Every cultivator in Ghost's Sorrow was terrified by Yang Zhen's sudden, mad stunt.
"You... you can do that?"
"He really was bold because of his skill. This martial technique is amazing, letting him walk through the air, but if he fell, he'd be hard-pressed to survive."
"That's terrifying. Yang Zhen is ruthless not only to his enemies but to himself too. Best not to provoke someone like that."
"Poor Zhang Zongjin. I think I just saw him cough up another mouthful of blood."
"He did. I saw it too. Looks like he really was furious."
Princess Changyang stared open-mouthed at Yang Zhen as he sped away, feeling as though it wasn't real.
Yang Zhen seemed able to shock people at every turn. She had thought he would be at his wits' end in this situation and could only run behind everyone else, but in the blink of an eye, he had somehow gotten ahead of them all.
Even Su Qingyu showed a trace of surprise. From the flying boat, she gave Yang Zhen a long look.
"This young man is no ordinary person. Given time, he will surely shine brilliantly on the Youzhou Continent," a middle-aged woman on the flying boat said.
"Hmph, a newborn calf doesn't fear death. With his unruly temperament and the enemies he makes everywhere, it's hard to say whether he'll live long enough to shine." A young man beside Su Qingyu sneered. Seeing the way she looked at Yang Zhen made him uncomfortable, and he stole a glance at her as he spoke.
But despite his words, there was a trace of jealousy alongside the disdain in his gaze when he looked at Yang Zhen.
Su Qingyu smiled and said, "There are countless extraordinary people on the Youzhou Continent. Who can say for certain how far Yang Zhen will go?"
"Qingyu is right. Fortuitous opportunities and good fortune are indeed important on the path of cultivation, but without a good sect, he'll be a Rogue Person in the end, and it'll be hard for him to make a name for himself." The middle-aged woman sighed, seemingly feeling a little sorry for Yang Zhen.
Being a step ahead of everyone at every turn felt great. Yang Zhen was now moving even faster than those flying swords, though it was a little uncomfortable.
He had inadvertently comprehended a martial technique from the shifting white clouds in the sky. It was a little like the Tathagata Divine Palm descending from the heavens, and a little like the Cloud-Dispelling Palm from television dramas. So inspiration had struck, and he had given this martial technique an incredibly resounding, lofty name: Skyward Cannon!
This martial technique could not only be used as a palm technique against enemies, but could also be unleashed beneath his feet. The powerful blasts of air made Yang Zhen fast, but his body was a little too weak to withstand the strain.
If Yang Zhen could increase his physical strength now, the Skyward Cannon could go twice as fast. It would scare a person to death.
"What a pity!" Yang Zhen looked back at the people in hot pursuit, feeling somewhat wistful.
If he doubled his speed, wouldn't those people be so frightened that they'd fall out of the sky?
"Looks like it's time to find some body-tempering Cultivation Methods."
Strangely enough, Yang Zhen had stripped so many people, yet not one of them had possessed a body-tempering Cultivation Method. As a result, he could only sit on a collection of powerful martial techniques without being able to unleash their tremendous power at all.
Before long, Yang Zhen was already nearing the place where the heavenly phenomenon was occurring.
Terrifying thunder roared and howled in the sky. As thunder dragons rolled and surged, it was as though heavenly gods were tearing heaven and earth apart. The raging spectacle made Yang Zhen's blood boil, even though he had seen the special effects in countless Hollywood blockbusters.
Sure enough, no special effects could compare to experiencing it in person.
Just then, something wreathed in flashing lightning, like a thunder dragon racing forth, burst out of the heavenly phenomenon, startling everyone.
"It's Thunder Essence Wood! Thunder Essence Wood has appeared!"
"Heavens, such a huge piece of Thunder Essence Wood! It must have developed spirituality."
Countless people behind him cried out in alarm and strained with all their might to rush forward, but their speed couldn't quite match Yang Zhen's.
Yang Zhen, however, didn't think there was anything unusual about it. It was nothing more than wood that had been baptized in lightning, a little like a charred parasol tree that had undergone a phoenix's nirvana.
"Young Master Yang, please help me stop that piece of Thunder Essence Wood. Changyang would be endlessly grateful!"
Princess Changyang's voice rang out, sounding rather anxious.
