Fellow Daoist Entrusts His Child: Immortality Begins with Nurturing a Demoness

Chapter 122 A Passionate Lover, The Battle for the Spiritual Vein (Combined Chapter)
Luoshen Pavilion, covered in frost and snow, with crisscrossing valleys and fissures.

A cold wind swept through, revealing a cluster of simple cave chambers, unadorned inside, their walls covered in frost, with three characters carved on them: "Cliff of Repentance."

This place is built among six peaks, with solid ice beneath the ground that has remained frozen for millennia. It is brimming with spiritual energy, no less than a third-grade low-level spirit-gathering array, yet it is bitterly cold. Each breath feels like needles piercing the bone. It is often used by disciples for cultivating their techniques and for confinement.

In the center of the stone chamber, Tuo Tian sat cross-legged in meditation, his eyebrows and skin covered with a layer of frost, and each breath he took seemed to freeze his lungs and heart.

"Brother Tuotian, is this really true?"

Opposite him stood a disciple with a sword on his back, his hands behind his back. He had sharp eyebrows, eyes like fire, a high nose, and a face like a silver plate. He wore a blue robe embroidered with ice lotus and snow patterns. He was both elegant and handsome, yet masculine and righteous.

This person is none other than Luo Changhe, the fifth-ranked disciple of the inner sect and a direct descendant of the Luo family.

“Naturally, Luo Fanchen is definitely not a member of the Ming family. I have personally investigated his household registration. He comes from the Mo Lan Domain, Tianxing City, which is a branch of your Luo family’s collateral lineage. He must have your Luo family’s bloodline.”

"This person possesses a true essence body and is very likely to be an excellent choice. If you win him over, you may well be able to compete for the top spot."

Tuo Tian slowly opened his eyes and patiently guided him.

He had been confined for three years, unable to do anything to Luo Fanchen. While he was seething with hatred, he had to admit that this scoundrel was a remarkable person. Now, with the status of an outer disciple of the Luo Shen Pavilion and the protection of Ming Ruoxue, it would be difficult for him to do anything to the other party by relying solely on the affiliated sect he operated.

This scoundrel and the Tuo family are mortal enemies. If they were to establish their foundations in the future, they would surely become a major threat. He is uneasy about this and needs to be eliminated as soon as possible.

"I need to carefully consider the matter of a True Essence Body."

“Brother Changhe, I have been removed from the rankings, and you have now replaced me, ranking fourth. Ask yourself honestly, among the top three, who do you have a chance of beating? Fourth and third are only one step apart, but they are worlds apart.”

Tuo Tian sneered, confident and unfazed. He was not afraid that Luo Changhe would be unmoved.

"If we could obtain Luo Fanchen's physique, even if it was only three-tenths of its divine power, it would be like adding wings to a tiger."

“At that time, Zhen Wuyuan will not be your match. Don’t you want to become a pill? If you lose this opportunity, you will have to wait another five years. I don’t know if my sister-in-law can hold on until then.”

Tuo Tian narrowed his eyes and tapped the stone table lightly with his knuckles, as if urging him on.

There were quite a few people from the four clans who disliked Ming Ruoxue. Before contacting Luo Changhe, he tried to use his connections to ask Zhen Wuyuan and Gong Qian to help him cripple Luo Fanchen, but they refused. Only Luo Changhe was willing to come and discuss the matter after weighing the options.

"I will consider."

Luo Changhe sighed softly, stroking the ink-black sword on his back, his brows furrowed in thought.

“Ming Ruoxue is very difficult to deal with. I don’t want to take action against my own clan unless absolutely necessary.”

"A commoner with five spiritual roots, a rogue cultivator who has come this far has endured no less effort and hardship than I have. The Luo family is fortunate to have such a talent, and he should not be cut short because of my selfish desires."

"I see—Brother Changhe is indeed aloof. I just wonder if your wife can make it through another five years."

Tuo Tian chuckled sarcastically, his gaze falling on the dark sword Luo Changhe carried on his back, its surface shimmering with a mysterious black light, as if it were breathing lifelessly.

The ink-black blade hummed, its tip pointing towards Tuo Tian, ​​exuding a chilling aura. The latter shook his head and waved his hand, stepping back.

