I only want immortality.

Baiyun Mountain is the location of the Jiuyang Sect.

Compared to three years ago, the surrounding mountains of Baiyun Mountain have now been leveled to form an array, leaving only a solitary peak with an unobstructed view.

Therefore, when Li Pinghe and his disciple Jin Guang led a group of disciples from the Longyuan Sword Sect through the air, the many Daoist palaces on Baiyun Mountain noticed them.

The main hall of the Jiuyang Sect.

Inside the hall were cultivators from various sects of the Song Kingdom. At the head of the table stood Xianyu Qiong, the former leader of the Jiuyang Sect, who was the host, with his grand-disciple Lü Kong standing behind him.

The people in the lower right corner are Ye Sirui, the master of Lotus Valley, Cui Minghao of Baoxia Sect, He Riyuan, and several others.

In the lower left are Jin Daxu and Wang Feng of the Chenjiang Sword Sect, and Duan Li, the Daoji True Person of the Longyuan Sword Sect of Yuzhang Kingdom, known as the "Lightless Sword," and several of his disciples.

As everyone was discussing how to deal with the Qinghe Sect, a talisman suddenly flew through the air and landed in Xianyu Qiong's hand.

Xianyu Qiong smiled apologetically, then unfolded the letter and glanced at it. His brows furrowed slightly as he read it over, but his expression returned to normal.

"Senior Xianyu, has something happened?"

Cui Minghao of Baoxia Sect moved closer and took the initiative to ask.

Xianyu Qiong smiled faintly upon hearing this: "It's just a small matter. Let's continue."

Upon hearing this, the group began to talk again:

"...It is said that more than ten Dao Foundation cultivators came from Hanzhong. Half a year ago, they joined forces to besiege the area, but they were all stopped by Wei Ran of the Qinghe Sect at Qili Pass. Wei Ran even killed one of the Dao Foundation cultivators on the battlefield! Spies have sent word that there are signs that the Ba Kingdom's witches also intervened in this battle."

"Pakistan has gotten involved too?"

"That's true. The Ba Kingdom and Hanzhong have always been at odds and often clash. If Wei Ran isn't stupid, he would invite the Ba Kingdom's shamans to help him."

"Even so, we underestimated Wei Ran. He was not well-known in the past, and he has only been the sect leader of Qinghe Sect for more than 20 years. If it weren't for the battle at Qili Pass, the world would probably still be in the dark."

The crowd continued their discussion, and Xianyu Qiong's expression also turned solemn. Suddenly, he looked at the person to his lower left and asked:

"Fellow Daoist Duan, is this Wei Ran truly a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator? I heard he only established his foundation in twenty or thirty years ago, yet he has made such progress?"

Upon hearing Xianyu Qiong's question, everyone in the hall couldn't help but look at a middle-aged swordsman sitting in the chief guest seat on the lower left.

The man, dressed in a black robe, with a stern face and narrow eyes, gently set down his teacup upon hearing this and replied in a calm voice:

"Dao Foundation cultivation is different from Qi Refining. It is not solely achieved through day and night grinding. Therefore, progress can be extremely fast or extremely slow. Wei Ran's Dao method is perhaps in harmony with his spiritual cave, which provides him with all the resources. Coupled with his exceptional talent, it is not surprising that he can progress by leaps and bounds in a day. Being able to fight against more than ten Dao Foundation cultivators, he should be in the mid-stage of Dao Foundation."

When everyone heard him speak frankly about the foundation of cultivation, they all pricked up their ears. They heard just a few words and felt as if they had found a treasure, yet they were still confused.

Xianyu Qiong felt a mix of emotions upon hearing this.

He monopolized the Nine Yang Sect's spiritual cave, wasting more than twenty years, yet showed no intention of making any further progress, remaining at the early stage of the Dao Foundation. He should be considered among those who were "extremely slow" as Duan Li described.

"Fellow Daoist Xianyu need not worry too much."

Seeing that Xianyu Qiong remained silent, Duan Li assumed he was worried about the future and calmly said:

"Qinghe Sect is not a major sect, and its heritage may not be profound. I have some knowledge of the way of fighting, so I may be able to stop it. Even if I fail, there is still Fellow Daoist Su here. His name, Dingyue Shou, is known even in Yuzhang."

