I only want immortality.

Is there any kindness in this world that comes without a reason?

The dignified Daoji Zhenren traveled thousands of miles to come here, bringing his disciples and grand-disciples. Could it be that he was only helping out of righteousness and not seeking anything in return?

Obviously not.

As the leader of a sect, Han Xianghe would not be so naive as to believe that this Master Duan possessed such noble character. Even if he did, his disciples would not allow it.

Dozens of people traveled thousands of miles, practicing cultivation and gathering qi along the way. Every expense was wasted.

But he never thought of that, only that he would wait until he defeated the Qinghe Sect in the future before dividing the spoils.

It wasn't until this Master Duan suddenly confessed that he realized the other party had clearly already set his sights on a certain spiritual spot in the Song Kingdom from the very beginning, and both Li Canglang and his master had obviously noticed this.

That's why the scene just now happened.

Even knowing this, the thought that Li Canglang, the martial uncle, had embarrassed Duan Zhenren in front of everyone, and that even though the two knew each other, he had been too bold, still filled him with a sense of sincere admiration.

"Uncle Li's temperament is truly as good as ever."

He thought to himself.

Duan Li's words startled everyone in the hall, and they immediately began to dissuade him.

"Every family has a good-for-nothing son. Master Duan, please don't be discouraged by this."

Jin Daxu glanced at Xianyu Qiong and was the first to speak up and offer advice.

This Master Duan was invited by their Chenjiang Sword Sect. If he really abandons his post now, they will lose face.

Of course, more importantly, the Song Kingdom does indeed need a Dao Foundation Realm cultivator like Duan Li as an ally, not only to deal with the Qinghe Sect, but also because the Jiuyang Sect already possesses a Dao Foundation Realm cultivator and has invited the Dingyue Master from the Qingzhou Grand Sect to assist them. They are genuinely afraid that the Jiuyang Sect might simply sweep through the Song Kingdom...

The considerations, concerns, and balances involved may seem insignificant, but they constantly influence the decisions of those in charge.

Like the Chenjiang Sword Sect, the Baoxia Sect also lacked a Dao Foundation True Person. The sect leader, Cui Minghao, repeatedly offered words of comfort:

"We warmly welcome Master Duan to stay in the Song Kingdom. There is no need to worry about any minor mishaps."

Even Ye Sirui from Lotus Valley rarely spoke up to offer advice.

Xianyu Qiong observed the behavior of each family member. Being an experienced and shrewd man, he understood their concerns. Finally, after much persuasion, he spoke solemnly to Duan Li:

"Fellow Daoist Duan, there is no need to say this again. Now that you have come to my Song Kingdom, you are like a seed that has fallen to the ground. You must find a place to take root. There are seven spiritual sites in the Song Kingdom. Among them, the Thousand Hands Sect and the Yang Clan are temporarily controlled by the Qinghe Sect. If we drive out the Qinghe Sect and restore the spiritual sites, both of them will be unclaimed. You can choose one to stay."

"Oh?"

Duan Li was suddenly moved. A rare ripple appeared on his usually cold face. His gaze swept over the crowd, and he hesitated before saying:

"Although I cherish this beautiful land, I have rendered no service to the Song state. Is this action inappropriate?"

Xianyu Qiong laughed and said, "The Song Kingdom and Qinghe are bound to have a battle. I imagine that at that time, Fellow Daoist will be able to display his divine might and drive them north. How could that be in vain? The Song Kingdom's comrades will surely welcome you with food and drink!"

"Do you fellow Daoists agree?"

Everyone agreed:

"Indeed, this would be of great merit to the Song state, and to be granted a place there is no reason why it is not worthwhile."

"If the Qinghe River is cut off, it will be nothing more than a spiritual cave for the cultivators of my Song Kingdom. True Master Duan is virtuous enough to reside there."

Xianyu Qiong's gaze swept over the crowd, but seeing that some people were silent, he couldn't help but ask:

"Is there any explanation from Pinghe?"

Upon hearing this, everyone looked over, and Duan Li narrowed his eyes as well.

Li Pinghe was called upon, calmly stood up, and said:

"Since ancient times, if one wishes to accomplish great things, clear rewards and punishments should be the first priority. Now that the Thousand Hands Sect and the Yang Clan are no more, only five families remain in the Song Kingdom. Fortunately, Master Duan has come here, so we can count them as six families. Why not use the treasures seized from the two spiritual caves as prizes and reward them according to their merits..."

