Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

One hour later.

It is located twenty miles outside an unnamed canyon at the border of Danzhou and Binzhou.

Several hours later, the battle between the Han family and the Jie Xiu was nearing its end.

Dozens of miles away, some wandering cultivators were attracted by the commotion, but they hesitated to approach.

Clearly, many people will act impulsively if they have the opportunity to get a bargain.

Even if there's no opportunity to sell information about the battle here, one can still earn a few spirit stones.

brush--

Enveloped in demonic energy, Wang Xuan hid behind a white cloud.

After dealing with Manager Zhao, he rushed here immediately, thankfully without missing the opportunity.

"Hmm...that's about it."

"If we drag this out any longer, we might actually attract Foundation Establishment cultivators who happen to be passing by."

After observing for a moment, Wang Xuan nodded slightly.

The next moment, at his signal, a dazzling blue shadow suddenly rose up beside him.

Using its demonic energy, it transformed into another wood-type demonic bird. The Void Shadow Sparrow spread its wings and, facing the wind, revealed its true form, which was several meters in size.

"唳——"

In an instant, sensing the rising momentum from afar, the expressions of both sides outside the canyon changed drastically.

"Um?"

"That's... a second-tier demonic beast?"

"How is that possible?"

With a grim expression, the scarred middle-aged man refused to believe it.

This is not a wilderness infested with monsters, nor has any upheaval occurred in the Chen Kingdom.

In the heart of this cultivation kingdom, wild first-tier demonic beasts are rare, let alone second-tier demonic beasts comparable to Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Even if they occasionally appear, they will be killed immediately by Foundation Establishment cultivators from all over the world, who will skin them, extract their cores, and make a fortune without taking any risks.

Therefore, barring any unforeseen circumstances, the only possibility for this suddenly appearing monster is that it is a natal spirit bird raised by a certain cultivator.

"Damn it, why now of all times!"

With a curse, the scarred middle-aged man glanced resentfully at the person opposite him.

At this moment, only a few members of the Han family remained.

Apart from a few cultivators who managed to escape in the chaos, very few were still standing. Even Han Changde's left arm was empty, and his face was completely bloodless.

If we have another half hour, we will definitely be able to take them all down.

But clearly, they no longer have that opportunity.

"...Damn it, let's retreat!"

His face twitched, the scarred middle-aged man gritted his teeth, but his response was remarkably decisive.

He dared not gamble on the newcomer's attitude; if he delayed any longer, he feared he wouldn't be able to leave even if he wanted to.

"What? You just left like that?"

Some left decisively, while many others hesitated.

Not to mention that today's opportunity to intercept and kill is rare and unlikely to be repeated in the future.

The price paid just now to deal with the Han family cultivators would be enough to make most of the Tribulation Cultivators present recover in ten years.

No matter how down on their luck a Foundation Establishment family may be, they are not something a group of rogue cultivators can easily deal with.

If it weren't for the fact that the pre-arranged backup plan had captured the younger generation of the Han family shortly after the initial confrontation, even if they had been given another half day, they probably wouldn't have been able to do anything to the Han family members who were determined to delay.

"Elder, what do you think..."

On the other side, the remaining members of the Han clan finally got a chance to catch their breath.

But compared to the relatively healthy Jie Xiu, they had nowhere to escape.

"Ahem... Let's take a look first."

"Hopefully it's just a patrol of sect cultivators, otherwise..."

With a pale face, Han Changde tried his best to adjust his state as he looked at the powerful demonic aura that made no attempt to conceal its presence.

wow——

It seemed like a long time had passed, but in reality, it was only a short moment.

Amidst the surging waves, when Wang Xuan's figure appeared in the center of the initial battle, he only saw the scattered escape lights of cultivators and the Han family members gathered together.

Given the speed of the Azure Bird, if they were to continue the pursuit, most of the Tribulation Cultivators would perish here.

But Wang Xuan did not intend to do that. In fact, he deliberately let the bluebird release its aura in advance, just to make it back down.

After all, although the Azure Bird is strong, it is only one person and may not be able to kill all the cultivators present. And once they actually fight, its true bloodline foundation will almost certainly be exposed.

Therefore, instead of trying to have everything, it's better to let those shrewd "smart people" go and spread the false news that "a second-tier wood-type spirit bird has appeared at the border" while we're at it.

Even if someone investigates, the Azure Bird's Earth-grade bloodline will not attract the covetousness of Core Formation level cultivators, nor will it lead to any connection with the breakthrough phenomenon in Bai Ze Market.

"This senior."

"Han Changde of the Han family of Xiaozeshan thanks you for saving my life."

Not daring to look up, let alone release his spiritual sense, Han Changde was afraid of provoking the other party's murderous intent.

"With the family relocated and everything in ruins, the clan leader went to Binzhou, which allowed villains to take advantage of the situation... Fortunately, with the help of our elders, we were able to escape this great calamity."

"To express my deepest gratitude, I am willing to offer half of my family fortune as a token of my appreciation. I hope you will not refuse."

