Immortal Road.

"Hurrlrlr."

A fresh human head rolled to the ground, its hair shaved flat as if it had been cut grass, its eyes wide open, the blood already dried, and the dark red bloodstains on its stubble looked rather pitiful.

Many of the people present recognized the owner of the antiques at a glance.

"This is... the Holy Lord of Yuxi?"

"Just two years ago, I was drinking and having a good time with him, and now he's gone!"

"The Jade Creek Holy Land is an ancient holy land with a history of 40,000 years, and it even has a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure to suppress its fortune. How could it just disappear like that? This is unbelievable."

"Shh, keep your voice down! Can't you see Fairy Qinglian is watching from up there?"

Sure enough, the hawk-like gaze of the Nascent Soul stage cultivator behind Fairy Qinglian swept down and fixed on an old man, asking him in a sinister tone.

"Oh? Fellow Daoist once shared drinks and laughter with the Jade Stream Saint Master? May I ask what your relationship is?"

The man trembled, startled!
He quickly waved his hand, claiming that he had no connection with the Holy Master Yuxi, only having met him once in the past. He said that even if there was a connection, it couldn't be exposed in this situation, otherwise he would be wiped out completely. Judging from the Black Lotus Sect's behavior, they might even kill their allies.

Some people, however, are not focused on this at all. What does the life or death of the Yuxi Holy Land have to do with me? On the contrary, the Tongtian Lingbao is actually being offered as a reward?
This included Lin Shan, who looked at the dark, seven-story pagoda, which emitted a cold luster and thick smoke, and couldn't help but admire the magnanimity of the Azure Lotus Fairy.

They're even willing to take out the most powerful spiritual treasures!

However, if we win this battle decisively and the opponent has no rivals in the lower realm, then the Heavenly Treasure will indeed be dispensable, and it won't matter if we give it away.

The others' eyes lit up; they were clearly moved by this. They were all outstanding individuals with confidence in themselves, and some even boldly asked questions.

"May I ask, fairy, what constitutes a great achievement?"

The Azure Lotus Fairy smiled and led her people up the cliff. Behind her, the Black Lotus Sect's troops lined up in a row, their imposing presence quite impressive.

"This battle is entrusted to me, Pure Lotus Hermit. You need not interfere. Soldiers against soldiers, generals against generals. You only need to hold off the people they bring! The one who kills the most Nascent Soul stage cultivators will be the one with the greatest merit!"

No one objected to the fact that Fairy Qinglian called them soldiers. They breathed a sigh of relief when they heard that they didn't have to fight against Layman Jinglian. As for the other party's helpers, that was easy to deal with.

They're only giving a few coins, why risk your life?
But some ruthless characters don't think that way. The one who kills the most primordial spirits will be rewarded with an extra Heavenly Treasure. This is the Azure Lotus Fairy's way of encouraging them to show their true skills. You won't get any reward if you slack off!
Therefore, they all spoke out as an example, expressing that they would do their best in the future.

The Azure Lotus Fairy nodded and looked at each person one by one, noting down those who were actively participating. However, she wasn't very satisfied, as most of them were quiet and reserved.

Including Linshan.

He didn't show any particular desire for the Heavenly Treasure, nor did he seem eager to roll up his sleeves and get to work. Instead, he remained hidden in the crowd like a nobody.

Being the first to stick one's neck out is not a good thing. Don't forget that the Pure Lotus Hermit also placed his bets. If we're talking about a fence-sitter who's wavering between the two sides, who isn't him?
He even estimated that there were probably a few people like himself present.

If you have more than two avatars and clones, and are somewhat confident in concealing your identity, betting on both fronts is the safest approach.

As for the Tongtian Lingbao, if they win, all will be well; if they lose, then there's nothing more to discuss. Therefore, he adopted a wait-and-see attitude.

The Azure Lotus Fairy took the initiative, leaving everyone waiting for three days before annihilating the Holy Land and killing the Holy Lord. She then used the Heavenly Treasure as bait, employing various methods until even the most rebellious people became obedient.

Next came the business discussion. There were no formalities or lavish banquets; right there on the cold Blackwater Cliff, they began sharing intelligence and assigning tasks.

Lin Shan stood quietly in the crowd, listening intently. When he heard the crucial part, he couldn't help but show a look of shock.

In the northwest of the mainland, along the Kucha River.

Instead, it was a scene of bustling activity, with singing and dancing. The winding stream along the riverbanks was filled with all sorts of banquets, and a large stage was set up in the middle by a floating bridge. The Pure Lotus Hermit was sitting on the stage, enjoying the court performance and drinking and chatting with several important figures beside him.

Lin Shan's Nirvana clone was arranged to sit on a floating banquet table on the side of the riverbed, looking at the middle of the river with a group of Nascent Soul stage cultivators, feeling uneasy.

Because the guest of honor of Layman Jinglian was none other than a renowned old monster of the Primordial Spirit from the top holy land of this world!
Supreme Elder of Shangxiao Sword Sect, Holy Lord of Haoran Holy Land, Venerable Scorpion of Hunshan Sandy Land of Demon Race, and Divine Lord Beichen of Ice and Snow Alliance of Alien Race!
These four individuals represent the most powerful forces among the human, demon, and otherworldly races, respectively. They actively responded to the call of the Pure Lotus Hermit, not only sending their own avatars to the scene but also bringing a large number of their subordinates!

