The next morning, Ye Feng and Ying Huanhuan stepped out of the inn beside the Yingbin Pavilion. As they settled their bill, the once-bustling guests parted nervously—like a flock startled by a tiger.
Tang Xinlian stood at the door, her expression sharp enough to slice metal.
"Tang Xinlian?" Ye Feng raised an eyebrow.
She stared at him like he owed her a lifetime's worth of Berries.
"What's the problem?" Ye Feng asked casually.
"What did you do to make Master strip me of my military authority and assign me to... to…" She gritted her teeth.
"To what?"
"To be your maid!" she snapped.
Ye Feng blinked. "Maid?"
She nodded, fuming. "This morning, the Great Elder told me that Master had relieved me of command over the law enforcement team. Instead, I was ordered to stay by your side—for a year! As your maid! What sorcery did you pull?!"
"I didn't do anything," Ye Feng replied flatly. "And I already have enough people serving me."
"But I won't disobey Master's orders," she grumbled. Her pride clearly refused to yield, even if her position had.
Seeing Ye Feng about to leave, she asked, "Are you leaving Dayan City?"
"Of course."
"Don't you want the Thunder Ancestral Talisman?"
Ye Feng scoffed. "That trinket? It's just something Fu Zu inscribed with a few casual runes. You all treat it like a divine gift."
"Master…" Ying Huanhuan whispered softly. Though she admired Ye Feng, Fu Zu was still her mentor. She didn't appreciate the disrespect.
"Ahem… Let's go, Huanhuan," Ye Feng said, brushing it off.
Tang Xinlian stepped forward, fire in her tone. "With your strength, why run from Dayan City? Are you afraid?"
Ye Feng laughed lightly. "Afraid? Hardly. Everyone has their own mission. I'm leaving this place to my three disciples."
"Disciples?"
Only then did it click. The second, third, and fourth names on the Rookie List… all his disciples. Tang Xinlian stood stunned. By the time she snapped out of it, Ye Feng and Ying Huanhuan were already down the street.
"You won't get rid of me that easily!" she shouted, chasing after them.
---
Far away in the heart of the Beast War Zone lay the Leiyuan Mountain Range, one of the most formidable regions in the realm. At its center towered Leiyuan Mountain, the stronghold of one of the top eight forces of the Beast Battlefield.
This great power ruled over tens of thousands of miles, commanding every force within its territory. Its strength was unquestioned.
But even the rulers of such mighty lands eyed one location with covetous awe—the Divine Treasure House. Ancient divine artifacts of immeasurable power were said to lie within, capable of helping even the weak defy fate and slay opponents far beyond their level.
Jointly protected by the eight Demon Commanders of the Beast War Zone, the treasure house only opened once every three years. Access was strictly limited—only holders of one of the thirteen Ancient God Cards could claim an item when the vault opened.
In truth, the treasure house wasn't just a relic. It was an artifact itself—Tianxuan Palace, a super divine tool left behind by Fu Zu. Capable of independently refining divine items, all one needed was the right materials. During the ancient Heaven-Earth War, this was how armies were equipped—efficiently, massively, and without fail.
Of course, these mass-produced divine objects couldn't match the might of unique, legendary ones. Still, Ye Feng couldn't help but marvel at Fu Zu's ingenuity.
The location of this miraculous structure—the Shenshan Range—lay at the heart of the Beast War Zone. It was unclaimed, not because of poverty or barrenness, but because the land was simply too tempting. No faction dared claim it outright, for fear of drawing the envy—and wrath—of all others.
Normally barren and silent, the mountain range was teeming with life today.
"The Divine Treasure House is opening!"
"I wonder what artifact will appear this time… heh, where there are treasures, there's always blood."
"Don't forget, the Demon Commanders are here. Who dares make a move?"
"Fool. There's always some dark horse hidden in the crowd. Every cycle, one or two rise from nowhere."
Excited murmurs buzzed across the landscape.
BOOM!
From deep within the range, golden light exploded into the sky.
The earth trembled violently. Twin peaks cracked and shifted. The air shimmered with radiant light as an ancient temple slowly rose from the ground, parting the land itself to reveal its glory.
"It's here!"
"The Divine Treasure House!"
"It finally appeared!"
The noise reached a deafening crescendo.
Buzz!
Ripples shimmered in the air—and from the void stepped four figures: Ye Feng, Ying Huanhuan, Mu Lingshan, and Tang Xinlian.
Without hesitation, Ye Feng walked toward the rising temple. After only a few steps, Tang Xinlian grabbed his hand.
"What are you doing?!"
"Going in," Ye Feng replied simply.
"Are you insane? No one can enter the treasure house directly. Only when the divine objects emerge can the Ancient God Cards claim them. No one has ever forced their way in!"
Ye Feng said nothing. He waved his hand.
Buzz—
The world around Tang Xinlian transformed.
Where once was mountain and sky, now stood a boundless, radiant hall. Pillars soared into infinity. Lights streaked across the air—each one containing a unique, pulsing divine item.
Tang Xinlian was stunned. "Where are we?"
"This is Xuantian Palace," Ye Feng said calmly.
"You… you actually did it?" Her voice trembled.
In that moment, Tang Xinlian realized that her master hadn't made a mistake. She wasn't Ye Feng's disciple, yet just by following him, she had witnessed something no one else ever had. If she remained by his side, who knew what else she might see?
Of course, she didn't yet know that Moro's true motive wasn't strength—it was matchmaking. His second senior brother had been quite insistent.
Buzz—
A beam of light emerged and hovered before them. Within it floated a long sword, slowly swaying. Spiraling runes curled along its blade, giving off a mysterious and powerful aura.
"A divine item!" Tang Xinlian gasped.
Her heart skipped a beat.
And for once… she was speechless.
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