On Rewards and Returning

One month later.

The First Central Empire, inside Ganyang Hall. At this moment, the hall was heavily guarded outside, while the interior was solemn.

Lu Yuan stood at the front of the main hall in white robes whiter than snow, his hands behind his back as he looked at the people below.

Among them were Su Qingyao, Dongfang Baitian, Jiang Cang, Zuo Chunqiu, Dugu Ao, and others.

Lu Yuan looked at them, remained silent for a long while, then smiled. "I've accomplished my purpose in coming to Tianxiao Continent, and it's time for me to return."

"According to our previous agreement, Dongfang Baitian, step forward."

Dongfang Baitian excitedly stepped out and looked at Lu Yuan with fervor.

Lu Yuan smiled. "After I leave, you'll be the Acting Alliance Leader of the Villain Alliance. I have high hopes for you. I hope we'll meet again on the Dark Continent."

Dongfang Baitian hurriedly clasped his fists. "This subordinate will not fail the Young Master's expectations."

Lu Yuan nodded. He then flipped his hand over, and a Blood Essence floated above his palm. At its center, a trace of blue bloodline flickered faintly.

"This is the reward I promised you. It's called the Thunder Heavenly Witch Bloodline. In short, it's the essence blood of a lightning-type powerhouse from an extremely powerful race. It has many uses, so I won't elaborate on them one by one. You only need to know that even in the Upper Realm, this thing is exceedingly precious."

As soon as he finished speaking, the Blood Essence floated automatically into Dongfang Baitian's hand.

Dongfang Baitian was incomparably excited. After accepting the Blood Essence, he dropped to one knee. "Thank you for the reward, Young Master!"

With that, Dongfang Baitian slowly withdrew.

The others looked on with envy.

Since even Lu Yuan called it precious, its value was self-evident.

"Jiang Cang, step forward."

Jiang Cang stepped out and gazed at Lu Yuan with a complicated expression.

Lu Yuan looked at him and thought for a moment before saying, "When I first came to Tianxiao Continent, my landing point was the Chaos Sacred Land. I originally promised to help the Chaos Sacred Land unify Tianxiao, but plans can't keep up with changes. I broke my promise. You can make one request. If it's within my power, I'll do my best to fulfill it."

Jiang Cang froze. "Really? You mean it?"

Lu Yuan nodded.

Jiang Cang took a deep breath and lowered his head in thought. After a few seconds, he raised his head and said dejectedly, "There's a high chance I won't have the opportunity to go to the Upper Realm in this lifetime. So I want Young Master to take my daughter, Jiang Shengyi, with you to the Upper Realm. As for how she's arranged, that's up to you."

Everyone else looked astonished. When they heard half of Jiang Cang's request, they had assumed he wanted Lu Yuan to take him to the Upper Realm. They never imagined that his request would be for his own daughter to go there instead. Perhaps this was fatherly love. It was silent, yet as heavy as a mountain.

Without realizing it, everyone began to view Jiang Cang differently.

Lu Yuan did not hesitate and agreed. "All right. As it happens, the founding ancestor of your Chaos Sacred Land, the Chaos Great Emperor, is serving as the lord of a city under my Lu Clan. He still has a hundred years of lifespan left. I can entrust Jiang Shengyi to his care."

Jiang Cang abruptly raised his head, incomparably excited. "Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Young Master!"

Lu Yuan nodded, then waved to signal Jiang Cang to return to the ranks. Afterward, he looked at the others. "Although your contributions aren't as great as theirs, that doesn't mean anything. I still have high hopes for you. I've put some more things into the Merit Monument, with the minimum being Emperor Grade. I hope you'll make good use of these resources and ascend as soon as possible. Those who can ascend within ten years will receive additional rewards from me."

"There's no point in saying more. I can only tell you this: I'll be waiting for you in the Upper Realm."

The others' eyes blazed with fervor. They were not dissatisfied that Lu Yuan had given them no rewards, because what Lu Yuan had already given them was more than enough.

"All right, everyone, disperse." Lu Yuan waved his hand, then looked at Jiang Cang. "Bring Jiang Shengyi here within a day. No exceptions after the deadline."

Jiang Cang nodded solemnly.

The crowd dispersed, and only Lu Yuan and Su Qingyao remained in the main hall.

Lu Yuan looked at Su Qingyao below. "Are you leaving with me, or are you going to the academy on your own?"

Under Er Gouzi's pursuit, Su Qingyao had ultimately survived. Her strength had also finally reached Break Limit, and she had successfully passed the trial.

Lu Yuan did not care whether Er Gouzi had gone easy on her. As long as the goal had been achieved, that was enough.

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Su Qingyao did not hesitate. "I'll leave with you, Young Master."

Only an idiot would refuse to leave with Lu Yuan.

The reason was simple. Lu Yuan was a local, and furthermore, a member of a local great clan. Su Qingyao was an outsider. With Lu Yuan leading the way, she could save herself a great deal of trouble.

Lu Yuan nodded and said no more.

At this moment, Su Qingyao suddenly asked curiously, "Young Master, how many moves did you use when you were tested by the Ancient Stone Tablet?"

She wanted to use this to gauge the gap between herself and Lu Yuan.

"How many moves?" Lu Yuan shook his head and laughed. "I didn't even fight. The moment I entered the trial world, the Ancient Stone Tablet automatically judged me to have passed."

Su Qingyao's beautiful eyes widened. Her heart was filled with both shock and speechlessness.

The following day.

Deep within the imperial palace, beside a tranquil lake, Lu Yuan sat alone in a pavilion, quietly looking at the system panel.

Supreme Demonic Heart Inhibitor

Price: 500,000 Villain Value

Current Villain Value:

"That's enough. Exchange it."

Lu Yuan muttered to himself.

Ding! Exchange successful. Use it?

"Use it."

Lu Yuan did not hesitate in the slightest.

The next second, Lu Yuan's entire body shuddered, as if a powerful injection had been forcibly driven into his heart.

But very soon, he recovered again.

"Phew~"

Lu Yuan let out a long breath, feeling more relaxed than ever.

This dose of Demonic Heart Inhibitor would at least ensure that he would not have to worry about an outbreak for several years.

Coming to Tianxiao Continent to hunt the Child of Destiny was not the cause, but the result.

Back when he had been on the Dark Continent, Lu Yuan's Three Demonic Physiques had already been showing faint signs of erupting, and certain people were about to notice. To evade those people and find a way to suppress his Demonic Physiques, Lu Yuan had chosen to descend upon Tianxiao Continent.

A bone-chilling glint flashed through Lu Yuan's eyes. Now that the problem with his Demonic Physiques had been resolved, it was time for certain matters to reach their conclusion.

"A bunch of clowns. I ignored you, and you really thought you were something special."

The Dark Continent was filled with countless factions and innumerable prodigies.

Lu Yuan had his own opponents, and even the Lu Clan had hostile forces.

As the Eldest Son of the Lu Clan, Lu Yuan bore pressure beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

At this moment.

Su Qingyao brought Jiang Shengyi to Lu Yuan's back.

When standing among ordinary people, Jiang Shengyi was outstanding in both bearing and appearance. But standing beside Su Qingyao at this moment, she looked almost exactly like the Snow Queen standing beside Cinderella.

"Young Master, we're ready," Su Qingyao said softly.

Lu Yuan did not turn around. His heart was already filled with a heaven-shaking killing intent. On this return, he would not stop until he had killed certain people cleanly!

"Elder You, let's set off."

"Yes, Young Master."