The Five Directions Prodigy Competition concluded in the blink of an eye.
"Husband, now that we're all leaving, no one will be here to look after you. Remember to take another concubine."
Song Yuzhi held Yang Hong's hand, tears welling in her eyes, her face full of reluctance.
"Don't worry, I'm a prince. It's really easy to take a concubine. It's you who need to be careful in the cultivation world. You must lie low!"
"Even if it means losing some resources and opportunities, never get into conflict with others. If conflict truly arises, you must escape immediately. Never fight to the death!"
Looking at the seventy-five people by his side, Yang Hong repeatedly emphasized a low profile and the survival philosophy of lying low. Although they all listened intently, they couldn't help but roll their eyes internally.
"This husband (Sixth Prince) is just too cautious."
Of course, they would also seriously consider Yang Hong's teachings. As for whether they would escape, fight, or do something else in the end, it would depend on the opponent's strength.
"You must not become arrogant or complacent. If my plan goes according to schedule, your cultivation speed will be incredibly fast. You'll have to release some of your cultivation to avoid suspicion, but remember to hide a part of it."
"Husband, don't worry, we know we need to keep trump cards. Husband, it's getting late, let's rest early. We'll leave first thing tomorrow morning."
Seeing that Yang Hong was about to continue his incessant advice, Song Yuzhi quickly changed the subject.
"Alright then."
After cultivating together for one night, Yang Hong watched Song Yuzhi and the others depart the next day. Yang Zixuan had also been scouted by a cultivation sect, a ninth-rank sect called the [Qi Mu Sword Sect].
"Sixth, let's go back."
Yang Ping was beside Yang Hong. Due to his age, his spiritual root, and potential were insufficient, he wasn't selected and had to return with Yang Hong. Behind them was a group of martial artists who had also not been chosen by cultivators, each staring at the empty sky, unwilling to look away for a long time.
"Alas... let's go, let's go..."
Yang Hong feigned a sigh, mounted his horse, and set off. This trip to Da Ming had been full of surprises. His seventy-five [Shadow Phoenix] companions, though they hadn't left as he initially planned, had joined fifteen sects, which was even more perfect than Yang Hong had envisioned. All seventy-five were equipped with storage bags and carried varying quantities of high-yield crop seeds. As they left Da Sui, left the Five Directions Domain, and even left the East Departure Prefecture, they could definitely spread Yang Hong's high-yield seeds faster and better. This was far quicker than Yang Hong's original plan of dividing Song Yuzhi and the others into five teams to gradually spread the high-yield seeds outwards. Now, Yang Hong just had to wait for the seeds to propagate and for immense merit to pour in. Not only that, but Yang Hong had also taught the [Shadow Phoenix] various advanced and beneficial policies and ideas for the common people. He believed that as long as those policies were implemented, Yang Hong would also gain some merit. As the disseminators of these high-yield seeds and the executors of beneficial policies, Song Yuzhi and the others would undoubtedly gain significant merit. This merit would surely allow their cultivation to advance by leaps and bounds. This was the plan Yang Hong had devised earlier. To this day, the plan had been overfulfilled.
...
The journey back, with no one wanting to sightsee, saw them galloping at full speed, returning to Da Xing City in just twenty days.
"Sixth, I'll go with you to see His Majesty."
In front of the imperial palace, Yang Ping hesitated for a long time before calling out to Yang Hong, who was about to enter the palace gates.
"It seems Uncle Ping has made up his mind."
Yang Hong was not surprised by Yang Ping's decision. After witnessing the strength and mystique of cultivators, his laughable ambition had naturally been extinguished.
"I've made up my mind. I will assist His Majesty well. If His Majesty can reach the Celestial Realm, it will be a good thing for Da Sui."
"Haha~ It's right for Uncle Ping to think that way. Once Father Emperor successfully breaks through to the Celestial Realm, his experience can also guide Uncle Ping's cultivation. In the future~ Uncle Ping might not have this opportunity."
