I forge immortality with a pagoda.

At this moment, You Che shook the ancient bronze bell again.

This time, the ringing was continuous and far more urgent than before, each sound penetrating the stone and earth, echoing repeatedly in the deep tunnel.

A rumbling sound came from afar, and the sound of the earth elemental beast running grew louder as it approached. This time, it was heard very clearly, indicating that it was rapidly closing in.

Shen Yu realized that the monster was rushing from the tunnel behind him. He immediately swayed and flashed into a side path like a ghost. He held his breath and completely concealed his aura.

Before long, a colossal creature swept past, accompanied by a foul stench.

The earth elemental beast was enormous, almost filling the entire tunnel, and its crawling was extremely frightening.

"They're here! They're here!"

"Without further ado, urge it on to continue exploring!"

In the distance, the barely suppressed joy of the two could be faintly heard.

Shen Yu hid in the shadows, his ear pressed tightly against the stone wall.

Now that we've found the right person, things will be much easier from here on out.

He wanted to see what kind of treasure these two were plotting to go to such lengths.

Who knows, this time we might kill two birds with one stone, both ridding the people of this scourge of monsters and bringing ourselves some unexpected joy.

A deafening rumble echoed as the earth elemental beast, driven by its own power, once again swung its claws and frantically dug deeper into the earth.

In an instant, mud and rocks flew everywhere, dust filled the air, and the entire tunnel trembled.

Shen Yu waited quietly for a long time until the two of them went deep underground with the earth elemental beast. Only then did he appear quietly, tiptoeing after them and sneaking into the newly opened, deep tunnel.

After walking for about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Shen Yu suddenly felt a sense of spaciousness around him, and the space opened up before him.

"This is--?"

He was surprised and strained his eyes to look around.

The underground space was surprisingly vast, with the surrounding rock walls all being jet black, composed of extremely hard basalt, which is why it could remain standing so deep underground.

Shen Yu composed himself and continued to stealthily move forward.

Not long after, the faint sound of the two people talking could be heard from ahead.

"Quan Wu, now you should be convinced, shouldn't you? Do you still deserve the title of spirit beast for my Earth Elemental Beast?"

The monk named You Che spoke with a smug look on his face.

"Of course! Absolutely!" The rough voice was now filled with barely suppressed elation. "With this Dust Heart Sand, I, Quan Wu, will surely succeed in Foundation Establishment, and the Great Dao will be within my grasp!"

"Dust and Sand? Foundation Establishment? These two are actually late-stage Qi Refining cultivators?"

Shen Yu's heart stirred, and he pondered to himself.

"Quan Wu, now that you have the treasure, don't go back on your word about the agreed-upon reward," You Che said, changing the subject.

"Fellow Daoist You Che, what are you saying! How could I, Quan Wu, be such a person who breaks his word!"

As he spoke, a rustling sound rang out.

Quan Wu seemed to have taken out several coins from his storage bag, which he seemed to cherish.

After hesitating for a moment, he picked out one and handed it to Youche.

Shen Yu peered over and saw that the coins were shimmering with light, and there were subtle fluctuations of pure magical power emanating from them. He was quite surprised.

"It's legal tender!"

Dharma money is different from the talisman money that circulates in the secular world.

This item is made from century-old copper essence as a base, supplemented with high-grade spiritual stones, high-grade gold sand and many other spiritual materials, and then cast by a Golden Core cultivator using alchemical fire and infused with magical power.

A single magic coin is worth as much as several thousand talisman coins, and it is priceless and unavailable.

In cultivation markets teeming with high-level cultivators, this kind of magic money is a highly sought-after commodity, welcomed by all shops and extremely valuable.

The moment Shen Yu began to spy, the two people in the room seemed to sense something, and they turned around abruptly, shouting sharply, "Who?!"

"Oh no! We've been discovered!"

Shen Yu knew his plans had been exposed, so he immediately withdrew and retreated.

The moment he moved, two condensed streams of true qi pierced through the air and blasted a crater more than ten feet deep where he had been standing, sending rubble flying everywhere.

