Although Luo Jianqing had already told Xuan Lingzi about the book “Seeking Immortality,” he still had not revealed that he was reborn. It wasn’t that he didn’t trust Xuan Lingzi, but he didn’t want to burden him.

“Seeking Immortality” was a trilogy, but it only reached the part where Xuan Lingzi handed over his life-bound sword to Li Xiuchen, instructing him to bring back Luo Jianqing. Luo Jianqing didn’t want to tell Xuan Lingzi that he had been stabbed in the heart by the Xuan Ling Sword in his past life. Those events were from a previous life, and now that they were together, there was no need to dwell on the past and create unnecessary distance.

Moreover, the book mentioned that Li Xiuchen had obtained a treasure in the Ten Thousand Beasts Ridge that could sever the connection between the Xuan Ling Sword and Xuan Lingzi. The Xuan Ling Sword would never actively kill Luo Jianqing because, even from thousands of miles away, Xuan Lingzi could sense the sword. This was why Luo Jianqing never suspected Li Xiuchen of stealing the sword.

Since it had nothing to do with Xuan Lingzi, there was no need to think about it further. Luo Jianqing’s only thought now was to kill Li Xiuchen.

In the Beidou Ruins, Luo Jianqing had tried to kill him but failed. The Heavenly Dao did not allow it. But the murder of his two junior brothers outweighed everything else, filling Luo Jianqing with a desire to tear Li Xiuchen to pieces.

“Why do you have to involve others’ lives just to seize your opportunity?” he thought. His two junior brothers had gained nothing from it and had even sacrificed their lives to block an attack for Li Xiuchen.

“Li Xiuchen, do you never feel ashamed when you use those opportunities to advance your cultivation?”

Under the warm, gentle sunlight, the face of the green-clad cultivator was icy cold. The sword pattern between his brows emitted an oppressive aura. The Frost Sword hummed at Luo Jianqing’s brow, responding to its master’s call, eager to fight alongside him and kill the shameless scoundrel!

Xuan Lingzi watched Luo Jianqing, who was now seething with anger. His eyes narrowed slightly, but in the end, he sighed and said, “The book ‘Seeking Immortality’ states that Li Xiuchen is the protagonist. Jianqing, you’ve said that you’ve tried several times to kill Li Xiuchen but failed due to various coincidences. Do you understand that this is the Heavenly Dao stopping you?”

Luo Jianqing replied, “But if I use power a million or even a billion times greater than Li Xiuchen’s to kill him, he won’t be able to escape by coincidence again, will he?”

Xuan Lingzi’s expression remained indifferent as he looked up at the vast sky. “If you do that, the Heavenly Dao itself will intervene to stop you.”

These words stunned Luo Jianqing.

Xuan Lingzi continued, “When you reach a certain level of cultivation, you will understand that the Heavenly Dao has a consciousness. This consciousness is almost imperceptible to ordinary people but is still there. For example, it favors the so-called protagonist, creating various good fortunes for him. If you really want to kill Li Xiuchen, then when you devise a plan that he cannot escape, divine lightning might descend from the sky to stop you.”

Luo Jianqing clenched his fists, refusing to give in. “Is there really no way?”

Xuan Lingzi’s gaze sharpened. “There is .You change the heavens.”

Luo Jianqing was taken aback. He seemed to have heard this phrase before. Upon thinking carefully, he remembered that Mo Qiu had once said something similar.

Xuan Lingzi explained, “Who says the heavens must remain the same? If you become strong enough to comprehend the essence of the Heavenly Dao, why can’t you change its rules? Why can’t you make the world revolve around you? We cultivators seek immortality, many die trying to understand the Heavenly Dao, never touching the truth. They don’t realize that true cultivation is about refining oneself. Jianqing, I’ve taught you for so many years. Do you understand that true power comes from being strong yourself?”

Xuan Lingzi’s words struck Luo Jianqing’s heart like a hammer.

In Luo Jianqing’s dantian, a blood-red jade token gently rotated, emitting a faint pressure. This jade token was so mysterious that even Xuan Lingzi’s primordial spirit hadn’t noticed it. Luo Jianqing knew this was the power of the “Nine Seizes of Heaven.”

