"Here you go."
After a moment's thought, Yang Hong decisively handed the two martial arts manuals to the old Daoist priest.
He was already cultivating, and with ten thousand years of Foundation Establishment cultivation at that.
Yet, neither the old Daoist priest nor the Dharma King of Scripture Turning, both mighty experts beyond Foundation Establishment, had noticed.
Thus, he had no need to risk his cultivation being discovered by keeping these martial arts manuals of unknown quality.
After all, as long as he had enough low-level techniques, his own could constantly evolve.
"Boundless Heavenly Venerate, Little Friend's compassion."
The old Daoist priest first performed a formal Daoist bow to Yang Hong before accepting the two manuals. Right there, in front of everyone, he shattered them into pieces that scattered into the surroundings.
The two manuals, which even the members of the Great Yuan delegation had coveted, were thus destroyed.
The people from the Great Yuan delegation glared furiously at the old Daoist priest. If they hadn't known they were no match for him,
they might have drawn their swords and killed the old Daoist.
"Little Friend, this old Daoist thanks you on behalf of all living beings.
This is a Longevity Pill, considered compensation from this old Daoist.
This pill can extend your lifespan by 30 years when your natural lifespan is nearing its end."
"Hiss~~~"
"Hiss~"
"Hiss~"
Before Yang Hong could even speak, a chorus of gasps erupted from the surroundings.
Everyone was stunned by the pill's effect.
Yang Zhong's eyes turned crimson as he stared at the pill, his breathing becoming rapid.
Thirty years of life!
Even though the Taiyuan Continent had an excellent environment and the common folk generally had good physical health, most people's lifespans rarely exceeded fifty years.
The average lifespan recorded by the Great Sui was only forty years.
Thirty years of life was equivalent to a lifetime for many ordinary people.
"If you don't wish to be struck by divine lightning, do not covet this Longevity Pill your Little Friend possesses.
There are karmic consequences."
The old Daoist priest, having naturally noticed the gazes of the crowd in the square, added this casually.
Recalling the lightning tribulation that had just ended, everyone shivered.
They couldn't afford to offend.
No one was confident they wouldn't be reduced to charcoal under such heavenly lightning.
However, after a moment's thought, many began to entertain other small schemes.
"Yang Hong, put the pill away."
Yang Zhong swallowed hard and solemnly said to Yang Hong.
"Mm~"
Yang Hong casually placed the incredibly precious pill into his sleeve pocket.
This made everyone's faces twitch.
Could you be any more perfunctory?
Seeing that the matter was concluded, the old Daoist priest gave Yang Hong a deep look before slowly walking out of the crowd and quickly disappearing.
The old Daoist priest's steps appeared slow but were incredibly fast, seemingly a divine ability similar to 'Shrinking Ground into Inches'.
Watching the receding figure, Yang Hong finally let out a long sigh. That look from the old Daoist priest had given him a feeling of being seen through.
Fortunately, the old Daoist priest had discovered nothing.
This imperial palace, this world, was more dangerous than he had imagined.
"Imperial Grandfather, since the state banquet cannot proceed, I will take my leave."
Yang Hong was unaccustomed to so many eyes staring at him like he was a spectacle, and he prepared to depart.
"Mm, Grandfather will escort you back.
All of you may disperse now."
Dismissing the crowd, Yang Zhong led Yang Hong towards the Cold Palace.
They walked in silence the entire way until they entered Yang Hong's [Elegant Du Building]. Yang Zhong finally spoke.
"Good grandson, you must never cultivate in the future.
Before, though I knew that disaster would befall the world once you began cultivating, I had no direct feeling.
But today, seeing such world-destroying chaos erupt from you simply accepting a master, I cannot imagine how much more terrifying it will be once you truly cultivate."
Although he felt this course of action was somewhat cruel to Yang Hong, Yang Zhong decided not to let Yang Hong cultivate.
"Imperial Grandfather, rest assured, I will not cultivate anymore."
