Chapter 302: Chapter 302: Ding Qing of Beiliang City, Tiger-shaped Jade Pendant
“Who is there?”

Ye Feng, followed closely by Hu Feifei, moved toward the source of the sound.

In front of a dungeon.

Ye Feng saw several people with disheveled hair and covered in injuries.

The one who seemed to be their “Young Master” spotted Ye Feng and noticed that he showed no signs of cultivation aura, just like a mortal, yet he was surrounded by nine white bone flying swords, an indication that he wasn’t someone to mess with.

“This senior appears young, but he might be a top expert with the ability to preserve his youthful appearance. I can’t even sense his cultivation level; could he be a Divine Origin Realm great power? If not that, he must be at least a high-level expert of the Spirit Sea Realm, right?”

The Young Master was inwardly shaken.

He raised his head slightly and glanced at Hu Feifei standing behind Ye Feng, noting her delicate beauty, pink hair, and the fluffy fox tail trailing behind her, immediately surmising she was a Fox Lady.

“Senior, we were captured by the Barren King; we thank you for your life-saving grace.” The Young Master and those with him kneeled on the ground and expressed their gratitude in unison.

“Captives? Where do you all hail from?” Ye Feng’s interest was piqued.

“We come from South Ming Country, to the south of the Barren Desert. I am the Young City Lord of Beiliang City, named Ding Qing,” introduced the handsome young man at the forefront.

“South Ming Country, Beiliang City?” Ye Feng took out a map.

It was marked with this nation, neighboring the Barren Desert, covering just over ten thousand miles – not even as big as the Southern River Basin.

However, although the territory of South Ming Country was small, the strength of its cultivators was not weak.

Beiliang City, as mentioned by Ding Qing, was one of the four major cities of South Ming Country, with a Spirit Sea Realm expert stationed there.

Of course, the openly known experts of the Spirit Sea Realm in the entire South Ming Country were only five, one in each of the four major cities and one in the central capital.

As for Divine Origin Realm great powers, none were known to exist in South Ming Country.

With just a guess, Ye Feng felt it was improbable that such a vast country as South Ming Country lacked Divine Origin Realm experts; otherwise, it would have already been overrun by the demon kings of the Barren Desert.

“Why were you taken captive?” After getting a general understanding of the situation in South Ming Country, Ye Feng asked.

Ding Qing stood up, combed his disheveled long hair back, and said respectfully:

“Because my grandfather is the Guardian God of Beiliang City and one of the five Spirit Sea Realm experts of South Ming Country, responsible for guarding the Northern Region. The Barren King couldn’t defeat my grandfather, so he resorted to capturing me alive to use as leverage to force my grandfather to abandon his cultivation.”

“Oh, I see,” Ye Feng said with a smile.

Cultivators are usually emotionally detached; how could one abandon their cultivation just because of a grandson?

In Ye Feng’s view, Ding Qing was still hiding more important information.

But Ye Feng didn’t point it out.

Crack!

Ye Feng used a white bone sword to break open the dungeon and released Ding Qing and the others, saying, “You are free now.”

“Thank you, senior, for saving our lives.” Ding Qing quickly bowed in thanks, then looked around worriedly, “We should leave quickly, or if the Barren King comes, we’ll be in danger.”

“Are you talking about this one?” Ye Feng threw the corpse of the Shalibeta on the ground, making the earth tremble.

Ding Qing and his companions’ pupils shrank when they saw Shalibeta.

“This… this!”

They were so shocked that they stammered and became speechless.

Could it be that the Barren King, who was rumored to be a middle-rank demon king, was slain by this seemingly mortal man who was terrifyingly powerful?

It was too fearsome!

Ye Feng gathered up the remains of Shalibeta and said, “The demonic beasts in the Underground Palace have been slain, and there’s nothing valuable left here for now; let’s go.”

After that, he walked away with Hu Feifei.

“Senior, please wait.” Ding Qing called out to Ye Feng and presented an ancient brocade box with both hands.

“What’s this?” Ye Feng turned to look at the brocade box.

“I owe a great debt to the senior for saving my life. This is the Ding Family’s heirloom of Beiliang City, which I now present to you as a token of thanks,” said Ding Qing.

Ye Feng initially was not interested.

But upon hearing it was an heirloom, he became intrigued.

Silently, the brocade box opened on its own.

A jade-green radiance emerged, casting light all around.

It was a green tiger-shaped jade pendant!

Containing bountiful spiritual energy and an intricate and complex formation within, it gave the impression of facing a medium-sized formation.

“A Spirit Sea Realm level formation, how mysterious!” Ye Feng assessed.

Ding Qing nodded repeatedly: “Senior is correct. This supreme treasure was passed down from my grandfather to my father, and then to me. Now, I’m presenting it to you, senior.”

“Such a precious item, given away just like that? Aren’t you worried about being punished by your elders when you get back to Beiliang City?” Ye Feng asked with a smile.

The formation concealed within the tiger-shaped jade pendant was quite sophisticated.

However, having just examined the pendant with his Divine Sense Power and Heroic Spirit Power, he was sure that the item contained a powerful seal that made it unusable for the moment.

