Liao Chan instead smiled. "Master Yang truly has sharp eyes. Since we dared to come here, naturally, we came fully prepared."
The moment his voice fell, four powerful auras surged from the depths of the forest and instantly appeared in the clearing.
Leading them was a burly man, nearly three meters tall, with muscles as hard as stone. His voice boomed like thunder. "Wang Qing of the Qingming Sect from the Azure Jade Realm greets the Crown Prince Yang."
Beside him stood a beautiful woman with golden hair. Her charm was enchanting, her eyes seductive, yet her aura carried a bone-chilling coldness. "Yu Xuan of the Qingming Sect greets the Crown Prince."
The other two figures radiated equally fierce auras, both at the higher stages of the Insight God Realm.
"The four of the Eight Vajras of the Qingming Sect?"
Yang Cheng recognized them immediately.
Wang Qing grinned. "Didn't expect the Crown Prince to know of us."
Yang Cheng shook his head. "Even with the four of you added in, it's still not enough to kill me."
His tone was calm, almost casual, yet there was a sense of absolute superiority—as if the seven Insight God experts before him were nothing more than chickens and dogs.
"How arrogant!"
A chilling laugh echoed from within the forest. As the voice faded, the air suddenly churned, and dark mist began to condense, forming a vague human-shaped figure.
It was a "man of mist," his body composed of dense fog, his face hidden. Only a boundless, oppressive aura could be sensed—one that faintly surpassed even the seven Insight God experts.
"A half-step Yin God? Finally, someone here who isn't completely worthless."
Yang Cheng's tone was light, but his words carried a cutting edge.
"Hmph!"
The eight figures spread out into a fan shape, completely surrounding him. Each released their overwhelming spiritual pressure, shaking the air.
And the mist man's presence stood above them all—vast, deep, and suffocating.
Such a formation could have easily triggered a bloodstorm in the Horn Constellation Realm itself.
Yet standing in the middle of this encirclement, Yang Cheng remained calm. His gaze swept across the eight and he asked indifferently, "Since when did the Godspeed Society, the Hu clan, and the Spirit Sword Sect of the Horn Constellation Realm join hands with forces from the Azure Jade Realm?"
The Godspeed Society, the Hu clan, and the Spirit Sword Sect were all long-established powers from the Horn Constellation Realm. The Qingming Sect, however, came from the Azure Jade Realm—two realms that rarely interacted. For them to unite now against him could only mean that the lure of the Earth Spirit Heart Pill had driven them to madness.
The mist man gave a low, rolling laugh, his body of vapor swirling faintly. "Master Yang jests. The martial path is long and treacherous. When interests align, it's only natural for us to work together."
His tone softened slightly as he continued, "In truth, Master Yang, there's no need for hostility. Our visit to the Wasteland Realm doesn't have to end in bloodshed."
Yang Cheng raised an eyebrow, the corner of his lips curling. "Oh? Then what, did you come here to admire the scenery?"
"Master Yang, there's no need to pretend ignorance."
The mist man spoke plainly. "As long as you hand over the method for refining the Earth Spirit Heart Pill, we can consider today's encounter never happened. We could even part as friends. In the future, within the Horn Constellation Realm, I could grant you certain… conveniences."
The seven others exchanged looks, their expressions complicated.
Hu Ying and Gu Wenzhi frowned slightly, clearly displeased with the mist man's soft approach. They preferred to subdue Yang Cheng by force and seize the formula themselves.
The four from the Qingming Sect—Wang Qing and his companions—remained silent, but their eyes flickered with calculation. They didn't care who took the lead, as long as they obtained the refining method.
The mist man's name was Kong Shen, a powerful cultivator from a hidden clan within the Horn Constellation Realm. His strength was terrifying, and it was largely due to his influence that so many factions had joined forces for this ambush.
Yang Cheng looked at him steadily and said, "You went to such lengths for the Earth Spirit Heart Pill. Clearly, its value must be immense. And now, with just a few words, you expect me to hand over the refining method? Why should I?"
Kong Shen seemed unsurprised. He smiled faintly. "Master Yang, profit means nothing if you die before enjoying it. You may be strong—you did destroy the Ouyang clan alone—but in the end, you're still just one man. No matter how strong, two fists can't fight eight hands. Today, with all eight of us here, do you really think you can protect the Earth Spirit Heart Pill?"
His voice was calm, but the pressure behind it was undeniable. "Hand over the method. It benefits both of us."
Yang Cheng shook his head, his expression cold but proud. "I don't know how strong I truly am, but I'm certain of one thing—dealing with the likes of you won't be a problem."
Those words caused all eight to narrow their eyes.
None of them mocked him for arrogance.
After all, Yang Cheng had annihilated the Ouyang clan single-handedly—his strength had already been proven. If he dared to speak so now, he had every right to.
The mist around Kong Shen's body rolled as he chuckled. "Confidence is admirable, Master Yang. But since we came here, we came prepared."
He paused, then added meaningfully, "The eight of us might not be able to kill you—but keeping you occupied for a while won't be difficult."
Yang Cheng's brows furrowed. "You have other plans?"
"Of course." Kong Shen's tone was laced with amusement. "We've already discovered that the ones currently refining the Earth Spirit Heart Pill are Wang Rou of the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy and your maid, Xu Qingxue. It seems you've already passed the method to them."