"Sister-in-law, don't worry. I was just joking. I only helped Brother Changhe because I saw that he was troubled by love. I had no ill intentions."

The ink-black blade trembled slightly as it burst from its sheath, its sharp edge aimed directly at Tuo Tian's brow. As his killing intent surged, a radiant glow continuously emanated from it.

"Alright, Changqing, don't be rude."

Luo Changhe gently patted the blade, his eyes tenderly caressing the hilt, half-coaxing and half-leading as he sheathed it.

"I am very grateful for Brother Tuo's information. I will keep it in mind and consider it carefully."

Luo Changhe stood up, his brows furrowed with worry. He did not give a definite answer, but after bowing with his fists clasped, he lowered his eyes and left the cliff in a daze, leaving Tuo Tian with a blank expression.

"Luo Changhe, Luo Changqing, oh, such infatuated lovers."

Tuo Tian shook his head slightly. Luo Changhe was a shrewd man and knew that he was being used as a pawn.

So what? The information he provided was indeed Luo Changhe's lifeline. This man acts with integrity and unwavering resolve, and is always upright and honest. However, when it comes to Luo Changqing, he will stop at nothing until he crosses the line.

"If you can achieve the Golden Core, I will consider it a blessing for a perfect couple."

Tuo Tian sighed softly, feeling a sense of admiration for Luo Changhe.

Although this person is a direct descendant, he was born with five spiritual roots and was born weak, almost cutting off his path of cultivation. As for Luo Changqing, she is a distant concubine's daughter, born with two superior spiritual roots, and her talent is no less than that of Ming Ruoxue.

After Luo Changqing's spiritual root was discovered, he was taken in by the Luo family and raised by the direct line. He and Luo Changhe spent their days together and developed feelings for each other as childhood sweethearts.

"A genius from a commoner lineage, huh."

Tuo Tian stood up, sensing the Weak Water Body within his body, and also revealed a self-deprecating smile.

The ultimate fate of a genius from a collateral branch is naturally to become nourishment for the direct line. Later, Luo Changqing was seriously injured and on the verge of death. He voluntarily gave up his body and cooperated with the Luo family's True Person to use the Spirit Root Possession Technique to open up the path to cultivation for Luo Changhe.

As for how he was seriously injured and how he was on the verge of death, no one knows. It just so happened that the demonic cultivators entered the area, and Luo Changqing happened to be out on a mission. He was also saved by chance, and after that, Luo Changhe was upgraded from a five-elemental root to a mid-grade dual-elemental root.

And his wondrous Weak Water Body is no different.
At the same time, Luo Changhe returned to his residence, pacing back and forth with a furrowed brow.

"Changqing, there's no time left. You know my talent; I can't compete for the top three."

Inside the simple yet spacious bluestone mansion, candlelight flickered as Luo Changhe held a black ink knife and murmured to himself, sometimes sighing, sometimes bowing his head.

"My mental state is flawed, and the Xuanzhang inheritance strongly rejects it. With a Core Formation spiritual item, I have at most a 10% chance of breaking through to the next realm."

"No, you won't last five years, Changqing, you don't need to comfort me. We are connected in spirit, you can't fool me."

Luo Changhe was extremely agitated. He gripped the ink-black knife, which was trembling so tightly it was almost about to burst from his hands, and lowered his voice, almost pleading.

"It's my fault, I can't beat Ming Ruoxue, I'm useless."

"buzzing"

The ink-black knife trembled slightly, yet it showed no sign of sharpness, like the soft sobbing of a frail woman.

"I'm not after Core Formation! I've had enough of this damned immortal cultivation long ago, don't you understand me? I just want you to come back alive."

"Just once, please? If I acquire the True Essence Body, I'm sure I can get into the top three and two Core Formation spiritual treasures. I can do it! If I form my Core, you can be resurrected, and we can be reunited."

The ink-black blade hummed, its brilliance dimmed, and Luo Changhe covered his face and sighed deeply, his heart filled with turmoil and unease.

"I know you've always been by my side."

"But I can't live without you, I know. Luo Fanchen is innocent, I shouldn't have used such vile and despicable methods."

