Hearing Yang Kai's words, Yang Zhen couldn't help but glance at him in surprise, not expecting such ambitious demands. He nodded and said, "I'll prepare everything for you and have it delivered to your residence."
"I appreciate your trouble, Elder. I'll take my leave." Yang Kai cupped his fists.
He turned and headed for the door.
"Don't go down too early in the Succession War, kid. That would disappoint me." Yang Zhen's voice came from behind.
"Just wait and see, Elder!"
His voice drifted back, but he had already vanished.
"Arrogant!" Yang Zhen snorted softly.
The plump elder who had gone to fetch Cheng Bailian furrowed his brow in thought for a moment, then spoke up. "Yang Zhen, this kid is gambling! He could end up destroyed beyond recovery."
"The Succession War is nothing but a grand gamble to begin with! Those young ones—haven't they all seen the opportunity in it? But not a single one of them dared to make a decision like this. He's the only one!" Yang Zhen's eyes flashed with a shrewd light as he gave a slight nod. "We won't see results in the short term, but at the very least, he's already gained the initiative with the Blood Guards. This young man from the Fourth Lord's estate has guts and boldness—he carries the true bearing of the Yang family!"
The gains and losses involved in Yang Kai's choice of those two Blood Guards—could shrewd elders like them possibly fail to see through it? Such a choice, in the Succession War, as long as he held his ground in the early phase and wasn't swiftly defeated, the returns would only grow larger and larger! The only thing to worry about was getting wiped out early, before those two Blood Guards had recovered from their injuries.
Blood Guard Hall.
A unique place within the Yang family—the place where the Blood Guards resided. Even from over ten li away, one could clearly feel the boundless battle intent radiating from within.
These invisible forces seemed to converge into a razor-sharp sword, its edge glaringly keen, capable of slicing through the very sky.
The Blood Guards were born warriors, talents raised specifically for combat. Their battle intent was formidable, serving as one of the Yang family's golden namesakes—even when they weren't at war. The killing aura that clung to these Blood Guards had solidified into something almost tangible, permeating the area around the Blood Guard Hall.
As Yang Kai made his way forward, even he wore a solemn expression upon sensing this awe-inspiring presence.
Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian stood respectfully outside the Blood Guard Hall gates, quietly awaiting Yang Kai's arrival. Before them stood a powerfully built man, hands clasped behind his back, dressed in a common black warrior's garb, his physique imposing. His expression was calm, long hair draped over his shoulders, giving him an air of striking distinction. His eyes were like cold stars, piercing and soul-shaking.
Feng Sheng, Master of the Blood Guard Hall—a peak expert of the Shenyou Realm who had rendered meritorious service to the Yang family. After activating the Tyrant Blood Berserker Art, he could even contend with experts above the Shenyou Realm.
Across all of Zhongdu, he was a famous name—one of the few true powerhouses.
Ever since Tu Feng and Tang Yuxian had returned to report the previous day, Feng Sheng had grown curious about the youngest Young Master, Kai. Qu Gaoyi and Ying Jiu were his subordinates, and as the Blood Guard Hall Master, he naturally cared about the two of them.
He wanted to see with his own eyes what kind of person this young lord was—the one willing to take on Qu Gaoyi and Ying Jiu.
Over the course of the day, several Yang family young masters had come by, but as of yet, that particular young lord had not appeared. Still, Feng Sheng showed no impatience, simply standing there in quiet composure.
Tu Feng was secretly anxious. Although Yang Kai had agreed to his and Tang Yuxian's request the previous day, and he had no reason to doubt Yang Kai's word, the truth was he had no idea whether Yang Kai actually had enough merit to exchange for Qu Gaoyi and Ying Jiu.
What if his merit wasn't sufficient?
While he was fretting, a tall, lean young man appeared in his line of sight, strolling toward them at an unhurried pace.
"Is that him?" Feng Sheng asked.
"It's him—it's the young lord!" The boulder that had been weighing on Tu Feng's chest finally dropped away. His entire body relaxed, and he exchanged a knowing smile with Tang Yuxian.
The young lord truly was a man of his word! It was just a pity they couldn't follow him in this coming Succession War. Thinking of this, both of them felt a deep sense of regret.
As Yang Kai drew near, he raised his eyes to appraise Feng Sheng.
A gaze like lightning, a rich and lingering aura—his flesh and blood concealed an unparalleled explosive force.
Peak Shenyou Realm!
Yang Kai's eyes lit up. In a single glance, he had discerned the man's true cultivation level. If such a powerhouse fought him, a single move would be enough to destroy him. The vast gap in strength and realm could not be bridged by artifacts or the evil energy within his Proud Bone Golden Body.
His attire was plain, but Yang Kai could clearly sense that the man standing before him wasn't circulating any technique—yet the energy of heaven and earth still flowed continuously into him, seeping into his body, constantly refining his true yuan, making it purer and denser than others', without question a cut above.
Truly worthy of being a Blood Guard Hall powerhouse!
Yang Kai silently marvelled. The Yang family's ability to stand tall for so many years, holding the foremost position among the Eight Great Families of Zhongdu—there was no shortage of reasons for it.
While Yang Kai's gaze swept over Feng Sheng, the latter was quietly observing him in turn.
Dressed casually, showing no trace of luxury—simpler and more understated than a typical noble heir. Such attire was undoubtedly more suited to sudden combat situations. Young, probably only around eighteen, yet his cultivation had already reached the eighth level of the Zhenyuan Realm. His expression was calm; his eyes appeared ordinary at first glance, yet occasionally a sharp gleam would flash through them.
Feng Sheng's eyes narrowed slightly, his expression turning grave.
He sensed a killing intent emanating from Yang Kai—thick and unmistakable.
A killing intent. Feng Sheng carried it too, even more potent and overwhelming than Yang Kai's. This kind of aura could not be obtained through cultivation alone. It was left behind only after taking lives—and many of them—to produce such a presence.
This young lord was so young, yet had killed so many people. It seemed he was no easy opponent. This was what truly caught Feng Sheng's attention.
What struck Feng Sheng as even more peculiar was that within the young lord's body, there seemed to be another strange and eerie power—a power that tugged at his killing intent, causing him to experience a fleeting sensation of goosebumps creeping across his scalp, as though the violent, suppressed aura he had long kept under control in his heart had suddenly surged.