I only want immortality.

"Uncle-Master Jin Guang, can you really intercept Yang Xingkong?"

At Chun Jun Sect, Jin Guang rode on the back of an ox, his eyes vacant, one hand still resting on the snack box, his body stiff and motionless. Murong Xian, Zhao Yuanxiao, and others surrounded him, along with many other disciples of Chun Jun Sect.

Standing in the crowd, Lin Yang couldn't help but whisper a question to Chen Xu beside her.

He and Chen Xu were both in the Outer Affairs Hall. The day before yesterday, they heard that a longevity pill had appeared in a nearby market, so they went there specifically. They had just returned today when they happened to catch Yang and her party breaking out of the door.

The Yang family is one of the seven great families of the Song Kingdom, and its strength should not be underestimated. Although the family head, Yang Xingkong, rarely makes a move, he is probably not someone to be trifled with. Therefore, Lin Yang has deep doubts.

Chen Xu glared at him:

"Stop talking!"

He thought to himself that this kid hadn't suffered enough on Canglang Mountain that day, and still couldn't shake his bad habit of talking too much.

But he couldn't help turning his head to look at the golden light, and for a moment he couldn't be sure.

Yang Xingkong is at least a Qi Refining Level 10 cultivator, and he has been on the run for so long. Although Junior Brother Jin Guang's magical power is formidable, it's not necessarily the case...

Just as I was thinking this, a commotion broke out in the crowd.

"You're back?"

He stared intently and saw a golden streak of light flying from the horizon. It seemed slow but was actually fast. In the blink of an eye, it flew back and landed directly in the golden fontanelle.

Jin Guang shuddered, but his eyes instantly cleared. He reached out and grabbed the object that had returned with the golden light—a "Qiankun Bag." This object looked only the size of a palm, but it contained a vast universe within, hence the name Qiankun Bag.

The Qiankun bag was edged with gold, and those with a keen eye could see the character "Yang" embroidered in the middle, stained with bloodstains.

The crowd immediately erupted in even greater excitement.

"They actually killed them, and even took their storage bags!"

"Even if he is not Yang Xingkong, he must be an elder of the Yang family."

"Junior Uncle is awesome!"

"Could the technique used by Junior Uncle be the 'Divine Wandering in the Void One Qi Sword' from the Scripture Pavilion, a technique that no one has mastered?"

The Qiankun Bag is a treasure trove that cultivators keep close at hand and should not leave it easily. The fact that this item has appeared means that the cultivator has most likely lost their life.

Chen Xu stared blankly at the Qiankun bag that Jin Guang had casually tossed to Murong Xian, and a sense of bewilderment arose in his heart.

The head of the Yang family... just like that, he's gone?

How could my third master's disciple be like this...?

For a moment, he was at a loss for words to express the complex emotions he felt.

Even Lin Yang, who had been so foul-mouthed just moments before, was now speechless, clearly too shocked to bear it.

But both of them, without prior arrangement, thought of something deeper.

Jin Guang was indeed incredibly strong, but how amazing and talented must Li Pinghe have been in the past to have taught such a disciple?

Of all these, the most shocking was Chen Xu.

As the saying goes, those close to him do not see clearly, while those distant from him know. When he became a disciple of his master, Li Pinghe was still a disciple. However, he was young at the time and only knew that his third senior uncle was extremely famous, that he had improved some techniques, and that he had friends all over the Song Kingdom. Because of their close relationship, no one else saw things as clearly as he did.

Looking at him today through the eyes of his disciples, one realizes that this third senior master is indeed worthy of his reputation, and that the rumors of the past may have underestimated him.

Thinking of this, he felt even more uneasy:

"Even someone as capable as Third Martial Uncle doesn't have a high opinion of Chun Jun Sect. Where should Chun Jun Sect go from here in the future?"

"Our Third Martial Uncle is currently in charge of the sect, so we still have someone to guide us. But once our Third Martial Uncle passes away, and the Young Sect Master is not a shrewd strategist, then what will become of us...?"

The more I think about it, the more anxious and uneasy I become.

Unlike Chen Xu, Zhao Yuanxiao and the others were overjoyed to see Jin Guang easily take the Qiankun Bag and return.

