Seeking Immortality

When Xu Qingfan said goodbye to Jin Qinghan and returned to his cave in the back mountain, he suddenly realized that after his senior brother Yue Qingru was gone, he was the only one left in this place he regarded as "home".

Two rooms, bright and sunny. Xu Qingfan was alone, but his mood became depressed.

A home with only one person is not a real home.

The noisy competition, the exclamations and applause of the onlookers, and the conversation with Jin Qinghan and Bai Qingfu, these were obviously things that happened just now, but Xu Qingfan felt that they all became distant all of a sudden, as if the whole world was about to abandon him. A trace of inexplicable emotion called loneliness entangled in Xu Qingfan's heart, getting tighter and tighter, as if it was about to merge into Xu Qingfan's entire soul. Xu Qingfan lay on his bed, closing his eyes and savoring this sudden loneliness.

The last time this kind of loneliness appeared in his heart was twenty years ago. At that time, Xu Qingfan was only seventeen years old. A demon beast destroyed his home, killed his parents and clansmen, and only Xu Qingfan fled alone in the vast southern wilderness. At that time, it seemed that he was the only one in the world, and it was at that time that Xu Qingfan felt lonely for the first time.

But not long after, Xu Qingfan met Lu Huayan, and since then he had a master and a senior brother. Although the master was serious and majestic, and the senior brother was nagging and a little pedantic, Xu Qingfan was no longer alone.

And now, in just twenty years, the master and senior brother have passed away one after another, and it seems that only Xu Qingfan is left in the world.

Although Xu Qingfan also has a friend, Jin Qinghan, Jin Qinghan is cold and taciturn. He is a good listener, but not a good conversationalist. Xu Qingfan can leave his back to him without hesitation at the most dangerous moment, but as a friend, Xu Qingfan always feels that there is something missing when getting along with Jin Qinghan. The most important thing is that Xu Qingfan is not used to exposing his weak side to others. He is more used to facing it alone at this time.

"Now I am the only one left again." Xu Qingfan closed his eyes and muttered to himself. The "Withered and Flourishing Ruler" connected to him by blood and flesh seemed to feel the deep loneliness in his heart, emitting a faint dark green light with a faint warmth, as if trying to dispel a trace of the chill in Xu Qingfan's heart.

Loneliness reappeared, clearer and more violent than last time.

...

The final 16 will start in three days.

During these three days, Xu Qingfan finally overcame the discomfort of being alone and gradually began to get used to loneliness.

Habit is really a terrible thing. Once people get used to something, it is difficult to change it back. Loneliness is the same.

During these three days, Xu Qingfan finally recovered his skills in his heyday with the help of "Wood Spirit Pill". After listening to Bai Qingfu's introduction, Xu Qingfan was very worried about whether he could take back the "Three-foot Green Silk", the relic of his master Lu Huayan, in the top 16. The opponents of the top 16 this time are too strong. Xu Qingfan thought that he had no advantage in terms of skill, Taoism or magic tools.

Unfortunately, three days was too short to allow Xu Qingfan to make any further breakthroughs.

Of the twenty "Wood Spirit Pills" that Lu Huayan gave to Xu Qingfan, only eight remained. It must be said that with Xu Qingfan's current cultivation, the "Wood Spirit Pill" refined by Lu Huayan using the flesh and blood of the "Green Dragon Python" and the spiritual roots of various spiritual medicines has a very obvious effect. Xu Qingfan was able to break through from the early stage of Bigu to the late stage of Bigu in just ten years, and this "Wood Spirit Pill" played a great role.

Xu Qingfan could even feel that if he took the "Wood Spirit Pill" continuously, he would most likely break through to the Spiritual Silence Stage in just two or three years. However, relying on spiritual medicines to increase strength would result in an unstable realm, which would be very detrimental to the subsequent cultivation, so Xu Qingfan was always cautious about taking the "Wood Spirit Pill". Although Lu Huayan asserted that Xu Qingfan could only reach the late stage of Lingji in his lifetime, Xu Qingfan never gave up trying to break through to the Jindan stage. Although there was only a one-in-one chance even if he tried hard, there was no chance if he gave up.

Although continuous use would result in unstable realm, the preciousness of the Wood Spirit Pill can be seen. If it were not for the fact that this internal competition was very important to Xu Qingfan and Xu Qingfan's spiritual energy was seriously consumed, Xu Qingfan would definitely not be willing to use it to restore his skills.

In Xu Qingfan's mood of both worry and expectation, three days passed in a flash, and the final of the internal competition was coming in a blink of an eye.

On this day, the clouds were light and the sky was clear. A spring rain brought warmth. Although Jiuhua Mountain did not have four seasons because of the mountain protection formation, the climate was like spring, but after a spring rain, the climate still became warmer, and the warm breeze blowing on the body made people feel relieved.

The competition for the top 16 was still held in the square in front of Linghua Palace. The elders were still sitting quietly on the high platform in front of the square, some were happy that their disciples entered the top 16, while others were disappointed that their disciples were eliminated. Their expressions were different.

The only difference in the square was that the 16 stone platforms used for the elimination rounds were gone. Instead, they were replaced by a large stone platform about 30 meters long and wide, which served as the competition venue for the top 16 finals.

