Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 272 The Truth
The "Northern Emperor Sect" is said to have a powerful backer, if not as powerful as the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect."

Of course, in the Southern Continent, especially within the territory of the Ming Dynasty, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" was a behemoth.

Even the "Northern Emperor Sect" had to be subordinate to the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect".

However, because the "Northern Emperor Sect" had some background and a Nascent Soul Realm ancestor, the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect" treated the people of the "Northern Emperor Sect" with great courtesy.

Unlike directing the "Ten Thousand Swords Sect," it wouldn't be as simple as sending out a few people to command an entire sect to serve the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect."

At this moment, the old man continued, "Before I was injured, my cultivation had reached the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment Realm. Xu Changfeng plotted against me, but I defeated him!"

"It's just that Xu Changfeng is too cunning. Five Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Xu family joined forces to fight me alone and drove me into the dungeon."

“I sensed a great danger while I was in the dungeon.”

"I knew I couldn't go any further into the dungeon, so I entered this cage, set up an array, and fought a fierce battle with the enemy."

"The five members of the Xu family are not skilled in formations and cannot break my wonderful formation. Instead, they have suffered a lot of losses at my hands, and all of them are injured."

"But I couldn't get away either. Instead, they stirred up the evil energy deep in the dungeon, trapping me here."

"I was already doomed, but who would have thought that a war between the major sects would suddenly break out at the border."

"Not long after, the Northern Emperor Sect summoned all cultivators above the Foundation Establishment Realm to the border to wage war against other countries."

"The sect's orders were obeyed without question by Xu Changfeng and the other four members of the Xu family. As a result, they have not returned for three hundred years. As a result, the Xu family has no Foundation Establishment cultivators, which is why I have been able to live to this day."

After hearing what this person said, Li Yunjing, Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao looked at each other in bewilderment.

According to this person, he came to the Xu family as a guest three hundred years ago.

That was just before the discovery of the top-grade spirit stone vein while "crossing the mountains".

This person was also lucky. After learning of this news, the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" immediately mobilized various forces within the Ming Dynasty to participate in the great battle.

The "Northern Emperor Sect" is located in the remote borderlands and is the number one sect in the north, so it naturally bears the brunt of the attack.

The first group of five Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Xu family entered the border, where the battle was fierce.

The five of them are probably in grave danger.

The Xu family gradually declined because they no longer had a Foundation Establishment cultivator to suppress their fortune.

That makes sense now.

As for the five Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Xu family, were they after the demonic artifact?

This is also normal.

In the world of cultivation, many people choose to fight to the death when their lifespan is about to end.

There are treasures at the Golden Core stage or above hidden beneath the Xu family's old residence; it would be strange if these Foundation Establishment cultivators could resist them.

As for cultivating demonic artifacts, is that not allowed by the righteous path?

As long as one can advance to the Golden Core Realm and gain a thousand years of lifespan, who would care about this?
At worst, they could just leave the Ming Dynasty and live in other territories occupied by demonic cultivators.

Cultivators have no concept of territory or national sentiment; they can simply leave if necessary.

The world is vast; once your cultivation reaches a certain level, why fear not having a place to settle down?

"I never expected that you, fellow Daoist, would be a master from the Northern Emperor Sect!"

Li Yunjing and the other three quickly discussed the matter and ultimately decided to release him.

As for killing this person to conceal the secret?

This is not the right way to do things!
Of course, there is another reason: Li Yunjing and his group are disciples of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" and are not afraid of being hunted down for obtaining any demonic treasures.

Li Yunjing and his group can use these magical artifacts if they are useful, and hand them over to the sect if they are not.

As for practicing demonic arts?

Li Yunjing and the others really didn't have that idea!
The Shenxiao Dao Sect has countless classic texts, which are profound and extensive. They simply cannot learn them all, so why would they covet demonic arts?
Moreover, when attacking the "Netherworld Ghost Sect" and the "Yinshan Sect", Li Yunjing did not think these major demonic sects were anything special.

He must be crazy to put the cart before the horse and learn things that Li Yunjing looks down on.

"Heh! What kind of master? Can a master be trapped for three hundred years?"

The old man gave a bitter smile. This predicament had ruined his path of cultivation. Even if the four people in front of him were willing to rescue him, he wouldn't live for more than a few decades.

"What do you call fellow Taoist?"

Li Yunjing asked a question, and then told the other party his name, as well as the identities of Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao.

