Xu Yang's eyes were bloodshot, hatred etched into his bones!
He leapt to his feet, ignoring the pain, and summoned the Celestial Refining Divine Tripod.
With a single thought, he activated the sacred tripod; torrents of pure Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi surged into it.
Instantly, they transformed into the Purest Essence Qi!
As time passed and he gazed at the surging essence inside the tripod, Xu Yang forced down his excitement and sat cross-legged.
Buzz!
The moment he circulated the Celestial Refining Divine Scripture, ancient and profound mysteries coiled within his mind, and his entire aura transformed from weakness to boundless might.
At the same time, the essence flooded into his body.
His wounds quivered, waves of excruciating pain assaulted him!
Pain to the point of wishing for death!
Xu Yang gritted his teeth, enduring in silence!
To become stronger, to take revenge—what does pain matter?
As the Purest Essence Qi coursed through him, the Celestial Refining Divine Scripture displayed its miraculous and unfathomable power.
His injuries healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Moreover, his meridians widened and his True Qi was refined at a shocking rate...
Several hours later.
All the essence in the tripod had been exhausted!
Xu Yang opened his eyes, unable to conceal his joy!
Only after truly cultivating did he realize how heaven-defying this scripture was.
His martial path had been reforged, and his cultivation had directly reached the Middle Stage of Fetal Breathing.
His foundation was incomparably solid, far surpassing before by several times over.
"Middle Stage of Fetal Breathing cultivation—my power is at least at the Late Fetal Breathing stage now."
Xu Yang clenched his fists. If not for being in the royal manor, he would have howled to the heavens.
A long while!
He calmed his emotions, feeling the emptiness inside the sacred tripod, and muttered with longing, "With such an unrivaled cultivation technique, as long as I have the time and resources, I'll quickly restore my strength to the Innate Realm."
"I will surpass Zheng Ming. The Wuhou Hall assessment is in half a month—by then, I'll defeat him with dignity and reclaim everything that belongs to me!"
"For now, I have to escape here—get out of the royal manor first!"
Staring at the cell before him, Xu Yang's expression darkened.
He needed time and resources!
Though he burned to slaughter those beasts right away, for now he had to leave the royal manor first.
The thought fixed in his mind, he sprang up and looked down the corridor.
Deathly silence, not a soul in sight!
Xu Yang's face lit up with relief. Without hesitation, he dashed out.
Just as he stepped out of the dungeon, a figure appeared in front of him, making Xu Yang freeze.
"Ye Qingxue!"
Rage and killing intent surged in Xu Yang's heart, his eyes turning crimson: "I'll kill you, you treacherous bitch!"
Ye Qingxue let out a startled cry, "You—how can you have awakened so soon?"
In the next moment, as she saw Xu Yang charging, a mocking sneer appeared on her face. "A stray dog like you dares try to kill me?"
Whoosh!
She struck out carelessly with her palm.
Boom!
Ye Qingxue felt a stabbing pain swirl through her palm, contorting her beautiful face in agony as she stumbled back in disgrace.
"How is this possible?"
"You—your cultivation, it actually..."
She stared at Xu Yang as if she'd seen a ghost.
Middle Stage of Fetal Breathing—this was utterly impossible!
"Wretched whore, I saved you, and today I'll claim your life!"
Xu Yang's body flickered, closing in with deadly speed.
Ye Qingxue burst into angry laughter, "What are you? To tell you the truth, even without Young Lord Six, I would have betrayed you for someone else. From the start, I never intended to stay with trash like you forever!"
"With looks as beautiful as mine, I deserve to stand above others and lap up luxury!"
As her hand struck out, Xu Yang's gaze grew icy cold.
The moment their eyes met, Ye Qingxue's heart quailed with terror.
Am I actually frightened by this useless brat?
Enraged by her own fear, Ye Qingxue raised her hand in a curved seal, unleashing her full Late Fetal Breathing power in a martial art: Wind-breaking Palm!
"Go to hell!"
Her palm came down strong and fierce, wind howling with it!
Xu Yang's body shimmered faintly, evading the strike, and drove his fist into her wrist.
Crack!
Ye Qingxue screamed and staggered back, complexion deathly pale.
"You—"
As soon as she exclaimed, a large hand slapped across her face.
Smack!
The blow swelled her face almost to bursting.
"That slap is for your treacherous betrayal—repaying kindness with spite!"
"You filthy cur, I'll kill you!"
Ye Qingxue gripped her swollen cheeks, trembling with furious madness.
Smack!
Another slap sent her sprawling to the ground.
Xu Yang's eyes were cold and indifferent. Facing Ye Qingxue, all affection and mercy vanished as he raised his hand again.
Ye Qingxue's eyes went wide with terror. Feeling the overwhelming killing intent radiating from Xu Yang, her innards froze and she shrieked in panic, "You can't kill me! I'm Young Lord Six's woman! You're nothing but a stray mutt—if you kill me, Young Lord Six and Madam will never let you live!"
"You can rest easy—even if they spare me, I won't spare them!"
"A blood debt shall be redeemed with blood!"
Boom!
His palm descended—Ye Qingxue's skull split open, blood spurting everywhere!
She collapsed to the ground, dead yet unaccepting, her eyes frozen wide in endless terror and disbelief.
Even in death, she could not understand—how could the ruined Xu Yang be this powerful?
"Longing for riches and glory? Enjoy them in hell!" Xu Yang sneered at the corpse. Ye Qingxue was only the first.
"Who's fighting here?"
Two guards, drawn by the commotion, rushed over. Seeing the corpse, they shouted ferociously.
"Stop right there!"
Xu Yang's brow furrowed as he darted toward the perimeter wall like lightning.
"Hiss—it's Ye Qingxue."
"Was that just Xu Yang?"
"Wasn't he locked in the dungeon?"
"Damn it, go inform Young Lord Six at once."
The two guards stared at Ye Qingxue and their faces fell. "Hurry, you go report—I'll chase Xu Yang!"
Delayed only a moment, by the time the guard gave chase, they saw Xu Yang leap over the wall right before their eyes.
A moment later.
The entire royal manor was thrown into chaos.
Zheng Ming and the Fourth Lady looked at Ye Qingxue's corpse, their expressions grim.
"How could he possibly have recovered?"
"Did that whore mother of his leave him some precious treasure?" the Fourth Lady speculated suddenly.
"Damn it!"
Zheng Ming gnashed his teeth, staring unwillingly at Ye Qingxue's corpse. He hadn't enjoyed her enough, and now she was dead.
"Alive, I want the person. Dead, I want the corpse. This trash must be found!"
Meanwhile, in an alley several streets from the royal manor—
Xu Yang glared in the direction of the manor, eyes full of hatred.
"Zheng Ming, Fourth Lady, Wang Feng—wait for me. When I return, I'll make you pay back your blood debts a hundredfold!"