I forge immortality with a pagoda.

"Clang!"

Amidst the piercing clang of metal against metal, a chilling cracking sound rang out.

How could Wang Lishan's low-grade talisman sword possibly withstand the full force of this high-grade talisman sword?

A huge gash was instantly blasted open on the sword, its spiritual light completely dimmed, and it was almost ruined.

Wang Lishan's talisman sword was destroyed, and his tiger's mouth was split open, bleeding profusely.

The Spirit Cry Sword failed to pierce his heart, but instead plunged deep into his abdomen.

However, the anticipated scene of intestines being ruptured and the abdomen being torn apart did not immediately occur.

The moment the sword tip touched his body, the piece of shimmering gold brocade clinging to Wang Lishan's skin beneath his Taoist robe suddenly burst forth with intense golden light.

A beam of light flashed across the wound, forcibly negating most of the penetrating force.

Therefore, the Spirit Cry Sword only penetrated an inch or so.

"Kid, your skills are still lacking."

Wang Lishan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth and sneered.

Although the wound from the sword was throbbing with pain, it was not fatal.

In contrast, Shen Yu was slumped on the ground, clearly exhausted and with no strength left to launch another attack.

Shen Yu remained silent, only offering a cold laugh.

A chill ran through Wang Lishan's heart. "What are you laughing at?!"

Immediately, the expression on his face froze.

A burning sensation came from the wound.

The thirty-three streams of dark red flames, which had just melted the solid ice and had not yet completely dissipated, rushed wildly into his body through the wound opened by the Spirit Cry Sword.

"No!!!"

Wang Lishan let out a desperate roar.

He desperately mobilized the little spiritual energy he had just recovered, trying to build a defensive line in his meridians to resist the invading flames.

But how domineering was the flames condensed from this superior Taoist technique?

They rampage and rush along the meridians and blood vessels, causing the meridians to wither and the blood to evaporate wherever they go!

Wang Lishan's limited true qi was as fragile as paper, crumbling at the slightest touch.

The fiery current surged straight in, instantly flooding his internal organs!

An indescribable, extreme pain erupted from the deepest part of his body.

He felt as if his body had been plunged into lava.

The skin surface instantly turned bright red, and even began to emit wisps of blue smoke, filling the air with a terrible burnt smell of flesh and internal organs.

His eyes bulged out and were bloodshot, and he made strange "hoarse" sounds in his throat. His body convulsed violently, and he finally fell straight backward and crashed heavily to the ground.

The once-shiny blue robe quickly turned charred black, and the ground beneath him was a mess.

This deacon of the Canglan Sect, who was at the third level of Qi Refining, ultimately could not withstand the all-consuming flames. His internal organs were burned to ashes, and he died on the spot!

Shen Yu exhaled a breath of stale air.

He tried to say something, but was startled by a tearing pain in his throat.

The backlash from forcibly activating those thirty-three streams of flame had completely burned the meridians in his throat.

"Is this the true power of a Qi Refining cultivator...?"

Having personally experienced this life-or-death struggle, Shen Yu truly understood the enormous gap between Kaiyuan and Lianqi.

He shook his head, took out a bottle of Qi-Nourishing Pills from his Qiankun Bag, and poured them into his mouth like beans.

The medicinal effects dissipated instantly.

The abundant spiritual energy also repaired his damaged body, making him feel much better.

However, the vital energy in his dantian remained as thin as mist.

It will take some time to recover before it can return to its former state.

He moved with difficulty and walked to Lin Qing, who was slumped on the ground.

The woman's face was ashen, her breath weak, and blood was still seeping from several wounds torn by the talisman sword.

If he leaves now, this woman will certainly not survive the night.

Shen Yu's eyes narrowed, and he mustered his strength to force the last trace of scorching heat in his body to his fingertips.

A tiny but steady flame flickered at his fingertips.

Without hesitation, he pressed his burning fingers against the sword wound on Lin Qing's shoulder.

He placed his hand on Lin Qing's wound, and a burning sound rang out.

Lin Qing, who was unconscious, seemed to feel a burning pain. Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she let out a painful groan.

Ignoring everything else, Shen Yu followed suit and burned all the large wounds on her body, forcibly stopping the bleeding.

He then fed the child a few more Qi-Nourishing Pills, using his own meager true essence to help the medicine dissolve.

After doing all this, he helped the still unconscious Lin Qing up, and the two of them staggered and swayed as they headed toward the guesthouse outside Liexing Valley, which was used by ordinary cultivators to stay.

Back in my room at the inn, it was already late at night.

Shen Yu gently placed Lin Qing on the bed and was about to turn around and leave this place of trouble when a cold but unusually strong hand suddenly grabbed his wrist.

It was late at night. Shen Yu placed Lin Qing on the bed and then left.

"Fellow Daoist Shen..." Lin Qing regained a sliver of consciousness at some point, her voice barely audible.

"Um?"

"Don't go..."

...

Shen Yu paused, feeling helpless.

It is improper for the two of them, a man and a woman, to be alone in a room at this moment.

More importantly, Wang Lishan and Lu Xiong were, after all, cultivators of the Canglan Sect, and were also among those invited by Master Qiu.

Their mysterious disappearance, if I don't show up at Lanyue Tower tonight, it might arouse suspicion.

Staying is absolutely not an option.

He sighed inwardly and took out the glittering gold brocade he had obtained from Wang Lishan from his bosom.

This item possesses an inner spiritual radiance and is clearly no ordinary object.

He barely managed to mobilize his divine sense and performed a simple purification ritual on it, erasing the most obvious original owner's mark, and then waved his hand.

The brocade unfurled and gently covered Lin Qing's graceful body, flashing with light before disappearing completely.

"If there is any real danger, this brocade can protect you for a moment," Shen Yu murmured to herself, not knowing if she could hear him.

Having said that, he didn't linger, resolutely turned around, and silently disappeared into the deep night outside the inn.

...

Time flies, but the Dharma assembly continues.

Several more Foundation Establishment masters took to the stage to expound on the mysteries of various schools of Taoism, explaining the generation and restraint of the Five Elements or demonstrating the transformations of Taoist methods.

Shen Yu listened with rapt attention, listening to the teachings during the day and practicing them at night.

The Dao injuries sustained from the battle with the two from the Canglan Sect gradually healed through diligent study and practice.

What surprised him even more was that, after that life-or-death battle with the Qi Refining cultivator, he gained a deeper understanding of True Qi.

He even vaguely touched upon the key to refining Qi.

On this day, during a break in the Dharma assembly, in a quiet teahouse in Liexing Valley.

Lin Qing and Shen Yu sat facing each other by the window, the spirit tea on the table steaming with wisps of white vapor, exuding a refreshing fragrance.

After several days of recuperation, Lin Qing's injuries had mostly healed, and her complexion had returned to its former rosy hue.

However, the occasional glances she gave Shen Yu held a hint of indescribable complexity.

She picked up her teacup, took a sip of the warm tea, and asked, "Brother Shen, what are your plans after the Yangquan Dharma Assembly? Where do you intend to go?"

"I need to go back to Yu Kingdom." Shen Yu put down his teacup, his tone calm.

...

...