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

Chapter 54 Yimu Sect, the Withered Wood Immortal
The willow trees reach for the sky, brimming with vitality.

The second-order Spirit Gathering Array hummed loudly. Among the towering mountains and ridges, dense spiritual trees were rooted in the core of the spiritual veins, reaching straight into the clouds and overlooking a radius of three thousand miles. The Yimu Sect was located on the tree canopy, and its territory extended as far as its roots reached.

Legend has it that the founder of the Yimu Sect was originally from the Xuanzong Sect and was honored as the Liuli Zhenjun.

Fifteen hundred years ago, he witnessed the power of a celestial calamity and attained enlightenment, becoming an infant. He then established his sect using the remnants of the calamity, naming it Yi Wood.

On the main vein of the spirit tree, inside a simple thatched hut.

The vines grew wildly, and the old woman, with her gaunt face and graying hair, sat in the main seat. Her breath was as calm as water, and she was dressed in coarse linen clothes. Her face was kind and gentle, but she was too old.

Large wrinkles formed folds, covering half of her cheeks, which were covered with age spots. Her dry lips were devoid of teeth, leaving only her gums.

Her back was hunched, almost like a hunchback, and her breathing was slow but weak, clearly indicating that she was nearing the end of her life.

"Ancestor, our disciples are ready for battle, and the helpers from the Heart Demon Temple are also ready to act at any time. They have promised to hold off the Luo Shen Pavilion for half an hour."

"Let's get started, Ancestor."

Beneath the old woman, elite disciples dressed in golden robes of the Wood element knelt on the ground, kowtowing and pleading incessantly.

The Heart Demon Temple is an affiliated sect of the Bodhi Academy, and its strength is roughly equal to that of the Yimu Sect and the Qinghe Sect combined.

"Foolish child. I am already at the end of my rope, why must I have come to this?"

"If we can obtain the Longevity Pill, Ancestor, you can extend your life by another hundred years. Then our Yimu Sect will still have hope."

"A hundred years? Now, the essence of the Longevity Pill is missing three out of five. Do you know the methods of the demonic cultivators? They are determined not to let me obtain the Longevity Pill."

The withered wood immortal looked up and sighed softly, his cloudy eyes filled with sorrow and helplessness.

The ancestor had completed the fourth stage of alchemy and had toiled for the sect for hundreds of years, which had long since dulled his mind. If he hadn't been so attached to the sect, he would have already passed away.

Now, however, they have to watch helplessly as their sect slides into the abyss, powerless to stop it.

"Ancestor, please help us one more time! For the sake of the Yimu Sect, for the sake of us living another hundred years, I beg you."

"We are incapable of becoming pills! We are useless. Please save our unworthy disciples one more time."

Many Foundation Establishment elders kowtowed and pleaded, tears streaming down their faces.

Despite its apparent prosperity, the Yimu Sect is facing a crisis of having no successors. Since the ancestor achieved immortality, the sect has not had any outstanding talents for cultivation for a long time. The Foundation Establishment elders are also stuck in the late Foundation Establishment stage with no hope of breaking through.

The three vassal sects, Qinghe Sect, Xianshui Residence, and others, had long coveted the Yimu Sect.

Once our ancestor passes away, the Yimu Sect will inevitably be divided up and face annihilation.

As long as one batch of the Longevity Pill is refined, the ancestor can live for another hundred years.

Even if they surrender to the Demonic Sect, the ancestor who has reached the fourth level of the Core Formation can still protect the sect. Over a hundred years, the sect can do its best to cultivate a fake Core Formation cultivator to succeed him and continue the lineage.

"The last expedition to the secret realm exhausted our sect's reserves accumulated over a century and resulted in the loss of a third of our disciples. My heart is breaking."

The withered tree immortal looked up at the sky and sighed deeply. When he looked down again, tears streamed down his face.

“Ancestors, it is not that our Yimu Sect is belligerent, but that the Qinghe Sect and Xianshui Residence are pressing us too hard.”

“They have long ago planted layers of spies under our five immortal workshops, and many disciples within the sect have also been infiltrated by them. If you pass away, the sect will surely be in danger of collapse.”

Elder Mu Yuan, who was at the late Foundation Establishment stage, kowtowed repeatedly with tears in his eyes, and said fiercely.

"He Chun and the others are already in position, setting up illusion arrays along the way. They can strike at Feiyun and Chongxiao at any time. Then, Xinmo Temple will delay Luoshen Pavilion's support, and we will concentrate our efforts to break through Xianhe and Changle.

"In this way, with the loss of all five workshops and the chaos in the Qinghe Sect, they will be nothing more than turtles in a jar."

