No, You Die, I Live!

"This Nine Tripod Divine Pill is for Mingcheng, Mingcheng!"

Yang Zhengshan beckoned to Yang Mingcheng. Yang Mingcheng looked astonished, still somewhat unable to believe it.

"Father!"

He hurried forward and knelt to bow.

"Mm, take it. Cultivate well and form your core as soon as possible. Don't let your mother and me down!" Yang Zhengshan said with a smile.

Yang Mingcheng's body trembled with excitement.

This was a Nine Tripod Divine Pill—a Nine Tripod Divine Pill capable of helping him form his core.

Even as the eldest son of the Yang Family, he had never dared hope for too much.

Although Yang Zhengshan had said earlier that he would prepare a Nine Tripod Divine Pill for him, Yang Mingcheng had never imagined that Yang Zhengshan would simply give him this one.

"Your son thanks Father and Mother!" Yang Mingcheng kowtowed several times.

Seeing this, everyone was filled with envy.

Yet no one dared feel jealous, nor did anyone think this was unfair.

"Mm, get up!"

Yang Zhengshan flicked his fly whisk, lifting Yang Mingcheng to his feet.

"The first Nine Tripod Divine Pill will be ranked ten years from now. Everyone can start preparing!" Yang Zhengshan said, glancing at Ding Qiu.

He had actually wanted to prepare one for Ding Qiu as well, but he could not openly show favoritism.

However, while he could not do so openly, he could still give Ding Qiu some merit in secret.

After all, he himself possessed a great deal of merit. The pills he supplied to the Merit Hall all had to be exchanged for merit.

In the Life Realm Immortal Palace, merit could be transferred, gifted, or inherited. In truth, merit was currency—it simply had no physical form.

With Yang Zhengshan's assurance, everyone's minds settled, and they became much more enthusiastic at the same time.

It was just that there were not many places in the Life Realm Immortal Palace where they could earn merit at present. There were practically no combat missions, while there were some production missions. However, most production missions were paid according to the work done. Although they could earn some merit, they could not obtain large amounts.

To obtain a large amount of merit, they still had to rely on combat missions. Only by earning merit in battle could they obtain large amounts of merit.

The Life Realm Immortal Palace had no combat missions for the time being, so everyone could only devote their energy and time to cultivation and production missions.

This did drive the productivity of the Spirit Source Land upward. Those Foundation Establishment Cultivators seemed to have gone mad, constantly refining pills, forging artifacts, making talismans, and so on.

Usually, everyone had been rather lax, but now each of them was astonishingly enthusiastic.

When Yang Zhengshan learned of this situation, he could not help smiling.

Enthusiasm still had to be stimulated. The greatest advantage of the Life Realm Immortal Palace was stability, but its greatest disadvantage was stability as well.

Too much stability would make people lazy. Now that the Nine Tripod Divine Pill had provided that stimulation, much of this laziness had dissipated.

Yang Zhengshan was happy to see this, though he did not pay it too much attention.

After the banquet, Yang Zhengshan held another exchange meeting for Yu Qingyi. After the meeting ended, Yang Zhengshan spent another month imparting some Golden Core Realm cultivation experience and insights to Yu Qingyi.

Yu Qingyi then entered seclusion to stabilize her cultivation, while Yang Zhengshan returned to the Pill Hall and began refining pills again.

He still had four sets of ingredients for the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill and two sets for the Nine Tripod Divine Pill.

Once he finished refining these pills, he would not have enough ingredients to continue for some time.

There was no need to mention the ingredients for the Nine Tripod Divine Pill. The Great Void Star Core alone placed a strict limit on the number he could refine.

The ingredients for the Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill were not easy to acquire either. If not for the Green Ox Demon King, Yang Zhengshan estimated that he would not even have been able to gather one set.

The Green Ox Demon King also needed time to cultivate the ingredients. Yang Zhengshan had already reached an agreement with him: in the future, he would provide five sets of Myriad Wood Evergreen Pill ingredients every hundred years.

This amount was absolutely not small. Aside from the Green Ox Demon King, no one else in the world could probably accomplish this.

