Forging Immortality through the Dao Seed

Underneath a cliff upstream.

Lu 38, pure as snow, abruptly burst out of the water, immediately creating a gust of wind beneath its feet. It galloped across the void, hurtling straight up at a speed akin to lightning.

On its broad back.

Zhang Jing sat steadily, a look of satisfaction in his eyes.

This fellow really didn't lie to him; not only could it traverse water, but it could also stride the wind with incredible speed.

The key thing was, no matter how Lu 38 galloped, its back remained exceptionally stable—there wasn't even a hint of a bump. It truly was a born steed.

He no longer had any desire to ride the Spirit Crane.

The space on its back was just too small, it was hard on his butt, and nowhere near as comfortable as Lu 38's broad, soft back.

But if he were to ride Lu 38, what would become of the Spirit Crane?

There was a vast difference in their speeds. The Spirit Crane, being left behind, might well end up lost.

Hang on!

Zhang Jing looked around and suddenly realized that there was surely enough space on Thirty-eight's back for the Spirit Crane as well.

"Can you let the Spirit Crane kind of—"he began to persuade Thirty-eight.

However.

He hadn't finished speaking when he stopped abruptly.

"Where's my Spirit Crane?"

Zhang Jing looked at the empty cliff, his eyes slightly bewildered.

If he remembered correctly, he had commanded the Spirit Crane to wait here.

But now...where was the crane?

Zhang Jing pulled the dark bracelet that controlled the Spirit Crane from his storage bag, and suddenly noticed that the spiritual light on it had become exceptionally dim.

It died?!

He unconsciously looked at a pile of black ash not far away and could faintly smell a burnt odor.

In his subconscious, the faces of the deceased Senior Brother Gou and the man in gray appeared.

There was no doubt anymore.

The culprit was certainly one of these two.

And the man in gray was more likely to be the one who did it.

"How many Tao merits will I have to reimburse to the Thousand Law Pavilion?" Zhang Jing couldn't help but sigh dejectedly.

All of a sudden, his joy of having just harvested spiritual medicine and mysterious treasures was gone.

"Master, what is a Tao merit?"

Lu 38 moved its massive head in front of Zhang Jing, its large eyes blinkingly curiously.

"It's my life."

Zhang Jing replied, visibly depressed.

He gave a light leap and effortlessly landed on Lu 38's back, found a spot, and comfortably lied down.

"Thirty-Eight, let's go back to Langya city first."

"Master, where is Langya city?" There was confusion in Lu 38's voice.

"Just keep flying in this direction."

Zhang Jing weakly pointed in a direction.

"Understood, master."

Knowing the direction, Lu 38 didn't hesitate and directly leapt high in the air, running against the wind.

As it galloped.

It seemed to realize something, a ripple of spiritual light suddenly burst from it, gently surrounding Zhang Jing, who was resting with his eyes closed.

...

"Thirty-Eight, are we flying... a bit low? Can we go higher?"

After observing for a while, Zhang Jing finally couldn't hold back his doubts and pointed at the ground that was less than five yards away, asking softly.

All along the way.

He found out that while Lu 38's wind-walking was fast, its altitude was a bit disappointing.

Wherever it passed, there were birds flying and dogs running.

"Master, we could go higher," Lu 38 flapped its ears and answered embarrassingly, "but I'm a bit afraid of..."

"You... are you afraid of heights?"

Zhang Jing nearly thought he was hearing things wrong.

This was the first time since he entered the world of cultivation that he encountered a creature with a fear of heights, especially a 'big demon' that had half-stepped into the later stage of Qi refinement.

"Go up. I am with you. What are you afraid of?"

Zhang Jing calmly spoke.

"Yes, master."

Upon receiving the command, Lu 38 reluctantly and fearfully ascended into the sky.

Not long after, the ground became as tiny as ants, and clouds were floating around them.

Lu 38 took a covert glance at the ground far below.

As a result, he felt a sudden urge to pee.

...

...

Langya City, the North Gate.

Since the demonic chaos, few mortals had been seen here.

Outside the city gate, the previously flat ground seemed like it had been repeatedly ploughed over by something. Deep and shallow ditches crisscrossed, leaving behind various types of spiritual power and demonic energy that intertwined and collided, creating utter confusion.

