What is an immortal?

"Si Rong's lover is indeed not simple; he is not only an outstanding Dharma Phase Cultivator but also an Inner Elder of Taixuan Sect with overwhelming power. His influence is enough to stir the entire Taixuan Sect," Yun Luo Fairy sighed lightly.

Her voice carried a faint trace of unease as her gaze fell on Yuan Ming, seemingly probing his reaction.

Yuan Ming's face remained as calm as still water, his eyes neither surprised nor fearful, as though the name of this Taixuan Sect Elder meant nothing special to him.

"I can promise to shelter you, but the condition is that all disciples of Su Nu Sect must worship the Nether Moon God," Yuan Ming said indifferently.

"Are you not worried about stirring up trouble because of this? After all, he is a powerful elder within Taixuan Sect," Yun Luo Fairy frowned slightly, seeming a bit puzzled.

"Since I dare to promise, I naturally have countermeasures. Some risk isn't enough to make me retreat," Yuan Ming chuckled.

"What specifically does worshipping the Nether Moon God require us to do?" Yun Luo Fairy's concern lessened slightly, she asked again.

"Daily prayers to the Nether Moon God, contributing Desire Power is adequate. Occasionally, you might need to help the Moon Sect with some tasks," Yuan Ming explained.

"Is that all?" Yun Luo Fairy was somewhat in disbelief; such requirements seemed much easier than they had imagined.

"Given your cultivation level, there indeed isn't much you can do. Peaceful prayer is the best assistance," Yuan Ming said.

Yun Luo Fairy frowned in thought for a moment and asked again, "Do we need to do those... customary things we once excelled at?"

"Since you've decided to defect, presumably you're unwilling to repeat the same mistakes. If I let you continue as before, how would it differ from Si Rong?" Yuan Ming chuckled lightly, retorting.

Upon hearing this, Yun Luo Fairy's last trace of doubt evaporated, and she looked at Yuan Ming gratefully, whispering, "Thank you, Fellow Daoist Yuan."

Yuan Ming smiled and shook his head, receiving from Yun Luo Fairy the half portion of the "Pill King Secret Manual," marking the conclusion of the transaction.

He casually flipped through the secret manual; although the Dan recipes were extremely precious, to him, they were no longer essentials.

When his gaze landed on a recipe named "Three Flowers and Five Qi Pill," a gleam flashed in his eyes.

This ability to condense Three Flowers and Five Qi is exclusive to Mahayana cultivators, yet this elixir allows Dharma Phase Cultivators to temporarily possess Mahayana power, making it an invaluable life-saving item.

Just as Yuan Ming intended to study this recipe carefully, Yun Luo Fairy suddenly took out a Communication Magic Plate; upon looking at the message, her face changed dramatically.

"What's wrong?" Yuan Ming noticed her unusual expression and asked.

"Si Rong has already brought pursuers to Beihai City; our sanctuary has been exposed and is now surrounded, the situation is very critical," Yun Luo Fairy said anxiously.

"No matter, I'll go with you to have a look," Yuan Ming's expression didn't change much, he said calmly.

After speaking, a phantom figure appeared beside him, the Artifact Spirit of the Complete Heaven Exquisite Tripod—Dian Xiaosan.

He handed the half portion of the "Pill King Secret Manual" to Dian Xiaosan and then, accompanied by Yun Luo Fairy, left the reception hall for the Transmission Hall at the City Lord Mansion.

As soon as the two arrived at the Transmission Hall, Wulu's figure emerged from a Teleportation Array.

Seeing Yuan Ming and Yun Luo Fairy approach, Wulu couldn't spare further questions and hurriedly followed them into the Array.

In a flash, the Great Array activated, lights flickered, and the three figures disappeared simultaneously, transmitted to Beihai City.

Arriving at Beihai City's Transmission Hall, Wulu simply questioned Yun Luo Fairy a few times before understanding the whole story.

As soon as the trio stepped out of the City Lord Mansion doors, they sensed fierce waves of mana emanating from the north of the city, like a storm was brewing.

They stretched their forms, transforming into three beams of light racing towards the source of the turbulence.

In the north of the city, suspended above a serene and elegant garden villa, several figures confronted each other in the air, the atmosphere tense.

On one side, Si Rong wore a pink palace dress and stood with a burly, iron-bearded elder, the Su Nu Sect's Sect Master and the powerful Taixuan Sect Elder.

On the other side, about seven or eight cultivators, led by a brocade-robed youth, the Beihai City Lord Lu Jianxing.

Though superior in numbers, their aura was clearly suppressed by the opposing side.

"Elder Zhong, as an elder of Taixuan Sect, your conduct is overly domineering, not considering our Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals. Fighting and capturing disciples of other sects in my Beihai City, isn't this provoking our boundaries?" Lu Jianxing locked his brows and questioned sternly.

"City Lord Lu, you misunderstand. The matter arose abruptly, leaving no time to inform you. After this, our Su Nu Sect will surely offer generous gifts in gratitude, hoping you'll spare us grace and overlook the matter," Si Rong stepped forward with a polite gesture, smiling.

Lu Jianxing's expression softened slightly, ready to speak, but the iron-bearded elder sneered, "Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals? Humph, when did this third-rate force emerge? I've never heard of it. We're here solely to capture the defected disciples of Su Nu Sect; it's not related to anyone else, best you don't interfere."

Lu Jianxing's face immediately darkened, his gaze sweeping towards the courtyard below.