Immediately afterwards, a blood-red flying sword emitted a sharp whistle, streaking across the sky and transforming into a blood-red rainbow, piercing straight for Shen Yu's brow with incredible speed!

On the other side, You Che made a hand seal, summoning a hazy gray cloud that spread out in the blink of an eye, intending to trap Shen Yu within it.

Despite the danger, Shen Yu remained calm and opened his mouth, unleashing a powerful aura containing the power of wind and fire.

A single gust of wind swept away the lingering clouds and mist.

The raging flames illuminated the dark underground space as bright as day, and then, aided by the wind, they spread wildly, like a raging inferno, heading straight for You Che and Quan Wu.

As for the crimson flying sword that was thrusting towards him, Shen Yu simply raised his right palm without any panic. The skin on his palm instantly shimmered with a purplish glow, and he forcefully blocked the tip of the sword.

The flying sword was sharp and powerful, but it could only penetrate a little over an inch into the flesh before being firmly blocked by the purple light, making it difficult to advance any further.

"What a magnificent Purple Fiend Forging Yuan Technique! Truly profound!"

Shen Yu secretly praised him, exerted force with his hand, and slapped it hard. With a loud "clang", the crimson flying sword was shaken by the great force and flew backward with a mournful cry.

On the other hand, You Che and Quan Wu were now in a sorry state, forced to defend themselves by the power of wind and fire. Their Taoist robes were charred in many places, and their hair was disheveled, making for a rather comical scene.

Shen Yu was not negligent. He made a hand seal and faintly guided the powerful true qi in his body to burst forth like the Yangtze River, transforming it into two invisible shackles. In no time, they tightly bound the two of them, making them as tightly bound as rice dumplings, unable to move an inch.

Although these two were cultivators who had practiced Qi for many years, they had never seen such profound true Qi before.

The moment one's own true Qi comes into contact with it, it is like a clay ox entering the sea, swallowed up and dissolved completely.

Having struggled to no avail, and knowing he had met his match, he could only turn ashen-faced and cease his struggle.

But the two of them kept talking.

Yu Che was both shocked and furious, and shouted angrily, "Who are you?! Why did you ambush us from the shadows?"

Upon hearing this, Shen Yu raised an eyebrow. "A sneak attack? I remember that it was you two who attacked first. You should stop this 'victim accusing first' trick."

Quan Wu was also filled with rage. He thought about how the two of them had worked so hard and spent so much effort to find the treasure, only to have it benefit someone else in the blink of an eye. He felt even more frustrated and upset.

He said, "Don't be so quick to judge! Although we attacked first, you are extremely dishonest, stalking us and capturing us. Is this what you call the way of the Xuanmen?"

Shen Yu shook his head slightly. "Who said I'm a righteous cultivator?"

"You!" Quan Wu was speechless, his face turning red.

Only now, with the help of the surrounding firelight, could Shen Yu truly see what the two people looked like.

They were all dressed in orthodox Xuanmen attire, but the patterns on their clothing...

His brows furrowed as he pondered, the style of the robe seeming familiar.

After a long silence, he suddenly slapped his forehead, "The Moon-Slaying Sect!"

He glanced at You Che and asked, "Are you from the Zhan Yue Sect?"

You Che's expression hardened, but he forced himself to remain calm and said, "No problem! I am indeed an inner disciple of the Zhan Yue Sect. What brings you here?"

Shen Yu's gaze was deep as he slowly said, "In recent years, did your Zhan Yue Sect lose a number of elite disciples, and also lose an elder named Feng Jian?"

Che's pupils suddenly contracted, and he exclaimed, "Elder Feng and I have been close friends for many years. He was poisoned by that little witch from the Lu Jing Sect a few years ago! This is a secret of our sect. How did you know about it?"

"I killed Feng Jian," Shen Yu said calmly.

"So it was you?!"

You Che's eyes instantly turned bloodshot, and with a roar, the remaining true qi within his body erupted recklessly, attempting to break free from its restraints.

However, the Primordial Mysterious Truth was as tough and resilient as a dragon's sinews, and no matter how much he struggled, he could not move an inch.

