Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Harvesting the Talents of Demonic Beasts

Chapter 282 The Power of the Cursed Seal, Controlling the Later Stages

This feeling was that her soul, her life and death, were now entirely in the hands of the green-robed cultivator before her!
"No!"

All of this happened and changed in the blink of an eye.

This was something Ye Qingwu found extremely difficult to accept.

Her planning and arrangements had been meticulous and cautious for a long time. The core of her plan was to reclaim the opportunity that belonged to her. She even took into account the final cleanup and aftermath. She had everything under control, no matter how small!

And everything unfolded according to plan, with almost no deviation from her intended outcome.

But even so... an unexpected incident still occurred!

The unknown cultivator in the green robe had a face full of weathered wrinkles, and looked like a poor, wandering cultivator. She felt that he had struggled to reach this level, but in reality, his methods were so terrifying and unpredictable.

She attaches great importance to both strategic and tactical aspects, and she starts with a trump card.

He used his most treasured [Gu Refining Secret Technique].

But in this way, they didn't even have a second chance to make a move before being completely crushed.

It was as if she was only in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, while the other party was in the late-stage.

"How could this be... It must be an illusion! An illusion!"

Ye Qingwu was incredulous, her beautiful face filled with fear, shaking her head as if trying to dispel the illusion.

In particular, the curse mark deep within her soul, like a bone-deep infection radiating a destructive will, and the crystal-clear, absolute sense of control over life and death, all cruelly told her that all of this was real!

The illusion was real, but it was ineffective. Despair, like a cold tide, instantly overwhelmed her.

Just then, Lin Changheng's cold, emotionless voice pierced her ears like ice:

"An illusion? Then let me show you reality."

With a thought, he directly activated the [Divine Blood Curse Seal] imprinted on Ye Qingwu's soul!
"Uhhhhh-!"

Ye Qingwu suddenly let out a shrill scream that went awry. Her whole body seemed to be gripped by an invisible force, and she curled up on the ground, convulsing violently!
She felt as if her soul had been thrown into a raging inferno, or as if it had been repeatedly pierced by countless red-hot steel needles. The pain that originated from the very source of her soul was a thousand times more intense than any physical torture!
At the same time, an indescribable feeling, as if a thousand insects were crawling over her and ten thousand ants were gnawing at her heart, emerged, making her feel like she was living a life worse than death. Even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could not resist or endure it, considering it a form of torture.

next moment,
The magical power she had quietly gathered to try and fight back instantly dissipated, leaving her with no other thoughts. Soon, she was unable to move even a finger, and only her heart-wrenching screams proved that she was still alive.

The pain lasted only three breaths, but for Ye Qingwu, it felt like an eternity.

Lin Changheng stopped activating the incantation seal.

Ye Qingwu lay sprawled on the cold ground like a fish out of water, panting heavily, her body soaked in cold sweat, her colorful clothes disheveled, looking utterly wretched.

A black boot slowly approached, "tap tap tap..." and came into view.

"Now, do you still think it's an illusion?" The voice came from above. Someone was looking down at her, their tone calm but carrying an undeniable authority.

Ye Qingwu struggled to lift her head, her gaze moving upwards along the black boots before her, past the green robe, and finally settling on the calm, composed face.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, no matter what, I am a steward of the Purple Extreme Sect. Please spare my life..."

"I am also willing to do everything I can to make up for my mistakes..."

The woman took off the storage bag from her waist and presented it to Lin Changheng. She was still trying to persuade him, promising him benefits, and attempting to bring up the [Purple Extreme Sect] to intimidate him and find a way to escape.

"Even if I kill you, everything you own will still be mine. Do you think it's reasonable to use my things to save your life?"

Lin Changheng seemed to have heard the funniest joke in the world; a slight smile appeared on his lips, yet his expression was icy cold.

Ignoring the woman's ramblings, he reached for the storage bag and casually uttered five words, his voice low but like a thunderclap, resounding in Ye Qingwu's heart:

"Surrender...or die!"

