I only want immortality.

"Ning He..."

In the Western Palace, Li Pinghe slowly opened his eyes, frowning as he said:

"What about those two from the Qinghe Sect?"

"After delivering the message, he left."

Zhao Yuanxiao replied, then cautiously began to speak:

"Third Martial Uncle, is this person from the Qinghe Sect truly someone you have a past relationship with?"

Li Pinghe did not answer, but instead asked, "If there is a past grievance, what should we do? Should we ask them to turn a blind eye and let Chun Jun Sect go? That way, you won't resent me anymore?"

Zhao Yuanxiao said embarrassedly, "Uncle-Master, what are you saying? I only realized later that you scared Lu Mingchen away. But if you really had some connection with the Vice Sect Master of the Qinghe Sect, why didn't you say so from the beginning?"

Li Pinghe scoffed coldly: "I knew you were going to tie me up and hand me over to Ning He to make a deal!"

Zhao Yuanxiao smiled apologetically: "Senior Uncle, I was wrong. I was just worried about my disciples, and that's why I lost my composure."

"snort."

Li Pinghe didn't dwell on it. He got up, put his hands behind his back, and walked to the window. Looking at his disciples repairing the various buildings outside, a look of reminiscence appeared in his eyes:

"Speaking of which, it was when I had just achieved cultivation and was traveling in Jingnan. One day, I passed through Wuling Kingdom and heard that there was a blessed land called 'Peach Blossom Spring' there, so I went to take a look. I never expected to encounter a robbery on the way. My companions all gave up their wealth to save their lives, but I was young and hot-blooded and unwilling to make peace. So the two sides fought fiercely."

Zhao Yuanxiao asked curiously, "Uncle-Master must have defeated all of them, right? What happened next?"

"Hehe, not at all."

Li Pinghe laughed and said, "I am an outsider and do not know their background. I acted rashly. Even though my cultivation is not bad and my skills are decent, they outnumbered me and I was quickly defeated. I was about to be beheaded as a warning to others."

"what?"

Although Zhao Yuanxiao knew that Li Pinghe would be unharmed, she couldn't help but worry: "How did my senior uncle manage to escape this calamity?"

Li Pinghe said calmly:

"I was also panicking at that time, but fortunately I was quick-witted and pointed out the mistakes in their spellcasting during the fight. The bandit leader was also a discerning person, so he didn't kill me, but kept me and let me teach them spellcasting."

His words were straightforward and without much drama, yet Zhao Yuanxiao could still imagine how critical the situation was.

His curiosity was now fully piqued, and he couldn't help but ask:

"Then how did my senior uncle come to be with that person from the Qinghe Sect...?"

Li Pinghe's eyes revealed a hint of reminiscence:

"I stayed in the bandit's den for quite some time. Those bandits who had been trained by me have all made great progress in their magical arts. They have also become more and more respectful to me. Most of the time, I only need to ask them to do less killing, which is considered as accumulating some merit. They mostly agree. After all, they are only after money and not bloodthirsty. I have also learned a lot of magical arts and skills that I have never seen before, which has broadened my knowledge. So I am not in a hurry to leave for the time being."

"About six months later, the cultivators brought back a group of people from outside. They said it was a big job, and they all had to be killed."

"I saw a young girl inside, and I felt pity for her, so I begged the cultivators to show her mercy..."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanxiao couldn't help but secretly scoff, thinking that his third senior uncle must have been a man of strong emotions back then; otherwise, why would he have singled out a woman to live? He also vaguely guessed what would happen next and asked in surprise, "That... was a woman?"

At this point, Li Pinghe's expression became somewhat strange, and he shook his head: "No, he's a man, but he... um, his clothes are so strange."

Do you like strange clothes?

Zhao Yuanxiao's ears perked up immediately, and his eyes lit up with admiration.

I never expected that a Dao Foundation expert would have such a peculiar hobby.

