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

Ning Xinyao has now confirmed one thing—

This ninth junior brother, who doesn't seem to have much of a presence on Crane Cry Peak, is indeed extraordinary!

They have absolutely no manners and keep telling me to shut up.

With a snort, Ning Xinyao fell silent, seemingly in a huff.

Li Yang finally found peace and quiet.

He continued to meditate on the deck of the flying boat, consolidating his half-step Foundation Establishment cultivation in preparation for his next attempt to break through to the Foundation Establishment realm.

Having killed four more Foundation Establishment stage evil cultivators, his killing intent intensified.

He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but he noticed that the spiritual energy in his dantian had also turned a faint red.

Unlike the tranquil lakes of ordinary cultivators, this place resembled a sea of ​​blood, which was quite terrifying.

Not long after.

"Another demon!"

Li Yang immediately charged out with his sword, without pausing for even the slightest moment.

Soon after, he returned wounded, his killing intent even more intense and solid.

The sharp sword intent it emitted even startled Ning Xinyao, who was in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

During the rest of the journey, Li Yang continued to kill enemies.

From these demons, Li Yang roughly knew what had happened in this area.

A prominent figure from the Ning family resides in Huafan, Yongning County.

Li Yang had heard of the so-called "transformation into the mortal realm".

Some cultivators experience rapid growth in their cultivation, but their mental state cannot keep up, which can easily lead to inner demons.

Experiencing birth, aging, sickness, and death, love, hate, and the warmth and coldness of daily life as an ordinary person is the most delicate way to refine one's Daoist heart.

Li Yang heard that a powerful cultivator transformed into a fisherman on the riverbank for decades before truly understanding that water possesses both the gentleness of "benefiting all things without contention" and the rage of "devouring heaven and earth." Ultimately, he achieved great success in his Daoist arts and attained a perfect Daoist heart.

However, he certainly doesn't have this kind of trouble.

Because these are all chosen ones and protagonists, they choose to undergo unconventional trials.

After all—a cultivation failure who spent ten years in the Qi Refining stage and failed to establish his foundation, regardless of other factors, his mental fortitude was so strong that he wouldn't even flinch in the face of death.

"It seems Master wants me to establish a connection with that important figure in your Ning family," Li Yang asked Ning Xinyao. "Then what's the deal with these demons? Is that important figure in your Ning family a demonic cultivator?"

He looked displeased.

"How could that be!" Ning Xinyao immediately retorted, "My Ning family is an ancient immortal family, and all we cultivate are orthodox immortal techniques."

Now you know to ask me?

"Please ask my senior sister, and she'll tell you."

Li Yang shook his head:

"He wanted to become a mortal, but he made it public knowledge, allowing these evil spirits to take advantage of the situation and indirectly causing the deaths of countless innocent people. In my opinion, he is more despicable than the evil spirits!"

I can't possibly associate with such a 'big shot' who treats human life like dirt.

Upon hearing this, Ning Xinyao's face immediately fell.

"You don't understand anything!" She immediately defended her ancestor, "This news was leaked from within the Dao Alliance, so you can't blame me."

"So these mortals can only blame their bad luck for encountering your ancestor in his mortal form. Even the righteous cultivators who were meant to save them dared not venture into this area. They deserve to die, don't they?"

Ning Xinyao was quite angry:

"Don't criticize me to my face. If you have the guts, go and say it to her!"

"If it weren't for Master asking me to take you to connect with your great-aunt, do you think I'd want to get involved in this mess?"

Li Yang stood up:

"There's no need for that. I don't care about this line or this bridge. For us sword cultivators, one sword is enough. It's Master who has gone astray. You can go back and tell him now that I don't need the protection of any important figure."

Seeing that Li Yang was about to leave, Ning Xinyao became anxious.

Immediately activate the airship's formation to prevent Li Yang from leaving.

"We're almost at Yongning County, where are you going?"

"To eliminate demons and uphold justice," Li Yang replied calmly.

Ning Xinyao was increasingly unable to understand this junior brother.

If he says he's leaving, he definitely will; it's not some kind of feigned indifference.

"No! Master said..."

