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

As Liu Yue spoke, the purple-gold bead rose into the air and floated towards Jiang Shi.

Jiang Shi grabbed the Purple Gold Bead and sent his spiritual sense through his body to examine the treasure.

"Good! Good! Good!" Jiang Shi was very satisfied. The metal element spiritual power inside was abundant, which would surely allow him to cultivate the "Golden Spirit Technique" to perfection.

"I'm glad Master Li is satisfied. This treasure was transported here from another major city by someone I asked, and it took three months. It's quite valuable."

Liu Yue recounted how difficult it was for him to obtain the Purple Gold Pearl, and Jiang Shi knew what he was thinking.

He put the purple-gold bead into his storage bag, then stood up, cupped his hands, and said:

"Fellow Daoist Liu, there is no need to worry. I will begin my seclusion today, and within three months I will surely be able to master the intermediate-grade Water Lock Talisman and present it to you as a second-grade low-grade Water Lock Talisman."

"Good, very good. Then I'll leave it to Master Li." Liu Yue said with satisfaction.

If Jiang Shi can really create a second-grade spirit talisman, then all his efforts will be worthwhile.

Jiang Shi brought the Purple Gold Pearl into the room.

The purple-gold bead shone brightly. Jiang Shi sat cross-legged on the bed, placed it in his dantian, and began to cultivate by circulating the "Golden Spirit Technique".

[Proficiency +30]

As the golden spiritual energy entered his body, his proficiency increased dramatically.

This is much faster than cultivating on your own, adding a few points every hour.

If you continue training like this, you will definitely be able to break through in three months.

Jiang Shi practiced asceticism here, and time passed quickly.

Three months later, inside and outside the Qingyun Sect.

"Senior Sister Lin, you can't go!" Senior Brother Hu blocked Lin Yanyi's way and shouted loudly.

Zhou Yuan stood not far away, his eyes red and his expression frightened. He wanted to say something, but couldn't utter a single word.

Today was supposed to be his turn to patrol the mountain, but Lin Yanyi stopped him and said she would go in his place.

That's how the scene before us came about.

"It's fraught with danger outside. Many outer disciples have gone and never returned. Senior Sister Lin, you are our pillar of strength, you must stay!"

"If anyone should go, it should be me! I am at the sixth level of Qi Refining, and my cultivation is not low. Senior Sister Lin and Junior Brother Zhou, you can stay here. This time, I should go."

Senior Brother Hu became more and more excited as he spoke, saying that he was willing to give his life for Lin Yanyi.

I don't want Lin Yanyi to go out and take risks.

Too many junior brothers have died. Jiang Shi and Li Ze have not returned to this day, and their remains have not been found.

Lin Yanyi remained expressionless, showing no sign of emotion even in the face of Hu Shixiong's words.

Lin Yanyi didn't speak. She gently pointed her finger, and her spiritual sense emanated from her body, freezing Senior Brother Hu in place.

The difference between the eighth level of Qi Refining and the sixth level of Qi Refining is too great; even with just spiritual sense, Senior Brother Hu couldn't defend against it.

"You take care of him," Lin Yanyi said to Zhou Yuan.

After saying that, he walked out.

Only a white figure remained, reflected in the eyes of Zhou Yuan and Senior Brother Hu.

Senior Brother Hu's eyes widened, desperately trying to break free of his restraints, but he was powerless to do so.

Zhou Yuan kowtowed three times to Lin Yanyi's figure, then looked at Senior Brother Hu with great self-reproach.

Given Lin Yanyi's status as a member of the Lin family, she shouldn't be required to participate in mountain patrols.

Going in Zhou Yuan's place would save Zhou Yuan's life.

Lin Yanyi walked to the outer gate and was stopped by someone.

"Junior Sister Lin, it's been a long time," Liang Yunfeng said to Lin Yanyi.

Lin Yanyi walked straight past him as if she hadn't heard or seen him.

