Chapter 49: Trouble

Xu Yang glanced at them and said, "You can leave now. I won't bother you, and don't follow me anymore."

Hearing this, the Golden Core cultivators breathed a sigh of relief.

However, just as they were about to leave, they suddenly remembered a problem.

They were merely Golden Core cultivators; without Xu Yang's protection, navigating this forest would almost certainly lead to their demise.

"Please, don't make us leave, or we'll surely die!" the Golden Core cultivators pleaded, almost crying.

"Whether you live or die is none of my concern," Xu Yang said indifferently, a cold sneer forming in his heart.

Although Xu Yang didn't dwell on how these people had so readily betrayed him without a second thought earlier, their expectation of remaining by his side for protection was simply a pipe dream.

"Leave now. You have three seconds to disappear from my sight. If you don't vanish, I'll make you disappear from this world."

Xu Yang's face remained calm, but a ball of spiritual energy gathered in his hand, as if he would send the Golden Core cultivators to meet the King of Hell the very next second if they didn't leave.

The Golden Core cultivators were instantly terrified. Though extremely reluctant, they quickly turned and fled.

Xu Yang turned to look at Bai Ningmei, feeling a slight headache.

He generally didn't welcome people who brought trouble his way.

However, on second thought, Bai Ningmei wasn't so bad. At least she hadn't actively dragged him into her troubles earlier.

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?" Xu Yang asked.

Since he had already offered help and found Bai Ningmei somewhat agreeable, he decided to see it through.

"What?" Bai Ningmei asked, still a little disoriented and confused.

"I'm asking if you know those people from earlier. What were they doing here, and why were they trying to kill you?" Xu Yang asked, rubbing his forehead.

Bai Ningmei listened blankly at first, then her expression gradually changed to one of pleasant surprise.

Was Xu Yang asking these questions because he intended to help her?

Xu Yang's demonstrated strength made Bai Ningmei believe that if he helped her, her family could be saved.

Bai Ningmei then began to recount her story, her face gradually showing expressions of hatred and sorrow.

However, after listening, Xu Yang felt a heaviness in his heart, an indescribable feeling.

Bai Ningmei was a victim, yet the people who came to kill her weren't necessarily evil.

This matter was actually related to an event that occurred thousands of years ago in Tianwu Commandery.

Back then, an evil beast, the Demonic Sky Mad Dragon, a fierce beast of the Cavern Heaven stage, appeared and rampaged through Tianwu Commandery. Countless mortals and cultivators lost their lives to it.

The sects and forces of Tianwu Commandery were forced to unite and hunt down the Demonic Sky Mad Dragon.

But because the Demonic Sky Mad Dragon was incredibly powerful, many late-stage Nascent Soul masters perished, unable to contend with it.

Ultimately, several quasi-Cavern Heaven realm masters sacrificed their lives, unleashing Cavern Heaven power to seal the Demonic Sky Mad Dragon within Tianyang Mountain.

Tianyang Mountain was rich in Yang energy. Its temperature remained above fifty degrees Celsius year-round, with the hottest spots reaching several thousand degrees.

This powerful Yang energy could suppress the Demonic Sky Mad Dragon, a creature of extreme Yin.

Furthermore, Tianyang Sect was established on Tianyang Mountain, and all its disciples cultivated supreme Yang techniques.

This sect was also founded at that time with a singular purpose: to guard Tianyang Mountain for generations, ensuring the beast remained sealed within it.

Now, however, the seal had loosened. The blood of those with supreme Yang blood was needed to repair the seal and prevent the beast from escaping.

The Demonic Sky Mad Dragon, sealed for a millennium, harbored deep resentment. If it escaped, its Cavern Heaven realm cultivation would be unstoppable.

The entire Tianwu Commandery would be plunged into chaos and devastation.

Therefore, Tianyang Sect and other major forces in Tianwu Commandery were capturing and killing people with supreme Yang blood everywhere to collect their blood and reinforce the seal.

Due to their bloodline, the entire Bai family possessed supreme Yang blood. Thus, in a single night, hundreds of them met their untimely end.

Only a dozen or so individuals, for various reasons, managed to escape, but they were still hunted by all the major powers of Tianwu Commandery.

"So that's how it is," Xu Yang murmured, deep in thought.

In this matter, it was hard to say who was right and who was wrong.

In this world, there was no right or wrong, only strength and weakness.

The major forces of Tianwu Commandery were considering the entire commandery. Sacrificing a few hundred people to save tens of thousands naturally meant they would kill without hesitation or guilt.

As for those with supreme Yang blood, it was understandable that they wouldn't willingly accept being slaughtered for their lives.

"Sir, do you think there's any hope left for our Bai family?" Bai Ningmei asked softly.

Xu Yang lowered his head in thought for a moment, then suddenly looked up and said with a smile, "Don't worry, I can ensure the safety of your Bai family."

Xu Yang maintained his calm expression, as if everything was perfectly natural.

"But the entire Tianwu Commandery wants to kill our Bai family," Bai Ningmei said, lowering her head again.

Xu Yang, however, smiled faintly and said, "Don't worry, a mere Tianwu Commandery doesn't scare me."

Bai Ningmei was stunned by Xu Yang's bold declaration.

To not even care about the entire Tianwu Commandery... just how powerful was this senior?

In truth, in Xu Yang's eyes, while "the entire Tianwu Commandery" sounded impressive, it merely comprised a few large sects and dozens of Nascent Soul cultivators.

No matter how many Nascent Soul cultivators came, Xu Yang could instantly defeat them. Therefore, to Xu Yang, Tianwu Commandery truly was nothing.

"Thank you, sir. Your great kindness is something this humble one cannot repay..."

Bai Ningmei was overcome with emotion, about to gush endless thanks, when she suddenly felt a piercing gaze. Turning her head, she met Ling Qingshu's murderous stare.

This...

Bai Ningmei swallowed back all the words she was about to say.

Xu Yang glanced at Ling Qingshu but said nothing.

"Alright, we'll discuss this matter once we're out of here. As for the peerless spiritual medicine that Yu San Niang mentioned, I don't know where it is, so let's go look for it," Xu Yang said, frowning.

Up to now, Xu Yang still hadn't seen any sign of the peerless spiritual medicine.

His only gains so far were a heap of impending troubles and some herbs for refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

...

After searching the forest for about two days, Xu Yang finally found the peerless medicinal herb Yu San Niang had mentioned, hidden in a dark underground cave.

Upon seeing the peerless spiritual medicine, Xu Yang felt that this trip had been a waste of time.