Chen Xuanshan slowly turned around. His gaze swept over everyone before he let out a long sigh. "Yes," he said quietly, "I am afraid of him."
"What?"
The hall erupted with shock. Chen Juefeng and the rest of the Chen clan disciples stared at him, their faces filled with disbelief.
An Yin God realm powerhouse—one of the highest existences in the Horn Constellation Realm—was admitting he feared a boy barely in his teens?
Chen Xuanshan's expression grew solemn as he continued, "When Yang Cheng killed Chen Wangxu and defeated Juefeng, I secretly ran a calculation. If he were to go all out against me, my chance of resisting him would be no more than thirty percent."
"—Hiss!"
The sound of gasps filled the entire hall.
An Yin God cultivator—someone at the very peak of power—had only thirty percent odds against Yang Cheng?
That revelation was far more shocking than Yang Cheng's instant killing of Li Tong, Yu Hongluan's defeat, or the death of Chen Wangxu.
At last, they understood: their ancestor's submission was not cowardice, but a decision born from clear judgment and perfect awareness of the situation.
In that moment, every lingering trace of resistance and vengeance in their hearts was completely extinguished—like a dying flame drowned in cold water.
Chen Xuanshan looked around at their changing expressions and said in a deep voice, "Think about it again—Yang Cheng is only a teenager."
His words struck like thunder.
It shattered the haze clouding everyone's hearts.
A youth barely past his first decade of life already possessed power that even an Yin God cultivator feared.
Then what about the future?
At this rate of growth, what realm would he reach in another ten years, or twenty?
By then, across the entire Horn Constellation Realm, perhaps there would be no one capable of matching him.
The Chen clan members' eyes began to gleam. They looked at Chen Xuanshan with newfound respect and admiration.
Yes—how could their ancestor's decision be wrong?
Submitting to someone with limitless potential was not shameful—it was foresight.
Today's bowing of heads was to seize tomorrow's greater future.
Chen Juefeng fell silent. His eyes drifted toward the direction Yang Cheng had left, and the fury and grief in his heart slowly gave way to a heavy helplessness.
Now he understood just how wise his father's choice was.
The Chen clan's losses today were great—especially the death of his most talented son. The pain in his heart was almost unbearable.
But compared to the clan's survival and prosperity, his grief had to be buried deep within.
—
Wasteland Realm.
Before long, the outline of the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy appeared before Yang Cheng's eyes.
He landed directly within the academy and headed straight for the pill refinement chamber.
Inside, the air was filled with the fragrance of herbs. Wang Rou and Xu Qingxue were fully focused on refining pills. Above the pill furnace, clouds of radiance shimmered as two round, gleaming pills slowly took form—it was the Earth Spirit Heart Pill.
Their coordination was fluid, their techniques precise. Clearly, they had already mastered the process of refining this divine-grade pill to perfection.
"You've both done well."
Yang Cheng stepped forward, glancing at the hovering pills with a faint trace of approval in his eyes.
When Wang Rou and Xu Qingxue saw him, they immediately stopped what they were doing and bowed deeply. "Greetings, Master/Your Highness."
"There's no need for formality. Continue."
Yang Cheng waved a hand lightly, then sent out a message to summon Lin Shu.
Moments later, Lin Shu hurried into the pill chamber. "Your Highness."
Yang Cheng spoke calmly, "Take a portion of these Earth Spirit Heart Pills to the Chen clan in the Horn Constellation Realm. Have them begin preparations for distribution and sales."
"Yes," Lin Shu replied at once. He collected the pills and left swiftly.
Wang Rou and Xu Qingxue paid no further attention to the matter. They simply resumed refining, immersed in their work.
At this point, both of them had truly grown addicted to the art of alchemy.
After finishing the arrangements, Yang Cheng returned to his private residence within the academy.
He closed the door behind him, sat cross-legged, and took out a crystalline object from his storage space.
It was completely transparent, yet within its depths, countless stars seemed to swirl and drift as if forming miniature galaxies.
It was the Crystal of Time and Space.
This was precisely the Crystal of Time and Space given as the system's compensation.
Yang Cheng focused his gaze on the crystal. Even without probing it deeply, he could sense the terrifying force of time and space swirling within.
