Authority Artifact

Yang Zhengshan's eyes widened. It contained Divine Path Intent and could even diminish its user's Lifespan—this was an Authority Artifact.

He found it somewhat hard to believe the conclusion he had reached.

A small Immortal Cultivation Family, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a Hopeless Path, yet they possessed an Authority Artifact.

Yang Zhengshan felt as if Heaven itself were playing a joke on him.

But the facts were right before his eyes, and he had no choice but to believe them.

The key was that this Authority Artifact seemed to suit him perfectly.

It seized Life Force and nurtured the user's own body.

The Wither and Flourish Divine Ability could convert Life Force into Lifespan and even diminish an enemy's Lifespan.

When the two were combined, they formed an existence that defied the heavens.

In the next instant, Yang Zhengshan flickered and suddenly appeared beside Pei Lun, pressing one hand against the Green Bamboo Staff.

"Fellow Daoist, how about giving this item to me?"

Yang Zhengshan gripped the uppermost section of the staff, while Pei Lun held the Dragon Head Handle.

The instant Yang Zhengshan appeared, Pei Lun's cloudy eyes widened sharply, and his wrinkled face filled with horror.

"Golden Core True Lord!"

In an instant, he recognized Yang Zhengshan's cultivation. Other than existences at the Golden Core True Lord level or above, no one could appear silently at his side like that.

Yang Zhengshan's sudden appearance also brought the battle to a halt. Both sides gathered together: one group surrounded Shi Yuansheng, intending to rescue him from the Green Bamboo, while the other gathered behind Pei Lun and warily watched Yang Zhengshan.

Yang Zhengshan looked at Pei Lun without speaking for a long while before asking again, "Fellow Daoist, this item is fated to be mine. Could you give it to me?"

Although asking for it so directly seemed rather shameless, he had not been wrong about one thing: This item is fated to be mine.

He had merely been passing by when he encountered the battle between the Pei and Shi Families. Pei Lun had even brought out an Authority Artifact, and the key was that this Authority Artifact was highly compatible with the Wither and Flourish Divine Ability he cultivated. If that was not a fortuitous opportunity, then what was?

What was a fortuitous opportunity?

It was when many coincidences came together and brought someone immense benefits. That was a fortuitous opportunity.

Pei Lun returned to his senses, his eyes filled with hesitation and struggle.

This Treasure Artifact had been passed down from the Pei Family's ancestors. It was the Sacred Treasure worshiped by the Lineage.

In truth, he did not know what made this Treasure Artifact so powerful. He only knew that it was very powerful—extremely powerful.

Of course, he also did not know that it was an Authority Artifact, which was why he called it a Treasure Artifact.

Now that a Golden Core cultivator was asking him for it, could he refuse?

"This old man is willing to give this treasure to the True Lord!"

After struggling for a moment, he ultimately chose to compromise.

He was not doing it for himself, but for the Lineage.

"However, this old man has one request. For the sake of this Treasure Artifact, I ask that the True Lord agree to it!"

He gripped the bamboo staff tightly, his eyes fixed intently on Yang Zhengshan.

"What request?" Yang Zhengshan asked.

"This old man wishes to ask the True Lord to protect my Pei Family!" Pei Lun was very shrewd. In just a few breaths, he had figured out what he wanted.

Although the Treasure Artifact in his hand held enormous significance for the Pei Family, not just anyone could use it. Moreover, using it would diminish one's Lifespan.

Unless absolutely necessary, he was unwilling to use this Treasure Artifact either.

A treasure like this had limited usefulness to the Pei Family.

And now the Pei Family was facing a Calamity of Extermination—not just from the Shi Family, but also from the other Immortal Cultivation Families around them.

He knew that once his own Lifespan was exhausted, the Pei Family would inevitably be exterminated by the surrounding Immortal Cultivation Families.

If he wanted to preserve the Pei Family, he needed a powerful backer.

In fact, long ago, he had wanted to find a powerful backer for the Pei Family.

