The Path to Immortality Begins with the Life-Extending Lamp

Chapter 85 The difference in skill is immediately apparent
As the four confronted each other, several more people pushed open the stone door and stepped into the underground palace of the Mu Temple.

The two leading figures were two Qi Refining Realm cultivators from the Plain Clothes Path. They transformed into streaks of light and landed together in front of the inner room.

However, before the group could get close, the continuous, dark blue flames inside the room suddenly exploded.

Rumble…

Inside the inner chamber, the fire within the stone dimmed, and clusters of eerie flames immediately scattered. Pei Jiu and the Taoist priest raised their divine light, their faces grim.

The entire left arm of Li Yuanyi, the head of the Li family, was stained with the fire from the stone, and his robe, which was stuck to his flesh, was instantly melted away.

He acted decisively, whipping up a gust of wind to scrape away the layer of burning flesh. Now, his face contorted in pain, he hid behind Pei Jiu, covered in blood, hoping that this uncle could protect his family.

He had originally intended to search for the Taoist's mustard seed bag, suspecting that the Taoist might have taken the Seven Hundred Forbidden Gale Banner that his ancestor had been robbed of.

But at this moment, he had nothing more to say.

"Young friend Li, please give me face and we'll talk outside?"

Pei Jiu naturally couldn't let the head of the Li family also fall here, as the Li family had more than just interests to do with him.

Even just for that one word, "Uncle Pei," he had to protect Li Yuanyi.

The pipe man looked helpless, but since he hadn't even brought out his magic weapon, he probably wasn't willing to take sides.

Seeing the flames raging in the dark chamber on the side of the underground palace, how could the Taoist priests who rushed over not understand what was going on?

Upon seeing Li Qing, who stood alone at the entrance of the inner chamber surrounded by dark clouds, Yan Danling and her brother immediately summoned their magical artifacts and followed closely behind.

"Fellow Daoist Li, have you encountered some difficulties?"

These two were naturally aware of what was happening inside the room, but they were confident that they could lend a helping hand to this fellow Daoist from the South.

Seeing that more people were coming from outside, and that they were pushing the two of them into a life-or-death struggle, Pei Jiu, the Taoist priest, glared at the woman and began to chase them away.

"Go away, you little brat from the Plain Clothes Path, don't stand in line randomly. What are you doing, making things worse? Can't you see I'm trying to break up the fight?"

"This temple is haunted! All the elders of the Li family are dead! Let's go, let's get out of here!"

With a sweeping motion, Master Pei grabbed Li Yuanyi's magic spear and stored it in his mustard seed pouch, effectively disarming the Li family head and giving Li Qing a way out.

Seeing that Erzifu had said so, the head of the Li family became much clearer-eyed. Li Qing narrowed his eyes and gave Li Yuanyi a deep look. The next moment, he put away the many soldiers and turned to leave.

"Fellow Daoists, let's go outside and talk..."

Li Qing cupped his hands in greeting to Yan Danling and the others who had rushed over, and briefly recounted what had happened, only slightly avoiding mentioning the Ghost Mother and the Ghost Scissors, saying only that the Ghost Scissors was a blood demon... The two East Sea Purple Mansions also led the Li family head out slowly, listening to Li Qing's explanation.

Just as everyone emerged from the two-story hall, they saw two dazzling beams of divine light swiftly sweep across the seven halls and head straight for the underground palace.

However, it was the arrival of the two Purple Mansions from the Plain Clothes Sect.

The Taoist in brocade robes lifted a golden birdcage with one hand. Inside the cage was a dark, elusive cloud, with a malevolent ghostly face constantly shifting within it, seemingly cursing everyone silently.

"Yan Danling, Guan Bin, you two really love to get involved in trouble!"

"Such a change in the energy of this temple has just occurred. Who gave you the audacity to come in and meddle?"

The Taoist priest in brocade robes spoke with a slightly arrogant tone and immediately began calling out names.

These two senior and junior disciples, relying on their own cultivation, became increasingly audacious.

