A Mortal’s Journey to Immortality: Wang Yu’s Rebirth as the Reincarnation Dao Ancestor - Chapter 97

Chapter 96 Dividing the spoils, making empty promises, and reaping huge profits.

“Thank you for the treasure, Senior.”

Han Li smiled as he accepted the token.

He saw through Qiong Laoguai’s ill intentions, but if he had Lei Wanhe, a mid-stage Core Formation

cultivator, with him, Tian Buque wouldn’t have been able to cause any trouble. Qiong Laoguai’s schemes wouldn’t have affected him at all.

Before leaving, Han Li also hinted to Hong Fu’s master and the other two to set up a triple soundproof barrier.

Lei Wanhe’s single-layer barrier wasn’t enough; Qiong Laoguai could eavesdrop.

Inside the three-layered soundproof barrier, Han Li looked at Hong Fu and Li Huayuan:

“Master, Uncle-Master Li, we should go to the eastern mountain to recruit the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Jiang and Cheqi Kingdoms before the news of the impending invasion spreads.”

“You mean…”

“Right now, we should unite all forces that can be united. Those Foundation Establishment cultivators from Jiang and Cheqi Kingdoms are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with. Their lineages were destroyed by the six sects of the Demonic Path, leaving them homeless and, to some extent, relegated to rogue cultivators with a bleak future. Informing them of the devastating news of their sect’s destruction will surely fill them with fear and make them feel their future is bleak. At this time, if our Huangfeng Valley takes the initiative to extend an olive branch and resolve their worries, the effect will definitely be good. And these people will inevitably be at odds with the Demonic Path, charging to the front lines. In this way, we can reduce the losses of our Huangfeng Valley’s direct lineage on the battlefield.”

In other words, we should use the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Jiang and Cheqi Kingdoms as cannon fodder to reduce the losses of our own sect’s Foundation Establishment cultivators.

These remnants of the two nations are currently a piece of fat meat.

Among them, those with excellent spiritual root aptitude could be cultivated into the future core of Huangfeng Valley. It all depends on whether the Huangfeng Valley leadership can win people’s hearts and minds.

Han Li can’t concern himself with that.

He’s just offering suggestions as they can.

Whether they listen or not

is up to the higher-ups.

Hong Fu, Lei Wanhe, and Li Huayuan’s eyes lit up upon hearing this.

Li Huayuan, in particular, nodded to Han Li with goodwill.

He had been preoccupied with the trivial matter of the bet, neglecting to deal with the cultivators of the Ghost Spirit Sect or the Joyous Union Sect, essentially doing nothing. He was too embarrassed to even ask for a share of the spoils afterward.

Now, his junior nephew had given him a suggestion.

As long as they could gather the remnants of the Foundation Establishment cultivators from the major unfortunate sects of the two nations and bring them into Huangfeng Valley, it would be a meritorious deed:

“I’ll go talk to that person from the Yan family and get him to cooperate with us.”

The Yan family patriarch, understanding Huangfeng Valley’s purpose, immediately agreed with a smile.

This matter would also benefit the Yan family.

Imagine if Huangfeng Valley could acquire dozens more Foundation Establishment stage cannon fodder from both countries, the likelihood of using the Yan family as cannon fodder would be greatly reduced. Therefore, the Yan family would naturally offer their support. Both sides quickly reached an agreement.

Furthermore, the Yan family patriarch had also agreed to Lei Wanhe’s entry into the fortress.

With Master Hongfu intervening and explaining the advantages and disadvantages, how could the Yan family member disagree?

Moreover, Master Hongfu had already reached a deal with the Yan family patriarch via telepathy!

This time, Huangfeng Valley could protect the Yan family, but the Yan family would have to bleed heavily!

First, the magic treasure Qiankun Tower must be handed over, along with one Qiankun Tower talisman and some cultivation resources.

In addition, the Yan family must participate in the upcoming great battle against the six demonic sects.

Furthermore, the Yan family must also have those unknown hidden lineages join Huangfeng Valley, branching out and forming new cultivation families within Huangfeng Valley.

During this time, the Yan family patriarch proposed that the Yan family’s pride and joy, Yan Ruyan, leave the Hidden Moon Sect and join the Yellow Maple Valley to marry a male disciple of the Red Dust Sect. Upon hearing this, Master Red Dust refused without hesitation, his refusal decisive and even somewhat angry.

His voice turned cold.

He then patiently tried to appease the Yan family patriarch, telling him to focus on developing his talents within the Hidden Moon Sect and not to consider betraying it, which was considered distasteful.

He further advised against seeking anything through marriage, stating that the Red Dust Sect did not have any other outstanding male disciples.

This left the Yan family patriarch completely bewildered.

However, the result of this test was the best possible outcome.

