# Chapter 596: Cheating His Grandson!
Ming Wang's words caused Yun Che's heartstrings to tremble violently, a fleeting sense of unease washing over him. Without a moment's hesitation, he immediately crushed the Tianjue Hanjing in his hand.
The reason he had dared to charge in, hoping to rescue Xiao Yaohou from Ming Wang's poisonous schemes, was precisely because of this Tianjue Hanjing that Mu Feiyan had just given him! When Mu Feiyan had presented it, he had been brimming with pride, swearing that with it in hand, the defensive barrier it formed in times of crisis would be unbreakable, and would last as long as three hours... Such a span of time would be more than enough for Yun Qinghong to arrive.
But...
With a soft crack, the Tianjue Hanjing was effortlessly crushed by Yun Che. A blue light rapidly spread, forming in an instant an ice-blue barrier three zhang in diameter around them, enveloping Yun Che and Xiao Yaohou, and isolating Ming Wang and Huai Wang outside.
The moment Ming Wang called out the "Tianjue Hanjing" that Yun Che held tightly, Yun Che sensed something was wrong. And Ming Wang's current expression only magnified his unease a hundredfold... To activate the protective barrier at the earliest possible moment, Yun Che had been gripping the Tianjue Hanjing in his hand from the very start. And to prevent its aura from leaking, he had naturally sealed it tightly with his profound energy—yet Ming Wang had seen through it with a single word!
Moreover, Ming Wang recognized it as the Mu Clan's "Tianjue Hanjing" just by its aura, clearly familiar with it! He would therefore know exactly how resilient its defensive barrier was! But, despite knowing early on that Yun Che possessed the Tianjue Hanjing, Ming Wang had neither sought an opportunity to seize it, nor stopped him from crushing it, nor shown the slightest surprise or panic...
Everything was the opposite of what Yun Che had anticipated!
"Hahahaha!" Looking at the barrier formed by the Tianjue Hanjing, Ming Wang laughed heartily. "So that's it. I was wondering what brilliant method you would use to escape from my grasp. What a disappointment this result is."
"Is that all it is—the mere Tianjue Hanjing?"
Yun Che's brows furrowed, his heart on high alert. He replied without backing down: "Mere? The Tianjue Hanjing is the Mu Clan's supreme protective treasure. Since you think so little of it, why don't you try shattering it!"
"Hahahaha!" Ming Wang laughed wildly again, slowly stepping forward. Despite the barrier separating them, the pressure on Yun Che multiplied with every step Ming Wang took. In front of the barrier, Ming Wang lightly raised his hand: "If this were a hundred years ago, I indeed would not have been able to destroy it, and no one in the entire Huan Yao Realm could have done so."
"But now, my profound strength is no longer at the Lord Xuan Realm, Level 9 of a hundred years ago. It is Lord Xuan Realm, Level 10—the pinnacle of this world! At this level, my hand can almost touch the very laws of this world. Even this space, under my palm, will be reduced to fragments in an instant!"
Ming Wang's wrist suddenly twisted. In an instant, a massive vortex abruptly appeared, rapidly expanding... This was not a vortex of air or profound energy—it was a distortion of space itself!!
This spatial distortion was not fleeting; it spread like the waves of an ocean, reaching the ice-blue barrier in the blink of an eye. The barrier, believed to be indestructible, was instantly twisted by this terrifying spatial vortex, contorting more and more violently until it took on an absurdly deformed shape... Perhaps in the next moment, it would be torn apart completely.
"!!!" Yun Che was truly taken aback. Instinctively, he shielded Xiao Yaohou, his brows locked tight, veins bulging on the back of his hands. Mu Feiyan had sworn that this barrier of the Tianjue Hanjing could last three hours, and that even his grandfather, if alive, would be unable to destroy it...
What kind of man was Mu Feiyan? Not only was he Yun Che's maternal grandfather, but he was also the highly respected head of the Mu Clan. His words were as good as gold. Moreover, the exaggerated reactions of Mu Yubai and the others when Mu Feiyan took out the Tianjue Hanjing, and the joy shown by his father and mother... There was no reason for Yun Che to doubt the formidable defensive power of the Tianjue Hanjing. Otherwise, he would never have dared to barge in and face the overwhelmingly powerful Ming Wang.
At this moment, forget three hours—even if it could last just one hour, it would have been more than enough for Yun Che.
He had never imagined that the life-saving barrier of the Tianjue Hanjing would be so fragile before Ming Wang.
Cheated by his own grandfather!!
And it was a matter of life and death!!
"The Tianjue Hanjing is indeed one of the rare life-saving treasures of the Huan Yao Realm," Ming Wang said, his hand ceasing to move, but the spatial distortion continued. The barrier was on the very brink of shattering; the slightest further action from Ming Wang would completely break it. "Because the level of profound strength it can resist is up to Lord Xuan Realm, Level 9. But before power surpassing that level, it is no different from a thin sheet of ice! In the entire Huan Yao Realm, I am the only one who can easily destroy it. Yun Che, you miscalculated."
