Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

Feng Ying suddenly licked her red lips at Chu Mingkong, her tongue making her lips even more luscious and alluring. That was the follow-up she could offer, another clever way to get the medicine, but if he tolerated this expression, he would get nothing at all.

Chu Mingkong had no choice but to reveal his face, which had been buried in her chest, and accept Feng Ying's threat. But now that things had come to this, Chu Mingkong wanted to push the relationship a little further.

It's not just about feeding the medicine, but also about injecting the medicine solution.

"Fengying, do you have any plans for me to be your cultivation partner?"

"Oh? You're not planning to cultivate anymore, so you're just going to discard your primordial yang body?"

"Actually, it's already lost..." Chu Mingkong said guiltily. Feng Ying's face visibly darkened. Chu Mingkong quickly said, "There are various reasons for this. At the time, I had no choice but to use the Yin-Yang Harmony method to cultivate, using a wisp of extreme Yang power to help Zuo Qiuchi deal with her predicament. However, my cultivation technique seems to be of a good grade and won't affect your Yin body, so it won't affect your cultivation. Of course, if you don't have this plan yet, that's another story. Take your time, there's no rush."

"So, young master, you have no intention or need to preserve your primordial yang body?" Feng Ying asked.

Why would Chu Mingkong keep that thing? Was he keeping it to raise tadpoles or because he felt proud? Aside from when he was a child and hadn't succeeded in his cultivation, he did need to be self-disciplined and control himself, using traditional craftsmanship to uphold his Dao heart. After that, there was no need to keep that thing anymore.

There are many excellent martial arts techniques in the world, and countless others require a virgin yang body. However, Chu Mingkong would not compromise his adult male lifestyle for the sake of these techniques; he would simply learn the one that suited him best.

"No, I'm worried you might have it. I can assure you it won't affect your cultivation, but your cautious nature makes you hesitant to take the risk. If that's your mindset, I can wait for you patiently. Even if we can't be fellow Daoists for a while, it's alright to do things like imparting knowledge and instructing on the Dao—"

I don't mind temporarily compromising and taking the back door...

That's really honest!

From Feng Ying's perspective, she was actually worried that Chu Mingkong might have reservations about cultivation, which was why she hadn't proactively suggested taking things further. His talent was exceptional, and his Yuan Yang Body could greatly benefit him; it would be a real pity if he were to perish at her hands so early. But now that she realized she had missed out on his first opportunity, Feng Ying felt regretful.

"When was the first soup thrown away?"

"...It happened not long after you secretly ran away to find the totem altar."

"The larger body was lost?"

"......Yes."

Chu Mingkong answered with extreme anxiety, fearing that if he didn't give a good answer, she would get angry and not give him any further instructions. But Chu Mingkong didn't know what answer would please her, so he could only answer truthfully and obey her orders.

If all else fails, I'll just have to sneak around and experience the sex industry in the Crescent Kingdom.

But Fengying could accept his answer. Now he was small, and apart from a few parts, he seemed to be even smaller than before.

This is exactly what they wanted to compensate her for! When she goes back and meets with Zuo Qiuchi and the others, there will definitely be a lot of trouble. Everything that needs to be done will have to be done all at once!

The small Guanyin relic had appeared by the bedside at some point, its dark, glossy texture reflecting the two people who were in a meditative posture.

The consort on the relic cradled the tiny King, her stunning face seemingly showing a pained expression as she bit her red lips. As her practice deepened, the discomfort on the beautiful consort's face gradually eased.

In the hazy light emanating from the relic, the waist of the consort seemed to sway and undulate, encompassing the domineering nature of the king.

"

Chapter 167 This is Status

After finishing this training session, Chu Mingkong felt good.

Although it was called cultivation, there was actually no change in his cultivation level. He simply circulated the two original scriptures once more, giving him a renewed buff of killing power. Feng Ying did not cultivate the power of extreme yang, so cultivating with her would not bring Chu Mingkong any benefit in terms of extreme yang power.

