NOVPUBSeeing this figure, a smile emerged on the elder’s face:
"Little friend Xun, why have you come?"
The young cultivator looked at him expressionlessly:
"You asked me to do it, and I have done everything. Now, all of Jin regards me as an enemy. You have achieved your goal, so you should give me the technique of ascendance for the whole clan now, right?"
The elder shook his head upon hearing this, his eyes still murky like those of an old, deaf mortal, and said with a smile:
"Is little friend Xun thinking of going back on their word? We agreed that I would give you the method only when I’m about to ascend. You’re asking for it now, which goes against our agreement."
Hearing the elder’s words, the young cultivator’s face remained expressionless, but a hint of coldness flashed in his eyes:
"Senior Han, that doesn’t sound quite right. If your Cultivation Ascension is successful, so be it, but if you fail and turn to ash, to whom shall I turn to then?"
Despite hearing this, the elder’s smile remained unchanged, as he nonchalantly waved his hand:
"It seems little friend still doesn’t trust me. Well then, do two more things for me, and as soon as they’re done, I will immediately tell you the Ascension Method."
The young cultivator did not show any joy upon hearing this, instead, his face revealed a hint of wariness. After hesitating for a moment, he spoke:
"What things?"
The elder bent his head, smiling merrily as he looked at the Blood Qilin seated below him, his eyes filled with gentleness, and said without raising his head to the young cultivator:
"That Formation I had you lay out earlier, it’s still missing a core, isn’t it?"
"Just bury it there for me."
Upon hearing the elder’s gentle voice, the Blood Qilin’s pupils suddenly constricted!
"Mu!"
It let out a low growl!
The Blood Energy burst out rapidly, and its body swelled in an instant!
However, in the blink of an eye, countless intertwining scarlet and black lines surfaced on its body, forcefully suppressing it once again.
It was then quickly placed into a specially made Spirit Beast Bag.
The elder hovered in midair, shaking his head slightly, his face filled with a hint of regret:
"Old pal, you should be happy for me."
The young cultivator saw this scene, his expression subtly changing as he glanced at the Spirit Beast Bag.
Then, with a thoughtful nod:
"I understand."
Having said that, he took hold of the Spirit Beast Bag.
"And the second thing?"
The young cultivator asked.
The elder smiled with his hands behind his back and telepathically communicated:
"The second thing is..."
Listening to the elder’s words, the young cultivator’s eyes narrowed slightly, as if contemplating, then he spoke gravely:
"Fine, I will also agree to this matter."
A look of gratification instantly appeared on the elder’s face:
"I knew little friend was a kindred spirit, truly devoted to the Sect! Rest assured, what I promised you, I will deliver. If not, may I fail my Cultivation Ascension and sink eternally!"
Hearing the elder’s words, the young cultivator took a deep look at him:
"I hope you will not break your promise."
With that said, he swiftly flew out of the Demon Sect.
No sooner had he left the Demon Sect’s perimeter than another expressionless figure flew out, taking the Spirit Beast Bag from the young cultivator’s hands and quickly flew away.
The young cultivator, however, after a sudden shudder, immediately collapsed on the ground.
Seeing this scene, the elder let out a light chuckle:
"How cautious."
"But unfortunately... not a kindred spirit after all."
...
At the base of Yuhuang Peak, in the temporary imperial palace.
The Taoist in green robes and Shen Fu hadn’t even had time to catch up.
"You’re saying Liang Qiuyu’s Lifespan is nearing its end?"
For the first time, the Taoist’s gaze was so solemn.
Even his nearly absolute calmness couldn’t help but ripple slightly.
On the opposite side, Shen Fu in black robes, looking serious, nodded.
At the same time, a nearly tangible figure of an elder in a black robe with golden threads and snow-white hair flew out rapidly from his side.
Even though the other had deliberately restrained their aura, the Taoist in green robes could still feel the tangible presence of the Immortal Ascension aura emanating from him.
"Old Devil Jiang!"
Shen Fu looked at the elder with some surprise.
"No matter, your brother has long been aware of my existence."
The elder said calmly, and Shen Fu was taken aback.
The elder then looked towards the Taoist in green robes, a hint of interest flickering in his eyes:
"To be able to cultivate an Ice Dao Incarnation..."
He then spoke earnestly:
"Liang Qiuyu’s lifespan is indeed short, of this I can be sure."
The Taoist in green robes, hearing this, calmed his expression and nodded:
"I understand."
Jiang Taiyin could not help but be puzzled:
"Why don’t you go remind Yan Wenzheng and the others?"
"They haven’t gone far yet; it should still be possible to catch up."
Shen Fu also looked at the Taoist in green robes with curiosity.
The Taoist replied calmly:
"I warned them before leaving... It seems likely now that Liang Qiu is planning to drag down the cultivators of Jin."
"Is this the primitive Demonic Sect’s plan?"
His mind raced through what he knew, realizing there were still some unanswered questions, like pieces of a puzzle yet to fit together.
The simplest was, what role did Yin’s Great Dream Sutra play in all this?
Why hadn’t Han Yanzi shown up—was it confidence or was he too watching in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity?
With so little information, like a puzzle missing crucial pieces, even someone as meticulous as the Taoist couldn’t improvise a solution.
But he was never one to dawdle; turning to look at Shen Fu, his tone was indifferent, but Shen Fu still felt a hint of concern:
"Do you have a way to deal with him?"
Shen Fu’s face turned somewhat red with embarrassment:
"Brother taught me the Lifeline Defile Curse, but to this day, I’ve only managed to gather over ten Class IV Spirit Beasts..."
