Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 476 Lu Zhenjun Arrives, Bai He Enters the Game [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

The war continues.

For Nascent Soul cultivators, both sides began to exercise restraint, but for lower-level cultivators, they became pawns in the game between the two sides.

With countless Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators as pawns and Golden Core cultivators as generals, the Protectorate Alliance and the Demonic Path played a game of chess on the thousand-mile mountain range of Cloud City.

The cultivators below were engaged in a fierce battle, some for materials to form their core, and others for cultivation techniques, magic weapons, and other resources.

Others were ordered to join the battle.

In short, low-level cultivators have no voice, a situation that Lin Chang'an deeply empathized with.

However, on this day, a distinguished guest arrived in Cloud City, and even Jin Jianchuan, the vice leader of the alliance, personally came forward.

Lu Zhenjun, a Nascent Soul cultivator elder from the Azure Sea Palace, has come to pay a visit.

The ceremony held outside Cloud City on this day was undeniably grand.

"Look, they're here!"

"This is a legendary story of someone who only achieved Nascent Soul at nearly six hundred years old."

"Lord Lu!"

In the distance, on the horizon, a giant black water tortoise was seen walking on clouds, with a lofty figure standing with his hands behind his back on its back.

Riding the wind, his blue scholar's robes fluttered in the breeze, exuding an air of otherworldly elegance that filled many low-level cultivators with longing.

After all, the legend of this Lu Zhenjun resonates more with the hearts of lower-level cultivators.

Many Core Formation cultivators who were already three or four hundred years old felt a surge of hope upon seeing Lu Zhenjun.

If by some chance they might also be able to form a Nascent Soul, who knows?

After all, isn't Lu Zhenjun a living example, who only reached the Nascent Soul stage at nearly six hundred years old?

"Oh my, fellow Daoists, why are you all here today? I am truly unworthy of such a grand welcome."

Lu Zhenjun made a high-profile appearance this time. When he landed under Cloud City, the Xuan Shui Turtle's figure slowly shrank, but the terrifying aura it exuded made many Nascent Soul cultivators show solemn expressions.

Fourth-tier Great Demon!

As expected, their previous guess was correct.

Many people recalled the previous speculation that the Sima clan had been wiped out.

"Fellow Daoist Lu is an elder of the Azure Sea Palace and a Nascent Soul True Monarch. How dare we, the Dao Protection Alliance, be disrespectful?"

As soon as they landed, Jin Jianchuan greeted everyone with a smile and cupped his hands in greeting, while Lu Zhenjun returned the greeting with a cheerful smile.

However, after hearing Jin Jianchuan's words, how could the old fox Lu Zhenjun not know the other party's intentions?

It's obvious they want to use the Azure Sea Palace to bolster the Protectorate Alliance's confidence.

"Oh dear, I, the old Alliance Leader Jin, would never dare to use the banner of the Azure Sea Palace. If the two Palace Masters find out, I might be in trouble when I get back. I came to the Protectorate Alliance this time for personal matters."

Lu Zhenjun waved his hands repeatedly, looking ashamed, as he dared not represent the identity of Bihai Palace.

The implication is that if you demonic cultivators want to fight, then fight, but don't drag me into it.

He really didn't want to go back and have to face the Second Palace Master's schemes again.

After saying that, Lu Zhenjun chuckled and greeted everyone in a very approachable manner, making sure not to offend anyone, whether they were familiar with him or not.

When he finally saw Lin Chang'an, he immediately bared his teeth and gave a stiff smile in front of everyone.

"Young Lin, you're quite something. I've come here on personal business, specifically for my precious daughter."

Good heavens! I was just watching Lu Zhenjun, whose spirit remains as strong as ever, and feeling a sense of admiration for him, when suddenly his tone shifted and his criticism was directed at me.

Lin Chang'an was taken aback, then looked at the cunning old man and exclaimed in astonishment:

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you mustn't speak nonsense."

"Nonsense? Did my precious daughter, whom I raised, give you, Lin Zhenjun, two grand gifts for achieving Nascent Soul?"

