"Feel the changes in your body carefully."
Yang Cheng walked out.
Xu Qingxue instinctively asked, "Where are you going?"
"Old Yin Mountain!"
Yang Cheng answered calmly.
Old Yin Mountain.
The crowd grew larger and larger.
"Do you think Yang Cheng will really come to Old Yin Mountain today?" Zhou Chong asked.
"How could he possibly come? His words must have already enraged Su Lingchen. If he dares to show up, he'll die for sure."
Fang Wunian sneered, "I think he just let his anger get the better of him and said something reckless. By now he's probably regretting it."
As time passed, more and more experts arrived at Old Yin Mountain.
"Look over there, that's Martial Sovereign Liang Hong."
"Hiss, even Qin Wuya came."
The crowd grew more and more lively.
But Yang Cheng still hadn't shown up.
At the edge of the crowd stood three figures.
They were Jiang Bingjun, Shen Mulan, and Jiang Hengwu.
At first, Jiang Bingjun had never paid much attention to Jiang Hengwu.
Even though Jiang Hengwu was beautiful, in his eyes she was just a vase, a tool for political marriage.
But ever since she returned from Heavenly Heart Island three months ago, something had changed. She carried an aura he couldn't explain, mysterious and unsettling.
That made him feel both wary and unexpectedly respectful toward this daughter.
'Tangtang, thank you.' Jiang Hengwu thought quietly to herself.
Back at Heavenly Heart Island, Tang Xingyu had obtained the great fortune of the Thunder Pool.
And beside the Thunder Pool there was another opportunity.
Though not as great as the Thunder Pool, for ordinary people it was still an extraordinary fortune— the origin of a wood-element deity.
Jiang Hengwu had fused that origin, undergoing a transformation.
Now, in front of Jiang Bingjun, she had gained at least some power to resist, no longer forced to submit completely to his will.
"Prince Yang is still too arrogant, daring to say such words to Su Lingchen."
Jiang Bingjun shook his head. "It's only because he's the Crown Prince of Great Zhou. As long as he stays in Great Zhou, countless experts protect him, so Su Lingchen can't touch him. Otherwise, his head would have rolled long ago."
"Master, do you think Yang Cheng really can't beat Su Lingchen?" Shen Mulan asked.
Jiang Bingjun laughed. "Mulan, that's a typical case of not understanding martial cultivation."
"Su Lingchen is a peak Martial Sovereign. For him to fight Yang Cheng would be like an adult bullying a child."
"Even against Su Lingchen's disciple Lin Zhuang, Yang Cheng would most likely lose."
Jiang Hengwu stayed silent.
She didn't believe a word Jiang Bingjun said.
'His Highness may not be Su Lingchen's match, but he might not lose to Lin Zhuang.' she thought.
On the other side.
"So many people are waiting here, even Martial Sovereigns, could it be His Highness the Crown Prince will really stand everyone up?" Ouyang Xue asked.
"I told you long ago, he won't come." Fang Wunian shook his head.
Just then, in the distance, Qin Wuya suddenly turned his head.
"Young people are always too impatient."
Qin Wuya said, "We're not in a rush, and Su Lingchen isn't in a rush either. It's only you youngsters who can't hold your patience."
After those words, he turned back toward Old Yin Mountain.
Ouyang Xue and the others were startled.
"Hiss, the six senses of a Martial Sovereign really are terrifying. Why aren't you saying anything?"
As Ouyang Xue spoke, she noticed something was wrong.
The crowd around them had suddenly gone quiet.
Then, following the direction of countless gazes, she saw the gates of Zhen'nan Pass swing open.
A golden carriage rolled slowly out, heading unhurriedly toward the foot of Old Yin Mountain.
"That's the Crown Prince of Great Zhou's Golden Dragon Carriage."
"This carriage originally belonged to Great Yan. After Marquis Champion seized it, he gave it to the Crown Prince of Great Zhou."
"Could it be the Crown Prince of Great Zhou has arrived?"
After a brief silence, the crowd at the foot of Old Yin Mountain suddenly erupted in a frenzy.
"The Crown Prince!"
