Immortal Road.

After the rhinoceros demon received Mu Yan's luck, its entire body was instantly scalded as if branded with a hot iron, as if it had been thrown into the earth's core, suffering excruciating pain like being boiled in oil!
"Burning, burning, burning! It hurts, it hurts, it hurts!"

It was in a frantic state, steaming all over, and crying out that it was too thirsty to stand it.

"Water! Water! Water!"

Lin Shan snapped his fingers, and the water elemental energy from the outside world rushed in, continuously entering its body to help suppress the dehydration. This guy had obviously lost too much water, and his essence and blood were beginning to dry up. His entire demon body was even shrinking.

This is enough to show how prosperous Mu Yan's fortune is!

The reason it was devoured by bad luck after the swap was entirely because its destiny was not strong enough to withstand such strong luck.

Destiny is the carrier of fortune, and fortune is a derivative of destiny.

The two complement each other and are constantly changing. There is a possibility of further leaping to great heights, or a possibility of taking a step back and falling into the abyss. They are concrete, fluid, and their fates are unpredictable and ever-changing.

At a certain stage, each living being has a certain destiny and a certain fortune. If the fortune exceeds the limit that the destiny can bear, it will suffer a backlash from the fortune!
The most direct manifestations of this in the cultivation world are "karma accumulating on one's body" and "achieving sainthood through merit."

Accumulating great evil or great good deeds can alter one's fortune and elevate one's destiny, resulting in varying degrees of decline or surge in one's cultivation!

However, there is a standard for judgment and a gradual process.

A perfectly good water-type true spirit like the rhinoceros demon, suddenly blessed with top-tier fire-type fortune, will experience a reversal of the incompatibility between water and fire, leading to serious problems for itself!
"So it seems that True Spirit Fate isn't all that great after all."

After comparison, Lin Shan discovered that even among the true spirits, there are different levels. The Qilin and Phoenix, which are well-known to ordinary people and are famous throughout the world, are the absolute emperors among the true spirits!
It seems that the difference between the rare and obscure spirits in the underworld, such as the Mingxi, is far greater.

You can tell from Mu Yan that he's basically not in any discomfort, except for some limbs being uncoordinated and him speaking in a rather arrogant manner.

Mu Yan was still staring at him expectantly: "Moo?"

Ignoring the boy's bellowing, Lin Shan focused all his attention on the rhinoceros demon.

Because of the scalding hot oil poured on his body, although his whole body was on fire, the pollution on his left foot was contained, the invasion of misfortune was slowed down, and the gray fog was also burned away by the flames!
The entire Ancestral Temple was filled with the aroma of roasted beef. Even though the demon race had cultivated their bodies, it was still affected by the fire of fortune, which caused its internal fire to burn. It was so hot that it was drenched in sweat, and the steam rose and the aroma of meat spread for miles.

"Gudong~"

It seemed someone swallowed, and that loud noise immediately triggered the rhinoceros demon's sensitive nerves!
"Who? Who is it?"

Lin Shan wiped the corner of his mouth without changing his expression and coldly questioned Qian Bu!

"What were you doing just now? How could you make such a fool of yourself in front of Brother Niu? What kind of behavior is that?"

"not me."

Qianbu was bewildered and pointed at himself, stammering and unable to speak.

The rhinoceros demon has sensitive skin. Despite the many wrinkles and creases on its skin, it was inevitably afraid after being seriously injured and encountering Lin Shan's true form. In a daze, its fate was also switched, and now its mind is so muddled that it's ready to explode at the slightest touch!
However, in the midst of my dizziness and wakefulness, I suddenly felt a sharp pain in my left foot and opened my eyes wide to look.

The fire of destiny actually worked, burning the corrosive ash mist thinner and thinner, as if glimpsing the dawn of recovery!

"Just what kind of luck does this kid have?"

