Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

P.S.: I sincerely apologize for the longer break. The data was so poor before that it was difficult to continue. But I decided to grit my teeth and keep writing, even if it was intermittent.

I also want to apologize to my readers who have supported me in the past, even if you have removed this book from your bookshelf and can no longer see these words...

The recent release of "Ne Zha 2" inspired me deeply with a quote from director Jiaozi.

"What's the most important thing when you're out in the game? First and foremost, it's getting out there."

Similarly, Feng Ji, the producer of Black Myth: Wukong, said: "Embarking on the journey to the West is more important than reaching the Western Paradise."

Since I enjoy reading and writing novels, I'll persevere and finish my first work.

(If possible, please leave your comments so I can see if anyone is still reading this book.)

.........

Inside the Xu family ancestral hall, dozens of surviving clansmen huddled together in a battle formation, their backs pressed against the mottled stone wall.

The blood-stained robes of the tribesmen rubbed against each other, their heavy, rumbling breaths filled with despair.

"Yan...Yan'er, is there really no backup plan?"

The elder, leaning on his broken sword, asked in a trembling voice, blood seeping from his wound dripping down the hilt of the sword and splashing onto the blue bricks like tiny plum blossoms.

The woman in red standing to the side had disheveled hair, a deathly pale face, and her meridians, weakened by excessive magical power, were throbbing with a needle-like pain.

"This second-tier crocodile puppet... cough cough... is the last reliance bestowed upon it by the Pavilion Master..."

"But everyone's saying it!" the young clansman, his face covered in blood, suddenly roared, "that you served Master Lu for years, how could he leave you with just this..."

When questioned by her clansmen, Xu Yan'er subconsciously recalled the image of the Pavilion Master.

However, a bitter smile crept onto her haggard face.

"There really aren't any left..."

Isn't it enough to give your maid a puppet comparable to a Foundation Establishment cultivator?

Moreover, how could someone like the Pavilion Master die so easily...?

The fact that the restriction in one's mind still exists is the best proof.

The demonic cultivator leader had previously used a soul-soul technique to attack him, attempting to sever the crocodile puppet's connection.

If it weren't for the Pavilion Master's restriction that inadvertently blocked the attack for him, he would probably be dead by now!

Unfortunately, his cultivation level was still too weak.

With his limited cultivation level, he simply couldn't unleash the true power of the second-tier crocodile puppet...

"That's enough! Yan'er has already given more than enough to the Xu family!"

At this moment, the Xu family patriarch stepped forward to interrupt, a bitter sigh escaping his throat:

"Blame our low cultivation level! If our clan had a Foundation Establishment cultivator in charge, we wouldn't have been slaughtered by these demonic cultivators!"

The Xu family, originally a small cultivation family, has accumulated wealth to this day...

Even Xu Yan'er, who had the best chance of breaking through, was only at the seventh level of Qi Refining.

This was all thanks to Lu Zaian.

However, what pains Chief Xu the most is that the family's last hope is about to be lost here.

If it weren't for Xu Yan'er's desperate attempt to protect the Xu family, she could have easily driven the crocodile puppet out of the demonic cultivators' encirclement all by herself...

It was her family that dragged her down.

"Things have come to this, let's fight! Even if we die, we'll take someone down with us!" Chief Xu said through gritted teeth.

Before the words had even finished, the demonic cultivators outside had already rushed in impatiently.

"Hahaha, the boss said, no one should be spared, young or old. The women will be captured and used as cauldrons. Let's go!"

"Kill! Kill! Kill! My Soul Refining Bell needs ten living souls to be refined!"

"Hehe, I'll use this blood to practice my Blood-Drinking Blade Technique!"

"That little girl is quite nice, she suits my taste!"

As demonic cultivators, how could these people not possess a few evil arts and heretical techniques?

Extracting souls and refining marrow, absorbing yin to replenish yang, were already commonplace for them.

Chu Xiao hovered in mid-air, arms crossed, watching the battle below with a cold smile.

In fact, as a demonic cultivator who had broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, he no longer coveted the original resources of the Xu family.

However, Xu Yan'er really intrigued him.

Chu Xiao had investigated thoroughly and found that Xu Yan'er had previously served a Foundation Establishment alchemist in Huangze City.

Such alchemists are often extremely wealthy, so much so that even a small amount of wealth that slips through their fingers is considerable.

Look, even a mere Qi Refining maid can be bestowed with a second-tier puppet.