Mu Yuan's voice was sincere, and his eyes were filled with excitement: "If we take over all five workshops of Qinghe, the Qinghe Sect will surely retreat. We will surely gain the trust of the Bodhi Sect and become its vassal. In the future, a master from the Demonic Sect will descend from the heavens, and the Luoshen Pavilion will certainly not dare to act rashly."

This battle is crucial to the fate of the Yimu Sect. Mu Yuan and other Foundation Establishment leaders had already simulated the course and outcome of the battle many times.

Fifty percent, the odds of winning are fifty percent.

If the Yimu Sect were to annex the Qinghe Sect, its location would connect the two great domains. The Bodhi Academy would never let go of this opportunity for expansion and would certainly provide its full support.

Therefore, the Yimu Sect would not fear the Luoshen Pavilion's subsequent purge. "Foolish child, if I die in the great battle, do you think the demonic cultivators will still allow you to negotiate?"

"I will find the Longevity Pills later to extend the life of our ancestor."

"You still underestimate the wickedness of orthodox demonic cultivators."

Master Kumu sighed deeply, knowing that the Yimu Sect was doomed and had no way out.

If she moves forward, she might be able to preserve a few sparks of hope; if she takes a step back, once she passes away, the Demonic Sect and allied sects like Qinghe will surely divide up the sect.

She can't let it go.

"If we cannot find all the Longevity Pills, we are willing to open another secret realm, sacrificing our cultivation and lives, to replenish the Longevity Pills for our ancestor!"

Inside the house, all those who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage chanted the name of their ancestor and knelt on the ground.

In terms of sect cohesion alone, the Yimu Sect far surpasses the Qinghe Sect, and not a single traitor has ever appeared among its disciples.

"On the fifteenth of next month, when the moonlight gathers, I can burn the remaining lifespan to make a move once."

"Go ahead and do it. If the sect falls in my hands, even if you fail, you can still go to see the founder. I will bear the consequences alone."

Four days later, the Jubaoge Chamber of Commerce finally approached Feiyunfang.

The atmosphere along the way was oppressive. Luo Fanchen and Mo Xue were practically under house arrest, and any slight movement would be watched by Yun Biaotou. As for the mortals they rescued, they were secretly taken care of by Yun Biaotou, which was considered a proper handling.

"That damned bearded man really doesn't know what's good for him."

Inside the carriage, the air was filled with the fragrance of incense. After completing several cycles of the Small Heavenly Circuit, Mo Xue slowly opened her eyes, her brows furrowed.

She took a Qi-gathering pill, complaining but not forgetting to cultivate.

"Master Luo kindly risked his life to warn this fellow, but he didn't expect that good deeds would be rewarded. Now, Miaoyin is probably also eyeing us."

"Mo Xue has been wronged."

Luo Fanchen smiled and gently stroked the girl's head. Mo Xue obediently lowered her eyes and silently breathed in and out.

He had anticipated this. Yun Biaotou's surveillance was both a restriction and a guarantee of safety. With him supervising the whole process, Miaoyin would never dare to lay a hand on him again. He guessed that the woman was now filled with regret.

Meanwhile, with the protection of the Jubaoge caravan, they were not afraid of being held accountable by the Shuibo Gang along the way, ensuring a safe journey.

The only one who was wronged was Mo Xue.

Miaoyin cannot confront the situation directly, but she will inevitably resort to underhanded tactics, such as poisoning or casting spells.

Luo Fanchen wasn't afraid of these petty tricks, but Mo Xue might be poisoned. Only by continuously breathing and maintaining self-awareness could she detect the clues immediately and find the poisoner.

Therefore, Miaoyin didn't get a chance to make a move along the way.

"Once I see Yunmo, I'll tell her. The rest is none of my business."

Luo Fanchen sighed softly. He had gained a lot from his trip, not only obtaining the Fiend Pill but also breaking through to the fifth level of Qi Refining. However, he was somewhat tired.

He missed the mansion and just wanted to find a proper swordsmanship master for Mo Xue so that she could train in peace for a while.

"Qiuyun's soul power is now sufficient to begin studying talismans."

"After Mo Xue switches to cultivating the Heavenly Heart Technique, her cultivation level will quickly reach the mid-stage of Qi Refining, right?"

Luo Fanchen weighed the bandit leader's identity certificate in his hand. His merits were enough to ensure that Mo Xue and he could safely weather the turmoil in Feiyunfang.

Now that I can focus on my cultivation for a while, I also need to purchase some offensive techniques to enhance my killing abilities.

As Luo Fanchen checked and filled in the gaps, the carriage slowly entered the Flying Cloud Pavilion's Spirit Gathering Array. The roadside was bustling with activity, and the cries of cultivators selling their wares filled the air. He watched the Qinghe Sect disciples standing guard with solemn expressions, and finally felt a little safer.

With the Qinghe Sect around, Feiyunfang is absolutely safe.

(End of this chapter)