"Ahem, Fellow Daoist Lu, please let me explain."

"An explanation? Heh, I can't accept Lin Zhenjun's explanation. After all, this is the first time my daughter has given someone a personal robe. Even I have never worn a robe given by my own daughter."

Lu Zhenjun's sarcastic and glaring manner made Lin Chang'an feel aggrieved; the old man was doing it on purpose.

The others, unaware of what was happening, exchanged glances, some watching the spectacle, others filled with envy.

See, now the evidence is conclusive, right? Still dare to say there's no relationship?

Even though we have no connection, his father-in-law came to our door looking for us?
Even Jin Jianchuan secretly confirmed that, just as he had expected, this Fellow Daoist Lin was indeed very closely connected with the Bihai Palace.

Previously, it was all speculation and rumors, but now that they have come to your door in person and said it out loud, do you still have the nerve to say it's a misunderstanding and a rumor?
"Fellow Daoist Lu, I..."

Lin Chang'an stared wide-eyed; this old bastard had tricked him.

The other party was clearly trying to drag him into this mess. Although he didn't know the other party's plan, he didn't believe what this Lu Zhenjun said.

"Oh my, this must be Fairy Ice Butterfly. I have been so rude."

Without wasting words, Lu Zhenjun turned to look at the aloof Ice Butterfly Fairy beside him. When he sensed the aura of the other party's mid-Nascent Soul stage, his expression changed, and he smiled and bowed very politely.

But in his heart, he was already thinking that this kid surnamed Lin was really something. He joined the sect halfway and managed to take everything, and in the end, he even took the pot.

If I had had these skills back then, I wouldn't be living such a tight life.

"You're too kind, True Lord Lu. Although my junior brother is a Nascent Soul cultivator, he is sincere and honest. If he has offended anyone, I hope you will forgive him."

Just as everyone was preparing to watch the show and see how embarrassed the Ice Butterfly Fairy would be.

To everyone's surprise, and to the astonishment of countless Nascent Soul cultivators, the Ice Butterfly Fairy actually smiled.

As if he were someone close to Lin Chang'an, and seemingly genuinely considering the matter, he spoke politely with a smile on his face.

She even defended Lin Chang'an in her words, without any hint of sarcasm.

Not to mention others, even Lu Zhenjun was stunned for a moment, and then he realized that when he looked at Lin Chang'an again, there was a strange look in his eyes.

Are you serious?

A dignified Nascent Soul True Lord, so easily fooled?
"Fellow Daoist Lu, it would be best to speak frankly."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an secretly transmitted his voice, as he did not want to be blamed for nothing.

It was one thing to spread rumors before, but at least I had some doubts in my heart.

But by coming here and doing this, aren't you just confirming the rumor for him?

How could a dignified Nascent Soul True Lord be wronged like this?

"Young Lin, how well did you use those Spirit-Replenishing Pills back then?"

One sentence left Lin Chang'an speechless: this old guy was pulling strings again.

However, Lu Zhenjun didn't give him a chance, turning to the others with a smile and cupping his hands in greeting:
"Fellow Daoists, I also have some private matters to discuss with this young Lin. I will come to visit you all later."

"Fellow Daoist Lu, you are too kind. Our Dao Protection Alliance has already prepared a welcome banquet for you in the city. You have come from afar, so please rest for a while first."

Both sides spoke with impeccable discretion.

Jin Jianchuan was eager for all six sects of the demonic path to know that the Nascent Soul elder of the Azure Sea Palace had arrived, as this meant they had gained another powerful ally.

Even if they don't directly join the battle, the vast resources of the Azure Sea Palace are continuously traded, which is also a form of resource support.

Of course, this was only what was on the surface. At the same time, Jin Jianchuan's eyes flickered, and he had already guessed what was going on about Lu Zhenjun from Bihai Palace who had come from afar.

"Another one who came for the Insect Demon."

It wasn't just his imagination; they had actually discovered traces of the Insect Demon before, and now they were even more certain.

