Princess Changyang and Su Qingyu were not far from Zhang Zongjin. Princess Changyang in particular had initially thought Yang Zhen was walking toward her, but as he drew closer and actually fixed his gaze on Zhang Zongjin, she was surprised.
Su Qingyu frowned, a strange look on her face. Yang Zhen had used a bizarre Movement Method to overtake a flying secret treasure and reach the celestial phenomenon first, obtaining the Thunder Essence Wood. A remarkable man had his remarkable methods, one could say.
Even after Yang Zhen had angered Zhang Zongjin into coughing up blood, Zhang Zongjin had maintained the bearing of a great sect's pride-of-heaven disciple and declined to lower himself to Yang Zhen's level. That showed his refinement and magnanimity.
But that did not mean Zhang Zongjin could tolerate Yang Zhen provoking him again and again. Su Qingyu had originally thought Yang Zhen was someone of note who might one day make a name for himself on the Youzhou Continent. But now, was he actually going to challenge Zhang Zongjin?
The disciples of great sects could freely choose their preferred spots and comprehend the Dao Comprehension Stele from up close not merely because they stood in their sects' shade, but, more importantly, because most of them were heaven's chosen, far above ordinary people in both temperament and talent.
Yang Zhen might have been talented, but he was still a long way from being a pride of heaven. At a time like this, a pride of heaven would never tolerate provocation, because the Dao Comprehension Stele was simply too important.
"What Yang Zhen is doing is unwise, a little reckless!" Su Qingyu shook her head lightly. Seeing Princess Changyang start to speak and then stop, she frowned slightly, puzzled.
Zhang Zongjin's expression gradually turned cold and sinister. He stared at Yang Zhen, a flash of anger in his eyes. Yang Zhen's repeated provocations had already stirred murderous intent in him.
"Heavens, Yang Zhen really is going after Zhang Zongjin."
"This Yang Zhen really is arrogant. Does he think he can afford to offend Young Master Zhang so badly?"
"As long as Yang Zhen dares to say something outrageous, Zhang Zongjin will have every reason to kill him. Even if he kills Yang Zhen now, no one will have anything to say about it."
By now, no one expected things to end well for Yang Zhen.
"Young Master Yang, why... why have you come here?"
Princess Changyang suddenly spoke up, surprising the people around them.
"Princess Changyang actually stopped Yang Zhen. What... what exactly is the relationship between them?"
"If it weren't for Princess Changyang, Yang Zhen would probably have died long ago."
"Princess Changyang is actually looking after some nameless brat like this. She must have been taken in by Yang Zhen's honeyed words."
The crowd, who had already expected Yang Zhen to come to a bad end, grew even more contemptuous when they saw Princess Changyang defending him at every turn.
Yang Zhen ignored the voices around him, as though they were nothing but a swarm of flies buzzing incessantly by his ears.
Hearing Princess Changyang's question, Yang Zhen turned to look at the delicate-featured woman with her unpainted face veiled. "When it comes to spots by the Dao Comprehension Stele, do the strongest get to choose first?"
Princess Changyang was taken aback. She nodded and said, "Though there's no explicit rule, that's how it has always been in recent years."
The crowd was also stunned. In recent years, it had become rare for people to come to blows over a spot.
The disciples of great sects naturally chose the best spots closest to the Dao Comprehension Stele. Cultivators who were weaker or lacked a powerful sect to back them sensibly waited until the strong had made their choices before choosing their own.
Now Yang Zhen had laid it bare. Though his words were blunt and direct, that was indeed how things stood: the stronger a person was, the closer to the Dao Comprehension Stele they could choose to be.
But what use was there in Yang Zhen saying all this? Who here did not know that already? And even if they did, what could they do? Surely they would not overestimate themselves and challenge those prides of heaven?
"Impossible. Yang Zhen isn't a fool. How could he challenge those prides of heaven? That would be no different from courting death."
"Yang Zhen isn't stupid. He's shameless. If he provokes Young Master Zhang now, even Princess Changyang won't be able to save him."
"Heh, if Yang Zhen dares to provoke Yang Zhen at a time like this, that would be a joke to make the whole world laugh!"
