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

“Okay, tell me in detail how strong they are, so I can be fully prepared. You know, without proper preparation, I can't deal with them!” Yang Ling said directly.

"All I know is that they are very strong, and one of them is particularly terrifying. It is said that this person once fought against a powerful demon king!"

Ying Zheng was extremely surprised. Just how strong must this person be? He had dealt with people from the Dark Gate before, but none of them were this ridiculously strong.

Yang Ling remained calm and did not respond.

Duan Yuyin felt that he was exceptionally strong, but he did not offer any explanation.

His skill level had indeed improved, but this improvement would only be effective at crucial moments. He pondered the person Duan Yuyin had mentioned.

"I vaguely remember the one you mentioned, but he's just a member of the Dark Gate. His strength far surpasses that of others at the same level, so it's reasonable that he could wipe you out. However, there are even more formidable figures within the Dark Gate."

Hearing Yang Ling say this, Duan Yuyin's pupils shrank sharply. If one person was already this powerful, how strong would two people be? No matter how much preparation she made, it would probably be useless. This was a complete crushing defeat in terms of strength. Duan Yuyin was very troubled by this.

"You mentioned before that you encountered someone extremely powerful. Could you tell us more about it?"

"That person's strength is terrifying; the aura emanating from him is enough to reduce everything around him to nothingness!" Duan Yuyin said haltingly. Yang Ling frowned, sensing that the Dark Gate's actions were not a spur-of-the-moment decision, but rather a premeditated plan that had been in preparation for a long time.

Back then, the Dark Gate was suppressed in ancient times. Now, so much time has passed, they are clearly unwilling to accept this and are attempting a comeback. Only in this way can they satisfy their enormous ambitions. Yang Ling nodded slightly, instantly realizing what was happening. He had to admit that Duan Yuyin had brought him both good news and bad news.

"I can see you're quite strong. What are your plans next?" Duan Yuyin knew that although their actions differed and there was no conflict, she was currently homeless and had nowhere to go. Although her cultivation level wasn't ordinary, she was still far from being able to fight against the people of the Dark Sect.

A bitter smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

"I have nowhere to go now, and I plan to find a place to cultivate in peace. I don't expect to be able to eliminate them all, I only hope that I can be of some help when you fight the final battle!" Yang Ling understood the meaning behind her words and turned to Ying Zheng to say.

"She's desperate now, why don't you find her a place to stay and provide her with some cultivation resources so she can cultivate properly? Since she has nowhere to go, why not let her stay here for now!" Yang Ling's words left Ying Zheng somewhat at a loss, wondering if Yang Ling had any other intentions, but he had no other feelings for Duan Yuyin. Nevertheless, Ying Zheng spoke up.

"Come with me, we have plenty of space here, you can stay anywhere. Staying here will be a piece of cake!" Duan Yuyin instinctively wanted to refuse, but the spiritual energy here was abundant, making it an ideal place for cultivation. If she left, she feared she would never find such a suitable place again. After a moment's thought, she agreed. Ying Zheng led her away, his expression very serious.

Watching their retreating figures, Yang Ling sensed that this matter was not simple. He had discovered the Evil Cloud Victor, and he planned to discuss this with the male supporting character to see if he had any countermeasures. If there was anyone who could truly contend with him, it was probably only the male supporting character, and he was extremely well-hidden. Yang Ling had communicated with him for many years, yet he only knew a fraction of his true identity.

The male supporting character clearly knew a lot of things, he said.

"Old man, the secret gate has now moved to the east and west. Judging from the current situation, I'm afraid they won't be able to hold out for much longer. How much longer do you think we can hold out?" Yang Ling asked the male supporting character, who remained calm.

"Kid, I know all about your affairs. However, I will tell you when you become stronger. But you must think carefully; this method is risky and could very well be discovered. Once discovered, you will be doomed!" Yang Ling gritted his teeth. Even if it was a path of no return, he had made up his mind. He knew that the male supporting character understood his thoughts, so there was no need for further explanation.

"Don't worry, I'll definitely step in if necessary. You're the one who's going to rebuild my body, how can I just stand by and watch you get hurt? You'll have to do what you're owed me sooner or later!" Yang Ling knew he wouldn't say anything nice; the method the male supporting character had suggested was indeed a good one. After thinking it over, he felt he really needed to speed things up and help the male supporting character rebuild his body. Although the power of origin made him stronger, directly killing demonic beasts to obtain the origin seemed to be much simpler.

