Xuantian Immortal Cultivation Record

Zhang Yuanjing estimated that it would take Zhang Xuan at least half a year, and at most a year, to successfully open her meridians. He didn't have much time left and couldn't look after her for long. So, he discussed it with Ape Thirteen and decided to find a giant ape from its clan with late-stage Qi Activation Realm cultivation to guard her here.

This place was already next to the Gold-backed Giant Ape clan's lair, and the mountain's demon beasts didn't dare to approach. Moreover, the cultivators from the Crimson Cloud Palace who were sent to Misty Spirit Mountain to capture blue-faced sables wouldn't come near either. Therefore, a single late-stage Qi Activation Realm giant ape was enough to ensure Zhang Xuan's safety.

As a reward, he gave Ape Thirteen a high-grade magical treasure, which he had also obtained from Feng Wujiu's storage bracelet. It was a black iron heavy cudgel called the 'Chaos Heaven Cudgel,' weighing tens of thousands of pounds, perfect for a powerful demon beast like the Gold-backed Giant Ape.

Ape Thirteen was overjoyed to receive this treasure, scratching its ears and cheeks in delight. It spent its days swinging the big cudgel and performing the Vajra Subduing Demon Skill, leaving the surrounding cliffs in a terrible mess.

In addition, he promised to refine a furnace of Benefit Spirit Pills for Ape Thirteen's clan in a few days.

He also carved out a cave in the rift valley, near the turbid Qi cave, and set up a simple array as a place for Zhang Xuan to rest. Before coming, considering that demonic cultivation required a lot of Qi and blood, he used a storage bag to bring a thousand pounds of Flame Beast jerky, storing it in the cave for Zhang Xuan to eat.

In addition, he entrusted the Gold-backed Giant Ape to hunt demon beasts and gather fruits and vegetables to bring. This would ensure that Zhang Xuan had no worries about food and lodging.

Every day, Zhang Xuan was led by Zhang Yuanjing into the cave to practice the Candle Yin Art, from one hour a day to two hours a day, and then to four hours a day. Her whole body's Qi and blood became more and more vigorous, and her figure became bloated. Her muscles bulged, and her height grew a lot, almost catching up with the giant ape.

At the beginning of the change in her figure, this delicate woman, who had not uttered a word in the face of inhuman torture, was frightened and lost her color. With a mournful face, she asked Zhang Yuanjing if cultivating demonic arts would turn her into a monster. Zhang Yuanjing explained that it was only temporary. Once she opened her meridians, it would turn into blood power, and her figure and appearance would return to their original state. Only then was she willing to continue practicing.

Even so, she was worried every day, fearing that her appearance would not be able to recover.

Four months passed, and Zhang Xuan's progress was rapid. She was only one step away from successfully opening her meridians.

On this day, Zhang Yuanjing's transmission jade finally received news from Han Ji. He said that after several years of infiltration, he was confident that he could steal the pill formula and would trade it with Zhang Yuanjing soon. At the same time, he also mentioned one thing cautiously: the Crimson Blood Valley, the upper sect of the Crimson Cloud Palace, had sent a special envoy, a Core Formation Realm cultivator, who seemed to be urging Great Elder Ling Jianzi to do something. The two had a fierce quarrel. In the end, the Great Elder said that he would have a decisive battle with a Taoist surnamed Zhang before he would do that thing.

Obviously, Han Ji guessed that this Taoist surnamed Zhang was likely to be Zhang Yuanjing, so he specifically reported this matter to him. If his guess was wrong, there would be no consequences. If he guessed correctly, Zhang Yuanjing would owe him a favor and would have to give him a few more bottles of pills.

Zhang Yuanjing pondered for a moment and felt that this was a good opportunity to settle things with the Crimson Cloud Palace. If the Core Formation Realm cultivator followed, he would let Ape Thirteen take action. He didn't need to hurt him, just repel him, and he could deter the Crimson Blood Valley and the Crimson Cloud Palace, ensuring the safety of the Zhang clan.

So, he bid farewell to Zhang Xuan and told her to practice with peace of mind, pay attention to moderation, and not be impatient or rash, especially to prevent losing control of her mind and going berserk. He promised that he would come to see her again after dealing with the Crimson Cloud Palace. Then, together with Ape Thirteen, he quickly returned to Zhangjiawan with the reluctant Zhang Yu.