Li Pinghe reminded him:

"Keep it to yourself, but don't spread it, lest you risk your life. Only a true cultivator at the Dao Foundation stage can know things that concern them."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanxiao immediately stopped daydreaming, but couldn't help asking out of curiosity:

"How could this Foundation Establishment cultivator be bound by a group of Tribulation cultivators?"

Li Pinghe shook his head and said:

"A Dao Foundation True Cultivator isn't born that way. He's about the same age as me, but he's already at the tenth level of Qi Refining. At that time, a Dao Foundation True Cultivator in the sect was about to celebrate his birthday, and a suitable candidate needed to be chosen. He was one of the candidates, which is why he was feared by others."

Needless to say, after Ning He was rescued, he successfully achieved the Dao Foundation and became one of the three Dao Foundation cultivators of the Qinghe Sect.

"Then...didn't Third Master Uncle ask how to achieve the foundation of the Dao?"

Zhao Yuanxiao asked curiously.

Li Pinghe gave a self-deprecating laugh:

"The secret of the Dao Foundation is related to the survival of the major sects. Ning He also kept it to himself. At that time, I was naturally unhappy and left in a huff. I never set foot in Wuling again after that."

Zhao Yuanxiao frowned: "Since the meeting ended badly back then, why are you inviting your master uncle to the Qinghe Sect now? Is it because you still remember the debt of saving your life?"

Li Pinghe calmed himself down and said:

"He's nothing more than someone who's useful. Such a person would never let personal relationships interfere with official business. And don't fantasize that my relationship with him can truly protect Chun Jun Sect."

"The number of Qi Refining Level 10 cultivators in the Qinghe Sect is far more than 20. Among these people, those who can obtain the Dao Foundation position are all exceptional in terms of temperament and methods."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Yuanxiao could only sigh in resentment.

"So, does that mean our Chun Jun Sect still has a sword at our throat?"

Li Pinghe retorted, "The entire Song Dynasty is like this, why is it only your Chun Jun Sect that's like this?"

"but……"

He then changed the subject: "It's not that there's no good news."

"Oh?"

Zhao Yuanxiao's spirits lifted. If his third senior uncle said it was good news, then it must be something significant.

Li Pinghe Road:

"The sect leader of Qinghe Sect is still in Wuling Kingdom, confronting the cultivators of Hanzhong. My old friend is also seriously injured and is still in seclusion to recuperate. Only one Grand Elder is left to guard the old site of Thousand Hands Sect. With only one Dao Foundation True Cultivator, it is not enough to take down Song Kingdom. If the war in Wuling is stalemate, Song Kingdom should be fine within three to five years."

"Three to five years?"

Zhao Yuanxiao immediately thought of the young sect leader Murong Xian. According to Chen Xu, it would take about three to five years to establish a foundation for his cultivation. This gave him a great deal of confidence.

"Of course, nothing is absolute in this world, and anything can happen. That's what I wanted to say: let's preserve the roots of the Chun Jun Sect."

At this point, Li Pinghe's tone became more solemn.

Zhao Yuanxiao was silent for a moment, then nodded emphatically:

"This disciple understands."

He suddenly asked again:

"If Lu Mingchen were to come today, and we were to heed his offer of surrender and offer up the spiritual cave, what do you think, Master Uncle?"

Li Pinghe was taken aback upon hearing this, then said quietly:

"Those inside and outside the gate all drove Wu Ling as their vanguard."

"Wuling...forward?"

Zhao Yuanxiao muttered to himself, the last glimmer of hope in his eyes vanishing, yet he felt a great sense of relief.

He repeatedly doubted whether he had made a mistake in refusing to surrender, especially given the heavy casualties among his disciples and followers. He remained outwardly unmoved, but inwardly he was in extreme pain.

However, he finally breathed a sigh of relief after receiving the answer from his senior apprentice.

He clasped his hands in a respectful bow to Li Pinghe and then hurriedly left.

