Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

The Spirit Crane lightly flapped its wings.

It occasionally let out a joyful crane cry.

Zhang Jing sat cross-legged on the Spirit Crane, his eyes as calm as an ancient well.

The scenery below quickly passed through his sight until ... three familiar beech trees appeared.

We are here!

Zhang Jing's eyes shimmered slightly.

He did not command the Spirit Crane to land like he did last time, but continued to fly forward.

Just when he had left Langya County earlier today.

Zhang Jing keenly noticed an elusive gaze behind him, akin to a bone-eating maggot, no matter how he controlled the Spirit Crane's flight, he couldn't shake it off.

The only good news was that the other party did not give him a sense of lethal threat.

It showed that the highest cultivation level was at most the seventh stage of Qi Refinement.

"Being watched ... who might it be?"

He considered himself to be an honest man, especially after entering Langya County where he lived by the rules, unlikely to have any enemies.

Could it be those inferior Talisman Masters? Or it might be ——

Zhang Jing couldn't help but ponder.

Before long.

The Spirit Crane slowly descended, and finally landed on a rock cliff where dense trees thrived by the river.

Splash!

Zhang Jing, enclosed by the protective spiritual light, directly jumped into the turbulent black river. His aura instantly merged with the river, disappearing without a trace.

At the river bed.

Zhang Jing moved like a fish, darting through the downstream swiftly.

Although he was confident in dealing with the person behind him, he didn't forget that there was a White Deer on the verge of breakthrough in the medicine garden.

In order to prevent any surprises.

Zhang Jing thought it would be better to be cautious.

Half an hour passed.

He returned to the crevice that could only be passed through by one person and entered smoothly.

Deliberately controlling his aura.

Zhang Jing's presence gradually quieted, leaving no sound in his steps, like a ghost.

Gradually, the figure of the demon deer appeared within his sight.

It was still in the same state as when he had seen it last time.

Zhang Jing couldn't help but sigh in relief.

For him, there could not be better news.

If the deer had by now completed its breakthrough, it might pose some trouble.

With one thought.

The sound of raging water flow mingled with the pleasant sound of magic artifacts' collision sounded abruptly, like a piece of music, gradually increasing from a faint sound to a clear one.

Simultaneously.

A long river shadow emerged out of nowhere, revolving around Zhang Jing.

Through the clear river water, one could vaguely see five magic artifacts colliding inside.

However, the next moment.

The phantom of the Five Treasures Ling River suddenly disappeared.

Zhang Jing's surroundings fell quiet once again.

He slowly turned around, looking expressionlessly towards the cave entrance.

Step, step——

The sound of heavy footsteps came from the distance, and in the blink of an eye, was already near.

A man in a grey robe appeared in sight.

This was an especially strange-looking man, with a hawk-like nose and two sunken eyes that resembled pits, with a dry skin that made it impossible to guess his age.

His body was wrapped in a hint of decaying and cold aura.

His cultivation level should be the seventh stage of Qi Refinement.

"I don't seem to know you?"

Zhang Jing spoke without any emotion in his voice.

"Tsk," the grey-robed man looked at Zhang Jing, revealing a strange smile on his face, and asked amiably: "Young fellow, you got the Blood Mill from Heishan County, right? It made me look hard for you."

"Be a good boy and give it to me, and you might even be able to keep your life."

"You've reached the fifth stage of Qi Refinement at such a young age. You've got unlimited prospects. There's no need to die here over nothing. Don't you think?"

Standing opposite to the man.

Blood Mill? Heishan County?

Zhang Jing couldn't help but think of that red-grind stored in his storage bag, his eyes flickered slightly.

Which meant.

The grey-robed man in front of him was part of those behind the scenes ensuing chaos in Langya County?

No.

He should rather be a small pawn under those behind the scenes.

The red-grind was useless to Zhang Jing.

Yet he knew the current situation; regardless of whether he handed it over or not, this man would not let him go.

After thinking it through.

"If I hand it over, you can spare my life?"

Zhang Jing looked at the man, asking quietly.

At the same time, the illusory Five Treasures Spirit River under his control began to rage.

"Of course."

