Yang Xiu felt as if struck by lightning.
Impossible!
How could Yang Cheng be this strong?
Not long ago, he had been so proud of himself. As a third-level Martial Emperor, he was certain he could suppress Yang Cheng.
When he saw that Yang Cheng hadn't even broken into the Martial Emperor realm, his confidence swelled even further.
But now, with the Luofu Mountain protector lying broken on the ground, that confidence had collapsed completely.
So what if Yang Cheng's cultivation wasn't as high as his? His strength was still far greater.
The faces of the four great elders turned ugly.
"Xie Kai, you dare! You actually tried to assassinate the Crown Prince of Great Zhou without permission."
The Luofu Mountain elder roared.
Xie Kai gave a bitter smile but didn't argue.
The moment he struck at Yang Cheng, he had already accepted death.
Whether he succeeded or not, once he attacked, there was only one road left for him—death.
Knowing that, he still chose to do it. He wasn't mad or stupid.
Though a seventh-level Martial Emperor, he had long been gravely injured. His potential was exhausted, his path forward sealed.
Even his lifespan had been cut short by his wounds. At most, he had ten more years to live.
The Luofu Mountain elder had secretly promised him: if he sacrificed himself, Luofu Mountain would protect his family for thirty years.
Even more, the elder would take his son as a personal disciple.
Measured that way, it was a bargain he couldn't refuse.
"He acted on his own?"
Yun Jinghuai laughed coldly.
Xie Kai attacked Yang Cheng, and immediately the four elders combined to suppress him.
Only a fool would believe that was coincidence.
"Exactly. Which is why we agree to hand him over to the Great Zhou court for judgment."
The Luofu Mountain elder said calmly, "From this day forward, whether he lives or dies, he has nothing to do with Luofu Mountain."
Luofu Mountain had lost a Martial Emperor, but it wasn't truly a loss.
Before deciding this, he and the other three sects had already struck a secret deal.
Luofu Mountain would provide the man to assassinate Yang Cheng. Whether it worked or not, the other three sects would compensate their loss.
Yun Jinghuai sighed. "What a clever plan. Too bad you forgot what I said from the start."
"The moment you entered Great Zhou's territory without permission, you were already guilty."
"And now, instead of bowing your heads, you dare plot against the Crown Prince of Great Zhou? With or without proof, you all must die!"
The four elders' expressions changed drastically.
"Kill!"
Yun Jinghuai swung his arm down.
He wasn't so foolish as to challenge the four elders alone.
Though he feared them not, there was no need to risk himself.
Yang Cheng had chosen to fight the Luofu Mountain protector head-on to temper himself.
Yun Jinghuai knew his own strength well—he had no need for such tempering against four elders.
Besides, this was Zhou soil.
He had brought several thousand elite soldiers, and there was no need for him to dirty his own hands when his army could slaughter the four.
In an instant, countless arrows rained down like a storm upon the elders.
The four were shocked and furious.
"Yun Jinghuai, aren't you afraid this will spark war?"
"If you kill us, you'll enrage the Wheel-Turning Sect, Luofu Mountain, the Divine Sect of the Other Shore, and Xuan Yuan Temple all at once. Great Zhou will be surrounded on every side!"
"If the Emperor of Great Zhou hears of this, he will punish you himself!"
They shouted in rage. None of them had expected Yun Jinghuai to truly go for the kill.
"Surrounded on every side?"
Yun Jinghuai sneered. "I already visited the capital of Great Yan. I dragged their emperor and princes back to Great Zhou.
If your sects dare make a move, I don't mind paying a visit to your capitals and mountain gates as well."
The four elders were no weaklings—they were top Martial Saints.
But the Divine Machinery Crossbows were terrifying.
Even Martial Saints, facing this many bolts, were in mortal danger.
"Marquis Champion, I yield!"
The Luofu Mountain elder roared.
Already, he could barely hold on.
Yun Jinghuai turned his gaze on the other three elders.
"We are willing to accept punishment," the three said helplessly.
A smile spread across Yun Jinghuai's face as he lifted his right hand.
The Zhou army, bound by strict discipline, instantly ceased their crossbow fire.
The four elders let out a breath of relief.
But just as they relaxed, thinking Yun Jinghuai would let them go, his hand swung down again.
A black storm of arrows rained down, catching them off guard and striking them bloody.
"Yun Jinghuai, you go back on your word!"
The Luofu Mountain elder shouted in rage.
"I never said a single word," Yun Jinghuai replied calmly.
"Shameless, you're utterly shameless!"
The elder nearly spat blood.
"All's fair in war," Yun Jinghuai said lightly.
The four elders no longer dared to hope for mercy. Wounded and bleeding, they scattered in all directions, desperate to flee through the storm of bolts.
That was when Yun Jinghuai made his move.
Bang, bang, bang!
He intercepted them one by one, cutting off every escape path.
Already gravely wounded, the four couldn't resist him. Each was struck down and thrown to the ground.
"Take them all."
Yun Jinghuai gave the order.
Killing them was wasteful.
Better to wring them dry—torture out their cultivation methods and treasures, then ransom them back to their sects for spirit stones.
Squeeze every last drop of value.
"Your Highness, is this handling acceptable?"
He turned to Yang Cheng, his tone full of respect.
In front of others, he was always careful to emphasize Yang Cheng's status, showing deference at every step.
Yang Cheng understood the intent and smiled. "Yes."
"What are your orders now?" Yun Jinghuai asked.
"Return to the capital," Yang Cheng said.
As he spoke, his eyes swept the crowd and noticed that Yang Xiu had slipped away unnoticed.
As expected of the Heaven's Mandate Son—truly despicable.
It had been Yang Xiu stirring up the other sects to target him.
Now those sects were all in ruins, while Yang Xiu had vanished without a trace.
A thought crossed Yang Cheng's mind: being an enemy of the Heaven's Mandate Son was dangerous, but being his friend might be fatal.
He didn't bother chasing. Without breaking Yang Xiu's fate, pursuit was pointless.
And so, Yang Cheng set off on the road back to the capital.
Meanwhile, deep in the forest, Yang Xiu was still fleeing for his life.
Terrified that Yang Cheng might send troops after him, he ran as far and as fast as he could.
Just then, Lin Xinglan stirred awake.
The Qingqiu Secret Realm's rules had indeed suppressed her.
She could have resisted the suppression, but it would have drained her spiritual power, so she chose not to.
Now that they were outside, her spirit surged back to life.
When she first opened her eyes, she was lazy and unhurried.
But a moment later, her gaze froze.
"You've already broken through to Martial Emperor?" Lin Xinglan asked, her tone sharp.