Hundredfold Return: Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger, Thousand Mile Divine Travel Talisman!

Who was calling me?

Xiao Yang walked along the road, thinking he might have been hearing things.

Soon, he returned to his residence. He told his maid Huangli to keep watch at the door while he secluded himself for cultivation that night.

[ Ding! The host gifted the "Spirit Grade High Rank" Yue Wu's Art of War, triggering a reward! ]

[ Hundredfold Return: "Emperor Grade High Rank" Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger. ]

[ Ding! The host gifted a "Spirit Grade Mid Rank" Protective Talisman, triggering a reward! ]

[ Hundredfold Return: "Emperor Grade Mid Rank" Thousand Mile Divine Travel Talisman. ]

[ Extract now? ]

What a windfall!

Xiao Yang was thrilled when he saw the system's notification.

He hadn't expected the Protective Talisman blessed by the abbot of Tianlong Temple to count as a Spirit-grade Treasure and trigger a return.

"Extract now!"

In the next moment, light flashed, and a combat manual and a purple talisman appeared before Xiao Yang.

He picked up the purple talisman first and examined it.

[Thousand Mile Divine Travel Talisman: Bind it to yourself with a drop of blood, then activate it with a thought to teleport to any location within a thousand miles.]

Xiao Yang bit his fingertip and let a drop of blood fall onto it.

The next moment, he felt an indescribably profound connection between himself and the Thousand Mile Divine Travel Talisman.

With his eyes closed, he could sense the mountains, rivers, lakes, and seas throughout Xuelong Pass and even farther afield. With a thought, he could reach any of them.

That was absurdly powerful!

Xiao Yang was utterly astonished. This one-use Emperor Grade item was even more incredible than divine weapons.

That meant if he ever faced danger, he could escape in an instant with a single thought, teleporting wherever he wanted.

It was the perfect Divine Artifact for traveling—and for killing and looting!

Unfortunately, it was only good for one use. Once activated, it would disappear!

Then Xiao Yang turned his attention to the combat manual and began reading.

Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger!

The Martial Ancestor's signature technique in his youth!

Half a finger shook heaven and earth; one finger imprisoned heaven and earth; two fingers shattered mountains and rivers; three fingers destroyed living beings; four fingers pierced the firmament; five fingers moved the universe.

This martial art was ferocious, made to crush anyone who dared defy it. It was practically a thug's technique, no less underhanded than clubbing someone from behind or smashing them with a brick!

[ Ding! The host is cultivating a martial technique. The Double Pupils' "Enlightenment" ability has activated automatically. ]

[Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger: mastered to perfection.]

"I've got it!"

Xiao Yang was thrilled. It felt as though he had practiced for decades, making countless strikes, and had finally brought the technique to perfection.

"Half a finger shakes heaven and earth!"

He abruptly raised his hand and pointed forward.

Boom!

Terrifying energy surged at his fingertip, tearing at the surrounding air. The power of a single finger could split mountains and shatter rocks, churn rivers, and overturn seas.

"Too bad my cultivation is still too low. I can only practice 'Half a finger shakes heaven and earth' for now, but at least I can put up a fight!"

Xiao Yang was very satisfied with this incredible technique.

He was a Third-grade Martial Artist, and his body had a strength of one thousand jin.

But with the Great Desolation Prison Heaven Finger's boost, a single strike would unleash a terrifying ten thousand jin of force—ten times as much.

That was equivalent to a full-power strike from a Fourth Grade Spirit Refining Realm martial artist!

With that level of cultivation, he would rank as a commander in the army.

Xiao Yang was confident that, given more time, he would grow into someone everyone would look at in a new light.

He might even trample so-called prodigies like Xiao Junlin beneath his feet!

The next morning.

"Young Master, are you awake? This servant has something to report!" Huangli knocked on the door and asked respectfully.

"Come in," Xiao Yang replied.

Huangli pushed open the door and saw Xiao Yang sitting cross-legged on the bed.

His face was as handsome as jade, with sword-like brows and bright eyes. He had a distinguished bearing and the gentle, polished air of a true Gentleman.

"Young Master is simply perfect!"

