Chapter 196

Chapter 196: Different Pride

A tribulation began at that moment.

When Yaoruoxian shattered the Demon Tribulation Seal, it was as if she had unlocked the gateway to a profound transformation.

What would become of her in the end?

Even she did not know, but she had already embarked on a unique tribulation that belonged solely to her.

Zhang Yang did not act further. He felt a faint, almost imperceptible connection to Yaoruoxian, one that left him both intrigued and mystified.

What exactly was Yaoruoxian’s origin?

Why did she seek to undergo this tribulation to become an Immortal?

And this was no ordinary tribulation—it was a human tribulation, one that seemed to revolve around him.

Zhang Yang increasingly sensed that the Eternal Night, devoid of immortals, had reached a pivotal moment in this era, as if a great upheaval was on the horizon.

He! The Seventh Prince! Both felt the same way.

Now, another figure had emerged—Yaoruoxian.

And then there was Ye Kuanglan, who sought to achieve the Dao and become an Immortal through his sword—a path equally extraordinary.

As for the enigmatic white crane, its role remained unclear.

Zhang Yang faintly sensed that after the Eternal Night, an unprecedented great era was about to dawn.

"A great era!"

"Let it come! The more radiant the great era, the more it will unleash a person’s greatest potential."

"How thrilling it is to anticipate."

"In fact, this also reflects something deeper."

"Women like Bing Yuyan, Qiu Yinong, and Yaoruoxian—each an incredibly enchanting woman—competing in the same era… Such a thing has never happened before."

"Bing Yuyan’s pride lies in her surface-level arrogance; Qiu Yinong’s pride is rooted deep in her bones; Yaoruoxian’s pride is soul-deep, a cold and proud essence… I’ve said nothing!"

Suddenly, his expression changed drastically, and he instinctively raised his hands in surrender.

Unbeknownst to him, a woman of breathtaking beauty had appeared by his side.

It was Yuluan.

Without a word, she stepped forward and grabbed Zhang Yang’s ear, saying, "I never realized how many secrets you harbor—mentioning Bing Yuyan, Qiu Yinong, and Yaoruoxian. Tell me, what exactly are you scheming?"

Yuluan had grown even more extraordinary.

Not only was her aura more profound and steady, clearly indicating her increased power, but her beauty had also blossomed, as if the radiance hidden within her had been fully unleashed. She now possessed a presence that could rival Yaoruoxian’s allure.

"Not at all! I merely thought the three of them shared some similarities, but upon closer comparison, I realized they are entirely different. It’s just a superficial resemblance. In truth, before my Sister Yuluan, they are all insignificant and not worth mentioning," Zhang Yang said. "Sister Yuluan is the most beautiful woman in my eyes."

Yuluan snorted. "Is that so? And what about your sister?"

Zhang Yang chuckled awkwardly. "Equally beautiful, of course."

"Since when did you start coating your words in honey?" Yuluan remarked.

Zhang Yang grinned. "Why don’t you taste it for yourself, Sister Yuluan?"

The two teased each other for a while.

Suddenly, Yuluan said, "Just now, I seem to have heard Yaoruoxian say that if she cannot pass this calamity, she will become your slave?"

"No, I meant to say I would become a little servant for Sister Yuluan," Zhang Yang replied.

"Really?" Yuluan expressed doubt.

Zhang Yang’s expression grew serious. "This Yaoruoxian is no simple character. Her power is immense. If Ye Kuanglan had not found his opportunity to grow in the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, he might not be her match. Sister Yuluan must be especially careful when encountering her in the future."

"My initial thought was to kill her and eliminate this great hidden danger directly."

"Unfortunately, she is too sharp and never gives me the opportunity."

"So, I seized upon her cold pride—the way she sees all living beings as ants—and struck hard at it, provoking her. In the end, I became her calamity, forcing her to make a vow. This way, her thoughts will be fixated on defeating me, preventing her from bringing disaster to others."

These were his true thoughts.

Yaoruoxian was truly terrifying.

Moreover, the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins held many opportunities, most at the saint level. Even if Yaoruoxian grew stronger, he might not be able to suppress her completely. After all, she was the first non-saint after the Eternal Night to create the Saints’ laws.

Look at those so-called destined figures—Ying Wuji, Qiu Yinong, Ghost King Futian, and others. Did any of them possess the Saints’ laws? Even Saint Liu Yinhua, who was killed in Mo City, never had them.

Yuluan nodded, but a deep-rooted pride was also awakening within her.

Before meeting Zhang Yang, her mindset had been pragmatic—she was aware of her many shortcomings. Not to mention the geniuses of the Southern Region, even the geniuses of the Great Xia Empire had seemed distant to her.

