Walking alone with a sword, slaying ghosts and gods

Chapter 572 Divine and Demonic Blood Boils to Refine the Profound Heaven, A Great Ascension Fate Appears in the Secluded Valley (Seeking Rewards and Subscriptions!)

Deep within the core of the Taiqing Mountain spiritual vein, within the "Xuanyuan Cave Heaven," a secret spiritual cave possessed by successive Taiqing sect leaders, blood energy surges and spiritual tides shift.

This is also the place where Lu Cheng cultivates the Xuan Tian Divine Skill. This Taoist divine skill is extremely profound. Each stage of cultivation brings new gains, and the more one cultivates, the more powerful and rapidly advanced it becomes.

At this moment, the Taoist priest sat upright in the center of the altar, chanting incantations and exerting his power. The invisible pressure emanating from his body caused the surrounding space to distort slightly.

Inside the cave, the sounds of dragons roaring, elephants howling, roc neighing, phoenixes singing, and dragons howling in the sky were heard incessantly.

Above the Taoist's head, a vast galaxy flowed like a waterfall, with billions of stars rising and falling, casting down a cool and pure starlight;

Below, chaos churned and swirled, the yin and yang energies like two intertwined ancient dragons, supporting the figure seated in the center:
The leader of the Taiqing Sect, Daoist Lucheng.

At this moment, Daoist Lu Cheng no longer possessed the dignified and imposing demeanor he usually displayed when in charge of a major sect and commanding all cultivators. His topknot was slightly disheveled, his expression was solemn, yet his aura was as violent as a volcano about to erupt.

Within his body, the power of the "Mysterious Heaven Divine Skill" had reached an unprecedented level. The "Thirty-Six Transformations of Mysterious Heaven," which he had once been proud of and which had tempered his physical body and primordial spirit to achieve the immortality of Taoism, had now been broken and pushed to the more advanced and profound realm of "Forty-Four Transformations."

As the head of a major sect, although he has to devote a lot of effort to the affairs of the sect, there are also endless benefits. Now, he can read all the seven true teachings of the Taiqing Sect and millions of books. He can also take all the spiritual objects, pills, and magical treasures. Furthermore, when he cultivates in the Xuan Yuan Cave Heaven, he will be protected by the Taiqing Sect's destiny, creating a sliver of possibility from the impossible and adding a bit of longevity to his daily cultivation.

The Mysterious Heaven Divine Skill and the Taoist Transformation and Ascension Technique are the most domineering and powerful techniques in the world. We should accept all their benefits as resources to improve ourselves.

However, the greater the power of Taoist practices, the heavier the calamities they bring. This is similar to Buddhist practices, where the more advanced the practice, the more profound Buddhist teachings are needed to assist in cultivation. Like the yin and yang of two fish, this represents natural balance.

Demonic cultivation techniques often bring greater calamities with greater power. Although they may seem similar, their internal mechanisms are completely different. Demonic cultivation techniques rely on opportunism and trying to gain big with small investments. However, they often result in nine out of ten losses, with only three parts of power attracting nine or even twelve parts of calamity. The advantage is that anyone can practice them, greatly reducing the requirements for the practitioner's comprehension. Unlike Taoist techniques, if you don't know them, you simply don't know them.

The yin-yang symbol represents a natural balance.

Each "transformation" of the Mysterious Heaven Divine Skill involves extracting marrow and refining bones, cleansing meridians and meridians, and incorporating the essence of the true spirits, gods, and demons—whether violent, fierce, or unruly—residual in the world into one's own body through supreme profound skills, transforming it into the cornerstone of one's own Daoist foundation.

The primordial spirit undergoes twenty-four transformations, the Void Returning Realm thirty-six transformations, the Body Integration Realm sixty-four transformations, the Mahayana Realm seventy-two transformations, and then one ascends to immortality.

Within Lu Cheng's chest, it was as if a primordial world was being created and expanded!
That was no illusion. Within his Xuan Tian Dao Body, the essence of the dozens of True Spirit God and Demon bloodlines that had been forcibly incorporated, refined, and compressed finally went completely out of control under the powerful push of the "Forty-Four Transformations"!

