Longevity Strange Immortal

The beast's roar within the main hall abruptly ceased, but low sobbing sounds could still be heard, as though a ferocious beast was lurking in the shadows.

Various Sword Intents gradually converged, no longer breaching the Array's barrier.

The Zhi Mountain Temple returned to tranquility.

A wild wind swept through, causing the White Bone Bodhi Tree to continuously shed skulls.

"Phew."

Daoist Bai Shuo opened his eyes, his entire body soaked in sweat.

His exposed flesh showed varying degrees of mutation, and only after regaining consciousness did the Taiyi Sword Body suppress the mutations, allowing them to gradually heal.

It wasn't necessarily the commotion from the main hall that made it hard to keep a stable Mental Realm; in fact, the occasional Sword Sounds had repeatedly pulled him back from danger.

"Why, why won't it work?"

Daoist Bai Shuo shook his head helplessly, spitting out a scorched Elixir Pill from his mouth.

"Why does the Inner Refining Technique fail to cultivate the Evil Erasing Sword Pill? Damn it."

The **Evil Erasing Sword Pill Method** required him to refine a Sword Pill through alchemy that complemented his Lifebound Flying Sword perfectly.

Daoist Bai Shuo's mastery of alchemy, known as the Inner Refining Technique, was a unique method that used his own flesh and blood as the furnace—a special alchemy technique he believed would be more than adequate for crafting the Evil Erasing Sword Pill.

But he had grossly underestimated the difficulty of the Evil Erasing Sword Pill; to this day, he hadn't found a single lead.

Frowning, Daoist Bai Shuo murmured heavily, "Fifteen years without the slightest progress—must I waste a century more?"

"Perhaps I was wrong in choosing this Taoist inheritance from the start; the Taiyi Sword Body doesn't seem suitable..."

As he spoke, the mutations began to worsen again, forcing him to halt his Cultivation lest his injuries deteriorate further.

"I can't continue my seclusion. If I succumb to Deviation and my Body and Soul are devoured by the Lifebound Flying Sword, it might trigger an unspeakable Taboo."

Daoist Bai Shuo sighed.

He had come to the Zhi Mountain Temple seeking protection for his Cultivation, but ironically, he himself had almost lost control.

Fully aware of his unstable state, Sword Intent relentlessly eroded his mind, making it nearly impossible to restore his mental clarity.

Daoist Bai Shuo simply stepped out of the side hall, patrolled the courtyard, and checked on the Sword Ghost safeguarding the Daoist Temple. He also replenished the Sword Platform's blood and flesh to ensure no disruptions from the Sword Ghost.

As he passed by the main hall, he sensed a chilling aura that made his heart race.

Even without stepping closer, his body instinctively issued warnings; behind the door, it felt as though multiple pairs of eyes were watching him.

He couldn't discern the main hall at all—clearly, Li Mo had reached a high level of mastery.

Daoist Bai Shuo dared not recklessly attempt more alchemy, especially with Daoist Ye Zhuo absent; the consequences of Deviation were too dreadful to contemplate.

He sat dazed in the courtyard, staring intently at the branches of the White Bone Bodhi Tree.

Time flowed by.

Daoist Bai Shuo sank into profound confusion, not even noticing the approaching footsteps.

"Hehehe."

Hearing Daoist Ye Zhuo's signature eerie laugh, he finally snapped out of his trance—it was obvious to anyone that Bai Shuo's state was abnormal.

Daoist Ye Zhuo leapt over the wall into the courtyard, his body exuding a distinct scent of rouge.

Fifteen years had passed; his formerly gaunt frame was now robust, his blood and flesh replenished, and his once-gray hair was now jet-black.

Daoist Bai Shuo immediately noticed Daoist Ye Zhuo's extremely withdrawn Sword Intent.

"You..."

Daoist Bai Shuo asked incredulously, "How is it possible, Ye Zhuo, you've actually cultivated the Evil Erasing Sword Pill?"

"The Evil Erasing Sword Pill? Ha, I have plenty of ways to handle that."

"It's a pity I don't know the Three Levels' inheritance; otherwise, I would definitely try again and lay a strong foundation for advancing to the Five Qi Period."

Daoist Ye Zhuo spoke proudly, opening his mouth to spit out a small Elixir Pill.

