Immortal Road.

Once they started chasing, they couldn't stop.

Lin Shan was alright, but the Kong family patriarch was exhausted. He was not good at speed, and no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't catch up.

As the ice python got further and further away, he could only slowly stop, hoping that Lin Shan could catch up.

"Sect Leader Lin, you may go ahead. I will return to recuperate first."

Lin Shan didn't have time to reply to him and could only let him be left far behind.

He chased the ice python straight ahead, and then it meandered through the mantle layer for a long time before stopping. He could tell that the other party was deliberately confusing its aura to avoid giving the major holy lands any leverage.

Until they came to a secluded place.

The ice python suddenly stopped!
Lin Shan sensed something, stopped in his tracks, and stared intently at a certain point in the void.

"Come out, I know it's you."

A flash of white light appeared, and a faint, indistinct female voice could be heard.

"Oh? We've never met before, how did you know it was me?"

"."

Lin Shan frowned.

The sound was off; it seemed to have some emphasis, like a vibrating string vibrating incessantly in his ear, giving him a chill.

Did you guess wrong?
"Bingyue, stop fooling around. I know it's you. Come out."

"Pfft~"

A woman in a moon-colored robe walked out from there, like a fairy in a painting, her smile becoming real.

"I can't hide it from you after all."

The reunion felt like a dream.

She must have been so beautiful, aloof and ethereal, shrouded in mystery.

Unexpectedly,

An octagonal cage of light descended from the sky, directly enveloping her head!

Her expression changed instantly as she dodged the attack, showing that she was prepared and avoided the unexpected sneak attack. Her face turned as cold as frost.

"What do you mean?"

Lin Shan's eyes widened in surprise. He hadn't expected that his Devouring Soul Prison would malfunction for the first time and be able to slip past him right under his nose.

He stood ready, looking around.

"If you're not Bingyue, then who are you?"

The woman in the moon-colored robe opposite him changed her expression very quickly, becoming pitiful again.

"I am Bingyue, why are you being so mean to me?"

Lin Shan's eyes lit up with starlight as he began to recklessly activate his X-ray vision, scanning her delicate body relentlessly.

"How could you do this to me?"

The woman was on the verge of tears, covering her face with her sleeve. Unconsciously, her large, smooth shoulder slipped down, and her robes sagged, revealing her fair, delicate shoulders and half-exposed breasts, a mixture of resistance and attraction.

The key is that she has Sailor Moon's face!

Lin Shan became even more certain of his conjecture: Sailor Moon would never be so promiscuous; this must be someone else impersonating her.

Under the penetrating gaze, the clothes on the other person's body were impenetrable, blocked by a thick layer of true energy.

And the aura above his head was completely white!
"What exactly are you, and why are you impersonating Sailor Moon?"

The other person was immediately displeased upon hearing this.

She shook her clothes, put them back on, and coldly retorted.

"What are you?! What are you trying to do, following my darling all the way here?"

The ice python was surprisingly docile at this moment, obediently shrinking down to come closer and nuzzling her cheek with its forked tongue.

As the snake's head rubbed against him, it also coldly glanced at him with its snake-like eyes.

Lin Shan's mind raced.

Since Sailor Moon went to search for the Ice Soul Inheritance alone many years ago, there has been no news or whereabouts of her.

Now, upon seeing the ice python in person, he clearly sensed a familiar aura from Shui Bingyue, which is why he followed it regardless of everything.

The result was not what I expected, and it far exceeded my expectations!

As expected, someone was secretly manipulating the ice python, but the one with Sailor Moon's face was not the real Sailor Moon.

Right
If Sailor Moon really came back, she would definitely look for me.

The thought of finding the truth suddenly arose in his mind. Whoever this person in front of him was, he must know Sailor Moon's whereabouts!
Since they're pretending to be confused here, let's capture them first!
He didn't waste any more words with the other party, but went straight up and attacked.

To everyone's surprise, the other party chuckled and was already prepared. Once again, his figure twisted and he evaded the pursuit of the Devouring Soul Prison!

Two consecutive defeats indicate that the opponent is very skilled in speed and agility. With a swift turn of her body, endless cold air surged out, completely obscuring the view.

Lin Shan was hesitant and didn't dare to rush in blindly. He quietly used the Tongtian Lingbao Void Star Disc to determine the location and took out a precious Star Element Module, intending to use it to manipulate the earth veins!
Before he could even start it, a huge ice python came charging straight at him from inside.

Knowing he was no match for the opponent in a physical confrontation, he quickly got up and dodged.

But the other party whistled past him and vanished into the Manliu soil layer as a phantom; it turned out to be just a projection.

Suddenly realizing something was wrong, he summoned Fengbo Pavilion to protect himself and rushed into the cold mist, only to find that it was already empty.