Chu Mingkong didn't feel there was anything to regret. This kind of communication between men and women, which involves deep physical contact and enters each other's hearts, was actually quite good, simply viewed as a way to promote feelings.

If one only pursues the benefits of the extreme Yang path, the relationship will feel distorted. Even if both parties are willing, in the long run, it seems to become an exchange of interests rather than a purer form of communication. "I just want to go to the supermarket" is a simple, plain, and direct expression of emotion.

However, Chu Mingkong noticed that none of the top-tier girls around him—whether it was his master Xiao Zuo, his sister Xiao Han, or his maid Xiao Ying—seemed to have ventured into the path of extreme Yang, yet that didn't prevent them from defeating those who possessed the power of extreme Yang.

During their previous union, Chu Mingkong had been completely dominated and bullied by Feng Ying. He had to get his revenge, so after they took another bath together to clean themselves, Chu Mingkong pulled out some tight black stockings and begged her to put them on. Feng Ying immediately complied and even when he personally touched her beautiful legs to help her put them on, Feng Ying didn't dare to complain at all.

What kind of family status does that require?!

"Fengying, why haven't you cultivated the Extreme Yang Path?"

Chu Mingkong asked, while still slowly helping her put on stockings, and also putting on a golden leg ornament that looked like a leg ring. The leg ring slightly tightened her thigh flesh, and the elasticity was visible to the naked eye. This thing seemed superfluous, but it could become a hidden weapon in Feng Ying's hands when necessary. Basically, nothing that she wore was purely decorative.

Feng Ying stopped the little thing from playing with her legs and hugged Chu Mingkong tightly, observing his heart up close. The mutated heart had become a symbol that he could no longer disguise. Although he could hide the "golden blood vessels" that represented the power of extreme yang, Feng Ying could sense that this power of extreme yang came from different owners.

After a whole day of cultivation deep within the palace, Feng Ying discovered that her primordial yin had indeed not been broken. This somewhat proved that the "Hehuan True Scripture" mentioned by Chu Mingkong was real, and this was probably the means to obtain those few strands of extreme yang power.

"I probably didn't cultivate Extreme Yang because it wasn't necessary. In actual combat, it's not about who has more techniques or weapons that makes them stronger. Of course, you're an exception. I've encountered many so-called Dharma Protector masters who possess numerous spiritual treasures and Extreme Yang power, but they still die. They might just be a little harder to kill."

But that's only a possibility. In most cases, these people spend too much energy cultivating the Path of Extreme Yang, neglecting practical combat training. They're quite easy to deal with, so I don't think the power of Extreme Yang will be helpful to me. That should be the same for you, right?

Chu Mingkong thought about it and felt that the reasons were indeed similar, so he nodded in agreement:

"It's pretty much true. The reason I don't delve into the path of extreme yang is mostly because I'm not interested. No one can tell me exactly how cool extreme yang power can be, but weapon cultivation can truly allow you to wield those beautifully forged weapons with unparalleled skill. Strength is temporary, and there will always be a way to counter it, but coolness lasts a lifetime, and getting a new weapon is like getting a new way to be cool."

Fengying cupped his cheeks and chuckled:

"Your reasoning is really childish and willful, just doing whatever you want. Luckily, your talent and interests are similar."

Chu Mingkong then reached out and cupped her cheeks in his hands, but his hands were a bit small, so he placed them on Feng Ying's delicate collarbone instead. Feng Ying didn't stop his little gesture. Aside from not going through the back door, the two had already done everything they could, so Feng Ying naturally wouldn't be shy about letting him touch her now that it was a little intimate.

Rather, Feng Ying felt that if Chu Mingkong were to grow back to adulthood, she might feel a sense of loss. Therefore, her attitude towards the current young prince was to cherish him while he was still young.

"Why are you suddenly asking me this? Will this help control your injuries? If it's really necessary, I can help you cultivate the Extreme Yang Path." Feng Ying looked at him earnestly.

"...No rush, there's no need to go and cultivate it specifically. I'm afraid that cultivating the Extreme Yang Path will drag down your combat power. It's not too late to cultivate it when you encounter an Extreme Yang technique that suits you later."

