I only want immortality.

The sea of ​​knowledge.

Between the two gourds, the green-skinned gourd contains a cracked bronze bell that is still being slowly repaired, with the cracks showing signs of almost imperceptible healing.

Inside another yellow gourd, a scroll bearing the five large characters "Nine Turns of Spiritual Transmission" was slowly rising and falling. The pages turned silently, and the characters on them twisted, disassembled, and reassembled as if they were alive...

Li Pinghe regained his composure, closed his eyes again, and mentally reviewed the changes in the "Nine Revolutions of Spirit Transmission Chapter".

Originally, this incomplete method of forging the foundation of one's Dao through refining treasures had a success rate of only 20%. Now, in just a few days, thanks to the repairs done by his yellow gourd, that success rate has been increased to 35%.

Of course, the reason for the rapid progress is largely because the method was originally crude and incomplete. Once it becomes more perfect, any further improvements would take significantly longer.

Li Pinghe silently recalled the records made by the Jiaohu Daoist in the jade slip.

"Compared to the pill-taking method, which has a success rate of over 90%, the treasure-refining method is actually much riskier. If it fails, one's soul will either be scattered or one's soul will be refined into the treasure, becoming a spirit of the artifact. But this is not a good path. One's self-awareness will gradually be worn away until one is completely ignorant and unaware."

"If it really comes to that, the best outcome would be for the soul to be scattered and the body to be destroyed."

"Of course, although the Refining Treasure Method has great drawbacks, it is superior to the Pill Consumption Method, which almost cuts off the future, in that it has infinite possibilities in the future. The only problem is that there are very few treasures suitable for entrusting one's Dao foundation, and almost all of them are already owned."

Thinking of this, Li Pinghe could only feel helpless.

Even a skilled cook can't cook without rice. Even if he could deduce the "Nine Revolutions Spirit Transfer Chapter" with a 100% success rate, without a treasure to entrust it to, it would all be for nothing.

He lowered his head, his gaze falling on the white bone pagoda in front of him.

The yellow gourd gave him a habit: whenever he encountered unfamiliar spells, techniques, formations, or so on, he was willing to spend time figuring out their intricacies.

The eye of this mind-bending and spirit-disrupting array is something he has never seen before. He has already deduced the entire array from the reverse and is still dismantling it piece by piece.

The formation wasn't particularly sophisticated; in fact, it had a kind of crudeness that opened his eyes. Yet, its effects were incredibly mysterious, almost like an illusion formation, but exceeding the scope of a normal illusion formation.

A normal illusion array will at most affect the current environment. As long as the cultivator leaves the range of the illusion array, he will not be affected.

However, cultivators controlled by this mind-bending and spirit-disrupting array are as if they have refined the illusion array into their sea of ​​consciousness, and are affected by it at all times. More importantly, the cultivators' minds are controlled by the array master from then on, and they are at the mercy of the array master's command and demands, without even realizing it.

"The methods of demonic cultivation are indeed extremely dangerous."

Li Pinghe continued to break down the remaining formations into smaller, more detailed pieces. He quickly discovered that most of them were composed of basic small formations that produced effects such as killing, trapping, bewildering, and illusion through structural changes. In essence, they were not much different from any of the formations he was familiar with.

"It seems the key still lies in this array's core. The nine-tiered pagoda can trap the mind of one person on each tier. No, rather than trapping the mind, it's more accurate to say that it allows the consciousness within the pagoda to take its place. The reason for refining blood ties is to make the consciousness within these individuals closer to the array master..."

After much thought, he suddenly understood.

"This mind-confusing and spirit-disrupting array is not an array, but a prison."

"What is imprisoned is not the physical body, but the cultivator's will."

"Using blood relatives to build the array eye is merely to make it easier for the array master to control. If a branch of consciousness is severed and used to occupy the cultivator's body through this pagoda, it should also be feasible."

The more he thought about it, the happier he became. It wasn't about anything else; it was the joy of not only solving the problem but also finding a different, correct answer.

