Cultivating immortality begins with discerning the secrets of heaven.

Southern Cangxuan Region, Taiyuan Sect.

After traveling for more than ten days, Lin Yun finally returned to the mountain gate, exhausted both physically and mentally.

"Luckily, I made it in time. It's only halfway through the month, so completing the weapon-refining task shouldn't be too difficult."

Lin Yun didn't rest. He immediately went to Hundred Refinement Peak to collect his monthly quota of spiritual materials and also went to Senior Brother Song to return the Earth Element Bell to him.

"Senior Brother Song, I've come to return the bell."

"I encountered a mid-stage Tier 1 demonic beast on the way, and I used this magic artifact once. Take a look at the damage, and I will pay whatever amount of spirit stones it costs."

Song Cheng took the earth spirit bell, examined it briefly, and shook his head, saying, "There's no damage, so there's no need to spend any more spirit stones."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yun still took out five spirit stones.

"You've borrowed the bell for one month and five days. According to the spirit contract, I'll give you another five spirit stones."

Seeing that Lin Yun kept his promise, Song Cheng smiled wryly and accepted the five spirit stones he offered. After all, the spirit contract clearly stated that if he didn't accept them, he would be harming Lin Yun.

"Junior brother, I'll take my leave now. I've just returned to the sect and I still have to finish this month's weapon-refining task." Lin Yun clasped his hands in a fist salute and then walked away.

Song Cheng nodded and said, "Junior brother, please take care. If you need any help, please don't hesitate to ask."

"Thank you for your kindness, Senior Brother Song, but I am capable of refining two low-grade magic weapons on my own."

  

With that, Lin Yun returned to his courtyard.

It took him five days to craft two low-grade magic artifacts, completing his crafting task for the month.

After handing over the two magical artifacts, on his way back, he overheard the other disciples talking.

"Was the demonic cultivator Elder Sun who captured alive really a disciple of the Blood Spirit Sect?"

"How could this be fake? An elder from Lingxu Peak, skilled in soul-searching and refining, searched his entire consciousness and confirmed that this person is indeed a disciple of the Blood Spirit Sect!"

"I heard that the Blood Spirit Sect sent other disciples to the Southern Region this time, but I wonder if any of them have infiltrated the sect."

"Isn't the Blood Spirit Sect a demonic sect from the Western Regions of Cangxuan? What is their purpose in coming to the Southern Region?"

"..."

Hearing these conversations, Lin Yun felt a slight chill. He hadn't expected that the Blood Path Demon Cultivator he had reported to Elder Sun would involve so many things.

However, he wasn't too worried. Since the sect already knew about the Blood Spirit Sect's actions in advance, there was no need for him, a Qi Refining disciple, to worry too much.

The most important thing right now is to improve myself.

The gains from this trip were enormous; we can't digest them all in a short time. Everything needs to be done gradually.

"The first thing is to switch cultivation techniques. Tuoba Ye's inheritance includes two wood cultivation techniques, both of which can be cultivated to the Core Formation stage."

Faced with two wood-based cultivation techniques that could be practiced up to the Core Formation stage, Lin Yun was momentarily caught in a dilemma.

Both techniques have their advantages and disadvantages, making it difficult to choose between them.

The Taiyi Qingmu Scripture states that the wood-attribute magic power cultivated through this method is more refined, which provides a significant advantage in combat. Furthermore, the refined magic power is beneficial when breaking through barriers and advancing in rank.

In addition, if this skill is cultivated to the Foundation Establishment stage, it also comes with a supernatural power called the Yi Wood Dharma Body.

The Yi Wood Dharma Body: It requires a spiritual tree that is over a hundred years old, and to refine it with Yi Wood True Essence for forty-nine days, and finally refine it into one's own body.

Once this supernatural power is used, it can summon a phantom of a spiritual tree, greatly increase the speed at which the body's magical power recovers, and also suppress and kill enemies.

Most importantly, the Yi Wood Dharma Body can take the place of one death calamity!

If the physical body suffers a fatal attack, the Yi Wood Dharma Body can take the hit in its place, but the price is that the Yi Wood Dharma Body will be completely destroyed.

As long as the soul doesn't perish on the spot, this Yi Wood Dharma Body can be said to have given him a second life!

As for reaching the Core Formation stage, practicing this technique can also help you forge an exclusive natal magic weapon called the Taiyi Cangqing Sword.

However, the method of crafting this natal magic weapon is somewhat special and is not a typical weapon crafting method.

"This cultivation technique is already quite good, much better than the family's inherited techniques."

"If there were no other cultivation method, I would make the choice without hesitation."

Another wood-based martial arts technique is called "Eternal Green Technique"!

This cultivation method is not known for its powerful combat abilities, but rather for its ability to cultivate a balanced and harmonious true essence, making it suitable for breakthroughs and advancements.

This method doesn't have many fancy features; it only has one characteristic: it makes you live longer!

That's right. If you practice this method, the magical power in your dantian can also nourish your body and has the effect of consolidating your essence.

The Qi Refining Period can add thirty years to one's lifespan, allowing one to live up to one hundred and fifty years old!

The Foundation Establishment stage can add fifty years to one's lifespan, allowing one to live up to three hundred years old!

The Core Formation stage can add one hundred years to one's lifespan. If combined with some life-extending elixirs and medicines, one's lifespan can reach eight hundred years!

"Eight hundred years... I've heard that even old monsters in the Nascent Soul stage only have a lifespan of a thousand years."

Normally, the lifespan of a Core Formation stage cultivator is only about six to seven hundred years, and this can only be achieved with the help of some precious life-extending elixirs.

For a moment, Lin Yun was caught in a dilemma.

The choice is between living longer or having greater combat power.

Both techniques have sequels, but Tuoba Ye did not collect the complete techniques.

Just when Lin Yun was having a hard time making a decision, his family sent him supplies and a letter.

These supplies were his monthly stipend as a member of the main lineage and the rewards he received through the Ascension Conference; they were all cultivation provisions and some spiritual materials for refining artifacts.

With Lin Yun's current wealth, he naturally doesn't care much about these resources, but every little bit counts, so he accepts them all.

Then, he opened the envelope; it contained a letter written by Lin Hairong himself.

The letter was short. Lin Hairong first congratulated him on achieving his wish and joining the Taiyuan Sect, and then inquired about his recent situation in the sect. His grandfather, Lin Jing, was very happy about this.

"Uncle Hai Rong is going to have descendants! That's wonderful news!"

However, before he could be happy for long, his brows quickly furrowed.

In the letter, Lin Hairong told him that his family had decided to take action against the Liu family of Baiheling. The Liu family's Foundation Establishment ancestor was nearing the end of his life, and the two families had some past grievances. This time, they were preparing to take advantage of his misfortune!

"Such a reckless move, and it seems Grandpa is leading the team again this time..."

Lin Yun suddenly remembered some information about the Liu family that he had obtained through the Book of Insight some time ago.

Overjoyed, Liu Huaiyu led a group of rogue cultivators back to Baihe Ridge, but among them were several spies planted by the Xiong family.

"The Xiong family is powerful. It is a strong Foundation Establishment family in Duanyun Ridge, with two Foundation Establishment stage ancestors in charge of the family."

"If the Xiong family is involved in this trip, it feels like a safer bet."

"However, I'll still use the Book of Insight to investigate the Liu family's situation... Let me think, what was the name of the Liu family's ancestor again?"

...