Qingzhou.
Outside a barren mountain range, a cavalry troop halted.
At the center of the formation stood a golden dragon chariot.
The curtain lifted, and a nine-year-old boy stepped out.
It was none other than Yang Cheng.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince."
Nine young men dismounted their horses and came before Yang Cheng.
Of the Nineteen Tiger Generals, nine had followed him to the Qingqiu Secret Realm.
The other nine had been kept back by their elders, who thought the secret realm too dangerous.
Along with Lin Shu, Shen Muxue, and Tang Xingyu, a total of twelve people accompanied Yang Cheng this time.
A moment later, the three young women stepped out of the chariot as well.
"Let's go."
Yang Cheng didn't waste words and walked straight toward the barren mountains.
At the center of the range was a deep canyon.
As they entered it, other martial artists appeared one after another.
Before long, Yang Cheng spotted familiar faces—Zhao Shouyi, Nangong Yi, Leng Qianyu, Kongxing, Tian Congxuan…
There were also geniuses from other domains.
For example, Zhang Qingyang, true disciple of Luofu Mountain from the Central Wastes, and Mo Jialan, holy son of the Western Luo Revolving Wheel Sect.
All these prodigies were gathered before a massive stone gate.
At its center was a hollow imprint, perfectly matching the two halves of the Qingqiu Token.
"Your Highness, Crown Prince."
From the surrounding groups, two gazes landed on Yang Cheng—it was Wei Roujia and Lu Yun.
Xu Qingxue hadn't come.
Compared to other powers, the Xu family was still too weak, and Xu Qingxue's potential hadn't yet fully awakened.
Almost at the same time, everyone's attention shifted between Yang Cheng and Yang Xiu.
Everyone knew the Qingqiu Token was in their hands.
[This is the Qingqiu Secret Realm ruins?]
[Four hundred ninety-one years ago, when the Qingqiu Secret Realm opened, the geniuses of the Wasteland Realm fought savagely for resources and slaughtered countless beasts within. The realm began to shake.]
[Especially the final battle between Yang Xiu and the Holy Son of the Western Luo Revolving Wheel Sect, which shattered the supporting pillars of heaven and earth within the realm.]
[The Qingqiu Secret Realm was badly damaged and fell into the Nether Abyss.]
[It wasn't until four hundred years ago, when martial artists from the heavens descended, that the cultivators of the Wasteland Realm realized the Qingqiu Secret Realm was a critical space plate. Its loss left the Wasteland Realm like a gaping hole, letting cultivators from other worlds enter freely.]
[Unfortunately, by the time they understood, it was too late. The Nether Abyss was too deadly. Even a Refining God powerhouse entered seeking the secret realm, yet none ever returned.]
[Please recover the Qingqiu Secret Realm, to make up for the regret of the Wasteland Realm's martial artists.]
[This mission is extremely difficult. The host is granted fifty years of time.]
[Mission Reward: Chaos Lotus Seed.]
A new mission?
Yang Cheng's heart stirred.
By normal logic, this system was a scam.
If the Qingqiu Secret Realm had really fallen into the Nether Abyss, then not even fifty years—give him five hundred years and he still couldn't recover it.
But now, for him, this task was simple.
As for the Chaos Lotus Seed, though he didn't know exactly what it was, anything carrying the name "Chaos" had to be heaven-defying.
In that instant, Yang Cheng couldn't wait to enter the Qingqiu Secret Realm.
But rushing would only bring trouble.
If he let others enter too easily, someone might cause him problems.
So Yang Cheng chose to strike first.
"Anyone who wants to enter the Qingqiu Secret Realm must hand over ten supreme-grade spirit stones, or one hundred high-grade spirit stones."
His gaze swept across the crowd.
Ordinary people and low-level martial artists used gold. But those with more strength used spirit stones.
Now, with the Qingqiu Token in his hands, he held the only key to the realm.
If others wanted entry, paying him spirit stones was only natural.
Hearing this, many martial artists frowned.
The stones he demanded were no small price.
"Yang Cheng, aren't you being too greedy?"
A familiar voice sounded.
Yang Xiu stepped forward, sneering. "Everyone, though I hold half the Qingqiu Token, I won't charge you a single spirit stone to enter the realm."
Many martial artists visibly relaxed at his words.
Yang Cheng smiled faintly. "Talk big all you want. Without my half of the Qingqiu Token, do you think you can open the gate with yours alone?"
"I…"
Yang Xiu's face darkened. "Yang Cheng, aren't you afraid you'll turn everyone against you?"
The crowd's eyes grew dangerous as they fell on Yang Cheng.
"The Crown Prince of Great Zhou is this greedy?"
Zhang Qingyang's tone was sharp.
"Blinded by profit."
Mo Jialan's gaze turned cold.
"Everyone, why don't we join forces and kill him first?"
Nangong Yi said slyly.
Yang Cheng remained calm. His voice was light. "Before the gate is opened, if even one person dares to attack me, I'll shatter this half of the Qingqiu Token immediately."
Many who had been ready to move froze like cold water had been poured over their heads.
"Yang Cheng, you shameless scoundrel."
Nangong Yi cursed.
"Instead of wasting time here, why not hand over the spirit stones quickly?"
Yang Cheng spoke calmly.
"Hmph, fine, take it."
Leng Qianyu was the first to hand over spirit stones.
