Zhang Family's Youngest — Zhang Yuyang
"Uh… what are you doing?"
Zhang Lingxiao was completely caught off guard by the sudden, fragrant kiss.
Su Qing appeared and vanished like a ghost, materializing out of nowhere and sealing his mouth with her soft lips, her fragrant tongue invading without warning.
Zhang Lingxiao froze in shock at first, but the familiar aura on Su Qing's body quickly registered. His stiffened posture relaxed slightly as recognition set in.
"What am I doing?" Su Qing laughed softly. "Little man, you've gained so many benefits from me. Naturally, I'm here to collect a little interest."
"Did you really think everything I did for you today was free?"
She pulled back, licking her red lips lightly. Her eyes shimmered like silk, lazy and seductive.
"Alright!" Zhang Lingxiao laughed, playing along. "I, Zhang Lingxiao, am a man of my word. Come at me!"
He straightened up and struck a pose as if prepared to face death, a grin tugging at his lips.
Just as Su Qing leaned in again, the silver ring on Zhang Lingxiao's finger suddenly flashed with a cold, silvery glow.
The next instant, a translucent figure emerged.
Gu Yue Ningbing's soul body appeared once more.
"Rebellious disciple! What are you doing?!" she shouted sternly.
Su Qing jolted in fright, instantly releasing her jade arms and stepping back.
"M-Master… you're awake?" Her expression turned pale with shock.
After all, Zhang Lingxiao was the man her Master had taken a liking to. Accidentally tasting him once was already dangerous enough—but actively making a move again was nothing short of audacious.
Gu Yue Ningbing's expression darkened.
She was a Saintess of the God Race—even if she was no longer at her peak, she was still sacred and inviolable. She possessed an innate sense of purity and dignity. How could she tolerate her future man being touched by another?
What made it worse was that the offender was her most beloved disciple.
"Master, I—"
"Step back!"
Gu Yue Ningbing snorted coldly.
Su Qing didn't dare say another word. She leapt through the window and disappeared into the night like a shadow.
Gu Yue Ningbing glanced coldly at Zhang Lingxiao once more before her soul body retreated back into the ring.
Zhang Lingxiao rubbed his nose awkwardly.
Since when were Tianwu Realm experts this… cheap?
Just what realm was Gu Yue Ningbing truly in?
Nirvana Realm?
Or an even more terrifying Venerable Realm?
Shaking his head, Zhang Lingxiao stopped thinking about it. He had been exhausted all day. Suppressing the lingering heat stirred up by Su Qing, he lay down and soon drifted into a deep sleep.
Just as he was about to completely doze off, a familiar voice echoed in his ear—soft and teasing.
"Little man… Master won't stay awake forever. When she falls asleep, I'll come find you again."
Zhang Lingxiao's eyes opened slightly, but the room was empty.
Sound transmission.
"…Alright," he replied quietly.
---
The following days passed swiftly.
Aside from stabilizing his cultivation realm, Zhang Lingxiao focused on mastering the cultivation technique and martial skill bestowed upon him by Su Qing and Gu Yue Ningbing. With his talent and guidance, his proficiency rose rapidly.
In the blink of an eye, a week had passed.
That day, Zhang family disciples who had been training and traveling outside all received urgent summons from their elders. One after another, they rushed back without delay.
They all shared the same goal—
The Ancient Tomb.
Opportunities.
Heaven-and-Earth treasures.
A chance to smooth their cultivation paths.
Naturally, Zhang Lingxiao—who had suddenly become the Young Master and awakened his ability to cultivate—became the center of attention among the returning youths.
For years, Zhang Lingxiao had been mocked as a useless waste, enduring endless cold stares.
Now, not only could he cultivate, but he had reached Peak Perfection of the Qi Wu Realm.
He made no attempt to hide his strength.
There was no need.
Since he had stepped onto this stage, he intended to stand tall. Moreover, he would be leading the expedition into the Ancient Tomb—how could he convince others if he concealed his cultivation?
"Congratulations, Zhang Lingxiao! Who would've thought you were hiding such deep foundations? Your realm has already surpassed ours!"
A medium-built young man clasped his fists sincerely.
"Brother Zhang Lingxiao," another youth chimed in eagerly, "come cultivate with us in our sect. With your strength, you'll easily become an Inner Sect disciple. Don't forget about me when that happens!"
