I only want immortality.

The mountains are like a hand, with peaks and cliffs.

Numerous palaces and houses are nestled within, shrouded in mist.

This is the former site of the Thousand Hands Sect, now a branch of the Qinghe Sect.

Three figures returned like shooting stars, startling many figures among the peaks, who took flight like a flock of birds.

"Senior Brother Lu, Senior Brother Lu is back!"

"Senior Brother Lu, did your trip go smoothly?"

"It's a long story, let me report to the Grand Elder first."

It was Lu Mingchen, Xuan Bujin, and Miao Buyan.

The three of them went straight into the mountains, and after several detours, they finally landed in a valley surrounded by mountains and forests.

Here, ancient trees and cypresses stand tall and lush, birds fly and monkeys climb, and cattle and horses roam in herds—truly a scenic spot.

Deep within the valley, a shimmering light emanated, its spiritual energy far surpassing that of other places. Like a lake or pond, a figure shrouded in this spiritual light stood on the lakeside, manipulating the spiritual essence of the place.

The three landed some distance away. Xuan Bujin and Miao Buyan, knowing their place, stopped behind. Only Lu Mingchen crossed the dense forest and stopped a short distance away. He took out the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner, presented it with both hands, and respectfully said:

"Mingchen has failed in his mission this time, and I beg Master to punish him."

As soon as the words fell, the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner flew into the hands of the figure by the lake. The figure did not turn around, but casually stroked the surrounding spiritual energy until Lu Mingchen's heart grew increasingly uneasy. Then, the figure spoke slowly, his voice like a flowing spring:

"Have you seen Li Changlang?"

Lu Mingchen dared not hide the truth and quickly replied:

"Master, although I have entered Chun Jun Sect, I have not seen it with my own eyes."

Upon hearing this, the figure by the lake simply uttered an "Oh."

Lu Mingchen felt as if a layer of white mist had suddenly clouded his mind, making him momentarily dazed. When he regained his senses, he heard his master's calm voice:

"...So that's how it is. Li Canglang is famous for his skills, and his array formations are also superb. If he doesn't want to see you, it's normal that you can't see him since you're trapped in the array."

Lu Mingchen bowed quickly, without saying anything more.

He felt an unfathomable awe at the divine power of the Dao Foundation True Cultivator.

"However, although your failure this time was due to Li Canglang, you did not actually achieve anything or gain any merit. As for those two positions within the sect, I can't help you much."

Lu Mingchen quickly said, "Please teach me, Master."

The figure by the lake chuckled softly, speaking gently and slowly:

"There are seven sects in this Song Kingdom. Apart from the Thousand Hands Sect, the Yang family has already submitted to me. There are still five sects left. The Chun Jun Sect has Li Canglang, so we cannot make any moves against it at the moment. If you can take down two of the other four sects, I can also speak well of them to the sect leader."

Lu Mingchen, however, showed no joy; instead, he appeared troubled.

"It's not that I'm trying to shirk my responsibility, but these four sects all have powerful backers. I'm not afraid to charge into the formation and kill the enemy, but I'm afraid of causing trouble for my sect."

A figure by the lake chuckled, "Heh, how many sects in this world that can occupy a spiritual burial site don't have a background?"

"Even my Qinghe Sect, going back a few generations, was once a branch of a major sect in the Central Plains. It was only because we had no choice but to migrate south due to the need to escape disaster."

Lu Mingchen remained silent. He had heard such words many times before, but they were meaningless. If a background were truly useful, why would the Qinghe Sect have gone south to the Song Kingdom in advance to compete for spiritual caves in this desolate land?

However, he also realized that if the Qinghe Sect was like this, wouldn't the seven sects of the Song Kingdom be the same?

"The Song Kingdom is impoverished, and this sacred site has also severely deteriorated..."

A figure by the lake casually stirred the spiritual energy around him, which resembled the lake water, and said leisurely, "In the past, we looked down on this place, as it was not even enough to support a Dao Foundation cultivator. But now we have no choice. Since we are here, we must lay a solid foundation so that the sect can prosper forever."

"Therefore, we must take down the State of Song."

"Gathering scattered spiritual caves, opening up the earth's veins, and consolidating them into one—this strategy is unstoppable. The Nine Yang Sect cannot do it, the Chun Jun Sect cannot do it, and Li Canglang cannot do it either."