Li Yang interrupted her: "Whether I can do it or not is none of your business. The purpose that Master expects is contrary to my purpose."

Different road non-phase plan.

Open the shield!

This junior brother is too domineering!

"Then you can't leave!"

Ning Xinyao became anxious.

She had fully acknowledged her junior brother's strength, and now was precisely the time when she needed manpower; what she said earlier was just an angry outburst.

"Why?" Li Yang frowned.

He had already walked to the edge of the deck and gripped his sword, looking ready to break through the protective barrier and leave at the slightest provocation.

"Because..." Ning Xinyao's thoughts raced, then her eyes suddenly lit up, "Because these demons' goal is precisely what I, the old lady, want to achieve. Isn't that exactly what you need to stop them from doing?"

Li Yang remained silent for a moment.

I sat back down in my original seat.

You're right.

That's true.

He learned from the demons he killed that several demonic disciples had come together, and he wondered what their intentions were.

But as Ning Xinyao said: What the demon desires, he will destroy!

Seeing that she had been calmed down, Ning Xinyao finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Immediately increase speed and urge the airship forward at full speed.

Half a day later.

Yongning County.

This county town is a city for mortals, lacking some of the spiritual charm of immortal cultivation, but instead has a martial arts flavor.

Cultivators occasionally fly by in the sky, but most of them are independent cultivators.

Li Yang opened his eyes and indeed sensed a number of subtle demonic auras.

After disguising themselves, the two entered Yongning County.

"Although news of my great-aunt's presence in Huafan, Yongning County has been leaked, no one knows her exact identity," Ning Xinyao transmitted to Li Yang.

Li Yang understood.

It seems Ning Xinyao should know, otherwise, knowing her master's true nature, where would she get the confidence to think she could get involved with him?

"So where do we go now? What do we do? What are the evil spirits after?"

"Miss Bai is getting married soon, so we're going to apply for guard positions," Ning Xinyao said, surprising everyone. "As for the purpose of those demons, we can't rule out the possibility of them trying to abduct the bride."

Li Yang was taken aback:

"Getting married?! Who?"

Grandma Ning Xinyao must be a cultivation giant who was able to protect herself from the Six Desires Demon Lord, and her cultivation level is conservatively estimated to be at the Tribulation Transcending stage.

Such a powerful figure would actually marry someone ordinary?

Could the other party also be a male immortal cultivation master who has transformed into a mortal?

Hearing Li Yang's surprise, Ning Xinyao explained:

"Transformation into the mortal realm is divided into two types: worldly wandering and reincarnation."

The former simply sealed his cultivation; the latter used a secret method to separate a part of his soul for reincarnation.

My great-aunt is the latter, so she has no memory of her past life in this mortal transformation. She experiences birth, aging, sickness, and death, and naturally, she is also capable of getting married.

So those few ambitious demons wanted to use this as a breakthrough to make the aunt's mortal body fall in love with them.

Although it will have some impact on the process of becoming a mortal, it won't be significant. It will only interfere with the karmic connections of the great-aunt, thereby establishing an inseparable bond.

Li Yang understood:

"So they would try to kidnap your great-aunt on her wedding day, using every trick in the book, all to win her heart."

This is absolutely ridiculous.

However, the goal is clear—to ensure her marriage goes smoothly.

Following Ning Xinyao, they arrived at the Bai family mansion in Yongning County.

The place is decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, and preparations are underway for the wedding. The large red lanterns have been hung up, but the candles inside have not been lit.

A large crowd had gathered around the gate, and a notice recruiting guards was posted on the wall:

The young lady of this household will be getting married in three days. She will be passing through the area outside the county where evil spirits and heretics are rampant. Therefore, we are recruiting a dozen or so cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining or above to serve as temporary guards.

Requirements: Priority will be given to cultivators with experience in exorcising evil spirits and dealing with demons. They must obey orders and not disturb the palanquin.

Remuneration: To be discussed after selection.

Registration: The selection will be conducted by the steward at the Bai Mansion Martial Arts Arena. The deadline is 1-3 AM on April 27th. Late registrations will not be accepted.