In that instant, without giving Ye Qingwu any room to think or bargain, the [Divine Blood Curse Seal] imprinted deep within her soul trembled violently once more!
"Om-!"

A destructive will, far clearer and more terrifying than before, like an ancient ferocious beast awakening, emanated from the depths of the curse seal and firmly locked onto the core of her soul!
Besides the pain, Ye Qingwu clearly "saw" that her soul was as if it were suspended on the crater of a volcano about to erupt. As long as the person in front of her had a single thought, the dark golden flames of destruction would burst forth and burn her soul and consciousness into nothingness, never to be reborn!

That's not a threat, but a reality that could become a reality in the next moment!
All the luck, all the scheming, all the reliance—all of it seems so laughable and pale in the face of this absolute power disparity and the control over life and death!

Ye Qingwu's delicate body trembled violently, the color draining from her face in an instant. Her last shred of courage to struggle was utterly crushed by this merciless declaration of death.

She collapsed to the ground, struggling to lift her head to look at the cold, godlike figure. Finally, she completely gave up all resistance and thought. Her previously proud head bowed, and a trembling sound of despair and surrender escaped from deep within her throat, her sobs clearly audible.
"Ye Qingwu...is willing to submit...to...her lord..."

Lin Changheng looked at Ye Qingwu, who was kneeling on the ground in submission, with a cold expression, without making any comment.

Time passed slowly, but there was still no response...

Mo Zhaoli, standing to the side, simply watched the scene unfold quietly, her beautiful eyes constantly darting towards Lin Changheng, her admiration evident, just as she had eighty years ago.

At this moment, Ye Qingwu, kneeling on the ground, felt as if each day was an eternity. She felt that her new master was truly cold-blooded to the bone, with a deep and unfathomable mind.

My mind was racing, trying to figure out his true intentions.

They also feared that if their guess was wrong, they would face annihilation, along with the hundreds of years of cultivation they had invested and achieved, all of which would be destroyed in an instant.

This was unacceptable to her.

You must live!

This became her most fundamental thought! And the fundamental driving force behind her submission!
After a moment, she bit her lower lip, clearly accepting the humiliation. Trembling, she made a cut on her right white arm, leaving a bloody mark. Then, she channeled her magic power and suddenly trembled.

"puff!"

A soft, muffled thud sounded, as if something had burst forth. From within the bloodstain, the flesh rolled back slightly, and a Gu worm, about the length of a little finger, completely transparent, with eerie blood-red lines inside, slowly poked its head out!
This Gu worm resembles a centipede but has cicada wings. Its body is composed of countless fine, metallic-shimmering segments, with faint blood-red light flowing between them.

Its head has no eyes, only a round mouth covered with spiraling teeth, which opens and closes constantly, emitting an extremely subtle yet soul-piercing "hissing" sound, exuding an extremely ancient, fierce, and mysterious aura.

What's even more striking is that there's a close, visible connection between this strange Gu worm and Ye Qingwu, which didn't escape Lin Changheng's notice.

Fine, blood-red threads spread from the Gu worm, their other ends deeply rooted in Ye Qingwu's flesh and soul, as if they were part of her life.

“This is… my [Life-Bound Heart Gu]…” Ye Qingwu’s voice was hoarse, filled with indescribable heartache and despair. “This Gu is intertwined with my life and soul, we can be said to live and die together. If it is injured, I will be severely injured; if it dies, I will also suffer damage to my soul and soul, there is no way I can escape.”

With great difficulty, she manipulated the eerie worm to detach completely from her arm, leaving it suspended in mid-air. The crimson threads connecting them emitted a faint glow, revealing the immense pain of separation. She offered it up with both hands, her head bowed deeply.
"Now... Qingwu has handed this Gu over to the master... From now on, Qingwu's thoughts are entirely under the master's control... I only ask that the master... can trust me a little."

Her actions were tantamount to handing over her life entirely to Lin Changheng. Compared to the divine blood curse she was forced to implant before, this act of handing over her life-bound soul-connecting Gu was more resolute and more reassuring.

