Immortal Road.

"."

The Azure Lotus Fairy was calming everyone down and explaining the matter of ascension when Lin Shan suddenly reached out and nearly numb her!
One hundred offerings of incense? That's enough money to redeem Youmeiji from her servitude!
"Leader Lin, don't go too far. Just because I'm willing to make concessions doesn't mean you can take advantage of me at will. At most, I'll be fifty years old. My Black Lotus Sect isn't as wealthy as you think."

"Fifty years old? Are you trying to fob me off like a beggar?"

Lin Shan almost burst out laughing. Cutting the price by 50% right off the bat—is this how they show sincerity?
"One hundred years old, no bargaining!"

Qinglian Fairy couldn't get away, and because of her pride, she didn't want to bow her head in front of others, so she could only secretly negotiate with him through telepathy.

But Lin Shan wouldn't budge, and she was already overwhelmed with problems, so she had no choice but to agree to the price.

"I can't give it to you right now, but I'll give it to you after this battle, along with the final payment."

Are they going to use this trick again?

"No, it must be settled in person!"

This time, Lin Shan had learned his lesson and didn't believe her empty promises at all. He insisted on doing things on the spot and refused to agree to pay on credit no matter what.

Fearing that he would openly oppose her again, Fairy Qinglian had no choice but to agree.

"You Meiji will be sent to you later. I hope you two can cooperate sincerely in the future. I don't want to see today's incident happen again!"

"That depends on whether she cooperates or not."

Lin Shan replied indifferently, but did not cause any further trouble.

After explaining things to everyone present, Fairy Qinglian turned around to face Lin Shan and said a few words of admonition in a neutral tone.

The latter, constrained by the huge hush money, simply kept quiet and remained silent, letting Fairy Qinglian save face.

With the dispute resolved and the internal crisis following a great victory nipped in the bud, Fairy Qinglian returned to her pearl to rest, and the incident was temporarily brought to a close.

Afterwards, You Meiji came over, glared at Chi Hong with her eyes, and then, with a livid face, gave Lin Shan a black-faced Buddha statue.

"Thank you, Holy Maiden!"

Lin Shan smiled and weighed it in his mind. There was indeed a huge amount of incense inside, enough for a hundred days. Fairy Qinglian did not renege on her promise in this regard.

After Youmei left, everyone dispersed.

On the way back, the four of them walked together, and without realizing it, they had formed a new little group!

"Sect Leader Lin, was the incense the Holy Maiden gave you just now at the behest of the World Honored One?"

Chi Hong is meticulous and perceptive, and his observations are so sharp that he guessed it right away!
"That's right, hush money."

Lin Shan suddenly realized that having such a mortal enemy as You Meiji on the Black Lotus Sect side wasn't so bad after all; from another perspective, she was actually his lucky star!
And here comes the charm of ancient times, delivered right to our doorstep!
The other two Nascent Soul stage cultivators were also filled with admiration for his courage today, but they still showed signs of worry.

"Master Lin, Fairy Qinglian's move is probably a delaying tactic. By disrespecting her and causing her chosen successor, You Meiji, to be so embarrassed, you'll likely face difficulties in the future!"

"Yes, yes, we all know that You Meiji is petty and narrow-minded. In the past, we could see through her but not say anything, and we could still get along peacefully. Now that we've torn off the mask, I'm afraid we can't go back to how things were before."

Chi Hong, however, was concerned with something on a deeper level.

"The Demoness is nothing; the important thing is whether the Azure Lotus Fairy will hold a grudge and try to trip us up."

Lin Shan waved his hand.

"It's not that bad. As an immortal, she still has that much magnanimity."

If one lacks magnanimity, one wouldn't use incense offerings to settle matters, indicating that Fairy Qinglian is indeed currently unable to spare any resources and has to make concessions for the sake of appearances.

On the surface, Lin Shan seemed to have bowed down, but in reality, the Black Lotus Sect's prestige had been greatly diminished, and You Meiji had become a laughing stock!
"What are your thoughts on today's response regarding his ascension?"

Hearing Lin Shan's question, the other two were skeptical and unsure of what to do.

"Our main body has already gathered information on the continent. Some ancient sects have connections in the upper realm, which confirms that what the Holy Lord Haoran said is true. The Golden Palace Ascension Platform can indeed only accommodate four people to ascend at the same time."

"But whether the celestial artifacts of the Observatory are lacking in vital energy and unable to operate to monitor the heavens is a top secret, and the outside world has no way of knowing."

Chi Hong's eyes flickered slightly, and he sighed and shook his head slightly.

Lin Shan keenly grasped this point.

"What does Fellow Daoist Chi Hong think?"

"I'm not optimistic, because before the war, Youmei Ji mentioned something about the ascension quotas. Now that I think about it, there are suspicious points everywhere, so I'm afraid I can't trust it completely."

The other two also sensed something was amiss in his words and quickly asked him what was going on.

