"Come out," Yang Lingrui called into the cave.

Upon hearing his voice, the person inside stumbled out trembling.

The scar-faced man saw Yang Linghu, covered in wounds but still alive, and his heart tightened.

Then, sensing that Yang Lingrui had already stepped into the mid-stage of Qi Gathering, he panicked and dropped to his knees with a heavy thud.

The two brothers assumed he would beg for mercy, but instead he pleaded, "I beg you two Seniors, I am willing to serve you like a beast of burden! I beg you, save my big brother! Save him!"

"Your big brother isn't dead yet?"

Yang Linghu was genuinely surprised. When he last saw him, Liao Feng barely had half a breath left.

The scar-faced man nodded frantically.

The two exchanged a glance and ordered him to lead the way.

Entering the cave, they saw Liao Feng. He hardly looked human anymore, hanging onto a sliver of life.

"Years ago, my big brother and I explored a cave dwelling and found a pearl. Right now, he is keeping it in his mouth to sustain his life."

The scar-faced man wiped away tears as he spoke. "But this cannot last. In at most three days, his qi will dry up, and he will die."

"I see."

Yang Linghu then asked, "What are your names? What is your background? Why were you mixed up with that Zhang Chen?"

The scar-faced man dared not hide anything and recounted his experiences in full detail.

His name was Han Wang. He, Liao Feng, and the effeminate man who had died from Yang Linghu's punch were sworn brothers.

They were originally Rogue Cultivators from the Eastern Wastelands. Later, they joined the Seventh Prince's rebel army. Then came the splintering of the Eastern Wastelands and the resulting chaos within the state. Even cultivators like them could not protect themselves, so they were forced to flee to the borders.

Thus, they became wandering bandits and crossed into the territory of the Zhuhu Wangchao.

There, the three met Zhang Chen. Unable to overcome the power of his Treasure Jade, they agreed to work for him in exchange for their lives.

Speaking of Zhang Chen, Han Wang asked what had become of him.

When he learned that Zhang Chen was dead, he clapped his hands and cheered, "A good death! A good death indeed!"

He had witnessed the battle between the three men. If it were not for that damned Zhang Chen's sudden betrayal, his big brother would never have ended up in such a miserable state.

"Thank you, two Seniors, for avenging my big brother!"

"You hate Zhang Chen, but not me?" Yang Linghu laughed.

Han Wang replied, "It was we who attacked you first, Senior. You were merely defending yourself. But that Zhang Chen was true treacherous scum!"

"Heh, interesting. However, we cannot save your big brother, nor will we try. Give him a quick death."

Hearing this, Han Wang's expression darkened as sorrow welled up in his heart.

"Do you know anything about the current situation in the Eastern Wastelands?" Yang Linghu asked.

"I know... I know a little. We followed the Seventh Prince through many places back then," Han Wang answered.

Upon hearing his words, Yang Linghu and Yang Lingrui retreated to the cave entrance to discuss.

"What do we do? Kill him?" Yang Lingrui asked.

Yang Linghu thought for a moment. "We don't know much about the situation in the Eastern Wastelands right now. It is better to take this man home and let the elders interrogate him before deciding."

"Alright, then we will spare his life."

The two returned to the back of the cave. Yang Linghu said to Han Wang, "Take out that pearl. Stringing his life along like this is torture. Death would be more merciful."

Though Han Wang could hardly bear it, he had to admit that Liao Feng's state was a fate worse than death.

He gently retrieved the pearl. Liao Feng exhaled his last breath and fell still.

After burying the body, the three returned to the Songshan Yang Family.

Inside the Yang family's Restricted Grounds.

Yang Lingqing had no heart for meditation. Only when Chen Yang sent a divine thought to inform her that Yang Linghu had not met with an accident did she finally breathe a sigh of relief.

At that moment, Yang Guanfeng and Zhao Qi returned from Baishi Town, bringing a very significant piece of news.

The Wangchao had issued a decree. It ordered all families and Sects under its rule to send cultivators to the eastern border to quell the rebellion.

The Songshan Yang Family was specifically named on the official list, directly requiring Yang Guanfeng to answer the call.

"Grand Ancestor, you? How can that be!"

"Not just me. Wang Xiong, Zhang Tianqi, and a host of family heads from Baishi Town and Liuye Town are all on the list."

Yang Guanfeng clasped his hands behind his back and gazed toward the horizon. "This is the Wangchao's method of weakening the families under its rule. Even though our Yang family has broken away from the town and established ourselves independently, as long as we remain within Zhuhu's territory, we cannot defy the decree."

Though Yang Lingqing felt it was unjust, she could only shake her head helplessly in the face of reality.