Zhang Lingxiao laughed and exchanged polite words with everyone.
He couldn't deny it—this feeling wasn't bad.
Strength truly changed everything.
"Heh."
A mocking laugh suddenly cut through the chatter.
"What's there to be proud of? Even if he can cultivate, he's still just a Qi Wu Realm ant. Brother Yu Yang could crush him with a single finger."
Zhang Lingxiao frowned slightly and followed the sound.
The speaker was a young woman named Zhang Lin, currently at the Mid-Stage Qi Wu Realm.
The moment she spoke, the expressions of everyone present changed.
Calling Zhang Lingxiao an ant was one thing—but weren't they all weaker than him?
"Zhang Lin, watch your mouth!"
"Are you looking for a beating?"
"Just because the men of the Zhang family don't hit women doesn't mean you can run your mouth!"
Instantly, all the criticism turned toward her.
Zhang Lin's face flushed red. She pointed at the crowd stubbornly and shouted:
"Am I wrong?! If you're not ants, then what are you? All of you combined couldn't last a move against Brother Yu Yang!"
"You're all trash—did I lie?"
Silence fell.
Painful silence.
Because… she wasn't wrong.
Zhang Yuyang—only twenty-two years old—was already a Lingwu Realm First-Heaven expert.
Rumor had it he was on the verge of breaking through to the Second Heaven. Within the Zhang family, his strength was second only to the newly appointed Patriarch, Zhang Yunfeng.
Anyone who reached the Lingwu Realm was qualified to serve as a family elder.
Yet Zhang Yuyang's ambition lay far beyond that.
He was the late-born son of Grand Elder Zhang Qingshan—and an Inner Sect Disciple of Qingyun Mountain.
Qingyun Mountain was a terrifying behemoth. Experts were as common as clouds, with Lingwu Realm cultivators everywhere, and even Xuanwu and Earth Martial Realm powerhouses present.
It was said that the Lord of Qingyun Town himself once came from Qingyun Mountain, achieving the title of First Inner Disciple.
Zhang Qingshan doted on his son endlessly, pouring vast resources into his cultivation. Naturally, Zhang Yuyang's progress was monstrous.
Seeing the silence, Zhang Lin lifted her chin smugly.
Then a calm voice sounded.
"Heh… Brother Yu Yang's strength is impressive. But what does that have to do with you?"
Zhang Lingxiao stepped forward half a pace, his gaze sweeping over Zhang Lin with casual disdain.
That unrestrained look made Zhang Lin's face flush even redder.
It was as if he were appraising a fat pig.
"Brother Yu Yang and I have already pledged our lives to each other in secret!" Zhang Lin shouted, puffing out her chest. "His strength is my strength—what about it?!"
The moment those words left her mouth, the courtyard erupted.
Laughter exploded from all sides.
"Hahaha! Zhang Lin, are you dreaming?"
"Brother Yu Yang is handsome and extraordinary—why would he ever choose you?"
"Go find a mirror! You're fatter than the boars in the Yao Beast Forest!"
"Unless Brother Yu Yang is blind…"
"Heh—unless she's got some leverage on him!"
Zhang Lingxiao froze for a split second—then burst out laughing as well.
This woman was truly something.
Did she really believe Zhang Yuyang would take a fancy to her?
Was her brain filled with fat?
Just then, the laughter abruptly stopped.
The crowd parted instinctively.
A tall figure stepped forward.
Zhang Yuyang had arrived.
Zhang Lingxiao's brows knit slightly.
Hadn't Zhang Yuyang already entered the Lingwu Realm? He shouldn't even be eligible to enter the Ancient Tomb. Why had he returned?
"Brother Yu Yang!"
Zhang Lin's eyes lit up. She hurried over excitedly.
"You must uphold justice for Lin'er!"
Everyone's expressions turned strange.
Could it be… real?
Then Zhang Yuyang's taste was truly… heavy.
"Brother Yu Yang," Zhang Lin said coquettishly, clinging to his arm, "I told them we're already pledged to each other, but they laughed at me! Teach them a lesson!"
"Get lost."
Zhang Yuyang's face stiffened as he violently shook her off.
The courtyard fell dead silent.
Zhang Lingxiao watched the scene with a look of pure enjoyment.
Now this was entertainment.
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