“Nine Seizes of Heaven” was about seizing the heavens!

If the Heavenly Dao prevents me from killing Li Xiuchen, if the Heavenly Dao is unjust, then I will seize the heavens and rewrite everything!

In an instant, spiritual energy surged through Luo Jianqing’s body. Seeing this, Xuan Lingzi was surprised. He waved his sleeve to create a barrier around Luo Jianqing, who then sat cross-legged within it, forming complex hand seals. His fingers turned into afterimages as he frantically absorbed the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth.

The “Nine Seizes of Heaven” began to operate at full speed.

Invisible forces surged from Luo Jianqing’s body, like dragons roaring out of the barrier, gathering the scattered spiritual energy in the air. They acted almost arrogantly, pulling the spiritual energy into their embrace and forcing it into Luo Jianqing’s body.

Spiritual energy poured into his crown, as vast as a river, as boundless as the sea.

A layer of ethereal blue light appeared around Luo Jianqing, enveloping him. The power of the “Nine Seizes of Heaven” began to manifest. Near the bamboo house on Yuxiao Peak, the invisible rules of heaven and earth started to tremble. Thunderclouds gathered in the sky, as if about to unleash divine lightning. Xuan Lingzi stomped his foot, his eyes cold, and shouted, “Begone!”

The thunderclouds hesitated for a long time before finally dissipating. Luo Jianqing sat within the barrier, absorbing spiritual energy, while Xuan Lingzi stood guard with one hand behind his back.

Thirty days later, Luo Jianqing opened his eyes, finally awakening. A gleam flashed in his eyes, and his aura had a completely different quality. Before his seclusion, he had been at the peak of the mid-Nascent Soul stage. Now, he had directly broken through to the late Nascent Soul stage, reaching the half-step Out-of-Body stage!

The power of the four chapters of the “Nine Seizures of Heaven” was fully released within his body, bringing with it an unstoppable force.

After finishing his seclusion, Luo Jianqing immediately grabbed Xuan Lingzi nearby and kissed him.

This sudden passion made Xuan Lingzi freeze, unable to respond. Luo Jianqing only gave a brief peck before letting go, saying, “Master, I am now at the half-step Out-of-Body stage. I formed my Nascent Soul sixteen years earlier than you did. So, tell me, how many years earlier will I reach the Out-of-Body stage compared to you? And what if it’s the Divine Transformation stage?”

Luo Jianqing’s teasing laughter seemed to echo the words he once said: “If I were at the Divine Transformation stage, would you still dare treat me like this?”

When he said that, Luo Jianqing had just reached the Nascent Soul stage. But now, he was almost at the Out-of-Body stage.Of course, times had changed, and so had their relationship. The door of etiquette that once separated them had long since opened. But Luo Jianqing didn’t mind using such words to tease Xuan Lingzi. He couldn’t gain any advantage in bed, so he enjoyed seeing Xuan Lingzi’s embarrassed reaction.

As expected, Xuan Lingzi’s face remained cool and composed, but the tips of his ears turned red. He shook off Luo Jianqing’s hand and sternly said, “Even though you’ve reached the half-step Out-of-Body stage, you must not be arrogant. You should focus on your cultivation!”

Unexpectedly, as soon as Xuan Lingzi finished speaking, Luo Jianqing hugged him and asked, “Focus on dual cultivation?”

Xuan Lingzi looked at his disciple in disbelief. He never expected that the once obedient and respectful disciple would turn into such a bold person!

Luo Jianqing seemed about to say more when Xuan Lingzi suddenly placed his hand on Luo Jianqing’s lower abdomen, making him tense up.

Xuan Lingzi said, “It seems you have already absorbed most of the Blood Spirit Fruit?”

Luo Jianqing froze and instinctively said, “Master, how did you know?”