Preventing Yan Ruyan from betraying the Hidden Moon Sect was undoubtedly the most beneficial for the Yan family.

Finally, Master Red Dust resorted to a drastic measure, demanding that Yan Ruyan, with her Heavenly Spirit Root, cripple Wang Chan’s third leg as a pledge of allegiance to the seven major sects. “Your young sect leader of the Ghost Spirit Sect wants to cultivate with the Yan family’s daughter? Well, let’s teach you a lesson.”

It was a woman from the Yan family who made the move, so no one else could be blamed.

Since Wang Chan was in the hands of Huang Feng Valley and his group, the Yan family, wanting to protect Yan Ruyan’s Heavenly Spirit Root and the family’s future, had no choice but to cooperate with Huang Feng Valley in a transaction. And because Huang Feng Valley held the Yan

family’s lifeline in their hands, they had no choice but to satisfy the exorbitant demands of Huang Feng Valley and his group. After this huge financial blow, the entire Yan family had to thank Huang Feng Valley and his group for their leniency and tolerance.

In this way

, a small portion of the Yan family was tied to Huang Feng Valley’s big ship.

…

As for how the Yan family would explain to the other six sects?

They would simply apologize to each of them.

Another huge financial blow ensued.

Therefore,

each Foundation Establishment disciple from the seven sects received a small gift to calm their nerves.

Among them, the Foundation Establishment disciples from the Hidden Moon Sect and Huang Feng Valley each received three high-quality pills, along with one thousand low-grade spirit stones and twenty mid-grade spirit stones mixed in as compensation.

“Please forgive us,”

the Yan family patriarch apologized.

The disciples from both families received their respective apology gift packages from the Yan family, their eyes lighting up.

Having received such a great benefit, they were naturally overjoyed.

They no longer cared about the previous close call.

As long as the benefits were good, another round wasn’t out of the question.

After all, it was three thousand spirit stones, or equivalent to four thousand spirit stones, plus three high-quality Foundation Establishment pills worth about two thousand spirit stones each, totaling five thousand spirit stones. This was no small sum for a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

The disciples from both factions, having received the benefits, felt a greater sense of goodwill and even gratitude towards the Red Tassel Mountain lineage.

They had saved their lives, and now, thanks to the Red Tassel Mountain lineage, they had also received considerable benefits.

Tsk.

This trip wasn’t in vain.

Next were Tianque Fortress and Qingxu Sect.

Because no disciples from either sect had previously acted presumptuously and caused trouble with Huangfeng Valley, nor had they committed any egregious acts that offended the Hongying Mountain lineage, each Foundation Establishment cultivator from those two families received three pills and over a thousand spirit stones.

However, of the three pills, one was a high-quality pill costing six or seven hundred spirit stones, while the other two were ordinary Foundation Establishment pills costing just over two hundred spirit stones each.

In terms of spirit stones, there were ten mid-grade pills mixed with a thousand low-grade ones.

The quantity was the same as that of the Yanyue Sect and Huangfeng Valley, only the quality was slightly lower.

The dozen or so Core Formation disciples from both sects received their storage bags and were quite pleased.

This amount of supplies was considerable.

They were satisfied with the compensation from the Yan family.

Finally, there were the remaining three families: the Giant Sword Sect, the Spirit Beast Mountain, and the Transformation Blade Valley.

Each Foundation Establishment cultivator from these three families also received a thousand spirit stones and three pills.

However, the three pills were all the most ordinary Foundation Establishment pills, with a combined value of just over six hundred spirit stones.

The spirit stones were all low-grade, not a single mid-grade one.

This compensation wasn’t small

, but the three sects were still unhappy.

Without comparison, there’s no hurt.

The differential treatment, though subtle, wasn’t without its traces.

Therefore, the Foundation Establishment disciples were seething with anger.

But when the disciples of the three sects realized the reason, they immediately turned to the three late-Foundation Establishment cultivators who had instigated this: if these three hadn’t offended Huangfeng Valley with their cleverness, would the Yan family patriarch, who was growing closer to Huangfeng Valley, have treated them this way? Seeing this,

the Core Formation experts of the three sects glared at the three, then looked at the Yan family patriarch:

“Fellow Daoist, what is the meaning of this differential treatment?”

Giving more to the Hidden Moon Sect and Huangfeng Valley was understandable.

But giving less to the three families was truly displeasing.

The Yan family patriarch smiled without speaking.

Then, with a playful look, he mirrored the disciples’ gaze towards the three late-Foundation Establishment juniors from the three families.

Too little? “Heh,   take it or leave it.