Lu Mingchen bowed: "Disciple understands, disciple will certainly not fail Master's entrustment."

A figure by the lake waved casually: "Go."

"Yes."

Lu Mingchen bowed respectfully, stepped back, and then flew out of the valley.

"Senior Brother Lu, what did the Grand Elder say?"

Xuan Bujin and Miao Buyan were waiting at a distance. When they saw him fly back, they quickly went up to ask him questions.

Lu Mingchen glanced at the two of them, frowned slightly, and didn't want to say anything more, but for some reason, a strange thought suddenly arose in his mind, and he spoke:

"This great undertaking failed, but there were reasons for it. The Grand Elder was considerate of us and therefore did not punish us. I intend to seize the Baoxia Sect and the Chenjiang Sword Sect. Are you two willing to follow me?"

Upon hearing this, Xuan Bujin and Miao Buyan exchanged a glance and immediately nodded in agreement.

It wasn't that she truly wanted to follow him; it was simply that Lu Mingchen was the Grand Elder's beloved disciple, and refusing would only displease him.

Lu Mingchen nodded in satisfaction.

They were about to head to the sect's Hall of Merit to complete the transaction when they encountered a group of three people and were stopped on the way.

Just as he was getting angry, the scholar in blue, who was leading the three, snapped his folding fan shut, bowed respectfully, and said with a smile:

"Is Your Excellency the leader of the Eight Steeds of Qinghe, Fellow Daoist Lu, the Cloud Dragon Hand?"

The Eight Steeds of Qinghe were compiled by enthusiasts. They were said to be eight people with the best talent, virtue and ability among the three great foundations of the Qinghe Sect. Lu Mingchen was among them. He was famous for his technique "Reaching for Hands in the Clouds", hence the nickname "Cloud Dragon Hand". However, he never showed his skills to the Chun Jun Sect.

One doesn't hit a smiling face, and since the newcomer had a kind and smiling expression, Lu Mingchen couldn't very well turn sour. His expression softened, and he nodded, saying:

"I am not the leader of the Eight Steeds, but the third... Who are you? You are a stranger to me."

The scholar in blue robes smiled and said, "I am Yang Xingkong from the Yang family of the Northwest."

"The Yang family? Yang Xingkong?"

Lu Mingchen's mind raced. Although he had never seen this person before, he felt a strange sensation for some reason. Without thinking too much about it, he nodded in realization: "Oh, it's you... Patriarch Yang, did you stop me on something important?"

Yang Xingkong's expression, however, was one of surprise, bordering on exaggerated:

"I never imagined that Fellow Daoist Lu would know my humble name. How fortunate I am!"

The smile remained unchanged:

"Hehe, it's nothing important. I just heard that Fellow Daoist Lu went to Chun Jun Sect. I wonder how the trip went?"

Lu Mingchen's expression immediately darkened.

He was already unhappy because he returned empty-handed and had not accomplished anything. Now that Yang Xingkong had brought it up, he felt even more annoyed.

Behind them, Xuan Bujin and Miao Buyan couldn't help but feel sorry for the Yang family head, who was still unaware of what had happened. It was truly a case of bringing up the very thing that shouldn't be brought up.

Sure enough, Lu Mingchen coldly snorted:

"This trip has not been entirely smooth. Does Patriarch Yang have any advice?"

Yang Xingkong, however, seemed oblivious to the suppressed displeasure in the other party's tone, and his smile widened even further:

"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Lu, you flatter me. My skills are meager, how dare I instruct you? However, my Yang family and Chun Jun Sect have been friends for many years, and we know each other very well."

"Oh?"

Lu Mingchen, however, became interested, his eyes narrowing slightly:

"Can you persuade the Chun Jun Sect to surrender?"

Yang Xingkong lightly opened his folding fan and smiled:

"It might be worth a try."

Lu Mingchen also laughed, but his eyes were filled with mockery:

"I've heard that your Yang family's attempt to seize Chun Jun's sect failed. What are you doing now?"

Despite being openly mocked, Yang Xingkong still smiled and gently shook his head.

"Fellow Daoist Lu is well aware of the general situation of the Song Kingdom, but he only knows one side of the story. It is precisely because my Yang family has already waded through the waters of the Chun Jun Sect for the Qinghe Grand Clan that I dare to say that I will give it a try."

