Starting with a useless yellow dog, he swept through the immortal realm.

According to Zhong Li's original plan, he was supposed to return to Qingyun Sect a few days ago, but for some reason, he was pursued several times along the way, leading Zhong Li to believe that the pursuers were people from within Qingyun Sect.

After all, Zhong Li felt that it wouldn't be surprising for the cannibalistic Qingyun Sect to do anything.

This group of people repeatedly blocked Zhong Li's path, causing him to be several days late in returning to the Qingyun Sect.

However, after careful consideration, Zhongli felt that this was not the Qingyun Sect.

Although the other party deliberately did not use beast taming during the battle, Zhong Li eventually discovered that this group of people were actually beast taming cultivators.

Although this group of people are beast-taming cultivators, their beasts are all very small and hidden, or possess the ability to possess people. Therefore, unless you observe carefully, you cannot tell that this group of people are from the Beast Taming Sect.

Since they were from the Beast Taming Sect, Zhong Li understood why this group was chasing him. They were definitely trying to delay his return to the Qingyun Sect.

The group didn't choose to kill him directly because he was currently on a mission, and it was a highly targeted assassination mission.

If he were to kill himself directly, his destiny lamp within the Qingyun Sect would be extinguished, and the Qingyun Sect could easily deduce that he died at the hands of the Beast Taming Sect.

So this group was just trying to stop him from moving forward, and Zhongli could understand their behavior.

The talent that Song Xun is showing now will surely be seen as the future by the Beast Taming Sect, so the protection for Song Xun will naturally be comprehensive.

Delaying his return to the sect was also a way to protect Song Xun. If he were to die directly, the Qingyun Sect would send someone with a higher cultivation level to hunt down Song Xun, which would be a loss for them.

Zhong Li wouldn't hold a grudge against Song Xun for this. He had already chased Song Xun so many times, and Song Xun only retaliated now. In Zhong Li's eyes, this was already very forgiving.

Moreover, this group of people was probably not sent by Song Xun, but rather by high-ranking members of the Beast Taming Sect.

However, this group of people could not hold him back for too long, nor could they directly imprison Zhongli. Otherwise, if Zhongli were to disappear for too long, it would be no different from killing him directly, and it would still be a losing proposition.

Despite having spent a long time in the cannibalistic Qingyun Sect, Zhongli, though usually lazy and laid-back, still possesses a sharp analytical mind and is quite capable of handling complex situations.

Therefore, Zhong Li has returned to the Qingyun Sect safely, but he is not sure whether he will be safe once he returns to the sect.

Returning to his long-lost sect, Zhongli felt no sense of belonging, only a deep-seated loathing for it.

Soon, Zhongli found Tiebei and reported the situation. As Zhongli expected, Tiebei was furious.

"You mean, you waited outside for so long, and in the end, you came back empty-handed?"

"I'm sorry, Master. It is my incompetence that has prevented me from sharing your burdens."

Tie Bei looked at Zhong Li with icy eyes, as if he had lost all patience with Zhong Li.

"You performed terribly on this mission. You dragged it out again and again, and in the end, Song Xun's cultivation level even surpassed yours. What use is such a piece of trash to me?"

"Master, this mission was my fault. I failed to accurately assess Song Xun's cultivation level, which led to our fruitless mission. I beg you to give me another chance so that I can atone for my sins."

"To atone for one's crimes through meritorious service?"

"How can you claim credit? Song Xun's cultivation level is already higher than yours."

Tie Bei glanced at Zhong Li, seemingly making a decision. Zhong Li naturally knew that Tie Bei was deciding whether to throw him into solitary confinement.

"I will find a way, please believe in me, Master."

Zhong Li knelt down with a thud, trying to beg Tie Bei for mercy. Although Zhong Li had anticipated this situation, he had no other choice but to keep pleading with Tie Bei.

Tie Bei had long been disappointed in his disciple Zhong Li, since Zhong Li had refused to use the sect's secret techniques to improve his cultivation over the years, causing him to remain stuck in the early stage of the Void Refinement Realm.

This made Tie Bei very dissatisfied. After all, as his eldest disciple, who had cultivated for so many years, he did not support the sect's arrangements, and his cultivation was even progressing much slower than some other true disciples.

As the master, I always felt ashamed in front of the other elders.

However, the fact that Zhongli Neng could raise his cultivation to the early stage of the Void Refinement Realm without relying on secret techniques is enough to demonstrate this disciple's talent.

This is why Tie Bei has always been tolerant of Zhong Li. However, this time, it concerns Song Xun and the struggle for his own lineage. Zhong Li has not performed well in this task, so Tie Bei has the idea of ​​locking Zhong Li in a solitary confinement room.

The room was completely silent. Just when Zhong Li thought he was going to be locked up in solitary confinement and end his life, Tie Bei spoke up again.

"Zhongli, we were master and disciple before. It's not that I'm not giving you a chance, but the main problem is that you're no longer capable of completing this mission. What should your master do?"

At this moment, Tie Bei had an idea. Since Zhong Li had been able to cultivate to the early stage of the Void Refinement Realm without relying on secret techniques, he would let Zhong Li use a secret technique to improve his cultivation this time. This would be the best way for him to give this disciple his due.

"I will do whatever Master arranges, but I only ask that Master give me a chance."

"Do you want to be locked in solitary confinement, or do you want to undergo solitary confinement for spiritual practice?"

Zhongli hadn't expected Tiebei to ask so bluntly. The secret techniques he had always despised were all about stealing the cultivation of fellow disciples. Tiebei meant that he should learn the secret techniques and then use them to improve his cultivation.