It is said that after Han Ji promised Zhang Yuanjing six years ago to steal the Crimson Cloud Pill, he had been planning this matter all the time. After Ling Yu's death, Ling Qian was responsible for the alchemy in the palace. Han Ji, because of his good relationship with a Qi Refining disciple named Wu Xiuwen under this person's tutelage, invested in Ling Qian's tutelage through his relationship, helping Wu Xiuwen manage chores.

Han Ji was steady, thoughtful, and reliable. Over the years, he had gained Wu Xiuwen's trust. Han Ji had long inquired that among Ling Qian's disciples, only Wu Xiuwen could enter and leave the alchemy room, assisting his teacher in dispensing and refining medicine. He must have seen the pill formula. His plan was to steal the pill formula from this person.

However, Ling Qian and his disciples were very tight-lipped. This Wu Xiuwen liked to drink, but he never drank outside. He didn't drink a drop before alchemy tasks. Otherwise, he wouldn't have gained Ling Qian's trust.

Therefore, although he was thoughtful and deeply infiltrated, he had been suffering from a lack of opportunity to act, and he had to drag it on and on. He, who had always been confident, was gradually becoming anxious.

It is said that on this day, Han Ji returned to the palace from Misty Spirit Mountain and found that the atmosphere in the sect was unusually tense.

His mind turned, first he entered the Yuanfei Hall where ordinary disciples were located, reported to the senior brother in charge of the hall, and then went to the Jingyou Hall where Taoist Ling Qian was located. He was a familiar face here, and the servants guarding the hall recognized him, so he went all the way to the hall smoothly.

Among Ling Qian's disciples, he also had a disciple with a good relationship, namely the seventh disciple Li Xiunan. At this moment, he was looking for Li Xiunan, who was usually idle and often meditated and practiced in his residence.

"Yo, it's Junior Brother Han, did you also get the news?" When Li Xiunan saw him, he quickly let him in, closed the door tightly, and then winked and asked.

"What news? I just came back from Misty Spirit Mountain and don't know yet. However, the atmosphere in this palace seems a little wrong," Han Ji said with a look of surprise.

Li Xiunan smiled cheekily: "Junior Brother Han came back in a hurry, I thought Junior Brother was well-informed, but it turned out to be a coincidence. Then I'll tell you a few words in detail."

"Do you know that the Great Elder received the Profound Yin Order from the upper sect and is going to the Profound Yin Cave to pick Profound Yin Grass?"

"Never heard of it. What is Profound Yin Grass?"

"A kind of rare medicine, it is said that it is used by Foundation Establishment Realm Consummate cultivators to break through the Pseudo-Dan, it has nothing to do with us. The point I want to say is not this, but the Profound Yin Cave is about to open, but the Great Elder has been slow to move, so the upper sect sent a special envoy to urge the Great Elder to set off!"

Han Ji rolled his eyelids: "Special envoy?"

"Hahaha—" Li Xiunan was amused by Han Ji's expression and laughed, "Yes, it's a special envoy! Moreover, he is a Core Formation Realm cultivator, I heard his name is Guan Yinglong, and he just broke through the realm not long ago!"

Han Ji was shocked: "What, a Core Formation Realm cultivator? Just for such a thing, a Core Formation Elder is sent out! Is collecting medicine in the Profound Yin Cave so important?"

Li Xiunan said contemptuously: "What's so important! You haven't been in the palace for a long time, and you don't know some things. This Profound Yin Cave is opened once every sixty years, and the Star Moon Sect will give ten Profound Yin Orders to the upper sect every time. It is said that the upper sect is looking for some rogue cultivators, issuing tokens, and letting them go. Because going there is a narrow escape from death, almost no upper sect cultivator is willing to go. Hehe, this time, the upper sect issued the token to the Great Elder, and sent a Core Formation Elder to escort him, what do you say is the reason?"

"What's the reason?" Han Ji asked calmly, following his words.

"Small gossip is flying all over the palace, everyone is talking about it, and there is no consensus. However, there is only one reason, to force the Great Elder to death!" Li Xiunan said with some schadenfreude.

Li Xiunan was at the thirteenth level of the Qi Refining Realm, less than seventy years old. His aptitude was top-notch, not to mention in the Crimson Cloud Palace, even in the upper sect Crimson Blood Valley. Just because he was not a disciple of the Three Sons, he could not get the Foundation Establishment Pill, so he was unwilling and full of resentment towards the Three Sons.