If you don’t want it, fine.   Anyway, the Yan family has temporarily escaped the crisis of extermination, and the life-or-death switch is no longer in the hands of the three families, so there’s no need for them to fawn over each other.   Yan Ruyan, the Yan family’s Heavenly Spirit Root, hasn’t betrayed the Hidden Moon Sect yet and is still a disciple. And the value of the Heavenly Spirit Root is undeniable; the Hidden Moon Sect will never give it up. Therefore, as long as the Yan family’s little affair with the Ghost Spirit Sect doesn’t leak out, the Yan family will be as stable as Mount Tai.   Besides, the Yan family now has the support of the Yellow Maple Valley, which means they have the protection of both families.   The three factions want more compensation? They’ll have to take down the Hidden Moon Sect and the Yellow Maple Valley first. If   they can’t take down the two factions, they shouldn’t bother asking for trouble.   ” Thus,   the three late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples, glared at by many angry eyes, could only be cautious and timid, afraid of displeasing any of the experts present and bringing about their own demise.   The three of them buried their heads like ostriches.   They just wanted to disappear as quickly as possible.   …   Inside a commoner’s house in Qingliang City.   The area was shrouded in an array.   Using the token given by Old Monster Qiong, Han Li and Lei Wanhe easily entered and retrieved a purple bead radiating a hazy glow.   It was the Purple Light Sensing Bead.   Then, carrying the bead, they followed the sensing and headed straight for Yanling Fortress.   Because they had the Yan family patriarch’s pass token, the Yan family not only didn’t make things difficult for them, but actively opened an opening in the fortress’s protective array to invite them in.   ”He’s to the east, he’s moving,”   Han Li said with a smile, holding the bead.   ”So, there really are Hehuan Sect brats infiltrating the fortress. Those brats must be quite wealthy, right?”   Lei Wanhe laughed.   Yanling Fortress wasn’t large, with only a little over 100,000 people including mortals. A Core Formation stage cultivator’s divine sense could easily cover the entire fortress. Combined with the accurate location provided by the Purple Light Sensing Bead, Tian Buque and his group immediately came into Lei Wanhe’s view.   ”Found it.”   At this moment, Tian Buque was frantically searching for a way out, a way to escape Yanling Fortress.   However, in order to protect themselves, the Yan family had maintained the operation of the fortress’s protective array. While there were gaps, they were definitely not something outsiders could find in a short time. For example, there were a few secret passages known only to the Yan family elders and a few high-ranking members.   ”Hmm, trying to escape? Too bad.”   Lei Wanhe sneered and turned to Han Li:   ”Let’s go, nephew, let’s hurry and follow them, lest something unexpected happens.”   Han Li nodded.   At the same time,   Tian Buque suddenly felt a sense of crisis, as if he had been locked onto by the divine sense of a high-level cultivator. He   reached into his robes and found a mid-to-high-level sensing talisman emitting a faint blue light.   This was a high-level sensing talisman drawn for him by his father, capable of spontaneously sensing the divine sense probing below the Nascent Soul stage. Once the divine sense of a Core Formation stage cultivator probed, this sensing talisman would emit a faint glow and heat as a warning.   The stronger the heat emitted by the talisman, the higher the intensity of the opponent’s spiritual sense.   This talisman was also a major advantage that prevented him from being tracked and ambushed.   ”What’s going on? Why is the sensing talisman reacting? Didn’t the only Core Formation stage ancestor of the Yan family leave Yanling Fortress to negotiate with those Core Formation cultivators from Yue Kingdom? How could I still be targeted by this level of spiritual sense?”   Tian Buque’s heart tightened.   He had always prided himself on his excellent concealment skills, and this time his concealment and ambush were flawless, without any flaws.   In fact, this was indeed the case.   In front of cultivators unfamiliar with the Hehuan Sect’s methods, even if the opponent was a Core Formation cultivator, it would be difficult to see his background.   But unfortunately, Tian Buque’s men encountered Old Monster Qiong, a fake Nascent Soul stage cultivator who hated the Hehuan Sect with a vengeance.   In front of Old Monster Qiong, who had studied the Hehuan Sect for over two hundred years, not only was Tian Buque’s concealment and disguise meaningless, but even the Hehuan Sect elder in the mid-Core Formation stage had been caught off guard.   ”Who is spying on me with their divine sense? No, I have to ask Ah Er for help. He is a Core Formation stage assassin carefully selected and arranged for me by my father, and he is also very skilled in escape techniques. As long as I meet up with him and he leads me to escape, I have at least a 50% chance of escaping.”

Never before had Tian Ershao been in such a precarious situation, and he was unusually flustered.

He hurriedly pulled out the purple light sensing bead from his storage bag, used for mutual location and emergency communication.

But the next moment, his pupils contracted sharply.

Because the purple light sensing bead in his hand indicated that the Core Formation guard holding the other sensing bead was nearby.