Only a winding path was left for people to pass.

On the road.

The passing cultivators seemed to have grown accustomed to it. They did not look around; they just walked straight forth.

And on the city's wall.

Two men in blue robes were casually chatting.

"These past few days, there have been far fewer cultivators travelling to the demon battlefield. Not just disciples from our Dao Institute, even the loose cultivators are the same."

"Ah, a storm is coming," the man on the left heaved with a complicated gaze.

"The demon turmoil is about to end."

"A pity, such a fast opportunity to earn Tao merits, who knows when the next one will be."

The man on the right voiced with a tint of regret.

"Let's hope there won't be a next time. Just think about how many people died in the demon battlefield this time..."

"Right, the talisman shop on Double Phoenix Street seems to still be open. How about we join forces in these two days to gather some more Demon Cores and exchange them for talismans, to make a final profit?"

"There may not be such good luck in the future."

"Indeed~"

As the two of them conversed.

Thump, thump --

"Were there any traces of demons at the North Gate today?"

Accompanied by heavy footsteps, a rough voice suddenly rang out.

"Senior Brother, not today."

At the sound of the voice, the two of them immediately straightened up, answering seriously.

"Good, inform me promptly if there's any situation."

"Understood, Senior Brother."

At the spot.

Only when the footsteps faded away.

The man on the left finally wiped off the cold sweat on his forehead, complained with lingering fear:

"Senior Brother Luo always gives someone a fright every time he appears."

"What's he being so cautious for? Apart from the beginning, which demon would dare to attack Langya County City where many cultivators gather now?"

"Eh--, don't you think so?"

To the surprise of the man on the left, his companion hesitated to respond.

He couldn't help but turn his head to look.

He saw the other man pointing forward with trembling hands, his throat bobbing visibly, his face full of horrified expression as he stammered:

"It seems...there really IS a demon daring to come!"

Upon hearing those words.

The man on the left paused, then slowly turned around to look in the direction his companion was pointing.

A massive white deer suddenly appeared, hurtling down from the sky, quickly approaching.

Though still far away.

But he could already faintly sense the powerful aura surrounding the creature.

"Go and get Senior Brother Luo!" he said, trembling.

As his voice fell.

A robust figure suddenly appeared beside him.

"No need to shout, I'm here."

Meanwhile.

Many cultivators passing by at the gate of the city beneath them had also noticed the approaching demon, and were thrown into chaos.

...

Senior Brother Luo was staring intently at the charging deer, the magic artifact in his hand trembling slightly.

An approaching demon with a Qi as strong as the seventh-layer of Qi refinement, definitely brings ill intentions!

"You two get out of here first. And don't forget to get the people at the city gate to leave as soon as possible, the further the better, to avoid getting hurt by the residuals of the battle."

He instructed the two men next to him seriously, yet not shifting his gaze for a moment.

"Yes, Senior Brother."

"Understood, Senior Brother."

With the demon deer getting closer and closer, Senior Brother Luo felt an increasing sense of crisis.

He takes a deep breath.

Spiritual power begins to stir within his Dantian, quietly brewing a deadly strike.

After a short while.

Like a shooting star, the demon deer fell from the sky, stirring up a cloud of dust.

Now's the chance!

Suddenly, Senior Brother Luo's eyes lit up.

He poured all his spiritual energy into the hammer in his hand.

And then, using a secret method he swung it out.

The air was locked onto it; there was no way to dodge!

The hammer left his hand and transformed into a golden ray of light in an instant. With a thunderous momentum, it rushed towards the landing spot of the demon deer, aiming to smash it into meat paste.

Feeling the power of this strike, a relaxed smile couldn't help but cross Luo's face.

The next moment.

BOOM - an explosion echoed.

An evident shockwave swept all the dust away, revealing the sight inside.

...

An eerie silence fell over the city gate.

The smile gradually froze on Luo's face.

He saw layers of ice-blue spirit light in front of the demon deer, criss-crossed with cracks.

The hammer, into which he had poured all of his spiritual energy, was now quietly lying on the ground, the spirit light dim.

It was blocked? How is that possible!