The crowd chattered among themselves. Someone even declared that if Yang Zhen dared to provoke Zhang Zongjin, he would eat dirt in public, earning himself a scolding from those around him for playing to the crowd.
At a time like this, even a ghost knew Yang Zhen could not possibly provoke Zhang Zongjin. What was the point of saying that?
Yang Zhen smiled and glanced at the fellow who had declared he would eat dirt, then turned to Princess Changyang. "In that case, this is easy! I thought those spots had all been assigned in advance and couldn't be changed!"
"What are you going to do?" Princess Changyang suddenly had an ominous feeling.
Nor was she the only one. The fellow who had declared he would eat dirt also changed color, his face turning a little pale. He did not know why, but the look Yang Zhen had just given him was so frightening that he wanted to slap himself twice and swallow the words he had spoken.
"Nothing, nothing!"
Yang Zhen laughed, then turned and nudged Zhang Zongjin with his foot. Zhang Zongjin was sitting on the ground, looking up with a dark expression. "Buddy, how about making room?"
Boom!
Zhang Zongjin shot to his feet, his ashen face so dark it was nearly dripping water. He stared at Yang Zhen and ground out each word through clenched teeth. "Are you courting death?"
With a rustle, the surrounding crowd all scattered to the sides, staring at Yang Zhen in shock.
He had challenged him. Yang Zhen had actually challenged Zhang Zongjin, and in such a direct, domineering, almost brazen manner.
Zhang Zongjin's face turned green with rage!
Princess Changyang's expression changed, and she cried out, "Yang Zhen, you... have you gone mad?!"
Yang Zhen gave Princess Changyang an innocent look and said, sounding somewhat aggrieved, "I didn't do anything wrong, did I? Weren't you the one who said the strong got first choice of the good spots? Why can you choose, but I can't? Or are people from your great sects allowed to do whatever they please, while disciples from small sects like ours can only stand by and watch? At worst... at worst, I'll give it back to him after I've comprehended the Dao!"
At Yang Zhen's words, every weaker cultivator present trembled and stared at him in disbelief.
Yang Zhen was right. Why should all the good spots be occupied by the prides of heaven from great sects?
Why couldn't Yang Zhen take one?
"Good! Good! Good!" Zhang Zongjin was so furious that he laughed instead. Pointing at Yang Zhen, he said, "I, Zhang Zongjin, have never seen a brat as arrogant as you. Today, let alone Princess Changyang, even the heavens themselves cannot save your life!"
Hum!
A terrifying presence swept over them, and every sword-shaped Law Treasure present actually began to hum. Faces filled with horror as people stared at Zhang Zongjin in disbelief.
Everyone said Zhang Zongjin was the young generation's "Number One Sword Under Heaven," but seeing him in person was better than hearing of him. Now, with a single thought, he had set so many sword-shaped Law Treasures ringing throughout heaven and earth. It was truly inconceivable.
Princess Changyang's expression changed. Everyone could now sense the fury and murderous intent coming from Zhang Zongjin, all directed at Yang Zhen.
"It's over. Yang Zhen has really angered Young Master Zhang. No one can save him now."
"Zhang Zongjin truly deserves to be called the Number One Sword Under Heaven. His Sword Intent is terrifying."
Boom!
Zhang Zongjin drew his longsword, and heaven and earth changed color. A fierce Gang wind sprang up around him, Sword Qi spilling through it in all directions, making it hard to bear. His strength at the Foundation Establishment Realm Ninth Layer was laid bare.
Princess Changyang gave Yang Zhen a worried look and silently stood to one side. If she stepped forward now, it would no longer be a grievance between her and Zhang Zongjin alone. It could very well implicate the sect behind her, and even the Youyang Kingdom and the Tonglin Sect!
Besides, even if Princess Changyang wanted to save Yang Zhen now, it was unlikely she could. Yang Zhen had already encroached on the interests and crossed the bottom line of every pride of heaven present. He had gone too far!
Had he gone too far?
Princess Changyang paused, suddenly realizing that from Yang Zhen's perspective, he only wanted a better spot. That did not seem excessive.
From the perspective of the many small sects present, it was the prides of heaven from the great sects who had gone too far.
For a moment, Princess Changyang's gaze grew complicated as she looked at Yang Zhen.