Immortality begins with meditation puppets

Chapter 290 Entering the Cave
The witch was drenched in sweat, and the entire cave was filled with her strange fragrance.

She hadn't used any magical artifacts, but by employing various Taoist techniques, she managed to fight the Dragon Armor Demon Lizard to a standstill.

At this moment, her beautiful eyes fell on Su Qing, and she asked softly:
"Fellow Daoist Su is amazing. In just half a month, he has already crafted three more third-tier puppets. The Earth Tyrant and the Leopard Head Runner are new types of puppets that Yun'er has never seen before. Fellow Daoist Su was able to develop and craft them. Yun'er admires Fellow Daoist Su's ingenious ideas and talent for comprehension."

But unexpectedly, in addition to these two puppets, you can also refine a third-tier ultimate puppet like the Dragon Armor Demon Lizard. Even if you gave Yun'er the blueprints, she would have a hard time refining such a puppet.

And if Yun'er is not mistaken, this Dragon Armor Demon Lizard is decorated with fourth-order divine beast runes and third-order fire runes? Since you have already cultivated these two runes, why did you make such a clumsy performance in front of Yun'er before, making her feel sorry for you and constantly blame herself for not being able to teach you the wonders of these two runes?
Liu Yun'er hated people who were insincere and deceived her the most. Unfortunately, the person she trusted and relied on the most was the one who had lied to her the most, which made her feel slightly uneasy.

He was only worried that Su Qing was deliberately concealing her third-tier puppeteer cultivation level, just like those other people with ulterior motives who approached him in the past, and that she had other plans for him.

Seeing the chilling aura emanating from Liu Yun'er, and unlike when she used to frighten him, this chilling aura even carried a murderous intent.

Su Qing's face immediately turned cold; she had been heartbroken by her.

Everyone in the surrounding area knows that Su Qing is an honest boy who rarely lies. Last time with the witch, he was indeed a second-tier puppeteer and didn't know the divine beast runes or the fire runes.

Isn't this progress? Although the progress is a bit too fast and somewhat illogical. It's one thing for ordinary people to find it hard to understand, but the witch must understand!

Because Su Qing helped her this time without any ulterior motives; he simply wanted to follow the instructions of the Nine Li Dao Pattern, the Celestial Master Dao Pattern, and his 260th brother to help the witch overcome this calamity.

The witch doesn't believe him?
Why don't you believe me!
Seeing that Su Qing was angry and didn't try to coax her for the first time, Liu Yun'er panicked and realized that she had misspoke.

If Su Qing was deliberately hiding things from her and had designs on harming her, he wouldn't have needed to take out these things at this time.

But despite her slip of the tongue, the witch had been pampered since childhood and had no experience in pampering others.

She simply removed her Fire Armor, revealing her true face in a thin gauze dress, and instantly killed Su Qing.

It wasn't that Su Qing lacked principles; it was just that he had to return to the Hundred Beast Cave before dawn to continue protecting the Lion King brothers, leaving the two of them little time for their affair and no time to argue with the witch.

Because of his honesty, and because of the misunderstanding earlier, the witch also became much more honest.

"Golden Iron Beasts, second-tier ultimate material puppets, totaling thirty-six, when used together, are capable of rivaling a lower third-grade Golden Core cultivator."

The Brilliant Bird, a low-grade third-tier puppet, can emit dazzling light, causing third-tier body cultivators and Golden Core cultivators to become dizzy and unable to fight normally for a short period of time. Yun'er has also refined first and second-tier protective goggles for Fellow Daoist Su these past few days, which Fellow Daoist Su can wear when the time comes.

The Dream Eater is a high-grade third-tier puppet that can devour nightmares. It was specially crafted by Yun'er for the Old Demon of Joy. The Old Demon is not only a peak Golden Core cultivator, but also a third-tier Dream Weaver. In battle, if one is bewildered by the dreams woven by the Old Demon, one may unknowingly perish at his hands.

Demon Sealing Wave, a high-grade third-tier puppet, is a refined material puppet made entirely of third-tier demon-sealing stones. It is effective against evil spirits and demons, and is extremely effective against the Soul Refining Banner refined by the Old Demon.

Besides these puppets, Yun'er possesses twelve other Daoist techniques, including the Earth-level Daoist arts "Dongxuan Lingguang Finger," "Yinyang Juexi Light," and "Ice Jade Seal," as well as various Xuan-level Daoist arts. She has also refined three-tiered Starfall Hairpins, three-tiered Moon Invitation Rings, and two-tiered Soul Refining Banners, among other magical artifacts.

The witch had been watching the old demon for a hundred years, and it was not in vain. She had amassed two third-tier puppets specifically to restrain the old demon.

If this old devil dies, he deserves to die.

