Celestial Refining Divine Scripture

"Oh? You can actually sense me?"

Whoosh!

A figure flashed in from afar—it was none other than that youth who had tried to force a deal before—Yang Long!

Yang Long stared at Xu Yang, eyes wide with shock, unable to believe it.

He was at the Middle Stage of True Immortal, and this guy was only Early Stage, and even though he’d deliberately concealed himself, how could he be detected?

"Interesting."

Yang Long suddenly felt that his spur-of-the-moment decision to tail along was the right one. No matter how his cover was blown, for someone in Early Stage of True Immortal to sense him, he clearly had some skills.

Maybe, he was even pretty loaded.

"What are you following me for?" Xu Yang narrowed his eyes coldly.

Yang Long grinned: "Just what you think it is."

"Hand over all your storage rings and treasures, and I’ll let you walk out alive."

Just an Early Stage True Immortal, planning to leave Four Spirits Town afterward—clearly no connections.

If he had any backing, he would’ve revealed it in the Treasure Pavilion already.

So, Yang Long had nothing to fear.

"Here you go."

Xu Yang didn’t hesitate and tossed over a pile of storage rings.

Yang Long was immediately stunned; he’d never expected Xu Yang to be so cooperative, so straightforward.

"You know your place."

At least this saved him the trouble.

Yang Long nodded in satisfaction—but then he suddenly lunged forward, killing intent radiating.

"Kid, you’re way too naive."

"Going around alone, didn’t your family ever tell you never to trust anyone?"

"Dead men are the safest!"

Boom!

Yang Long sneered viciously and swiped down with his palm.

Xu Yang shook his head slightly.

He’d already predicted this scene.

If someone dares to tail you for your treasures, how could they possibly leave you alive?

Xu Yang sprang up, smashed a fist into Yang Long’s palm—the surging force was far beyond what a mere Middle Stage True Immortal could withstand, obliterating the immortal light in Yang Long’s hand, mangling it into a bloody mess.

"Ahhh—"

Yang Long shrieked as he was sent flying backwards.

"How is this possible?"

Yang Long stared in horror, as if seeing a nightmare.

Xu Yang flashed forward, pointing a finger down.

"No, I’m from the Yang Family! If you kill me, you’re dead!"

Squish!

The scream stopped abruptly.

Yang Long’s eyes turned white; all life snuffed out.

Xu Yang swept up his corpse and the storage rings, then drifted away.

Four Spirits Immortal Mountain.

Guarded tightly, all True Immortals in clear formation.

"Halt!"

Xu Yang had just landed when he was stopped by the guards.

Xu Yang showed his token, saying, "I’m the new guardian—Xu Yang."

"Guardian?"

The guards were shocked. Their leader hurried up, examined the token carefully, then respectfully returned it: "Greetings, Guardian."

Xu Yang put away the token, cast a sweeping glance over the seven or eight guards before him.

All were at Middle Stage of True Immortal, looked to be in their twenties or thirties.

These guards, though also disciples of Black Fire Immortal Mountain, were mostly from the outer sect.

While Xu Yang was sizing them up, they were also cautiously inspecting Xu Yang.

When they discovered Xu Yang was only Early Stage True Immortal, their expressions grew somewhat strange.

Most guardians here were seed disciples.

But an Early Stage seed disciple was really too weak.

The guardians are rotated every half year or year, but guards stay much longer—at least a year. For outer sect disciples, the resources here are not insignificant.

So, they’re not in the loop about most internal affairs.

"Who’s in charge around here now?" Xu Yang asked casually.

"Guardian sir—the last guardian has returned to the sect, right now Mr. Lin Lang is in charge."

"Mr. Lin Lang was inner sect disciple two terms ago, now at the Early Stage of Celestial Immortal."

"Lead the way."

"Yes, sir."

One guard respectfully led Xu Yang into the mountain.

Four huge immortal mountains encircled the area, crossing arrays in the lower ravine as they entered; a fresh, cool aura rushed out to greet them.

The mountaintops were shrouded with thin clouds of immortal qi; the air held thick immortal spirit qi—about as good as the core disciples’ caves, with spirit gathering arrays set up here as well.

And the tide of water and wood element immortal spirit qi could be clearly felt, surging together.

Along the edges, a few simple wooden houses were scattered.

In the center, surrounded by the mountains, was a massive lake of immortal spring water, sparkling and exuding immortal vapor.

