As Xuanyuan Bing watched Yang Yi’s retreating figure, a sense of oppression washed over her, as if she sensed that Yang Yi had grown utterly impatient with the string of assassinations orchestrated by Nangong San and his cohorts. Staring blankly at his receding back until he vanished from sight, she murmured, “Yi, you need to be careful.”
Scarcely had Xuanyuan Bing’s words faded when the battle raging elsewhere intensified dramatically. Since being wounded at the mass grave in Hong Kong last time, Six Paths of Reincarnation had significantly boosted his strength during his recuperation period. Now, Tian Cong was at the late stage of the Green-level Grandmaster rank, while Di Yu occupied the latter phase of the Yellow-level Grandmaster rank.
The Grandmaster Domains these two unleashed were clearly no minor trick; black mist constantly encroached, while flames, like searing fire, blazed fiercely, illuminating the entirety of the Black Night Forest.
“How strange is this person? Not only can I not discern his true strength, but he seems to hold no malice towards our side. Yet, why would he appear here?” Di Yu mused internally.
“Di Yu, don’t get distracted. Be swift with your actions,” Tian Cong’s voice cut through, even as his fiery manifestation intensified to an extreme degree. In that instant, the area within a three-meter radius centered on him was instantly reduced to barren desolation.
“I know,” Di Yu responded just as his voice trailed off.
He intensified the flow of Zhenqi within his body, and instantly, the black mist grew denser. Three wailing groans arose. The two simultaneously retracted their Grandmaster Domains, revealing three corpses incinerated by the fierce flames lying on the ground, alongside three others eroded by the eerie black mist until only skeletons remained—the scene was terrifyingly gruesome.
“Who in the world are you?” Di Yu stared intently at the master who had long since appeared there.
The latter offered no words, merely glancing at them with a smile, then turning his gaze to Tian Cong, the smile on his face growing even more profound. He was a handsome middle-aged man, clad in ancient cloth garments, with a sword strapped to his back. His hair was exceptionally long, and he stood there like an immovable Mount Tai.
“In the Dragon Rankings, besides the six of us, and the other Tian Er, the remaining Tian Yi, Tian San, and Tian Si all belong to that brat from the Ye family. If my memory hasn't failed me, you should be Tian San among the Dragon Ranking masters,” Tian Cong narrowed his eyes, feeling an intense, inherent danger emanating from the middle-aged man.
“Young Murong, it’s rare that you still remember this old fellow!” The middle-aged man, as he admitted, was indeed Tian San, the third of the Tian generation among the ten great masters of the Dragon Ranking, subordinate to the Ye family heir.
But why would he call Tian Cong ‘Young Murong’? At this moment, Tian Cong’s expression was one of sheer horror. It was fortunate his Dragon Lord wasn't present, otherwise, hearing his entire group referred to as Murongs would certainly spell… considerable trouble.
“Hmph, I discarded that name long ago. Seeing as you possess no killing intent and speak without hostility, what is your purpose here?” In truth, it was precisely because the other man’s words aligned with his own assessment that Tian Cong felt an immeasurable danger radiating from him.
Tian San did not reply, merely shifting his gaze to the other side, his face breaking into a smile. “Indeed, a hero emerging from youth; such accomplishments at such a tender age.”
Upon hearing this, not only Yang Yi, who was speeding toward them, but also Tian Cong and Di Yu were startled. However, upon spotting Yang Yi’s figure, they immediately called out, “Dragon Lord!”
“Mmm!” Yang Yi waved his hand, signaling them to dispense with formalities. He turned, his eyes burning with an eerie, blood-red glow, fixed intently on Tian San.
Tian Cong quickly interjected, “Dragon Lord, be wary, he is Tian San, one of the ten great masters of the Dragon Ranking.”
“Tian San?” Yang Yi’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing the name, thinking, How could he be here?
“Though we have never met, the aura you displayed just now is enough to prove your extraordinary strength. You are on the verge of breaking through the Minor Grandmaster level, yet you are still no match for me,” Tian San declared with absolute confidence.
It seems my initial assessment was indeed wrong, Yang Yi muttered inwardly. He clearly understood that he had initially assumed the man was of the same caliber as himself, yet now he so easily stated Yang Yi’s cultivation level while identifying himself as Tian San, the third-ranked master on the Dragon Ranking. It was clear this fellow was immensely powerful.
“Alone, I may indeed not be your match, but if the three of us at the Grandmaster level faced you, you wouldn’t fare well either.”
Hearing Yang Yi’s words, Tian San’s expression suddenly froze, then he burst into laughter. “Hahahaha, good fellow. As expected of the one valued by our Young Master!”
“Your Young Master? Ye Han, the Ye family heir?” Yang Yi asked, a wicked smile playing on his lips.