As the two of them entered the Three Generations Temple, they encountered the invisible vengeful ghost of the Day Wanderer just as they entered the right chamber of the first hall. It took them some effort to subdue it.

Luckily, those two guys were fortunate enough not to run directly into that giant ghost!

The two Taoist priests in plain clothes first gave Yan and Guan, the senior brother and sister, a good beating, and then looked behind them to see what had happened.

"Senior brother, it's actually like this..."

Yan and Guan, the senior brother and sister, hurried after them, looking rather dejected. Guan then explained to his senior brother again what Li Qing had just said:
The elders of the Li family wanted to monopolize the temple, but Li Qing, a Qi Refining Realm cultivator, inadvertently stumbled in, naturally leading to a fight between the two...

The Taoist in Brocade Robes and the Taoist with Clear Beards knew Li Qing's background, and Bu Lingxu had also mentioned the wandering ghost on him to them.

So, one of those two sinister auras was caused by this person?

The Taoist in brocade raised his eyebrows and glanced at Li Qing with surprise. He hadn't expected that this guy was also a big shot who had crossed the river. Was he going to stop killing with killing and fight ghosts with ghosts?

"Alright, I understand."

"Just now, a powerful ghost that roams the daytime was subdued at the entrance of this Mu Temple. Do you really think this underworld is a joke? Such infighting."

The Taoist priest shouted and raised the birdcage in his hand a few inches, revealing a terrifying, vengeful ghost inside that was throbbing and wailing as it pounded against the cage.

No one knows exactly how big the complete Yin Temple in these five mountains is. It has seven small halls in the front, leading directly to the underground palace. The main palace has been explored and understood.

But what about the inner chambers to the left and right of the underground palace? And the side chambers to the left and right of these main halls?
Each of the Yin Temples has many inner chambers that have never been opened, perhaps because the Yin Palace sank into the sea and the original ghosts and gods sealed them all when they left.

But who can guarantee there's no danger inside? That stone door isn't damaged in the slightest?
Even Bu Lingxu couldn't guarantee it completely, so some mishaps weren't unacceptable...

The two Daoist priests in plain clothes exchanged a glance and turned around.

"The affairs of the Underworld are settled within the Underworld; this is the only ironclad rule established by me, the Plain-Clad Daoist Master - Venerable Lingxu!"

"Your Li family elder died unjustly. You want this person present to give an explanation, don't you?" The Taoist in brocade robes nodded and looked at Li Yuanyi, getting straight to the point.

"That old man still harbored grudges against you before his death. Do you want to settle your karmic debts with this Li family head?" Qingxu Daoist also flicked his finger and tapped his sword, producing a sharp sword hum, and asked Li Qing in return.

"Those who live outside the secular world only seek longevity and have little regard for moral principles or right and wrong. You two can either engage in a battle of magic to discuss life and death, or you can invite fellow practitioners from all directions present to join you in a contest to determine life and death. That would be enough!"

"how?"

The two Purple Mansions were also Taoists who were used to practicing Taiyi in Linchuan Prefecture. They had seen too many such situations. Since they had entered the Underworld, they could only blame themselves for not being as skilled as others when they encountered life, death, honor, or disgrace.

But they've come up here to push for a life-or-death battle!

“I have no objection!” Li Qing strode forward, following behind the Taoist priests, the flames in the stone between his fingers dancing, yet he showed no fear whatsoever.

Meanwhile, Li Yuanyi's expression grew increasingly gloomy. How could he possibly defeat that Taoist priest whose background was unknown? In just a few rounds, the difference in their abilities was immediately apparent.

Moreover, both Su Yi Dao and the two Purple Mansions of the East Sea gave this person half a face. This seemingly fair way of settling the cause and effect through a battle of magic is just asking the two of them to fight to the death.
"With the old master gone, the hall is filled with ghostly energy. I would never vent my anger on other fellow Daoists."

"Even if we encountered a powerful ghost, my master's Gale Banner and Cloud Spirit Sword should not have disappeared without a trace. I have never heard of any powerful ghost that can steal a person's magical artifacts."