The Green Ox Demon King agreed readily, clearly finding the task not particularly difficult.

Of course, Yang Zhengshan was not asking the Green Ox Demon King to contribute for nothing.

After the five sets of ingredients were refined into pills, Yang Zhengshan would take two pills as his alchemy fee. The Green Ox Demon King would receive the material cost for two pills, while the remaining pill would be placed in the Merit Hall as the Green Ox Demon King's contribution to the sect.

If anyone else wanted one, they would either have to exchange merit for it or trade with Yang Zhengshan and the Green Ox Demon King.

For most cultivators, many scarce resources were not things they could not afford—they simply could not buy them. They had no opportunity to buy them and no channels through which to do so.

For a faction, meanwhile, its most important foundation was its ability to provide cultivators with various resources.

Only when it could provide cultivators with the resources they needed would they loyally serve the faction.

If it could not provide those resources, people would inevitably become alienated.

This was also why Yang Zhengshan had always devoted himself to developing trade in the Spirit Source Land. Without trade, there would be no complete range of resources; without a complete range of resources, he could not provide everyone with what they needed or satisfy their cultivation demands.

Everyone could endure it for a short time, but as time went on, discontent would inevitably arise, and the Spirit Source Land would be unable to avoid unrest.

As the master of the Life Realm Immortal Palace and the ruler of the White Jade Capital, Yang Zhengshan's most important responsibility was to provide everyone with sufficient resources.

Not to satisfy everyone's every demand, but to satisfy their basic needs.

While Yang Zhengshan was refining pills, the war in the Wanhua Mountain Range finally neared its end.

The Wanhua Demon Emperor's accumulation over ten thousand years ultimately could not rival the terrifying foundation of the Wuchang Ghost Sect.

It was not that the Wanhua Demon Emperor was not powerful enough, but that the Wuchang Ghost Sect's foundation was simply too deep.

The Corpse Sea was called the Corpse Sea because the entire Grotto-Heaven was filled with Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets—Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets numbering in the hundreds of millions.

Although the Wanhua Demon Emperor was powerful, he was only one person. How could he compare with a massive sect?

The Wuchang Ghost Sect was a sect with a complete system, systematic methods for cultivating Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets, and countless Blood Pool Deacons continuously supplying the sect with Yin Soldiers and Blood Puppets.

Moreover, the Wuchang Ghost Sect had existed for more than ten thousand years. Exactly how long it had existed, outsiders did not know clearly.

In short, the Wuchang Ghost Sect's foundation was far beyond what the Wanhua Demon Emperor could rival.

The war of attrition between the two sides lasted six months. The Wanhua Demon Emperor's Flower Soldier Treants had been nearly wiped out, and signs of decline finally appeared.

On a towering mountain peak, the Wanhua Demon Emperor gazed at the Flower Soldier Treants that had grown increasingly sparse. Cold light flickered in his long, narrow eyes.

"Your Majesty, what should we do next?" Li Zhuo asked with a deeply furrowed brow.

Xuan Ling's expression beside him was equally ugly. Both of them could see that the Wanhua Demon Emperor's Treant army could no longer stop the Wuchang Ghost Sect's Yin Soldier Army.

There was no emotion on the Wanhua Demon Emperor's demonic face, but the flickering light in his eyes revealed the unrest and fury in his heart.

They could not hold out any longer!

This was the reality he was unwilling to face, yet was forced to face.

"Withdraw and defend the Grotto-Heaven first!" he said blandly.

Li Zhuo's expression shifted slightly, but he said nothing.

Xuan Ling's face changed drastically. "Your Majesty, my Wandering White Crane Clan has no Grotto-Heaven!"

The Blazing Phoenix Clan had a Grotto-Heaven, so Li Zhuo had no worries about withdrawing into one.

But the Wandering White Crane Clan had no Grotto-Heaven!

How could they withdraw into a Grotto-Heaven?

Were they supposed to go to the Blazing Phoenix Clan's Grotto-Heaven?

The proud Blazing Phoenix Clan probably would not accept them.

Thus, they had only one choice: entering the Demon Ruins Land.