They were no longer the elixirs that nourished the Taoist's body, but instead transformed into projections of the most primal and violent will from the source of their respective bloodlines. They broke through the shackles of Lu Cheng's will and materialized in the chaotic starry illusion he had created within his body, displaying overwhelming ferocity!
Phew——!
A piercing shriek that seemed to tear through the galaxy exploded first!

In a corner of the Milky Way, a dazzling golden light burst forth, and a golden-winged roc that blotted out the starry sky soared into the air. With a flap of its wings, it stirred up a spatial storm, shredding countless star fragments into dust. Its pure golden pupils burned with an arrogant spirit that could destroy everything, and its claws, forged like divine metal, carried a sharpness capable of tearing apart all laws, as it pounced straight at Lu Cheng Dao Ren in the center of the starry sky.

"You wicked creature!" Lu Cheng looked at the demon with icy eyes and a thought crossed his mind.

Behind him, the Five-Colored Sword Diagram instantly unfolded. From the diagram, five innate energies—green, red, yellow, white, and black—rotated and transformed into five gigantic sword phantoms that reached the heavens and the earth.

Faced with this projection of the ancient divine bird representing ultimate speed and destruction, a giant yellow sword representing the central Wu Earth and boundless weight hummed as it flew out. Before the sword even arrived, an invisible force field that suppressed the starry river and solidified the void had already frozen the void within billions of miles around the Golden-Winged Roc!

Those claws, sharp enough to tear stars apart, suddenly slowed down as if they were stuck in an endless swamp!

"town!"

The next moment, Lu Cheng flicked his finger, and the other four swords were unleashed at the same time. The five swords and their five energies transformed into a dazzling light. Amidst the angry and unwilling cries of the Golden-Winged Roc, the five-colored sword light swept down, and the projected body trembled violently, with golden feathers exploding and flying away.

Using the five elements within his chest to propel the Five Elements Flying Sword, Lu Cheng, having cultivated to this point, was confident that even if the Five Elements Daoist Kong Ji reappeared and reached the Integration Realm to fight him, he might not surpass him in the cultivation of the Innate Five Elements Divine Light.

However, Lu Cheng's innate five-colored divine light was somewhat different from that of Kong Ji Dao Ren. He was more accustomed to using sword light to weaken and probe first, and then sweeping down the five-colored divine light. This was because he often fought against cultivators whose cultivation level was far higher than his own, so he developed the habit of not going all out when he made a move.

However, after this suppression, another dramatic change occurred in the starry sky!

Roar--!
On the left, the chaotic energy transformed into crimson magma, and a colossal beast with a human face, bare feet, and white hair emerged from the flames!

Its name is Zhu Yan, an ancient evil god symbolizing war and calamity!
The Daoist scriptures say that four hundred li west of Mount Niaowei is Mount Xiaoci, where there is much white jade on its summit and much red copper at its base. There is a beast there that looks like an ape, but with a white head and red feet, named Zhu Yan. Its appearance foretells a great war.

It pounded its chest and roared, its sound waves transforming into tangible waves of destruction that swept outwards in circles. Wherever it passed, galaxies twisted and broke, and the void ignited with inextinguishable calamity flames. The waves of destruction instantly invaded Lu Cheng's front!

"Fire?!" A crimson light flashed in Lu Cheng's eyes, and a crimson flying sword representing the essence of fire roared out from the Five Elements Sword Diagram halo behind him!

The sword body erupted with countless strands of Southern Ming Fire, the flames soaring to the heavens, transforming into chains of fire that turned against the destructive ripples!

Boom!

The clash of the laws of fire was like the collision of two burning heavens and earth. In an instant, countless fire runes were annihilated and reborn, turning this star field into a boiling furnace hell!
Zhu Yan's fierce eyes intensified, and it opened its massive maw, spewing out a torrent of black and red demonic flames containing ultimate destructive power!
"Hmph!" Lu Cheng grunted, his blood surging within him. Facing two projections of fierce gods in succession, even with his solid foundation, he felt the pressure increase exponentially.

Each of these malevolent god projections possesses the same combined magical power as him, and they are ancient true spirits, born with the destiny of heaven and earth, with exceptional talent. Theoretically, each of them is far stronger than human cultivators of the same realm.