The man looked at Zhang Jing, but his gaze kept drifting toward the spiritual medicines not far away, a hint of insatiable greed started to emerge on his face.

"In that case, I will comply."

Zhang Jing took a deep breath, as if he was going to retrieve the Blood Mill from the other man's mouth.

He was still waiting!

It wasn't out of uncertainty, but rather, Zhang Jing suddenly realized that the gaze of the man in front of him did not entirely match the concealed gaze he had perceived earlier.

His intuition was warning him.

There had to be someone else here!

"Well, well, this journey has certainly been interesting. All kinds of monstrosities have emerged." Zhang Jing sneered in his heart.

Time trickled away.

The man in grey saw Zhang Jing delay in bringing out the Blood Mill and started to seem impatient.

"Young man, stalling for time won't help. Bring out the Blood Mill, and you can leave right now."

However, at that moment.

"Junior Brother, how about we make a deal? Give me the method to purify the Demon Core, and I, your Senior Brother, will ensure your safety."

An unfamiliar voice suddenly echoed.

The words were filled with unspoken confidence.

Zhang Jing looked around to identify the source.

To his right in an open space, ripples suddenly stirred in the air, and a somewhat familiar figure slowly appeared.

It was him, Gou Sheng!

The man who wanted his Demon Core purification method at the trade show.

Realization hit Zhang Jing.

"Wow, finally can't help yourself, little bug?" the man in the grey robes chided coldly.

From his words.

It seemed that he had also been pretending, playing along with Zhang Jing, aiming to stall for time, his real intention being to wait for Gou Sheng, hiding in the shadows, to reveal himself.

"You found me?"

Upon hearing this, Gou Sheng looked at the man in gray, a flash of astonishment in his eyes.

Then he threw the talisman in his hand to the ground, cursing, "This top-grade stealth talisman really has problems, I knew it was too good a deal to be true."

No sooner had he said this.

His gaze unconsciously turned to the spiritual medicines growing in the distance, and a hint of excitement flashed in his eyes.

What a day to be here!

These spiritual medicines were enough for him to reach the tenth layer of Qi Refinement, even...he might stand a chance to break into the inner courtyard.

But the only obstacle was—

Gou Sheng looked at the man in the grey robes opposite him, and a killing intent arose in his heart.

But he did not act immediately.

Instead, he turned his head to look at Zhang Jing, and asked again, "What do you say, Junior Brother? What do you think of the proposal your Senior Brother made? As soon as you agree, I'll take action, and then you can leave."

He would get the Demon Core purification method from his Junior Brother, plus these precious spiritual medicines.

Could it be that heaven was looking out for him?

Gou Sheng thought in delight.

But just as he was indulging in his daydream.

An alarming surge of spiritual power suddenly radiated from the man in the grey robe.

Twisted in agony, a bone whistle suddenly appeared in his mouth, and the hands holding the whistle bulged with veins.

The whistle was blown, producing a hoarse, harsh crow's call.

In an instant.

A wave of sound imbued with a rotted, deathly aura blasted toward Gou Sheng at a lightning pace.

The eerie whistle woke Gou Sheng up.

He suddenly looked up.

He could see a grey-black wave of sound sweeping toward him, covering all space.

A terrifying aura of death took the form of a giant hand, firmly clutching his heart in an instant, nearly suffocating him.

Whoosh—

Unavoidable, inescapable!

I can't resist it...I will die!

Faced with this matter of life and death.

In a panic, Gou Sheng activated his magical shield; an intimidating spiritual power at the late stage of Qi Refinement continuously poured into it.

Immediately, the magical shield radiated a great light, standing firm right in front of him.

Feeling it was not enough.

He took out another talisman and slapped it on himself, a heavy protective spiritual light slowly opened up.

However—

It seemed as if these measures had no effect whatsoever.

The grey-black wave of sound passed over Gou Sheng at a steady pace.

The magical shield instantly dimmed, and the protective spiritual light managed to hold out for only two breaths before violently breaking.

What followed next, his face quickly mottled with gray-black spots, emitting an odor of decay.

"Wouldn't it have been nicer if I hadn't followed them today?"

On the verge of losing consciousness, Gou Sheng thought regretfully.