Chapter 26: Breakthrough
Early the next morning, news that shook Tianjian City began spreading through the city.
"The Chang Family has been wiped out."
No one had expected it. Overnight, this lineage with a history of five hundred years had simply vanished.
The guards of the City Lord's Mansion had surrounded the entire Chang Family estate. Last night's raging blaze had burned through the night, and even now, tiny flames still remained.
City Lord Zhong Yanying stood amid the ruins, gripped by the sorrow of a rabbit dying while the fox mourned.
"Clean this place up. This matter ends here, and there's no need to investigate any further," Zhong Yanying said blandly to the guards.
"My lord, they should have been the ones Miss and I encountered that day," the old man called Old Liang said from the side.
"They're from the Sacred Sect, and their status is not low," Zhong Yanying said after some thought. "Have Ling'er stay indoors for the next few days. We still don't know what their purpose in coming to Tianjian City is."
The old man nodded and withdrew.
At that moment, Xu Zimo was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard when he suddenly received a servant's report that a man claiming to be the Third Prince of Ziyang Empire wished to see him.
Xu Zimo searched his memories briefly. In his Previous Life, that man seemed to have been a tragic figure.
"Let him in," Xu Zimo said.
Soon, a resolute-looking Young Man walked in. He wore white robes and carried a longsword at his waist.
"Young Master Xu, I am An Yifeng, the Third Prince of Ziyang Empire. I came uninvited; I hope you will forgive the intrusion," the Young Man said with a smile.
"Why have you come to see me?" Xu Zimo asked.
"The Ziyang Empire is one of the powers under the Sacred Sect's administration. I plan to return to the imperial capital tomorrow. Having heard that you were here, Young Master, I thought I should pay you a visit," An Yifeng said.
"You came to Tianjian City to win over the Chang Family and contend for the position of crown prince, didn't you?" Xu Zimo asked with a smile.
An Yifeng fell silent for a moment before saying, "Since Young Master Xu already knows, I won't hide it.
"I had indeed intended to win over the Chang Family, but unfortunately, I encountered a hero who rid the world of evil and brought peace to the people. I've also been away for quite some time now. It's time for me to return to the imperial capital," An Yifeng replied with a bitter smile.
"You have an older brother named An Yiheng, don't you?" Xu Zimo asked, stroking his chin.
"That is indeed my second brother," An Yifeng said with a nod.
"Do you want to become crown prince?" Xu Zimo suddenly asked.
An Yifeng froze. For some reason, his heart suddenly began racing.
He swallowed hard, stared at Xu Zimo with burning eyes, and nodded.
"Then good. I'll give you an opportunity," Xu Zimo said with a smile. "As long as I hear news of An Yiheng's death, I'll guarantee that you become the future crown prince of the Ziyang Empire."
An Yifeng was stunned. He wants me to kill my own brother!
His expression twisted with struggle. He did not know how to respond. Which was more important—the throne, or his half-brother from the same father?
"Enough. Don't agonize over it. Go back and think it over slowly. My promise will always stand," Xu Zimo said, waving his hand. "But I can remind you of one thing: without my help, it will be impossible for you to win the position of crown prince."
Xu Zimo was not lying. In his Previous Life, An Yifeng's brother, An Yiheng, had become the future crown prince.
Chu Yang, the protagonist, had risen all the way from Qingyang Village before arriving in Tianjian City and subduing the Chang Family.
In the end, he went to the imperial capital, met the Second Prince An Yiheng, and the two became sworn friends. With Chu Yang's help, An Yiheng eventually succeeded in becoming crown prince as well.
As for An Yifeng, he had ultimately been nothing more than a pitiful worm.
"I will consider it carefully," An Yifeng said with a nod before withdrawing.
Afterward, Xu Zimo summoned Hei Shisan.
"Thirteen, I have something for you to do. Don't mess it up."
"Please give your orders, Young Master," Hei Shisan replied solemnly with a nod.
Morning in Qingyang Village remained the same as ever. Coach Mo led the youths in their morning training.
Ever since taking the pills Xiao Yuexuan had left for Qingyang Village, he had successfully broken through to the Condensing Pulse Realm. Spiritual energy surged and roiled through his body, the result of years of accumulation.
The youths in the formation were all holding horse stances, their faces flushed red after enduring for more than two hours.
Yet in the last row, the young man called Chu Yang alone wore a resolute expression. He stood as steady as a towering pine, as though he did not feel tired at all.
Since cultivating the Step War Immortal Art Old Mo had given him and taking the pills Xiao Yuexuan had left behind, Chu Yang's body had undergone several rounds of tempering and reached the ninth level of the Mortal Realm.
This level of training was child's play to him.
When the morning training ended, every youth was so exhausted that he could barely straighten his back, while Chu Yang alone remained completely at ease.
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 came to a forest outside Qingyang Village. Deep within the forest was an especially vast canyon.
A river gathered above the canyon, then plunged down like a waterfall from the heavens, splashing waves upon the ground. Beneath the river lay a small pool.
Golden carp swam through the pool, while a turtle lay quietly sunning itself on the smooth rocks along either side.
Chu Yang made his way to the edge of the pool, and Old Mo's voice rang out from within the ring.
"Little Yang, sit beneath the waterfall. Use the waterfall's pressure to try opening your first Meridian Gate today and break through to the Spirit Vein Realm."
Its flying torrent plunges three thousand feet; one might think the Milky Way had fallen from the ninth heaven.
Chu Yang raised his head to look at the waterfall, which resembled a colossal dragon. Gritting his teeth, he slowly sat beneath it.
The instant he sat under the waterfall, he felt the crushing pressure of the descending water. Every muscle in his body felt as though it were being torn apart.
He felt the blood in his body flowing in reverse, as though his veins were about to burst.
Unable to bear it, he threw back his head and roared in pain.
"Hold on," Old Mo's voice sounded beside him. "Circulate the Step War Immortal Art. Repair your body bit by bit, then slowly adapt to this pressure."
Chu Yang nodded with difficulty, gritting his teeth as he endured the pain.
Gradually, his body began to go numb, and his consciousness started to blur.
"Don't fall asleep! Break through to the Spirit Vein Realm in one burst of momentum now, or your foundation will be damaged," Elder Samsara shouted from the side.
Chu Yang opened his eyes hazily and muttered to himself, "Right, I can't sleep. I still have to find Xiao'er."
He recalled how helpless he had felt on the day the girl left.
A flash of brilliance suddenly shot through his eyes. With a bang, it felt as though shackles within his body had been broken open.
Countless streams of waterfall water shot outward as Chu Yang looked excitedly at the changes in his body.
Then, from the corner of his eye, he suddenly noticed what seemed to be a cave hidden behind the waterfall.