The night was like ink, dotted with bright stars, and the dim lights outside the restaurant reflected two figures walking side by side—Haofeng and Limo. Their pace was unhurried, carrying a slight tipsiness from the wine and a touch of inexplicable vigilance. The scene in the private room of the Yun family had just replayed in their minds like a dream; the appearance of Yun Chengyang, the Great Elder of the Qingyang Sect, had added a ripple to this ordinary night.
"Brother Feng, why do you suppose Great Elder Yun Chengyang suddenly took an interest in the two of us, mere rogue cultivators without any sect?" Limo asked softly, a trace of puzzlement clouding his brow.
Haofeng smiled slightly, his eyes flashing with a wise light. "Perhaps he has taken a fancy to our potential, or perhaps he wishes to use this opportunity to recruit some fresh blood. However, the two of us are used to our freedom; how could we easily be bound by anyone?"
"That may be true, but the Qingyang Sect is, after all, a major sect. The resources and foundation behind it are beyond anything we can imagine. If we could obtain their protection, our path of cultivation might become much smoother." A hint of hesitation flickered in Limo's tone; clearly, he had been swayed by that tempting prospect.
Haofeng patted Limo's shoulder and said earnestly, "Brother Mo, the path of cultivation relies on a steadfast heart. If we were to lose our original intent for the sake of external things, wouldn't that be putting the cart before the horse? Besides, the two of us joining forces, we might yet carve out a world of our own."
As the two spoke while walking, they unknowingly returned to the inn. The night was deep and all was silent, save for the occasional call of the night watchman, reminding people of the passage of time.
However, on this very peaceful night, undercurrents were surging within the Qingyang Sect. In the secret chamber of Great Elder Yun Chengyang, the candlelight flickered, casting shadows on his gloomy face. He held a secret letter, his fingers gently rubbing the edges of the paper, while a complex look flashed in his eyes.
"Since you cannot be used by me, then I can only..." Yun Chengyang muttered to himself, his voice revealing an unquestionable ruthlessness. He knew very well that in this world where the strong prey on the weak, sometimes eradicating potential threats was far more important than recruiting talent.
Early the next morning, when the first ray of sunlight pierced through the clouds and fell upon the earth, Haofeng and Limo were meditating and cultivating in the courtyard of the inn. They had no idea that a conspiracy against them had already quietly begun.
"Brother Feng, I feel as though the spiritual energy today is even denser than usual; cultivating with it yields twice the result with half the effort," Limo opened his eyes and said with a pleasantly surprised expression.
Haofeng also slowly opened his eyes and nodded. "Indeed. Perhaps it is because of yesterday's unexpected encounter that our state of mind has undergone a subtle change. However, remember not to be greedy for quick success; cultivation must be approached step by step."
Just as the two were immersed in the joy of cultivation, a flurry of urgent knocking interrupted their thoughts. Haofeng frowned slightly and got up to open the door, only to see a ragged old man standing outside, his eyes filled with anxiety.
"Two young heroes, please save my granddaughter! She has been taken by people from the Qingyang Sect!" As soon as the old man finished speaking, he fell to his knees, tears streaming down his face.
Haofeng and Limo exchanged glances, both feeling a jolt in their hearts. Though they were reluctant to get embroiled in sect disputes, seeing the old man in such a pitiful state, how could they stand by and do nothing?
"Old man, please get up and tell us slowly," Haofeng helped the old man up and gently comforted him.
The old man stood up shakily and recounted the whole story from beginning to end. It turned out that his granddaughter, Xiaocui, had accidentally saved an injured Qingyang Sect disciple, but never expected that this would drag her into an internal power struggle within the sect. To eliminate his opponents, Great Elder Yun Chengyang had actually taken the innocent Xiaocui as a bargaining chip, attempting to use her to blackmail the other party.
After listening to the old man's account, both Haofeng and Limo were filled with righteous indignation. Although they knew this trip would be fraught with danger, for the sake of justice and a clear conscience, they resolutely decided to lend a hand.
"Rest assured, old man, we will definitely bring Miss Xiaocui back," Haofeng said firmly.
Limo also nodded in agreement, "Right, we cannot simply watch an innocent person suffer harm."
Thus, the two made brief preparations and embarked on the road to the Qingyang Sect. Along the way, they went through hardships and dangers, having to avoid the pursuit of Qingyang Sect disciples while dealing with various sudden challenges. But it was precisely these experiences that greatly enhanced their cultivation and mindset.
Soon they arrived outside the mountain gates of the Qingyang Sect. Gazing at the towering gates and heavily guarded sentinels, Haofeng and Limo took a deep breath, smiled at each other, and fearlessness flashed in their eyes.
"Brother Mo, are you ready?" Haofeng asked.
"I've been ready for a while, Brother Feng," Limo's reply was equally firm.
With a flash of their figures, the two charged into the mountain gate like two streaks of lightning, instantly engaging in close combat with the disciples of the Qingyang Sect. Their movements were agile and tacit, and every attack struck the opponent's vital points just right while gracefully avoiding excessive bloodshed.
After a fierce battle, they finally broke through obstacles and reached the grand hall where Great Elder Yun Chengyang was located. Inside the hall, lights were brightly lit, and Yun Chengyang sat in the main seat, gazing at them with a gloomy expression.
"Hmph, you two juniors dare to trespass into my Qingyang Sect—you are truly audacious!" Yun Chengyang snorted coldly, his tone revealing deep disdain and murderous intent.
Haofeng and Limo exchanged a glance without the slightest trace of fear. They knew that today's battle was inevitable. Therefore, they took a step forward simultaneously, spiritual energy surging within their bodies as they prepared to meet this battle of life and death.
"Great Elder Yun Chengyang, we did not come here to provoke, but to save someone," Haofeng said in a deep voice, his tone revealing unshakable determination.
"Save someone? Hmph! Do you really think that with just the two of you, you can take a hostage away from my Qingyang Sect?" Yun Chengyang sneered and waved his hand, signaling the surrounding disciples to prepare for action.
However, at that very moment, a hurried sound of footsteps suddenly came from outside the hall. Immediately afterward, a young man in green robes rushed in anxiously, shouting, "Great Elder, bad news! A large number of monster beasts have suddenly appeared in the back mountain of the sect and are closing in on this place!"
Hearing this, Yun Chengyang's expression changed drastically. He never expected that at this critical moment, the sect would encounter such a catastrophe. He hurriedly stood up, preparing to head to the back mountain himself to investigate the situation. But the moment he turned around, Haofeng and Limo seized the opportunity to rush into the hall, heading straight for the place where Xiaocui was held.
After a fierce skirmish and confrontation, Haofeng and Limo finally rescued Xiaocui successfully and fought their way out with difficulty amidst the encirclement of the Qingyang Sect disciples. When they escaped the Qingyang Sect with Xiaocui, the moon was already high in the sky, and the starlight was brilliant.
"Brother Mo, we owe this entirely to you for attracting so many monster beasts over, otherwise the two of us might have buried our bones right there."
Limo's Beast Taming Codex had already reached the fourth level; to say nothing of controlling them, merely attracting them was not a problem at all with a few hundred beasts.
That was why, although the Qingyang Sect had four or five cultivators in the Golden Core Realm, facing several hundred monster beasts in the Foundation Establishment Realm all at once still required them to expend a fair amount of time.
"Brother Feng, Brother Mo, thank you for saving me," Xiaocui said with tears of gratitude.
Haofeng and Limo smiled at each other and shook their heads. "Think nothing of it, this is what we ought to do."
Afterward, the two returned to the inn, preparing for the Prodigy Tournament the next day.