Not to mention that Chu Xiao had previously tried to use a soul-binding technique against Xu Yan'er.

However, it was blocked by a mysterious restriction.

This further suggests that Xu Yan'er knows some big secret.

It might be about the wealth of that Foundation Establishment alchemist...

As long as Xu Yan'er's soul is searched, all her secrets will be mine!

.........

Meanwhile, the battle below intensified.

Unexpectedly, the demonic cultivators clashed with the Xu family, and for a time, neither side could gain the upper hand.

Although the demonic cultivators outnumbered and outmatched, each of them cherished their lives and harbored their own ulterior motives, and none of them were willing to use their full strength.

They both hoped that their teammates would die more so that they could get a bigger share of the loot.

The Xu family, on the other hand, fought with their backs against the wall, each unleashing astonishing fighting power and battling to the death!

Upon seeing this, Chu Xiao frowned and muttered a curse.

"You bunch of useless trash, get out of my way!"

He knew what kind of people his men were: cunning and greedy, yet also extremely afraid of losing their lives.

They were just a group of defeated soldiers who had been besieged by the Demon-Slaying Alliance.

If I hadn't broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage and gained absolute prestige, I probably wouldn't have been able to lead this team at all...

Seeing the demonic cultivator leader charge into the battlefield, the Xu family members were filled with utter despair.

Chu Xiao casually unleashed two solid black fist strikes, instantly killing more than ten members of the Xu family.

On the contrary, the attacks from the Xu family members struck Chu Xiao's burly body without making a sound.

It's impossible to cause even the slightest scratch!

"Hmph, you dare to resist? Don't you know that below the Foundation Establishment stage, everyone is just an ant?"

Chu Xiao's eyes were fierce. He casually extended a claw mark and grabbed Xu Yan'er who was resisting.

"The game is over."

"Yan'er!!"

"Let her go!!"

The Xu family members were shocked and furious, but could only watch helplessly as they were left with no way to stop them.

The fact that a Foundation Establishment cultivator had made a move dealt a huge blow to everyone's morale.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, the remaining demonic cultivators surged forward as if they had been injected with chicken blood!

In mid-air, Chu Xiao's eyes flashed with a sinister light as he grabbed Xu Yan'er by the neck.

"Let me break through the barrier and see what secrets you're hiding!"

As he spoke, Chu Xiao used his soul-searching technique to try and enter Xu Yan'er's sea of ​​consciousness.

Xu Yan'er's face turned red from being pinched, and she was breathing heavily.

"Cough cough... Let me go... If you want to pry into the Pavilion Master's secrets, he... will definitely not let you get away with it..."

Xu Yan'er knew that the biggest secret about Lu Zai'an was the existence of Xiao Yi.

When she was under the restriction, Xu Yan'er truly didn't know just how extraordinary Xiao Yi's existence was.

But after spending several years by Lu Zaian's side, Xu Yan'er has gained a lot of knowledge and experience.

Only then did she belatedly realize how extraordinary a spiritual being of heaven and earth could be, one that was intelligent and capable of self-cultivation!

Once leaked, it would be something even a Core Formation expert would covet.

Normally, due to the restrictions, Xu Yan'er cannot reveal any of the truth to the outside world.

However, if one's soul is searched by divine sense, which is stronger than the power of the restriction, then there are only two possible outcomes:

First, the restriction self-destructed, and Xu Yan'er's soul and spirit were destroyed, perishing along with the secret.

Second, the restrictions were broken, and the secrets were exposed.

"Hmph, you're about to die yourself, and you're still thinking about your master? You truly are a loyal maid."

Chu Xiao sneered and continued:

"Unfortunately, someone witnessed that old fellow being chased and killed by the male and female bandits, and he has long since disappeared without a trace..."

You may not yet understand the strength of the Twin Bandits; they are powerful beings that even we demonic cultivators must revere.

So, you'd better just obediently hand over the secret!

After saying that, Chu Xiao's eyes shone brightly, and his divine sense power gradually increased as it surged into Xu Yan'er's sea of ​​consciousness.

Xu Yan'er was powerless to resist, her eyes gradually losing focus, as if she were in a daze...

A critical moment.

A light, airy voice came from the horizon, and in an instant it was as close as if they were inches apart.

"Who said I'm dead?"

The words echoed, and then a Water Moon Flying Sword pierced through the air and arrived, clearly thrown from a hundred miles away while they were speaking!