Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

"Hahaha! My little fifth son has just finished Foundation Establishment and is busy consolidating his cultivation. I'm truly unworthy of the kindness of the three of you who have come from afar to 'protect' him!"

A powerful laugh boomed down from the mountaintop, followed by a figure in moon-white robes, stepping on a sword and slowly emerging from the clouds.

He was an elderly man who looked to be in his sixties, and he was in good spirits. His moon-white Taoist robe fluttered in the strong wind. His hands were behind his back, and his eyes were bright and clear, but with a hint of coldness. He was staring intently at the three people outside the formation.

Wu Fan felt a chill run down his spine!

This old man must be Bai Sinan, the patriarch of the Bai family!

Rumors circulated that he was severely injured by two cultivators of the same level some time ago, but now it seems that it was indeed false information.

Upon seeing this, the black-robed elder leading the group outside the formation paled instantly, his face filled with disbelief. He exclaimed, "You're unharmed? Your aura is even stronger than before! This is impossible! This is impossible! I saw it with my own eyes; you were severely injured, almost to death, and were being chased by two cultivators of the same level. How could you...?"

This person was none other than Deng Cangwu, the patriarch of the Deng family. At this moment, his brows were furrowed, his spiritual energy began to surge, and wisps of golden light were faintly visible around him, clearly indicating that he was truly enraged.

Upon hearing this, Bai Sinan threw his head back and burst into laughter, his voice echoing across the surrounding area: "It's true I was injured, but if you say I was being hunted down, that was a performance specifically for you. Otherwise, the moment I received news of acquiring the Foundation Establishment Pill, wasn't that the very moment you, along with Old Ghost Hu and Zhao the Sour Scholar, used the power of the three major families to directly annihilate my Bai family?"

He then changed the subject, his tone tinged with a hint of mockery, "Speaking of which, I should thank you. In order to take over my Bai family's territory by myself, you spread the news that I was seriously injured and on the verge of death. In doing so, you helped me make my two fellow Daoists believe that I really didn't have much time left, giving me time to finish this good show."

Deng Cangwu felt a tightness in his chest from being choked by his words, and gritted his teeth, coldly rebuking, "You old scoundrel, you actually went so far as to sacrifice the clan's members and the interests of the family to set up this deadly trap. In terms of ruthlessness, I am indeed no match for you, you old scoundrel!"

At this moment, the middle-aged cultivator in a blue robe with a scholarly air standing next to Deng Cangwu slowly spoke, his tone carrying a hint of mockery: "Fellow Daoist Deng, I've said it before, Old Ghost Bai is no easy opponent. The old elder who betrayed the Bai family was also part of the plan. The claims of being seriously injured and on the verge of death, and the interception of the Foundation Establishment Pill, are all illusions. The purpose is merely to buy time so that the junior of the Bai family can safely establish his foundation."

The scholar who spoke was none other than Zhao Yan, the patriarch of the Zhao family. After he finished speaking, he turned to look at the lean and withered cultivator beside him, his eyes filled with undisguised mockery.

The Hu family patriarch, Hu Tiankuo, who was being stared at, had an unpredictable expression, his eyes filled with complex emotions, and he seemed to be plotting something.

Seeing this, Deng Cangwu knew he could no longer delay. He roared, and the spiritual weapon longsword at his waist flashed out: "Everyone! The Bai family has gained another Foundation Establishment cultivator today. Once his realm is stable, the landscape of Qingxi County will be rewritten! Today, if we join forces to break through this 'Azure Wood Overlapping Waves Formation' and kill Bai Sinan, we can preserve our current status!"

He assumed a stance ready to charge at any moment, but Zhao Yan and Hu Tiankuo behind him remained motionless, standing steadily on their respective flying magical artifacts, their gazes fixed intently on Bai Sinan below.

In their view, Deng Cangwu's actions were simply insane.

The Deng family and the Bai family were already sworn enemies, but the Zhao and Hu families had no need to get involved and make a blood feud with the Bai family.

Furthermore, this Azure Wood Overlapping Waves Formation is a mid-grade second-tier protective formation. Although it cannot be maintained for a long time, it can easily last for ten days to half a month.

The three of them attacking with all their might deplete the array's spiritual power, but their own magical power might not be enough to sustain them until the array collapses.

Even if they manage to break through the formation by sheer luck, the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Bai family will have stabilized his cultivation level. At that time, their magical power will be exhausted, and they will become fish on the chopping block.

Only a fool would do something so thankless and exhausting.

The two had already made up their minds that after today's events, they would immediately send someone to the Bai family to renew their old friendship.

Seeing the two men's negative attitude, Deng Cangwu became anxious, his eyes suddenly turned cold, and his tone was threatening: "Fellow Daoist Hu, don't forget that you sent your clansmen to raid the Bai family's Yunxi Market, didn't you? You not only plundered a large amount of resources, but also killed several Bai family members. The Bai family may not forget this debt."