"I just hope this fellow Daoist can tell me whether he has seen those two mid-to-high grade magic artifacts."

The head of the Li family, whose left arm was covered in blood and gore with a hasty gauze covering, spoke with remarkable composure and logic.

How could he not recognize the cloud-spirit sword energy and the gale-force wounds left on that Taoist paper offering? He even suspected that this person was responsible for the death of his own ancestor.

He could accept the death of his ancestor as a vengeful ghost causing trouble, but that treasure with seven hundred restrictions was worth nearly eight million Dao Zhu. It was the foundation that his lineage had spent a huge sum of money to acquire for their ancestor over the past ten years, and they had to get it back!

He didn't want to engage in a pointless death struggle here.

“Fellow Daoist comes from the Southern Kingdom and is indeed exceptionally powerful. However, judging from your practice of the Dao of Raising Spirits and your cultivation of fire magic, that precious flag requires the coordination of wind magic. If you take it, it will be like a chicken rib to you.”

"If you return that precious flag, I will also compensate you for the losses suffered by those rampant soldiers. What do you say?"

Li Yuanyi half-stood behind Pei Jiu, looked at Li Qing, and said firmly.

If he initially intended to take his anger out on this unknown rogue cultivator, things were different now. This person was extraordinary, and he couldn't be forced. If he could reclaim the precious flag and have him take control, at least his lineage wouldn't suffer too great a loss.

The head of the Li family then approached Pei Jiu, leaned close to his ear, and pleaded with this uncle from the Purple Mansion, who was used to traveling between China and overseas, to step in and help.

“That old Taoist priest triggered the Ghost Realm, and his body and soul were destroyed. It has nothing to do with me, but even if he came out alive, I would still kill him.”

"That banner is indeed here. I can give you a chance to take it!"

Li Qing raised his hand and tossed the precious flag into Linglong Chang's arms, revealing it right in front of Li Yuanyi.

"The two captains should know that if it weren't for your sake, he would have been dead in that inner room just now, thus avoiding all this trouble." "Is he now instigating you two to attack me?"

If it weren't for the protection of the two ship owners along the way, he might not have been able to reach this sea area. Sparing the life of this Li family head was already giving them enough face.

If Li Yuanyi were to seek revenge for his father and grandfather, Li Qing might have a higher opinion of him. But to be scheming and plotting over that precious banner at this moment is truly despicable.

The dark clouds were ominous, and the arrogant ruler, holding a flag, seemed to be mocking the other group.

If Li Yuanyi were to actually take action, would he dare to snatch the treasure from that arrogant ruler?
Pei Jiu could tell that Li Jun had indeed backed down because of their relationship; otherwise, if he had killed Li Yuanyi with one blow, the Li family of Peng Kingdom would have known nothing.

Just as the two were about to plead for peace, Li Yuanyi, upon seeing the Gale Banner, mustered his courage and stepped forward again, solemnly saying:

"Fellow Daoist has the protection of the rampaging Daoist army, which I am far inferior to?"

"But if you are willing to give me another chance, could you please not send troops, but let me do my best? Regardless of life or death, success or failure afterward, I will be convinced."

The Li family of Pengguo has no other magical artifact like the Gangfeng Treasure Banner. It is a magical artifact with seven hundred restrictions, which is enough for even cultivators at the Purple Mansion Foundation stage to use.

Even if it meant losing face, Li Yuanyi had to take a gamble for his own lineage.

"Oh?" Li Qing raised an eyebrow, but saw that the middle-aged man from the Li family seemed to be trying to provoke him into a fight, and laughed instead.

"Provoke me to fight? You're quite the schemer, but unfortunately, I've never been one for fighting."

"Since you are so decisive, this precious flag is in the possession of me, the Mad Lord. If you can take that flag from her, then you have succeeded. The flag will be yours, and the sins committed by your ancestor will be extinguished with the death of the other person."

