Inside the stone cave, Gu Wentian's expression was strange.
Was this Crown Prince of Great Zhou a bit slow in the head? Couldn't he see the current situation and was still putting on a prince's airs?
Yang Xiu froze for a moment, then burst out laughing.
"Yang Cheng, Yang Cheng… Looks like you really are used to being high above everyone. Even with death at your door, you still can't put down your pride."
He said coldly, "Since that's the case, let me help you see reality."
He pointed at Gu Wentian. "You—go break his legs first."
"This…"
Gu Wentian instinctively glanced at Jin Yanyu.
"Heavenly Venerable," Jin Yanyu bit her red lip lightly. "Not long ago, His Highness the Crown Prince saved my life. Could you at least spare him his life? If we keep him imprisoned for the rest of his days, he won't be able to threaten you."
Hearing that, Yang Xiu first froze—then a raging fire surged from deep inside him.
This scene made him think of Wei Roujia.
What was so special about Yang Cheng? First it was his future empress Wei Roujia, and now his future noble consort Jin Yanyu—why were they all siding with him?
One look at Yang Xiu's expression, and Yang Cheng already knew—Jin Yanyu's plea hadn't helped. It had only made Yang Xiu angrier.
Indeed, 'beauty brings disaster' had never been an empty saying.
"Miss Jin, are you pleading for him?" Yang Xiu's voice turned cold.
"Yes. Please show mercy, Heavenly Venerable," Jin Yanyu replied.
"Originally, he was certain to die. But since Miss Jin has spoken for him, how could I refuse to give you face?" Yang Xiu's tone shifted. "Then this—on your account, I'll only cripple his cultivation and destroy his martial bones, so from now on he can live peacefully as a useless cripple. How's that?"
Jin Yanyu froze.
Destroy his cultivation and martial bones? Wasn't that a torture worse than death?
"Heavenly Venerable, the Crown Prince's cultivation isn't high. If we imprison him, his realm will never rise again," Jin Yanyu hurriedly said. "And your future is destined to reach the realm of Martial True God. By then, he'll be nothing but an ant to you. Why bother with an ant?"
Yang Xiu's face went icy. "Miss Jin, you're really pushing your luck."
"Heavenly Venerable…" Jin Yanyu tried to speak again.
"No need to say more." Yang Xiu waved a hand to cut her off. "Crippling him is my bottom line."
Yang Cheng said flatly, "In all this discussion, none of you thought to ask my opinion?"
"You? Meat on the chopping block doesn't get a say." Yang Xiu's eyes held only disdain.
Just then, Jin Yanyu seemed to make up her mind. Her face showed firm resolve.
"Heavenly Venerable, if you're going to cripple the Crown Prince, then cripple me too," she said.
Yang Xiu's eyes went wide. He stared at her in disbelief.
Gu Wentian looked like he was about to cry.
Yang Cheng was also surprised—he hadn't expected her to say that.
"Daring to bargain with the Heavenly Venerable? Who gave you the guts? Kneel when you speak to this old man!"
The black-clothed middle-aged man's voice was cold as ice.
As he spoke, he struck directly at Jin Yanyu.
Yang Xiu tried to stop him, but it was too late.
Then he thought—maybe letting Jin Yanyu suffer a little wasn't a bad idea.
"Young Mistress!" Gu Wentian's expression changed. He rushed forward to block the black-clothed man.
Bang!
Their palms collided in an instant.
Gu Wentian was blasted back on the spot, slamming into the stone wall behind him.
"Martial Saint!"
Gu Wentian stared in shock at the black-clothed middle-aged man.
His own cultivation was at the Martial Emperor realm, but compared to a Martial Saint, he was still far behind.
"Crown Prince, go quickly! We'll hold them off!" Jin Yanyu secretly sent a voice transmission to Yang Cheng.
Without hesitation, she took the initiative to strike at the black-clothed man.
Boom!
Jin Yanyu's cultivation erupted—she was also a Martial Emperor.
She and Gu Wentian, two Martial Emperors together, blocked the black-clothed man's advance.
If Yang Cheng wanted to escape now, he might really have a chance.
"Quite lively in here, isn't it?"
A light, amused voice suddenly sounded.
A graceful, mature beauty stepped in from outside, holding Tang Xingyu's hand.
"Madam Cheng?" Yang Xiu's eyes widened in shock. "You—you, why are you here?"
The beauty was indeed Cheng Junyi.
The black-clothed man pushed Jin Yanyu and Gu Wentian back but did not press the attack further. His eyes were fixed warily on Cheng Junyi.
It was clear he could sense that her threat far surpassed Jin Yanyu and Gu Wentian.
Cheng Junyi's gaze was deep as she glanced at Yang Xiu, then swept around the cave. "You've brought my disciple here. As his teacher, how could I not come and see?"
"Teacher."
Yang Cheng stepped to Cheng Junyi's side, looking mockingly at Yang Xiu. "Sixth Brother, you've colluded with outsiders and openly declared you'd cripple me, the Crown Prince. What crime do you think that deserves?"
Yang Xiu's face twitched, then twisted into a snarl. "Elder Sun, we can't let them leave!"
If Cheng Junyi and the others escaped, word of this crime would reach Great Zhou. Unless he killed his father and seized the throne, he could forget about being emperor for life.
"Don't worry. As long as you open the seal further, Heavenly Venerable, none of them will escape."
Elder Sun's voice was full of confidence.
"Good."
Yang Xiu knew he had no other choice.
His eyes flashed with black light, and deep in the valley, a rift in space tore open.
"The seal is open."
"Hahaha! We can finally see the light of day again!"
One after another, powerful auras surged out of the rift.
Within half an incense stick's time, the valley was filled with over a thousand vicious-looking experts.
"Elder Sun, with my current cultivation, I can only open part of the seal. I can't let more people out," Yang Xiu said.
"This is more than enough," Elder Sun said excitedly.
Yang Xiu looked at Cheng Junyi. "Senior, I'm willing to give you a chance. Pledge yourself to me now, and I'll spare both you and Miss Tang."
Cheng Junyi ignored him and turned to Yang Cheng. "Cheng'er, you really weren't wrong at all."
"Senior, my patience is limited," Yang Xiu's tone hardened.
"So young, yet narrow-minded, vicious, and cruel. Someone like you deserves followers? The people who follow you aren't just blind in judgment—they're blind in the eyes," Cheng Junyi said with open disgust.
Unseen in the shadows, Lin Xinglan: "…"
"Refuse the toast only to drink the forfeit."
Yang Xiu's temper snapped. "Elder Sun, since she doesn't know what's good for her, kill her as well."
"I just happen to want to see this lady's true skill," Elder Sun said with a grin, pouncing toward Cheng Junyi.
His killing intent was sharp and ferocious, like a predatory hawk swooping in.
"Hmph."
Cheng Junyi snorted coldly and struck with a single palm.
Bang!
A deafening boom shook the cave.
The entire stone chamber trembled violently, cracks splitting across the walls.
Elder Sun was blasted from the doorway like a cannonball.
Cheng Junyi's figure flashed as she chased after him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
A series of earth-shaking impacts echoed from the valley outside.
The two great experts clashed fiercely in the open, and it was clear Elder Sun was being completely suppressed.
"All of you, attack!"
Elder Sun roared in frustration.
Two more Martial Saints joined the battle.
Three Martial Saints surrounded Cheng Junyi, but even then, they could only manage to hold her to a stalemate.