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

"How dare you Yun family speak to us like that? We're all with your Yun family, after all. Don't you know what the consequences will be if you say such things!" They were furious and about to attack.

Just then, Yang Ling came out and said calmly, "I just came out and saw you all arguing like this. Several families have joined forces to attack us. This is quite a rare sight. However, isn't it a bit too much to put all the blame on the Yun family?"

Many people were confused after hearing this. Yang Ling had often criticized them before, but now he was being so kind to them. They felt that Yang Ling must have some kind of scheme, but they couldn't figure out what he was up to.

"Why are you saying all this? Are you sure you're not just trying to fool us? Besides, you're not that kind of person!" They were already used to Yang Ling and thought he was definitely lying to them; they had seen through his tricks long ago.

They looked at each other, their faces full of confusion.

What's Yang Ling up to? His personality has changed so much since he came out, could it be that he obtained some treasure? One of them suddenly blurted out this question.

"Your Yun family wouldn't be hiding something valuable, deliberately luring us here! That thing is probably already in Yang Ling's possession, which is why he's spouting all this nonsense!" As soon as he finished speaking, the crowd exchanged glances, realizing there was some truth to his words. If he weren't guilty, why would Yang Ling be so friendly to them? Before, Yang Ling had been arrogant and dismissive, ready to eliminate them in a heartbeat.

This is really abnormal. Yang Ling sighed and rubbed his temples. Are these people not understanding human language?

"I'm talking to you nicely, so don't push your luck. While I still have patience, don't mess with me, or don't blame me for being impolite!" The man looked disdainful after hearing Yang Ling's words.

"Since that's the case, then tell me where you hid your things! Give them to me!" Yang Ling looked at them, the corners of his mouth involuntarily turning up, his eyes darting around as if he had thought of something.

"You're right, I do have something, but I'm afraid you're not capable of taking it!" After saying this, everyone looked at each other, completely unprepared for this outcome. They stared intently at Yang Ling.

"Just as I thought! Since you've admitted it, hand over the stuff obediently, or don't blame us for being impolite!"

"That's right, we didn't want to be your enemy in the first place. Now that you've handed over the items, that'll be giving us an explanation!"

“That’s right, as long as you hand over the item, we can spare your life!” Yang Ling looked around and finally uttered a sentence.

"It's a pity there's only one of these. Now that it's given to you, how do you plan to divide it?" The men clenched their fists, no longer caring about anything else, thinking they could fight over it later.

The next second, Yang Ling attacked the person who had spoken, instantly sending them flying, their lives hanging in the balance. Everyone stared wide-eyed; Yang Ling had actually killed one of their men right before their eyes, and more importantly, how could he be so fast?
This sudden action startled them so much that they hadn't even had time to react.

Yang Ling attacked their people right in front of them, clearly showing he didn't take them seriously; they were his disciples.

Yang Ling, however, remained remarkably calm, observing their expressions and speaking slowly and deliberately:
"I'll say it again: if you can't control your people, then I'll have to get rid of you. Otherwise, don't blame me for being ruthless. You know the consequences!" He said, each word distinct, his eyes filled with unprecedented determination. Those people were stunned by Yang Ling's words. They had expected him to beg for mercy, but instead, he openly declared war.

Now they were in a dilemma, at a loss. After all, this was Yun family territory; what should they do?

If I were to make a move, I'm afraid I wouldn't be a match for Yang Ling, given his formidable strength.

They gritted their teeth, at a loss for what to do. Yang Ling naturally noticed their predicament and calmly withdrew his gaze.

"Weren't you guys pretty arrogant just now? You scared me half to death. When I get the chance, I'll definitely teach you a lesson!" They naturally wouldn't let Yang Ling off easily, but this was Yun's territory, so they couldn't openly cause trouble for Yang Ling.

At this moment, someone next to Yang Ling said:

"I was quite curious about what you got. Besides, what are you planning to do with it?" Yang Ling looked at him, knowing that they wouldn't let it go until he gave a clear answer. However, Yang Ling had already prepared a plan.

"Actually, I didn't get anything remarkable. It's just a magic artifact. The quality is quite high, but it's the kind that ordinary families can afford!" The man thought Yang Ling had obtained some rare treasure, but it turned out to be just a magic artifact. He immediately disdained to fight with him.

