Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

"What on earth does Senior Brother Zhang Jing want to do?"

Feeling the relentless approach of death, You Yuanming couldn't help but look up at the Tianqiong, a flash of confusion in his eyes.

With his brother's strength, he could almost directly coerce the Li Family into giving in and handing over the disciple from Nong Xingzhou.

Not to mention that the other party also had the status of a Tao Sect True Disciple.

Yet at this moment.

"It's about time. That kid is only at the Golden Core Realm. How many more times can he activate an Immortal Treasure? Besides, with so many Dharma Phase Cultivators attacking together, are we still afraid of him? Nonsense!"

An impatient voice rose from the crowd opposite.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

A moment later.

Immortal fire, poison fog, array lights, spell swords, arrows...

One after another, spells charged with terrifying power and various magical treasures flew out, forming a surging wave that rushed towards You Yuanming and the other two.

It was vast and unstoppable, irresistible!

The ferocious power made the void tremble, and the Immortal Spirit Qi suffusing the air had become utterly chaotic.

At the same time.

Many probing gazes landed squarely on the bronze chain that You Yuanming held in his hand—the Immortal Treasure.

"With so many in the Dharma Phase Realm attacking together, how terrifying their might is! I refuse to believe you can still block it!"

Li Zi, who had already retreated to the outskirts, looked excitedly at the majestic tide spanning the sky and muttered to himself.

After his father's death, wouldn't this treasure belong to him to control?

Vibrant tremors echoed throughout the sky.

Pure mana appeared within the Immortal Binding Chain, following an obscure connection.

The next instant.

The bronze divine light shone brilliantly!

Whoosh whoosh—

The Immortal Binding Chain swiftly extended forward, transforming into a soaring azure dragon, roaring as it met the tide of spells, a tragic and somber aura spreading out.

"You must hold on!"

Below, a trace of hope flashed through the eyes of all three—You Yuanming and the others—as their hearts leapt to their throats.

This was their only means of survival.

"Haha, don't pity your treasures! As long as we capture this bronze Immortal Chain, the Li Family will acquire another foundation to the clan. Perhaps one day, we could even surpass the Long Ze and An Families to become the foremost of the seven great families in the Beast Territory," the burly middle-aged man shouted encouragingly at the forefront.

"Yes, Family Head!"

The crowd's voices were filled with frenzied zeal.

In an instant, one magical treasure after another, even if it meant sustaining damage to themselves, resolutely charged through layers of Immortal Light and crashed towards the true form of the Immortal Binding Chain.

Divine Spells were activated by the Li Family members without regard for the cost, bit by bit eating away at the bronze divine light of the Immortal Binding Chain.

No one knew how much time had passed.

Accompanied by a mournful wail, the bronze divine light gradually shattered, and the azure dragon, battered by one damaged treasure after another, was blasted away, reverting to its original form halfway through the air—a three-foot-long bronze chain.

The Immortal Binding Chain had not yet fallen.

When a large hand stretched out, seizing it firmly.

"Hahaha, what a fine treasure! Just begging Jiu Yan True Immortal to refine it again; thereafter, it will become an exclusive clan treasure for the Li Family," the burly man said, caressing the bronze Immortal Chain, growing increasingly fond of it.

"Damn it, the treasure's been taken; how are we going to explain this to Senior Brother Zhang Jing?" Qiu Han muttered as he watched the scene unfold in midair.

"Hehe, Brother Qiu, we have to be alive to do that," You Yuanming said with a pale face, glancing at the encroaching Li Family members around them.

"Chu, weren't you just saying you wanted to take these three back to the Chu Family? Please be my guest, I still have matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave first," said the burly man not far away.

He pointed at the three captured individuals, speaking smugly, with an air of having gotten away with something.

"There's no need; just trouble you to handle it," Chu Father took a deep breath, his gaze sweeping from the bronze Immortal Chain in the other's hand and said through gritted teeth, "But such a precious treasure, dear Brother, you must take great care in guarding it."

His voice was full of unwillingness.

An Immortal Treasure, indeed!

To watch as the Li Family effortlessly took it for themselves right before his eyes—it felt as though he was slicing flesh from his own heart.

