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

As early as when Deng Jian first entered the hall, his senior brothers had mentioned that there were three types of people in the Hall of Longevity who should absolutely not be provoked.

What three types of people?

People with a higher level of understanding than oneself, people one would not benefit from fighting, and people with such a deep background that no one knows what their background is.

The first two are easy to understand. Even if Deng Jian was very confident in his swordsmanship, he would not be blinded by greed and go to challenge a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator or a mid-stage Perfected cultivator with all eight meridians open.

There aren't that many instances of challenging someone of a higher level or of the weak defeating the strong in this world.

Conversely, it is not uncommon for those of higher cultivation to come and attack those of lower cultivation, bullying the weak and relying on their strength, in the Hall of Longevity.

You should be grateful that those with higher cultivation levels don't come to attack you. Why would you want to rebel against the Heavenly Gang and actively provoke trouble?

The second category is people who bring no benefit to you.

This makes it easier to understand: whether you're hitting someone or being hit, it requires a time cost.

If there is no benefit to beating someone, or if the cost outweighs the gain, then it is naturally better to prioritize peace.

Why waste so much time fighting and killing instead of focusing on proper cultivation?

The third category consists of people with powerful backgrounds and extensive connections.

Such people were almost non-existent among early-stage cultivators, but they became increasingly common after Deng Jian's breakthrough.

The best example is like the four guardians under the Holy Maiden, who possess a large number of corpse spirits and are responsible for managing her lending affairs.

These four people are not necessarily highly skilled in cultivation, nor are they necessarily proficient in magic.

The countless Yin Corpse Fiends in stock were enough to tempt every corpse cultivator in the hall.

But who dares to attack them? Aren't they afraid that the moment they make eye contact with them, the Holy Maiden will step in and attack them once again?

As for Huang Tong, only Tian Tong possessed almost all three essential qualities, so Deng Jian always treated him with utmost courtesy.

I thought Yan Cheng was easy to bully, which is why I chose him as my target...

Who would have thought his background was so powerful!

At this point, Deng Jian was no longer worried about whether he could defeat Yan Cheng, but rather about how to handle the aftermath after defeating him.

However, the good mental fortitude he had cultivated over the years in the palace meant that, despite his many worries, he never slowed down the pace of his sword strike.

The sword flashed like a dragon, its sharpness piercing the sky and sweeping away the clouds; it was none other than the first sword technique of the Hall of Longevity, "White Snake Spits Venom"!

Yan Cheng simply took a step back, causing his sword to miss its mark.

The snake's tongue attack failed, and it immediately retreated before advancing again, unleashing seventeen fierce and sudden thrusts in succession.

Yan Cheng dodged them all as if he were strolling in a garden, and not a single sword could reach his body!

"Is this 'Flying Hawk Step'?"

"No, it seems to be a more sophisticated footwork..."

"Just how many good things did Senior Sister Huang pass on to him?"

Before the cultivators could even utter a sound of surprise, Deng Jian, who was in the middle of it, was already sweating profusely, his shirt completely soaked with sweat.

Do corpses sweat? Now he finally knows the answer to that question.

Yan Cheng had not made a single move against him so far, but the icy aura spreading in the air had already seeped into his body along the long sword in his hand, almost freezing one of his arms.

Corpse cultivators are inherently of the Yin body, and they have never had a good way to deal with this kind of cold and eerie aura attacking their bodies.

If this continues, how many more sword strikes can I deliver?

Three swords? Five swords?

Once Yan Cheng retaliates, will I still have the strength to defend myself?

Looking into Yan Cheng's eyes, which seemed devoid of murderous intent yet were so deep and unfathomable, Deng Jian's inner defenses finally crumbled instantly.

He abruptly drew his sword to his chest and solemnly bowed to Yan Cheng:

"I am deeply grateful for my senior brother's kindness in imparting his skills."

As for the soaring arrogance of moments before, it has vanished without a trace.

Li Bai and he had always been close, but he had never seen Deng Jian so humble before, and he just stood there dumbfounded.

Pei Yi glanced at Deng Jian, but her eyes showed admiration rather than disdain.

She didn't think there was anything wrong with Deng Jian's behavior of being arrogant at first and then obsequious. He was already wrong to start by provoking her and then resorting to violence. Should she continue to make the same mistake blindly?

Admitting defeat in time not only downplayed the conflict to a friendly sparring match between fellow disciples, but also gave Yan Cheng a way out and blocked any potential counterattack from Yan Cheng.

After all, not every high-level cultivator here is like the Holy Maiden, who is not ashamed to ask questions and will relentlessly pursue an opponent who has already admitted defeat.

Deng Jian is a good person; he can admit his mistakes and correct them, which shows the demeanor of a Taoist practitioner.

As for Yan Cheng, there's no need to mention him. What does it mean to be a corpse cultivator who can cultivate cold qi?

This means that this person's background allows the court to tolerate the loss of a production material who should have been cultivating Yin Sha and producing evil energy.

His potential, combat strength, and even his aptitude, cultivation, innate talent, and comprehension are undoubtedly among the best of all corpse cultivators.

With this background, it becomes even more top-notch.

Pei Yi was much quicker to react than Li Bai, immediately bending gently to add to Yan Cheng's victory:

"Senior brother rose from humble beginnings to possess the talent of a prodigy. It is truly the greatest fortune of my life to meet you today."

"If I have any questions about my cultivation in the future, I will rely on my senior brother for guidance."

Yan Cheng glanced at her once, then fixed his gaze on the extremely respectful Deng Jian, and smiled:

"Why are you two calling me senior brother? You flatter me."

Deng Jian shook his head and replied with utmost sincerity:

"Senior brother, please don't be so modest."

"There is no order of precedence in learning; those who are accomplished are teachers."

"My junior brother's cultivation is far superior to mine. I address him as senior brother out of respect."

"If you think highly of me, senior brother, please don't refuse!"

This swordsman, who was aloof and arrogant upon his first appearance, seemingly oblivious to the heroes of the world, is now even more humble than the scholars in the Confucian academies of the South:

"This person is extraordinary; he is destined for great things."

Fortunately, I maintained my usual arrogant attitude and took the initiative to provoke him into a fight.

"Otherwise, in a few years he'll rise to a higher social status, and he won't even remember me."

Upon realizing this, Deng Jian immediately felt that his actions were absolutely correct, and that every word and deed he had done was on the right path.

As for the dignity of a swordsman? Does holding that thing really increase his cultivation level by even a fraction?

Seeing this scene, he recalled all the things he had seen in the palace in the past.

Yan Cheng couldn't help but lament how harmful the Immortal Sect's practices were, how they had corrupted cultivators into such a state.

Faced with Deng Jian's extremely gentle demeanor, Yan Cheng had to admit that she felt quite pleased.

Sigh, it seems I'm getting more and more into trouble because of this awful place.

Damn it, how could the Taiyin Immortal Sect be so evil?

The celestial child, who had been hidden for several dozen breaths, seemed to suddenly remember his duty and said with a chuckle:

"It's wonderful that Junior Brother Yan has been able to get along with everyone so quickly."

Yan Cheng had no intention of paying him any attention.

Why did you become such good friends? Don't you know the answer yourself?