Chapter 226

Chapter 226: Coming for Pride

After Ghost King Yingtian escaped from the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, Qiu Yinong had entered seclusion, shutting herself away from the world.

During that time, she had been completely unaware of the Great Path Sacred Fruit Tree, as it had not yet emerged when she began her closed-door training.

She also had no knowledge of the rumors surrounding Zhang Yang’s death.

Thus, after perfecting her holy body, she was driven by a singular obsession—

To kill Zhang Yang and reclaim her pride.

She wanted to erase the most humiliating moment of her life, the shame she suffered at the Trapped Dragon Pavilion in Mo City.

She couldn’t wait any longer.

She set out to kill Zhang Yang.

When the others—Yilie, Liu Taixu, Mu Yujing, and the rest—saw her moving with purpose, they instinctively assumed she was heading to compete for the Great Path Sacred Fruit.

That was the only logical conclusion in their minds.

To them, nothing was more important than the Great Path Sacred Fruit, so anyone who acted recklessly was viewed as a competitor.

Yilie immediately shouted, "Zhang Yang is dead!"

At the entrance of the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, Qiu Yinong paused slightly and turned back.

Her ocean-deep eyes suddenly erupted with a holy radiance.

The sheer might she exuded made Yilie feel as if he were standing before a saint.

Even though they were far apart, he felt an overwhelming pressure crushing down on him, suffocating him.

His expression changed as he once again realized just how invincible Qiu Yinong had become.

Taking a deep breath to suppress his fear, he said:

"This is well known—Zhang Yang was thrown into the chaotic flow of space by the Seventh Prince, the Phoenix Woman, and Yaoruoxian. Many witnessed it. Even Zhang Yang’s followers are desperately seeking revenge, proving that his death is already a settled matter. There is no need for your intervention."

Ying Wuji nodded. "Brother Yi is correct."

Mu Yujing, Liu Taixu, and Baishi all nodded as well.

They did not want Qiu Yinong to join the battle for the Great Path Sacred Fruit.

With her current strength, even if her power were suppressed to the Eighth Level of the Ascending to Heaven Realm, she would still be invincible inside the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

If she decided to fight for the Great Path Sacred Fruit Tree, what would they do?

They all wanted to maintain the balance and preserve the existing rules.

Even Ying Wuji of the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land hoped she would stay out of it.

However, Qiu Yinong remained unmoved.

"He won’t die so easily."

With that, she stepped into the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

Yilie, Liu Taixu, and the others were furious.

Mu Yujing directly declared, "She’s using the excuse that Zhang Yang is still alive to seize the Great Path Sacred Fruit! This is outrageous! Is she trying to break the long-standing rules of the Southern Region? Ying Wuji, you must act!"

"Indeed!" Liu Taixu echoed angrily. "The major forces of the Southern Region united to keep outsiders from the other four lands out, ensuring that we alone would divide the Great Path Sacred Fruit! How can we let her ruin this?"

Faced with their accusations, Ying Wuji merely smiled coldly.

"Didn’t you all just say that Qiu Yinong surpasses me? What exactly do you expect me to do? Why didn’t any of you take action earlier?"

His words left them speechless.

Who among them dared provoke Qiu Yinong in her current state?

Yilie sneered. "Then let’s send in ten experts from the Small Boundless Realm—but the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land is forbidden from participating!"

Ying Wuji’s expression darkened.

Many other Great Boundless experts agreed with the plan.

Thus, waves of Small Boundless experts poured into the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, receiving clear orders—

Stop Qiu Yinong at all costs.

To them, with Zhang Yang gone, Qiu Yinong was now the undisputed strongest in the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins.

She was the greatest threat to the Great Path Sacred Fruit.

Yet, despite their numbers, the Small Boundless experts were utterly insignificant before Qiu Yinong.

Even with her power suppressed to the Eighth Level of Ascending to Heaven, she completely ignored them.

They trailed behind her, constantly reporting her movements back to the outside world.

And so, Qiu Yinong pressed forward, speaking to no one, her sole purpose clear—

To find Zhang Yang.

Qiu Yinong’s holy body brought about extreme transformations in various aspects, with her intuition becoming particularly pronounced.

To those in the Great Boundless Realm, saints seemed omnipotent—not just because of their higher realms, but because of their remarkable instincts.

Where others in the Great Boundless Realm struggled to uncover secrets through immense effort, saints could perceive them instinctively. Under certain special circumstances, they could even sense danger in advance.

Thus, as Qiu Yinong wandered through the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins, whenever she spotted holy treasures or saintly inheritances, she felt tempted and attempted to claim them.

With her absolute advantage, she moved forward unhindered, collecting a vast number of treasures along the way.

In contrast, the Small Boundless experts who attempted to snatch these treasures met with disastrous consequences—cursed by the holy might of the artifacts, suffering severe backlash.