This also attracted countless cultivators, who arrived one by one. This place was under the control of both the Dao Protector Alliance and the Demonic Path, and a war was raging there.

Nascent Soul cultivators are indeed powerful, but their reach is limited here. If they want to track down the Insect Demon, they really need to rely on local forces.

This resulted in many Nascent Soul cultivators making separate visits, but relatively speaking, there were more Nascent Soul cultivators visiting the Protectorate Alliance.

There's no other reason than that the six sects of the demonic path are too powerful, devouring people without spitting out the bones.

The Guardian Alliance is different. It is an alliance that is still in a weak position, which is the time to absorb and befriend everyone.

The other Nascent Soul stage monsters also had different expressions in secret, but they had all thought of this as well.

"This insect demon is really a hot commodity."

However, this has both advantages and disadvantages. Who knows if there are any spies from the demonic path among them, or those harboring malicious intentions?

Overall, however, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, please."

Other Nascent Soul cultivators don't have such a grand setup, which is why Lu Zhenjun has such a lavish presence.

One is the Azure Sea Palace behind it, the other is the strength of someone in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, and there is also a fourth-order Xuan Shui Turtle demon.

And the Nascent Soul daughter of the array prodigy in the Abyss Sea.

Regardless of which one, they all deserve a respectful reception from Jin Jianchuan of the Protectorate Alliance.

"Fellow Daoists, please."

With a smile, the dignified and otherworldly Lu Zhenjun entered Cloud City with everyone and then arranged a welcoming banquet for the evening.

After exchanging pleasantries, Lu Zhenjun headed straight for the Yuling Sect's headquarters.

……

In the main hall.

Amidst the rising steam of tea, Lin Chang'an and the Ice Butterfly Fairy entertained Lu Zhenjun.

The three sat at the table, with Lu Zhenjun sipping his spiritual tea with a smile, looking relaxed and content.

Only Lin Chang'an looked rather grim. He wouldn't accept this if the old man didn't give him an explanation.

It was clearly nothing of the sort, but because of what the other party did, he ended up with an ambiguous relationship with Fellow Daoist Su.

He won't take the blame for this!
"Fellow Daoist Lu, this is a unique spiritual tea from my Yuling Sect."

"Good tea."

Surprisingly, the Ice Butterfly Fairy spoke with a smile, adopting the air of Senior Sister Lin Chang'an, as she conversed with True Lord Lu.

This caught Lu Zhenjun off guard, leaving him feeling completely bewildered.

While enjoying tea, he was thinking of a solution. He had lived for nearly nine hundred years and this was the first time he had encountered such a situation.

If you could pretend in front of strangers before, you still have to do it here.

So, does that mean this guy really considers this Lin kid his junior brother?
Only Lin Chang'an remained silent; he had no idea of ​​the pride hidden in this Ice Butterfly Senior Sister's heart.

This isn't about considering his good junior brother at all; it's clearly about satisfying his own pride.

To have this renowned Nascent Soul cultivator, famous throughout the Abyss Sea, address her as "Senior Sister" would be a significant advantage.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, please speak frankly about what you have to say."

Lin Chang'an didn't want to play any more riddles; when his cultivation was weak, he often had to adapt.

But now he is a Nascent Soul cultivator, the one who sets many rules, and has already stepped out of the game.

When it comes to serious matters, the Ice Butterfly Fairy is also on the same side.

"Young man Lin, what's your hurry?"

Lu Zhenjun casually put down his teacup, slowly raised his head, gently stroked his long beard with one hand, squinted his eyes, and said softly with a smile:
"Just as you guessed, I have indeed come here for the traces of the Insect Demon. After all, who in the world wouldn't be tempted by the Insect Demon's legacy?"

Even without the opportunity to reach the Nascent Soul stage, the inheritance of the number one person below the Nascent Soul stage is still tempting enough.

"Of course, that's what's on the surface. I also have a great opportunity to discuss with you two fellow Daoists."

Then, his tone shifted abruptly, and Lu Zhenjun revealed a sharp gaze, his previous easy-going old man demeanor completely gone.