However, Lu Cheng was no different.

The fiercer the fight became, the brighter the Taoist's eyes became. His hands rapidly formed hand seals. The "Secret Manual of Xuanmen Danding Refining Form" was now in effect, and the fist intent was manifested in the "Shattering Void Fist Seal"!
The Shattering Void Fist Seal has the effect of breaking through the void, allowing body-refining cultivators to teleport instantly. Therefore, the Taiqing Sect did not even include it in the "Mysterious Sect Pill Cauldron Refining Body Secret Manual," but rather as a special transmission outside the law, which could only be learned by the successive leaders of the Giant Spirit Flying Ship.

This is because the art of killing is far too violent and ruthless!

The higher-ups of the Taiqing Sect feared that this technique would spread and cause their disciples to commit countless acts of killing, thus diminishing the sect's fortune.

Furthermore, this martial art is difficult to learn, and forcing someone with insufficient aptitude to practice it will only cause harm rather than benefit.

The Shattering Void Fist Seal is inherently more powerful the higher one's physical cultivation level and the greater one's understanding of the laws of space.

Lu Cheng has achieved a high level of expertise in both of these areas.

In that instant, Lu Cheng Daoist's figure seemed to suddenly multiply into five, appearing at different angles in front, behind, left, right, and above Zhu Yan. The five figures simultaneously threw punches, their fist intent condensing their magical power and cultivation. The true spirit Zhu Yan let out a miserable groan as more than a dozen parts of its body were pierced by needle-like energy, and it flew backward violently. Lu Cheng then merged the five into one and continued to throw a punch. The spot where the true spirit Zhu Yan flew backward exploded with a bang, revealing only a bottomless dark vortex.

The techniques of the Dharma Body are fierce and powerful, and indestructible, but they are extremely taxing and energy-consuming to use!
The reason Lu Cheng was so eager to eliminate Zhu Yan was because he sensed that the true spiritual thoughts within his body were gradually reviving. If they were to gradually form a combined attack, it would be troublesome.

Having dealt with this projection of the true spirit, an unparalleled sword intent containing the primordial creation and the end of Yin and Yang rose from the top of Lu City, resembling a Yin-Yang symbol!

"The beginning of the primordial chaos, the end of the end! Yin and Yang revolve, the flying sword refines the demon!" Reciting the mantra, the Five Elements Sword Diagram behind him disappeared. Lu Cheng spread his palms apart, and an ancient and fierce blood-red flying sword appeared on his left, while a crystal-clear Five Elements flying sword condensed on his right.

For the past 1,600 years, Lu City has not been idle.

The ultimate secret of the "Male and Female Dragon and Tiger Demon Refining Sword Scripture," the Taiji Dao Diagram, was something Lu Cheng originally thought he might never be able to master in his lifetime due to being too distracted.

As one advances to higher realms in the future, there will naturally be more difficult and profound Taoist methods that need to be mastered and studied. Therefore, many things cannot be mastered within a certain realm, and it will be difficult to have the opportunity to go back and start over.

However, Lu Cheng spent six hundred years refining his sword, breaking through the barrier, advancing to the Integration Realm, and condensing the sword-dao killing divine power: Golden Rainbow Piercing the Sun.

His swordsmanship level improved greatly as a result, and his mastery of the "Male and Female Dragon Tiger Demon Refining Sword Scripture" also improved.

The transformation from killing to forgiveness is how the Taiji Dao Diagram came about.

Keng! Clang!
The mighty sword, cleaving through the sea of ​​blood, cleaved through the sky with unparalleled sharpness, fiercely striking the projection of the true spirit that was being conceived and formed in the starry sky.

Where the sword light passed, some true spirit projections seemed to have encountered their nemesis, and were actually cut apart and dispersed, emitting a crackling wail!
Others descended forcibly, but their magical power was greatly diminished due to the forced awakening, resulting in unstable projections.

The Boundless Blood Sea Flying Sword continuously slays those True Spirit projections that have not yet descended, while the Female Sword Five Elements follows closely, carrying the killing intent of creating and destroying all things, piercing towards one True Spirit Demon God after another that has already descended!

