Immortality starts from the liver proficiency

Chapter 324 The Dharma Altar
Bi Sheng has lived for nearly two decades, and because of the revival of spiritual energy in the world, he can even use the secret martial arts of the Daoist sect to live for a few more years. Moreover, he has the aid of precious medicines, which is far beyond what the young Su Wanqing can compare to.

Bi Sheng stood with his hands behind his back, his tone leisurely yet tinged with arrogance: "Little Su, this old Daoist entered the ninth realm of Qi Refining at the age of forty-five, and you've progressed so much..."

He shook his head meaningfully and clicked his tongue, full of self-satisfaction.

"In the end, it's still a bit lacking."

Upon hearing this, Su Wanqing's eyebrows furrowed, and the sword case at her waist sprang open three inches with a "clang," flashing a cold light before abruptly stopping.

Her knuckles turned white as she pressed her hand against the sword case, her mind in turmoil, her expression shifting between light and shadow.

If you want to make a move, then you can.

But the old Taoist priest in front of her was unfathomable, and even with her ninth-level cultivation, it was hard to say that she could win.

Even more problematic is that if a fight breaks out here, it could alert the Imperial City Guards and, if the news reaches the Empress's ears...

She knew her master's temperament all too well.

The Daoist sect could act with impunity, after all, they had always maintained a distant relationship with the imperial court.

But Tian Shu Sect is different. It has been able to establish itself in the Great Zhou Dynasty all thanks to the Empress's personal support. Otherwise, Tian Shu Sect would still be labeled as a heretical sect by the six major sects of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

If the Empress were to learn of the grave taboo of secretly possessing the Dragon Vein Map, even if the Tian Shu Sect were her most trusted henchmen, given her nature of preferring to kill three thousand innocent people rather than innocent ones, she would certainly sever this arm without hesitation.

"In the eyes of ordinary martial arts practitioners, the Tian Shu Sect might be considered a prestigious and powerful sect..."

Seeing that Su Wanqing hesitated to make a move, Bi Sheng felt certain that she was afraid to go all out because the price of such a gamble would be unbearable for Su Wanqing.

His gaze was piercing, and his words were sharp and incisive, "But before the six major sects of the Great Zhou Dynasty, they are nothing but trifles. Even the Nine Luminaries Sect, whose sect has now been destroyed..."

He deliberately dragged out his words, "The remnants of their forces were still able to hold the Great Qian Iron Cavalry back on Yanbei Road, preventing them from advancing an inch. This kind of foundation is incomparable to that of ordinary sects."

Su Wanqing remained silent for a long time before finally speaking: "You only want the Xuan Tian Treasure Scroll?"

Bi Sheng nodded slightly, "Of course, as long as you give me the original Xuan Tian Bao Lu, I'll pretend I never mentioned this matter."

Xu Yunfan, who was watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but secretly admire Bi Sheng's shrewd methods. This old Taoist priest was proceeding step by step, and every word he spoke was like a precise weight, just barely pressing down on Su Wanqing's psychological defenses.

Su Wanqing's knuckles turned white, and her nails dug deeply into her palms.

When she broke through to the ninth realm at the age of sixty, she was full of vigor and high spirits, thinking that from then on, Tian Shu Sect could rightfully join the ranks of the first-class sects of the Great Zhou Dynasty.

But now, this top-tier cultivation level has become the heaviest shackle.

Over the years, they have become deeply intertwined with the Empress, like grasshoppers on the same rope.

If they were to forcibly extricate themselves now, not only would that person launch a relentless pursuit, but even if they managed to escape by sheer luck...

Looking across the martial world, the six major sects control key locations, and the Three Mountains and Five Peaks are all places where they spread their teachings.

The actions of Tian Shu Sect over the years have completely cut off any way out.

It’s difficult!
After a long silence, Su Wanqing spoke in a low voice.

"Only the Mysterious Heaven Treasure Scroll?"

"nature."

"This precious book records all sorts of ethereal and uncertain things, like eating the clouds and drinking the dew..." A hint of sarcasm appeared on her face: "If Master Bi weren't nearing the end of his lifespan, would he be seeking immortality like those ordinary mortals?"

