Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Harvesting the Talents of Demonic Beasts

Chapter 292 The Lesser Sumeru Sword, the Power of Blazing Flames

From the perspective of the two female cultivators, one in white and one in green...
Without the scarred cultivator at the peak of Foundation Establishment, their last stand might not necessarily end in death!
However, if one uses their magic power to escape, once it is exhausted and caught up by two cultivators of the same level, then death will be the only option.

Therefore, during the standoff, the two had quietly taken pills to restore their magical power, and their dantian had also begun to accumulate new magical power.

Although scarce, it can support a desperate battle.

However, the white-robed female cultivator did not immediately make a move. She said, "Do you really have to be so ruthless? Our Yun family seems to have never provoked your Green Crocodile Gang. Our two families are neighbors and have always lived in peace. Is there some misunderstanding? If so, we can resolve it through negotiation. Why must we resort to violence and escalate things to this point?"

"Even if you are determined to take action, and we fight to the death, you may not be able to escape unscathed. The mission is given by the gang, but your life is your own. Why bother? Did you not see how gruesome your death was just now?"

On the surface, the white-robed female cultivator was earnestly and tactfully seeking peace, but in reality, she was using the remaining power of the talisman to buy time and focus on recovering.

The female cultivator in the green robe feigned a threatening demeanor, her aura fluctuating, her eyebrows raised in a defiant manner, as if she intended to perish together with the enemy.

Upon hearing this, the two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators who were pursuing him did not change their expressions or their auras, but they subconsciously exchanged a glance, their meaning unclear.

However, the white-robed female cultivator felt a slight relaxation. Although the tense situation remained unchanged, she knew that the two men had actually taken her words to heart.

If you seek peace through struggle, you will survive in peace; if you seek peace through compromise, you will perish in peace!
Indeed, this is true; in the world of cultivation, many conflicts can actually be avoided.

Seeking peace at all costs is not feasible, but using war to achieve peace offers a glimmer of hope.

In the previous battles, the scarred man, who had the highest cultivation level, always made the decisions with a single word, and his attitude was clear.

However, his attitude does not represent the attitude of the other two; they are only forced to obey because of the difference in their status and cultivation level.

The other two may have different ideas.

Even if it's just a possibility, the white-robed female cultivator is making every effort to seize the opportunity, kill the other party's top decision-maker first, and then try to negotiate.

Even if it doesn't work, delaying the process is beneficial for both of them.

One of the male cultivators, with his raised eyebrows, spoke up casually: "Fellow Daoist Yun is quite right, but no matter what the initial trigger was, once things have developed to this point, a broken mirror is hard to mend, and it certainly cannot be resolved peacefully. After all, the great reputation of the [Ten Thousand Swords Yun Family] is there for all to see. How can a prestigious sword-wielding family swallow its anger after suffering a loss?"

"I'm sure Fellow Daoist Yun understands this better than I do, right? Or perhaps Fellow Daoist Yun thinks I'm a three-year-old child, trying to fool me with a few words?"

Lin Changheng, who was hiding below, naturally heard this conversation.

He couldn't help but think to himself, "【The Yun Family of Ten Thousand Swords】? This Fellow Daoist Yun actually comes from this family of sword cultivators... No wonder I haven't seen him since we parted ways last time."

However, the sharpness of the female cultivator in the green robe's flying sword just now did indeed reveal a bit about her family's profound heritage.

In the Song Dynasty, beneath the five major sects and schools of Taoism, there were nine great families of immortal cultivators, representing the pinnacle of family-based immortal cultivation.

Each aristocratic family possesses a core skill and uses it as its name, such as the Sun family of beast taming and the Song family of talisman making.

Lin Changheng had occasionally heard of the Yun family. They were located within the territory of the Qingxia Temple, specifically on the southeastern edge, not far from the territories of the Bixiao Sect and the South Palace.

I just don't know how this girl from the Yun family got all the way here. The distance she had to cross was not short.

"The Yun family..."

Then Lin Changheng began to recall information about this family in his mind.

However, the standoff in the sky did not improve. As the words of the male cultivator with the drooping eyebrows broke the ice, the two sides began to test each other with words. But another bald cultivator was quietly transmitting his voice: "The other side is probably stalling for time to recover their mana. Once their mana is sufficient, something bad might happen to our advantageous situation!"