"I never expected that you would all be fellow Daoists from the Shenxiao Dao Sect!"

The old man was startled, but then revealed his identity: "I am Shan Baiyi, a true disciple of the 'Northern Emperor Sect'."

"Good! So it's Fellow Daoist Shan!"

Li Yunjing nodded and said, "Since we are both from the Xuanmen sect, we cannot stand by and do nothing when we see you in trouble! However, there is something I must say beforehand."

Upon hearing that Li Yunjing was willing to save him, Shan Baiyi was overjoyed and quickly said, "Just tell me what you need!"

"It's nothing else! We've taken a liking to the Xu family's items. This matter has nothing to do with you, fellow Daoist. Is that alright?"

Li Yunjing asked the question.

"No problem! I can help you!"

Shan Baiyi was taken aback, then chuckled and nodded in agreement.

Three hundred years ago, he might have wanted to compete, but now he only has a few decades left to live. Even if he obtains some peerless divine skill, he won't have time to cultivate it.

He is destined never to advance to the Golden Core realm!
If that's the case, what's there to argue about?

Moreover, although Li Yunjing and the others did not seem to have high cultivation levels, Shan Baiyi was not from a small sect. How could he not know that these disciples of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" had powerful methods and magic treasures to protect them?
Shan Baiyi is now at his wit's end. He has long since run out of pills, and as for his spiritual artifacts, magical weapons, and even the array formations he was so proud of, they were almost all destroyed in the great battle of that year.

The remaining items on his body were not ordinary magical artifacts or spiritual weapons. How could such a small amount of stuff possibly deal with the elite troops of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect"?

"Very good! We have one more condition!"

Li Yunjing nodded in satisfaction, and then made one last request.

"what?"

Shan Baiyi was a little confused. What else could he do for Li Yunjing and the others?
"You don't have a 'long-distance communication talisman'?"

Li Yunjing asked the question.

“Yes!” Shan Baiyi was confused. He asked doubtfully, “The ‘Ten Thousand Mile Communication Talisman’ is useless. It’s too far from the ‘Northern Emperor Sect’ here. Besides, this dungeon was built with restrictions that prevented the transmission of information.”

Shan Baiyi didn't understand Li Yunjing's purpose and thought he was wondering why he hadn't sought help from his fellow disciples all these years.

"Ok!"

Li Yunjing nodded and gave a perfunctory reply. How could he not know about this?
If Shan Baiyi could find reinforcements, he would be a fool for being imprisoned for three hundred years.

"We've recently been hunted down by an old monster at the Golden Core Realm!"

Li Yunjing stared intently at Shan Baiyi and said coldly.

"This……"

Shan Baiyi was startled, not expecting that Li Yunjing and his group were also in considerable trouble!

"We will explore the depths of the dungeon to see if there is any way to deal with this person! After we rescue you, hide in the city and do not reveal your presence! When we start fighting that Golden Core cultivator, take this opportunity to quickly return and have your 'Northern Emperor Sect' members inform our sect!"

Li Yunjing finally made his request, adding at the end, "As long as you pass on the message, I can guarantee that we will get you elixirs that can extend your lifespan!"

"Okay! I understand!"

Upon hearing the terms offered by Li Yunjing, Shan Baiyi was tempted.

He wouldn't care much about other conditions, but lifespan is a different story.

No one wants to die!

He can live for a few decades if he can, but with the elixir that increases lifespan, he might be able to live for fifty years!

Even a healthy person can only live for a hundred years or so in their lifetime. He can live for another fifty years, which is quite a lot!
In these fifty years, perhaps I can marry, have children, and start a family?
My life is over!

If one takes advantage of the last period of life to have more children, perhaps one can give birth to a child with spiritual roots. While one is still alive, one can send the child to the "Northern Emperor Sect" for training.

Perhaps, my dream of cultivating immortality can be continued in my descendants?

Thinking of this, Shan Baiyi was incredibly moved, and even a hint of joy appeared on his face. He had rediscovered his direction in life.

Seeing Shan Baiyi's expression, Li Yunjing, Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao exchanged glances, knowing that the other party had agreed. This was definitely a good opportunity for Li Yunjing and the others.

The sealed artifact that Master Xu mentioned could deal with Golden Core cultivators, but given Master Xu's mortal status, Li Yunjing and the others didn't really believe it.

But with Shan Baiyi, things are different.