Yang Ling simply didn't want to waste his energy. Dealing with those demonic beasts was really boring; they were defeated in one move, leaving him with no sense of accomplishment.

The male supporting character remained calm. To be honest, he didn't know what Yang Ling was thinking, but he had seen through Yang Ling's little schemes.

During this time, Yang Ling's reputation spread far and wide, attracting many people who wanted to join him. He never paid any attention to those powerful families; who could be more powerful than him? Yang Ling's strength was unmatched, and he firmly believed that Yang Ling would succeed.

Yang Ling had been cultivating day and night during this time, and everyone else was also diligent. Soon, they discovered that gathering their essence might make them stronger and could even help Yang Ling. The old man found Yang Ling and shared his thoughts, leaving Yang Ling speechless with astonishment.

These people helped him because they wanted someone to rely on. Moreover, throughout history, he was probably the only one capable of doing so. Yang Ling thought about it; Ying Zheng was also quite powerful, and if Ying Zheng were to do it, he would likely be very strong as well.

“What you said makes some sense. I believe in your abilities, and you are indeed very capable! Don’t worry, you’ve helped me, and I won’t treat you unfairly. I have the ability to do that.” The crowd was extremely excited, and to be honest, they were all a little impatient.

"I wonder if we can become stronger with this power. I'm also very curious about just how powerful this strength will be!" Everyone said, looking at Yang Ling, knowing that he wouldn't joke around.

Yang Ling seemed thoughtful, and told them to put their minds at ease. Since he had promised to help, he would definitely do it and would never go back on his word.

"Since I've promised to help you, how could I refuse?" He smiled. Judging from Yang Ling's tone, everyone knew he truly intended to help to the end.

"With your words of comfort, we feel relieved. If we had known you would help us so much, things would have been much easier for us!" Yang Ling was a little embarrassed by the praise; he had only said it casually and hadn't thought much of it.

"It's just a small favor, but you must promise me one thing: you must do what you're supposed to do, or you know the consequences!"

Their decision to seek refuge with Yang Ling was clearly a premeditated one.

After all, they couldn't find a more suitable place besides the Lin family.

Yang Ling made a pact with them, stipulating that if anyone betrayed them in the future, they would be doomed.

"How could I not know your thoughts? You simply want to use my power to help you break through to a new realm. I will help you improve!" Yang Ling said solemnly. As he spoke, a white halo appeared in his palm, swirling and dancing around him, its power so strong that it caused the heavens and earth to tremble. Everyone who felt this power was astonished, knowing they were far from being Yang Ling's match. They stared intently at Yang Ling, curious about his next move. Yang Ling remained calm. "I'm doing this to let you know that my power far exceeds your imagination. Moreover, I have the ability to help you reach this realm as well. While I can't say you've reached the pinnacle, you're certainly no ordinary person!" With that, he smiled and divided the white halo into several parts, injecting them into the foreheads of each person. The eyes of the crowd immediately brightened, as if they were seeing a new world.

"Young Master Zhao, your strength is truly beyond our reach; you are undoubtedly the greatest in history!"

"Don't worry, I'll show you what I'm capable of today. Consider it a gift from me!" Yang Ling smiled. Since these people had agreed to join him, he naturally wouldn't hold back.

Yang Ling had been absorbing the source energy continuously during this period, and his cultivation level had greatly improved. He was overjoyed, not expecting that he had actually learned everything that the Evil Cloud Saint had taught him.

He was excited.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. The newcomer was none other than the female head of the family, a flicker of surprise in her eyes. Yang Ling's talent was truly extraordinary; in just a few days, he had advanced another realm. How had he done it?
"Your cultivation level has improved again? You're stronger than before?"

“Naturally, I can’t compare to you.” Yang Ling’s lips curled up slightly, and the female patriarch smiled, her expression indifferent.

"Don't be so discouraged. How about we have a fight and see what level your cultivation has reached?" Yang Ling nodded in acceptance, his inner energy surging forth like a raging river. Without hesitation, he threw a punch, instantly creating a colossal wave that crashed towards the female patriarch. The female patriarch did not immediately retaliate, but instead countered with the same move.