More importantly, he had also studied this method of severing branching consciousness.

"The Divine Wandering Sword of the Void... is to condense one's own soul, spirit, magic power, etc. into a sword of qi. At the Qi Refining Realm, one can travel up to a hundred miles. When used to injure enemies, its sharpness is extremely sharp and indestructible. When used to perform actions, it can take human form. However, once it leaves the physical body, it is like water without roots and cannot last long."

"As for this technique, I gathered up many years of accumulation while sitting in seclusion on Canglang Mountain for twenty-six years, and finally innovated and created the ultimate Qi Refining Technique. It can transform one Qi into three swords. It was originally used to suddenly separate during combat, increasing its power several times over. Now, it is worth a try."

He acted on his thought without delay. Holding the White Bone Pagoda in his hand, a cloud of energy suddenly emerged from the fontanelle above his head. The energy leaped out and transformed into three beams of clear light, two small and one large. The two smaller beams flew into the ninth and eighth floors of the White Bone Pagoda.

Then several mournful screams were heard, and several wisps of black mist rose from the White Bone Pagoda, which then dissipated. Two beams of clear light then directly occupied the ninth and eighth floors.

A clear light gradually shone through the windows on the eighth and ninth floors of the pagoda, giving the entire white bone pagoda a more solemn appearance.

The remaining large beam of clear light returned to the body from the fontanelle.

Li Pinghe's eyes brightened again.

"It really worked."

With his eyes slightly closed, he could clearly sense himself inside the pagoda.

"I'd like to give it a try if I have the chance."

After thinking for a moment, Li Pinghe retrieved the two orbs of clear light from the pagoda.

Even if these two orbs of clear light were separated, the damage to his main body would not be significant. However, now that he is getting old and his lifespan is limited, there is no need to take this risk. If he could occupy a cultivator's physical body and have a body to nourish him, then it would be fine.

"The demonic path, though perilous, has its merits. It's a pity that the Yang family boy was too cautious; otherwise, we would have liked to see what else he gained from Runan Kingdom."

Li Pinghe felt a little regretful.

Such fortuitous encounters are truly rare, and he has never had such good fortune. Even after living for over a hundred years, he has never been as lucky as Murong Xian or Yang Xingkong, who often possess relics from their predecessors or the legacy of great sects. To be honest, his growth to where he is today is entirely due to his own hard work.

But no matter how hard you try, sometimes you have to admit that you are no match for those who are destined by fate.

As he was sighing, he suddenly sensed something and turned his head to look.

Sure enough, after a few breaths, a voice came from outside the palace gate:

"Disciple Zhao Yuanxiao requests an audience with Third Master Uncle."

"Enter."

With a flick of his sleeve, the White Bone Pagoda was put away.

Zhao Yuanxiao strode in, his expression somewhat solemn. He bowed first upon meeting them, and then said:

"The scouts have brought news that Yang Xingkong is indeed not dead. He has led the Yang clan away from their ancestral home and their whereabouts are unknown."

"Furthermore, we have received confirmation that the group of cultivators from Wuling Kingdom last December were members of the Qinghe Sect."

"Is it really the Qinghe Sect?"

Li Pinghe slightly lifted his drooping eyelids.

"That's right. Following my master's instructions, I sent letters to the Nine Yang Sect and the Baoxia Sect. Except for Lotus Valley, which is the farthest away and has not yet replied, the Nine Yang Sect has confirmed the news. It is indeed the Qinghe Sect, the number one sect in Wuling Kingdom, that seized the Thousand Hands Sect's mountain gate this time."

"Qinghe Sect..."

As he uttered this name, Li Pinghe felt a rare sense of solemnity.

Wuling Kingdom is located north of Song Kingdom. Although the two countries are adjacent, they are separated by the Wunan Mountain Range. There is a continuous stone wind in the mountain range. Even if a cultivator accidentally enters it, he will be impaled by the rocks and die. If the two countries want to communicate, they must detour through Changsha Kingdom. Therefore, the cultivators of the two countries rarely have contact.