"Sixth, you're right. With you here, there will be no shortage of spiritual wines, and I might have a chance."
"Uncle Ping, keep going."
"Haha~ Keep going."
Yang Hong's encouragement put Yang Ping in high spirits and ignited another ambition within him: the ambition for martial arts cultivation! After receiving a [Qi Condensing Pill] from Yang Jian, Yang Ping also acted as Yang Jian's lobbyist. Yang Jian's other four brothers, Yang Hong's four uncles, all came to pledge their loyalty to Yang Jian. With a new pursuit, Yang Jian began to delegate his official duties to his Crown Prince Yang Yong and his five brothers, with Yang Yong taking the lead. Yang Hong, meanwhile, returned to the Ignored Pavilion to focus on farming. His farming was his cultivation. For over two years, he had been continuously infusing plants with energy and cultivating various immortal cultivation techniques, spells, and martial arts. His martial arts accumulation had reached 24,160 types. As long as he persevered, he would soon be able to evolve his intermediate body-tempering techniques. At that time, his cultivation would also break through. However, before Yang Hong could enjoy a few days of peace, something else happened. Something big happened! The current Crown Prince of Da Sui, Yang Yong, was dead! He died silently in his sleeping quarters!
"Investigate! Investigate thoroughly! I will exterminate his nine generations of kin!"
"As you command!"
When Yang Hong arrived at the Crown Prince's Eastern Palace, he heard Yang Jian's furious roar. The grinding of his teeth clearly indicated he was genuinely enraged. Although Yang Yong was only at the innate grandmaster level, after five to six years of nurturing, he could handle more than half of the official duties. He was a qualified successor. Now that he was dead, it wasn't just that Yang Jian had lost a successor and Da Sui had lost a Crown Prince; it was a provocation to the entire Da Sui dynasty.
"Jian'er, I've already invited Supervisor Li from the Imperial Observatory. I believe, with his abilities as a cultivator, he can surely uncover the truth."
Yang Hong came up behind Yang Jian and, hearing Yang Zhong comforting him, casually added his own comfort.
"Father Emperor, please accept my condolences. We will surely find the killer and make them pay with blood."
"Yadu, you're here? You should go back quickly. If the killer attacks you, you might..."
Seeing Yang Hong, Yang Jian actually became a little nervous and urged him to leave. This gesture warmed Yang Hong's heart.
"Father Emperor, don't worry. I am safest when I am with you."
"Indeed. During this period, you will reside in the [Tai Xiao Hall]. With your imperial grandfather protecting you, it will be safer."
"Okay."
After hearing Yang Hong's words, Yang Jian changed his mind, and Yang Hong naturally agreed. In just a few sentences, Yang Hong reached Yang Yong's bedside. He saw that Yang Yong's face was pale and contorted, his neck was bruised, his hands were deeply embedded in the bed boards, and his lower body was in disarray. The scene looked as if he had been choked to death in bed. But how was this possible? The Crown Prince's Eastern Palace was heavily guarded. Even a Grandmaster would not be able to enter silently. Currently, the Da Sui imperial palace had an abundance of experts, with over twenty Grandmasters on guard. Due to the importance of the Crown Prince's position, there were three Grandmasters guarding the Eastern Palace. Moreover, if he had been choked, there would have been a sound. Yet, Yang Yong had died silently. It was the Crown Prince's concubine, who slept beside him, who discovered it when she woke up in the morning. This meant that the Crown Prince's concubine had slept soundly, amidst the stench that made Yang Hong want to vomit, for an entire night. Everything was so bizarre and illogical. Furthermore, the closer Yang Hong got to Yang Yong's corpse, the more he felt a sense of familiarity mixed with disgust.
"Father Emperor, may I get closer to examine my elder brother?"
"Mm, go ahead."
Yang Jian was still grieving but did not refuse. Taking two steps forward, Yang Hong reached out to touch Yang Yong's neck. This was the most obvious point of suspicion.
"Ugh~"
The moment he touched the bruised area, Yang Hong immediately fainted!