Cultivating immortality begins with formations.

Night was falling.

Lu Yuan and Jiang Zhi sat at the banquet for a while longer, exchanged a few pleasantries with Zhu Meng's wife and daughters, and then got up to take their leave.

On the way back, Jiang Zhi kept her head down the whole time, her ears flushed slightly, whether from the alcohol or from shyness, it was hard to tell.

The moonlight, like water, spilled onto the bluestone pavement of the market.

Lu Yuan held her hand, feeling the warmth of her palm, his mind still pondering his conversation with Zhu Meng in the secret room.

Zhu Meng has already had a private meeting with the inner sect senior brother in charge of this area of ​​the Qinglian Sword Sect.

And I spoke to him about it many times.

Although he was an inner disciple of the Glazed Tile School, it did not affect his future cultivation in the Azure Lotus Sword School. On the contrary, this inner disciple advised him not to leave the Glazed Tile School and that it would be best if he could compete for the position of sect leader in the future.

It was even mentioned that there was once a sect leader of a second-rate cultivation sect who led his entire sect to willingly become a vassal of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect.

By doing so, he became an inner sect elder of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect, not only gaining a prestigious status but also receiving full support from the sect, breaking through to the next level and becoming a Golden Core cultivator.

Zhu Meng was thus caught in a dilemma.

Faced with such a choice that could affect one's life circumstances, Lu Yuan didn't know how to offer advice, and could only think about it to himself.

The fact that Zhu Meng was willing to tell him this clearly shows that he had no reservations and considered him one of his own.

Then, Zhu Meng mentioned Shi Guanhai.

It turns out that Zhu Meng had returned to the sect a few days ago and had already reached an agreement with Yunshang. A few days later, the two of them planned to eliminate Shi Guanhai when he left the market and entered the Jiuling Mountains to find foundation-building materials for his disciple.

Yunshang's goal is the position of sect leader of the Glazed Tile Sect.

Zhu Meng, on the other hand, was concerned about the safety of his master, wife, and daughter after he left.

After all, he didn't know when he would be able to return from the Azure Lotus Sword Sect. If he couldn't arrange everything before leaving, he would still be uneasy.

Now, however, I am thinking about it again.

Perhaps eliminating Shi Guanhai this time and then competing for the sect leader position later would be a good option.

Upon hearing that they were going to deal with Shi Guanhai, Lu Yuan was so excited that he almost suggested going with them.

But after calming down, he just listened quietly without expressing his opinion.

With two Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces, even if the opponent is only at the early Foundation Establishment stage, it would be difficult for them to withstand the attack.

Lu Yuan believed that with his Qi Refining Level 5 cultivation, accompanying him would not even be considered an added advantage.

Therefore, he did not hesitate to take out a spirit-gathering array plate and told him to be careful in everything he did.

Even if he couldn't kill Shi Guanhai with his own hands, it would be enough for Lu Yuan to do his part and hasten his death.

……

"What is Lu Lang thinking about?"

Jiang Zhi noticed his distraction and asked softly.

Lu Yuan snapped out of his reverie and smiled, "I was thinking about what you promised me earlier."

Jiang Zhi's face immediately turned bright red, and she spat out, "Who agreed to that? I didn't say anything."

"Really?" Lu Yuan raised an eyebrow, his tone teasing. "What was that you whispered in my ear just now? Did I mishear?"

Jiang Zhi was embarrassed and annoyed, and reached out to pinch him.

Lu Yuan was prepared and dodged to the side.

The two laughed and joked as they walked through several streets and arrived at Jiang Zhi's house.

As Lu Yuan pushed open the door, he suddenly stopped in his tracks.

"What's wrong?" Jiang Zhi noticed his strange expression and immediately became alert.

Lu Yuan did not answer, signaling him to be quiet.

He then quickly took out two array plates, one Spirit-Slaying Array on the left and the other Five Elements Mist Array on the right.

Seeing his attitude, Jiang Zhi didn't say a word. She picked up a pair of gilded hammers, and as her spiritual power surged, a faint spiritual light emanated from the hammers.

After a few breaths.

Lu Yuan slowly exhaled and retrieved the two array plates: "It's alright now."

"Young Master Lu, was someone following you just now?" Jiang Zhi asked.

"I don't know who it is, but it's at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Lu Yuan's gaze narrowed slightly.