But Su Qing immediately realized something was wrong.

We agreed that once we got to that Nascent Soul Cave, our primary opponent would be that high-ranking cultivator from Penglai, Huang Song!

"Fellow Daoist Yun'er, what about Huang Song? This person comes from Penglai. According to the Green Lion King, he is a direct descendant of the four great families of Penglai. His Daoist skills are probably no less than those of the Old Demon Huanxi. What arrangements have you made against this person?"

"Tell me in detail, so that I can cooperate with you to swiftly kill this fiend on the spot!"

Although Huang Song's arrival was sudden, and Liu Yun'er was probably unprepared, half a month has already passed!
In just half a month, Su Qing had managed to create three Tier 3 puppets and a host of Spirit Explosion puppets. Liu Yun'er, who hated Huang Song to the bone, should have also made some preparations.

Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, Liu Yun'er simply looked at Su Qing with an innocent expression.

"In less than half a month, whether it is refining puppets or forging magic weapons, there is far too little time. Yun'er does not have the ability of Fellow Daoist Su. She has not yet thought of any means to deal with Huang Song."

"If that's the case, we'd better not fight a battle we're unprepared for. Let him live a little longer and then we can make plans later?"

“How can that be? This boy conspired with the Old Demon of Joy to frame my Liu family years ago. Because he has been staying on Penglai Immortal Island, Yun’er has had difficulty finding an opportunity to kill him. Now that he has left the Immortal Island and come to Yun’er, even if Yun’er is completely unprepared, she cannot miss this opportunity!”

"Oh, so this fiend has been secretly colluding with the Old Demon of Joy all along? In that case, he cannot be tolerated. Fellow Daoist Yun'er, please tell me what kind of methods this fiend might use."

"There's not much of a method involved; it's just that it condenses a third-grade Flaming Sun Pill, and when circulating qi and casting spells, it carries the blazing energy of the Great Sun. Besides that, it has more third-tier magic artifacts, more third-tier puppets, and more third-tier talismans. Oh, right, the Huang family is a family of beast tamers; they might have third-tier spirit beasts serving them..."

Is this what you call having no special skills?

If we were to explain all these methods, we could talk about them from dusk till dawn!
The high-ranking officials in Penglai are all big spenders.

Dog the tycoon cultivates exquisite Taoist arts, has condensed a top-grade Golden Core, possesses outstanding strength, and is also a spirit stone warrior. His spiritual treasures are probably comparable to the thousand-year accumulation of the Lin family, a family of Golden Core cultivators.

If it weren't necessary, Su Qing would have liked to turn such a being into a good brother like the Green Lion King, but unfortunately the witch had a grudge against him, so she had no choice but to kill him.

The witch told him not to worry too much about this fiend. Although this fiend appeared to be very strong, he had only been a Golden Core cultivator for a little over a hundred years and was only in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. His cultivation was not as profound as that of the old demon, and he had little experience in combat on Penglai Immortal Island. If he was caught off guard, he might not be able to use all his skills.

"If things don't go well, Fellow Daoist Su, there's no need to risk your life for Yun'er. You can simply escape on your own. Whether it's Huang Song or the Joyful Old Demon, once they see Yun'er make a move, they'll only be relentless towards her and won't make things too difficult for you!"

The witch rarely said something so considerate. Although Su Qing replied that he wouldn't retreat unless the witch did, he had already prepared one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight escape plans in his heart.

With his Leopard Head Runner, Dragon Head Runner, Substitute Doll, and Fourth-Order Divine Summoning Talisman, he had ample confidence to explore the cave with the witch.

They talked all night, learning about each other's strengths and weaknesses, and gained a lot. Before leaving, he casually touched the witch.

Although the witch seemed slightly disgusted, perhaps because she had been used to being touched by him when she was creating the witch's substitute, she was very resistant to being touched by others, but she did not resist his large hands at all.

He only stopped when he had let her touch her fair, smooth skin until it turned pink.

"Why are you looking at me like that, fellow Daoist? Do you think I'm taking advantage of you? I can't explain the details to you, but you only need to know that I'm doing this for your sake!"

Su Qing said with righteous indignation, "This is not an empty boast. Last time when I touched the witch, my Transformation Hand was only at the second level. What I touched was clearly the Yin-Yang Absolute Breath Light, but what was given to me was the Bright and Fading Finger."

Now that the Transformation Hand has advanced to the third level, if he were to touch other Dao techniques on the witch's body, he would have to wait another thirty years. However, touching the Dao techniques he had already touched before would make up for the part that was deducted from him last time.

The flickering light transformed into the Yin-Yang Absolute Light, a level-one Dao technique he intended to use to slay the witch's enemies. He claimed it was for the witch's good, and he truly meant it.