"Good junior brother! Good junior brother! You have done a great service today!"

Zhao Yuanxiao, who was always strict and stern in the sect and always had a cold demeanor, could not hide his joy and praised her repeatedly.

Not only did the other party save the entire Chun Jun Sect, but they also killed a member of the Yang family. Regardless of whether it was Yang Xingkong or not, even if only an elder was killed, it would greatly enhance the prestige of the Chun Jun Sect. If word of today's events spread, it will prevent other families from looking down on the Chun Jun Sect.

Being respected is crucial; only when you make a move will other companies not abandon you. It may seem like a hollow title, but it is actually extremely important.

Otherwise, if people find out that Chun Jun Sect was attacked and then left unscathed, everyone will want to take advantage of the situation, and that would be a real problem.

In an instant, the entire Chun Jun Sect was surrounded by golden light, and everyone praised it.

Jin Guang had never been so adored before. Even though his teacher often taught him to maintain the composure of a cultivator, he couldn't help but grin.

Among the crowd, Murong Xian, who was holding a Qiankun bag and had just learned that Yang Xingkong had been killed, should have been happy. However, seeing the golden light surrounding him, he felt inexplicably angry, as if something that should have belonged to him had been taken away.

But as the sect leader, he couldn't just leave, so he forced a smile and held on until the very end.

……

"That kid from the Yang family shouldn't be dead."

Inside the Western Palace.

Li Pinghe and Murong Xian sat facing each other, with the Yang family's bloodstained Qiankun bag placed on the table between them.

Standing to the side, Zhao Yuanxiao, upon hearing Li Pinghe's calm words, couldn't help but say:

"Although Junior Brother Jin Guang is inexperienced in worldly affairs, he is unlikely to have mistaken someone for someone else. Since he said he killed Yang Xingkong, it must be true."

Murong Xian remained silent. He knew he was far too inexperienced compared to the two people before him, and that too much talk would only lead to mistakes. It was better to just listen quietly. In fact, if it weren't for the fact that the matter was of utmost importance and he, as the sect leader, had no choice but to come, he would have preferred to go into seclusion and cultivate diligently, so that he could refine the precious pill and reach the Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible. Then he wouldn't be in such a passive position.

Li Pinghe picked up the teacup, blew away the rising steam, and calmly replied:

"Jin Guang did not mistake the person, but the young man from the Yang family who came today is most likely not his true self."

"Not the real person?"

Murong Xian was startled and instinctively sat up straight, a deep sense of apprehension flashing in his eyes.

Yang Xingkong put immense pressure on him. Aside from being unilaterally outmaneuvered and powerless to retaliate, the main reason was the man's extraordinary ambition, scheming, and worldly-wise confidence, which he still finds unfathomable when he thinks back on it now.

Are you sure?

He couldn't help but ask.

The barely concealed apprehension in his tone made Zhao Yuanxiao glance at him, secretly shaking his head, though he didn't show it on his face. After thinking carefully, he finally spoke:

"When my master says that, I do recall it. At that time, my magic power was fully restored, and I no longer concealed it. Yang Xingkong had nothing important to do at the time, but he deliberately sent someone to stop me while he watched the battle from the sidelines. This person is meticulous and should never have made such a mistake... Now that I think about it, perhaps it was not that he was unwilling, but that he was unable to."

During this brief pause, Li Pinghe quietly sipped his tea and said leisurely:

Indeed.

Zhao Yuanxiao thought for a moment, then said:

"Yang Xingkong first used the Nine Yin Soul-Soothing Water to dissipate our magical power, and then immediately surrounded us with the 'Bewitching Mind and Chaotic Spirit Array.' His words implied that he was preparing to bring us into his Yang family. This method is indeed strange and unheard of. I wonder if my master has any clues?"

He had only asked a question without any expectation, but to his surprise, Li Pinghe frowned and pondered for a moment before slowly speaking:

"I have only heard of the Mind-Bending and Spirit-Disrupting Array. It is said to be a true technique of a sect in Runan Kingdom of Yuzhou, obtained from the demonic path of Youzhou. It can refine people's minds and make them work for one's own purposes without the person even realizing it. However, this technique is too vicious. It requires blood relatives as the array's core and builds a white bone pagoda. Each layer of the pagoda requires one blood relative to contain one person's mind and spirit. It starts with three layers and ends with nine layers. This technique is against the natural order and is insidious and difficult to defend against. Therefore, it was attacked by a group and soon perished. The array technique was also lost."

