I just want to kill you all, or be killed by you all.

"All Netherworld cultivators, retreat back into the barrier formation!"

The voice of the Nine Netherworld Emperor resounded throughout the battlefield, his tone tinged with helplessness.

It seemed that the power would spread through the Qixia Mountains and reach the Tianyuan Dynasty, but it was all destroyed by Li Yang.

The war is not over yet; a ceasefire has begun.

Cultivators are also living beings and need rest.

Even the sword cultivators of the Heavenly Gang Demon-Slaying Camp were exhausted and severely depleted.

During this period, the unparalleled military strategist of the Nine Nether Dynasty repeatedly tried to outmaneuver them, but Li Yang saw through and destroyed each of their schemes.

However, they survived, but they were all shaken to varying degrees, and dozens of the weaker sword cultivators were even shaken to death.

However, the surviving sword cultivators benefited from the head distribution of the Ten Thousand Swords Returning to One Formation, which accelerated their cultivation speed. They have gradually entered the Nascent Soul stage, and their overall strength has increased rather than decreased.

Li Yang led the sword formation back into the Qixia Mountain pass's main formation.

With a wave of his hand, the Myriad Swords Return to Origin Formation transformed into countless array patterns, forming a nimble array plate in his hand.

"Disperse! Go find the imperial cultivators and ask for resources to heal your wounds and cultivate. Restore your strength to its peak as soon as possible so you can fight again at any time!"

"Yes!" All the sword cultivators, regardless of their cultivation level, gender, or age, bowed to Li Yangxing with their swords drawn, "Boss!"

Only Ning Xi remained by Li Yang's side, her fair hands caressing the hideous sword marks on his body, her eyes filled with heartache.

"Does it hurt?"

If it were the old Li Yang, he would have retorted without hesitation: "Are you blind? I'm covered in blood and you're asking me if it hurts?!"

But now—

"I'm numb. But my pain is physical, while the pain of many others is a torment of both mind and body."

Li Yang, holding Ning Xi's hand, casually chose a mountain peak with his sword.

The Phoenix Sword flew out on its own, carving a cave out of the mountain.

Ning Xi casually set up an array at the entrance to prevent others from probing, with Feng Jian guarding the outside to prevent a sneak attack by traitors from the Nine Netherworlds.

With nimble fingers, she produced a medicine cauldron. Its grade was indiscernible, but judging from the ancient totems engraved on it, it was no ordinary treasure.

She added top-grade natural treasures such as Dragon Blood Ginseng, Golden Marrow Body Refining Liquid, and Million-Year-Old Life Tree Elixir, each of which was enough to make the geniuses fight tooth and nail.

Ning Xi, however, seemed completely unconcerned as she immersed herself in the refining process, unleashing a blazing golden flame, resembling a fire phoenix—absolutely the most exquisite and rare flame of heaven and earth.

The liquid in the cauldron quickly became crystal clear, radiating a powerful spiritual light.

There are also the essence and flesh of top-tier demon race members floating inside, releasing their vital energy.

Li Yang was used to this.

He had asked at the beginning where all these top-tier resources came from.

Ning Xi rolled her eyes and replied, "These are all your spoils of war, mostly bought with resources you didn't need. Do you still doubt that I'm my aunt?"

Li Yang didn't dare to ask any more questions at that moment.

It's not the best outcome. If that were to happen, it would be terrifying!

He certainly didn't want to experience the death he suffered during the Yongning County incident again.

An hour later, Ning Xi finished brewing the Body Refining Elixir.

"Alright, hurry up and take off your clothes and go inside. After this soak, your physical strength should reach the level of a top-tier body cultivator, not inferior to Mu Zangfeng's physical body," Ning Xi urged.

Inside the medicine cauldron, crimson clouds of mist rose, a tangible manifestation of the power of qi and blood.

Amidst the swirling crimson mist and the solidified jade-like essence, a surging torrent of life energy flowed forth, surging continuously within the cauldron.

Li Yang tore off his clothes, which were already reduced to strips of cloth, and soaked in the water despite being covered in bloodstains.

The moment it entered, a surge of heat rushed over me, the pain penetrated my very soul, and the sensation tingled to my very bones.

