Chapter 747: A Vicious Move

“Yang Tian, why do you think Yang Xiao hasn’t shown up yet?”

Just as everyone else was scrambling, afraid that a moment’s delay would cost them their destined opportunities, madly rushing into the portal of the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm.

From within the group everyone else had written off as mediocre, a woman in blue spoke to the man at their head, the one with the highest cultivation, a Mid-stage Demigod.

Next to the woman in blue stood another woman in a fitted purple outfit. There was a heroic air about her, and upon hearing her companion’s words, she couldn’t help but look over as well.

“Bing Xin, Ziling, I have no idea why that guy isn’t here,” Yang Tian said, a bit awkwardly. “The Hidden Dragon Order was in his hands half a year ago. Should we… wait a little longer?”

He had sworn up and down that they would definitely see Yang Xiao this time.

But he hadn’t expected this.

Almost every Trial Taker had appeared.

But not Yang Xiao.

Now, the portal to the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm was open, and there was still no sign of him.

It was a real headache.

“Alright, let’s wait a little longer. By the way, will the portal close?” Bing Xin asked after a moment of thought.

“Uh… let me check!” Yang Tian replied.

Suddenly, his expression turned ugly.

“What’s wrong? Is the portal about to close?”

Now, both Bing Xin and Yang Ziling grew tense.

And they weren’t the only ones.

Zhang Mengfei, who was standing to the side, also looked over.

Obviously, he was also worried that Yang Xiao would miss this trial.

If he missed it, it wasn’t just that he couldn’t enter the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm; they might not even get to see him at all.

Moreover, what worried them even more was that Yang Xiao had clearly made arrangements with them and promised he would come. For him not to appear now… could something have happened in the last six months?

The thought made their hearts pound with anxiety.

What they didn’t notice, however, was that as they were talking, another group was also not in a hurry to enter the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm.

And when their leader overheard the conversation, his gaze drifted over, seemingly casual but sharp.

If Yang Xiao had been there, he would have recognized that the leader was none other than his own cousin, Nangong Miexian.

This was the man who, because of his name, had received the careful tutelage of Yang Xiao’s maternal grandfather. And he bore a profound killing intent for Yang Xiao.

The fact that he was waiting here now was all because of Yang Xiao.

‘I can’t believe those mediocre-looking nobodies actually know that little bastard Yang Xiao. Then again, he’s from some backwater place, so of course the only people he knows are low-lifes like them. For all I know, those Hidden Dragon Orders they’re holding were probably procured for them by Grandfather.’

At this thought, Nangong Miexian seethed with a hatred that made him grind his teeth.

Of course, he knew that was unlikely. Even for the Star Emperor, getting one Hidden Dragon Order was simple, but obtaining two was no easy feat.

Besides, if there had really been two Hidden Dragon Orders, his grandfather wouldn’t have made him wait here for that guy.

The fact that he was ordered to wait here clearly meant that the little bastard didn’t have a Hidden Dragon Order of his own.

‘That works out, too. The portal to this Hidden Dragon Secret Realm can only stay open for three hours at most. If that guy shows up, I’ll kill him. If he doesn’t, even better. I will prove to everyone that I, Nangong Miexian, am the strongest of the Nangong Family’s younger generation. That piece of trash who only knows how to use treasures isn’t worthy of being my opponent.’

With that in mind, Nangong Miexian patiently waited.

At the same time, his gaze would occasionally fall on Yang Tian and his group.

These people.

He wanted to kill them, too.

In Nangong Miexian’s eyes, the mere fact that they associated with that little bastard Yang Xiao was a capital offense.

If Yang Xiao didn’t show up, he could make his move once they entered the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm.

‘If I can’t kill that little bastard Yang Xiao, killing his friends will at least be a down payment on the interest.’

At that moment, under the questioning of Bing Xin, Yang Ziling, and Zhang Mengfei, Yang Tian spoke with a bitter expression. “Three hours. This prematurely opened portal to the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm can only exist for three hours. Once that time is up, it’ll be impossible to enter!”