Pure Lotus Hermit was a lone commander. If he wanted to wipe out the Black Lotus Cult, he needed more than just high-ranking officials; he also needed a large army to suppress them and eliminate them completely.

In the past, people had not had much contact with each other, but now, at this first meeting, the oath-taking ceremony was so blatant that they were divided into classes according to the size of their power. One has to sigh that the arrangement by the celestial envoy from the upper realm was clearly a corrupt practice of officialdom brought to the lower realm.

Lin Shan remained as steady as Mount Tai, sitting there listening to the conversations of those around him.

"Layman Jinglian has summoned us here today. We are all guests from afar and should be treated equally. Why are we being treated differently? Why are those few people invited up as honored guests while we are left to sit on both banks and watch from afar? And so far, he hasn't said a single word to us personally?"

"Yes, we are all Nascent Soul stage cultivators, and none of us are inferior to the others. His actions are somewhat disrespectful to us."

"Hey~ What do you have to compare with him? He is the leader of the top holy land in this world. We are just nobodies. How can we sit at the same table as the Golden Phoenix?"

"I don't like hearing that. Everyone has a sacred place behind them. They're just a little older and more powerful. What right do they have to ride roughshod over us?"

Lin Shan turned his head and saw that the person speaking was none other than an old acquaintance!
The Supreme Elder of the Tai Xuan Holy Land.

This guy was supposed to be long dead after the battle of Leibohai, but it turns out he's still alive and well, and even has the leisure to participate in the siege of the Black Lotus Cult.

The Annihilation Avatar carried a Void Star Compass with him this time, which concealed his aura and appearance, so the other party did not recognize him and instead became very friendly.

After a while, the Nascent Soul stage cultivators at the nearby tables became quite friendly.

"Your Holy Lord of the Tai Xuan Holy Land, I remember you always praised him as a prodigy since he was a child, how powerful and talented he was, but he's still not a Great Divine Power Master? His Primordial Spirit is still a long way off. Will there be no successor after you die?"

"Pah! Pah! What bad luck! What nonsense are you spouting? Who's going to die or not?"

The Supreme Elder of the Tai Xuan Holy Land was named Shou Zhuo Shenjun. He was worried as soon as he heard this. His Holy Land had a shallow foundation. It was only established in the last Wan Hui year and had not made any achievements in this Wan Hui year. Therefore, it was extremely difficult for the people below to break through to the Yuan Shen stage. He had to struggle to support it.

"That child will become a star sooner or later, he just needs time. I came to participate in the encirclement and suppression conference this time to help him earn some opportunities to break through to the primordial spirit. I have no choice but to gamble with my life."

"Oh dear, you'd better be careful. What if this avatar falls? Won't there be no other avatars to emerge? How will your child ever become a star then?" "Hahahahaha"

Hearing everyone making fun of him, Lord Shouzhuo's face turned into a bitter expression, clearly showing how worried he was about the Taixuan Holy Land.

At this point, others asked in confusion:
"The Shangxiao Sword Sect and the Haoran Holy Land have both come, so why didn't the Penglai Holy Land participate? Did they join the Black Lotus Sect?"

Everyone was puzzled. Penglai was the benchmark of this world, so why did it choose to be absent? The implication was strange and thought-provoking.

After all, Penglai was extremely high-profile during the three waves of spiritual tides that swept through Wanhui!

Lin Shan was also somewhat surprised, wondering what the Holy Master of Penglai was up to. However, it was better that they didn't come, saving him the trouble of pretending.

In the middle of the river, the Pure Lotus Hermit burst into laughter, and the holy masters beside him joined in the merriment. Meanwhile, the dancers in front continued to play music and dance.

After waiting for a long time, the other side finally spoke.

"Welcome, fellow cultivators! Upholding justice, let us join hands to eradicate evil. The stability of the mortal realm will be witnessed by all of you. Let us work together to maintain the purity of the cultivation world. On behalf of the Heavenly Court, I thank you all!"

Upon hearing this, everyone stood up, and a large number of people stood up on both sides of the river.

Among them, the number of Nascent Soul stage cultivators and those with supernatural powers has exceeded three digits. Many holy lands have also brought a large number of people, and there are countless Nascent Soul and Golden Core cultivators. The scene is magnificent and awe-inspiring!

Over the years, Layman Jinglian has traveled extensively to appeal for support, gaining strong backing from many holy sites. He is now extremely determined to suppress the Black Lotus Cult.

The first battle is the decisive battle; there is no turning back, and no room for compromise!
"It has been almost a thousand years since I was reincarnated and descended to the mortal realm, but I failed to nip the Black Lotus Sect in the bud. Instead, it has continued to grow. This is my fault."

"Now that Fairy Qinglian has achieved the Great Perfection of her Primordial Spirit, she has seized the initiative in the spiritual tide and reaped the faith of the world. She has become too powerful to be controlled. I alone am not enough to eradicate her. Therefore, I need the help of all my fellow Daoists. Please do not take advantage of the chaos."

