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

Several days later, they left the depths of the mountains.

The surrounding area remains barren and desolate, with scarce spiritual energy and few traces of cultivators.

After Jiu You led Jiang Feng through a maze of twists and turns, navigating through layers of illusionary arrays, and finally opening the barrier of the [Minor Yin-Yang Creation Array]—

Suddenly, a bright and open space appeared before me, revealing a hidden paradise.

Yunli Mountain.

The peaks stand tall and verdant, displaying two distinct colors, with clouds and mist swirling around them, like a person wearing a straw hat.

Along the way, the hundred acres of spiritual fields reclaimed in the western mountain stream are lush and verdant, layer upon layer, leading to the mountainside.

Beside the field ridges, a clear spring flows gently, its misty vapor reflecting a faint glow.

"This……"

Jiang Feng stared in disbelief, holding his breath.

Who in the northern airspace doesn't know that the Changli Mountains are a desolate and barren land?

Who would have thought that such a spiritually vibrant, tranquil, and peaceful paradise could be hidden in this remote place?

"Your friend is truly... a remarkable person."

Jiang Feng couldn't help but admire that the person who chose this location for their cave dwelling and went to great lengths to set up a grand formation and create such an idyllic scene must have an extraordinary mindset and methods.

Jiuyou's lips curled slightly, but he didn't say anything more, only quickened his pace.

At the top of the cliff.

Lu Zaian wore a simple light blue Taoist robe, his silver hair fluttering in the mountain breeze. He slowly opened his eyes, looked towards the mountain path, and a faint smile appeared on his lips.

"Hmm... Jiuyou is back?"

Before long, Jiuyou led Jiang Feng up the cliff.

Lu Zaian and Jiu You's eyes met briefly in mid-air.

In an instant!

All the experiences, memories, insights, and even the restless hidden danger in the soul of the clone have flooded into the perception of the main body like a tide.

Lu Zaian received this information, his expression remaining unchanged:

'This clone of mine is truly restless; it went out for a short while and ended up offending two Core Formation cultivators…'

Jiang Feng dared not delay and quickly stepped forward, bowing respectfully:

"Junior Jiang Feng was fortunate to be rescued from the Black Miasma Forest by Senior Jiuyou. I apologize for my presumptuous visit and for disturbing the Mountain Lord's peaceful cultivation!"

He secretly glanced at the old man in blue robes. The man's aura was calm and reserved, and at first glance, he seemed to be just an ordinary mountain hermit.

It was nowhere near as domineering and powerful as Senior Jiuyou.

But those eyes were not at all cloudy like an old man's; on the contrary, they were surprisingly bright!

It gives one the feeling of a deep, still pool, unfathomable and unfathomable...

Moreover—the tree growing on that cliff edge was actually the same Seven Treasures Tree as the one in the family?!

'Could it be the seed I gave to Senior Jiuyou back then...?' Jiang Feng dared not think any further.

Lu Zaian nodded slightly, his expression calm:

"Since you've come here, there's no need for formalities. Although Yunli Mountain is small, it can still accommodate people for quiet cultivation."

Lu Zaian simply raised his hand and flicked it lightly, and a talisman of spiritual light shot out and disappeared into the clouds.

After a while.

A beautiful woman dressed in a light red dress arrived on a gentle breeze and landed on the cliff—it was Xu Yan'er.

She glanced curiously at the travel-worn and slightly disheveled Jiu You and Jiang Feng, but didn't ask any further questions. She simply bowed respectfully to Lu Zai'an.

"Mountain Lord, did you call me?"

"Yan'er, take this young friend to settle in. He needs to rest for a while. Arrange for his needs as appropriate," Lu Zaian instructed gently.

"Yes, Mountain Master."

Xu Yan'er agreed, turned to Jiang Feng, and gave him a friendly smile, "Fellow Daoist Jiang, please follow me."

As Jiang Feng turned away, Jiu You transmitted a message to him, saying, "Stay here and don't ask too many questions. Do not mention anything about the outside world, especially what you saw and heard in the Black Miasma Forest, to anyone else."

Jiang Feng's expression hardened, and he solemnly replied:

"Please rest assured, senior. I am not one to talk too much. I will remember your kindness today!"

He bowed to Lu Zaian and Jiu You again before following Xu Yan'er down the stairs...

After the two figures disappeared.

At the summit, only Lu Zaian and his Nine Nether clone remained.

Lu Zaian then looked at Jiu You with a relaxed expression and teased:

"How was your trip to the Black Miasma Forest? Did you enjoy it?"

If I hadn't prepared so many backup plans and kept you afloat with those 300 drops of immortal essence blood, you probably wouldn't be back..."

Jiuyou deeply agreed and nodded:

"Indeed, I didn't expect to actually end up fighting those two Core Formation cultivators, but the gains from this trip have been considerable..."

Hear the words.

Lu Zaian's expression softened slightly, and his gaze sharpened as he looked at Jiu You's brow and sea of ​​consciousness.

"Enough of the small talk. It's time to clear up that mess in your mind."

If this isn't dealt with soon, Ji Chun and the remnant souls of the Mist Demon King might truly take root, causing endless trouble.

At this moment, within the Nine Netherworld Sea of ​​Consciousness.

The emerald-green remnant soul seemed to sense the threat and began to churn violently, stirring restlessly—

A series of venomous and greedy hisses seemed to pierce through the sea of ​​consciousness.

"Next, leave it to me."

Lu Zaian spoke calmly, yet with an undeniable confidence and authority.

