Seeking immortality begins with daily intelligence reports.

A moment later, the disciple standing to Song Shun's left suddenly realized what was happening and called out Li Niu's name.

Immediately afterwards, Li Niu produced his patrol token as proof of his identity.

After examining the document, Song Shun nodded slightly and turned to face the three female cultivators in the courtyard.

He patted his storage bag and took out a jet-black stone nearly as tall as a person, placing it in the center of the courtyard.

The stone surface is smooth and flat, and its texture is slightly translucent.

Song Shun then took out the Qi-finding disc and explained:

"The three of you will then take turns channeling your spiritual energy into the spirit-testing stone."

As soon as she finished speaking, Liu Rou slowly stepped forward and said softly:

"I'll go first."

Then she touched the stone surface with her palm.

A faint light appeared, and the spirit-testing stone reacted instantly.

First, green light waves rippled slightly in all directions, proving that she possessed a wood spirit root and had a very affinity for wood-attribute spiritual energy.

Then blue light waves emanated from the palm at the same frequency, but for a slightly shorter duration.

This proves that she also possesses a water elemental root, but her affinity is slightly inferior.

The reactions of the Earth Spirit Root and Fire Spirit Root followed in turn.

Like Li Shen, Liu Rou possesses a pseudo-spiritual root of four elements.

The Qi-finding disc in Song Shun's hand did not react at all.

Therefore, the suspicion that Liu Rou was a demonic cultivator was first ruled out.

After Song Shun asked about Liu Rou's recent activities but found nothing amiss, it was Lin Xiaoxiao's turn.

To Li Shen's surprise, Lin Xiaoxiao's aptitude was even worse than his own.

It is a mixed spiritual root with all five elements.

No wonder Lin Xiaoxiao is still stuck at the third level of Qi Refining.

The air locator still did not respond.

Following procedure, Song Shun also asked Lin Xiaoxiao about her recent activities.

After finding nothing amiss, it was the turn of the last female cultivator in the courtyard, Su Qing.

Li Shen's gaze narrowed slightly.

He had doubts about Su Qing's identity, suspecting that she might also be one of the demonic cultivators who had infiltrated the market.

Now is the perfect time to verify.

Su Qing stepped forward slowly, raised her hand without hesitation, and gently pressed it on the surface of the spirit-testing stone.

Golden, red, and blue light waves appeared in sequence.

Before long, Su Qing withdrew her hand, and the three-colored halo disappeared into the stone, restoring the spirit stone to its original black color.

However, the Qi-finding disc in Song Shun's hand did not deviate at all.

Li Shen breathed a slight sigh of relief, which proved that Su Qing was not a member of the demonic path.

"Fellow Daoist Su, have you been to Laoshan these past few days?"

Song Shun asked the question as if it were a routine matter.

Su Qing's beautiful eyes flickered slightly, and she answered frankly:

"These days I haven't left the market, just going back and forth between Shuixianlou and my home."

At this point, Su Qing paused, as if remembering something, and a slight smile appeared on her lips:

"I even saw Fellow Daoist Song at the Sleeping Immortal Pavilion last night."

Song Shun coughed awkwardly twice, asked a few more questions, and then put away the spirit-testing stone and the qi-finding plate.

He then turned and bowed to Li Shen:

"Master Li, I apologize for disturbing you."

Two disciples behind him bowed in greeting.

Li Shen waved his hand, his tone amiable:

"It's alright. As members of a Foundation Establishment family, we should cooperate with each other. The appearance of demonic cultivators has caused panic in the market. We hope to find them as soon as possible and restore peace to the market."

"Li Gongfeng is a man of great integrity and righteousness."

Song Shun nodded, looked around the courtyard again, and then took his leave with his two disciples.

The courtyard gate closed again, and the slightly serious atmosphere relaxed.

Lin Xiaoxiao sighed softly, pinched her brow, and said with a hint of helplessness:

"I don't know when this will end; it's so uncomfortable to go in and out."

