Daqin arrests alchemists, what does it matter to me as a qi refiner?

"Don't think I don't know what you're thinking; your thoughts are written all over your face!"

Fine beads of sweat appeared on the old man's forehead, startled by Yang Ling.

When did Yang Ling become so perceptive, guessing so accurately that he caught him completely off guard? He decided not to beat around the bush any longer and went straight to the point.

"You insisted on following us all this way, and you must have sensed something. You've never seen us before, yet you showed that kind of expression; I bet you know something, senior!"

Seeing that Yang Ling had laid everything out plainly, the old man saw no point in continuing to pretend, especially since Yang Ling clearly already knew what was going on. He sighed and said:

"Young master, you are indeed much smarter than I imagined. What exactly do you want to ask? Knowing too much about some things may not be a good thing for you. You should think twice before you act!"

"I met someone who gave me that cultivation manual. I felt something was off at the time. I didn't expect Qin Xiaoxiao to be from the Qin family. How could the two be connected? So no matter what, I have to find out the truth, or I won't be able to eat or sleep!"

"Since you understand, why not give me a clear answer? What secret is hidden inside?" The old man hesitated, meeting Yang Ling's sharp gaze, before slowly speaking:
“Some things are not as simple as you think. We face many problems, including those related to luck, which you should be aware of.”

Yang Ling listened, seemingly lost in thought. It seemed the matter was indeed complex, and not something he could easily intervene in. He pondered for a moment, as if suddenly realizing something.

"I understand, senior. You mean they were originally the same person? Then why were they separated? Or was it done on purpose?" The old man was incredulous that Yang Ling could guess so much.

Even Yang Ling could figure it out; it seems there's no way to hide it anymore. He observed Yang Ling's reaction and realized he seemed to have already guessed it. The old man sighed, thinking to himself that Yang Ling was indeed formidable.

"You're indeed no simpleton; I didn't choose the wrong person to follow. I've seen everything you've done." Yang Ling's expression darkened; things weren't quite what they expected. He analyzed the situation word by word, understanding the underlying logic. Combining the two perspectives, the situation became complicated. Since that was the case, there was indeed nothing more to say.

"I think the person behind this must have some ulterior motive, otherwise they wouldn't have set up such a grand scheme. I guess we're just pawns in this game, or more accurately, just those who are pushing things along... the real mastermind behind it all..."

The old man quickly interrupted Yang Ling, who would have thought that Yang Ling possessed such extraordinary strength and was also so intelligent. He had been observing him secretly all along, never expecting Yang Ling to be even more outstanding than he had imagined. Yang Ling's lips curled up, clearly he had guessed correctly. The old man was somewhat at a loss.

"Just how much power does the person behind that have? It's truly admirable. To be able to control so many, they must be extraordinary; otherwise, where would they get such strength?" The old man pretended not to know and shook his head. Who knows what's going on behind the scenes? If they stay here any longer, he's afraid Yang Ling will guess even more. Yang Ling looked at the old man.

"You'll stay here, won't you?" The old man's lips twitched. He did indeed intend to stay, but Yang Ling's words sent a chill down his spine. Was there something wrong here?
“I will naturally stay for a while. After all, I’ve never been here before, so of course I want to take a good look around. I can’t miss such a good opportunity.” His eyes were filled with determination.

Yang Ling glanced gratefully at the old man. Not for any other reason than the old man's formidable strength; they had relied on him to escape danger multiple times along the way. With his help, they were confident they could progress smoothly as well. Since the old man was so powerful, he figured he should make good use of him…

"Okay, senior, don't worry, we will treat you well and will definitely not let you down. Let's go back now." After returning, Yang Ling began to prepare for cultivation without saying another word.

He felt he had to cultivate diligently; his current strength was simply insufficient. Besides, he needed to become stronger, otherwise how could he protect those around him? His current strength was definitely not enough. Moreover, he had always been restless, with rivals everywhere, and those people were constantly improving.

