“`
“Please speak.”
“Seventeenth-grade alchemy material—True Gold of Fire Path.”
Lin Qinghan stared at Lu Changsheng, filled with anticipation.
The True Gold of Fire Path is an alchemical material produced from the Primordial Ancient Mine, and it belongs to the seventeenth-grade alchemy materials; even the Tai Hua Holy Land has no stock left. She thought of Lu Changsheng, whose origins were unknown.
“This material, I do indeed have.” Lu Changsheng took out a piece of True Gold of Fire Path the size of a fingertip, “Is this amount sufficient?”
“It’s enough.”
Ling Qinghan’s eyes brightened. Did Lu Changsheng really have it?
“In exchange, what would you like?”
Lin Qinghan knew that Lu Changsheng liked to deal squarely. Since she wanted the True Gold of Fire Path from him, she had to offer something of equal value in return.
Without hesitation, Lu Changsheng said, “How about nine pieces of Enlightenment Tea Leaves?”
“Nine pieces?”
“Too many? Then six pieces will do.”
“No, what I mean is that it’s too little. I’ll give you eighteen pieces.”
Lin Qinghan found that Lu Changsheng didn’t seem to value the supreme alchemy material True Gold of Fire Path, willing to exchange it for six pieces of Enlightenment Tea Leaves. But she was not greedy; she gave Lu Changsheng a jade box containing eighteen pieces of Enlightenment Tea Leaves.
To have obtained eighteen pieces of Enlightenment Tea Leaves like this?
Lu Changsheng, on the other hand, felt he had made a killing.
As long as he had the Disciple Apprenticeship Simulator, he could get the True Gold of Fire Path back in the future, but only the Tai Hua Holy Land possessed the Enlightenment Tea Leaves.
Lin Qinghan and Lu Changsheng each got what they needed, and both were secretly pleased.
Lu Changsheng also felt some surprise.
The material needed for Lin Qinghan’s treasure, the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella, was the seventeenth-grade alchemy material “True Gold of Fire Path.” It was hard to imagine what rank the treasure would be once the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella was completed.
“Have you uncovered the insider who colluded with the Blood Sea Palace within the Tai Hua Holy Land?”
Lin Qinghan had not left in haste after her visit but took the rare opportunity to chat with Lu Changsheng.
Lin Qinghan nodded: “A Daluo Golden Immortal confessed to collusion with the Blood Sea Palace and has been executed by my father.”
The Tai Hua Holy Land indeed acted decisively, killing a Daluo Golden Immortal without mercy.
But Lu Changsheng always felt that there was more to the story.
“Have you managed to learn anything from him?”
“No, this person destroyed his Divine Sense the moment my father found him, making it impossible to continue the investigation.”
“I’m afraid there are secrets behind this matter.”
“Indeed, my father thinks the same. However, the Holy Land is not as simple as you might think; the factions within are incredibly intricate. Firstly, my father does not wish to cause panic over this matter. Secondly…”
“Your esteemed father doesn’t wish to startle the snake and is conducting the investigation covertly?”
“My father says you’re a genius; indeed, you are.”
Lin Qinghan secretly admired that Lu Changsheng and her father’s thoughts converged.
Lu Changsheng was not only highly talented but also particularly clever, a rare and valuable trait.
“Would you consider joining our Tai Hua Holy Land?”
Lin Qinghan’s beautiful eyes glanced over, hopeful. Beyond trading, she had another purpose for her visit—which was to persuade Lu Changsheng to join the Tai Hua Holy Land. A genius like Lu Changsheng was a sought-after asset for all the Holy Lands, even at their level.
“I still have one matter to resolve. After it’s settled, I’ll consider whether to join the Tai Hua Holy Land.”
Lu Changsheng had not forgotten his promise to Grandmaster Taixu and Fairy Qingxia.
There were still three thousand years left until his return to the Jing Long Immortal Temple.
“Alright, I’ll wait for you in the Tai Hua Holy Land. I am going to seclude myself to refine the Thousand Mechanism Umbrella, and see if I can take that half-step further.”
Lin Qinghan gave a slight nod, believing that Lu Changsheng wouldn’t refuse to join the Tai Hua Holy Land.
After all, only the Tai Hua Holy Land possessed the Enlightenment Tea Leaves.
“Before I enter seclusion, is there anything you would say to me?” Enjoy exclusive adventures from empire
Lin Qinghan looked at Lu Changsheng with curiosity.
Ordinary cultivators upon seeing Lin Qinghan would act respectfully and try to flatter her, but Lu Changsheng had always been calm, seemingly uninterested in the cultivation resources of the Tai Hua Holy Land. On the contrary, it was Lin Qinghan who often sought Lu Changsheng’s help for treasures that the Holy Land lacked.
“Good luck.”
“…”
Lin Qinghan couldn’t help but give Lu Changsheng a blank look.
