Refining Taoism and ascending to immortality

In other words, persuading these five individuals present would greatly advance the layout of the Zhou family in Hengnan.

Just as he had this thought, the great cultivator Zhou Mishan on the opposite side shook the jade scepter in his hand, its handle adorned with colorful tassels and nine exquisite bells, producing a clear and crisp sound that seemed to wash his voice with jade, making it pure and clean. He said, "Real Person Zhou, please have some tea."

"Alright," Zhou Qing nodded, picked up the teacup, looked at the green tea inside, took a small sip, savored the fragrance lingering between his teeth, and smiled, saying, "As soon as the Star Chen Dharma Assembly ended, I rushed over here. But being able to drink this cup of tea is worth it."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Mishan understood the hidden meaning in his words. He smiled, with a precious cauldron on the jade table in front of him, its legs resembling the Kui dragon and its back the tiger, with four mouths on its two ears. The entire cauldron was bronze-green, emitting wisps of smoke in the shape of a spiritual mushroom, making his expression blurry and unclear. He said, "Then Real Person Zhou should stay in the clan for a few more days. Putting aside everything else, there will definitely be enough tea."

"I will definitely be bothering the clan for some time during this visit," Zhou Qing's eyes flashed with a faint golden light, revealing a hint of sharpness. He slowly said, "Even if someone outside wants to drive me away, I won't leave."

"Someone outside."

Zhou Mishan thought of the people from the Doumu Palace who had come to the clan many times, and his heart trembled. The Doumu Palace had been putting pressure on the Zhou family in Hengnan, and they were openly and secretly very resistant to the True Unity Sect, unwilling for the True Unity Sect to interfere in the affairs of the Zhou family in Hengnan.

He didn't want to immediately state his position on such matters, so he chuckled and said, "This time, Real Person Zhou went to Star Chen Mountain to participate in the Star Chen Dharma Assembly. You must have collected a lot of fine materials and beautiful jade, right?"

Zhou Qing didn't seem to mind the other party's evasiveness. He put down the teacup and said, "There were many talented people at this Dharma Assembly, and there were many good seedlings, but most of them were taken in by other sects. I only accepted four people on behalf of the True Unity Sect."

He didn't say everything. Indeed, due to limited places, he only accepted four people who became inner disciples of the True Unity Sect. But there were also a few who didn't pass the test but were willing to join and start as outer disciples.

In total, ten people from the Star Chen Dharma Assembly joined the True Unity Sect.

These ten people might achieve something in the future, but Zhou Qing valued their backgrounds the most. Their joining the True Unity Sect would allow him to use them as a link to interact with the forces behind them. Only with interaction would there be a point of entry.

"Four."

Zhou Mishan and the other Nascent Soul Real Persons of the Zhou family in Hengnan exchanged glances, with a hint of strangeness. This was the most disciples the True Unity Sect had accepted since participating in the Star Chen Dharma Assembly. What was the trend?

Could it be that even though the major Xuan Sects in this area were doing their best to reject them, the True Unity Sect was still forging ahead and had gained something?

Although people like them in the Zhou family in Hengnan, due to their low status, couldn't understand the open and secret struggles between these major Xuan Sects, they could still sense the undercurrents, which were definitely not peaceful.

If it weren't for the True Unity Sect's efforts, such variables couldn't have appeared at the Star Chen Dharma Assembly!

Scanning his gaze over Zhou Mishan and the others, Zhou Qing stroked the teacup with one hand, his slender fingers reflecting the spotless rainy color on the teacup, emitting a faint glow. In a calm and unhurried tone, he said, "At this Star Chen Dharma Assembly, the Doumu Palace, the Taibai Sword Sect, and the LaoJun Temple all sent great cultivators of the third level of the Nascent Soul realm. I reviewed the records before the Dharma Assembly, and this is unprecedented."

Zhou Mishan nodded. For an Upper Xuan Sect like the Doumu Palace and the Taibai Sword Sect, sending a Nascent Soul realm cultivator was enough to hold the ground. After all, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Upper Xuan Sect and ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators were not on the same level, whether in terms of status or strength.

"This time is different..."

Zhou Mishan couldn't help but cast his gaze again towards the handsome and elegant young man opposite him. Wasn't it because the other party insisted on participating in this Star Chen Dharma Assembly that other major sects had to send great cultivators to compete with him?

Otherwise, if they sent a Nascent Soul cultivator as usual, they probably wouldn't have any say in front of a powerful figure like Zhou Qing, and the entire Star Chen Dharma Assembly would have to be handed over.

Zhou Qing didn't care about the strange gazes of the Zhou family in Hengnan in the hall. He spoke to himself, saying, "It's good that the three great cultivators arrived together, but they didn't seem to be in harmony. The two Daoists from the Taibai Sword Sect and the Doumu Palace actually wanted to keep Daoist Guo from the LaoJun Temple, not wanting him to return to his sect. The three great cultivators fought outside the mountain, the scene was fierce."

"What?"

