Divine Medicine Valley.
Elder Qiu refused to back down. "Murong Cong, everyone knows your niece Murong Yun was captured. I think you're just using this to settle a personal grudge."
Unfortunately for him, the Valley Master's faction was clearly weaker.
The Elder faction was essentially the faction supporting the Zuo family.
Divine Medicine Valley was founded by the Zuo family, so their influence here was obvious.
Back then, Yu Qiuyue could rise to power only because the Zuo family's talents had declined.
But now, with the rise of Zuo Qiuming, not only did those who had always supported the Zuo family rally behind him, even many neutral parties began siding with the Elder faction.
It could be said that if the Valley Master's faction hadn't reached an agreement with Great Zhou last time, showing everyone the benefits of cooperation with the empire, they wouldn't even have the right to speak here today.
At present, most of Divine Medicine Valley's people were waiting for Zuo Qiuming to grow stronger.
When that time came, they would support Zuo Qiuming in replacing Yu Qiuyue, forcing her to "abdicate."
In Yang Cheng's memory, according to the original course of history, Yu Qiuyue would refuse to "abdicate," then fall into inner demons ten years later and die.
Now the situation was unfolding in the same way.
Other elders spoke up one after another. Most supported Murong Cong, and only a few echoed Elder Qiu.
Elder Qiu's side looked weak and isolated.
"Minority submits to majority."
The Deputy Valley Master said, "Since most of you agree with the Second Elder, then let's discuss how to deal with Yang Cheng."
He swept his gaze across the hall.
For a moment, no one spoke.
The Deputy Valley Master continued, "If Yang Cheng would come to Divine Medicine Valley on his own, then things would be simple. But obviously that's impossible. So if we want to deal with him, we must rely on greater power."
"My idea is to invite several Martial Sovereigns to join forces. With a sudden strike, killing Yang Cheng will be no problem. What do you all think?"
"This suggestion is good."
"Hahaha, even if he has experts protecting him, there's no way he could withstand a joint attack from multiple Martial Sovereigns."
"With the connections of Divine Medicine Valley, and the lure of our pills, inviting a few Martial Sovereigns won't be difficult."
The Elder faction's leaders were all thrilled.
"Right, where are Zuo Qiuming and the Valley Master?"
An elder asked.
"They discovered an ancient secret realm and are exploring it now."
The Deputy Valley Master said, "That secret realm is extremely important. We shouldn't disturb them. We'll arrange and carry out this matter ourselves."
"You're doing this without fear of provoking Great Zhou?"
Elder Qiu snapped angrily.
"Afraid of what? We're on Heavenly Heart Island, separated from Great Zhou by a vast sea. What, will they really cross the ocean to punish Divine Medicine Valley?"
Murong Cong sneered.
"Even if Great Zhou doesn't attack, we finally established an agreement with them. We had a chance to open the Great Zhou market. According to your plan, this great opportunity will surely be destroyed."
Elder Qiu said sternly.
"Elder Qiu, I disagree."
Murong Cong said, "If Divine Medicine Valley doesn't avenge such a huge grudge, then what's the point of profits with Great Zhou? Once our reputation is ruined, no benefits can make up for that."
"Besides, I don't believe we'll lose the Great Zhou market. Once the Crown Prince of Great Zhou dies, a new prince will succeed him. The ones with the greatest chance are Yang Xiu and Yang Zhao."
"And Yang Zhao has always had good relations with our valley, while Zuo Qiuming recently formed a friendship with Yang Xiu."
"So whether Yang Xiu or Yang Zhao takes the heir's seat, Divine Medicine Valley can renegotiate with Great Zhou."
Most of the leaders present smiled.
This was the key reason they could accept this plan.
Killing Yang Cheng would definitely hurt their business in Great Zhou.
But they had already considered it—this loss wouldn't last long and was within what they could bear.
Elder Qiu was left speechless.
Just then, a young disciple rushed in.
"Deputy Valley Master Tan, elders, the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, Yang Cheng, has arrived."
The young disciple reported.
"What did you say?"
The high-ranking members of Divine Medicine Valley doubted their ears.
"The Crown Prince of Great Zhou is right outside our valley."
The young disciple said again.
Crack… crack…
Several chairs shattered into pieces.
All the high-ranking members of Divine Medicine Valley stood up at once.
"This brat… he actually came here on his own?"
Murong Cong spoke after a long silence, his tone filled with disbelief.
Outside Divine Medicine Valley, the crowd finally snapped back to their senses.
One gaze after another focused on Yang Cheng.
So this was the Crown Prince of Great Zhou?
Earlier, when people looked at Yang Cheng, they only thought he was handsome and carried himself with good bearing, but nothing struck too deeply.
Now, however, he radiated the aura of true imperial nobility, unique and unmatched.
Suddenly—
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh…
Figures flew out from within Divine Medicine Valley.
At their head was Murong Cong.
"Crown Prince of Great Zhou, you've got quite the arrogance. After killing our Grand Elder and true disciple, you dare swagger to the gates of Divine Medicine Valley!"
Murong Cong's eyes were cold as he shouted angrily.
"Whether it was Zhang Shifan or Zuo Qiuyu, both first tried to harm this prince. I only struck back to kill them."
Yang Cheng said flatly, "Why would I not dare come to Divine Medicine Valley? Or is it that your Divine Medicine Valley is allowed to kill others, but others are forbidden to strike back?"
At those words, murmurs broke out all around.
Deputy Valley Master Tan immediately barked at Murong Cong, "Second Elder, do not be disrespectful to the Crown Prince of Great Zhou!"
Then he turned to Yang Cheng with a smile. "For His Highness to visit our Divine Medicine Valley, it is an immense honor. But may I ask, Crown Prince, what brings you here today?"
"First it was your Grand Elder Zhang Shifan scheming against me. Now it was Zuo Qiuyu. This makes me strongly suspect that your Divine Medicine Valley is determined to kill me and to set itself against Great Zhou."
Yang Cheng's voice was calm.
"A misunderstanding, this is nothing but a misunderstanding."
Deputy Valley Master Tan waved it off. "What happened with the Crown Prince was entirely Zhang Shifan and Zuo Qiuyu acting on their own. It has nothing to do with Divine Medicine Valley."
After all, both of them were dead.
Dead men could provide no testimony, so he wasn't afraid of Yang Cheng using their deeds to attack Divine Medicine Valley.
"But they were still people of Divine Medicine Valley. Shouldn't your Divine Medicine Valley make compensation to me?"
Yang Cheng said.
"Compensation?"
The muscles on Deputy Valley Master Tan's face twitched slightly.
The other people of Divine Medicine Valley grew furious.
"Crown Prince of Great Zhou, you killed our Grand Elder and true disciple. We haven't even held you accountable, yet you dare demand compensation from us?"
Murong Cong's eyes blazed with fire.
Everyone present felt this was unbelievable.
"These are two separate matters."
Yang Cheng said, "I killed Zhang Shifan and Zuo Qiuyu to protect myself. They plotted against me, so the fault lies with your Divine Medicine Valley."
Murong Cong almost lost control again.
Deputy Valley Master Tan held him back with a gesture, then fixed his eyes on Yang Cheng. "Crown Prince of Great Zhou, what sort of compensation do you want from Divine Medicine Valley?"
"It's simple."
Yang Cheng said, "Give me your Divine Medicine Valley's Dragon-Tiger Golden Pills. Then all grudges between us will be erased."