It was shocked by the unorthodox nature of Linshan Qi Luck Therapy, and even more shocked by the terror of Mu Yan's fire-type destiny!
Mu Yan: "Moo."

There was nothing they could do; the child was only at the Nascent Soul stage and couldn't resist the evil hand of their own sect leader, so they could only wail softly from the sidelines.

Seeing that it would be useful, Lin Shan realized that he had only brushed against the big golden ball. After all, his calamity and luck were polluted and he was powerless. It was only natural that he would be extinguished by a top-level destiny. Then, he flicked his finger and Jingxiao Xiangyun popped out!
Since this cloud evolved into a sixth-order spirit cloud, it has become soft and green all over. No healing medicine is as effective as this heavenly spirit. When it sends down sweet rain, all things flourish. The rhinoceros demon only felt a tingling and itchy sensation in its left foot, and fleshy particles began to sprout.

In the short time it takes for an incense stick to burn, its left foot slowly regained its vitality under the suppression of Qi and the healing of spiritual clouds!
"Okay, let's call it a day."

Lin Shan clapped his hands, and the green clouds vanished into thin air. The exchange of fortunes between the two ended, and everything returned to normal in an instant!
puff~
Mu Yan lost his balance and had to grab onto the ancestral altar to keep himself upright. He almost fell to the ground, and looked at Lin Shan with incredibly resentful eyes.

You didn't even give me a heads-up. Who can stand having their luck constantly shifted like this?
Lin Shan and the Black Skull Demon Lord were his mentors in cultivation, playing the role of both teacher and father. He could easily take a joke like this without needing further explanation.

The rhinoceros demon fared even worse, lying on all fours panting heavily, looking utterly dejected. It was estimated that any powerful being could easily take its life at this point!
"Master Linlin, Qianbu is right, he truly is a divine doctor. He can cure diseases with ease."

Its tongue lolled out to one side, its eyes staring blankly ahead. It was so exhausted that it had no strength left to move. It had a deep understanding of Lin Shan's evil nature and would never dare to provoke this guy again.

"The one who tied the knot must untie it; it's nothing."

Lin Shan shook his head modestly. If they seized the opportunity to strike now, they could definitely kill this bull demon!

However, he is no longer the same person who just entered the Nascent Soul stage. Having cultivated to the top of the human realm, there is no need for fighting and killing anymore. He can now talk about human relationships and social customs.

Since the departure of five great supernatural beings, including Venerable Tanmu, the Ghost Valley Holy Land has been left with only Qianbu and Muyan, who are weak and alone and do not even have a Nascent Soul stage, so they need to leave them someone who can keep order!
The rhinoceros demon is dim-witted and stupid, which makes him a good candidate for my use.

Little did anyone know that the rhinoceros demon was thinking:

"This leader of the Ancient Search Cult seems harmless. I pretended to be exhausted to test him and see if he would harbor any murderous intentions! It seems I was overthinking it. This kid isn't interested in my cowhide, tendons, or whip. He can be developed into my subordinate after we escape this predicament."

Lin Shan dealt with the problem briefly, gave Qian Bu and Mu Yan a few instructions, and then jumped into the spatial vortex and left.

The main body cannot be away for too long. Now is a sensitive time, a time of great turmoil. The Seeking Ancient Sect must be wary of outsiders launching sneak attacks.

On the other side, the Spring and Autumn Sword Gate.

The Sword Master of Minghuang looked at the group of people below the palace, lost in thought and silent, only playing with the Night Candle Sword in his hand.

All that could be heard were Venerable Tanmu, Master Liang, and others crying out in anguish, each one heartbroken. They had left their homeland, the land that had given them birth and nurtured them, only to be labeled traitors, leaving an unhealable scar in their hearts.

"Senior, you must do us justice! If we can't return to the Ghost Valley Holy Land in this life, and can't be buried there, how can we face our ancestors in the afterlife? Waaah!"

The Green Bamboo Sword Master was offering kind words of comfort, advising them not to be so pessimistic.