That day, Xu Qingfan arrived at the square in front of Linghua Palace early, and found that as the game progressed, more and more people were watching. At this time, there were more than a thousand disciples waiting around the stone platform, and on the high platform in front of the square, there were many senior elders that Xu Qingfan had never seen. This shows how much attention this internal competition has received.

"Look, that's Xu Qingfan, the fifth favorite in this internal competition."

"I think this person is very ordinary, not much of a master's style, is he really powerful?"

"Do you know Dongfang Qingling? He was so popular before, but he was defeated by him."

"Well, I've seen him take action, his Taoism is gorgeous and unique, very powerful."

When Xu Qingfan came to the square, he heard the whispers of people in the distance, and Xu Qingfan couldn't help but smile bitterly in his heart. Now he has become a celebrity, but it's a pity that these are not what he wants. If possible, Xu Qingfan would rather go back to ten years ago. Although he was unknown under the protection of Lu Huayan, his master and brothers were still there, and he was busy and fulfilled.

What about now? What is the goal? What is the future? Xu Qingfan was confused.

"It seems that Junior Brother Xu's reputation in the sect is getting higher and higher." At this moment, a laughing voice sounded behind Xu Qingfan.

Xu Qingfan turned around and found that it was Bai Qingfu who had come behind him without knowing when, bowing and smiling at him.

"Senior Brother Bai, you are here too." Xu Qingfan gathered his emotions and hurriedly bowed in response.

"Well, the competition is about to start. The duel list will be announced later. Maybe I am unlucky and will be grouped with Junior Brother Xu at the beginning. In that case, I have to ask Junior Brother Xu to show more mercy." Bai Qingfu said with a smile.

"Haha, it is my misfortune to be grouped with Senior Brother Bai. Senior Brother Bai should show more mercy." Xu Qingfan said half politely and half seriously.

Indeed, Xu Qingfan couldn't see through Bai Qingfu at all. He only knew that his current realm was only a hair's breadth away from the Spiritual Silence Stage, and he was considered the top among the top 16 players in terms of skill. But Xu Qingfan had no idea about his Taoism and magic weapons. He just had a vague feeling that if they were to compete, he would pose a far greater threat to himself than Dongfang Qingling.

"Senior Brother Xu, you're here." Just as Bai Qingfu was about to say something, he saw Jin Qinghan coming from afar and greeting Xu Qingfan.

When Jin Qinghan saw Bai Qingfu next to Xu Qingfan, his eyes gleamed, but he reluctantly nodded slightly to Bai Qingfu and greeted him, "Brother Bai."

"Haha, Brother Jin is here too." Bai Qingfu seemed very happy that Jin Qinghan greeted him, and laughed and said, "The three of us are together again now."

Just then, the fairy music was faint, and thousands of rays of light appeared in the distance. The head of the sect Zhang Hualing came with the Supreme Protector Zhou Huahai and others on the cloud, and slowly landed on the high platform where the elders were.

"We should go up." Bai Qingfu said with a smile.

After Xu Qingfan and Jin Qinghan nodded in agreement, the three of them separated from the crowd and walked onto the stone platform for the competition. At the same time, there were other contestants in the top 16.

When going on stage, Xu Qingfan saw Nangong Qingshan who was on stage at the same time. The two of them instantly rubbed their hostile eyes and sparks, but they immediately turned their heads away, as if they didn't know each other at all.

Then, Xu Qingfan nodded slightly to Sheng Yushan who had been watching him.

When the top 16 contestants stood on the stone platform, they bowed to Zhang Hualing and the elders and guardians on the high platform with the disciples watching below, saying: "Welcome to the headmaster and the elders."

Zhang Hualing looked at the 16 disciples on the stone platform, his eyes flashed with satisfaction, and he said with a smile: "Disciples, please don't be too polite."

After the disciples stood up, Zhang Hualing smiled and said: "I have watched the competition of the disciples these days, and I am very pleased. The disciples have good Taoism and profound skills. Obviously, they work hard on weekdays. With talented and hardworking disciples like you, why should my Jiuhua Sect worry about the decline of Taoism? But I hope you will continue to work hard and continue to improve. Make more efforts for the revival of my Jiuhua Sect."

"I will follow the headmaster's order." The disciples below the stage responded loudly, and the sound was mighty and rushed straight to the sky. Obviously, they were excited by what Zhang Hualing said.

Hearing the answers of the disciples, Zhang Hualing nodded with satisfaction, then turned around and sat down. The Supreme Guardian Zhou Huahai next to him stood up and began to announce the list and order of the final 16 contestants.

Following Zhou Huahai's announcement, the 16 people on the stage were either happy or worried. The happy thing was that they met a relatively weak opponent, while the worried thing was that they met those popular contestants with a far-reaching reputation. Of course, there were also those who did not change their expressions, such as Feng Qingtian and Jin Qinghan. For them, any opponent was the same; and for example, Bai Qingfu, his expression was always smiling, and it never changed.

"Xu Qingfan vs. Nangong Qingshan, the second game."

When Zhou Huahai read this, Xu Qingfan's body trembled slightly, but his heart was miraculously neither happy nor worried. He just suddenly felt a sense of relief in his heart, as if a fate was about to end. He sighed secretly in his heart: "Brother, I will be able to avenge you soon."

After hearing this, Nangong Qingshan couldn't help showing a happy look in his eyes, as if he was sure of victory.