Chapter 4

Gu Yang asked, "What is the Tianjiao List?"

The merchants looked at him with some odd expressions, surprised that he didn’t know about the Tianjiao List, which was something known even to women and children.

It was Old Gao who reacted quickly and said, "The Tianjiao List ranks young strong individuals under the age of twenty who have reached the Second Rank realm or higher. Those who make the list are truly the pride of heaven, with boundless potential for the future."

In other words, among those under twenty in the world who had reached the Second Rank, Liu Zhe was ranked ninth, which was indeed impressive.

Someone like Gu Yang didn’t even have the qualifications to be on the list.

Old Gao continued, "Speaking of our Bajun, it is indeed a land of talented people. Not only did it produce the ninth-ranked individual on the Tianjiao List, but last year, it also produced the thirteenth-ranked individual on the Hongyan List."

After saying this, he explained, "The Hongyan List records the most beautiful women in the world."

Gu Yang didn’t need an explanation to guess this much.

Old Yang, standing nearby, said, "They say that beautiful women often have tragic fates. Making it onto the Hongyan List is not a good thing. If the Su family hadn’t produced Su Qingzhi, they wouldn’t have been targeted by the Liu family, leading to their family’s destruction."

Old Gao was puzzled, "Logically, marrying a Tianjiao like Liu Zhe wouldn’t be a disgrace to Su Qingzhi. Why didn’t she agree? It led to the death of her entire family."

"Hmph, Liu Zhe had already been betrothed to the Xue family. Even if he had ten lives, he wouldn’t dare to take another woman. It’s said that the Liu family wanted to offer her to a high-ranking official. They used all sorts of means, both soft and hard."

"Who knew that Su Qingzhi had a fierce personality and would rather die than comply. Later, she was secretly sent out of Bajun by the Su family. The Liu family, enraged and embarrassed, killed the entire Su family, acting with such cruelty that it was shocking."

When they talked about the Su family’s extermination, the merchants’ faces turned grim.

The Su family had been a prominent family in Bajun for generations. The Liu family’s ability to destroy them so easily showed their tyranny and lack of restraint.

They, who had some wealth and lived under the jurisdiction of Bajun, felt a lack of security.

Gu Yang changed the topic and asked about the Liu family’s notable figures.

Old Gao said there were many, as the Liu family had been prosperous for several generations. Among the younger generation, besides Liu Zhe, there were several other outstanding individuals. He listed them one by one.

...

This conversation lasted for over half an hour.

Although Gu Yang learned about many of the Liu family’s figures, he still couldn’t determine which of them the young man in the hunting team was.

They had rested enough, and the caravan continued on its way.

Gu Yang led the way at the front, opening the Life Simulator again.

[Do you want to use the Life Simulator? Using it once costs 20 gold.]

The price hadn’t increased, which was at least one piece of good news.

"Yes."

[At the age of 22, you became a Ninth Rank warrior and decided to venture out with a caravan. On the way, you got lost and didn’t reach Wangjiagou.]

[Two months later, you followed the caravan to Phoenix City. With your outstanding skills, you were recruited by the Sheng family and became one of their guards.]

[At the age of 27, over five years, you helped the Sheng family expand their business. You gained the favor of the Sheng family’s head, who taught you the high-level cultivation technique, the 'Chi Yang Gong'.]

[At the age of 30, you returned to Liujiacun and found that the village had been destroyed eight years ago. You vowed to seek revenge.]

[At the age of 35, you finally broke through and became an Eighth Rank warrior.]

[At the age of 36, the Sheng family’s business attracted the covetous eyes of the Liu family. The Sheng family’s head was assassinated, and you died in battle. You lived to be 36 years old.]

After reading this simulation, Gu Yang’s expression turned grim.

Even if he avoided the Liu family’s hunting team, Liujiacun still couldn’t escape its fate of being massacred.

Why?

Why did the Liu family have to destroy Liujiacun?

Gu Yang couldn’t figure it out.

[Simulation complete. You can retain one of the following.]

[1. Martial realm at the age of 36.]

[2. Martial experience at the age of 36.]

[3. Life wisdom at the age of 36.]

Gu Yang took a deep breath. No matter what, this simulation had some benefits. At the very least, his realm had advanced, and his strength had increased significantly.

Now, he still had enough funds for three more simulations.

He hoped to find a way to break the deadlock.

...

When Old Gao suggested resting again, Gu Yang found an excuse and went to a nearby uninhabited place, opened the system, and said, "I choose the first option."

Immediately, he felt the true qi in his body expanding, emitting a terrifying heat as if burning inside him.

At the same time, a new cultivation technique appeared in his mind, the first two levels of the 'Chi Yang Gong'.

After a moment, the true qi in Gu Yang’s body was completely transformed into the power of the 'Chi Yang Gong'.

The 'Xuan Yuan Gong' he had practiced before was a Daoist technique without special attributes. Switching to another technique posed no obstacles.

"Is this what it feels like to be an Eighth Rank warrior?"

Gu Yang felt the powerful true qi in his body, his heart trembling.

Advancing one realm, his true qi had increased by at least three to four times. After transforming into a fire attribute, its power had also increased significantly.

The difference between two realms was so great.

Then, what about a Second Rank warrior who practiced a cultivation technique even more advanced than the 'Chi Yang Gong'? How strong would they be?

Gu Yang shook his head, dispelling the thought, and thought about his current predicament, "I wonder if my current strength can match the Liu family’s hunting team."

He had just broken through and decided to consolidate his new strength first, planning to do another simulation the next day.

...

When Gu Yang returned to the caravan, the merchants all noticed that he was different, but they couldn’t pinpoint what had changed.

They just felt that his presence was more oppressive.

The merchants had all practiced martial arts, though they hadn’t reached the rank, their skills were still quite good compared to ordinary people.

This oppressive feeling made even Old Gao, who was closest to him, hesitant to approach.

No matter how rich their imagination, they wouldn’t have guessed that in just a short time, Gu Yang had advanced a realm and become an Eighth Rank warrior.

Gu Yang took the initiative to find Old Gao and asked, "Will the Liu family send people into the Lianshan Mountains?"

Old Gao shook his head, "The Liu family probably doesn’t see the profit in it. For them, entering the Lianshan Mountains to collect goods is too low in returns. They monopolize the fur and medicinal herb trade in Phoenix City, with over 70% of the mountain’s produce falling into their hands. Why would they take such a risk?"

Gu Yang asked again, "Then, will the Liu family’s young members come to the Lianshan Mountains to hunt?"

Old Gao was taken aback by the question and quickly asked, "Could it be that you have encountered the Liu family’s people in the mountains before?"

Gu Yang said, "I was just asking."

The merchants didn’t think he was just asking and became worried.

If the Liu family really sent people into the mountains, it would not be good news for them, who relied on collecting mountain goods to earn a living.

As long as the Liu family set their sights on a business, they would use any means to take it over and drive everyone else out.

Therefore, among the merchants in Bajun, there was a saying that wherever the Liu family went, nothing could survive.