However, everything Xu Yang did was absolutely correct. Ling Qingshu didn't say anything, simply nodding faintly and replying firmly, "Rest assured, Xu Laozu."
Xu Yang nodded. He trusted Ling Qingshu to handle things, and there was no need to worry.
At that moment, suddenly, Xu Yang heard a sound slicing through the air above them.
Looking up, he saw a cultivator at the fifth level of the Nascent Soul stage flying through the sky, leaving behind a white streak in the air, resembling clouds, as they zoomed past at incredible speed.
The person then slowly descended to land near the pond where they had been earlier.
"This person is—!" Suddenly, the woman following Xu Yang gasped in fear.
Xu Yang raised an eyebrow. After noticing that the person had gone to the same pond, he immediately understood what was happening.
"What's wrong? Do you know him?" Xu Yang asked casually.
A flicker of fear and hatred flashed in the woman's eyes as she gritted her teeth and replied, "Even if he turned to dust, I would still know who he is!"
"I see." Xu Yang said calmly, with no change in his expression.
The woman stared at Xu Yang's indifferent expression, somewhat confused.
She had expected that Xu Yang would be interested, but instead, it seemed like he didn't care much.
Nevertheless, she still decided to continue. Her entire family had been decimated, and the remaining members were scattered with no one knowing their whereabouts. The family was on the verge of collapse.
Xu Yang's methods earlier had shocked her. She felt that if Xu Yang intervened, there might still be some hope for the family.
"This man is from the Bloodthirsty Organization, a villain with a notorious reputation. He killed my entire family." As she spoke, tears welled up in her eyes.
"So that's the case." Xu Yang nodded in understanding.
"The two Nascent Soul cultivators earlier were also from that killer organization, weren't they?" Xu Yang asked.
"Yes." The woman nodded, feeling a slight surge of hope. It seemed she had successfully piqued Xu Yang's interest.
However, just as she thought Xu Yang would continue to inquire, Xu Yang fell silent and appeared indifferent to the matter.
Whoosh…
At that moment, a sound of air slicing through the sky rang out. A figure suddenly appeared before them, wearing a black robe, with a face full of murderous intent.
"Hehe, you're all too slow to run. You've only made it this far?" the person said, looking at Xu Yang and his group, as if they were lambs to be slaughtered.
Xu Yang calmly took out a fruit, leaned against a tree, and began eating.
Someone was showing off again, and Xu Yang felt quite helpless.
Why are there so many people seeking death in this world?
"Come on, tell me, who did this? Don't drag it out—come out and fight me to the death," the person said, his gaze sweeping over the Golden Core cultivators present.
Soon, his gaze landed on Xu Yang and the woman beside him.
"Bai Ningmei, so you didn't die after all." Ji Tai sneered.
Fear appeared on Bai Ningmei's face as she hid behind Xu Yang.
Xu Yang frowned slightly. He didn't like being used as a shield. "Though this person isn't even a real bother to me, I still don't want to be used by someone else."
Bai Ningmei awkwardly stepped out, but her face was still filled with fear.
"Who are you? How could you only be at the Qi Refining stage? No, you must be hiding your cultivation level, right?"
"Hehe, my cultivation level is not important. What matters is, I advise you to get out of here as quickly as possible," Xu Yang said, his tone calm but carrying an oppressive killing intent.
A crafty smile appeared on Ji Tai's face. He raised a hand, and suddenly, the surrounding space twisted. Five Nascent Soul cultivators appeared around them.
The Golden Core cultivators, who had been relatively calm until now, immediately became flustered. They whispered among themselves.
Some opportunistic people quickly fell to their knees, crying as they said:
"We have nothing to do with him. We were forced by him, please don't kill us!" "Yes, yes, we had no part in this, we were forced to gather the spirit herbs for him!"
With two people setting the example, others followed suit and fell to the ground. Every Golden Core cultivator who had been following Xu Yang suddenly betrayed him, beginning to speak ill of him.
Xu Yang stood there, stunned, and with a twitch of his mouth. How deeply did these people distrust him?
"You've already lost all support. Do you want to consider kneeling and begging for mercy like they did? Maybe if I'm in a good mood, I'll let you die in one piece."
Ji Tai didn't expect the Golden Core cultivators to kneel so easily. There was no loyalty or courage in them.
What he didn't know was that these Golden Core cultivators were not actually Xu Yang's people; they were just a group of strangers who had temporarily come together for their own gain.
Such a group would naturally prioritize their own lives.
"Hehe, I'm suddenly curious—where did you all get the confidence to think you could kill me?" Xu Yang said indifferently, still eating a red fruit, completely ignoring the six Nascent Soul cultivators.
It was as though he was facing not six Nascent Soul experts, but just six flies.
"Xu Laozu, what should we do now?" Bai Ningmei nudged Xu Yang, asking anxiously.
"What should we do? I don't know. But I know, this has nothing to do with me. It's your problem. What you choose to do is up to you."
Xu Yang didn't want to get involved in this at all. After all, this was really none of his business. Why should he be a shield for someone else and solve their problems?
Bai Ningmei's body trembled, and a complex expression appeared on her face.
After a long pause, she murmured softly, "Yes, this is my problem. Since it's my problem, I won't drag you all into it. And thank you for saving me earlier."
Bai Ningmei said this as she bowed to Xu Yang, then stepped out from behind him and walked over to Ji Tai's side.