The two immediately sat cross-legged facing each other under the Seven Treasures Tree on the cliff.

Lu Zaian made a hand seal, and his eyes suddenly shone with a clear divine light. A divine soul power far purer and more vast than Jiu You's own surged into Jiu You's brow.

It was heading straight for that chaotic and restless world of consciousness!

Om-!

The sea of ​​consciousness in the Nine Netherworlds should have been a clear and pure ocean of the soul, with a main island symbolizing the true self standing majestically in the center.

But at this moment.

The main island, however, is firmly occupied and polluted by an extremely ferocious alien object.

Its main body is a twisted, writhing, emerald-green demonic tree with gnarled roots, and the outline of Ji Chun's pained and greedy face vaguely emerges on its trunk—

That's the embodiment of a remnant soul!

The roots of those demonic trees, like greedy parasitic vines, burrowed deep into the island of consciousness.

It's frantically absorbing nutrients!

And it keeps trying to grow more roots, wanting to completely take over the entire island!

Just now.

The illusory figure formed by Lu Zaian's spiritual power appeared in the sky above his sea of ​​consciousness just in time.

"Luckily we got there in time, otherwise you old bastard would have really succeeded..."

Without hesitation, Lu Zaian activated the cultivation technique "Netherworld Tribulation"!

[The reflection of all calamities!]

With his soul strength comparable to that of a Core Formation cultivator and his cultivation technique having reached the 35th Tribulation, he truly demonstrated the terrifying power of his "Tribulation"!

Gold Robbery!

The "sky" of his consciousness suddenly became sharp, and the phantoms of knives, spears, swords, halberds, axes, halberds, hooks, and forks formed by his soul poured down like a torrential rain!

A series of muffled thuds followed.

Each strike was like a skilled craftsman carving rotten wood, cutting off and shredding large sections of the black roots that were trying to expand!

"Ahhhhh!!"

Ji Chun's face seemed to groan in agony as it clung to the tree trunk.

"No—! How is this possible?"

Who are you? How can external forces perfectly intervene in a 'soul struggle'?!

Ji Chun's lingering soul let out a shrill, distorted scream, unable to comprehend it.

"This is illogical! When two souls are fighting, a third party's rash intervention will only cause the sea of ​​consciousness to collapse! Who exactly are you?!"

The struggle for souls is incredibly complex.

Intervening due to the difference in the soul power attributes of outsiders is like adding fuel to the fire; it will only have the opposite effect and cause the sea of ​​consciousness to collapse more quickly.

However, the soul power that Lu Zaian added was extremely pure and came from the same source as Jiu You!

Lu Zai'an remained silent. Fire calamity!

Flames suddenly appeared out of nowhere and cascaded down like a waterfall!

Ji Chun's remnant soul roared, and thick black mist gushed from the roots and every branch of the demonic tree!

This incorporates the methods of the Mist Demon King.

However, under the powerful soul force, all efforts were in vain!

Chi Chi Chi -!

As if encountering its nemesis, the black mist tumbled and retreated wildly, mercilessly enveloped and refined by the sea of ​​fire, with large swaths of black mist being evaporated into nothingness!

"I know! I know!"

Ji Chun's illusory face became increasingly distorted in the flames, and suddenly she screamed in terror.

"This is actually your clone, no wonder!"

I never expected that a Foundation Establishment cultivator like you would possess such a powerful divine soul capable of creating clones!

The technique I once considered useless has actually become so powerful! I'm so angry!!

Ji Chun was still the city lord of Huangze City and had also read "The Ghostly Tribulation of the Underworld".

However, he was already a Core Formation cultivator at that time.

However, the cultivation methods within the technique were extremely dangerous and could not increase his magical power or lifespan, so he regarded it as a "white elephant" and abandoned it...

Now it seems, this technique is terrifying indeed!

If I had been able to cultivate even a fraction of my abilities back then, I probably would have successfully possessed the Mist Demon King long ago, and I wouldn't be in this predicament now...

Lu Zaian coldly looked down at the remnant soul and sneered:

"Have you finally found it?"

You possessed my clone, so you deserve to be annihilated, body and soul!

"Here, I am the ruler! Annihilate!"

As the single word fell, it was as if the heavens and earth were collapsing within my sea of ​​consciousness, the five elements were revolving, and all kinds of calamities were occurring simultaneously...

Gold cuts its branches, fire burns its mist, water chills its body, and earth cracks its roots!

A violent storm with torrential rain and thunder!

The power of those terrifying calamities increased again, like a millstone of heaven and earth, or a furnace of refining, crushing and burning that remnant soul!

Furthermore, the inner demons transformed into invisible ripples, constantly impacting the already chaotic consciousness within the remnant soul!

"No--!!!

I'm not reconciled... Aaaaaah!!

The remnant soul let out a final, desperate scream.

Endless resentment and fear intertwined, and ultimately, under that magnificent and unparalleled soul tribulation—like the remaining snow under the blazing sun—rapidly melted and disintegrated!

"Hmph! Soul-Devouring Calamity!"

Lu Zaian finally activated a calamity shaped like a skull.

The consciousness imprints belonging to Ji Chun and the Mist Demon King were completely erased, leaving only the purest wisp of unowned soul power.

He was swallowed whole by Lu Zaian!

This is the end.

The sea of ​​consciousness has returned to tranquility and vastness, and all hidden dangers have been eliminated.

Jiuyou slowly opened his eyes and let out a long breath.

His eyes shone with inner light, free from any trace of stagnation or pain. He felt his mind was clear and bright, experiencing an unprecedented sense of comfort.