"After this victory, I will gladly bestow my true form upon the one who makes the greatest contribution!"

As he finished speaking, he clasped his hands deeply in front of the audience, his sincerity moving everyone present.

However, most people didn't understand the last sentence, and knowing that Layman Jinglian would explain it, they didn't rush to ask.

As expected, Layman Jinglian began to speak eloquently.

"After this battle, I will ascend to the Immortal Realm to report on my duties. This physical body I am in now is merely the result of my reincarnated soul attaching itself to a three-foot-long green lotus for cultivation."

"When the primordial spirit returns and the yang spirit awakens, this three-foot green lotus will no longer be needed. It will be a good opportunity to reward it to fellow Daoists who need it."

"Whether you want to create an external avatar, use it in medicine to extend your lifespan, or refine a heaven-reaching spiritual treasure, it's all up to you!"

"The prerequisite is that the person who kills the most Nascent Soul stage cultivators from the Black Lotus Cult in this battle will receive the reward. This is what I mean by 'first merit'!"

Upon hearing this, most of the people on the field were eager to participate and were greatly shocked.

It should be noted that when it comes to avatars, external avatars are definitely the most perfect type, far more powerful than primordial avatars, and may even possess combat power surpassing that of the original body!

The sixth-grade green lotus is the best among them. Once refined, it can instantly grant one the power of a primordial spirit. Who wouldn't be tempted?

Layman Jinglian chuckled and even began to recount secrets unknown to those present.

“Cultivating Yuan Shen Avatars is a unique feature of your lower realm; very few people in the Immortal Realm actually do this.”

"Because in the path of cultivation, there are four interconnected steps: refining essence into qi, refining qi into spirit, refining spirit into emptiness, and refining emptiness into the Dao. No mistakes can be made along the way. In fact, when refining spirit into emptiness reaches the later stage, which is just before reaching the Void Realm, in order to see through the origin of the void, one needs to be one's true self!"

"What is the true self? It is to gather all external thoughts and make the primordial spirit perfectly round and flawless, so as to break through the greatest threshold on the path to immortality!"

"To put it bluntly, if the Yuan Nian Avatar is not contaminated by the outside world, then retrieving it into the Yuan Shen to cleanse and refine it might not become an obstacle to the Void Transformation. However, if it has been tainted by various evil energies or even alien species in the void, then retrieving and refining it will be extremely difficult, requiring ten or even a hundred times the price of refining the Yuan Nian Avatar in the first place!"

"So when you are about to ascend, it is best to retrieve all your primordial thoughts, lest they be left behind in the lower realm. If you want to break through to the Void Realm but cannot retrieve them, you will only be able to sigh across the realm and regret it for the rest of your life."

!!!

After listening, everyone in the audience looked shocked.

They were genuinely unaware of this secret, as no Void Realm cultivator in the lower realms had ever told them about it, and even many sacred lands had no records of it.

Only a few branches of the lower realm that had inherited the Daoist tradition in the upper realm did not react much upon hearing about this, clearly having already heard about it before.

"The void is not as simple as you imagine, like a backyard where you can come and go as you please. The vastness of the universe is such that even an immortal could not explore it in a lifetime. If you accidentally come into contact with something strange or unusual, this primordial avatar will become a stumbling block on your future path."

"The same principle applies to external avatars. If it is before the transformation of the primordial spirit, there is no major problem. However, if it is split after the birth of primordial thoughts, it will also cause pollution to the primordial spirit!"

"Therefore, the Azure Lotus Incarnation is one of the few supreme wonders in the world that can be easily refined and used as a substitute for a magic weapon without splitting the primordial spirit and primordial thoughts, or used for reincarnation and possession upon death."

"This sixth-grade green lotus of mine is a spiritual root brought from the Immortal Realm. It is flawless and pure, blocking the invasion of evil spirits and purifying the poisonous miasma. You don't need to worry about any consequences after using it. If your lifespan is nearing its end, you can even take it to borrow life from the heavens. Everyone, you must do your best in this battle!"

After hearing this, even though everyone knew that Layman Jinglian was trying to prevent everyone from slacking off and was thus boosting morale by throwing out some exciting information beforehand, most people were still swayed and became very interested in his sixth-grade green lotus!
This includes Lin Shan, who is among the crowd.

Compared to the allure of the Heavenly Treasure offered by Fairy Qinglian, the temptation of the Pure Lotus Hermit's offer is clearly much greater!
Immediately afterward, Layman Jinglian waved his hand.

"Since you have come from afar and are determined to participate in this battle, the deposits promised to you will be paid as scheduled. Please keep them safe."

Children descended from the pontoon bridge, offering trays along both banks, their fragrant aroma impossible to conceal.

The fragrance wafted for miles, and the fish and shrimp in the river, drawn by the aroma, couldn't help but leap out of the water, eager to seize the opportunity to evolve.

It was indeed a sixth-tier Nascent Soul pill, the Earth Spirit Pill! (End of Chapter)