Duan Li narrowed his eyes to slits, making it impossible to discern his emotions.

Everyone's hearts were in their throats, and those who understood the situation were even more astonished.

This Elder Li is indeed outspoken. Xianyu Qiong's words just now clearly indicate that he has made a decision to give one of the two unclaimed spiritual sites to Duan Li so that Duan Li can focus on blocking the Qinghe Sect.

When it came to Senior Li, he wasn't even willing to offer such a pie. If Duan Li didn't make enough contributions, even though he was a Dao Foundation True Person, he wouldn't be able to get the Spirit Cave.

How could Master Duan be pleased with such words? He would offend him for no reason.

However, such verbal sparring is of no benefit to the State of Song.

Just as I was filled with worry, I heard Li Pinghe continue unhurriedly:

"...If Master Duan performs an unparalleled feat, what's wrong with granting permission to use both spiritual sites?"

These words struck like a thunderbolt, leaving everyone speechless with astonishment.

Xianyu Qiong opened his mouth to speak, but Duan Li had already stepped forward, his eyes sharp as swords, and spoke first:

"Can Fellow Daoist Li's words be trusted?"

Li Pinghe looked at Xianyu Qiong, then his gaze swept over the crowd, and he asked in return:

Do you all agree?

Cui Minghao of Baoxia Sect hesitated and said:

"It's good that six families are competing for the same spot, but if all of them contribute, and there are only two sacred sites, how will they be distributed?"

Li Pinghe blurted out:

"It's simple. The one who obtains the sacred site can contribute one or two units to other families, based on their merits. I suppose those who obtain the sacred site won't object?"

"Of course not."

"Won't."

Everyone nodded, including Duan Li and Xianyu Qiong.

A sacred burial site is the foundation of a sect. If one could acquire such a site, it would be worthwhile even if it meant emptying one's coffers.

Neither the Nine Yang Sect nor Duan Li objected to this. They were the most likely to seize the spiritual cave. As for the other families, they had no hope anyway. If they could get some share of the profits, it would be better than getting nothing at all.

Li Pinghe's proposal not only provided a legal basis for the Nine Yang Sect, Duan Li, and Lotus Valley to compete for the spiritual cave, but also protected the interests of the Chun Jun Sect, Bao Xia Sect, and Chenjiang Sword Sect, making it a win-win situation.

"Let's do as Pinghe says."

Xianyu Qiong immediately arranged for Han Xianghe to sign the terms, and all the families signed them, agreeing that if anyone violated these terms, the other five families would attack them together.

After the matter was over, Duan Li's face and expression softened considerably.

With his sword cultivation skills, if he succeeds in repelling the Qinghe Sect in the north, he may not be able to obtain both spiritual caves, but taking one of them is a certainty.

This is the foundation of a sect. Although it has not yet reached the second rank, it can be found in all thirteen states of the world. There are very few unclaimed spiritual sites, and it is already difficult to find one.

If we can obtain two such places and nurture them using the method of "finding the dragon and seizing the cave," we might be able to cultivate a second-grade spiritual cave, which would then become another foundational sect.

Duan Li was overjoyed. Now that everyone was united and shared a common goal, their objectives became clear.

"...This branch of the Qinghe Sect is bound to be attacked."

Xianyu Qiong set the tone first, which was agreed upon by everyone, while they also shared recent information:

"The three-year period is almost over, and there has been quite a bit of activity at the Qinghe Sect branch. According to our intelligence, Zhu Yu, the disciple of the Qinghe Sect's leader, successfully established his Dao foundation a few days ago and has now come to oversee the situation."

Ye Sirui frowned slightly and said:

"It seems the Qinghe Sect is also not planning to delay any longer?"

"That's not necessarily true."

Xianyu Qiong shook his head slightly, took out a letter from his sleeve, and passed it to everyone.

Duan Li, Jin Daxu, Ye Sirui, Cui Minghao, and Li Pinghe looked at the photos one by one, their expressions varying, but most were filled with surprise and delight.

"The Qinghe Sect Master Wei Ran killed a Han Chinese Dao Foundation cultivator, yet he still couldn't scare them away. He's keeping a close watch on them day and night at Qili Pass. The Qinghe Sect is really in for a lot of trouble."

