Immortality and cultivation begin with full comprehension.

Chapter 521 Internal Strife Intensifies (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

The flickering candlelight in the room cast a hazy glow around the two of them.

Li Yunjing's fingertips traced the flowing golden runes on the jade slip, his warm breath brushing against Zhao Qi's ear: "This 'Yin Yang Harmony Scripture' emphasizes the fusion of energy, requiring the use of divine sense as a guide. First, guide your spiritual power into my dantian."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhao Qi couldn't hold back any longer. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her lips to his.

As their lips intertwined, two streams of spiritual energy swirled and coiled around them.

Li Yunjing felt that Zhao Qi's spiritual power carried a sweet, laurel-like fragrance, flowing along his meridians into his dantian, where it collided with his own powerful spiritual power to create a dazzling light.

He suppressed the pounding in his heart, formed a hand seal, and a soft golden light entered Zhao Qi's brow: "Concentrate, follow my guidance, and transform your spiritual power into the shape of yin and yang fish."

Zhao Qi's consciousness sank into the depths of her sea of ​​consciousness, drawn by Li Yunjing.

In the chaos, she saw two lights chasing each other like swimming fish, each touch sparking a dazzling light.

"This is a sign of yin and yang in balance."

Li Yunjing's voice seemed to come from the sky, "Feel their rhythm, and use your mind to drive their operation."

As the fusion of their spiritual powers deepened, the indoor temperature steadily increased.

Zhao Qi's clothes were half undone at some point, and her snow-white skin was flushed with a faint pinkish hue under the nourishment of spiritual energy.

Li Yunjing gazed into her dazed eyes, his Adam's apple bobbing, but his hands remained steady as he guided the spiritual energy: "Be careful, we've reached the most crucial 'Yin-Yang Reversal' stage. A slight mistake could lead to demonic possession."

Zhao Qi, clinging to her last shred of clarity, followed Li Yunjing's instructions and slowly merged the two fish formed from her spiritual energy into one.

"It's done!"

Li Yunjing was overjoyed and hugged Zhao Qi tightly.

……

A day and a night later, Zhao Qi nestled in his arms, panting softly, "So this dual cultivation technique has such miraculous effects!"

The morning light quietly crept up the window frame, and this cultivation session gave the two of them a soft glow.

Li Yunjing gently stroked Zhao Qi's sweat-dampened hair and said softly, "Once you have fully mastered the 'Yin Yang Harmony Scripture,' our cultivation will be even more effective!"

"With you here, I must cultivate diligently."

Zhao Qi looked up, her eyes filled with love.

After resting for a while and washing up, the two got dressed and got up.

"These treasures will protect you!"

Li Yunjing opened his "storage ring" and found two treasures inside. One was a crystal-clear white jade bracelet with intricate cloud patterns carved on its surface, shimmering with a faint spiritual light; the other was an exquisite silver sachet with a faint blue light shining through its openwork patterns.

He first picked up the white jade bracelet and gently slipped it onto Zhao Qi's slender wrist: "This jade bracelet is called the 'Cloud Shadow Heart Protection Bracelet'. It has twelve defensive array patterns inside, which will automatically activate once attacked. It can block 30% of even the full-force attack of a Golden Core Realm expert."

Zhao Qi stroked the warm jade bracelet, feeling the spiritual energy seeping into her body through her skin, and couldn't help but show a look of surprise.

"This sachet is called the 'Azure Bewitching Sachet'. It can release bewitching mist and highly poisonous smoke. In critical moments, it can make enemies lose their minds, and the toxins in the smoke are even difficult for Golden Core cultivators to resist."

Before she could speak, Li Yunjing tied the silver sachet around her waist.

"Thank you!"

Zhao Qi's eyes reddened slightly, and she tiptoed to give Li Yunjing a light kiss on the cheek: "With these, I can feel much more at ease in the market."

"Silly girl, don't say thank you to me!"

Li Yunjing held her tightly in his arms for a long time before letting go, his eyes filled with reluctance: "You must be careful while I'm gone. If anyone causes trouble, contact me directly with the communication jade slip, and I will come immediately."

"Yeah! I know!"

Zhao Qi nodded firmly, suppressing her reluctance, and escorted Li Yunjing to the front of the "Sky Patrol Ship".

Li Yunjing stepped onto the ship, turned around and gave her a deep look, then channeled his spiritual power into the main control jade slip, and the "Sky Patrol Ship" slowly rose into the air.

Zhao Qi stood there, watching the patrol ship gradually disappear into the horizon until it was no longer visible, before turning back to the trading company.

