[Golden Gate Valley is the core of the Tianyuan forces behind Yang Xiu. For reasons unknown, the host has led several thousand soldiers straight into this place.]
[At this moment, the host is in extreme danger, as Golden Gate Valley is packed with masters. This mission is classified as epic-level difficulty…]
Yang Cheng's heart secretly leapt with joy.
Another mission?
[The host has Cheng Junyi and Tang Xingyu for protection? Cheng Junyi is a Nirvana God-level powerhouse, Tang Xingyu is a Shattering God-level powerhouse. With their strength, getting the host out would be effortless.]
[Mission revised—host must persuade Cheng Junyi and Tang Xingyu to help the host fight against the Tianyuan masters.]
[This mission is now ordinary hard-level.]
[Reward: Yunmeng Bracelet (aside from looking nice, it doesn't seem to have any other effect).]
"…"
Yang Cheng was stunned.
This was the first time he'd run into something like this.
In the past seven years, he had taken advantage of loopholes in the system countless times, but now the system had found a loophole on him.
Right now, Cheng Junyi and Tang Xingyu were not especially strong compared to the Tianyuan masters.
But five hundred years later, they would be far beyond the reach of any Tianyuan expert.
That was why what should have been a perfectly good epic-level mission was now downgraded to a normal hard-level mission.
Meanwhile—
"You can't kill me, or my Tianyuan will never let you go…"
The silver-haired elder's voice trembled with fear.
Yun Jinghuai didn't hesitate. He stepped down hard on the man's head.
Crack!
The elder's skull shattered, his soul extinguished, dead on the spot.
He had been a Martial Sovereign.
Such a figure was without a doubt the leader of this group of Tianyuan masters.
With his death, the rest became like headless flies and were cut down in moments by Yun Jinghuai's soldiers.
"These Tianyuan masters really are loaded with resources."
Yun Jinghuai's eyes lit up.
Naturally, Yang Cheng wasn't about to have him do a losing deal.
Killing Tianyuan experts wasn't just to cut off Yang Xiu's support.
Tianyuan had been sealed for years, but because its spiritual energy was so rich, its resources were not only plentiful but extremely high-quality.
That was also a huge part of Yang Xiu's confidence in dominating the Eastern Wastes in the future.
Which meant these Tianyuan experts would all be carrying wealth.
Having Yun Jinghuai lead his elites to kill and loot them would make his men rich in one go.
And among Yun Jinghuai's core troops were one thousand of Yang Cheng's Blood-Clothed Guards—so this was also fattening Yang Cheng himself.
The soldiers quickly grew excited; they had clearly realized how rich the Tianyuan experts were.
Shua!
Yang Cheng and the others turned their eyes toward Yang Xiu and Elder Sun.
Every other Tianyuan master was dead—only these two remained.
Elder Sun abandoned Yang Xiu without hesitation, turning to flee, but Yun Jinghuai's spear ran him through on the spot.
"Master, save me!"
Yang Xiu roared.
"Sigh."
A weary sigh sounded.
Even Yun Jinghuai, a master of his level, felt his hair stand on end.
Buzz!
A spatial rift appeared beside Yang Xiu.
Without a second thought, he dove in and vanished before everyone's eyes.
Yang Cheng wasn't surprised.
But the others were deeply shaken.
"Your Highness, you were right—Yang Xiu really is hard to kill."
Yun Jinghuai said.
Half a month ago, Yang Cheng had told him of this plan and warned him not to insist on killing Yang Xiu.
At the time he hadn't understood, but now he truly was shocked.
"I have my own plans. Just because we can't kill him now doesn't mean we won't kill him later."
Yang Cheng replied.
"Chengcheng, just what is going on with this Yang Xiu?"
Cheng Junyi couldn't help but ask.
Most of the people here, aside from Jin Yanyu and Gu Wentian, were those Yang Cheng trusted the most.
Jin Yanyu and Gu Wentian had once been part of Yang Xiu's camp.
With people like that, Yang Cheng had no reason to hide anything.
"In the eyes of many, Yang Xiu is what they call the Heaven's Mandate Son."
Yang Cheng said, "He's the reincarnation of Tianyuan's will, recognized by the Wasteland Realm's heavenly mandate, and also protected by an ancient powerhouse. Whenever someone tries to kill him, unexpected events will help him escape. Even if he fails to flee, that ancient powerhouse within him will step in."
Cheng Junyi added, "Like just now."
"Exactly."
Yang Cheng said, "Heaven's mandate and luck aren't invincible. There are ways to break them. The bigger problem is that ancient powerhouse inside him. If we want to get rid of him, we first have to deal with that ancient powerhouse."
Everyone present grew heavier in mood.
"Your Highness, what do you plan to do with these two?"
Perhaps to ease the tension, Yun Jinghuai changed the subject.
All eyes immediately turned to Jin Yanyu and Gu Wentian.
"Today's events were all because I was ungrateful. If Your Highness wishes to kill me, I have no complaints."
Jin Yanyu bit her lip lightly.
Cheng Junyi and Yun Jinghuai looked at her with some disfavor, though not outright coldness.
They had seen what happened earlier—at the last moment, for reasons unknown, Jin Yanyu had helped block Elder Sun for Yang Cheng.
"You can avoid the death penalty, but not punishment."
Yang Cheng said, "Your actions must be dealt with severely."
Jin Yanyu lowered her head.
"You'll serve me for the rest of your life—no end date."
Yang Cheng said.
Golden Gate Pavilion was extremely valuable, and he had no intention of letting it go.
To control it, he needed someone both capable and deeply familiar with its workings.
Jin Yanyu was the perfect candidate.
Besides, what she did today had already completely offended Yang Xiu and the forces behind him.
With no way back, she could only serve him from now on.
Jin Yanyu suddenly looked up, staring at him in disbelief.
"Your Highness… you truly still wish to give us a chance?"
Even Gu Wentian found it incredible.
Just moments ago, he had been ready to die—after all, every Tianyuan man here had been killed.
He never thought this three-year-old crown prince would be softhearted.
Yang Cheng only smiled, unwilling to answer such pointless questions.
"Tangtang, Teacher, how about riding my carriage back to Fengtian City?"
Yang Cheng said.
Tang Xingyu's eyes lit up. "Yes, please."
Cheng Junyi also smiled. "Now that I think of it, I've never ridden your carriage before. Today I can shamelessly enjoy the privilege."
Inside the carriage—
Ding!
[Mission complete. Host, please claim your reward.]
This was without a doubt the most perfunctory the system had ever been.
Clearly, in its eyes, with Tang Xingyu and Cheng Junyi's strength, dealing with these Tianyuan people was nothing worth mentioning.
"Claim."
Under Yang Cheng's mental command, a bracelet appeared in his hand.
As expected, aside from looking good, it seemed to have no special ability.
"Wow, it's so pretty."
Tang Xingyu's bright eyes sparkled even more.
Yang Cheng had no interest in pretty but useless things.
"Tangtang, it's yours."
He slipped it onto her wrist.
Tang Xingyu's eyes curved like crescent moons. "Heehee, Chengcheng, you're the best."
Watching the pair she had practically watched grow up together, Cheng Junyi's face showed a warm, doting smile.
She could tell the bracelet's material was extraordinary and surely very valuable.
But this was between the children, so she wouldn't interfere.
Besides, no matter how precious the bracelet, it was still no match for the sword talisman from back then.