Immortal Road.

“I have fulfilled my previous commitments, and now it’s time to pay the final payment.”

Lin Shan recounted his experiences in the Haoran Holy Land and the Shangxiao Sword Sect, without mentioning You Meiji. That woman had courted her own death, so there was no need to say more.

Indeed, all crows are black!

Upon hearing this, Fairy Qinglian frowned as her first reaction.

"Master Lin, I ordered you to stir up trouble in the rear, but you've only managed such a small skirmish. It seems you've fallen far short of expectations."

"Expectations? We didn't agree on that beforehand. I was just following your instructions. Now that the job is done, it's not appropriate for you to bring up expectations with me, is it?"

Lin Shan increasingly felt that collecting debts was really difficult, especially since the women of the Black Lotus Sect were just like that. It was understandable that You Meiji was petty and narrow-minded, but why did you, a dignified reincarnation of a true immortal, have so many troubles?

"You have to understand that at this critical juncture of the war, there is really no one else but me who would dare to defy the world and cause trouble in the rear! The risks I am taking are not so simple."

"I know you've had a tough time, but the consequences and impact you've had are too small, or rather, not enough!"

The Fairy of Green Lotus spoke frankly about what she was most worried about.

"Sect Leader Lin, the balance of power between the two camps is now basically even. A battle of this magnitude at the Nascent Soul stage would be nothing more than a minor skirmish in the Upper Realm, but it is a rare and precious event in the Lower Realm. Victory or defeat is just a matter of a single thought!"

"Under normal circumstances, it wouldn't be a problem to drag things out, but now we can't afford to delay any longer. Even if you don't come to me, I will issue the arrangements immediately. The decisive battle must begin in the next two days, and we will be the first to launch it!"

"There's something you might not know: people from the upper realm are coming again."

Lin Shan was suddenly startled!
Another person has arrived?
It's so difficult to transfer supplies from the upper realm to the lower realm, how could it be so easy for people to come!
"This time is different from the past. It was informed by an insider from the upper realm. Originally, it was just a matter between me and Layman Jinglian, but for some reason, it attracted the attention of important figures in the Heavenly Court's harem!"

The Azure Lotus Fairy was also puzzled. Her little matter was already taken seriously by the Golden Palace in the mortal realm, so why did it alarm the Heavenly Court's inner palace?
"According to my sister, a celestial noble will descend in person at that time, so we must kill the patrolling celestial envoy before then to have a chance of survival and prepare to deal with the newcomer later."

"You have no idea how much energy it takes to send a person's true form from the upper realm to the lower realm!"

"Even I and Layman Jinglian are only allowed to descend to the mortal realm once in a while, through the reincarnation of our souls."

The Azure Lotus Fairy spoke with a solemn tone, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Lin Shan was deeply shocked.

Of course he knew how difficult it was for the Immortal Realm to send things down to the mortal realm. When the Immortal Book Master sent him Soul Source and Curse Source Crystal, at least two-thirds of them would be lost along the way due to the cross-realm consumption!
Giving it away is even more difficult!
Didn't you see that even with the help of the Lotus Sect and the Golden Palace Ascension Platform, both the Azure Lotus Fairy and the Pure Lotus Hermit had to be reincarnated to descend? This is a natural cosmic barrier, and under the rules, a huge price must be paid.

But what was it this time that made the Heavenly Court send someone in their true form to descend?

“I’m telling you this so you can know how much pressure I’m under. Layman Jinglian is a huge mountain standing in front of us, but there’s an even bigger mountain behind him!”

"If we don't take him down, when the Heavenly Nobles descend, I will definitely be no match for them against two of them."

"Master Lin, your achievements are nothing in the grand scheme of things. Let me tell you, they're not enough!"

The Azure Lotus Fairy was unusually serious and actually explained so much to him.

In the past, she might not have wanted to say anything more, but now that the situation is becoming more and more serious, she has to be patient. She even refrained from asking too many questions about the death of Youmei Ji's incarnation!
But all that said only earned him one sentence from Lin Shan.

"These things don't seem to have much to do with me, Lin. I'm the kind of person who takes money to do things, so could you settle the remaining payment first?"

"."

The Azure Lotus Fairy choked on her words, then stared at him intently for a moment.

"Leader Lin, anyone who has ever been an ally of my Black Lotus Sect has a criminal record with the Pure Lotus Hermit. You don't really think you can get away with it unscathed, do you?"

"We'll talk about the future later; all I need now is incense offerings."

Seeing that Lin Shan was unyielding and only focused on collecting the debt, Fairy Qinglian was afraid that he would run away with the remaining payment, so she decided to handle the matter officially.

"Alright, let's talk about this now. You've made quite a splash in the rear, but have the Haoran Holy Land and Shangxiao Sword Sect withdrawn from the front lines?"

"No."

"So, have you completely breached and destroyed their stronghold behind the scenes?"

"No."

"Then how dare you ask me for payment?"

Lin Shan remained calm and didn't argue with her. He simply asked a question.

