Discussing Merits and Rewards, Returning

One month later.

Within the First Central Empire, inside Ganyang Hall, heavily armed guards stood outside while a solemn silence filled the hall.

Lu Yuan, clad in white robes as pure as snow, stood with his hands behind his back at the top of the hall, looking down at the crowd below.

These people included Su Qingyao, Dongfang Baitian, Jiang Cang, Zuo Chunqiu, Dugu Ao, and others.

Lu Yuan gazed at them, silent for a long moment, then smiled. "My purpose for coming to the Tianxiao Continent has been fully accomplished, and now it's time for me to return."

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

Dongfang Baitian stepped forward excitedly, looking at Lu Yuan with fervent eyes.

Lu Yuan smiled. "After I leave, you will be the Acting Alliance Leader of the Villain Alliance. I have high hopes for you, and I hope to see you in the Dark Continent."

Dongfang Baitian quickly clasped his fists. "This subordinate will not disappoint the Young Master."

Lu Yuan nodded, then flipped his palm. A Blood Essence floated above his palm, with a faint blue bloodline flickering at its core.

"This is the reward I promised. Its name is the Thunder Heavenly Witch Bloodline. In short, it is the essence blood of a Lightning Expert from an extremely powerful race. It has many uses, which I won't list one by one. You only need to know that even in the Upper Realm, this item is extremely precious."

With that, the Blood Essence floated automatically into Dongfang Baitian's hands.

Dongfang Baitian was immensely excited. After receiving the Blood Essence, he knelt on one knee. "Thank you for the reward, Young Master!"

Having said that, Dongfang Baitian slowly stepped back.

The others looked on with envy.

Even Lu Yuan called it precious—that alone spoke volumes about its value.

"Jiang Cang, step forward."

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

Lu Yuan looked at him, thought for a moment, and said, "When I first arrived on the Tianxiao Continent, my foothold was the Chaos Sacred Land. I also promised to let the Chaos Sacred Land unify Tianxiao, but plans couldn't keep up with changes. I broke my word. You may make one request. If I can fulfill it, I will do my best."

Jiang Cang was stunned. "R-really?"

Lu Yuan nodded.

Jiang Cang took a deep breath, lowered his head in thought, and after just a few seconds, looked up with a wistful expression. "In this lifetime, I likely have no chance to go to the Upper Realm. So, I would like the Young Master to take my daughter, Jiang Shengyi, to the Upper Realm. As for how to arrange things, that is up to the Young Master."

The others were stunned. Hearing Jiang Cang's first half of the sentence, they thought his request would be for Lu Yuan to take him to the Upper Realm, but they never expected Jiang Cang's request to be for his daughter to go instead. This might be fatherly love—silent, yet as heavy as a mountain.

Involuntarily, everyone gained a new perspective on Jiang Cang.

Lu Yuan didn't hesitate and agreed. "Alright. As it happens, the founding ancestor of your Chaos Sacred Land, the Chaos Great Emperor, serves as a city lord in a city under my Lu family's command. He still has about a hundred years of lifespan left. I can entrust Jiang Shengyi to his care."

Jiang Cang's head shot up, extremely excited. "Really? That's wonderful! Thank you, Young Master!"

Lu Yuan nodded, then waved his hand, signaling Jiang Cang to return to the line. After that, he looked at the others. "Your contributions, though not as great as theirs, mean nothing less. I still have faith in you. I've added some more items into the Merit Monument—at minimum Emperor Grade. I hope you make good use of these resources and ascend as soon as possible. Those who ascend within ten years will receive additional rewards from me."

"As for other words, there's no point in saying more. I can only say this: I will be waiting for you in the Upper Realm."

The others' eyes burned with fervor. None of them felt dissatisfied that Lu Yuan hadn't rewarded them, because what he had already given them was more than enough.

"Alright, everyone, disperse." Lu Yuan waved his hand, then looked at Jiang Cang. "Bring Jiang Shengyi here within one day. Miss the deadline, and the offer expires."

Jiang Cang nodded solemnly.

Then, the crowd dispersed, leaving only Lu Yuan and Su Qingyao in the hall.

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

Under Er Gouzi's pursuit, Su Qingyao had ultimately survived. Her strength had finally broken through its limits, and she had successfully passed the assessment.

Whether Er Gouzi had gone easy on her or not, Lu Yuan didn't care. As long as the goal was achieved, that was enough.

Hearing Lu Yuan's words, Su Qingyao didn't hesitate. "I'll leave with the Young Master."

Only a fool would choose not to leave with Lu Yuan.

The reason was simple: Lu Yuan was a local, and from a prominent local clan at that. Su Qingyao was an outsider. Having Lu Yuan as a guide would save her a great deal of trouble.

Lu Yuan nodded and said nothing more.

At that moment, Su Qingyao suddenly asked curiously, "Young Master, how many moves did you use when you took the assessment on the Ancient Stone Tablet?"

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

"Moves?" Lu Yuan shook his head with a smile. "I didn't fight at all. The moment I entered the assessment world, the Ancient Stone Tablet automatically judged me as having passed."

Su Qingyao's beautiful eyes widened. She was both shocked and speechless.

The next day.

Deep within the palace, by a quiet lakeside, Lu Yuan sat alone in a pavilion, staring at his system panel.

code
[Supreme Demonic Heart Inhibitor]
[Price: 500,000 Villain Value]
[Current Villain Value: ]

"It's enough. Exchange it."

Lu Yuan muttered to himself.

[Ding! Exchange successful. Use now?]

"Use."

Lu Yuan didn't hesitate for a second.

The next moment, Lu Yuan's entire body jolted, as if a powerful needle had been forcibly driven into his heart.

But soon, he recovered again.

"Hah~"

Lu Yuan let out a long breath, feeling an unprecedented sense of relief in his heart.

This dose of Demonic Heart Inhibitor would at least keep him from worrying about an eruption for several years.

Coming to the Tianxiao Continent to hunt the Child of Destiny wasn't the cause, but the effect.

As early as back in the Dark Continent, Lu Yuan's Three Demonic Physiques had been on the verge of erupting, and they were nearly detected by certain people. To evade them and to find a way to suppress the demonic physiques, Lu Yuan chose to descend upon the Tianxiao Continent.

A piercingly cold glint flashed in Lu Yuan's eyes. Now that the demonic physique problem was resolved, it was time for some matters to reach their conclusion.

"A bunch of jumping clowns. Ignore them, and they actually think they're hot stuff."

The Dark Continent teemed with countless factions and endless prodigies.

Lu Yuan had his own rivals, and even the Lu family had hostile forces.

And as the Eldest Son of the Lu family, the pressure on Lu Yuan was beyond what ordinary people could imagine.

At that moment.

Su Qingyao brought Jiang Shengyi to stand behind Lu Yuan.

When standing among ordinary people, Jiang Shengyi's bearing and appearance were exceptionally striking, but now, standing beside Su Qingyao, she was like the Snow Queen standing next to Cinderella.

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

Lu Yuan did not turn around. Within his heart, a surging tide of killing intent was brewing. This time, when he returned, he would not stop until he had slaughtered a certain group of people clean!

"Elder You, let's set out."

"Yes, Young Master."