"Sixth Brother, you're always scheming in the shadows, but did it ever cross your mind that someone might turn the tables on you?"
Yang Cheng shook his head as he spoke.
The words made Yang Xiu's chest burn with rage. He stared at Tian Congxuan and said, "Aren't you afraid I'll team up with him and go after you instead?"
"I trust my judgment. You won't join forces with him," Tian Congxuan replied, like he had Yang Xiu completely figured out.
"You win."
Yang Xiu was furious with Tian Congxuan, but his desire to kill Yang Cheng burned even hotter.
To him, even if he didn't deal with Tian Congxuan now, there'd be plenty of chances in the future once he grew stronger. But Yang Cheng? He was far more monstrous. If he didn't kill him today, the chances would only grow slimmer and slimmer.
"Yang Xiu, the sea of bitterness has no shore. Turn back while you still can," Yang Cheng sighed. "I'll give you one last chance. Join forces with me against Tian Congxuan, and I'll forget everything you said earlier."
To Yang Cheng, this was a perfect opportunity—to further lower Lin Xinglan's opinion of Yang Xiu.
"Cut the crap, Yang Cheng. Today is your death day!" Yang Xiu snarled, killing intent surging.
Clang!
Without hesitation, he unleashed his full strength and charged at Yang Cheng.
Yang Cheng remained calm. He gripped his wooden sword and defended with ease.
Clang!
The sound of metal clashing rang out.
Yang Xiu's killing intent surged like a tidal wave. Every move aimed to kill. But Yang Cheng held his ground, calmly deflecting each strike, appearing defensive yet totally in control.
Tian Congxuan watched coldly from the side.
"Sixth Brother, your jealousy has blinded you. With that mindset, you'll never achieve anything great," Yang Cheng said as he blocked the incoming attacks.
"Shut up!"
Yang Xiu roared, his attacks growing even more violent.
Buzz!
A destructive aura burst from within him.
It was the power of the Taichu Sword Talisman.
The power of annihilation flooded into his sword, transforming into sharp, overwhelming waves of destructive sword qi that came slashing at Yang Cheng like a storm.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Yang Cheng blocked rapidly, wooden sword colliding with Yang Xiu's blade like lightning.
For a moment, the two seemed evenly matched.
Right then, Tian Congxuan spoke. "Yang Xiu, I'll give you a hand."
He finally made his move.
The air shook.
A massive hammer radiating destruction appeared in Tian Congxuan's hand.
"The Vast Heaven Hammer. Yang Cheng, this ends now."
He stomped the ground.
Crack!
The earth beneath his feet caved in, and he leapt into the air like a war god, swinging the hammer down at Yang Cheng's back.
The impact felt like a mountain falling.
In this moment, Yang Cheng seemed caught in a deadly pincer—Yang Xiu's fatal strike from the front, Tian Congxuan's devastating blow from behind.
"Sigh..."
Yang Cheng let out a soft breath.
He didn't move. With his right hand, he swung his wooden sword across the air, clashing hard against Yang Xiu's blade.
At the same time, he used his left hand to form a massive hammer out of true qi.
"Sacred Battle Technique!"
Yang Cheng spun and smashed the true qi hammer backward.
CLANG—BOOM!
First, his wooden sword shattered Yang Xiu's terrifying attack.
Only then did Yang Xiu truly realize how terrifying Yang Cheng was.
Thud!
Yang Xiu was flung away like a ragdoll, crashing into a tree and snapping it in half.
Even more shocking—
Yang Cheng's true qi hammer collided with Tian Congxuan's Vast Heaven Hammer in a terrifying explosion.
Tian Congxuan was a peak Martial King, leagues stronger than Yang Xiu.
But with a thunderous BOOM—
Yang Cheng's true qi hammer forcefully held back the Vast Heaven Hammer. Waves of destruction blasted in all directions, tearing cracks through the ground.
Thump, thump, thump...
Yang Cheng and Tian Congxuan both staggered backward.
"Impossible!" Tian Congxuan's pupils shrank. He clearly hadn't expected Yang Cheng to withstand an attack from both of them at once.
