Chapter 618: Chapter 400: Pang Xiong

Xu Yang had never expected Ye Qiuling to make such an audacious request. Fifty academic credits might only sound like a month’s reward from the Celestial Strategy Wind and Cloud List, but if they were sold, fetching two or three hundred Spirit Coins wouldn’t be a problem at all. This scheming woman had put on a hesitant act, only to immediately demand fifty credits. Did she really take him for a sucker like Wu Xiuyuan?

"Forgive me, but I cannot help you," Xu Yang flatly refused. Let alone credits, he wouldn’t even lend her silver. Previously, he assumed Ye Qiuling had already found her next backer before falling out with Wu Xiuyuan. He hadn’t expected her to have no fallback plan at all; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been reduced to begging him. Although they were fellow disciples, their past relationship had been far from harmonious. If Ye Qiuling weren’t at the end of her rope, she absolutely never would have come to him. Ye Qiuling was scheming, but clearly, her brains weren’t up to the task.

Of course, it was also possible that Wu Xiuyuan had finally realized he was being played for a sucker all along, prompting their fallout before Ye Qiuling could secure another patron. This falling out likely hadn’t been initiated by Ye Qiuling, so her disheveled state just now probably wasn’t entirely an act.

"Please, Junior Brother Xu, help me. I won’t forget this favor," Ye Qiuling pleaded in a low voice.

Without credits to undergo closed-door cultivation for Enlightenment in the Martial Tower, grinding through her bottleneck by herself would take at least a year or two, even with her talent. In a year or two, her chances would be long gone. At this moment, she somewhat regretted not taking Xu Yang seriously in the past and failing to build a good relationship with him. But who could have imagined that the peasant who could only look up to her from afar when he was an Outer Disciple could reach this point today?

"Senior Sister Ye, I don’t even have enough credits for myself. I have nothing to spare to help you," Xu Yang said expressionlessly.

Her pitiful and vulnerable appearance stirred absolutely no sympathy in his heart. He was already out of resources himself, yet he refused to spend his credits on them, insisting on saving up for Cultivation Techniques. Furthermore, Wu Xiuyuan had already put the word out. It was even more impossible for Xu Yang to offend Wu Xiuyuan for the sake of someone he had previously quarreled with.

"I know you have credits. You almost never visit the Martial Tower or the Battle Tower. Is it because of Wu Xiuyuan’s words? But you aren’t even afraid of Huo Xiaochen, so why fear Wu Xiuyuan? The Young Sect Leader and Peak Master Yue both told us to unite and help each other after entering the Celestial Strategy Academy," Ye Qiuling didn’t give up, inadvertently blurting out the real reason she had sought Xu Yang out.

Others were afraid of Wu Xiuyuan, but Xu Yang wasn’t even intimidated by Huo Xiaochen, so naturally, he wouldn’t fear Wu Xiuyuan. However, she never expected Xu Yang to refuse her completely, leaving her with no choice but to invoke Bai Shaoling and Yue Zhong.

"Wu Xiuyuan is despicable and vile, using such methods to force my submission. We are fellow disciples; you should stand with me."

This was Wu Xiuyuan’s method of forcing her to submit—cutting her off from all help so she would have to obediently bow her head. But she, Ye Qiuling, was a peerless beauty with nation-toppling charm. She only had eyes for Spirit Bone Celestial Prides. A talent like Wu Xiuyuan simply wasn’t enough to make her bow.

"When I was in trouble, you didn’t stand with me, Senior Sister Ye," Xu Yang sneered. He hadn’t expected this woman to be so thick-skinned as to say such things with righteous indignation. She acted innocent and played the victim, claiming Wu Xiuyuan was forcing her, despite having taken advantage of him so heavily.

"Do you truly care nothing for our camaraderie as fellow disciples, Junior Brother Xu?" Ye Qiuling revealed a touch of sorrow.

Xu Yang had originally just wanted to watch the joke play out, but now he felt somewhat disgusted by this scheming woman. "Do we have any camaraderie? I need to cultivate. Please leave, Senior Sister Ye."

Ye Qiuling hadn’t expected Xu Yang to kick her out so bluntly. Her face instantly turned ashen. With her beauty, she had never been treated this way before. She had thought that if she acted a little pathetic and shed a few tears, Xu Yang would obediently hand over the credits. She never expected this guy to show zero mercy.

