Chapter 41: The Immortals Start Doing Good Deeds

Zhang Dong's cultivation level rose to the Golden Core stage within mere minutes.

Feeling the surging spiritual energy within him, Zhang Dong immediately knelt before Xu Yang with a thud.

Previously, he had been filled with despair and hopelessness, but now, he was equally overwhelmed with excitement.

"Thank you, Elder Xu!" He was at a loss for words, resorting to bowing repeatedly. Each bow was performed with all his strength, and before long, his forehead was dotted with beads of blood.

Xu Yang's eyelids twitched as he hastily helped Zhang Dong to his feet.

The onlookers were dumbfounded, staring at Zhang Dong in disbelief.

Earlier, Liu Dan had successfully advanced to the Golden Core stage, and now Zhang Dong had done the same.

Liu Dan and Zhang Dong were notorious for being the weakest members of the Tianlan Sect, yet both had formed their Golden Cores.

Following them, over a dozen others consumed pills that Xu Yang provided to enhance their cultivation. They, too, swiftly advanced to the Golden Core stage.

The disciples of the Tianlan Sect, who initially scoffed, were now stunned. They knew a bit about the selection criteria: good character and loyalty to the sect.

Many began to beat their chests in regret, lamenting why they hadn't done more good deeds in their earlier years. If they had, they could have been the ones advancing in cultivation today.

The next day, all the disciples of the Tianlan Sect scrambled to do good deeds. If someone snatched another's chance to do a good deed, they would undoubtedly end up arguing.

The mortals around the Tianlan Sect were bewildered. The immortals, who usually looked down on them with disdain, suddenly became kind-hearted and competed to help them.

A family with farmland that needed tilling? With a wave of an immortal's hand, the land was turned over completely.

A sick family member? No problem. The immortals casually handed over a stalk of spiritual herb that could cure any illness.

Some immortals went even further. They handled everything for the mortals, including matchmaking for bachelors. Under the guidance and mediation of these immortals, numerous happy unions were formed.

As a result, many mortal households began enshrining tablets dedicated to the Tianlan Sect, worshipping its disciples as true immortals.

Although Xu Yang stayed within the sect and didn't descend the mountain, he was well aware of these developments.

"These people are really something else," Xu Yang remarked with a twitch of his lips, but he did not intervene.

Regardless of the disciples' motivations, the end result was a win-win situation for everyone.

Thus, Xu Yang refined even more pills as rewards for them.

While these pills couldn't help them ascend to a higher major realm, they could certainly boost them within their current realm.

Encouraged by these rewards, the disciples became even more fanatical about doing good deeds. In their minds, doing good equated to pleasing Xu Yang.

If they pleased Xu Yang, and he happened to favor them, they might casually receive a pill and improve their cultivation.

In short, doing good deeds was equivalent to advancing in cultivation.

Within a few days, the reputation of the Tianlan Sect's love for doing good deeds spread far and wide.

Other cultivators found it unbelievable, as cultivators had always looked down on mortals, never truly regarding them as equals.

However, the Tianlan Sect was now acting entirely out of character. Instead of focusing on cultivation, they were busy helping mortals, shocking many people.

Within the Tianlan Sect, Xu Yang once again gathered materials to reinforce the sect's protective mountain formation. After promoting several promising disciples to the Golden Core stage, he decided to visit Tianwu County.

As for the sect's safety, Xu Yang had no concerns. With over twenty Golden Core cultivators and the fortified mountain formation—both offensive and defensive—it would take at least a dozen Golden Core experts to even think about breaching it.

With these preparations complete, Xu Yang planned to head to Tianwu County. He wanted to see the spiritual herb Yu Sanniang mentioned, which was said to be on the verge of emerging.

A thousand years ago, herbs considered rare treasures had since become common weeds. Now, a herb still regarded as peerless even in modern times—what kind of level would it have been at a thousand years ago?

Could it possibly be one of the legendary divine herbs? The thought made Xu Yang's heart stir with excitement.

"Ling Qingshu," Xu Yang called.

"Yes, Elder. What is it?" Ling Qingshu entered the room.

"I'm going to take you to Tianwu County. Inform the sect that after we leave, they must guard the sect diligently," Xu Yang instructed.

Ling Qingshu was puzzled, unsure of where Xu Yang intended to go.

However, she knew that Xu Yang's orders were to be followed without question.

"Understood, Elder," Ling Qingshu replied.

Two days later, Xu Yang and Ling Qingshu left the Tianlan Sect, heading to the mysterious forest Yu Sanniang had mentioned.

After several days of traveling day and night, they finally reached the borders of Tianwu County.

However, upon arriving, Xu Yang found himself at a loss.

Tianwu County's territory was vast, and Yu Sanniang's description of the forest had been extremely vague. He had no idea where to start looking.

"Why don't we ask the locals? They might know something," Ling Qingshu suggested.

Xu Yang considered this and agreed. On the bustling street, he stopped a passerby and asked, "Excuse me, do you know if any extraordinary spiritual herbs have appeared recently in Tianwu County?"

Hearing this, the passerby's expression changed dramatically, and he responded with a serious tone.

"Are you planning to go to that forest?"

When the man mentioned the forest, his face was filled with fear.

Xu Yang was puzzled. This person was a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, yet he looked as if he had seen a ghost when talking about the forest.

"What's the matter? Is there something wrong with that forest?"

The man's face turned ashen as he replied, "I just came out of that forest. There were fifteen of us who entered together, but in the end, I was the only one who made it out. My companions… they all died inside."

As he spoke, Xu Yang noticed that the man's right arm was missing, the wound fresh.

Rather than deterring him, this revelation only deepened Xu Yang's interest in the forest.

"If you really intend to go, I can recommend a place where you can find others who also want to explore the forest. You can form a team—it's safer with more people, and you'll be better equipped to handle any danger you encounter."

The man pointed down the road as he spoke. "Walk straight for about ten minutes. Look for a red house filled with people. That's the place. Just ask around when you get there."

Xu Yang nodded in acknowledgment. While he didn't need protection, he didn't mind traveling with others. After all, having company could make the journey more interesting.