The Immortal Clan begins with deductive intelligence.

"This great marshland is in turmoil. If I don't strike first, our Xu family will be nothing more than fish on a chopping board."

Xu Changqing grasped Jiang Rou's slightly cool, soft hand in return, his tone gentle yet resolute.

"With the sect's mobilization order hanging over my head, Cangwu Island cannot rely solely on this remnant formation to hold on. If this mission succeeds, I can also go to Black Wind Pass with peace of mind."

Jiang Rou grasped his hand in return, her knuckles turning slightly white.

Although she had never set foot in the world of cultivation, she was aware of the dangers there.

"Now that my husband has made up his mind, I will not act like a woman who hesitates and stammers. I only ask that my husband be careful in everything he does and not forget that there are people at home who are waiting for your return."

A gentle light flashed in Xu Changqing's eyes: "I'll be back in three to five days at the shortest."

As night fell, the wind and rain returned.

Xu Changqing summoned Xu Dayou to his study.

"Uncle Dayou, I'm leaving the island tonight."

Xu Changqing took out a jade talisman from his sleeve and solemnly handed it over.

"This jade talisman is the central core of the clan's protective array. If there are any unusual events on the island while I am away, do not hesitate to use spirit stones to activate the array immediately and shut down the island to defend it to the death."

Xu Dayou accepted the jade talisman with both hands, his old face filled with solemnity.

"Rest assured, Chieftain!"

Xu Changqing nodded slightly, took the worn-out storage bag from his waist, counted out one hundred low-grade spirit stones, and placed them on the desk.

"Keep these 100 spirit stones for the clan's emergency use. I'll take the rest with me. If things really don't go well, you should take Rou'er and the clan members and flee to the market town and Taoist temple. Don't look back."

Xu Dayou opened his mouth, hesitated, and finally let out a long sigh, bowing deeply: "Clan leader, please be careful in all things."

Xu Changqing said no more and went out.

The sky darkened, and the wind and rain intensified.

A figure darted out of Cangwu Island.

Xu Changqing launched a small boat, skimming the water's surface, and sped away under the cover of the vast night and fine rain.

Instead of heading straight for the Buffalo Reef, he turned the boat around and headed towards Qinghefang Market.

Although Zhang Shilu suffered a qi deviation in his early years, resulting in the loss of his right leg, he was still a seasoned cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining.

The suppression of realm is undeniably there.

In the world of cultivation, arrogance and overconfidence are the most taboo.

Money is just an external thing. If you lose your life, even if you keep the spirit stones, it will only benefit your enemies.

In less than an hour, the towering archway of Qinghefang Market came into view.

Even at midnight, the market was still bustling with people.

Xu Changqing entered the market and, without stopping, went straight into the "Treasure Pavilion".

The interior was adorned with jewels and filled with the aroma of incense, as bright as day.

Inside the lobby, the portly shopkeeper was fiddling with an abacus. When he saw Xu Changqing enter, he gave him a sharp look before putting on a smiling face and greeting him.

"What kind of magical artifacts or top-quality elixirs are you looking for, fellow Daoist?"

"Take me to see the killing talismans and the pills that circulate spiritual energy."

The shopkeeper, sensing the elegant meaning behind the music, narrowed his eyes slightly and led Xu Changqing to the second floor, where he soon brought out several shimmering jade boxes.

Just as Xu Changqing was about to examine it, his gaze inadvertently swept across the room and suddenly stopped on a formation plate in the niche on the inner wall.

The array plate was entirely dark gold, with eight array flags. Although it was not activated, it exuded a murderous aura and a mesmerizing mist, making it a truly extraordinary treasure.

"This is the 'Eight Gates Golden Lock Cloud and Smoke Formation'."

The shopkeeper followed his gaze and stroked his beard proudly.

"A first-grade high-level formation, possessing the three ultimate abilities of trapping, illusion, and killing. Even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who falls into it will not be able to escape for a while."

"If it is nourished by a spiritual vein, its power will be even greater, but a set will cost 1,200 low-grade spirit stones."