“Impossible! Isn’t Ah Er hiding in a small mortal town outside Yanliang Mountain? How could Ah Er’s purple light sensing bead be in Yanling Fortress? Could it be…”

Tian Ershao suddenly thought of the worst-case scenario and was immediately shocked.

“Oh? Have you figured it out?”

A white lightning bolt rapidly approached from not far away.

Along with it came a low, mocking voice:

“Hehehe, too bad you realized it too late.”

“Not good!”

Tian Buque was extremely anxious.

His right hand was about to reach into his storage bag to retrieve the treasure.

Lei Wanhe’s attack was incredibly fast, and given the short distance between them, the sudden attack from a speed-type Core Formation cultivator caught Tian Ershao, who had only recently entered the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, completely off guard.

A flash of white lightning, over ten feet long, sealed the handsome, almost demonic, youth’s dantian, crippled his limbs, and then imprisoned his primordial spirit.

Lei Wanhe gave the Hehuan Sect’s young master no chance to fight back.

As for the handsome men and beautiful women beside Tian Buque?

They were clearly not from Yanling Fortress.

These individuals were also trying their best to protect their young master,

but the difference in strength was too great.

Before Lei Wanhe’s swift and decisive actions, three were reduced to charred remains in a single exchange, with the remaining one only left to interrogate him.

By the time Han Li flapped his wings and flew closer, the battle was long over.

Lei Wanhe had even gone into the nearby Tianheju teahouse, set out a tea set, and begun brewing tea to interrogate him.

“Uncle-Master, you’ve got them all? Um, um, did any escape?”

Han Li blinked, looking at the people lying on the ground like dead dogs.

“Do you think your Uncle-Master is one of those ordinary Core Formation cultivators? Do you think I’d take a dozen rounds to deal with a few minor Foundation Establishment cultivators?” Lei Wanhe smiled and used his magic to send a cup of brewed spiritual tea to Han Li, who had rushed over.

He also handed over the five storage bags he had just acquired:

“Check the contents of these bags, then share them with Xuan’er, Yingying, Xiao Hao, and Xiao Jie. Oh, and what about Junior Brother Li’s disciples?

Take what’s useful to him,

like a talisman made by a Nascent Soul cultivator. He

didn’t touch what’s useful to the children, such as over 100,000 spirit stones, a large amount of spiritual materials, many Foundation Establishment pills, and even two bottles of pills very suitable for early Core Formation cultivators.

” “Thank you, Uncle-Master.”

“It’s Uncle-Master who should thank you.”

His late Core Formation stage was secured.

This second-generation member of the Hehuan Sect didn’t have many spirit stones or battlefield spoils, only around 100,000. He must have rarely ventured into the battlefields of the several sect-annihilation wars in Jiang Kingdom. But this kid had quite a few good things on him, even a bottle and a half of superior Hehuan Sect secret medicine that could help improve mid-stage Core Formation cultivation.

Could it be for that Core Formation guard from the Hehuan Sect?

That would be a bargain for me.

“By the way, Uncle-Master, what should we do with this man from the Hehuan Sect? He seems to be of high status.”

Han Li pointed to the unconscious Tian Buque.

“Like that brat from the Ghost Spirit Sect, keep him alive. We’ll have the Hehuan Sect pay for his ransom later.”

Lei Wanhe said matter-of-factly.

“Not kill him to eliminate the root of the problem?”

“Kill him? It’s not impossible, but there’s a condition. We either have to do it secretly, or we have to let someone else kill him. Otherwise, the consequences will be endless.”

Lei Wanhe smiled and gave his instructions, demonstrating his wisdom through example.

Once they reach the Nascent Soul stage, most Nascent Soul cultivators find it difficult to conceive. These old monsters usually cherish their offspring dearly. Especially those who genuinely want to pass on their bloodline, they regard their descendants as treasures. Once such second or third-generation descendants die at their hands, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the demonic path will certainly not let them go, and may even directly bully the weak by killing the ruthless one first to vent their hatred.

Just thinking about being hunted down by Nascent Soul cultivators all over the world, and being targeted by Nascent Soul cultivators, even he couldn’t help but feel a chill in his heart.

He, Lei Wanhe, was only a little over three hundred years old, but he would soon be able to enter the late Core Formation stage.

If he could obtain a little more opportunity, with his remaining two hundred years of lifespan, he could completely break through to the Nascent Soul stage. With

such a bright future laid out before him, why should he provoke the Nascent Soul old monsters of the number one sect of the demonic path?

“But if I let the tiger return to the mountain, I will also be hated by these two young masters of the six sects of the demonic path.”

Han Li blinked.

“Being resented by two young sect leaders is better than being resented by two Nascent Soul cultivators, isn’t it?”

Lei Wanhe comforted them.