She stroked the sachet at her waist and the jade bracelet on her wrist, knowing that Li Yunjing had many things to do and that he wouldn't have much time to spend with her.

"I must improve my cultivation as soon as possible, so that when we meet again, I will be able to fight alongside my husband."

Zhao Qi silently made a vow in her heart before returning to her room to seclude herself for further cultivation.

Li Yunjing had no idea what Zhao Qi was thinking. At this moment, he was on the "Sky Patrol Ship" and had already returned to "Seven Star Peak".

A thousand miles apart, in an instant.

This "Sky Patrol Ship" was far superior to the "Azure Cloud Boat," to the point that Li Yunjing lost all desire to use the teleportation array.

At this moment, he is making final preparations for the trial mission.

Li Yunjing needs to handle matters concerning both the "Seven Star Palace" and the "Purple Cloud Party".

He's been back for four or five months now; he can't possibly not show his face even once, can he?

There are also some "Purple Mansion Condensing Essence Pills" to give to some familiar elders to deepen our relationships, but these will all take time!
Xu Wuyi stood with his hands behind his back on the jade steps, his black Taoist robe billowing in the wind, personally waiting for Li Yunjing's return at the entrance of the "Council Hall".

Behind Xu Wuyi were the various deacons in charge.

"How is Senior Brother?"

Li Yunjing bowed respectfully, and a jade bottle slid out from his sleeve. "This is the 'Purple Mansion Condensing Essence Pill' that I refined. Please take a look, Senior Brother!"

"Hahaha! You kid!"

As soon as Xu Wuyi took the jade bottle, a hint of joy flashed in his eyes as he scanned it with his divine sense. "If it weren't for these three 'Purple Mansion Condensation Pills,' I might have complained a bit! Now it's all good, no problem at all!"

"Hahaha!"

Li Yunjing laughed loudly, "Luckily I was prepared, otherwise I would have gotten a scolding from my senior brother!"

He and Xu Wuyi had a good relationship and joked around very casually.

The surrounding stewards looked on with envy at the two experts, bowing and greeting Li Yunjing from the side.

"Yes! These are for you! In the future, the development of 'Seven Star Palace' will require everyone's efforts!"

Li Yunjing was not stingy with these stewards, and casually bestowed a bottle of seventh-grade "True Essence Pill" upon each of them.

Amidst the crowd's expressions of gratitude, Li Yunjing and Xu Wuyi saw everyone off.

The two then returned to the hall and took their seats.

Li Yunjing took the teacup from Xu Wuyi and asked with a smile, "I wonder if there have been any changes at 'Seven Star Peak' these past few days?"

“In the two years since you left, ‘Tian Shu Peak’ has become even more rampant!”

Xu Wuyi took a sip of tea, his expression grave: "Last month, he openly provoked us in the martial arts arena and injured two inner disciples."

Li Yunjing stroked the rim of his cup, recalling his past experiences, and sneered: "Once I complete my trial mission and become the vice sect leader, I'll come back and deal with them!"

He took out another jade bottle, the pills inside shimmering with a purple-gold light. "These are ten 'Purple Mansion Condensation Pills.' Please distribute them to the elders on my behalf, as a token of my appreciation."

"It's good that you have this intention."

Xu Wuyi took the jade bottle, a hint of relief flashing in his eyes: "However, the trial is extremely dangerous, so don't be reckless."

"The trial ground, 'Dragon Locking Abyss,' has not been opened for a hundred years. Legend has it that the remnant soul of an ancient demon lord is suppressed deep within it."

Xu Wuyi placed the jade bottle on the table and tapped the surface lightly with his fingertips. The candlelight in the hall flickered: "Last time the seal was reinforced, not one in ten disciples from other peaks survived."

He raised his hand and unleashed a beam of light, revealing a pitch-black abyss where swirling black mists emanated and eerie howls could be faintly heard.

"So dangerous?"

Li Yunjing's eyes sharpened, and he gripped his teacup tightly: "It seems there's some interest to be had."

"Your strength is growing rapidly!"

Xu Wuyi's expression was solemn. "I don't know exactly how strong you are, but you must not be careless!"

"Okay! I'll be careful!"

Knowing that Xu Wuyi genuinely cared about him, Li Yunjing nodded solemnly in agreement.

As for the danger level of "Locking Dragon Abyss"?

Li Yunjing still didn't think there was a fatal threat. The sect leader had already instructed him on what to do. He had been personally guided, so if it still didn't work, he would have to find the reason himself.

After leaving Xu Wuyi, Li Yunjing returned to his office and began handling official business.

At the very least, he needs to review everything that happened during his two years away from "Seven Star Peak" to see if there were any oversights.

