Chapter 245: Who Can Prove the Dao and Ascend to Immortality in a Fantasy World?

Although Iron Hoof and the Demon Spirits are both great powers, one is rather laid‑back and the other prefers to stay home; the vast underground plain provides ample strategic buffer, so there is essentially no conflict between the two Tribes.

But after the players disturbed the peaceful underground plain on the surface and the mercenaries secretly stirred up each Tribe's ambitions, many people's thoughts began to run wild.

Especially with the emergence of the Pioneers' Market, its strong locational advantage and strict security management quickly made it the largest goods hub across the entire plain.

From weapons and gear down to clothing, food, shelter and travel, aside from corruption, whether buying or selling, this is the top choice for the overwhelming majority of plain dwellers.

And once the population grows, the miscellaneous troubles also increase.

Internally, the market saw groups of pickpockets and thieves, and some unscrupulous merchants attempted fraud and forced buying and selling.

Externally, from hyena folk to wild werewolf clans, various raiding Tribes began to gravitate here, trying to parasitize the market from the outside and reap the benefits.

However, for players equipped with modern intelligence and rich management skills, these are merely minor issues.

"FBI, open the door!"

As a perfect professional match, Cang Lang led a few real‑world security guards or even plain‑clothes police brothers to solve case after case.

He staged volunteer work as petty theft, performed public flogging with blood on his hands, exiled murderers to the mines, and turned the "Sunny Doll" into a gang leader.

As for commercial crimes, he referenced some historically milder methods and engaged in very friendly exchanges with those crooked merchants.

Thus Cang Lang went from "Clear‑Soup Big Master" to "Red‑Oil Big Master," eventually acquiring a series of nicknames such as "Yongle Emperor Reincarnated" and "Hongwu Ye Reborn."

In short, under various thunderous measures, the market's internal atmosphere was cleared, and the players seized absolute dominance.

As for the external raiding Tribes, it's even simpler: mercenaries don't dare to seize the players' caravans; if you dare to snatch a player's caravan, you're tougher than any mercenary.

Especially since Howard tasted the sweet benefits of bribing the Mysterious Merchant last time, he later enjoyed hefty discounts in transactions.

He began frantically raising the favor of various NPCs through quests and gifts, employing countless tactics, and finally reaped a second profit via Cloi.

"What, you once disguised yourself as the Wolf King to command a pack of wolves?"

He immediately led Cloi to the southern streams, rounded up a batch of wild demon wolves, and attempted to tame them under the "Wolf King's" intimidation.

The result was that the khan who had long wanted cavalry achieved it in one stroke, assembling a few guild officers into the literally named "Iron Bow Wolf Riders."

Strictly speaking, they are merely infantry riding horses, but the speed advantage brought by demon wolves is already formidable.

Their first battle was a sweep of the lurking jackals around the market, serving as the most efficient live‑fire training.

Consequently, many Tribes hadn't even had time to act, still watching whether to pilfer a few goblin food bags first, when they were instead raided in return.

The biodiversity inside the mine caves increased dramatically, marking a firm step toward multi‑racial unity in Yangyue World.

【5】 "Even compared with your lot's origins, the Pioneers really aren't anything…"

Even compared to the way you lot were born, the Pioneers really aren't anything...

Yet these fly‑headed leaders can do nothing but wield knives, making the emerging conflicts among the Tribes hard to handle.

They also lack the great wisdom of seeking common ground while preserving differences for joint development; increased interaction inevitably leads to friction.

Although players intervene, the Tribes still mainly argue verbally and have not escalated to passionate wrestling.

But once the Demon Spirit Tribe and the Iron Hoof Tribe—both "fallen empires"—revive, conflicts inevitably arise and magnify.

Especially since Bati Si Te's caravan, despite having already signed a weapon‑purchase agreement with the players, still tried to buy loose goods from the market.

Even the dullest turtle‑folk should see what they're up to with such behavior.

Thus the Minotaurs and the Cyclops began quarreling every three days and causing a ruckus every five days.

If these two Tribes truly go all‑out war, the other Tribes will inevitably have to assist or even join the fight, whether they want to or not.

When the first great plain war erupts, the Pioneers' Market that players painstakingly built will be smashed to pieces.

"Buyers and sellers all perished on the battlefield; from basic production to economic construction everything was utterly destroyed, and the poor souls have no oil left to squeeze!"

Moreover, the underground plain is their only route to the eastern exit; even if both sides claim the underground city is a friend, they cannot hand over the house key to anyone.