The mighty sword exhaled pure Yang sword energy, which was extremely yang and powerful, and majestic and awe-inspiring. It was as bright as the rising sun, shining brightly in the universe. Every ray of sword light was like a divine blade that opened the heavens and earth, and was incomparably sharp.

The female sword flows with the ultimate yin and gentle, dense and profound Taiyin artistic conception. Its sword light is like a cold glacier stream, solidified and not dispersed, yet it also contains a gentle and powerful yin force that can devour and obliterate.

The two flying swords, like dragons and tigers, danced and swirled around Daoist Lu Cheng, outlining a Tai Chi diagram of yin and yang flowing and endlessly regenerating.

Beneath this Tai Chi diagram, the arrival of ten or one of those forcibly descending true spirit projections makes no difference to Lu Cheng, unless his opponent possesses a domineering power far exceeding his own.

He used his skills to defeat the Golden-Winged Roc and his strength to defeat the True Spirit Zhu Yan. At this moment, Lu Cheng once again used his sword skills to maneuver around and buy time for his body's burden to decrease.

When technique is insufficient to suppress, force can be used to suppress briefly. However, relying solely on force will inevitably become unsustainable. Therefore, a combination of both methods is necessary.

Beneath this chaotic nebula, Lu Cheng used his fist and sword techniques to slay thirteen ancient true spirit projections that had descended and revived.

After all, he hadn't gone mad from practicing qi cultivation; the forty-four true spirits of the Xuan Tian Divine Art launched a full-scale counterattack.

It can use the true spirit bloodline of dragons to suppress and wear down the malevolent power of the true spirit bloodline of phoenixes, and it can use the true spirit bloodline of water to suppress and wear down the malevolent power of the true spirit bloodline of fire. It can take a central position to control and guide them to restrain each other.

Lu Cheng has cultivated the Xuan Tian Divine Art for thousands of years, so he naturally has some insights into this.

However, recently, with the help of the Taiqing Sect's power, too much true spirit blood has been integrated and refined, causing the true spirit and demonic spirituality within the body to grow and revive.

Amidst the cosmos and starry rivers, sword light crisscrosses, defying the world and shaking the heavens, thirteen true spirit demons are defeated in succession, greatly suppressing the growth of true spirit within the body.

"That's exhilarating!" Lu Cheng shouted, as a wisp of pale golden blood spilled from his mouth. It was no longer ordinary blood, but the bloodline of the ancient human race gradually awakened by the power of true spirit.

Back then, the Nine Li Cauldron once commented on Lu Cheng's aptitude for cultivation:

“In our time, even the Jie Sect wouldn’t accept a disciple with your aptitude.”

But if Lu Cheng were to go back to that era now, with enough opportunity, he could probably even become a disciple of the most prestigious Jade Void Sect.

A series of victories left me feeling refreshed and invigorated.

The fighting spirit in Lu Cheng Dao Ren's eyes burned to its peak. The divine and demonic blood power of the forty-four transformations in his body was being refined at an accelerated pace during the collision. Although it was extremely painful, it brought about a deeper level of transformation!
However, even greater dangers lie ahead!
"Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!" The dragon's roar shook the heavens and earth!

The world around him seemed to be on the verge of shattering.

Upon seeing such a powerful display, Daoist Lu Cheng immediately activated his Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze technique, and two golden-red beams of light swept down.

Deep within the chaotic starry sea, amidst countless phenomena, a profoundly hidden magical power gradually became clear. Faintly visible, a colossal dragon, its body a deep crimson, stretching for billions of miles, roamed the primordial chaos, summoning wind and rain, controlling the seasons, and reversing day and night. Left eye closed, the sun dimmed; right eye closed, the moon vanished! Both eyes closed, the sun and moon disappeared, the world was plunged into darkness, and bitter frost descended!
With eyes wide open, the sun and moon shine brightly, illuminating all living beings and scorching the earth in the sweltering heat!
Deep within the chaos, a figure stretching for billions of miles suddenly raised its head. It had a human face and a snake's body, and was as red as blood. Its aura spanned the past and present. Its name was Zhulong!