Upon hearing this, Xianyu Qiong did not offer any explanation, but instead smiled and nodded.

"With Fellow Daoists Duan and Su here, the Song Kingdom can finally breathe a sigh of relief."

"Fellow Daoist Xianyu is too modest."

Duan Li replied with a faint smile.

Just then, they heard a commotion outside.

"What's all this commotion outside?"

Xianyu Qiong frowned slightly.

Before long, a disciple of the Nine Yang Sect rushed in to report, his expression strange: "Sect Leader, it's... it's Senior Li from the Chun Jun Sect who has arrived."

"Li Canglang?"

Xianyu Qiong feigned surprise: "He's here, so why all this commotion?"

The disciple hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "Senior Li... didn't come alone. His disciple, the Golden Light Boy, used a water dragon to bind dozens of cultivators, and they're leading them up the mountain. Judging from their clothes, those bound cultivators seem to be members of the Dragon Abyss Sword Sect."

Upon hearing this, the hall fell silent.

Almost everyone couldn't help but turn their gaze to Duan Li, who was sitting in the guest seat of honor.

Upon hearing the report, he showed no emotion whatsoever. He simply picked up the teacup on the table, took a small sip, and acted as if the matter had nothing to do with him.

Xianyu Qiong was greatly alarmed and asked in astonishment, "What...what's going on? Is there some misunderstanding?"

He immediately turned his head and ordered, "Lü Kong, go and ask him quickly; this Li Canglang is acting recklessly!"

"Yes, disciple will go immediately."

Amidst the reprimands, the atmosphere inside the hall suddenly became subtle.

Lotus Valley Master Ye Sirui sat silently, her jade fingers gently rubbing a dark green lotus seed, her gaze subtly sweeping over Duan Li.

Jin Daxu and Cui Minghao had different expressions. Both of them were sect leaders, experienced and with keen senses, and had already vaguely sensed the strange atmosphere in the hall.

Xianyu Qiong and Duan Li are both Dao Foundation True Persons, and can see a thousand miles with a single thought. How could the events at the foot of Baiyun Mountain be kept from these two?

Xianyu Qiong pretended not to know, and Duan Li remained silent, but neither of them knew what the two meant.

No one spoke at that moment.

Even Jin Daxu, the one who invited Duan Li, dared not speak easily at this moment.

Only some young cultivators, such as He Riyuan of the Baoxia Sect, showed some unease on their faces and said with slight annoyance:

"Regardless of the misunderstanding, Elder Li has gone a bit too far."

To openly humiliate the distinguished guest who came to help is a disgrace to the Song Dynasty cultivators and may even discourage Master Duan from offering assistance; it is extremely unwise.

Cui Minghao frowned, glared at He Riyuan, and was somewhat speechless. He hadn't seen that the people from the Chenjiang Sword Sect weren't worried, and even Duan Li, the main person in question, hadn't said anything. Why was he jumping out like this?

Just as everyone was lost in their own thoughts, Lü Kong's helpless voice came from outside the hall:

"...Senior Li, there must be some misunderstanding here."

"There's no misunderstanding. I saw these three people snatching someone in Mortal City with my own eyes. They even claimed to be disciples of the Dragon Abyss Sword Sect, slandering Master Duan. How could Master Duan have such unworthy disciples..."

"Golden light".

"Alright, this disciple will stop talking."

With just a few words, the people in the hall had already pieced together the general idea: the disciples of the Dragon Abyss Sword Sect were causing trouble outside, but were caught by Li Canglang and his apprentice, who couldn't stand it and captured them.

Some people, recalling the temperament of this senior Li, do not doubt that he could do such a thing. In his early years, he was known for his chivalrous and unrestrained nature, and for his intolerance of any wrongdoing.

While admiring him, he couldn't help but be annoyed that the man was too pedantic and lacked a sense of the bigger picture. The Song Kingdom was currently relying on the protection of Duan Li and Su Jinglong, two Dao Foundation Realm cultivators, and yet he had angered them for the sake of a few mortals, which was simply disregarding the safety of the Song Kingdom.

Some people even felt that the old man only cared about his own reputation, but did only foolish things, which was utterly despicable.

Amidst the mixed feelings of the crowd.

The light and shadow in front of the main hall dimmed.