If they were resented by those two, at most they would send a few Core Formation cultivators to deal with them, or wait until they reached Core Formation to take action themselves.

But the resentment of a Nascent Soul elder was entirely different.

In the future, when they went out, they could be easily killed by that Nascent Soul elder who disregarded martial ethics and bullied the weak.

At that time, even seeking death would be a luxury.

Their souls and bodies would be tormented for countless years.

Only then would they regret their actions.

“Moreover, by sparing their lives, we can exchange them for the cultivation resources we need.”

Of course,

they couldn’t lead the trade themselves.

They would have to ask the Ancestor to come out of seclusion.

“I understand, Uncle-Master. I’m entrusting the people to you.”

“Hmm, Nephew Han, there are some things your master finds difficult to say, but as his uncle-master, I have no such reservations.”

“Please advise me, Uncle-Master…”

“In the future, when you’re out and about, as long as you act with a clear conscience, you must handle everything as cleanly as possible, leaving no obvious traces. Only in this way can you go far.”

“I will remember.”

“Alright, you can rest assured. After successfully exchanging these two for benefits, you’ll get your share.”

Lei Wanhe assured him with a gentle smile.

Han Li didn’t have high hopes for this.

To be precise, he was content and already very satisfied with his gains.

He’d give him some more later, just as a token.

“Then, Uncle-Master, I’ll go and bring Junior Sister Nie Ying and Junior Brother Murong over.”

“Wait, take this mid-to-high-grade perception talisman. It’s a good thing, made by a Nascent Soul Ancestor. It can sense the divine sense of cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage. You might find it useful when you’re out and about.”

This nephew was truly a lucky star.

Han Li was overjoyed after receiving the perception talisman.

With this talisman, how could he be easily followed? Many secrets could remain hidden, preventing others from easily uncovering them.

“Good treasure, thank you, Uncle-Master.”

“No, no, no, I should be thanking you.”

Lei Wanhe understood this perfectly well.

Even without him, Tian Buque wouldn’t have escaped; it was just a matter of whether he or Senior Sister Hong Fu would capture him.

…

At the residence where Dong Xuan’er and the others were hiding, a dozen or so cultivators from the Yan family were surrounding them.

These people must have sensed the existence of the Reversed Five Elements Formation and wanted to break it to capture the person.

However, with their cultivation and methods, they struggled for a long time but couldn’t break through the first layer of the formation’s light barrier.

The dozen or so people were completely helpless against the great formation in front of them.

Even the Yan family’s formation masters were at a loss with this formation.

Upon Han Li’s arrival, he immediately displayed the Yan family patriarch’s access token:

“Everyone, stop! The people inside are disciples from my Yellow Maple Valley participating in the gathering.”

The Yan family members, upon seeing the patriarch’s token, immediately ceased their attack, respectfully bowed to Han Li, and quickly retreated.

Han Li didn’t make things difficult, instead tossing a communication talisman towards the formation:

“Senior Sister, you can come out now.”

He then waited quietly.

He was prepared to wait quite a while.

However, only ten breaths later, a gap appeared in the formation’s light barrier, and several people emerged.

“Junior Brother, what’s going on outside? Where did those Yan family members who tried to force their way through the formation go?”

Dong Xuan’er asked, looking around anxiously as soon as she came out.

“There was indeed a big problem on the western peak outside Yanling Fortress. The Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators had set up a Yin Fire Array there to refine the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Seven Sects. Fortunately, everything was resolved by Master and the two senior uncles, and the situation is very favorable for us. Let’s go, let’s go see Uncle Lei first,”

Han Li said with a smile. He

then briefly recounted what had happened earlier.

The seven people were thrilled to hear this.

They secretly regretted not going to participate, missing such a grand event.

Liu Jing, the third disciple of Li Huayuan, was the most regretful, feeling that he could have cooperated with Junior Brother Han to make a splash and make a fortune.

What a pity.

Martial arts fanatic Song Meng was also somewhat disappointed, regretting that he hadn’t been able to spar with the elites of the Ghost Spirit Sect.

Dong Xuan’er, however, felt a lingering fear and a bit of concern:

“Junior Brother, are you alright?”

“Don’t worry, Senior Sister, I’m fine,”

Han Li said with a smile.

The amount of essence blood burned while using the Blood Escape Technique to chase someone was minimal because the damage was stopped in time, resulting in minimal loss of vital energy and limited aftereffects. With plenty of food and nourishment, a few pills, and a few months of rest, it would replenish itself.

“Alright, I’ve prepared a little surprise for everyone… mainly at Uncle Lei’s behest.”

He then took out seven storage bags and handed them to Dong Xuan’er, Nie Ying, the Murong brothers, Liu Jing, Song Meng, and Zhong Weiniang.