"No, how come I don't know when I fused with the blood of the Candle Dragon... That's right, I fused with the blood of several true dragons. Given the nature of dragons, how could there not be a trace of the blood of the Candle Dragon in my body?"

At this moment, the enormous dragon eye below, which seemed to contain the secrets of the rotation of time and space, was slowly opening a crack!
Om-!
There was no sound, but the flow of time in the entire Starry Sky Illusion suddenly became chaotic!
The starry river surrounding Lu City was flowing slowly one moment, then flashing by like a shooting star the next, and then surging backward like a countercurrent the next!

An invisible force attempted to distort and tear apart Lu Cheng's own timeline, causing his blood and energy to flow backward, his magical power to dissipate, and his soul to wander aimlessly between the past, present, and future!
This is the most terrifying killing move! It directly targets the foundation of existence—the Great Dao of Time!
"If it were to actually open its eyes, I might not be able to defeat it! Since that's the case..."

With a thought, the three flowers appeared on Lu Cheng's head, and the five elements circulated in his chest. The two merged into one, instantly unleashing an endless torrent of magical power that flowed throughout his body. Then, he unleashed a sword strike!
In an instant, the dazzling golden-white sword light, like a blinding rainbow chasing time, flashed across the cosmos.

I don't know how much time has passed; it felt like a thousand years, yet also like a fleeting moment.

Om-!
The entire Starry Sky Illusion suddenly froze!

The storm subsided, the stars froze, and chaos returned to silence.

All the violent and malevolent projections of gods and demons, brimming with malevolence, vanished into thin air.

Standing there, the Taoist priest, Lu Cheng, was visibly healing the broken Taoist body wounds around him, radiating a warm and jade-like yet vast and boundless radiance.

Within that radiance were the imprints of more than forty true spirits and demons, but at this moment they were no longer ferocious and unruly, but rather showed submission and merged into the foundation of the Xuan Tian Dao!

After a daze, not knowing how much time had passed, Daoist Lu Cheng slowly awoke, sitting upright on the altar!
The Forty-Four Transformations and the Mysterious Heavenly Divine Skill were thus refined and mastered!

"call…"

Lu Cheng's face was as pale as paper. He slowly sat cross-legged in the center of the altar, exhaling a breath of turbid air that he had suppressed for a long time. His breath was long but revealed a deep exhaustion, as if he had experienced destruction and rebirth.

The Taoist closed his eyes and looked inward at himself. The magical power flowing deep within his Xuan Tian Dao Body was abundant and powerful, yet calm and restrained. All ferocity had vanished, leaving only the profound mysteries of the Great Dao.

"I never expected to obtain a trace of the blood of the Candle Dragon. If I could obtain more pure Phoenix blood, so that they could stimulate each other and improve together, and be given a thousand years, what kind of spectacle would that be?"

……

Almost at the same moment, not far away, on the terrace of a palace with flying eaves and brackets, surrounded by ethereal mist, two beautiful female immortals were playing chess amidst the flowers and trees.

Bai Zhi wore an elegant moon-white Taoist robe, her slender hands were like jade, and she held a warm jade chess piece between her fingers. Her temperament was cool and aloof, yet with a touch of grace.

She was once a cultivator of the orthodox immortal sect. Although she is now one of the concubines of the Grand Master Jingxu Daozun of the Taiqing Sect, she relies on her husband's family and no one in the sect dares to treat her lightly.

Especially after the demonic calamity 1,600 years ago, the Taiqing Sect was reborn after its tribulation, and the prestige of Daoist Jingxu grew day by day. He managed this huge sect with ease, and as a close attendant, her status naturally rose accordingly.

Sitting opposite her was Liu Qingmei, her black hair cascading like a waterfall, adorned with a jade hairpin, and dressed in a lotus-colored silk skirt. Her eyes and brows held a touch of the shrewdness and worldliness unique to female cultivators of unorthodox sects. She and Bai Zhi were both among the "Seven Friends of Cold Mountain" in the past.

As calamity gradually rises between heaven and earth, the world order is changing, and many small sects and weak races are walking on thin ice, relying on the strong as their way of survival.

Although Liu Qingmei came from a non-Buddhist family, she had a broad vision and wide circle of friends, and often used the excuse of visiting friends to travel to Taiqing Lingshan.