"Did I ask you for extra compensation for doing those heinous things for you in the rear areas of mainland China?"

The Azure Lotus Fairy couldn't quite grasp it and asked in confusion.

"No?"

"of course not!"

Lin Shan stepped forward and grabbed Qinglian Fairy's Yuan Nian, revealing a rare ruthless look!
"What I want is the final payment that is rightfully mine. It's like I'm working for you for free, how dare you delay paying me back?"

"!!!"

Qinglian Fairy was stunned. She had said so much to this boy, and it seemed he wanted to turn against her.

"Master Lin, you know that's the final payment, and it can only be given to you after the war. Everything you've done for me now is only right and proper. How can you say you're working for free? I haven't even settled accounts with you for killing You Meiji yet!"

"No need to calculate. If she dares to show her face in front of me again, I will kill her again."

Lin Shan returned this time prepared for the possibility of encountering resistance in collecting debts.

Anyway, I've done my best. When I come back after I've finished the job, I'll ask for my reward. Whether she gives it or not is up to me. I might as well confront Fairy Qinglian and even resort to coercion!

"If you keep your promise, then I will continue to help you deal with Layman Jinglian. If you go back on your word, then I will have to take my leave!"

"But before I leave, I will immediately withdraw the arrangements made in the Haoran Holy Land and Shangxiao Sword Sect. I believe that Tongtian Lingbao and Yuanjian Daoren will return soon."

"Moreover, there are more than a dozen fellow cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage who might become completely disillusioned with you and the Black Lotus Sect because of my choice. Fairy, you should think twice before you act."

Faced with Lin Shan's blatant warning, Fairy Qinglian's gaze immediately turned cold.

As a reincarnation of an immortal, she possessed her own pride and would never accept threats from a mortal.
Especially since the other party repeatedly challenged her authority, it was as if they didn't take her seriously at all!

I was so kind that I agreed to pay him the final installment early, but he turned around and bit me. He's such an ungrateful wretch!

"You threaten me, do you really think you can leave here alive?"

"It's alright. If the fairy wants the life of this avatar, she may take it."

Lin Shan rarely showed a hint of magnanimity, and even hoped that she would do so. If all the cultivators of Blackwater Cliff saw that Fairy Qinglian personally killed her Yuan Nian avatar, then no matter how they tried to cover it up afterward, it would plant a seed of explosive resentment in everyone's hearts.

Whether that will affect the final outcome of the battle is anyone's guess.

"Fairy, during this month-long standoff, my avatar has been frequently launching attacks here, and I've also been attacking the Haoran Holy Land and the Shangxiao Sword Sect on the continent. I'm arguably the most dedicated person in the Black Lotus camp on the surface!"

"Go out and ask around. Everyone on the continent knows about the person who would go through fire and water for the fairy and risk everything. My name is the first one that comes to mind."

"If you drive me away now, what will the world think of you?"

Lin Shan's move was a calculated attempt to force Lin Shan to abdicate. He came prepared and was fearless!
All the previous hype was for this day, to put the Fairy of Green Lotus on the hot seat. There are advantages to being high-profile.

Everyone thinks you're the most hardworking person. Even if the higher-ups don't think so, they have no choice but to give you important responsibilities because they're willing to spend a fortune to buy your talents and make a good impression on everyone!
If Fairy Qinglian dared to provoke Jilin Mountain, he would turn around and seek refuge with Layman Jinglian, which would inevitably cause a great uproar and widespread panic.

This will be a heavy blow to the Black Lotus faction! Think about it, why would someone who cares about you the most and supports you with all their might abandon you?

What chilling things happened here? The Black Lotus Cult's allies will surely investigate, otherwise no one will feel at ease.

"you"

The Azure Lotus Fairy understood the hidden meaning in his words and was so angry that she almost rushed back in her true form to fight him to the death!
Which leader can tolerate someone who so blatantly opposes her?
There was silence for a long time.

It seems she's verifying the truth through other channels. After all, she's been fighting in the outer void for a long time, so it's impossible to make a judgment based solely on Lin Shan's one-sided account. She needs to understand the situation first.

But after learning the details, I became even more upset.

Because Lin Shan has been putting on such a great show lately, even the opposing Immortal Envoy camp has listed the Xun Gu Sect Leader as their number one enemy, and has been subtly hinting that they will unite after the war to turn around and wipe out the Xun Gu Sect!

"Okay, let me go now."

Qinglian Fairy Yuan Nian felt very uncomfortable being held captive by Lin Shan, as if he could control her life and death.

Lin Shan did not resist, but instead released his grip as instructed.

For the first time ever, Fairy Qinglian smiled.

"I just asked, and it seems that Leader Lin has indeed been working tirelessly for my Black Lotus Sect these past few days. It is truly my great fortune to have such a loyal and righteous person as you to assist me!"

"Haha, not at all, you flatter me, fairy."

The two of them continued to laugh insincerely, the echoes in the cave repeating themselves over and over, sounding extremely grating.

Both stared intently into each other's eyes, as if trying to discern each other's inner thoughts; a subtle, unspoken emotion began to brew between them.