However, everything had changed.

From the moment she obtained half a drop of saint’s blood, her transformation had begun. Again and again, she had undergone extraordinary changes, culminating in the ten Dragon Pills that fundamentally altered her, giving her dragon horns.

Now, she, too, held a sense of pride—a desire to prove herself.

Her former lack of confidence, even a slight inferiority, had transformed into this pride.

As long as Yuluan could engage in a truly meaningful battle to prove herself, this pride would take full shape, forming her unique style of confidence and grace.

"I want to experience it when the opportunity comes," Yuluan whispered.

Zhang Yang smiled. He was increasingly confident in Yuluan, and seeing her delicate dragon horns, he couldn’t help but reach out and touch them.

Yuluan’s fair cheeks instantly turned crimson.

"Sister Yuluan has actually blushed," Zhang Yang remarked.

Yuluan scoffed, removing his hand. "Come with me to see someone."

Zhang Yang asked, "Who?"

Yuluan replied, "Someone rather bothersome."

Zhang Yang raised an eyebrow.

Hand in hand, they followed Yuluan away from their current location.

They crossed over a hundred miles of mountains and ridges.

Ahead appeared a vast expanse of peach trees.

Peach blossoms bloomed, coloring the area pink, while the wind blew, scattering petals like rain.

In that peach blossom grove stood a graceful, handsome figure.

The person and the peach blossom grove formed a breathtaking scene, as if nature itself had painted a masterpiece.

He had an elegant demeanor, dressed in white, smiling as he looked at them.

"His name is Langya Yu, said to be from the cursed land of Langya," Yuluan quietly introduced. "Yes, he also claims to be my brother."

Among the four great forbidden areas of the Southern Region, the cursed land of Langya was the most mysterious and rarely seen. Yet now, someone from that very land had appeared before them.

Zhang Yang frowned. "Isn’t the cursed land of Langya what remains after the fall of the Langya Empire? The royal family of the Langya Empire all bore the surname Yu. How can he be named Langya while having Yu as his given name?"

Yuluan pouted. "Who knows? Perhaps the people of the cursed land have long forgotten their roots. In any case, they claim to have changed their surname from Yu to Langya. Since his name still includes ‘Yu,’ it’s supposed to be a way of honoring their ancestors. It sounds nice, at least."

Zhang Yang had no further comment.

At that moment, the elegant, handsome figure of Langya Yu approached them, bowing slightly.

"Greetings to the Mighty Battle God. Langya Yu offers his respects."

Zhang Yang returned the greeting. "You honor me."

Langya Yu smiled. "I believe my little sister has already informed you of my identity. I have come here to—"

"I don’t understand your intentions," Yuluan interrupted flatly.

Langya Yu maintained his smile. "Little sister, I know you feel resistant. After all, you have been wandering outside since childhood. It is only natural that you harbor grievances against the family. But there are things you may not know."

Yuluan remained indifferent, but Zhang Yang noticed how she unconsciously tightened her grip on his hand. A subtle yet undeniable sign of tension.

No one could be completely indifferent to their origins.

Even Yuluan—who always carried herself with carefree confidence—was flustered. That was why she had sought Zhang Yang. Only he could give her a sense of security.

Langya Yu continued, "Little sister, our cursed land of Langya was once the mighty Langya Empire, standing for far longer than the Great Xia Empire in the Southern Region. Do you know why we fell? It wasn’t just external forces—it was also internal strife."

"When the empire fell, our ancestors turned the Langya Imperial Capital into a cursed land at the last moment, hoping to give us a chance to breathe and rebuild. But more than a decade ago, civil conflict erupted again. Our royal family suffered devastating losses, nearly facing total annihilation. With no other choice, we sent many royal children away to protect them from persecution."

"Each of those children had a protector assigned to them. Unfortunately, the one meant to safeguard you was killed, which led to your years of wandering."

"As for those of us who survived, we changed our surname to Langya—to remember our ancestors and foster unity among our people as we started anew."

Langya Yu’s voice was calm, yet the weight of history echoed in his words.

He took out a piece of divine jade and handed it to Yuluan. "This is Langya Divine Jade. It can further awaken your bloodline. You can also use it to contact me. No matter when or where, I will come if you call."

"Whether or not you choose to return to the cursed land of Langya, you are still my little sister. You will always be a part of our royal bloodline."

"We are willing to make amends for everything you have suffered."

Langya Yu clasped his fists in farewell to Zhang Yang before leaving gracefully.

Yuluan, however, stood frozen, staring at the Langya Divine Jade in her hands, lost in thought.

Zhang Yang’s voice was gentle. "Sister Yuluan, do you want to go back?"