Yang Hong said sincerely.
He had already begun cultivating anyway; it was just that others couldn't discern his cultivation level.
"It's good that my good grandson understands.
However, don't worry, I will find some girls for you later to protect your safety.
This time, they definitely won't be your father's concubines; they'll be unmarried maidens."
"..."
Yang Hong looked speechlessly at Yang Zhong. Did he need women that much? Couldn't he just arrange for some male guards?
Unbeknownst to him, Yang Hong's performance when he agreed to accept a master earlier had led everyone to believe he had agreed for the sake of a 'cauldron' and the 'Secret Tantric Joyful Zen'.
His image as a pervert was now irrevocably cemented.
"Good grandson, you are now the next sect leader of the Vajra Temple. Should we still trade high-yield crop seeds with them?"
As Yang Zhong was about to leave, he suddenly remembered something and asked Yang Hong.
"Sell them. As long as we keep enough seeds for ourselves, we'll sell the rest to them.
And let's also sell them the honeycomb briquette technology."
Based on what the Dharma King of Scripture Turning had said, and his subsequent behavior, Yang Hong had confirmed that he possessed great merit.
However, because he had too much merit, ordinary cultivators could not bear it.
The old Daoist priest likely knew this, but lacking the relevant cultivation methods to resolve or absorb it, he dared not scheme against Yang Hong and instead actively sought his friendship.
Even those so-called 'Upper Sects' were wary of his merit, which was why they prevented him from cultivating.
However, there were still many unclear aspects to this.
Yang Hong couldn't sort it out for the moment.
He only knew that by continuously doing good deeds and increasing his merit, it would undoubtedly be of great benefit to him.
Therefore, he generously contributed all these world-benefiting seeds and technologies.
Having received Yang Hong's consent, Yang Zhong went to trade with the Great Yuan delegation.
...
Night fell, and a figure secretly entered the Great Sui's [Bright Hall] and soon disappeared.
Yang Hong, with his thoughts in disarray, sent Song Yuzhi to rest and then stripped naked to bathe in the Precious Lotus Pool.
Suddenly, a graceful figure appeared before him.
"You are—"
Yang Hong was about to ask for the other party's identity, but the person clearly had no intention of revealing themselves.
A fireball the size of a large bowl appeared in the figure's hand, causing the air around it to visibly distort.
"Holy shit!"
Upon seeing the fireball, Yang Hong immediately knew the other party was a cultivator.
Without hesitation, without holding back,
he instantly mobilized all his true qi, channeling it into his right hand and activating the Fierce Ox Fist.
A faint phantom image of a fierce ox materialized behind Yang Hong.
Ran Weijing was initially startled, then a faint smile appeared on her face.
"I didn't expect you little fellow to be so well-hidden. Not only have you reached the Foundation Establishment realm, but you've even cultivated a trace of fist intent.
However, Foundation Establishment is still Foundation Establishment. I am at the peak of the Fusion realm; killing you is like crushing an ant."
Bathed in the firelight, Yang Hong saw a peerlessly beautiful face filled with disdain and mockery.
It was as if she were looking at an ant.
"So much nonsense!"
Yang Hong roared and threw the punch he had been charging.
"Moo~"
A faint cow's moo sounded, and Yang Hong's fist passed directly through the fireball,
striking directly onto that face, which was still filled with disdain.
"Bang~"
A sound like a bursting watermelon echoed.
That exquisite head exploded.
Ran Weijing, the contemporary senior disciple sister of the Profound Yin Sect, who was expected to advance to the Eighteen True Disciples, was thus dead.
She had died at the hands of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
She had died without any warning.
"Hmph, I am in the Foundation Establishment realm, but I am a ten-thousand-year Foundation Establishment cultivator!"
Yang Hong smiled faintly. This punch had also simply verified Yang Hong's strength.
Killing a Fusion realm cultivator instantly was not a problem.
Now, it was time for the exciting moment.
Yang Hong reached out towards the headless female corpse.