Peaceful Days Never Last Long

After completing a full cycle, Wu Tong discovered that she had successfully drawn qi into her body. She stood there blankly, scarcely daring to believe it.

Elder Yu appeared shortly afterward and told her that her painstaking efforts had finally paid off, knocking open her own Dao Path.

Learning that Elder Yu had been watching over her all along, Wu Tong was deeply moved and immediately bowed in thanks.

"Without the Yang Family, Wu Tong would likely be nothing more than a corpse in the woods. Not only had I preserved my life, I was even fortunate enough to enter the immortal path. I shall never dare forget such immense grace!"

"For the rest of my life, I shall do everything within my power to serve the Yang Family. Even if it means climbing a mountain of blades or plunging into a sea of fire, I will not refuse!"

Elder Yu gently helped her up and encouraged her softly. "It is good that you have such resolve. Your road is still long, so take it slowly. All right, hurry back and rest."

"Yes, Ancestor Yu!"

Wu Tong answered, flashed a radiant smile, and skipped back to her room.

From that day onward, cultivation was still difficult for her, but she was no longer stuck in place as she had been before.

Every tiny bit of progress was enough to fill her with delight.

As the two children's cultivation got on the right track, the Yang Family once again entered a peaceful period of development that lasted an entire year.

During this time, White Stone Town was rebuilt. With the Yang Family's assistance, some of the South Bank residents returned to live in town, bringing back its bustle.

The shops along the Yang Family's three streets opened for business. Trade was thriving, and the revenue was gratifying.

The four mines under their control maintained steady output, while the people beneath the mountain lived and worked in peace, creating a scene of flourishing prosperity.

Then there was Mist Mountain.

Zhao Qi advanced steadily, opening twelve Qi Meridians and successfully Condensing Qi Mansion.

He became the first cultivator in Yang Family history with a surname other than Yang, took Elder Yu as his master, and learned a Five Elements Sorcery, the Golden Light Technique.

Wu Tong had also opened four Qi Meridians. By estimation, she would be able to Condense Qi Mansion in another two years.

With Chen Yang's full assistance, Yang Lingrui's cultivation reached the peak of the Third Level of Qi Gathering, only one step away from the Qi Gathering Mid-stage.

He had already been in seclusion for over a month to make his breakthrough. Though the third level and fourth level were separated by only one stage, it was in truth a transformation of a minor realm and could not be treated carelessly.

The damage to Yang Lingqing's left shoulder Qi Meridians had long since healed. Her cultivation efficiency increased by another half portion, and she easily broke through to the Third Level of Qi Gathering.

Yang Family, council hall.

Yang Lingqing sat at the head of the room, conducting the usual lineage council meeting as she listened to the matters below being sorted out.

Everyone in the Yang Family understood as clearly as a mirror that she was destined to become the future head of the Yang Family.

"News has come from White Stone Town. Because of the Dynasty's war, wandering bandits have run rampant throughout the territory. We must be more vigilant."

Yang Xiaolei said, "A few days ago, hunters discovered traces that seemed to belong to wandering bandits in the western mountain forests and reported them to the family."

The moment they heard that wandering bandits had appeared, everyone below showed worried expressions.

Recently, they had all heard various rumors about these bandits. It was said that they were like mad dogs, burning, killing, looting, and committing every evil imaginable.

"The family has already sent an Immortal Master to investigate the bandits in the west, so there is no need for excessive concern. In the coming days, unless it is necessary, all of you should avoid traveling far."

After soothing everyone, Yang Lingqing looked toward Yang Feiyun. "Father, convey my order. Starting today, the Clan Soldiers on the North Bank are to keep watch and patrol day and night without the slightest lapse. Remind the merchant caravans passing through to avoid traveling at night. Inform all taverns and inns that they are forbidden from raising prices and fleecing guests during this bandit crisis. Under the Yang Family's rule, there is no need for business that takes advantage of another's peril. Also, distribute the family's weapons to the South Bank, so that they have the means to protect themselves."

"Yes, we obey Immortal Master Lingqing's order!"

"There is nothing further to discuss today. Dismiss yourselves."

After everyone had left, Yang Feiyun sighed. "Sigh... things had only just been peaceful for a year, and now trouble has come again."

"Father knows what this world is like. Peaceful days never last long."

Yang Lingqing said, "Our family's circumstances are still fairly good. We now have sufficient manpower and cultivators to handle affairs. Ordinary bandit trouble is nothing to fear."

"Lingqing is right."

Yang Feiyun and Yang Xiaolei both deeply agreed. With the Yang Family's current strength, as long as it was not a calamity like a Beast Tide, they still had the ability to protect themselves.

"Heavenly Nether and our Tiger Chasing have always kept to their own wells and never trespassed into each other's rivers. After all these years, why had they suddenly started fighting?" Yang Xiaolei asked in confusion.