Jiang Hengwu's face lit with excitement.
Even Shen Mulan's eyes showed curiosity.
Jiang Bingjun's expression stiffened. He muttered, "Reckless, utterly reckless. Even if he's young and impulsive, the people of Great Zhou shouldn't have let him come. If he had stayed within Great Zhou, it wouldn't matter. But now that he's outside Zhen'nan Pass, if Su Lingchen wants to kill him, even Great Zhou can't stop it."
"Fang Wunian, didn't you say the Crown Prince wouldn't dare to come?" Ouyang Xue asked.
Zhou Chong and Huang Yu both turned to look at him.
"How could he dare to come?" Fang Wunian was stunned.
Not long ago, he had sworn up and down that Yang Cheng wouldn't dare show up. Yet now, Yang Cheng seemed determined to do the opposite, appearing here deliberately.
Fang Wunian's face darkened. "Foolish. Who would've thought Yang Cheng could be so foolish? Coming here is the same as delivering himself to Su Lingchen for slaughter."
Hearing that, the others grew uneasy as well. After all, no one believed Yang Cheng could stand against Su Lingchen.
While the crowd whispered, the Golden Dragon Carriage arrived at the foot of Old Yin Mountain.
Driving the carriage was Lin Shu.
"Your Highness, we've arrived," Lin Shu said.
The curtain lifted.
An eleven-year-old boy stepped out.
With sword-like brows, bright eyes, and a noble air, he immediately made people think of the words "descendant of heaven's royal line."
"Yang Cheng, you actually dare to come?"
A furious voice suddenly boomed like thunder. "My master had good intentions, even wanting to take you as a disciple. Yet you dared to run your mouth, showing him great disrespect. Do you really think just because you're the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, I wouldn't dare kill you?"
Boom!
The ground shook violently.
Lin Zhuang leapt down from the mountain, landing with a stomp that carved out a deep crater.
Yang Cheng's eyes swept over Lin Zhuang with indifference, then ignored him completely, raising his gaze to the mountaintop.
There, on the edge of a cliff, sat a man who looked only twelve years old.
The aura of his cultivation was the strongest Yang Cheng had felt in this lifetime.
Without a doubt, this was the peak Martial Sovereign, Su Lingchen.
"Yang Cheng, I'm speaking to you. Are your ears deaf?" Lin Zhuang's face darkened as he shouted at Yang Cheng.
Yang Cheng still ignored him. Calmly, he said, "Su Lingchen, will you come down yourself, or do I have to go up?"
"What arrogance."
Su Lingchen finally spoke.
Though his voice wasn't loud, tens of thousands nearby heard it clearly.
"Yang Cheng, I'll give you one more chance. As long as you kneel and admit your mistake, I can still consider accepting you as my disciple," Su Lingchen said.
"Too bad. Even if I kneel and admit my mistake, I still wouldn't give you the chance," Yang Cheng replied.
Su Lingchen's gaze turned cold. He valued talent, but his patience had limits. And Yang Cheng had just used it all up.
"Yang Cheng, who gave you the courage to speak to my master like that?" Lin Zhuang roared. "Was it Marquis Champion? Marquis Champion, since you're here, why hide in the shadows? Come out!"
Before he could finish—
"Noisy!"
Yang Cheng's gaze snapped toward Lin Zhuang.
Boom!
A terrifying wave of spiritual force surged forth like a tidal wave, crushing down on Lin Zhuang.
Lin Zhuang felt his head buzz. Blood streamed uncontrollably from his nose, mouth, and ears.
"Puh!"
He spat out blood violently.
Instantly, shame overwhelmed him.
For a while now, he had been invincible, crushing all opponents, and his pride had swelled.
Now, being injured by Yang Cheng, he didn't even think deeply. He only felt furious beyond reason.
"You're seeking death!"
Lin Zhuang was about to strike.
"Stand down."
Su Lingchen's cold voice stopped him.
Then Su Lingchen's gaze fell on Yang Cheng, carrying a touch more seriousness.
Clearly, from that display of spiritual power, he had already realized Yang Cheng was no ordinary boy.