"Then let's launch a surprise attack together with our cameras."

Since there was no possibility of a solution, the male cultivator with the raised eyebrows was quite decisive and did not want to delay any longer.

"it is good!"

……

On the other side, the two women were also actively communicating on the surface, but they knew in their hearts that the decisive battle was imminent and were doing their best to restore their magic power.

"If Fellow Daoist Yun is willing to hand over a copy of your noble family's [Secret Sword Dao Manual], then we two might be able to grant you a way out..." The male cultivator with the drooping eyebrows changed his tone, seemingly backing down, but in reality, he was proposing a condition that was absolutely impossible to agree to. This was merely a last-ditch effort to sow discord before the battle.

"Wishful thinking!" The white-robed female cultivator's face turned cold upon hearing this, and she rebuked him decisively. The family's secrets were the foundation of their existence; how could they be leaked? She reached out and swung a seven-inch sword, which emitted a buzzing sound, and her sword intent rose again.

"Since that's the case, let's see who's the real deal!" Upon seeing this, the male cultivator with the slanted eyebrows' eyes flashed with killing intent. He exchanged a glance with the bald cultivator, and the two of them suddenly sprang into action!

"Do it!"

A streak of dark light flew out from the sleeve of the male cultivator with slanted eyebrows. It was a uniquely shaped water-splitting dagger, carrying a chilling power. Like a venomous snake emerging from its hole, it pierced straight for the face of the female cultivator in white robes!
The bald cultivator grinned maliciously, clasped his hands together, his muscles bulging and his skin gleaming with a metallic sheen. Without using any magical weapon, he unleashed a punch! The force of the punch was unparalleled, condensing into a massive fist imprint that slammed towards the white-robed female cultivator!
The two made it clear that they intended to work together to first eliminate the white-robed female cultivator who had suffered greater losses.

"Well done!"

Although the female cultivator in white robes had not yet recovered her magical powers, she was not afraid at all.

With a clear shout, she twirled her sword, creating a series of sword flowers that resembled swirling clouds. The sword light was ethereal and unpredictable, and she managed to block all the tricky water-splitting daggers, producing crisp "clanging" sounds.

The female cultivator in the green robe also gritted her teeth and met the attack head-on. Although she was not good at direct attacks, she was agile and her flying sword transformed into a green dragon. Instead of directly confronting the fierce fist imprint, she moved around and fought, trying to buy time.

However, the two female cultivators in white robes were already in poor condition, and as the fight went on, they fell into a disadvantageous position.

Although the white-robed female cultivator's sword control technique was exquisite, with insufficient magical power, she gradually found it difficult to resist the icy corrosion brought by the Water-Splitting Thorn, and her arm began to go numb.

The female cultivator in the green robe was in even greater danger, as she was struck on the shoulder by the force of the punch, letting out a muffled groan and blood trickling from the corner of her mouth once more.

"Is it still not possible after all?"

A sense of powerlessness and despair, like an icy tide, began to engulf the white-robed female cultivator's mind.

Just as her mind was wavering, suddenly, her keen senses detected a faint, extremely subtle yet remarkably stable and powerful aura emanating from somewhere in the dense forest beneath her! That aura was like a lighthouse in the darkness, instantly rousing her will from its descent into despair!
"There's a chance!"

She gritted her teeth, mustered the last remaining magical power in her body, and the sword in her hand burst forth with a dazzling cloud-like sword light, like a cloud explosion, and pushed forward, temporarily forcing the water-dividing thorn in front of her, which was like a malignant sore, away a little!

Seizing this fleeting moment of respite, she strained her gaze toward the source of the forest's aura below, and with all her might, her voice filled with urgency and a final hope, she cried out:

"May I ask which fellow Daoist is passing by below? I am Yun Zhi, the direct descendant of the Wan Jian Yun family. My companions and I have been besieged by villains and are in imminent danger! I earnestly request your righteous assistance to resolve this crisis! My Yun family will surely repay you handsomely and will never forget your kindness in helping us today!"

Her clear voice carried far through the fighting forest, reaching the ears of Lin Changheng, who was hiding below. It also caused the expressions of the slanted-brow male cultivator and the bald cultivator to change slightly, their attacks slowing down as they cautiously focused on the commotion below.

