Ouyang Yi followed Hu Shuer as they fled in a panic.
Right now, he really wanted to grab Hu Shuer by the collar and shout at him—hadn't he boasted earlier that the Dragon Spear Army was nothing more than the Greedy Wolf Army's defeated dogs?
Then why had the Greedy Wolf Army been crushed so miserably when they actually met on the battlefield?
Even Hu Shuer himself couldn't figure it out. He was just as confused and furious.
This battle had shaken the world. It dealt a heavy blow to those foreign cultivators who had come from beyond the realm.
In their eyes, warriors of the Wasteland Realm were nothing but backwater natives, weak as ants.
Among Western Luo's troops, many came from the Azure Jade Realm and the Horn Constellation Realm. Before the war began, all of them had believed Great Zhou was doomed—that the battle would end swiftly.
And they were right about one thing—the battle did end quickly. It lasted only three days.
But the ones who lost were not the Great Zhou forces—it was Western Luo's grand army.
Even within the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy, everyone was talking about it.
"Who would've thought that tiny Great Zhou was this strong?"
"Western Luo had the support of so many cultivators from the Azure Jade Realm and the Horn Constellation Realm, yet they still suffered a crushing defeat."
As Yang Cheng walked along the paths of the Dao Academy, he could hear disciples discussing the battle everywhere he went.
Not long after that decisive war came to an end—
"Chengcheng, do you still remember Cang Xuanji?" Tang Xingyu asked.
"Of course I do," Yang Cheng replied.
"Cang Xuanji and several disciples from the Sword Institute have invited us to a banquet again. Do you want to go?" Tang Xingyu asked softly.
Yang Cheng raised an eyebrow. "She invited me? That's unexpected."
Tang Xingyu looked just as puzzled. "I don't know why either."
"No matter the reason," Yang Cheng said calmly, "she's your senior sister. Since she's extended an invitation, I'll go."
After Yang Cheng and Tang Xingyu left together, Xu Letian and the others behind them could only watch with envy.
"Their relationship really is something," Dongfang Sheng sighed.
"Tang Xingyu's character is truly noble," Zeng Niu added. "I heard that many heirs from great clans in the Horn Constellation Realm have tried to pursue her, but she's never been moved."
Hearing that, Ma Ruoruo, Wei Jia, and Yan Qingzhi all lowered their heads slightly.
Even the proud Yan Qingzhi had nothing to say. Compared to Tang Xingyu, she didn't have the confidence to act superior.
Even Lu Lingyi felt a faint sting of jealousy deep in her heart.
Meanwhile—
Yang Cheng and Tang Xingyu arrived once again at the top floor of the same restaurant as before.
Yang Cheng glanced around the elegant surroundings, thoughtful, though he said nothing.
Soon after, he saw Ouyang Yi and the others again.
Yang Cheng looked at Ouyang Yi, and immediately noticed something new about him—there was a faint trace of killing intent, the aura of the battlefield.
It was something that could only be gained from fighting in a real war—and recently at that.
"Tang Xingyu, Yang Cheng, you finally made it," Cang Xuanji said as she approached.
Then she looked directly at Yang Cheng. "Xingyu, would you mind if I borrow Yang Cheng for a moment?"
Tang Xingyu turned to Yang Cheng first. Seeing that his expression was calm, she smiled gently and said, "Of course not."
Cang Xuanji's lips curved slightly. "Yang Cheng, will you grant me this small favor?"
"Alright," he replied.
The two of them walked together to the corridor behind the hall.
Across from the corridor was a beautiful fish pond—the air was quiet, and the surroundings peaceful.
Having a fish pond on the top floor of a restaurant was undeniably extravagant.
Cang Xuanji didn't speak right away. The two walked slowly side by side, their pace unhurried, almost like they were simply taking a stroll.
She wore a flowing white dress, her skin pale as snow, giving off the ethereal impression of a celestial maiden descending from the heavens.
"Yang Cheng," she finally said, breaking the silence. "I truly didn't expect you to be that Master Yang. I was rude before—surely you won't hold it against me?"