Huangli praised him inwardly. Her pretty face flushed, and her heart fluttered.

She was Xiao Yang's personal maid and served him day and night. But lately, for some reason, whenever she saw him, she felt flushed and her heart raced...

In truth, it was the effect of Xiao Yang's Innate Yin-Yang Sacred Body. He was like a Male Succubus, exerting a powerful attraction on women.

The more beautiful the woman, the stronger the effect.

Earlier, Female Master Teacher Yan Ruyu had practically wanted to throw herself into his arms.

"Huangli, what are you holding?"

Xiao Yang suddenly noticed the large pile of things in her hands.

"Young Master, I was just about to report! This morning, Young Master Ma Wencai of the Ma Family in Cangzhou suddenly sent someone over with more than a hundred banknotes, worth a total of one hundred thousand taels!" Huangli reported.

One hundred thousand taels of silver?

Even though Xiao Yang had been prepared, he was still taken aback by the amount.

After living in this world for a few months, he had gained a rough understanding of prices.

One tael of silver in the Great Xia Dynasty had the purchasing power of a thousand yuan on Blue Star.

That meant one hundred thousand taels of silver was equivalent to a hundred million yuan. It could fund an army and make many things possible.

Besides, Xiao Yang had just turned eighteen. By custom, he would soon be given his own household and establish his own residence, perhaps even receiving a fief of his own.

But all of that would have to wait until after next month's Azure Cloud Grand Examination.

"Huangli, keep these banknotes for now. Then go into the city and look around. I want to buy a suitable residence. After that, find some servants and guards," Xiao Yang instructed.

"This is so much money. How could a servant like me be worthy of looking after it..."

Huangli was overcome with apprehension.

"Huangli, there's no need to refuse. You're the only person around me I can trust," Xiao Yang said.

"Young Master..."

Tears shimmered in Huangli's eyes. She wished she could give her life to repay his trust.

Xiao Yang couldn't help reflecting that back on Blue Star, a pretty school belle like Huangli would have had countless admirers trailing after her.

But in the prince's residence, she took pride in serving Xiao Yang...

"Thud, thud, thud!"

Suddenly, footsteps sounded outside, and then a woman walked in.

She looked to be in her early twenties. She wore fine silk and satin and jewelry made of agate. Her eyes were bright and her beauty striking.

She was undoubtedly a peerless beauty!

"Third Sister-in-law, what brings you here?"

Xiao Yang raised an eyebrow, surprised.

He recognized her at a glance. Her name was Qiao Niannu, and she was the concubine of his Third Brother, Xiao Li. Her father was a civil official in a prefecture somewhere in the Northern Territory.

"Ninth Highness, you made quite a name for yourself at the Lanting Poetry Gathering last night—you truly astounded everyone! Your Third Brother asked me to tell you that he's holding a Thousand Charms Banquet at Tianxiang Pavilion tonight, and he specifically invited you to attend!"

Qiao Niannu explained why she had come.

Xiao Yang frowned at her words.

Of all the people in the prince's residence, the person he least wanted to deal with...

Wasn't the lofty King Zhenbei!

Nor was it his arrogant Eldest Brother, Xiao Junlin!

It was his Third Brother, Xiao Li.

Legend had it that the Imperial Observatory had once read Xiao Li's fate and found it to be "Greedy Wolf Devouring Moon."

Greedy Wolf Devouring Moon: defying the natural order, born with a rebellious streak, and shrouded in murderous aura!

And as the Third Prince Xiao Li grew up, he became just as his fate foretold: ruthless and quick to take lives.

He had joined the army and taken command of three thousand Blood Wolf Guards. With power in his hands, even Eldest Prince Xiao Junlin was wary of him.

Now he was suddenly holding a banquet. Could it be a Hongmen Banquet?

"Third Sister-in-law, I already have plans tonight. Please forgive me, but I can't attend."

Xiao Yang made an excuse to refuse.

Thump!

To his surprise, the beautiful Qiao Niannu suddenly fell to her knees, clasped Xiao Yang's thigh in her jade hands, and burst into tears, her eyes red.

"Ninth Highness, if you refuse to go, I'll stay kneeling right here until you agree!!!"