I only want immortality.

"The grand show has finally begun."

A valley in the northern part of Panlao Mountain.

Just as Li Pinghe finished setting up the last formation and was about to mount the black water buffalo, he suddenly sensed something and turned to look south.

That place is where Panlaoshan Market is located, and it is now the focus of attention for many people in the entire Song Kingdom.

But he didn't look at it much; instead, he looked north, his eyes filled with deep thought.

"The Nine Yang Sect has already accepted the challenge. What will you do next?"

That place was once the site of the Thousand Hands Sect.

……

Outside Panlao Mountain, the wind and waves have ceased, and all birds and beasts are silent.

Lan Jusuo held the water vessel in his hand, scanning the three people who had flown out of the market formation one by one. His already narrow eyes narrowed even further, and his voice was cold:

"Who are you? State your names."

Upon hearing this, Lü Kong smiled slightly, his words carrying a hint of sarcasm, yet remaining neither humble nor arrogant:

"You have stolen seven markets from my Nine Yang Sect, yet you do not recognize your master?"

His gaze shifted slightly, turning to the burly man behind Lan Jusuo, and he chuckled:

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, it has been over a month since we last met. How have you been?"

Zhu Yu's face darkened, but then softened in an instant. Smiling, he stepped past Lan Jusuo, bowed, and said:

"I have met Fellow Daoist Lü. I reiterate my previous statement: if the Nine Yang Sect is willing to submit to Heaven and the people, my sect will not hesitate to bestow upon them Daoist arts and spiritual sites. At present, Fellow Daoist Lü can still find a way out for the Nine Yang Sect, and I can vouch for them. Otherwise, it will be too late to regret!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Kong's smile faded slightly, and his tone became serious:

"Fellow Daoist Zhu's tone is far too arrogant. Your sect has invaded our borders, plundered the Thousand Hands and Yang clans, and committed countless murders. You are cruel and ruthless by nature, no different from bandits. You are ashamed to call yourselves fellow immortals. How can you claim to be in accordance with Heaven and the people?"

"Putting everything else aside, you can't take this market town away today!"

Zhu Yu struggled to maintain her smile despite the criticism, but she stubbornly held back:

"The three of you alone cannot stop us today."

Lü Kong was composed and at ease.

"Oh, with only this many people from your sect, it's hard to convince the three of us. Why don't you call your fellow disciples out so we can broaden our horizons?"

Zhu Yu gave a forced smile: "Hehe, with just the three of you, Junior Brother Lan and I will be more than enough to handle the situation."

The two were exchanging meaningless remarks, which greatly displeased Wang Feng of the Chenjiang Sword Sect standing nearby.

"Why waste words with him? Just kill him!"

He immediately unleashed a sword aura, slashing directly at Zhu Yu.

"idiot!"

"You brute!"

He Riyuan, who was standing to the side, couldn't help but curse under his breath. Anyone with eyes could see that the two of them were probing each other's secrets, but this fool from the Chenjiang Sword Sect didn't care about anything else.

However, now that the three were united, and Wang Feng had already made his move, he could not afford to be careless. He immediately waved his sleeve, and the rosy light shot out like arrows, splitting into two beams that rushed straight towards Zhu Yu and Lan Jusuo's gate.

Seeing this, Lü Kong felt helpless but could only sigh inwardly.

His wide sleeves were like empty air, and eighteen Yin Thunderbolts descended upon him!

Zhu Yu had been planning to extract some information, but he hadn't expected the other party to be so disregardful of the dignity of cultivators. Seeing the three of them make their move, especially the Yin Lei Zi, who killed people with sheer power, even he dared not take a direct hit from it. So he swallowed his words and gently waved the triangular yellow flag.

"Whoosh—"

In an instant, the sky darkened.

Suddenly, a gust of wind blew in from nowhere, mingling with the yellow light and transforming into a ferocious phantom of a dragon, which swept up all the sword energy, rosy light, and dark thunder.

The lightning crackled, but it resembled a dragon's scales shifting before vanishing in an instant and hurtling towards the three.

Before the dragon's shadow even reached them, the surrounding air solidified like iron, making it difficult to breathe.

Lu Kong's expression was solemn, and his figure swayed backward like a leaf falling in the wind.

In their previous encounter, he used the speed of the Pure One Sword Qi to attack the enemy's defenses, forcing Zhu Yu to hesitate and ultimately agree to a truce.

However, Zhu Yu came prepared this time. This triangular yellow flag was both offensive and defensive, and was completely different from the real water vessel he had used before.