The precious liquid in the cauldron shone brightly, constantly washing over his limbs and bones, tightly enveloping him within.

His injuries healed instantly, and his body became translucent.

He activated his improved version of the "Blood Sea Asura Technique," frantically absorbing the body-refining elixir through his mouth and acupoints.

Every inch of his flesh and blood was being tempered, and his blood and qi surged to the level of a pure-blooded true dragon, containing immense divine power that could overturn mountains and seas.

"The precious liquid also contains ancient alien insects native to the Slaughtering Void Realm, which will destroy your flesh, meridians, and bones, and then reshape them. It will be extremely painful, so please bear with it," Ning Xi warned.

She sat cross-legged outside the medicine cauldron, constantly refining it with the blazing golden fire.

Li Yang sensed it.

The flesh and blood seemed to be melting, the meridians were dissolving, and the medicinal properties that had seeped deep into the body were even corroding the bones.

The whole process was so painful, it felt like being refined alive by evil spirits.

If it were anyone else, Li Yang would have thought that the other person was a demon trying to kill him.

"If it hurts, just yell it out. There are only the two of us here, so you don't need to worry about your tough guy persona collapsing."

Li Yang frowned, but still had the energy to joke: "I'm a man, unlike you who can't help but shout it out."

These words were clearly pointed, and Ning Xi's pretty face flushed bright red.

"You're asking for it!"

He then intensified the strange fire to further enhance the toxicity.

"Hiss~!" Li Yang was in excruciating pain all over his body and couldn't help but click his tongue.

But soon, the poison was completely refined, replaced by a life force that reshaped flesh, blood, meridians, and bones.

Li Yang fully activated his cultivation technique, combined with the medicinal elixir, and his physical body seemed to be reshaped.

Half a day later, Li Yang emerged from it, having absorbed all the precious liquid inside.

A radiant, perfectly formed body lay naked before Ning Xi.

Her skin was crystal clear and lustrous, her body slender and beautifully contoured, and her flesh firm and radiant, as if carved from the finest mutton fat jade.

With his flamboyant black hair and eerie, sinister blood-red eyes, he resembled a descendant of an ancient immortal.

"Where are you looking!"

"Look at the guy who bullied me back then!"

Ning Xi snorted.

"Let's go~ You're a great hero, the Emperor of Tianyuan requests your presence."

Li Yang casually put on a precious garment, which transformed into a black sword robe.

He liked black because you couldn't tell if someone was stained with blood.

He then took Ning Xi's hand and went to the imperial capital, which stood high in the clouds.

It wasn't anything major, just some tactics we devised and wanted his approval.

"Spell combinations? Alternating between ranged and melee attacks? A super-massive illusion array? You can decide those yourselves, I don't understand."

While the cultivators of the two great dynasties were resting, Li Yang and Ning Xi arrived at a newly built temporary market town in the Qixia Mountains.

Demon-Slaying Market.

"Do you want to buy something?" Li Yang asked.

Ning Xi explained, "It's mainly about selling things. After all, you've killed so many cultivators. Although most of the spoils were distributed to other sword cultivators, there's still a large amount of unused cultivation resources left over."

The person in charge here is one of the candidates for the Jiuding Chamber of Commerce. Their trials are different from ours. What they assess and improve is the comprehensive management ability to transform force, opportunity, and interpersonal networks into quantifiable and monetizable business capital in extreme environments.

Other merchants have also established markets in the Wanzhang Mountains, where they can earn resources much faster than we can through fighting, and without the danger to their lives.

Of course, the Dao Alliance collects taxes on every single transaction they make, even within the secret realm.

Li Yang responded with an "Oh," feeling just like an American arms dealer.

A pretty maid stepped forward:

"Lord Qin Feng, the master requests your presence. The Nine Cauldrons Chamber of Commerce has always respected the strong and is willing to prepare a special seat for you—whether it is acquiring rare materials or bidding for secret treasures, we will make an exception and offer preferential treatment." She suddenly lowered her voice and transmitted her thoughts: "Even the cultivation foundation of Mu Zangfeng and the Holy Son of Qianyang is known to the Chamber of Commerce."