But the witch clearly didn't think so.

"You said the same thing last time!" The witch's face showed a rare blush, though it was hard to tell if it was just her imagination.

"Last time was to heal your wounds!"

"And the time before that?"

"The time before last, it was about creating a witch's substitute. Tell me, wasn't that for your own good?"

The witch's perspective is getting smaller and smaller; she asks all sorts of questions just because someone touches her.

Su Qing, too lazy to listen to her further questions, straightened his tiger body and, under the watchful eyes of the flock of fearless flying beasts, gracefully departed the cave.
"Are you also going to that Nascent Soul Cave?"

Inside the Fierce Tiger Cave, Su Qing gathered the cultivators. He originally planned to go and perform with the witch himself, while the other cultivators could choose a cool cave to stay in and wait with the third-tier demon kings until the turmoil in the Nascent Soul Cave subsided, after which they could all escape for their lives.

Unexpectedly, these people, perhaps because they had followed him for a long time, were bold despite their weakness. Each of them was at most at the second level of strength, yet they still wanted to interfere in the Nascent Soul Cave.
Do you think it's easy for someone to get involved in a Nascent Soul cave? Su Qing has a panel, Dao patterns, and countless powerful puppets, yet he still treads on thin ice when it comes to getting involved in this matter. What makes them so confident? Who gave them that confidence?

Seeing that all the cultivators turned their gazes to Brother 260, Su Qing immediately knew where their confidence came from.

"We don't want to go either! Not only do we not want to go, we also don't want Fellow Daoist Su to go!"

"Everyone says that the Nascent Soul Cave is dangerous, do you think we don't know that? Golden Core demonic cultivators, high-ranking cultivators from Penglai, or even evil cultivators from the Demon Tree, any one of them is not someone we can afford to provoke, but Brother 260 said that the cave is our way out!"

"They call it a way out, but to us it's a dead end. But since Brother 260 has spoken, we dare not disobey!"

"Fellow Daoist Yao used the Nine Li Incantation Technique to calculate for us, saying that our survival depends on Fellow Daoist Su. If Fellow Daoist Su wants to enter the cave, then the survival path is within the Nascent Soul Cave, which is consistent with Brother 260's judgment. This makes it even more imperative for us to enter the cave!"

Liang Haishun, Niu Ya, and the others spoke at once, clearly explaining their struggles, confusion, helplessness, and pain over the past few days.

They were well aware of their own limitations and knew that going into that Nascent Soul Cave might be even more dangerous than going into the White Cloud Immortal City.

Back in Baiyun Immortal City, Su Qing was able to protect them, but once they reached the Nascent Soul Cave, Su Qing could barely protect himself, let alone protect them.

"Fellow Daoist Su, please don't worry about us. We are entering this cave to make a living for ourselves. You just need to do your own thing. We will be careful. If we are unlucky enough to perish here, it is our fate and we can't blame others!"

Li Daoyou, who was skilled at brewing wine but didn't like drinking, took a swig of strong liquor, which reassured Su Qing.

The other fellow cultivators also expressed their opinions. After a moment's thought, Su Qing released some of the remaining explosive stone golems, soul-exploding lizards, and dog-headed lizards from his storage bag and distributed them among the fellow cultivators.

Seeing that Shao Delong and the others had also recognized the strategic value of Brother 260 and had equipped him with armor and magical artifacts to protect him, he nodded slightly.

Thinking that following him inside the Nascent Soul Cave would be dangerous, it would be far better to follow the instructions of Brother 260.

"We have no information whatsoever about the situation inside the Nascent Soul Cave. However, everyone who enters the cave is after the Nascent Soul Spiritual Object and the Five Elders' Dao Patterns. When the time comes, you should avoid this place and have Fellow Daoist Liang set up a concealment formation to hide until the conflict ends. If you are lucky, there may not be much risk!"

Su Qing comforted the cultivators for a few words, then quietly pulled Qinghe, Tang Wanqing, and the other girls aside and secretly gave them a few blood lotus flowers and two Earth Bear Kings.

"After entering the cave, follow Brother 260, listen to Fellow Daoist Liang and Fellow Daoist Helian, and get less involved with Shao Delong. I own most of Pang Feifan's spirit beasts, so if you need them, you can go directly to him to get the beast rings."

Furthermore, if there is a crisis that cannot be resolved, you can use this communication talisman to send a message to me. If I can extricate myself, I might be able to save you!

Su Qing's rare display of affection, especially his favoritism towards the girls, deeply moved them.

The girls were all sensible. Although they wanted to stay by Su Qing's side, they knew that with their abilities, they could not help Su Qing in the slightest and would only be a burden to him. So they said no more and just nodded silently as he gave them his detailed instructions.

