Crack!
The ground beneath Su Lingchen's feet split apart even further.
He couldn't help but take several steps forward.
Every step he landed left behind a deep footprint.
"Interesting, truly interesting."
Su Lingchen's eyes gleamed with brilliance. "I never fought the grown Chu Xianzhi, but I did fight Chu Daoyue back then. At that time, Chu Daoyue was exactly at ninth-layer Martial Saint. I imagine Chu Xianzhi's strength wouldn't have been much weaker than his."
"For the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, just a little boy, to kill such a figure without suffering injuries—that strength is no weaker than a Martial Sovereign."
"And even among Martial Sovereigns, he wouldn't be an ordinary one."
Zhuang Lin's face paled in shock.
He had already suspected as much before, but hearing Su Lingchen say it outright still sent chills down his spine.
The aristocratic clans and the royal family had opposed and restrained each other for years.
And the Zhuang clan was the leader of the aristocrats.
Now, the royal family had produced such a terrifying monster—this was no good news for the Zhuang clan.
It was a disaster.
"Zhuang Lin, would you mind having another senior brother?"
Su Lingchen asked.
Zhuang Lin instantly guessed his master's intent, and his face twisted like he was constipated.
He had come to deliver the news hoping to use a borrowed blade, pushing Su Lingchen to get rid of Yang Cheng.
But now, Su Lingchen actually wanted to take Yang Cheng as his disciple?
He could only say, "Master, Yang Cheng is so powerful at such a young age, I fear he won't easily submit to anyone."
"That's only because he hasn't seen what a true powerhouse is."
Su Lingchen smiled faintly, then casually swiped his hand forward.
An unbelievable scene followed.
A section of the cliff wall near the Thunder Abyss—nearly a hundred feet long—was sliced apart as if it were tofu.
Rumble!
That massive piece of cliff broke off and crashed straight into the Thunder Abyss below.
Zhuang Lin swallowed hard.
What did it mean to shatter mountains and split the earth with a gesture?
This was it.
His master's power was terrifying beyond belief.
"Master, your cultivation…"
Zhuang Lin's voice trembled.
"My cultivation is at sixth-layer Martial Sovereign," Su Lingchen said proudly. "But even if a peak Martial Sovereign came, I would still be able to fight him."
Zhuang Lin was left speechless, unable to argue.
After a long moment, he finally said, "Master, though the Crown Prince of Great Zhou is young, his strength and talent far surpass mine. Accepting him as my senior brother wouldn't be a disgrace."
"Hahaha!"
Su Lingchen laughed heartily. "Come, after seventeen years, it is time I return to the Wasteland Realm once more."
In the past, his opponents were the young prodigies of the Wasteland Realm.
Now, his opponents would be the true apex experts of the Wasteland Realm.
This time, he not only intended to subdue Yang Cheng but also to sweep across the realm itself.
Wasteland Realm.
Fire Dragon Mountain.
"Your Highness, two people seek you at the foot of Fire Dragon Mountain. One of them claims to be your senior sister."
General Meng came to report.
Yang Cheng's eyes lit up with joy.
It had been months since he last saw Tangtang, and he really did miss her.
"Bring them here," Yang Cheng said.
Soon, he saw Tang Xingyu, with Jiang Hengwu by her side.
Yang Cheng ignored Jiang Hengwu and turned to Tang Xingyu. "Tangtang, where have you been these past months?"
"I went to Heavenly Heart Island with my teacher," Tang Xingyu said. "My teacher discovered an ancient secret realm there. That's also one of the reasons I came to find you."
An ancient secret realm on Heavenly Heart Island?
Yang Cheng's heart trembled slightly.
In his past life, decades later, the 'Falling Star Secret Realm' had been discovered on Heavenly Heart Island.
The one who discovered this secret realm was Zuo Qiuming. In the end, he was also the one who gained the greatest benefit, inheriting the legacy of the Pill God Gu Chen and obtaining Gu Chen's strange flame, the Starfall Iceflame.
