Starting with the titmouse, seventy-two transformations

Chapter 129 Tai Sui? Bait!
The commotion outside Shanyang County was immense.

After all, it was a battle between two Qi Refining cultivators. The aftershocks reverberated around them, destroying vegetation and causing mud to surge. It was hard for anyone in the city not to know about it.

Upon learning that the two sides facing off were Du Bingyan and Madam Caiyu, various parties made speculations and reacted differently.

For example, Xie Bao clapped his hands and laughed loudly after hearing this.

The monk Deyun had a somber expression as he turned his prayer beads and muttered incantations.

Chixiazi's gaze was unfocused, and his expression was strange.

Commander Situ of the Suspended Mirror Bureau smirked coldly, remaining silent.

County Magistrate Cai Baimao inquired about the past affairs of the two factions from Li Mu, the "Overturning Sea Sword".

As for Elder Qinghe of the Five Crane Sect...

Looking at Qi Cheng'an below the hall, his gaze was sharp and deep, concealing murderous intent.

"You mean you found a strange object in the mountains? Why don't you pick it and present it to your teacher?"

He stroked his long beard, chuckled lightly, and spoke in a relaxed tone, as if making a joke:
"Could it be... that they colluded with outsiders, betrayed their master, and deliberately lured me outside?"

As a Qi cultivator, he sensed something was wrong immediately.

The seventh disciple in front of me had an overwhelming amount of yin energy, and his face was deathly pale, devoid of any color.

And after disappearing for a whole day, they would come back saying they had discovered rare treasures...

Too deliberate!

There must be something fishy about this matter.

"I'm innocent, Master! I swear to Heaven I never had such intentions!"

Qi Cheng'an kowtowed repeatedly, his face filled with bitterness and grievance:
"The strange object resembled a piece of red meat, with the part protruding above the ground measuring two or three zhang (approximately 6.6 meters). The flesh was like white cotton, constantly wriggling and exhaling mist..."

"Is this... Tai Sui?"

Upon hearing Qi Cheng'an's words, Elder Qinghe was stunned, his heart filled with doubt and uncertainty.

Tai Sui was a rare and precious treasure of heaven and earth, said to grant immortality when consumed, but it has long since disappeared.

He also learned about the characteristics of this object from a medical book produced at the site.

However, more than twenty years have passed since the celestial changes, and many rare and precious objects that had disappeared before have begun to reappear in the world...

Who knows, what Qi Cheng'an said might really be a Tai Sui!

He may look young now, but he is actually over a hundred years old and his lifespan is coming to an end.

More than ten years ago, he was nearing the end of his life, but he managed to break through the barrier and become a Qi Refiner thanks to a rare treasure.

However, due to his advanced age, his spirit was frail and his body was weak, so he had no hope of advancing in his lifetime and was stuck at the entry stage of the Dao Realm, unable to make any progress.

Without rare treasures or miraculous medicines to prolong life, one will die of old age in another ten years or so.

As the saying goes, the older you get, the more afraid you are of death.

Over the years, he has been searching for various longevity-promoting substances, exhausting himself in the process, but to no avail.

Unexpectedly, their own disciple discovered the Tai Sui in the mountains!
It's really hard to find a place to break through the iron shoes, and it takes no effort to get it!
He knew, of course, that what Qi Cheng'an said might not be true.

This could even be a trap set for oneself.

But what if?
What if it's true? If I miss out because of my suspicion, wouldn't I regret it for the rest of my life?

People don't realize the value of life until they grow old.

Moreover, he also wanted to see the scenery beyond the "path" of enlightenment.

most of the time,
Even knowing it's a scam or a trap, people will still fall into it without hesitation.

Animals are like this, and so are humans.

This applies to ordinary people, and it also applies to some wise men in history.

In fact, how many university master's and doctoral students in the past were swindled out of their fortunes by con artists with only elementary school educations, even to the point of having to sell their blood?
Why?

Greed blinds one's judgment!

The heart is swayed by profit, and wisdom is clouded by power.

They always think they're smart and others are stupid, that they're the exception and can be exempted from punishment, and that they'll make a little money and run.

As a result, the trap was designed specifically for people like this.

(This applies to gambling, stock trading, and cryptocurrency trading.)
The word "profit" carries an inherent "idiotic aura," meaning that unless one has high enough resistance and stays far enough away, otherwise...

They're sure to become prey!

"Cheng An, describe the appearance of that rare treasure again."