Meanwhile, something else unexpected happened to Yang Ling. The demonic beasts had already secretly infiltrated the vicinity. This area was a desolate place, rarely approached by anyone…

The demonic beasts had long planned to infiltrate several families from here, completely dismantle them, and create chaos. The demonic beasts gathered together.

"Who would have thought that there would be such a creature with such a strong demonic bloodline in this desolate place? If its bloodline were to be unleashed, it would surely cause panic."

"That's right, let's go release this monster now. It's such a waste that it's been locked up here. We've come at just the right time; this place is definitely extraordinary!" They dared not provoke the powerful families, as those families were so strong that they could easily defeat them just by standing there. After finding the location, they acted swiftly. They were sure to receive a reward after they finished.

This time, they could finally vent their anger. They had long been at odds with those families, and they had even found the other side's people an obstacle when they came over, but now they wouldn't make a mistake.

"That's right, our primary task is almost complete!" The demonic beasts turned and left after finishing their work. Demonic beasts have specialized protective mechanisms; wherever there is demonic blood, they can burn their own bloodline to release the demonic beasts within. Once a demonic beast with demonic blood is released, it can cause panic. This is because such demonic beasts are incredibly powerful, and the force they unleash is far beyond what ordinary demonic beasts can achieve.

Their abilities were truly beyond the reach of ordinary people. The demonic beast roared, and even the surrounding light seemed to be stained red with blood. After Yang Ling's strength increased, his perception also became stronger. He sensed this aura and felt it was all too familiar.

"How could there be demonic beasts here, especially with such a strong aura? This is truly extraordinary..." he said solemnly, his eyes revealing an unprecedented determination. To him, demonic beasts were absolutely objects to be eradicated. What difference was there between those demonic beasts and the people of the Dark Gate? They were all bloodthirsty demons. Since demonic beasts had appeared, he had to deal with them and not let them continue to cause harm. He strode outside.

They sensed the aura of the demonic beast bloodline almost instantly. This aura was extremely powerful, swirling in the sky and forming surging waves of energy, its power unmatched. Of course, ordinary people couldn't sense this aura; only powerful individuals who had reached a certain level could detect it. Yang Ling quickly stepped forward. Ying Zheng and Sun Yao were already waiting there, while the old man followed behind Yang Ling, his hands behind his back, calmly analyzing the situation.

“This aura is very close to us; we can get there in one trip!” Yang Ling glanced at it, his expression calm.

"I've already explored this area. It's the Monster Forest, just an ordinary monster territory. There aren't any strong monsters there, let alone Ganoderma lucidum. So much time has passed, how could such a powerful monster bloodline appear? It must be those guys from the Spirit Realm causing trouble!" Yang Ling analyzed logically, and they all knew exactly what was going on. Qin Xiaoxiao crossed her arms, not even glancing at Yang Ling.

"What does this have to do with us? A great calamity is about to befall us here, we'd better leave quickly!"

"If we leave now, what will happen to those people? Besides, I'm not that cold-blooded!" Yang Ling said, each word distinct. This matter couldn't afford the slightest mistake. The demonic beast was nearby; thankfully they had come. If they hadn't, it would have resulted in a massacre of the entire city, plunging the whole area into danger. With their current strength, they were far from being able to contend with a real demonic beast, but no matter what, Yang Ling had to go and help.

As he pondered this in his mind, the old man calmly spoke up.

"Alright, young man, let's get out of here quickly. This demonic beast's bloodline is growing stronger, and I can feel it's trying to break free of its restraints. If we hadn't noticed in time, what could we have done to turn the tide? If we had been too late, something terrible would have happened!"

"Exactly! And such a spectacular scene, I definitely have to go practice and fight those demonic beasts to the death!" Ying Zheng said first, unable to contain himself any longer. Qin Xiaoxiao watched their retreating figures, gritting his teeth. He had calculated it; following Yang Ling, he'd go hungry nine times out of three days, not a single decent meal. He complained a few times, but Yang Ling had given him such a valuable cultivation technique; it was only right and proper for him to help.