Hidden in the forest, Lin Changheng heard the urgent cries for help coming from above, especially the words "direct descendant of the Wan Jian Yun family" and "will surely be rewarded handsomely," and a smile flashed in his eyes.

He deliberately leaked some information just now in an attempt to attract the woman's attention and profit from it.

He didn't really take the two late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, who had already exhausted their strength, seriously.

Moreover, the white-robed female cultivator's identity has been revealed; she comes from the prestigious Wan Jian Yun family, and possesses a True Core Talisman Treasure, indicating a high status and position. Her intervention to save her is undoubtedly for personal gain.

That's what made him change his mind.

The question then becomes: can a smaller investment yield a greater return?
"Yun Zhi... just as I expected, she is a core member of the Yun family." He thought to himself, and a plan formed in his mind.

"Hehe, I wonder what Fellow Daoist Yun is specifically referring to when he says 'there will surely be a generous reward'?"

A soft laugh drifted down from below, carried by the mountain wind and reaching the ears of the four people above. However, no one could pinpoint the source of the sound, let alone the location of the person hiding.

It seemed to be the words of the mountains and forests.

The expressions on the faces of the four men immediately changed.

Upon hearing the voice, the two cultivators opposite him exchanged wary glances.

It was obvious that the other party had been hiding all along, and none of the five people present had noticed him. Moreover, there was a Foundation Establishment Peak cultivator present at the time, which meant that this person's cultivation was either extremely strong or that he was proficient in the art of concealing his aura and hiding his form.

The latter is fine, but if it's the former, things are in a very bad situation.

Because the Bai family women have already promised to ask for help, and the other party is already negotiating the price, once an agreement is reached, the balance of power will shift.

However, they dared not make any rash moves, for fear of helping this person join the other side.

……

The change in the Yun family members was because someone was indeed hiding below, as if they had seen a lifeline. After all, Yun Zhi had only vaguely sensed something and wasn't sure if the faint aura she had just felt was her illusion or delusion. After trying to speak up, she received the answer she wanted.

How could I not be happy?
But what followed, the voice's direct question, left Yun Zhi somewhat bewildered.

In this situation, shouldn't it be the chivalrous person who intervenes to save the person from danger, and then talk about reward afterwards?

The Yun family, a prestigious and renowned family in Song, would surely not mistreat their benefactor. How could this person be so... pragmatic?
Secretly, Yun Zhi gritted her teeth, feeling both angry and anxious.

What angered her was that the other party wanted to negotiate terms at such a critical moment, and what worried her was that the two men with the drooping eyebrows clearly wouldn't give her much time.

"Fellow Daoist..." She suppressed the strange emotions in her heart, and while struggling to resist the increasingly fierce attacks caused by her distraction, she quickly said, "As long as you are willing to help, my Yun family will not be stingy with spirit stones, pills, spiritual weapons, spiritual materials, etc.! Whatever you ask for, as long as my Yun family can do it, we will not refuse!"

She spoke very generously, almost like she was making a worthless promise.

However, the ethereal voice from below returned, tinged with amusement: "Words are meaningless, Fellow Daoist Yun. I am a straightforward man and dislike empty talk. How about this, Fellow Daoist, first throw down the [Minor Sumeru Sword Seal] at your waist as collateral, so I can see your sincerity, how about that?" Upon hearing this, Yun Zhi's expression changed drastically!

The [Small Sumeru Sword Seal] is her identity certificate as a core member of the Yun family. It is not only a protective treasure, but also contains a trace of the Yun family's unique sword dao essence. It may not be practical to outsiders, but its symbolic significance is extremely great!

This person actually asked for one of her most crucial, or rather, most important, possessions?!
Who is he?

"You!" Yun Zhi was both shocked and furious. This was not just a realistic act, but it was practically taking advantage of her misfortune!
"Fellow Daoist Yun, time is running out." The voice below remained calm, yet carried an undeniable pressure. "Once you fulfill your promise, I, Li, will naturally return the treasure intact."

Seeing this, the male cultivator with the slanted eyebrows sneered, "Looks like your savior has quite the appetite! Just obediently accept your death!" His attack intensified.

The female cultivator in the green robe also looked anxiously at Yun Zhi.

Yun Zhi was torn between two conflicting emotions. Handing over the sword seal would be tantamount to exposing a part of her family's secrets, a humiliating act of forced compromise. But not handing it over… meant certain death!
Looking at his companion's pale face, feeling his mana rapidly draining from his body, and sensing the enemy's undisguised killing intent...

