Chapter 58: A Meeting Beyond Destiny

The young man in the white robe, with a purple jade crown and a face as fair as jade, had long eyebrows that reached his temples and piercing phoenix eyes. He was draped in a white cloak that enveloped his entire body, making him look as if he were sculpted from powder and jade, seemingly delicate and refined. However, the impression he gave was entirely different from his appearance.

He sat astride his horse, giving off a sense of looking down upon the world.

The Crown Prince of Iron Cloud, Tie Butian, personally came out of the city to welcome Du Shiqing.

At this moment, he was seated on his horse, his right hand lightly resting on his forehead, his eyes squinted as he looked down the road, waiting patiently with a calm expression.

Dust rose in the distance, and the faint sound of wheels could be heard. A group of people appeared on the horizon.

"He's here!" Tie Butian leaped off his horse, the white cloak still enveloping his entire body. Though he was not tall, he did not give the impression of being short.

Beside him, dozens of people stood ready, their eyes gleaming with determination, hands on their sword hilts, protecting him from all directions. Such an array could protect Tie Butian from a sudden attack by a Martial Emperor and allow him to retreat safely!

At this moment, Du Shiqing was in a state of shock.

"Mr. Du, you have now safely arrived in Iron Cloud. I should take my leave," Chu Yang said with a light bow, his voice serious, like a hero retiring after a great deed.

"Ah?" Du Shiqing really did not expect Chu Yang to bid farewell at this moment.

Could it be that he had only escorted him here out of pure duty? Just to repay a favor? Not for any other reason?

The old man Gao and the four guards also looked up in surprise at Chu Yang.

Chu Yang gave Du Shiqing a resolute and deep look, ignoring his attempts to retain him, and turned to leave. His lonely figure seemed extremely free and easy, as if he had just completed the most important task on his mind, feeling a great sense of relief!

Seeing his back, everyone felt a faint sense of shame: it turned out they had misunderstood him.

He had suddenly appeared and traveled a thousand miles with them. If not for him, this group would not have reached Iron Cloud! If not for him, they would have been wiped out in that dense forest.

But at this moment of success, he chose to leave decisively!

Even just two days ago, they had almost fought with him! What a despicable act of ingratitude! Chu Yang's departure completely established in Du Shiqing's mind the image of a selfless hero!

Everyone watched as he walked alone, becoming a small black dot in the distance, then disappearing, and they all felt a bit dazed.

Chu Yang had come to repay a favor, and after discussion, everyone basically agreed on this. However, they all guessed that Chu Yang must have had other purposes.

Using Du Shiqing to meet the Iron Cloud elite and gain wealth and status might have been his real goal?

But at this moment, Chu Yang's actions shattered their suspicions, making them feel ashamed for judging him by their own low standards.

However, they did not know that Chu Yang's departure was to better carry out his plan.

The old man Gao and the others had not wronged him.

Chu Yang thought clearly: if he followed Du Shiqing into the city, he could smoothly meet Tie Butian, but his status would not be highly regarded.

At most, he would become one of Tie Butian's many advisors, and he would have to struggle to find and wait for opportunities to stand out and gradually rise.

But if there were no suitable opportunities, he would have to wait for a long time. Chu Yang could not afford to wait.

What is easily obtained is not cherished. This applies to men, women, love, wealth, and career!

A wife is not as good as a concubine, a concubine is not as good as a secret lover, and a secret lover is not as good as one who cannot be obtained. What cannot be obtained is always the best. Cough, Chu Yang was thinking too much, but the truth was indeed like this.

Chu Yang's proactive approach would never be as impressive as Tie Butian's three visits to his thatched cottage. The weight and importance would be entirely different. So, Chu Yang was now building his own momentum and creating an opportunity for Tie Butian to visit him three times.

Originally, Chu Yang had only one shortcut to Iron Cloud through Du Shiqing. But now, the Nine Tribulations Sword's absorption had changed his mind. Since there were other ways, he was not content to be just an advisor!

As for Du Shiqing, he had already put in a lot of effort and left a deep impression. This was extremely useful. At least, whenever Tie Butian mentioned him, Du Shiqing could influence Tie Butian with the impression he left!

What Chu Yang needed to do now was to make Tie Butian mention him to Du Shiqing! He needed to appear reluctant and passive, while Tie Butian should take the initiative!

As soon as Tie Butian mentioned him, he would act with the freedom of a celestial horse!

He had no confidence in a sudden rise to power, but attracting attention and gaining Tie Butian's notice was his forte!

Tie Butian and his group waited at the Ten Mile Pavilion outside Iron Cloud City. When they saw Du Shiqing's carriage approaching from a distance, they finally breathed a sigh of relief.

But then they were taken aback.

A figure shot out from Du Shiqing's group, dashing towards them like an arrow!

No, it was heading towards the city!

The figure, which was initially a small black dot, gradually became a small human form, then transformed into a black lightning bolt in everyone's eyes, rapidly approaching!

"Amazing speed!" A burly man beside Tie Butian narrowed his eyes and couldn't help but praise softly.

Although the others did not speak, they all felt the same way.

This figure was not riding a horse but walking, yet his speed was incredibly fast. In a moment, he was already not far from the group. As he approached, all the elite guards in front of and behind Tie Butian suddenly felt a chill down their spines!

Because at that moment, this meteor-like figure suddenly looked up!

He looked up towards Tie Butian!

Two sharp eyes, like divine swords piercing the dark sky, came straight at them!

Dozens of experts in front of and behind Tie Butian simultaneously felt their eyes being fixed by these eyes, giving them a sense of being completely exposed.

It was as if they were stripped naked and placed in an endless snowy wasteland.

At the same time, a bone-chilling coldness swept over from the direction of the approaching figure, as if it could devour the world! It was like a calm sea suddenly turning into a raging storm!

Absolute calm instantly turned into a world-shattering turmoil! This intense contrast caught everyone off guard, especially the guards on Tie Butian's side, who instinctively raised their highest alert!

Both sides were experts, and the tension was palpable, ready to ignite at any moment.

But, the figure seemed to notice something was wrong, and the coldness suddenly withdrew. This ability to control his power at will shocked everyone to the extreme!

At this moment, the figure and Tie Butian's eyes met, and they were about to pass each other.

Tie Butian turned his head involuntarily.

Their eyes met in the air, seemingly by chance. Suddenly, both felt a jolt!

This seemingly casual eye contact was actually deliberate on both sides!

And only one side was fully aware.

Tie Butian had already activated his imperial power before raising his head, bringing with it the aura of a supreme ruler, combined with the ice heart and thorough jade bone divine power he had practiced since childhood, intentionally!

Because in just one glance, Tie Butian had already sensed something: the speed, aura, and eyes of this person all indicated that he was an extremely dangerous individual! Such a person, if a friend, would be a great asset; if an enemy, would be a terrifying foe!

Separated by dozens of yards, their eyes met, and both suddenly felt a subtle sensation. It was as if two people who should never have met and had no connection were suddenly brought together in this moment, disrupting the flow of time and space!

Chu Yang's feeling was especially strong. At this moment, he clearly saw a fragmented and broken time and space, with two completely different worlds from his past and present suddenly overlapping!

This was an extremely profound sensation.

This was a meeting that was completely beyond destiny!...