Born with immortal seed

Chapter 545 I'll End This War
“Junior Brother Hong seems to have made up his mind. Which channel did he go through? The old Taoist is in charge of the sect’s treasury, so he is of some use. He only asks for a good place to retire.”

The gaunt old Taoist priest paused, his cloudy eyes drooped, and he spoke softly.

"There's no set plan. This is just something I discussed with Senior Brother Ke."

Elder Hong's head was swollen and red from the tumor. He leaned back in his chair and sighed deeply.

"The edifice is about to collapse, and the sect leader is not capable of turning the tide. We can only find our own way out... Otherwise, we will all die at the hands of the Heavenly Principle Sect. A thousand years later, how many people will still remember the name of the Holy Lotus Sect?"

“Junior brother is right. Just think how powerful the Primordial Ancestor was, almost ruling half of the Northern Region. But his descendants were unworthy, and the great foundation was blown away by wind and rain. The name of the Primordial Sect is almost gone.”

The gaunt old Taoist priest chuckled inwardly. He was pleased that someone had found a reason for his actions.

"That old man Shi has been a True Monarch for many years, stuck at the mid-Nascent Soul stage. The sect's Holy Son, Le Zheng, achieved the Perfect Core Formation a full sixty years ago and could step out of the Nascent Soul stage at any time. He hasn't shown his face for a long time, so he might be secretly undergoing tribulation. We don't know if he succeeded or not."

“It’s not something an ordinary Nascent Soul sect can do to protect us and prevent the Heavenly Principle Sect from pursuing the matter… Besides, being too far away won’t work either, as it’s too far to reach and protect the entire Qishan area.”

"Being close to the major sects, the Ice Soul Palace is located in a remote corner and has little ambition. It probably doesn't dare to offend the Heavenly Principle Sect."

"The Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has gone through many calamities and only regained its footing with the help of True Monarch Feng. It hasn't even sorted out its existing territory yet."

"The Qingfeng Sect does have the strength, but because of the Nine Lotus Ancestor's matter, our two families have a very bad relationship. Moreover, their two True Monarchs are traveling and have not returned, so even if we persuade them, no one can make a move."

"The Valley of Ten Thousand Poisons and our sect are sworn enemies, no need to elaborate... The Heavenly River Sword Sect is one of the major sects in Northern Yuan, and as a sword cultivator sect, its combat strength is considerable. If we can establish a relationship with them, they can ensure our safety."

The gaunt old Taoist priest counted on his fingers, one by one.

“We don’t have connections with the Tianhe Sword Sect, but my master had a past relationship with Ge Cang Zhenjun of the Qingfeng Sect, and he owed him a favor… In my opinion, even with two Nascent Soul True Monarchs in charge, the Qingfeng Sect, a rising star, must still be short of manpower. If we go there, we’ll definitely be given important positions.”

Elder Hong's eyes were squeezed into narrow slits by the fat on his face as he spoke his thoughts.

His senior master had known Ge Cang for over three hundred years, when Ge Cang had only recently formed his core.

Impressed by his extraordinary talent and profound lightning magic, they specially recommended and helped him obtain an invitation to the Lotus Blossom Secret Realm.

He was also the one who facilitated the later transactions with the Holy Lotus Sect.

Even after the two sects fell out and the Nine Lotus True Lord passed away, the two never truly broke off relations.

Ge Cang even sent an invitation to his Nascent Soul Ceremony.

However, given the current state of relations between the two sides, Master Hong naturally dared not visit them.

Based on this relationship, Elder Hong's heart would definitely lean more towards the Qingfeng Sect.

The Qingfeng Sect has always had a good reputation. Even when it was still a Core Formation level sect, it was highly regarded in the Liang Kingdom.

They pride themselves on being the orthodox sect of Taoism and acting with integrity. In the past, some people ridiculed them for being old-fashioned and inflexible.

Of course, at this point, it all turned into praise.

