"The National Medicine Association also has matters to attend to, so I must be off!" Chen Guo announced before bidding farewell.

Chen Baixiang, however, followed Yang Qi to the City Lord Mansion.

"Mr. Yang, if you can heal my daughter, you are welcome to pick any treasure you like from the City Lord Mansion!" As soon as they entered, Jin Zizhen knelt before Yang Qi. For the sake of his daughter, he had cast his pride aside.

"Rise. I said I would help, so there is no need for this," Yang Qi said with a smile. "If City Lord Jin truly wishes to thank me, how about gifting me a hundred-year-old medicinal herb? That is something I urgently need."

"No problem! I have a nearly two-hundred-year-old medicinal herb right here. I’ll have it prepared and sent to you at once!" Jin Zizhen said hurriedly.

"There’s no rush. Let’s save her first," Yang Qi said, shaking his head. He walked into Jin Ruoyun’s room, where the air conditioning was still running. It seemed she was indeed doing much better than usual; even her appetite had improved.

"Hmm, her complexion isn’t bad, but this air conditioning method is only a temporary solution. It will stop working after a while. Today, I will relieve Miss Ruoyun of her suffering from the Cold Poison," Yang Qi smiled. He walked over to Jin Ruoyun’s side and took out a bag of silver needles from his waist. Nine silver needles floated into the air and pierced nine acupuncture points on her back, forming the pattern of a winding dragon.

"Devour!"

At Yang Qi’s shout, the divine dragon seemed to come to life, frantically devouring the cold energy within Jin Ruoyun’s body. This energy flowed through the silver needles and into Yang Qi.

He then circulated the Dragon God Technique. A sound resembling a dragon’s roar echoed from within him as the cold energy gradually transformed into his Spiritual Power. Most miraculously, after this cold energy fused with his comprehension of the Water Law, Yang Qi’s Ice Condensing Technique grew even more powerful, emitting an intimidating chill.

I should be able to cultivate the Cold Ice Chains now.

If the Five Elements Law had levels, then his Water Law would be at the highest level right now. He was ready to start cultivating Divine Skills other than the Ice Condensing Technique, which meant it was time for the Cold Ice Chains. The Cold Ice Chains, a skill that combined both offense and defense, was an extremely profound Divine Power Technique. After mastering it, Yang Qi’s combat power was sure to increase even further.

For now, though, I should continue treating Jin Ruoyun’s illness.

The treatment process lasted for half an hour. Once the cold energy within Jin Ruoyun’s body was completely devoured, Yang Qi made a small incision on her back and extracted something.

"What is this!" Jin Zizhen exclaimed in surprise.

"An Ice Worm Gu," Yang Qi said with a frown. "I keep finding Gu Insects causing trouble lately. Logically, Gu Masters from the Southern Wasteland dislike bustling cities, yet several recent incidents have occurred in them. Could something have happened in the Southern Wasteland?"

"My daughter has never been to the Southern Wasteland, so this Gu Insect must have been planted on her here. What should we do?" Jin Zizhen asked, growing anxious.

"It’s no cause for concern. Although the person who planted the Gu is highly skilled, your daughter’s body now contains a wisp of my Spiritual Power. No Gu Insect would dare to enter, so rest assured. If you notice anything else, inform me immediately," Yang Qi said.

"Thank you, Mr. Yang. I truly don’t know how to thank you. My daughter was a martial arts prodigy, but after being afflicted with this damned Ice Worm Gu, she could no longer practice. You’ve not only saved her life but have also given her a new one," Jin Zizhen said, immensely grateful.

"There’s no need for thanks; it’s not like I’m refusing payment," Yang Qi said with a smile. "Are the medicinal herbs ready?"

"They’re prepared. There are two in total: one is about one hundred and eighty years old, and the other is around two hundred. I am deeply grateful for you treating my daughter, Mr. Yang, so I’ve included the additional herb as a gift." Jin Zizhen waved his hand, and Jin Nan hurriedly presented the medicinal herbs.

"Oh, and Jiang Shan has returned all the money, so I’ve let them go," Jin Zizhen added. "Actually, Mr. Yang, you didn’t have to let them off."

"They’re just a few ants. It’s no big deal," Yang Qi said with a wave of his hand. "I’ll stay here for a day to observe your daughter’s condition. If she has no relapse within that time, it will mean she’s completely recovered. You two can talk. I’m a bit tired and will go rest now."

"This way, Mr. Yang!" Jin Zizhen personally escorted Yang Qi to his room.

Yang Qi didn’t actually want to rest. He wanted to cultivate the Cold Ice Chains as soon as possible to improve his combat power, since a breakthrough in his cultivation realm wasn’t likely to happen any time soon. Advancing from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Body Tempering Stage was not easy. The Qi Refining Stage was just an introduction, the Foundation Establishment Stage was for building the base, and the Body Tempering Stage was for forging the Spirit Body. Only after the Spirit Body was successfully cultivated could a core form within the body. Therefore, the stage after Body Tempering was the Core Formation Stage, also known as the Golden Core Stage.

Each advancement in a major realm was extremely difficult, and it only became harder the further one progressed. Yang Qi had been stuck for a long time moving from the Qi Refining Stage to the Foundation Establishment Stage. Now, advancing from the Foundation Establishment Stage to the Body Tempering Stage... who knows how long I’ll be stuck? So, since he couldn’t advance his cultivation, he felt it was better to enhance his combat power through other means, such as Divine Power Techniques.

While Yang Qi was alone in his room cultivating the Cold Ice Chains, outside Three Prefectures Town, Jiang Shan knelt in terror, staring at two corpses on the ground.

"Mr. Tang, please spare me! I’m Tang Fei’s woman!" Jiang Shan cried out to the man sitting in the carriage before her. It was none other than Tang Wenqiang.

"Hmph. Although Tang Fei was from a branch of our Tang Family, he is dead, and yet you are still alive. This will not stand. Since you were his woman, you can go join him in the afterlife," Tang Wenqiang said coldly. "Do it! What are you waiting for? I have to go back for reinforcements to eliminate that Yang Qi!" He would not forget today’s grudge. So what if Yang Qi had killed Wu Yonggui? They were from the Tang Family of Sea City, a family brimming with experts far stronger than any in Jingnan Prefecture.

"Ah—!"

Jiang Shan let out a miserable scream and died in the deserted wilderness. Tang Wenqiang didn’t even bother with the corpses and simply left in his carriage. Soon after, a pack of hyenas ran onto the scene, letting out joyful howls.

Of course, Yang Qi was unaware of any of this. He was still cultivating the Cold Ice Chains. He had already let Jiang Shan and the others go, so if they did end up dead, it had nothing to do with him; it wasn’t his hand that had struck them down. He had reclaimed the money Jiang Shan had swindled from him, and that was enough. 𝘧𝘳𝘦ℯ𝓌𝘦𝒷𝘯𝑜𝑣𝘦𝓁.𝒸𝘰𝓂

WHOOSH!

At a certain moment, nine chains shot out from his body. Terrifying Cold Ice condensed along their length, exuding a frightening chill.

It’s done, but it’s not enough. To fully wield the Cold Ice Chains, simply succeeding in the cultivation isn’t enough. It requires external materials to unleash its full potential.

This material was known as Thousand-Year Cold Ice. In this world, there was plenty of ice, but only ice that could last a thousand years without melting was a true treasure. Yang Qi knew he had to find some Thousand-Year Cold Ice to make his Cold Ice Chains even more formidable.