Cui Minghao's words carried a hint of schadenfreude.

Jin Daxu's eyes lit up:

"In that case, the Qinghe Sect is too busy to take care of itself, so sending a newly promoted Dao Foundation cultivator is probably just to keep us occupied. It's a godsend."

Duan Li was even more direct, his eyes flashing with cold light: "If that's really the case, then Brother Su won't need to take action. I alone can take down the Qinghe Sect!"

"You should not underestimate this."

Xianyu Qiong waved his hand and said seriously:

"The Qinghe Sect still has a deputy sect leader named Ning He, who is highly skilled in Taoism but lives a secluded life. He has not appeared in Wuling or Song Kingdom in recent years. There are rumors that he is seriously injured and difficult to cure, but we must be wary of Wei Ran deliberately spreading rumors to confuse the public and lull us into a false sense of security."

Upon hearing the name "Ning He," Li Pinghe's expression didn't change much, but he suddenly spoke:

"I know that he is a man of great wisdom and decisiveness, with lofty aspirations. His thoughts and actions often exceed expectations, and he should not be underestimated."

Li Pinghe was indeed a man of some standing, and upon hearing this, Duan Li dared not underestimate him, asking, "Do you know what his cultivation level is?"

"Rumors suggest he is nearing the mid-stage of the Dao Foundation realm."

Li Pinghe was naturally unaware of this; it was Xianyu Qiong who replied to him.

Duan Li nodded and said no more.

"Although there are Qinghe Sect cultivators guarding the old Yang family territory, the defenses are not tight, and there shouldn't be any powerful figures there. If we make a move, we can bypass this place and attack the branch altar directly."

"But before that, we need to remove the array foundations that the Qinghe Sect has built along the way... These are things that Pinghe, you'll need to handle."

Han Xianghe promptly brought over a map of the Song Dynasty, and Xianyu Qiong pointed out the location of the sacred site marked on the map, gesturing to it.

Looking at Li Pinghe, he smiled and said, "Once you quickly sweep away the array base, we can go straight into the Qinghe Sect branch altar in no time."

Li Pinghe stood up, not taking on too much responsibility:

"The Dao of array formations is difficult to comprehend, and few people in various countries practice array formations. Even fewer have entered the foundation of the Dao through it. If there were no second-grade array formations, I should be able to break it quickly. However, if there were second-grade array formations, I dare not say that I could break it easily. Therefore, Brother Xianyu, you must make preparations in advance."

"A second-grade formation..."

Xianyu Qiong pondered for a moment, then nodded: "Then let's make two preparations."

He looked at Duan Li and said, "Fellow Daoist Su is unable to leave for the time being. I will tell him that Fellow Daoist Su can break the formation and Fellow Daoist Duan can provide timely support, or we can directly attack the branch altar."

Duan Li solemnly replied, "I will do my utmost!"

Xianyu Qiong nodded, then looked at Ye Sirui, a smile appearing on her face:

"Nephew Ye, please inform your master that you must come in time to join us in guarding the north and preventing the Dao Foundation cultivators of the Qinghe Sect from escaping."

Ye Sirui nodded and said:

"My master will arrive soon."

"That's good," Xianyu Qiong turned to Cui Minghao and Jin Daxu, "Gentlemen, the success in breaking through the enemy lines also relies on the disciples of both your families."

"We will certainly not be negligent."

The two men, along with He Riyuan, Wang Feng, and others behind them, all stood up and replied.

Xianyu Qiong looked around at everyone and nodded, saying:

"Therefore, let's set out the rules for now. If there are any changes, we'll discuss them again. For now, you can stay at our sect for the time being, but you must not leave easily to prevent the news from leaking out and being discovered by the Qinghe Sect. We hope you fellow practitioners will understand."

This was only to be expected, and everyone said it was no problem. After exchanging pleasantries, they all dispersed.

Before leaving, Duan Li glanced at Li Pinghe sitting opposite him, a slight smile appearing on his face:

"Fellow Daoist Li, if you have nothing else to do tonight, why don't we have a chat to preserve our old friendship?"

Li Pinghe showed no surprise, stood up and smiled:

"That is indeed my wish, but I dare not ask."

Duan Li nodded slightly, said nothing more, and then left.