There, over a hundred Su Nu Sect disciples were trapped under a net-shaped Spiritual Treasure, unable to move like livestock. He hesitated, considering whether to send a message to White Emperor City for reinforcements.

Just then, Yuan Ming, Yun Luo Fairy, and Wulu arrived.

"Who dares cause chaos here?" Yuan Ming bellowed like a bell and drum, reverberating across the sky.

Seeing this, Lu Jianxing's eyes filled with joy, his heart settling somewhat.

Si Rong saw Yun Luo Fairy, irritation flashed in her eyes, but her gaze turned wary upon seeing Yuan Ming.

Meanwhile, the burly iron-bearded elder squinted his eyes slightly, gave Yuan Ming a once-over, and didn't regard him seriously.

"Su Nu Sect's Si Rong, at your service, City Lord Yuan," Si Rong stepped forward to greet, saying.

Yuan Ming, however, ignored her, his gaze directly bypassing her, landing on the bearded old man.

"White Emperor City Lord, I've long admired your name, and today I finally see you. Truly, your presence is extraordinary." The bearded old man walked to Si Rong's side, protecting her behind him, and said with a cold smile.

"Undeserved praise. Who might you be?" Yuan Ming curved his lips into a smile, speaking without any courtesy.

"Elder Zhong Tuhu of the Taixuan Sect." Upon hearing this, the bearded old man's eye twitched slightly as he replied coldly.

Yuan Ming pretended to think, "Oh," then quickly said, "I've never heard of you."

"You..." At Yuan Ming's words, anger surged fiercely in Zhong Tuhu's eyes.

"No matter who you are, causing trouble on the territory of my Alliance of Ten Thousand Immortals, have you considered the consequences?" Yuan Ming asked sternly.

"Consequences? Why, do you intend to make a move against me?" Zhong Tuhu laughed angrily and asked.

With a shout, Yuan Ming's aura burst forth, transforming into an overwhelming pressure that spread over everything: "So, do you want to leave on your own, or shall I force you out?"

Yun Luo Fairy witnessed this scene, and a complex emotion arose in her heart.

Originally, she had sought Yuan Ming out of desperation, hoping only to seek protection and find a place for her fellow disciples to settle.

Unexpectedly, it had led to a direct confrontation between Yuan Ming and Zhong Tuhu.

She felt a deep fear towards the great Taixuan Sect.

From the bottom of her heart, she didn't want Yuan Ming to conflict with the other side just because of her.

But it was too late to regret now.

Together with her apology to Yuan Ming, a strange sentiment rose within her.

In times of crisis, having someone stand up for her felt incredibly good.

It's just a pity that Yuan Ming held no romantic feelings towards her.

The other people, witnessing the scene, all retreated to a distance for fear of being caught in the aftermath of the fight.

Under Yuan Ming's mountain-like heavy aura, Si Rong's face turned pale instantly, and she involuntarily took a step back, with a hand then resting on her shoulder to offer some support.

"Good lad, such guts. I'd like to see how capable you are!" Zhong Tuhu sneered, his eyes glittering with a cold light.

He suddenly raised his left arm, and beneath his sleeves, lights of blue, red, gold, green, and black burst forth, entwining around his arm, rapidly expanding, and transforming into a massive multicolored giant hand.

This giant hand radiated a powerful five-element aura, as if capable of tearing through the void.

Yun Luo Fairy saw this and was stunned, hurriedly reminding, "Be careful, this is the Taixuan Sect's Five Elements Sword Arm Divine Skill!"

Her voice carried a thread of tension, clearly apprehensive about this skill.

As soon as she finished speaking, the giant multicolored hand opened abruptly, with its fingertips unleashing five incredibly solid strands of sword qi colored blue, red, gold, green, and black.

These sword qis pierced through the void like five massive dragons, roaring towards Yuan Ming.

Yuan Ming had already seen through its secret, dodging swiftly like an elusive specter at the moment the sword qi erupted.

Though potent, the five strands of sword qi couldn't even touch the hem of his garments.

The residual sword qi flew onward, striking the city walls and battlements several hundred meters away, causing them to collapse instantly.

Amidst the dust, the Five Elements Sword Qi circulated and shredded the collapsing battlements continuously until they turned to dust.

The people of Beihai City, seeing this, were stunned, unable to imagine the consequences if the blow had landed on them.

They looked towards Yuan Ming with eyes full of fear and reverence.

Yet Yuan Ming seemed unaffected, not even turning to glance back.

His gaze locked onto Zhong Tuhu, not showing fear, surprise, nor disdain.

His eyes held only the focused and calm gaze of a predator upon its prey.

This gaze made Zhong Tuhu, a veteran of countless battles, feel a thrill of fear.

A touch of dread arose in his heart, and he thought to himself, "What is this boy's background that makes him so difficult to deal with?"

He took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing his unease, and with another grasp of his five fingers.

In the void, the Five Elements Sword Qi reformed, transforming into a sharp arc and slashing towards Yuan Ming.

Yet Yuan Ming seemed prepared.

He inwardly activated the Primordial Dao Seal, and above everyone's heads, a cluster of lights formed, a gigantic seven-colored vortex appeared out of thin air.

This vortex radiated a devouring force, seemingly capable of swallowing everything.

The five-element sword qi, upon contacting the seven-colored vortex, abruptly veered off its trajectory, drawn by that terrifying devouring force, uncontrollably flying into the vortex and disappearing.