After hearing everything, a sharp glint flashed in Yang Cheng's eyes.
Others might not know who Instructor Yu was, but he knew that the man behind Instructor Yu was Meng Zhaoran.
In that instant, he understood. Meng Zhaoran clearly wanted to use him to get rid of Tang Yurou—it was a classic case of killing with a borrowed knife.
'In my previous life, Meng Zhaoran and Tang Yurou had already fallen out a hundred years later. Looks like their relationship was already shaky even back then.'
Yang Cheng thought silently.
But the existence of Tang Yurou was indeed like a thorn stuck in the flesh—if it wasn't pulled out, it would always be sickening.
'Since Meng Zhaoran wants to borrow a knife to kill, why don't I just go along with it and make use of his plan too?' Yang Cheng's thoughts turned rapidly.
Tang Yurou, as a member of the Tang clan, definitely carried plenty of life-saving trump cards. If he attacked her directly, success wasn't guaranteed—and it could easily bring the Tang clan's retaliation.
But what if he disguised himself as someone from Meng Zhaoran's side?
A cold gleam flashed across Yang Cheng's eyes.
He possessed memories of the future and happened to know that Meng Zhaoran commanded a secret organization known as "Holy Eye."
In his previous life, Yang Cheng had once joined that group to survive. Although he was only a low-ranking member, he had held one of their tokens—a black jade talisman engraved with the pattern of a single eye.
"Lin Shu."
Yang Cheng spoke toward the empty air behind him.
Without a sound, Lin Shu appeared and bowed slightly. "Your Highness, what are your orders?"
"Have the Blood Shadow Tower forge a jade talisman immediately. I'll draw the design for you."
Yang Cheng took out paper and brush, quickly sketching the pattern of the "Holy Eye Order." "Remember, it must be exactly the same. Not a single flaw."
"Yes, Your Highness." Lin Shu accepted the drawing and went to arrange it right away.
Her efficiency was remarkable. That very same day, she had the token crafted and delivered.
—
The next day, at Wudong River, aboard a luxurious painted barge.
Tang Yurou was waiting anxiously for news when the cabin door was gently pushed open.
A man in black, wearing a mask, stepped inside. He bowed deeply, his voice low and steady. "Subordinate greets the Madam."
"Who are you?"
Tang Yurou's expression turned cautious. Instinctively, she looked toward the corner of the cabin where a water mirror hung.
That was her surveillance array—it could record everything that happened inside the cabin, just in case someone tried to assassinate her.
The masked man produced a black jade talisman and presented it to her.
On its surface, the engraved single eye seemed lifelike—exactly the "Holy Eye Order."
Tang Yurou accepted the jade, carefully examined it for a long moment, then finally lowered her guard.
Holy Eye—this was Meng Zhaoran's secret force. At present, only the two of them, husband and wife, knew about it. Even the other powers of the Divine Realm, as well as the Tang and Meng clans, had no idea that the Holy Eye was linked to Meng Zhaoran.
Tang Yurou didn't believe anyone from another faction would dare impersonate someone from the Holy Eye just to meet her.
Her expression softened slightly. "Meng Zhaoran is pretty efficient this time."
She returned the token to the man and said coldly, "Remember, I want Yang Cheng's head delivered to me within three days. Do it well, and your reward will be generous."
"Understood."
The man bowed again. In his eyes flickered a faint, unnoticeable chill.
That man was none other than Yang Cheng in disguise.
He made sure that the surveillance array had already captured footage of him holding the "Holy Eye Order." Then he sneered silently and sent a mental message to Lin Shu, who was hiding in the shadows.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion suddenly rang out.
Underneath the painted barge, terrifying energy suddenly erupted, and the entire vessel was instantly blasted apart into fragments.
The water mirror of the surveillance array shattered inch by inch amid the explosion, losing all function.
