Wild cultivation begins with wielding the Taiyin talisman.

Mu Qingming paid no attention to Ning Che's scrutiny. He looked at Ning Che, his face still bearing that faint smile: "Among the mountain guardians, there is a monster specifically raised to understand destiny, called the Mountain Spirit. The Great Xia has known from the beginning that someone like you has received the Taiyin inheritance."

Despair? This is the world of cultivators; the winners are already at the top. All past victories will extend into the future. Hahahaha—"

Another burst of laughter followed, until he finally stopped, at which point Ning Che finally spoke: "Did you kill all the demonic beasts within a hundred miles of this area?"

"That's right. There's a talented young man in Black Rock Village. I helped him out, and he'll be joining the Mountain Guardians with you," Mu Qingming said with a smile.

"Join the mountain guardians? What do I need to do?"

"Sign a blood pact, cultivate diligently every day, that's all." Mu Qingming's smile brightened again, but this was never a good thing: "You will become a magnificent weapon, and one day, your name will be known throughout the world."

Ning Che suppressed the urge to take advantage of the situation. Even though his opponent was full of flaws, most of those flaws were no longer flaws in the face of an absolute difference in strength.

He softened his tone and said, "Could you leave some food for Shizhu Village?"

"Food? Oh, I almost forgot, you still need to eat." Mu Qingming's tone seemed apologetic, but he still had that smile on his face: "That's easy, just beg me."

"I beg you." Ning Che said without hesitation.

Mu Qingming paused for a moment, then burst out laughing: "Hahahaha—okay, you have to stay this obedient."

After he finished laughing, he casually waved his folding fan. An invisible force swept Ning Che across the withered forest, and in less than half an incense stick's time, he landed at the entrance of Black Rock Village.

The two guards at the village entrance, each wielding a spear, turned deathly pale upon seeing Mu Qingming. They knelt down with a thud, not daring to lift their heads. Mu Qingming didn't even glance at them, leading Ning Che straight into the granary in the center of the village, and once again waved his fan.

Hundreds of bulging bags flew out of the granary in a line, forming a neat square formation in front of us.

Mu Qingming waved his hand again, and a group of villagers from Heiyan Village, dressed in coarse cloth and short clothes, rushed over.

"Send these to Shizhu Village. If you lose even a single piece of meat, I'll take the heads of your entire family." Mu Qingming's tone was light and casual, but to the villager, it was like a death knell. He immediately knelt down and kowtowed, then picked up the burlap sack and ran out, afraid that if he was even half a step too slow, he would lose his head.

Ning Che felt a little relieved.

Perhaps Mu Qingming simply wouldn't stoop to lying about such trivial matters. To him, the lives of ordinary people in a village were no different from those of ants. Lying about how ants were would be pointless anyway.

"I've delivered the gifts to you. Come with me to meet your fellow disciples." Mu Qingming turned and walked towards the stone house at the deepest part of the village, tapping his folding fan lightly in his palm. "This kid is called Lin Ye, sixteen years old. A month ago, he was just a good-for-nothing who only knew how to farm. Now, he has reached the eighth rank."

Reaching the eighth rank in a month is probably not something that can be achieved through normal cultivation.

The door to the stone house was casually pushed open by Mu Qingming, and a strong smell of blood wafted out. On the stone platform in the center of the tower, a shirtless boy was sitting cross-legged in meditation.

You can see that his upper body is covered with thousands of blood-red marks, resembling an abstract wolf. This must be Lin Ye.

Hearing the noise, he suddenly opened his bloodshot eyes, and the moment he saw Mu Qingming, the ferocity in his eyes instantly turned into flattery.

He quickly jumped down from the stone platform and knelt on one knee: "Disciple Lin Ye greets Commander Mu!"

"Get up." Mu Qingming waved his hand and pointed to Ning Che beside him. "This is Ning Che, the successor of the Taiyin lineage. From now on, the two of you will be under my command."

Lin Ye's gaze instantly fell on Ning Che, looking him up and down, the flattery in his eyes immediately turning into undisguised disdain.

Mu Qingming seemed quite satisfied with the outcome, his smile deepening: "Pack your things and come back to Feihu City with me."

Lin Ye was overjoyed upon hearing this, and quickly kowtowed to express his gratitude. He then turned around and rushed into the tower to pack his luggage, moving as fast as the wind.

Ning Che stood there, lost in thought.

Joining the Mountain Guardians? He had never considered this path. But right now, he had no choice. Mu Qingming's overwhelming strength was a sword hanging over his head, and the lives of thousands of people in Shizhu Village were bargaining chips in the other's hands. He could only continue down this path for now.

Half an hour later, the three set off for Feihu City.

Mu Qingming tossed the folding fan into the air, and Ning Che felt a tremendous force propelling him from behind. He was pushed forward uncontrollably, his legs constantly hitting the ground to maintain his balance. The surrounding scenery rushed past, making him feel as if he were running on a highway.

Lin Ye, standing to the side, was filled with fervor, praising Mu Qingming's unparalleled supernatural abilities. Mu Qingming, however, only glanced at the silent Ning Che and said with a half-smile, "This is the world of cultivators. Those mortals you protect will never even touch this threshold in their entire lives."

Ning Che lowered his eyes and remained silent.

He finally understood Yue Can's words, "The path of Taiyin is cut off." The Great Xia had already blocked all paths to survival with its butcher's knife. Either become a domesticated weapon or face certain death.

Before long, the majestic Feihu City came into view. The towering city walls, ten zhang high, were covered with runes, and the guards on the walls were all dressed in black armor. However, when they saw Mu Qingming, they all knelt down and shouted, "Greetings, Deputy Commander Mu!" The heavy city gates were opened directly for him.

Mu Qingming kept his eyes straight ahead and led the two straight into the city.

The scene inside the city is completely different from that in the village. Here, the wide streets, paved with dark blue flagstones, are wide enough for six horses to ride abreast. Before it gets completely dark, the lights along the street are already stretching out. If you look at it from the top of the city wall, it looks like a fiery dragon with blazing flames, about to take flight.

After passing through the main street and around the market area, you will see a hill in the city.

It turns out the mountain keeper really does own a mountain.

The mountain is slightly higher than the city wall and is embedded in the western city wall of Feihu City. The stone steps paved with bluestone meander upwards from the foot of the mountain, with three shifts of sentries along the way.

Mu Qingming walked at the front with his hands behind his back, tapping his folding fan lightly in his palm. The guards along the way bowed respectfully upon seeing him, not daring to raise their heads. He didn't even glance at either side, leading the two of them upwards into the mountainside.

The mountains held a hidden paradise, illuminated by a large oil lamp, making it as bright as day. The path stretched to the left and right, some with tightly closed stone gates, others offering glimpses of their interiors. Ning Che looked around, noting everything down.

Soon, Mu Qingming led the two to a stone chamber that looked somewhat unusual. It wasn't a stone door, but a heavy black iron door with two ancient characters engraved on the lintel, which Ning Che didn't recognize.