Because of limited contact, most of the cultivators from the Song Kingdom were unaware of the true gap in strength between the two countries.

In his youth, he had traveled to various kingdoms in Jingnan and spent some time in Wuling Kingdom, where he also interacted with powerful cultivators and thus knew the ins and outs of Wuling Kingdom.

The country has three major sects, each with a Dao Foundation cultivator in charge. The Qinghe Sect is the most respected of the three sects because it has three Dao Foundation cultivators, while the other two sects each have two. The three sects are in a state of balance and stand as a tripartite balance, a structure that has been maintained for many years.

"The Qinghe Clan resides in Wuling, with the 'Emperor Clan' as its shield to the north and eyeing the heartland of the 'Western Wilderness Clan' to the south. According to what Yang Jiazi said, a powerful ruler will rise in the Central, Yu, Ji, and Yan regions, dominating all directions. Jingzhou borders both the Central and Yu regions, so there must be a change in the north of Jingzhou, leading to the migration of the main clan to the south. The southern clan, in turn, has no choice but to continue south... until the present-day Song Dynasty."

"The Thousand Hands Sect suffered a calamity as a result."

Li Pinghe recalled the maps of the thirteen states in his mind, trying to trace back the origins of the Qinghe Sect's seizure of the Thousand Hands Sect's mountain gate. In just a few words, he outlined the major changes in the situation, which made Zhao Yuanxiao's heart pound and his breath catch in his throat.

He couldn't help but think that the mere four words "major migration to the south" must have contained countless stories of cultivators' blood, tears, rise and fall, and separation. Wasn't the Jingbei of yesterday just like the Song Kingdom of today?

"If we look at the location of the spiritual caves occupied by the three major sects of Wuling Kingdom, the sect that has now seized the Thousand Hands Sect should be the Xiye Sect, which is located in the southernmost part and is adjacent to the Wunan Mountains. However, the news from the Nine Suns Sect indicates that the one who came is the Qinghe Sect."

Li Pinghe stood up, walked with his hands behind his back, and looked thoughtful.

"Either the Xiye Sect is swallowed up by the Qinghe Sect, or the Xiye Sect has been destroyed by the major sects heading south, and the Qinghe Sect has managed to escape by sheer luck..."

Zhao Yuanxiao exclaimed in surprise, "Even a major sect like the Qinghe Sect is facing such a perilous situation?"

Li Pinghe, however, remained much calmer and said in a low voice:

"The Qinghe Sect is indeed a major sect compared to the Chun Jun Sect, but it only has three Dao Foundation Establishment cultivators. In the Jingbei region, there are many sects with Golden Core and Yuan Saint cultivators in charge. If even they are in a panic and look north, what can the Qinghe Sect do?"

"this……"

Zhao Yuanxiao fell silent for a moment. What his third senior uncle said had far exceeded his imagination. If even the Qinghe Sect could not be considered a major sect, then what was their Chun Jun Sect?

A sense of insignificance and the fleeting nature of life arose in their hearts. Their tireless pursuit within the Chun Jun Sect seemed as laughable as an ant trying to shake a tree.

"It's not that difficult."

Li Pinghe noticed the turmoil in Zhao Yuanxiao's heart and, unusually, offered words of comfort:

"The Central Plains, Yanzhou, Hebei, and Henan have been prosperous since ancient times, but they have also been battlegrounds. To the north, the You and Bing demonic sects are eyeing us covetously; to the west, the Yong and Liang ghost and Buddha sects are defiant; to the east, the sword immortals of Qingzhou roam freely; and to the southeast, Xu and Yang are also home to numerous immortal sects... As Yang Jiazi said, it is probably not so easy for that powerful ruler to sweep away the thirteen states in a thousand years."

"A thousand years..."