Two figures, one old and one young, entered the hall. The old man had white hair and beard, and his face was covered with wrinkles and brown spots, but he was still tall and robust, wearing a plain blue robe.

He entered the hall, raised his sleeves, cupped his hands, and greeted everyone:

"Li Pinghe greets fellow practitioners."

The boy, barely a child, possessed a striking appearance and bright, intelligent eyes. In his hand, he held a condensed water dragon, the end of which was bound twenty or thirty ashen-faced, weak cultivators. They all bowed their heads, concealing their faces, afraid to show themselves. The boy, however, was not intimidated. He looked at the crowd and boldly declared:

"My name is Jin Guang!"

For a moment, none of the cultivators inside the hall responded.

In the midst of the awkward silence, Ye Sirui, the master of Lotus Valley, took the initiative to stand up and respectfully said, "Sirui greets Senior Uncle Li and Junior Brother Jin Guang."

Within the Chenjiang Sword Sect, a man stood up behind Jin Daxu. Though his tone was arrogant, it did not offend anyone.

"Wang Feng greets Senior Li."

Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads, feeling slightly embarrassed, and they all greeted him.

Upon seeing the people behind Jin Guang, the expressions of Duan Li's disciples all changed.

"It's Zhang Qiang and Liu Gan!"

They wanted to make a move, but Jin Guang's words were so confident that they hesitated and dared not speak up for fear of messing things up.

Such a change in expression, though the palace was large and everyone present was a cultivator, could not be hidden from others.

All eyes were on Li Pinghe, and some even secretly glanced at Duan Li, waiting for the reaction of this Dao Foundation Realm cultivator.

Will he fly into a rage? Or storm off? Or... take direct action to punish him?

Xianyu Qiong also showed displeasure and said:

"Pinghe, what are you doing?"

Li Pinghe raised his sleeves and clasped his hands in a gesture of respect, a smile appearing on his aged face:

"Having heard of Master Duan's illustrious reputation, I have come to pay my respects."

Duan Li slowly put down his teacup and looked up at Li Pinghe.

Xianyu Qiong's gaze narrowed slightly, and Ye Sirui from Lotus Valley also looked nervous, naturally clutching the lotus seeds tightly in her hands. As for Jin Daxu, Cui Minghao, and Han Xiang and the others who had arrived, their hearts tightened even more.

The atmosphere in the main hall froze instantly.

However, to everyone's surprise, the "Lightless Sword," known for his sharp swordsmanship and unpredictable temperament, actually showed a faint smile on his cold face.

He slowly rose, cupped his hands in a distant salute to Li Pinghe, and spoke in a calm tone, carrying a hint of nostalgia for reuniting with an old friend and a warmth he had never shown when facing Xianyu Qiong:

"Fellow Daoist Li, it has been fifty-three years since we last met at the Sword Debate Platform in Changsha Kingdom. Your demeanor is even more impressive than before."

These words astonished everyone in the hall.

Li Pinghe and Duan Li were actually old acquaintances?

Jin Guang was also confused. "You two know each other? Then what about me crying in fear before?"

Li Pinghe smiled faintly and returned the greeting with a cupped hand, neither humble nor arrogant.

"Greetings, Master. I am but an old and frail body, barely clinging to life. I have no more 'grace' to speak of. It is you, Master, whose swordsmanship has improved so much that your fame has spread far beyond Yuzhang, which makes your old friend happy and envious."

"It was just luck."

Duan Li shook his head, unwilling to say more. His gaze swept over the disciples and grand-disciples bound by the water dragon in Jin Guang's hand, but his tone became calmer and more composed:

"I am ashamed. I have failed in my duty of discipline, and such an unworthy disciple has emerged from my sect. He has committed robbery in the territory of the Song Kingdom, offended fellow Daoists, and disgraced the reputation of my Longyuan Sword Sect. I am sorry to have made you and my fellow Daoists of the Song Kingdom laugh at me."

He did not try to hide anything, admitting that he had not been strict enough in disciplining his children. This magnanimity and composure earned him praise from everyone in the hall, and their opinions of him changed.

"Grandmaster, we are guilty!"

Jin Guang withdrew the water dragon, and the twenty or thirty disciples hurriedly knelt and kowtowed.

"You beast, what have you done? Report back immediately!"

Duan Li's disciples stepped forward and angrily questioned him.

