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

"Young Master Yang, I just received some news. With his own strength and the full support of the Qin family, Huo Zun's power has greatly increased, making him even more formidable!" The old man spoke each word slowly and deliberately, his expression serious. Yang Ling smiled calmly, not taking Huo Zun seriously at all; this was no problem for him.

"Old man, aren't you too nervous? I've never taken them seriously; they're not worthy of being my opponents!"

"That won't do. If you can't win, don't force yourself. I'm worried they might sabotage you behind your back. Although I sincerely hope you win, I don't want anything to happen to you!" Yang Ling knew the old man was worried about him.

The old man had witnessed Yang Ling's strength firsthand, but Huo Zun came from a prominent family, unlike them. He was exceptionally talented and must have hidden trump cards, making him difficult for ordinary people to match.

"Don't worry, you've given me so many good things, they'll come in handy eventually. I just hope Huo Zun can hold out a little longer and that I don't have to kill him so easily, after all, I've been preparing for this for a long time!"

Hearing Yang Ling's words, the old man said no more and calmly withdrew his gaze. Besides, he had nothing else to give Yang Ling.

From the day he decided to help Yang Ling, he provided Yang Ling with numerous resources, and Yang Ling will surely make further progress with his own abilities. He has already shared everything he knows.

Yang Ling remained silent, waiting patiently. Yan Xuan moved closer to Yang Ling, his excitement palpable; he had long yearned for a battle.

About half an hour later, they arrived at an open space. Yang Ling remained calm, surprised that the competition would be held here. The old man led them to the designated location. Yang Ling looked at Huo Zun ahead, then at the Yan family members not far away.

They clearly noticed Yang Ling's gaze, their hearts filled with disdain. Today was Yang Ling's death day. They had been cultivating relentlessly, solely to kill Yang Ling, and also to gain entry into the Qin family. They longed to seize this opportunity and win the Qin family's favor with their exceptional strength.

The Qin family is a first-rate clan, far superior to any place like this. Joining the Qin family will transform them completely. Yang Ling is utterly unworthy to be their opponent; even with powerful backing, what difference does it make?
"Yang Ling, I've heard of you before. But even if you're incredibly strong, you won't escape death today. Will you regret being our enemy?" Huo Zun spoke confidently and arrogantly. He didn't care what Yang Ling would say; he just wanted to see how Yang Ling would embarrass himself in front of everyone.

As Huo Zun finished speaking, they all turned to look at Yang Ling, their eyes filled with complex emotions. They knew that Yang Ling had a grudge against Huo Zun, and they also believed that Yang Ling would not win.

After all, Huo Zun has the Qin family's support. Yang Ling left early during the selection competition. Now that Huo Zun's strength has greatly increased, Yang Ling may find it difficult to cope.

"I think you're a bit too noisy. How come I didn't notice before? My only regret now is that I didn't finish you off in the selection competition, but instead spared your life!" They thought Yang Ling would kneel down and beg for mercy, but they didn't expect him to say such provocative words.

Huo Zun turned his head away and raised his chin.

"Why would I care about a clown like you? My strength has reached a terrifying level, and I have also learned the Qin family's martial arts. You still want to overthrow me?" His words were full of arrogance, and he vaguely implied that Yang Ling was not worthy to be his enemy.

Yang Ling seemed to find it a joke; this person was incredibly noisy. The old man retorted without hesitation, taking the initiative to support Yang Ling.

"The competition hasn't even started yet, and you big families are already jumping out like this. Have you forgotten how you used underhanded methods to make those sects lose?" Their hearts tightened. They knew there was discord between the families and sects, but only the parties involved knew the specifics. They never expected it to be like this.

They thought the Huo family wouldn't admit it, but to their surprise, the major families not only didn't defend themselves, but also readily admitted it.

"You big families probably don't realize that the methods you used back then will one day come back to haunt you. Don't think that having those methods means you can do whatever you want; in reality, you're nothing more than fish on a chopping block!"

"A piece of trash like you doesn't deserve it at all. Several sects should have always been subordinate to us. Now that we've become stronger, it's only natural that we take resources from them!" They were dumbfounded, never expecting someone to speak so eloquently and righteously. Was there something wrong with him? Huo Zun stared at Yang Ling, wishing Yang Ling would... Not only that, but also the Yan family.

