The entry for cultivating immortality states that after dying a hundred times, I attained immortalit

The blue light slowly dissipated.

Jiang Bai remained standing on the stone platform, his right hand still extended, but now he held a bronze ring in his hand.

Under the cover of that burst of light, he finally managed to grab it.

Around the stone platform, Li Yueyao, Jiang Li, Chen Yuwei, and the others all looked rather grim.

When the formation suddenly erupted, everyone instinctively took two steps back. Now that the dust has settled, they realized that Jiang Bai was not only alive, but had also obtained the ring.

"Good tactic," Li Yueyao said coldly.

Jiang Bai put the ring on the index finger of his left hand, turned around, and glanced at the seven people in the cave.

Li Yueyao stood at the front, radiating spiritual energy at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Behind her were three members of the Li family, all dressed in gray, with identical beast-taming pouches hanging from their waists—the standard equipment for Li family beast tamers.

On the right are the three members of the Chen family, with Chen Yuwei standing at the front, wearing a light blue dress and holding an unsheathed longsword in her hand.

The two Chen family members behind her exuded composure and were clearly elite members of the family.

And on the left, Jiang Li...

Jiang Bai looked at his kinsman and suddenly laughed: "Jiang Li, I'm very curious, what benefits did the Grand Elder promise you that made you betray even your own family?"

Jiang Li's face was gloomy, but he did not answer.

Li Yueyao stepped forward and said with a sense of oppression, "Jiang Bai, hand over what you have obtained from the cave and seal your spiritual power, and I may spare your life."

"Do you even believe that yourself?" Jiang Bai scoffed. "If I sealed my spiritual power, I probably wouldn't even be able to get out of this cave, would I?"

Chen Yuwei said softly, "Jiang Bai, give up. You have nowhere to escape."

Jiang Bai took a deep breath and quickly assessed the situation—seven against one.

Comparison of cultivation levels.

Li Yueyao reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, Chen Yuwei reached the fourth level, and Jiang Li reached the third level of Qi Refining, achieving perfection.

The other five were all at the second level of Qi Refining.

He himself had only recently broken through to the third level of Qi Refining.

A direct confrontation will result in certain death!

Jiang Bai glanced at the stone platform beneath his feet.

The array patterns were still faintly glowing, and the blue light that had just shattered the stone was enough to show that although the array was broken, its killing power remained.

The other party did not dare to force their way in.

The problem is that the array's range is limited to the stone platform.

He was also trapped here.

"Then let's just wait it out together."

Li Yueyao had clearly seen through the current situation and said calmly, "Your spiritual power is limited, I can wait."

She waved her hand, and the crowd dispersed, forming a fan shape around the stone platform.

Two members of the Li family guarded the cave entrance, while Jiang Li took the initiative to stand in front of the crevice, which was the only passage in and out.

"Aren't you afraid that Jiang Shan and the others will come over?" Jiang Bai raised an eyebrow.

"Jiang Shan?" Li Yueyao chuckled. "Do you think they have time to come rescue you right now?"

Jiang Bai's heart sank.

It seems this ambush was meticulously planned.

The Phantom Mirage was the bait, Jiang Li was the inside man, the Li and Chen families joined forces, and even Jiang Shan's side was given manpower to keep them in check.

His left hand, which was behind his back, quietly reached for the storage bag at his waist.

There were three packets of poison powder in the bag.

The mixture of sedative powder and corrosive poison was a "little concoction" I made myself a few days ago.

But the poison powder needs to be spread at close range, or...

Jiang Bai's gaze fell on the broken part of the formation.

That gap was his only passage in and out of the stone platform, and also the weakest link in the entire formation.

Throwing the poison powder from there might create temporary chaos.

Jiang Bai's eyes grew cold.

He only had this one choice: create an opportunity and force a breakout!

He slowly turned around, facing the skeleton, with his back to the crowd, pretending to examine the items inside the ring.

This action indeed touched a nerve with Li Yueyao.

"Do it!" she commanded urgently. "We absolutely cannot let him obtain the inheritance!"

Three members of the Li family acted simultaneously!

They didn't rush towards the front of the stone platform, where the array patterns were intact, and no one knew if it would trigger a deadly attack.

Instead, they rushed towards the broken part of the formation in the northwest corner from three different directions!

The gap was only two feet wide, making it impossible for three people to enter at the same time.

The man at the front had already leaned halfway in, his long sword pointing directly at Jiang Bai's back!

Now!!

Jiang Bai suddenly turned around and threw out the three packets of poison powder that he had been holding in his left hand with all his might!

Instead of throwing it at the oncoming enemies, it smashed it against the rock wall above the gap!

"Bang!"

The paper package shattered, and grayish-green powder burst out from the gap, instantly spreading into a toxic mist!

"Beware of poison!"

Li Yueyao was prepared. With a wave of her sleeve, she unleashed her spiritual power, which dispersed the poisonous mist in front of her.