He had considered using a Marriage Alliance to get another Great Clan to help the Pei Family overcome its current crisis. He had also considered using Spiritual Items to hire a protector for the Pei Family. He had even thought of exchanging the Treasure Artifact in his hand for the protection of a Golden Core Power.

Unfortunately, none of these plans had succeeded before the Shi Family came knocking.

Yang Zhengshan's appearance had been abrupt, but it happened to align perfectly with his desire to find a backer.

Thus, after a brief hesitation and struggle, he made this request to Yang Zhengshan.

"Protection? How about I exterminate them instead, and you give this item to me?"

Yang Zhengshan naturally had no leisure to protect an unfamiliar Immortal Cultivation Family. As for the Shi Family, although they had no grudge against him, exterminating them would only take a casual effort.

That way, he could actually save himself quite a bit of trouble.

Would that be unfair to the Shi Family?

What a joke. Talking about fairness in the Immortal Cultivation World—what fairness was there to speak of in the Immortal Cultivation World?

When the Wuchang Ghost Sect invaded the Wanhua Mountain Range, whom had they ever treated fairly?

When the Hengshan Sect and the South Sea Demon Court turned the entire Southern Region into a battlefield, whom had they ever treated fairly?

There was a saying that was exactly right: If I destroy you, what does it have to do with you?

Yang Zhengshan wanted to exterminate the Shi Family. What did that have to do with the Shi Family?

"That won't be enough. This old man's Life is Not Long, and the Pei Family has no successors. We need the True Lord's protection!"

"Heh, you are clever, but I won't protect the Pei Family forever." Yang Zhengshan chuckled softly.

"A hundred years will be enough. After a hundred years, my Pei Family will have a new Foundation Establishment Cultivator. At that time, the True Lord need not concern himself with my Pei Family any longer!" Pei Lun said.

Yang Zhengshan looked at him. He had long since seen that Pei Lun's Life was Not Long. No, more accurately, he would soon die of old age.

He had just used the Authority Artifact, leaving the Lifespan he had possessed to begin with nearly exhausted.

He would probably die within a few days.

Yang Zhengshan's thoughts shifted, and he said, "Agreed! I will protect the Pei Family for a hundred years!"

Protecting an Immortal Cultivation Family was no difficult task for Yang Zhengshan. At worst, he could move the Pei Family to the Spirit Source Land.

Pei Lun slowly released his grip. Yang Zhengshan took the Green Bamboo Staff and sent his Spiritual Sense into it, immediately sensing a vast Dao Resonance. Countless insights then surged into his mind.

It truly was an Authority Artifact containing Dao Intent. However, it did not contain a Divine Ability specifically meant to seize Life Force, but Life Control—not merely seizing it, but also sealing, granting, transforming, and more.

Sealing Life Force could temporarily sever a cultivator's Life Force and place them in a state of suspended death.

Granting Life Force could restore a cultivator's vitality and heal their injuries.

Transforming Life Force could convert it into Magic Power and soul power.

Life Force was not Lifespan. Yang Zhengshan could convert Life Force into Lifespan because he had comprehended the Wither and Flourish Divine Ability.

In truth, Yang Zhengshan could also seize and grant Life Force, but he was extremely crude in both aspects, capable only of simple seizure and bestowal.

By comparison, the Divine Path Intent of Life Control contained within the bamboo staff was far more precise at seizing and granting Life Force, allowing it to maximize the power of Life Force.

This bamboo staff was extraordinarily compatible with him. Although using it consumed Lifespan, Yang Zhengshan could convert Life Force into Lifespan. Thus, the bamboo staff was practically without flaws in his hands.

Most importantly, it was an Authority Artifact. Its might far surpassed that of a Spirit Artifact and was nearly equivalent to a Spirit Treasure.

In Yang Zhengshan's hands, it was a Spirit Treasure—a Spirit Treasure capable of threatening Golden Core cultivators.