"Enough! Who is this Yang Ling? He killed my wife and hurt my child. I will make him pay for this in blood!"

They shouted loudly, as if only in this way could they vent their hatred. Even if they couldn't kill Yang Ling, someone else would take care of him. Yang Ling looked at Yan Xuan and found it somewhat laughable to deal with him. These Yan family members really couldn't wait a moment longer.

Feng Xueyuan stared intently at Yang Ling.

"Don't be reckless. I'm worried they might try something. But with your strength, you're more than capable of dealing with them. In short, be very careful!" Yang Ling gave him a few more instructions, and Yang Ling nodded in response. In any case, no matter what kind of family they are, they will all pay the price today.

After a few matches, they seemed to be deep in thought.

At that very moment, Huo Zun suddenly stepped forward, his emotions unusually agitated, which puzzled everyone present, who couldn't understand why he would stand up at this moment. Was he planning to make a move?

Everyone looked in the direction Huo Zun pointed, a hint of apprehension in their eyes. However, the other families were quite displeased. After all, Huo Zun was just a junior in their eyes; how could he so easily surpass them and steal the limelight? His ambition was too obvious. But they dared not speak out, for Huo Zun's excited expression, just as the Qin family elder had said, was no small matter. Yang Ling secretly pondered, not expecting the Qin family to send such a powerful person.

However, these auras seemed somewhat familiar. When he looked up again, he saw an elder floating in mid-air. Yang Ling immediately realized that it was one of the old men from the Qin family. However, he had never seen these old men before, but they must be of considerable importance.

"Please don't panic, everyone. We are from the Qin family, and we have come from afar. We have heard of Huo Zun's extraordinary strength, and we have come to invite him to join our Qin family and become our disciple!" The elders' words shocked everyone. Huo Zun's talent had surprised them so much. Who would have thought that Huo Zun would be so lucky to be chosen by the Qin family?

Wasn't Huo Zun's future destined for great success? Everyone secretly wondered.

Yang Ling found it noisy and interrupted them, "Are you guys ever going to stop? These old men from the Qin family are blind to have fallen for someone like this!" Yang Ling shouted.

The Qin family elders were about to erupt in anger, but the moment they saw Yang Ling, they retreated as if they had seen a plague god. They hadn't expected Yang Ling to be here, and no one had informed them beforehand. Everyone knew Yang Ling was incredibly strong, and he fought without regard for his life. Yang Ling remained calm, his gaze finally settling on them.

Huo Zun was extremely excited and couldn't wait to get rid of Yang Ling.

At this moment, Yan Xuan stepped forward. From beginning to end, Yang Ling remained very calm.

"I'll deal with you! You killed my mother and caused the tragic deaths of my brothers. Today I will take your life!" Yan Xuan said before Huo Zun could speak.

Huo Zun did not stop him. Since Yan Xuan wanted to fight, he would let him test Yang Ling's strength.

Seeing this, Yang Ling understood Huo Zun's cunning and scheming nature. Yan Xuan, with his strength, dared to challenge him? He was simply overestimating himself.

"With your meager abilities, you dare to come out and embarrass yourself?" Yang Ling said bluntly.

Everyone was furious when they heard this.

But Yang Ling didn't take them seriously at all. He looked at Yan Xuan and didn't expect him to be so weak.

"Your strength is too weak, let's finish this quickly!" Yang Ling gritted his teeth and charged forward. He threw a punch, meeting Yan Xuan's attack.

The Qin family elders saw it clearly: Yang Ling had won. His strength was indeed formidable, and he was not someone that ordinary people could handle.

Compared to them, Yang Ling's strength was already formidable. They had initially thought Yang Ling was about to lose, but the next second, Yan Xuan's body flew out and crashed heavily to the ground. The crowd exchanged bewildered glances; who could have imagined Yang Ling would be so powerful?
"Yang Ling was already very powerful when he was in the Qin family. For Yan Xuan to fight him is simply overestimating himself!"

"Your talents are decent, but that's about it. With your strength, how could you possibly contend with Yang Ling?" The Qin family members had naturally witnessed Yang Ling's prowess and were filled with awe for him.

Huo Zun was dissatisfied. Why was Yang Ling able to gain the favor of so many people, while he could only remain subordinate to Yang Ling forever?
Yang Ling walked up to Yan Xuan, whose pupils contracted sharply. Had it not been for his unwavering will, he would have already collapsed to the ground. He was dumbfounded. Why was Yang Ling so powerful? He had actually managed to withstand a single move from Yang Ling! Yang Ling smiled, then suddenly unleashed a burst of energy.

