"This..."

Sweat faintly appeared on Sha Luosheng's forehead. Although he knew that He Ling True Master had already sealed this space, he still instinctively glanced around nervously before speaking softly:

"Uncle Li said that within the Red Dragon Immortal Palace, there is the ultimate treasure of the Red Dragon Daoist, the Flame Dragon Jade Seal. This item would greatly benefit his understanding of the Pure Yang Dao, aiding in proving his Yin Spirit Dao Fruit. Therefore, he intends to enter the Red Dragon Immortal Palace to retrieve it this time."

"What a toad yawning, such big words!"

He Ling True Master sneered coldly upon hearing this:

"The Flame Dragon Jade Seal is such a treasure that over the millennia, many senior experts have entered the Red Dragon Immortal Palace to search for it, only to return empty-handed. Among them were Yin Spirits and even mighty Yang Spirits. What virtue or capability does Li Changsheng possess that those senior experts lack, allowing him to succeed where they have failed?"

Sha Luosheng smiled awkwardly, not daring to comment further.

On Medicine King Mountain, apart from the two Supreme Elders who are high above, the remaining Sect Leader and even the nine Elders serve as the mainstay within the mountain gate.

Moreover, any cultivator who has forged a Golden Core, especially those with an Upper Grade Pill Formation, holds a status equivalent to an Elder.

As for True Disciples, their status is equivalent to half an Elder.

Li Changsheng has achieved an Upper Grade Pill Formation, and is considered a First Grade among them, being a Primordial Spirit Seed with hopes of proving the Dao to become a Primordial Spirit True Immortal. His future is vast, and his status is vaguely higher than that of an Elder like He Ling True Master.

Though He Ling True Master can speak and evaluate Li Changsheng, as an Inner Sect Disciple, Sha Luosheng naturally couldn't speak much.

Although Li Changsheng was of the same generation as him and even younger, his formation of a First-grade Golden Core granted him a status far beyond comparability.

"So, Li Changsheng is here too..."

Gu Yuan glanced at the distant pavilion, secretly surprised.

He was naturally not unfamiliar with the name 'Li Changsheng.' Recently, he'd heard it so often that his ears were nearly growing calluses.

This person is the Qilin son of the prestigious Li Family in Qinzhou, possessing a Pure Yang Dao Body. His birth was accompanied by auspicious phenomena, resulting in him being directly accepted as a disciple by the Supreme Elder of Medicine King Mountain. Now, he's even formed a First-grade Pill.

Moreover, he is the leader pushed forward by the family faction, suppressing the sect disciples to the point they could hardly breathe.

And it seems his own master was quite displeased with Li Changsheng, indicating some discord between the two.

"Since he has this idea, I naturally won't stop him. I want to see if he can indeed achieve his wish!"

Seeing Sha Luosheng not daring to speak, He Ling True Master snorted with dissatisfaction and waved him off.

"Alright, you may leave now."

"Yes, Uncle Master."

Sha Luosheng bowed again, then nodded to Gu Yuan,

"Junior Brother Gu, farewell..."

"Take care, Senior Brother Sha."

Gu Yuan quickly replied.

Sha Luosheng said no more and turned to leave.

Gu Yuan watched him depart and then turned his gaze back to He Ling True Master, "Master, can I trust this Senior Brother Sha?"

Understanding his meaning, He Ling True Master simply said, "This Senior Brother Sha of yours is a disciple of a junior brother of mine. Though he's with the sect faction and fairly close, precisely because of this, you need to keep an extra eye on him."

"I understand, Master."

Gu Yuan nodded, comprehending.

His potential enemies were not only the family faction but also those within the sect could not be trusted.

The reason is simple... interest. When it comes to these two words, even blood-related parents or siblings might turn against each other, let alone fellow sect members?

He Ling True Master continued:

"On Medicine King Mountain, not to mention Sha Luosheng, you shouldn't trust anyone, not even your master. A cultivator's life is only in their own hands! After all, in this world, there are countless means. This face, this identity of mine could be impersonated, and even I could be sacrificed into a Lifebound Demon. You can only trust yourself."

Seeing that Gu Yuan had taken his words to heart, He Ling True Master said no more, swept his sleeve, and said, "Alright, follow me."

With that, He Ling True Master took the lead and walked forward.

Gu Yuan did not inquire what for and followed obediently behind He Ling True Master.

Before long, the two arrived at a small courtyard in the mountains.

This courtyard was constructed of bamboo and wood before a bamboo grove on a small hill, with a cool breeze and an elegant view.

In the courtyard, a gaunt old man with skin like black iron and graying hair sat cross-legged, eyes closed in meditation, utterly still.

Gu Yuan was surprised as he glanced at the gaunt old man because he could not detect the slightest life force from him.

Any living person, even a cultivator, would have life force.

Only a dead body would have no life force at all.

Yet this gaunt old man before him, with his chest slightly heaving, was clearly alive.

Gu Yuan decided to dismiss his distracting thoughts and simply used his Sword Heart Talent to sense, and then he "saw" a great tree.

This tree reached the heavens, with a trunk like a pillar supporting the sky. Its branches spread across a hundred miles, resembling a dragon with claws extended, covered in black, hardened, and mottled bark filled with traces of weathering and time, exuding an ancient and poignant aura.

Anyone seeing this tree would marvel at its sight.

Yet, the flaw was that this tree was withered. The branches were bare, solitary, with varying thickness, devoid of any leaves.

It gave Gu Yuan a sense of desolation and lifelessness, as if it had been withered for countless years.

In the next moment, Gu Yuan's vision blurred, and the towering tree vanished.

What appeared before Gu Yuan was still the same gaunt old figure.

He could clearly see that this old man was undoubtedly a strong person with vast cultivation.

"He Ling pays respects to Martial Uncle Withered Wood!"

He Ling True Master came before the gaunt old man and respectfully bowed.

"Disciple Gu Yuan, pays respects to Ancestor Master!"

Gu Yuan hurriedly followed suit and bowed.

Being called Martial Uncle by He Ling True Master, the gaunt old man before him was most likely a Yin God Giant.

The gaunt old man slowly opened his eyes, which were dim, with even a hint of deepness and cloudiness, much like a worldly elderly man of advanced age, displaying not the slightest majesty.

However, Gu Yuan felt that within this old man's eyes lay a peculiar aura, as if containing a faint trace of life in the stillness.

"Ah, little He..."

True Monarch Withered Wood slightly moved his eyes and spoke slowly, "Weren't you supposed to be down the mountain? Why have you returned so quickly?"

His voice was hoarse and deep, like two pieces of wood rubbing against each other.

Noticing Gu Yuan's strange look beside him, He Ling True Master was unusually slightly embarrassed, "Martial Uncle, we're now on the hanging Dragon Boat. Have you perhaps forgotten you also came down the mountain?"

"Indeed."

A hint of clarity appeared in the cloudy eyes of True Monarch Withered Wood, followed by a sigh, "Oh, one becomes increasingly useless with age, even forgetting some things."

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