So the players regret it; had they known this would happen, they wouldn't have even started the arms business.

But the die is cast; they can only continuously mediate the two sides' disputes, trying to extinguish the flames of a war that might ignite.

However, Bati Si Te's ambition to unify the underground plain weighs heavily on him, especially after receiving news from Xie Er Dun that his key ally An De Lu will soon arrive in the underground city.

To demonstrate his resolve and reassure Dean An to freely fund, recruit and supply him, he even posted a notice offering a high price to purchase a howitzer.

This oil‑on‑the‑fire move completely enraged the Iron Hoof Tribe; Agus, though not going himself, sent a trusted aide to negotiate, demanding the notice be withdrawn.

"What we buy has nothing to do with you! It looks to me like you're the ones trying to dominate the underground plain!"

"Ah… I…"

As a result, the two sides met, exchanged no words before starting to argue, and the intensity of their exchange quickly escalated.

When the Cyclops, in a fit of anger, knocked a cup over and its shards accidentally struck the Minotaur captain, the verbal clash turned into an all‑out melee.

Fortunately, both sides still gave the Pioneers some face, merely engaging in hot‑blooded hand‑to‑hand combat due to their size, without using battle‑mark bonuses or magical bombardments.

But once it started, it stayed that way; the pure‑hearted old bull isn't a pushover, and the cyclops genius isn't a coward.

"To lay a hand on anyone from our Iron Hoof Tribe, this isn't an ordinary Cyclops; a heavy punch is required!"

"They dare to bare their fangs at us today; I can't imagine what they'll dare tomorrow! This trend cannot continue!"

The leaders on both sides, upon hearing the news, immediately prepared to bring reinforcements; in short, today's loss must not be suffered.

Yet they are not invincible Cold‑War poles, and the Pioneers are not a useless glue nation.

Players instantly split into three squads: one headed to the market for forced mediation, the other two to block each side's reinforcements, preventing further escalation.

"Although peace in the underground city is a historical inevitability, there remain many non‑violent possibilities; therefore we will not permit any side to use force to achieve that outcome. Otherwise, the Pioneers' Council will reconsider diplomatic relations with the underground plain Tribes and, when necessary, employ armed intervention."

"—Not listening to the big brother, huh? If you dare move again, I'll fire the cannons and blast you all into the sky!"

"Don't get worked up, don't get worked up; we can discuss everything."

"Right, I'll just loosen his collar; don't act impulsively!"

Thus both sides gladly gave the Pioneers this face, preventing the matter from sliding into the abyss of war.

Moreover, although Bati Si Te's ambition was sparked by mercenaries, he isn't a fool who willingly lets others use him as a weapon.

Seeing that the Pioneers had made their stance clear, he disclosed everything that could be said, and even a little of what was hard to articulate, to them.

???

They actually took out money voluntarily to help others fight? I knew this bunch of bastards had no good intentions!

Bandits stealing money aren't scary; bandits giving money are scary.

"Thieving mercenaries, untrustworthy!"

After reiterating our position again, the Pioneers ended this mediation meeting.

"Damn it, where the hell did these humans come from?"

Upon learning what happened in the Pioneers' market, Sheldon's lungs were about to explode from anger.

If it weren't for these damned Pioneers, with the regiment leader's plan and my own execution, making these turtles of the underground plains act like fools, letting him knead and shape them however he wants would pose no difficulty at all!

But they exist, and moreover, from business to military, they have gained considerable say in the underground plains.

Exerting all my strength, I could only... against the cyclops' big skin drum toothpick……

Anyway, I feel nothing at all, it's really infuriating!

But it doesn't matter.

Since I can't control that, I'll just not bother and ruthlessly execute Plan B, making the bat people's granary scream!

Meanwhile, Sheldon was preparing to strike at the root, using a fire to let the bat people's latent conflicts fully erupt, but the underground city had already blown up.

"Zai zai zai? Who said earlier that Earth, as a technological civilization, has no other kinds of existence? How do you explain this now?"

{I don't know either, who would understand what you're saying? Maybe it's psychic ascension? }

Looking at the wall split open before him, he shook the golden light blade condensed on his right arm, and the young man turned back with a bitter smile.

"Officer, I guarantee that the True Qi Nurturing Technique has absolutely no such effect in the real world!"

The second-phase plan was executed quickly; the day after the meeting ended, the fifth member codenamed 'Swallow Heaven' came online.

Although the name most people call me is 'Big Treasure', who would want outsiders to use my nickname?

So he split his real name 'Wu Ye' and filled in the ID 'Swallow Heaven Fire Splendor'.