But would the Wanhua Demon Emperor be willing to let them enter the Demon Ruins Land?

Xuan Ling's heart was filled with panic as he looked at the Wanhua Demon Emperor with a pleading gaze.

Unfortunately, his hopes were soon shattered. Qingyuan Fox Venerable—Su Mei—had been right about one thing: the Wanhua Demon Emperor was a cold and heartless man.

He valued no one and cared about no one.

To him, the demons of the Wanhua Demon Court were actually no different from the Flower Soldier Treants in his hands. In fact, they were even inferior to those Flower Soldier Treants.

The Flower Soldier Treants would loyally carry out his orders, while the demons of the Wanhua Demon Court all had their own thoughts and interests.

"If you have no Grotto-Heaven, then withdraw from the Wanhua Mountain Range. This Venerable will not blame you," the Wanhua Demon Emperor said indifferently.

Xuan Ling's face paled.

Withdraw from the Wanhua Mountain Range?

If he had known this would be the result, why had he returned to the Wanhua Mountain Range in the first place?

Moreover, where could they withdraw to now?

The Yunxiao Mountain Range had already been occupied by the Wuchang Ghost Sect, while the Emerald Lake they had once occupied had also been taken by the newly risen Myriad Beast Sect.

This Myriad Beast Sect had been established by Wu Wei Zheng. He had subdued many Immortal Cultivation Families in the Southern Desolation Land and gathered some of the Demonic Beasts that had fled the Wanhua Mountain Range, establishing the Myriad Beast Sect that belonged to him.

Although the Myriad Beast Sect had only been established recently, its strength was not weak at all.

First was Wu Wei Zheng's strength. As an old monster who had lived for more than ten thousand years, his strength had long surpassed that of most Demon Kings and Golden Core cultivators. Although he had not reached the Half-step Entering Dao stage, he was not far from it.

Next were the Demonic Beasts that had escaped from the Wanhua Mountain Range. Among them were several Demon Kings who had been subdued by Wu Wei Zheng.

The White Crane Clan led by Xuan Ling naturally could not contend with the newly established Myriad Beast Sect. However, they could seek refuge with the Myriad Beast Sect, and Wu Wei Zheng would surely accept them.

But Xuan Ling was certainly unwilling to submit to Wu Wei Zheng. In Xuan Ling's eyes, Wu Wei Zheng was merely a nobody and was not worthy of his allegiance.

Where else could they go besides the Wanhua Western Regions?

To the Central Region?

To the Hengshan Mountain Range?

But every Blessed Land in the Hengshan Mountain Range with a relatively high-grade Spirit Vein was already claimed. They could not possibly settle in some remote, deep forest, could they?

"Your Majesty!"

Xuan Ling still wanted to plead, but before he could finish speaking, a subtle fluctuation of aura suddenly appeared above the Sky Vault.

His words abruptly stopped, and he stared toward the Sky Vault in terror.

The Wanhua Demon Emperor's expression also changed drastically. He narrowed his eyes and warily watched the newcomer.

The newcomer wore a Bronze Ghost Mask Crown, with Seven-Orifice Soul Lanterns set into the crown. He wore the "Hundred Souls Heart Refining Robe," woven from hide and bone, with Yin Fiend Talisman Patterns embroidered along its hem. With a mere lift of his eyes, he exuded the majesty of a superior.

"Chang Buzai! I never thought you were still alive!" the Wanhua Demon Emperor said coldly.

The corners of Chang Buzai's lips curved slightly. His eyelids drooped as he looked at the Wanhua Demon Emperor with contempt. "Hua Qingshu, you hid for ten thousand years and finally dared to come out. Heh! When I saw these little things, I knew that the so-called Wanhua Demon Emperor was you!"

The "little things" he spoke of were naturally the Flower Soldier Treants.

"In the previous Struggle for Authority, you were the loser. This time, you are a loser again!"

"Aren't you the same?"

"The same?" Chang Buzai glanced at the Yin Soldier Army surging up from below.

The Treant army had completely collapsed, and the battle had already become one-sided.