He dared not be negligent in the slightest. His right hand remained fixed on the sword-pointing gesture, while his left hand reached into his sleeve and pulled out something.

It was a vermilion bead the size of a longan, entirely crimson, with what appeared to be flames flowing inside.

As soon as the bead appeared, the surrounding temperature soared, the air distorted, and a scorching Daoist aura spread out.

This item is the foundational treasure passed down by the founder of the Nine Yang Sect, called the "Crimson Flame Pearl".

This bead is a fire-elemental treasure. Once activated, it can control all fire-elemental spells at the Qi Refining Realm. Furthermore, it can combine with Pure One Sword Qi, imbuing the sword qi with Dao Fire, thus doubling its power and enabling it to pierce through gold and shatter stone.

With a low shout, the Crimson Flame Pearl hovered in front of him, spinning rapidly and spewing out streams of fire. He then pointed his fingers swiftly, and just as the illusory earth dragon pounced, a pure white sword aura, several times more refined than before, burst forth from his fingertips. The sword aura was actually wrapped with wisps of crimson flames. The fire borrowed the momentum of the sword, and the sword amplified the power of the fire, transforming into a stream of light interwoven with crimson and white, fiercely meeting the oncoming illusory yellow dragon phantom!

"A foundational magic weapon?"

A strange light flashed in Zhu Yu's eyes: "Truly, he has deep roots. What a pity..."

With a heavy shake of the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Flag in his hand, the illusory earth dragon collided violently with the crimson and white sword energy!

The anticipated violent explosion did not occur.

The phantom of the yellow dragon opened its mouth wide and swallowed the tip of the sword energy whole!

The Dao fire attached to the Crimson Flame Pearl violently rubbed against and annihilated the wind and earth power on the Yellow Dragon's body, emitting a piercing "hissing" sound and scattering light everywhere.

Lü Kong's expression changed.

He sensed that the Dao fire ignited by the Crimson Flame Pearl was easily dispersed and worn away by the wind and earth power flowing around the yellow dragon's body!

Although the sword energy was sharp, it was like a clay ox entering the sea, its power rapidly diminishing.

"Hahaha!"

Zhu Yu laughed loudly: "Fellow Daoist Lü, your precious pearl lacks the nourishment of a true Dao Foundation cultivator, its origin is damaged, and its spirituality is lost. It is nothing more than a magic weapon shell! How can it contend with the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner personally refined by my sect leader? This banner was forged by slaying an earth dragon at the Dao Foundation stage, and it is already close to a mid-grade magic weapon... Why don't you all quickly surrender, or perhaps I can spare your lives!"

Upon hearing this, Lü Kong retreated hastily, but his heart sank suddenly.

There are different levels of progress in the cultivation of the Dao Foundation, and there are also different levels of the Dao Foundation's magical treasures. The two are similar, both divided into three grades: upper, middle, and lower, as well as the state of perfection.

Moreover, Dao Foundation Magic Treasures require Dao Foundation cultivators to constantly nurture them with their own Dao techniques in order to maintain their spiritual essence.

For many years, the Nine Yang Sect has had no true cultivators with a foundation in Dao. The Crimson Flame Pearl has not been nurtured for a long time, and its origin has long been damaged. Its power is less than one-tenth of what it used to be. If it goes on for another few decades, it may completely become a mere mortal object for refining Qi.

In contrast, this Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner is a treasure personally crafted by the sect leader of the Qinghe Sect. It is nourished by the Daoist energy every day, making it rich in spiritual energy and naturally far more powerful.

Lu Kong's mind raced, but he refused to back down. He gritted his teeth and pushed his magic power to its limit. The Crimson Flame Pearl shone brightly, and the sword aura rose another three points, attempting to break through the dragon shadow.

Just then, I suddenly noticed the glow on my right side intensifying!

Then, He Riyuan shouted in a low voice:

"Brother Lü, I'm here to help you!"

Out of the corner of his eye, Lü Kong noticed that He Riyuan had somehow acquired a handkerchief in his hand.

The handkerchief was only about a foot square, yet it shimmered with rosy light and possessed a subtle Taoist charm; just a glance at it was enough to shake one's soul.

"Even the treasures of the Baoxia Sect remain."

A sudden realization dawned on him, and he even guessed the origin of this item: it was the "Seven-Colored Smoke Silk Handkerchief," a personal magic treasure of the former patriarch of the Baoxia Sect.