Chu Mingkong spoke calmly, but he was still a little moved. The importance one attaches to someone is often reflected in being willing to change one's own plans for that person, or being willing to try things one has never tried before. Feng Ying's words just now exemplified both of these qualities.

Of course, if she really decides to cultivate the Extreme Yang Path, Chu Mingkong won't object. That way, if he's too embarrassed to ask her for intimacy in the future, he can shamelessly use the excuse of cultivating together to appear as a diligent cultivator!

Shadow, can I enter the path of cultivation?

It was already late at night, and Chu Mingkong and Feng Ying's tender moment gradually came to an end. Their conversation returned to normal, and there were many things worth discussing in detail. However, it would be best if Zuo Qiuchi were present. For now, let's talk about the totem altar.

"Mingkong, where did you find my master? The faction she's affiliated with probably uses the totem altar as their base, right?"

"Yes. It was in a desolate forest. The altar could even generate electricity, which almost shocked my Niu Niu. That's why I was able to kill that Hua Xiuluo and steal his armor." Chu Mingkong had a deep impression of this.

"Discharge? It seems that this is not the totem altar I am looking for. That altar has already been opened. That organization has wantonly modified the altar space, causing dissatisfaction from the White Tiger Divine Beast. The raging lightning energy is proof of the backlash. However, the totem jade is badly broken. Even if the totem divine beast retaliates, it cannot do anything to those intruders." Feng Ying sighed.

If it were just about gathering intelligence on murder targets, there would be many ways to do so. However, this kind of information, which requires a large number of people to investigate and explore, is basically controlled by those powerful forces, and even middlemen like intelligence dealers have no way to get their hands on it.

"Do you know anything about that Rakshasa Society? Anyway, their altar is located there. We can go in and loot it to see if we can find any clues. If we don't find any clues, let's put this matter behind us and go back to Xiling Tianya City. The city lord's martial arts competition there should be about to begin."

"I've heard of the Rakshasa Society, but I don't know much about it. I'll call your master later; with her there, it won't take long. The affairs of Tianya City are now under your command."

Chu Mingkong was thinking that he needed to buy a pair of pants later:

"So, do you need to do anything about your village? It seems that old auntie named Luo Zan is very good at ripping off her own people."

"I want to do it, but I don't know what I can do for them..." Fengying said helplessly.

Chapter 168 The Shattered Tribe

"Did you kill Luo Zan?" Chu Mingkong was also troubled by the situation.

"No, I just knocked her out and left her there. Killing her wouldn't guarantee things would be any better. Someone died in the shepherd's village, and who knows, the newly elected 'official' might soon become the next Aunt Luozan... I don't understand why this is happening; I've never heard of any tribe experiencing something like this before..."

Chu Mingkong listened to Feng Ying talk about the recent situation of the village. She only had a brief glimpse of her former tribe, but that was enough to give her a general understanding of the situation.

This situation seems quite common. Unlike the mature bureaucratic system of the Celestial Empire, the Crescent Kingdom is characterized by numerous tribes, making it, in a sense, a direct democracy. Tribal leaders are chosen based on who has the most power, and the tribes are united. No matter how arrogant or extravagant a leader may be, they will still prioritize the interests of their own small group. Because if their people are not doing well, it directly affects their own well-being, including whether they have enough food and manpower.

Just like the election of the alpha wolf in a pack of wolves on the steppe, it is primitive and simple, but very effective. These leaders really want their tribe to improve.

However, when the tribe grows to a large size, the management of personnel changes from direct democracy to simplified democracy. People like Rozan, who should have been advocating for the interests of the tribe, gradually become bureaucrats.

With someone above her in charge, she lost that sense of being a leader, because in the past, leaders were truly uncontrollable; only tribal priests and elders could offer a few words of advice. When Rozan felt pressure from above, she would pass that pressure on to those below her.

In addition, Rozan himself has problems, becoming a typical example of "I have experienced misfortune, so why should the people around me be doing well?"