The oppressive aura of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator flashed by, followed by a cheerful smile, revealing his true strength.

"Opportunity?"

Lin Chang'an narrowed his eyes, while the Ice Butterfly Fairy beside him also gradually became serious.

“Indeed, although I am not entirely clear about it, for an old ghost to travel thousands of miles to come here, there must be something good.”

Lu Zhenjun smiled and stroked his beard with an air of nonchalance, but in reality, countless thoughts were swirling within him.

"Previously, Fellow Daoist Lin was very powerful, annihilating the Sima clan in one battle, while I happened to be secretly looking for trouble with this Xuan Yin Old Ghost at the time."

By sheer coincidence, they discovered that the old man was acting suspiciously and furtively.

Lu Zhenjun grinned, revealing a malicious smile.

Lin Chang'an and the Ice Butterfly Fairy had completely different reactions.

"Didn't this Lu Zhenjun participate in the extermination of the Sima clan?"

This was the first thing that came to the Ice Butterfly Fairy's mind, but when she looked at Lin Chang'an, her eyes revealed a strange look.

Did her good junior brother really abduct someone's daughter?
In other words, it's possible that this Fellow Daoist Su came here secretly behind True Monarch Lu's back?
However, Lin Chang'an thought of the Xuan Yin Old Demon, and a murderous aura immediately rose between his brows.

"That old devil is here too!"

The feud between him and the Xuan Yin Old Demon has been going on for a long time.

After all, not only did Li Huo Palace later submit to Xuan Yin Demonic Sect, but he and Yun Yao had also plotted quite a bit to escape Xuan Yin Demonic Sect back then.

"Oh, what realm has this Xuan Yin Old Demon cultivated to now? That he deserves such attention from True Monarch Lu."

"Although he is still at the peak of the early stage of Nascent Soul, this old ghost did not cultivate the Profound Yin Divine Fire, but instead cultivated the Profound Yin Corpse Fire. This divine ability is not weak either."

However, Lu Zhenjun's gloating smile and the way he glanced at Lin Chang'an seemed to say, "You and Yun have really screwed over the old demon."

He abducted someone's holy maiden and also caused the old demon to lose the Xuan Yin Divine Fire that he had been plotting for hundreds of years, leaving him only able to cultivate the Xuan Yin Corpse Fire, which has more serious side effects.

"Early Nascent Soul stage!"

Upon hearing this, a fleeting smile appeared on Lin Chang'an's lips. So this old ghost was still in the early Nascent Soul stage. That's good.

Mysterious Yin Corpse Fire? Isn't that exactly what his Solar Essence Fire counters?

Now the tables have turned, and the roles of offense and defense have shifted.

"With Fellow Daoist Lu's cultivation and supernatural powers, plus the Xuan Water Turtle, this opportunity doesn't seem to need to be shared between the two of us!"

The Ice Butterfly Fairy smiled calmly, having grasped the crux of the problem.

If there were an opportunity that even Nascent Soul cultivators would covet, wouldn't everyone want to secretly enjoy it all to themselves?

Even couples who practice Daoist arts might not share this.

Lin Chang'an also gave him a questioning look, which made Lu Zhenjun shake his head and sigh helplessly.

"I would like to play the cicada in the back, but this old Xuan Yin brat has actually colluded with your Guardian Alliance's Demon Flame Old Ghost in secret."

"The Demon Flame Old Monster!"

Lin Chang'an and Fairy Ice Butterfly suddenly realized what was going on.

No wonder this Lu Zhenjun told them about this good news.

This is the territory of the Protectorate Alliance. Although the Azure Sea Palace is powerful, it is too far away to provide any effective assistance.

As one of the four major local powers, the Yuling Sect has extremely convenient access for both covert investigations and other purposes. Another reason is that the combined strength of the Xuan Yin Old Demon and the Demon Flame Old Monster made Lu Zhenjun feel quite troubled.

Naturally, we need to bring in outside help.