Luo Changhe paced back and forth, his eyes bloodshot, and gripped the tip of the blade, letting his blood soak the dark blade.

"For you, I can disregard everything else. Once I have formed my core and helped you return to life, I will relinquish my cultivation to atone for my sins. Then, let us be a mortal couple and grow old together, shall we?"

"Changqing, I beg you."

Luo Changhe bit his teeth until blood flowed, and the trembling ink blade finally stopped.

Changqing finally agreed?
"Wait for him to reach Foundation Establishment? No way! He only has five spiritual roots and a True Essence Body. Let alone three years, it's impossible even in ten years."

"Changqing, listen to me, you can't last five years."

"Three years? Until the ascension to immortality is over? A fair and square duel, fine! I will win, I will bet everything!"

After a long struggle between Luo Changhe and the Ink Blade, the humming of the blade gradually stopped, and it was once again enveloped in a mysterious light.

He breathed a sigh of relief. Back then, he had fallen into a trap and was forced to accept the method of stripping away his spiritual roots. Changqing's soul was also taken into this ink blade and nurtured as a weapon spirit to maintain his divine soul.

This sword is a second-tier high-grade magic weapon, forged from sea soul crystal. It can nourish the soul and maintain the integrity of the three souls and seven spirits.

Unfortunately, Changqing's spiritual root was stripped away, and his soul was incomplete to begin with. Even the Ink Blade could only slow down his decline. At first, Changqing could communicate with him through his divine sense, but now he can only express his thoughts by trembling the blade.

At the same time, with the knife being the murder weapon, Changqing's spirit became increasingly extreme.

Changqing's lifespan is about ten years left. After deducting the time needed for the Golden Core Formation and seclusion, he only has about five years of spare time. He must return to the mortal realm as soon as possible.

The family has prepared precious materials for Changqing's resurrection, but they lack a Core Formation True Person who is connected to the person being resurrected by blood and spirit. Only by using the Dao Domain can they defy fate, reverse life and death, and restore the physical body.

"Hehe, I know you're still alive but don't have spiritual roots. So what if you're just a mortal? I also want to be a mortal."

Luo Changhe sighed softly, tenderly comforting Mo Dao. After a moment, he stood up with his sword on his back, summoned his spirit ship, and headed straight for Haihefang.

The moon was bright and the stars were few. The spiritual vein of the Qingyuan Sect was a thousand miles away from Haihefang. The spiritual energy was abundant and the vegetation was lush. After traveling for several days, Luo Fanchen finally met up with Yuan Qing and the other two at the agreed time.

"This time, I'll have to trouble the three of you again."

On the undulating mountain range, Luo Fanchen stood on a cliff. Behind him, Yuan Qing and the other two dispersed their protective spiritual energy, revealing their figures. They all respectfully cupped their hands and sincerely said, "We are willing to serve you, sir."

The treasured garments that Liu Xia was killed in the last attack were sold to the outer realms by them, and they made a great profit.

In addition, when Li Miaoyun processed the pills, most of them were resold by them, from which she made a considerable profit. Each of them earned at least one hundred spirit stones and also received a favor from Lord Luo. They were so rich that they could laugh in their dreams.

"I heard that you, sir, will be establishing a medicinal herb field, a spirit lake, and a small-scale trade market in Haihefang?"

Yuan Qing maintained her bowing posture, being careful but unable to hide her anticipation in her eyes.

They also learned about this from Li Miaoyun, and their hearts were itching with desire. They couldn't wait to get a piece of the pie. It was the inner ring of Xianhefang, the top of the Twelve Immortal Workshops, where every inch of land was precious. Even if it were given to a fool, such a large piece of land could be squeezed out of a huge amount of money.

“We happen to be skilled in cultivating spirit fields, and Brother Tuhe’s spirit fish are also exceptional. If you need us, we are willing to serve you with utmost loyalty.”

"I have already considered the three of you as my own people, and we will naturally help each other in the future."

Luo Fanchen returned a friendly smile, and Yuan Qing and the other two scratched their heads and chuckled, finally putting their minds at ease.

They had shared hardships and even faced life and death together with the adults.