"Foolish child, foolish child."

Li Pinghe watched Zhao Yuanxiao's departing figure and muttered to himself.

It is unclear whether this refers to Zhao Yuanxiao or himself.

Everyone has obsessions in life. Chun Jun Sect is Zhao Yuanxiao's obsession, while immortality is his obsession.

Everyone is attached, everyone is obsessed.

Sensing something, the yellow gourd in his mind suddenly glowed slightly, and the scroll inside stopped silently.

"Um?"

Li Pinghe focused his mind on it and immediately noticed the improvement in the "Nine Revolutions Spirit Chapter".

The success rate of using it to refine treasures and forge the foundation of the Dao was already 35%, and now, after many days of calculation, it has reached 40%.

"At most, only 40%?"

The text on the pages of "Nine Revolutions of Spirit Transmission" had stopped changing and was completely fixed. He didn't need to read it all; many insights naturally came to his mind, as if he had personally deduced and understood them all.

He also realized the limits of this treasure-refining technique; at most, it could only achieve a 40% success rate.

This success rate is already quite high; at least for cultivators with no connections, a 40% chance is enough to make them willing to take the risk.

Only a suitable foundational treasure...

"The Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Flag is not suitable for me."

Li Pinghe's eyes showed a thoughtful expression.

Previously, Lu Mingchen, wielding the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Flag, was indeed able to act with impunity. However, in the eyes of a master of magic and formations like him, there were actually many flaws.

However, brute force can overcome any technique. Even if he could see through it, he could only use illusions to confuse Lu Mingchen's mind. Only when Lu Mingchen's magic power was exhausted too quickly and could not be replenished smoothly could he merge the mind-confusing array into the solid mountain array and achieve his goal.

He also borrowed the Bewitching Mind and Chaotic Spirit Array and the Divine Wandering Void One Qi Sword, and swapped his own will with the other's. The other still felt that he was Lu Mingchen, but in reality, he was already one of Li Pinghe's hands and one of his eyes, just waiting for Li Pinghe to use him.

It was through this hand that Li Pinghe was able to come into contact with a Dao Foundation Treasure like the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner; otherwise, he would have been killed by its backlash the moment he touched it.

"The Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Flag belongs to Earth and Wind, and Wind belongs to Wood, which means it is a combination of Earth and Wood. However, Earth Dragon is Yin, so the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Flag is also tainted by Yin energy, which is not suitable for me, not to mention that it already has an owner."

The item already has an owner, and that owner is none other than the sect leader of the Qinghe Sect.

He doesn't really want to get involved with such people for the time being, and he doesn't even want to get too entangled with his old friend Ning He for reasons that he can't tell others.

"But where can we obtain this fundamental treasure?"

My mind couldn't help but wander to maps of the surrounding countries.

"Wuling...Hanzhong...Nanjun...Changsha...Ba Kingdom...Qianwei...Guiyang..."

"Wait, Han China and Wuling Kingdom don't border each other; there's a Southern Commandery Kingdom in between. Why would cultivators from Han China march south to attack Wuling Kingdom?"

"Has the Southern Kingdom already been destroyed, or has some kind of agreement been reached with it?"

Li Pinghe opened his eyes wide and immediately called to Jin Guang, who was waiting outside: "Bring the map."

Jin Guang quickly found the map of Jingnan and spread it out in the hall.

Li Pinghe walked on it, holding a lantern in one hand, carefully scanning the countries on the map one by one, pondering in his heart:

"Nanjun Kingdom is one of the three kingdoms of Jingbei, standing on equal footing with Nanyang and Jiangxia. It is powerful and has many great masters of the Golden Core stage, which is incomparable to the four kingdoms of Jingnan. If Hanzhong takes Nanjun Kingdom, it will be internally vulnerable and controlled by Zhongzhou and Nanyang Kingdom at the same time."