Dong Xuan’er’s storage bag undoubtedly contained the most abundant items,

with a total value exceeding 150,000 spirit stones.

It mainly consisted of spiritual herbs and pills.

The pills were mostly high-quality Foundation Establishment pills, totaling ten bottles. There was also a bottle and a half containing fifteen rare pills. With the help of these pills, Dong Xuan’er’s cultivation progress would not be slower than the Murong brothers with their unique spiritual roots and Nie Ying with her dual spiritual roots.

Although the spiritual herbs and medicines weren’t for refining Foundation Establishment stage pills, they were diverse in variety. They were obtained by the Ghost Spirit Sect after they destroyed a sect in the Jiang Kingdom, and Wang Chan led a team to harvest a spiritual herb garden. While Dong Xuan’er herself couldn’t use them, she could resell them to those who needed them, easily earning seventy to eighty thousand spirit stones.

In addition, there were also many materials for refining magic weapons, such as silver, iron, and copper essence.

“Junior brother, this…”

Even Dong Xuan’er, who considered herself a little rich, was astonished.

She wasn’t unfamiliar with wealth worth over 150,000 spirit stones, but to obtain this much after a trip to Yanling Fortress, especially without doing anything, felt like a dream.

“This, this…”

The Murong brothers and Nie Ying had never seen such a grand display.

Each of the three of them had storage bags containing various supplies worth over 50,000 spirit stones.

Nie Ying’s bags mainly contained four or five bottles of high-quality pills. These high-quality pills would allow her to more than double her cultivation speed over the next two years. There’s also half a bottle of rare pills, prepared for breaking through bottlenecks. Regularly consuming rare pills to enhance magical power can significantly boost cultivation speed.

There are also some mid-grade spirit stones and functional spiritual herbs over a hundred years old.

The Murong brothers have several talismans and several good top-tier magic artifacts, as well as some materials for crafting magic artifacts. In addition, each has half a bottle of rare pills and some aged spiritual herbs.

Liu Jing, Zhong Wei Niang, and the other two have top-tier magic artifacts, talismans, talismans, and pills. Each has two rare pills to help break through bottlenecks.

In short, each storage bag is worth around 20,000 spirit stones.

It’s impossible to be completely fair.

But we can try to be as fair as possible.

The three disciples of Uncle Li combined only slightly surpass one disciple of Uncle Lei.

The three disciples of Uncle Lei combined are just equal to Senior Sister Xuan’er.

This is fair and just,

and it satisfies the different levels of “everyone gets a share.”

Even Liu Jing, Song Meng, and Zhong Weiniang were overjoyed upon receiving the storage bag.

“Junior Brother Han, this…”

Liu Jing and Song Meng wanted to refuse, but they couldn’t bear to.

They truly couldn’t bear to.

It was far too much.

Enough to save them decades of detours.

Whether for their own path to immortality or for their family’s inheritance, they couldn’t bear to refuse this kindness.

“Gentlemen, please take it. This isn’t just my idea. As I said before, it also contains Uncle Lei’s intention to nurture us,”

Han Li said with a smile.

“But it’s too much!”

Nie Ying and the Murong brothers were extremely conflicted.

“Junior Brothers and Sisters, this is a gift from our elders; we cannot refuse.”

If it were him dealing with Tian Buque, he would either try to ambush and kill him instantly, which would inevitably lead to big trouble, such as being targeted by several Nascent Soul cultivators from the Hehuan Sect. Or he would be overwhelmed by Tian

Buque and several Foundation Establishment stage subordinates using their treasures. Uncle Lei was indeed the main force behind easily obtaining the storage bags of Young Master Tian and several Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from the Hehuan Sect.

Therefore, the small gift packages for Nie Ying and the Murong brothers couldn’t be too cheap.

Of course,

without him, Lei Wanhe wouldn’t have been able to enter Yanling Fortress so easily to capture them, and Uncle Lei had already taken the best.

Therefore, he didn’t need to give Nie Ying and the Murong brothers too much.

“Thank you, Senior Brother Han.”

“Thank you, Junior Brother Han.”

“Yes, thank you Master and the two Uncles as well.”

Han Li smiled and nodded.

He naturally took the two types of pills used in the early Core Formation stage, the two bottles of rare pills suitable for Foundation Establishment stage cultivators, and the only Hehuan Sect secret medicine that helped condense the Golden Core.

Then came a talisman brimming with spiritual energy and possessing a good appearance, most likely crafted by a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.

Next was most of Tian Buque’s spirit stones.

Finally, there were some spirit herbs and twelve mid-to-high-grade talismans.

It must be said that Sect Master Tian of

the Hehuan Sect doted on his youngest son. Not only did he give him twelve mid-to-high-grade talismans, useful even to early-stage Core Formation cultivators, but

each one was worth at least four or five thousand spirit stones.