She naturally knew that the emperor sought immortality, but there was no such thing as immortality in the world. Even those legendary immortals on earth had returned to dust.

With a slight smile, Bi Sheng said in a serious tone, "I eat the food of the Three Pure Ones and recite the Yellow Court Classic. Isn't seeking immortals and visiting the Dao my duty?"

Upon hearing this, Su Wanqing no longer hesitated and took out a yellowed leather scroll from her bosom.

The edges of the scroll were worn and frayed, and when it was unfolded, one could even hear the faint sound of the fibers cracking. It was the original copy of the "Mysterious Heaven Treasure Record" passed down by the Tian Shu Sect for six hundred years.

This core cultivation technique for breaking through the Outer Three Harmonies realm, while capable of condensing incomparably powerful true qi to help cultivators fight beyond their level, has a fatal flaw: the cultivator's flesh and internal organs will be continuously eroded by the violent true qi.

Despite their exceptional talents, all the holy sons and daughters of the past generations ultimately stopped at the Outer Three Harmonies Realm due to their bodies being riddled with wounds, becoming "torchbearers" on the path to the pinnacle of martial arts.

This short-sighted approach to cultivation, while allowing Tian Shu Sect masters to briefly unleash power beyond their current realm, has prevented the emergence of true grandmasters.

Sixty years ago, Su Wanqing was able to break through the shackles and achieve the ninth level of Qi Refining, which was also due to her cultivation of another martial art.

Today, this sect is still trapped in the martial arts paradox of "harming others first harms oneself." Those seemingly glamorous holy sons and daughters are nothing more than a fleeting moment of glory achieved by burning their meridians.

Therefore, Su Wanqing didn't feel any heartache when Bi Sheng asked for the original Xuan Tian Bao Lu; in fact, she felt relieved.

In this way, at least the exceptionally talented people of the Tian Shu Sect don't have to rush headlong onto this dead-end road.

Bi Sheng casually flipped through it a few times.

He nodded slightly: "Undoubtedly."

He looked up at Su Wanqing, cupped his hands in greeting, and was about to speak when Su Wanqing vanished into a frosty afterimage from the altar.

Bi Sheng's gaze narrowed slightly. He chuckled and shook his head. After confirming that no one was around, he said in a low voice, "Let's leave first. The Xuanjia Guards of the Imperial City Guard patrol every half hour. We shouldn't stay here for long."

He deliberately chose this place to make it difficult for Su Wanqing to take action.

Xu Yunfan nodded in understanding, "Of course it's acceptable."

Taking advantage of the night fog, the two hurried along the shadowy canal, changing direction three times to avoid patrol routes, and finally returned to the Dao Sect's residence through a side gate.

The stone lanterns in the small courtyard with their blue bricks cast a dim yellow glow. Bi Sheng closed the door tightly behind him, listened carefully to make sure no one was around, and then took out the ancient scroll from his bosom.

Bi Sheng slowly unfurled the ancient book, which gleamed with a bronze glow, his fingertips tracing the mottled cover of the "Xuantian Baolu," filled with countless emotions.

"The Daoist Scripture Pavilion also has a copy of this item, but only one-tenth of its true meaning remains. Only the original can reveal a fraction of its essence, but after so many years, it is better than nothing..."

"These intricate characters require the infusion of spiritual energy to manifest; when the spiritual energy is depleted, it is nothing more than a piece of scrap metal."

"These demonic characters... could it be that this thing originally came from beyond this realm?"

Bi Sheng nodded slightly: "During the catastrophe two thousand years ago, a celestial demon known as the 'Crimson-Eyed Demon Lord' slaughtered the land of three states, and was finally killed by the Pure Yang Ancestor with the Nine Heavens Thunder Technique. This precious scroll was extracted from his body."

The name of the Pure Yang Patriarch had been ringing in Xu Yunfan's ears since he entered the Daoist sect.

This unparalleled figure who dominated an era two thousand years ago was the most brilliant and talented Daoist master in the history of the Daoist sect.

According to the Daoist Golden Book, he comprehended the essence of the Yellow Court Classic at the age of nine, created the Pure Yang Qi Gong at the age of twelve, and broke through the nine realms of shackles at the age of thirty, becoming the last terrestrial immortal at that time.

(End of this chapter)