It is said that the Qingfeng Sect truly lives up to its reputation as a legitimate and orderly Taoist sect. Even in its decline, it remains fundamentally different from other sects, displaying the spirit of ancient cultivators.

As a Core Formation cultivator, Elder Hong naturally wouldn't share the same views as lower-level cultivators.

However, compared to other sects, the Qingfeng Sect does have a higher bottom line, and the probability of being cheated or abandoned after cooperating with it is much lower.

A figure like Ge Cang Zhenjun is destined to ascend the Great Dao and break through to the Divine Transformation stage. If he has the opportunity to settle past karma and repay favors, he will certainly not hesitate to lend a helping hand.

"But the two True Monarchs of Qingfeng Sect are not in Liang Kingdom. They are too far away to help us in our immediate situation. What can we do?"

The gaunt old Taoist priest sneered inwardly, but pretended to be very interested on the surface.

He knew that Master Hong had a wide circle of friends, having served as the foreign affairs elder of the Holy Lotus Sect, and had friends all over the world.

But unexpectedly, he would have a connection with Ge Cang Zhenjun, who had not yet risen to prominence.

However, this favor only benefits one person: Qingfeng Sect True Lord owes a favor to Master Hong, not to his own master.

For him, joining the Qingfeng Sect was no different from joining any other Nascent Soul sect.

"The information we have is from many years ago. Who knows if the two True Monarchs have returned in recent years? Besides, plans are plans, and it will probably take another period before we actually launch them. If these disciples weren't completely disappointed with the Holy Lotus Sect and Qu Yang, they might not be willing to follow us."

Elder Hong was somewhat anxious. He was not old among Core Formation cultivators; he was in his prime and still had the potential to make further progress.

If one loses the protection of a sect, even if one can survive after Qishan is destroyed, it will be difficult to cultivate to the next realm on one's own.

The spiritual lands, various cultivation resources, and breakthrough pills required for cultivation are all too difficult for a rogue cultivator.

To accomplish all of this single-handedly, you would need extraordinary luck and unparalleled combat power.

If you can get on the coattails of the Azure Maple Sect, the difficulty of obtaining it will be much lower.

However, he did not want to pin his future on this empty favor from his ancestors, which would prevent him from demonstrating his own value. Even if he went to the Qingfeng Sect, he would probably only be a leisurely nobleman.

If you want to be treated differently by a Nascent Soul True Lord, you have to prove yourself.

Elder Hong is trying to win over more fellow disciples of the Holy Lotus Sect and then offer the treasury to the Azure Maple Sect.

"Brother Ke, guard the warehouse well and wait for the True Lord's arrival to hand over the key... Contact the higher-ups, and I will figure out a plan."

"That would be best. I'm just waiting for good news from Junior Brother Hong so that I can escape this sea of ​​suffering as soon as possible."

The gaunt old Taoist priest nodded slightly, his attitude very sincere.

The two then chatted for a while about other potential suitors and how to avoid being seen by Qu Yang.

When the time came, they left the house one after the other, and soon two spirited horses were led in, turning the place into a stable.

The gaunt old Taoist returned to the sacred site, went to the talisman-making platform, picked up the talisman brush, dipped it in specially made cinnabar, and drew on the freshly picked thousand-year-old leaves.

He drew three sheets in a row. The first time, he used his brush to penetrate the leaves, which was equivalent to tearing the talisman paper.

The second time, the brush faltered, failing to complete the talisman, and it was scrapped again.

On the third attempt, he finally completed it in one go. A flower and bird talisman with an incomprehensible meaning was drawn on the leaf. In a flash of inspiration, it became a complete talisman.

As the only five remaining Core Formation cultivators of the Holy Lotus Sect, each of them was assigned several duties. If it were back then, everyone would naturally be very excited.

But right now, they're on the verge of extinction, so nobody takes it seriously.

The gaunt old Taoist priest casually found an excuse and successfully approached the mountain-protecting array. He reached out and touched the light barrier, and the spirit leaf talisman in his sleeve flew out with a whoosh.