More than twenty were gravely injured or killed, forcing the others to give up in frustration.

Three days later, Qiu Yinong finally found Zhang Yang.

The area was desolate, devoid of holy treasures or saintly inheritances—a place few would visit.

Zhang Yang, deep in secluded training, was in a remote part of the ruins.

Yet, the moment Qiu Yinong caught sight of him, her body reacted instinctively—a response fueled by the hatred buried deep within her soul.

"Zhang Yang!"

She whispered his name, her voice laced with endless killing intent.

Instantly, the temperature plummeted, sending a chill through the sixty-plus Small Boundless experts trailing behind her.

It felt as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

Whoosh!

Qiu Yinong lifted her Golden Autumn Divine Sword and charged forward.

Zhang Yang, still in seclusion, immediately sensed her presence.

In his state of deep meditation, his perception of the outside world was exceptionally sharp—especially after the significant progress he had made in his saintly path.

The fully developed Diamond Dragon Holy Power further enhanced his awareness, making it nearly impossible to catch him off guard.

Thus, he emerged from his mountain of Spirit Stones, his eyes gleaming.

After three days of intense cultivation, he had successfully broken through—

Touching Heaven Realm, Level Four!

However, instead of excitement, he felt frustrated.

Despite having the rare opportunity to seek out holy treasures and inheritances, he found himself uninterested.

All he wanted was to continue cultivating—to push his realm to the point where he could fully wield the power of the Diamond Dragon Holy Power.

With his rapid cultivation speed, he only needed enough Spirit Stones to progress further.

Yet, just as he was about to continue, he was interrupted.

Casually, he waved his hand, sending the consumed Spirit Stones flying, while the remaining ones were stored back in his storage bag.

Then, he looked up.

Standing before him was Qiu Yinong, her aura cold and oppressive. Behind her, more than sixty Small Boundless experts loomed like a shadowy tide.

With a smirk, he spoke playfully,

"So, it’s the Southern Region’s Golden Cauldron’s Qiu Yinong, making such a grand entrance. Tsk, tsk… Is this so-called ‘pride’ of yours what brings a group of Small Boundless experts to seek revenge on me?"

Qiu Yinong paused, her icy gaze locked onto Zhang Yang.

Her voice was cold and unwavering.

"I have always held my pride high, never bowing to anyone. I will not allow anyone to slander it."

She stepped onto a rock thirty meters ahead, standing tall with an unshakable presence.

She then turned to the experts behind her, her tone frostier than ever.

"You all wonder whether I have come to kill Zhang Yang or to claim the Great Path Sacred Fruit. Fine. I now give you a choice—either attack Zhang Yang or leave the Daybreak Phoenix Ruins!"

Her words left no room for negotiation.

The Small Boundless experts exchanged uneasy glances.

One of the stronger ones finally spoke, his tone respectful but firm.

"Elder Qiu, we are not from the Golden Cauldron Sacred Land. Our actions are none of your concern."

Whoosh!

Before anyone could react, Qiu Yinong flipped backward, landing behind the group.

Her voice was cold and sharp as a blade.

"You followed me to monitor whether I would seize the Great Path Sacred Fruit—now you deny it? Do you think I, Qiu Yinong, can be toyed with?"

Her eyes swept across them like piercing daggers.

"I will ask only once more—what is your choice?"

The Small Boundless expert who had spoken earlier let out a defiant snort.

"And if we choose neither? What will you do? Do you dare to kill us?"

His voice was filled with arrogance.

Yet, before he could finish speaking—

A thin line of blood appeared across his neck.

His body swayed for a moment. Then, he collapsed lifelessly.

Qiu Yinong’s expression remained impassive.

"There is no third option."

Her eyes, cold and merciless, swept across the group.

"Now, I make your choice for you—kill Zhang Yang."

Some of the Small Boundless experts grew furious, ready to voice their outrage.

But before they could speak—

Slash!

A flash of sword light swept through the air.

Puff! Puff! Puff!

Seven more fell dead in an instant.

The remaining experts trembled in horror.

At that moment, they understood—Qiu Yinong had no intention of negotiating.

This was not a warning.

This was a command.

Their gazes met in silent agreement.

With a collective battle cry, they turned toward Zhang Yang and charged at him.

Zhang Yang remained calm, watching the incoming attack.

Yet, his gaze bypassed them entirely—fixating instead on Qiu Yinong.

His lips curled into a knowing smirk.

"Are you testing my strength?"

His tone was laced with amusement.

"Or are you trying to kill the witnesses… so no one learns our little secret?"

As he spoke, his eyes inadvertently drifted to a specific spot on Qiu Yinong.

Then, in a whisper only he could hear, he mused:

"Why can’t I forget that beautiful sight…? It has truly tormented my mind and body."