Hu Tiankuo's face instantly darkened, becoming so sinister it seemed to drip water.

Although this matter was simmering beneath the surface in Qingxi County and everyone kept it to themselves, it was exposed by Deng Cangwu in public, which completely changed its nature.

In private, Bai Sinan might pretend not to know in order to keep the Deng family in check.

But now that it's been exposed in public, not only will the small families and independent cultivators implicated by the Hu family hold a grudge, but the Hu family's reputation will also plummet, affecting their future business and resource exchanges in the market.

More importantly, Bai Sinan would never let this go so easily in order to give his clansmen an explanation.

This Deng Cangwu was willing to tear off all pretenses just to drag him down with him.

Hu Tiankuo cursed Deng Cangwu a thousand times in his heart, but on the surface he dared not delay. He suddenly looked up at Bai Sinan, clasped his hands, and said loudly, "Fellow Daoist Bai, this matter was a mistake by our Hu family. Afterwards, our Hu family will definitely send generous gifts to apologize and give the Bai family a satisfactory explanation!"

Having said that, he raised his hand and swore an oath with his Dao heart: "I, Hu Tiankuo, hereby swear that from now on, the Hu family will never interfere in the affairs between the Bai and Deng families. If I break this oath, my Dao heart will crumble, my cultivation will stagnate, and I will suffer a backlash from heaven and earth!"

The vow of one's Dao heart is the most important promise a cultivator has. It is bound by the laws of heaven and earth in the dark, and unless one has long given up hope of the Great Dao, no one dares to easily break it.

As soon as he finished speaking, Hu Tiankuo stopped and transformed into a gray shadow, disappearing into the sky without looking back.

"Fellow Daoist Hu! Wait a minute..."

Deng Cangwu watched the departing light, trembling with rage, his face extremely gloomy.

He abruptly turned to look at Zhao Yan, his eyes filled with final pressure.

Zhao Yan completely ignored his gaze, cupped his hands in a respectful bow to Bai Sinan, and said in a humble tone, "Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Bai. The Bai family has gained another Foundation Establishment cultivator, which is truly a blessing for Qingxi. I have come here today simply to witness this grand event. In a few days, I will send someone to deliver a congratulatory gift as a token of my appreciation. I hope Fellow Daoist Bai will accept it. I will take my leave now."

After he finished speaking, he gave Deng Cangwu a perfunctory bow, and with a flick of his blue robe, he transformed into a streak of blue light.

He left right after Hu Tiankuo, leaving Deng Cangwu alone in mid-air, caught in a dilemma.

Deng Cangwu stared in the direction the two had gone, his chest churning with anger, but after calming down, all that remained was anxiety and resentment.

He originally thought he could use the power of the three major families to swallow up the Bai family and become the number one cultivation family in Qingxi County. He even imagined that under his leadership, the Deng family would produce a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators and eventually unify Qingxi.

What no one expected was that Bai Sinan had such cunning and connections to orchestrate such a grand scheme, not only deceiving him but also so easily driving away the two secretly allied parties.

His feud with the Bai family was long-standing and irreconcilable. Over the years, the massacre of Bai family members and the seizure of Bai family resources were enough for Bai Sinan to exterminate the Deng family. It was not something that Hu Tiankuo could easily resolve by apologizing and offering gifts.

However, the Deng family was not a pushover. As long as they retreated to the Deng family territory, with the family's protective formation and accumulated resources, even if Bai Sinan had two Foundation Establishment cultivators, they might not be able to break through easily.

Thinking of this, Deng Cangwu snorted coldly, his grip on the long sword loosening slightly, a ruthless and restrained glint in his eyes: "Bai Sinan, this matter is not over yet! Your Bai family's desire to dominate Qingxi is not so easy!"

Bai Sinan stood on his flying sword, watching Deng Cangwu's blustering but cowardly appearance, and sneered, "Deng Cangwu, the score between us will be settled sooner or later. If you know what's good for you, stay within the Deng family and never come out again; if you dare to set foot near Bai family territory again, I will make sure your entire Deng family is wiped out!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Bai Sinan raised his hand and waved it. The Azure Wood Wave Array suddenly shone brightly with azure light. Layer upon layer of wood spiritual energy transformed into giant waves, rolling and surging outside the array, radiating a heart-palpitating pressure.

Deng Cangwu's expression changed, knowing that staying any longer would be dangerous. He gritted his teeth and glared fiercely at Bai Sinan before finally transforming into a streak of light and retreating in a sorry state towards the Deng family.

After Deng Cangwu left, the smile on Bai Sinan's face instantly faded, and he turned to look at the mountaintop, his gaze immediately softening.