Starting with the consumables of the Demonic Sect, one can barely achieve immortality.

These words struck Yan Cheng like a thunderbolt from a clear sky, filling him with immense joy. With a flick of his sleeve, he retrieved the Soul-Capturing Bell, along with Huang Tong's severed hand.

"Fellow Daoist, your considerations are truly thorough!"

It wasn't that he was unaware of the object's mystique; it was just that for a long time, he had regarded the Soul-Capturing Bell as a powerful weapon in Huang Tong's hands and guarded it closely.

For a moment I forgot that this thing could also be used for my own purposes!

Now that I have this item, no corpse cultivator in the hall can threaten my life.

Even a saintess would be doomed if faced with this!

As for refining corpses into puppets and controlling them, Yan Cheng didn't find it to be of much use.

There are hardly any late-stage Qi Refining corpse cultivators in the Hall of Longevity. What role can a group of mid-stage cultivators play in the face of a powerful enemy that even he needs to rely on external forces to deal with?

Yan Chengliang's bright eyes seemed to hold a hint of emotion:

"I obtained this item too late. If I had acquired it earlier, I wouldn't be living in constant fear..."

He knew very well that this item must never be taken out in public.

How many years has it been since the Emperor has lost a true disciple? With Huang Tong's death, one can only imagine the fury of the officials.

Compared to these Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Soul-Capturing Bell is nothing more than a piece of broken copper and scrap iron.

Its awkward position has diminished Yan Cheng's initial joy.

"It's alright, at least it's still useful for now..."

Yan Cheng said:

"Please, fellow Daoist, step aside for now."

The Soul-Capturing Bell's miraculous effect on controlling corpses does have its specific target; however, hearing the sound of this bell will still cause a shock to the consciousness of a corpse cultivator.

Mi Niang's cultivation and Taoist practice are indeed unfathomable and profound, and cannot be judged by ordinary corpse cultivators.

Yan Cheng felt it necessary to ask this question to show his concern for her safety and to prevent her from developing resentment after being affected by the ringing.

Sure enough, Mi Niang slowly backed away upon hearing this.

But then Yan Cheng raised his wrist and gave it a gentle shake.

Ding.

Huang Tong suddenly stood up straight, and her eyes, which had already lost all their light, looked even more numb.

Her firm, plump figure stiffened in an instant.

A wisp of pale white mist drifted out from her seven orifices and was slowly drawn into the Soul-Capturing Bell in Yan Cheng's hand.

It was the remnant soul left behind by this female cultivator who had practiced Qi cultivation.

The souls of cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining are much stronger than those of ordinary people, and they remain in the body for a longer period of time after death.

If Huang Tong possesses a treasure like the [Blue-Faced Golden Beast Pendant], he might be able to seek an opportunity for reincarnation.

Even though she was a true disciple of the palace, such artifacts were still beyond the reach of a Qi Refining cultivator.

That's a magic weapon issued by the academy to Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even if it's a standard magic weapon that everyone has, it's still better than the most top-tier spiritual artifacts like the Soul-Capturing Bell.

Of course, this also shows that the resources of the Hall of Longevity are not as abundant as those of ordinary major sects.

Otherwise, given Huang Tong's status and position in the palace, he would inevitably need a protective magic weapon.

Yan Cheng had never heard of a Qi Refining cultivator ever being able to possess another's body and reincarnate.

Even though the upper elixir has been opened and the divine sense has been enhanced, the strength of the soul is ultimately limited by the realm of cultivation.

In this light, the life-linking method that enables cultivators to transcend ranks and receive rank enhancements becomes even more precious.

He looked at Mi Niang, his eyes, which had just survived a life-or-death battle, showing a resolute determination:

"My middle elixir is complete, and I can open the upper elixir at any time, allowing the primordial qi to enter and dominate it."

"I once obtained the 'Yin Yang Supplement and Mysterious Union Classic,' which is an ancient method of dual cultivation. Only this method can obtain the primordial Qi."

"I wonder... if you would be willing to help me with my cultivation?"

Yan Cheng's experience in his previous life was not insignificant, but this was the first time he had ever attacked so directly.

Based on his personal experience, being so direct without any emotional foundation will most likely ruin things.

However, he no longer had time to cultivate a relationship with Mi Niang.

The other party made it very clear that in order to establish a destiny agreement and receive the immortal destiny of this place, one must first break through to the later stage.

However, there are always risks involved in making breakthroughs in the later stages.

From Yan Cheng's perspective, the first step is to condense the primordial Qi through dual cultivation, and then use this Qi to impact the upper dantian.

Naturally, it is more ideal to break through first and then condense Qi!

Seeing Mi Niang fall silent, Yan Cheng appeared calm, but his thoughts were in turmoil.

"Logically and emotionally, if this person truly felt a connection to my life, I shouldn't have refused them."

"The deeper my cultivation and attainment, the greater the benefits she can share."

"In a way, helping me is helping herself. How can anyone complain that their own spiritual practice is progressing too smoothly?"

That being said, if Mi Niang has no intention of complying, Yan Cheng will have no choice but to break through on the spot and then seek out a dual cultivation partner to condense his innate Qi later.

From a cultivation perspective alone, the saintess is not a bad choice; at least she must have a wealth of experience in dual cultivation...

At this moment, Mi Niang finally spoke and asked:

"In your opinion, young master, how many times must one engage in dual cultivation to practice this method?"

Yan Cheng said:

"If everything goes smoothly, one session should be enough to condense the primordial Qi."

"But I have no prior experience with this, and if it doesn't work the first time, I'm afraid I'll have to try two or three more times."

In fact, given the depth of his understanding of the "Yin Yang Bu Cui Miao He Xuan Jing", there was no possibility that it would not succeed on the first try.

But you can't make promises you can't keep. What if things really go wrong?

Judging from Mi Niang's tone, she probably wasn't very interested in this dual cultivation practice.

It's better to clarify some things beforehand than to argue about them halfway through.

Based on Yan Cheng's understanding of cultivators in the Northern Territory, the higher one's cultivation level and the more steadfast one's Dao heart, the more likely dual cultivation is simply for the purpose of cultivation.

People like Pei Yi still find pleasure in dual cultivation. Those who cultivate for the sake of dual cultivation are actually unlikely to reach a high level of spiritual attainment.

Therefore, Yan Cheng did not want to be seen by Mi Niang as someone who indulged in the pleasures of dual cultivation.

Since I've already said this beforehand, no matter how many times we have to practice dual cultivation in the end, it's all for the sake of cultivation, absolutely not for finding pleasure in dual cultivation!

Although Mi Niang's physical body was right in front of him, even Yan Cheng himself wouldn't believe that he had no expectation of cultivating with her.

Unexpectedly, Mi Niang said:

"Once is not enough."

She looked up, and where there should have been a pair of eyes beneath the mask, her gaze met Yan Cheng's.

"There are nine ancient methods of covenant. Since the Yin is the ancestor of all methods, we should take the initial method and use the way of Yin and Yang to connect the two parties to the covenant."

"This is the 'Mysterious Art of the Mutual Generation of Yin and Yang,' which was personally taught to me by the great man who established this place."

"However, I only know the method, but I have never had any practical experience. I am afraid that my practice will be so awkward that you will laugh at me."

"In my opinion, at least nine sessions of dual cultivation are needed for this fate contract to be fully engraved on the soul."

She glanced at Yan Cheng, whose face showed only shock, and her calm tone was even more shocking:

"If you are ready, young master, we can begin now."