Gao Hui immediately took out a map from his storage pouch and spread it across the table.
It showed an area centered around White Stone Town. He pointed south of White Stone Town, at a darker-colored depression.
"This place lies within Fengling Town's territory. Not long ago, a band of tomb robbers dug up the entrance to an underground ancient tomb there. The entrance bears restrictions that ordinary people cannot break. It appears quite unusual. Our preliminary judgment is that it should be the ruins of some great family from ancient times."
"After surveying the site, Fengling Town realized they could not swallow this tough bone alone, so they passed the news on to several other towns, hoping we could lend a hand and send cultivators to explore the ancient tomb together."
"You know the current situation in the eight towns of Wangyue. Not many families can send cultivators now. Though there are some risks, I believe this is an opportunity."
Yang Lingqing fell into thought after hearing this.
Before leaving, Yang Guanfeng had said that Gao Hui was someone worthy of trust.
The Yang Family and White Stone Town had already risen from a simple relationship of mutual benefit to one of alliance. Thus, Yang Lingqing did not doubt either his information or his motives.
It was only a matter of whom to send, which still needed to be discussed with Elder Yu before a decision could be made.
"Let me discuss it with the elders of my family first, then give you a reply. Would that be acceptable, Town Chief?" Yang Lingqing asked.
"No problem. I will depart with my people in three days. Once the Yang Family Patriarch has decided, simply send someone to White Stone Town to find me."
After Gao Hui left, Yang Lingqing summoned Elder Yu and told him about the matter.
"What Gao Hui said is right. At a time like this, many families cannot spare any manpower. It truly is a good opportunity."
Elder Yu said, "Lingqing, who do you think would be suitable to send?"
Yang Lingqing thought for a moment. "Ling Rui and Zhao Qi."
"Ling Rui..."
Hearing Yang Lingrui's name, Elder Yu hesitated somewhat.
Because of the child's outstanding talent, he was somewhat unwilling to let him risk his life outside.
"I understand Ancestor Yu's concerns, but you also know that a cultivator's strength does not lie solely in cultivation level."
Yang Lingqing said, "If he stays at home cultivating all the time and never endures the tempering of wind and rain, I fear the Great Dao will be difficult to attain."
"That is indeed the truth. Sigh... I really am getting old, to become so plagued by gains and losses." Elder Yu shook his head.
That night, after Yang Lingrui finished cultivating, Yang Lingqing told him about the matter.
Upon learning that he could go out and explore, Yang Lingrui's interest was immediately piqued.
"A good thing. I've been still for so long that I've begun to itch for movement. I was just thinking of going out for a walk. This ancient tomb is a fine place to visit."
Elder Yu also notified Zhao Qi. Early the next morning, after Yang Lingrui paid his respects to Chen Yang, he brought Zhao Qi to White Stone Town.
His cultivation had been concealed at the level of someone who had just broken through to the Third Level of Qi Gathering. Unless one was a Core Formation Cultivator, no one could see through it. It served as an added safeguard.
As the Yang Family's treasure that guarded the lineage, Chen Yang also made a move without a sound, separating two small portions of his consciousness to protect the seas of consciousness at the crowns of their heads.
This was the only method he currently had to help the Yang Family beyond the range of his consciousness. For the rest, they could only rely on themselves.
When they arrived at the town gate, a Second Level of Qi Gathering cultivator from the town chief's residence was already waiting there. Seeing the two of them, he came forward to greet them.
"Welcome, fellow Daoists. Please follow me into town."
Yang Lingrui and Zhao Qi were both visiting White Stone Town for the first time. The former rarely left home because he had always been cultivating, while the latter had once waited outside the town with his family for three days and three nights without being able to enter.
But looked at from another angle, failing to enter the town had been a good thing.
Otherwise, they would likely have perished when the town fell.
One could only say that fortune and misfortune changed like shifting clouds, impossible for anyone to fathom.
"Ling Rui is here. And this must be Immortal Master Zhao Qi. Please, come in quickly!"