"Enough! Life is more important than face!"

She gritted her teeth, a resolute glint in her eyes, and risked taking a hit from the Water-Splitting Thorn. With lightning speed, she pulled an ancient, sword-shaped jade seal from her waist that emitted a faint spatial fluctuation, and threw it with all her might in the general direction of the sound below!
"Next! I urge you, fellow Daoist, to keep your promise!"

The jade seal transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the mountains and forests below.

Almost the instant the jade seal left his hand, a satisfied laugh rose from the mountains and forests, startling the flock of birds that were already trembling.

A black figure slowly stepped out of his hiding place, his form blending into the breeze, appearing silently atop the towering cliffs below the battlefield. He withdrew his [Concealing Aura Technique], no longer suppressing his aura, and appeared openly before the four people on the battlefield high above.

Holding the cold sword imprint in his hand, Lin Changheng calmly looked at the four people locked in a stalemate in the air and spoke softly:
"Fellow Daoist Yun invited me, and I happen to be there at the right time. How could I possibly sit idly by?!"

His words, as steady as a mountain, immediately changed the situation on the field!
Four pairs of eyes immediately fell upon "Li Feiyu," who was dressed in black, had dark skin, and an unremarkable appearance.

The male cultivator with the slanted eyebrows quickly scanned the other party's area with his divine sense and found that the fluctuations in the other party's magical power were only at the mid-Foundation Establishment level, still some distance from the late stage. This was completely inconsistent with his calm and "arrogant" tone. He immediately felt relieved and revealed an undisguised sarcasm on his face:
"I thought you were some kind of expert, but you're just a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator who's learned some underhanded tricks. You dare to play the hero and rescue a damsel in distress? You're courting death! I'll give you three breaths to get lost, or I'll kill you too!"

The bald cultivator next to him also clenched his fists, his knuckles cracking, and sneered, "Kid, think it over. Is it worth risking your life for two dying people? Hand over the [Minor Sumeru Sword Seal] you just tricked, and you can get lost."

Yun Zhi and the female cultivator in green robes, who had initially felt a glimmer of hope because of Lin Changheng's appearance, instantly lost their sparks of hope after sensing the fluctuations of his "only" mid-Foundation Establishment level magical power. The flame that had just ignited in their hearts was mercilessly extinguished, leaving only a deeper despair.

In this situation, a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would simply be losing another life.

However, facing the mockery and threats from the slanted-brow male cultivator, Lin Changheng didn't even lift an eyelid. He gently stroked the sword mark in his hand, his tone still calm, yet carrying a chilling coldness:

"Noisy."

"Give you two choices."

"Get out, or... die!"

"Arrogant!" The male cultivator with the slanted eyebrows was completely enraged by his attitude, and his killing intent surged. "Since you're courting death, then so be it! I'll kill you first, you ignorant brat!"

Before he finished speaking, he exchanged a glance with the bald cultivator, and the two of them attacked at the same time with perfect coordination!
The male cultivator with the drooping eyebrows unleashed his full power with the Water-Splitting Thorn, which suddenly transformed into a streak of black light, piercing straight for Lin Changheng's brow! The bald cultivator, on the other hand, unleashed three punches in quick succession, the powerful fist imprints sealing off Lin Changheng's space to dodge left and right!

The combined attack of the two was powerful enough to severely injure or even kill most ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators! In their view, dealing with a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator was a sure thing!

It was basically foreseeable that this cultivator surnamed Li would die suddenly.

Yun Zhi and the female cultivator in the green robe even closed their eyes in unbearable pain.

But what happened in the next instant was something they, as well as the two men with the drooping eyebrows who made the move, would never forget!

Faced with this swift, ruthless, and cunning joint attack, Lin Changheng finally made his move.

He simply raised his right hand, fingers pointing like a sword, and made a light slash forward.

There was no grand fanfare, no dazzling brilliance.

Only a thin, exquisitely refined, and seemingly light-slicing golden thread silently spread from his fingertips.

Quickly, draw this thin line!

It was faster than the flight speed of Foundation Establishment stage spells!

It's almost reached the limit beyond what divine sense can perceive!

It's almost here, defying all logic!
"laugh--!"

A faint sound, like cloth being torn, rang out.