According to the system's information, this crystal could create a small temporal-spatial domain, where the flow of time was drastically altered. Within that domain, the ratio of time would be 1:100—for every 100 days that passed inside, only 1 day would pass outside. This effect could last for one full month.
"What a treasure," Yang Cheng murmured, his eyes flashing with excitement. Truly worthy of being a system reward—decisive, heaven-defying, and without equal.
He decided on the spot to use the crystal within Divine Mountain.
He immediately summoned Xu Qingxue to accompany him, while also sending transmission messages to Yun Liyue, Yun Jinghuai, Tang Xingyu, Cheng Junyi, Lin Shu, Shen Muxue, Xu Qingxue, along with the Nine Tiger Generals and the Blood Shadow Guard, ordering everyone to gather at Divine Mountain without delay.
Upon receiving his command, not one of them hesitated—they all set off at once, traveling swiftly toward Divine Mountain.
When all had arrived, Yang Cheng placed the Crystal of Time and Space atop the mountain peak.
As his spiritual power poured into it, the crystal suddenly erupted with dazzling brilliance. A vast, invisible light curtain spread outward, expanding until it enveloped the entire Divine Mountain.
The Time-Space Domain was complete.
Everyone present was visibly stirred; they could clearly feel the difference in the flow of time and energy.
Yang Cheng did not conceal the truth—he explained the crystal's effects to them directly.
The group was astonished beyond words.
"For the next month, we'll train here," Yang Cheng said, his tone deep and steady. "Make the most of this opportunity."
The others all nodded seriously and soon dispersed to find suitable cultivation spots before beginning their secluded training.
On Divine Mountain, supreme-grade spirit springs nourished their bodies and meridians. Around them, spirit stones numbering in the tens of millions formed a massive Spirit-Gathering Grand Formation, continuously drawing in the essence of heaven and earth until the ambient spiritual energy grew so dense it nearly condensed into liquid.
In such a perfect environment—and given their already outstanding talent—the group's cultivation bases began to soar at a pace visible to the naked eye.
Outside the domain, time flowed quietly—one day, then two, until one month passed.
At last, the light of the Crystal of Time and Space began to dim, fading gradually until it disappeared entirely. With that, the domain dissolved.
But within that domain, 3,000 days—more than eight years—had already gone by.
Over eight years of intense cultivation, combined with the unparalleled environment of Divine Mountain, had transformed everyone's strength beyond recognition.
Yun Jinghuai, blessed with the most monstrous of talents, had now reached the ninth level of the Insight God Realm.
More than twenty days before the domain ended, he had secretly gone to the Horn Constellation Realm to overcome his Insight God Tribulation, and after succeeding, returned to Divine Mountain to refine his power further. His strength was now unfathomable.
Yun Liyue followed closely behind, reaching the eighth level of the Insight God Realm. Her aura was steady and vast like an endless sea.
Cheng Junyi broke through to the fifth level of the Insight God Realm, her progress nothing short of remarkable.
Tang Xingyu reached the second level of the Insight God Realm, her foundation rock-solid and unshakable.
As for Yang Cheng, he stood at the half-step Insight God Realm—only one step away from truly crossing that boundary. But he hadn't rushed to face his tribulation; he was waiting for the perfect moment.
Lin Shu and Shen Muxue, though not yet in the Insight God Realm, had reached the very peak of the Martial Sovereign Realm, both merely one step from breaking through.
Xu Qingxue, whose focus had been on alchemy rather than cultivation, had only reached the peak of the Martial Saint Realm, yet her alchemy skills had skyrocketed. Her mastery was now approaching the Insight God level, and the pills she refined far surpassed her previous limits in both purity and potency.
The Nine Tiger Generals had also benefited immensely, each now standing at the Martial Sovereign Realm, their combat strength several times stronger than before.
The Blood Shadow Guard too had improved dramatically—every member had stepped into either the Martial Sovereign or Martial Saint Realm, giving the unit a complete qualitative transformation.
Looking over the gathered group, Yang Cheng nodded with satisfaction.
The Wasteland Realm had entered an era of great upheaval.
Before, he had worried about whether his mother and uncle possessed enough strength to protect themselves.
Now, there was no longer any need for such concern.
If any external power dared to provoke Divine Mountain, Yang Cheng was certain—they would be met with a "surprise" they would never forget.