"Don't look at me like that. If I had a choice, I wouldn't want to drag you along either."

Seeing the look in their eyes, Lu Zhenjun reluctantly explained some of the situation.

The two old demons, Xuan Yin and Mo Yan, seemed to have not yet confirmed their location and were secretly searching for it.

In the world of cultivation, this is not uncommon. Many people discover opportunities, only to search their entire lives without finding a trace.

Therefore, it is perfectly normal for a place to be explored and investigated for ten or twenty years, or even a hundred years.

The elders of the Azure Sea Palace are stationed in various places, while monsters roam the outer seas and there is also the current commotion caused by the Sixteen Sects of the Sea Suppression.

He couldn't leave for long, since he didn't even know what the other party was doing. Once they found a secret realm or something, they would definitely start exploring it immediately, and he wouldn't have time to call for reinforcements from the Azure Sea Palace.

Not to mention that Bihai Palace has a rich heritage and tradition.

Moreover, it wouldn't be good if someone took advantage of the situation and caused trouble.

"I see."

At that moment, Lin Chang'an suddenly realized why the old ghost was so eager to pin the blame on him. It turned out he was using this as a cover to secretly plot this opportunity.

"Hehe, Lin boy, and Fellow Daoist Bingdie, wouldn't you say this counts as an opportunity? As long as you utilize the power of your sect."

Anyway, we have others helping us look. If we're lucky, we'll team up and split the profits. If it's all for nothing, it's not like we're the ones wasting our time.

At this moment, Lu Zhenjun's nonchalant smile seemed to indicate that he wanted to play the role of the oriole that stalks the cicada.

"Fellow Daoist Lu, it seems you have also taken a good look at the predicament of our Yuling Sect."

Lin Chang'an and Fairy Bingdie also understood that the other party was cooperating with them, rather than with others, and there was another crucial point: the predicament of the Yuling Sect.

With the four major forces of the Guardian Alliance plus Jin Jianchuan's current forces, there should be five major forces now.

The Yuling Sect first annexed the spiritual land resources of the Sima clan, and now it has carved out a piece of fat meat in Cloud City.

Despite their seemingly strong momentum, they are actually only in this situation because of the support of the demonic forces.

Once the war ends, aside from everything else, although everyone must be wary of the demonic path, it is inevitable that they will also join forces to restrict the Spirit Control Sect.

At the very least, Daqian and Corpse Valley will definitely join forces, and even Jin Jianchuan will tacitly agree.

You can be strong, but you can't be too strong.

If Lu Zhenjun were to seek other forces, Murong and Corpse Valley would be too weak to handle, and the five Nascent Soul cultivators of the Great Qian Dynasty would be too strong and prone to monopolizing the spoils.

Not to mention Jin Jianchuan, who has a Sword Saint behind him. If he really tries to take all the spoils, there's no way to reason with him.

But the Yu Ling Sect will not, or rather, dare not and cannot!
If the Yuling Sect dares to do anything, he will turn around and join forces with other forces to retaliate, and those people will definitely be happy to see that happen.

At that time, the Yuling Sect will be isolated and helpless within the Protectorate Alliance, and will be jointly restricted. The trade route with the Outer Azure Sea Palace will be extremely important.

In short, everything revolves around interests.

After figuring this out, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but curse under his breath.

"That old fox is truly cunning."

"Of course, the search for the Insect Demon must also be carried out openly, which can be used as a cover while you secretly investigate the Demon Flame Old Monster."

"And this Xuan Yin Old Ghost is entrusted to me."

Lu Zhenjun spoke with a smile, but his bright eyes revealed a cunning.

They did not reveal any trace of the Mysterious Yin Old Ghost.

Lin Chang'an and Fairy Bingdie secretly exchanged words and agreed almost without hesitation.

Anyway, it hasn't even started yet, so they can decide what to do once they find out.

"Old Monster Demon Flame, I have not forgotten this person."

A cold glint flashed in the Ice Butterfly Fairy's eyes. She was very vengeful, and if she weren't currently dealing with the demonic path, she would definitely find an opportunity to teach this old monster a lesson.