That thin, golden line, like a hot knife slicing through butter, effortlessly and effortlessly cut through the shimmering black water-split spikes, and the fierce, unparalleled fist imprint, and then…

It split into two streams and shot out separately.

It lightly swept past the necks of the male cultivator with slanted eyebrows and the bald cultivator.

Time seemed to freeze at this moment!
The male cultivator with the raised eyebrows froze, his sneer and murderous intent gone, while the bald cultivator's cruelty and confidence solidified.

The two men's forward momentum came to an abrupt halt, as if they had been frozen in mid-air.

next moment--

"Puff! Puff!"

Two heads, with expressions of disbelief and horror, slid off the necks and fell to the ground.

The headless corpse remained in a forward-leaning posture, blood gushing out like a fountain from its severed neck, before collapsing limply to the ground.

Instant kill!

Moreover, it instantly killed two Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivators who were well-coordinated and quite powerful!

The entire process, from Lin Changheng raising his hand to the two men being beheaded, took only a moment!
It's so fast that it's hard to keep up with your thinking!

The mountain wind blew by, carrying with it a strong stench of blood.

Then two whooshing sounds rang out, and flames quietly rose. The two severed corpses and heads were engulfed by the flames and soon turned to ashes and fell to the ground.

The arena was completely silent!
Yun Zhi and the female cultivator in green robes suddenly opened their eyes, only to be met with this dreamlike scene. Their red lips parted slightly, their beautiful eyes wide open, and they stood there completely stunned, their minds blank, utterly unable to comprehend what was happening before their eyes.

Isn't he... isn't he in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage?
How can it be……

one move……

Only two were killed?
Or is he a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator?!

A tremendous shock and disbelief overwhelmed them like a tsunami.

Lin Changheng slowly withdrew his finger, as if he had only done a trivial matter.

He didn't even glance at the two fallen corpses, his gaze calmly shifting to the two women, Yun Zhi and the other, who were still frozen in place. He spoke indifferently:
"The problem is solved."

The golden flames burned away the ashes, no longer condensing, but instead transformed into two palm-sized firebirds, each carrying a storage bag as it flew over.

The storage bag landed in Lin Changheng's hand, which he then flipped and put away. The firebird, on the other hand, dissipated and burrowed into Lin Changheng's body through the back of his hand, leaving no trace.

Only Lin Changheng's indifferent words echoed quietly above Zhuilong Ridge, sending chills down people's spines even more than the faint, menacing aura that permeated the area!

For the two women of the Yun family, Lin Changheng's methods were too astonishing, mysterious and unpredictable; he could kill without a trace with a mere gesture.

What terrifying strength! Is this really something a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator could do? They had heard of killing enemies of higher levels before, but to do it so easily, so... almost bizarrely crushing them, completely overturned their understanding! And this was an enemy who had chased them to their wits' end and was almost impossible to defeat.

How could I not be surprised!

But for Lin Changheng, it was easy and effortless, after all, the [Dark Blaze Profound Flame] was a third-tier true fire!
It also has the control and blessing of the true meaning of the [Fire Control Divine Power].

It's absolutely crushing when used to deal with Foundation Establishment cultivators and their second-tier techniques!
Dimensionality reduction attack!

Unless they also possess third-tier methods, spiritual objects, or fortuitous encounters to resist, their defeat is inevitable. However, such situations are rare.

"Thank you so much, Brother Li, for saving my life!"

The lingering stench of blood and the chilling, dark aura in the air served as a stark reminder to the two women of the Yun family that everything that had just happened was real.

Yun Zhi was the first to recover from the immense shock. She took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in her blood and the waves of fear in her heart. She pulled the still somewhat dazed female cultivator in green robes along, quickly descending her escape light and landing before the rocky cliff where Lin Changheng was. She solemnly bowed deeply, her voice trembling with relief and heartfelt gratitude:

"We will never forget this kindness and virtue!"

This time, her tone was more sincere and respectful than ever before. The "Fellow Daoist Li" before her possessed unfathomable true strength and was far from ordinary.

Moreover, facing this person, Yun Zhi no longer had the confidence or courage to prepare a backup plan or harbor any ulterior motives.

They had no choice but to obediently go forward and meet them, because if the other party wanted to kill them, it would be a matter of a wave of their hand!
(End of this chapter)