The spoiled girl from the Yanyue Sect liked to randomly throw out mid-to-low-grade Small Five Elements Talismans.

The Xie girl from the Moyan Sect didn’t mind casually throwing out mid-to-high-grade Earth-Shaking Talismans.

Given time to unleash his abilities, Young Master Tian would probably throw out over a dozen mid-to-high-grade talismans instantly.

“By the way, you should all go to the western mountain outside Yanling Fortress to see Master and the Yan family patriarch later. I believe the Yan family will give you some extra compensation,”

Han Li reminded him.

Even he hadn’t received a small gift from the Yan family patriarch yet.

Upon hearing this, everyone’s eyes lit up.

This treasure hunt had truly been full of surprises.

…

On the western mountaintop, Lei Wanhe led Han Li and his group to their destination.

As expected

, the other seven people each received a red envelope worth eight thousand spirit stones.

Han Li also received a red envelope.

It contained only a few items:

one Qiankun Tower talisman,

one bottle of rare pills

, three bottles of fine pills

, a large piece of silver essence (one of the five essential magical treasures), and

one hundred mid-grade spirit stones.

“The Qiankun Tower talisman was given to me? Instead of Uncle-Master Li Huayuan?”

Han Li was taken aback.

In terms of value, his small gift was undoubtedly far superior to the others. The value of just one Qiankun Tower talisman surpassed the combined value of the other three to five people.

Initially, Han Li was quite puzzled.

Upon meeting the kind gazes of Master Hongfu and the Yan family patriarch, he immediately understood something:

“It seems the Yan family patriarch learned of my persuasion from Master Hongfu, otherwise he wouldn’t be so kind!”

Indeed, mutual benefit brings good fortune. Like now.

Simple goodwill doesn’t earn gratitude. Like those six sect disciples who were saved.

Therefore, he smiled and clasped his hands in a salute to the Yan family patriarch, saying nothing more.

Quietly making money is enough.

No need to flaunt it.

Everything is understood without words.

“Hmph, these Yellow Maple Valley disciples did nothing, didn’t encounter any danger, so why do they deserve compensation?” The

Core Formation cultivator from the Giant Sword Sect, observing the details, grew increasingly displeased.

Of course, this person could only grumble a few words.

It was useless.

After all, it was the Yan family that was distributing money to appease people and apologize; the specific amount was not up to the three sects’ Core Formation cultivators to dictate.

“Heh, what’s wrong? You’re all talk and no action, all you do is spout nonsense. Are you so capable? How much benefit do the disciples of Huangfeng Valley receive? Is it any of your Giant Sword Sect’s business to interfere?”

A deep, aged voice boomed from afar.

It was like a thunderclap to the ears of all the cultivators present.

The Core Formation stage cultivators all looked westward with suspicion and uncertainty.

“Who is it? How can someone possess such strong divine sense…”

“That voice is…”

A short while later, a white-haired, ugly old man in brocade robes appeared in everyone’s sight.

But a strange thing happened.

Their divine senses could not detect him from beginning to end.

“A Nascent Soul cultivator?!”

“It’s the Supreme Elder of Huangfeng Valley… Ancestor Linghu.”

How could this person appear in the Yan family?

“Greetings, Martial Uncle.”

“Greetings, Ancestor.”

Hong Fu, Lei Wanhe, and Li Huayuan immediately stood up.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators from Huangfeng Valley bowed deeply, their postures uneven:

“Greetings, Grandmaster.”

“Hmm.”

Ancestor Linghu nodded slightly.

He then looked at the Core Formation cultivators from various sects, his gaze not particularly friendly. He had been there for quite some time; how could he not understand what these youngsters were thinking? He

swept his gaze around at the Core Formation cultivators present, and they were all stunned into a state of helplessness. The cold, lifeless gazes of those cultivators made their hearts pound with fear.

Only when his gaze fell upon Old Monster Qiong did it soften considerably.

“Alas, Brother Qiong, you ultimately still didn’t dare to take that step.”

The Core Formation stage has a lifespan of five or six hundred years.

He himself had reached the Nascent Soul stage at over five hundred years old, and just before his lifespan ended, he entered the Nascent Soul stage thanks to his incredibly profound foundation. He had been in the Nascent Soul stage for over three hundred years and was now over nine hundred years old.

Old Monster Qiong was also over five hundred years old, with an extremely solid foundation and incredibly profound resources, and he was also nearing the end of his Core Formation lifespan.

Unfortunately, there is a fundamental difference between the two.

He himself had no flaws in his mental state.

But Old Monster Qiong couldn’t overcome his inner demons.