Although she didn't fully understand the situation, she had gleaned many insights during the Blood Moon. Now, she could barely hold her own against Yang Ling. Yang Ling's physique was unmatched; the female clan leader was sent flying by a single punch from him. Of course, given her strength, she was unharmed.

"I seem to recognize this move of yours. It's like I taught it to you before, isn't it?" Yang Ling said with a smile.

The female patriarch was right; it was indeed what he had told her. Ordinary power couldn't harm Yang Ling at all, especially now that his strength had greatly increased. The two exchanged blows in mid-air for several rounds, and Yang Ling was somewhat surprised, as he hadn't even used his full strength yet.

"Forget it, let's not fight. You're already very strong, but if I use my full strength, you probably won't be my match."

"Is it really that amazing?" Yang Ling asked curiously.

"How about you and I have another match?"

"Forget it, I'm not that interested." The female family head's strength far surpassed Yang Ling's; to be able to fight her to a draw was already quite an achievement. Yang Ling had nothing to say. When he decided to help the female family head, he had already foreseen this day. Besides, who hasn't been impetuous in their youth, risking everything for a beautiful woman?

Yang Ling did not regret helping the female head of the family.

His only regret was not eliminating all the members of the Dark Gate. Fortunately, the female head of the family stopped there and did not pursue the matter further.

The Lin family was overjoyed to learn of Yang Ling's improved strength and came to congratulate him.

They hadn't been able to catch up with Yang Ling's fierce battle with the female clan leader earlier. Now that the battle was over, they dared to step forward. Yang Ling nodded slightly in acknowledgment to them.

A hint of confusion flashed in Duan Yuyin's eyes as she turned to look at Ying Zheng. Hadn't Yang Ling already broken through his cultivation level? She'd heard he'd gotten his chance; why was he only advancing now?
"I'm not entirely sure of the specific reason, but you can ask him yourself. But he probably gave the source he obtained to the female head of the family."

Duan Yuyin's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief. Could someone just give something like this away so easily? During this time, she had gotten along well with Ying Zheng. Since she wasn't very familiar with the area, she would often ask him for advice. She found Ying Zheng to be a nice person, and very comfortable to be around.

Ying Zheng didn't reveal too much, only hinting at the details. Since Ying Zheng didn't know, Duan Yuyin didn't press the matter further. In any case, Yang Ling's strength had increased, giving him a better chance against the Dark Gate in the future. They also knew about Yang Ling's improved strength and remained quite calm, not paying much attention.

True powerhouses don't care about such things. Furthermore, given their desire to pledge allegiance to Yang Ling, his rapid achievements are truly unimaginable.

Yang Ling did not stop them from holding a lavish banquet, but let them do as they pleased. Afterwards, he found the Evil Cloud Saint and coughed lightly.

"My strength has improved now, shouldn't you tell me what to do next? And no matter what, I want to become even stronger!"

"If you don't tell me soon, I really don't know what to do!" The Evil Cloud Saint glanced at Yang Ling, knowing he wanted to improve. Telling him the method wasn't a big deal, but he had told Yang Ling before that nothing in this world was easy.

"I've told you the method, but you'll have to bear the consequences yourself. This source is a great way to improve and advance. You're actually quite strong; you'll see when you go and collect some source!"

At this point, a glint flashed in the eyes of the Evil Cloud Saint. Yang Ling's strength had increased significantly when he obtained the Origin. Yang Ling thought about it carefully; doing this would indeed yield great rewards.

"Don't worry, I already guessed it. And I will do my best to handle this matter."

"However, please rest assured, senior, I will definitely be able to help you reshape your body." Hearing Yang Ling's words, the Evil Cloud Saint did not have much hope. Reshaping the body sounds easy, but it is actually very difficult and not as simple as imagined.

"Let's hope so!" Yang Ling knew it might take a long time for the Dark Gate to come knocking. Rather than waiting passively, he decided to take the initiative and fight the Dark Gate members!
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, the Evil Cloud Saint spoke:
"You're about to set off, why don't you go and say goodbye to the people around you properly? This trip might last for a year or two!"

“Especially that girl, I think her feelings for you are quite special!” Yang Ling understood that the Evil Cloud Saint was referring to the female family head. He touched his nose, thinking that he didn’t have that feeling.

However, Yang Ling quickly realized that the Evil Cloud Saint was teasing him. He sighed softly, turned and left, intending to return to the Lin family before leaving.

Meanwhile. (End of this chapter)