These words sounded calm, but when they fell into the ears of the Zhou family in Hengnan, they were like a bolt from the blue, stunning them. Then, an unspeakable fear emerged from the bottom of their hearts, making them feel cold all over, as if they were in an ice cave, their hands and feet icy.

Recently, the Doumu Palace and the Taibai Sword Sect had indeed been somewhat exclusive towards the LaoJun Temple, but for the two great cultivators from the Doumu Palace and the Taibai Sword Sect to directly detain a great cultivator from the LaoJun Temple was too terrifying.

They were all fellow Xuan Sect members, and the Upper Xuan Sects had always emphasized magnanimity in their actions. What kind of irreconcilable contradictions were there between the two sides that they would tear their faces like this, not even following the proper rules?

Thinking about it, everyone felt a sense of inexplicable fear. This was the fear of the city gate catching fire and affecting the fish in the pond!

Even Qing Sang Yuanjun, this innate wood-elemental deity, was filled with solemnity in her pair of green eyes upon hearing these words.

The Doumu Palace and the Taibai Sword Sect were definitely resounding Upper Xuan Sects, and the LaoJun Temple was the impeccable number one among the Middle Xuan Sects. Once these three behemoths had a major conflict, the scope and intensity of the impact would be terrifying.

If one were to get involved and approach the center of the storm, even an Upper Realm existence like a Cave Heaven True Person would have to be careful and tread on thin ice.

For a time, the hall fell into a dead silence, with only the incense cauldron on the jade table continuing to emit wisps of smoke, making the spiritual mushroom appearance above it larger and larger, with a copper-green color and a chilling aura.

After a long while, Zhou Mishan raised his head, took a deep breath, and spoke, breaking the silence in the hall, saying, "Real Person Zhou, I wonder what major event has occurred?"

Zhou Qing glanced around and saw everyone in the hall pricking up their ears, paying close attention. So he didn't keep them in suspense and said directly, "I don't know the specifics, but I have a guess. It's very likely that the LaoJun Temple has accumulated enough and may have begun to try to impact the Upper Xuan Sect."

Zhou Mishan and the other Nascent Soul cultivators of the Zhou family in Hengnan exchanged glances, all stunned on the spot, the chill on their bodies becoming three points heavier, and their thinking almost frozen.

Although Zhou Qing in front of them said it was his own guess, what kind of person was he? He was the most rapidly rising generation of genius in the Upper Xuan Sect like the True Unity Sect, and his future would be a Cave Heaven True Person. How could he talk nonsense about such a major event?

"Impacting the Upper Xuan Sect!"

Thinking of these five words, everyone present immediately felt a sense of tragic atmosphere, unprecedented cruelty. This was definitely not a small fight, but a matter concerning the birth of an Upper Xuan Sect. The interests and conflicts involved were endless!

No wonder the great cultivators from the Doumu Palace and the Taibai Sword Sect who participated in the Star Chen Dharma Assembly would disregard their reputation and forcibly detain the great cultivator from the LaoJun Temple. The LaoJun Temple's move would greatly damage the interests of these two Upper Xuan Sects.

How powerful were the Upper Xuan Sects? They would inevitably launch a fierce counterattack to knock the LaoJun Temple into the dust!

"The LaoJun Temple is making a desperate gamble."

Zhou Mishan, a dignified great cultivator of the third level of the Nascent Soul realm, who was in charge of the Zhou family in Hengnan, a millennium-old aristocratic family, was sweating profusely on his back at this time. Since the LaoJun Temple had taken this step, there was no turning back. They would definitely go all out to impact.

Even if there were mountains of knives and seas of fire ahead, even if there were obstacles from various Xuan Sects, even if there were unimaginable difficulties, the LaoJun Temple would not give up. They would only go down one path to the end. If they succeeded, they would leap over the dragon gate, and the Great Thousand World would have another Upper Xuan Sect. If they failed, they would be doomed, and even their Dao lineage would not be preserved, disappearing into the dust of history.

Staking the entire sect's fortune on a gamble, the LaoJun Temple would not give up until they achieved their goal. The other forces affected would not sit idly by and watch their own interests be damaged, nor would they give in. When they collided, a vortex like a collision of Mars and Earth was inevitable.

"What to do?"

In such a situation, it was impossible to stay out of it. But no matter which side one joined, in such a fierce struggle, one could become cannon fodder and be sacrificed in vain.

This was definitely not an exaggeration, nor was it alarmist. On the one hand, the Zhou family in Hengnan was not weak, with a millennium of heritage and many Nascent Soul cultivators. But getting involved in such a vortex was like a small boat in a stormy sea. If the wind was strong, a wave would come over and destroy the boat and kill the people. On the other hand, if the Zhou family in Hengnan went over now, they would have no foundation in the forces and no high-level people to take care of them. Wouldn't they be the best cannon fodder?

Concerning the life and death of the family, the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Zhou family in Hengnan, no matter how they usually were, were now anxious and flustered. Everyone understood the principle of when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter. Without the Zhou family in Hengnan, they would be nothing!

