I only want immortality.

"Though I have the will, I cannot find the way."

Upon hearing Xianyu Qiong's words, Li Pinghe showed little emotion, only sighed softly, and walked alongside Xianyu Qiong, calmly recounting his own experiences.

"In the past, I traveled to Guiyang, Changsha, Wuling, and Ba State, visiting various major sects. In order to gain the favor of these sects, I often held sermons and made friends with disciples to advance my career. Unfortunately..."

Xianyu Qiong was quite puzzled:

"Several sects and numerous foundational sects, yet not a single one recognizes your talent?"

Li Pinghe laughed and said:

"I do feel ashamed, but after much consideration, I ultimately decided not to accept."

"Oh?"

As the two walked across a mountain stream, Xianyu Qiong asked curiously, "Who is it? And why did you refuse?"

Facing this old friend, Li Pinghe didn't hide anything, his eyes filled with reminiscence, and he chuckled self-deprecatingly:

"He is a senior from Changsha Kingdom. I cannot say more about him. He granted me the position of Dao Foundation, but... but he wanted me to be his Dao Partner."

Xianyu Qiong's eyes widened in disbelief:

"You actually turned down such a good opportunity?"

"Pinghe, are you confused?!"

"What nonsense," Li Pinghe shook his head, "She is one of my Daoist partners."

"Hmm... one of them, that's true..."

Xianyu Qiong was speechless for a moment, then frowned slightly: "Wait, the one you're talking about, could it be the head of the Ding family of Cangjiang in Changsha?"

Li Pinghe was slightly surprised: "How did Brother Xianyu know?"

Xianyu Qiong shook his head: "It's fortunate that you didn't agree. A few years ago, I heard that this woman kept many Daoist partners and used them to cultivate an evil technique called 'The Art of Controlling Partners in the Phoenix Court.' Those who were affected by it all lost their souls and minds and were no longer human. It caused quite a stir back then."

Upon hearing this, Li Pinghe was slightly taken aback, but then couldn't help but laugh: "I was still somewhat resentful afterward, feeling that I was too arrogant and missed the opportunity."

"Haha, on another note, the Ding family doesn't just accept anyone. They only choose handsome men. You're quite lucky to have been chosen."

Xianyu Qiong couldn't help but joke, but it was rare to see Li Pinghe suffer a loss, so he naturally wouldn't let it go easily.

After a few lighthearted banter, he remarked with a touch of melancholy:

"In the kingdoms of Jingnan, spiritual sites are generally rare. How could a single Dao Foundation Establishment spot be easily granted to someone else?"

"You've gone to the wrong place. If you had gone north, a great sect might have recognized your abilities and offered you a special foundation position."

"It's all about timing and fate."

Li Pinghe sighed softly, "Now that my youth has faded, what great sect would still favor me?"

Xianyu Qiong hesitated for a moment before speaking:

"I can discuss this with Master Su and see if such an opportunity may arise."

"Oh?"

Li Pinghe was slightly taken aback, looked Xianyu Qiong up and down, but quickly understood, and frowned:

"You want that spiritual cave of Chun Jun Sect?"

Xianyu Qiong looked at him as if she had seen a ghost, and after a long while, she couldn't help but shake her head:

"Forget it. If you truly reach the Dao Foundation stage, where in the Song Kingdom will my Nine Yang Sect have a foothold? ...Is it really impossible?"

He was still unwilling to give up:

"I heard that you have left Chun Jun Sect. Even if there is still some affection between us, such a Qi-refining sect will have a hard time surviving in the future. In the midst of chaos, it will eventually fall into the hands of others. It would be better for you to come to my Jiu Yang Sect. For your sake, I can treat you the same as everyone else."

Upon hearing this, Li Pinghe paused, his expression calm, his words even more so, yet brooking no argument:

"I have little to do with Chun Jun Sect anymore. If Jiu Yang Sect wants to take Chun Jun Sect, they can do so themselves. There's no need for them to speak well of me because of Chun Jun Sect."

"Look at you... you're practically halfway to your grave, how can you still act so impulsively?"