Gao Hui led the two into the residence. At that moment, there were already two other cultivators in the room.
Seeing them enter, both men rose and offered salutes.
"Greetings, esteemed cultivators of the Yang Family."
Like Zhao Qi, these two were only at the First Level of Qi Gathering. From this alone, one could see how greatly the Dynasty's round of conscription had affected the local families.
Let alone Qi Gathering Mid-stage cultivators, not even the entirety of White Stone Town could produce someone at the Second or Third Level of Qi Gathering.
The Third Level of Qi Gathering that Yang Lingrui displayed was already an existence many families could only gaze upon from afar.
This man's aura is so strong. He must be at the Third Level of Qi Gathering.
If they can send out a Third Level cultivator, there must be another expert stationed in their family. Everyone says the Yang Family is powerful. Today, we have truly seen it.
"Alright, now that everyone is here, please take your seats."
Gao Hui then informed them of the route for this journey, the current intelligence on the ancient tomb, and many other matters.
The ancient tomb was still ten days' journey from White Stone Town. Gao Hui planned for the four of them to meet up with the cultivator teams from Willow Leaf and Qinghe the next day before setting out together.
With more people, they could look after one another along the road.
That night, Gao Hui paid Yang Lingrui a visit.
"Ling Rui, your cultivation speed truly makes one envious."
"Haha, Town Chief Gao knows well enough that it is all thanks to the spiritual liquid in my family that Ling Rui has achieved what he has today," Yang Lingrui said with a smile.
Gao Hui shook his head. "Sigh, that is not how it should be said. Even with spiritual liquid, it still needs to be refined. These are all results you cultivated for yourself."
Yang Lingrui smiled again at those words, then asked, "I am curious. Now that White Stone Town has been rebuilt and the situation within the Dynasty has stabilized, what plans does Town Chief Gao have for the future?"
The plans he referred to were not White Stone Town's future development, but Gao Hui's personal prospects.
"Sigh..."
At this, Gao Hui could not help but sigh.
"It is difficult. The Dynasty is unlike a sect. Many times, it does not look at talent, but rather background, connections, and seniority. I, Gao Hui, possess none of those three. The report announcing the town's reconstruction was submitted long ago, yet there has been no news since."
"How could that be?"
Yang Lingrui was somewhat surprised. "With my family's assistance, the construction period was shortened by more than half. How could there be no response at all?"
"Yes. I thought completing this matter might bring a turning point, but reality is simply like this. Those above know that no one is backing you. Since you are capable, they make you do even more. As for promotion, I fear there can only be hope once my age and seniority have risen."
Gao Hui rose and walked to the window, gazing at the bright moon on the horizon.
"Ling Rui, sometimes I truly envy you. As fellow cultivators of the Dao, you should understand how unbearable it is to suppress one's cultivation and be unable to advance even an inch."
Yang Lingrui could not help but sigh as well.
The single word "endure" laid bare all the bitterness Gao Hui had suffered over the years.
But had the Yang Family not endured the same?
For the previous fifty years, the Yang Family had endured bit by bit in Willow Leaf City, their circumstances even more dire than those of the Liang Family later on.
If not for that day on the Yuling River, when a young man leaped into the water and saved a cultivator, the Yang Family might by now have been boiled into a pot of meat soup, divided up and devoured by others.
Life was better now. Having seized several opportunities, the Yang Family had ridden the wind like a flood dragon and leaped in one bound into the ranks of the foremost powers between the two towns.
Yet compared to true behemoths such as the Dynasty, sects, and great aristocratic families, the Yang Family was still as immature as children darting through the streets and alleys, chasing and roughhousing.
There was still a long road ahead, and they still had to keep "enduring."
How long would they have to endure?
Yang Lingrui pondered it over and over, turning countless thoughts in his mind, before finally settling upon himself.
"Safety, danger—when at peace, think of danger."
Yang Lingrui silently recited in his heart, Before Core Formation is achieved, before the great undertaking is complete, I must never become smug and complacent. I still need diligence. I still need caution...
Before you continue