The pill was the size of a fingernail, with a texture very similar to a Lifebound Flying Sword, veins crisscrossing its surface, resembling an external organ.

"The Evil Erasing Sword Pill truly lives up to its reputation, suppressing even the Sword Intent corrosion of old injuries—it's worthy of being part of the Great Sun Sword Tomb's Taoist inheritance."

Daoist Bai Shuo's face turned pale, his Spiritual Power becoming chaotic.

Poof.

Large swellings formed on his back, and his veins and nerves stretched out like plant roots. Sword Intent corrosion caused his body temperature to rise dramatically.

Daoist Ye Zhuo's scalp tingled. "It's just a Sword Pill; don't overreact!!!"

He guided the Evil Erasing Sword Pill to hover above Daoist Bai Shuo's head, finally subduing his mutations. Bai Shuo's Spiritual Power returned to his Dantian.

Once stable, Daoist Bai Shuo respectfully bowed. "This disciple cannot repay such a deep favor."

Daoist Ye Zhuo deduced the cause of Bai Shuo's unstable Mental Realm and cautiously probed, "Bai Shuo, haven't you been trying to refine the Evil Erasing Sword Pill continuously for the past decade?"

Receiving a confirmation, Daoist Ye Zhuo sighed helplessly.

He had long realized Bai Shuo was rigid and unadaptable, but he hadn't expected him to be so stubborn.

"The Purple Sun Palace has nearly twenty thousand Daoist Temples with myriad resources. Refined Sword Pills don't necessarily require mastery of alchemy."

Daoist Bai Shuo chuckled bitterly. "I thought I had exceptional talent, but it turns out I'm just a fool. Thank you, Fellow Daoist, for enlightening me."

He couldn't help but feel fortunate to have come to the Zhi Mountain Temple—if he had continued Cultivating alone for a millennium, he would likely have ended up as one of the Purple Sun Palace's Sword Ghosts.

Daoist Bai Shuo inquired about places to refine his sword pill, but Daoist Ye Zhuo hesitated slightly.

"In the Northwest District near Sanhe Street's corner lies a **Zimu Temple**. Inside resides a Little Night Wander Sword Ghost named **Furnace Pill**."

"Furnace Pill? Doesn't that Sword Ghost attack every Sword Cultivator who approaches?"

"Not at all. Furnace Pill generates a waste sword every hundred days; for the five days following, it's absolutely safe, with free access in and out."

Daoist Ye Zhuo explained while coughing, adding, "You can hand your preliminary Sword Pill to Furnace Pill for refinement."

Daoist Bai Shuo pressed further. "What should I be cautious of when dealing with Furnace Pill?"

"I... don't know."

Daoist Ye Zhuo patted Bai Shuo's shoulder. "You'd better figure out Furnace Pill's specific taboos. My technique works only for myself; any misstep could lead to death and Dao's cessation."

He gestured toward the main hall, where the aura of Cultivation had become deeply restrained.

"Actually, you don't have to focus on Furnace Pill so intently. Senior Brother Taiyi will surely have a solution."

"Judging by the time, Senior Brother Taiyi should be harvesting resources from the White Bone Bodhi Tree; you can visit him to seek advice on refining the Sword Pill."

Daoist Ye Zhuo understood the best course of action would be to bring Furnace Pill back to the Zhi Mountain Temple. Spending half a year experimenting would suffice to understand how to refine the pills properly.

Unfortunately, the Heavenly Palace Stage Sword Cultivators' sealing made acquiring the Sword Ghost off-limits.

"Enough talk."

"The Evil Erasing Sword Pill is complete; I finally have full confidence in advancing to the Five Qi Period."

Daoist Ye Zhuo disappeared back into the side hall, leaving Daoist Bai Shuo feeling lost and bewildered.

After staring blankly for a while, Daoist Bai Shuo noticed faint signs of dissipating mist outside the main hall. Driven by a mysterious urge, he slowly approached the main hall.

An aura mixed with countless Sword Intents greeted him.

Knocking on the door, he listened as Li Mo's voice echoed, "Come in; you and I walk the same path, Fellow Daoist—no need for formalities."

"Thank you, Senior Brother..."

The vast hall was shrouded in darkness, allowing only glimpses of three Divine Statues. The Monk God Statue was noticeably concealed by an Array.

Hoarse tiger growls resonated.

