Winning Over the Azure Light Gate, the Sea Ape Beast!

Several months later.

Qingzhou Commandery, Azure Light Gate Main Peak.

Inside the Qingmu Wood Hall, the fragrance of century-old sandalwood rose gently. Three bronze Pill Furnace were arranged in a triangular pattern, with flames flickering at their bases. The temperature inside the hall was extremely high, and even the air rippled with distortion.

True Person Qingshan wore a blue Daoist robe, his hair and beard were all white, and he held two jade galls in his hands.

He sat upright on the futon, looking at Yun Du sitting opposite him, and the strange bear demon with pure white fur...

This is the Lei Xiong Shijian that caused such a stir a few days ago.

Shi Jian lay prone to one side, his eyes closed as if he were dozing.

"The two of you have come together; you are indeed rare guests."

True Person Qingshan's voice was hoarse, and the jade gall bladder made a crisp sound as it collided.

"I've heard things have been rather unsettled lately. Yan Qiu of the Fenghe Sect was severely injured, his foundation damaged, and it will probably take him several decades to recover."

"Fellow Daoist Yunxiao, you're quite the powerful abbot these days!"

Yun Du smiled, held his teacup, and blew on it to cool it down.

"Fellow Qingshan is too kind. If it weren't for Fellow Daoist Shi's great help, this old Daoist would have been torn apart by Yan Qiu long ago."

True Person Qingshan turned his gaze to Shi Jian.

"The Lightning Bear, Heaven and Earth Variant Species, was able to severely injure Yan Qiu even after just Core Formation. Fellow Daoist Shi's ability to turn hostility into friendship and settle in White Cloud Temple is truly a blessing for White Cloud Commandery."

Shi Jian grinned and slightly opened his eyes:

"You're too kind, True Person. I've come all this way to discuss business and trade, not pleasantries."

True Person Qingshan paused in his hand movements.

"Oh?"

What do you mean by that?

Shi Jian's tone remained unchanged. He shook his fur and said with a slightly more serious look in his eyes:

"Let the Clear Wind Mountain Range and the Great Maple Mountain Range meet, stretching for eight hundred miles. Over the years, the Azure Light Gate has been trying to infiltrate the Clear Wind Mountain Range and incorporate that territory into Qingzhou Commandery."

True Person Qingshan remained expressionless.

"This Rogue Cultivator. Our Azure Light Gate only deals in medicinal herbs; how could we be accused of mixing in unqualified individuals?"

Let's not beat around the bush.

Yun Du put down his teacup. "Fellow Daoist Shi and I plan to report to True Person Luanyuan to merge these two mountain ranges and designate them as the Beast Pasturing Mountain of the Supreme Purity Sect."

A deathly silence fell over the main hall.

Only the roaring sound of the fire inside the Pill Furnace could be heard.

True Person Qingshan's eyelids drooped, and his jade gall bladder rotated faster.

The old fox is doing the math.

Shi Jian sneered inwardly. This old man was as cunning as a monkey; as soon as he heard the words "Beast Pasturing Mountain," he knew what was going on.

Once designated as Beast Pasturing Mountain, Rogue Cultivator and small and medium-sized Lineage will be completely cleared out.

The resources of the 800-mile mountain range will be monopolized by the controller, and the profits involved are unimaginable—these are all real wealth and Spirit Stone!

"Having too big an appetite can easily cause your stomach to burst."

True Person Qingshan raised his eyes. "The rules of the Supreme Purity Sect cannot be changed. Every fifty years, Beast Pasturing Mountain must hand over 30% of its profits."

"Can your two families swallow up the remaining 70%?"

"That's why we've come to find the old True Person to join us."

Shi Jian laughed and said, "After deducting the proceeds from the offerings, of the remaining 70%, I'll take 20%, White Cloud Temple will take 30%, and the remaining 20%, plus the exclusive right of Azure Light Gate to purchase spirit medicine, is yours."

Upon hearing this, True Person Qingshan nodded almost imperceptibly.

Twenty percent of the profits may sound small, but it represents twenty percent of the net profit of the 800-mile mountain range. Coupled with the exclusive acquisition rights, the Azure Light Gate can monopolize the spirit medicine without having to exert any effort to compete for territory, simply by staying at home.

This is a windfall!

But in the world of cultivation, there are never free Spirit Stone.

"What are the conditions?" True Person Qingshan pressed the jade gall bladder into his palm.

Yun Du his mouth, revealing the true intentions behind the scenes:

"Old Monster Mu of the Fenghe Sect is a hidden danger. If Fenghe Sect retaliates, we need Azure Light Gate to stand on our side."

True Person Qingshan remained silent.

With Old Monster Mu in charge, Fenghe Sect is quite powerful. Offending Old Monster Mu for these benefits is a considerable risk.

He stood up, walked to the Pill Furnace, and patted the scorching hot furnace wall.