The other geniuses followed.
Ten supreme-grade spirit stones were precious, but compared to the opportunities in the Qingqiu Secret Realm, they were nothing.
Even those without enough spirit stones had no choice but to borrow from others.
Yang Xiu stood to the side, his face burning red.
Watching Yang Cheng collect spirit stones, he too wanted to do the same.
Yang Cheng noticed his expression and smiled. "Sixth Brother, didn't you say earlier that you'd never charge others even a single spirit stone to enter the Qingqiu Secret Realm? Don't tell me you're planning to go back on your word?"
Hearing this, Yang Xiu almost spat blood.
He regretted ever making such a boast.
Both he and Yang Cheng held half of the Qingqiu Token, yet only Yang Cheng was making a fortune.
In less than fifteen minutes, aside from Wei Roujia and Lu Yun whom Yang Cheng exempted, everyone else had paid up.
Inside Yang Cheng's Heaven-Earth Spatial Domain, he now had an extra 1,000 supreme-grade spirit stones and 13,000 high-grade spirit stones.
"Now are we good to go?"
Yang Xiu ground his teeth.
"Of course."
Yang Cheng took out his half of the Qingqiu Token.
Together, he and Yang Xiu pressed their tokens into the stone gate.
Almost instantly, several martial artists made a move.
They had been holding back only because Yang Cheng hadn't yet placed his token into the gate.
Now, with the token in, they felt no need to restrain themselves.
But just then—
A beam of light shot from the stone gate of the Qingqiu Secret Realm.
Yang Cheng wasn't surprised.
He had dared to offend everyone here because he had a plan.
Holding the Qingqiu Token wasn't just about opening the gate—it also meant priority entry into the secret realm.
Yang Cheng had already told his twelve companions this.
They stayed close at his side.
When the light shone down, all twelve of them were enveloped along with him.
At the same time, Yang Xiu also stepped in, clearly knowing the same secret.
Yang Cheng didn't even need to guess. It had to be Lu Jingshu who told him.
After being nearly killed once by Empress Dowager Meng's order, Lu Jingshu had grown cautious.
She hadn't entered the Ancient Desolation Tower last time, and this time she hadn't even shown up at the Qingqiu Secret Realm.
Clearly, she planned to remain behind the scenes, pulling strings from the shadows.
The next moment—
Yang Cheng, Tang Xingyu, and the others appeared inside the Qingqiu Secret Realm.
And this time, they weren't in the outer region like before, but in the true inner realm.
Ding!
[Qingqiu Secret Realm. This is the Qingqiu Secret Realm.]
[The host has actually recovered the Qingqiu Secret Realm and pulled it back into the Wasteland Realm.]
[It is unimaginable how the host overcame the countless dangers of the Nether Abyss. This is a feat that shatters understanding.]
[Congratulations to the host for completing the mission. Reward has been issued.]
Yang Cheng didn't bother claiming the reward yet and set it aside.
"Stay with me."
He led the twelve forward.
Not long after, he heard bestial roars ahead.
"They're coming."
Yang Cheng stopped, his eyes flashing with cold light.
Moments later, a pack of black wolves appeared.
Each was far larger than a normal wolf. The biggest stretched over one zhang long, radiating terrifying pressure.
"Kill!"
Yang Cheng charged first, the others following like arrows loosed from a bow.
He faced the alpha wolf.
It exuded the aura of a fifth-rank Monster King.
But—
Swish!
A single sword flash.
The alpha wolf's head flew into the air.
Instant kill.
A beast equal to a fifth-level Martial King, slain in a breath.
The Tiger Generals who followed Yang Cheng were stunned.
His Highness, the Crown Prince, was this strong?
Right after, Lin Shu, Shen Muxue, and Tang Xingyu displayed their own strength.
Each black wolf that came at them was cut down like helpless sheep.
"We didn't even realize how far behind we've fallen from His Highness and his companions."
The Nineteen Tiger Generals were shaken awake. "We must double our efforts, or soon we won't even be qualified to follow him."
They threw themselves fully into the battle.
After killing the alpha wolf, Yang Cheng cut open its belly and pulled out a pigeon-egg-sized core.
Without hesitation, he activated his breathing technique and absorbed the energy.
The others quickly copied him.
"Someone's ahead."
A voice rang out.
Soon, a squad appeared.
They were from the Central Wastes, a sect called the Sword Pavilion.
"It's the Crown Prince of Great Zhou."
"They just hunted down a wolf pack."
The Sword Pavilion disciples looked shocked.
"These wolves' leftover auras aren't weak."
"That alpha wolf seemed to be at the peak of Monster King."
Their eyes gleamed.
At the front stood a nineteen-year-old man, already a sixth-rank Martial King.
He stared at Yang Cheng. "Crown Prince of Great Zhou, fortune found in the wild should be shared.
There were 30 wolves here, which means 30 cores. How about we split them half and half?"
Yang Cheng's expression stayed calm. "There are beasts everywhere in this realm. If you want cores, go hunt your own."
The sixth-rank Martial King laughed. "Once we take these fifteen, of course we'll go hunt more."
"The road is wide enough. Why not walk your own way?" Yang Cheng sighed.
The man shook his head. "Crown Prince of Great Zhou, you should be smart about this. You've just fought a wolf pack, you must be weakened.
We're not taking advantage to kill you all. That alone is already mercy."