Starting at the Nascent Soul stage, a rogue cultivator is incredibly poor.

Qingyouzi walked slowly past Hong Kaishan, her steps unhurried.

As the two passed each other, a faint, cold smile flickered across his lips.

Hong Kaishan crossed his arms and stared coldly at the entrance to the next level, ignoring Qing Youzi's provocation, though his blood and qi surged slightly for a moment.

Qingyouzi didn't care and walked straight to Lu Zhou.

Lu Zhou quickly bowed and said, "Greetings, Senior."

Qingyouzi reached out and patted him on the shoulder. This pat startled him slightly.

His physique appeared ordinary, but his inner strength was like that of refined steel, and his blood and qi surged like a rushing river, clearly indicating that he had reached the mid-stage of the Golden Core Body Cultivation realm.

"Not bad." Qingyouzi withdrew his hand and nodded. "His physical body is exceptionally well-tempered; he is a formidable young man."

Lu Zhou swallowed hard, feeling uneasy.

This senior Qingyou just spoke up for him and blocked Hong Kaishan's palm strike, and now he comes over to praise him... What is his intention?

"You flatter me, senior," he replied cautiously.

Qingyouzi took something out of her storage bag.

It was a pale gold talisman, its paper gleaming with a metallic sheen, its surface subtly adorned with flowing sword-shaped patterns. The aura emanating from the talisman was sharp and menacing; though sealed away for many years, it still sent shivers down one's spine.

"This item is called the 'Yuanqing Sword Talisman Treasure'," Qingyouzi said calmly. "I obtained it by chance when I reached the Golden Core stage. Once activated, it is equivalent to a late-stage Golden Core cultivator unleashing the full power of a magic weapon."

He handed the talisman to Lu Zhou.

"Back then, you and your father protected me in Jingshan City. Although it was unintentional, it was still a token of our friendship. This item is of little use to me now, so I'm giving it to you. Perhaps it can be used for self-defense."

Lu Zhou looked at the talisman, raised his hand and then lowered it again, not daring to take it.

"Senior, you flatter me." He said in a low voice, "Back then, my father and I were unaware that you were forming a Nascent Soul. We were merely fulfilling our duty to protect the city. There is no question of bestowing any favor upon you. I am unworthy of such a generous gift."

Qingyouzi frowned slightly.

The hand on Lu Zhou's shoulder tightened its grip.

"Take it as I told you to." His tone was calm, yet brooked no argument. "The talisman is useless to me, but it might save your life. Keep it safe."

As he spoke, he glanced at Hong Kaishan almost imperceptibly.

At the same time, a voice transmission entered Lu Zhou's ears:

"Kid, relax. With me here, Hong Kaishan can't touch you."

The voice paused, then suddenly became vulgar:

"Who does he think he is? A complete idiot! Damn it, just because he's lived a few hundred years longer, he thinks he's something special? I'll chop him up sooner or later!"

Lu Zhou was stunned.

This seemingly gentle and refined senior, Qingyou, is surprisingly... fierce when he starts cursing.

He stood frozen in place, forgetting to retract his hand that had been holding the talisman.

Qingyouzi stuffed the talisman into his hand, patted it, and turned back to his original position.

The transmission of sound did not stop:

"Keep it safe. Be careful once you're inside. If Hong Kaishan sends you to dangerous places, keep a close eye on him. If things get really tough, crush the talisman, and I'll be able to sense it."

Having said that, he cut off the transmission.

On the other side, Xie Changyuan revealed a cold smile, which vanished in an instant.

Lu Zhou held the still slightly warm talisman, his heart filled with mixed emotions.

Qingyouzi returned to his original spot, sat down, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

His actions just now, though claimed to be repaying a debt of gratitude, only account for three-tenths. The remaining seven-tenths were all scheming.

Xie Changyuan and his disciple Ziyu, and Hong Kaishan and Lu Zhou, both possessing Golden Core body cultivation, were not acting by chance. Deep within the Heavenly Immortal Cave, there must be special areas accessible only to body cultivators.

Tzuyu is Xie Changyuan's personal disciple, so he can't interfere.

But Lu Zhou is different.

