Mortal: The Path to Immortality

Deep within the ruins of the ancient teleportation array, sunlight cannot penetrate, leaving only the faint glow emitted by the fluorescent stones.

Elder Lin stood on the altar, his face illuminated by the glowing stone, looking down at the crowd.

The stone tablet behind him faintly emanated spiritual energy, clearly a key point in the formation that should not be underestimated.

Luo Jin and the Third Leader carefully scanned their surroundings with their divine senses, confirming that there were indeed no ambushes except for Elder Lin. The two exchanged glances and a look of understanding.

Lu Nanzhu and Xin Ruyin huddled behind the two Core Formation cultivators like lambs to the slaughter. Lu Nanzhu's eyes darted around, his hands clenched into fists in his sleeves, wondering how to find a glimmer of hope in this dark crevice.

Elder Lin, seeing the two wary expressions, broke the silence first:

"There are only a few of us here; I've already arranged for everyone else to leave. But I wonder why there are a few outsiders here?"

After speaking, Elder Lin's sinister gaze swept over Lu Nanzhu, Xin Ruyin, and the third leader of the Fu family.

Luo Jin remained expressionless and replied calmly:

"I didn't expect Elder Lin to keep his promise so well. My cultivation is low, and just in case, I always need to call for some help when I'm out and about to ensure my safety."

"Oh? A Core Formation cultivator like you actually needs two juniors to protect you?" Elder Lin paused, glanced thoughtfully at the incantation mark on Lu Nanzhu's forehead, and pointed at him before continuing,

"This junior looks familiar... isn't he... Junior Brother Wang's beloved disciple? How did he end up in your hands?"

Upon hearing Elder Lin's words, Lu Nanzhu's heart was filled with hope, and he thought to himself:

"Uncle Lin, you have a good eye! It hasn't been for nothing that I've called you 'Uncle' all these years. Let's get this guy going!"

Luo Jin's heart skipped a beat, but he still calmly said, "Oh? Fellow Daoist Lin actually recognizes this junior. That makes things easier. In a little while, let this junior travel with you... back to the sect."

"Hmph! You kidnapped my Spirit Beast Mountain disciples and stole my treasures. Now you dare to come to this forbidden area of ​​Spirit Beast Mountain to meet me? You do have some guts." Elder Lin sneered, his spiritual energy spreading out, releasing the pressure of a Core Formation cultivator.

"If I truly wanted to kill you, what could the two of you do to me?"

Facing this confident mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, Luo Jin did not respond, but instead looked up at the sliver of night sky behind Elder Lin.

He stared at the desolate moon for a few moments, his expression growing increasingly solemn.

After a moment, Luo Jin withdrew his gaze and said slowly:

"Fellow Daoist is too kind. The reason I invited you to this meeting is to return the 'Snow Queen Incense' to you."

"How dare I make an enemy of you, fellow Daoist? You are an elder of Spirit Beast Mountain; surely you wouldn't hold a grudge against me for the sake of a few mere Foundation Establishment disciples?"

The third leader, standing nearby, quickly put on a smiling face and echoed, "Yes, Fellow Daoist Lin. The two of us came here not with any other intentions, but truly to ease the previous misunderstanding."

After all, we all live in the same region, and if we have disagreements and hurt our feelings, it won't be good for anyone.

Although this "Snow Queen Incense" is precious, it is ultimately inferior to the friendship between us...

The third leader spoke very quickly, with a hint of humility typical of businessmen on his face. As he spoke, he used his magic to lift up an exquisite jade box.

Upon seeing this, Luo Jin pointed his finger at the jade box, and a round ball gleaming with a crystal-clear white light flew out of the box.

This "Snow Queen Incense" no longer has the foul stench of yesteryear, but instead exudes a comforting fragrance.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, catch!"

Luo Jin activated his magic power, and the sphere slowly flew towards Elder Lin on the high platform.

Just as the sphere was flying towards the platform, Elder Lin's eyes suddenly flickered, as if he had remembered something.

Without hesitation, he swung his wrist sharply and unleashed a burst of flame at the white sphere floating in the air.

The flames enveloped the sphere.

Under the scorching flames, the sphere suddenly exploded in mid-air with a "bang," releasing an extremely dense cloud of blue poisonous mist.

The mist was neither smelly nor soundful; had it not been forcibly incinerated by the flames, it would probably have spread out invisibly long ago.

It turned out that the sphere was actually a poison pill made by Luo Jin, with only a very thin layer of Zhenxue Kuixiang powder on its outside.

Seeing that his methods had been exposed, Luo Jin felt no shame whatsoever. Instead, he let out a few sinister laughs and said with regret:

"What a pity, we almost succeeded."

"A trivial skill."

Elder Lin stood on the altar, the embers of fire still lingering around him, making his face appear even more gloomy.

He watched the dissipating blue poisonous mist and sneered:

"This Snow Queen Incense is made from extremely cold and yin substances. Ordinary flames will not harm it in the slightest, and the stronger the fire, the stronger the fragrance becomes."

Such a crude trick, I can easily see through it with a little test. Do you two really think I've lived this hundred years in vain?

Having said that, Elder Lin's gaze towards the two below was now filled with murderous intent, and his tone turned cold:

"It seems that you two are not sincere in returning the items. You have played tricks on this old man several times today. You really have no intention of leaving this place alive."

Seeing that the originally hidden poison pill was easily discovered, the third leader's usually smooth face showed a hint of tension, and he subconsciously gathered magic power in his hand.

Luo Jin, however, remained completely calm and even let out a hoarse chuckle.

He slowly took out another round ball from his sleeve. This fragrant ball was a deep, dark blue color, and as soon as the fragrance appeared, it seemed as if a layer of fine frost had condensed in the surrounding air.

Luo Jin held the genuine Snow Queen Incense aloft and defiantly waved it at Elder Lin:

"This one is really right here. If Fellow Daoist Lin wants it, feel free to come and get it yourself."

Upon seeing this, Elder Lin frowned slightly, and a sense of suspicion arose in his heart.

This person was only at the early stage of Core Formation, yet he was so arrogant in front of him, repeatedly using tricks as if to provoke him.

He was always cautious, and at this moment he did not rush to make a move, but wanted to find out more details.

"Interesting." Elder Lin suppressed his impatience, concealing his inner doubts, and said in a deep voice with his hands behind his back:

"Fellow Daoist, you possessed my beloved disciple's body, stole my treasures, and now you've repeatedly provoked me. Could it be that you truly dislike me? We have no past grievances or recent conflicts. Do you perhaps have some other motive?"

Luo Jin did not answer immediately, but instead glanced once more at the sliver of moon in the night sky above.

When he finally saw the dark figure emerge near the moon, a sickly look of satisfaction appeared on his face. He then spoke to Elder Lin with a grim expression:

"Fellow Daoist Lin, you take people's money and do their bidding. I have no real grudge against you, but your enemy's obsession with you runs too deep."

As soon as he finished speaking, the murderous intent in Luo Jin's eyes suddenly exploded.

Before Elder Lin could react to the deeper meaning of his words, the third leader beside him suddenly waved his hands, and twelve golden throwing knives shot out in a fan shape.

Almost simultaneously, several dark purple lights also appeared in Luo Jin's sleeve. Those flying needles, tempered with purplish-black corpse energy, used the cover of the golden flying knives to pierce towards Elder Lin on the altar platform.