Nine Yang Life and Death Transformation

Thus, for the next full month, a heated discussion swept through Mu Chun Hall. Everyone expressed their opinions, weighed the pros and cons, and repeatedly considered the various impacts of this merger of the two sects and corresponding countermeasures. Finally, after a long and arduous discussion, everyone unanimously agreed to formally merge the two sects. However, regarding the selection of the new sect leader, Mu Sheng would temporarily serve as acting sect leader. The next sect leader would be elected from within the Lieyang Sect, and thereafter, they would rotate in turn.

After all the arrangements were made, Wu Feilong bid farewell to everyone. Then he set off alone for Laiyang County. To avoid attracting attention and causing unnecessary trouble, he disguised himself as a ragged, unkempt beggar, squatting on the street and silently begging.

Two days later, sunlight streamed onto the dusty road as a tall, imposing man slowly approached. His steps were steady, his sharp gaze sweeping across the surroundings. When he reached the man huddled in the corner, his hair disheveled and stained with grime, the man stopped, bent down, and gently lifted the man's tangled, filthy hair, revealing a dirty yet undeniably resolute face. Then, the man reached out and pinched Wu Feilong's strong arm and muscles, nodding with satisfaction. "Hmm, not bad, quite robust. Kid, want to make some money?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Feilong, who had been looking dejected, suddenly raised his head, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. He nodded hurriedly and replied, "I want to, I dream about it!" His voice was urgent and firm.

The man's lips curled into a meaningful smile as he said, "Alright, since that's the case, then come with me. I'll take you to have a good meal first." With that, the man turned and walked away, and the other person followed closely behind.

Before long, they arrived at the door of an inn. The man led Wu Feilong inside, asked the waiter to bring hot water for him to wash and dress, and specifically instructed him to change into clean and tidy clothes. After everything was settled, the two sat down by the window. The man generously ordered several sumptuous dishes and a pot of fine wine.

Looking at the table laden with fragrant food, Wu Feilong's appetite was whetted. He wolfed down his food, thanking the man repeatedly. After a few drinks, Wu Feilong began to feel dizzy, and his vision blurred. Finally, he could no longer hold on, his head lolled to the side, and he collapsed onto the table, unconscious.

Time flew by, and half a day had passed in the blink of an eye. When Wu Feilong slowly awoke, he found himself in a small, dark iron cage, his hands and feet tightly bound by heavy chains, unable to move at all. Looking around, he was surprised to find that there were dozens of other people trapped in the same cage as him. Just then, a rough shout rang out: "Stop pretending to be asleep, all of you get up right now!"

Hearing the noise, everyone opened their eyes and, scrambling to their feet despite their discomfort, began to move. Then, the iron cage doors were opened, and one by one they were herded out and onto a dilapidated carriage. The carriage rolled forward, jolting and swaying. After what seemed like an eternity, the carriage finally came to a stop.

After Wu Feilong and the others got out of the car, the first thing that caught their eye was an extremely large mine. Looking around, they could see countless hands in shackles busily digging for ore, the sounds of hammering echoing throughout the valley.

Suddenly, the crisp sound of horses' hooves approached from afar. Immediately afterward, a burly man with a fierce face appeared before the group, riding a tall horse. He wore an official's robe, a sharp sword at his waist, and held a nine-section whip in his hand, looking imposing. The man who had led Wu Feilong there earlier quickly stepped forward, clasped his hands in a salute to the mounted man, and said with a fawning smile, "Lord Sun, I have fulfilled my mission and brought twenty strong men."

Sun Yang expressionlessly pulled out a crystal-clear, faintly glowing spirit stone from his pocket and casually handed it to the person in front of him, saying in a cold tone, "This is your share. Now go and find me more people, the more the better."

The man accepted the Yuan Stone with trepidation and thanked him profusely, saying, "Thank you, Lord Sun! I will do my best to complete the task you have assigned me."

At this moment, a burly guard strode over, his sharp gaze sweeping over the twenty people before him. He shouted, "Listen up! This is the Dragonstone Mine! Each of you has been bound by a chain of elemental energy, rendering all true energy techniques useless here. So, I advise you to abandon any thoughts of escape, or you will only face death. But if you honestly and diligently mine the elemental stones, you can avoid physical suffering."

However, despair and fear were evident on the faces of these people. Suddenly, one of them knelt down with a thud, pleading with tears streaming down his face, "Sir, please have mercy and spare me!" Immediately afterward, someone else cried out, "Sir, I have elderly parents to support at home, and young children crying for food. Please have mercy!" In an instant, pleas for mercy rose and fell, and everyone cried out that they had been tricked into coming here.

Faced with this tragic scene, Sun Yang remained unmoved. With a flick of his arm, the nine-section whip in his hand lashed out like a serpent emerging from its hole. Several crisp cracking sounds rang out, and those struck by the whip immediately displayed gruesome welts. Sun Yang's face contorted with rage as he glared at them and roared, "Enough nonsense! Grab your tools and get into the mine to extract spirit stones! Anyone who dares to delay or dawdle will suffer the consequences of my whip!"

The group looked at each other, their hearts filled with fear and helplessness. They dared not resist in the slightest. They picked up their heavy hammers and sharp chisels and carefully walked deeper into the cave, preparing to begin the arduous task of mining the elemental stones.

Seeing this, Wu Feilong frowned slightly, attempting to mobilize his inner energy to enhance his power. However, the moment he made that thought, he felt a powerful suction force emanating from the energy chains binding him. The mysterious runes on the chains suddenly shone brightly, instantly devouring all the inner energy he had just gathered. Faced with this situation, Wu Feilong had no choice but to temporarily abandon using his inner energy and, like any other ordinary person, obediently raised his chisel and began to smash it forcefully against the hard stone wall.

Meanwhile, the guards, whips in hand, watched everyone's every move with fierce eyes. One of the guards, seeing someone working slowly and dawdling, flew into a rage and shouted, "Hurry up! Stop dawdling!" With a flick of his wrist, a long whip lashed out like a venomous snake, striking the man's back hard. A scream rang out, the man's body shuddered, and his hands involuntarily quickened their movements.