Immortal-Exterminating Divine Venerable

"So, in your minds, I, Yang Xiao, am just some man-eating Demon, huh?"

Looking at these people, Yang Xiao felt genuinely exasperated.

It wasn't that he was disappointed in them. He just found them incredibly pitiful.

However, for now, he still had to play his part.

Otherwise, these people would probably think he was just putting on a show.

"Uh, sir... you really don't need to eat people?"

This wasn't spoken by one of the Mining Slaves, but by Yan Chixiao—and only because Yang Xiao had forced him to with a look.

"Do you eat people?"

Yang Xiao shot back.

"No, but..."

"But what? For all these years, your Immortal Dao has been smearing the name of our Martial Dao. After all that propaganda, have you—a practitioner of the Immortal Dao yourself—actually started to believe that we Martial Artists are irredeemable Demons who enjoy eating people?"

Yan Chixiao was rendered speechless.

Under the weight of Yang Xiao's questioning, some of them finally began to believe.

Though they were still filled with doubt, many of them weren't fools.

They knew that if Yang Xiao truly wanted to eat them, there would be no need to go to all this trouble.

Besides, he didn't look like he was lying.

"If Martial Artists aren't Demons, then what are they?"

A young man spoke up.

Yang Xiao looked over.

The young man was a bit timid.

But upon seeing the gentleness in Yang Xiao's eyes, he couldn't help but muster his courage and meet his gaze.

"Do you want to become a Martial Artist?"

Yang Xiao asked.

"I..."

The young man hesitated.

Clearly, he was afraid of becoming a man-eating Demon himself.

Yang Xiao was a little exasperated by his hesitation.

'I thought the one who spoke up in front of everyone might have a bit more foresight.'

But it didn't really matter.

He was going to establish his own power base here, so spending a little extra time wasn't a problem.

After a moment's thought, Yang Xiao continued, "Actually, it's very easy for you to find out what's real and what's fake. Just choose the person you trust most to become a Martial Artist. I think you'll understand then."

At his words, all the Mining Slaves began to look at one another.

"What? A moment ago, every last one of you was ready to die. Are you chickening out now?"

But Yang Xiao didn't give them much time to think.

Sure enough, at his words, many of those who had previously stepped forward and volunteered to be his food spoke up.

"I'll do it!"

"Let me!"

"No, I'll do it!"

"Sir, pick me! I'm young, it'll be easier for me to become a Martial Artist!"

Seeing them start to vie with one another again, a smile spread across Yang Xiao's face.

A satisfied one.

'They may be foolish and ignorant, lacking even the most basic trust in Martial Artists, but their willingness to sacrifice themselves for others made it all worthwhile.'

In comparison, while there were good, responsible people in the Eastern Domain like Huang Tianling's father, Huang Chengde, most were just apathetic and callous.

Yang Xiao much preferred the people before him now.

'Perhaps the suffering here has made them cherish one another more. Still, people who know how to value others are never truly bad.'

Yang Xiao was pleased.

He was happy he had chosen this place as his first base of operations.

So when he saw them all eagerly volunteering to become Martial Artists, Yang Xiao gave a small smile.

"Alright. All of you are selected. I've been thinking, how convincing would just one person be? We need more. Therefore, all of you can become Martial Artists."

At this, Yang Xiao ignored the crestfallen looks on their faces, pretending not to see that they had only volunteered to sacrifice themselves for the others.

Instead, he continued, "It's not just you. Anyone here can become a Martial Artist. Whoever is willing can come to me at any time. For now, all of you... hmm, there look to be about a hundred of you... line up. I've already refined some Strengthening Pills. Each of you will take one. After you swallow it, you'll be able to lay your foundation. In a little while..."

At this, Yang Xiao glanced at Ye Wanqing.

Having spent so much time together, Ye Wanqing naturally understood what he meant. In fact, Yang Xiao had revealed his intentions to her before he went into seclusion to refine the Pills.

So, Ye Wanqing didn't hesitate for a second, nodding immediately.

Yang Xiao smiled. "After you swallow the Strengthening Pills, Wanqing will teach you a basic Fist Technique to temper your qi and blood. Oh, right, let me give you an introduction. The cultivation of the Martial Dao is divided into many levels. The very first realm is the Qi Blood Stage! During this process, you will need to consume large amounts of flesh. Yan Chixiao, go catch some Barbaric Beasts to improve everyone's diet. How can someone who cultivates the Martial Dao not eat meat?"

At his words, the expressions of many people changed.

Although Yang Xiao had spoken of eating the flesh of Barbaric Beasts, the minds of the more impressionable ones immediately jumped to human flesh.

'Does this mean we eat Barbaric Beast meat for now, but once our cultivation reaches a higher level, we'll have to eat human flesh?'

The thought sent a chill down their spines.

Yang Xiao didn't bother to explain.

The notion that Martial Artists were Demons was already deeply ingrained in their minds. Further explanations were useless. Only actions could prove otherwise.

Next, though their hearts were filled with fear, they obediently swallowed the Strengthening Pills they were given.

The moment they did...

...their expressions changed drastically.

They scattered in a panic.

This left Ye Wanqing and the remaining Mining Slaves completely baffled.

"Yang Xiao, what's happening? Was there something wrong with your Pills?"

Ye Wanqing asked.

However, before Yang Xiao could answer...

...she heard a series of splattering noises that seemed to shake heaven and earth.

She subconsciously swept the area with her Spiritual Power, only to retract it an instant later.

Her face instantly flushed bright red.

Because, unbelievably, all of them were relieving their bowels in unison.

"Haha! It's working! A Yang Xiao original is always top-quality. Just you wait. They'll be back to see you in about an hour."

With that, Yang Xiao swaggered off to get some rest.

'These past few days have been absolutely draining.'

Ye Wanqing, however, was filled with disbelief. 'If they're really at it for a whole hour, how could these Mortals possibly stand up again?'

However, due to some inexplicable feeling she had about Yang Xiao, she didn't leave, choosing to stay behind.

「One hour later.」

When she actually saw these people, who had just been violently emptying their bowels, return one by one brimming with energy, Ye Wanqing was utterly stunned.

Seeing how they all seemed to have been completely reborn, any last shred of doubt she had about Yang Xiao's alchemy skills vanished.

'The man is incredible,' Ye Wanqing thought. 'Then again, that makes sense. If he weren't, he couldn't have given me such a powerful Pill back then.'

The more she thought about it, the more amazing Yang Xiao seemed.

At the same time, she became much more dedicated to teaching them.

And whether it was because they were naturally gifted or because of the Strengthening Pills, they cultivated with surprising speed, which startled Ye Wanqing.

She felt as if every single one of them was a genius.

Coupled with the fact that Yan Chixiao had returned with several High-tier Barbaric Beasts, Ye Wanqing had a sudden realization.

It wouldn't be long before these people broke through the Qi Blood Stage, entered the Inner Breath Stage, and became true Martial Artists in the eyes of the world.

And just as Ye Wanqing was having this thought, Yan Chixiao took advantage of the fact that she was busy teaching to sneak into Yang Xiao's private chambers, his purpose unknown.