Lu Mingchen said "Oh," and then asked in return:

"I wonder how Patriarch Yang plans to persuade Li Canglang."

"Murong Xian is ambitious but lacks talent, so naturally he could... Li... Li Canglang?"

Yang Xingkong was about to reveal his innermost thoughts when he abruptly stopped, his face filled with astonishment:

"Is Li Canglang still alive?"

Lu Mingchen said with no small amount of sarcasm, "Heh, Patriarch Yang certainly has grand ambitions, but you should take care of your Yang family first."

Having said that, he turned and left.

The Yang family is nothing but a stray dog, destined to be driven to Wuling Kingdom sooner or later to resist the conquest of Han China. He doesn't take them seriously.

Yang Xingkong was left standing there, his face somewhat embarrassed.

"No wonder, I was wondering why a golden light suddenly appeared. It turns out that the old man wasn't dead... This is troublesome."

With a flicker of his gaze, watching Lu Mingchen and his two companions depart, Yang Xingkong's expression gradually calmed, but a sense of certainty and ruthlessness crept into his eyes:

"It's you."

……

"Fellow Daoist Lü, this way please."

Zhao Yuanxiao led a young cultivator along the Chun Jun Sect's walkway, with other cultivators busily working on both sides.

"I dare not accept such praise. Elder Zhao is of the same generation as my master. You may simply call me 'Junior Nephew'."

The young cultivator gave a modest reply, his gaze sweeping over his surroundings, and he couldn't help but sigh:

"The people from the Qinghe Sect are so ruthless. It seems their attempt to persuade us to surrender is a pretense; their true intention is to become bandits."

Zhao Yuanxiao nodded slowly, his expression grave.

"If someone uses their Daoist foundation and magical treasures to commit evil at the slightest disagreement, it's like a thief breaking into your home. How can such a person be considered virtuous?"

"I heard that the Nine Yang Sect forcefully repelled the evil Qinghe Sect outside its gates, truly boosting the prestige of our Song Kingdom. Fellow Daoist Lü even held his sword to the jaw of one of their disciples. Upon hearing this, I, Zhao, feel extremely pleased!"

The young cultivator said shyly:

"It is only thanks to the blessings of our ancestors that I dare not act presumptuously. Moreover, it is because these disciples of the major clans are arrogant and look down on us that we have been given this opportunity."

Having said that, he said seriously:

"The Qinghe Sect's leader, Zhuanxu, is tyrannical and acts like a bandit. Our Jiuyang Sect is determined not to associate with him."

He sighed softly again:

"Unfortunately... the Baoxia Sect, Chenjiang Sword Sect, and Lotus Valley have not yet expressed their opinions, and we also feel that we are not able to support them alone."

Zhao Yuanxiao comforted him:

"The Nine Yang Sect is willing to take the lead this time, which is a great achievement. The Chun Jun Sect will definitely provide its full support to enhance the prestige of the Song Kingdom. When the time comes, those who hear of it will naturally follow, so there is no need to worry."

"I hope so."

The young monk's eyes showed worry, then he smiled wryly and frankly said:

"To be honest, Qinghe Sect is a major sect in Wuling. Although we are willing, we are weak and have no confidence. Otherwise, we would not have bothered Senior Li at this time. When my master heard that Senior Li was still alive the other day, he was overjoyed and immediately had a pillar of support."

Zhao Yuanxiao understood and nodded in agreement. As they spoke, the two turned a stone step and a palace came into view.

A lazy black water buffalo was lying at the entrance of the palace, with a boy on its back also lazily sunbathing.

"This must be Senior Jin Guang, right?"

Upon seeing the golden light, the young cultivator's eyes lit up, and he asked Zhao Yuanxiao for guidance.

The boy glanced at him but didn't bother to move, then looked at Zhao Yuanxiao and asked, "Who is he?"

Zhao Yuanxiao quickly said:

"Junior Brother Jin Guang, do not be negligent. This is Fellow Daoist Lü Kong of the Nine Yang Sect. He once single-handedly forced back three members of the Qinghe Sect, and his prestige shook the Song Kingdom. He has come to invite our senior uncle to go north."

"oh."

