Immortal Road.

Harsh!
Lin Shan suddenly remembered that he had an archaeology expert in the Kun Sect who was ordered to go out to find antiques and had been gone for more than a hundred years without any news.

He sent himself one last message, once again from the barbarian royal court in the land of Jiuli.

When he arrived, he searched through both the barbarian and witch tribes, but found no one there.

The matter was then dropped.

He was caught off guard by the sudden mention of this by Fairy Qinglian!

"What did you do to him?"

"Nothing much. I am just like you, eager to nurture talent. I always entrust important tasks to capable people."

The Fairy of Azure Lotus smiled and even spoke close to him, their noses barely touching, not wanting outsiders to hear.

"The Immortal Era is nearing its end, and a new round of reshuffling of order is about to begin. This is no secret in the vast Immortal Realm. You probably don't know this in the lower realm, do you?"

"Before the great calamity arrives, the ancient relics from previous eras will be revived by their successors and use the legacy of the previous generation to fight against the current era!"

"In the end, who will prevail in this vast universe depends not only on the will of Heaven, but also on human effort. Your lost world is one of the remnants of an ancient era."

Lin Shan frowned, not falling for her empty rhetoric.

"Explain clearly, where is Kejizi?"

"Want to know? Then wait until after the war. Once you help me win this war, I'll take you to see him."

The Azure Lotus Fairy watched his expression with great interest. Just moments ago, she was the one who had been forced into a corner, but now she had turned the tide.

With these two matters at stake, it's unlikely that the leader of the Xun Gu Cult would simply walk away.

Lin Shan lowered his head and remained silent for a long time.

Only then did I understand why Fairy Qinglian dared to be so tough on me; it turned out she had leverage over me, and more than one.

This woman was indeed not as indifferent as she appeared; in reality, she was quite shrewd and calculating, otherwise she wouldn't have been sent down from the upper realm.

But she forgot one thing.

This is the Nether!
I have already reached the pinnacle of this world. There are no mountains above the Nascent Soul stage cultivators. I am not threatened by anything. If anyone wants to use this to blackmail me, they are making a big mistake!
After saying all that, it all boils down to the same point.

"I only want the final payment."

"."

The fairy's smile froze.

Dealing with someone as stubborn and unyielding as Lin Shan was the most troublesome and frustrating thing for her. Just like herself, this avatar of his Yuan Nian didn't represent his true self, so killing him would be pointless.

And the crucial point is that you can't kill them!

As mentioned before, if things fall apart today, it will inevitably cause turmoil in her Black Lotus camp, and she dares not and does not want to gamble on the cost of losing popular support!

"This child carries a great secret. Legend has it that the power of incense offerings and vows is a profound mystery of the world, comparable to the power of creation. The ancient human emperor once gathered the wishes of people from all realms to break through the heavens, obtain the origin, and suppress the Heavenly Dao, which shows its immense power. However, the descendants of the immortals today do not know how to develop it."

She secretly thought to herself that she was very envious of Lin Shan's skills.

"He can use the power of incense offerings to upgrade the rank of magical artifacts and supernatural abilities. Perhaps he can even use it to upgrade the level of pills every time he breaks through a realm. I must get my hands on this heaven-defying ability!"

Since she was frantically collecting incense offerings but had no trace of cultivation related to incense offerings, coupled with a series of investigations and the betrayal of a key figure, Fairy Qinglian naturally got closer to the truth of the matter.

She didn't want to be exposed at first; she just wanted to wait until the war was over before quietly getting rid of Lin Shan.

But now they are entangled with the Qinglian Hermit, and a crisis is emerging within their own camp. The whole thing is caused by this kid. If they let him run wild, let alone winning the battle and reaping the rewards later, they are very likely to be captured and killed by the Qinglian Hermit first!

All plans are off the table!
Now, having no other choice, they could only use this to trap Lin Shan, hoping to tie the two of them to the same boat, but they didn't expect that the kid didn't care at all.

Even in this situation, he's still heartlessly asking me for offerings?
Even if it wasn't explicitly stated, this was already a tacit admission. They weren't pretending anymore; they wanted to use the incense offerings they had to boost their strength. They were laying their cards on the table!