"Don't waste your energy."

Shen Yu gave him a cold glance. "Since you can appear here, then that so-called 'nephew' from Xianxiang Road must also be someone from your Zhan Yue Sect in disguise, right?"

You Che snorted coldly, turned his head away, and remained silent.

"Allow me to speculate," Shen Yu said dismissively, "In all my years in Yu Kingdom, I've never heard of the King and Prime Minister of Xian Kingdom having any distant relatives. Yet, just when Yu Yihu was about to annex Xian Kingdom, a nephew from the Zhan Yue Sect suddenly appeared?"

"Now that I see the two of you sneaking around here, digging for treasure, I suddenly understand."

"Your so-called 'assistance to the wise nation in resisting foreign enemies' is nothing but a pretext. Your real purpose is to use this advantageous location to facilitate the search for treasures deep underground, isn't it?"

Shen Yu stared intently at You Che, his gaze sharp. "Am I right?"

Having his secret exposed in a single sentence, You Che was in a state of extreme panic, but he still stubbornly said, "Don't talk nonsense! If you dare to kill me, the high-ranking cultivators of my Zhan Yue Sect will search heaven and earth to find you and tear you to pieces!"

"If you know what's good for you, release us immediately. I might report this to the sect and let bygones be bygones!"

"Hahahaha!" Upon hearing this, Shen Yu burst into loud laughter.

"What are you laughing at!" Yu Che shouted, his voice stern but his tone weak.

"I laugh at you for being so oblivious to your impending doom!" Shen Yu's laughter abruptly stopped, his tone chilling.

"What?! You dare!"

Before You Che could finish speaking, Shen Yu's mind was already stirred.

Suddenly, a streak of light shot out from between his eyebrows. This streak of light was as bright as moonlight and instantly enveloped Che's entire body.

Before Na Yuche could even utter a scream, his body melted away in the shimmering light like snow under the scorching sun. In the blink of an eye, he had turned into a pool of blood, flesh, and bone!

Immediately afterwards, spiritual light gathered within the pool of flesh and blood, instantly condensing into a pill the size of a longan, its halo swirling and its fragrance permeating the air.

Quan Wu watched in stunned silence, as if struck by lightning, almost forgetting to breathe.

That technique was incredibly mysterious and powerful, far beyond the comprehension of cultivators at their level!

What kind of terrifying being has he fallen into?

"Senior! Senior, spare my life!" Quan Wu suddenly came to his senses, no longer caring about the dignity of a cultivator, and begged loudly with tears streaming down his face.

"If you, senior, would spare my life, I would serve you like a slave for the rest of my life, at your beck and call, without a single disloyal thought!"

Shen Yu's cold gaze swept over, and Quan Wu felt as if he had fallen into an ice cave. He trembled violently and was too terrified to speak.

"I don't know much about your background," Shen Yu said indifferently. "Speak. If what you say is true, I might be in a good mood and give you a way out."

Quan Wu felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly confessed his entire background and origins.

It turns out that Quan Wu was born in the eastern region of Dongling Prefecture, a region where cultivation was highly valued.

He was a rogue cultivator, without any support or assistance. He relied entirely on his own hard work and struggle, enduring countless hardships and dangers before finally managing to advance his cultivation to the seventh level of Qi Refining. The difficulties he faced were beyond the comprehension of outsiders.

My purpose in traveling to the Southern Regions is twofold: firstly, to try my luck and seek opportunities, and secondly, to experience the local customs and culture.

Later, by chance, he obtained a tattered ancient map, on which the location of an earth-attribute treasure called "Dust Heart Heavy Sand" was vaguely recorded.

This item is a precious "Dao Seed" used by cultivators when establishing their foundation. By using it to establish a foundation, one can hope to forge a lower-grade Dao Foundation. If the opportunity is sufficient, one may even be able to glimpse the threshold of a middle-grade Dao Foundation.

The precious materials needed for Foundation Establishment are already extremely rare and hard to come by, and for a rogue cultivator like Quan Wu, they are even more so.