"All under heaven bustle for profit; all under heaven scramble for gain."

Yang Lingqing rose to her feet. "There have never been conflicts or struggles in this world without cause. This war between the two kingdoms is merely because they both wish to take a share of the spoils from the collapse of the Eastern Wasteland Dynasty."

The Tianyou Dynasty lay in the north, while the Tiger Chasing Dynasty lay in the south. Their territories bordered each other, and both shared an eastern border with the Eastern Wasteland Dynasty.

Not long ago, the Eastern Wasteland Dynasty had splintered due to internal strife, breaking apart into several small kingdoms.

In this vast muddy water, fish and dragons were all mixed together. Tiger Chasing and Tianyou both wanted to fish out some benefit from it, and thus friction arose until war finally broke out.

Both sides wanted to interfere with the other as much as possible, thereby gaining greater benefits for themselves.

As a result, the two kingdoms had loosened their control over the Eastern Region border. The wandering bandits now appearing everywhere had entered the Dynasty from there.

The Yang Family was located in the eastern part of the Dynasty, so its bandit problem was even more severe.

"Hiss... so the great Eastern Wasteland really is gone?"

"A hundred years ago, before our Tiger Chasing Kingdom established its Dynasty, we were merely their vassal. Who would have thought that the Eastern Wasteland would be the first to lose its kingdom? Truly, fate makes fools of men."

The two Yang brothers both let out sighs of emotion.

After the council meeting ended, Yang Lingqing returned to the cliffside Forbidden Ground, where she happened to encounter Zhao Qi returning.

He was the "Immortal Master sent by the family" mentioned earlier.

Having successfully entered the Qi Gathering Realm and cultivated a metal-element technique, Zhao Qi had become an important mobile fighting force for the Yang Family.

Some time ago, he had followed Elder Yu into the mountains to temper his character. Now, his entire bearing was far more mature than before.

"Greetings, Senior Sister Lingqing." Zhao Qi saluted.

Now that he had taken Elder Yu as his master, he addressed the Yang Family cultivators as fellow disciples.

"You have worked hard, Junior Brother Zhao. Who are these two?"

Yang Lingqing looked at the two half-dead wandering bandits he carried in his hands.

"There were twenty-six wandering bandits in total. All have been executed."

He set the two men down on the ground. "These were the two leaders. I discovered that they differed somewhat from the others, so I brought them back."

"Oh?"

Yang Lingqing reached out to take them, releasing her divine sense to inspect them. Her brows immediately furrowed slightly.

The Qi Meridians at the crowns of these two men's heads were already in an awakened state. This meant that they had opened at least eight Qi Meridians.

"These wandering bandits actually possess a cultivation method?"

Upon discovering this, Yang Lingqing immediately heightened her vigilance.

If they were merely ordinary mountain bandits or horse thieves, that would be one thing. They posed no substantial threat to the Yang Family.

But if cultivators were mixed among them, then the situation would become far more complicated.

"Junior Brother Zhao, I must trouble you to make another trip to White Stone Town and report this matter to Ancestors."

"Yes, Senior Sister Lingqing. I will go at once."

Zhao Qi did not dare delay and immediately set off.

Yang Lingqing entered the main courtyard of the Forbidden Ground. Faint spiritual power fluctuations emanated from one of the stone chambers.

This was Yang Lingrui's place of seclusion, personally built for him by Yang Guanfeng and Elder Yu.

"The situation here is already like this. I wonder how things are on Linghu's side."

Yang Lingqing sat down on a meditation cushion, worry filling her heart.

That distant mine in the north was far from the Yang Family and stood at the border between two towns. The bandit trouble there would likely be even worse.

Elder Yu was currently guarding the family's mines, while Yang Guanfeng had gone to White Stone Town because of the Dynasty's decree. Ling Rui was at a crucial juncture in his seclusion breakthrough, and she had to remain home to guard him. She could not get away.

Otherwise, she would certainly have made the journey herself.

Amid her concern, a thought came to her, informing her that Yang Linghu was safe and sound.

Yang Lingqing's gaze flickered. She turned and bowed toward the ancestral hall. "Many thanks to Immortal Venerable Spirit Stone for your protection."

Chen Yang now possessed the soul flames of five Yang Family members within his body, allowing him to know their conditions.

"Linghu is unharmed for the moment. Judging by Ling Rui's flame, he should not be far from breaking through. When that happens, I will be able to take another great nourishing mouthful."

Chen Yang muttered to himself.

His own cultivation progress had never fallen behind. He was now only one-quarter away from filling his spiritual power space again. Once Yang Lingrui's breakthrough returned nourishment to him, he would be even closer.

If nothing unexpected happened, he would reach the Late Qi Gathering realm before the Yang Family members did.

But that was fine. The stronger he was, the better he could protect the Yang Family and keep them safe.