While highly skilled cultivators might be able to remove or suppress the curse seal, once the natal Gu worm is controlled by an outsider, one's life and death are truly out of one's control, leaving no room for luck.

More importantly, by possessing this Gu worm, Lin Changheng could know the woman's every thought, eliminating any worry that she might be feigning compliance while secretly plotting rebellion. This was crucial for the prudent Lin Changheng.

Lin Changheng looked at the Gu worm exuding a fierce and mysterious aura, and at Ye Qingwu, whose face was pale and who had completely given up on dignity and resistance. He knew that this woman had paid the greatest price she could to survive. He reached out and caught the Gu worm in his palm, feeling the life force within it that was connected to Ye Qingwu's life and the close spiritual connection between them.

"Alright." He uttered a single word and put away the Gu worms.

Upon hearing this, Ye Qingwu's tense mind immediately relaxed, but at the same time she felt a mix of emotions, unsure whether she should be glad that she had temporarily saved her life or sad that she would lose her freedom forever.

But she didn't know that everything Lin Changheng had just done was a lie to deceive her.

If the other party is determined to fight to the death in the future, he doesn't have a good way to control them.

Then let them worry about it. If they want to live, they should hand over something I can trust.

As expected, Ye Qingwu revealed her biggest secret, which dispelled Lin Changheng's doubts.

This can be considered killing two birds with one stone.

"Get up."

Ye Qingwu felt as if she had been granted a pardon and hurriedly got up, but she still did not dare to look directly at Lin Changheng. She just stood aside with her head down and eyes lowered.

Lin Changheng looked at the woman, a thoughtful glint in his eyes. Although she was wicked, she was indeed a skilled late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and possessed considerable knowledge and influence within the Purple Extreme Sect. If he could completely control her, she would be a valuable pawn.

"Remember what you said today."

Lin Changheng said calmly, "If you have any disloyal intentions, you know the consequences. But if you are obedient and work wholeheartedly for me, I will not treat you unfairly."

"Qingwu dares not! Qingwu swears that she will never betray her master in this life! If you give her any orders, she will do her utmost!" Ye Qingwu quickly pledged her loyalty.

"By the way, do you know what those Foundation Establishment and above cultivators that the Purple Extreme Sect sent out a while ago did, and where they went?"

Lin Changheng said no more, but sent a divine thought into Ye Qingwu's sea of ​​consciousness and asked her a question.

"The lord actually knew about this..."

Ye Qingwu was taken aback. Seeing Lin Changheng's indifferent gaze, she no longer hesitated and spoke through telepathy, "Although I am not on the list, I am among the next batch of selected candidates, so I do know some general information."

Lin Changheng nodded slightly, saying nothing more, and waited for Ye Qingwu to continue.

He was also thinking to himself that Li'er's ignorance of this matter must be due to the difference in their cultivation levels, as Li'er had not yet reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

But Ye Qingwu is different, and the Purple Extreme Sect has already decided to transfer her to their ranks, so they informed her in advance. The fact that they are transferring late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators so frequently indicates that this is indeed a major event!
"As far as I know, this transfer involves the border between the Song and Jin dynasties." Ye Qingwu's answer was brief but full of information, instantly causing Lin Changheng's gaze to narrow slightly.

At this time, the Jin Kingdom in the southern border of Song was experiencing some kind of internal strife, which had a great impact and caused Jin Kingdom cultivators to cross the border and flee into the country from time to time.

At this moment, why is Song adding high-level cultivators to the border between the two countries?
Is it just about defense?

Is it highly likely that the other side will launch an attack from abroad now that its own country is on fire? Not necessarily.

Therefore, Lin Changheng quickly guessed that Song Di seemed to have some kind of plan, perhaps "taking advantage of your weakness to take your life"?
Mobilize a large army of cultivators and take advantage of the chaos to enter the pass?
Thinking of this, Lin Changheng frowned slightly again.

Because the land within the Song Dynasty was not peaceful either.
First, if Qingxia Temple encounters another beast tide, it may be unable to protect itself.