She looked up again abruptly and found that the boy's eyes were staring straight at her, like a hungry wolf, as if he wanted to pounce on her, overpower her, and take everything from her!
Should we offer incense or not?

If we give it to him, this kid will take advantage of the situation and his strength will increase dramatically!

If we don't give it, we'll be in crisis, and people will be alienated!

"good very good."

For the first time ever, Fairy Qinglian laughed.

Lin Shan smiled too.

Right there in the cave, the two of them laughed loudly and without restraint. For the first time, these two crazy people were so open and honest, their inner thoughts laid bare before each other.

One is a true immortal from the upper realm, and the other is a rogue cultivator from the lower realm.

In their darkest moments, they both pushed each other to the brink of despair!
Will you die, or will I perish?
After a long while, Lin Shan came out of the cave.

He looked up at the sky outside, alone. The area around Blackwater Cliff was shrouded in gloomy, poisonous miasma, and a light drizzle would occasionally fall.

But today, a couple of rays of sunlight shone down, adding a touch of warmth.

He touched the black lotus Buddha statue he had just acquired, a satisfied smile on his face. He breathed a long sigh of relief, and even the gloom of having his secret discovered vanished!

In the end, Fairy Qinglian gave in.

In just two days, the decisive battle between the factions will begin. There is no extra time to calm people's hearts. It has reached a critical point. At this crucial juncture, she cannot afford to gamble. She can only fight with her back against the wall and eliminate the formidable enemy, Pure Lotus Hermit, first!
Instead, it benefited Lin Shan, a hungry wolf who took the opportunity to grow stronger.

As long as it retains its ancient charm, what does it matter if the secret is exposed?
Even at the highest level in the lower realms, I'm only at the peak of the Nascent Soul stage. As long as I silence all those in the know, I'll still be myself.

As for the other major piece of news revealed by the other party...

The upper realm will spend a huge amount of money to send another celestial nobleman down, and it is unclear what their purpose is. Lin Shan believes that it should have nothing to do with him.

After all, whether it was the calamity star or the immortal book he came into contact with, these two old relics were better than the other at hiding their abilities. In fact, the former even took the initiative to help him erase the misunderstanding caused by the collision of stars to the celestial court in order to avoid trouble!
So it's highly likely they're not looking for him; Lin Shan is well aware of that.

How could a nobody from the lower realm attract the special attention of a great figure in the Heavenly Court?
Most likely it was for other reasons. As long as he didn't actively approach her, it shouldn't be her turn. Fairy Qinglian had also mentioned that the Great Calamity of the Epoch and the revival of civilizations involved Ke Jizi.
The situation was too complex, giving him a sense of impending doom.

Seeking ancient teachings at Tianfu Mountain.

Lin Shan's Yuan Nian avatar arrived at the weapon-refining hall, where the clanging and banging sounds were incessant. Many weapon refiners were forging magical artifacts and treasures, while rows of weapon-refining apprentices, shirtless, were sweating profusely, either swinging sledgehammers or pumping bellows. The scene was bustling and lively.

"Too slow, go faster!"

"The fire isn't burning strong enough, are you just here to do nothing?"

"Yes, the swinging posture must be correct, the waist and hips must be in harmony, the force must be powerful and heavy, smash!"

"Don't be afraid. No pain, no gain. Just do it!"

"Remember Elder Hei Ku's teachings: which weapon refiner didn't start as an apprentice swinging a hammer?"

The weapon-refining hall was bustling with activity. Many weapon refiners were teaching their apprentices while refining weapons, creating a thriving scene in the sect. This was the normal daily life of cultivators.

Outsiders often think that once they join a major sect, they can live a life of luxury, with female cultivators taking care of their daily needs, no shortage of partners for dual cultivation, and no shortage of elixirs for cultivation.

Every day, one can linger in the celestial palaces, admire the vast sea of ​​clouds, savor divine fruits and fine wines, and tour famous mountains and rivers.

That's pure nonsense!
Even someone with such a coveted position as a weapon refiner still had to respectfully work for their master every day, serving tea and water and running errands in their spare time—that was called respecting one's teacher and valuing the way.

