Immortality begins with meditation puppets

As a demon swordsman who has traversed from ancient times to the present, regardless of one's stance on good or evil, this celestial demon is an extremely influential figure in all the heavens, whether in ancient times or in the present.

Their life and death have a tremendous impact on all the heavens and myriad realms. When they live, a sharp sword hangs over the heads of all living beings, preventing them from ever having peace. When they die, all the heavens and myriad realms can breathe a sigh of relief, as they take another solid step forward in the great cause of resisting demons.

The way it perished was befitting of its status. Amidst the roar of countless missile puppets, it vanished from the myriad worlds along with the entire Evil Sword Realm!

"Well done! I didn't expect to wipe out the Evil Sword Realm so easily. Su Tianjun, let's keep up the good work and go find another Evil Realm to do our job!"

"Su Tianjun, let's not talk about anything else. From today onwards, you and the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom are nothing more than this in the eyes of my Danyuan Sect! No matter what happens to other realms in the future, the gates of my Danyuan Realm will always be open to you!"

"Lord Su, when will the merit for subduing demons be credited to our account? Will we get a share? You're familiar with the Heavenly Origin Realm, can you ask where we can collect this merit? Do we have to go to the Heavenly Origin Realm, or can we collect it anywhere in the myriad realms?"

"That was exhilarating! Su Tianjun, are you considering selling this Lingxiao Palace Puppet? Not for now? Does that mean you really plan to sell it later? Then you should definitely consider our Huatian Sect first. We genuinely need it. We're adjacent to two evil realms, and there's no other realm in the myriad worlds with a worse living environment than ours. We've been living in constant fear all these years. Even if you don't sell it to us, you can rent it to us. As long as it stays outside our realm, you don't need to do anything. We'll handle all the maintenance and upkeep. We'll only pay more, never less, the rent. Whenever those evil spirits dare to attack our realm, just have the Lingxiao Palace Puppet move a little. Don't worry, we'll cover all the losses during battles. You definitely won't suffer any losses!"

Outside the Evil Sword Realm, cultivators from all realms landed on the puppet of the Lingxiao Palace, watching as the Evil Sword Realm transformed into a raging inferno. This was the Tranquil World White Flame, a treasure that the Lingbao Sect had obtained from the Yuanshi Sect. Only this flame could burn away the evil energy that had been corrupted by demons for countless years, making it possible for living beings to reuse this realm. However, this process would take at least a million years. In the short term, the flaming Evil Sword Realm would remain a dead end for living beings. Nevertheless, with this flame present, even though no one from the Yuanshi Sect participated in the destruction of the Evil Sword Realm, they would still receive a share of the merit afterward.

This is why Su Qing has always said he wants to compete with the Yuanshi Sect for the right to speak in the new era, but has never thought of completely breaking ties with the sect and severing all ties.

In fact, the Yuanshi Sect has the same attitude. So far, the forces in the heavens that are targeting the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom are all actions taken spontaneously by the Yuanshi Sect's affiliated sects or sects that want to attach themselves to the Yuanshi Sect. The Yuanshi Sect has not done anything to the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom, either openly or secretly.

Both sides understood that in order to combat evil spirits and stabilize the cultivation order of the present world, they could not do without the Yuanshi Sect, which had flourished and had a profound foundation since ancient times, nor could they do without the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom, which had risen in the present world and was the darling of the world.

To fight without breaking apart, to contend without causing chaos – this was the principle of struggle adopted by Su Qing and the leaders of the Yuanshi Sect under these circumstances.

It is only sects like the Eastern King Sect, which are not good at seeing the situation and are concerned with short-term gains while forgetting the greater good, that are jumping around at this time, thinking that the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom and the Yuanshi Sect will fight to the death so that they can take the opportunity to rise to power. In fact, both the Yuanshi Sect and Su Qing are well aware of their intentions, but they just don't have time to pay attention to them now. However, given Su Qing's character and the Yuanshi Sect's magnanimity, they will eventually make the Eastern King Sect pay the corresponding price if there is any chance in the future.

Meanwhile, Su Qing is currently weighing the costs of this operation with the group of sword cultivators from the Lingbao Sect!

"Puppets don't just grow out of the sky! Every puppet is made from piles of white spirit stones, painstakingly collected by countless living beings in my Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom!"
According to my rough estimate, in order to destroy this Evil Sword Realm and retrieve the Immortal Trapping Sword Body for your sect, my Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom has mobilized a total of 36.78 million puppets of all sizes. Of these, 15.36 million were damaged and could no longer be used. I won't even count the first and second-tier puppets. Just those sixth-tier puppets, the Echoes of Destiny and the Zeroed-Out ones, are all high-end and scarce items that are becoming increasingly rare. Besides, even I, the Great Emperor of the North Pole Purple Star, was injured when that Snake Buqun stabbed me in the heart!
"Having paid such a high price, we won't ask for more. We've even given you the Immortal-Trapping Sword. All we want is this tattered Immortal-Slaying Sword diagram. Don't you think that's excessive? Isn't that excessive?!"

