I only want immortality.

"Isn't that reason enough? Any other?"

Upon hearing Li Pinghe's words, Chen Xu hesitated for a moment, a look of uncertainty on his face.

Li Pinghe frowned:

"Just say what you want to say. Why act like a child? Is this how Junior Brother Liu teaches you?"

"Yes, Master Uncle is right."

Chen Xu dared not refute, and hurriedly said, "This is a rumor, which has not been verified, so this disciple dares not speak rashly... It is rumored that the countries north of Wuling have been in turmoil in recent years. The cause was that someone in the country performed a blood sacrifice in various cities, which led to the emergence of the Demonic Cave. Some sects and immortals had no choice but to move south, which further squeezed the domestic structure of Wuling. This is why the people of Wuling's cultivation world seized the Thousand Hands Sect's mountain gate."

"The Demonic Abyss?"

For the first time, a solemn expression appeared on Li Pinghe's wrinkled face: "The Fiend Cave is the foundation of demonic cultivation, located opposite the spiritual abodes of my immortal path. The surrounding area is littered with bones for miles around, yet isn't the demonic path located in the far north? How dare they be so arrogant and rampant, wreaking havoc in the heart of my immortal path?"

"This... I don't know, it might be a misconception."

Chen Xu said awkwardly that he knew most of what was happening in the Song Kingdom, but with the Wuling Kingdom in between, it was already quite good that he could hear some vague news.

"A rumor that comes out of nowhere may not be without cause."

Li Pinghe frowned slightly, pondering:

"Although the states of Jingnan have their disagreements, they have been relatively peaceful for a century. Their格局 (structure/pattern) has long been established and rarely changes. Now that the Thousand Hands Sect's mountain gate has been seized, it is just like the tip of a duckweed or ripples on a lake. The Song Kingdom has been weak for a long time. Once it becomes unstable, it will be like a piece of meat in the mouth of a pack of wolves, and everyone wants to take a bite..."

These few words were enough to make Chen Xu break out in a cold sweat, and he quickly clasped his hands in a fist and said:

"We humbly request that our senior master descend the mountain and take charge of the sect!"

Li Pinghe gently shook his head:

"I am but an old man, what good can I possibly do?"

Chen Xu quickly replied, "Master Uncle is highly respected and virtuous. When the various families of Song see him, they will certainly not dare to act rashly."

Li Pinghe laughed instead:

"It's only a temporary reprieve. Chun Jun Sect has only been established for a little over a hundred years, and its foundation is weak. Even if the sect leader truly achieves Dao Foundation, it won't be a good thing in the Song Kingdom. If chaos breaks out, it will become the target of everyone's attacks. If foreign enemies invade, it will be like a tree that stands out in the forest and will be felled by the wind. If one doesn't achieve Dao Foundation, then one is just a pawn on the chessboard, manipulated by others. It's already difficult enough to preserve one's life and property."

"this……"

Chen Xu, confused and somewhat indignant, couldn't help but say, "This disciple is foolish. Doesn't this mean that no matter what, our Chun Jun Sect will not have a good ending?"

Li Pinghe shook his head indifferently:

"That's not true. There's no absolute truth in this world. But even if things are good, it's still just living under someone else's roof."

Hearing this assertion, Chen Xu, though indignant, couldn't help but feel somewhat discouraged. He clasped his hands and said, "Since that's the case, it's only right that Chun Jun Sect is doomed. This disciple will not insist that Master Uncle go down the mountain. Now that we've encountered this calamity, this disciple will take his leave."

"Hehe, you've inherited some of Junior Brother Liu's arrogance."

Li Pinghe chuckled lightly:

"Who says this old man won't come down the mountain?"

Chen Xu was taken aback, feeling a mix of surprise, delight, and confusion: "Senior Uncle, this... this disciple is even more confused. Why would Senior Uncle knowingly walk into a tiger's den?"

Upon hearing this, Li Pinghe stroked his cane and laughed loudly, his voice echoing through the valley, causing the grass and leaves to rustle down.

"If a great calamity were to arise, so vast and boundless, who could remain unscathed?"

"Let alone tigers or dragons, even immortals, demons, and Buddhas would have to fight back if they wanted to devour people!"

His voice was loud and clear, but not particularly passionate.

Hearing this, Chen Xu's heart surged with emotion, and he was filled with awe and reverence.

"However... I must make this clear from the beginning."

Li Pinghe paused.

Chen Xu quickly flicked his sleeves and bowed with his hands clasped:

"Please instruct me, Master."