Soaring into the sky, it flew off like a kingfisher in one direction.

"Go and report this to them... What sect inheritance, what irreconcilable enmity, are all meaningless in the face of a complete set of Nascent Soul resources. The path to immortality is up for grabs here!"

The gaunt old Taoist priest breathed a sigh of relief and stared intently at the scene outside the formation, imagining the wonderful life he would have after leaving Qishan.

Elder Hong's idea was self-deception in his eyes. It was laughable that the Holy Lotus Sect was about to disappear and still had the sign of inheriting the Daoist tradition.

It's better to clearly assess your value and sell yourself for a good price.

……

Five hundred miles away from the summit of Qishan Mountain.

Three airships occupied the three cardinal directions, floating quietly in mid-air, with hundreds of small black figures boarding and disembarking from the warships.

For a warship of the caliber of an airship, a major battle requires hundreds of maintenance procedures, ranging from repairing and replacing the Divine Thunder Tower, adjusting the attack angle and frequency, and inspecting the large array on the warship and filling it with brand new spirit stones.

As for the countless restrictions, they all need to be tested by array masters one by one so that they can play a role in the next war.

One-third of the disciples of the Heavenly Principle Sect have already gone to occupy new spiritual veins to build mountains.

In addition to the ongoing wars between the two sects over the years, the number of disciples lost by the Heavenly Principle Sect is also not small.

Therefore, in many cases, it is preferable to use more external resources in order to reduce the casualties among disciples.

Like that Divine Thunder Tower, every time it fires a volley, a massive amount of spirit stones are lost.

Each additional powerful deity summoned represents the use of a piece of the ancestral treasure.

At the center of the three airships hung a scroll, which, simply by being placed there, enveloped the entire camp in a milky white aura.

It is upright and radiant, warm and nourishing, allowing all disciples to quickly recover their true energy under the milky white spiritual light, while preventing the invasion of external demons.

This is the most accomplished patriarch in the history of the Tianli Sect. Before his death, he poured his life's essence into the scroll.

That was a Great True Monarch who had reached the Nascent Soul stage, only one step away from becoming a Divine Transformation cultivator, yet he was defeated by the Great Dao.

The scroll, which embodies the essence of such a person's entire life, can unleash a power comparable to a Heavenly Treasure when activated by the Nascent Soul of the Heavenly Principle Sect, which shares the same origin.

Seeing this scene, Bai Zichen knew it would be difficult to sneak in, so he could only rouse his sword.

Although no sound was made, it was as if an invisible sword aura was spreading in all directions.

No array or restriction could intercept it, and even the scrolls of the sages did not react.

This sword energy has no inherent destructive power; it is merely a display of presence, indicating the arrival of a Nascent Soul sword cultivator.

Those who are not at the Nascent Soul stage and are refining their primordial spirit will only experience some tinnitus.

A short while later, a figure rose from the Heavenly Principles Sect camp, gave a few instructions to the others, and headed directly towards the direction where Bai Zichen was hiding.

"It's been a long time, Lord Bai..."

"Yes, it's been a long time."

Shi Chengdong still has the same striking features as before, but it's clear he's aged.

When I first came to Liang Kingdom, the Five Phoenix Sword Sect seized my mountain gate and spiritual veins, forcing me to leave my hometown.

On the way, they were ambushed by Po Jun Xing Jun and the Hundred Puppet Sect, who destroyed two airships and seriously injured them.

But at least they were full of ambition, not completely disappointed with Black Mountain, and still thinking about that ancient secret realm.

At the same time, he felt that coming to the Northern Region was only a temporary stay, and that he would eventually return to the Central Region, the place that truly belonged to the Heavenly Principle Sect.

But after so many years of wasted time, not only did they fail to return to the Central Region, they never even set foot in the Black Mountain Range.