Zhong Li did not want to use this secret technique, but he also did not want to be subjected to it.

After all, being locked in solitary confinement is like having one foot in the grave.

At this point, Zhongli, who no longer wanted to use the secret technique, had no choice but to give in, otherwise he would really die.

"Master, your disciple is willing to learn secret techniques to improve my cultivation and then ambush and kill Song Xun."

Upon hearing Zhong Li speak, Tie Bei nodded slightly. With Zhong Li's talent and the secret techniques, it wouldn't be difficult for him to quickly improve his cultivation level in a short period of time.

Tie Bei nodded slightly.

"Zhongli, your master is giving you one last chance. Go to the confinement room, improve your cultivation, and then go and intercept Song Xun one last time."

"If you fail the mission again, your master will not give you another chance."

Upon hearing Tie Bei's words, Zhong Li slowly exhaled.

"Thank you, Master, for giving me the opportunity to atone for my sins. I will definitely work hard to improve my cultivation in the confinement room and then share your burdens."

"Okay, go ahead."

Zhongli finally understood, so Tiebei was willing to give Zhongli one last chance. After all, if Zhongli's cultivation improved quickly after using the secret technique, Tiebei would also receive rewards and praise from the sect.

Now, within the Qingyun Sect, anyone who embraces this so-called secret cultivation technique will be labeled as having the correct ideology.

At this moment, Tie Bei was also preparing to turn around and leave. Zhong Li, who was beside him, waited until Tie Bei's figure disappeared before slowly getting up.

At this moment, Zhongli felt somewhat hopeless, realizing that he would eventually have to enter the ranks of those who practiced this secret art.

For decades, Zhong Li had not used any secret techniques, which had long been a source of dissatisfaction for Tie Bei. Now that Zhong Li had agreed to use the secret techniques, Tie Bei was somewhat relieved.

If Zhongli's cultivation, combined with his secret techniques, is still insufficient to completely defeat Song Xun, then Tie Bei believes that Zhongli really has no reason to continue staying in the Qingyun Sect and should leave the sect as soon as possible.

Zhong Li decided to engage with the secret technique at this time because Tie Bei had made it very clear that Zhong Li knew he only had one last chance. If he couldn't defeat Song Xun this time, he would probably really be "left the sect".

Zhongli also hurried to the sect's library and obtained the cultivation method for this secret technique.

Yes, Zhongli, who had despised secret arts over the years, didn't even know how to use them. After borrowing the book, Zhongli prepared to return to his courtyard to study it carefully.

Zhongli was, after all, a true disciple of the Qingyun Sect, so he had his own independent courtyard.

Upon returning, Zhongli began to study this secret technique to the fullest extent possible. Between life and principles, Zhongli naturally chose life.

Meanwhile, Tie Bei was also silently pondering everything about Song Xun.

Although Zhongli failed to kill Song Xun, he had tracked him for so long and naturally had a very deep understanding of him, which he had just told Tie Bei.

"Mid-stage Void Refinement Realm, that's truly terrifying. I hope Zhongli won't disappoint me this time."

After all, just a few days ago, the Third Elder had locked his true disciple in a solitary confinement room. At this time, no one had yet used a secret technique to absorb the disciple's cultivation. Therefore, Tie Bei gave this opportunity to Zhong Li.

As for Tie Bei, at this point he already regarded Song Xun as a fellow successor of the Daoist lineage whom he had to eliminate.

An eighteen-year-old at the mid-stage of the Void Refinement Realm is truly terrifying.

This intensified Tie Bei's sense of crisis, considering that he had only recently entered the world of cultivation when he was eighteen.

And Song Xun actually reached this level of cultivation at the age of eighteen. If Song Xun is not eliminated quickly, Tie Bei is even afraid that Song Xun will reach his level of cultivation in no time.

When that time really came, Tie Bei was even afraid that he couldn't compete with Song Xun.

After all, with such talent, anyone who tries to compete with her would be afraid.

At this point, Tie Bei was even prepared to step in himself if he failed to complete the mission again.

However, behind Song Xun was the Beast Taming Sect. Although the Beast Taming Sect was clearly no match for the Azure Cloud Sect, Tie Bei knew that.

As two sects belonging to the righteous path, if a large-scale conflict were to occur, the Qingyun Sect would not gain much advantage and would inevitably suffer losses.

Tie Bei knew that if any losses occurred, the sect would definitely blame him.

Even someone as high-ranking as Tie Bei within the Qingyun Sect must always remain vigilant.

After all, he had cultivated diligently for so many years, and Tie Bei didn't want his cultivation to be absorbed by others.

However, if he really caused great losses to the Qingyun Sect, then Tie Bei would be devoured by the other elders, and all his cultivation would be drained.

That is why Tiebei is so anxious at this moment.

The secret techniques are not only used among disciples, but even the management staff of Qingyun Sect and the elders of Qingxuan Sect will become resources for others to cultivate.

That's why Tie Bei is still pinning his hopes on Zhong Li. If Zhong Li can win over Song Xun, that would be even better.

Although Song Xun is the peak master of the Beast Taming Sect, he is still regarded as a junior in this circle. Therefore, if you want to resolve things better, it would be best to let the juniors fight each other and decide who lives.

At that time, it would be easier to explain the attack by the Beast Taming Sect, since a disciple of the Azure Cloud Sect had killed a high-ranking member of the Beast Taming Sect.

Presumably, the Beast Taming Sect would be too ashamed to make a big deal out of this.

......

Zhongli was very quick to learn, and in less than half a day, he had memorized the secret technique.

However, there is still some difficulty in going from memorizing to using it well.