"I'll take this deal."

True Person Qingshan turned around, a smile tugging at his gaunt face:

"However, I have a personal request. If you two agree, I will personally take the lead in the fight against the Fenghe Sect."

Shi Jian raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.

"Explain."

"Northern Seas, Black Wind Abyss."

True Person Qingshan uttered a few words, his expression showing a hint of apprehension:

"A level 5 Sea Ape Beast dwells there. I've started refining the ' Three-Transformation Longevity Pill,' but I'm still missing one key ingredient..."

"We need that Sea Ape Beast's third eye on its forehead."

Yun Du's expression darkened. A level 5 Sea Ape Beast, although it was only at the Early Golden Core.

But its bloodline is extraordinary!

Several hundred years ago, a level 9 Sea Ape Demon King appeared in the sea near the Profound Spirit Continent and launched a tidal wave in the northern part of the Wei Kingdom.

At that time, even with the combined efforts of the three major sects of the Wei Kingdom, and a total of five Nascent Soul True Lord attacking together, they were only able to barely repel him...

This shows that they are quite capable!

Shi Jian pondered for a moment, starting to think about it.

The Three-Transformation Longevity Pill is a longevity-extending elixir, indicating that this old man's lifespan is nearing its end and he wants to use this pill to prolong his life.

No wonder he was willing to go after Old Monster Mu for the sake of Beast Pasturing Mountain's interests.

What use is a sect if you're dead?!

Having clearly understood the pros and cons, Shi Jian felt more confident:

"Deep-sea monster hunting is too risky."

"The Sea Ape Beast possesses extraordinary combat power, comparable to that of Flood Dragon. Once entangled with it, even Golden Core Middle Stage would suffer greatly."

"Fellow Daoist, if it's just for the benefit of Beast Pasturing Mountain, you want us to risk our lives? This isn't a worthwhile trade..."

Upon hearing this, True Person Qingshan's expression remained unchanged, as if he had expected it. He then took out a jade box and pushed it in front of Shi Jian and Yun Du.

The jade box was opened, and inside lay two fruits the size of a baby's fist.

It is entirely purplish-black, with fine thunder patterns entwined on its surface.

"Tier 3, High Grade, Lightning-Attracting Fruit."

True Person Qingshan's voice was alluring. "This fruit grows atop a tree struck by lightning, blossoming once every hundred years, bearing fruit once every hundred years, and maturing once every other hundred years."

"This will greatly benefit Fellow Daoist Shi's cultivation of the Dao of Lightning. It is a rare and precious item, enough to help Fellow Daoist advance further."

"Even for Nascent Soul Cultivator, this is an invaluable treasure."

"Consider this my payment to you, fellow Daoist."

Shi Jian's gaze was fixed on the Lightning-Attracting Fruit.

This thing is indeed of great use to him. If he can refine it, it can save him decades of hard cultivation. This deal is worth making!

Yun Du glanced at Shi Jian, knowing that the bear demon was tempted.

"That's quite a move, brother," Yun Du sighed. "But the seas are treacherous..."

"I will also provide Water-Avoidance Pearl, as well as many elixirs and talismans."

"Once this matter is over, there will be a generous gift to present, which will surely satisfy Fellow Yunxiao. Please rest assured."

True Person Qingshan interrupted Yun Du and then began to speak eloquently:

"The two of you simply need to lure this demon to the surface and kill it."

"Take the eye and leave immediately, without any hesitation."

"After this is accomplished, I will not only form an alliance with the two of you to fight against the Fenghe Sect, but I will also provide all the high-grade elixirs for the White Cloud Temple for the next hundred years!"

It would be impolite to refuse after offering such terms.

Clearly, this old man was nearing the end of his lifespan and desperately needed something to prolong his life. Who would willingly choose death when given the chance to live?

Wealth and treasures can never compare to longevity.

Shi Jian opened his mouth and put the Lightning-Attracting Fruit into his stomach space.

"Make a deal."

Shi Jian stood up, his towering figure radiating an immense sense of oppression.

"In that case, once you are ready, we will depart immediately."

Seeing this, Yun Du could only nod in agreement.

Winning over a third-tier alchemy master is crucial for the future development of White Cloud Temple. Among the four arts of immortal cultivation, the third and fifth tiers are a hurdle.

The first and second ranks are teachers, the third and fourth ranks are masters, and the fifth rank is grandmaster.

Each hurdle is extremely difficult.

Under the rule of the Supreme Purity Sect, among the eighteen prefectures and three continents, and within the eighteen Golden Core factions, only three people have cultivated to the third rank of immortal arts...

Including the three masters within the Supreme Purity Sect, there are only six people in total.

This demonstrates the immense difficulty and the high status involved!

With the matter settled, the three of them each swore an oath to hunt the Sea Ape Beast, and the matter was thus finalized...