Li Yunjing and his three companions could easily engage Zhao Yibai in a prolonged battle, stalling for time until Shan Baiyi could summon reinforcements!
Shan Baiyi's cultivation level is at the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment Realm. He is definitely not an ordinary person in the "Northern Emperor Sect". Such a person can come into contact with higher levels. Perhaps he can invite a Golden Core Realm expert from the "Northern Emperor Sect" without even informing the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect".

In that case, Li Yunjing and the others would have survived the danger.

Once Zhao Yibai's identity is exposed, he will die without a burial place. This person has no ability to kill a Golden Core Realm expert from the "Northern Emperor Sect" and commit murder to silence him.

Unable to kill anyone, Zhao Yibai's only option was to run away!

This person must escape the Ming Dynasty before the "Shenxiao Daozong" begins its manhunt; otherwise, an unpleasant and exciting life awaits him.

As for how long this period of his life will last, that depends on Zhao Yibai's luck.

"Do it!"

After the two sides reached an agreement, Li Yunjing, Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao immediately took action, using their magical powers to try to tear apart the black iron cage.

"Crash!"

But no sooner had Li Yunjing and his group made their move than billowing black smoke rose from the iron pillars, emitting sharp whistling sounds as demons materialized and surged toward them.

"Divine Thunder Slays Evil!"

Li Yunjing sneered, his palm clenched, and with a "boom," a bolt of lightning struck an iron pillar, snapping it in two with a "crack."

Before Shan Baiyi could escape, the remaining iron pillars transformed again, forming a "Netherworld Beast" that pounced on Li Yunjing and the others.

"Boom!"

This time, Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao joined Li Yunjing in the attack, all of them being top-tier lightning magic users.

The thunder magic of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect" is the most powerful, specifically designed to deal with such evil entities.

Especially Li Yunjing, whose lightning magic is far more powerful than that of a Foundation Establishment Stage 7 cultivator!

With a single move, he could annihilate countless evil spirits. The "Netherworld Beast" that he had condensed only roared twice before being reduced to ashes.

Without the demonic energy attached to the iron pillar, a small cage naturally could not contain Shan Baiyi.

"I'm finally free!"

Having been reborn, Shan Baiyi sighed repeatedly. After calming down, he said, "Over the years, I have also studied the demonic energy here and have made some speculations!"

"This seems to be the supreme demon kingdom of a demonic giant, the Netherworld Great Sage, from eight hundred years ago!"

"Later, this person was killed by the righteous master, Immortal Swordsman, who used the 'Demon Suppression Seal' to seal away the demonic energy and some demonic treasures. This is the information I deduced based on the history here."

Having been rescued by Li Yunjing, Shan Baiyi managed to squeeze out some useful information.

"Ha ha……"

Li Yunjing smiled helplessly. These old fogies are all incredibly cunning. They won't act until they see the benefit. They didn't even tell him such important information!

He insisted on waiting for me to rescue him before he would reveal the truth!
If I were a despicable and shameless person who killed Shan Baiyi, wouldn't I be unaware of this information?

Although this information is from eight hundred years ago, it is still very useful. Knowing the origin of the other party allows us to know their methods and deduce the methods of the Netherworld Great Sage and the Immortal Swordsman!
This greatly facilitates breaking the seal and controlling the magical artifact inside.

Li Yunjing and his companions were extremely curious about this treasure. Eight hundred years ago, someone dared to establish a demon kingdom on the territory of the "Shenxiao Dao Sect," which shows how powerful the Netherworld Great Sage was.

That swordsman, alone with his sword, was able to wipe out the Supreme Demon Kingdom of the Netherworld Great Sage. I wonder what his background is.
However, the fact that he was nicknamed "Immortal Sword" suggests that he must have been a peerless sword immortal of that era!
This made Li Yunjing even more curious, and he was determined to get his hands on the secret weapon the two had left behind. He was going to go deep inside tonight and get the treasure inside!

"Fellow Daoist Shan, is there anything else you would like to say?"

Li Yunjing continued to ask.

"That's all! This time, it's everything I know."

Shan Baiyi smiled, knowing that he had acted somewhat dishonestly.

However, this is only human nature. Who knows what Li Yunjing and the others are thinking? If I reveal everything I know, I might be silenced. Wouldn't that be a terrible injustice?
A cunning old fox like him wouldn't make that mistake.

"Alright! Fellow Daoist Shan, as agreed, you may leave now. Be careful and hide yourself. As soon as a fight breaks out here, take the opportunity to leave!"

Li Yunjing gave one last piece of advice.

(End of this chapter)