Xianyu Qiong chuckled, but then couldn't help himself and said seriously:

"Pinghe, this is how chaotic times are. Haven't you realized the situation yet? Today, the six families in the hall signed their names to share the credit, and it's all thanks to you, Li Pinghe, that the prize would have been three, not two spiritual sites."

"You can protect it for a while, but what happens after you pass away? Given the current situation, even my Nine Yang Sect may not be able to survive in the future, let alone the mere Chun Jun Sect?"

He paused, his tone slightly somber, tinged with a hint of helplessness:

"Isn't it better to let them live than to have their bones crushed and their ashes scattered?"

Upon hearing this, Li Pinghe remained unusually silent.

Seeing this, Xianyu Qiong suddenly lost interest and waved his hand, saying:

"Never mind, I was just saying that. Who can predict what will happen in the future? Besides, Master Su might not even be interested in you."

"That's true."

Li Pinghe smiled and said, but he didn't hold out much hope, after all, he was too old.

The two moved swiftly, and before they knew it, they had entered the bottom of Baiyun Valley.

At the bottom of the valley, one sees towering cliffs, a distant bridge standing obliquely, and a winding stream with pines; as one walks through it, the sounds of the valley echo.

A figure stood with his back to the two people on the bridgehead, calculating with his fingers. The stream flowing beneath his feet was not water, but a dense spiritual energy that could be seen with the naked eye…

"That must be Master Su."

Xianyu Qiong lowered her voice.

Li Pinghe's eyes showed curiosity:

"What is Master Su doing?"

Just as Xianyu Qiong was about to speak, he heard the person on the bridge, whose back was to them, speak slowly:

"It is to determine the grade of a sacred burial site; I, Su, am skilled in observing qi (vital energy)."

Her voice was clear and pleasant, which made people feel good.

Xianyu Qiong stopped speaking and bowed respectfully to the figure:

"Master Su, this is the master of magic I mentioned to you, Li Pinghe."

Li Pinghe also bowed in greeting.

"Li Pinghe has met Master Su."

But they were lifted up by a gentle force, and the man laughed:

"So it is you, Mr. Canglang, in person. I have long admired your name."

The man tucked his hands into his sleeves, slowly turned around, his face was pale gold, his eyes were like a galaxy, and he had three long wisps of beard under his chin. What a Taoist priest!

Li Pinghe secretly praised him and said politely:

"I dare not accept such praise."

Su Jinglong laughed and said:

"Mr. Canglang, there is no need to be modest. The Qi-refining techniques that you have improved are also circulating in my Qingzhou. I have observed that the techniques are complete in terms of Yin and Yang and the Five Elements, yet they can innovate and sweep away old ailments. It is evident that you have achieved extraordinary skill and have reached a state of perfection."

"This is already rare, and the master is even more generous in imparting his teachings. Such magnanimity and breadth of mind are in the style of ancient virtuous men, which is truly remarkable in the world."

"I am ashamed."

Li Pinghe cupped his hands in greeting: "To receive such praise from Master Su is enough to comfort me for a lifetime."

"Master Su, Pinghe, please sit here."

As the host, Xianyu Qiong naturally wouldn't be impolite. He led the two along the wooden path, past a grove of pear trees, and into the pavilion.

The three sat down, and Xianyu Qiong took out the tea set, poured in a pinch of spiritual tea from the spiritual water of the stream below, and started a fire to brew it. Before long, the aroma of the tea soup filled the air.

He gently swirled the teacup, the tea leaves unfurling in the tea soup. Su Jinglong took a small sip and put it down, then smiled and spoke first:

"When I heard that Mr. Li was a cultivator from the Song Kingdom, I was quite surprised. I never expected that someone who could study so many techniques of the Qi Refining Realm so thoroughly would come from a place like the Song Kingdom where spiritual energy is scarce. Truly, heroes come from all walks of life."

Li Pinghe rarely gave a bitter smile:

"Perhaps it is because the spiritual energy has faded that we cultivators are finding it difficult to make progress. We can only devote ourselves to refining qi techniques, which is not what we want, but we have no other choice."

"That's true."

Upon hearing this, Su Jinglong couldn't help but sigh, "The Song Kingdom is still considered good. I once went south to Jiaozhou, to countries like Cangwu, Hepu, Nanhai, and Yulin. Their spiritual caves were repeatedly exploited, and their spiritual energy had long been depleted. Such a vast land couldn't even nurture a single cultivator at the mid-stage of Qi Refining."