"You will regret this in the future." Ye Qiuling’s expression turned icy, completely dropping her act.

Hearing this, a fleeting surge of killing intent flashed through Xu Yang’s heart. He suppressed the urge to slaughter Ye Qiuling and pushed the courtyard door open. "After you, Senior Sister Ye. As for whether I’ll regret it, we’ll see in the future."

Ye Qiuling was so furious that her pretty face turned red, and she gritted her teeth. She couldn’t believe Xu Yang was actually driving her out of the courtyard.

BAM! Xu Yang slammed the courtyard door shut and entered the Quiet Chamber to begin his cultivation.

Over the next few days, more rumors about Ye Qiuling and Wu Xiuyuan spread. Ye Qiuling had been bouncing between various geniuses while simultaneously demanding resources from Wu Xiuyuan. Naturally, Wu Xiuyuan had grown increasingly dissatisfied. This time, as Ye Qiuling reached Celestial Essence First Layer Perfection, she needed a sum of credits to enter closed-door cultivation at the Martial Tower to comprehend the profound mysteries of the Realm. She had sought out Wu Xiuyuan to ask for credits once again.

Wu Xiuyuan refused to keep playing the sucker this time and directly proposed she trade her body for it, which led to their fallout. Having been the sucker for so long and giving so much without even getting a taste, Wu Xiuyuan was naturally unwilling to let it go, so he exposed Ye Qiuling’s true colors to the public. Xu Yang didn’t know whether Ye Qiuling’s ruined reputation affected her directly, but regardless, some of those who used to be close to her were now keeping their distance. Wu Xiuyuan’s threats had indeed worked.

Inside the Quiet Chamber, Xu Yang was enveloped in Qi-Blood that billowed like thick smoke. His blood surged like dragons, emitting a thunderous rumble. He was cultivating the Azure Dragon Dominating Body! His entire body was a deep, flush red. His skin vibrated, and wherever the Dragon Qi flowed, his muscles, bones, and flesh became increasingly translucent.

Soon, his aura calmed down, and the smoke-like Qi-Blood retracted back into his body.

[Azure Dragon Dominating Body · First Layer (9601/10000)]

Xu Yang slowly opened his eyes. Two beams of sharp light shot from them, briefly illuminating the dim Quiet Chamber.

"Too slow!" He glanced at the progress of his Azure Dragon Dominating Body. Over nearly a month, even with his Cultivation breaking through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer, the progress of the Azure Dragon Dominating Body had only increased by a little over three hundred points. The reason for such slow progress was that he had long since run out of Elixirs, making it impossible to cultivate the Azure Dragon Dominating Body at full strength.

"My Cultivation is mostly consolidated now. I need to go buy some Elixirs; otherwise, it will take another month or two before the Azure Dragon Dominating Body breaks through to the Second Layer." Xu Yang stood up tall and dug out the three hundred Spirit Coins he had obtained from Yang Ao. "This is the very last of my resources. Once these Spirit Coins run out, I’ll have to take on missions."

However, by the time he used up the resources bought with these three hundred Spirit Coins, his Azure Dragon Dominating Body should be able to break through to the Second Layer. Once it reached the Second Layer, his strength would take another step forward. At that time, even if he couldn’t kill a Celestial Essence Fourth Level Martial Artist, he would have the confidence to protect himself.

Strapping the Burning Separation Saber to his back, Xu Yang walked straight out of the courtyard. This time, he didn’t use any disguise! Now that his Cultivation had reached the Celestial Essence Third Layer, his Combat Power meant he couldn’t just be killed by any random person who came along. If someone wanted him dead, this would be the perfect time to finish them off. Swaggering his way out of the Celestial Strategy Academy, he only changed his appearance before hurrying to Wu Family Castle.

"Xu Yang has left the Celestial Strategy Academy!"

As soon as Fang Xu heard the news, he immediately rushed over to inform Huo Xiaochen.

"What are you trying to say? Are you asking me to go intercept and kill a fellow student?" Huo Xiaochen looked at Fang Xu indifferently. He knew Fang Xu had previously threatened Xu Yang and was itching to get rid of him. Lacking the ability to do it himself, Fang Xu was clearly trying to use him as a weapon.