Secondly, a serious conflict has occurred between [Xuanbing Valley] and [Huangfeng Cliff], with the possibility of armed conflict.

Of the five major sects and schools of Taoism in the Song Dynasty, three were implicated.

The chaotic situation and troublesome problems may not be worse than those of the Jin Dynasty, and the effectiveness of launching an attack at this time is questionable.

Because Lin Changheng had limited information, he could only make preliminary inferences and could not arrive at a very reliable conclusion.

Regardless of the circumstances, there is no doubt that the relationship between the Song and Jin dynasties was unstable.

Undercurrents are swirling, and Lin Changheng needs to be even more careful.

This also indirectly confirms the necessity of this trip.

The gains are substantial, which can greatly enhance one's own strength. Even if a storm comes one day, one's own strength will serve as a solid ballast.

What are your thoughts on this?

Lin Changheng suddenly asked.

Ye Qingwu spoke directly without any reservations: "The sect will not do anything unprepared, nor will it make unnecessary arrangements. It is most likely that they are going to war with the Jin Kingdom and take advantage of the situation to invade."

"Hmm?" Lin Changheng's heart skipped a beat. "What makes you say that? Is there any basis for it?"

"There is no basis for this. All I know is that invading the Jin Kingdom at this time is enough to maximize our profits. Even if we don't achieve great results, we can still plunder and gain a lot. The enmity between the two countries has a long history. Although it has lessened in the last hundred years, the root of the problem remains. It is not surprising that anything can happen."

Ye Qingwu shook her head and stated her judgment.

Lin Changheng nodded slightly, without saying anything, indicating that the other party could leave first, and then instructed: "After you go back, continue as usual. I will contact you when I need you."

Lin Changheng resealed Ye Qingwu's storage bag and tossed it into her arms.

Ye Qingwu took the storage bag and nodded in agreement.

Then, he used his magical power to cleanse himself, brushing away the dust and dirt from his colorful clothes. After a slight bow, he flew away.

Judging from the direction they were heading, they were probably heading directly towards the core of the near-third-tier spiritual land, where Master Linghu and the Golden Array Master were going to return the mission.

Lin Changheng, holding Ye Qingwu's natal Gu worm, could easily know her thoughts.

This woman's cleanup speed was truly fast; she was the first to complete the task, showing no reservations whatsoever, all so that she could finish first and then quietly launch an attack.

But all these plans have now fallen through, and instead of succeeding, they've lost more than they gained.

Lin Changheng watched the other person leave, and Mo Zhaoli stepped forward at the right time to stand beside Lin Changheng, her red lips slightly parted as she said, "This is the best outcome."

Actually, she was also worried about the outcome, because Master Linghu had come all the way from the bottom and had experienced everything, so he was not so easy to fool.

Moreover, the death of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator during the creation of a spiritual land is no small matter for the Purple Extreme Sect. Unless a particularly powerful Turbid Core demon beast takes the blame, they will definitely investigate thoroughly. At that time, Mo Zhaoli, who has obvious conflicts with this woman and was recently at odds with her, will be pushed to the forefront and subjected to serious scrutiny.

As an outsider who brought in reinforcements, Lin Changheng is even less likely to escape punishment.

At this point, not only have enemies been turned into friends, but potential risks have also been eliminated, which is naturally excellent.

"good."

Lin Changheng had been thinking about this problem for a long time, knowing that killing someone is easy, but clearing one's name of suspicion is difficult.

Killing Ye Qingwu was no problem for him at all. Not to mention that this woman had only recently broken through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment and was only at the seventh level of Foundation Establishment, he had killed quite a few late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators at the eighth level of Foundation Establishment.

The difficult part is figuring out how to kill someone and escape.

Finally, Lin Changheng turned his gaze to the [Divine Blood Curse Seal Technique]. If it cannot be killed, how about controlling it instead?

The more I thought about it, the more feasible it seemed. So, after some detailed planning, I waited for the fish to bite, which led to today's scene.