"My lord, we have explored the spiritual veins over the past few days. There are two Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed here, and the protective formations consist of three first-grade high-level illusion arrays and two first-grade high-level killing arrays."

Yuan Qing didn't waste any words and went straight to the point, saying solemnly.

"The three of us working together can hold off these two Foundation Establishment cultivators and block their communication support for half an hour. During this time, you need to defeat the guarding disciples and take the core of the spiritual vein."

"Half an hour is enough. Thank you for your help."

"Alright, we will go and set up an array to block the communication. Once you give the order, we will activate the array to lure out those two Foundation Establishment cultivators and buy you some time."

After Yuan Qing finished speaking, he exchanged a glance with Tu He, put on a human skin mask, enveloped his body with divine sense and spiritual energy, and disappeared into the night.

The valleys surrounding the spiritual vein are all covered with intricate array patterns. Although they are only of the first-order mid-grade, their sheer quantity makes them formidable. Even a Foundation Establishment cultivator would be exposed if they were careless.

"call--"

Luo Fanchen exhaled a breath of turbid air, took out two Luohe Pills, tilted his head back and swallowed them. While refining the medicinal power, he urged the Yi Wood True Essence to circulate through the six meridians and transform it into the True Meaning of Withering and Flourishing.

The gray-green light surged from the meridians, was tempered through the lungs and internal organs, and solidified a little with each complete cycle of the Great Heavenly Circuit.

As his true essence rapidly depleted, Luo Fanchen maintained his momentum while awaiting Qiu Yun's message. As long as Miao Yun made a move to fight, he could activate the Lesser Yang Wood Transformation Technique to summon the Soul Banner.

One breath, three breaths, a cup of tea, a quarter of an hour, a quarter of an hour.

Luo Fanchen's dantian was burning hot, and his true essence had already overflowed twice. His acupoints and meridians were filled with the true meaning of withering and flourishing, and a tender green glow emanated from beneath his skin. His whole body was emitting green light.

The power is about to reach its peak. If all the essence of life and death is transformed into the Spirit Gathering Technique, its power can be increased by nearly double.

A buzzing sound emanated from the Heavenly Demon Token in her bosom, and Qiu Yun had already activated the Soul Banner to resonate, indicating that a battle had clearly begun over there.

"Come."

Luo Fanchen immediately formed a hand seal and activated the Lesser Yang Wood Transformation Technique. In no time, the Soul Banner, like a shooting star, swept across the horizon, carrying the wooden plaque. At the same time, he immediately ordered, "Form the formation!"

Upon receiving the order, Yuan Qing and the other two occupied the central palace and the gates of life and death, activating the second-tier low-grade Burning Cauldron Formation that they had prepared beforehand. As smoke and clouds filled the air, the three of them fully extended their divine senses, instantly severing the spiritual veins from communication with the outside world.

"Enemy attack!"

Several illusion arrays hummed, and the Foundation Establishment cultivators stationed there immediately sensed something amiss. Upon sensing the intrusion of three Foundation Establishment cultivators, the two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Qingyuan Sect did not hesitate for a moment and turned to run away. Fortunately, Yuan Qing and his two companions knew the temperament of the sect's cultivators and managed to intercept their retreat.

The spiritual power filled the sky, and the clash of exquisite techniques caused the earth's veins to tremble. The dissipated spiritual energy transformed into a spiritual storm, shattering the outer array.

"Autumn charm, with fire."

"Uncle Luo is here!"

The soul banner arrived in the blink of an eye, and Qiu Yun's soul appeared. She manipulated the soul banner and inserted it deep into the earth's veins. At the same time, she made a hand gesture to form the Noon Fire Seal. A vast expanse of dark mist surged and rolled, and more than ten fierce ghosts transformed into nourishment. From the soul banner as the center, a five-pointed star blood-red array pattern appeared and quickly extended outward.

Wherever the blood-red patterns passed, a chilling wind howled. The first-tier illusion arrays that were touched were quickly eroded and covered up, and soon only three high-grade first-tier illusion arrays were left struggling to hold on, and the disciples stationed inside were filled with fear and unease.

"Hold on! As long as the formation doesn't break, we can hold out!"