Yang Cheng wasn't surprised. "So, the secret that the Alchemy Master wanted to protect isn't really a secret anymore, is it?"
Cang Xuanji sighed softly. "Before this, I couldn't understand why someone as exceptional as Xingyu would be so devoted to you. But now I see—it's because the two of you are equally extraordinary."
Yang Cheng didn't respond. His eyes flickered with a hint of mockery.
He knew one thing clearly—in his previous life, when he had been a useless cripple, there hadn't been many women who looked at him twice.
Even Jiang Hengwu, who had once cared for him, was eventually taken away by another.
But Tang Xingyu… she had saved his life twice in that past life.
And in this one, she had grown up with him since she was only two years old.
The bond between them wasn't something others could possibly understand.
Cang Xuanji thought she had figured out the truth, but she couldn't have been more mistaken.
With other women, Yang Cheng had to shine brilliantly—show power, talent, or status—only then would they admire or revere him.
But Tang Xingyu? All he had to do was hand her a skewer of candied hawthorn, and she'd smile so brightly it could light up the whole world.
Just then, a middle-aged woman appeared behind Cang Xuanji. She had sharp, disciplined features that radiated competence.
She bowed slightly and said respectfully, "Miss, everything is ready."
Cang Xuanji exhaled lightly, then smiled, confidence rising in her eyes. "Master Yang, I have a proposal. Great Zhou should form an alliance with my Cang Clan. From this day forward, my family will be allowed to conduct business freely within Great Zhou's borders, and we'll handle all trade between Great Zhou and the outer realms."
Yang Cheng's expression remained cold. "That's quite the offer. But if Great Zhou simply speaks a word, there are countless powers across the myriad worlds stronger than your Cang Clan who would line up for the same opportunity. So why should I choose you?"
"Because you have no choice."
Cang Xuanji gestured subtly toward the middle-aged woman beside her.
The woman nodded, then clapped her hands.
Tap, tap, tap…
The floor trembled. From below, the sound of boots thundered upward as waves of cultivators poured up the stairs, surrounding the corridor on all sides.
There were about two hundred of them, all dressed in identical black robes. Each carried a murderous aura that filled the air—clear proof of how deeply the Cang Clan had infiltrated the Wasteland Realm.
"You plan to use force to make me submit?"
Yang Cheng's voice was calm, his tone as light as drifting clouds.
These people might have been impressive to others—several even carried the pressure of Martial Saints—but to him, they were nothing more than dust.
"Heh," Cang Xuanji sneered. "Since I decided to deal with you, Master Yang, of course I investigated you thoroughly. I know these people alone aren't enough to handle you."
She lifted her chin slightly, a trace of pride flashing across her face. "A year ago, when you killed Su Lingchen, you displayed peak Martial Emperor-level strength—an absolute prodigy. So naturally, I've prepared a special feast just for you."
As her words fell, three figures suddenly appeared out of the shadows.
Their auras erupted at once—two of them were Eighth Layer Martial Emperors, and the third radiated the overwhelming power of a Ninth Layer Martial Emperor.
"These experts of my Cang Clan were brought into the Wasteland Realm at tremendous cost. They were meant for other purposes, but now I'll use them to suppress you instead. I'd say it's quite fitting, don't you think?"
Cang Xuanji smiled confidently. "Master Yang, do you still believe I can't make you agree to my terms?"
Yang Cheng's expression didn't change. "Perhaps. But why don't you let them try and see for themselves?"
Cang Xuanji sighed softly. "You really are confident, Master Yang. What do you think, Uncle Wang?"
She turned her gaze toward the Ninth Layer Martial Emperor.
Uncle Wang's eyes narrowed slightly. "If he truly killed Su Lingchen, our combined strength might be enough to suppress him temporarily—but to completely subdue him? That would be difficult."
The other two nodded in agreement.
They didn't know exactly how strong Yang Cheng was, but they knew of Su Lingchen—and anyone capable of killing him could not be underestimated.
None of them dared to treat Yang Cheng lightly.