Immortality and cultivation: Heaven rewards diligence, and success is inevitable.

Unable to control the demonic puppet, Sect Leader Lu dared not act rashly for the time being.

His expression remained unchanged, but his heart was in turmoil. The moment that Golden Core stage demonic ape tilted its head to scrutinize him sent a chill down his spine—who had seized control of these demonic puppets? Or were they never meant to be awakened in the first place?

He glanced around discreetly, his gaze finally settling on Hua Luoyu.

The Biluo Valley Master, dressed in red, stood calmly not far away, a talisman glowing with blue light between her slender fingers.

The talisman had intricate and profound patterns, with a faint flow of wood-elemental true energy. It was the same high-grade third-rank talisman that had just blocked the Mountain-Splitting Palm of the Joyful Immortal.

Once a talisman reaches the third grade, it is no longer a one-time use item and can be used multiple times!

Sect Leader Lu's pupils contracted slightly.

The nine demonic puppets were out of control. Although he had the superior spiritual artifact, the Mountain and Sea Banner, he had to use it for self-defense. He was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage. Without the protection of a spiritual artifact, Hua Luoyu's spiritual talisman, which was comparable to a strike from a late Golden Core cultivator, would have been enough to kill him on the spot.

While a third-grade superior spirit talisman is certainly not as good as a superior-grade spirit weapon, how much power can a spirit weapon exert in his hands? But that spirit talisman is a genuine attack from a late-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Moreover, since Hua Luoyu was able to pull out one, who can guarantee that she doesn't have a second one?

Sect Leader Lu gritted his teeth inwardly. Originally, he used the Demon Puppet as a spear and the Mountain and Sea Banner as a shield, and could even kill the Happy True Man. In his eyes, Jiang Shi and Hua Luoyu were nothing more than fish on a chopping board.

But now the situation has reversed, and he has become the most passive one – the demon puppets can't be relied on, and the Mountain and Sea Banner can only protect itself; any move he makes will leave him vulnerable.

He slowly withdrew his gaze, his face still composed, but his fingers inside his sleeves were clenched so tightly they turned white.

The earth-elemental golden core remained suspended in mid-air, its light as gentle as ever, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents swirling around it. Yet everyone knew that whoever made the first move would likely become the target of everyone's attacks.

Jiang Shi observed coldly, taking in the hesitation of Sect Leader Lu. He vaguely guessed what was going on, and a slight smile appeared on his lips, but he was in no hurry to act.

Hua Luoyu remained calm and composed, but the talisman between her fingers was always aimed at the direction of the sect leader.

The three sides were mutually restraining each other, and none dared to make a rash move. An eerie silence fell over the battlefield.

Just then, a familiar aura emanated from the demonic ape puppet.

The three of them changed their expressions simultaneously, their gazes suddenly turning to the demonic ape statue.

"That aura is...!" Hua Luoyu was the first to react, her voice changing tremor. As the master of Biluo Valley, she was all too familiar with this aura—it was the Supreme Elder of Biluo Valley, the Joyful Immortal!

Everyone stared intently, and sure enough, the demonic ape puppet's previously stiff and lifeless face had gained a touch of liveliness. Its eyes moved, and the corners of its mouth curled up slightly; its expression was exactly like that of a human!

"How is this possible?!" Sect Leader Lu's pupils dilated in shock, and he blurted out incredulously.

But the facts were right in front of him, leaving him no choice but to believe it—the Happy Immortal had possessed the Demon Ape Puppet!

In an instant, all the doubts made sense. Why was a dignified Golden Core cultivator so easily crushed to death by nine demonic puppets? Why did the demonic puppets suddenly go out of control and no longer obey his commands? It turned out that from the very beginning, Happy True Man had done it on purpose!

"How dare he do such a thing..." Sect Leader Lu's voice was hoarse, "Abandoning the Golden Core and the physical body cuts off his path forward, leaving him with no hope of ever reaching the Nascent Soul stage again!"

"Nascent Soul stage?"

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The demonic ape spoke, its voice hoarse and low, filled with deep mockery. It—or rather, it—slowly surveyed the three, its eyes filled with self-deprecation:

"I have spent my entire life, 1,900 years, and only managed to cultivate to the early stage of the Golden Core realm, and even that is only a lower-grade Golden Core. How dare I presume to speak of the Nascent Soul stage?"

He scoffed and continued, "In this small place, in this small sect, being able to cultivate to the Golden Core stage is already a stroke of good fortune. Only you juniors who haven't even reached the Golden Core stage dare to talk about the Nascent Soul stage and spout nonsense."

As soon as he finished speaking, Sect Leader Lu turned pale and was speechless for a moment.

Kuaihuo Zhenren's words, spoken casually, were like a pebble thrown into still water, creating ripples.

He lived for 1,900 years. The lifespan limit for a Golden Core cultivator is 2,000 years, which is an ironclad law of Heaven that no one can cross.

Even if he successfully possesses the demonic ape puppet, he will only be able to prolong his life, at most living for another hundred years.

But what he wanted was precisely this century.

His old body was already decayed and rotten. He had to rely on secret techniques to sustain himself every time he made a move, and even walking was difficult.

Now that he has taken on the body of this demonic ape, although his lifespan won't increase much, he can move freely and unleash his supernatural powers to his heart's content, which is already a gain for him.

As for that earth-elemental golden core—he glanced down at the brownish-yellow light suspended in mid-air, a hint of disdain curling at the corner of his mouth.

It's just a low-grade Golden Elixir.

For a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was a ladder to heaven that he had always dreamed of; but for an old monster like him who had been stuck in the Golden Core stage for thousands of years, it was nothing more than the lowest grade of goods.

It's tasteless to eat, and not a pity to throw it away. If he truly coveted this thing, why would he have abandoned his own golden elixir just now?

But what he doesn't care about is something others would risk their lives for.

"This golden pill is useless to me now," the Happy Immortal said slowly, his scarlet demonic ape eyes sweeping across the three faces. "But there's only one golden pill left..."

Before he could finish speaking, he deliberately paused, swallowing the rest of his sentence.

There was no need to finish the sentence. Everyone present was intelligent; who couldn't understand the implied meaning?

There is only one Golden Elixir, but there are three of you. Whoever wants it can go and fight for it themselves.

The scheme was so simplistic, it could even be described as crude. Yet, no one could ignore it.

Sect Leader Lu's expression changed slightly, and he subconsciously tightened his grip on the Mountain and Sea Flag. His eyes flickered, and it was unclear what he was thinking.

Hua Luoyu frowned slightly, while Jiang Shi—Jiang Shi had already taken a half step back without making a sound, increasing the distance between himself and Sect Leader Lu.

He no longer dared to trust Sect Leader Lu.

Who can guarantee that someone who can kill his own nephew won't stab him in the back?

The horrific sight of those nine demonic seals bursting from Lu Chuanxuan's body was still vivid in his mind. If he were to join forces with such a person to seize the pill today, who knew that he wouldn't turn on him after succeeding?

Jiang Shi lowered his eyes, his mind racing.

Kuaihuo Zhenren's scheme is an open one. By revealing the truth, he intends to create mutual suspicion and checks and balances among the three. Whoever makes the first move will be targeted by the other two.

If anyone doesn't intervene, they can only watch helplessly as the Golden Core falls into the hands of others.

For a moment, each of the three was preoccupied with their own thoughts, and none of them made a move.

The earth-elemental golden core remained suspended in mid-air, its light gentle and unhurried, as if waiting for something.