Xu Changqing was eager to try, but he was short of money and had to put his desires aside for the time being.

He withdrew his gaze, turned to look at the jade box at the head of the table, and began to select items.

After some searching, Xu Changqing squandered the remaining six hundred spirit stones in his pocket.

In exchange, they received three Tier 1 High-Grade "Sharp Metal Armor-Piercing Talismans", one "Returning Yuan Pill", and several miscellaneous items such as Qi-Concealing Talismans.

Both of these items are trump cards for both saving one's life and killing another.

If the power of the palm lightning fails, these three sharp metal armor-piercing talismans will teach Zhang Shilu a lesson.

The Rejuvenation Pill, on the other hand, ensures that he always has the strength to escape.

Before leaving, Xu Changqing moved to the wooden shelf where puppets were being sold.

On the shelf were several wooden and stone puppets resembling monkeys and black panthers, all of which were of the lowest grade of the first rank. Their movements were stiff, and their spiritual energy flow was obscure.

"These inanimate objects are only good for dealing with ordinary aquatic beasts, but if they encounter experienced cultivators, they are nothing but scrap metal."

Xu Changqing thought to himself that since he hadn't found anything that suited his taste, he would have to wait until he got the spirit stones before making any further plans.

After leaving the Treasure Pavilion, Xu Changqing was truly penniless.

As the rain subsided, Xu Changqing did not linger in the market. He turned back to the ferry and headed straight east.

The scenery on both sides of the river rushed past, and Xu Changqing sat cross-legged at the bow of the boat, letting his clothes flutter in the wind.

About two hours later, the sky was still covered with thick clouds, and no stars or moon could be seen.

The waters ahead suddenly widened, and a cluster of jagged, strange rocks, like bull horns piercing the sky, stood abruptly amidst the raging waves. This place is Bison Reef.

Waves crashed against the rocks, creating thousands of piles of white foam.

Xu Changqing's expression was cold and stern. With a flick of his sleeve, he put away the small boat.

With a water-repelling talisman and a qi-concealing talisman fastened to his fingertips, and in a flash of spiritual light, he silently disappeared into the river like a fish.

Underwater visibility is obstructed, and there are crisscrossing currents; a slight misstep could lead to being swept into the deep abyss of reefs.

Xu Changqing remained calm and composed, his mind slightly focused, and the ancient Tongtianjian in his sea of ​​consciousness trembled gently.

In an instant, the complex underwater terrain of Bison Reef, and even the patrol routes of Zhang's hidden sentries, were all imprinted in his mind as if he were looking at the lines on his palm.

"The reefs on the left, proceed submerged for thirty zhang."

Xu Changqing dodged several dangerous whirlpools and swam into a narrow crevice hidden by lush aquatic plants.

The entrance to the cave is extremely deep, and the water pressure gradually increases.

After passing through a long underground waterway, the view suddenly opened up, the water flow slowed down, and a dry underground cave was revealed.

The stalactite hangs upside down, and the water droplets are clear and bright.

Xu Changqing silently poked half of his body out of the pool.

Not far ahead was a man-made stone gate, with two dim yellow shark oil lamps lit outside.

Several Zhang family disciples at the second or third level of Qi Refining were gathered together. Some were dozing off while holding long swords, while others were throwing dominoes in a corner, cursing in low voices about this grueling job that never saw the light of day.

Xu Changqing did not rush to make a move, but instead held his breath and waited for the right opportunity.

Just as the two guards who were throwing dominoes stood up arguing over a broken spirit stone, blocking the other's view, Xu Changqing lightly touched the stone wall with his toes, and his figure transformed into a gray shadow.

Using the blind spots of the firelight and the cover of the arguing, he slid silently past the stalactites of the dome.

The interior of the cave is a hidden world, with crisscrossing passageways.

Xu Changqing proceeded with extreme caution, and whenever there were unavoidable sentries, he would quietly eliminate them using the Ling Shu thorn.

At the end of the passageway, a spacious white jade chamber comes into view.