Chapter 31: Breaking Through with the Beast's Core

"Don't worry, you won't die," Xu Yang said calmly.

He estimated that Fang Yan could increase his cultivation by one level after consuming the demonic beast's core.

This could be considered a repayment to Fang Yan.

"Are you joking? The beast's core? If you eat it, you're dead for sure! That's basic knowledge, alright?" Fang Yan took a few steps back, looking on guard, fearing that Xu Yang would shove the beast's core into his mouth at any moment.

Xu Yang frowned and handed the demonic beast's core to Ling Qingshu.

"Fine, if you don't want it, you don't have to. Ling Qingshu, this one's for you."

Ling Qingshu grinned and took it. "Thank you, Ancestor."

She then immediately tried to swallow it whole.

"Wait, can I really eat this? Won't I die if I eat it?" Fang Yan asked in confusion. Something wasn't right—according to the education he received in his first life, demonic beast cores were definitely not to be eaten. The spiritual energy they contained could easily tear a person apart!

"No, I ate one last time, and Ancestor helped me stabilize my spiritual energy. In the end, I didn't die and even made a breakthrough," Ling Qingshu said, already bringing the beast's core to her lips.

"A breakthrough?" Fang Yan muttered. Seeing that Ling Qingshu didn't seem to be lying, he gritted his teeth and said, "Alright, I believe you. But if I die, I'll make sure to drag you all down with me!"

Fang Yan swallowed the demonic beast's core, and with a loud boom, violent spiritual energy surged through his chest, as if it was going to tear his internal organs apart!

Fang Yan was horrified and about to curse when suddenly a large hand slapped his shoulder. The wild spiritual energy in his body immediately became as docile as a rabbit.

"Don't think too much. Just focus on your breakthrough," Xu Yang said.

Fang Yan was shocked—Xu Yang had actually tamed the chaotic spiritual energy of the beast's core so easily.

With no time to think further, he stabilized his mind and began focusing on using the abundant spiritual energy to make a breakthrough.

Fang Yan's current cultivation was at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage. For someone his age, he was already considered a genius.

Of course, as a wealthy individual who was only short on money, his cultivation was mainly built up using medicinal pills.

Consuming medicinal pills could greatly speed up one's cultivation, but there was a downside—if you consumed too many pills, your body would build up a resistance to them, and further pill consumption would have no effect.

As a result, Fang Yan's cultivation had been stuck at the fifth level of the Golden Core stage.

However, after consuming the beast's core, the abundant spiritual energy easily allowed him to break through from the fifth level of the Golden Core stage to the sixth level!

"Damn, I actually broke through! This is amazing!" Fang Yan opened his eyes and said in disbelief.

Then he looked at Xu Yang, his eyes shining. "Do you have any more beast cores? I feel like I can break through again."

Xu Yang was speechless and frowned. "Fang Yan, cultivation still requires you to work on it yourself. Medicinal pills are just aids, and consuming too many won't do you any good."

Fang Yan stood up, feeling the surging spiritual energy in his body, excitedly rubbing his hands together.

"I get it now. I won't take any more medicinal pills. I'll just eat demonic beast cores from now on!"

After consuming the demonic beast core, Fang Yan felt that the ultimate medicinal pills he had taken before were nothing compared to this.

Xu Yang was speechless, only able to tell Fang Yan that demonic beast cores were actually a type of medicinal pill as well.

...

Now that he had obtained the Fang Tian Sword, there was nothing more worth lingering over in this secret place.

The Tianfeng Sect hadn't been wiped out; it had only been disbanded, and there were no valuable treasures scattered around.

Of course, you can still find a few chamber pots once used by Tianfeng Sect disciples.

"Fang Yan, I'm heading back to Tianlan Sect. Why don't you come with me?" Xu Yang said, considering taking Fang Yan under his wing.

If this had happened ten thousand years ago, countless people would have been stunned.

So many peerless talents and hidden old ancestors had yearned to follow Xu Yang, only to be rejected by him. Yet today, he was offering this opportunity to a somewhat unimpressive young man like Fang Yan.

In truth, Xu Yang didn't care about cultivation levels or talent when choosing people to mentor; he valued character above all else.

Even those with zero cultivation and poor aptitude could become peerless experts under Xu Yang's guidance, provided they had the right character.

"Follow you to Tianlan Sect?" Fang Yan asked in disbelief. "You're really the ancestor of Tianlan Sect?"

Fang Yan's gaze toward Xu Yang changed completely—now filled with admiration.

The ancestor of Tianlan Sect was a legendary figure who stirred the winds and clouds of Qi State, leaving the entire region in awe.

And now, such a powerful person was right before him.

"Alright, I'll come. I've always wanted to see what the legendary Tianlan Sect is like," Fang Yan said excitedly.

Leaving the secret land, they headed straight for Tianlan Sect.

As soon as they reached the sect's outer area, Xu Yang sensed something was amiss.

A murderous aura lingered in the air.

There were enemies lurking around Tianlan Sect!

Xu Yang's gaze swept over the surroundings. Sure enough, on a hill to the east, there was a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator spying on them.

"Such petty tricks, and you dare play them in front of me? Your courage is commendable," Xu Yang said with mild anger before vanishing and appearing near the spying half-step Nascent Soul cultivator.

Liu Sanlong was hiding in a bush, suppressing his breathing and keeping perfectly still as he observed Tianlan Sect.

He had been sent by Zhang Shuangtian. The fact that a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator had been dispatched to spy showed just how seriously Zhang Shuangtian regarded Xu Yang.

His breath-holding technique was the best among theLingbao Auction House's branches. Unless someone at the Cave Heaven Realm or higher was present, no one should have been able to detect him.

Suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he saw a large black rat scurry past.

Looking up, he realized it wasn't a rat—it was Xu Yang!

Instantly, his scalp tingled.

"How long have you been hiding here?" Xu Yang asked calmly.

"You... you've discovered me?" Liu Sanlong stammered, unable to believe he'd been found.

"Do I need to drag you out myself?" Xu Yang replied.

Gritting his teeth, Liu Sanlong suddenly leapt up and fled.

"You're still trying to escape?" Xu Yang sneered coldly. With a powerful stomp, he launched himself forward.

Boom! The ground beneath Xu Yang's feet cracked and split into spiderweb-like fissures that extended for dozens of meters.

At the same time, Xu Yang ascended into the air, his sword flashing in his hand.

"I grant you the honor of dying by blood loss!"

Boom! The longsword struck, leaving dozens of wounds on Liu Sanlong's chest, from which blood gushed out.

The next day, the Golden Core cultivator who had been strung up outside Tianlan Sect was taken down, and a new victim—a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator—was hung in his place.

When the half-step Nascent Soul cultivator was hung up, he was still alive. Blood flowed from his body for several hours before he finally died.

This was a half-step Nascent Soul cultivator—a legendary figure. Yet he had come to Tianlan Sect only to meet such a miserable end.

What stood out even more was the large lettering on his clothing: Lingbao Auction House.

The Lingbao Auction House of Qi State was merely one of the many branches. The main organization resided in the Three Hundred Prefectures.

To the Three Hundred Prefectures, Qi State was like how cultivators viewed mortals—beneath notice.

Nascent Soul cultivators, scarce in Qi State, were commonplace in the Three Hundred Prefectures.

Once again, Tianlan Sect's reputation reverberated throughout Qi State.