Daoist Bai Shuo instinctively turned his head, spotting a mountain lord silhouette cast from the shadows beneath the Sword Platform, its vertical pupils brimming with scrutiny.

Daoist Bai Shuo reflexively retreated several steps as a fiery Nine-tailed Fox brushed past him.

A salamander sprawled in a corner; a Golden Toad stood motionless like a statue; a Mountain Demon echoed between the walls; the roof was entwined by a Human-faced Candle Dragon...

Li Mo sat at the center of the main hall, exuding an oppressive aura as tangible as solid matter.

Having fused his Nayuan Body with the Great Wilderness Immortal Body, Li Mo now commanded manifestations of seven Tattooed Beasts in their shadow forms, spread across a thousand meters around him.

Moreover, these shadows harbored the Sword Intents of the respective Tattooed Beasts.

Li Mo could now summon the Tattooed Beasts without expending the Lifebound Flying Sword, directly invoking their physical forms through the shadows.

Surrounded by seven giant beasts, Li Mo appeared otherworldly.

The only flaw of the new Great Wilderness Immortal Body was its conspicuousness. Though it could be voluntarily restrained, the protective function of its shadows would be forfeited as well.

"Senior Brother Taiyi."

Daoist Bai Shuo dared not raise his head; despite recognizing that the beasts were merely shadows, the constant looming threat pierced his spirit.

To Bai Shuo, the Taiyi Sword Body seemed far from capable of such feats, as merging ferocious beasts with Sword Dao Techniques was an unprecedented method.

"Bai Shuo, explain your Inner Refining Technique to me."

Li Mo had been observing outside the hall, and was intrigued by this method of using oneself as a furnace.

He faintly sensed that his Corpse Wine Technique could greatly benefit from this.

Continuing to meditate, Li Mo leveraged the experience accumulated through Dao Body Fusion to accelerate the planned integration of the Mayfly Dream with the Innate Saint.

"Before explaining, guide your Qi, harmonize, replenish your essence, moderate your eating and resting, focus on a single thought, and adhere to the Sky Pillar Prohibition..."

Daoist Bai Shuo showed no hesitation—the Inner Refining Technique was hardly considered a top-quality alchemy method, being more of an unconventional, deviant approach.

The Inner Refining Technique's preface detailed the cultivator's necessary precautions; its latter section described how to guide the nutrients of one's own flesh and bones with one's consciousness.

Eventually, the process resulted in the creation of Elixirs within the stomach.

Li Mo's eyes flashed open. His Tao Seed, having assimilated the Inner Refining Technique, unexpectedly produced transformative benefits for the Corpse Wine Technique's Alchemy Divine Power.

Upon completing its Transformation, the Alchemy Divine Power would nurture a Formula for the Divine Separation Stage Corpse Wine—an unforeseen boon.

Seeing Li Mo's contemplative expression, Daoist Bai Shuo couldn't help but ask.

"Senior Brother Taiyi, could it be you have dabbled in alchemy as well?"

"Wait."

Li Mo raised a hand to silence him, as the forty thousand disciples of Xia Dao Palace simulated the Evil Erasing Sword Pill.

In mere moments, a new Elixir Recipe took shape.

"Pay attention—consume three ounces of Yellow Bitter Grass orally, and circulate your Spiritual Power endlessly within your Ren and Du Meridians before performing the Inner Refining of the Evil Erasing Sword Pill."

Daoist Bai Shuo stared in astonishment—Li Mo's recipe was entirely derived from his Inner Refining Technique, elaborated and refined into existence in just a short time.

If it were anyone else, Bai Shuo would have never believed such extraordinary comprehension possible.

At the same time, Bai Shuo realized that Li Mo hadn't even officially learned the Taiyi Sword Body, yet his understanding of the Evil Erasing Sword Pill had already surpassed expectations.

The Thirteen Immortals? Perhaps the title of a reincarnated Saint was well-earned.

Li Mo passed two jars of Sword Washing Wine to Daoist Bai Shuo.

"This wine can nourish the Sword Pill—one jar is for you, the other for Daoist Ye Zhuo."

Daoist Bai Shuo left the main hall with a dazed expression, suddenly feeling that entering the Zhi Mountain Temple might be the greatest opportunity of his life.

A gust of wind swept the skulls from the courtyard, and the main hall doors shut heavily.