Chapter Fourteen: Yang Qian’s Thoughts and Final Preparations

Although Lady Yang’s expression was well masked as she spoke, Yang Qian’s keen intuition still discerned the subtle anomaly beneath her calm exterior. In that instant, he realized that his plan to obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill as soon as possible had become a faint hope, nearly out of reach.

His thoughts quickly shifted to his younger brother, Yang Zhen. If he waited any longer, would the next Foundation Establishment Pill truly fall into his hands? With this realization, Yang Qian’s face grew even more sullen, and the hatred in his heart toward Yang Xuan surged once again.

“This can’t go on. I can’t wait ten years. Yang Xuan—yes, he just acquired a great deal of spiritual stone resources from the family. If I could seize them, I’m certain I could establish my foundation.”

Blinded by hatred, Yang Qian’s mind was fixed on a single thought: to kill Yang Xuan and steal his resources.

Yet, while the idea was simple, carrying it out was another matter entirely. He was merely a Qi Refining cultivator; to challenge Yang Xuan one-on-one would be like an egg striking a rock—he would be instantly crushed. Yang Xuan wouldn’t even need to exert himself to send him to his death.

Poisoning or assassination was out of the question as well; there was no one in the entirety of Mount Huangfeng who would dare to undertake such a deed. Even if he voiced such an idea, Lady Yang before him would never support it. If such a plot were uncovered, the consequences would be far graver than last time.

Previously, he could still claim that he had been driven by a fit of anger and acted impulsively in attempting to seize the Foundation Establishment Pill. If discovered now, he was certain that Yang Huaiyun would not even bother to imprison him—a single palm strike would be the end of him.

Besides, there was no time. Yang Xuan was set to depart for the Xuan Shui Palace tomorrow; he would not linger on Mount Huangfeng any longer.

One vicious thought after another spun through Yang Qian’s mind. After a few moments, a sinister glint flashed in his eyes.

“Mother, I wish to stay with Grandfather for a few days.”

He looked up at Lady Yang. His expression had returned to normal, all trace of previous impotent rage erased.

Seeing this, Lady Yang hesitated slightly before nodding. “Then wait until you’re a bit better…”

Yang Qian interrupted her. “There’s no need; I’m fine. Prepare for me right away. I’ll be leaving shortly.”

Lady Yang grew increasingly uncertain, worry clouding her gaze as she looked at Yang Qian. “Qian’er, don’t do anything foolish.”

“I won’t. What foolish thing could I possibly do? I’m just a mere Qi Refining cultivator. Even if Yang Xuan stood before me and let me strike, I couldn’t harm him.”

Yang Qian gave a self-mocking laugh.

“Rest first, then. I’ll make the arrangements. I may not be able to accompany you myself, so you’ll have to go alone. I’ll ask your father to assign a squad of Dao soldiers to escort you.”

Lady Yang fell silent for a long moment, her tone tinged with melancholy. No one knows a son better than his mother; she already suspected the reason for Yang Qian’s sudden composure. Though she wished to stop him, a faint hope stirred in her heart.

…

On the martial training grounds, freelance warriors drawn by Yang Xuan’s recruitment order had surrounded the area in a dense throng. Around the perimeter, sixty Dao soldiers now under Yang Xuan’s command maintained order.

At the center of the grounds, a temporary platform had been erected where warriors dueled one another.

Thud! Thud! Thud!

The sound of fists striking flesh echoed powerfully in every direction, inciting roars of excitement from the crowd below the stage.

“Go on! Niu, get him!”

“Good! Just like that!”

“Punch! Punch, damn it! Where are you kicking? Damn…”

Not far from the platform, Yang Xuan lounged drowsily in a wooden chair, only to be startled awake by the crowd’s clamorous shouts. He yawned and asked the burly man beside him:

“How many have we got now?”

“Reporting to you, Young Master Xuan, thirty-six have been selected! Each one is a true iron-blooded man. Apart from their lack of familiarity with battle formations, in single combat, some of our Dao soldiers wouldn’t be a match for them.”

The burly man responded promptly.

Yang Xuan nodded and rose to his feet. “Forty recruits should suffice. With you all, that makes an even hundred. Any more, and my father may not approve.”

Mount Huangfeng’s population was already sparse, and martial artists were even fewer. Across the entire territory, there were only a few hundred freelance warriors. If he conscripted them all, there would be no one left to defend the villages with the mundane army.

Should demons or monsters wreak havoc then, replacements would have to be brought down from Mount Huangfeng itself.

The support he had already received from Mount Huangfeng was more than generous. If his actions left the territory vulnerable to calamities from the demon clans or deities, he would bear a grave responsibility.

Moreover, if he recruited too many, Yang Xuan doubted he could afford to support them all. Though Blood Qi Pills were inexpensive—a single spirit stone could buy a bottle—if too many people needed them over a long period, his current supply might not last until the reclamation was complete.

“Understood!” The burly man saluted with a fist to his chest.

He then faced the platform and announced loudly:

“Gentlemen, there are only forty spots for this recruitment. Thirty-six have already been filled. Only four remain! If you wish to join my young master’s Dao soldier company for the overseas reclamation, now is your chance!”

“What? Only four spots left?”

“What are we to do? I thought there would be plenty of places, so I didn’t go up earlier. Now, with only four left, the competition is bound to be fierce!”

“No matter—I’ll go now! These reclamation expeditions are rare. If fortune favors us and we help Young Master Yang establish a new territory, we could be credited as pioneers and have a great chance of earning a Qi Induction Pill, breaking through to Martial Innate!”

“I am Yang Batian—who dares face me in battle?”

Hearing that only four spots remained, the majority of the freelance warriors who had been watching grew anxious and rushed to compete. With fewer slots, the competition became unprecedentedly fierce, and nearly every winner faced multiple challengers.

Although there were only four spots left, the selection process for these last four took even longer than that for the previous thirty-six—nearly two hours before it concluded.

However, the ferocity of the contest ensured that the final four were of outstanding caliber. Each had reached the pinnacle of the Postnatal Martial stage, only a step away from becoming Innate Martial artists.

After the selection, Yang Xuan personally met with the forty chosen warriors, bestowing each a Blood Qi Pill. He then spoke with those closest to breaking through, promising that should a family be established, he would make sure to find them a Qi Induction Pill to aid their advancement.

Once everyone was settled, he produced the Dao Soldier Seal and had them all sign a contract.

“These forty are in your hands now,” he said gravely to the burly man as they left the Dao soldier barracks. “Train them in battle formations as quickly as possible. I don’t want to see any of them fall in war for lack of proper drill.”

“Rest assured, Young Master Xuan. I will train them well and see that they do not become a burden,” the burly man replied solemnly.