After comprehending all this, Yang Zhengshan was overjoyed.

This truly was a treasure that had come without any effort. With such a supreme treasure, he was Like a Tiger with Wings, and his strength had risen another level.

"What do you plan to do with these people?" Yang Zhengshan raised his eyes toward the members of the Shi Family. By now, they had fallen into panic. Although they did not know who Yang Zhengshan was, they had heard his conversation with Pei Lun.

A Golden Core cultivator was going to protect the Pei Family. To the Shi Family, this was practically a catastrophe of annihilation.

"True Lord, I ask that you help this old man exterminate them!" Pei Lun had no intention of showing them the slightest mercy.

Yang Zhengshan did not mind. He lightly waved the bamboo staff, and a sheet of azure radiance poured from it like a curtain of light, descending over the members of the Shi Family.

In the next instant, tiny Bamboo Shoots sprouted from the bodies of the Shi Family members. However, unlike when Pei Lun had used the bamboo staff earlier, these Bamboo Shoots did not grow into bamboo trees, remaining the size of fingers.

The bodies of the Shi Family members rapidly shriveled as if all the moisture had been drained from them. Within a few breaths, they had become corpses dried to the bone.

Their Life Force, Magic Power, and Divine Soul Power were completely drained, leaving behind only worthless remains.

"What a domineering thing!" Yang Zhengshan showed no concern for the condition of the Shi Family members. He stared at the bamboo staff in his hand, a thoughtful look appearing on his face.

The bamboo staff had seized more than just Life Force. Even Magic Power and soul power had been drained completely, without leaving the slightest trace. Moreover, it had also taken thirty years of Yang Zhengshan's Lifespan.

However, Yang Zhengshan had also obtained a mass of pure Life Force.

Two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and more than forty Qi Refining Stage Cultivators had provided him with Life Force equivalent to about three drops of the Spring of Vitality—enough to restore roughly sixty years of his Lifespan.

By that calculation, he seemed to have gained thirty years of Lifespan. But in reality, that was not the case. Since his opponents had been Foundation Establishment Cultivators and Qi Refining Stage Cultivators, the Lifespan Yang Zhengshan consumed to wield the bamboo staff had been relatively small. If his opponents had been Golden Core cultivators, the Lifespan he needed to expend would have been far greater.

In that case, he might actually lose out.

Moreover, Life Force was not Lifespan. Once Lifespan was diminished, it was extremely difficult to replenish. After Life Force was seized, however, there were many ways to replenish it. The Spring of Vitality, for example, could rapidly restore Life Force.

If Yang Zhengshan were facing a Golden Core cultivator, the might of this Life Force seizure would not only be greatly reduced, it might also fail to inflict much damage on his opponent.

Seen this way, the Wither and Flourish Divine Ability seemed far superior to Life Control. But that was not quite right either, because Yang Zhengshan had not mastered the Divine Path Intent of Life Control. He could only use Life Control through the Authority Artifact in his hand.

If he could comprehend the Divine Path Intent of Life Control, he would not lose out. He might even be able to use it without consuming Lifespan.

This was the Spirit Treasure of the Lord of Authority, mainly meant to match the Dao Intent Divine Ability of the Lord of Authority. It could not achieve perfect compatibility with Yang Zhengshan. However, Yang Zhengshan could improve his compatibility with this Authority Artifact by comprehending Dao Intent. As his compatibility grew, the might he could unleash through Life Control would also become increasingly powerful.

Regardless, this Authority Artifact brought him great benefits. At the very least, it would allow him to use the Wither and Flourish Divine Ability more easily.

"But why doesn't this thing have a Spirit of Artifact?" Yang Zhengshan carefully examined the bamboo staff's Spirituality, yet he never discovered the existence of a Spirit of Artifact.

"Could it be that Authority Artifacts simply don't have Spirits of Artifact?"

Yang Zhengshan pondered for a long while, but ultimately could not figure it out.

