Xiao Ye’s cold gaze fell on the right hand of the young man in extravagant clothes, a powerful surge of force swept through the heavens like towering mountains.
"The Supreme Xiao Ye is going to cripple his right hand?" The jewelry store fell into dead silence; everyone was shocked beyond belief.
It should be noted that the young man in extravagant clothes is one of the noble family’s descendants of the Imperial City; if Xiao Ye really cripples his right hand, some trouble would ensue, after all, brats are hard to deal with.
When a Supreme is enraged for his beloved, Xiao Ye, like a Death God whose scales have been touched, released an overwhelming killing intent that sent shivers down one’s spine.
"No, don’t, Supreme Xiao Ye I was wrong!" the young man in extravagant clothes, lying in the corner, was so frightened he wet himself, and tears flowed out.
He was accustomed to a life of honor and privileges as a scion of a noble family, never having witnessed such a scene before, he came to regret deeply at this moment.
Bing Ya stood there, staring at the figure of Xiao Ye, her eyes suddenly reddened, a warmth she never felt before flowed through her heart—it was moved, melting the cold inside her.
Even she was startled by Xiao Ye’s excessive reaction.
She felt that this not-so-tall figure was enough to shield her from any stormy assault and provide her a safe harbor.
"If in this world, I could find someone willing to slaughter all beings for me, it must be him." Bing Ya’s eyes trembled, and she took steps towards Xiao Ye.
Just as Xiao Ye was about to act, suddenly a soft and warm body embraced him from behind, a pair of jade arms wrapped around his waist.
"Junior Brother, don’t take action, let’s go," Bing Ya leaned on Xiao Ye’s back, listening to his strong heartbeat, and whispered softly.
Xiao Ye was startled; Bing Ya’s whispering and embrace swiftly dissipated his killing intent.
"Okay!" A faint smile appeared on Xiao Ye’s lips as he gently turned around to meet Bing Ya’s eyes.
At this moment, the two did not need many words, only a silent exchange of glances was needed.
Xiao Ye handed the silver note to the jewelry store owner, retrieved the bracelet, and before leaving, he looked at the surviving young man in extravagant clothes, "Next time, no one will save you."
Having said that, Xiao Ye took Bing Ya’s small hand and turned to leave, leaving the young man with a pale face standing still.
After leaving the jewelry store, Xiao Ye personally put the Ocean Chain of the Sea Chain on Bing Ya’s wrist.
"Sister, if I hadn’t shown up just now, would you really have left with that guy?" Xiao Ye asked seemingly casually.
"Yeah, I really wanted to see what would happen," Bing Ya said seriously, but her eyes were full of sly light.
"You are so beautiful that it brings disaster to the country, aren’t you afraid that someone will sell you?" Xiao Ye glared and said.
Bing Ya chuckled lightly, her face full of anticipation, "I believe Junior Brother would certainly come to rescue me, right?"
Such ambiguous words made Xiao Ye’s heart tremble, and he nodded fiercely: "Naturally, whoever dares to sell you, I’ll obliterate them!"
"Alas, if the ladies of the Imperial City knew that the number one Young Supreme also has such a violent side, I wonder if they would be very disappointed?" Bing Ya pretended to sigh helplessly.
"I don’t care how the world sees me, I only care about you," Xiao Ye said earnestly.
Bing Ya trembled, a blush swept across her cheeks, and between them, the metaphorical paper-window was growing thinner.
Afterward, the two strolled around the Imperial City for a while before hand-in-hand returned to Long Yu’s residence.
The incident at the jewelry store spread rapidly within the Imperial City; Long Yu even teased Xiao Ye about it.
The days following were very calm, many youths who had come for the Heavenly Pride Battle left.
Apart from accompanying Bing Ya, Xiao Ye kept trying to achieve Perfect Innate True Qi, but kept failing. His only hope was now pinned on the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land.
With the half-month deadline drawing near, the originally calm Imperial City once again became turbulent.
Because the opening of the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land signifies the start of the Youth Supreme Battle of the Thirteen Countries in the Yulan Domain, a scale far greater than the Black Dragon Country’s Heavenly Pride Battle.
This was truly a battle at the peak!
In a blink of an eye, half a month passed. The day before, Bing Ya bid farewell to leave, saying she would return to the Chongyang Sect and wait for Xiao Ye to come out of the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land.
In Long Yu’s residence, Xiao Ye rose up, his eyes profound, a war intent soaring into the sky.
"I wonder what level of strength the other twelve countries’ Young Supreme in the Yulan Domain have?" Xiao Ye shouldered the Flame Saber, left Long Yu’s residence, and headed for the Imperial Palace.
This trip to the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land was bound to be dangerous. It’s always right to bring the Flame Saber, and it would be convenient for him to comprehend the Flame True Intent when obtaining the Bodhi Leaf.
On his way to the Imperial Palace, He Mo appeared with He Wudao, his cold gaze swept over Xiao Ye, a thread of killing intent poured out.
Xiao Ye ignored it, walking on his own. Inside the Imperial City, the King would not allow He Mo to strike against him.
