Convincing Through Reason

From the moment he saw this person, Yang Linghu had been silently reciting "Celestial Venerate's Blessing" in his heart, triggering the wisp of Chen Yang's consciousness within his Sea of Consciousness.

In his other hand, he pinched a Vajra Talisman, ready to activate it for self-protection at a moment's notice.

The true nature of the monster in the cave remained unknown; there was a chance it had mastered some shape-shifting or illusion technique.

Only after verifying this person was a human cultivator using the Celestial Venerate's consciousness did he refrain from kicking him away.

Seeing that the man was scared out of his wits, Yang Linghu reached out, hoisted him up, and set him on a nearby rock.

"What's your name?"

"Liu Qing."

"Liu Qing, calm yourself. I will not abandon you. Tell me what happened."

Hearing Yang Linghu's steady voice, Liu Qing gradually calmed down and recounted what he had seen.

"Six days ago! A half-human, half-snake monster appeared out of nowhere!"

"The secret cache's restriction clearly limits entry to the early Qi Gathering stage, but its cultivation had already reached the fourth level of Qi Gathering! From that day on, it began hunting and devouring human cultivators!"

"Later, people from several major factions joined forces to hunt it down. We thought that with our combined strength, it would be quickly slain."

"But who could have imagined? This monster possessed astonishing vitality. Even if its body was pierced through, it could rapidly recover by devouring flesh and blood. It was extremely difficult to kill."

"Moreover, it possesses a dividing divine ability. After devouring enough flesh and blood, it can split off new, smaller monsters from its own body."

As he spoke, he pointed to the one Yang Linghu had smashed to pieces. "Just like this one. Every divided monster possesses the strength of the second level of Qi Gathering. Their flesh is extremely tough and exceptionally ferocious. Ordinary cultivators are no match for them at all. As for its main body, it has been in hiding ever since that encirclement."

"I was originally traveling with over a dozen Fellow Daoists, led by two Seniors at the third level of Qi Gathering. But who would have thought we'd be ambushed by a swarm of these small monsters? I was separated from the others and fled here in a panic."

Liu Qing explained everything in a single breath. Yang Linghu now understood the situation within the hidden cache.

"With such a monster appearing, the cultivators from the Sects and great clans should be organizing everyone together. Why aren't you with them?" Yang Linghu asked.

Hearing this, the cultivator's expression dimmed, and he let out a self-deprecating laugh. "It's not that we don't want to. They simply look down on us Rogue Cultivators. To receive their protection, we have to hand over Spirit Crystals and spiritual materials. Otherwise, they tell us to fend for ourselves and die outside."

"At a time like this, they are still playing these games?"

Yang Linghu frowned. He hadn't expected these people to lack any sense of crisis, completely oblivious to the severity of the problem.

This monster clearly grew stronger by devouring flesh and blood.

If they did not gather everyone together, the end result would be giving it the opportunity to pick them off one by one.

Right now, its cultivation was only at the fourth level. The cultivators from the Sects and great clans could still handle it, so they felt it did not matter.

But there were still seven full days until the secret realm opened again.

Rogue Cultivators made up the vast majority of the people in the hidden cache. If the monster was allowed to continue feeding freely, what would they do when its realm reached the fifth, sixth, or even late stages of Qi Gathering?

"How many large cultivator gathering points are there right now? Do you know where they are?"

"Five in total! I know one of them-I was driven out of it earlier!"

"Mm. Lead the way."

Under Liu Qing's guidance, Yang Linghu arrived at a temporary cultivator camp two hours later.

Along the way, they were attacked by snake-men twice more. Yang Linghu tore these lesser snake-men apart and found they possessed no internal organs; they merely survived on a cluster of spiritual power imparted by the main body.

"Halt. No entry without an identity token."

A cultivator guarding the entrance blocked their path.

At first, he only saw Liu Qing walking in front, so his tone was rather impatient.