Only a long-delayed echo remained.

"Hehehe, you're still too impatient. If you want to know where the little girl is, then you'd better do as I say. She's in a very bad situation right now."

The cold fog dissipated, and darkness descended.

Lin Shan stood there with a solemn expression.

He could sense the power of that ice python, which toyed with the five holy lands, came and went freely, forcibly snatched the Yin-Yang Profound Core, and left triumphantly. The key was that there was also a mysterious person impersonating Shui Bingyue by his side!
If I were to use all means and fight the other side at all costs, the outcome would be uncertain, and I would definitely expose myself in advance, alerting all the major holy lands.

The other party clearly understood this principle and did not want to fight him prematurely, so they chose to avoid him.

clam down.

Now is definitely not the time.

A shadow fell over Lin Shan’s heart. He wanted to know what had happened to Shui Bingyue, why she hadn’t asked him for help, why she had disappeared without a word for so many years, and what difficulties she had encountered on her way to obtaining the Ice Soul Inheritance.
"Never mind, this matter will need to be investigated sooner or later. Let's focus on the current spiritual tide first."

He knew that things needed to be prioritized.

Having prepared for this long period of infiltration, even enduring humiliation and risking the fate of the entire Xun Gu Sect, the Spirit Tide Conflict concerns the future and the great cause ahead, and there can be no carelessness whatsoever.

Sailor Moon has been silent for so long, it won't make a difference if she stays silent for a while longer. I need to find a way to pry information out of the Ice Python's master first.

Sensing several gusts of energy approaching from afar, he guessed that they were the lingering spirits of powerful figures from several holy lands, so he decided to leave the area first and avoid encountering them.

Wait until he leaves.

Before long, the powerful figures from the five holy lands arrived one after another, and each of them began to investigate.

"That ice python must have been here just now."

"Why is it releasing its aura? Could someone be forcing it?" "Perhaps, after all, besides us, there are other people who have infiltrated beneath the Thunder Wave Sea!"

"It seems they're not from the same group."

Amidst the various speculations, they turned their attention to the fifth person, the Wenxuan Holy Master of the Taixuan Holy Land.

Even now, he still suspects that the ice python is related to him.

"Everyone, I've explained this many times. This Holy Lord truly doesn't know that ice python, and judging from its appearance, it's likely being directed by someone."

Lord Wenxuan could only manage a wry smile.

"I've been right under your noses the whole time. Did I instruct you not to see me?"

Grandmaster Duan Tong stared intently at him with eyes as sharp as a hawk's, his words brimming with suspicion.

"You've been following us all this way, but I'm afraid you've been up to your usual tricks behind the scenes, haven't you?"

"What underhanded tricks could I possibly have? Your Ghost Valley Holy Land is clearly allied with my Tai Xuan, yet you colluded with the other three families to secretly ambush me, intending to put this Holy Lord to death. You are the one who planned and led all of this. Shouldn't you be the most suspicious one?"

"I was ambushed by two mysterious figures and almost fell into an abyss of no return. If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Chi Hong's timely assistance, I would probably have met with disaster. You still doubt me?"

As the two argued, the other three also cast curious glances their way.

At this moment, they not only doubted the Holy Master Wenxuan, but also the Grandmaster Duan Tong.

Because if the Ice Python and the two mysterious people who impersonated Tai Xuan were not in cahoots, could it be that the Ghost Valley Holy Land staged this whole thing?
Finally, the loss of the Yin-Yang Core infuriated them even more, because it was a crucial spiritual object that they planned to use to break through to the Nascent Soul stage!

The allure for those with great supernatural powers is extraordinary!
"Alright everyone, since the treasures here have been acquired by someone else, I'll take my leave now!"

Burning Fire Venerable Chi Hong was too lazy to argue about this. In any case, he was just a guest elder invited by the alien race. He only needed to do his best in everything. The truth was not important to him.

Now that the work is finished, let's call it a day!

huh~
Seeing Chi Hong leave, Wenxuan Saint Master also took his leave, since he was not well received here anyway.

He was only a little late to the party, and he was immediately labeled with such a serious accusation. He must have felt uncomfortable about it.

The Ghost Valley Holy Land betrayed its ally; they'll pay for this when they get back!
In the heart of the Holy Master Wenxuan, Grandmaster Duan Tong and others were staging a play to harm him. Although others took the blame, he remembered this grudge!
The two Confucian schools then left, leaving only Grandmaster Duan Tong, who stood there in the darkness for a long time, lost in thought.

Time passed second by second, and black mud surged within the swirling curtain, obscuring everything.

At some point,

Suddenly a strange noise occurred, and white mist rose behind them.

*Sizzle sizzle sizzle*
Duan Tong didn't turn his head, his voice unusually calm, showing no surprise whatsoever.

