"I'll fight you to the death!"
Gritting her teeth, Zhen Ping'er struggled over to Yang Zhen and drove a fist into his chest, as if that single blow could smash it open.
The Black Nightmare Sect's exclusive poison lived up to its reputation. Zhen Ping'er and the others had no strength left at all, much less enough to smash Yang Zhen's chest open. Her fist felt like a tickle against him.
Yang Zhen stood still, in no hurry. He turned and leisurely gathered up the weapons and assorted treasures the others had placed on the ground. Then he took out a bottle of antidote and fed a little to the Gale Sheep, his face pinched with pain at the expense.
"Oh, there's hardly any left. Jie Gang, do you have any more antidote on you?"
At Yang Zhen's words, Jie Gang shuddered all over and hurriedly shook his head. "No, I only brought this one bottle."
"What about you?" Yang Zhen turned to ask Lie Hu, who was still hanging from the Ghost Gate Vine.
The Ghost Gate Vine had cut Lie Hu's mouth, leaving him unable to speak. He stared wide-eyed and made muffled noises to indicate that he had none either.
There was even less need to ask the others. At this point, they wouldn't have given Yang Zhen any even if they had it.
Yang Zhen didn't absolutely need it. He shook his head and sighed, making as if to pour all the antidote into the Gale Sheep's mouth.
"Wait... wait!" Zhen Ping'er's expression shifted repeatedly. She gritted her teeth and glared at Yang Zhen, saying each word separately. "You devil!"
Grinning, Yang Zhen pulled Zhen Ping'er aside, frightening her and the others so badly that their pretty faces went pale. Jie Gang and his companions, however, exchanged glances, looking somewhat gleeful at their misfortune.
"Young hero, please keep your word and don't hurt Ping'er," Senior Sister Fang hurriedly said to Yang Zhen.
Yang Zhen was taken aback. He glanced at Zhen Ping'er's panicked expression and shook his head. "Don't worry. I'm not interested in this reckless fool."
Reckless fool?
Everyone froze. Following Yang Zhen's gaze, they understood at once and stared in astonishment, wanting to laugh but forcibly holding it in.
"You bastard, I'll fight you to the death!" How could Zhen Ping'er not know that Yang Zhen looked down on her?
Yang Zhen actually looked down on her as a reckless fool?
In the Demonic Sect, who knew how many people were devoted to Zhen Ping'er, trying every possible way to win a smile, all for the chance to gain her favor.
Zhen Ping'er's figure and looks were both first-rate, and her cultivation aptitude was even more outstanding. Yet Yang Zhen actually looked down on her?
Even when Yang Zhen had refused to give her the antidote, Zhen Ping'er hadn't been this angry. She staggered over to him, punching and kicking him, and even tried to bite his chest.
Yang Zhen hurriedly held her back by the forehead. "Don't be so angry. You're always rushing in headlong. If you hadn't been so reckless just now, you wouldn't have ended up in this mess."
"None of your business!"
Zhen Ping'er glared at Yang Zhen, then remembered the predicament she was in. With a cold snort, she ignored him.
Yang Zhen remained unhurried. "It'll be a quarter of an hour any moment now," he said slowly.
Zhen Ping'er jolted all over. Gritting her teeth, she glared at Yang Zhen, took out everything she had on her, and threw it on the ground.
Yang Zhen wasn't angry. He picked the things up with a grin. "Don't think you can fool me by reciting some useless cultivation methods and martial skills. I can tell whether they're genuine as soon as I hear them."
Zhen Ping'er, whose eyes had been darting about, completely lost heart at that. She glared at Yang Zhen as though she wanted to stare him to death.
After obtaining Zhen Ping'er's Cultivation Method and martial skills, Yang Zhen burst out laughing. He casually tossed the antidote into her arms, hoisted the Gale Sheep over his shoulder, and said, "The mountains are green and the waters flow, fellow Daoists. Until we meet again!"
Zhen Ping'er hurriedly took the antidote. Nearly grinding her two rows of lovely pearly teeth to pieces, she stared at Yang Zhen's retreating figure and asked, "What's your name?"
Without looking back, Yang Zhen waved, leaving behind a carefree figure. "I don't change my given name when I walk or my surname when I sit. I'm Duan Langcai of the Sword Attendant Sect!"