Xuan Lingzi replied, “When you went to Flowing Flame Valley, I followed with my primordial spirit. In the valley, you almost lost your life, and I planned to use my primordial spirit to heal you. Before I could act, I saw the Blood Spirit Fruit beside you. It contains a tremendous amount of spiritual power, about one-twelfth of my total spiritual power.”

Luo Jianqing’s eyes widened in shock. “One-twelfth of your total spiritual power?”

Xuan Lingzi nodded.

Although Xuan Lingzi spoke as if it were a common fact, Luo Jianqing knew it wasn’t so simple. That was one-twelfth of the only Divine Transformation stage cultivator’s spiritual power in the world! It was terrifying!

Luo Jianqing’s total spiritual power at this moment probably wasn’t even one ten-thousandth of Xuan Lingzi’s.To have absorbed one-twelfth of such immense power was incredible!

Luo Jianqing suddenly realized something and frowned. “Master, so it was you who embedded the Blood Spirit Fruit in me back then?”

Xuan Lingzi nodded gently. “Yes, it was just the right remedy for your injuries.”

Luo Jianqing was speechless.He finally understood why Mo Qiu had been so intent on killing him.

The power of the Blood Spirit Fruit was far beyond Luo Jianqing’s expectations. He had absorbed it from the mid-Golden Core stage to the half-step Out-of-Body stage, and he had only absorbed three-fifths of its power. Without it, he would never have reached the half-step Out-of-Body stage so quickly.

… Hmm, he would have to treat Mo Qiu better in the future. If he had lost such a great opportunity while unconscious, he would have wanted to grind his bones to dust.

Xuan Lingzi, of course, didn’t know what Luo Jianqing was thinking, but he did notice that his disciple’s body was getting warmer. Xuan Lingzi’s hand remained on Luo Jianqing’s lower abdomen, and soon he felt the change.

Xuan Lingzi looked down at the young man in his arms, and Luo Jianqing looked up at him

.After many days of intimacy, they were very familiar with each other. Seeing Xuan Lingzi still a bit shy and unable to take the initiative, Luo Jianqing’s mouth twitched. He directly pushed the still restrained, etiquette-conscious master into the bamboo house, pressed him down, and began undressing him.

Xuan Lingzi was slightly stunned. “Jianqing?”

Luo Jianqing raised his head and scolded, “You said we should focus on dual cultivation!”

Xuan Lingzi was speechless.

Luo Jianqing was supposed to be focusing on cultivation!

Despite Luo Jianqing’s strength, it only allowed him to go as far as undressing before Xuan Lingzi flipped him over and gently took control. Xuan Lingzi’s spiritual energy entered Luo Jianqing’s dantian with his movements. In the small bamboo house, the master and disciple tasted the forbidden fruit, drowning in a sea of desire. Inside Luo Jianqing’s dantian, their spiritual essences tightly fused, inseparable.

The ambiguous sounds continuously echoed within the small bamboo house. Luo Jianqing couldn’t understand where his master had learned such techniques that left him helpless. Each time Luo Jianqing thought of turning over and pinning Xuan Lingzi beneath him, Xuan Lingzi would change positions, intensifying the pleasure.

However, Luo Jianqing most enjoyed the feeling of having this person beneath him. Moonlight spilled onto Xuan Lingzi’s cold and indifferent face, revealing a hint of unbearable redness. This made Luo Jianqing acutely aware that this person was lost in passion because of him. He was in control, tearing off the mask of cold indifference that had not changed for hundreds of years, seeing Xuan Lingzi’s most primal heart.

Whenever they indulged, it was always without restraint. Initially, it was Luo Jianqing who was unwilling to stop, but later it was Xuan Lingzi who refused to let go. After ten days of intermittent indulgence, even with his powerful cultivation, Xuan Lingzi felt he was being drained and couldn’t continue any longer. He placed his palm on Luo Jianqing’s abdomen and, while the latter was confused, suddenly released overwhelming spiritual power, causing their spiritual essences to merge intimately.

This left Luo Jianqing completely exhausted and unable to move. Usually, Xuan Lingzi would control the dual cultivation to consider Luo Jianqing’s feelings, but this time, he used the most intense method, directly affecting their cores. It was no surprise that Luo Jianqing passed out from the pleasure.