Chi Hong didn't say much. He knew that too many people would talk too much, and if this matter were leaked, Fairy Qinglian would definitely skin him alive!
This is not a joke.

Lin Shan didn't dwell on that issue, but instead asked a pointed question that puzzled everyone.

"Today, Fairy Qinglian attacked me. Why did Fellow Daoist Chihong not go along with her wishes but instead speak to me, thus dismantling the scheme of making an example of someone?"

The other two also remembered this and looked over at the same time.

Chi Hong smiled helplessly.

"Master Lin saved my life. If I repay kindness with enmity, not only will I be looked down upon by everyone, but I'm afraid I won't have a good future either, right?"

Having experienced the near-death experience described by the Holy Lord Haoran, the three of them understood that it would be incredibly easy for Lin Shan to kill them!

Furthermore, there's really no need to kick someone when they're down, since everyone here is a Nascent Soul cultivator.

If Fairy Qinglian wanted to make an example of someone, she didn't need to be used as a pawn. She simply stated the objective facts impartially, and the immortal wouldn't retaliate afterward.

There was another reason that Chi Hong didn't mention: You Meiji had once mentioned the ascension quota to him!

That incident hadn't happened yet. Even though Fairy Qinglian later explained it, she still couldn't let go of that sentence from back then.

If it was just something Youmeiji made up, that would be fine, but if it's true, I probably won't get a chance.
So he had a plan in mind, a plan that no one knew about.

Since there is a real possibility that the number of spots is limited, what if I secretly and secretly kill the person who is most likely to ascend?
Once the order is changed, it'll be my turn, right?
Of course, it also depends on Fairy Qinglian's opinion. Today, I didn't go along with her, which might have left a bad impression, but at least my avatar's life was saved, and that's the foundation of everything.

The other two also decided to temporarily follow Lin Shan.

For no other reason than to ensure their survival in the upcoming battle, they didn't believe that the immortals would be so petty as to make things difficult for them because of this.

If there were plenty of ascension slots, they wouldn't be needed; if there were limited ascension slots, they wouldn't have been chosen in the first place!
This is a true reflection of the psychology.

Youmei Ji might resort to tricks, but with Lin Shan around, there's nothing to fear.

After spending some time together, the two decided to reveal their identities to each other without concealment, becoming 'Divine Lord Yuming' and 'Venerable Lord Hanhai' respectively.

Among them, Lord Yuming is the Holy Lord of Yuhuo Holy Land in the northeast corner of the continent, and Venerable Hanhai is the Demon Lord of Tonghe Islands in the North Sea!
Lin Shan and Chi Hong were slightly surprised when they learned about it, not expecting that there was a Holy Lord and a demon leader by their side without them noticing.

"It is truly surprising that Fellow Daoist Yuming did not join the camp but instead came to the Black Lotus Sect to seek opportunities."

"Brother Han Hai Yao concealed his identity and risked his life here, which we admire!" The two waved their hands and smiled wryly, indicating that everyone has their own troubles.

"There are quite a few holy sites in the Immortal Envoy camp participating in the battle. My little temple used to be hardly worthy of being called a grand hall. I might as well come here and try my luck at ascending. If I succeed, great; if not, so be it!"

"Hey~ My Tonghe Demon Clan Alliance is already on the verge of extinction due to the invasion of the North Sea Clan. The Qinghe Water Demon, as the leader of the river demons in this world, doesn't care at all. The three of you must not mention my name in front of her."

Being able to openly reveal one's identity signifies that everyone has developed an initial level of trust.

The group agreed to support each other and form an alliance should any missions come up, thus creating a small circle led by Lin Shan.

After parting ways, they each found a place to rest and recuperate, awaiting the summons for the next great battle.

Lin Shan found a secluded spot and reviewed the day's events, his mind clear as a mirror.

After this open confrontation, it's unlikely that he and Fairy Qinglian will ever be able to return to their previous state!

Especially if you confront them directly and try to extort money from them, it will definitely create a huge rift in their mind, and they will most likely never be able to get the remaining payment back.

One should have a sense of self-awareness. If he were in his shoes, he would definitely not give a good look to such a troublemaker who challenged the leader's authority in the alliance.

Returning benefits? No way!

"I need to stay with the Black Lotus Sect. For no other reason than that, being close by gives me an advantage. The Azure Lotus Fairy controls the sect's influence, and I need to stay informed of their movements for crucial moments."

Meanwhile, there's no need to worry about the Celestial Envoy camp. After all, the Annihilation Avatar has been lurking and hasn't been exposed yet. It's just right that one side is in the shadows and the other in the light, and there might even be an opportunity to cooperate!

A true hunter always has a heart that can endure loneliness.

It’s just a good show.

On the other side, Youmeiji was bowing her head and reflecting on her actions in the empty cave.

"Your Majesty, please forgive me. I was indeed impulsive this time and should not have provoked the Seeking Ancient Sect Master. However, it is an undeniable fact that he colluded with Chi Hong and almost caused turmoil within the sect!"