The game has progressed to the middle stage.

Fairy Bai Zhi placed a piece, sealing off Liu Qingmei's large dragon, and casually asked, "Qingmei, is your trip here more than just a game of chess and a reunion? A few days ago, the manager of Tongming Pavilion presented a list, saying that you wanted to offer two beauties skilled in singing and dancing?"

As she spoke, Bai Zhi's eyes remained calm, showing neither joy nor anger. However, the chess piece she held was gently turned between her fingers, subtly revealing a hint of scrutiny.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingmei felt a pang of anxiety. Over the past thousand years, she had been reduced from a good older sister to a mere younger sister, yet she still came with unparalleled diligence and tireless patience.

Because of her unorthodox background and her own temperament, she has made many enemies over the years. In recent years, she has frequently visited Taiqing Mountain through Bai Zhi's connections, partly to visit friends and partly to gather information about unorthodox sects. If she no longer had this pretext to be associated with Daoist Jingxu and to frequently visit Taiqing Mountain, how could she easily deal with her many enemies who were concerned about the Taiqing Sect Leader? It would be enough to put her in a life-or-death situation.

Therefore, although Bai Zhi's words revealed displeasure, Liu Qingmei's face blossomed into a bright smile: "Sister, you are very perceptive; nothing can escape your notice. Indeed, we have come for those two beauties from the lesser clans." She put down the chess piece and said seriously:
“As you know, sister, the world is in a difficult time these days. The Moon Spirit Clan of Qixia Mountain and the Night Descendant Clan of Shenyuan Valley are both of weak bloodlines. They don’t even have a single Nascent Soul cultivator in their clans. Yet they are all handsome and often abducted by fierce clans to be their concubines. In recent years, they have been driven to the brink of extinction by several nearby clans. Seven or eight tenths of their territory has been lost, and they are on the verge of extinction.”

"The two clan leaders came to me, an old friend, pleading that they had nowhere else to turn. They knew that Sect Leader Lu was a powerful figure throughout the world, a true righteous immortal cultivator who protected all living beings, so they decided to offer up their clan's holy maiden. They did not ask for any title, but only that she could serve under the Sect Leader and receive a share of the blessings of the Supreme Purity. They also hoped that my sect could offer some protection to their remaining clan members."

Liu Qingmei still hoped that the matter could be resolved, after all, she had already received a considerable amount of benefits from them. If the matter failed, it would be extremely painful to have to return everything.

Bai Zhi picked up the jade cup beside her, where wisps of ethereal mist rose, and took a sip of the clear, refreshing spiritual tea. The tea vapors steamed in the cup, shimmering with a faint light, making her features appear even more aloof and serene.
"Offering a daughter as a concubine? That's a common way to protect oneself in chaotic times. But how noble is the sect leader's status? The people who serve him must be rigorously examined in terms of background, character, and temperament. How can just anyone get close to him?"

Her tone was calm, yet it carried an undeniable air of authority.

Liu Qingmei had anticipated this and quickly interjected, "Sister is absolutely right! That's exactly what I told them. These two alien saintesses, the Moon Spirit Clan's name is 'Youlan,' and she has decent aptitude, naturally sensitive to moonlight spiritual energy; the Night Descendant's name is 'Youluo,' born in a dark cave in the earth's veins, and is well-versed in herbal medicine. I've been secretly observing them for many days, and their temperament is gentle and cautious, without a trace of arrogance. More importantly..."

At this point, Liu Qingmei lowered her voice, leaned forward slightly, and said with a hint of mystery, "They know their humble origins. If they can enter Taiqing and enjoy this sacred mountain paradise, they will not dare to ask for anything more. They will respect you, sister, and follow your lead. In this way, you will have two more people who know you well and are grateful to share the trivial matters, won't you?"

These words were straightforward yet hit the nail on the head. Bai Zhi was within the Taiqing Sect and her status seemed noble, but the Taiqing Sect had a profound foundation, with many elders at the Integration and Returning to Emptiness realms, and its internal relationships were intricate and complex.

My husband, Lu Cheng, is single-mindedly pursuing the Dao, ruling his sect, and dealing with the conflicts among the various races in the spirit world. He rarely gets distracted by the trivial matters of the household.