Back then, when he was only at the early Nascent Soul stage, the Hehuan Sect’s Yunlu Old Demon targeted Old Monster Qiong, the most outstanding Core Formation cultivator of the new generation from the Yanyue Sect. Perhaps this wasn’t just an attempt to teach the now-powerful Yanyue Sect a lesson.

The struggle for power between sects can sometimes be truly shameless.

“Senior Linghu, I didn’t expect this treasure-hunting competition between Foundation Establishment cultivators organized by the Yan family to even alarm you!”

Old Monster Qiong dared not address Ancestor Linghu as “Brother.”

Even three or four hundred years ago, before Ancestor Linghu had formed his Nascent Soul, he had indeed addressed him as “Brother,” and their personal relationship was genuinely good.

However, now, the difference in their cultivation levels and status was stark; calling him “Brother Linghu” again would be rather impolite.

He could call him “Younger Brother,” but he couldn’t call him “Elder Brother.”

They weren’t that close yet.

“I didn’t come here for this treasure-hunting event, but because the Six Demonic Sects will soon invade my Yue Kingdom’s cultivation world, so I’ve come specifically to recall my own people,”

Elder Linghu said, waving his hand .

“Alright, all of you, rise. Forget the formalities.”

As this light cough fell, all the Foundation Establishment cultivators felt a sense of lightness wash over them, the previous feeling of being unable to move and at the mercy of others quickly dissipating. But that trembling feeling of being unable to do anything was no illusion.

In front of a Nascent Soul stage elder, Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn’t even move a finger.

The mere aura of a Nascent Soul cultivator was enough to make a large number of Foundation Establishment cultivators offer their necks for slaughter.

A single fierce glance from a Nascent Soul elder could even make a Foundation Establishment cultivator stop breathing, or even briefly stop thinking.

The difference in their levels was simply too great.

Linghu the Elder scanned the entire area before turning to the red-haired elder of the Yan family:

“Young friend Yan, have you made your choice? Will your Yan family betray my Yue Kingdom and my Seven Sects, or will you join forces with the Seven Sects of Yue Kingdom to resist the overwhelming invasion of the demonic path?”

“Uncle-Master, the Yan family has agreed to allow some of its core members and hidden lineages to join my Huangfeng Valley,”

Hong Fu transmitted.

“Oh? Is that so?”

Linghu the Elder’s eyes lit up.

Why had he come here?

Primarily, it was to recall Hong Fu and the others to discuss the matter with the disciples of Huangfeng Valley.

On the other hand, it was to recruit the Foundation Establishment stage cultivators from Jiang Kingdom and Cheqi Kingdom who were participating in the Treasure Hunt. These people had lost their sects and their Core Formation stage masters; all they had left was hatred for the Six Demonic Sects. Recruiting these homeless seedlings would strengthen Huangfeng Valley’s outer defenses and allow them to serve as cannon fodder, thus reducing the losses of Huangfeng Valley’s disciples.

In the short term, it seems safe to use, with no side effects.

The next goal was to give the Yan family a warning, lest they choose the wrong side.

However,

it appears that Hong Fu and the other two have already achieved their objective of warning the Yan family ahead of schedule.

They even did it very well, managing to get the Yan family to place their hidden branches within Huangfeng Valley.

Is this a strategy of going all the way down a dark path?

After hearing the reasons and details from Hong Fu, Elder Linghu’s gaze became extremely ambiguous. His gaze towards the Yan family elder was filled with a strange and intriguing meaning. This gaze made the Yan family elder’s scalp tingle, his mind constantly tense.

“Your Yan family’s hidden branches must have quite a few promising talents with good spiritual roots, right? Joining my Huangfeng Valley is a good thing,”

Elder Linghu nodded in agreement.

His words reached the Yan family elder’s ears, causing him to breathe a sigh of relief.

“By the way, make arrangements for all those Foundation Establishment cultivators from Jiang Kingdom and Cheqi Kingdom to be brought back to my Huangfeng Valley.”

Ancestor Linghu casually gave another instruction.

Hong Fu, upon hearing this, reported again via telepathy, “Reporting to Martial Uncle, all sixty-seven Foundation Establishment cultivators have been persuaded by Junior Brother Li. They will temporarily join my Huangfeng Valley to resist the Six Demonic Sects. Please rest assured, Martial Uncle.”

“Oh? Li Huayuan has such insight?”

How come I didn’t see it before?

Ancestor Linghu was greatly surprised.

This time, Hong Fu smiled without saying a word.

Her own disciple had already made a name for himself; it was time to share some of the limelight with the others.

“Hong Fu, I trust you and Wan He to handle things. From now on, Huangfeng Valley will be in your hands.”

“I wouldn’t dare.”

If Han Li could hear Ancestor Linghu’s telepathic message, he would surely find this rhetoric strangely familiar: wasn’t this just empty promises?

(End of Chapter)