"Don't run away! If you leave the formation, you will be picked off one by one and die without a doubt. Don't worry, the Foundation Establishment cultivators are all tied up by the elders. As long as there isn't a fourth Foundation Establishment cultivator, we can hold out!"

The disciples were filled with fear and unease. They sensed for a long time but found no other intruders.

Since the enemy had charged into the enemy lines, they were unlikely to give up easily. Their reluctance to attack only made them more uneasy.

"Uncle Luo, aren't we going to use the Placenta Technique?"

"The attire of the Qingyuan Sect disciples suggests that they are not from the Tuo family. There is no need to indiscriminately kill innocent people."

At the top of the cliff, Luo Fanchen gently shook his head, rejecting Qiu Yun's suggestion. He had come to the spiritual vein and did not intend to start a massacre.

"Gathering Spirits—"

Luo Fanchen activated the Withering and Flourishing Technique, causing all six meridians within his body to move simultaneously. The grass and trees beneath his feet grew, and the wood-attribute spiritual energy within a radius of a hundred meters resonated, condensing into a ball of light at his fingertips and expanding exponentially until it caused the ground beneath his feet to collapse.

The rubble floated in mid-air, the ground collapsed and slowly levitated, and everything in sight was attracted and mixed with the spiritual light.

"go--"

A dark green sphere of light, about five zhang in length, poured out, crushing all the vegetation along its path, shattering and breaking boulders. Even a first-grade high-level array, which was as solid as it was, gradually became distorted under the strong attraction, and the array patterns became blurred and lost all their spiritual energy.

"What kind of magic is this?"

"This attack cannot be taken head-on; retreat immediately!"

The disciples were terrified. Fortunately, the giant sphere of mystic light was imposing but slow, so even those who had just entered the Qi Refining stage could easily dodge it. However, when they tried to move, they were surprised to find that they seemed to be fixed in place and could not move away.

"Cannot be refunded"

"Damn it!"

The disciples were horrified, watching helplessly as two long trails were left behind, uncontrollably moving closer to the ball of light.

As for the remaining three first-tier high-grade illusion arrays, they were already eroded by the Yinghuo Illusion Array. After being bombarded by the Spirit Gathering Technique with double the power, they immediately became shaky and on the verge of collapse, like an iron ball rolling over cardboard, easily crushing and pulverizing them.

"You're definitely going to die!"

The disciples turned pale, thinking to themselves that their lives were over. This move was not good at killing. If they had a magic weapon to protect them and used their true energy to protect themselves, it should not be fatal, but they would probably be seriously injured.

"almost."

After weighing the options for a moment, Luo Fanchen deliberately dispersed half of the power of his Spirit Gathering Technique, keeping the damage to the level that rendered the Qingyuan Sect disciples unable to fight.

He formed the Maomu hand seal and used the Human Face Technique to transform into Ling Leng's appearance, about to turn into a stream of light and rush into the formation to search for the spiritual vein.

"Placenta: Calamity—"

Luo Fanchen flew dozens of feet away, and a blood-red light the size of a fingernail arrived behind him. The light of this Purple River Chariot Technique was dim, and the cradle phantom inside was blurry, obviously it was hastily condensed.

The placenta chariot technique was as fast as a startled swan, and Luo Fanchen was left far behind in just a few breaths.

He turned around in confusion, only to meet Qiu Yun's slightly pale face and the spiritual storm behind her that resembled a landslide.

The placenta lesion appears first after the procedure, like a drop of ink sinking into a giant sphere of light. The sphere then collapses abruptly, followed by an exponential expansion. Wherever it passes, the land crumbles and life withers.

The terrifying spiritual explosion was breathtaking. Luo Fanchen himself was unable to fly and was thrown back to the cliff by the shockwave, unable to hide his astonishment.

"Autumn Charm?"

"Uncle Luo, there's something inside the formation that resonates with me. These disciples are strange; don't hold back."

Qiu Yun frowned, her lips trembled slightly, and Luo Fanchen was slightly taken aback, his expression gradually becoming serious.

Autumn Charm is the main spirit of the Soul Banner, and anything that can resonate with her must be a magical treasure no less powerful than the Soul Banner.

A self-directed and self-acted accident involving a real demonic cultivator? Are you kidding me?
(End of this chapter)