Upon receiving this clue, he was naturally very interested and determined to get his hands on it.

Unfortunately, the location on the map was too vague, and he searched alone for many days without finding anything.

After several twists and turns, through an introduction, he finally met You Che, who possessed the exotic beast "Earth Elemental Beast".

After promising to pay a precious magic coin as a reward upon success, Youche finally agreed to help.

The two then used the name of the Zhan Yue Sect to come to the Xian Kingdom. On one hand, they inquired about clues about the treasure from the King and the Prime Minister, and on the other hand, they carefully surveyed the terrain of the Xian Kingdom.

That wise minister was merely a beginner in Qi Refining, so he was completely unaware of such a treasure buried deep in the earth's core.

The two went to great lengths and investigated from various angles, and the process was full of twists and turns.

Fortunately, You Che's earth elemental beast was good at burrowing and finding veins in the ground. After going through many hardships, the two finally found the treasure.

Then, Shen Yu suddenly appeared and captured them in one fell swoop.

"For a rogue cultivator like you to have reached such a level is no easy feat."

After a moment's thought, Shen Yu waved his hand and took the storage bag that You Che had left behind and the newly refined pill into his hands.

"I don't want to make things too difficult for you."

"If you are willing to sign a blood pact with me and serve me as your master, I will spare your life."

Upon hearing this, Quan Wu's face turned deathly pale.

"Senior...this!"

Once a blood pact is signed, it means that one's life and freedom are completely handed over to another, and one will never be able to escape it for all eternity, no different from a slave.

"If you are unwilling, then I have no other choice." A cold glint flashed in Shen Yu's eyes, revealing a hint of murderous intent.

Quan Wu's face showed a struggle that shifted between light and shadow, finally settling into despair. He slumped down and said, "So be it! So be it! I am willing to serve you as my master, senior. I only beg you to spare my life!"

Shen Yu nodded in satisfaction: "A wise man knows when to yield. Now that you've followed me, I will certainly not treat you unfairly. If I go to the Lu Jing Sect to cultivate in the future, I will need you to manage the lands of Yu and Xian."

"Does Your Majesty mean that I should stay here and not serve you?" Quan Wu asked somewhat nervously.

"No, I'm just staying here temporarily."

Although Quan Wu was unwilling, his life was now in someone else's hands, so he could only respectfully reply, "Yes, subordinate understands."

Shen Yu reached out and flicked his hand, removing the true qi that had been binding Quan Wu.

The two then followed the old method, just as they had done before when they subdued He Chen and Yang Yue, and established a blood pact.

After the formalities were completed, Shen Yu took out a white jade porcelain bottle from his storage bag and casually tossed it to Quan Wu, saying, "This is a pill to enhance your cultivation. It should be helpful to your cultivation."

"From now on, you may freely cultivate at that spiritual spring within the territory of Yu Kingdom without needing to consult me ​​again."

He paused, then continued, "Now that you are at the Qi Refining stage, you can keep the Dust Sand for your own Foundation Establishment."

"The mundane affairs of Yu Kingdom, both large and small, will be handled by He Chen and others. Your main responsibility is to eliminate the powerful demonic beasts within the territory that are difficult for ordinary cultivators to deal with."

"If there are no other things to do on weekdays, I can arrange my own time."

Upon hearing this, Quan Wu was stunned on the spot.

He never expected that, upon joining his ranks, his new master would not only not confiscate his original resources and magical treasures, but would also bestow upon him elixirs and allow him to use the spiritual spring.

She even left him the precious Dust Heart Sand.

The immense favor he received left him momentarily incredulous, followed by an overwhelming surge of joy. He immediately bowed deeply, saying, "I will obey Your Majesty's decree! I will do my utmost to repay Your Majesty's great kindness!"

The oppressive feeling of being forced to sell oneself into servitude has largely dissipated.

A thought flashed through his mind: "Perhaps, following this promising young cultivator would be a stroke of good fortune for my entire martial arts world?"

Seeing that Shen Yu had already turned to leave, he dared not delay, quickly composed himself, and hurriedly followed.

......

......