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

Generally speaking, cultivators can only elevate the level of their own cultivation realm to the peak by using the method of containing their natal object and connecting it with an object of higher status.

Even if someone can use a method outside the law of tolerance to connect with life and death, it is impossible to elevate their status to a level beyond their own realm; otherwise, they will inevitably be crushed by a relatively high status.

In the Taoist texts explained by Tiantong, this is called the calamity of mismatched position; if one's virtue is not commensurate with one's position, one will inevitably suffer calamity.

If Wang Qing's upper dantian contains a talisman at the foundation-building level.

That would indeed elevate her status to the peak of Qi Refining, comparable to Yan Cheng.

However, since this person did not create a significant gap between their cultivation levels, they were of no use in combat.

"In terms of usefulness, it's not entirely without its uses."

'She doesn't possess the indeterminate mist that obscures cause and effect, yet with her peak Qi Refining level, she can prevent cultivators of lower levels from using magic to divine her fate.'

"But are there really cultivators skilled in divination in this Hall of Longevity?"

On the futon in the cave, Yan Cheng lowered his eyes slightly, glancing at the female cultivator lying in the coffin not far away.

Should we dissect this guy's upper dantian for a closer look?

If necessary, Yan Cheng would not harbor any thoughts of chivalry or pity.

At most, after thoroughly examining the talisman, we can stitch up Wang Qing's skull properly.

He was immediately startled by his own wild imagination. It seemed that the past few months in the palace had made his thinking somewhat abnormal.

It's all this damned, godforsaken place's fault!

In any case, Wang Qing is a variable that is difficult for him to control.

Using the Black Gold Corpse Control Ring to forcefully control her to sleep was a good way to prevent this guy from openly refining evil for him while secretly plotting something.

"Unfortunately, this means one less source of Yin Corpse Fiend energy..."

Yan Cheng was quite displeased with this.

For a qualified disciple of an immortal sect, earning less is equivalent to losing money!

If I had chosen someone else instead of that troublesome Wang Qing, things wouldn't be such a mess now...

Thinking about it carefully, there were far more than just Wang Qing who had reached the initial stage of perfection on the second floor, so why did I specifically choose this person?

Yan Cheng opened his eyes abruptly, cold sweat pouring down his forehead.

Could it be that... the choice I made back then was also the result of being manipulated by some important figure?

He was at the peak of Qi Refining, so if there was anything that could manipulate his thoughts without him even noticing...

That could only be a method used at the Foundation Establishment level!

Yan Cheng knew that the Lord of the Hall of Longevity had seven true disciples.

Excluding the Holy Maiden and Huang Tong, who had only been practicing for a short time, the first five were all Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been practicing for a long time.

These true disciples never show themselves to the lower levels, but they also have their own interests and stances regarding how the resources of the temple should be allocated and used.

Compared to the two who are still at the Qi Refining stage and are used to personally taking action.

These highly accomplished cultivators are likely to interfere with the course of events in the palace in a more covert and subtle way!

Faced with the schemes of these high-ranking cultivators, clever calculations are useless; the mere mention of their status is enough to overwhelm everything.

Yan Cheng was perfectly aware of this.

Right now, I'm just forcing myself not to worry about things I can't handle, and refocusing my mind on my own spiritual practice.

"If my perception is correct, the time for the sea of ​​fog to burst open again is approaching."

"It's time to undergo the third Moon Essence Tempering."

"After undergoing triple body tempering and elevating my fundamental strength to a new level, I should be able to complete the cultivation of the Second Core Formation quite soon!"

……

At the fourth watch of the night, on a small hillside outside the Hall of Longevity.

The moonlight, which had been absent for a long time, once again descended completely upon the earth. The sea of ​​fog parted and closed, as if sealing off the world, leaving little time for moon-gazers.

Behind an inconspicuous tree on the hillside, Yan Cheng stood intently, gazing at the bright moon, his hands clasped together in front of his lower abdomen, forming the moon wheel mudra.

He knew that this situation was different from last time. Now that the Weaver Girl was no longer a problem, the Emperor would not miss the opportunity to collect moonlight.

At this very moment, there might be a superior cultivator holding a magical artifact, attempting to absorb energy without his knowledge.

The chances of the other party succeeding are very small, much smaller than the chances of discovering him during the gas extraction process.

Yes, Yan Cheng knew very well what his fate would be if the Foundation Establishment cultivator in the palace learned of his secret of absorbing moonlight to temper his bones.

This is only the most superficial layer of all his secrets.

For example, even when he is not under the moonlight, he can still gather the moon's essence by using the moon's reflection in the mirror.

For example, the reason he was able to absorb moonlight was because he cultivated the "Upper Yin Heaven Corpse Path Chapter"...

All the secrets will eventually point to one thing: the Immortal Mirror hidden deep within his consciousness!

Just as someone seemingly stuffed a Foundation Establishment level artifact into Wang Qing's brow.

Could the silver mirror in my consciousness have been inserted by someone?

Even Yan Cheng himself didn't know the truth.

All he knew was that if the high-ranking officials in the hall had the same idea, they would not hesitate to cut open his head and examine it closely!

Despite knowing the danger, Yan Cheng still had no choice but to come.

Not only will I come this time, but I will come six more times in the future.

If this is not done, there is no way to bridge the gap between the Yin body and the Yang body of this corpse cultivator!

He was prepared to escape by turning into mist at any time, but at the end of his journey to the moon, the person he met was not the Foundation Establishment cultivator in the hall that he had been worried about.

Instead, it is a giant white crane soaring under the moon and sky.

Since transmigrating, Yan Cheng has never left this lifeless valley, only able to glimpse a corner of the world through Tian Tong's usual idle chatter.

Beyond this valley, in the vast northern foothills, countless fantastical creatures dwell.

Mortals might call them demons, but in the eyes of cultivators, these beautiful and spiritual fantastical creatures are not comparable to the demon race, which only follows its bloodthirsty nature to kill mortals.

Just like the white crane in front of them, the cultivators of the Immortal Sect couldn't help but light up their eyes at the thought of how much spiritual energy its pure white and soft feathers contained that could be used in talisman arrays and alchemical artifacts.

Its entire set of flesh, blood, fur, and hides are priceless treasures!

Yan Cheng had not been in the palace for long, and he was not as ruthless as his senior fellow disciples, who had burned their zithers and cooked cranes. He still retained his appreciation for beautiful things.

He stood in the shade of the trees, his gaze fixed intently on the white cranes under the moon.

Until it turned its body, revealing the tiny figure perched high above the crane, looking down at the earth like an immortal, to Yan Cheng.

The man lowered his gaze, as if he had noticed him.

In that instant, Yan Cheng felt a profound shock from the bottom of his heart.

A person who can ride a giant celestial crane through the air and stand shoulder to shoulder with the stars and moon is undoubtedly a true enlightened cultivator.

They are far beyond the reach of the so-called cultivators, including those from the Hall of Longevity, who are merely trying to survive deep within the northern foothills of the mountains.

At that moment, he finally understood why this boundless sea of ​​mist above him existed.

He was almost certain that the person who arrived on the crane must have come from outside this mountain range, and most likely from the area south of the northern foothills.

And the south is precisely where all the righteous sects are located!