Having a group to command and exploit made things a lot easier, after all.
The man from before, seeing Xu Yang's indifferent attitude, shook his head in disappointment, realizing he couldn't dissuade him. Still, he couldn't help but add:
"Even so, I must warn you. If you don't have at least Nascent Soul stage cultivation, don't go in. There's hardly any opportunities in there, but the dangers are very real."
Xu Yang nodded and said, "Thank you, but my mind is made up. No need to try persuading me anymore." With that, he handed the man a bottle of spiritual medicine and added, "This can regenerate your severed limb. Take it."
With those words, Xu Yang headed toward the location the man had pointed out.
The man stared at the bottle in disbelief. "What kind of spiritual medicine is this? Aside from a Revival Pill, what other medicine can regrow limbs?"
Suddenly, his breath hitched as if realizing something. "Wait a second… That guy just now looked like he was only at the Qi Refinement stage!"
When Xu Yang arrived at the location, he was surprised to find it bustling with people.
"Hey, brother, mind if I join your team?" Xu Yang asked one of the team leaders with a bright smile.
The team leader glanced at him, noticing his Qi Refinement stage cultivation, and nearly choked.
"Get lost! A weakling at Qi Refinement dares to enter the forest? Do you have any idea how dangerous it is? You're courting death!" The man rejected him outright.
Xu Yang didn't let it bother him and moved on to approach another team, trying to join.
However, after being repeatedly rejected by several teams, Xu Yang's face darkened.
These people clearly looked down on him because he was at the Qi Refinement stage. So what if he was at Qi Refinement? Did that mean he didn't have any rights?
Ling Qingshu, noticing Xu Yang's increasingly annoyed expression, couldn't help but tease:
"Elder Xu, you're hiding your cultivation way too well. At a place like this, even if you want to keep a low profile, showing off Golden Core stage cultivation would be fine."
Xu Yang felt even more awkward and, after a brief silence, muttered, "I'm not hiding my cultivation at all. My cultivation really is Qi Refinement stage."
Ling Qingshu rolled her eyes. "Yeah, sure. Someone as powerful as Elder Xu claiming to be at the Qi Refinement stage? Who would believe that?"
Clearly, Elder Xu was just too accustomed to keeping a low profile—so low it bordered on absurdity.
"Let's try another team," Xu Yang said nonchalantly. "If it doesn't work out, we'll just go by ourselves."
They approached another group, led by an old man who was a Nascent Soul stage cultivator at the second tier.
In this world, strength ruled supreme, and the strongest individual in a team was always its leader.
"Hello, may I join your team?" Xu Yang asked, flashing a bright smile.
The old man's name was Zhong Qi, a rare rogue cultivator.
As a rogue cultivator, reaching the second tier of the Nascent Soul stage was already an extraordinary feat.
But this was the end of the road for him, as his lifespan was nearing its limit.
All he cared about now was finding a way to improve his cultivation. If he could achieve a breakthrough, he could extend his life by another hundred years or more.
Thus, when he heard about a peerless spiritual herb emerging in the area, he rushed over in desperation. This might be his last chance.
He quickly formed a team, accepting anyone willing to join him, no matter their background.
However, when he saw that Xu Yang was only at the Qi Refinement stage, he nearly spat out a mouthful of water.
Although Zhong Qi welcomed everyone, he hadn't expected a weakling at Qi Refinement stage to show up. Was this a joke?
Then his gaze shifted to Ling Qingshu, who was standing behind Xu Yang.
Suddenly, a glimmer of light flashed in his murky old eyes.
"Ah, welcome, young hero," Zhong Qi said warmly, his face breaking into a wrinkled but kindly smile.
Although Zhong Qi had lived for a long time, in front of Xu Yang, his age was insignificant.
Whatever schemes Zhong Qi had in mind were like a child's play to Xu Yang, whose sharp senses picked up every subtle shift in his expression.
"This old man is interesting," Xu Yang thought with a cold smirk. Though Zhong Qi's intentions seemed less than pure, Xu Yang wasn't worried in the slightest.
If Zhong Qi behaved, that would be fine. But if he tried anything, Xu Yang wouldn't hesitate to teach him why the flowers are so red.
"What's this young lady's name?" Zhong Qi asked, completely ignoring Xu Yang and fixing his gaze on Ling Qingshu.
Feeling immensely uncomfortable under the lecherous gaze of the old man nearing his deathbed, Ling Qingshu stepped behind Xu Yang and replied, "My name is Ling Qingshu."
Seeing her deliberate attempt to distance herself, Zhong Qi wasn't angered or frustrated.
Soon, they would enter the forest. A mere Qi Refinement stage cultivator like Xu Yang could be easily dealt with.
As for Ling Qingshu, though she was at the Golden Core stage, she was no match for Zhong Qi's Nascent Soul stage power. She would merely be a dish on his plate.
After gathering a few more people, Zhong Qi led the group into the forest.
Leaving the city, they headed deeper into the wilderness.
Because Xu Yang was only at the Qi Refinement stage, everyone treated him as if he were invisible.
In contrast, Ling Qingshu's beauty attracted a crowd of sycophants eager to impress her.
Xu Yang didn't mind and instead focused on the dense aroma of spiritual herbs ahead. The scent likely came from a valuable herb.
Coincidentally, the group's direction aligned with the source of the fragrance.
This worked perfectly for Xu Yang, allowing him to stay with the team without deviating from his path.
After about ten minutes of walking, they arrived at a lotus pond.
The pond exuded a raw, untamed wilderness. Its water wasn't clear but instead black and muddy, with a thick layer of green duckweed covering the surface. At first glance, it almost looked like a grassy field.
Scattered across the water were lotus flowers and leaves, some wilted and lifeless, while others stood vibrant and full of spirit.
On the surface, it appeared to be nothing more than an ordinary pond.
However, a group of sharp-eyed cultivators noticed something in the center of the pond—a single white lotus.
This lotus was extraordinarily unique, its petals a pure, flawless white without a trace of blemish. The flower glistened like crystal, its buds yet to fully bloom.
As the wind blew gently, the flower swayed gracefully, releasing a faint fragrance that drifted softly through the air.