"Junior Brother Liang, you even dare to flirt with Junior Sister Lin. Don't you know your own limitations?" Lu Wenming from the Lu family walked out from the outer gate.

"Lu Wenming! I didn't expect the Lu family to send you out this time. It seems you can't stay in the Lu family any longer," Liang Yunfeng said.

"Same here, same here. You were sent out just like me," Lu Wenming replied.

"Alright, you two, stop arguing. You're both disliked illegitimate sons in the family, and now you're on a patrol mission. Why don't you unite? Are you going to die together later?"

Ma Yilan from the Ma family came over and stopped the two arguing.

Although the three were from prominent families and their talents were not bad, they did not have a high status in their families and were bullied by others.

This mission might just be sending them to their deaths.

"Junior Sister Ma is right. Junior Brother Liang, let's work together to get through this patrol mission this time," Lu Wenming said to Liang Yunfeng first.

Upon hearing this, Liang Yunfeng realized the seriousness of the matter and immediately changed his attitude.

"Senior Brother Lu, Senior Sister Ma, how much do you know about this mission?"

"I just received news that a large number of rogue cultivators have gone missing in a nearby area, and they've asked us to go and investigate." Ma Yilan knew more than Liang Yunfeng and Lu Wenming.

This is also why she stopped the two from arguing and suggested they unite.

The three of them were merely scouts to pave the way for Foundation Establishment cultivators; this mission was far too dangerous!

"Such a thing is true! What kind of place is that?"

"The Marketplace for Unaffiliated Cultivators!"

The market town of scattered cultivators is now filled with unease.

Many independent monks sat cross-legged on the street, and the guesthouses were already full.

"Zhou Ping, Guard Zhou!" A rogue cultivator called out to Zhou Ping, who was in charge of maintaining order.

"Guard Zhou, many of the rogue cultivators who have gone out recently have gone missing. Have you received any news?" the rogue cultivator asked anxiously.

"Why are you asking this? Just stay here quietly and don't ask any more questions." Zhou Ping was in a bad mood; too many rogue cultivators had gone missing recently.

This led to a large influx of independent cultivators into the independent cultivator market, where they no longer ventured out.

The entire market town for scattered cultivators was so crowded and chaotic that it was impossible to manage.

This greatly increased the difficulty of their mission as guards.

Zhou Ping, who was originally assigned to follow Master Li, has been reassigned.

"This is definitely a threat from the demonic path!"

It's unclear who shouted this, but the rogue cultivators all fell silent upon hearing it.

The words "the scourge of the demonic path" terrified everyone.

"Stop talking nonsense, or I'll beat you up!" Zhou Ping threatened.

Although he knew that the threat of demonic cultivation might really exist, Liu Yue ordered that this not be discussed in the market for rogue cultivators.

Liu Yue was afraid that if they talked too much, they might actually attract demonic trouble.

"It's definitely true! Qingyun Sect and Biluo Valley were both afflicted by demonic possession, and many people died. I have a friend who works as a menial disciple at Qingyun Sect, and I heard that they carried out over a hundred corpses that day alone!"

This sentence ignited the atmosphere, and Zhou Ping could no longer control himself.

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, saying all sorts of things.

"Shut up, all of you! Do you want to bring disaster upon yourselves?"

Finally, this sentence silenced everyone again. Some cultivators covered their mouths, afraid that they might say something wrong again.

In Jiang Shi's courtyard, Liu Yue strode in and asked:

"Has Master Li emerged from seclusion yet?"

The maidservant spoke cautiously and softly to Liu Yue:

"Reporting to the patriarch, Master Li has not yet emerged from seclusion."

"You must inform me immediately when Master Li emerges from seclusion."

Liu Yue was anxious, but there was nothing he could do. Seeing that Jiang Shi had not yet come out of seclusion, he had no choice but to turn around and leave.

"I hope Master Li won't let me down!"