After agonizing for a long time, Qin Xiaoxiao finally followed. Before, he was always the center of attention, everyone doting on him and spoiling him. Now, he'd been stirred up by just one sentence from Yang Ling. He initially thought this had nothing to do with him, but Yang Ling couldn't do anything about it.

As for the people in the city, they were still unaware of what had happened. They rushed to the Monster Forest, found the valley, and looked at the dense aura around them. The old man's eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief.

"Look, just as we thought, there's definitely a huge monster inside!"

"Moreover, this demonic beast is extremely powerful and should not be underestimated!" Yang Ling's expression changed upon hearing the old man's words. There must be a demonic beast here, otherwise why would a demonic beast bloodline be released out of nowhere? And with such a powerful bloodline—there was one back in the Qin family—what are they planning?
Yang Ling clenched his fists, his aura rising steadily. Luckily they arrived; otherwise, once the demonic beast successfully broke through the barrier, it would have slaughtered many people at an alarming speed and caused panic. By the time they found out, it would probably be too late.

"These damned monsters are shameless! It's hard to imagine how they dared to do this!" Ying Zheng said, each word distinct. Yang Ling exuded killing intent. He roared, channeling all his spiritual energy, and a sword appeared in his hand. Without hesitation, he slashed at the monster.

The beast's roar still echoed in his ears, yet no one could stop them. The old man dared not hold back any longer and quickly followed, though he couldn't help but offer a word of warning.

"Young man, I know you want to kill the demon beast, but don't be in such a hurry. This demon beast is no joke!"

Yang Ling was deaf to everything, with Qin Xiaoxiao silently following behind. He was clearly losing control, and the group charged forward. Yang Ling's sword strike was intended to kill the demonic beast inside. Enraged by Yang Ling's attack, the beast swung its fist at him. Yang Ling unleashed all his power; in his eyes, the beast had to be dealt with quickly. However, the beast was surprisingly powerful, managing to knock Yang Ling's sword away. His hands went numb, and his eyes burned with killing intent. Of course, he wouldn't let the beast off easily; every punch collided with it, the powerful force almost creating afterimages.

The bloodline of demonic beasts is extremely noble, and any demonic beast that is released must have some intelligence.

"You humans are courting death! Why did you bother me?" The aura it unleashed carried a powerful pressure, suggesting the demonic beast had been trapped here, its anger unable to be vented. Yang Ling sneered.

"You filthy thing, you'd better go back to your lair and stop embarrassing yourself in front of us!" His blow was powerful, clearly hitting the monster, which roared in pain. The situation on the field changed rapidly, and Yang Ling had no time to react.

His power was limitless, and the demonic beast was no less formidable. Moreover, the demonic beast's physique was already strong, and now it was even stronger. Yang Ling fell into deep thought. Standing before him was the old man, his expression solemn. The demonic beast stood before them, roaring. It was impossible for a few people to kill it.

Qin Xiaoxiao dealt the demon beast another heavy blow, her methods becoming even more ruthless. This exchange had already depleted the demon beast's strength considerably, and now it only wanted to kill everyone. The old man also sensed something was amiss.

"I knew it! This demonic beast hasn't fully broken the seal yet. We must kill it together, and it's best to prevent it from ever emerging again, or the consequences will be dire!" the old man said, each word distinct. A large handprint descended from the sky, and the demonic beast roared in agony, its cries echoing through the air. Under the old man's control, the demonic beast was extremely vulnerable; its strength was only at its pre-seal level. If it were to break the seal, it would be incredibly difficult to deal with.

They fought fiercely, their battle echoing with terrifying sounds. Fearing trouble, several demonic beasts hiding in the shadows stealthily slipped back.

However, in their view, the monster should have slaughtered everyone at an astonishing speed, but what happened next surprised them greatly.

"Look ahead! What's that noise? Could it be that the demonic beasts have started their rampage?"

"It won't be that fast. I think it will take a while longer for the demon beasts to break through the seal!" (End of Chapter)