The Wanhua Demon Emperor paid no attention to this. He only stared coldly at Chang Buzai. "You think I've already lost? You're celebrating too soon!"

"Heh, what other methods do you have?"

Chang Buzai let out a cold laugh and took out a Black Small Seal.

The three-inch seal was utterly unremarkable, looking no different from a stone.

This seal was the Soul Hooking Celestial Seal, a Spirit Treasure capable of forcibly pulling another person's soul out of their body. Even a Half-step Entering Dao expert could not resist it.

The seal also concealed Myriad Yin Souls. Like a Myriad Ghost Banner, it could command the Myriad Yin Souls for its own use.

Yin wind howled and the Sky Vault dimmed. The three-inch seal instantly transformed into a small mountain and crashed down heavily.

The Wanhua Demon Emperor, Li Zhuo, and Xuan Ling immediately hid within the Great Void without a word.

However, after entering the Great Void, the three reacted differently.

Xuan Ling took off running, disappearing into the boundless Great Void in the blink of an eye. Li Zhuo also wanted to flee, but just as he appeared in the Great Void, a long Chain suddenly bound his neck.

As for the Wanhua Demon Emperor, he wanted to flee as well, but Chang Buzai had blocked his path.

"Phoenix bloodline? Heh, if you are Phoenixes, then this Venerable is at least a Dao Master!" Chang Buzai sneered, holding one black Chain in each hand.

The Blazing Phoenix Clan prided itself on possessing Phoenix bloodline, but in Chang Buzai's eyes, such bloodline was nothing but a joke.

Phoenixes had vanished a million years ago. Where could there be any Phoenixes left in this world?

The so-called Blazing Phoenix Clan was nothing more than a group of red-haired birds and beasts.

By comparison, he might actually be wary of the Dragon Emperor of the South Sea Demon Court. That was a true Dragon Princess possessing the True Dragon Bloodline.

The Wanhua Demon Emperor did not save Li Zhuo, because there was no need.

Li Zhuo possessed cultivation at the Demon King Peak. His strength counted him among the experts of the entire Myriad Flower Domain, but before these two, he was no different from a chick.

Whether Chang Buzai or the Wanhua Demon Emperor, both had already transcended the level of Demon King.

They were both Half-step Entering Dao experts, and moreover, experts who had entered the Dao ten thousand years ago.

Not to mention Li Zhuo—even if Yang Zhengshan were here, he would have no choice but to run.

Of course, Yang Zhengshan could still contend with them to some extent. He would have no problem staying alive for a short while.

Chang Buzai merely gave the Soul Locking Chain in his hand a light pull, and Li Zhuo's soul was peeled from his body. No matter how he struggled, he could not break free from the Soul Locking Chain's restraints.

The Soul Locking Chain in Chang Buzai's hand was the genuine Soul Locking Chain—a supreme-grade Spirit Artifact.

As for the Soul Locking Chain and Soul Suppressing Lock in Yang Zhengshan's Seven Treasures Soul Suppressing Pagoda, they were merely imitations of this Soul Locking Chain.

"Looks like you intend to fight me to the death today!" the Wanhua Demon Emperor said, his tone still as calm as ever.

"No, you die and I live!"

Chang Buzai said solemnly, "I need your soul!"

The Wanhua Demon Emperor narrowed his eyes. "That depends on whether you have the ability!"

As he spoke, he took out the Green Vein Seal, while a Green Bead appeared in his other hand.

Chang Buzai looked at the bead in his hand. "The Hua Qingzhu. I never thought it had advanced as well. What a pity—it is merely a newly born Spirit Treasure!"

Why had the Wanhua Demon Emperor remained hidden in the Demon Ruins Land all this time? Did he simply dislike wandering about outside?

No. No one would enjoy being accompanied by loneliness and solitude forever, much less ten thousand years of it!

He had stayed in the Demon Ruins Land for two purposes: one was to cultivate Flower Soldier Treants, and the other was to cultivate the bead in his hand.

The Hua Qingzhu was his Natal Spiritual Artifact—no, now it should be called his Natal Spirit Treasure.