"It seems that this child has inherited the legacy of that sect."

"Such a vicious method!"

Zhao Yuanxiao was both surprised and sighed: "If that's the case, then Yang Xingkong has ruined the lives of nine blood relatives, yet the Yang family can tolerate him."

He secretly rejoiced, thinking that if it weren't for the presence of knowledgeable senior cultivators like his master, how could they have known such a secret? Without knowing the details and taking precautions, they might have been robbed at any time.

Murong Xian was also shocked, finding it hard to believe that someone in the world would kill their own blood relative for a single formation.

Li Pinghe put down his tea, seemingly aware of their thoughts, and said softly:

"Everyone has their own obsessions. Once a thought arises, evil will follow. It is not difficult to indulge one's desires. Only those who can uphold their bottom line are true heroes and true champions."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanxiao nodded in agreement.

Murong Xian nodded in agreement, but in his heart he thought that he was a cultivator and should not be a hero or a great man.

There's no need to say it out loud.

Zhao Yuanxiao then said shyly:

"I am truly ashamed of what happened today. My senior master reminded me to be wary of the Yang family a few days ago, but I never expected to be tricked like this. If it weren't for the method taught by my senior master and the timely assistance of junior brother Jin Guang, I'm afraid there would be no Chun Jun Sect anymore."

Li Pinghe, however, did not take credit and said with a faint smile:

"Your ability to cultivate this technique is your own skill. Besides, wasn't it you who invited Jin Guang to oversee things? What does it have to do with me?"

"Yes, yes, Master Uncle is right."

A smile appeared on Zhao Yuanxiao's face.

In fact, after receiving advice from Li Pinghe that day, he had already begun to arrange some precautions. However, Yang Xingkong was too good at disguising himself and deliberately used secrets to confuse him, causing him to lower his guard and be ambushed. Now that he thinks about it, if it happened again, he would probably still suffer the same fate.

He felt even more wary of Yang Xingkong, and without hiding it, he immediately asked for his guidance:

"There is one more matter I humbly request your guidance, Master Uncle... Yang Xingkong is a treacherous and ruthless man with great ambition. If he continues to target my Chun Jun Sect with his insidious mind-controlling and mind-disrupting array, it will be truly impossible to guard against him..."

Li Pinghe pondered for a moment, then gently shook his head and said:

"To forge a demonic array with blood relatives can be called 'poison,' and to devour Chun Jun with unorthodox methods can be called 'yin.' Yet, despite being a senior member of the sect, he himself dares not take the risk. He is like someone who takes up arms and enters a room, but hides behind a screen. He is like someone who forgets righteousness for small gains and hesitates to risk his life for great deeds. He is all bark and no bite, nothing but a cowardly rat!"

"Such a person, who has narrowly escaped death, would not dare to come again easily. If he does come again, it will surely be when Chun Jun Sect is in dire straits."

"Therefore, rather than sitting and waiting, we should pursue them. We can send messages about today's events to the various sects of the Song Kingdom, exaggerating a little... especially the Nine Yang Sect, we can say more in the message."

Zhao Yuanxiao, a man well-versed in worldly affairs, was overjoyed and said:

"This plan is brilliant!"

He then took his leave.

Seeing Zhao Yuanxiao retreat, Murong Xian took out a pill box from his sleeve, gently pushed it in front of Li Pinghe, and smiled:

"Grandmaster Uncle, this is a longevity pill that I had someone find. It's better than I expected and can extend one's life by four years."

Li Pinghe slowly stood up: "Thank you, Sect Master."

Murong Xian quickly helped him up:

"Grandmaster, no, this is what I should do. It's a pity that I haven't been able to purchase a five-year longevity pill. Grandmaster, you can keep it for now, and I will continue to send people to search for it."

At the Qi Refining Realm, the Longevity Pill will only have an effect of up to five years, but very few of these pills can last for five years.

