Seeking immortality begins with daily intelligence reports.

The atmosphere inside Yunhe Mountain Market suddenly became tense.

The oppressive aura of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator spread out without restraint, causing the Qi Refining cultivators walking in the streets and alleys to feel a tightness in their chests and slow their steps.

Everyone lowered their heads to make way, but couldn't help glancing upwards out of the corner of their eyes.

The eldest elder of the Song family, with a somber expression, led two elders at the late stage of Qi Refining and several disciples, heading straight out of the market.

Only after the group of people disappeared into the distance and the oppressive aura dissipated did voices return to the market.

The familiar cultivators whispered amongst themselves, their voices extremely low:

"Judging by the direction... are they heading towards Laoshan?"

"With this kind of setup, could it be a demon hunt?"

"If Foundation Establishment cultivators get involved in demon hunting, what chance do we rogue cultivators have..."

His words betrayed his surprise and uncertainty.

-

Outside Laoshan, at the contribution point registration point set up by the three sects.

The disciples on duty stopped writing almost simultaneously, their eyes flashing with a hint of inspiration, and all looked in the direction from which the oppressive aura was coming.

"A Foundation Establishment cultivator...why would they be here?"

Doubts arose in their hearts, and they immediately whispered instructions to their fellow disciples:

"Return to the sect immediately to report."

The independent cultivators on the outskirts had already wisely made way for a wide passage.

The disciple on duty from the Hundred Weapons Sect stepped forward, cupped his hands, and respectfully asked:

"Is Elder Song going into the mountains to hunt demons?"

Song Kui didn't stop walking, only glancing at him with an expressionless face:

"It's a family matter; a member of our family has gone missing in the prison. I'm going in to look for him."

The disciple was taken aback, then a look of realization dawned on him, and he stepped aside to let the disciple pass.

"I see. Please make yourself at home, Elder. Just let us know if you're looking for someone, and we can help."

Song Kui nodded slightly without responding, and led his people directly into the depths of the mountains and forests.

The pressure from the Foundation Establishment stage surged forward like a tidal wave.

Wherever it went, low-level monsters lay in wait, and birds fell silent.

Only after that chilling aura completely disappeared did the scattered cultivators on the periphery begin to discuss it animatedly:

"Who went missing from the Song family? It's so important that a Foundation Establishment cultivator has to personally go into the mountains to search for them..."

"He's probably a direct descendant, or he's carrying something important."

"Rumors say the Song family and the Hundred Weapons Sect are close, and it seems they're true."

"Shh! Is this something we should be discussing?"

-

Within the Laoshan Mountains lies the Fog Valley.

Li Shen arrived at the valley entrance, took a poison-avoiding pill, and cautiously walked inside.

Although no monsters were encountered along the way, there were obvious signs of fighting.

His heart tightened, and he immediately became alert.

Fortunately, the fog wasn't too thick, and my divine sense could probe a certain distance.

Before long, Li Shen sensed an unusual aura; it was a mid-stage first-tier demonic beast.

"It seems like they've taken over someone else's place."

Li Shen muttered to himself.

He dared not be careless, pinching a mid-grade ice cone talisman between two fingers, while simultaneously ambushing the spirit-devouring ants, and holding the Yin Soul Banner in his hand.

The moment the Soul Slave was summoned, the other party seemed to sense the threat and let out a terrifying roar!

Li Shen remained unmoved and immediately ordered his soul slaves to pounce on the opponent, while he himself attacked from the side with ice spike talismans and fireball talismans.

......

The battle was over in less than fifteen minutes.

Li Shen stared at the black bear's carcass on the ground, his mind racing with calculations:

The soul is absorbed into the Yin Soul Banner, the vital energy nourishes the Seven-Colored Python, and the skin and bone materials belong to the user.

A set of procedures, performed with great skill.

After dealing with these matters, Li Shen planted the Yin Soul Banner in the ground, chanted an incantation, and absorbed all the remaining wandering souls in the area into the banner.

......

Three days later.

Li Shen proceeded cautiously all the way and finally returned to the small courtyard in the outer city.

He was supposed to leave the mountain in two days, but he spotted the Song family members in the distance. Although they were far away, to be on the safe side, he found a secluded place to hide for a day before taking a detour to leave Laoshan.

Back in his room, Li Shen closed the doors and windows and began to tally up what he had gained from the trip.

With a wave of his hand, five storage bags of different colors appeared on the table.

Li Shen carefully checked the items in the first storage bag.