“Senior need not worry, my family elders have declared that the item is entirely under my authority, and even if I give it away, they wouldn’t blame me,” Ding Qing paused for a moment before adding, “However, the item is sealed and cannot be used at the moment.”

Ye Feng immediately responded with a smile, “Since it can’t be used, why offer it as a thank-you gift? Doesn’t that lack a bit of sincerity?”

Ding Qing’s face showed embarrassment as he explained, “The truth is, aside from this tiger-shaped jade pendant which is of some value, I simply have no other precious items worthy of presenting.”

“Do you know what the tiger-shaped jade pendant is used for?” Ye Feng inquired.

“The younger generation is unaware; only my grandfather knows about the whole Beiliang City.” Ding Qing shook his head repeatedly.

“Alright, then I’ll take it for now,” Ye Feng closed the brocade box lid and took away the tiger-shaped jade pendant with it.

“Senior, I still don’t know your esteemed name, or the power you hail from?” Ding Qing asked curiously, relieved to see Ye Feng taking the tiger-shaped jade pendant.

“Mystique Kingdom, Misty Sect’s Sect Master, Ye Feng,” Ye Feng did not conceal his identity.

[Prestige Points +5]

Ye Feng instantly received the prompt.

“Eh!”

He looked at Ding Qing and his group in surprise and realized there were exactly five people; the increase in Prestige Points must have come from them.

It seemed that Ding Qing was genuinely grateful.

“I know of Mystique Kingdom; it’s said to be a Three-Star kingdom north of the Barren Desert, with many Two-Star and One-Star Sects within, all with very strong foundations, and even Divine Origin Realm Great Powers overseeing them,” Ding Qing said with yearning.

Then, biting his teeth, he knelt before Ye Feng, “Sect Master Ye, please take me as your disciple!”

Although he didn’t know how strong Ye Feng was, to have fought his way here and even slain the Barren King, he must be at least a high-tier Spirit Sea Realm expert.

Such strength would make him one of the very top figures in South Ming Country.

Even in Mystique Kingdom, he would be a first-class powerhouse.

To be his disciple would bring honor to his ancestors.

Ye Feng glanced at Ding Qing, nearly forgetting that he still needed to take on disciples to grow his sect and enhance his strength.

“Reaching the Element Gathering Realm Triple Layer at such a young age, not bad!”

Ye Feng recognized Ding Qing’s Cultivation Level and was impressed. He asked inwardly, “System, does Ding Qing meet the requirements for discipleship?”

“Age too old,” the System explained simply.

“What do you mean?” Ye Feng was full of confusion.

“The disciples that are recruited must not be older than the Sect Leader,” the System clarified.

“What the hell!” Ye Feng cursed inwardly.

Such a promising prospect and he couldn’t take him!

With no other choice, Ye Feng could only pat Ding Qing’s shoulder, with a look of regret, saying, “Just now, upon careful consideration, I divined that our fates are not aligned for a master-disciple relationship. Let’s end it here today, and may we part ways.”

Having said that, he walked towards the exit of the Underground Palace with the Fox Lady.

“Ah?”

Ding Qing stood there dumbfounded.

Fates not aligned?

Was it because the gift he had just given was not precious enough?

With this thought, Ding Qing quickly called out, “Senior, please give me another chance!”

“I would like to give you a chance too, but alas, you are older than me!” Ye Feng complained inwardly, feeling somewhat regretful, as he and the Fox Lady headed for the exit of the Underground Palace.

Atop a sand dune.

Ye Feng and the Fox Lady stood suspended in midair, their garments fluttering, facing the moon above as they looked toward the south, their expressions growing increasingly solemn.

It wasn’t long before Ding Qing and his group also escaped from the Underground Palace.

Seeing Ye Feng and Fox Lady hovering in the air, unique in their bearing, as if a Divine King and a Fox Immortal under the moon, everyone was filled with longing.

“That is truly the demeanor of peerless experts! Even standing under the moon to catch the wind gives off a sense of awe and might,” someone exclaimed.

“Senior, are you returning to the Misty Sect?” Ding Qing asked boldly.

“No,” Ye Feng shook his head.

He had intended to leave.

But just then, both Ye Feng and the Fox Lady sensed a terrifying figure appearing over the desert to the south, rolling up a storm of sand and coming forth with a bone-chilling murderous intent.

The other party was fast.

In no time at all, they would encounter each other.

A great battle was inevitable.

Howling!

A sandstorm swiftly approached.

“Was it you who killed Shalibeta?”

A hair-raising voice emerged from the sandstorm, shaking the very sand granules on the ground.

Ding Qing and his four attendants couldn’t withstand the pressure; they vomited blood on the spot, their faces filled with panic, “This is bad, it’s the Desert King, stronger than the Barren King!”

“Who is the Desert King?”

Ye Feng turned back to inquire of Ding Qing.

Wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth, Ding Qing explained with a face full of dread, “The Barren Desert is home to five Great Demon Kings: the Barren King, the Desert King, the Poison Scorpion King, the Mad Python King, the Camel King. Among them, the Desert King is the strongest!”

“So, if we defeat the Desert King, we can clear the Barren Desert?” Ye Feng’s eyes lit up.

Seeing no hint of worry on his face, Ding Qing was stunned.