She had given Lu Changsheng an opportunity, yet he was oblivious to the hint.
“`
To tell the truth, this was an opportunity that even the Holy Sons and promising youths of other Holy Lands could only dream of.
With a faint sigh, Lin Qinghan left the Zhengsheng Sect, and Lu Changsheng continued his comprehension of the “Sword Scripture of the Divine King.”
He had fifty-four Pieces of Enlightenment Tea Leaves, which allowed him to use them more liberally.
With the help of the Enlightenment Tea Leaves, Lu Changsheng was confident that he could cultivate the “Sword Scripture of the Divine King” up to the sixth layer in the next three thousand years.
…
In Guanghan Holy Land, Xia Ningxue suddenly gained a wealth of Sword Dao Comprehension while cultivating.
Lu Changsheng used the Enlightenment Tea Leaves to continuously comprehend the fourth and fifth layers of the “Sword Scripture of the Divine King,” and the Dual Cultivation System returned plenty of Sword Dao Comprehension to Xia Ningxue, allowing her insights into the Sword Dao to advance by leaps and bounds.
After ten thousand years, Xia Ningxue had become more exquisite, like an uncarved jade.
“His cultivation in the Sword Dao is advancing rapidly, and I can’t fall behind,” she thought.
Xia Ningxue practiced even more diligently, not wishing to be outstripped by Lu Changsheng.
Next to her was the Immortal Slaying Sword brought up from the Inquiry Immortal Pavilion.
This Immortal Sword still possessed boundless magical power.
…
Thus, another eight hundred years passed.
In the midst of the mountains, one side was full of soaring Demonic Qi, while the other side was entwined with Celestial Energy.
Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi were being chased by the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor, treating the pursuit as a trial by fire, managing to flee for eight hundred years.
After eight hundred years, both of them reached the verge of a breakthrough and simultaneously advanced to the sixth level of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
A strange scene ensued—Demonic Qi and Celestial Energy coexisted, and they each attracted completely opposite phenomena of heaven and earth.
When the heavenly and earthly phenomena dissipated, Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi had both become strong beings of the sixth level of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
Towering Demonic Qi surged into Dugu Aotian’s body, but he contained the Demonic Qi, looking no different from the boy next door.
Dugu Aotian stretched out his hand, and a Spirit Squirrel jumped onto his palm.
Gently, he stroked the fur of the Spirit Squirrel.
After coexisting with Dugu Aotian for eight hundred years, Liu Yiyi’s attitude towards him had softened considerably.
She discovered that Dugu Aotian, the Demon Chief, committed no evil deeds. On the contrary, while evading the pursuit of the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor, he casually did good deeds, such as saving mortals bullied by Heretic Cultivators and healing injured Immortal Cranes… He was only short of helping an elderly woman cross the street.
Compared to those Demon Chiefs who act terribly and kick passing dogs for no reason, Dugu Aotian was significantly better.
Dugu Aotian only cultivated Demonic Arts, yet his behavior was more righteous than that of those from the Orthodox Sects.
Liu Yiyi asked about Dugu Aotian’s origins, but he kept silent.
Likewise, Liu Yiyi did not wish to reveal that she came from the Yaochi Holy Land.
“We’ve improved our realms. It’s time to deal with the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor,” she said.
Dugu Aotian had been chased for thousands of years, and now with his improved cultivation, he felt capable of defeating the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor.
“Mhm.”
Liu Yiyi had also been pursued by the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor for some time.
Dugu Aotian released the barriers around them, waiting for the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor to catch up.
Within half a day, the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor, accompanied by four Demon Sect Elders, arrived.
“When exactly do you plan to stop running?”
The Xuan Yang Old Ancestor was numb to the chase.
Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi had managed to escape for eight hundred years under his pursuit.
His reputation as the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor was in tatters.
Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi exchanged glances. They had developed a tacit understanding while being pursued and almost simultaneously took action.
“Ah!”
Two Demon Sect Elders screamed. They had not expected Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi to be able to cultivate and upgrade their realms while being chased. Caught off-guard, they were slain by the swords of Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi!
Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi quickly dealt with the two Demon Sect Elders before turning to face the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor and the remaining two Elders.
The face of the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor turned somewhat unsightly.
Not only had the realms of Dugu Aotian and Liu Yiyi improved while being chased, but they had also devised a method to deal with them.
The two, working together once again, proved to be too much for the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor to handle, even with the operation of his Demonic Cultivation Skills, against two outstanding geniuses of the sixth level of the Heavenly Immortal Realm.
Both infused their longswords with talismans, chanting, “Invoke heavenly mechanisms with Qi, transform into talismanic scripts, uniting sword with talisman!”
A Blood Sword and an Immortal Sword, piercing through the Demonic Qi of the Xuan Yang Old Ancestor, struck him.