Great Zhou Dao Academy.
Meng Division.
Yang Cheng had completed his task and was just about to leave.
The next second, his steps paused.
[Host has initially established footing under Yang Xiu's nose and has taken the first step on the path of the Late Bloomer Comeback.]
[But to truly begin a reversal, this is far from enough. The host must form his own faction—only then can you stand against Yang Xiu.]
[This is an achievement mission. The host must gain as many followers as possible.]
[The more followers you gain—and the higher their cultivation—the greater the achievement score. The mission period is three years.]
[Mission reward: Dual Pupil (one-star to ten-star).]
The system prompt made Yang Cheng pause in surprise.
Then he began to think.
But before he could even act, the system followed up with feedback.
Ding!
[Host has gained the allegiance of Lin Xinglan. Lin Xinglan is a powerful Yang God cultivator.]
[Achievement score has reached Excellent. Reward: seven-star Dual Pupil—"Martial Dao Heavenly Eye."]
[Would the host like to claim the reward now or continue the mission?]
"Continue."
Yang Cheng answered without hesitation.
Five hundred years from now, this mission would've been incredibly difficult.
But right now, many of the great cultivators from his previous life hadn't even begun to rise.
This was basically a free ride for him.
And now he was standing in the Great Zhou Dao Academy—the best place to recruit young talent.
Of course, he was still far too young to recruit any of the already-famous prodigies.
The current students of the Meng Division were his real target.
"Shen Muxue greets His Highness the Crown Prince."
Before Yang Cheng could think of how to begin, Shen Muxue had already approached him.
Yang Cheng asked curiously, "Shen Muxue, did you come looking for me for something?"
"Your Highness, I come from the Western Pass Shen clan. I'm ten years old and currently in the late Xiantian realm..."
Shen Muxue introduced herself in detail.
"Hold on."
Yang Cheng interrupted, "I can tell you're quite impressive, but why are you telling me all this? We don't know each other."
"Your Highness," Shen Muxue said seriously, "I only said all that to show that I have the qualifications to follow you."
Yang Cheng's expression showed surprise. "You want to follow me?"
When the system told him to recruit followers, Shen Muxue had been the first person to come to mind.
After all, her brilliance was on par with Lin Xinglan.
But he hadn't expected her to come to him of her own accord—this had never happened in his previous life.
"Exactly. I hope Your Highness will allow it," said Shen Muxue.
The moment she spoke, gasps erupted all around them.
In the Meng Division, Shen Muxue was the most sought-after prodigy among all the top aristocratic students.
No matter who had tried to recruit her before, she had always refused.
No one expected she would be the one to approach the crown prince.
Many students felt like they'd just been struck by lightning.
To them, Shen Muxue was a goddess—distant and dazzling, like a star in the heavens, far beyond their reach.
But now, that same star had bowed before the crown prince.
"Why did you choose me?" Yang Cheng asked curiously.
He admitted he had dazzled today.
But he was only a year and a half old.
For Shen Muxue to suddenly pledge allegiance just didn't feel reasonable.
Especially since Yang Xiu was also outstanding—and yet, in his previous life, even five hundred years later, Shen Muxue had never followed him.
"Because I believe that one day, Your Highness will surpass all others and shake the heavens and the ages."
Shen Muxue answered firmly.
"You seem to have more faith in me than I do myself."
Yang Cheng couldn't help but laugh.
"Shen Muxue, you really must be blind."
Suddenly, Xie Wanyin walked over.
Shen Muxue frowned. "Xie Wanyin, what nonsense are you spouting now?"
She didn't care when Xie Wanyin mocked her.
But calling her blind—that was clearly a veiled insult toward the crown prince.
And she found that strangely annoying.
"I'm not the crazy one—you are."
Xie Wanyin said coldly, "The third prince invited you multiple times, and you refused every one. Now you're begging to follow the crown prince? Have you even considered what that means? You're slapping the third prince in the face!"
"What others do has nothing to do with me."
Shen Muxue's tone was calm at first, then turned firm and passionate. "Besides, I'm not slapping the third prince's face. It's just that, compared to the crown prince, he's like a firefly next to the sun."
"You're saying the third prince is a firefly, and the crown prince is the blazing sun?"
Xie Wanyin was so angry she lost all reason. "He's still a baby who hasn't even weaned—how can he possibly compare to the third prince?"