A sect cannot support idlers, especially in this dog-eat-dog world.

Every disciple here thinks they are the protagonist of a book, they're practically ready to write their own cultivation autobiography, "Supreme Weapon Refiner: Starting as an Apprentice Swinging a Hammer!" Lin Shan walked among them, watching the Xun Gu Sect flourish, and couldn't help but nod with satisfaction.

Although the Black Skull Demon Lord is unreliable, he is a genuine master craftsman with considerable skill. The entire crafting market in Lu Kingdom is now dominated by the Ancient Seeking Sect, and countless spirit stones are flowing into their pockets. The skeleton has played a significant role in this.

But there's something I have to verify for myself today.

"Old Black?"

The ninth floor of the main hall was empty except for one figure who was intently inscribing a spirit barrier—it was none other than the Black Skull Demon Lord.

It was startled by Lin Shan's sudden visit!
"Ugh... Ah???"

Seeing that it panicked and hurriedly hid the things in front of it behind its back, Lin Shan saw that it looked just like a thief with a guilty conscience.

"What is this? Let me see it."

"Uh, that."

Black Skull Demon Lord's legs trembled, and his fake penis fell off again.

Snap,

"."

The scene became extremely awkward. Lin Shan, who had been determined to expel his family, suddenly recalled all sorts of past events.

When he was a lowly soldier in the East Sea Demon Path, when he sold aquatic products in Wangyue City of Lu Kingdom, when he first established the Xun Gu Sect in Tianfu Mountain, when he captured the Thunder Beast in Xiaoyizhou, and when he collected Diancang Stone Forest in Luosong Mountain Range.
So many memories, the two have been both teacher and friend on their journey of growth, and have gone through so many difficult years together.
But life is unpredictable, and things have come to this.

"Sigh, how many years have you been following me?"

The Black Skull Demon Lord answered in a trembling voice:

"Master, we've known each other for over three hundred years."

“Three hundred years!”

Lin Shan's gaze was unfocused, and the past flashed through his mind like a revolving lantern. He seemed not to have realized that he was already over three hundred years old.

Back then, that young man in his early twenties encountered such a demonic Nascent Soul stage demon lord from hell, which allowed him to stumble around on his cultivation path and gradually reach where he is today.

He has already become a Nascent Soul, while the Black Skull Demon Lord is only at the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul realm!

Thinking about this, I can't help but sigh.

"I have wronged you all these years. I have failed to properly promote you, my old minister. It has been my oversight!"

"No, no, no, no, Master, you are so busy with important matters. You should focus your energy on more important things. I will just do my job well and don't need you to worry about me."

The Black Skull Demon Lord was now extremely respectful and reserved. The difference in their cultivation levels and status was now vast, and they could never go back to the days when they depended on each other for survival.

Back then, this guy acted all old-fashioned, calling everyone "brother" or "older brother." Now, he wouldn't dare call anyone that.

Lin Shan inexplicably felt alienated, as if he had lost a close friend and family member and gained a subordinate who only knew how to flatter and fawn.

"Oh, that's all."

A wave of sadness welled up in his heart for no reason, and his clenched hands slowly loosened.

"I promised you that once my cultivation was sufficient and I no longer needed you, I would give you your freedom."

"Looking back now, it should have been done a long time ago!"

"Your Hellish form seems to be in the mid-Nascent Soul stage as well, if I remember correctly?"

The Black Skull Demon Lord's eyes lit up!
I've been treated like a beast of burden and toiled for over three hundred years. Am I finally going to reclaim my freedom? The sudden turn of events has made it ecstatic!

"Yes, yes, my main body has been stuck at the mid-stage of the Soul Infant realm for a very long time. If my clone here can return, I can break through the shackles and advance to the late-stage of the Soul Infant realm."

Lin Shan was amazed by the master craftsman's skill in building a curse platform and laying out his plans across the heavens. With just a ledger and a hellish world in hand, he could harvest the power of curses throughout the myriad realms!
My acquaintance with the Black Skull Demon Lord was thanks to the matchmaking of the Immortal Book Master. However, the old man's vision was too high, and he wouldn't notice such trivial matters in the lower realm.