"If you cannot take it, then it is your own fate. What do you think?"

Li Qing flicked his sleeve, and although he was not provoked, he gave him a chance to seize the flag and decide the outcome.

"Is this the only arrogant ruler?" Li Yuanyi pondered for a moment, then asked again in a deep voice.

"Of course, only her!"

Having received Li Qing's reply, Li Yuanyi disregarded the strange looks from Su Yidao, the Guan family of Pengguo, and even the scattered cultivators from various countries who had gathered around him, and used the mulberry gauze to wrap tightly around his injured left arm.

As the head of the Li family of Pengguo and the direct lineage leader, he was not incapable of accepting defeat, even though his ancestor had died at a disadvantage. However, he had to reclaim that precious banner, even if it meant losing face, he had to regain the substance.

With this banner, the main family line will at least not fall into mediocrity. With this precious banner and the "Gale Treasure Book", there are few people under the Purple Mansion of Peng Kingdom who can suppress him.

Once the thought was made up, Li Yuanyi strode out, retrieved the mid-grade magic weapon with three hundred forbidden attributes—the Great Wind Spear—from Pei Jiujie's pouch, and then slowly walked to the opposite side of Linglong Chang.

"Fellow Daoist, I accept. Shall we conclude this karmic connection here?"

The two slowly emerged from the Mu Temple in front of four Purple Mansions and five or six Qi Refining Daoists.

On this rugged, ravine-covered land, he and Li Qing reached a consensus.

The Li family head suddenly unleashed a burst of wind-based spiritual power in his right arm. With a flick of his wind spear, he instantly whipped up a gale several dozen feet long, which swirled into a green wind magic cone and fiercely struck towards Linglong Chang.

This attack was exactly the same as the old Taoist Li's spell. At this moment, the Five Paths of Paper Gods had not yet been unleashed. Linglong God Lord stood still and was instantly freed from his restraints by Li Qing.

She's not that kind of arrogant soldier!

She was created by a paper spirit, a living soul that still retains some consciousness.

At this moment, all the restraints were removed, and a melodious chuckle rang out. The next instant, the arrogant lord vanished from the Yin Mansion Street, and the wind cone struck nothing.

Before Li Yuanyi could retract his Great Wind Spear, a pure white arm fell from the yin wind, and four bloody claw marks flashed across the precious light. With a crack, the precious light shield on the man's body was torn apart.

One is the paper spirit that devours ghosts and transforms them into spirits, peeling off their skin to create chaos; the other is the ghostly and gloomy spirit that moves with the clouds and rain, extremely eerie.

One of them was a member of an overseas family. He wielded a wind spear, wore a magic robe, and was protected by a spirit pendant. He unleashed thirty-six green flying needles, and for a time, the battle was evenly matched.

The various cultivators in the arena watched silently.

“In the past, the Three Emperors Great Dao Sect had a true disciple who specialized in the Yuan Magnetic Domain. Once his domain was opened, his body, a thousand feet in size, transformed into a Yin-Yang Yuan Magnetic Domain, which restrained all five elements of magic. Flying swords lost their luster, and azure needles lost their sharpness. It was truly terrifying…”

"This Lord of Chaos, Li Qing, also governs the domain of law, which is called the Yin Yu Domain. It is filled with heavy clouds and mist, and the water vapor contains hidden spells. It is a very good Lord of Chaos!"

The brocade-clad Taoist nodded and glanced at it. The plain-clad Taoist also had an altar of soldiers and horses, with a total of 164 ghosts and spirits in place. The plain-clad disciples would occasionally bring a group of soldiers and horses, but there was no master among them. Although there were many soldiers and horses, they were not as easy to control as Li Qing's paper-crow soldiers and horses.

"I've heard that Tiannan Temple has a courtyard called the Imperial Expedition Courtyard, which focuses on raising spirits and raising the rampant Daoist army. Could Fellow Daoist Li be from there?" Yan Danling asked with a smile, her eyes sparkling.

"maybe!"

Several Taoist priests in plain clothes gazed at the battle taking place in the arena.