"Alright, I understand now. But I trust your abilities. Maybe someone will find out if this thing is real or fake in the future, then I won't hold it against you!" They crossed their arms; now, even if they wanted to take Yang Ling's things, they didn't have a suitable reason.

At this moment, another person stood up and expressed his dissatisfaction with Yang Ling's actions, saying that Yang Ling had killed their people and that they couldn't just let it go.

"You openly attacked us, shouldn't you give us an explanation? Besides, your actions are completely illogical, you have to give us an explanation!" He stared intently at Yang Ling, wanting an explanation from him. Yang Ling pretended to be very troubled.

"What? What kind of explanation do you want from me? Do you want my life? Do you really think you can just take my life as you please?" he shouted, his words full of resentment. Hearing Yang Ling's words, the men exchanged glances, then blurted out, "You just need to exchange three moves with us. If you can withstand those three moves, you can leave. Otherwise, don't blame us for being impolite!" Their eyes were filled with determination. Yang Ling found them utterly ridiculous. Did these people even know what they were saying?

"Do you know what you're talking about?"

“If all else fails, why don’t I fight you? Since you’re so eager to spar with the Yun family, how could I refuse?” Qin Yixian suddenly spoke, immediately drawing everyone’s attention to the usually taciturn man.

Qin Yixian was very powerful. He and Yang Ling had fought their way out of the Qin family. Although he didn't become the head of the Qin family, no one dared to easily deal with him again. They shrank back, pretending to be nonchalant, intending to gloss over the matter.

"Then let it go. Since you're Brother Qin, we're willing to give you face and let bygones be bygones!" he said generously. Yang Ling crossed his arms. They weren't like this just now; they were shouting and threatening to kill him. Did they really think he couldn't see through them? He simply said:
"So what if I exchange three blows with you? I'm not afraid of you even if it lasts thirty rounds!"

As soon as Yang Ling finished speaking, the man in front of him burst into laughter, feeling that Yang Ling was far too arrogant.

Having said that, the man made his move. The aura emanating from him slowly spread outwards. The expressions of those around him instantly changed, and they all took a few steps back, making room for Yang Ling and the man.

"This is a contest between strong individuals, so let's not get involved. I've long heard that Yang Yannian's strength has reached an extremely high level, and even those at the same level have a hard time defeating him, let alone Yang Ling!"

"I don't think Yang Ling has a good chance either. If it were Qin Yixian, the two might be able to fight to a draw. However, Yang Ling is best at killing opponents of higher levels, so he might have some tricks up his sleeve."

"What backup plan could he possibly have? I think he's just out of his mind. I bet he's going to get into trouble!" The crowd argued back and forth, with most people not having a high opinion of Yang Ling or believing he had the ability to pull it off.

In their view, even if Yang Ling was physically strong, this palm strike would cripple him if not kill him. They guessed that Yang Ling only rushed out to fight for the sake of face. After all, it's normal to want to show off one's strength in front of so many geniuses.

Yang Yannian spoke first: "Since you have agreed to spar with me, the outcome is none of my business. Even if you die, you can't cause me any trouble!"

He couldn't help but smile, saying he was worried about Yang Ling, but in reality he was worried about Qin Yixian behind Yang Ling. He was saying this to Qin Yixian.

In his view, even if Yang Ling had some skill, he was no match for an absolute powerhouse. This move would surely kill Yang Ling. Even if it didn't kill him, it was possible to cripple him.

Yang Ling looked at Yang Yannian calmly and said, "Stop talking nonsense and get to work. I won't be polite to you!" He was full of disdain, thinking that Yang Yannian had strength but no brains. He was bound to pay a heavy price for his arrogance.

Yang Yannian unleashed his spiritual energy, causing the surrounding spiritual energy to surge forth like a raging sea, pressing down on Yang Ling layer by layer. The spiritual energy emitted a sharp whistling sound as it cut through the air. He intended to finish Yang Ling off in one move.

Qin Yixian secretly worried for Yang Ling. He leaned closer to Yang Ling and whispered a warning: "Be careful, he wants to kill you, and I think he's after you. He probably wants to kill you!"