Su Qing, holding the Zhuxian Sword Diagram in one hand, said to Zhuo Peiyu, who was also tightly gripping the Zhuxian Sword Diagram on the other side.

He is now a powerful figure in his own right, and his life is quite comfortable. He no longer cares about fighting over trivial matters, especially not against a force like the Lingbao Sect.

But some things are different, just like this Zhuxian Sword Diagram.

The Immortal Slaughtering Sword Diagram is the source and foundation of array formations. Even if it's broken, it's still a valuable item. If it were placed in the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom, regardless of whether the array masters there could understand it or not, as long as they took a look, surely two or three of them could learn something from it. It would be enough to train two or three array masters. At least, when they hire the Lingbao Sect to do array formation projects for the Lingxiao Palace Puppet in the future, the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom could send two or three knowledgeable supervisors to prevent the Lingbao Sect from using the project as a pretext to use Su Qing's spirit stones to train their disciples, resulting in the array formations on the Lingxiao Palace Puppet being several times more numerous than the plan, and the cost also increasing several times.

Besides cultivating array masters for this immortal kingdom and enabling its weak array cultivation to accelerate, Su Qing also wondered if he could use the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Diagram to refine a seventh-tier puppet. As a seventh-tier puppeteer, his skills were now up to par, but his materials were lacking. The materials available for refining seventh-tier puppets were ultimately limited, and each one was a treasure kept under wraps by major sects and forces. Obtaining them was extremely difficult. However, a treasure of the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Diagram was undoubtedly qualified to serve as the core of a seventh-tier puppet, and even a top-tier seventh-tier puppet. It was normal for him to be tempted by it.

"Su Tianjun, you can't do this. We agreed before that you would take the source of the evil demon and we would take the Trapped Immortal Sword Body. Everyone would get what they needed and we would cooperate happily. Why are you now calculating some price with us?"

Besides, your cost estimate is too exaggerated. Those tens of millions of puppets lost in battle were mostly Minion puppets and self-destructing swarm puppets, which are all worthless things. How can they be compared to the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram?
As for those sixth-tier puppets, they were indeed remarkable, and the Great Emperor of the North Pole Purple Star did suffer some injustice. However, this wasn't to help our Spirit Treasure Sect reclaim the Immortal-Trapping Sword Body. It was merely a necessary price paid by you, Su Tianjun, for your concern for the world and your efforts to eliminate evil for the sake of all living beings. In exchange for the loss of these puppets, you gained a Four-Imperial Dao Pattern and a massive amount of Heavenly Merit. Su Tianjun, no matter how you look at it, you've made a profit!

Su Qing knew the value of the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram, but Zhuo Peiyu knew it even better.

How could they not know? If the Immortal Trapping Sword is the most precious treasure of their Lingbao Sect, then the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Diagram is the lifeblood of their Lingbao Sect!

The Lingbao Sect is renowned throughout the world, and its two core strengths for standing firm in the myriad realms are array formation and swordsmanship. To unleash extraordinary and unparalleled abilities in these two areas, one cannot do without the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Diagram!
If the Four Swords of Zhuxian are the white moonlight of all sword cultivators in the Lingbao Sect, and the array masters of the sect see them as just average, then the Zhuxian Sword Diagram is a treasure that everyone in the Lingbao Sect agrees is worth reclaiming at all costs!
Su Qing had previously blown a hole in the sword diagram, and Zhuo Peiyu was more heartbroken than if a personal disciple had died. Now that Su Qing wanted to snatch the Zhuxian Sword Diagram, he absolutely could not agree. If he did, he would probably be dragged to the Ancestral Hall by the sect elders to confess his sins as soon as he returned to the sect.

"How about this? Since we both want this sword diagram, how about we tear it in half, one for you and one for me, so neither of us loses out!"

Su Qing compromised and appeared willing to suffer a loss!

"Su Tianjun, let me put it this way, you can tear me in half, but you can't tear this Zhuxian Sword Diagram in half!" Zhuo Peiyu said seriously. For the Lingbao Sect, he was a rare seventh-level sword cultivator, but even that was not as rare as the Zhuxian Sword Diagram. He would rather die than let the Zhuxian Sword Diagram be damaged again!

"Then let's each keep it for a period of time. I'll even take a loss. For every hundred years the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram is placed in my Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom, I'll give it to your Lingbao Sect for ten thousand years. That's a tenfold time difference. Isn't that generous enough?"

Su Qing still shamelessly fought for this rare opportunity for himself and for the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom.