Although there are quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators in the market now, he believes that he has not offended anyone except Shi Guanhai.

He was still thinking about it at first.

Could it be that his past with Gu Qingyao has been revealed, but since she hasn't shown herself yet, that proves it's not the case.

After all, once the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Azure Lotus Sword Sect confirm that he has a past relationship with Gu Qingyao, they will immediately take action.

They will not follow suit.

In that case, only one name remained in Lu Yuan's mind: Shi Guanhai.

But Zhu Meng had mentioned it earlier at the Zhu residence.

Shi Guanhai was summoned by the sect leader of the Liuli Sect today and has returned to the sect. He is not currently in Jiuling Market.

Suddenly.

Lu Yuan's pupils constricted slightly, and he was greatly alarmed.

He had a vague idea of ​​what was going on, but he wasn't sure.

Compared to Shi Guanhai, the younger Foundation Establishment cultivator Zhu Meng is perhaps the biggest obstacle in their struggle for the position of sect leader.

As for Zhu Meng, he showed no interest in the position of sect leader from beginning to end...

Huh~

Yunshang also said that she was not interested in the position of sect leader.

But in reality, it's the complete opposite.

Once Shi Guanhai successfully takes over, the pressure he will face will not only come from Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Rather, it's the entire sect...

Having figured this out, Lu Yuan felt more at ease. After pondering for a moment, he said helplessly to Jiang Zhi:

"Sister Jiang, I'm sorry to disappoint you, we'll have to savor this xiao another day..."

"what?"

"...Actually, I didn't intend to taste it either," Jiang Zhi muttered softly, her voice as light as a mosquito's hum.

After Jiang Zhi finished speaking, her ears turned even redder, but knowing this was not the time to joke around, she suppressed her shyness and asked seriously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

Lu Yuan whispered his analysis.

If he wasn't mistaken, perhaps Yunshang's suggestion to join forces against Shi Guanhai in the Jiuling Mountains was just a pretext.

Her true intentions.

They joined forces with Shi Guanhai to kill Zhu Meng.

Although it's just speculation, we still have to be cautious.

After leaving Jiang Zhi's residence, Lu Yuan used the invisibility cloak and the Qi Concealment Technique to return to his own residence.

then.

Open the system panel.

Name: Lu Yuan

Lifespan: 31/36 (Lifespan increased, triple effect)

[Realm Level: Qi Refining Level 5]

[Spiritual Root: Five Elements Spiritual Root (Low Grade)]

[Cultivation Technique: Five Elements Technique (Mastery required for 35 years to break through)]

[Skills: Qi Gathering Array (Perfected, can be broken through after 19 years of cultivation); Five Elements Mist Array (Perfected, can be broken through after 38 years of cultivation); Spirit Severing Array (Proficient, can be broken through after 5 years of cultivation)]

[Techniques: Fire Separation Spell (Proficient, breakthrough possible after ten years of practice); Qi Concealment Technique (Perfected, breakthrough possible after twenty years of practice); Golden Edge Sword Technique (Minor Success, breakthrough possible after eight years of practice); Nine Revolutions Body Tempering Technique (Proficient, breakthrough possible after twenty years of practice)]

[You can infuse your lifespan into cultivation techniques and spells to increase your cultivation progress. Currently, you can infuse four years of lifespan.]

Looking at the Nine Revolutions Body Tempering Technique on the attribute panel, which he had cultivated to the proficient level through his own efforts, Lu Yuan took out the Longevity Pill from his storage bag and put it in his mouth.

The medicinal properties dissolved within the body, and the rich aura of green wood continuously cleansed the limbs and bones.

A feeling of euphoria gradually spread.

After the medicine was fully absorbed, Lu Yuan checked the panel again...

Name: Lu Yuan

Lifespan: 31/66 (Lifespan increased, triple effect)

【…】

[Lifespan can be infused into cultivation techniques and spells to increase cultivation progress. Currently, lifespan that can be infused is 34 years.]

Without the slightest hesitation.

Lu Yuan decisively poured twenty years of his lifespan into it to cultivate the Nine Revolutions Body Tempering Technique.

[Nine Revolutions Body Refining Technique, Infusing Twenty Years of Lifespan]

[Nine Revolutions Body Refining Technique (Completed)]

[Remaining infusionable lifespan: 14 years]

……