I've already become an immortal lord, and only now is the spiritual energy reviving?

Blackwater City, the backyard of Huayaotang.

The lamps were lit as bright as day, and the clinking of abacus beads was crisp and continuous.

Yang Danhe used a pair of old Western-style glasses, his eyes sharp, to check the accounts line by line.

Since establishing a connection with the He family, Huayaotang has made rapid progress.

Ding Cheng and Fan Ju, the two apprentices, lived up to their expectations, producing pills with extremely low toxicity and pure medicinal properties, which were priced lower than those of their competitors.

The Wang family in the city was squeezed out and made particularly miserable.

I heard that the Wang family patriarch has gone mad in his desire to prolong his life, and he even wishes he could dig up the ancestral graves of Huayaotang in the dead of night.

The situation should have been on the verge of erupting.

Unexpectedly, the news of "three Foundation Establishment cultivators from one family" at Qinglu Mountain spread like wildfire, and even Elder Wen of the Imperial Sword Sect personally came to present gifts.

Under this intimidation, those who had been secretly probing with their claws all retreated, and their provocative faces all turned into smiles.

"The tallest tree in the forest..."

Yang Dan closed the account book and sighed deeply.

"Summon the snake."

A moment later, a man with a fierce face, but dressed in brocade, pushed open the door and entered.

Duan She now possesses the sixth level of Qi Refining cultivation, and with the nourishment of spiritual liquid, his foundation is incredibly solid.

His gaze toward the old Taoist priest was one of extreme fervor, a worship that showed he was ready to die for him at any moment.

"My lord."

Duan She bowed deeply.

Yang Danhe pointed to a red circle in the account book, looking exhausted.

"The amount of purple violet grass and dried earthworm in the warehouse is insufficient, with 30% missing."

"Some people are dishonest; they not only embezzle but also falsify accounts."

Upon hearing this, Duan She's憨笑 vanished, his face contorted with rage, and a murderous aura erupted from him:

"Who dares to mess with our property?! I'll chop them up and feed them to the dogs right now!"

"stop!"

Yang Dan slapped the table with her hands, the force of which, though light, made Duan She obey and restrain himself.

"As the head manager, why do you still have such a bandit-like air about you? Take a seat, I have something to say."

Duan She was flattered and surprised, his buttocks touching the edge of the chair, his back straight.

Yang Danhe took off her glasses, rubbed her dry eye sockets, and suddenly uttered:

"Duan She, I am ninety years old this year."

Duan She was slightly taken aback.

"My cultivation has been stuck at the fourth level of Qi Refining for over a decade, without any progress. This is probably how my life will be."

The voice was calm, as if narrating someone else's story:

"Guanhua Sect has gained fame and is being praised to death by outsiders, who say that our sect is a branch of a certain major sect."

"A few days ago, I ordered the shops to close down. Even if business is suspended, it must not be publicized. Do you know why?"

Duan She probed, "Does the old master intend to... conceal his true abilities?"

"Hide my ass."

Yang Danhe sneered, a barely perceptible hint of fear flashing in his eyes:

"It's because of fear."

The withered hand reached towards his waist.

There hangs a warm wooden plaque there—【Listen to the Bamboo Order】.

It is both a talisman left behind by Elder Zhuxuan in the past and a death warrant.

"Rumors are circulating that Elder Zhuxuan and I are bosom friends, and some even slander me as his illegitimate child... Absurd."

Yang Danhe shook his head self-deprecatingly:

"The sir is a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, capable of annihilating us with a flick of his finger. The kindness shown to me by that jade slip back then is too great."

"It's too heavy for this old man to handle, I dare not accept it."

"Holding onto it makes one uneasy, while abandoning it shows a lack of appreciation."

A person half-buried in the loess soil is placed on a high platform, overlooking a vat of boiling oil; the slightest mistake will result in being crushed to pieces.

Duan She seemed to understand but not quite, yet he sensed a deep sense of weariness emanating from the old man.

He couldn't help but feel anxious, and said stiffly, "My lord, you have a long lifespan! You will surely see the day when the sect dominates! Besides, there is a Supreme Elder overseeing things..."

Yang Danhe waved her hand to interrupt, her gaze softening:

"The road ahead is for you to walk on your own."

"If anything happens to me, remember to transport these skeletons back to Qinglu Mountain, that is my home."

"The foundation of Huayaotang is entrusted to you, along with your two foolish disciples, Ding Cheng and Fan Ju."

"They only know alchemy, they don't understand the wickedness of human nature, you must protect them."

Duan She's eyes suddenly turned red.

For the first time, a scoundrel who had spent half his life wallowing in the mud felt the urge to shed tears.

"Thump."

Kneel down on both knees and slam your forehead against the floor:

"My lord! Your great kindness is etched into my very bones, and even as a vengeful ghost, I will never forget it! As long as Duan She has a breath left, no one will be able to touch a single brick or tile of Huayao Hall!"

"Go on, but don't damage the ground."

Yang Danhe waved his sleeve.

The quiet room returned to deathly silence.

The old Taoist priest picked up the cooled, leftover tea and turned his body towards the north.

Facing the clear foothills from afar.

I trembled as I raised my cup, lightly touching the air, as if drinking with someone.

"Senior brother..."

"Now it seems that only a few old fogies like us are left, barely surviving in this world."

......

At the summit of Qinglu Mountain stands the main hall of Guanhua.

He Qin held the heavy account book in her hands and pointed it out to Qin Ranqing.