"I already know, do you need to tell me?"

The voice of the Azure Lotus Fairy came from the green pearl, her tone already calm.

"If you hadn't used your position to settle personal scores, things wouldn't be like this today. There are a hundred ways to explain ascension, it's not a big problem. The problem lies in the fact that the leader of the Seeking Ancient Sect broke the authority, making you a laughing stock in the future!"

"Now, your prestige in those people's eyes has plummeted. Who will listen to you?"

"Will they still treat you with utmost respect and awe? How to win their hearts and minds, how to lead troops—you tell me!"

You Meiji lowered her head, looking ashamed, but her eyes were full of resentment towards Lin Shan.

If it weren't for Lin Shan, how would I have gotten to where I am today?
"I'm warning you one last time: don't act childishly. This clash between two factions is no joke. If you lose this battle, your fate will be absolutely miserable. You know my methods."

Upon hearing this, Youmeiji couldn't help but shiver, as if recalling some unpleasant memories.

"Disciple understands, disciple will remember, and will do everything in my power to help the World Honored One win this war!"

Green Pearl gave a soft hum and stopped trying to scare her.

"That leader of the Seeking Ancient Sect, from now on you should stop targeting him openly. Now that you've already given people a reason to criticize you and everyone knows about it, you should restrain yourself and maintain internal stability to avoid trouble."

"Venerable One, I have a question, but I'm not sure if I should ask it?"

"explain."

Youmei looked around and lowered her voice.

"After this battle, will you really settle the remaining incense offerings for that kid?"

Green Pearl remained silent; her silence spoke volumes.

"Report!"

A report came from outside the cave, and Youmeiji ordered someone to come in.

"Reporting to the Holy Maiden, the old demon and seven other primordial spirit seniors have already dispatched a second batch of primordial spirit avatars to join the battle!"

“Very good. You can settle them down nearby to rest first. I will come to pick them up later.”

The messenger accepted the order and left.

A sigh came from Green Pearl.

"This lower realm has strayed onto a crooked path. Every cultivator in the Nascent Soul stage practices Yuan Shen Avatars, hiding their true bodies while their avatars travel outside—a sight rarely seen in other worlds. Little do they know that the Void Spiritual Essence is a heaven-sent treasure, a crucial medium for contacting the Void Origin when breaking through to the Void Transformation stage. How regrettable it is that it simply vanishes with their avatars, disappearing from the world! When the time comes, it will be much harder to advance further."

Youmei Ji was secretly surprised upon hearing this, never expecting that the Void Spiritual Essence was so important!

"That's understandable, after all, what they want is ascension. What wouldn't they do for ascension? What surprised me is that although we lost quite a few people, only half of them came to participate in the second battle. The other half didn't send new Yuan Nian avatars back to the team. Could it be that they don't want the final payment anymore and are no longer pursuing ascension?"

"Have you sent anyone to investigate how many of the primordial spirits of Layman Jinglian have returned?"

"This disciple is investigating."

Green Pearl didn't continue the topic; instead, Youmeiji asked about Chihong.

"World Honored One, it seems that Chi Hong is colluding with the leader of the Xun Gu Sect and is gradually becoming disobedient to his disciples. Should we secretly remove him from the Black Lotus Sect?"

"No need. Let's marginalize him and retain his position as a Dharma Protector for now. We are at a critical juncture, so we must not be hasty."

"This disciple doesn't know what kind of bewitching potion the Ancient Seeking Sect Leader has given him, but he's so determined to side with outsiders. I think he's deliberately causing trouble and harboring ulterior motives!"

"Alright, let's put aside our personal grudges for now and focus on the upcoming battle. You can take your revenge after we win."

The fierce battle between the two major camps here has attracted the attention of the vast majority of the cultivation world.

Little did they know that a turmoil was quietly unfolding in the central and western parts of the mainland.

Dixi Plateau, Kongsanghai.

Horns sounded, flames soared into the sky, and countless tiny dots, like locusts, swarmed towards the Star Palace's hundred races!
"Kill them! If we succeed today, our dynasty's eternal dominance can be expected."

The Tibetan royal court launched a surprise attack without declaring war, secretly assembling an army of over 100,000 and taking advantage of the night to launch a sneak attack on Kongsanghai.

The Inhumans, caught off guard, found themselves on the defensive, fought amongst themselves, and suffered heavy casualties.

"Fellow Daoist Guhun, didn't our two families sign a truce treaty that lasted for eight Jiazi? Why are you bringing your troops to our door?"

Xing Jinshu was shocked and furious, and got into a fight with Guhun, the national preceptor of the Tubo royal court.

"Hahaha, because Fellow Daoist Guhun has taken a liking to this piece of land, while we have taken a liking to you!"

Under the cover of night, the Demon Lord of Extreme Darkness and the Divine Lord Yuxing came from the left and right, taking advantage of this heaven-sent opportunity...

After waiting for so long, they finally showed up. (End of Chapter)