He found the purple contract mark in his mind and waved his hand, unilaterally and for the first time, actively breaking free from the restraints.

"Alright, go back now, you're free."

The Black Skull Demon Lord's body suddenly trembled, and his soul relaxed. The shackles that had been on his head for many years were suddenly broken!
It was hazy, as if in a dream.

"I...I'm free? I'm free! I'm really free again?"

Hahahaha~~~
The surprise came too suddenly, and even the Black Skull Demon Lord couldn't help but burst into tears. It seems that he has suffered too much injustice over the years. Lin Shan, that dog of a capitalist, is inhuman. Look at how he has exploited the skeleton.
Now I finally understand what freedom feels like, and I feel an overwhelming sense of satisfaction.

He knelt down before Lin Shan on the spot and kowtowed more than a dozen times!

"Alright, alright, let's head back now. All good things must come to an end."

Lin Shan also showed a congratulatory smile. This skeleton was indeed not easy to deal with. It had been outwitting him for so long, and there were two times when it almost turned the tables on him!
Fortunately, nothing serious happened. Looking back on that period, it is indeed something to cherish.

The Black Skull Demon Lord stood up, excitedly spun around a few times, seemingly wondering whether he should give some instructions to those below, but immediately shook his head.

"Forget it, although the Ancient Searching Sect was also built by me, its reputation within the sect is far inferior to that of Mu Yan, Lü Xiuming, Master Zhan Kong, and even Ancestor Lu Que cannot afford to offend it. So I won't make a fool of myself."

It extended its bony palm to begin its ritual, quickly opening a two-way vortex from which a strong smell of sulfur wafted.

Hellish world!

"My hometown, the Fifth World of Hell, Skull Ridge, eldest brother, second brother, I'm back."

Its voice choked slightly as it looked towards the other side of the vortex, where its own body stood at the very front, facing it across the boundary.

Behind it were two tall figures, smiling broadly at it with kind and amicable expressions.

"Third brother, come back soon! You've suffered so much all these years!"

The Black Skull Demon Lord was so heartbroken he almost cried out. He reached out his hand towards the other side of the vortex, and his true form on the other side also reached out his hand towards him.

Their two hands were clasped tightly together in the middle of the whirlpool!
"The late stage of the Soul Infant realm is definitely not the end of my life. Once I overcome this hurdle, I will have the hope of stepping into the Primordial Spirit realm and becoming a renowned White Bone Lord in the clan!"

The main body began to exert force, trying to pull it back, and it excitedly awaited its return; that day had finally arrived.

Only now do I realize that I have no attachment to this world at all!
This is a place that makes me sad, a place where I've lost my freedom. I'm finally leaving. Goodbye!
It closed its eyes, quietly awaiting the moment of its cross-dimensional return, when it would merge with its original form.
But suddenly,
Just at the critical moment!
A startled cry came from the other side. He lost his balance and lunged towards this side, transforming into a stream of light that surged into the Black Skull Demon Lord's body!

Suddenly, a series of crackling sounds rang out from its entire body, and its aura surged instantly, leaping to the late stage of the Soul Infant realm. However, the place it was standing on was not the hellish world.

On the contrary, it is the ninth floor of the Ancient Refining Hall of the Xun Gu Sect in Tianfu Mountain in the western part of Lu Kingdom of this world!

"???"

The Black Skull Demon Lord opened his eyes in shock.

From within the vortex opposite, two tall figures chuckled coldly, their voices dripping with mockery.

"Third brother, oh third brother, once you break through to the late stage of the Soul Infant realm, where will you put your eldest and second brothers? Skeleton Demon Ridge will only be ruled by us! Sorry! Hahahaha!"

"Big brother, second brother, what about you?"

"Master Lin, it's a pleasure to cooperate with you!"

Lin Shan waved to the other side, indicating that he had already conspired through the curse channel to lure the Black Skull Demon Lord's true form over as well.

This thing has now completely severed ties with the underworld. Let's see where it can run to next! (End of Chapter)