Chapter Seventy-One: Entering the Valley for Training

Since he had decided to enter the valley for training, Yang Xiao wasted no time and arrived at the entrance of the Ten Thousand Beasts Valley the very next day.

A few people stood at the entrance, engaged in discussion. Yang Xiao paid them no mind, intending to proceed directly into the valley, when a middle-aged man with kind eyes blocked his path. "Brother, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Fang Dong. Are you here to hunt spirit beasts in the Ten Thousand Beasts Valley as well? By coincidence, a few of us share the same goal. Why not join forces? You see, there are many formidable spirit beasts in the valley that are hard to handle alone. Only by working together do we stand a chance to subdue them. After we slay the spirit beasts, we can split the spoils equally. The rewards will be far greater than hunting the lesser beasts alone."

Yang Xiao was initially puzzled at being stopped, but upon hearing Fang Dong’s explanation, he understood—the man wished to recruit him for a team to hunt spirit beasts together. For most cultivators, the dangers of the valley were indeed considerable, and the larger spirit beasts were not easily subdued by a lone individual. Thus, people often banded together, hunting as a group and sharing the profits, making the venture much safer.

However, Yang Xiao was no ordinary cultivator. He believed that no matter how powerful the spirit beasts were, he could always escape if he found himself outmatched. He had no need to join others for such hunts. Moreover, joining a team would inevitably reveal his true strength, possibly arousing the greed of others. After all, Yang Xiao harbored many secrets, treasures, and skills that other cultivators would covet. If they saw his abilities, who could say what trouble might arise? Therefore, he had no choice but to decline Fang Dong’s invitation.

"I'm sorry, but I prefer to act alone. Perhaps you should look for someone else," Yang Xiao replied to Fang Dong.

Fang Dong remained courteous. "I understand, brother. If you ever change your mind and wish to join us, you're welcome at any time. The valley is truly perilous, after all."

"Very well, perhaps another time," Yang Xiao replied, unwilling to prolong the conversation. He gave a perfunctory answer and ventured alone into the Ten Thousand Beasts Valley.

After Yang Xiao left, a thin man in his thirties turned to Fang Dong. "Brother Fang, that fellow is quite arrogant. You were being considerate, inviting him to join us. The spirit beasts in the valley have become far more violent than before—some especially dangerous ones have even appeared. That’s why we formed a group for this expedition. Yet this young man ignores our advice. If he encounters a fierce spirit beast, he’ll be in grave danger."

Another chimed in, "Indeed, Brother Fang, he’s blind to our goodwill. Teaming up was for his benefit. If he insists on courting death, he has only himself to blame."

"You all have a point," Fang Dong said after a moment’s thought, "but I feel there’s something unusual about that young man. Though his cultivation doesn’t seem particularly high, he exudes a faint pressure characteristic of a Qi Condensation cultivator. Such a presence is rare, suggesting this youth possesses some true ability."

"A Qi Condensation cultivator’s aura? How could that be?" the thin man replied, shaking his head. "Such individuals are rarely seen in Lin Gu Village. And even if they appear, they’re uninterested in low-level spirit beasts like these. Only mid-tier ones would attract their attention, and those could fetch a fortune—well beyond what our village could handle."

The others agreed with the thin man’s assessment. Besides, Yang Xiao looked so young—how could he possibly be a Qi Condensation cultivator? One after another, they dismissed Fang Dong’s suspicions as mere fantasy.

"I never said he was a Qi Condensation cultivator," Fang Dong clarified. "Only that his aura is far stronger than any ordinary Spirit Sense cultivator. If you won’t believe me, so be it. In any case, we have eight people now. Let’s set out—eight should be enough to handle some real trouble. Let’s hope for a bountiful return."

"Agreed! Let’s go—this time we’re sure to return with plenty," the others replied enthusiastically. Capturing spirit beasts was their livelihood, but alone they could only subdue the weakest creatures, which fetched little money—hardly enough to sustain their cultivation. That was why they formed teams, so they could take on larger beasts and gain more resources for their training.

With their plan set, Fang Dong and his group made their way deeper into the Ten Thousand Beasts Valley.

Meanwhile, Yang Xiao had already penetrated to the valley’s depths, where he encountered a massive spirit beast: a Long-Tailed Patterned Tiger. This beast resembled a tiger, but was marked by strange, intricate patterns all over its body, and possessed an exceptionally long, powerful tail. Its sharp claws were lethal weapons, but the tail itself could also deliver devastating attacks.

"Excellent! I’ve barely set foot in the valley and already found such a mighty spirit beast. Its strength makes it the perfect opponent for training," Yang Xiao thought with satisfaction as he gazed at the creature.

"Come, let’s see how you fare against my fists. Can your body withstand my blows?" Yang Xiao called out, beckoning the beast as though issuing a challenge.

Of course, the Long-Tailed Patterned Tiger could not understand his words. Yet the beast was already salivating over the prospect of devouring this youth. Rarely did cultivators dare provoke it—in fact, most kept their distance. But here was a young man who showed not the slightest fear. The tiger found it strange, but relished the idea of a fine meal.

With a roar, the Long-Tailed Patterned Tiger lunged at Yang Xiao, claws flashing, its powerful aura sending tremors through the air. Had it been any ordinary cultivator in its path, they would surely have met their end in an instant.