After saying that, she leaned against Liu Rou, wrapped her arms around his waist, and rested her head on the soft surface.

The faint medicinal scent lingering on Liu Rou's body immediately put him at ease.

Liu Rou patted her head and whispered:

"Since those Foundation Establishment families have made such a large mobilization, it shouldn't be so easy to capture the demonic cultivators. Let's wait patiently."

Lin Xiaoxiao nodded slightly upon hearing this, then turned to glance at Li Shen, her tone slightly teasing:

"However, with someone like Senior Li here, safety should be no problem, and I can sleep soundly at night."

Li Shen felt helpless and could only reply:

"It shouldn't be long, but if it's not necessary, try to minimize going out."

After saying that, Lin Xiaoxiao and Liu Rou exchanged a glance and then returned to their respective rooms.

Su Qing also silently returned to her room.

Only Li Shen and Li Niu remained in the courtyard.

Li Niu watched the three of them return to the house before approaching Li Shen and lowering his voice to say:

"Shen-ge'er, I think that girl is interested in you."

Li Shen looked puzzled, patted him on the shoulder, and said in a deep voice:

"That's just her being sarcastic and unfriendly. You should think about what you're going to treat me to later."

"Hehe, leave it to me."

Li Niu scratched his head and followed Li Shen toward Juxianlou.

"Brother Shen, what is Yin and Yang?"

Li Shen smiled but did not answer.

-

The two arrived at the entrance of Juxianlou. Li Niu wanted to invite Li Shen to the second floor, but Li Shen refused.

Although the ostensible explanation was that he could just make do downstairs, Li Shen actually wanted to gather some information.

It's lunchtime now, and the first floor is basically full of people.

This is a good time to gather rumors circulating in the streets.

The two chose an empty seat in the corner and sat down.

It took them more than half an hour to finish eating.

Li Shen achieved his goal, and Li Niu also had something to do back home, so the two parted ways at Juxianlou.

Although he listened to a lot of gossip from other diners, Li Shen still maintained a dialectical attitude towards it.

One should neither believe everything nor completely disbelieve everything.

Back in the courtyard, Li Shen went into Liu Rou's room to check on the progress of the Yin Ning flower.

Of the seeds that Li Shen had purchased, many had already grown thanks to Liu Rou's nurturing.

Based on the description, Li Shen also recognized the Yin Ning Flower among the many potted plants.

He casually expressed his fondness for the spiritual plant to Liu Rou, asking her to focus on cultivating it.

Liu Rouwen complied.

Li Shen gave a few more instructions and then returned to his room to cultivate.

Everything is proceeding according to plan.

After a brief adjustment, he returned to his cultivation practice.

During this period, entry and exit from the prison were strictly checked. In order to reduce trouble, Li Shen temporarily put aside the matter of cultivating the Seven-Colored Python and the Soul Slave and focused on his own cultivation.

Time flies, and another three months have passed in the blink of an eye.

The investigation into the demonic cultivators came to nothing after about half a month.

The Tang family also failed to find the mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator who was present at the time.

Those who have suspicions are just deliberately finding fault.

The Tang family did not kill them indiscriminately; they punished them slightly and then released them.

For the past three months, Li Shen has spent most of his time locked in the advanced training room, striving to break through to the eighth level of Qi Refining.

After the market returned to normal, he would occasionally sneak into the prison mountain at night to hunt and cultivate the seven-colored python, soul slaves, and spirit-devouring ants.

The Seven-Colored Python has successfully advanced to the late stage of the first tier.

After the Soul Slave devoured all the souls within the Yin Soul Banner, although it did not advance to the mid-stage of the second tier, Li Shen estimated that it wouldn't be too far off.

After all, most of the souls fed to us are high-quality, late-stage Tier 1 souls.

The progress of the Soul-Eating Ants is slow, but they are steadily accumulating strength.

Although no opportunities or information had been provided in the past three months, Li Shen, who was in the market, was fully aware of the situation at the Xuanhuo Shangren's former residence.