"Places like Jiaozhi and Lünan are completely deserted."

Overwhelmed with emotion, Su Jinglong couldn't help but clap his hands and sigh deeply:

"To enrich the spiritual treasures of one place at the expense of the entire world—how is the Hao Ri Sect of Zhongzhou any different from the last emperor of the Great Xia Dynasty!"

"Haori Sect?"

Li Pinghe felt slightly unfamiliar.

"This sect is the current overlord that controls the four provinces of Zhong, Ji, Yu, and Yan, and it is also the source of the chaos and turmoil that plagues the Divine Continent!"

When Su Jinglong mentioned this name, he did not hide his dissatisfaction and hostility towards this sect.

"Possessing the lands of four states..."

Li Pinghe couldn't help but recall what Yang Xingkong had said in the past. He figured that the overlord he was referring to was the "Haori Sect" that Su Jinglong had mentioned.

However, he simply couldn't imagine just how enormous a sect that controlled four states must be.

The more Su Jinglong spoke, the more heartbroken he became:

"This Hao Ri Sect has gone against the tide, restoring the ancient system in the four states and following the ancients in everything. Not only has it restored the Great Xia County system and changed the country into a county, but it has also set the era name for the world with the sect leader. According to the Daoist name of the Hao Ri Sect leader, 'Qing Yang Zi,' it is now the seventy-fifth year of the Qing Yang calendar."

"That's not all. Their sect also sends its disciples to herd mortals, making all living beings into beasts of burden for the sect, unable to have any peace and quiet, which greatly violates the rules of our immortal sect."

"It was they who rose to power in the Central Plains, conquering east and west, ravaging all directions, and from then on, the world was never at peace!"

Li Pinghe couldn't help but frown:

"Is there no one who can stop it?"

"Who can stop me?"

Su Jinglong sighed, "Zhongzhou was originally a place where great sects gathered. At its peak, it was known as the Twelve Giants of Zhongzhou. Where are they now?"

"Leaving aside other matters, why is Han Zhongguo heading south to seize the Wuling Spirit Cave? It's because Hao Ri Zongzheng is currently on a westward expedition to the north and pacifying the two countries. Han Zhongguo's alchemists are terrified and have no choice but to send powerful cultivators to gather at the border to prepare for any unforeseen circumstances, while simultaneously heading south to Wuling and Guanghan to secure a way out."

"Once the Northern Lands and the Kingdom of Anding are breached, the Han Chinese alchemists of Wuling will surely return north to provide assistance. At that time, the Qinghe Sect will be able to free up its forces to go south to the Song Kingdom and seize the sacred cave."

"So that's how it is."

After hearing Su Jinglong's few words, Li Pinghe quickly gained a better understanding of the current state of affairs in the world.

"I was just about to speak with Master Su," Xianyu Qiong said hastily, seizing an opportunity.

"The three-year period is approaching. We should take advantage of the fact that the Qinghe Sect is unable to spare any resources and drive them out of the Song Kingdom in one fell swoop. If there are any second-grade formations blocking our way, we will need Master Su to break through them."

Upon hearing this, Su Jinglong casually raised his hand and said:

"Just let me know when the time comes. However, setting up a second-grade formation is not so easy. The expenses all depend on the spiritual resources produced in various places. The Qinghe Sect may not be able to accumulate enough, nor may they be willing to use it here."

Xianyu Qiong nodded: "In short, thank you very much for Master Su's help."

Su Jinglong still smiled and waved his hand, calm and confident:

"It's a minor matter... However, even if we drive the Qinghe Sect away, it's still only a temporary solution. Once I return to Qingzhou, Wei Ran of the Qinghe Sect will definitely make a comeback, and Duan Li alone probably won't be able to stop him."

"this……"

Xianyu Qiong looked helpless upon hearing this: "We can't just uproot the Qinghe Sect completely."

Su Jinglong narrowed his eyes slightly and asked in return:

"Why not?"

