Yang Cheng didn't hesitate and immediately placed the Chaos Lotus Seed into his dantian.
His dantian, already eighteen zhang wide, was like a pond. True qi filled it like water.
The moment the Chaos Lotus Seed entered, the true qi began to boil. The seed trembled violently as mysterious, formless power surged out from it.
Yang Cheng's dantian started to transform.
After half a quarter of an hour, his dantian had expanded to ninety-nine zhang in diameter, already the size of a small lake.
His black true qi grew darker and heavier, so sinister that if released, it would send chills down anyone's spine.
Normally, when Yang Cheng released his true qi, he would disguise it—sometimes as Tai Sui true qi, sometimes as Great Thunderous Sound true qi.
The sudden expansion left his dantian hollow, but Yang Cheng had no shortage of spirit stones.
These spirit stones were ones he had extorted from other geniuses in the Qingqiu Secret Realm.
He now carried 1,000 supreme-grade spirit stones and 10,000 top-grade spirit stones, and he absorbed them all at once.
The terrifying nature of the Great Divination Breathing Technique revealed itself again.
When run at full power, this technique devoured energy like a whale gulping down the sea.
In just half an hour, every spirit stone had crumbled into dust.
Yang Cheng's dantian filled with true qi once more.
Boom!
His cultivation broke through completely, leaping straight into fourth-level Martial Emperor.
For some time after, Yang Cheng didn't leave Fengtian City. He focused on consolidating his cultivation and sharpening his foundation.
Meanwhile, Tang Yun'er did not blindly trust Yang Cheng or Zheng Degong.
She went around Fengtian City, visiting random places, even traveling to nearby cities to make inquiries.
Every report she heard confirmed Zheng Degong's account.
Her face paled slightly. The blow to her heart was heavy.
'This Yang Xiu… truly full of hidden schemes. I can't let him stay close to my lady.' Tang Yuan thought to herself.
Soon after, Tang Yun'er returned to the Southern Guardian Prince's manor at the fastest speed.
One day later, in Chanzhou, inside the Southern Guardian Prince's manor—
"Little brother, why didn't you tell me it was you who tried to kill Crown Prince Yang first, and only then were you expelled?" Tang Yun'er demanded of Yang Xiu.
Yang Xiu froze, then forced a bitter smile. "Sister Yun'er… was that what Yang Cheng told you?"
"It wasn't him," Tang Yun'er said coldly. "I found out myself."
She looked at him with deep disappointment. "Little brother, even now you would lie to me? After all the trust I've given you?"
"I…"
Yang Xiu had no words. Panic crept into his heart.
"Little brother," Tang Yun'er continued, "maybe you only wanted to use me, but I won't blame you. I just think… maybe you've misunderstood your elder brother. He's not as vicious as you imagine. Think about it. If he truly wanted you dead, would you have escaped back then?"
Yang Xiu's body shook violently. Sister Yun'er… was actually speaking for Yang Cheng?
"Sister Yun'er, I escaped because someone saved me, not because Yang Cheng showed mercy!" Yang Xiu said urgently.
"But I asked around," Tang Yun'er countered, "Crown Prince Yang is surrounded by masters. Even putting others aside, his uncle Yun Jinghuai once killed a Martial Sovereign."
Tang Yun'er said coldly, "If Crown Prince Yang ordered Yun Jinghuai to kill you, who could possibly save you?"
Yang Xiu's chest tightened with frustration. He wanted to speak the truth but couldn't expose Lin Xinglan's existence.
"Enough. I didn't say this to force you to admit fault." Tang Yun'er sighed softly. "In my heart, you're still my little brother."
After all, Yang Xiu had once saved her life. That was a debt she couldn't forget. And his unyielding spirit was something she still admired.
Unknowingly, more than half a year passed.
Yang Cheng not only stabilized his cultivation but pushed it further, reaching sixth-level Martial Emperor.
"I'm only ten years old now!"