But the two Li family members who rushed to the front were not so lucky.

Just as they were about to squeeze through the gap, they were met head-on by the exploding poison powder.

If the powder gets into your eyes, mouth, or nose, it will instantly cause a burning pain!

"Ah—my eyes!"

"Cough cough... What is this...?"

The two screamed and fell to the ground, covering their faces with their hands and rolling around on the ground.

The third member of the Li family retreated in time, but he also inhaled a small amount, causing him to feel dizzy and stagger backward.

Poisonous fog billowed from the breach.

Jiang Bai didn't hesitate at all!

He moved like lightning, bursting out of the gap, where Jiang Li was guarding it; a direct assault would surely be thwarted.

So Jiang Bai chose to rush straight to Chen Yuwei, who was closest to him!

Chen Yuwei clearly hadn't expected him to rush towards her, and instinctively held her sword horizontally to her chest.

But Jiang Bai's target wasn't her at all; it was the space behind her!

Just as he was about to collide with the sword's edge, Jiang Bai's footwork shifted strangely, and his figure swept past Chen Yuwei's left side like a ghost!

Chen Yuwei was startled and instinctively dodged to the side.

With this stepping aside, a passage was created!

Jiang Bai didn't slow down and rushed straight for the cave exit!

"Stop him!" Li Yueyao shouted angrily.

Jiang Li, who was guarding the crack, grinned maliciously: "Where do you think you're going?"

He formed a hand seal, and an earth-yellow spiritual energy barrier condensed at the crack. This was a defensive spell from the Jiang family's "Thick Earth Technique." Although it was only a basic one, it was enough to hold out for a moment.

Jiang Bai did not slow down.

When he was still three zhang away from the crack, his blood and qi surged, and he activated the Hundred Poisons Tempering Technique at full power!

Faint bluish-black lines appeared on the surface of his skin, and his aura suddenly soared!

They crashed into him!

"Bang--!"

The collision between the physical body and the spiritual energy barrier produced a muffled sound.

Jiang Li's expression changed; he sensed that the power emanating from the barrier far exceeded his expectations!

That's not the physical strength a Qi Refining Level 3 cultivator should have!

"Click..."

Cracks have appeared in the barrier.

Jiang Li gritted his teeth and frantically poured in spiritual energy in an attempt to maintain his strength.

But Jiang Bai's second force arrived in quick succession, an explosive power brought about by the body tempering technique, pure and savage!

"break!"

Jiang Bai roared, and the barrier shattered in response!

Jiang Li was so shocked that he staggered back three steps, his chest heaving with blood and qi, and a trickle of blood seeped from the corner of his mouth.

But in that brief moment of delay, Li Yueyao had already caught up with him!

"Woof!"

With a bark, the gray-striped hound pounced from the side and bit Jiang Bai's calf!

Jiang Bai thrust his dagger back, piercing the hunting dog's left eye!

"Awooo—!"

The hunting dog howled and released its grip, but Jiang Bai's calf had been ripped open, and blood was flowing freely.

A sharp pain shot through Jiang Bai, causing him to freeze in place.

It was during this pause that Chen Yuwei's ribbon arrived.

It was a light blue magical ribbon, soft as gauze yet exceptionally tough. In an instant, it wrapped around Jiang Bai's left arm and pulled him backward!

Besieged on three sides!

Jiang Li re-formed hand seals to block the road in front, Li Yueyao's sword was closing in from behind, and his left arm was bound by a silk ribbon!

At this moment, it's a truly desperate situation.

A ruthless glint flashed in Jiang Bai's eyes.

He stopped suppressing the spiritual power within his body and even began to burn the excess spiritual power stored in his meridians.

This is a desperate fighting style, and he will inevitably be seriously injured afterward, but he can't care about that now!

"collapse!"

The ribbon wrapped around his left arm snapped suddenly!

Chen Yuwei gasped and stepped back, only half of the broken magic weapon remaining in her hand.

Taking advantage of the opportunity, Jiang Bai charged forward and crashed into the crack again!

This time, Jiang Li didn't dare to block him directly and stepped aside.

Jiang Bairu shot out of the cave like an arrow released from a bow, returning to the light of day!

But the outside world is not a way out.

Another battle is underway in the open area outside the cave.

Jiang Shan, Jiang Yurou, and two other members of the Jiang family were surrounded by six people from the Li and Chen families.

Jiang Shan was covered in blood, with a deep, bone-revealing wound on his left arm, yet he still wielded a heavy sword, desperately protecting the three people behind him.

Seeing Jiang Bai rush out, Jiang Shan roared, "Run! Don't worry about us!"

Jiang Bai's eyes darkened.

Even Jiang Shan was outmaneuvered.

Behind them, the pursuers had already arrived.

Li Yueyao, Jiang Li, Chen Yuwei, and two unpoisoned members of the Chen family rushed out of the cave one after another, instantly completing the encirclement.