The two then discussed matters in the main hall with smiles, and Lin Chang'an also took the opportunity to gather information about the Abyss Sea.

Although he knew about it through the Seven Kingdoms Alliance Merchant Guild, the merchant guilds of Core Formation cultivators and Nascent Soul cultivators were on completely different levels.

There are many things that only Nascent Soul cultivators can access.

As expected, after he learned about it, the situation in the Abyss Sea was more serious than he had imagined.

Many conflicts broke out, especially a terrifying beast tide manipulated by a powerful, transformed demon.

……

Afterwards, Lu Zhenjun received a welcoming banquet in Cloud City.

He was representing the Azure Sea Palace this time, and taking advantage of the war between the Protectorate Alliance and the Demonic Path, he was naturally there to earn resources.

The Guardians of the Way were well aware of this, but what could they do when they needed it?

In the end, both sides had a pleasant conversation and agreed on a large number of future material transactions.

The Azure Sea Palace possesses countless demonic beast resources, while the territory of the Guardian Alliance contains countless mineral resources and treasures such as spiritual herbs.

Both sides got what they wanted, and at the same time, the matter of the insect demon could no longer be kept secret from the upper echelons of the cultivation world.

Countless forces in the cultivation world flocked in, all searching for traces of the Insect Demon. Coincidentally, Huang Tianxiao had been exposed by mistake before, and as a result, he once again had to live a life of hiding and fleeing in a sorry state.

The matter of the Insect Demon has drawn in forces from all sides, leading to a major battle between the Demonic Path and the Protectorate Alliance, making the situation extremely unpredictable.

In the following period, the war between the demonic path and the guardian alliance reached a stalemate for various reasons.

Both sides deployed a large number of low-level cultivators, but high-level cultivators rarely engaged in life-or-death battles.

The two sides seemed to have reached a tacit understanding to avoid giving the insect demon and the righteous path another opportunity.

A tug-of-war has begun between the two sides; this month you lose one or two strongholds, next month I lose one or two.

If you look closely, you will find that the Protectorate Alliance used this to weaken many of its subordinate and independent cultivator forces within its territory, and the Demonic Path also used this to weaken many of its subordinate forces.

While the casualties on both sides appear to be heavy, most of them are actually low-level cultivators.

……

Time flies, and twenty years have passed since the outbreak of the war.

For low-level cultivators, twenty years is a period of growth, but for Nascent Soul cultivators, it is merely a short period of seclusion.

"Reporting to True Lord Lin, since the start of the war, the major families and vassal forces within the territory of the Imperial Spirit Sect have suffered losses of more than 30%."

Some of these families were weakened by the war, while others used it as an opportunity to rise further…

In the Cloud City, within the territory of the Spirit Control Sect, in an elegant waterside pavilion, the former Holy Maiden of the Spirit Beast Sect, Fairy White Crane, respectfully reported on intelligence gathered in recent years.

For the past twenty years, due to various reasons, the six sects of the demonic path have not been able to bring back this holy maiden.

The White Crane Fairy has always been in Cloud City.

"Some of the forces within the original Sima clan have been integrated and are now supporting cultivator Lin Zhenjun..."

Sitting upright in the pavilion, Lin Chang'an examined the chess manual in his palm, his mind seemingly focused on the game. However, after hearing the White Crane Fairy's report, he nodded slightly.

"Indeed, twenty years is a whole era for a low-level cultivator. However, it seems that you, Holy Maiden, are somewhat underutilized in my presence."

As Lin Chang'an's calm voice echoed, Fairy White Crane respectfully cupped her hands and said, "If it weren't for True Lord Lin's help, my path of cultivation would have been severed, and I wouldn't be here today."

"Don't say that. You're a hot potato. Over the past twenty years, that old monster from Shangyuan has caused me no shortage of trouble, and each one of them is stingy."

If the Four Symbols Pearls aren't available, then what about other spiritual items? At least high-grade spiritual liquid would be acceptable.