Although Bai Zhi held a special position as a close attendant, it would be beneficial for her to form a stable alliance within the inner quarters of Lu City.

Xiao Yuhong, Xiao Yuxue, Lin Qinghan, Xue Yuzhen and Yun Ling'er, Bai Zhi, and even disciples Miao Chuyun, Youming Daoren, Zhang Zhaodi, Shi Sheng and Yun Huang'er, etc.

These people also seek the Dao and cultivate themselves. Although each of them has a share of sect offerings to enjoy, if they want to go further, the more external resources the better.

Although Lu Cheng's wives and disciples, out of consideration for their husbands' and masters' reputations, wouldn't engage in any disgraceful acts with the sect disciples in competing for resources, they could still take on sect missions normally. This allowed them to handle sect affairs while also gaining external resources. Even if the elders of the General Affairs Hall were inhumane, as long as it was within the rules, they would be given the highest possible rewards. Over time, this would accumulate into a huge fortune, and since it would absolutely not violate any sect laws, no one else could say anything.

During these sect missions, the Xiao sisters, Lin Qinghan, Xue Yuzhen, and Yun Ling'er had spent thousands of years together in the mortal realm and had developed a deep bond with each other. Even though they always brought Bai Zhi along, Bai Zhi naturally sensed the difference.

Therefore, upon hearing this, Bai Zhi's hand holding the teacup paused almost imperceptibly. Her gaze swept across Liu Qingmei's face, as if confirming the sincerity of her words. Indeed, the other party's words had gently touched a chord deep within her.

Bai Zhi placed the teacup back on the table, gently tapping the edge of the chessboard with her jade-like fingers. After a moment, she said, "Enough. Since it's a weak clan seeking refuge, their lives are at stake, and it was you, Qingmei, who introduced them..."

“Then let the two clan leaders and their two daughters wait for news. After receiving my jade talisman, they should wait in the side hall of the outer garden at noon the next day. The sect leader is currently in seclusion at a critical juncture. I need to find a suitable opportunity, during my husband’s meditation break, to meet with them on behalf of the sect leader at Shuyu Pavilion, to hear what they request, and then make a decision. As for offering the daughters… that is ultimately up to my husband to decide. I will give him some pointers.” She did not fully agree in the end, but she had already relented and opened the door.

Upon hearing this, Liu Qingmei was overjoyed and hurriedly stood up and bowed gracefully: "Thank you for your kindness, sister! Your compassion is truly a great blessing for the countless beings of the Moon Spirit and Night Descendant races!" With this step accomplished, her mission was more than half completed.

...

The following day at noon, at Shuyu Pavilion.

The water murmurs softly, and the lotus leaves stand tall and graceful.

Bai Zhi sat regally on the blue jade futon at the head of the table, exuding an air of composure. Below her stood two cultivators from other races whose appearances differed slightly from those of humans, along with their respective clan's holy maidens.

Kumucha, the chieftain of the Moon Spirit Clan, had a handsome appearance, but he could not hide the vicissitudes and worries between his brows.

As for the saintess Youlan, she was indeed as Liu Qingmei had described: slender and graceful, with skin as white as snow, long and slightly pointed ears, and eyes like sapphires under the moonlight, pure yet carrying a hint of awe and anticipation. She lowered her head slightly, her hands nervously twisting the hem of her skirt.

Chief Zegula of the Nightborne Clan was slightly hunched over, his aura as calm as a still pool. His clan's holy maiden, Youluo, was much more serene; her black, pearly skin shimmered delicately in the soft light of the spirit pavilion, and her emerald green eyes were clear as water. She seemed more interested in the surrounding spiritual plants, her gaze frequently sweeping over the exotic flowers and herbs outside the pavilion.

Bai Zhi, with a calm demeanor, inquired about the difficulties they faced.

The two tribal chiefs immediately knelt down, sobbing and recounting how their tribes' territories had been invaded and swallowed by foreign tribes, and how their people had been enslaved and slaughtered. Their words were earnest, and they wept bitterly. Bai Zhi listened quietly, occasionally asking a few questions about the details.