Li Pinghe held up three fingers and said, slowly and deliberately:

"There are three conditions. First, I left Chun Jun Sect twenty-six years ago. I am fortunate that you still remember me. However, this time when I come down the mountain, I can only serve as a guest elder, not a senior member of the sect. If anything changes, I can come and go as I please without any restrictions. Now that you are here, I suppose the new sect leader is aware of this. Can you make this decision?"

Chen Xu was taken aback: "Master Uncle was originally a disciple of my Chun Jun Sect, how could this be... Alright, I can agree to this on behalf of the young sect leader."

"good!"

Li Pinghe praised him, and then said, "Secondly, since I left, I will not concern myself with any affairs of the sect. If there are any external enemies, I will not take action. However, if there are any matters related to the foundation of the Dao in the future, I must know them all. If there are any treasures for achieving the foundation of the Dao, I must have a share first, regardless of others."

"this……"

Chen Xu hesitated.

If it's news or cultivation techniques related to the Dao Foundation, that's fine. But if it's a treasure related to the Dao Foundation, everyone will fight for it. Who would willingly give it up to someone else?

Li Pinghe said, "Don't worry, I'm just observing. Everyone's methods are different. If I really have any foundational treasures, they might not be suitable for me."

"Well... alright, I'll agree to this on behalf of the sect leader!"

Chen Xu gritted his teeth.

With the sect leader's Dao foundation in sight, he would most likely not mind using a treasure that is useless to him to gain the support of the older generation. As for the thoughts of others, they are insignificant compared to the safety of Chun Jun Sect.

Moreover, to put it bluntly, Senior Uncle Li is already old, frail and weak, and has long since lost hope of establishing a foundation in Taoism, so he probably won't be able to use it anymore.

"Um."

Li Pinghe nodded and then said:

"The third one is much simpler: collect a longevity pill for me."

"A longevity elixir?"

Upon hearing this, Chen Xu breathed a sigh of relief.

Longevity pills are certainly not easy to obtain, but compared to foundational treasures, they are nothing.

He clasped his hands in a fist and said, "This disciple accepts on behalf of the young sect leader. May I ask when our senior master will depart?"

Li Pinghe smiled and said, "Now."

"Now?"

Chen Xu was taken aback.

"Jin Guang, pack up."

"Yes, teacher!"

The boy who had been eavesdropping nearby was already all smiles. Without further ado, he gave Lin Yang a gentle pat, and Lin Yang's face, which had been in great pain, turned from white to green, and then became rosy.

Seeing this scene, Chen Xu knew perfectly well that his junior disciple had been tricked by the boy. He was secretly alarmed, but when he sensed that Lin Yang's aura was even stronger than before, he felt relieved.

"Here you go, senior brother!"

With a smile, Jin Guang tossed the still unconscious Lin Yang toward Chen Xu, then raised his hand and beckoned.

Then a rumbling sound was heard.

The spring beside the thatched hut suddenly rose into the air, like a water dragon twisting its body, with countless runes flashing around it.

"Leave a trace."

Li Pinghe suddenly said.

"I know!"

Jin Guang chuckled, then flicked his finger, and the water dragon was severed in two, one part falling back to its original spot, while the other part remained suspended in mid-air.

He then extended his white, lotus-root-like wrist, and the half-water dragon quickly shrank, transforming in the blink of an eye into a light blue bracelet, which he then slipped onto his wrist before tucking it into his sleeve.

"Junior brother, you have impressive skills!"

Seeing that he had subdued the spiritual spring, Chen Xu couldn't help but sigh, and then said regretfully:

"This spiritual spring is of exceptionally high quality; there might not be another one like it throughout the entire Song Kingdom. Why doesn't Senior Uncle take it all?"

Li Pinghe shook his head and said:

"If you act ruthlessly today, and someone else does the same tomorrow, what future do we have?"

Chen Xu was taken aback, turned his head to look at the half-full spring, and lowered his head thoughtfully.

Jin Guang collected the spiritual spring and happily went back to the thatched hut.

Li Pinghe looked at the two thatched huts with his hands behind his back and sighed.

This life spans a hundred years, twelve years of childhood, thirty-three years of dormancy, forty-two years of adventure, and twenty-six years of quiet contemplation.

In his life, he went from a mortal to an elder of the immortal sect, and then retired at the peak of his life. He had experienced all the splendor and tasted all the flavors of life, and had no regrets.

It is already difficult to live to this point in one lifetime, let alone be reborn as a second person.

Now, this life has come to an end.

He had no other thoughts but to make one last desperate attempt at the end of his life to cross the chasm that had trapped him for so many years.

"The Foundation of the Dao..."

"The Foundation of the Way!"