Over the past twenty years, he has fought against demonic cultivators many times, especially the addition of the Old Demon Qingyang later on.

Slowly placing the chess piece down, Lin Chang'an raised his head and looked at the White Crane Fairy, a deep smile appearing in his eyes.

"Young friend Baihe, your cultivation has truly improved over the years. It seems you have already reached that threshold."

This meaningful expression made Fairy White Crane take a deep breath; she knew she had no secrets from Nascent Soul cultivators.

"Yes, we have been fortunate to have the help of Lord Lin over the years."

"Alright, you've been in contact with your family all these years. Since the Spirit Beast Sect is unwilling to contribute, what about your family?"

The White Crane Fairy originally thought it was a rare find, but it's been stuck with her for twenty years.

The White Crane Fairy gritted her teeth inwardly. Over the past twenty years, she had thought about many things and made many plans, but this person was completely unyielding to both soft and hard approaches.

“Lord Lin, I know that there is a longevity elixir in our clan that can extend one’s lifespan by one or two decades.”

Now that her cultivation has reached its peak, she has been thinking about finding a place to form her Nascent Soul.

"A spiritual object that prolongs life!"

Lin Chang'an frowned slightly upon hearing this. Other cultivators might be pleased to hear it, but it was useless to him.

Because of his Xuan Tian spiritual body, his own life force is very strong. To put it nicely, longevity-enhancing spiritual objects are just a way to replenish his spirituality.

To put it bluntly, the level is too low; the Xuan Tian Spirit Body wouldn't even consider it. Perhaps only the legendary elixir could be of any use.

"I am only four hundred years old now, young friend, let's get down to business. Moreover, the effects of longevity-promoting spiritual items are best the first time you take them, and the effects gradually weaken with each subsequent use."

These life-extending spiritual items, granting only one or two decades of lifespan, might be quite tempting to ordinary cultivators, but given the current strength of the Spirit Control Sect, they are still somewhat insignificant.

Lin Chang'an remained calm, appearing to look down on it, but in reality, he was just trying to hide the fact that he didn't need the thing.

"Even longevity-promoting items won't work!"

At this moment, Fairy White Crane felt extremely troubled and secretly frowned.

She has been gone for twenty years. From her contact with the clan, it is clear that the situation within the sect is precarious, as there is no longer a Nascent Soul cultivator to oversee things.

Once the person leaves, the family's influence wanes, and many interests can no longer be protected by the family.

Lin Chang'an remained calm. He didn't believe that a family that had produced two generations of Nascent Soul elders in the Spirit Beast Sect wouldn't have some treasures left behind.

Furthermore, the fact that the other family has never given up over the years is already somewhat abnormal.

"Recently, I heard that the old monster Shangyuan seems to want to marry two more female cultivators from the Xiaoyou clan, at the cost of the treasure left behind by the previous elder."

Of course, while the nobles lost their treasure, they gained a Nascent Soul cultivator to oversee things, which at least ensured they retained their current status and interests.

Lin Chang'an took a sip of spiritual tea and casually placed an intelligence jade slip on the table. He had only recently learned about it.

This girl really kept it well hidden.

Unfortunately, the other party's family was located deep within the territory of the Six Sects of the Demonic Path, and he was unwilling to risk infiltrating them for such a small benefit.

When the White Crane Fairy saw the jade slip, her face turned pale, but she quickly regained her composure.

No! She has to go back right away.

Any later, and the family's legacy will likely belong to someone else.

She wasn't really doing it for the family, but for herself. With the family's resources, she could gain more benefits in the future.

More importantly, she has achieved her goal here: she has cultivated to the peak of the late Core Formation stage and obtained the Nascent Soul Pill.

"Lord Lin, I am willing to redeem myself."

The White Crane Fairy sighed softly, her gaze turning solemn, while Lin Chang'an smiled.

Just as he expected, this girl was shrewd and calculating. Although she seemed to have come to be a prisoner, she had actually avoided the internal strife and planned a peaceful place for herself to cultivate.