"Xiu'er, Yang Cheng has been holding back this whole time," Lin Xinglan's voice echoed in Yang Cheng's mind. "With his strength, he could've easily crushed you. He's only spared you because of brotherly ties..."
"I don't believe it!" Yang Xiu growled, eyes even more crazed. "Die, Yang Cheng!"
The power of the Taichu Sword Talisman exploded fully from within him. Wherever his sword passed, even the light in the air twisted.
Yang Cheng snorted lightly. "Sixth Brother, you really let me down."
It was as if only now he gave up on Yang Xiu completely.
In that instant—
"Northern Sea Sword Codex, First Form—Great Fish Surfaces!"
He finally unleashed the full force of his sword.
The wooden blade burst with brilliant sword light, like a massive kun fish leaping from the sea.
Yang Xiu's sword intent was undeniably strong. Most Martial Kings would've lost to him.
But in front of Yang Cheng's sword—it shattered like paper.
Yang Xiu was sent flying, slamming into the ground and leaving behind a deep crater, battered and broken.
Just one strike, and Yang Cheng had nearly crippled him.
Lying in the pit, Yang Xiu looked like he'd lost everything.
Seeing this, Tian Congxuan's face darkened. "Yang Cheng, you really hid your strength well!"
Only now did he realize—Yang Cheng hadn't been going all out earlier at all.
Yang Cheng stood with his hands behind his back. Calmly, he said, "Now, it's your turn."
A flicker of dread passed through Tian Congxuan's eyes. But he quickly sneered again. "You really think you can stand against me?"
He suddenly let out a thunderous roar.
In that instant, an overwhelming pressure descended.
Above him, a vortex formed.
From within the vortex, strands of golden-thread orchid vines shot out and sealed off the surrounding space in a blink.
Yang Cheng's eyes narrowed. "Tian Congxuan... is this your Dual Dao Body?"
In his past life, he hadn't known much about Tian Congxuan—he didn't have the status to get close to prodigies like him.
But he'd heard rumors that Tian Congxuan had a Dual Dao Body.
Tian Congxuan sneered coldly. "That's right. Yang Cheng, today, even if you grow wings, you're not getting away!"
Yang Cheng was silent for a moment.
Then he chuckled softly. "Too bad you miscalculated something."
"What?" Tian Congxuan froze.
Yang Cheng said calmly, "I have never needed to run."
As the words fell, a terrifying aura shot skyward, piercing the clouds.
Sacred Battle Technique, full power unleashed!
Yang Cheng charged at Tian Congxuan like a primeval beast.
"Courting death," Tian Congxuan's eyes gleamed with killing intent.
With the golden-thread orchid enveloping the area, this space was his domain. Here, he was the master, endlessly drawing power from the orchid vines.
What could Yang Cheng possibly use to fight him?
Tian Congxuan raised his hammer with even more force, swinging it at Yang Cheng.
When paths cross, only the brave survive.
Almost at the same time, Yang Cheng exploded with power.
His innate divine strength and Primal Golden Body merged with the might of the Sacred Battle Technique.
The two hammers clashed violently.
Unimaginable force erupted from Yang Cheng's true qi hammer.
Just a moment ago, Tian Congxuan had been confident.
The next instant, his face changed drastically.
What he crashed into didn't feel like a person—it felt like a young primordial dragon.
A force as violent as a tsunami, enough to tear heaven and earth apart, came crashing toward him.
Tian Congxuan was sent flying, hammer and all.
But Yang Cheng wasn't done.
Boom boom boom...
He chased with a flurry of hammer strikes, completely overpowering Tian Congxuan.
In just a few breaths, he'd smashed down dozens of times.
Tian Congxuan's bones—who knew how many were broken.
Boom!
Another hammer blow, and even the golden-thread orchid couldn't hold up—Yang Cheng blasted a hole through it.
Tian Congxuan's body was flung through that hole.
Then Yang Cheng suddenly turned and looked toward the eastern side of this space.
His Myriad-Wonder Musical Heart stirred.
That made Yang Cheng pause. He didn't bother with Tian Congxuan or Yang Xiu anymore, and rushed in that direction.
It wasn't time to kill Yang Xiu yet.