Zhou Qing's divine sense was strong, and he keenly noticed the drastic fluctuations in the emotions of the Zhou family in Hengnan. He calmly picked up the teacup again and drank tea, knowing what was going on in his heart.

This time, he wanted to take down the Zhou family in Hengnan as quickly as possible. This explosive event was the best help. From the looks of it now, everything was as expected. The Zhou family in Hengnan had concerns about relying on the Taibai Sword Sect, the Doumu Palace, or the LaoJun Temple. The importance of the True Unity Sect was rising.

To seize chestnuts from the fire in this storm, taking down the Zhou family in Hengnan was a very crucial step and was imperative!

Zhou Mishan was in a state of confusion and could not make a decision. The smoke in the precious cauldron on the jade table in front of him became heavier and heavier. He let out a turbid breath, looked at Zhou Qing, and the expression on his face was not good, trying his best to suppress it, saying, "Real Person Zhou, you have come from afar and must be tired. Let's stop here today and arrange for Real Person Zhou to rest."

"Alright." Zhou Qing stood up upon hearing this, with a gentle smile on his face, neither hurried nor slow, saying, "It's indeed time to rest. After the LaoJun Temple's move, all the aristocratic families in this area can't stay out of it like they used to. There will be a lot to do next."

Zhou Mishan didn't say anything else, personally went into action, was present throughout the whole process, arranged Zhou Qing in the best residence in the Zhou family in Hengnan, and then quickly led people, hurriedly returned to the council hall.

Back in the hall, Zhou Mishan watched everyone take their seats one by one. He glanced around and pressed his hand on a square seal under the jade table.

In the next moment, only a rumbling sound was heard non-stop. On the ground of the hall, a row of red copper treasure pillars suddenly emerged. When the light shone on the hall, it could be found that each treasure pillar was engraved with complex and mysterious dragon shapes, their eyes half-open and half-closed, as if they were dozing off. At this time, they seemed to come alive, opening their eyes one by one, and various invisible fluctuations spread out, intertwined with each other, forming a strange magnetic field.

In such a magnetic field, everything was covered with an invisible veil, making it impossible for outsiders to peek. This was the shielding formation in the hall. Although it consumed a lot of resources, it had excellent effects. After the great formation was activated, let alone Nascent Soul realm cultivators, even Cave Heaven level True Persons who were not in the Zhou family in Hengnan could not peek.

After doing all this, Zhou Mishan sat on the central throne, looking down, scanning the other four people in the hall, saying, "Now there are no outsiders, let's all talk about it."

The only woman in the hall, with her hair piled high in a bun, her skin as white as porcelain, and a pair of watery peach blossom eyes, but without the slightest hint of charm, instead, there was a kind of compelling majesty in her opening and closing. She spoke, her voice echoing in the hall, saying, "With Zhou Qing's identity, he would definitely not be ambiguous about such a major event. The LaoJun Temple is really going to impact the Upper Xuan Sect!"

These words contained strong emotions.

It must be said that the development of the LaoJun Temple was extremely rapid. It had been advancing by leaps and bounds, and its strength had steadily jumped to the top of the Middle Xuan Sects. Therefore, there were rumors that the LaoJun Temple had the ambition to impact the Upper Xuan Sect.

However, most people only regarded it as a topic of conversation and did not take it seriously.

Because it was too difficult for a Middle Xuan Sect to impact an Upper Xuan Sect, and it was easy to fail.

The Upper Xuan Sects were also unwilling for a Middle Xuan Sect to be promoted to an Upper Xuan Sect, to sit on an equal footing with them, and to share their resources. They generally intentionally or unintentionally blocked them out, not allowing the Upper Xuan Sect to add new members.

For so many years, the Upper Xuan Sects had always been the same old faces, without a single new person. This was not only because the ambitious Middle Xuan Sects did not have enough accumulation, but also because the Middle Xuan Sects that were rushing upwards found it difficult to resist the open and secret arrows from all directions, and ultimately failed.

The weak Middle Xuan Sect, the Tianling Sect, was once prominent two or three thousand years ago and had the ambition to impact the Upper Xuan Sect. As a result, after working hard for five or six hundred years, in the end, it suffered a "dark hand". Not only did the impact fail, but it also suffered backlash and was severely damaged.

From then until now, so many years had passed, the Tianling Sect had still not recovered from that breath, and had directly become the bottom of the Middle Xuan Sects. Out of necessity, the Tianling Sect had begun to get closer and closer to the Upper Xuan Sect's Seven Saints Sect, with a posture of using the Seven Saints Sect to rise again.

The Middle Xuan Sects were not the Lower Xuan Sects. They had always been more wary than friendly towards the Upper Xuan Sects. They were unwilling to get too close to the Middle Xuan Sects unless they were forced to.

The previous painful lessons were still vivid in their minds. No one expected the LaoJun Temple to be so brave that they would actually dare to launch an assault on the Upper Xuan Sect.