"Please find a place to stay in a country near the Spring and Autumn Sword Sect. This time, I was careless. I did not expect that the Frozen Rhinoceros would protect Qian Bu so much. I misjudged the situation and that is why we failed at the last minute."

"But next time it won't be so simple. We must teach them a lesson they'll never forget. We will definitely help you take back the Ghost Valley Holy Land!"

"What we need to do now is to conserve our energy and spread our proclamation throughout the cultivation world, exposing the inside story of the Ghost Valley Holy Land, the villain Qian Bu, and the conspiracy of the Seeking Ancient Sect, so as to win the attention of the whole world and pave the way for our next move!"

"The leader of the Ancient Search Sect has many enemies. After hearing the news, they might take the initiative to come to you to discuss cooperation. Then you won't be fighting alone."

The suggestion sounds reasonable, but it seems to suggest a hands-off approach.

How could Venerable Tanmu not understand the deeper meaning? "Senior, are you... planning to abandon us? We're stranded outside; what if the Ghost Valley Holy Land holds us accountable? Wouldn't that be terrible?"

"Hey~ Fellow Daoist, you're overthinking it. The Ghost Valley Holy Land is too busy taking care of itself right now. That guardian beast has sealed off its territory, so there's no need to worry about it coming out to cause trouble for you. As for Qian Bu, he doesn't have the guts. After all, you have five great supernatural beings. Even ordinary primordial spirit avatars wouldn't dare to provoke you. What are you afraid of?"

The Green Bamboo Sword Master looked exhausted. The mission had failed. She had taken the Heavenly Treasure from her home without informing the Bright Emperor Sword Master. It would have been fine if she had captured the Ghost Valley Holy Land, but now she had returned empty-handed, which made her lose face.

Fortunately, the Tongtian Lingbao was intact, otherwise I really wouldn't have been able to explain myself.

Now, how to settle Venerable Tanmu and the others has become another headache for her, because the Spring and Autumn Sword Sect's territory is already divided into many positions, and there are no extra top-level spiritual lands to allocate.

The five branches of Guigu have a large number of members, and the amount of spiritual energy they need to absorb and exhale every day is enormous, which ordinary places really cannot satisfy!

Now we can only change the subject and start lecturing the Sunflower Fairy:
“You were too impulsive last night. Sword Saint Ma instructed you not to use prehistoric sword techniques before you have completely overcome your emotional tribulation, as that would attract the attention of the upper realm. Are you crazy?”

"."

The Sunflower Fairy remained silent, leaning against the window and gazing at the scenery outside.

Neither the Green Bamboo Sword Master nor the Orchid Sword Master needed to guess; they were certain that she was missing Zhong Shenxiu, that heartless man!
"That brat."

The two men were filled with hatred at the thought of Zhong Shenxiu, and many times they wanted to kill him and bury him on the spot to extinguish the Sunflower Fairy's hopes.

However, Zhong Shenxiu was backed by the Xun Gu Sect and was also the third brother of the Xun Gu Sect leader, so they couldn't do anything about him!

"Alright, let bygones be bygones about last night."

At this moment, the Sword Master Minghuang, who was in the main seat, finally spoke.

As the Holy Master of the Spring and Autumn Sword Sect and the current leader of Wan Huinian, he possesses the highest authority within the sect. Although the Green Bamboo Sword Venerable is a generation older, he must still be the one to take precedence in formal occasions.

"The important thing now is how to settle the five fellow Daoists, as well as the elites brought out by the Ghost Valley Holy Land under my command."

The Sword Master of Minghuang is a man of his word, decisive and efficient.

"I will inform the cultivation world to provide you with a few places to stay temporarily in the Liao Kingdom in the north. You can stay there for the time being until you retake Ghost Valley."

Venerable Tanmu and the others were overjoyed and immediately began to bow deeply in gratitude.

"No need."

The Sword Master of Minghuang raised his hand and then offered his opinion.