Jin Guang replied weakly, his attitude unchanged despite his illustrious record. He turned slightly and called out into the hall:

"Teacher, someone is looking for you."

Zhao Yuanxiao felt a headache coming on. He forced a smile and apologized to the young cultivator, "Fellow Daoist Lü, my junior brother is still young and has neglected you..."

"Senior Jin Guang possesses the heart of a child, and is no ordinary person."

Looking at Jin Guang, Lü Kong sincerely admired him and took the initiative to step forward and bow to him.

Jin Guang glanced at him, slightly surprised, but too lazy to speak, he simply nodded and pointed inside:

"Go in by yourself."

Zhao Yuanxiao then led Lü Kong into the Western Palace.

The furnishings inside the hall were neither poor and simple, nor luxurious and rich; they were quite ordinary, which was Lü Kong's first impression.

It is somewhat different from the rumors that it favors fine clothes and luxurious residences.

With a slight shift of his gaze, he finally saw the person his master had described as the most renowned person in the Song Kingdom in the last hundred years.

Old and tall.

That was his first impression.

Not far away, an old man sitting cross-legged on a couch with his eyes closed looked like an aged mountain king. Even sitting there, with his eyebrows, beard, and hair all white, wrinkles all over his body, and skin that had lost its luster, making him look bony and wiry, he still gave people an indescribable sense of awe.

"It doesn't quite match what Master said."

Lü Kong was somewhat surprised.

According to his master, this pioneering and knowledgeable senior in Jingnan should be a wise man with superb skills and profound wisdom. However, the dignified demeanor he exudes is definitely not that of a nice, unassuming gentleman.

He felt a surge of solemnity and stepped forward to bow.

"Lu Kong of the Nine Yang Sect greets Senior Li."

Li Pinghe slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on Lü Kong. He didn't speak, but suddenly pointed a finger at him.

A streak of frost, as sharp as a bolt of lightning, hurtled straight toward Lü Kong's face!

Lü Kong and Zhao Yuanxiao were both startled.

"Master Uncle!"

Although startled, Lü Kong remained calm. He quickly retreated two steps, forming a sword with his fingers. A pure white sword aura burst forth from his fingers, striking first despite being behind, passing through the frost, and reaching Li Pinghe's brow. However, it suddenly stopped, the sword light flickering.

Almost simultaneously, the frost stopped and hung three inches above Lü Kong's head.

Lu Kong smiled slightly, sheathed his sword aura, clasped his hands and said, "Senior, you flatter me."

Li Pinghe's face was ashen, but under Zhao Yuanxiao's surprised and worried gaze, he suddenly laughed, clapped his hands, and sighed:

"Seven Apertures Sword Heart"

"Good! Good! Han Xianghe has indeed taken on a good disciple!"

As the frost melted away, he smiled and asked, "Your master sent you to find me. Are you confident you can handle the Qinghe Sect?"

Although Lü Kong was slightly superior, he was not arrogant and respectfully said:

"Replying to Senior."

"Master said that we were not confident, but if you could be here to oversee the Nine Yang Sect, our chances of winning would increase greatly."

Li Pinghe smiled and said bluntly, "You want to use my name to invite people from all sides of the Song Kingdom, don't you?"

Lu Kong nodded and said, "Senior is wise. During the time of the Seven Sects of Song, each ruled its own territory and refused to submit to the others, like scattered sand. Only you have such a reputation that you can unite the Song people. Therefore, before leaving the sect, my master specifically instructed me to invite you to come out of seclusion and save the world from collapse."

After a moment's thought, Li Pinghe nodded under Lü Kong's surprised gaze and said, "In that case, I will accompany you. You may go first."

Lü Kong was overjoyed and quickly clasped his hands in greeting:

"In that case, the Song Kingdom is fortunate!"

"I will go back and report this good news immediately."

Without further ado, he gestured to Zhao Yuanxiao and left the Western Palace. He glanced at the golden light guarding the entrance, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately said nothing more.

Leaving Chun Jun Sect, the magical artifact flew out, and he took to the air, feeling much more relaxed.

Suddenly, he felt something strange in his hair. He raised his hand to feel around and opened his palm to look. There was no more or less water in his hand than a drop of clear water that he didn't know where it came from.

Lu Kong suddenly stopped.

What time is this...?