This cloth can injure enemies with its radiant light. Although its power has been greatly reduced due to years of neglect, its sudden release still surprised everyone present.

Once the radiant light was unleashed, it enveloped the illusory image of the earth dragon, trapping it both inside and out, and for a time it was unable to escape.

Seeing this, Lan Jusuo sneered, picked up the water vessel, and was about to step forward to intercept him: "Trying to bully the weak with numbers? I, Lan, will take you on!"

"Junior Brother Lan, please wait!"

Zhu Yu shouted, silencing Lan Jusuo. His face showed no fear, but rather a surge of pride. He laughed loudly, "Well done! I'm just about to show you the might of the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner!"

Before he finished speaking, he planted the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Flag in front of him. The flag fluttered and the forces of wind and earth intertwined like a net, simultaneously intercepting Lü Kong's Crimson Flame Sword Qi and He Riyuan's Radiant Light. The illusory image of the earth dragon split in two, one coiling around the sword qi and twisting fiercely, the other crashing into the Radiant Light and pressing down hard.

He Riyuan felt an overwhelming force crashing down on him, and the rosy light instantly dissipated by three-tenths. He groaned, staggered back several steps, and turned pale.

When the Seven-Colored Smoke Garland is intact, it can generate seven streams of smoke when it is dispersed. Its power is immense, but its consumption is also astonishing. He is not known for his magical power, and now that he is being directly confronted by the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner, he immediately feels that he is struggling.

Fortunately, Lu Kong's Crimson Flame Pearl still had some strength left, which allowed him to barely hold them back.

On the other side, Lan Jusuo was stopped by Zhu Yu and was feeling bored, but his gaze swept over Wang Feng, who had a cold and hard expression and was standing with his sword in his arms, detached from the edge of the battlefield.

"Hey, judging by your attire, you must be from the Chenjiang Sword Sect, right?"

Lan Jusuo crossed his arms and mocked:

"Your two companions have already made their moves, but you alone stand by with your sword. Are you terrified, or do you feel your swordsmanship is inadequate and dare not step forward?"

Wang Feng slightly raised his eyelids, but did not answer. He simply pointed to his sword.

The sword was drawn silently, without any dazzling light, but a chilling sharpness emanated from it, making one's skin sting.

Lan Jusuo initially didn't take it seriously. He slightly tilted the True Water Bowl, and torrents of True Water gushed from its mouth, transforming into layers of water curtains that protected him. He laughed and said:

"Draw your sword then. Let me see what the Chenjiang Sword Sect is capable of..."

Before he could finish speaking, his pupils contracted slightly.

With a slight tremor, Wang Feng's sword emitted a hazy, cool light, as clear as the moon, through which the characters "Zhao Dan" could be faintly seen.

"Zhaodan..."

Lan Jusuo's eyes showed surprise:

"The Chenjiang Sword Sect actually has a Dao-based sword-wielding tradition?"

Wang Feng remained silent, but stepped forward and thrust out his sword.

The sword light was like the cold moonlight, seemingly slow but actually fast, aimed directly at Lan Jusuo's throat.

The swordplay was extremely simple, yet so sharp it sent chills down one's spine.

Lan Jusuo dared not be careless any longer and hurriedly unleashed the full power of the True Water Vessel. True water poured down from the vessel's mouth like a waterfall, transforming into layers upon layers of supple and dense water curtains that blocked the sword light.

"laugh--"

The sword light pierced the water curtain, making a soft sound.

The seemingly weak water curtain actually blocked the sword's momentum layer by layer. True water is gentle but good at overcoming sharpness. Although the Zhaodan Sword is sharp, it is difficult to break through it completely in a short time.

"It's a damaged magic weapon, thank goodness, otherwise I'm afraid I wouldn't be able to get back today."

Lan Jusuo felt a lingering fear. He could sense that if this sword were at its full power, its might would far surpass that of the True Water Vessel. He immediately began to generate magical power to maintain the water curtain, and occasionally counterattacked with his own Taoist magic. For a time, the two were evenly matched, with the sword light and water shadows intertwined endlessly.

Meanwhile, on Zhu Yu's side...

The Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner, worthy of being a near-middle-grade Dao Foundation magic treasure, displayed its full potential in Zhu Yu's hands. Lü Kong's Crimson Flame Pearl was insufficient in power, and his sword energy was inadequate to defend against it. He Riyuan's Seven-Colored Smoke Silk Cloth was greatly depleted, and its glow gradually dimmed.

