Wasteland Realm!
The members of the Ning Clan instantly fell silent.
In the Horn Constellation Realm, they truly didn't have to care about Yang Cheng.
But this was the Wasteland Realm.
Their strength might be great, but they couldn't even enter that world.
Yang Cheng, on the other hand—with his current level of power—was practically invincible there.
"What should we do now?"
Ning Daowei was growing anxious.
"Patriarch, this isn't hard to handle," said one of the elders. "Right now, quite a few people from our Horn Constellation Realm have gone to the Great Zhao Empire. For example, Wu Huai's master, Qin Mingcheng."
"Since Yang Cheng killed Wu Huai, we don't even need to take action ourselves. Just a small nudge from us, and Qin Mingcheng will be more eager than any of us to deal with Yang Cheng."
Hearing that, Ning Daowei's eyes lit up. "Good, very good! Contact Qin Mingcheng immediately."
Meanwhile—
Wasteland Realm.
Great Zhao Empire.
Yang Cheng casually found a manor and settled in.
He didn't return to Xu Letian and the others' estate—he didn't want to bring them any unnecessary trouble.
He sat cross-legged, eyes closed, meditating quietly. He didn't even glance at Ning Yao.
Ning Yao tentatively walked toward the door. When she saw that Yang Cheng didn't open his eyes or stop her, it looked as if she could freely leave.
But that made her even more afraid to step outside.
She didn't believe in such convenient mercy.
If she really tried to escape, she was certain death would be waiting for her at the gate.
And soon after, Yang Cheng witnessed what true "contrast" meant.
"Yang Cheng, your strength is so, so strong!"
"You're really only twelve years old?"
"It's unbelievable. Even in the Horn Constellation Realm, with this level of talent, you'd be a peerless prodigy."
"…"
On the surface, Ning Yao looked like a cold, elegant beauty—but in private, she turned out to be an absolute chatterbox.
She sat beside Yang Cheng, murmuring nonstop, completely indifferent to whether he responded or not.
"Yang Cheng, the Ning Clan isn't easy to deal with," she said at last.
Yang Cheng finally gave up trying to ignore her. He opened his eyes and said impatiently, "So you think I'm easy to deal with?"
Ning Yao was briefly stunned, then said, "What if the Ning Clan refuses to return the Kongtong Seal to you?"
"The blood outside the Ouyang Clan's gate still hasn't dried," Yang Cheng said calmly.
His meaning couldn't have been clearer—if the Ning Clan didn't hand it over, he'd destroy them too.
Ning Yao swallowed hard. "The Ning Clan isn't like the Ouyang Clan. We have both Yin God and Yang God experts."
Yang Cheng didn't bother replying.
But Ning Yao already understood.
With Yang Cheng's terrifying potential, even if he couldn't destroy the Ning Clan now, he'd have plenty of chances in the future.
That thought made her heart tighten in unease.
Before she knew it, a full day had passed.
The next morning, the Great Zhao Empire's efficiency was on full display.
Since Yang Cheng hadn't bothered to conceal his presence, a large number of imperial soldiers quickly located his manor and surrounded it completely.
But no one dared to rush in.
All the soldiers' eyes were filled with fear, as if a primordial beast lay within those walls.
And to them, Yang Cheng truly was no different from an ancient monster.
At first, the Great Zhao royal family personally stepped forward, hoping to negotiate—asking Yang Cheng to release Ning Yao.
Yang Cheng ignored them completely.
The empire could do nothing.
Another day passed.
This time, the Great Zhao Princess, Nangong Wan, personally arrived.
Behind her stood an old man.
"Miss Ning, I'm sorry you've suffered," Nangong Wan said with guilt.
"This has nothing to do with you," Ning Yao replied softly.
The old man stepped forward and bowed toward Yang Cheng. "Old servant Lin Chang, under the command of Qin Mingcheng, Sect Master of the Eight Void Gate of the Horn Constellation Realm, greets His Highness the Crown Prince of Great Zhou, Yang Cheng."
