Who Let Him Cultivate Immortality

In the headquarters of the Everlasting Sect, inside an ancient bronze cauldron, mists of white vapor swirled, hosting the consciousness of the demonic cultivators.

The Everlasting Eye opened, casting a light screen that displayed rankings.

The Sect Master and Vice Sect Master were observing the exceptional performances of those ranked at the top.

“Look at this person from Kunlun City. He recites the Rebirth Mantra before killing. Quite a sense of ritual.”

“I heard he was a monk in a temple before, advocating that killing leads to enlightenment. He secretly killed many. When the abbot found out and decided to execute him, he smashed the Buddha statue and fled. He joined our Everlasting Sect to see if the Everlasting Being truly supports his philosophy.”

“That youngster from Quhe County is quite creative too. He incited kin against kin, making children kill their fathers and grandsons kill their grandfathers, then turning the dead into puppets.”

“Oh, this one is interesting. He smashed the load-bearing walls, causing buildings to collapse and kill many.”

They enthusiastically reviewed the top-ranked cultivators. Those who could make it to the top were all ruthless and likely to rise to high positions in the future.

“What about those three who performed well in the first two trials?”

The Vice Sect Master was displeased with their low ranking: “So far behind. Could they be righteous spies incapable of wrongdoing?”

The Sect Master shook his head wisely: “We shouldn’t think like that. I believe this Lu Yang is quite resourceful. He must have a plan to make a big impact. Not all misdeeds need to be rushed; long-term planning is sometimes the better strategy.”

Seeing no action from Lu Yang, they scrolled back to the top to see what the number one had done.

“The first place is a poison user, he poisoned a well, killing an entire street. He also poisoned cattle to make them rampage through the streets, killing many. Excellent use of poison.”

“What a strange method, buying up a block of shops and then firing all the staff.”

“And this one, similar, bought the shops and then forced the staff to work overtime without pay? This counts as wrongdoing?”

The Vice Sect Master felt out of touch with the times.

Suddenly, a powerful soul descended from the sky, breaking through the sect’s defenses and heading straight for the ancient bronze cauldron brimming with primordial energy!

The cauldron, unable to withstand such brute force, developed a fine crack on its surface!

“Not my cauldron!” the Sect Master exclaimed.

The cauldron, known as the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, capable of containing all things, was his life’s work, a magic treasure just a step away from being a celestial treasure!

“A soul descent, a righteous powerhouse has discovered us!” The Sect Master was in disbelief. What had happened that they were discovered by a righteous powerhouse in the blink of an eye?

“This presence… is it Yun Zhi from the Dao Seeking Sect?!” The Sect Master recognized the familiar aura, recalling some dreadful memories, his spine chilling.

The Vice Sect Master, with a fierce look, prepared to fight: “Yun Zhi? Just a disciple from the Dao Seeking Sect. With all of us together, can’t we take her down?”

Yun Zhi seldom acted, and her reputation in the Central Continent was not as prominent as that of an Dao Seeking Sect master, eight elders, or even Dai Bufan.

But her lack of fame did not mean she lacked power. Those who had witnessed her in action were profoundly shaken, overturning their understanding of cultivation. The Sect Master had seen Yun Zhi’s power firsthand: plucking stars, reversing yin and yang, effortlessly suppressing formidable enemies, making him feel his three thousand years of cultivation were wasted.

The Sect Master kicked the Vice Sect Master aside, indicating it was time to struggle for their lives: “You’ve never seen her in action and don’t understand her terror. Listen to me, run now, or even the Everlasting Being won’t save you!”

His leadership was not just due to his devotion to the Everlasting Being or his high cultivation but also his caution, knowing when to struggle for life, flee for life, or resign. Facing Yun Zhi head-on was not struggling for life; it was resignation.

The Sect Master cast ancient and profound seals towards the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, attempting to block Yun Zhi’s advance.

The Vice Sect Master, having never seen the Sect Master so agitated, realized the gravity of the situation. He sent an urgent message to all high-ranking officials, ordering an immediate escape to an alternate headquarters.

The Everlasting Sect had detailed plans and escape routes for an ambush by the righteous path, rehearsed multiple times, making the leadership well-versed in them.

In a blink, the Sect’s high ranks vanished.

The Sect Master, displaying extraordinary powers, fortified the cauldron’s seals while ensuring the return of other consciousnesses to their bodies.

As the cauldron’s cracks multiplied, unable to keep pace with the sealing, the Sect Master breathed a sigh of relief as everyone escaped. He severed the cauldron’s connection and spat out a mouthful of lifeblood, a backlash from his life-bound magic treasure.

His energy plummeted, his complexion ashen.

Ignoring his condition, the Sect Master fled.

Boom—

The Mountain and Rivers Cauldron shattered, shaking the entire headquarters.

Yun Zhi emerged, her expression stoic, embodying an ancient warrior goddess, sacred and inviolable.

She examined the Sect Master’s blood, calculated with a flick, and a cold light flashed in her eyes.

“That direction.”

Conjuring a blazing white light, like a thunderbolt purging evil, she launched it at the Sect Master. Surprised to be discovered by Yun Zhi, he couldn’t dodge in time, and a wound opened on his shoulder.

“Golden Cicada Shedding!” The Sect Master had many escape techniques.

By the time Yun Zhi caught up, only a remnant of his body was left.

…

Back at the alternate headquarters, the Sect Master, staggering, stuffed himself with life-sustaining pills. Severing the connection with the cauldron and using the Golden Cicada Shedding technique took a toll he wouldn’t recover from for hundreds of years.

But the most significant loss was the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron, crafted from the collective effort of the Sect, costing as much as ten years of the Great Xia Dynasty’s revenue.

Such a treasure falling into the Dao Seeking Sect’s hands was a grievous loss.

“How do you feel?” the Vice Sect Master inquired, still shaken by Yun Zhi’s action. Had it been him, he would have perished. Only the Sect Master’s skill saved him.

“I won’t die.” The Sect Master was also shaken, “Luckily, we had a backup plan and a prepared hideout. Yun Zhi couldn’t find us, or the four major demonic sects would have become three.”

“With the Mountain and Rivers Cauldron shattered, let’s end the third trial. Let’s see who’s in first place now.”

The Everlasting Eye projected a light screen with a name at the top.

The first place, Lu Yang.

“Hmm?”

(End of the chapter)