Han Changde, his heart bleeding, nervously spoke, uttering the promise.

Without a stable source of spiritual resources, the family's wealth diminishes with each use, let alone when half of it is given away at once.

However, circumstances were beyond his control. His clansmen had already suffered heavy casualties, and he did not want to gamble on the kindness of a Foundation Establishment cultivator... He waited anxiously for a reply, but the next moment, a very familiar voice rang in Han Changde's ears, making him suddenly widen his eyes.

"senior?"

"Hehe, Elder Han, how have you been?"

"Hmm? That voice..."

His heart skipped a beat, and as the words fell, Han Changde subconsciously looked in the direction of the sound.

Demonic energy surged, coiling around the newcomer like silk threads.

However, to his disbelief, in the spot where a strange Foundation Establishment cultivator should have stood, stood a figure that was so familiar.

"You are...you are Wang Xuan, how could you be here—"

brush--

The sound stopped abruptly, and a streak of blue light flashed by without the slightest hesitation.

A chilling demonic aura swept past, tearing through the opponent's defenses almost instantly and heading straight for their neck.

The Qi Refining cultivator's defenses were completely ineffective against the surprise attack of the second-tier demonic beast.

Standing silently in mid-air, Wang Xuan, the instigator of everything, looked at Han Changde's unseeing eyes without the slightest emotion.

Are you kidding me? Do you really think he personally appeared here to talk to the other party in order to show off in front of an old acquaintance and make the other party regret it and cry bitterly?

Of course, that's possible. If Wang Xuan were already a Foundation Establishment cultivator today, and Xiao Qing had even advanced to the peak of Foundation Establishment, then he might as well indulge himself and show off his superior demeanor.

But back to reality, Wang Xuan knew very well that with his current strength, he did not yet have the right to do as he pleased.

In the world of cultivation, every breakthrough to a major realm is not simply a change in strength and lifespan.

Information channels, social status, and geographical reach will all rise accordingly.

Although Xiaoqing had successfully broken through, the time was still short. Wang Xuan did not fully understand the methods of veteran Foundation Establishment cultivators and could only overestimate his opponent as much as possible.

So, for the sake of that top-tier second-order puppet master who had been dead for many years, Wang Xuan gave him no chance at all and chose to personally appear here to lure Han Changde into a momentary lapse in concentration.

If a second-tier demon beast can't even defeat a Qi Refining cultivator, especially if it's a sneak attack, then it shouldn't be in the cultivation world anymore. It would be easier for it to find a place to dig a hole and bury itself.

"Ah—no way, Second Elder, Second Elder is dead!"

A flash of blue light, and a head fell to the ground.

Then came a cacophony of panicked shouts.

"You... I remember now, you're that guest alchemist! How dare you!"

"Damn it, he must be in cahoots with the previous robbers! Run!"

"Hurry, I'll hold him off. We must get this message to the clan leader; he will avenge us!"

"I'm going to appeal to the sect... No—don't kill me!"

"..."

Wang Xuan raised his head slightly and looked at the Han family members in front of him, some fleeing, some begging for mercy, and some fighting to the death. He waved his hand, indicating that Xiao Qing could do as she pleased.

Han Changde, who was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, is dead. There are no more intact late-stage Qi Refining cultivators here, so they can no longer pose a threat.

After quickly cleaning up the mess, Wang Xuan made some arrangements on the spot and then flew away.

……

Three days later.

Inside a first-level cave dwelling in Heishifang City, Binzhou, Chen State.

They changed their appearance and became nocturnal.

Only after entering this temporarily rented cave dwelling did they unlock all the restrictions.

Sitting back on the futon in the center of the cave, Wang Xuan finally relaxed after months of tension.

"The cultivation world has never been peaceful since ancient times."

"Especially the border areas, which have always been high-incidence areas for robbery and plundering."

"Although the cultivation kingdom is generally stable internally, that applies to cultivators above the Foundation Establishment stage."

"As for the Qi Refining cultivators at the lower levels, their deaths are nothing to worry about and won't cause too much of a stir."

After pondering silently, Wang Xuan confirmed that nothing had been missed.

After this battle, only the patriarch Han Changming, whose fate was uncertain, and a few members of the collateral branches of the Han family survived, completely losing their status as a Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan.

The biggest difference between a lone cultivator's Foundation Establishment and a family's Foundation Establishment is that the latter possesses spiritual land and is a member of the ruling system of the Chen Kingdom's cultivation world, capable of trading with and receiving protection from higher-level Core Formation forces.

Without this connection, the information channels for independent cultivators to reach the Foundation Establishment stage cannot even extend beyond a local prefecture or county. They can only operate within their own small, frequently active territory. Looking at the entire cultivation kingdom, they are essentially blind and deaf.

Therefore, Wang Xuan's next goal is to prepare for the Foundation Establishment process within ten years, and he will most likely choose a small immortal city to settle down in.

Even if Han Changming is still alive by then, he will have no further interaction with him.