"How can you be so powerful? Why is your strength so terrifying?" Yan Xuan's words carried a hint of questioning.

Logically speaking, Yang Ling should have died at his hands, but Yang Ling was unharmed and acted as if nothing had happened.

Only now did Yan Xuan truly feel fear. He had never taken Yang Ling seriously, never even giving him a second glance. People from large families like theirs, possessing innate talent and resources unavailable to others, naturally develop an arrogant attitude, but in reality, they are incredibly vulnerable.

"I told you long ago, your strength is too weak to be my enemy. Why do you seek your own death? Besides, you provoked me first!" Yang Ling unleashed a powerful force, then drew his sword and pierced Yan Xuan's chest. The Qin family elders did not intervene, calmly withdrawing their gazes. They had already anticipated this outcome, so they did not make a move.

Huo Zun clenched his fists, his heart filled with resentment. Why was Yang Ling so powerful? He had managed to crush Yan Xuan as easily as squashing an ant!
"Elders, isn't this a bit inappropriate? His brutality is too extreme! We can't let him treat human life so carelessly!" The others couldn't help but roll their eyes at Huo Zun's words. He hadn't acted this way when he told Yang Ling to die; what a hypocrite! The Qin family elders ignored them. They were willing to accept Huo Zun as a disciple, yet he was still ungrateful, daring to order them around—truly ungrateful!
"I'll say it again, this is a competition! Even if he dies, it has nothing to do with us! Besides, he brought it on himself, and no one can save him!" The Qin family elder said this, but in his heart he thought that Yang Ling was like a madman, and who would dare to provoke him? Unless they didn't want to die!
"Why?" Huo Zun was about to ask when he realized Yan Xuan was already lifeless. The Yan family members were furious, but after witnessing Yang Ling's strength, they dared not speak further. Yang Ling planned to finish the battle quickly and return to reunite with the female family head. After all, the Blood Moon Night was approaching, and there would be many troubles. Not only would he have to deal with several families, but the Qin family might also make a move. These elders, to put it bluntly, didn't seem to be members of the Qin family at all. After all, he had been with the Qin family for so many years and had never seen them before…

Immediately afterwards...

The members of the Qin family turned their gazes to Yang Ling and slowly spoke.

"Yang Ling, we have always felt deeply sorry for you leaving the Qin family. Why don't you come back? You can choose to be an inner disciple or an outer disciple. What do you say?"

They extended an olive branch to Yang Ling, causing those around them to gasp in surprise.

Everyone's pupils constricted sharply. They had thought Yang Ling was destined to lose, but unexpectedly, they had ended up benefiting him. The old man was overjoyed, genuinely happy for Yang Ling's achievement. As long as Yang Ling nodded, everything from the past would vanish.

Yang Ling could not only gain more, but even become a prominent figure. However, those around him were dissatisfied. The two old men were already resentful; why should Yang Ling receive such treatment?
Moreover, Yang Ling was someone who had been expelled from the Qin family, and they were unwilling to see this happen. Huo Zun was also indignant; Yang Ling actually wanted to return to the Qin family with him, which was a great humiliation to him.

Yang Ling ignored the Qin family members and turned his attention to Huo Zun.

"Huo Zun, can you show yourself now? Haven't you always wanted to challenge me? Today, I'll give you a chance to see my power!" Yang Ling said casually. Upon hearing this, Huo Zun clenched his fists. Ever since returning from the ancient ruins, he had wanted to kill Yang Ling. What Yang Ling said was true, but he hadn't found a suitable opportunity yet.

The immense power emanating from Yang Ling filled them with awe and made them tremble. The Huo family, on the other hand, were extremely excited; this day had finally arrived. Even if Yang Ling could defeat Yan Xuan, Yan Xuan's strength was utterly insignificant in their eyes.

However, Huo Zun was different; his strength had always been formidable, earning him genuine respect. He turned to look at the Qin family elder, believing Yang Ling to be far too arrogant.

"I want to deal with him myself. We have a deep-seated hatred between us, and I must handle this personally. I have no other desires!"

"If you wish to kill him, I have nothing to say. But if he is powerful, I also believe you can handle him!" (End of Chapter)