"In my past life, when I reached this realm, I was already over a hundred."
For the first time, he truly understood the mindset of those peak prodigies.
Ordinary cultivators, even with luck, struggled a hundred years just to step into Martial Emperor. But for the top talents, it was effortless.
No wonder such geniuses looked down on the common masses.
"And it's not just me. Even Yang Xiu and many others are improving faster."
Yang Cheng estimated that Yang Xiu's cultivation, even if not yet Martial Emperor, should already be close.
In his past life, Yang Xiu only became a Martial Emperor in his twenties.
The same with Zheng Guanbao.
He should have awakened his Vermillion Bird Dao Body six years later, on the verge of death, but by then it was too late to save his life.
Now, Zheng Guanbao had awakened ahead of time, without needing a life-and-death crisis, and already stood at the peak of Martial King.
The butterfly effect was clear. His rebirth had shifted many destinies.
"Even Mother has changed."
Yang Cheng smiled faintly.
He had used fifty pieces of Marrow-Washing Divine Jade himself. The rest were given away.
His mother, Yun Jinghuai, his teachers, Tang Xingyu, Shen Muxue, Lin Shu, even his nine Tiger Generals—all had received Marrow-Washing Divine Jade.
Their bone foundations were vastly improved, and their cultivation speed soared.
"Mother has already stepped into third-level Martial Sovereign, and Uncle is only a step away from the Martial Sovereign realm."
Through his intelligence network, Yang Cheng also learned of something amusing.
He had eighteen Tiger Generals in total. During the Qingqiu Secret Realm, only nine followed him inside.
Now, the nine who stayed behind deeply regretted it.
The nine who had gone all gained leaps in power. Those who didn't go, and even their families, finally realized how great an opportunity they had missed.
Even Zheng Guanshui was full of envy and jealousy toward Zheng Guanbao.
"Your Highness, Her Majesty requests your presence."
Hu Po's voice came from outside.
Yang Cheng rose and went to the main hall of Splendid Radiance Hall.
There, he saw Yun Liyue seated, chatting with another woman.
This woman sat to Yun Liyue's left, slightly below her. Yet from her bearing, she seemed no lesser than the Empress herself.
If she had been a court lady or even a prince's consort, she would never dare carry herself like this in Yun Liyue's presence.
This stirred Yang Cheng's curiosity.
Behind the woman stood a youth, his aura sharp like a drawn sword.
Li Tingxiao?
Yang Cheng's eyes flickered.
He didn't know the woman, but he knew the youth.
Li Tingxiao, chief disciple of the Sword Pavilion, future master of the sect, and famed across the Wasteland Realm as the Sword God.
That left no doubt of the woman's identity.
She could only be the Sword Emperor's wife, no wonder she bore such authority.
"Cheng'er, this is Madam Wang of the Sword Pavilion, and their chief disciple, Li Tingxiao," Yun Liyue introduced. "The Sword Emperor is currently having tea with your father. Later, he'll come to guide you in the Way of the Sword. Since you've loved the sword since childhood, his instruction will be a great boon to your path."
Li Tingxiao stepped forward. "Li Tingxiao greets the Crown Prince of Great Zhou."
He added, "I've heard of Your Highness's extraordinary sword talent. I wonder if I might have the honor to exchange a few moves with you?"
His words spoke of humility, but his eyes carried arrogance and disdain.
In terms of status, he was slightly beneath Yang Cheng. But in the Way of the Sword, he believed even ten Yang Chengs could not compare to him.
[The Sword God Li Tingxiao, a Yang God powerhouse, has issued a challenge to the host.]
[It seems there is no past grudge between him and the host, so his motives are unclear.]
[Facing Li Tingxiao with your current cultivation will be difficult.]
[But a late-blooming genius must face all crises and challenges.]
[Accept Li Tingxiao's challenge. As long as you remain undefeated, you will be rewarded with a strand of Sword Intent from the Seven Kill Sword Ancestor.]