Li Pinghe was aware of the situation and was already satisfied with being able to extend his life by four years.

Murong Xian chatted for a while longer, truly like a dutiful grandson at his father's side, until Li Pinghe spoke, at which point he seemed reluctant to leave.

"That grandson of my junior brother..."

Li Pinghe sighed softly to himself.

He has neither the ability to wield power nor the dedication to cultivation; his mind is chaotic, and he follows unorthodox paths. If he weren't his junior brother's grandson, if he didn't have a promising foundation for cultivation, if he didn't need to be here...

He shook his head, took the pill box, looked at it, confirmed that it was a longevity pill, and then put it away.

He can last another two or three years, so there's no need for him to use the longevity pill.

He then took the Qiankun bag belonging to the Yang family. It was protected by a restriction, and if anyone other than Yang Xingkong himself were to open it rashly, it would only cause the Qiankun bag to collapse.

But what kind of person was he? In his past years, he had encountered many cultivators who had suffered tribulations while traveling in the cultivation world. In order to make it easier to borrow supplies from other people's Qiankun bags, he had studied the method of opening the bags very well.

Although he hadn't used it for many years, he hadn't become rusty. He instinctively pointed at it, and the Qiankun bag opened on its own. Li Pinghe gently shook it, and several items fell out.

It contained a white bone pagoda, the Yang family token, three Yin Thunder Beads, and a few talismans; there was nothing else besides these.

"It seems that the Yang family has made preparations for failure."

There was no surprise in Li Pinghe's eyes.

A shrewd person often considers failure before victory; though he may lack some boldness, he is more thorough.

Just then, without any warning, the three Yin Thunder Beads suddenly exploded!

Like ink-black clouds expanding, a deep, dark expanse!

However, just as it was about to touch Li Pinghe, it was as if it had encountered unimaginable compression and collapsed back at an extremely fast speed!

After three muffled thuds, it instantly turned into wisps of green smoke and disappeared.

Li Pinghe's expression remained unchanged; he didn't even blink. He simply blew lightly to dispel some of the odor and praised it to himself.

"This is interesting; this is going to be interesting."

In the Song Dynasty, there are few people as meticulous and ruthless as him. In ordinary times, they might not even have a place in society, but in times of chaos, such people often manage to make a name for themselves.

"However, even with the legacy of the Runan Grand Sect, it's still not enough to help someone build a foundation for their Dao?"

"What exactly is missing in achieving the foundation of the Dao?"

He muttered to himself, but still couldn't understand.

He casually picked up the white bone pagoda, looked it over, and a strange light gradually appeared in his eyes:

"This technique... doesn't seem too difficult to crack."

……

Deep within the territory of the Yang clan in the Northwest.

Inside the secret room.

Yang Xingkong sat alone, his face as white as frost, holding a cloth doll that looked just like him in his hand, except that the doll's neck was severed in the middle and blood was seeping out.

"The Divine Wandering Sword Technique... is also a magic passed down by Li Canglang!"

"That golden-light boy is probably a descendant of Li Canglang."

"These methods are in no way inferior to what I saw in Runan... I miscalculated!"

His eyes flickered as he suppressed the resentment and anger that welled up inside him from the near failure and the loss of one of his clones, and his gaze turned thoughtful:

"Even if that Golden Light Boy is not as good as the former Master of Canglang, with his skills, he is enough to be worth three or five people of the same realm."

"The Chun Jun Sect is probably out of the question right now. I was hoping to accumulate more wealth and sell it later, but it seems I really have no choice but to take the risk at the Qinghe Sect... Hmm? Someone broke my restriction?"

Yang Xingkong suddenly had a thought, and then let out a cold laugh.

Since he had already considered the possibility of failure, why would he carry the treasure with him? Apart from a formation eye that others couldn't use, the biggest "surprise" in the Qiankun bag was three "Yin Thunder Seeds". One seed was enough to kill an unprepared Qi Refining Level 10 cultivator. If all three were fired at the same time, anyone below the Dao Foundation stage would either die or be seriously injured.

Of course, he didn't have high expectations either. His gaze was distant as he muttered to himself:

"Even a true dragon has shallow waters to swim in... Chun Jun Sect, we will meet again!"