Yang Cheng's eyes narrowed slightly.
But he didn't need to say or do anything—Lin Xinglan had already stepped up in front of Xie Wanyin.
Smack!
Lin Xinglan slapped Xie Wanyin hard across the face.
Xie Wanyin held her cheek, eyes wide with shock and rage. "You… you actually dared hit me…"
"Showing disrespect to His Highness the Crown Prince deserves punishment."
Without hesitation, Lin Xinglan began striking from both sides, landing more than a dozen slaps. Xie Wanyin's face swelled up quickly.
She suddenly shuddered, jolted back to her senses.
Even if the crown prince was just a year and a half old, he wasn't someone she had the right to mock. His status alone put him above that.
"Get lost."
Yang Cheng didn't bother giving her more attention.
Xie Wanyin might grow into a formidable figure in the future. But compared to Lin Xinglan and Shen Muxue, she was far inferior. And her character was lacking.
Yang Cheng didn't even want to spare her a glance.
Hearing his order, Lin Xinglan finally stopped.
Hu Po, who was watching from the shadows, was quite pleased. She felt Lin Xinglan was definitely suited to be the crown prince's personal maid. The girl had the same sharp presence she'd once had in her youth.
Xie Wanyin's face was a mix of pale and bruised. Though filled with hate, she didn't dare say another word and fled in shame.
"You really want to follow me?"
Yang Cheng looked at Shen Muxue.
"Every word comes from my heart," Shen Muxue said calmly.
"Good. I happen to be short a personal maid."
Yang Cheng said, "If you're willing, you can report for duty tomorrow."
The crowd around them erupted in noise.
Shen Muxue—a prodigy like her—as a personal maid?
She froze for a moment.
But only briefly. She quickly regained her composure and replied, "I'm willing."
Ding!
[Following Lin Xinglan, host has now recruited Shen Muxue. She, too, is a powerful Yang God cultivator.]
[Congratulations, host has achieved an Outstanding-level accomplishment. Reward: Eight-Star Dual Pupil "Primordial Dao Eye."]
[Would the host like to claim the reward now or continue the mission?]
"Continue."
Yang Cheng felt deeply satisfied.
He then glanced at Shen Muxue and said calmly, "You won't regret your choice today."
Shen Muxue didn't hesitate. "I trust my decision. Your Highness will one day be unmatched and peerless. I, Shen Muxue, am willing to be the blade in your hand."
"Good!"
Yang Cheng laughed.
He had originally intended to keep a low profile.
But with how things were going, that was clearly no longer possible.
Just breaking through the ninth floor of the Heavenly Origin Tower had already put him under the spotlight.
Since that was the case, he might as well dominate completely and crush everything.
And Shen Muxue clearly had great influence.
Seeing her pledge loyalty stirred up many others' interest.
Yang Cheng grew even more satisfied. "Muxue, here's your first task. Record the names of everyone interested in following me. Bring me the list tomorrow."
Shen Muxue replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
"Xinglan, let's return to the palace."
Yang Cheng turned to leave.
At the same time—
Xie Wanyin was waiting outside a training chamber within the Meng Division.
Waves of powerful energy pulsed from inside.
"The third prince is about to break through!"
"Hiss… He was already at peak Xiantian. If he breaks through now, won't that make him a Martial Master?"
"A ten-year-old Martial Master? That's terrifying!"
Many onlookers whispered in awe.
And the third prince, Yang Ye, did not disappoint.
Moments later, an even more terrifying aura surged into the sky.
The training chamber doors opened, and a ten-year-old boy stepped out. He wore a pale moon-colored gold-threaded robe. His features were sharp, and his aura extraordinary.
His cultivation had indeed reached Martial Master.
"Third Prince!"
Xie Wanyin's face lit up with pride. She hurried forward, her expression filled with grievance.
Yang Ye looked concerned. "Wanyin, what happened?"
Despite being only ten years old, as a royal child, he already had a calm and mature presence—far more composed than most adult nobles.
"It was Shen Muxue and the crown prince…"
Xie Wanyin immediately recounted the incident.
Yang Ye remained silent after hearing it.
Xie Wanyin continued, "Your Highness, Shen Muxue went too far. She rejected you again and again, but accepted the crown prince's offer without hesitation. She clearly has no respect for you…"
Before she could finish, a loud slap echoed.