Yun Che: "..."
Ming Wang's brows relaxed slightly, a faint smile curling at the corner of his mouth, his expression as composed as ever. "Yun Che, to be honest, I really am reluctant to kill you. Your strength is extraordinary, your schemes are profound, and your potential is astonishing. Under my watchful gaze, you have remained unfazed, showing that your mental fortitude is also remarkable. And to dare charge in knowing I am here, your courage and audacity are truly exceptional... At such a young age, possessing such talent makes even me sigh in admiration. It would be a great shame to let you die like this."
"So?" Yun Che squinted. "Is Ming Wang prepared to give me a chance to live?"
"Let me plant a soul mark on you, and from now on, pledge your allegiance to me. Not only will you live, but when I dominate the world, you shall share in wealth and glory—even your Yun Clan, I might show leniency," Ming Wang said lightly. "I have never hesitated or shown mercy in killing. You are the first. This is my great favor to you! Don't disappoint me."
"Favor? Heh..." Yun Che sneered coldly. "Your so-called favor is worthless to me! Even if I die, I will never let my soul be tainted by a beast like you!"
"Very well." Ming Wang nodded slowly. "Since you choose foolishness, then... die!!"
Rumble...
Space trembled violently. The enormous spatial vortex instantly engulfed the barrier formed by the Tianjue Hanjing, tearing it into countless fragments. In that moment, it seemed as if the entire world had been sucked into that terrifying spatial vortex.
The terrifying pressure of Ming Wang's profound energy suffocated Yun Che completely; his feet could not move, and he could not even make a sound. Then, a slim, gray-white figure flickered, shielding him. At the same time, the surging spatial vortex slammed fiercely into that gray figure...
Mmph!
A muffled, pained groan brushed past Yun Che's ear. Then, a small hand grabbed his arm tightly. A deep crimson bracelet on that wrist shattered instantly, releasing a flash of flame-like light...
Clang!
The moment that flame light flashed, both Yun Che and Xiao Yaohou vanished from the spot. The spatial vortex swept through, shattering the space layer by layer. Under such extreme power, even an ordinary Emperor Lord would be easily torn to pieces, let alone a normal person.
Huai Wang was shocked and quickly stepped forward: "Father, what happened? How did they disappear? Could it be..."
"Heh!" Ming Wang slowly withdrew his hand, not a trace of panic or even surprise on his face, as if this too was within his expectations. "It's just a spatial escape triggered by the shattering of a 'Crimson Blood Ring.' In Xiao Yaohou's memories, there indeed existed such an item, and as I expected, she was wearing it. But unfortunately, the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley is an independent world. The blood escape of the Demon Emperor Seal can allow her to escape to the outside world, but this Crimson Blood Ring never can."
"Merely the last pathetic struggle before death. How could it possibly escape my grasp?" Ming Wang turned slightly, squinting as he smiled. His gaze finally fixed on the northwest direction, a soft, gentle smile curling at the corner of his lips... But the gleam in his narrowed eyes was colder and more piercing than the most venomous snake in the world.
---
Northwest edge of Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley.
The world suddenly became several times hotter, the air so thin it was nearly impossible to breathe.
Xiao Yaohou flung Yun Che aside, and he landed heavily on the ground. After a brief moment of shock, he realized what had happened. He stood up, looked around, and asked: "Where is this?"
"Northwest edge." Xiao Yaohou's back was to him, her voice cold. As soon as she finished speaking, her body stiffened violently. A stream of blood shot from her mouth, spraying several zhang away. She collapsed weakly, falling to her knees.
"Xiao Yaohou!"
Yun Che hurried forward to help her up, but the moment his hand touched her shoulder, she pushed him away forcefully: "Don't touch me!"
Yun Che stood still, not daring to move. Xiao Yaohou gasped painfully for a long while, then slowly stood up and turned around... Her young girl's face was devoid of any color, the blood at the corner of her mouth stark and shocking.
In Yun Che's rapidly calming mind, the images from moments ago replayed clearly... Ming Wang's attack had not been aimed at Xiao Yaohou first, but at him! Under the oppressive profound energy of a peak Emperor Lord, how could he have dodged? The only reason he survived was because Xiao Yaohou used her spatial escape to bring him along... and because she had taken the lethal blow meant for him with her own body.
Yun Che's chest heaved violently as he said sincerely: "...Thank you for saving my life."
Compared to that—that unreliable grandfather of his!!
The Tianjue Hanjing that Mu Feiyan had given him had not only failed to save his life in a crisis, but had nearly cost him his life... Without the Tianjue Hanjing, he would never have barged into the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley in the first place.
"Save your life?" Xiao Yaohou clutched her chest, her voice low and icy. "Ridiculous! Do you think you'll live through today? The Demon Emperor Seal has been taken by Ming Wang. We have no way to leave the Jinwu Thunder Flame Valley. With Ming Wang's strength, it won't take long for him to find us again... You arrogant fool, why did you have to charge in and die for nothing!"