Amid the chaos, Yang Cheng's figure flickered and reappeared beside Tang Yurou. He feigned urgency and shouted, "Madam, be careful! There's an assassin!"
Caught completely off guard, Tang Yurou instinctively looked around, her expression tense with wariness.
At that very moment, a cold gleam flashed in Yang Cheng's eyes. A long sword appeared in his hand from nowhere, and without the slightest hesitation, he slashed straight toward Tang Yurou's neck.
"Pchh!"
The sword light swept across, and blood sprayed through the air.
Tang Yurou's head flew off her shoulders. Her eyes were wide open, her face filled with disbelief. Even at the moment of death, she couldn't understand why someone from "her own side" would suddenly strike her down.
Her severed head drew a faint arc through the air before landing with a dull splash into the Wudong River, where the rushing current swept it away until it vanished.
Yang Cheng stared at Tang Yurou's headless body without a flicker of emotion.
He then ordered Lin Shu and the Blood Shadow Guards to completely erase all traces at the scene, leaving behind not even the smallest clue.
—
In the Primordial Chaos Divine Realm, deep within the Tang clan's ancestral grounds in the Northern Cross Ancient Domain.
Inside a grand palace carved entirely of white jade, tens of thousands (10,000s) of soul lamps hung suspended. Each lamp represented a Tang clansman currently serving or training outside the clan.
A disciple in a gray robe was doing his routine patrol. When he reached a corner lamp, his pupils suddenly contracted.
The soul lamp belonging to Tang Yurou was dimming rapidly, its flame fading before his eyes until, with a faint puff, it went out completely.
"Not good!"
The disciple's face turned ashen. A soul lamp extinguished meant that its owner's soul had perished.
Tang Yurou was a direct descendant of the clan, and her elder brother, Tang Xiangping, was a Yang God-level powerhouse stationed within the clan. This matter could not be taken lightly.
He dared not delay for even a breath. Stumbling and scrambling, he bolted out of the palace while shouting, "Something terrible has happened! Lady Yurou's soul lamp has gone out! Report immediately to Lord Xiangping!"
The news spread like wildfire, instantly sweeping through the Tang clan's core area.
Inside the Tang clan's Grand Hall of Council, the atmosphere was so tense it felt suffocating.
On the main seat sat a middle-aged man in a purple-gold python robe. His features resembled Tang Yurou's, but his brows carried an aura of long-standing authority mixed with a killing edge. He was Tang Xiangping—Yang God powerhouse, Tang Yurou's elder brother, and one of the current Tang clan rulers.
"What did you say?"
Tang Xiangping slammed his hand on the armrest, his voice booming through the hall like thunder. "Yurou's soul lamp went out?"
"Y-yes, Lord Xiangping," the elder who came to report stammered, trembling. "The patrol disciple saw it himself. There's absolutely no mistake."
"Outrageous!"
Tang Xiangping shot to his feet, his Yang God pressure erupting uncontrollably. The massive beams of the hall creaked under the strain. "Yurou carried protective treasures on her. Even an ordinary Yin God couldn't harm her. Who dares—who dares—to kill a member of my Tang clan?"
Just then, a disciple rushed in breathlessly. "My lord, a message just came from the Myriad Worlds Water Mirror! After Lady Yurou's fall, her personal surveillance array transmitted its final recording back to the clan!"
"The Myriad Worlds Water Mirror?" Tang Xiangping's eyes gleamed coldly. "Take me there at once!"
Moments later, in the Tang clan's Secret Arts Pavilion.
A massive water mirror, several meters tall, hovered in midair. On its surface played the final scene of Tang Yurou's life.
Inside the barge, a black-clad man holding a black jade talisman identified himself as a member of "Holy Eye." After Tang Yurou verified the token, she lowered her guard. Then came the explosion—and amid the chaos, the masked man beheaded her in one swift strike.
Though parts of the footage were blurred from the blast, the "Holy Eye" jade talisman and the assassin's movements were still clearly visible.