"Wudao, the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land is very special, protected by the Empress’s remaining energy, Martial Artists won’t genuinely fall. However, if they’re attacked by a strong force, it can still cause considerable damage. So, you must be vigilant that Xiao Ye might make a move against you," He Mo withdrew his gaze and said to He Wudao.
"Father, I understand," He Wudao nodded and then followed He Mo toward the Imperial Palace.
From He Mo, he could not obtain more detailed information; only by truly entering the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land would he know.
When Xiao Ye arrived at the plaza outside the Imperial Palace, he found that Xue Zhan and Jiang Yunfan were already waiting there, alongside the elders from their sects — Mystic Martial experts — who came to see them off.
Upon seeing Xiao Ye, Xue Zhan and Jiang Yunfan greeted him with clasped hands and smiled very politely.
"Xiao Ye, representing the Black Dragon Country, I hope you will support each other in the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land," one of the Mystic Martial experts who was seeing them off said.
"Of course." Xiao Ye said with a smile and a nod, feeling quite fond of Xue Zhan and Jiang Yunfan, and didn’t mind helping them if he could.
At that moment, Long Chen, dressed in a purple robe, also appeared. He glanced at Xiao Ye and then averted his gaze.
Soon after, He Mo, accompanied by He Wudao, arrived.
Xiao Ye, Long Chen, He Wudao, Xue Zhan, and Jiang Yunfan, the Five Young Supremes, stood side by side as the golden sunrise enveloped each of them in a layer of golden light.
"Is everyone here?" The King flew in from the sky, his authoritative voice echoing through the void.
Xiao Ye and the others, along with the Xuanwu Realm powerhouses present, respectfully paid their homage.
The King nodded slightly, his gaze falling upon the Five Young Supremes, and with a wave of his hand, a massive Flying Warship ascended to the heavens, hovering above the crowd.
"Everyone, board the ship. I will take you to the entrance of the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land," the King said, and then shot up into the sky, alighting on the Flying Giant Ship.
The Five Young Supremes followed, ascending onto the Flying Giant Ship.
"Ah, I truly hope that Xue Zhan can obtain some treasures in the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land," a departing Xuanwu Realm powerhouse gazed up at the disappearing Flying Giant Ship, silently praying.
The entrance to the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land was fully controlled by the Royal Family, so naturally, they couldn’t follow. Otherwise, with the King’s cultivation level, he would quickly notice.
"Xiao Ye, after you come out from the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land, your time of death will come," He Mo’s eyes brimmed with a cold glint, and then he turned to leave.
He was off to lay out his Heavenly Net, leaving no chance for Xiao Ye to escape.
Under the King’s control, the Flying Giant Ship tore through the clouds at a terrifying speed, flying out towards the outskirts of the Imperial City.
"I can’t see anything?" Just as Xiao Ye boarded the ship, he noticed a dark veil covering the entire Giant Ship, completely obscuring any view of the outside.
Xiao Ye understood that the King definitely did not want to reveal the location of the Empress’s entrance.
As time silently flowed by, Xiao Ye simply sat cross-legged since there was nothing to see, continuing to strive for the Perfect Innate True Qi.
He didn’t know how much time had passed when the ship suddenly jolted, as if it had landed.
"Have we arrived?" Xiao Ye quickly opened his eyes; the dark veil that had shrouded the entire Giant Ship was already withdrawn.
"Everyone, come down," the King descended first.
The Five Young Supremes followed suit, alighting from the Giant Ship, curiously looking around.
"Where is this?" Xiao Ye saw a forest of trees before him, as though he was standing in a sea of trees.
The other four Young Supremes also looked around with different expressions.
Suddenly, Xiao Ye’s gaze sharpened. Not far away in mid-air, there was a palm-sized Space Rift, like a gash cut through the sky. If one didn’t look closely, it would be almost impossible to notice.
"Could that possibly be the entrance to the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land?" Shock covered Xiao Ye’s face.
The other four Young Supremes also spotted the Space Rift, all of them filled with amazement.
"Before I open the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land, I must declare that there are conditions for you to enter," the King spoke.
"Conditions?" Xiao Ye was taken aback.
"No matter what treasures you find inside, you must contribute one to our Royal Family," the King continued, his oppressive gaze looming.
Xiao Ye suddenly understood.
Since the Royal Family controlled the entrance to the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land, they would definitely want to benefit; otherwise, they wouldn’t waste the effort to organize the Heavenly Pride Battle.
Contributing one treasure might seem insignificant, but accumulated over time, the bottom line of the Royal Family would become terrifyingly profound.
With just this, the Royal Family was irreplaceable by any other power within the Black Dragon Country.
"It seems that the five Bodhi Leaves that Long Chen used were acquired in this way," Xiao Ye speculated in his heart.
"If you have any objections, you may voice them now," the King said at this point, staring at Xiao Ye and the other four.
Xiao Ye, He Wudao, Xue Zhan, and Jiang Yunfan quickly shook their heads.
With countless treasures inside the Empress’s Hard Cultivation Land, why would they object to contributing just one?
"Very well, I will now open the entrance," the King said, satisfied, and then flew toward the Space Rift.
(Today there will only be two updates; I will make up for the one I owe today tomorrow, and the upcoming plot will be even more exciting.)