A flash of resentment and anger crossed Zhen Ping'er's face. Gritting her teeth, she said, "Duan Langcai, don't let me see you again!"
A burst of hearty laughter was Zhen Ping'er's answer.
Over the next two days, Yang Zhen stripped all the meat from the Gale Sheep and stored it away, making his way toward Youzhou City.
Youzhou City was one of the largest cities in the eastern region of the Youzhou Continent. It belonged to the Youyang Kingdom and was a defensive fortress at the eastern region's natural barrier, almost a symbol of the kingdom itself.
When Yang Zhen stepped into Youzhou City, he finally realized just how prosperous it was. Vine towers stood everywhere, packed together like rows of fish scales, displaying the flourishing prosperity of an empire within its thick, towering walls.
Merchants hawked and bought wares all along the city streets. The fragrance of wine hit him in the face, the scent of tea filled the air, and the aroma of food... Yang Zhen was hungry.
Only after eating a thoroughly satisfying meal did Yang Zhen go to the registration point for the Youzhou Grand Assembly.
The major sects naturally didn't have to wait in line, as they had dedicated places to register. But Yang Zhen didn't want to register at the Shangyuan Sect's station, so he wandered over and spent half the day in line before his turn came.
A short, plump youth in front of Yang Zhen turned around and sniffed him all over. "Brother, the Blood Qi on you is so strong," he said in surprise. "Did you come out of Gloomlight Forest?"
Gloomlight Forest?
Yang Zhen nodded. "Yes. I nearly died in there, but luckily I was blessed with great fortune and a strong fate."
The chubby youth's eyes widened. "You haven't even reached Foundation Establishment, yet you dared cross Gloomlight Forest? You really are... far too bold. But don't worry. Since we've met, fate has brought us together. Stay by my side during the Youzhou Grand Assembly. With me, Lü Xiaohu, the Tyrant Flood Dragon Tiger, around, I guarantee no one will dare set their sights on you. Make sure you hide any treasures you found in Gloomlight Forest well."
Yang Zhen was instantly struck by Lü Xiaohu as if he were a Celestial Person. Someone actually dared call himself by such a lofty name as Tyrant Flood Dragon Tiger these days? He cupped his fists and said, "So you're Brother Tyrant Flood Dragon Tiger. I've long admired your name. From now on, you're a brother to me, Yang Zhen, the River-Crossing Dragon. I'll look after you from now on. If anyone bullies you, just tell them you're my brother."
Lü Xiaohu stared dumbfounded, his face turning red. "You... you've heard of me?" he stammered.
"Of course. Your great name rings like thunder in our village, brother. It can stop children from crying, makes men and women, young and old, turn pale at the mention of it, and keeps them shut behind their doors!"
"You flatter me, you flatter me." Lü Xiaohu hastily waved his hands, though a smug look appeared on his face.
"Hey, you two, are you registering or not?" an impatient voice urged from behind them, clearly giving neither Tyrant Flood Dragon Tiger nor River-Crossing Dragon any face.
"We are, we are!" Lü Xiaohu hurriedly turned around and said, "Lü Xiaohu, from Da'an Town!"
"Yang Zhen, from the Shangyuan Sect!"
"Brother, so your name is Yang... your name is Yang Zhen?" Lü Xiaohu suddenly let out a strange cry and stared at Yang Zhen, dumbfounded.
"Yes. What's wrong?" Yang Zhen was genuinely surprised this time.
Before Lü Xiaohu could speak, everyone nearby cried out in shock and began pointing at Yang Zhen, eyeing him like tigers watching prey, as though they wanted to devour him.
Yang Zhen jumped in fright. What was going on?
Lü Xiaohu's face went pale. He hurriedly grabbed Yang Zhen and ran outside.
"So you're Yang Zhen. How did you really come?" Lü Xiaohu said to him with a wry smile.
"Why couldn't I really come?" Yang Zhen asked, puzzled.
Lü Xiaohu clicked his tongue in wonder. "Duan Langcai has offered a three-star weapon as a bounty. Anyone who takes your head can exchange it with him for the weapon."
"What? My head is only worth a three-star weapon?" Yang Zhen immediately felt like cursing.
Yang Zhen really had come. The news spread through the entire Youzhou Grand Assembly almost instantly.