Jiang Bai leaned against the rock wall, his left arm bleeding, and the wound on his right leg also affecting his movements.

Five against one.

"Use the sword formation," Li Yueyao coldly ordered. "Don't get close; his poison skills are unpredictable."

The five people took a step back at the same time and each took out a flying sword from their storage bag.

Those were identical standard flying swords, their blades gleaming with a cold light, clearly prepared in advance.

"rise!"

Five flying swords rose into the air at the same time, weaving together to form a sword net.

The swords are connected by threads of spiritual energy, forming a simple yet effective combined attack formation—the Five-Pointed Star Spirit-Locking Sword Formation.

This is a common encirclement and killing formation in the cultivation world, specifically designed to trap and kill a single person.

It's more than enough to deal with cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.

The sword net slowly contracted.

Jiang Bai tried to break through to the side, but as soon as he moved, the sword net moved with him, keeping him trapped in the center.

The scope is getting smaller and smaller.

Five zhang, three zhang, two zhang...

Li Yueyao formed hand seals, and the speed at which the sword net contracted suddenly increased!

With his back against the rock face, Jiang Bai had no way to retreat.

He suddenly looked at Jiang Li and smiled: "Jiang Li, I'll ask you one last question."

Jiang Li frowned.

"Do you think that after the Grand Elder succeeds," Jiang Bai's voice was eerily calm, "he won't spare you, this traitor who knows too much?"

Jiang Li's expression changed drastically!

But there was no time to think about it anymore.

The sword net is closing in!

Five flying swords attacked simultaneously from five directions, sealing off all avenues for evasion. Jiang Bai swung his dagger to parry, but as soon as one sword was deflected, the other four were already upon him!

"Pfft—!"

The first sword pierced the right shoulder.

The second sword pierced through the left abdomen.

The third sword slashed across the neck, drawing out a spray of blood.

The fourth sword...

Jiang Bai did not see the fourth sword.

My vision was now completely obscured by blood.

Excruciating pain shot through my limbs and bones; it felt like my whole body was being torn apart.

He heard Jiang Shan's frantic roar, Li Yueyao's cold shout: "Give me the ring!", and Jiang Li's rapid breathing.

Finally, before his consciousness completely sank into darkness, he heard that familiar voice echoing deep within his mind:

[Number of deaths +1, choose one of three keywords...]

Then, all fell silent.

---

Outside the cave, Jiang Bai's body slid slowly against the rock wall, leaving a shocking trail of blood on the ground.

The five flying swords were sheathed, their tips still dripping blood.

Li Yueyao stepped forward and bent down to remove the bronze ring from Jiang Bai's left index finger.

She probed it with her divine sense and her brows furrowed quickly: "There are only a few hundred spirit stones and some low-level materials... I didn't find any inheritance items like jade slips."

Jiang Li also stepped forward to search Jiang Bai's body, turning over his storage bag and clothes, and found only some poison powder, pills, and the poisoned dagger.

"Impossible..." Jiang Li muttered to himself, "He must have gotten his hands on it! There must be a jade slip with the skeleton!"

The group returned to the cave.

On the stone platform, the skeleton still sits cross-legged.

However, after a careful search, everyone discovered that the skeleton's hands were empty, and its sleeves were also empty.

"Where's the jade slip?" Li Yueyao looked at Jiang Li, her eyes gradually turning cold. "Are you sure he saw the jade slip?"

Jiang Li broke out in a cold sweat. "He must have hidden it!"

"Search," Li Yueyao ordered.

The group searched the stone platform, the skeleton, and even every corner of the cave, but still couldn't find any jade slips of inheritance.

Chen Yuwei watched all this silently, then suddenly turned and walked out of the cave.

"Where are you going?" Li Yueyao asked.

"Find the Phantom Mirage." Chen Yuwei said without turning her head. "I've done what I promised you. The things in the cave are yours, and the Phantom Mirage belongs to the Chen family."

As she walked out of the cave, she paused slightly as she passed Jiang Bai's corpse.

But it only paused for a moment before continuing forward and disappearing into the depths of the forest.

Inside the cave, Li Yueyao stared at Jiang Li, her eyes sharp as knives: "If I find out you lied to me..."

"I didn't!" Jiang Li cried out in protest. "Miss Li, we're all in the same boat! How could I—"

"That's enough," Li Yueyao interrupted him, putting away the bronze ring. "Let's leave here first. Things might change if we stay too long."

Everyone quickly evacuated.

The cave returned to silence, with only the glowing moss emitting a faint, cold light.

Outside the cave, Jiang Bai's body gradually grew cold.

Blood pooled beneath him, reflecting the dappled sunlight filtering through the tree canopy.

Unbeknownst to anyone, a faint jade-like pattern was slowly fading away in the palm of his right hand, which hung at his side.

It was as if they had never existed.