Zhao Yuanxiao was stunned. He was only sixty-nine years old, in the prime of his life, but he was afraid that he would never be able to establish a foundation in the Dao in this lifetime. Therefore, the thought of a thousand years seemed so distant.

He couldn't help but smile bitterly. In that case, he might not live to see the day the Song Dynasty was destroyed.

A sense of relief washed over me, and I regained my composure, asking again:

"We can't deal with those distant or powerful ones. Right now, we should focus on dealing with the Qinghe Sect. Does Senior Uncle have any ideas?"

Li Pinghe sat back down, shaking his head with a smile:

"no."

Zhao Yuanxiao was taken aback. No matter what difficulties they encountered before, his third senior uncle always had a way to deal with them. But now he didn't expect the other party to reply so decisively. But then he thought about it and realized that it was probably the right thing to do.

Even though Third Master Uncle is wise and insightful, the gap between them is simply too vast. The current situation is beyond Third Master Uncle's ability to handle, or rather, the cultivators of the seven sects in the entire Song Kingdom are probably willing but unable to cope.

He immediately cupped his hands in apology and said with shame:

"It was presumptuous of me."

Li Pinghe chuckled lightly:

"I apologize for being so forward."

After laughing, he said seriously:

"The Qinghe Sect has come south and has the ability to sweep across the Song Kingdom. The most urgent task is none other than these four words."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanxiao perked up and quickly asked, "May I ask, Uncle-Master, what are those four characters?"

"Distinguish between friend and foe."

Li Pinghe spoke slowly and deliberately.

Zhao Yuanxiao was taken aback at first, then suddenly realized: "So that's how it is, disciple understands!"

"Do you really understand?"

Li Pinghe looked at him with a smile.

"I... Senior Uncle, please give me some guidance."

After spending a lot of time together, Zhao Yuanxiao also learned to take advantage of the situation and shamelessly ask for advice.

"An enemy is not necessarily an enemy, and a friend is not necessarily always a friend, but no matter when or where, it is always better to have more friends and fewer enemies. This is the way of the highest good, like water."

Li Pinghe said earnestly, "If you can understand this, you will be able to both survive and make progress."

"The highest good is like water?"

Zhao Yuanxiao was completely confused, seemingly understanding something yet also not understanding anything at all. After thinking for a moment, he finally asked:

"So what should we do now?"

Li Pinghe was somewhat helpless. This junior apprentice was originally quite adept at handling affairs, but after a few days, he became increasingly unwilling to use his brain. It was also because he couldn't help but offer advice, thus missing out on real opportunities for experience.

He silently reminded himself, but ultimately couldn't resist Zhao Yuanxiao's expectant gaze, and sighed:

"Now it's not about what we should do, but what the Qinghe Sect should do, and what the Jiuyang Sect, Baoxia Sect, Lotus Valley, and Chenjiang Sword Sect should do."

"Until the situation becomes clear, we should simply hold our ground and wait."

Zhao Yuanxiao suddenly realized what was happening and immediately took his leave to make the arrangements.

A few more days passed.

The situation remained calm.

Jin Guang rode his black water buffalo all day long without returning home, pampered by the disciples of his sect, and had long forgotten himself.

The Nine Revolutions Spirit Transmission Chapter has been successfully improved once again, and the success rate of building a foundation for the Dao has increased to 40%.

Li Pinghe then set about improving the Bewitching Mind and Chaotic Divine Array. Although he didn't improve it as quickly as Huangpi Gourd, he incorporated some of his own ideas into it.

What puzzled him was that Lotus Valley's reply was delayed.

"Could it be that you still hold a grudge from back then...?"

Li Pinghe frowned slightly, hesitating for a moment whether he should go to Lotus Valley in person.

But in the end, he was unable to make the trip.

"Master Uncle, a fight has broken out!"

"The Nine Yang Sect and the Green River Sect are fighting!"

Zhao Yuanxiao didn't even have time to offer his greetings before rushing into the Western Palace.