"Therefore, it is almost impossible for Han China to take over Nan Commandery, or even fight with Nan Commandery. So, it must have been through an agreement with Nan Commandery that allowed passage, which would have enabled them to directly approach Wuling."

"As for passing through the Ba Kingdom, it is unlikely. The Ba Kingdom is xenophobic, and its witchcraft is prevalent, which is not the same as that of cultivators."

He pondered and compared repeatedly, combining his observations and experiences over the years, and finally came to a guess.

"Are the states of Yizhou also trying to take advantage of the chaos to get a share? Or is the Han state laying the groundwork for future refuge?"

Regardless, one thing is certain.

"Wuling Kingdom has probably been abandoned by the three kingdoms of Jingbei. Without reinforcements, Qinghe Sect probably won't be able to hold out for long."

"The Qinghe Sect is just making advance arrangements to prepare for their future escape to the south, and it won't be long before they all head south."

"Given the sheer size of this sect, I fear even the seven spiritual caves of the Song Kingdom wouldn't be enough to contain it. At that time, the cultivators of the Song Kingdom..."

With a little deduction, he came to an obvious conclusion: once the entire Qinghe Sect moved south, the Song Kingdom cultivators would have no choice but to leave their homes and be forced to flee south. Even worse, they would be driven north to resist the advance of the Han Chinese army.

"The tree may wish to remain still, but the wind will not cease."

Li Pinghe held up a lamp and looked at the map at his feet. The lamplight flickered, as if a bloody storm was brewing.

His mind was filled with the memory of the Chun Jun Sect disciples who had died unjustly today.

With a long sigh, he slowly closed his eyes.

"Gentlemen, I can't save you."

He is now over 110 years old and has seen most of the things in the world. In his youth, he was decisive and ruthless, taking people's heads with a smile. He also regarded everyone else as straw dogs, thinking himself superior and only caring about his own enjoyment and happiness...

But in reality, such days didn't last long before they became tiresome.

It's even utterly tasteless.

He began to calm down, began to reflect on himself, and gradually began to understand what kind of person he really was.

Nothing special, just an ordinary person.

Humans are naturally inclined to rejoice in life and fear death, to enjoy ease and dislike labor, and to indulge in sensual pleasures. Yet, they also possess compassion, shame, humility, and a sense of right and wrong.

Therefore, he used his skills to make friends all over the world, innovated and never kept anything to himself, sweeping away the trend of each school of thought keeping their own skills and methods to themselves for the past few hundred years. He exchanged knowledge and skills in order to achieve longevity, rather than taking advantage of others.

Therefore, he was willing to give everything for immortality, but he was unwilling to ask others to give everything just because he sought immortality for himself.

This is his path of cultivation, his bottom line, and he has adhered to it for half his life. Whether you call it pedantic or clumsy, this is who he is.

This is why he made a three-point agreement with Chen Xu from the very beginning, insisting on clarifying things with Chun Jun Sect.

His purpose in descending the mountain this time was solely to lay the foundation for his Dao and strive for the path to immortality.

Apart from that, he intended to ignore everything else.

However, he was originally from Chun Jun Sect, and these disciples who died unjustly were all his juniors. Even if he hardened his heart and decided to ignore them, he could not be so heartless.

He is not that kind of person.

Therefore, he simply used Lu Mingchen's words to tell the Qinghe Sect that Li Pinghe was still alive, and that the Chun Jun Sect should not be touched at the moment.

He no longer concealed the fact that he was still alive and ordered Zhao Yuanxiao to send messages to the various clans of the Song Dynasty.

"Now that we're already standing on this volcano's crater..."

Boom!

The sky suddenly darkened, lightning flashed, and torrential rain poured down, washing over the Chun Jun Sect after the great battle.

Li Pinghe walked slowly to the gate of the Western Palace, gazing at the hazy, dark sky. His voice was low and deep, almost drowned out by the passing thunder:

"Then so be it, let this old man have a good look at it!"