Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

"What?"

Startled and caught in the escape light, Dan Chen never expected to receive such an answer.

However, seeing the old man's somber expression, the girl knew that this was no exaggeration.

The destruction of the mountain gate and the annihilation of all the Core Formation cultivators stationed there were like the sky collapsing and the earth sinking.

However, Dan Chen couldn't help but feel somewhat confused.

"Ancestor, even if the information you received is true, I remember there are still a few True Immortals in the sect who are not at the mountain gate, right?"

"As long as they're there—"

"—That's right, there are indeed a few real people."

"But Chen'er, think about it carefully, do they really dare to come back?"

The old man sighed again and shook his head.

"To annihilate a Core Formation sect in a single day, leaving them no chance to escape—this is something even ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarchs cannot accomplish..."

"What's even more terrifying is that the Nanhua Sect wasn't the only force destroyed today."

"Just yesterday, five Core Formation-level forces, three major sects, two aristocratic families, and one-third of the Chen Kingdom's heritage were wiped out overnight!"

"No one knows the reason for all this. Perhaps they are involved in some great opportunity or secret; or perhaps a great cultivator who defied the heavens and achieved the late Nascent Soul stage has returned to his old home and brought his friends to take revenge on his old enemies."

"But whatever the reason, from this day forward, until the reason is found out, those surviving masters will never dare to act under the name of these five forces again, let alone rebuild their sects and restore their family reputation."

"Furthermore, if the delay goes on, even if the truth is eventually uncovered, they will have no chance to restore things to their former state."

"After all, once new forces rise amidst the chaos and a new balance is gradually established, we, the 'remnants of the previous dynasty' who are still alive but not dead, will be their first target."

"Even the Tianshan Sect would choose to turn a blind eye to such internal strife among its subordinate forces."

At this point, Danrong was speechless for a moment, and could only let out a long sigh.

Having joined the sect at a young age and cultivated for over two hundred years, who could have imagined that he would encounter such a thing before his lifespan ended?

A hint of worry flashed in the old man's eyes, and he secretly quickened his escape.

It's no longer safe here. When the big tree above collapses, the Linzhang branch temple, used to train new disciples, will become a huge piece of meat.

Regardless of anything else, the superior cultivation methods and several complete second-tier arts and crafts inheritances recorded in the Lower Academy's Scripture Pavilion alone are enough to make a Core Formation cultivator's heart flutter.

No communication was needed; at this moment, all the Foundation Establishment cultivators on White Cloud Mountain knew what each other was thinking.

Since the sect is destined to collapse, the best course of action is to divide up the resources here as quickly as possible and then escape.

Those who have a family can return to their family.

Even without a family, taking away a sum of resources is enough to pave the way to the peak of Foundation Establishment, without having to worry about any future troubles.

Even Dan Rong could guess what would happen if someone suddenly stood up to become a 'die-hard' loyalist of the sect.

He will most likely be attacked by the group, which can be seen as one less competitor to share resources.

After all, to be loyal to the sect... that requires the sect to still exist.

Cultivators are not like ordinary scholars; why would they care about their posthumous reputation in history books?

"Alright, Chen'er, these are not things you need to worry about."

"I am not yet at the point of death; I can watch you reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

"As long as you cultivate diligently and don't let me down..."

As the light descended, the old man appeared before a warehouse that was shimmering with protective barriers.

But standing beside him, listening to her great-grandfather's instructions, as if remembering something, Dan Chen quickly asked:

"Ancestor, now that the sect has been destroyed, if we also leave, what will happen to the disciples of this lower courtyard—"

"Naturally, we should let them fend for themselves."

The old man spoke softly, glancing at his granddaughter on whom he had placed high hopes.

"No one could have predicted such an accident; they were just unlucky."

"Besides, they're just a group of outer disciples."

"As long as they react quickly enough, no one will chase after them; they will simply become rogue cultivators."

"After all, the Nanhua Sect wasn't ordered to be wiped out by the Tianshan Sect. They just lost their backer, not become rats in the street. No one dares to openly call for their destruction."

"But after today, the State of Chen will likely face many difficulties..."

hum-

With a wave of his hand, he opened the restrictions on the treasury.

The old man swung his sleeves and quickly plundered the magical artifacts, medicinal herbs, ores, and various raw materials related to the arts of cultivation stored within.

As for Dan Chen's concerns, he simply attributed them to the girl's youth and kind heart.

But that won't do. Kind people without powerful backers are not suited for this cruel world.

But that's all for later; what's more important now is the present.

As Dan Rong scanned other parts of Baiyun Mountain with his spiritual sense, he noticed that the protective array was beginning to show signs of instability, indicating that the array's foundation had been disturbed.

He was old and no longer had the possibility of advancing further; he was preparing for future generations, but other Foundation Establishment cultivators were not like that.

Such hasty actions... perhaps for these high-ranking officials in charge of the lower academy, the destruction of the Nanhua Sect is truly hard to say whether it's a good thing or a bad thing.

……

In the dead of night, within a short period of time, the once quiet Baiyun Mountain became noisy.

Dan Rong's actions were just a microcosm. In the vast lower courtyard, the auras of more than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators surged one after another, intersecting and crisscrossing.

The Sutra Repository, the Pill Refining Pavilion, the General Affairs Hall's Secret Treasury, the Spirit Beast Garden, the Law Enforcement Hall... a large number of standardized magical artifacts, materials, and jade slips were snatched away by the well-informed Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Meanwhile, Foundation Establishment cultivators who were a step behind in strength and information lost the initiative and could only shift their focus to places like the alchemy room and talisman hall in their regret.

Although it cannot compare to the imperial treasury, it still contains talismans, pill cauldrons, or other materials that the sect has stocked up in bulk for use by the lower-level disciples.

If sold properly, it can also be a huge fortune.

In less than half an hour, the once quiet and peaceful lower courtyard was transformed into a chopping board with prey laid out.

Amidst the splattering blood, everyone qualified to wield a knife was dividing up their own interests.

During this process, some Foundation Establishment cultivators who were unable to see the situation clearly or were out of touch with the news stepped forward to try to maintain order.

However, after the headmaster, who was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, personally intervened to suppress the noise, the slight disturbances were quickly suppressed.

Gradually, even the thousands of Qi Refining cultivators in the lower courtyard realized something, and a few prominent clans even received hints.

Suddenly, under the dim night sky, all sorts of spiritual lights appeared and disappeared, throwing the vast Baiyun Mountain into chaos.

Whether or not one knows the details of the matter, no one can escape the influence of the prevailing trend.