Unless Lin Xinglan completely gave up on Yang Xiu, Yang Cheng couldn't kill him.
As for Tian Congxuan—though he was more talented, he didn't have Yang Xiu's luck. He was easier to kill.
Plus, Yang Cheng intended to leave the two of them behind.
Now that he was gone, without a third party, Tian Congxuan and Yang Xiu would likely fight each other.
And he was curious.
What would happen when a top-tier genius clashed with a child of destiny?
It wasn't something that had ever happened in his past life.
Back then, Baili Guan hadn't died, and Tian Congxuan never even came to Great Zhou. Naturally, he and Yang Xiu never clashed.
But in this life, so much had changed from the start.
As Yang Cheng left, both Tian Congxuan and Yang Xiu watched his back and didn't dare to stop him.
Tian Congxuan then turned to look at Yang Xiu, eyes icy cold.
He was seething.
If he couldn't beat Yang Cheng, then the Yang Xiu still standing here had become his punching bag.
"What do you want?" Yang Xiu snapped.
"Remember what I said before? If you can't kill Yang Cheng, then I'll kill you."
Tian Congxuan's voice was bone-chilling.
"What a joke. You just want to pick on someone weaker. Can't beat Yang Cheng, so now you're taking it out on me?"
Yang Xiu sneered.
Being called out only enraged Tian Congxuan more. "Die!"
Boom!
He swung his hammer viciously at Yang Xiu.
But Yang Xiu wasn't Yang Cheng—he had no way of matching Tian Congxuan.
"Supreme Sword Canon!"
Yang Xiu slashed with all his strength, but he couldn't block the Vast Heaven Hammer and was sent flying.
Pfft!
He crashed to the ground, blood spurting from his mouth.
Tian Congxuan's gaze stayed icy. He didn't intend to let Yang Xiu live.
After all, killing Yang Xiu here—Great Zhou would have no proof. He felt no guilt at all.
Just then, the space around them twisted.
A strange, invisible force surged from within Yang Xiu.
And suddenly, Yang Xiu felt empowered by the space itself.
He raised his hand and struck toward Tian Congxuan.
Bam!
Tian Congxuan was sent flying by Yang Xiu's palm.
"What? Impossible!" Tian Congxuan was stunned.
"Trying to kill me? Go die!"
Yang Xiu roared with satisfaction and lunged at him.
In that moment, he knew it wasn't just an illusion.
Inside this Qingqiu Secret Realm, he felt like a fish in water.
It was as if his strength had multiplied more than tenfold.
Boom boom boom...
Tian Congxuan was instantly overpowered and beaten down by Yang Xiu.
He was completely stunned.
What was up with these Great Zhou princes?
It was one thing to lose to Yang Cheng. But now even Yang Xiu had suddenly exploded in strength and was beating him down like nothing.
Tian Congxuan felt both humiliated and gripped by a real sense of danger.
"Yang Xiu, then let's die together!"
Tian Congxuan suddenly roared with ferocity.
The moment he spoke, Yang Xiu froze, clearly rattled.
Taking that chance, Tian Congxuan bolted into the nearby forest without a second thought.
"At least you know your place."
Yang Xiu didn't chase.
More importantly, he noticed the empowering effect of the surrounding space was rapidly fading.
Without that boost, facing Tian Congxuan again would only mean being crushed.
"Master... was that you helping me?" Yang Xiu asked, moved.
"Clear your mind. Feel the will of this world. Imprint your spirit into this realm's void," Lin Xinglan instructed.
"This world is called the Qingqiu Secret Realm. It's the legacy realm of my former sect. I hold its inheritance mark, which is why I could summon the realm's key."
"But to save you just now, I burned through half the power of that inheritance mark. That might make your refinement harder."
"Originally, I didn't need to use that half. If you had just joined forces with Yang Cheng, you two could've easily pushed Tian Congxuan back."
"But because of your jealousy, you didn't trust me. Instead, you teamed up with Tian Congxuan to deal with Yang Cheng."
"And the facts prove it—Yang Cheng's strength is overwhelming. Even both of you together couldn't beat him."
"He was clearly holding back the whole time."