Ye Sirui, who was standing to the side, also wanted to speak, but when she heard Li Pinghe accept Duan Li's invitation, she could only sigh inwardly and step forward to greet him.

Li Pinghe, seemingly unaware, returned the greeting with a smile.

After seeing off Jin Daxu, Cui Minghao, and others, Jin Guang was sent off to play with Han Xianghe. In the blink of an eye, only Xianyu Qiong and Li Pinghe remained in the hall.

"You little rascal, I really have to thank you properly today."

With no one else around, Xianyu Qiong's expression softened, becoming more playful as he stepped down the steps: "Come, let's go to the Spirit Cave to see Master Su."

Li Pinghe was slightly surprised. He stood up and walked out of the main hall side by side with Xianyu Qiong, asking curiously:

"Is that the 'Mountain-Stabilizing Master' Su Jinglong, the True Man Su? Is he currently at White Cloud Mountain?"

"Of course it is, otherwise why would Duan Li be so obedient?"

Xianyu Qiong isolated himself from his surroundings, seemingly unafraid of being overheard or noticed, and his expression grew colder:

"Once word spread that there were second-grade spiritual caves in the Nine Yang Sect and Lotus Valley, many spies from other countries appeared around both places. If I hadn't spread the news early and invited Penglai Pavilion, the people who came now would probably be more than just Duan Li."

Li Pinghe frowned: "Yuzhang is a place where the most outstanding talents gather, and the Longyuan Sword Sect is also a major sect. Duan Li is at least a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so why would he be interested in such a small territory in the Song Kingdom?"

"A large family and a great business may not necessarily be united."

Xianyu Qiong sighed with emotion:

"It is said that Duan Li was arrogant and had a falling out with the sect leader of the Longyuan Sword Sect. He was harassed by the sect leader and was so angry that he simply took his disciples and grand-disciples and tried to go elsewhere. But which spiritual cave is not occupied? Naturally, he encountered obstacles everywhere."

"Both the Chenjiang Sword Sect and the Longyuan Sword Sect are members of the Southern Sword Alliance. Because of this relationship, Jin Daxu found Duan Li and they hit it off immediately... This was something Jin Daxu told me not long ago. I didn't know how to restrain Duan Li before, but you just happened to give me the opportunity."

"So that's how it is."

Li Pinghe immediately understood.

He wasn't very perceptive; he only listened to a few words from Liu Gan after capturing him and guessed a thing or two, so he did it without thinking.

If we were to pinpoint the true intention, it would simply be four words: "Seeking peace of mind."

However, these matters were not worth discussing with Xianyu Qiong further, so he simply smiled and asked curiously, "What abilities does this Master Duan possess now?"

"Better than me."

Xianyu Qiong thought for a moment and gave this answer: "He is much stronger than Wen Yao, but since we have never actually fought, we don't know for sure how he is."

As he spoke, he seemed to remember something, looked at Li Pinghe with a strange glint in his eyes, and suddenly said:

"Give it a try!"

As soon as he finished speaking, a crimson light surged from his sleeve, resembling a tiger or a lion, fierce and inexplicable.

Li Pinghe was caught off guard, but remained calm in the face of the sudden attack. The dark blue True Water Vessel flew out on its own, spinning nimbly. A torrent of black waves surged out of the vessel, instantly creating a perfectly round water barrier around it without revealing the slightest flaw. Compared to the likes of Zhu Yu and Lan Jusuo, it was far more sophisticated.

Sizzle!

Water and fire collided, and heat filled the air.

The black waves vanished rapidly, but the crimson fire tiger and lion could barely move an inch.

I was finding it quite difficult.

The fiery tiger suddenly vanished, leaving only a few sparks, revealing Xianyu Qiong's face, which wore an expression of surprise, confusion, and complexity.

"You brat, you haven't secretly built a foundation for your cultivation, have you?"

"You wield this saliva-powered magic weapon with such skill and ease that it's probably not much different from how Wen Yao used it personally."

"No wonder Duan Li couldn't kill his disciples earlier. I thought he was deliberately holding back. Now it seems that if Dao Ji Zhenren doesn't use some real methods, he probably won't be able to do anything to you."

He paused, then suddenly said:

"With your talent, why not try your luck at Penglai Pavilion or other major sects? Perhaps a sect would be willing to accept you, and you could potentially build your foundation for the Dao?"