In her view, this was just a microcosm of the countless weak forces that relied on the Taiqing Sect, nothing particularly remarkable. Whether or not to provide protection was merely a matter of a single thought.

Even she could make the decision.

For certain reasons, Bai Zhi agreed to provide shelter to both tribes.

"...The Sect Master is as magnanimous as the heavens, protecting all living beings. Our Night Descendant clan has nothing of value but to guard the depths of the 'Mysterious Miasma Mountain' for generations. Fortunately, we discovered a 'Nine Mystic Herbs' that is not yet fully mature! This herb is born from the rare essence of heaven and earth and seems to have the effect of replenishing the origin of the Great Dao!" Chief Zegula said excitedly, suddenly raising his head, his eyes flashing with a desperate light!

"Nine-Mysterious Ganoderma? It is indeed true!"

The nun Bai Zhi, who had been sitting quietly, suddenly fell silent!
Even with her profound cultivation of mind and character over the past thousand years, she could not control the surging emotions in her heart at this moment.

On the other side, Chief Kumucha seemed to be taken aback by Zegula's abrupt revelation, and looked at his companion in surprise.

Now that things had come to this, the kneeling Zegula could only grit his teeth and continue, "Indeed...it is so! We dared not hope to possess it for ourselves, only to exchange this secret for a sliver of protection and a chance to survive! This mushroom grows deep within extremely poisonous miasma, guarded by several extremely ferocious poisonous fire bat dragons. Moreover, judging from the flowing patterns of its mushroom and the spiritual energy of its extending roots, we judge that it is still decades away from true maturity...but its aura is profound and definitely not to be underestimated!"

Bai Zhi's heart pounded like a drum upon hearing this. She took a deep breath, suppressing her almost overflowing excitement: Nine-Mystic Ganoderma!
This legendary ninth-tier spiritual herb is extremely difficult to cultivate, as it requires an exceptionally unique and demanding environment to grow. Far from being susceptible to poison, it can even absorb the essence of poisonous miasma to thrive. Its most remarkable ability is its capacity to nourish a cultivator's essence and enhance their magical power.

The ninth-grade spiritual pill, the "Returning to the Origin Pill," made from the Nine Mysterious Ganoderma lucidum, can not only detoxify, but also increase the merit of a hundred years of arduous cultivation even for Mahayana cultivators after taking it. However, the effect will be less noticeable if the body develops drug resistance after taking it for a long time.

However, this kind of pill was not originally intended for cultivators to increase their power, but rather to assist cultivators in breaking through the bottleneck of the Mahayana stage.

There are too many elders and cultivators in the Taiqing Sect who have exhausted their potential at the peak of the Integration Realm and are unable to advance further; for example, Daoist Xuanqing, if he could obtain this opportunity, his chances of breaking through to the Mahayana Realm would be more than 50%. Bai Zhi cannot make such a decision.

"Has the news leaked out?" Bai Zhi's voice was icy cold, carrying an unprecedented chilling aura.

“Absolutely not! After discovering it, our clan dared not make a sound and immediately sealed the entrance to the secluded valley, leaving only a few absolutely loyal confidants who knew nothing of the details to guard it. Fellow Daoist Liu was also unaware of this matter!” Zegula hurriedly replied.

"Good! Good! What a wonderful example of a weak clan offering their daughter, a treasure hidden within!" Bai Zhi exclaimed "good" three times in a row, her gaze towards the two clan leaders now completely different.

But she quickly made a decision: "The exact location of the Misty Valley and the Nine Mystic Herbs must be mapped out immediately! This matter must not be discussed with a third party! Later, I will personally lead you to the Hall of Affairs in the Tongming Pavilion to sign the Blood Pact of Protection. Youlan and Youluo will stay temporarily in the Qinghe Villa in the Outer Garden. As for your two clans, if you truly achieve such a great feat, the Taiqing Sect will certainly not treat you unfairly! We will ensure your peace for generations to come!"

However, after only a short while, Lu Cheng learned of the matter.

He never expected that the Taiqing Sect would encounter such an opportunity with a great battle imminent. If a few more Mahayana Dao Lords could emerge from the sect, it would have a far-reaching impact and bring nothing but benefits.

(End of this chapter)