Even with their combined efforts, the two were forced into a series of defeats and faced constant danger.

He Riyuan's forehead was covered in sweat, and his breathing was rapid.

The Seven-Colored Smoke Silk Handkerchief consumed a great deal of magical power, and he now felt his dantian was empty, and the glow in his hand was becoming increasingly dim.

He glanced at Zhu Yu, who seemed far from reaching his limit, while Lan Jusuo was full of energy and vitality.

His mind raced, and he quickly communicated with Lü Kong and Wang Feng using telepathy.

"We can't fight anymore, we can't outlast them!"

"Let's go back to the market first!"

Lü Kong quickly transmitted his voice:

"There are still quite a few Yin Leizi in the market. We can retreat into the formation and use it to maneuver around."

The market formation is far weaker than that of the Nine Yang Sect. Although it is unlikely to hold out for long, it can at least hold out for a short while.

This short period of time was enough for the three of them to recover, so that they would have the strength to fight the enemy, retreat, or break through.

Even if things go wrong, detonating the Yin Thunder Treasure would be enough to give the Qinghe Sect a hard time. He didn't believe that Zhu Yu would have any magic power left after repeatedly activating his Dao Foundation Magic Treasure.

"retreat!"

Without hesitation, Lü Kong feinted with his sword, causing the Crimson Flame Pearl to blaze with red light, forcing the illusory image of the Yellow Dragon to pause slightly. He then turned and rushed towards the Panlaoshan Market Formation.

He Riyuan and Wang Feng also withdrew at the same time.

"Trying to leave?"

Zhu Yu and Lan Jusuo were not about to let them escape so easily, so they immediately activated their magic weapons to give chase.

Because He Riyuan had consumed the most magical power, his movements were slightly slower. Lan Jusuo seized the opportunity, tilted the True Water Bowl, and a condensed, arrow-like dark blue water arrow shot out, aiming straight for his back!

"Brother He, be careful!"

Lü Kong's expression changed drastically.

Hearing the sound of something cutting through the air, He tried his best to twist his body and dodge, but he was still a fraction too slow. The water arrow grazed his left rib. Although it did not penetrate his body, it felt as if he had been hit by a mountain. He groaned, felt a sweet taste in his throat, and forced it down. He staggered and slowed down.

Fortunately, the three of them had already reached the edge of the formation. The market keeper had received the signal and hurriedly opened a gap in the formation.

Lu and Wang rushed in, and He Riyuan gritted his teeth and held on, following closely behind as he plunged into the formation.

"Close the formation!"

The shop owner shouted in a deep voice.

The array's light barrier quickly closed, blocking Zhu Yu and Lan Jusuo who had chased after them.

On another mountain peak in the distance, Lu Mingchen and Yang Xingkong kept a close eye on the battle.

Seeing that Lü Kong and the other two had retreated into the enemy formation and that He Riyuan was injured, Lu Mingchen frowned slightly and a sense of disappointment rose in his heart.

Yang Xingkong waved his folding fan, his eyes filled with an inscrutable expression, and said in a low voice:

"Han Xianghe hasn't made a move yet. It seems he's truly frightened, or perhaps he has other plans. What a pity..."

Even with all three Dao Foundation Magic Treasures deployed, they were still no match for Zhu and Lan from the Qinghe Sect. The Song Kingdom's desperate struggle was far worse than he had anticipated.

"We're still missing Lotus Valley and Chun Jun Sect. If these two sects also come out in full force, the five sects joining forces might be able to compete with the Qinghe Sect's branch... They really are all a bunch of short-sighted people."

……

Outside the great formation, Zhu Yu snorted softly, while Lan Jusuo sneered.

"A mere small formation."

The markets they occupied along the way were all protected by array formations, which were almost impossible for ordinary Qi Refining Level 10 cultivators to break through, but under the protection of Dao Foundation Magic Treasures, they were just more solid targets.

Zhu Yu immediately took a pill to restore some of his magical power, and then shook the Earthly Fiend Yellow Dragon Banner. A dragon-shaped gale, thicker than before, roared and crashed into the light screen of the great formation.

Lan Jusuo also activated the True Water Vessel, stirring up the nearby water vapor. In the air above, a towering wave appeared out of thin air and crashed down on him!

However, the expected violent shaking and flickering of light in the formation did not occur.

The fierce dragon-shaped gale and towering waves crashed against the array's light barrier, only creating ripples and producing gurgling sounds like muffled farts, and then...

And then it was gone.