Xianyu Qiong was taken aback. Looking at Su Jinglong's expression, which didn't seem like a joke, she suddenly felt her mouth go dry: "Really... really can that be?"

Su Jinglong smiled but did not answer.

Li Pinghe suddenly said:

"If the Qinghe Sect were gone... would Han China continue its southward expansion?"

This question caused Su Jinglong to frown slightly:

"That is a problem. We've driven away the jackals, but now the tigers and leopards have arrived. It might be better to keep the Qinghe Sect around..."

Xianyu Qiong added:

"But we can't allow the Qinghe Sect to have the spare resources to go south."

Su Jinglong pondered for a moment before saying, "That's simple. Just leave one second-grade low-level spiritual cave in the Qinghe Sect, enough to accommodate two or three Dao Foundation Establishments... We'll see when the time comes."

Born into a top sect in Qingzhou, he had little interest in the conflict between the Qinghe Sect and the Song Kingdom. However, his calm and confident attitude put Xianyu Qiong at ease.

His gaze swept over Li Pinghe, a slight thought crossed his mind, and he looked at Su Jinglong, saying:

"There is one more matter that I need to trouble Master Su with."

Su Jinglong readily agreed:

"Please feel free to speak."

Xianyu Qiong considered his words carefully before saying, "Pinghe admires the vastness of Penglai Pavilion and wishes to visit it, but he doesn't know if Penglai Pavilion allows outsiders to see it?"

Hearing Xianyu Qiong's words, Li Pinghe, though not hopeful, couldn't help but take it more seriously.

Su Jinglong was a shrewd man; although Xianyu Qiong's words were veiled, he still understood. After a moment's thought, he asked:

How old is Mr. Li now?

Li Pinghe replied, "Now it's one hundred and sixteen."

"One hundred and sixteen years old?"

Upon hearing this age, Su Jinglong's face quickly showed a look of regret and apology:

"I'm afraid that won't work. Penglai Pavilion can indeed accommodate Dao Foundation Establishment guest elders for lodging, but Mr. Li is not a true Dao Foundation Establishment cultivator, and he is already quite old..."

Although Li Pinghe had not held out any hope, he couldn't help but feel a little disappointed after hearing Su Jinglong's words.

Seeing that Li Pinghe's expression remained unchanged, Xianyu Qiong knew that he was probably suffering inside, sighed inwardly, and quickly changed the subject:

"But we don't know what kind of talent they possess to be able to enter the Penglai Pavilion."

"Not all of them are exceptionally talented," Su Jinglong said, waving his hand.

"The most important criteria for a disciple of a major sect are a clean background and unwavering loyalty. Therefore, most disciples are from the periphery of the sect, and it is best if their lineage can be traced back three generations, with a clear lineage. They should have entered the sect at a young age and have never practiced any other methods... Of course, if someone is truly exceptionally talented, many things can be relaxed, but such people are extremely rare."

"Take this White Cloud Mountain for example. There are only a handful of people who would earn the special consideration of my Penglai Pavilion and be exceptionally recruited. Fellow Daoist Xianyu's grand-disciple barely qualifies, and the young junior swordsman barely qualifies as well. The rest are... eh?"

Su Jinglong suddenly stopped, a look of surprise and doubt on his face.

"What's wrong?"

Xianyu Qiong asked in confusion.

"This person...whose disciple is he?"

Without uttering a word, Su Jinglong simply raised his hand and drew a picture. A scene of light and shadow slowly unfolded before him, like ripples on water. On the picture was a young man following behind Han Xianghe, the leader of the Nine Yang Sect, looking around with lively eyes.

"With all meridians open, a naturally pure Yang Dao body, and an exceptionally strong and flawless foundation, this is precisely the most suitable immortal seedling for my pure Yang lineage!"

Su Jinglong pointed at the young man, his face beaming with undisguised joy, and couldn't help but ask Xianyu Qiong, "Fellow Daoist Xianyu, do you know which sect this young man belongs to? May I have the honor of meeting him?"

"this……"

Xianyu Qiong was taken aback and couldn't help but look at Li Pinghe.

Li Pinghe remained expressionless and slowly nodded under Su Jinglong's surprised gaze:

"I am ashamed to say that this child is named 'Jin Guang' and is my personal disciple."