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

Deep in the Black Soil Mountains.

This place is shrouded in clouds and mist all year round, with towering peaks, rugged terrain, and even lurking monsters.

Since the cold wave that broke out more than a hundred years ago, few people have dared to approach it.

In that deepest, most hidden place lies a vast, frozen lake.

An endless stream of cold air, like a surging, turbulent tide, was bubbling up from the lake.

And it spread rapidly in all directions!

However, at this moment, the lake, which should have been icy cold, turned a chilling, eerie crimson.

The thick ice layer, taller than a person, had cracked open, revealing a scene of churning, crimson blood beneath.

Even the raging cold waves around them retreated, as if filled with fear and dread of this strange blood.

.........

Unlike its usual quiet, the lakeside is now bustling with activity.

The imposing Foundation Establishment cultivators, exuding an aura of authority, made no attempt to conceal their presence as they used their respective magical artifacts to carry their disciples to their final resting place.

The first to arrive were a group of disciples from the Fire Refining Sect dressed in orange fire robes from the west.

They were all full of energy and their eyes were burning with enthusiasm.

The leader was a middle-aged strong man with a bushy beard and hair, his red eyebrows slanted into his temples, his eyes were imposing without anger, and the scorching aura emanating from his body clearly indicated that he was in the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

The burly man stared at the blood in the lake with a satisfied expression, but suddenly his eyes turned cold as he looked eastward.

A giant golden sword suddenly descended from the sky!

A cultivator with a full beard also led a group of Qi Refining disciples dressed in green robes to the lakeside.

"Jin Tianfeng of the Spirit Medicine Valley, hmph, a bunch of herb growers and pill makers, you dogs really have sharp noses, daring to come to my Fire Refining Sect's territory to steal food."

The burly man crossed his arms and sneered.

"Hahaha, when did the Core Formation Secret Realm become your Fire Refining Sect's territory? Chi Zhan, it is your Fire Refining Sect that secretly instigated the Calamity Cultivator to cause trouble, which is playing with fire and getting burned."

The person present was none other than Elder Jin of the Enforcement Hall of Lingyao Valley.

He sheathed his greatsword, looked at the blood in the lake with some surprise, and then retaliated without hesitation.

"Indeed, the Fire Refining Sect wouldn't think that by keeping this matter secret, it wouldn't be discovered, would it?"

The disappearance and death of several disciples of my Flying Cloud Sect are inextricably linked to your Refining Fire Sect!

Another group of people arrived from the north side of the lake.

Hundreds of cultivators were standing on a giant white cloud-like magical artifact, exuding an ethereal aura.

The leader was an old woman with wrinkled skin and white hair, leaning on a cane. She also exuded the aura of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, and it was she who had spoken just now.

"Elder Xiangyun, why is your Feiyun Sect getting involved in this mess? Aren't you afraid of losing another batch of disciples?"

The burly man from the Fire Refining Sect, known as Chi Zhan, gave a cold, wicked smile.

The wrinkled and white-haired Elder Xiangyun was about to speak.

A cheerful voice came from the south.

"What is there to fear in death? As long as there is enough gain and absolute benefit, the sacrifice is worthwhile."

A huge flying boat was suspended in mid-air, with four large, elegant characters engraved on it: Haitian Chamber of Commerce.

Upon hearing this cheerful voice, Chi Zhan's arrogant gaze finally softened, and a hint of apprehension flashed across his eyes.

"Vice President Luo, your Haitian Chamber of Commerce has always prided itself on neutrality, but now you can't hold back anymore?"

As the flying boat landed, a handsome man with a face as white as jade, holding a folding fan, slowly walked over.

"Hahaha, this is the Core Formation Realm, how could we possibly hold back?"

Moreover, your Fire Refining Sect's previous actions in Black Rock Market seriously affected the normal operation of my Chamber of Commerce.

The guild leader personally ordered that if the Fire Refining Sect could provide one million spirit stones as compensation, the Sea Sky Chamber of Commerce would consider the matter closed.

Upon hearing this, Chi Zhan's fiery red eyebrows furrowed. A million spirit stones? How dare this guy say that?

He glanced around at the three major powers, then let out a cold laugh.

"It seems you've already made a plan. If you want a share of my Fire Refining Sect's pie, you'll have to see if you have the ability."

"No, no, no, it's not just about sharing the pie, we also want to eat the meat. If one person in the Fire Refining Sect eats all the food, they'll die from overeating."

Vice President Luo snapped his folding fan shut and pressed closer step by step.

"Open the secret realm, and let's see what your Fire Refining Sect is capable of..."

"That's right, don't even think about delaying, we'll stay here the whole time..."

Elder Jin and Elder Xiangyun also urged them on.

Chi Zhan's face twitched slightly. Although the Fire Refining Sect had the method to open the secret realm, it was obviously a pipe dream to try and secretly enjoy it all by himself.

Even if we hold back today.

Ten days, a hundred days later, this place will surely still be occupied and guarded by other forces.

"Hmph... Looks like your information network is really good. Don't rush, even if you're eager to die, you'll have to wait in line..."

With a wave of his hand, Chi Zhan sent out a group of disciples dressed in blood-red robes.

This group of people had their entire bodies, including their faces, hidden in hoods. As they walked, they exuded a thick, nauseating smell of blood, making them seem somewhat mysterious and eerie.

Seeing this, Elder Jin's eyes narrowed slightly, and he asked:

"These guys aren't from the Fire Refining Sect? Where did they come from?"

Elder Xiangyun also examined it carefully, then shook his head:

"I don't know...it looks like something evil or heretical."

However, Vice President Luo of the Haitian Chamber of Commerce, standing to the side, tapped his fan against his left palm with his right hand and slowly said:

"Hehe... These aren't people from the Northern Sky Domain. According to information from the Chamber of Commerce, these guys might be from the Blood Burning Sect."

"Burning Blood Sect?"

"Indeed, a bunch of lunatics from the Maple Flower Domain. I never thought the Fire Refining Sect would get involved with them. No wonder they're arresting cultivators everywhere..."

"What? It's actually a force from another region? Does Vice President Luo know anything more?" Elder Jin was taken aback and quickly pressed for details.

This is information that Spirit Medicine Valley was unaware of.

The Haitian Chamber of Commerce is a powerful chamber of commerce that spans five major regions of the Eastern Divine Continent.

This is just one of its branches, and since they can share intelligence with headquarters, they certainly know more than Lingyao Valley.

"I don't know much about it either, I've only heard that it's a demonic force in the Maple Flower Domain, and they're most skilled in various blood sacrifice techniques..."

Vice President Luo shook his head. Although he was the vice president of the Black Soil Mountains branch in the Northern Airspace.

However, their permissions are insufficient to access important information from other major domains.

Core Formation Realms are highly sought after here, but they're not uncommon in the Maple Blossom Domain...

As the group was talking, they saw that the group of mysterious men in blood-red robes had already dispersed and stood by the lake.

Their movements were almost synchronized; they each pulled a jade bottle from under their blood-red robes and poured it into the lake.

The foul-smelling blood was seen flowing out of the jade bottle!

The colors blend with the already vibrant red lake water, making the entire lake surface even more vivid and eye-catching, yet also revealing an indescribable eerie atmosphere!

Ripples spread across the lake's surface, and the stench of blood permeated the surroundings, sending chills down one's spine!