Now, because Cheng Junyi had not left the Wasteland Realm, everything had changed.
Cheng Junyi went to Heavenly Heart Island and discovered the Starfall Secret Realm ahead of time.
"Besides this matter, we also need to help Sister A'wu."
Tang Xingyu said, "Her father Jiang Bingjun wants to marry A'wu off to Zuo Qiuming of Divine Medicine Valley. A'wu said she doesn't want to, but Jiang Bingjun still insists on forcing her."
She still had a clear mirror in her heart. Compared to Ouyang Xue, Jiang Hengwu's thoughts were far less scheming.
So, among the three of them who had once been friends, she had cut ties with Ouyang Xue but still kept good relations with Jiang Hengwu.
"Why doesn't she just ignore her father?"
Yang Cheng said.
"A'wu has to think of her mother. If she ran away from Jiang Bingjun, her mother's days would definitely become miserable."
Tang Xingyu said.
"But this kind of thing doesn't seem like something we can help with."
Yang Cheng said.
Jiang Hengwu's face dimmed.
Tang Xingyu giggled. "Cheng Cheng, let's go to Heavenly Heart Island first, then talk about it."
"Alright."
Yang Cheng nodded. He had wanted to deal with Divine Medicine Valley for some time.
Besides…
Yang Cheng had Murong Yun brought over.
"Crown Prince, are you finally going to kill me?"
Murong Yun's face was pale, but she stood straight, not begging for her life.
Yang Cheng said calmly, "This palace remembers that the ancient Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill of Divine Medicine Valley is guarded by your Murong lineage, isn't it?"
Murong Yun's heart trembled violently, and she glared at Yang Cheng. "You're actually eyeing my Divine Medicine Valley's Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill!"
"Your Divine Medicine Valley plotted against this palace. Naturally, you should compensate this palace with the Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill."
Yang Cheng said.
Murong Yun's little face flushed red with anger. "You're delusional!"
The Dragon-Tiger Golden Pill was left behind by Divine Medicine Valley's Patriarch, Zuo Jurong. It had lasted for over ten thousand years without rotting or losing its power.
It was the lifeblood of Divine Medicine Valley. How could it ever be given to Yang Cheng?
Yang Cheng's tone was faint. "That's just your thought. It doesn't mean your Divine Medicine Valley's higher-ups will think the same."
"Impossible. The higher-ups of my Divine Medicine Valley would never agree."
Murong Yun said. "Even if they agreed, I'd rather die than open the pill treasury for you."
"Then you can kill yourself now."
Yang Cheng said.
"You…"
Murong Yun's face shifted, but in the end, she didn't have the courage to commit suicide.
"If you don't have the guts, then behave yourself."
Yang Cheng said.
Murong Yun bit her lip. "What's the point of scaring me? If they know your true intentions, the higher-ups of my Divine Medicine Valley won't even let you step through the door."
"That will be my problem."
Yang Cheng said.
Three days later.
In the vast boundless sea, a massive island stood tall. This was Heavenly Heart Island.
At this moment, on Heavenly Heart Island, outside a tavern, four figures appeared.
The moment they arrived, they immediately drew countless gazes.
All four were striking in appearance. The two young women were already elegant and alluring. Another girl, though younger, already showed signs of peerless beauty. With her obedient and charming demeanor, she looked like the good fortune girl from New Year paintings, making people smile at a glance.
The boy standing in front of the three was extraordinary as well. He carried a dignity and calm that ordinary people could never possess.
"Which noble family's young master is that?"
People whispered in curiosity.
The four were Yang Cheng, Tang Xingyu, Jiang Hengwu, and Murong Yun.
"Crown Prince, you actually dared to come to Heavenly Heart Island."
Murong Yun said, "I advise you to give up. Though my Divine Medicine Valley is founded on alchemists, we also have the Martial Dao Hall to protect us. The Hall Master is a twofold Martial Sovereign, and there are also nineteen Martial Saints."