Only Consort Yao kept her eyes fixed on Su Qing and asked him:

"Fellow Daoist Su, have you used your magic to bind your body? The current you is not the real you. The real you should be much more robust and strong?"

Su Qing was puzzled as to why Yao Fei asked such a question. Since he had successfully cultivated his body with the Nine Li Dao Patterns, his physique had indeed grown day by day, gradually showing a tendency to become a giant. At this moment, he did not want to hide it and nodded in agreement.

When Yao Fei saw him nod, her beautiful eyes lit up, confirming her guess. She thought to herself that Fellow Daoist Su indeed had the bloodline of a Great Witch, no wonder he could condense the Blood Killing Armor and had the Iron-Eating King Beast following him.

"Fellow Daoist Su, please rest assured. Once we reach the Nascent Soul Cave, Consort Yao will summon the spirits of your ancestors to protect you, allowing you to fight under their protection!"

Consort Yao spoke firmly, silently pinching the blood lotus in her storage bag, fully prepared to bleed her ancestors.

Upon hearing this, Su Qing felt somewhat guilty for making this fellow Daoist bleed so much, but she couldn't resist the temptation of the Blood Kill Armor and the Iron-Eating King Beast. To make amends to this fellow Daoist, she took her into the spirit house alone and gave her three Blood Lotuses.

·······
As the golden sun rises at dawn, the jade railing ripples with the morning light.

On this day, countless rays of light shot out from the Nascent Soul Cave, soaring straight into the sky, filling the heavens with color and creating a magnificent, celestial palace.

The members of the Desire Demon Sect, along with the demon kings and beasts who had been waiting outside the cave for a long time, had no time to appreciate the beautiful scenery.

Under the watchful eyes of the demonic beasts, the fully prepared demonic cultivators stood ready to depart.

Elder Wu Dan led a hundred Foundation Establishment disciples, each carrying various magical artifacts, and entered first.

They were at the forefront, bearing the heavy responsibility of shielding the men behind them from gunfire and artillery fire, hence their solemn expressions and grim faces.

Everyone can understand this.

If one lacks the ability and qualifications, it's only right that they do this kind of job.

For example, the Demoness's substitute, Xu Huaiyi, and more than ten other Foundation Establishment disciples did not enter with the vanguard. Instead, they stood behind Elder Huanxi, Shi Zhifang, and other elders. Because they had the potential to reach the Golden Core stage and were considered reserve talents of the Demon Sect, they were able to receive the protection of their masters.

After the first group entered, the cultivators waited a moment. After seeing a black flash of light burst out from the cave, Shi Lijing's expression softened. He cupped his hands in a gesture of respect and let Huang Song, a senior cultivator from Penglai, enter first.

Over the past two weeks, he may have already discussed the distribution of profits with Huang Song. At this moment, Huang Song no longer showed the arrogance he had shown to him and the Penglai cultivators. After bowing and showing some humility, he followed Shi Lijing and many other Golden Core cultivators into the cave.

By this time, most of the members of the vast Desire Demon Sect were already inside the cave, leaving only two Golden Core elders standing quietly outside the entrance, like gatekeepers, preventing any scoundrels from entering.

They only keep out petty thieves; if any truly powerful individual were to enter the cave, they wouldn't stop them, nor could they.

For example, a short time after the demonic cultivator entered the cave.

Then, an old Taoist priest, dressed in an ordinary Taoist robe and with an ordinary Taoist hairpin, who looked just like an ordinary Qi Refining cultivator, suddenly appeared outside the cave entrance.

He simply held up a talisman and waved it in front of the two Golden Core elders. The two Golden Core elders immediately became serious and obediently made way for him.

Holding the Heavenly Talisman, Master Tong strode into the cave.

As he approached, he saw three more cultivators, their bodies draped in black cloth and exuding an eerie aura, enter the cave as if no one else was around, under the watchful eyes of the two Golden Core elders.

"They must be evil cultivators from the Demon Tree Immortal Kingdom. Brother Tiger, you should be careful when you encounter cultivators from this kingdom in the future. These evil cultivators have unpredictable and extremely wicked methods, which are far beyond the capabilities of ordinary human cultivators!"

The White-Faced Green Lion King and the other demon kings were not qualified to enter the cave. They were only here today to go through the motions, to represent the demon kingdom in completing the transaction with the Desire Demon Sect. At this moment, he even had the leisure to remind his good brother, the Fierce Tiger King.

The Tiger King nodded, but his tiger eyes remained fixed on the cave entrance, because another person was entering from outside.

The newcomer had thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a smiling face; he seemed like an easy person to get along with.

If you don't look at the densely packed human head lanterns above his head...

Gao Erqiang is here too!

But how could evil spirits enter the cave?
(End of this chapter)