Well, based on what Chu Mingkong has learned and what he has observed, as the system gradually moves towards a top-down management model, but without a corresponding supervisory system to restrain it, there will be more and more so-called corrupt officials, and whether good officials can emerge depends entirely on luck.

Chu Mingkong, using his previous answering techniques, gave a vague explanation of the underlying systemic, economic, and cultural reasons, leaving Feng Ying completely bewildered.

She knew nothing about this, but she wasn't stupid. After a little thought, she realized that Chu Mingkong's words made sense. She never expected that such a small situation had such a deep reason behind it.

While admiring Chu Mingkong, Feng Ying also felt a deep sense of helplessness:

“In the past, our tribe always thought that this kind of thing was because the old leader had become corrupt and then a new leader was chosen. Now that you say it, the problem is so big. What should we do? I can't do much for them.”

"I have no idea how to come up with a perfect plan. I think the most feasible approach is to 'address the facts' and expose Rozan's situation, so that justice can be served for everyone in the tribe. The truth is probably what they want most."

As for the tribe's future, let them break up and fully integrate into the Thunder Tiger tribe. Those who are capable of cultivation should cultivate; given the current state, there's no point in clinging to that small group anymore.

Upon hearing this, Feng Ying pondered for a moment and then nodded, seemingly indicating that this was the only option.

She wasn't actually a native of that tribe; Gu Mei adopted her and brought her there to live in seclusion. The tribe should have disintegrated long ago, probably after Gu Mei gnawed away at it like a termite. The fact that it's still clinging to life as a small village without a leader or totem is merely perpetuating the suffering.

It would be better to just disperse and live our own lives than to be in this half-dead state. At least after dispersing, those who are capable won't have to abandon their cultivation just because their village has become a sheep-herding village. They can develop however they want.

“You make a good point,” Fengying nodded.

"Also, do you have any pants in the village? I'd like to get a pair. Your animal skin pants don't really suit me, but I'll make do."

Looking at his chilly lower body, Chu Mingkong realized it was time to tidy up his appearance; he couldn't go back to see Zuo Qiuchi naked.

------------

In the dead of night, the sound of skulls being struck awakened the villagers from their sleep in the Shepherd Village, and the sound of children crying came from the homes of those with children.

"What happened again? Aunt Luo Zan is really going too far these days. Calling us together for the ceremony in the middle of the night, can't she wait until dawn after we've had our meal?"

Latin complained that after the half roast lamb was delivered, his family went hungry all night. It was painful to fall asleep when hungry, and even more painful to wake up hungry.

But there was no way around it. After joining the Lei Hu tribe, many things became irreversible, just like being a slave.

The villagers came out of their homes, but found that Aunt Luozan was nowhere to be seen in the village courtyard. After waiting for a while, the villagers spontaneously went to her house to see what was going on.

Then, everyone saw Aunt Luo Zan tied to the bed. Her mouth was gagged, and she struggled, making "mmm" sounds, trying to get them to untie the ropes.

The room was a mess, with treasures scattered all over the floor and half a roasted lamb that had been gnawed on the table.

No one explained the meaning of this scene, but many people already knew what it meant: Aunt Rozan lied about the roasted lamb being a tribute to her superiors, but actually kept it for herself, and similar situations had occurred before.

In fact, the villagers had long known about Aunt Luozan's true colors, but when forbearance became a habit, no one wanted to be the first to break the village's "unity," just as the last snowflake was responsible for the avalanche, while those before it were innocent.

—Although the village is in a bad state right now, we should endure it for the sake of village unity.

—Aunt Luo Zan is indeed not a very kind person and has let us down, but she has had a hard life, so let's bear with it.

—I can't just focus on my grievances; I also need to think about our tribe. Just bear with it, and it will pass. Let's just treat it as an exceptionally long winter.

In the face of a tribe that overemphasizes collective consciousness, individual will, personal grievances, and personal interests are often insignificant compared to the collective interest. These people are suffocated by the collective ideology, but if anyone exposes the truth and undermines the collective, that person is immoral! Damn it!