.]
[The Azure Dragon's strength is close to Nirvana God level, conquering it should have been nearly impossible.]
[For Host to tame it so quickly, the method can only be described as beyond Heaven's understanding.]
[Golden Crow Wings have been issued. Host may now claim the reward.]
Yang Cheng looked at the Azure Dragon. "Your name will be 'Little Loach.'"
Then he began fusing the Golden Crow Wings.
These wings would let him soar into the sky and increase his speed dramatically, an absolutely rare treasure.
At the same time—
Outside the Azure Emperor's Tomb.
"Little brother, I think you should apologize to your elder brother," Tang Yun'er said.
"Hahaha, me apologize to him?"
Yang Xiu lost control. "Sister Yun'er, do you even know what he did?"
"What did he do?" Tang Yun'er frowned.
Yang Xiu pointed at Lin Xinglan, who was seated cross-legged on a huge rock. "She was originally my master, yet Yang Cheng bewitched her, making her sever ties with me. In three days, she'll become his master instead. Sister Yun'er, do you still think Yang Cheng is a good person?"
But Tang Yun'er only found Yang Xiu more unreasonable. "That senior was your master? Someone of her level couldn't possibly be so easily swayed. For her to cast you out, you should be reflecting on yourself. How can you blame others?"
"Heh. Even I feel crushed under your master's spiritual pressure—she must be a true god," Tang Yuan mocked. "Someone like that, Yang Cheng couldn't sway, not even me. If she chose to sever ties with you, that shows just how worthless you are. Who knows what filthy deeds you did to drive her away."
Tang Yun'er's eyes now carried doubt as she looked at Yang Xiu.
"Sister Yun'er, you think the same of me?" Yang Xiu asked.
Tang Yun'er sighed. "Little brother, I really have nothing more to say about you. He even gave you the Azure Emperor's inheritance. You attacked him, tried to kill him, yet he still spared you. If you had even the slightest bit of conscience, you wouldn't hate him. You'd apologize."
"Pu."
Rage and despair overwhelmed Yang Xiu, and he spat blood on the spot.
"Sister Yun'er, you're just like my master. You see that Yang Cheng is more outstanding, and so you all scramble to curry favor with him…"
Yang Xiu's voice dripped with resentment.
Slap!
Tang Yun'er struck Yang Xiu hard across the face.
"Yang Xiu, this Azure Emperor's inheritance will be my repayment for the kindness you once showed me."
Her voice turned cold. "From this moment on, you walk your wide road of sunlight, and I'll cross my narrow bridge. You and I have no more ties."
"Aunt Yuan, we're leaving."
She had already disliked Yang Xiu before. Now, seeing how ungrateful and twisted he had become, her dislike turned into real disgust.
She turned and left without hesitation.
Tang Yuan's face lit up with joy. "Miss, you've finally understood. Compared to Yang Cheng, the true Heaven's Mandate Son, Yang Xiu is nothing but a toad wallowing in the mud. The farther you stay from him, the better."
Soon, only Yang Xiu was left standing there alone.
The howling yin wind made him look all the lonelier, as pitiful as could be.
"Why? Why is it like this?"
He dropped to his knees, raising his head to the sky with a bitter roar.
But after a while, he steadied himself. "I haven't lost yet. I already have the Azure Emperor's inheritance, the Heaven-Devouring Divine Cauldron, and with Lu Jingshu's aid—whether Yang Cheng or I win in the end is far from decided."
On the edge of the lake island.
A small, inconspicuous boat floated.
Lu Jingshu was seated there.
"Yang Cheng…"
Her eyes were complicated.
For years she had secretly kept track of Yang Cheng's movements, only to have him repeatedly shatter her understanding.
Yang Xiu was supposed to be the Heaven's Mandate Son, but Yang Cheng outshone him at every turn.
If not for the fact that most of her predictions had proven accurate, she would have suspected Yang Cheng was the true Heaven's Mandate Son.
"This time… how will it end?"
She thought silently. "Yang Xiu, I had you enter the Azure Emperor's Tomb ahead of everyone else. Even a pig couldn't possibly lose the inheritance this time."
She had considered abandoning Yang Xiu and supporting Yang Cheng instead.
But she had helped Yang Xiu scheme against Yang Cheng far too many times. She had no confidence Yang Cheng would ever accept her.
More than that, she had inherited the Heavenly Secrets Pavilion and held deep reverence for destiny.
"Even though Yang Xiu seems weak now, destiny isn't something anyone can predict. Perhaps this is Heaven's way—its tempering for Yang Xiu."
"Yang Cheng's path has been too smooth. That's not necessarily a good thing for the future."
Because of this belief, she continued to support Yang Xiu.
Still, she hadn't put all her eggs in one basket.
She had used her foresight to strengthen herself time and again.
Though she was only eighteen years old and of ordinary talent, she had already reached the second realm of Martial Emperor, on par with the greatest geniuses.
That was the power of foresight and seizing countless chances.
At this moment—
The lake below rippled.
Yang Xiu emerged from the water.