However, Xuan Lingzi wasn’t much better off. He had to detach his spiritual essence and place it inside Luo Jianqing. This was more exhausting for him, and when the pleasure hit, he too was overwhelmed with fatigue, holding his beloved disciple as they drifted to sleep.

On Taihua Mountain, under the bright moon, Yu Xiao Peak hid their affair.

Thousands of miles north in Yunzhou lay a barren land, a haven for demonic cultivators where they could rest without fear of being hunted by righteous cultivators. At the center of this desolate land stood a magnificent, dazzling palace.

The Demon Palace, situated atop the Demon City in the middle of Demon Mountain, was entirely blood-red, as if it had been drenched in blood.

Late at night, a terrifying pressure suddenly emanated from the Demon Palace, spreading outward and causing any demonic cultivator within a hundred miles to collapse, unable to move. The pressure lasted for a quarter of an hour before slowly dissipating.

When the pressure faded, Xuan Lingzi on Yu Xiao Peak abruptly opened his eyes and looked towards the Demon Palace, his brows furrowing with a look of disbelief.

The awakened Luo Jianqing tugged at Xuan Lingzi’s fallen black hair and hoarsely asked, “Master?”

Xuan Lingzi lay back down, holding his disciple’s slender waist. “Nothing.”

Luo Jianqing frowned slightly and asked, “What happened?”

After a moment of thought, Xuan Lingzi replied, “The Demon Sovereign is about to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.”

Luo Jianqing’s eyes widened. “How is that possible? Didn’t you say that after all the lives he took, it was impossible for him to break through to the Nascent Soul stage?”

Xuan Lingzi shook his head. “Aside from matters related to Li Xiuchen, the heavens are still quite fair. Even in the direst situations, there is always a glimmer of hope. Perhaps the Demon Sovereign can break through, but it’s only a possibility. He hasn’t broken through yet, merely touching the barrier of the Nascent Soul stage. He has cultivated for over 2,700 years. A Nascent Soul cultivator’s lifespan is 3,000 years. If he can reach the Nascent Soul stage within 300 years, he can extend his life by another 2,000 years.”

Luo Jianqing’s mind flashed back to the corpses and seas of blood he had seen in Cenzhou, but he also remembered Mo Qiu and Yun Xiang, and his past self. He sighed, “You said he has taken many lives, but those were over a thousand years ago. He has also contributed to the peace of the human race. If he truly breaks through, it is his fate.”

Xuan Lingzi nodded slightly. “Indeed, if he breaks through, it would be a blessing for the human race. If that happens, our pact with the demon race will be meaningless. The human race will no longer need to fear or guard against them, and I can leave Taihua Mountain to travel with you.”

Hearing this, Luo Jianqing’s eyes lit up. “Really?”

Xuan Lingzi couldn’t help but smile. “Yes, if that happens, the demon race will naturally be no match for us.”

Luo Jianqing couldn’t help but say, “Then I truly hope the Demon Sovereign can break through soon.”

Xuan Lingzi helplessly looked at his disciple and hugged him tighter. The two of them no longer cared about distant matters and continued to sleep in each other’s arms.

In the following days, Xuan Lingzi began teaching Luo Jianqing “Lotus Bloom Sword” in earnest.

Although “Lotus Bloom Sword” is a move that can be used at the Nascent Soul stage, its power is immense, consuming a terrifying amount of spiritual energy, making it difficult to control. Now that Luo Jianqing had reached the Half-Step Nascent Soul stage, he could finally ensure its use.

During the day, the master and disciple diligently practiced their swordsmanship. At night, they engaged in dual cultivation.

Having abstained for many years, it was no surprise that both of them, Xuan Lingzi especially, found it difficult to stop once they started. With each night of dual cultivation, Luo Jianqing’s cultivation stabilized, and he was now only a step away from the Nascent Soul stage, having reached a bottleneck.

It was at this time that Taihua Mountain’s once-a-decade open gate ceremony to recruit new disciples arrived.