"This is the tax revenue from Jiping Town last month. Since you've been venturing into the northern border, you must be familiar with the procedures..."

He Qin wore a simple, elegant dress, which, despite being a mother, added to her gentle and graceful charm.

Qin Ranqing sat to the side, her former flirtatious demeanor gone, sitting upright and nodding frequently.

The two seemed like sisters.

Hua Yangzi, upon witnessing this scene, sat on the grand master's chair at the head of the table, and a great weight was lifted from his heart.

"Harmony is good, harmony is good..."

"Sizzle."

Several figures appeared in the main hall.

Apart from Chai Wu, who was in charge.

Behind him were a calm-looking young swordsman, a compassionate monk, and a lovable pig demon carrying a large sword.

Hua Yangzi was so startled that he almost dropped the teacup.

He knew Xu Sixing; Yan'er had mentioned him, and he was one of their undercover agents.

But what kind of pairing is the monk and the pig in the back?

"Husband?"

He Qinfang greeted them.

Chai Wu's gaze fell on his wife, then swept over Qin Ranqing beside him.

"Yes, I'm home."

He spoke concisely and to the point, without saying much, then turned and bowed to Hua Yangzi:

"Master, the person has been brought."

He pointed behind him:

"These individuals are our sect's trump cards."

"As Junior Sister Shu said, the sacrificial ceremony is a huge event with many spying people, and it is impossible to do without a ruthless person to keep order."

"This bald... this Master Juexin, his Buddhist teachings are profound, and that pig demon is... um, his spirit pet."

Hua Yangzi was stunned.

Master?

Spirit pet?

"Since it was Yan'er who arranged it, there must be no mistakes."

Reacting extremely quickly, Hua Yangzi instantly adopted the demeanor of a sect leader:

"You have all worked hard; the mountain god sacrifice is of great importance."

"I need you all to act as my undercover agents for now. If anything goes wrong, I'll need you to step in."

Xu Sixing solemnly agreed: "I will obey the sect leader's orders."

Juexin clasped his hands together, and behind him appeared the phantom images of an angry Vajra and a sorrowful wandering monk:

"It is my duty to eliminate demons, uphold the righteous path, and protect the true Dharma."

The Iron-Maned Demon King imitated a human, pounding his chest, his fat belly jiggling wildly:

"Sect Leader, rest assured! I, Old Pig, have been enjoying the finest food and drink in your sect these past few days, and my muscles are itching to spring up. Anyone who dares to cause trouble, I'll cut them in two!"

With everything settled, Chai Wu felt a great weight lifted off his shoulders.

"I'm leaving the household in your care."

"The cloud beasts in the east are too noisy, I'll go and kill them."

"Firstly, to offer sacrifices to the flag; secondly... I've heard that its nest produces [Wind and Thunder Apricots], so I'll bring some back for the kids in the sect to try."

He turned and threw a punch before disappearing into the void.

Swift and decisive, without getting bogged down in details.

Only Hua Yangzi remained, blowing his beard and glaring:

"You little brat! I barely got my butt warm before you ran off again!"

......

Meanwhile, not far from Qinglu Mountain.

The clouds were high and the sky was clear, but the atmosphere was anything but pleasant.

Three streams of light diverged and converged on the ancient road.

The one in the center, with a ruddy complexion, short and stout, wearing a golden-threaded robe, was none other than Master Yuanlian of the Imperial Sword Sect.

The old man on the left is as thin as a rake, carrying a huge stele shaped like Mount Tai on his back, leaving pits with every step.

Fuyumen, the Venerable Wanzhong, specializes in the "Taihua Wanjun Unmoving Body" and possesses an astonishingly hard tortoise shell.

The middle-aged man on the right holds a compass, his beard and hair are as black as ink, and his eyes are sinister.

Dingji Mountain, Xing Shu Shangren, is proficient in the "Northern Star Fixed Origin Locking Pass Record" and is skilled in array formations and restrictions.

"Oh, so it's Fellow Daoist Yuan Lian."

As the compass rotates, a forced smile appears on his face.

"Your family just sent congratulatory gifts, and now you're here to offer your warmth again?"

"Or... perhaps Senior Yuzhang is busy and can't spare the time, so he sent you as a scout?"

The resounding boom of ten thousand jars finished the blow, and the stone tablet crashed to the ground:

"Is giving gifts a pretense, and watching the show the real purpose? It's a pity that the deep waters of Qinglu Mountain may not satisfy you."

Yuanlian is inherently a process of accumulating fire.

Yu Zongmen was suppressed by Suwen and scolded by Langche. Now even a second-rate sect leader dares to speak sarcastically.

"snort!"

Yuan Lian glanced sideways at the second cultivator:

"Don't provoke me."

"The geological formations of Qinglu are unpredictable and the void is impenetrable."

"Above you are not only Zhenyue and Qingyan, but also others; be careful not to lose your life here!"

The words had a hidden meaning, which alarmed Erxiu.

"What do you mean?"

Wan Chong dropped his pretense and asked directly:

"Yuan Lian, let's not beat around the bush. What kind of trickery is hidden behind the Mountain God Festival?"

Yuan Lian flicked his sleeves, without giving a proper answer, and began to climb the mountain:

"You'll know when you get there."

"To fish in troubled waters, one must be lucky enough to survive."

As they watched Yuan Lian's retreating figure, Xing Shu and Wan Chong exchanged glances, both showing apprehension.

"Let's go! Let's see what he's up to!"

Each of the three harbored their own secrets and followed the ancient road straight to the solitary mountain that would become the eye of the storm.