Besides a mid-grade longsword magic weapon, there were also more than thirty low-grade spirit stones, several bottles of Qi-restoring pills and Qi-replenishing pills.

He quickly determined that this must be from one of the two disciples who were instantly killed.

"The harvest was so-so, but it's better than nothing."

He took out the spirit stones and pills, and temporarily set aside the longsword and magic weapon.

The Song family's standardized ritual implements have distinct characteristics, and rashly using or using them could easily cause trouble.

Next, Li Shen opened the second storage bag.

This storage bag has more space, but the contents are about the same as the previous one.

However, Li Shen was somewhat surprised by the number of spirit stones; there were actually a full one hundred and twenty low-grade spirit stones.

"As expected of a member of the family."

Li Shen sighed inwardly and opened the third storage bag.

This bag contains many more items.

Besides more than two hundred low-grade spirit stones, some common pills and talismans, and standard longswords and magical artifacts, there was also a jade slip.

He probed the jade slip with his divine sense and discovered that it contained a secret movement technique called "Wind Shadow Step".

"It's a movement technique!"

Li Shen was overjoyed.

He now mainly relies on the Yin Soul Escape technique to escape, which, although fast, is limited in its methods.

If one encounters an opponent who can counter this type of escape technique, the odds are likely to be against them.

He had previously sought other movement techniques, but these kinds of inheritances were mostly tightly controlled by sects and Foundation Establishment families, and were strictly prohibited from being leaked.

The current "Wind Shadow Step" is like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

The fourth storage bag should belong to that person named Song Mu.

The bag contained few items, but they were of considerable value.

There are six hundred low-grade spirit stones alone, which is equivalent to the low-grade concealment talismans that Li Shen sold for three months.

There was also a talisman with a restrained golden light. Li Shen examined it from all sides and concluded that this talisman should be the same golden light shield that Song Mu had used back then.

Judging from its runes, it should be a high-level defensive talisman.

"If it weren't for the fact that the Soul-Devouring Ants are naturally able to counter spiritual energy shields, they would be really troublesome to deal with."

Li Shen felt a chill run down his spine; it was a pity there was only one.

In addition, there is a technique called "Golden Edge Sword Technique," but unfortunately, Li Shen possesses the four spiritual roots of wood, water, earth, and fire, but lacks metal, so he cannot cultivate it.

Moreover, this sword technique only has three levels, with an upper limit of no more than the Qi Refining stage, so he didn't care.

Finally, there was an ordinary wooden box. As soon as it was opened, a refreshing medicinal fragrance filled the air.

Inside the box lay three emerald green spiritual herbs with leaves as fine as feathers, each about three inches long, with faint shimmering light emanating from their leaves.

"Featherleaf grass...and a hundred years old at that!"

Li Shen recognized the item and was overjoyed.

In Shi Yong's "Experiences in Alchemy", Feather Leaf Grass is one of the main ingredients for refining Qi Gathering Pills. To refine a high-quality Qi Gathering Pill, a hundred-year-old one is especially important.

Li Shen suppressed his excitement and opened the last storage bag, which belonged to Song Changshan, a ninth-level Qi Refining elder of the Song family.

When Li Shen probed in with his divine sense, his breath caught in his throat.

The first thing that catches the eye is a small mountain of spirit stones.

A rough estimate suggests there are at least a thousand low-grade spirit stones.

In addition, there were three bottles of pills, labeled "Qi Gathering Pill", "Mind Concentration Pill", and "Blood Explosion Pill".

The Qi Gathering Pill needs no introduction, while the Mind Concentration Pill can assist in cultivation, stabilize the mind, and is helpful for breakthroughs, alchemy, and talisman making.

The Blood Explosion Pill was probably the one Song Changshan took when he fled. It can stimulate potential in a short period of time, but it seems to have significant side effects and should not be used unless absolutely necessary.

What excited Li Shen the most was a jade slip containing the principles of the "Six Harmonies Sealing Spirit Array" and the activation techniques.

This formation is a genuine second-tier formation.

If the host's cultivation reaches the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, they can operate independently.

If one's cultivation level is insufficient, one will need the assistance of others.

When the host is in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, two cultivators at the mid-stage or above of Qi Refining are required to assist.

When the host is at the late stage of Qi Refining, at least five cultivators at the mid-stage or above of Qi Refining are required to assist.

The power of a formation depends on the skill and control of the person in charge.

"Although I can't use it right now, once I reach the Foundation Establishment stage, I'll have another way to rely on when facing enemies."

Li Shen gently stroked the jade slip, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.