"To be more precise, you have been expelled from the sacred land of Guigu. According to the principle of 'the victor is king, the loser is villain,' you will likely be labeled as traitors by Qian Bu, which will be very detrimental to the public opinion situation going forward."

"We know that if we use the cultivation world to spread information, Qianbu and Xun Gu Sect will naturally do the same. In the battle of public opinion, we may not be able to win!"

"Therefore, in order to gain support and help, we must first occupy the high ground in terms of orthodoxy and righteousness in order to attract more people to join us and finally reclaim our homeland!"

The five Venerable Tanmu also understood this principle, but now it all boils down to those four words: the victor is king and the loser is villain.

Now that they have lost, they have become bandits; Qianbu has won, so now he is the king!

“But the cultivation world doesn’t really care who wins or loses. You haven’t completely failed; you’ve just been kicked out. So you can learn from the changes in mortal dynasties and draw inspiration from them.”

The Sword Master of Minghuang told them a story.

The story is simple: after the old emperor's death, powerful ministers interfered in politics, deposed the crown prince, and installed a puppet emperor. They expanded their influence in court and eliminated dissidents. However, the crown prince escaped the capital, rallied the support of local warlords, and ascended the throne according to the old emperor's will. He gained the hearts and minds of the people and ultimately returned to the capital to exact revenge.
“You can completely rebuild the Ghost Valley Holy Land outside and not recognize the current Qian Bu and his faction. That way, you will be labeled as a usurper! Our Spring and Autumn Sword Sect can also openly help you sever ties with that pseudo-holy land and establish diplomatic relations with your new holy land.”

"When the time comes, other holy lands will follow suit. Once you have a legitimate banner, you will receive more help from the holy lands, and you won't have so many concerns when you go back to fight."

"This plan is a decisive blow, cutting off the opponent's legitimacy at its root. From now on, you are the true inheritors of Guigu! As for Qianbu, he is nothing but a parasite who has usurped the throne!"

Do you understand what I mean?

Venerable Tanmu and the others suddenly realized the truth, and they looked at each other and understood the reason behind it.

The Spring and Autumn Sword Sect could not support rebels. If they wanted to intervene openly, they needed to have a moral high ground, which was the orthodoxy inherited by the Ghost Valley Holy Land.

If I establish a government in exile and make diplomatic relations with all the major holy sites, wouldn't I be able to transform myself and have a status on par with Qianbu?

With the help of the great powers, a counterattack on the Ghost Valley Holy Land will be just around the corner!
"The leader of the Seeking Ancient Sect has many enemies. After you re-establish the Ghost Valley Holy Land, many other holy lands will come to establish diplomatic relations and set an example, such as the Penglai Holy Land."

The voice of the Sword Master of Minghuang echoed in the hall.

fairyland.

Golden Palace, Ascension Platform.

Beside a pavilion, a middle-aged man appears to be feeding fish, but in reality, he is having a conversation with his reflection in the water.

Amidst the ripples, a glimpse of the celestial palace's splendor was inadvertently revealed on the opposite side, causing a dazzling light to gleam in the man's eyes.

"Yes, Master, I understand, I'll take care of it right away."

shuh~
The scene ends, and the pond returns to its original state, with countless koi carp vying for food below, just like countless people in heaven vying to climb up.

"Somebody come!"

Officers and soldiers immediately came running over.

"Sir, what are your orders?"

"The Lost World Group in the Lower Realm, numbered Geng 11, has seen a suspected resurgence of ancient swordsmanship. You must immediately send people down to investigate thoroughly and get to the bottom of this. Do you understand?"

"My subordinate understands!"

The officer immediately accepted the order and left, muttering to himself as he went.

"The Lost Worlds, isn't that the area that was invaded by extraterrestrial demons and eventually became the intersection of two universes? I think a patrolling celestial envoy descended to the mortal realm a while ago, named..."
What was it again? (End of Chapter)