I only want immortality.

"The Path of Human Immortals?"

Li Pinghe murmured to himself, this true method was completely unfamiliar to him; he had never even heard of it before.

"Indeed, please observe, Grandmaster."

Murong Xian took something out of his sleeve and presented it to Li Pinghe.

"Jade slip..."

Li Pinghe's gaze fell upon it, and he recognized it, which confirmed his suspicions.

Jade slips can record a vast amount of information, but the materials used are extremely rare in the Song Kingdom. Therefore, the cultivation techniques, skills, and spells practiced by Qi cultivators are all recorded on ordinary paper, bamboo, wood, or metal. Things that can be recorded on jade slips are often of extraordinary value.

Li Pinghe took the jade slip, and then heard Murong Xian say:

"Grandmaster can take it back to the Western Palace to study it slowly. As for the longevity pills that Grandmaster needs, I have already asked Hall Master Chen to collect them. I expect to have some soon. However, five-year longevity pills are rare. I estimate that the markets in various places should only have about three-year longevity pills."

Li Pinghe did not refuse upon hearing this. He put away the jade slip and nodded, saying, "Three years is fine. I'll trouble you, Sect Leader."

Murong Xian said emotionally:

"Uncle Master, what are you saying? Having an elder in the family is like having a treasure. My grandfather is no longer here, so you are my grandfather. I hope that you will work with me to build a solid foundation for the Dao. Let us, grandfather and grandson, work together to ensure that our ancestral legacy is not tarnished."

Li Pinghe glanced at Murong Xian and smiled slightly: "I don't have much hope, I'm just a little unwilling to accept it, so I'm just amusing myself."

Having said that, before Murong Xian could utter any more mushy words, she took the initiative to say, "I am old and frail, so I will go back to rest first."

"Grandmaster... since Grandmaster is tired, then please rest well. Huang Qi, escort Grandmaster to the Western Palace."

Murong Xian wanted to say something more, but upon hearing Li Pinghe's excuse, he could only nod and remain silent.

Soon, a young Taoist boy helped Li Pinghe out of the council hall.

Watching Li Pinghe's departing figure, Murong Xian's smile gradually faded, leaving only a hint of indifference and contemplation:

"Three years... should be enough time for me to establish my Dao foundation. That old bastard, hmph!"

……

"Teacher, that so-called young sect leader doesn't seem like a good person!"

Jin Guang led the black water buffalo ahead, speaking in a carefree manner.

"Shut up, what do you know?"

Li Pinghe was sitting on the back of an ox studying the jade slip when he heard this, and casually patted Jin Guang's head.

Jin Guang wasn't annoyed by the tap; he just chuckled and said smugly:

"I know a lot. Senior Brother Zhao just secretly told me that the old sect leader passed the position to his own descendants. Wait, isn't that what you told me about, teacher, something about a family-run dynasty?"

"Is what Zhao Yuanxiao said correct?"

Li Pinghe focused his mind on the jade slip, replying to the golden light's words:

"Your martial uncle died an unexpected and violent death. Judging from his seniority and abilities within the sect, Zhao Yuanxiao should have become the sect leader. But instead, Murong Xian got the position. How could he be willing to accept it?"

Jin Guang stroked his beardless chin, thinking like an adult:

"Wait a minute, shouldn't this be our Uncle-Master's problem? And didn't you say we're cultivators? Why are cultivators fighting over this damn sect leader position?"

Li Pinghe frowned as he read the contents of the jade slip, replying absentmindedly:

"Your uncle may not have been solely driven by personal motives. He believed that if his grandson could achieve the Dao Foundation, he could lead the Chun Jun Sect to a higher level. This was a case of recommending the worthy without regard to kinship. However, he did not consider that not everyone is suitable to be the sect leader. In the end, he still had the mind of a brute, thinking that being able to fight was enough to become the sect leader."

"As for why cultivators vie for the position of sect leader..."

He turned the jade slip to the side, looked at the golden light, and said:

"Life is finite, but cultivation is infinite. On the path of cultivation, there are always people who are unwilling or unable to continue. But where can they go? Nothing more than wine, women, and power. These are the greatest desires of man. Even a Golden Core Saint would find it hard to quell them. At most, they can find another way to indulge."

"Moreover, the leader of a sect has countless powers at their disposal, which greatly benefits cultivation. How can one not strive for it? To know one can strive for it and not do so is foolishness."

"Then why don't you compete, teacher? If you were the sect leader, you'd definitely be better than them!"

Jin Guang's eyes shone brightly, as if he could already imagine how glorious it would be for his teacher to become the sect leader.

Li Pinghe rarely chuckled:

"You little brat..."

Then he shook his head:

"Everything comes at a price. Those who reap the benefits of being a sect leader must also endure the hardships of hard work and the inability to support the sect alone. Take your junior nephew Murong, for example. After becoming the sect leader, was he ever happy? Your teacher is not cut out to be a sect leader, nor does he want to be subject to such constraints."

Jin Guang seemed to understand but not quite, then asked, "So, does that mean that young sect leader is a good person?"

"There are no good people or bad people."

Li Pinghe refocused his attention on the jade slip, and casually replied:

"That young sect leader was probably cursing me for taking advantage of my seniority, but so what? He still gave your teacher this copy of 'The Path of Human Immortals.' So, in my eyes, was he doing a good thing or a bad thing?"

"this……"

Jin Guang was somewhat confused.

"People in the world are bustling about, all for fame and fortune. Even those who cultivate themselves are still human and cannot escape worldly concerns."

"Knowing this, and still maintaining a confused mind, is the greatest joy one can have."

"Of course, there are some things in this world that are beyond question, good and evil, and you will know that in the future."

Li Pinghe added another sentence.

Jin Guang seemed to understand, but not quite.

Before long, they arrived at the Western Palace, which was also the cave dwelling of Li Pinghe when he was in Chun Jun Sect.

Li Pinghe didn't have the young Taoist boy deliver it. He glanced at the layout and furnishings inside the Western Palace, which were exactly the same as when he left.

This was not something Murong Xian did on a whim, but rather something his junior brother deliberately preserved after becoming the sect leader.

Thinking of this, Li Pinghe couldn't help but sigh softly.

The old house remains, but the old friends are gone.

"Junior brother, you've put me in a difficult position."

"What did you say, teacher?"

He plucked some of the spiritual herbs planted in the hall and stuffed them into the black water buffalo's mouth. His eyes gleamed, and he led the buffalo around the hall, calling out involuntarily:

"Teacher, is this where you used to live? It's so big, so bright, and so beautiful!"

Li Pinghe smiled, his mood improving considerably, and waved his hand: "Go ahead and see."

While he was devoted to spiritual practice in his youth, he did not abandon other pursuits: fine houses, beautiful maids, fine clothes, delicious food, and birds and beasts...

Having experienced them all, he realized that none of them were what he wanted, and therefore he no longer longed for them.

Jin Guang had lived in the deep mountains with him since childhood and had never seen such things before. It was normal for him to be captivated by them for a time.

Simply wait until they are completely obsessed before speaking up to them, and the problem will naturally be solved.

He was too lazy to tidy up, so he sat cross-legged and focused his mind once again on the jade slip containing the "Path of the Human Immortal".

The fundamental principles of Tao slowly unfolded before his eyes.