“Although I dislike those who ask the obvious, I can accept what you’ve stated, little fellow. Haha!” Tian San’s handsome features were alight with arrogant laughter.
“You exhibit no hostility, no killing intent, and you deliberately released an aura just now to draw me out. Tell me, what is your true objective?” Yang Yi directly ignored his arrogant laughter and pressed on.
“Correct. You quickly grasped the need to ask my purpose,” Tian San paused, narrowing his eyes. “I am here to pass on a message from my Young Master.”
“A message?”
“Precisely,” Tian San deliberated. “Not only does my Young Master feel your development is too slow, but this old man feels the same. You should quickly resolve the affairs of the Eight Great Families—strangle those that need strangling, and there’s no use keeping those that don’t.”
Yang Yi’s brow furrowed deeply upon hearing this. “What do you mean by that?”
“It means nothing complex. Our Young Master simply wants you to accelerate the consolidation of your strength, because he intends to ‘play’ with you in the Northern Underworld.”
“Play?”
“Indeed, just play. You need not worry about the other families of the Eight Great Clans. With your current strength, you don't need to concern yourself with them at all; extinguishing them is but a matter of lifting a finger. Of course, if you desire my assistance, that can be arranged,” Tian San said with a strange smile.
“Can I take this as a challenge issued to me by him?” Yang Yi was mostly astonished. Ye Han seemed even more cunning than himself. Furthermore, based on what Tian San was saying now, it implied Ye Han completely disregarded the Eight Great Families and instead placed importance on Yang Yi. However, one thing he didn’t understand was why Ye Han would send someone to deliver these words now.
As if sensing Yang Yi’s confusion, Tian San smiled. “Don’t doubt the words of my Young Master. You had best heed my advice and deal with the Eight Great Families quickly, otherwise, if you don't handle them, you won’t be qualified to cross swords with our Young Master!”
“Are you saying that your Young Master currently requires me to resolve the affairs of the Eight Great Families as quickly as possible to qualify for a match against him? Perhaps he also has a soft spot for the Northern Underworld?”
“No, no,” Tian San shook his head. “Our Young Master holds no ambition regarding the underworld. Rather, he places immense importance on his rivals.”
“Rivals?” Yang Yi let out a cold laugh. He had gained too much tonight. Earlier, he was still guessing whether the Ye family heir was truly his greatest opponent, but now everything was as clear as day.
“I wish you good luck,” Tian San said with a faint smile, then his figure flickered and vanished.
“Dragon Lord!” Tian Cong and Di Yu immediately called out to Yang Yi after Tian San disappeared.
It seems he spoke the truth; without resolving the matters of the Eight Great Families, I truly am not qualified to face him. Since he values me so highly, I shouldn't disappoint him, Yang Yi pondered inwardly, yet the bizarre smile he wore appeared terrifying in the eyes of Six Paths of Reincarnation.
##################################### One night passed just like that, and by the next morning, Yang Yi and his entourage had arrived at their destination on time. Seeing the astonished expressions on Nangong San and the others, the familiar, roguish smile on Yang Yi’s face widened further.
“Very good. This time you managed to arrive safely and on schedule. Although some recruits were eliminated along the way, I can proudly tell you: this batch of new recruits is the most outstanding in recent years,” Instructor Li said, leading the applause.
The new recruits followed suit, their clapping echoing thunderously, signaling the official start of the final few days of the military training.
“Boss, where are we heading now?” Ye Xiaohou asked doubtfully. Today was essentially the last day of training; they were leaving early tomorrow morning, and he was genuinely curious where Yang Yi was taking them.
“You’ll know when we get there.”
“Brother Yi loves speaking in riddles,” Fatty Lin said with a helpless look. Seeing Ye Xiaohou turn his confused gaze onto him, he immediately roared, “Damn it, don’t look at me, I don’t know either.”
“Tch, I despise you, Second Brother.”
“Hey, it’s fine if you despise me, but don't despise my ‘second part’ [a pun on 'second brother' and 'second thing']. Damn it.”
“I’m not that shameless, you old witch. I called you Second Brother, not that second thing. Go die!” Ye Xiaohou completely ignored Fatty Lin’s smug smile and cursed back.
“These two!” Yang Yi shook his head helplessly and pushed open the flap of a tent, stepping inside.
Immediately, a voice greeted them: “Brothers, you two are still as shameless as ever!”
“Third Brother??” Ye Xiaohou and Fatty Lin exclaimed simultaneously.
“Uh! Don’t sound so enthusiastic. Damn it, I’m not gay!” Xu Ming, sitting inside the tent, retorted with a curse.
“Shit, actually, what we meant was, you’re even more shameless,” Fatty Lin and Ye Xiaohou said in unison.
“Holy crap—!”