Jiang Fan meant that the Qin Family might cause trouble for Xu Yang as well.
He didn’t regret his decision. Given his circumstances at the time, he couldn’t have just ignored the Golden Gang Skill. It was the very technique he had relied on to vanquish many powerful foes, and it remained one of his trump cards.
"The Qin Family might be a problem, but if you can achieve the Secondary Dragon Ascension and enter the Celestial Strategy Academy, Brother Xu, they probably won’t bother you over this. The real trouble is this Flying Centipede."
The voice transmission came from Jiang Yan.
The Qin Family is a major clan in Yun Province, but no matter how powerful they are, they pale in comparison to the Celestial Strategy Academy. They wouldn’t make trouble for one of the Academy’s disciples over something as minor as Xu Yang cultivating the Golden Gang Skill.
After all, the Golden Gang Skill wasn’t the Qin Family’s exclusive technique; several other major clans in Yun Province also possessed it. The real trouble for Xu Yang was the Flying Centipede.
"Please enlighten me, Senior Brother Jiang. I don’t know much about the Jianghu, and this is the first time I’ve heard the name Flying Centipede." Xu Yang cupped his hands.
Jiang Yan said, "The Flying Centipede is a notorious master thief in Yun Province. He comes and goes without a trace. No one knows his true identity or his specific cultivation level. The major clans of Yun Province have had a warrant out for his arrest for decades, yet no one has ever seen his true face."
"He’s just like the Blazing Blade—to the outside world, nothing more than a name. You should do your utmost to keep the fact that you killed Jade Butterfly a secret."
Xu Yang’s heart sank. To be able to steal treasures from the numerous major clans of Yun Province and never get caught, the Flying Centipede’s cultivation had to be terrifying. He was, at the very least, a Celestial Essence Strong Person, and possibly even stronger.
Jade Butterfly’s appearance in Qingyuan County had caused quite a stir back then. If word got out that he cultivated the Golden Gang Skill, the Flying Centipede would surely deduce that he had killed Jade Butterfly and taken the technique from her.
"Thank you for informing me!" Xu Yang cupped his hands.
After the three finished their conversation, Zhang Yong, who had been standing to the side the whole time, finally stepped forward to express his thanks.
If Xu Yang and Jiang Yan hadn’t intervened just now, he would have been severely injured, if not killed.
Both Jiang Yan and Xu Yang shook their heads. They hadn’t just acted to save him; they were also worried that if Zhang Yong got caught in the crossfire, the situation would escalate.
If Zhang Yong had been killed by the aftershocks of their fight, things would have become a huge mess.
The four of them strolled toward Tianfeng Valley. Jiang Yan said, "The deeper you go into Tianfeng Valley, the better the Marrow Cleansing effect. However, if your body isn’t tempered enough and you force your way deeper, it will only be counterproductive. Once you’re in the valley, proceed according to your abilities, or just advance slowly."
Xu Yang and Zhang Yong nodded.
When they arrived at the entrance, they saw that many people had already entered Tianfeng Valley and begun to cultivate.
Xu Yang’s gaze swept across the area, and he saw many familiar figures. People like Yun Heng, Liu Xiao, and Cao Jin were already sitting cross-legged, cultivating.
However, because their cultivation levels weren’t high, they were all positioned near the valley entrance. The central area was generally only accessible to those who had reached the Marrow Cleansing Minor Achievement stage.
"As expected of Li Chuyang. He’s only at the Minor Achievement stage of Marrow Cleansing, yet he’s managed to go so far."
"The Three Yin Silver Palace Profound Gang True Technique doesn’t just cultivate Gang Qi; it’s also extremely effective at tempering the physical body."
Li Chuyang was seen strolling casually before sitting down among a group of senior disciples who had completed their Marrow Cleansing long ago.
Not far from him were Lu Ren, Han Feng, and the others. They were all competing with one another, slowly pushing forward.
Tianfeng Valley was both a place for cultivation and a test of one’s physical body. The deeper one could go, the better tempered their body was proven to be.
Xu Yang and the other two showed their waist tokens, proving they were new disciples, and were quickly granted permission to cultivate in the valley for one month.
Jiang Yan, meanwhile, went to queue up properly to exchange his contribution points for cultivation time.
As he stepped into Tianfeng Valley, Xu Yang felt pressure surge in from all directions. A strange energy bored deep into his limbs and bones, right down to the marrow. Instantly, it felt as if thousands of ants were gnawing at him from the inside out.
Of course, for a physique like his, the pressure at the valley entrance was negligible. He tried circulating the Fuyue Bear Scripture and found that its Muscle and Marrow Cleansing effect was significantly enhanced, almost as if he had taken an elixir, though the results weren’t as instantaneous.
Beside him, Zhang Yong managed only three steps before his whole body began to tremble, unable to go any further. He hastily sat down and began to cultivate.
"Let’s explore the secrets of Tianfeng Valley together, Brother Xu," Jiang Fan said.
The two of them paid Zhang Yong no mind and continued striding forward.
Zhang Yong hadn’t yet undergone Marrow Cleansing, so managing to take three steps was already impressive. A few others in his position had stopped after just one.
If he was lucky, he might be able to use his month in Tianfeng Valley to break through to the Marrow Cleansing stage.
’I must reach the Marrow Cleansing stage!’ Zhang Yong roared in his heart.
He had been stewing in frustration for a long time. For someone as proud as him, being nearly killed by the aftershocks of the clash between Jiang Fan and Li Chuyang was utterly unacceptable.
To think that his own talent was once considered superior to Xu Yang’s, yet now he needed Xu Yang to save his life.
"How far can Xu Yang go?"
"How far can Jiang Fan, number one on the Ten Heroes List, go?"
In the valley, many people watched Xu Yang and Jiang Fan with curiosity. As the number one on the Ten Heroes List, Jiang Fan naturally drew everyone’s attention.
Although Xu Yang wasn’t on the Ten Heroes List, many of the senior disciples knew of him because of the earlier incident involving Li Chuyang.
Anyone who could force Li Chuyang’s hand couldn’t be ordinary.
"Gasp... he’s passed Han Feng and Lu Ren."
Xu Yang and Jiang Fan continued their steady advance, soon overtaking people like Lu Ren and Han Feng. They surpassed all the members of the Ten Heroes List from their own cohort, and it looked like they could keep on going.
"Xu Yang, don’t force it just to save face! If you damage your foundation, you’ll live to regret it!" Xiong Kun growled.