Upon hearing this, Yang Ling distanced himself from Qin Yixian, afraid of accidentally hurting him, and urged, "Don't worry, I won't let him succeed, I'm confident!" Yang Yannian stared straight at Yang Ling, thinking that Yang Ling was simply courting death. He really didn't know where he got the confidence to say that. Wasn't he afraid of losing his life?
Yang Yannian roared and struck towards Yang Ling, his move shaking the heavens and earth. Yang Ling clenched his fist, and the two collided, instantly unleashing a powerful force.

Fortunately, those around him dodged quickly when Yang Ling made his move, narrowly escaping being caught in the crossfire. The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, their eyes filled with astonishment; Yang Ling's attack had completely exceeded their expectations.

Yang Ling was actually able to fight Yang Yannian to a standstill; even if his strength wasn't top-tier, it wasn't far off. Yang Yannian had thought dealing with Yang Ling would be a piece of cake, but unexpectedly, Yang Ling not only didn't back down but actually gained the upper hand, catching even Yang Yannian off guard. He only felt a force rushing towards him, which he couldn't shake off no matter how hard he tried. What was going on?

His eyes widened, his face filled with disbelief, and his gaze towards Yang Ling changed. Just as he was about to back down, he realized it was too late. Yang Ling stood there, looking at Yang Yannian's expression, secretly pleased with himself. Who told Yang Yannian to offend him? Yang Yannian stared at Yang Ling, knowing full well that Yang Ling was involved in all of this.

"I think your strength is just so-so. You look so weak, not very impressive at all!" Yang Ling's words were laced with sarcasm. Looking at Yang Yannian's current state, the crowd also felt he was nothing special, and couldn't help but feel a little more respect for Yang Ling. Those mocking voices reached Yang Yannian's ears, feeling worse than death. He stared at Yang Ling, his eyes revealing undisguised hatred.

"You're incredibly powerful! I don't know how you did it, but you're really something, you're impressive!" Yang Yannian said through gritted teeth. Yang Ling waved his hand dismissively, saying, "You flatter me a bit. I don't think it's quite like that." This remark nearly made Yang Yannian vomit blood. Yang Ling appeared completely unharmed, and the power he unleashed was enough to prove his strength. Yang Yannian naturally dared not continue fighting Yang Ling; he realized Yang Ling's strength was extraordinary.

"Since that's the case, let's call it even. Just pretend I never said anything!" The power Yang Ling unleashed left him shaken. Since Yang Ling could withstand his attack, he'd let bygones be bygones for now. He gritted his teeth, his hatred rising. Yang Ling wasn't just mocking him, but also the power behind him. He secretly vowed that if he ever got the chance, he would definitely get rid of Yang Ling. Yang Ling smiled and said, "I knew it. This matter needs to be resolved properly to avoid further trouble."

Compared to Yang Yannian, Yang Ling's injuries were not severe; this time, he had won. Given the vast difference in their cultivation levels, he had actually managed to withstand the attack—who else could do that? Yang Yannian glared at Yang Ling, thinking to himself that Yang Ling shouldn't be too happy now; he would definitely not let Yang Ling off the hook in the future. Seeing Yang Yannian leave, the others also planned to leave, as staying any longer was pointless and would only lead to further humiliation.

"Let's go too. Since they've all left, there's no point in staying here. Let's go back!" everyone said eagerly. At this moment, a man with a scar on his face stepped forward. He stared at Yang Ling and said, "My name is Shangguan Xiu. If there's a chance, I hope to have a good match with you. Besides, your physique must be very strong; you can definitely compete with me!" After he finished speaking, everyone looked at each other. They all knew that Shangguan Xiu was one of the strongest physiques, and now he was actually taking the initiative to challenge Yang Ling. Wasn't this an admission of Yang Ling's strength? It was enough to prove Yang Ling's talent. Yang Ling cupped his hands and said, "Don't worry, if there's a chance, I will definitely accompany you!" His injuries were healing at a visible speed. As for the others, the Qin family members had already been mostly dealt with by him. Everyone was quite looking forward to Yang Ling's performance later. (End of this chapter)