It's also worth mentioning that Ye Qingwu just sacrificed her storage bag to save her life.

Lin Changheng naturally wouldn't be so obedient as to return it intact. Instead, he summoned a wisp of [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] to break through the magic imprint and scan it thoroughly.

Several of the spiritual materials and herbs were useful for Lin Changheng's body tempering and the creation of magical artifact embryos, so he took them and stored them away.

Lin Changheng was very clear-headed; he understood that one thing at a time and there was nothing to be ashamed of.

This money to buy life is for buying life; future actions are separate matters and should not be confused.

Ye Qingwu felt particularly heartbroken seeing this, but there was nothing she could do.

After all, you have to accept defeat! That's how the world of cultivation is—a dog-eat-dog world!

If she succeeds this time, it will be Lin and Mo who die, and everything they own will belong to her. So she is already lucky to have survived this time.

……

In the following days, no one else caused any trouble.

However, he did not encounter any more [Netherworld Beasts] to provide blood for Lin Changheng.

Mo Zhaoli saw disappointment in Lin Changheng's eyes and seemed to be deep in thought. After setting up the last array base, he smiled and asked Lin Changheng for the reason.

Lin Changheng had no intention of hiding it from Mo Zhaoli. Just the night before last, their days spent together, inseparable, had deepened and enriched their more than eighty-year-old bond, which had even begun to overflow.

As the night deepened, the atmosphere between the two grew increasingly intimate. Lin Changheng finally couldn't suppress the emotions surging within him and slowly moved his kiss away from the forehead he had previously cherished, aiming directly at the slightly pursed, alluring red lips.

Lin Changheng approached slowly, with a hint of probing, giving the other party time to react.

Mo Zhaoli clearly had a premonition of what was about to happen; her gentle and jade-like face flushed even more, and even her crystal earlobes were tinged with a blush. Her heart pounded like a drum. She could clearly see the undisguised affection and longing in Lin Changheng's eyes; his gaze was so real that it made her heart tremble.

However, she made no attempt to avoid it. Her long eyelashes trembled slightly like the wings of a startled butterfly, and finally she slowly and obediently closed her eyes.

This is a silent permission, a complete trust and delivery.

The moment she closed her eyes, Lin Changheng no longer hesitated, lowered his head, and accurately captured her cool and soft lips.

"Well……"

At first, it was just a touch as gentle as a feather, but soon, the emotions that had been suppressed for decades burst forth like a flood, becoming uncontrollable.

Their lips met, their breaths mingled, and he deepened the kiss, with an irresistible tenderness and domineering intensity.

Mo Zhaoli was initially a little stiff, but under his firm yet gentle guidance, she gradually began to respond awkwardly. Her hands, which had been hanging by her sides, had somehow quietly wrapped around Lin Changheng's waist and back, her fingertips gripping his clothes from behind with a slight force.

……

In response to Mo Zhaoli's question, Lin Changheng said that he did need some essence blood of the Netherworld Beasts, and the requirement was that there should be no less than ten of each kind.

If it exceeds that, the more the better.

Mo Zhaoli didn't ask Lin Changheng what he intended to use it for. She nodded and said that after the mission was completed, she would try to suggest organizing a small trade fair, and perhaps someone would be interested.

At that time, there will be an opportunity to obtain other Netherworld Essence Blood.

"Good idea."

Lin Changheng smiled.

The next day.

After finishing up, the two flew together to the core of the quasi-third-tier spiritual land, where they found a group of Ziji Sect cultivators already waiting there, some sitting, some standing, some cross-legged, and some leaning against tree trunks.

In the central position, the arrangement of the grand formation was basically complete, and Jin Daoyao was still busy within it, presumably connecting the formation bases in various places.

Linghu Zhenren remained motionless to the side, still refining the embryo of his [Ebony Banner] magic weapon.

Clearly, this progress is a bit slow. A comfortable state is when the magic weapon is formed within ten years after breaking through to the Core Formation stage.

Then Lin Changheng noticed that the number of people had also changed...

The original ten people are now only nine.

(End of this chapter)