"You're quite cunning, daring to play both sides between the Demonic Path and the Protectorate Alliance."

Lin Chang'an had considered soul-searching, but it would obviously offend Jin Jianchuan.

The leader of the alliance, on the surface, needs this title.

I, Jin Jianchuan, will not harm any of my descendants who have been kind to me, even if they are on opposing sides.

Moreover, even if one were to search a soul, a Core Formation cultivator wouldn't be of much value.

"If Lord Lin is willing to gamble, I may secretly return. If I can form a Nascent Soul, the clan's resources will be in my hands."

Indeed, she was a rare commodity. From the very beginning, this White Crane Fairy was walking on a knife's edge; one wrong step and she would be shattered to pieces.

Lin Chang'an secretly admired this courage.

"You're quite clever, using the name of Alliance Leader Jin to get involved yourself."

"Lord Lin, did I have any other choice back then?"

The White Crane Fairy was pale and wore a bitter smile. Given her situation, this was the only option she could think of.

Even Jin Jianchuan and Lin Chang'an, both Nascent Soul True Monarchs, knew this; it was an open secret.

Jin Jianchuan needs this prestigious reputation, but for Lin Chang'an, a Core Formation cultivator is of little value.

"A deal?"

"Not bad!"

The White Crane Fairy, who had personally entered the fray, her eyes gleaming, boldly declared in a low voice:
"I know that True Lord Lin has been searching for the Four Symbols Pearl. Our clan's ancestor mentioned this matter before. A friend from the Demon Flame Sect has a Dust-Avoiding Pearl."

"I have always wanted to exchange for the secret pill from my Spirit Beast Sect. If True Lord Lin could lend me another hand, I would certainly do my utmost to make this happen after I reach Nascent Soul stage, and then bring this treasure to you."

What audacity! He's always the one taking advantage of others, but today this girl actually wants to take advantage of him.

"Save your spirit pet isn't enough, you want to add more bargaining chips? Tell me, what else do you want?"

He had been searching for these Four Symbols Pearls for a long time. Each one of them was a treasure, and Lin Chang'an was helpless, knowing that they were extremely valuable.

He was finally getting news, and he was indeed tempted.

Since negotiating a deal with the Spirit Beast Sect using this woman was unsuccessful, he decided to find someone else to negotiate with, also from the Spirit Beast Sect.

The process is not important, what is important is the result.

"I've heard that True Lord Lin possesses a piece of Thunder Tribulation Wood. If you would be willing to lend it to me, it would greatly increase my chances of achieving Nascent Soul."

The Nascent Soul Pill obtained in the original trade with Jin Jianchuan, combined with the secret techniques of the White Crane Spirit Beast, has a remarkable effect on the inner demons.

If there were one more piece of Tribulation Wood, the chances of him forming a Nascent Soul would be quite high.

"You really dare to gamble!"

Lin Chang'an couldn't help but chuckle, admitting that such courage and determination were rare.

"So how do you plan to explain this to the sect?"

"An explanation? True Lord Lin is truly of noble character. He probably doesn't know the internal situation of the six sects of the Demonic Path. As long as this young lady can form a Nascent Soul, that will be an explanation."

Moreover, there's no need to hide it; it's just that we won't get involved in the affairs of the Protectorate Alliance. The sects have countless battlefields across the grasslands, the righteous path, and other small countries.

When she mentioned explaining this matter, the White Crane Fairy's eyes were clear, and she seemed quite nonchalant.

She achieved Nascent Soul formation on her own merits, so what explanation does she need? The six major sects of the Demonic Path failed to rescue her, and after she achieves Nascent Soul formation, they will demand an explanation from the sects.

It would be better if she couldn't go back, but if she did go back and reached the Nascent Soul stage, she didn't believe the sect wouldn't lose face.

　Thank you to fellow Daoist '木行子' for the 2800 spirit stones.

　　Thank you all for your support. I'd also like to ask for your monthly votes. There will be double monthly votes from the 1st to the 7th. Please give me your votes!

　　
　
(End of this chapter)