"You haven't given yourself away, have you?"

A cool female voice came from behind, speaking calmly and unhurriedly.

"Of course, and I also found out about one of those two troublemakers!"

"Oh, who is it?"

Duan Tong turned around, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.

The ice python coiled in the darkness, its massive body stretching for an unknown distance, with only a delicate figure faintly visible above the swirling, frigid air.

"This is a secret outside the deal, and it requires additional investment."

Duan Tong remained silent for a while.

Then, after thinking for a while, I suddenly laughed!

"Hehe, what do their identities have to do with me? They're just two rogue cultivators, no need to bother with them."

The figure atop the ice python also smiled.

"Maybe it has something to do with you?"

Duan Tong shook his head and ignored the matter. He didn't believe that a grandmaster of military strategy who lived deep in the Ghost Valley Holy Land had any dealings with wandering cultivators with great supernatural powers.

The price he had already paid was painful enough, so he shrugged.

"Where's the stuff?"

The ice python didn't waste any time and threw something over directly.

Duan Tong caught it steadily, and after examining it with his experienced eyes, he confirmed that it was indeed a Yin-Yang Mystic Core!
"Alright, the transaction is over. Don't forget the promises made by your Ghost Valley Holy Land."

The ice python immediately turned and disappeared into the darkness, coming and going in a flash.

Duan Tong was left alone, quietly admiring the extraordinary artifact.

Lin Shan did not linger in the mantle layer.

After several twists and turns, he returned to the second level of the Jade Shattered Cold Pool and quietly arrived at the residence of the Confucian family to search for the ancestor of the Confucius family.

In a dark, secret underground chamber.

The patriarch of the Kong family looked ashen-faced, with dozens of black lines running down his face, emitting wisps of gray smoke that even reached his head and corroded the ceiling!

Lin Shan was also shocked when he saw her true appearance again.

Judging from his appearance alone, it's impossible to recognize him as the ancestor of the Confucius family. His disfigurement is so thorough that even members of the Confucius family might not be able to recognize him.

"Master Lin, no one knows that I am injured yet. I hid in a secret room as soon as I returned, but this poison is extremely potent and I cannot cure it."

The patriarch of the Kong family continuously gathered his true energy to his face to fight against the poison. It could be seen that although the black toxin was contained in time, it could not be completely eliminated and remained firmly fixed at the wound, spreading and growing.

In other words, those with great supernatural powers have an inexhaustible supply of true essence within their bodies to resist, whereas the true essence of a Nascent Soul cultivator would have long since dried up.

But this dragging on isn't a good thing either. The patriarch of the Kong family needs to stay here at all times to prevent the wound from worsening. What difference is there between that and being crippled?
"Don't worry, let me see what's going on."

Lin Shan came over because he was worried about him, and when he saw this scene, he was shocked. He reached out and put his hand on Lin Shan's shoulder, channeling his true energy into him.

The patriarch of the Kong family did not resist, or rather, even though he was currently focusing all his energy on healing his injuries, he was unable to resist.

A moment later, Lin Shan withdrew his hand.

The poison on his face had weakened slightly, but only slightly. The other party was using the blood and flesh essence of the Kong family patriarch to multiply and grow stronger. Unless he was willing to spend a year or two here, he would not be able to help the Kong family patriarch completely remove the poison.

"The Ghost Valley Holy Land's underhanded tactics are indeed ruthless. It seems they intended to kill the people of Tai Xuan, but we didn't expect to inherit them. I was too hasty."

The patriarch of the Kong family smiled bitterly. He had been biding his time and full of ambition, but he fell ill before he could even begin his campaign. He had fallen into the enemy's ambush right from the start, and he was suddenly disheartened, feeling that Lingchao probably had no chance.

"Sect Leader Lin, what about the Yin-Yang Mystic Core?"

Seeing that he was still thinking about this thing, Lin Shan shook his head and told him what happened afterward, but omitted the part about Shui Bingyue, only telling him that there was someone else behind the Ice Python.

Upon hearing that the Yin-Yang Mystic Core had also fallen into the hands of another family, the Kong family patriarch was utterly disheartened, as if he had aged decades in an instant.

Having lost his target and suffering severe injuries, he could only hide in the secret room, barely clinging to life, completely unable to participate in the feast that the Spirit Tide was about to unleash. He was anxious and desperate!

"Alright, it's just a minor setback. Why are you so dejected, fellow Daoist?"

Lin Shan knew he was feeling unwell, so he sighed and took out a plaster.

"Try putting it on and see if it works."

The patriarch of the Kong family didn't bother to ask anything else and immediately took it and stuck it on his face.

Unexpectedly, in less than half an hour, his face was smooth as before, and all his ailments were completely cured!
"This is a sixth-tier healing elixir! Where did you get it?"

(End of this chapter)