Fang Xu said in a deep voice, "Brother Huo, this man cannot be left alive. The grudge between you two has already been cemented. Are you really going to wait until he grows stronger before making a move?"

"Grows stronger? I, Huo Xiaochen, can crush him to death at any time. But if I am to kill him, I won’t do it sneakily," Huo Xiaochen stated expressionlessly. The Fang Family had the capability to kill Xu Yang, yet Fang Xu had come to him instead. Fang Xu wanted to eliminate an enemy without stirring up trouble for himself. Did he really think Huo Xiaochen was the Fang Family’s personal blade?

Fang Xu was left momentarily speechless. Huo Xiaochen might be able to crush Xu Yang to death at any given moment, but he, Fang Xu, could not. However, looking at Huo Xiaochen’s stern and aloof expression, he realized it was impossible to get him to act. If he wanted to kill Xu Yang, he would have to do it himself. Doing it himself, he naturally wouldn’t be able to kill Xu Yang. He could only request the help of his family’s experts.

"I’ll consult the family first." Gritting his teeth, Fang Xu quickly left Huo Xiaochen’s courtyard. Huo Xiaochen might not fear Xu Yang’s growth, but the Fang Family certainly did! The strongest expert in the Fang Family backing him was only at the Celestial Essence Fifth Layer; they simply didn’t possess the same confidence as Huo Xiaochen.

Xu Yang hurried all the way to Wu Family Castle. The bounty posted by the Fuhu Gang was still up, though the paper had faded and the writing was blurred by the rain. "The Fuhu Gang, and the Fang Family?"

After paying the entrance fee, Xu Yang once again stepped into Wu Family Castle. The place was as bustling as ever, with people setting up stalls everywhere. However, since his Cultivation had broken through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer, the market he had once considered high-end now felt rather ordinary. Those one or two-year-old Spirit Medicines held no appeal for him whatsoever. Even if the prices were lower than in the city, he had no desire to buy them. Because with his current Cultivation, these one or two-year-old Spirit Medicines had little effect anymore unless they were refined into Elixirs.

Xu Yang walked around for a bit and only managed to buy three stalks of Spirit Medicine that were over five years old. He was just about to look elsewhere when he suddenly noticed a crowd gathered not far away. Thinking there might be some good stuff, he immediately walked over. Squeezing his way in, he saw a white-haired old man sitting on the ground, wailing uncontrollably.

"Brother, may I ask what happened to this old man?" Xu Yang asked the person next to him curiously.

"It’s a crying shame. He’s just an old farmer from nearby. A few days ago, he accidentally picked a stalk of Spirit Medicine in the mountains. He planned to sell it here so his grandson could learn martial arts, but the moment he took it out, the Fuhu Gang targeted him and snatched it right away."

"Doesn’t anyone from Wu Family Castle step in?"

"Step in how? If those Fuhu Gang members were dealt with by Wu Family Castle, the old man and his family would definitely face retaliation. He wouldn’t dare ask Wu Family Castle to intervene."

"Who would have thought that after Yang Zheng died, the new guy, Pang Xiong, would be even worse. In the past, even though the Fuhu Gang was overbearing, they would at least pay a little. Now, they just rob people in broad daylight."

"Even Wu Family Castle might not dare to intervene. The Fuhu Gang is backed by the Fang Family, after all. Besides, they only target the weak."

Listening to the chatter around him, Xu Yang quickly understood what had happened. The Fuhu Gang had been doing this sort of thing in Wu Family Castle for a long time; he had seen it several times himself. It just hadn’t been this extreme before.

"Is Pang Xiong very strong? He’s even more domineering than Yang Zheng used to be."

Xu Yang was not part of Yunzhou City’s Jianghu, so he naturally hadn’t heard of a figure like Pang Xiong.

"Pang Xiong’s Cultivation broke through to the Celestial Essence Third Layer several years ago. You tell me if he’s strong," the person beside him snapped, glaring at him in annoyance.

The Celestial Essence Third Layer was enough to secure a certain status even within those Thousand-Year-Old Noble Families.

"Celestial Essence Third Layer? That is indeed impressive. His net worth must be quite substantial as well!"

Xu Yang turned and strode away. He no longer had any interest in wandering around the market. Buying things himself was too troublesome and cost Spirit Coins. After a few months, the Fuhu Gang’s Treasure Vault should have filled back up again, right?

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