The Li family head's left arm was injured and not very flexible, but fortunately, his wind was strong and even had a slight restraint on the Cloud and Rain Magic Demon. The gloomy rain, full of the skinning curse, could not easily get close to the gale.

Unable to break through Linglong's defenses, Linglong threw the precious flag behind her. Suddenly, strands of white paper fell from her body, scattering like clouds and rain. In a moment, the paper folded and solidified into paper figures.

The saying goes, "Red cheeks and ink dots the eyes, paper figures glistening with dew are good at summoning souls."

Dark clouds gathered overhead, resembling a light drizzle during the Qingming Festival. Paper figures stood amidst the clouds, but in the blink of an eye, they merged with the rain and disappeared. The next moment, the arms of the paper figures, soaked in water, suddenly emerged from the puddles and rain, all attacking Li Yuanyi.

"This tyrant's magic seems to be the Cloud-Gathering Technique. If the dark clouds of anger are drawn in, they will continue indefinitely if there is even the slightest delay. We absolutely cannot fight him."

"But I don't necessarily have to fight it to the death; I just need to take that precious flag!"

Li Yuanyi held a wind bead tightly in his palm. He also had several talismans in his hand, including the wind bead and the Five-Element Thunderfire Talisman. How could he possibly seize that precious flag?

But then the Taoist priest raised his wind spear and lashed it into the continuous dark clouds. After breaking through Linglong Chang's blockade with two quick movements, he threw out a wind bead.

At the center of the exploding pearl, a massive turbulent current immediately surged, transforming into a towering tornado. Linglong Chang and the many paper figures were unable to resist the strong wind and were all swept up.

This Wind Bead can be considered a mid-to-high-grade talisman. When the bead is summoned, the wind sweeps across several miles, and even those who have kept their distance are affected by the turbulence.

Taking this opportunity, the Taoist priest quickly approached the precious flag that was stuck in the ground, exhaled a long breath, pulled the flag with his right hand, and turned to look at Li Qing.

Will he admit to it?
However, at that very moment, a woman's arm, dressed in pure white, suddenly emerged from the puddle under the banner and reached straight for the Taoist priest.

"Damn it!"

Li Yuanyi's heart pounded, but how could he possibly retreat and miss out on this precious banner? His eyes were bloodshot, and a death wish surged within him. He enveloped himself in wind-elemental spiritual energy, using his body to block the ghostly hand, forcefully trying to seize the banner...

The outcome is unlikely to be much better.

Within the ghost realm, the Linglong Crazed Master moved freely, and upon hearing her faint, mournful laugh, the precious banner that was originally within arm's reach suddenly sank into the water, disappearing in an instant like a mirage.

The head of the Li family was immediately torn in the abdomen by the Linglong Changjun, and the chilling rain fell, immediately invading his body along his meridians.

He felt as if his skin and flesh were being torn apart by terrifying ice blades.

Damn it, I've been infected!

Li Yuanyi felt his vision becoming increasingly blurry, with only a pale figure looking down at him...

"Edict!"

Gazing at the Taoist priest whose consciousness was beginning to fade, Li Qing gently shook her head, made a single finger gesture, and immediately stopped Linglong Chang, who was cruelly and wantonly trying to skin her alive and turn her into a ghost, and put her in confinement and restraint again.

"Whether you are thinking of your descendants or are simply greedy for the magic weapon and willing to die, since you are willing to understand cause and effect, I will not force you to your death."

"This precious flag, Venerable Pei, I'm giving it to you. I'd like to trouble you to help me go to the Li family in Pengguo to demand compensation for the crippled soldier."

But then Li Qing flicked his sleeve and threw the precious flag directly in front of Pei Jiu, thus giving each of them a way out.

"Hahaha, good!"

“Then I will definitely go and get a satisfactory compensation for my friend Li.”

Pei and Guan immediately breathed a sigh of relief and readily agreed.

Actually, Li Jun has always been fairly easy to talk to...

(End of this chapter)