Even the fourth-order spiritual vein was only recently finalized, and there has been a back-and-forth struggle with the Holy Lotus Sect, preventing a final decision from being reached.

Over the years, Shi Chengdong's ambition had long been worn away. He only thought about establishing a firm foothold for the Tianli Sect in the Northern Region and finding a fourth-order spiritual vein so that the sect could continue its lineage.

Perhaps it's a good thing that we couldn't return to the Central Region.

Given the current state of the war between the two races, even if the Heavenly Principle Sect manages to squeeze back into the Central Region, most of its elites will be drawn away in the first round of conscription.

Based on the casualty rates reported some time ago, I don't think the sect disciples could be doing any better than they are now.

It was only upon seeing this excessively young Nascent Soul cultivator before him that Shi Chengdong's heart, as hard as a rock, was stirred.

Back then, Bai Zichen, at the Core Formation stage, reversed the situation and defeated the Nascent Soul stage, while Shi Chengdong was at the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

So many years have passed, and he is still stuck at the bottleneck of the Great True Monarch, while the other party has successfully transformed into a Nascent Soul and stood at the peak of this realm.

Even more surprisingly, Shi Chengdong discovered that the young cultivator had the exact same cultivation level as him, both being in the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

The middle stage of Nascent Soul!

Shi Chengdong felt a pang of fear, his mouth filled with bitterness. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but ultimately closed it, letting out a silent sigh.

He has only been in the Nascent Soul stage for a short time, yet he has already passed the first hurdle. This speed of advancement would be enough to make the elders of a sect cheer with joy, even if it were the holy son of a super sect in the Central Region.

This means that the sect has not made the wrong bet on a successor and can continue to enjoy its glory.

For the first time, he understood so profoundly what it meant to be a god.

"I have just returned from my travels in the Central Region. I heard that your sect is still locked in a fierce battle with the Holy Lotus Sect, so I have come here to lend a helping hand."

Bai Zichen was also sizing up Shi Chengdong. The Tianli Sect leader who had put so much pressure on him and his senior brother Ge Cang back then had indeed aged.

In the Central Region, even a Great True Monarch, a fourth-order superior-grade demon, was defeated and killed by him.

They were constantly worried about the Dragon Lord, the Nascent Soul Old Dragon, and the developments in the war between the human and demon races. As for the war between the Heavenly Principle Sect and the Holy Lotus Sect, it was somewhat insignificant to them.

No longer needing to be so cautious as in the past, one can directly express their inner thoughts.

"You... the Holy Lotus Sect is at its last gasp. We can take it down without any external help."

Shi Chengdong was about to fly into a rage at such blatant blatant embezzlement, but considering the other party's current cultivation level, he changed his mind before he could finish speaking.

He had personally witnessed Bai Zichen's feat of reversing the Nascent Soul stage and had never doubted his combat prowess.

Now that they've reached the mid-Nascent Soul stage, their strength has definitely increased significantly. Even with the help of the floating ship behind him and the inherited spiritual treasure on his body, Shi Chengdong still has no confidence whatsoever.

Not long after Bai Zichen went to the Central Region, he caused quite a stir, which was reported back to the Northern Region. However, there were no further updates, and no one had any way to find out more.

Rumors gradually began to circulate, and of course, other sects were also fanning the flames and helping to spread them.

Legally speaking, Qingfeng Sect, as a native sect of Liang Kingdom, is more qualified than Tianli Sect to launch a campaign against Shenglian Sect.

Therefore, Shi Chengdong really couldn't muster any backbone.

"This battle will probably last for a hundred years... Even in the entire cultivation world, it can be considered a protracted one."

Bai Zichen seemed oblivious to Shi Chengdong's grim expression and continued speaking to himself.

"The entire Central Plains has been turned into a wasteland by your two families. More than 10,000 innocent cultivators have been injured or killed, and the impact on mortals is incalculable. The Heavenly Principle Sect started this war but is powerless to deal with Qu Yang, so let me end this war."

(End of this chapter)