"The Eastern Wastelands are in chaos from within, and the borders have long been unmanaged. It is likely a den of vipers and tigers, extremely dangerous," Yang Lingqing sighed.

Yang Guanfeng stepped forward and patted her shoulder with a smile. "Do not be discouraged. With you at home, my mind is at ease. Besides, this trip is not without its benefits."

Since the Wangchao was mobilizing cultivators on such a massive scale, it naturally had to offer corresponding rewards.

Any family that sent forces could receive monthly Spirit Crystal rewards from the Wangchao, scaled to the number of people and their cultivation realms.

"Just think of it as going on a long journey to work as a hired hand."

"Grand Ancestor, you are still in the mood for jokes."

As they spoke, the Pine-Forest Thick-Earth Formation stirred.

"Grand Ancestor, it's Lingrui and Linghu! They are back!"

The three rushed out to greet them. Seeing Yang Linghu covered in wounds, everyone was startled.

Yang Guanfeng quickly brought him inside for a thorough examination. Fortunately, the injuries were entirely physical and did not damage his cultivation foundation. A good period of rest would suffice.

After instructing Zhao Qi to look after Yang Linghu, Yang Guanfeng returned to the main courtyard.

By then, Han Wang was already kneeling on the ground, awaiting interrogation.

"Grand Ancestor, this man is a minor leader of that bandit group. He comes from the Eastern Wastelands."

"Oh? The Eastern Wastelands?"

Yang Guanfeng stepped forward, gave Han Wang a brief once-over, and instantly had a fairly good grasp of his background.

"You entered the Dao through cultivating bronze skin and iron bones, correct?"

"Exactly!"

"You practice leg techniques. Springing leg or whipping leg?"

"To answer the Senior, springing leg!"

Just two simple questions caused Han Wang to break out in a cold sweat. He felt an immense spiritual pressure weighing down on him.

He hadn't even told Yang Lingrui and the others what cultivation methods or martial arts he practiced, yet Yang Guanfeng saw through his foundation at a glance. How could he not be terrified?

"Hmm. As a bandit by origin, according to the rules, you should be beheaded."

"This lowly one knows! Thank you, Seniors, for sparing my life! This lowly one is willing to swear a Blood Oath to repay your kindness!"

Seeing him act so sensibly, Yang Guanfeng witnessed the Blood Oath on the spot.

"You are spared from death, but you cannot escape punishment."

He continued, "Since you know something of the Eastern Wastelands, you will accompany me on this trip to the border to quell the rebellion. Consider it an opportunity to make amends for your crimes."

Upon hearing that he had to return to the Eastern Wastelands, Han Wang instinctively felt a surge of fear.

After all, he had fled to Zhuhu just to survive. He never thought he would have to revisit his old haunting grounds.

However, he understood clearly that being allowed to live was already a massive stroke of luck. He had no choice, much less the right to refuse.

Gritting his teeth and steeling his heart, he agreed, "Han Wang is willing to follow and serve at Senior's side!"

"Good. Rest in the outer courtyard for these next two days. On the third day, you will depart with me."

"Yes!"

Over the following two days, Yang Guanfeng had a deep conversation with Elder Yu and spoke at length with the three children.

On the second day, at midnight, when everyone else was resting, Yang Guanfeng came alone to the ancestral hall.

He first paid respects to the ancestors, then walked forward and knelt before the stone housing Chen Yang.

"Yang Guanfeng, head of the Yang family, pays respects to the Immortal Venerable."

"Immortal Venerable, your divine powers are boundless. You have saved our Yang family from danger time and again, protecting our younger generations. The Yang family will engrave your great kindness into our memories for ten thousand generations!"

"I, Guanfeng, have lived my entire life for this family. To see it reach this point is already enough for me. But unfortunately, circumstances leave me no choice. I am about to embark on a long journey, yet my heart is unsettled, unable to find peace. Therefore, I have come to disturb you. I beg the Immortal Venerable's forgiveness."

"This journey will likely be one of nine deaths and one life. I am prepared never to return home. If in the future the family declines with no one left to carry on our legacy, or if a terrible disaster strikes and great calamity befalls us, I presume to ask the Immortal Venerable..."

At this point, even Yang Guanfeng's weathered face began to tremble, betraying the difficult struggle raging within his heart.

Seeing this, Chen Yang was genuinely moved. He assumed Yang Guanfeng was about to ask him to preserve the Yang family's bloodline in a time of crisis.

But the next moment, when Yang Guanfeng spoke again, Chen Yang felt his mind completely shaken.

"Guanfeng presumes to be an unfilial sinner!"

"If true calamity befalls us, I beg the Immortal Venerable not to be burdened by the Yang family. Leave us to our fate, and just pursue the Great Dao!"