The expressions of Zhang Zongjin and the others immediately changed. "Yang Zhen, if you dare lay a finger on the Thunder Essence Wood, I will never let you off!"
Yang Zhen hadn't planned to compete for the Thunder Essence Wood, but when he heard Zhang Zongjin's words, he let out a surprised "Huh?" and looked back. "Don't worry, I won't touch this Thunder Essence Wood either. If I do, I'll acknowledge myself as your father!"
"You said it yourself. If you touch it, you'll acknowledge yourself as my... Bastard, you're messing with me?"
Yang Zhen snatched the Thunder Essence Wood and slung it over his shoulder, then stopped in satisfaction. "Heh, it really is good!"
Everyone stared at Yang Zhen in astonishment. The heavenly phenomenon was so terrifying that ordinary people couldn't approach it, and most of those gathered here had come for this piece of Thunder Essence Wood. Now that Yang Zhen had gotten it, they all stopped and stared at him with hostile eyes.
"There's nothing special about this thing. You want it?" Yang Zhen planted the Thunder Essence Wood on the ground. It was as long and thick as an adult's arm. He looked at Zhang Zongjin as he asked.
"I..." Zhang Zongjin instinctively voiced what he was thinking, then hurriedly stopped. Even a fool could see that Yang Zhen wouldn't give it to him, even if he wanted it.
Seeing that Yang Zhen had stopped the Thunder Essence Wood, Princess Changyang breathed a sigh of relief. She came before him with a gentle smile and bowed. "Thank you, Young Master Yang."
Yang Zhen asked curiously, "What use is this thing?"
"It isn't of any use to you, Young Master Yang, but to an Alchemist, it's an extremely rare heavenly material and earthly treasure," Princess Changyang explained.
Yang Zhen understood. Both the Youyang Kingdom and the major sects had extraordinary Alchemists who could refine heavenly materials and earthly treasures into pills. Powerful pills were said to be capable of bringing the dead back to life. Though raising the dead and putting flesh on bare bones was a bit of an exaggeration, it was enough to prove how formidable Alchemists were.
The Shangyuan Sect had no such Alchemists, and Yang Zhen didn't know how to refine pills either, so this thing really was of little use to him. He could, however, sell it for some money.
While Yang Zhen was wondering how much it would sell for, Princess Changyang continued, "Although Thunder Essence Wood isn't very useful to you, Young Master Yang, you could exchange it for some Cultivation Resources. After all..."
Princess Changyang didn't continue, but her meaning was already clear. Yang Zhen's sect was far too small, and its resources simply couldn't keep pace with his cultivation.
Yang Zhen nodded and gave Princess Changyang a surprised look. This princess was an interesting person. She hadn't immediately asked him for it, but had considered his interests at every turn.
The Youyang Kingdom was a powerful cultivation nation, with countless experts in its imperial palace. All cultivation sects within the kingdom had to show it some courtesy and wouldn't easily offend it.
If Princess Changyang had asked Yang Zhen for the Thunder Essence Wood in her capacity as a princess of the Youyang Kingdom, he would have turned and left without another word. Instead, she had explained how precious it was and even offered him advice. This woman was decent and worth befriending.
To everyone's astonishment, Yang Zhen casually tossed the Thunder Essence Wood to Princess Changyang. "It has to go to someone, so I might as well give it to you."
Princess Changyang hurriedly caught the Thunder Essence Wood and gave Yang Zhen a look of great surprise. With an odd expression, she said, "You... gave it to me? Aren't you afraid you won't get anything from me?"
Yang Zhen laughed heartily. "It's fine, it's fine. I don't believe a woman as beautiful, graceful, well-read, and courteous as you would tarnish her inner beauty over a piece of wood. If, unfortunately, my words come true, I might be sad for a long time, but life must go on. There's more to life than the struggle before our eyes; there's also poetry and fields in the distance."
After saying that, even Yang Zhen felt that his departing figure had become loftier and more impressive.
Sure enough, Princess Changyang's eyes lit up, sparkling and twinkling.
"There's more to life than the struggle before our eyes; there's also poetry and fields in the distance?" Su Qingyu murmured to herself, looking at Yang Zhen with growing curiosity. "What kind of person is this guy, exactly?"
(End of chapter)