This young man was forcibly taken in as a disciple by Hong Kaishan, so he must harbor resentment. If they were to encounter a place where body cultivators were needed to explore and retrieve treasures, would Lu Zhou listen to Hong Kaishan, or would he lean more towards himself, who had helped him before?

The answer is self-evident.

Just as he was pondering this, a subtle fluctuation of divine sense came through.

Someone was communicating with him telepathically.

Qingyouzi's heart stirred slightly, and he quietly probed with his divine sense; it was the Seven Fiends.

He hesitated for a moment, then released his divine sense to respond.

"Fellow Daoist Seven Fiends, what is it?"

In the distance, Seven Fiends Master casually walked to a blue stone and sat down, gazing at the sea of ​​clouds as if admiring the scenery.

The voice transmission came through clearly:

"Fellow Daoist Qingyou must have realized as well that we are not a united front. The righteous path is probably the same."

"Of the eight Nascent Soul cultivators who have come this time, one is at the mid-stage on each side. If a real fight breaks out, neither side will come out on top. I have come here only to seek an opportunity to break through to the mid-stage, and I have no intention of fighting to the death. I believe you feel the same way, fellow Daoist."

Qingyouzi sneered inwardly.

This means they're forming a secret alliance.

The Seven Fiends sought him out simply because they felt he had the shallowest cultivation and, being a rogue cultivator, lacked substantial resources, making him easy to manipulate. If danger arose, they could use him as a shield; if they obtained treasures, they could easily suppress him. Furthermore, they probably also had their eyes on Lu Zhou.

"Fellow Daoist, do you wish to join forces with me in private?" Qingyouzi replied telepathically.

"Exactly." Seven Fiends answered readily. "Hong Kaishan is arrogant and brainless, unfit to be an ally. Xie Changyuan's cultivation is too high; joining forces with him would be like seeking a tiger's skin. After much thought, only you, fellow Daoist, are the most suitable."

He paused, then added, "If we really encounter danger, our chances of survival will be greater if we join forces."

Aoyuko's lips curled up slightly.

"OK."

He readily agreed, but secretly had other plans in mind.

If the Seven Fiends could find him, wouldn't they find someone else to appease the other side for now? This so-called alliance is as fragile as paper. The four on the demonic path are each harboring their own ulterior motives; the righteous path is probably in the same boat.

After all, there has never been a true alliance in the cultivation world. Everything is as fragile as paper, and the only constant is self-interest.

He never wanted a fight to the death. If they could peacefully divide the treasure, that would be best. If not... with his current abilities, escaping wouldn't be difficult.

"Fellow Daoist, you've come to me for more than just an alliance, haven't you?" Qingyouzi asked telepathically.

Seven Fiends remained silent for a moment, then glanced at Lu Zhou as if by chance.

"Fellow Daoist, you are wise. To be honest, the place where that immortal herb grows is quite special. It only allows cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage to enter, and it is a place devoid of spiritual energy. It would be safest for a Golden Core cultivator to enter."

He paused, then continued:

"That brat Lu Zhou clearly favors you, fellow Daoist. The Heavenly Immortal Herb is of little use to you right now, but if you could gather a few stalks... I would be willing to exchange them for a great treasure."

Qingyouzi fiddled with the silk thread in her sleeve, remaining silent.

After waiting a few breaths, Qi Sha said again:

"I urgently need the Celestial Herb to break through my bottleneck. And Hong Kaishan... his lifespan is coming to an end, he also needs this to prolong his life. Fellow Daoist, you should understand the importance of this matter."

Qingyouzi lowered her gaze.

At his fingertips, cyan silk threads twisted and turned, reflecting the flowing clouds outside the floating island. He clearly understood the threat in the other party's voice and had his own thoughts.

After a long while, he slowly sent back a single word:

"OK."

As soon as he finished speaking, he looked up and swept his eyes over the crowd.

Seven Fiends remained seated on the bluestone, gazing at the sea of ​​clouds.

Hong Kaishan stood with his arms crossed, his face gloomy.

Xie Changyuan closed his eyes to regulate his breathing, while Ziyu stood quietly behind him like a pine tree.

On the other side of the main road, the white crane was talking quietly with its companions, glancing over here from time to time.

Qingyouzi withdrew his gaze and closed his eyes. Within his sleeve, countless threads moved silently, and azure flames flickered.