Immortals Step into Heaven

The Golden Spirit Eagle King spread its massive wings, slowly flapping them, stirring up a sharp, biting gust of wind. Its piercing eyes, like cold stars, scanned the crowd. After a high-pitched cry, it spoke majestically, "Master Shura, please do not be so overbearing. These Qi Refining juniors are merely seeking a glimmer of hope in this cruel world of immortal cultivation. As seniors, we may need resources, but we should also offer them some hope."

Master Shura snorted coldly. "Golden Spirit Eagle King, don't try to act like a good person here. The path to immortality is one of the survival of the fittest. If you can't even provide these resources, how can you advance? How can you even gain a foothold in this world?"

The Golden Spirit Eagle King scratched deep marks on the ground with his claws and raised his head. "That being said, blindly exploiting them will only breed resentment, which could become a hidden danger in the future. I suggest we have them voluntarily offer up some of their treasures, and we can then exchange them for other treasures or cultivation insights. This is the only long-term solution."

Master Shura pondered for a moment, a look of disdain on his face. "Hmph, Eagle King, you're always so hesitant, but what you say is not entirely unreasonable. Well, I'll do as you say and let them make their own choice. But if their offerings are too shabby, don't blame me for changing my mind."

A glimmer of hope now ignited on the faces of the Qi Refining cultivators from various sects who had originally been in despair. They began to select suitable treasures from their storage bags, thinking in their minds how to exchange them for the greatest benefits and opportunities.

Zheng Yuan stood quietly by, his ears filled with the conversation between Master Shura and the Golden Spirit Eagle King. When he heard Master Shura's overbearing words, his brows instantly furrowed into a deep "chuan" shape, and his heart surged like turbulent waves, and he couldn't help but curse silently.

He thought with indignation, "This Golden Spirit Eagle King, after years of navigating the demon world, is known for his tact and tact. He knows how to weigh the pros and cons and avoid overreaching. But what about that Shura Master? He's a complete jerk! His bossy demeanor doesn't even remotely resemble the demeanor of a senior expert. He's nothing more than a bully. He's brazenly demanding everyone hand over everything in their storage bags, leaving nothing behind. How's that any different from banditry?"

Didn't he consider that the elixirs and treasures these Qi Refining cultivators had painstakingly found might be their only hope for improving their cultivation and changing their fate? Such brutal plundering was simply pushing everyone to a dead end; it was truly outrageous and abhorrent.

Although Zheng Yuan's heart was swirling with thoughts, his years of experience in the world of immortal cultivation had cultivated strong self-control. His face was stern, like a stone sculpture, without a single muscle trembling. His eyes were deep and calm, making it difficult to discern his true thoughts. He knew that in front of these elders whose stomping could shake the world of immortal cultivation, any extraneous expression could be interpreted differently, potentially bringing him into unknown danger.

Master Tianshui was dressed in white robes as white as snow, with an extraordinary and otherworldly temperament. He gently shook the whisk in his hand, making a slight rustling sound, which attracted everyone's attention. He then said in a harmonious voice: "My two fellow Taoists, your status in the world of immortal cultivation is very important, and you are the objects of admiration and respect of countless younger generations. But now you are arguing with each other in front of these young people who are just starting out. If this gets out, it will probably become a topic of conversation for others after dinner, and it will damage your reputation and prestige. We are gathered here, and the important thing is to complete the current task, or it is the right way to start counting the gains in the secret realm of the Yunlong Sect as soon as possible." His voice was not loud, but it echoed clearly in this space, with an unquestionable majesty.

The Golden Spirit Eagle King shook out his magnificent feathers and raised his proud head. A subtle flicker of embarrassment flashed across his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure. Master Shura narrowed his eyes slightly, his anger gradually fading. Though a hint of resentment remained, he understood the truth of Master Tianshui's words. After a brief silence, the two of them nodded gently in agreement.

After receiving the response, Master Tianshui turned to face the crowd and, with a wave of his hand, pointed in the direction of the Fire Demon Sect. He calmly stated, "This time, the Fire Demon Sect was the first to step out of the Yunlong Sect's secret realm. Therefore, according to custom, the inventory of this harvest should begin with the Fire Demon Sect." As soon as he finished speaking, everyone's eyes turned to the Fire Demon Sect's cultivators, and the atmosphere became solemn and tense.

Under the gaze of the crowd, the Fire Demon Sect disciples exchanged bewilderment, then reluctantly pulled out their storage bags and opened them one by one. Their movements were hesitant, for none of them wanted to show off their hard-earned gains. As the bags opened, the elixirs and treasures retrieved from the secret realm appeared before their eyes. A rough count of the herbs revealed about seventy or eighty. Disappointingly, the vast majority were century-old, with not a single precious thousand-year-old herb visible. As for the fragments of the magical instruments, they appeared even more ordinary. In the sunlight, they shimmered without a trace of precious light, offering no hint of uniqueness or wonder.

At this moment, the five Foundation Establishment cultivators followed suit, opening their own storage bags. The spiritual herbs they took out were relatively few, only a few dozen. Just when everyone thought the inspection would end without incident, the middle-aged Foundation Establishment demon cultivator leisurely pulled a spiritual herb from the depths of his storage bag. Instantly, a faint spiritual aura permeated the air, refreshing the surrounding air. It was a thousand-year-old spiritual herb! Its branches and leaves were lush green, and faint spiritual patterns flickered on its stem, as if telling of the passage of time.

As soon as this thousand-year-old elixir appeared, the eyes of the Golden Eagle King, who had been observing silently nearby, suddenly lit up. Its sharp gaze fixed on the elixir, and without hesitation, it declared, "I want this demonic elixir!" With that, it extended a claw, and a flash of light flashed from its center, revealing a magical flying sword. The sword's body was azure blue, its blade gleaming with a chilling cold light. A blue gemstone was embedded in the hilt, occasionally gleaming with a mysterious light. It was obvious at a glance that it was a rare treasure. The Golden Eagle King shook the flying sword in his hand and continued, "I will trade this magic weapon for this elixir. Are you willing?"

The Fire Demon Sect's Foundation Establishment cultivator was startled upon seeing this, knowing full well that he couldn't make such a serious decision on his own. He quickly turned his gaze to the sect's Golden Core Elder, a look of pleading and apprehension in his eyes. The Fire Demon Sect's Golden Core Elder noticed the middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator's gaze and cursed him silently, "What a fool! Such reckless actions brought this trouble upon our sect for no reason."