They only learned that Liu Gan and his two companions were the culprits. The others, seeing their fellow disciples captured, went to their rescue, but were also captured themselves.

"Cultivators are forbidden from entering mortal cities to cause trouble. This is an ironclad rule that everyone abides by, yet you...you disregard it! You scoundrels!"

Several people were filled with regret and frustration.

Liu Gan and the other two were deathly pale. They kowtowed repeatedly, barely managing to raise their heads, and said in trembling voices:

"Grandmaster, Master, Senior Uncle... your disciples were confused for a moment, please have mercy, please have mercy!"

Duan Li remained silent, looking at his other disciples and grand-disciples, his voice cold and stern:

"To shield one's fellow disciples regardless of right or wrong is to disregard the rules of my Dragon Abyss Sword Sect..."

"Grandmaster, we were wrong, we were wrong!"

Duan Li's expression suddenly turned cold. He closed his eyes and spoke in a voice as cold as iron:

"Realizing the mistake was too late!"

But then a sharp sword cry rang out, and Duan Li shot out streaks of sword light from his palm, heading straight for the foreheads of the twenty or thirty people!

"Master!"

"Fellow Daoist Duan, you mustn't!"

Everyone's expression changed drastically, never expecting that this Master Duan would be so bloodthirsty, even deciding the life or death of his own disciple with a single word!

Xianyu Qiong's heart sank as well. He only wanted to use Li Pinghe to give Duan Li a little warning. If someone really died, the Jiuyang Sect would lose the initiative. However, the other party acted so quickly that it seemed that he did not have a chance to stop him at all.

Suddenly, they heard a series of clear "ding, ding, ding" sounds, and both Xianyu Qiong and Duan Li looked over in surprise.

Before these Dragon Abyss Sword Sect cultivators, a faint blue light had appeared, and the sword lights that pierced through it were quickly dissipated by the light.

This scene immediately shocked everyone.

"A real water vessel?!"

Upon seeing this commotion, Lü Kong, He Riyuan, and Wang Feng all cried out in surprise.

The deep blue light quickly contracted, like swallows returning to their nests, and fell back into the water bowl in Li Pinghe's hand.

Li Pinghe met Duan Li's slightly furrowed brows and said with a smile:

"Master Duan, which young person doesn't make mistakes? Although you are guilty, you don't deserve to die. Some people have been implicated for no reason. You meant well for your fellow disciples, but you don't need to pay such a high price for it."

"Yes, Fellow Daoist Duan, this is not right, this is not right."

Xianyu Qiong also realized what was happening and quickly stepped forward to dissuade him.

Everyone else also offered their advice.

After giving Li Pinghe a deep look, Duan Li hesitated for a moment, then glanced at the disciples before suddenly looking at Liu Gan and the other two. He pointed and pointed at their dantian.

With a hiss, the magical power surged forth.

The three of them turned pale with disbelief.

Duan Li said indifferently:

"Others may be forgiven, but you cannot. If it weren't for the persuasion of your fellow believers, you would not be alive today!"

"Get out!"

The three were utterly dejected. Now that they had lost their cultivation, they were no different from ordinary people. They could no longer bully others, which was worse than taking their lives.

The disciples behind them quickly led the three away.

Duan Li said no more, and turned to look at Xianyu Qiong and the others:

"I, Duan, apologize for disturbing your important discussions. I was invited here for two reasons: first, to assist our comrades in the Song Kingdom in resisting foreign aggression; and second..."

He paused, his gaze sweeping over everyone in the hall, his tone frank:

"Having cultivated in Yuzhang Kingdom for a long time, I had a sudden inspiration and wished to find a quiet place to devote myself to comprehending the Dao of Sword. Song Kingdom has beautiful mountains and clear waters, and fellow practitioners are enthusiastic. I originally intended to stay here as a guest, but I did not expect that the disciples of my sect..."

"I am truly ashamed to remain here."

At this moment, everyone's expressions changed upon hearing this.

Han Xianghe, who was standing to the side, only belatedly realized what was going on, and couldn't help but glance at Li Pinghe, who remained calm throughout, and then at his master, who was deep in thought and silent, and was secretly surprised:

"So they figured it out all along."

"This real person actually wants to stay in the Song Kingdom and never leave!"