Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

"Hehe, since the two Daoist friends are not in a hurry, why not let this Heavenly Immortal Fruit go to me? How does that sound?"

"The Daoist friend really has a thick face, speaking so brazenly."

Two figures, one red and one grey, emerged from the void and simultaneously sneered.

...

...

Before long,

the mountain gate slowly opened.

"May I ask if the three seniors are—"

Han Sheng walked out from the Daoist training hall, smiling as he looked towards the three who were waiting quietly, just about to inquire about something.

But in the next moment, his words abruptly stopped.

A pair of indifferent and merciless immortal eyes suddenly appeared in Han Sheng's line of sight, quickly enlarging and swiftly occupying all of his mind.

His consciousness went blank at once!

A great fear of life and death beyond his control instantly surged in Han Sheng's heart.

In his ears, a remote and indifferent voice seemed to come from the end of the sky:

"The uncles have arrived, and you send just a mere Immortal Spirit? This nephew really lacks manners."

"Tell your master to come out to greet us personally, say that the three uncles have a fantastic opportunity to share with him," another person immediately followed, his tone filled with eagerness.

"The minor cultivator understands. Please wait a moment, esteemed immortals, I will go and inform my master immediately," Han Sheng said, struggling to overcome his fear and speaking with deference.

...

...

A moment later,

inside the main hall of Qingjing Palace.

"The nephew did not know it was the three uncles arriving, hence the lack of a proper welcome. Please forgive me for the negligence,"

down below, Zhang Jing bowed his hands, speaking humbly yet with dignity.

"Haha, ignorance is not a sin, as long as you have the intention, nephew,"

said Dong Ming, the Earth Immortal who was seated in the center among the three, his eyes revealing a hint of surprise when looking at Zhang Jing.

He had been in seclusion for years, comprehending the Dao in hopes of once again condensing a Dao fruit to break through to the Heavenly Immortal Realm before the end of his lifespan.

However, he had not expected that within the Tao Sect, such a young True Disciple would emerge.

"He's not yet a hundred years old, with a cultivation just at Golden Core, yet he has become a True Disciple? Which True Monarch is backing this nephew?!"

A trace of barely discernible doubt flashed through Dong Ming's eyes, but in an instant, the doubt turned into resolve.

His life was nearing its end!

No matter which existence stood behind the other party, he was determined to obtain that Heavenly Immortal Fruit.

"May I ask if the three uncles have come on important matters to entrust to this nephew?"

Zhang Jing's calm voice rang out, directly interrupting Dong Ming's thoughts.

As for the great opportunity mentioned by Han Sheng earlier, Zhang Jing scoffed at it and naturally made no mention of it.

Three unrelated people suddenly showing up with presents—unless he was mad, he would never believe it.

The three became suddenly stern upon hearing this.

They glanced at each other, each seeing a hint of caution and hostility in the other's eyes.

"Just let it go and any condition will be met," Dong Ming said to the other two, ignoring Zhang Jing and speaking in a flat tone, his wrinkled hands under his robe quietly clenching.

"The Daoist friend must be joking," replied the red-robed elder with a laugh, his intent to refuse as apparent as could be.

The grey-robed man seemed as though he hadn't heard Dong Ming's words at all, his gaze intensely fixed on Zhang Jing.

"This nephew, you should have a Heavenly Immortal Fruit in your possession, right?"

He paused,

then without waiting for Zhang Jing to respond, continued in a tempting tone:

"Nephew, you won't be able to use that fruit with your talent anyway, why not sell it to your uncle? I am willing to offer a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure. With this, our Tao Sect could have another Heavenly True Monarch, and you, nephew, would have boundless merit."

"How about it?"

As soon as these words were spoken,

"I am willing to offer a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure, plus ten ordinary-grade Origin Crystals," Dong Ming said anxiously, his decisive words directed at Zhang Jing.

Then, as if worried that the lower cultivation might not understand the value of Origin Crystals, he added:

"Nephew, you might not be aware. These Origin Crystals can only be collected by powerful beings from the Origin Power when a world perishes; they are essential for achieving a Heavenly Immortal Dao fruit and are invaluable."

"Ordinary cultivators desire—"

Dong Ming was cut off before he could finish, as the red-robed elder beside him interjected.

"I am willing to offer a Postnatal Spiritual Treasure, and if the nephew gives the Dao fruit to me, once I achieve the position of Heavenly Immortal, I will provide protection for the nephew three times without any cost."

For a time,

overwhelming and majestic auras filled Qingjing Palace, clashing and then dissolving.

At the entrance to the hall,

"Master actually has the legendary Heavenly Immortal Fruit?!"

Han Sheng, who heard everything, couldn't help but glance at his master, his eyes filled with disbelief.

But then again,

a hint of worry unavoidably flashed through his heart.

Such terrifying auras—although he himself was at the Unity Realm Stage, he felt an almost stifling sensation. It was hard for him to imagine the immense pressure that his master in the hall must be under at this very moment.

"One pays the price for possessing a treasured item,"

Han Sheng sighed inwardly.

On the other side,

facing three scorching gazes,

Zhang Jing, seated on a meditation cushion, slowly recovered from his astonishment and his gaze deepened in turn.

Let alone that the incomplete fruit had been devoured by the Jade Talisman and he couldn't offer it, Zhang Jing wouldn't easily give up something that could transform the Jade Talisman.

No condition would suffice.

The Jade Talisman had been the foundation of his standing all along the way.

This was something Zhang Jing knew better than anyone.