Just as LaoZhao predicted, like the Wayfarers' Zhang Family External Fist, the Wu family's ancestral technique was also directly registered on the panel.

{Technique: True Qi Nurturing Technique·First Turn·Seventeenth Layer}

Actually, just this alone isn't a problem; the problem is the numbers on his panel...

I originally thought the Wayfarers' starting qi and blood being double digits was already heaven-defying, but Swallow Heaven, how old is he? He's already broken through to over thirty, approaching forty.

And this is only the seventeenth layer!

According to that ancient book's records, this technique theoretically can be cultivated to nine turns and ninety-nine layers, each turn having marvelous changes, with limitless prospects.

Of course, theory is theory; the True Qi Nurturing Technique in the real world certainly isn't nearly as powerful as recorded.

As the name suggests, it is a technique that cultivates True Qi to nourish the body; only the virtuous can learn it, while the wicked cannot obtain its subtlety.

A certain lawful good that just lacks strength and agility bonuses: Is there still such a good thing?

The creator left no name, merely entrusting it to the Wu family ancestors a thousand years ago for protection; from then on, the Wu clan became the guardians of this technique.

This is also the final answer to the 'Wu Family Gully Longevity Mystery'—they, being laid-back, still exercise daily, completely avoiding internal competition, so how could they not live long?

If it had appeared in ancient times, this technique might have stirred up a bloody storm from the imperial court to the martial world, snatching up a few foolish youths.

But in modern times, it's ultimately something a mortal flesh-and-body cannot withstand guns and cannons, unable to defy heaven.

No matter how much one cultivates, at best one can split a couple more bricks and live a few extra years—nothing particularly mysterious.

But, everything has a however!

The moment Swallow Heaven entered the Yangyue World, he felt as if an organ had suddenly appeared inside his body.

His already extremely strong body became even more vigorous, and the formerly vague True Qi perception became extremely clear.

True Qi refines the skin, golden light on both arms, dragon soaring tiger striding……

Those fantastical elements in the technique that science has long proven to be pure fabrication are even being reproduced one by one on his body.

Especially the 'Qian Heaven Blade' realized upon reaching the first turn of the True Qi Nurturing Technique, whose destructive power is practically comparable to a lightsaber.

Seeing this, Ji Ming blurted out a sentence.

"So you got the ancient ingot blade, can you give the enemy a vicious strike?"

"Uh, ah, I get it, I've seen it before… about right!"

Oh no, then I also need one……

As a cultivation technique that abruptly crossed over into a fantasy world, the True Qi Nurturing Technique certainly doesn't belong to the category of normal skills.

So Ji Ming merely glanced at it, and notifications began to pop up in the lower right corner.

{Congratulations, host, you have comprehended the technique: True Qi Nurturing Technique}

{Current progress: Zero Turn·First Layer}

{Reward: Qi and Blood +1, Agility +1}

Moreover, he quickly sensed that there truly was a heat like water yet not water, both resilient and soft, beginning to circulate inside his body—this is the so-called True Qi.

He was still pondering how to indirectly extract more information about this technique from Swallow Heaven's mouth, when he saw him turn his head.

"Hey, why do I feel you also have True Qi inside you?"

???

No way, can this thing directly sense other cultivators?

Ji Ming also discovered that as soon as he touches True Qi, he can see a large mass of golden-yellow qi constantly swirling in Swallow Heaven's lower abdomen.

But since the other party already brought it up, there's nothing to hide, so he straightforwardly confessed.

"This... I just glanced at it and inexplicably felt a heat arise inside my body."

Aurora and the others, hearing this, were a bit doubtful of their own ears—what does it mean 'you just looked and felt you had it'?

Cang Lang, who had actually tried cultivating: 'Don't say more, I've already cried.'

And Swallow Heaven, the only one who knew the mystery therein, was ultimately just a youthful mindset, didn't think that much, and simply scratched his head.

Just by taking a glance you can already master it—doesn't that make you a genius at cultivating righteous Qi, just like my old grandpa?

Never mind, anyway my grandpa said, good things are meant to be shared with everyone; although I don't know much either, I can still give you a few pointers on how to cultivate.

This cultivation method, just raising one level in the first stage already gives two points of strength and agility, and it matches your affinity so well; you absolutely must not be careless, so Ji Ming immediately adopted an attentive, respectful listening attitude.

Please speak.

And Tun Tian's expression turned solemn, he spoke in a deep voice.

The way to cultivate righteous Qi is actually very simple: just do more good deeds!

???