Sitting at his desk, Li Yunjing frowned and began to sort out past issues.

He returned, and Xu Wuyi was freed, taking all the jade slips with him.

At this moment, a thick stack of jade slips was piled on Li Yunjing's desk.

"How could 'Seven Star Peak' have incurred such a large deficit in the past two years?"

Looking at the jade slips, which mostly listed expenses with very little income, Li Yunjing's brows furrowed even more.

He didn't see any issues of corruption or embezzlement in it. The reason for these huge deficits was that the Seven Star Palace was creating more and more arrays, which depleted the resources in the Seven Star Palace's treasury.

Even the "Seven Star Palace" needed a large amount of resources from the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect" to maintain its current refining scale.

In the dead of night, the eternal lamp on the bronze candlestick burned on its own without any wind, casting the light of the secret letter on the table on an intermittent glow.

"Ugh……"

Li Yunjing let out a long sigh.

The various formations were mostly transported to the "Crossing Mountains" to reinforce the "Divine Firmament Dao Sect's" control over the entire mountain range.

Another batch of array plates was sent to the front line of "Shenxiao Pass".

In addition to the large-scale formations, small and medium-sized formations are also being consumed every day there.

Not counting the "Great Ming Immortal Cultivation World," the "Crossing Mountains" and "Shenxiao Pass" alone have almost completely drained the foundation of the "Seven Star Palace."

In fact, apart from the expenses of the "Seven Star Palace", other important sect institutions such as the "Heavenly Craft Hall", "Divine Talisman Hall", "Hundred Herbs Hall", and "Spirit Pill Pavilion" are all sending resources to the two places.

The Shenxiao Dao Sect is extremely determined to build the Hengyue Mountains into a second Shenxiao Mountains, and there is almost no doubt about it. They are willing to do anything, even if it takes all their strength.

Li Yunjing carefully reviewed each file, covering everything from resource allocation and scientific research achievements to population growth and promotions.

In this way, Li Yunjing finally gained a complete understanding of the major and minor events that had occurred in the "Seven Star Palace" over the past two years.

"Ugh……"

As the morning light pierced through the clouds, Li Yunjing finally closed the last volume of the dossier.

With the decree finalized, the morning light crept into the study through the carved window lattice. Li Yunjing pressed the "Heavenly Thunder Emperor Seal" heavily onto the last decree. With a "hum," the seal transformed into a stream of light and disappeared into the jade slip, officially approving the application of a Grandmaster of Array Dao.

He rubbed his aching wrists, finally finishing his work at the "Seven Star Palace".

After leaving the "Seven Star Palace", Li Yunjing returned to the "Qiwu Mountain Villa".

With Zhu Wanyun's help, Li Yunjing slept soundly for a day before leaving refreshed and heading to "Chaoyang Peak," Yu Yunyi's residence.

It's too difficult to get into Li Yunjing's "Qiwu Manor," and Lu Ruoxi's "Jade Maiden Peak" is mostly filled with female disciples. Therefore, the "Zixiao Party" usually holds gatherings at Yunyi's place.

Moreover, Yu Yunyi was the founder of the "Zixiao Party".

The core group consists of the sect geniuses that Li Yunjing first met with Yu Yunyi.

Now that Li Yunjing is back, and having heard about the many battles he's had with Tian Hongzi and his group from "Tian Shu Peak" over the past two years, he naturally wants to stand up for everyone and help them save face.

The copper bells on the eaves jingled, startling a few white doves, which fluttered and landed on the big tree in front of Yu Yunyi's residence.

The carved wooden door creaked open, and after many years, Ling'er, that little girl, had already reached the Foundation Establishment stage.

"The son-in-law is here!"

Ling'er gave a curtsy and greeted everyone with a smile.

"You little girl, your cultivation has improved; you've actually reached the Foundation Establishment stage?"

Li Yunjing looked Ling'er up and down. The little girl had been gone for many years and had lost some of her childishness, gaining more charm.

"Hehe! Young master and young lady are both important people! This servant naturally has to improve myself, otherwise I'll embarrass you both!"

Ling'er, this little girl, wasn't afraid of Li Yunjing at all, and continued to make witty remarks with a smile.

They've known each other for twenty years, so Li Yunjing didn't think much of it.

"These are your resources, cultivate diligently!"

Li Yunjing casually tossed Ling'er a "treasure pouch," which contained at least 20,000 mid-grade spirit stones!

With these resources given to Ling'er, the little girl can at least cultivate to the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment Realm.

"That's wonderful! Thank you, son-in-law!"

Ling'er happily hung the "treasure pouch" on her waist and thanked them with a smile.