"Su Tianjun, I don't trust you. I'm really worried that you'll use this Zhuxian Sword Diagram to refine puppets. This is the Zhuxian Sword Diagram now, but who knows what you'll return to us a hundred years from now!"

Either sword cultivators are notoriously unpopular throughout the myriad realms, because they speak so bluntly and without any beating around the bush. The key point is that what he said is quite correct. Although Su Qing was unhappy, she choked on her breath and didn't know how to refute him.

He racked his brains, trying to think of any other reasons he could give, but after much thought, he couldn't come up with anything that would convince Zhuo Peiyu.

After all, Su Qing understood the significance of the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram to the Lingbao Sect. To be honest, it was only because of the pleasant cooperation with the sect that he had made great contributions to the destruction of the Evil Sword Realm. Otherwise, if any other force or individual dared to make a move against the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram, the Lingbao Sect would have already stabbed him with their sword. They wouldn't be dragging things out like this now.

The chances of seizing the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram from this sect are as slim as the chances of someone trying to snatch Tiger Egg and Bear Two from them.

Yes, my tiger egg is still in this clan!

The moment this thought crossed my mind, I immediately came up with a way to use the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Diagram. No, not only the Immortal Slaughtering Sword Diagram, but I also think the Immortal Trapping Sword has a connection with my Tiger Egg.

"Palace Master Zhuo, I am a man who loves to help others achieve their goals. I know the significance of this Immortal Execution Sword Diagram to the Lingbao Sect, so I will not take what belongs to others. I can give you this diagram, but after all, we spent a great deal of effort to retrieve it from the demons. Please give it to the right person so that it can shine in the future in the fight against the demons, so that our efforts will not be in vain!"

"Of course, Lord Su, you can rest assured. Among all the realms, our Lingbao Sect is the one best suited to utilize this sword diagram. We will absolutely not allow it to be tarnished!"

Upon hearing that Su Qing intended to relinquish the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram, Zhuo Peiyu was overjoyed. He had been prepared to cede some sect benefits to Su Qing, a man who wouldn't act without a clear benefit. Now, Su Qing was so easily giving up the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram that he felt somewhat uneasy, and his impression of Su Qing changed drastically. There were bad people in the myriad realms who were ruining the reputation of this Heavenly Lord Su. His actions today demonstrated that he was a virtuous person who was wholeheartedly devoted to the myriad realms and all living beings!
But this virtuous man has already said he won't compete with him for the Immortal Execution Sword Diagram, so why won't he let go?
Zhuo Peiyu tried to pull it, but couldn't budge it. She tried again, but still couldn't budge it. Realizing something was wrong, she looked at Su Qing again.

"Su Tianjun, what do you mean by this?"

"Palace Master Zhuo may not have heard me clearly just now. What I said was that this map should be handed over to a suitable person to manage, a person, not just a sect or a palace in general..."

"Does Lord Su suspect that there are scoundrels or evil spies in my Lingbao Sect? Is he afraid that this map has been entrusted to the wrong person and will fall into the hands of evil again?"

Zhuo Peiyu was startled upon hearing this. She wanted to refute Su Qing, but then she thought of the map from back then and the matter of being lost in the Immortal Realm.

It should be understood that for the Lingbao Sect, which values ​​the Zhuxian Sword Diagram and the Four Zhuxian Swords as much as the Ancestral Master's Token, the more formations and other guarding forces arranged around these treasures, the better.

Moreover, those in charge of managing these treasures are among the most powerful and respected members of the sect.

Even so, the Evil Sword Demon still managed to take these two treasures away from the Lingbao Sect. There might really be something fishy about this. The more I thought about it, the more suspicious it seemed.

Seeing Zhuo Peiyu's thoughtful expression, Su Qing, who hadn't meant it that way, was also startled.

He had never imagined that a sect like the Lingbao Sect, one of the three major sects of Taoism, could be infiltrated by evil spirits.

After all, if it weren't for the three major sects of the Dao lineage standing at the forefront for all the heavens and myriad realms over the years, all the heavens and myriad realms would have been destroyed by evil spirits long ago and gone to ruin.

But judging from Zhuo Peiyu's appearance now, it is possible that there are indeed demons in the Lingbao Sect. If the Lingbao Sect could be infiltrated by demons, what about the Yuanshi Sect, which has even more disciples and a more diverse membership?
His current struggle with the Primordial Sect is maintained in a tacit understanding, trying not to have too much impact on the anti-demon cause in all the heavens and myriad realms. This is because he assumes that the Primordial Sect is also a group of people like him who can think about the overall situation of all the heavens.

What if they aren't? Or what if some of them aren't? Or what if some people just want to stir up trouble?

If this is the case, the scope and intensity of this conflict between the Kaiyuan Immortal Kingdom and the Yuanshi Sect may exceed his original expectations and are beyond his control! (End of Chapter)