No Spirit of Artifact meant no Spirit of Artifact. It would make controlling the bamboo staff easier for him. If it had a Spirit of Artifact, it might instead cause him trouble.

"Please honor us with your presence, True Lord!" Pei Lun suddenly spoke.

Yang Zhengshan raised his head and nodded slightly. "Very well. Let's go take a look at your Pei Family!"

The Pei Family was a fairly large Lineage, with more than ten thousand clanspeople, among whom over three hundred were Immortal Cultivators. Unfortunately, very few had achieved anything. Of those more than three hundred Immortal Cultivators, only Pei Lun was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator nearing the end of his life.

This was the Pei Family's sorrow, but it was also a path that many Immortal Cultivation Families were bound to experience.

The vast majority of Immortal Cultivation Families could not avoid declining in the end. Prosperity followed by decline was inevitable.

However, some Immortal Cultivation Families could rise again after sinking into silence for hundreds or even thousands of years.

The Pei Family had now fallen to rock bottom. Once Pei Lun died, the Pei Family would inevitably perish.

Their Spirit Fields would be seized by other families, their resources would become Spoils of War, and everything they possessed would become a wedding garment for others. As for the members of the Pei Family themselves, they would either die miserably beneath someone else's blade or become Stray Dogs, wandering everywhere.

There were many Immortal Cultivation Families in the Wilderness of Ten Thousand Waters. These Great Clans rose and fell, struggling without end, but most stopped at the level of Great Clans. It was extremely difficult for them to cross the threshold into Immortal Clans.

The Pei Family was large, nearly the size of a town. It possessed many Spirit Fields, with Spirit Fields surrounding the town. They cultivated many Medicinal Herbs and Spirit Trees, as well as a great deal of Spirit Rice.

Under Pei Lun's guidance, Yang Zhengshan arrived at the central compound of Pei Family Town.

"Please, True Lord!"

The building had three stories. Inside a beautifully decorated Tea Room, Yang Zhengshan sat before the window, where he could overlook most of Pei Family Town and see the Lush And Green Orchards and rice paddies beyond the town.

Sandalwood Incense was lit, and tea was served.

Pei Lun's hands trembled as he poured Yang Zhengshan a bowl of clear tea.

Yang Zhengshan looked at his trembling hand. "Your Lifespan is nearly exhausted. If you don't want to die too soon, you should stabilize your Dao Foundation as soon as possible!"

"Whether I die a day earlier or a day later makes no difference to this old man." Pei Lun gave a bitter smile.

"That is true." Yang Zhengshan nodded slightly, fully agreeing with him.

For Pei Lun, his life had already entered the countdown. A few days or a few months did not matter. What mattered was whether he could arrange everything that came after his death.

Therefore, he needed to accompany Yang Zhengshan and wait for Yang Zhengshan's arrangements.

Yang Zhengshan understood what he was thinking. "If your Pei Family wants to rise again, you need a Life and Death Tribulation!"

"Put to Death and Then Live!"

"If the Pei Family continues as it is, then even if I protect it for a hundred years, it still won't be able to escape destruction!"

His tone was calm.

The Pei Family's decline was not caused by a lack of geniuses, nor by a lack of resources. It was because the Pei Family's descendants lacked the courage and perseverance to charge forward and climb ever higher.

The protection of a Lineage was certainly beneficial, but it also nurtured Profligates who made no effort to advance. This was also the primary reason behind the decline of many families.

Not just the Pei Family—even the Yang Family had the same problem.

Among Yang Zhengshan's many descendants, there was no shortage of Profligates who refused to strive. However, the Yang Family had one advantage: branch separation. They continually divided into branches. Once a couple married, they established a separate branch, and after doing so, they had to support themselves.

Although the Spirit Source Land provided the most basic Cultivation Salary, anyone who wanted more resources had to rely on their own efforts.

Thus, although there were some Profligates in the Spirit Source Land who merely coasted along, most people were striving for their own future.