Breakthrough

Chapter 26: Breakthrough

The next morning, a piece of news that shook Tianjian City began to spread throughout the city.

"The Chang Family has been wiped out."

This was something no one had expected. Overnight, a family with a five-hundred-year history was gone.

The City Lord's Mansion guards had surrounded the entire Chang Family. The raging fires of last night had burned for a full night, and even now, small flames still lingered.

City Lord Zhong Yanying stood amidst the ruins, feeling a sense of shared misfortune, like a rabbit dying and its neighbor feeling the sorrow.

"Clean this place up. This matter ends here, and there's no need to investigate further," Zhong Yanying said calmly to the guards.

"My lord, the young lady and I likely encountered them that day," the old man named Old Liang said from the side.

"It's people from the Sacred Sect, and their status is not low," Zhong Yanying mused. He then added, "Tell Ling'er to stay indoors for the next few days. I don't know what their purpose is for coming to Tianjian City."

The old man nodded and retreated.

At this moment, Xu Zimo was practicing his sword in the courtyard when he suddenly received a report from a servant: a man claiming to be the Third Prince of the Ziyang Empire was looking for him.

Xu Zimo recalled slightly in his heart. He seemed to be a tragic character in his past life.

"Let him in," Xu Zimo said.

Following that, a young man with a resolute expression walked in. He was dressed in a white shirt and wore a long sword at his waist.

"Young Master Xu, I am the Third Prince of the Ziyang Empire, An Yifeng. Forgive my uninvited visit," the young man said with a smile.

"Is there something you need from me?" Xu Zimo asked.

"My Ziyang Empire is a power under the management of the Sacred Sect. I plan to return to the imperial capital tomorrow. I heard you were here and thought I'd pay a visit," An Yifeng said.

"You came to Tianjian City to try and win over the Chang Family and contend for the position of Crown Prince, didn't you?" Xu Zimo said with a smile.

An Yifeng was silent for a moment and replied, "Since Young Master Xu already knows, I won't hide it. I originally intended to win over the Chang Family, but unfortunately, I encountered a hero who punished evil and aided the good. I've been out for quite some time now, and it's time to return to the imperial capital," An Yifeng replied with a wry smile.

"Do you have a brother named An Yiheng?" Xu Zimo asked, stroking his chin.

"That is indeed my second brother," An Yifeng nodded.

"Do you want to be the Crown Prince?" Xu Zimo suddenly asked.

An Yifeng was stunned. For some reason, his heart suddenly began to beat much faster. He swallowed hard, looked at Xu Zimo with burning eyes, and nodded.

"Very well, I'll give you an opportunity," Xu Zimo chuckled. "As long as I hear news of An Yiheng's death, I will ensure you become the future Crown Prince of the Ziyang Empire."

An Yifeng was taken aback. "This means I have to kill my own brother!"

His expression was filled with struggle, unsure how to respond. Was the throne more important, or was his half-brother more important?

"Alright, don't overthink it. Go back and think it over slowly. My promise will always be valid," Xu Zimo waved his hand and said. "However, I can remind you of one thing: without my help, you wouldn't be able to compete for the Crown Prince position."

Xu Zimo's words were not a lie. In his past life, An Yifeng's brother, An Yiheng, was the future Crown Prince. The protagonist, Chu Yang, rose from Qingyang Village, then came to Tianjian City and took control of the Chang Family. Finally, he went to the imperial capital, met the Second Prince An Yiheng, and they became close friends. With Chu Yang's help, An Yiheng successfully became the Crown Prince. As for An Yifeng, he ultimately became nothing more than a pitiable wretch.

"I will consider it carefully," An Yifeng nodded and then withdrew.

Afterward, Xu Zimo summoned Hei Shisan.

"Shisan, I have something to entrust to you. You absolutely cannot mess this up."

"Please give your orders, Young Master," Hei Shisan nodded solemnly.

In Qingyang Village, Coach Mo, as usual, began the morning training with the young boys.

Since taking the pills Xiao Yuexuan had left for Qingyang Village, he had successfully broken through to the Condensing Pulse Realm. His spiritual energy surged powerfully, a result of years of accumulation.

The boys in the training group were all practicing horse stance, their faces flushed red, having persevered for over an hour. However, in the last row, the young man named Chu Yang stood with a resolute expression, steady as an ancient pine, as if he felt no fatigue at all.

Since cultivating the Step War Immortal Art given to him by Old Mo and taking the pills left by Xiao Yuexuan, Chu Yang's body had been tempered several times, reaching the ninth level of the Mortal Realm. This level of training was child's play to him.

At the end of the morning training, all the boys were too exhausted to stand up straight, but Chu Yang alone was completely relaxed.

Coach Mo walked over, patted his shoulder, and said, "Keep it up. Perhaps your future achievements will far surpass mine."

Chu Yang smiled and nodded firmly.

After breakfast, Chu Yang arrived at a forest outside Qingyang Village. Inside this forest was a particularly large canyon.

A river gathered above the canyon, descending like a waterfall from the heavens and stirring up spray on the ground. Below the river was a small pool.

Golden carp swam in the pool, and on the smooth stones on either side, a turtle quietly basked in the sun.

Chu Yang walked all the way to the side of the pool, and Old Mo's voice rang out from within the ring.

"Little Yangzi, sit beneath the waterfall. Using the waterfall's pressure, try to break through the first meridian today and reach the Spirit Vein Realm."

"A swift stream descends three thousand feet, as if the Milky Way falls from the ninth heaven."

Chu Yang looked up at the waterfall, which resembled a giant dragon, gritted his teeth, and slowly sat down.

As soon as he sat beneath the waterfall, he could feel the pressure of the rushing water. His entire body's muscles felt a tearing pain.

He felt the blood in his body surge backward, as if his veins were about to burst.

He couldn't help but roar to the heavens.

"Hold on," Old Mo's voice sounded beside him. "Circulate the Step War Immortal Art to repair your body bit by bit, and then slowly adapt to this pressure."

Chu Yang nodded with difficulty, gritting his teeth and enduring the pain.

Gradually, his body became numb, and his consciousness began to blur.

"You can't sleep. You must break through to the Spirit Vein Realm in one go at this moment, or it will damage your foundation," Elder Samsara shouted from the side.

Chu Yang vaguely opened his eyes and muttered to himself, "Right, I can't sleep. I still need to find Xiao'er."

He remembered the feeling of powerlessness he had the day the girl left.

A sharp glint flashed in his eyes, and with a "bang," it was as if a lock within him was broken.

Countless streams of waterfall water shot out. Chu Yang excitedly watched the changes in his own body.

Then, his peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of something behind the waterfall – a cave seemed to be hidden within.