"Why is that?" Han Ji frowned, his face changing uncertainly, and he was greatly shocked. This matter was of great importance, related to the rise and fall of the Crimson Cloud Palace. Even if he was not a direct disciple, his fate was shared and his success or failure was connected.

"Two guesses." Li Xiunan stretched out two fingers and said leisurely, "One said that this special envoy has old grievances with the Great Elder, and the reason why the upper sect's Profound Yin Order was issued to the Great Elder was the result of his strong promotion. One said that the special envoy took a fancy to our Crimson Cloud Palace, um, to be precise, he took a fancy to the Crimson Cloud Pill, so he came here to occupy the magpie's nest."

"Take a fancy to the Crimson Cloud Pill? Doesn't the Crimson Cloud Pill in the palace pay tribute to the upper sect every year? Does he want to intercept it?" Han Ji couldn't figure it out.

"Hehe, Junior Brother Han, although you are smart, but you haven't seen some things, and you can't think of them after all. How could all of this Crimson Cloud Pill be paid tribute to the upper sect. That's the public account, just on the surface. In addition, the palace has an extra batch of pills every year, specially sent to some cultivators in the upper sect as holiday gifts in exchange for care. Otherwise, how could such a big stall as the Crimson Cloud Palace be laid out!" Li Xiunan said with a face of ridicule.

"Oh, so that's how it is." Han Ji nodded thoughtfully, and then sighed, "No wonder there are undercurrents in the palace, it turns out that the world is going to change!"

"That's right, Junior Brother Han's 'change of sky' is too right! Now people are panicking, and everyone is calculating where the future lies. What are your plans, Junior Brother?" Li Xiunan patted the stone table in front of him, staring at Han Ji's eyes, full of playfulness.

"I just got the news from Senior Brother here, my heart is in a mess, what plans can I have! What about Senior Brother, what are your plans?" Han Ji showed a bitter smile, spread his hands, but asked back.

Li Xiunan said with a smile that was not a smile: "Since the Crimson Cloud Palace has changed, this new sky is naturally this special envoy. Besides catering to his preferences, is there any other way?"

Han Ji nodded, agreeing and said: "What Senior Brother said is the right reason. What you and I need is the Foundation Establishment Pill first. There is no other way to get this thing except for the upper sect. But, it may be difficult to get on the special envoy or the upper sect's path. Unless—"

"Unless what?" Li Xiunan took a step forward, looking at Han Ji with bright eyes.

"Has the Great Elder set off to Profound Yin Mountain?" Han Ji asked something else.

Li Xiunan shook his head: "I heard that the Great Elder is going to find a Taoist surnamed Zhang for a decisive battle, that is, the one who defeated him outside the palace last time. He will set off in a few days."

"Oh, what about the upper sect special envoy? Go together?" Han Ji asked again.

Li Xiunan pondered for a moment before saying: "It should be, after all, that Taoist Zhang is not mediocre, what if the Great Elder is injured in the opponent's hands, wouldn't the trip to Profound Yin Mountain be in vain!"

A gleam of light flashed in Han Ji's eyes, thinking that this was a valuable piece of news.

"Junior Brother, the words just now are not finished yet!" Li Xiunan stared at him, with a look of expectation on his face.

Han Ji motioned him to come closer, and then said in a low voice: "Unless, we can provide extra Crimson Cloud Pills!"

A light flashed in Li Xiunan's eyes, and he said in a deep voice: "Junior Brother wants to get the idea of that pill formula?"

Han Ji smiled and said: "You can't get the idea of the Crimson Cloud Pill! The pills refined in the palace have a fixed number, and even one less will cause an uproar. Elder Ling Qian is an alchemist, and he will naturally keep some in his hands, but these pills will naturally not be available to Senior Brother!"

"Does Junior Brother know how to refine pills?" Li Xiunan paced back and forth a few steps, seeming a little hesitant.

"I don't know! However, since Elder Ling Qian can refine it, presumably we can too," Han Ji said with a calm face.

"That's right, the old man's level can do it, why can't we!" Li Xiunan's eyes lit up, nodding repeatedly.

"Moreover, Senior Brother must know that Elder Ling Qian is still in charge of alchemy now, but he may not be in the future! If you don't act now, and wait for the Great Elder to leave, the special envoy to rectify the palace affairs, there may be no chance!"

Han Ji's words completely made Li Xiunan make up his mind.