With this thought in mind,

Chu Father couldn't help but glare venomously at Chu Yan, who was being hoisted in someone's hand, resenting internally:

What an ungrateful wretch, why didn't you bring the Immortal Treasure back to the Chu Family? If you had mentioned the Immortal Treasure earlier, how would it matter if I had agreed to the marriage?

"Sigh~"

A sigh followed,

His face regained its calm, and he clasped his hands in a salute before saying farewell:

"Senior Brother, now that the matter is settled, I shall not linger any longer. Esteemed nephew must remember to come to Lingjiang Immortal City one day; the Chu family shall allow you to pick any three eligible maidens as compensation."

After a pause, he spoke in a negotiative tone:

"I have a son yet to be matched in marriage. Perhaps Senior Brother could lend a hand and see if my boy is fortunate enough to welcome a proud daughter of the Li Family into our abode."

"Ha-ha, well said, well said."

The burly man stroked his beard and laughed as he agreed.

He, of course, understood the other's intention, and the Li Family, wishing to challenge the An clan's position in the Beast Territory in the future, would need closer allies.

It was a perfect match.

...

...

"The treasure has been stolen, and a person has been captured; now I have a completely justifiable reason to make a move. Afterward, starting with the Li Family, I shall follow the trail to find the key player, aiming straight at the Taiyi Pavilion in the Beast Territory."

"From bottom to top, thoroughly cleanse this domain of those endowed with mighty Karma Power."

Everything below was within his view.

Zhang Jing, reclining on a cloud, suddenly revealed a faint smile on his face, then his figure slowly began to dissipate.

Only a few sighs remained, gradually scattering with the wind.

"Alas, if it were a True Teaching succession, there would be no need for such effort to find a reason for intervention."

"I wonder how the main body's seclusion is progressing? It should be soon, I presume. Stepping into the Dharma Phase Realm will qualify one to compete for the True Teaching succession."

...

...

The next day.

The previously quiet and solemn Li Family estate was now, unexpectedly, filled with the sounds of clinking cups and laughter, interspersed with merriment and frolic.

It sounded like a great deal of joy.

The western gate.

A detachment of Tao soldiers stood quietly, like a row of cold statues.

Behind this detachment of Tao soldiers were two young men dressed as servants, whispering to each other, discussing something quietly.

"Tsk, what joyous event have our masters come across? I hear that even we servants will get a share of precious Immortal Wines and Immortal Fruits. How splendid!"

"I overheard Young Master Yan mentioning something last night, saying that our Li Family had encountered a tremendous opportunity, but I've no idea what it actually is."

"Hiss, no wonder."

As the two men spoke,

One after another, the thumping sound of heavy objects hitting the ground slowly reached their ears.

They instinctively looked up, and a horrendous scene they had never seen before suddenly came into view.

Both of them shivered simultaneously, as their hearts were engulfed by a thick sense of dread.

They saw a young man dressed in a blue robe, casually walking toward them with a mild smile on his face.

Just by looking at him, they felt a sense of spring warmth wash over them.

However,

Wherever the stranger passed, those usually haughty Hei Jia elders fell in swaths as if they were wheat being harvested, their necks cleanly sliced like mirrors.

There was neither resistance nor cries of struggle.

The situation was bizarre to the extreme.

Watching the terrifying figure draw closer and closer, the two servants felt more and more surrounded by an intense fear.

They clenched their necks tightly, desperately trying to scream, but no matter how hard they tried, they could only produce 'heh' 'heh' sounds.

Tap, tap—

The footsteps went silent.

"Gentlemen, I've misplaced a small bronze chain. Upon calculation, I suspect it was picked up and accidentally unreturned by an elder of your house. My personal visit today is indeed an act of helplessness, and I hope you can relay the message on my behalf."

A gentle voice sounded next to their ears.

Opening their eyes, the two servants saw a young face smiling warmly at them, looking quite friendly—if one could ignore the bodies lying decapitated all around.

"This... Esteemed... sir, I am unaware of your honored name, and I would need it to report inside."

One of the servants managed to summon a smile uglier than crying, mustering the courage to stammer out the question.

"I am Qingyun, thank you,"

Zhang Jing responded with a smile.

"Immortal... The Immortal is too kind. Please wait just a moment."

With that,

The two servants turned and scampered back through the gate, their faces full of terror.

Today, it seemed, an extraordinary event was about to unfold!