Yang Cheng chuckled. "Interesting. Judging by your tone, Qin Mingcheng wants to avenge his disciple?"
"Correct."
Lin Chang said coldly, "On behalf of my master, I officially issue a challenge to Your Highness Yang Cheng. Three days from now, my master will be waiting for you at Jinbian Lake."
His expression carried an unmistakable arrogance—clearly, the power behind him, Qin Mingcheng, gave him absolute confidence.
Yang Cheng didn't immediately reply. Instead, he turned to Nangong Wan. "What about your Great Zhao Empire and the Bian'an Divine Sect? Where do you stand?"
Nangong Wan replied, "Both the Great Zhao Empire and the Bian'an Divine Sect stand with the Ning Clan and Master Qin."
Ding!
[Host has clearly run into major trouble.]
[It's still unclear how you killed Wu Huai before, but the result has enraged Qin Mingcheng.]
[Qin Mingcheng is a genius formation master from the Horn Constellation Realm. His mastery of formations has reached the Nirvana God level.]
[Now Qin Mingcheng has challenged you. If you accept, it will be a battle of nine deaths and one life.]
[However, a true Late Bloomer should dare to face life and death directly. The system recommends that the host accept Qin Mingcheng's challenge.]
[Due to Qin Mingcheng's exceptional formation mastery, a special Tiered Mission has been issued.]
[The mission consists of two tiers:
1. Survive Qin Mingcheng's assault.
2. Fight him to an even draw.
Each tier completed will grant corresponding rewards.]
[Does the host accept the mission?]
"Accept."
Yang Cheng muttered silently in his heart, then looked straight at Lin Chang. "Go tell Qin Mingcheng—I accept his challenge. But I've said this before: this is between me and the Ning Clan."
"If Qin Mingcheng, the Great Zhao Empire, and the Bian'an Divine Sect dare to meddle in Ning Clan's affairs, then if Qin Mingcheng loses, none of them—he, the Great Zhao Empire, or the Bian'an Divine Sect—have any reason to continue existing."
Nangong Wan's expression changed instantly.
Lin Chang sneered. "Big words, Your Highness. You can save them until after you survive this battle."
Then Lin Chang and Nangong Wan turned and left.
At that moment, Ning Yao suddenly said, "You're using me as bait."
Yang Cheng turned his head toward her with faint amusement.
"I was wondering why you took me in the first place," Ning Yao said. "Maybe the Kongtong Seal wasn't even that important to you. Your real goal was to use me—or rather, to use the Ning Clan—to fish."
"The fish you're after… those are your true targets."
"You're quite smart," Yang Cheng said lightly. "When I came to the Great Zhao, I didn't even know you were here."
"So you planned to deal with the Great Zhao Empire from the very start… maybe even destroy it completely," Ning Yao said, her voice dry.
Yang Cheng smiled faintly and didn't deny it. "You got one thing wrong, though. I do intend to deal with the Great Zhao—but the debt your Ning Clan owes me, I'll collect as well."
Meanwhile—
The entire Great Zhao Empire, and even the Wasteland Realm, erupted in uproar.
First came the news that Yang Cheng had openly stormed into the Great Zhao Imperial Palace and abducted Ning Yao. That alone had caused a massive stir.
Most thought the incident would soon die down—after all, this was the Great Zhao Empire, not Great Zhou.
But before the first wave settled, another one surged.
And this second wave shook the realm even harder.
Qin Mingcheng had declared that he would battle Yang Cheng at Jinbian Lake in three days.
Ordinary people were confused when they heard this.
Yang Cheng's name was already famous across the Wasteland Realm—everyone knew who he was.
But as for Qin Mingcheng, most commoners had never even heard of him.
However, the truly knowledgeable elites of the realm were different.
They knew exactly who Qin Mingcheng was.