"By the way! Where's Yunyi?"

Li Yunjing entered the familiar living room and casually asked.

"Miss is still in seclusion, cultivating! Young Master, should I go and call her?"

Ling'er received the benefits and her enthusiasm increased significantly. She even learned to take the initiative to wake up Miss Li Yunjing.

"never mind!"

Li Yunjing waved his hand, sat down in a chair, and instructed, "When the 'Purple Cloud Party' holds a meeting later, go to 'Donghua Tower' and buy some food, then have them delivered!"

"As for Yunyi, let her focus on her cultivation and don't disturb her!"

This time, Li Yunjing did not plan to invite Yu Yunyi, Lü Ruoxi, and Fu Chao.

These three had all followed him on his adventures and gained tremendous benefits, which they were currently digesting. The "Purple Cloud Party" didn't have anything particularly important to do, so there was no need to disturb their cultivation.

"Okay! I'll go right away!"

Ling'er skipped and hopped out the door.

"hehe!"

Watching the little girl's retreating figure, Li Yunjing couldn't help but chuckle.

This little girl, though she looks like a maid, is actually well taken care of by Yu Yunyi, like a younger sister. She has hardly suffered any hardship and has not been tainted by the scheming and intrigue of the cultivation world, thus maintaining her innocence.

This kind of innocence was something Li Yunjing hadn't had for many years, which made him quite envious.

After the little girl left, Li Yunjing took out his "communication talisman" and began sending messages to the members of the "Purple Cloud Party".

The "message talisman" turned into streaks of light and dissipated into the air. Li Yunjing leaned back in the carved chair, his fingertips unconsciously stroking the cloud patterns on the armrest.

A moment later, his "communication talisman" began to vibrate continuously.

Many messages were responses to him, saying they would arrive soon.

Li Yunjing left the living room and went to the garden, where he prepared to entertain everyone.

After all, there were quite a few people who came this time.

After he took out many tables and chairs from his "purple-gold gourd" and placed them on the lawn, he heard hurried footsteps outside the courtyard, mixed with laughter and chatter from several people.

"With Senior Brother Li's return this time, he can finally put an end to the arrogance of those people from 'Tian Shu Peak'!"

Amidst hearty laughter, Jiang Mobai stepped across the threshold, fanning himself with a folding fan. Behind him followed Yu Zongzhe, whose face was stern, and Yang Wenyue, who was carrying a medicine box.

Jiang Mobai was among the first group of true disciples to come and join him.

At that time, Li Yunjing was only an outer disciple!
Jiang Mobai initially looked down on Li Yunjing and even harbored secret hostility towards him. However, as Li Yunjing rose to prominence like a rocket, he completely lost his temper and began to actively gravitate towards him.

This time, when Jiang Mobai met Li Yunjing, there were still scorch marks on the Taoist robe on his shoulder, obviously indicating that he had recently experienced a fierce battle.

"They clashed with the people from Tian Shu Peak again?"

Li Yunjing glanced at his injuries, his brows furrowing slightly. He was very displeased; Tian Hongzi had gone too far.

"No!"

Yang Wenyue slammed the medicine box on the table, her cheeks puffed out. "Just now in the 'Scripture Pavilion,' they deliberately spilled ink and smudged the ancient books I was copying. After a few words of argument, they started hitting me. If it weren't for Senior Brother Jiang..."

Before she could finish speaking, Jiang Mobai interjected in a muffled voice, "It's nothing, just some minor injuries."

Before the words were finished, the courtyard gate was pushed open again, and several disciples filed in.

The group sat around the round table, their eyes filled with anticipation as they looked at Li Yunjing.

"Senior Brother Li, our 'Purple Cloud Party' has been suppressed by Tian Shu Peak for two years. Now that you're back, we have to find a way to vent our anger!"

Jiang Mobai broke the silence first, snapping his folding fan shut and speaking angrily.

"that is!"

"They've gone too far these past two years!"

"Even among the true disciples, conflicts have broken out!"

"It seems like they have to interfere with everything we do!"

"If it weren't for the help from people on other mountains, we probably wouldn't be a match for them!"

"This time, Senior Brother Li, you must stand up for us!"

……

The atmosphere inside the room instantly became heavy, and everyone echoed this sentiment.

Li Yunjing's expression grew increasingly grim as he listened; he hadn't expected the conflict between the two sides to escalate to such a degree.

Are the higher-ups at "Tian Shu Peak" all blind?

This greatly displeased Li Yunjing with those Supreme Elders!
Internal strife within a sect should at least be within a certain scope, right?

(End of this chapter)