The Azure Lotus Fairy suddenly said something inexplicable.

Do you remember the first time we met?

Lin Shan paused slightly, then nodded indifferently, indicating that he hadn't forgotten.

"We first met in the Heavenly Dao Space of this realm. At that time, you had just begun to explore the gateway to becoming a great supernatural being. You foolishly barged in and even bumped into me with your butt. Back then, I thought you were a lecherous playboy."

The Azure Lotus Fairy had a very deep impression of the first time; Lin Shan's recklessness that time left a very bad impression on the fairy.

But as things progressed further, their inextricable bond unfolded, and they embarked on the same path together.

"On our second meeting, before I even deliberately sent you the location information of that little skeleton, you found the location first, which made me look at you in a new light."

Lin Shan felt a chill run down his spine!
Back then, in the Red Dust Star Sea beneath the Spirit Tide, he was still wondering how he found the Black Skull Demon Lord in the illusion. He thought it was just a lucky guess, but it turned out that the Azure Lotus Fairy had deliberately leaked the secret to him!

“I noticed you back then. Your history of secretly collecting incense and faith from childhood to adulthood has been thoroughly investigated.”

The Fairy of Azure Lotus sighed deeply and began to speak of deep past events.

"I don't know why you are so keen on collecting incense, so I want to meet you in person and see what makes you so different from others."

Tick-tick.
Suddenly, the sound of water came from inside the cave!
Lin Shan's heart skipped a beat. He turned his head and looked over, only to find that the cave ceiling was damp, with a single drop of water dripping from it.

But my most sensitive spot was suddenly touched, and my heart started beating a little faster.

"Oh? What did the fairy discover?"

The Azure Lotus Fairy and he locked eyes, as if they could see a story in each other's eyes, the scene of their second encounter.

"That time I didn't see any traces of incense or Daoist practices on you, which means you didn't use them for cultivation and weren't contaminated by the poison of incense, but..."

"Your past growth history is extraordinary. Every time you disappear for a period of time, your strength always increases significantly when you reappear."

“And spells that have been used before can always inexplicably be upgraded to a higher level.”

"Even your personal magical artifacts can inexplicably be upgraded to a higher level."

"The cultivation techniques I used advanced me to the next level without warning after breaking through my current realm."

"Don't you think these things are suspicious?"

!!!

A storm raged in Lin Shan's heart!

These were all secrets I had kept hidden deep inside, never told anyone, and no one knew about them.

Why does the Fairy Qinglian know so much about it?

Even if you go deep into the common people and even investigate yourself in various cultivation circles, from the beginning to now, you have checked every place you have stayed. How could you have come to this conclusion in a targeted manner?

To be honest, this is the first person in history to come so close to the truth of his own secret.

Even Zhang Yunxi, who also transmigrated from another era, didn't know!

For the first time, he harbored murderous intent.

The "golden finger" was his heaven-defying reliance, the means by which he survived in the treacherous world of cultivation and climbed step by step to the top. He had always kept it buried deep in his heart and dared not tell anyone.

But the Azure Lotus Fairy has actually gotten close to this secret!
Anyone who knows this secret must die.

His eyes were like a deep abyss, but he secretly told himself to stay calm and not to show any weakness on the surface, because what was in front of him was just a wisp of primordial consciousness, and killing it would be of no use.

"Oh? Is that so? Who told you that?"

Lin Shan offered no explanation.

Sometimes, explanations are just cover-ups, and self-justification only makes one more suspicious, so it's better not to answer to avoid saying too much and making more mistakes.

The Fairy of Green Lotus was very honest and told him directly.

"Your personal skeleton monster has followed you from the Foundation Establishment stage all the way to the Nascent Soul stage. Every step of your growth, every subtle change, has been clearly seen by it. It was precisely this monster that discovered your abnormality."

Black Skull Demon Lord!

Lin Shan suddenly realized that if there was anyone in the world most likely to deduce that he had special abilities, it would be the skeleton that had been with him the longest!

This guy is meticulous, good at analysis, and always thinking about backstabbing, breaking free from the contract, and taking control.

So I studied him thoroughly.

It's understandable that, after falling into the hands of the Black Lotus Cult and facing pressure from the Green Lotus Fairy, she truthfully confessed to Lin Shan's strange behavior.

But the last time I rescued it, it didn't mention this at all!
No.
Perhaps if I had said it, I simply wouldn't have paid attention.

Lin Shan recalled the Black Skull Demon Lord's timid and hesitant demeanor back then. Despite being saved by him, the Black Skull Demon Lord did not feel overjoyed, but instead felt a sense of unease, as if he had committed a serious crime.

"Whoo~~~"

He took a deep breath, his thoughts wandering for a moment, and he didn't know what he was thinking.

The Fairy of Green Lotus turned the tables on him and then threw out a person.

"Ke Jizi, you should still remember him, right? He's in my hands now. Do you want to know what he encountered during his years-long search for antiques in this world, on your orders?" (End of Chapter)