He smirked, his words dripping with threat. "Since we can't take you down directly, we'll simply invite Wang Rou and Xu Qingxue for a little visit. Once they're in our hands, do you really think we won't get the refining method?"
Yang Cheng's expression darkened, a chill bursting from his body as his aura turned razor-sharp. "So, there are spies within the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy after all."
Otherwise, the enemy couldn't possibly know so clearly who Wang Rou and Xu Qingxue were, or that they were in charge of refining the Earth Spirit Heart Pill.
Kong Shen admitted calmly, "The world bustles for profit, and people chase gain wherever they go. As long as there's enough benefit, whether it's the Wasteland Realm or the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy, you'll always find our people."
Yang Cheng stayed silent for a while. The forest air seemed to freeze, heavy and suffocating.
Kong Shen thought he was weighing his options and continued to persuade him. "Master Yang, things have reached this point—resistance is meaningless. Why don't we sit and chat for a bit? Once my people bring Wang Rou and Xu Qingxue over, you can decide what to do then."
He was certain Yang Cheng wouldn't act rashly. If Yang Cheng made a move now, Wang Rou and Xu Qingxue would be the ones in danger.
However, Yang Cheng slowly raised his head. The coldness in his eyes faded, replaced by an unshakable calm—and a faint, deadly glint.
"No need."
His tone was flat, but it carried an iron certainty. "No matter what happens at the Myriad Phenomena Dao Academy, today, none of you eight are leaving alive."
Kong Shen froze, clearly not expecting such a response. His brows knitted. "Master Yang, why go this far?"
"Whether it's worth it or not," Yang Cheng said, "that's not for you to decide."
True qi surged around him. The spiritual energy between heaven and earth roared in resonance. "If you'd come to the Wasteland Realm quietly to travel, perhaps I'd have let it slide. But you dared to stir up trouble here, covet what's mine, and even threaten my people…"
His voice suddenly sharpened, cracking through the air like thunder.
"Then you'd better be ready to pay the price!"
Before his words finished echoing, Yang Cheng's figure vanished like a ghost.
A battle shaking heaven and earth erupted instantly!
On a distant mountaintop overlooking the battlefield, two figures stood by the cliff's edge, gazing down at the chaos below.
The man on the left wore a black blindfold over his eyes. His tall frame stood straight and steady, his aura calm and composed. Though his face was hidden, his bearing was effortlessly graceful.
Beside him stood a one-armed nun, an entirely different sight.
She was dressed in plain gray robes. Her remaining left arm was slender and fair, her bare right shoulder traced a graceful line. Even with one arm gone, her beauty was undiminished.
Her brows were delicate, her skin smooth as jade, her small nose and soft lips perfectly shaped. Her eyes were clear as still water, carrying a quiet compassion. That faint gentleness blended with the depth of her calm, giving her an almost heartbreaking beauty.
"Yang Cheng may be young, but his courage and sense of duty are rare," the blindfolded man said softly. "Just for that alone, it wouldn't be wrong to call him the number one of the younger generation in the Wasteland Realm."
The one-armed nun frowned slightly, her voice calm but tinged with concern. "His strength is indeed extraordinary, but those eight are all peak Insight God experts. And Kong Shen is half a step into the Yin God Realm. Even if the Mountain Lord himself were here, facing such an encirclement, he would tread carefully."
The blindfolded man was silent for a moment before asking, "Should we lend a hand?"
The nun shook her head gently, her voice steady but with a trace of helplessness. "Do you really think we'd make a difference?"
The man gave an awkward smile. "You and I have only half-step Insight God cultivation. Even if we rushed in, we'd just be adding two more corpses."
Just then, the nun's gaze sharpened. She spoke softly, "They've begun."
The blindfolded man said no more, only tilted his head, listening to the distant clash of true qi. His aura tightened unconsciously, clearly nervous for Yang Cheng's sake.
Back on the battlefield—
Yang Cheng stood alone among eight opponents. His posture was as straight as a pine tree. Facing the crushing pressure of eight Insight God experts, there wasn't the slightest trace of fear on his face—only cold indifference.
Gu Wenzhi sneered. "Yang Cheng, you're far too arrogant. Do you really think you can stand against the eight of us alone?"
As soon as he spoke, his sword flashed from its sheath.
"Shua!"
A dazzling blade of sword qi split through the air, transforming into a crescent-shaped blood-red moon blade that slashed straight for Yang Cheng's neck.
This strike was one of his ultimate killing techniques—one even peak Insight Gods could barely withstand.
Yang Cheng's eyes flickered. His right hand rose, two fingers coming together, and he casually pointed forward.
"Chi!"
At the touch of his fingers, the blood moon blade shattered like fragile paper, scattering into motes of light.
Gu Wenzhi showed no surprise, as though he had expected it. If Yang Cheng couldn't handle even this, he wouldn't be worth their elaborate ambush.
He suddenly opened his mouth, unleashing a silvery-white sword ray condensed to perfection. It shot out silently, slicing toward Yang Cheng's legs—his innate life-bound sword qi, specialized in breaking defenses.
At almost the same moment, Liao Chan seized the opening. His body blurred into an afterimage, fingers curling like talons.
In the air, a gray eagle claw several meters wide took shape, sharp and deadly, tearing through the void as it lunged for Yang Cheng's back!