"I've told you several times now. Pay Spirit Crystals, or pay spiritual materials. You want protection with empty hands? You..."

Mid-sentence, he saw Yang Linghu step out from behind Liu Qing.

Third level of Qi Gathering!

At first, he was merely startled by the man's realm, but when their eyes met, the guarding cultivator was so frightened he nearly collapsed onto his backside.

The reason was simple: the bloodlust and Killing Intent in Yang Linghu's eyes were overwhelmingly heavy.

"Move aside," Yang Linghu said mildly.

"Y-yes..."

The man's legs trembled as he stepped out of the way.

Yang Linghu strode into the camp, immediately drawing plenty of attention.

Before long, two Sect cultivators at the third level of Qi Gathering approached.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist. Which family or Sect do you hail from?"

"Who is in charge here? Take me to see him."

Yang Linghu did not answer their question, instead asking his own.

Hearing his arrogant tone, the two men's expressions immediately soured.

"Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this? Are you here to pick a fight?"

"If you have matters to discuss, you can speak to us. There's no need to bother our Senior Brother."

Whoosh—

The very next moment, the two suddenly felt a fierce gust of wind brush past their faces. When they finally reacted, they realized it was Yang Linghu's fist.

"Can you take me to him now?"

"This..."

"Yes! Fellow Daoist, please follow me!"

Just a second ago, they hadn't even seen how Yang Linghu had launched his attack.

They instantly understood that, despite all of them being at the third level of Qi Gathering, this man's combat strength utterly crushed theirs. They hurriedly led him toward the tent in the center of the camp.

Yang Linghu met the Senior Brother they spoke of. He was a disciple from a minor Sect, at the peak of the third level of Qi Gathering.

The two only exchanged a few brief words before the other man flew into a rage and struck first.

Two punches from Yang Linghu later, he saw his great-grandmother beckoning to him. He came to his senses on the spot, agreed to the request, and expressed his utmost willingness to let the Rogue Cultivators join the camp.

"Big Brother! I understand the reasoning perfectly, but it's useless if my camp is the only one taking people in. If the other camps don't do the same, we still won't be able to achieve anything."

The leading Senior Brother of this camp had thoroughly lowered his arrogant head. He shrank his neck as he whispered this suggestion from beside Yang Linghu.

His name was Jin Qiang. After being acquainted with his great-grandmother, he was completely and utterly convinced by Yang Linghu's strength.

"I know. That's why you are going to take me to them."

Yang Linghu nodded. "This isn't a matter for just one camp. If that monster truly matures, no one is leaving here alive."

"Right, right!"

Jin Qiang nodded like a pecking chicken and quickly led the way.

Yang Linghu brought Liu Qing along, tasking him with explaining the situation to any scattered Rogue Cultivators they encountered on the road.

By the time they reached the second large cultivator camp, several dozen people were trailing behind them.

The camp's leader treated them like a great enemy, thinking they had come to attack the place.

Yang Linghu stepped forward to negotiate, but the other party's attitude was unyielding. He had no choice but to convince him through reason.

The man's strength was decent enough. At the peak of the third level, he could contend with fourth-level cultivators when fighting with his full power. This was his capital for not fearing the monster.

Unfortunately for him, after undergoing the baptism of the bitter battle by the cold pool, Yang Linghu's proficiency in the Brute Force Art had reached an astonishing fifth level.

Crushed by pure strength and speed, the man only lasted three punches before he could no longer get up.

Both camps had now opened their doors to the Rogue Cultivators, but the next three were the real problem.

"Big Brother, of the remaining three camps, two were established by disciples of great clans, and the last by someone from a major Sect."

Jin Qiang said quietly.

He had a profound understanding of how strong Yang Linghu was, but the leaders of the remaining three camps were no pushovers either. They had formidable backgrounds, making them difficult to casually offend.

"Don't worry. I understand the stakes. Just lead the way."

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