Beyond the lake, it was neatly divided into plots of medicinal gardens, each planting copious immortal elixirs; a glance revealed a crowded, dazzling array of intertwining immortal lights.

Additionally, at the base of each mountain, there was a huge cave, and stairways stretching upward from the edges.

Clearly, both the base and the heights were breeding grounds for vast numbers of rare immortal elixirs and treasures.

Xu Yang quickly took it all in, secretly awed; just as the Sect Leader said, this truly was a land of riches.

Though most were first or second-tier immortal elixirs, their sheer abundance could easily support the cultivation needs of a family’s younger generation.

"Mr. Lin Lang."

The guard called out.

Soon, a young man in his thirties walked out of one cabin, dressed in blue, spirit and energy full, no special features to speak of.

"Mr. Lin Lang, the new guardian is here."

"New guardian?"

Hearing this, Lin Lang instantly looked to Xu Yang beside the guard.

One look—and his head buzzed.

Early Stage True Immortal?

What kind of joke was this?

The last guardian had left, but there’d been no news from the sect about any replacement; Lin Lang hadn’t a clue who was coming.

Xu Yang was a complete stranger.

He’d already been stationed here for several years.

Decent resources, a cultivation environment no worse than inside the sect—he wasn’t eager to give up the post.

Lin Lang stood in a daze for two seconds, then snapped back, hurrying over.

No matter how weak the cultivation, he was still the guardian.

With such low cultivation yet holding the guardian post, Lin Lang suspected there must be something to this man—especially his background.

"Lin Lang greets the Guardian."

Lin Lang bowed respectfully.

Xu Yang smiled: "I’m new here, so I’ll have to rely on Mr. Lin for guidance."

Lin Lang quickly replied: "I wouldn’t dare, Guardian sir! Now that you’re here, I finally have someone to take charge. Things are pretty calm here; Guardian, would you like to rest first, or...?"

Xu Yang waved: "I’ll take a look around first. Please show me the place."

"Of course."

Fifteen minutes later.

With Lin Lang leading, Xu Yang had made the rounds.

Four immortal mountains—above and below—and the central medicinal garden were full of immortal elixir resources: over a hundred first-tier varietals, over fifty second-tier, all water and wood element.

The most precious were at the mountaintops and caves below—those were all second-tier.

The job of guardian here was actually quite easy.

Harvest and planting immortal elixirs.

Then turn them in to the sect.

And protect against rampaging immortal beasts.

But this land has been a treasure trove for years, and surrounding immortal beasts have long since been cleared out. The occasional ones popping up were rare.

Especially with array protections here—even strong beasts weren’t a problem.

As for enemies?

Who’d be crazy enough to sneak into Black Fire Immortal Mountain’s territory and try to snatch resources from their treasure land?

That’s just asking to die.

After learning the basics, Xu Yang asked: "I’ve heard the Profound Pure Jade Bamboo has matured?"

"That’s right."

Lin Lang nodded slightly: "The local powers all rely on Black Fire Immortal Mountain; Profound Pure Jade Bamboo is hugely beneficial for young cultivators. So years ago, the sect made a rule to sell a share to the powers nearby at a cheap price when it matures."

"I’ve already stored all the matured Profound Pure Jade Bamboo, Guardian sir. Later you can check. Now that you’re here, the distribution can start—everyone’s been waiting quite a while."

Xu Yang nodded slightly, finding Lin Lang fairly reliable so far.

He seemed well versed in all aspects, handling things with skill.

If he proved trustworthy after further observation, plenty of chores could be left to Lin Yue, saving Xu Yang trouble.

"Yang Family’s included too, right?"

"Right."

"Leave the Yang Family out this time."

"Alright—what?"

Lin Lang thought he’d misheard, staring at Xu Yang in disbelief.

"Exclude the Yang Family—this round, for Profound Pure Jade Bamboo, they get nothing," Xu Yang said calmly.

"But—Guardian sir, the Yang Family has a Golden Immortal sitting in residence, formidable strength, and their eldest son is not only a seed disciple, but he’s also made it onto the Immortal Pride List—his status is extraordinary. If you do this, it’ll offend the Yang Family."

"If it gets to the sect, it could..."

Lin Lang had no idea how Xu Yang dared provoke the Yang Family, but he had to warn him—this could be serious trouble. If he really had to notify everyone, the Yang cultivators would go nuts.

First in the firing line would be him.

Xu Yang sneered: "Offend the Yang Family? They flatter themselves—it’s the Yang Family that’s offended me!"