Elder Qinghe took a deep breath, suppressing his excitement, and sat down in the grand chair.

The more he looked at the disciple in front of him, the more pleasing he became.

As for his previous doubts, he convinced himself with his own reasons.

For example, if someone has a lot of yin energy on their body, it must be because the vegetation in the mountains is lush and blocks out the sunlight.

His face was deathly pale, indicating that he had encountered danger in the mountains but managed to escape by sheer luck.

As for why no one has been seen all day, they must be trapped in the mountains.

In this way, everything makes sense, and the logic is perfectly closed.

Therefore, making things up in your head is the most dangerous thing. What the truth is is not important.

The important thing is what you think it is.

"Master, I originally went to..."

The ghost Qi Cheng'an lowered his head, his mouth splitting into a wide grin that reached his ears, and his eyes flashing with a fierce light.

The sounds it made, however, were perfectly normal, filled with lingering fear and trembling, perfectly capturing the character's terrified state.

"Is there a powerful, monstrous tiger spirit guarding that Tai Sui?"

Upon hearing this, Elder Qinghe lowered his guard to the last bit.

Rare treasures, born from the spirit of heaven and earth, are always guarded by demons once they are born.

Qi Cheng'an said that it would make sense if a great, monstrous tiger spirit guarded the Tai Sui.

With his cultivation at the Lesser Completion stage, facing a tiger spirit of the Great Monster level, he could only flee for his life.

Then it can't be wrong!

This Tai Sui is rightfully mine!
Once he resolves the issue of lifespan, he can then glimpse the path beyond "entering the Dao"!
Perhaps, like the legendary immortals, one can truly live forever, with a lifespan equal to that of heaven...

"call!"

An unnatural red glow rose on Elder Qinghe's face. He exhaled a breath of stale air and said in a deep voice:
Have you told anyone about this?

"No, no, as soon as I escaped, I rushed to report to my master..."

"Very good, lead the way."

"Master, shouldn't we make some preparations?"

“Treasures of heaven and earth possess their own spirit; they cannot be delayed. Otherwise, once they disappear into the deep mountains, finding them again will be like searching for a needle in a haystack…”

Elder Qinghe stood up, flicked his sleeves, and unleashed his true energy, sweeping up Qi Cheng'an and rushing straight out of the city.

...

Less than half an hour later.

Elder Qinghe dispersed his true energy, and the two landed on the ground together.

The surrounding area is filled with towering trees, their branches and leaves intertwined and dense, making it impenetrable.

The forest was eerily cold and gloomy, like a ghost town.

"where?"

He glanced at Qi Cheng'an and urged him repeatedly.

I don't know if it's just my imagination, but after entering Black Wind Mountain, this disciple's aura became stronger, and I felt a chill on his body.

But he quickly put these trivial matters aside; the most important thing right now was to obtain the Tai Sui.

As long as I obtain those rare and precious items, it doesn't matter if all my disciples die.

"Master, come with me!"

Qi Cheng'an gave him a strange look, muttered something in a low voice, and then rushed forward to lead the way.

Grasslands, bushes, puddles, rocks, steep slopes, and other terrains were all as flat as flat ground under his feet, and his speed did not decrease at all.

He walked faster and faster, appearing as a wisp of gray mist in the night.

Elder Qinghe remained silent, focusing on his journey, his inner energy surging as he steadily followed behind.

A quarter of an hour later.

Qi Chengan led the way to a canyon with sheer cliffs on both sides and the sound of flowing water ahead.

"arrive?"

Elder Qinghe looked around, then his face turned cold:

"Where is Tai Sui?"

"The Grand Duke Jupiter? It's right behind you."

Qi Cheng'an grinned, pointed behind him, and turned into gray mist, about to disappear into the forest.

Suddenly, a crane's cry shook the heavens.

In an instant, it was as if a meteor had fallen, leaving a crane-shaped trail of flames as it touched the gray mist.

The speed is incredible.

"puff!"

As the gray fog dissipated, a scream, both real and unreal, echoed in the air.

Elder Qinghe stood proudly, holding a long sword, his gaze as deep and unfathomable as a pool:

"Since you've gone to so much trouble to lure me here, why not show yourself?"

"Rustling~ Rustling~"

At that moment, the sound of rocks tumbling down the cliff to the left rang out.

The next moment, a tiger's roar ripped through the sky—

"Roar!!"

(End of this chapter)