“So you’re saying…”

A chill ran down Zhang Mengfei’s spine.

Bing Xin and Yang Ziling’s expressions also became incredibly grim.

Three hours.

That wasn’t a long time.

Any small delay and Yang Xiao could miss it.

Especially since the originally scheduled opening time for the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm was much later in the day. It had only opened early because over ninety percent of the Hidden Dragon Orders had been gathered.

If Yang Xiao assumed the time wouldn’t change and didn’t arrive early…

Then he would probably…

“I hope Yang Xiao gets here soon,” Bing Xin said under her breath.

Yang Ziling remained silent, but it was clear that deep down, she was even more eager to see Yang Xiao than Bing Xin was.

For the past two years, she had followed Yang Tian to many places and met numerous experts. Her own cultivation had already risen to the Seventh Level of Great Divine Power Realm, and when it came to combat power, she was even more formidable.

An ordinary Demigod Peak expert would be no match for her at all. By that measure, she could be considered a genius in her own right.

But Yang Ziling knew the truth.

The only reason she had come this far was because Yang Xiao had awakened her Sword Heart, allowing her to cultivate the Void Sword Manual, a top-tier Emperor Realm Divine Technique.

Her current level was all thanks to him.

Deep in her heart, she was grateful to Yang Xiao.

At the same time, she yearned for his approval.

And Bing Xin was clearly the same.

The reason she and Yang Ziling had chosen to leave back then was because Yang Xiao was simply too brilliant, and they felt ashamed of their inferiority. Now, she was also at the Seventh Level of Great Divine Power Realm.

Though she wasn’t as powerful as Yang Ziling, she too wanted to earn Yang Xiao’s recognition.

She also wanted to see if the gap between them was still as vast as it once was.

If it wasn’t,

Bing Xin believed,

she would have a chance.

“All we can do now is wait,” Yang Tian sighed.

The four of them fell silent and began to wait quietly.

Two hours passed quickly.

A few more groups holding Hidden Dragon Orders had appeared, but Yang Xiao was not among them.

Upon seeing that the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm was already open, these people hurried inside without a second thought.

The only ones foolishly waiting here were the four of them, and one other group that also seemed to be waiting for someone.

And so, another half an hour went by.

No one else arrived.

Yang Tian and his companions now felt that it was impossible for Yang Xiao to make it.

However, they had no intention of entering the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm themselves.

Even though it might hold immense opportunities.

Even though, with Yang Tian’s abilities, they could gain many benefits, just like with the fortuitous encounters they’d had over the past two years.

But they didn’t want to leave.

They still clung to a sliver of hope, wanting to wait for Yang Xiao, even if it meant losing this opportunity.

At this point, however, Nangong Miexian was growing impatient.

He wasn’t about to give up the opportunities in the Hidden Dragon Secret Realm just for Yang Xiao.

However, before leaving, Nangong Miexian glanced around.

Seeing that no one else was coming, his expression suddenly turned vicious.

‘These people are really loyal to that bastard Yang Xiao. They still refuse to go in. I bet they won’t go in even after the portal closes. Since they’re such good friends, how can I, Nangong Miexian, let them live? Especially those two women. Their constitutions may be average, but they’re quite beautiful. Instead of leaving them for Yang Xiao, I might as well play with them for a few days before sending them to their deaths!’

With a single thought, a savage grin spread across Nangong Miexian’s face.

He waved his hand.

Instantly, the eight Demigod Peak guards behind him moved.

WHOOSH.

In a flash, they had surrounded Yang Tian’s group of four.

These eight guards had been prepared for Yang Xiao by the Star Emperor. But with Yang Xiao absent, they now had to obey Nangong Miexian.

The thought of using these guards to kill Yang Xiao’s friends sent a perverse thrill through Nangong Miexian. It was immensely satisfying.

Especially when he saw the initial stunned and bewildered expressions on the faces of Yang Tian and the others.

It only made him feel even better.

‘The next time I see that bastard Yang Xiao, I’ll be sure to tell him all about this.’

Nangong Miexian laughed triumphantly as he walked toward Yang Tian and his group.