Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

"Extremely powerful, it fought Wu Xing for about ten rounds before fleeing, and Wu Xing also sustained injuries."

Chen Qing immediately became interested, "A creation of Mechanical Techniques?"

"I haven't heard about that, take me to see it."

Chen Qing followed Zuo Chuan to the location where Wu Xing had battled the creature, and Chen Qing surveyed the surroundings—a massive amount of broken bones, a complete mess.

Deep in the dark and profound sea, there was also a narrow cave.

Chen Qing immediately expanded his perception, starting to feel the world around him. Now that he had contracted with the Six Dao Ghosts, his range had expanded somewhat, but due to the Death Sea blocking perceptions, it was still limited.

Chen Qing carefully sensed for a moment, then suddenly opened his eyes, "There indeed is a living creature!"

"Apart from the Undying Dragon Cavalry, there really are creatures that can move in the Death Sea!"

"How is this possible?"

"Is it due to Mechanical Techniques?"

"Or is this not purely a living being, but a hybrid of a living creature and a creation of Mechanical Techniques?"

Chen Qing immediately said, "Follow me!"

Chen Qing stepped forward, arriving in front of the cave where the creature resided. Soon, the creature inside swam out and yelled at Chen Qing and the others, "Leave this place!"

"This is a forbidden area!"

Chen Qing observed this strange creature. Although it had a flesh-and-blood body, inside it were numerous mysterious wooden gears turning.

It somewhat resembled a dog with a clock embedded inside it.

Chen Qing waved his hand and threw a punch, moving behind the mechanical hound and striking with another punch.

The punch broke many gears, Chen Qing paused, quietly observing the mechanical hound's movements.

The mechanical hound ran around, swimming in the deep, dark cave, and Chen Qing followed.

After swimming for about thirty miles, suddenly the path ahead brightened.

In a huge cave, numerous intertwined wooden coffins hung suspended in the water.

Many of the coffins were already open, and at the bottom of the cave lay thirteen bodies.

These bodies were not composed of flesh and bone, but of wood, quite peculiar.

Chen Qing picked up a piece of wood, which instantly crumbled into powder and dispersed in his hands.

"It seems too much time has passed; they have all decayed."

A purely wooden coffin opened, and a hand wrapped in tree bark stretched out.

Chen Qing looked closely, it wasn't so much wrapped in tree bark, but rather its skin was tree bark.

The figure was about three meters tall, with two yellowed leaves at his eyebrows.

Moss covered his body as he climbed out of the coffin and looked sideways at Chen Qing, asking leisurely, "What year is it tonight?"

Chen Qing said, "The fourth era of the Ancient Immortal Era."

The wooden man said, "The third era has ended?"

"Who won?"

Chen Qing said, "Jiguang Sect has split, now only a less powerful doctrinal branch remains."

The wooden man laughed, "Then what about my Holy Spirit Sect?"

Chen Qing said, "Completely eradicated, no trace left, as if it never existed in this world."

The wooden man fell silent, pondering.

Chen Qing stepped closer, wanting to observe him more attentively.

The other did not panic, merely sinking into contemplation.

The wooden man muttered to himself, "Even if worshipped by ten thousand gods, one can still be submerged in the river of history, huh?"

"Strength ultimately leads to destruction."

Chen Qing exclaimed, "Worship of Ten Thousand Gods, are you talking about the Holy Spirit Sect?"

The wooden man said, "Don't be too surprised, it doesn't mean there really were ten thousand gods; those were the Mountain God and River God enfeoffed by our teachings."

"They're not real gods."

Chen Qing, intrigued by such a peaceable disciple of the Holy Spirit Sect, took this opportunity to engage in conversation.

Chen Qing asked, "Who are you, or rather, what kind of being are you?"

The wooden man said, "If you're asking for my name, you can call me Jia Mu."

"I'm not too clear about my own state either, according to the doctrines of the Holy Spirit Sect, I shouldn't have self-awareness, after all, I am just a wooden puppet."

"My task is to clean this place, to clear out all the debris."

"Just like you, you carry the nasty aura of the Jiguang Sect on you."

Chen Qing said, "Perhaps too much time has passed."

In the midst of the conversation, Chen Qing suddenly noticed demon energy forming on Jia Mu's body, "Demonization?"

Chen Qing turned his head and looked at the wooden puppet corpses on the ground. Over the lengthy years and within this special locale, they had demonized and developed Spiritual Wisdom, transforming into living beings.

Later, they were corroded by the Death Sea, struggled but were unable to leave, unable to resist the overwhelming pressure of the Death Sea, and perished here.

Chen Qing quickly said, "Bring the Soul Gathering Coffin that blocks out the Death Sea immediately!"

Zuo Chuan and the others hurried forward, Chen Qing said, "Jia Mu, you are currently demonizing, becoming a member of the Demon Clan, becoming a true living being. The corrosive power of the Death Sea will soon reach you, quickly get inside, I'll take you away from here."

Jia Mu was stunned for a moment, not in a hurry, "I have yet to understand the meaning of living; I am not clear about what being alive entails."

"But you are right, I need time to think it over."

Jia Mu entered the Soul Gathering Coffin, and Chen Qing said, "Block off this place, and salvage all other coffins here."

With Jia Mu's Soul Gathering Coffin, Chen Qing left the Death Sea. Yu Qingshuang was somewhat curious, "Goods delivered?"

Chen Qing said, "Dug up one that can speak, but it seems it doesn't know much."

"Fortunately, it's also an extremely important clue."

"A year's effort has not been wasted."

Chen Qing opened the coffin, and Jia Mu slowly climbed out, feeling no trace of having traversed between life and death.

"I do not like it here."

"This doesn't seem like the place I was born."

Chen Qing asked, "What is the place of your birth like?"

Jia Mu reached out and described, "In the morning, one could see Spiritual Energy gathering into mist, drifting through the mountains and wilderness."

"In the sky, Spiritual Energy gathers into clouds, and when they meet intense cold Spiritual Energy, a Spiritual Rain would fall."

"All Things Grow, full of vitality."

"Oh, right, this is the Death Realm, not the mortal realm."

"Is the mortal realm like this?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "No."

Jia Mu appeared somewhat disappointed.

Chen Qing said, "But we can recreate the mortal realm to be like that."

"I am a king, I have sufficient manpower to recreate the land in the image of the Holy Spirit Sect."

Jia Mu excitedly said, "A king like the Spirit King?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "The Spirit King might be a bit too strong, I am not like him."

"However, we can recreate that sort of paradise on a smaller scale."

Jia Mu shook his head, "You cannot do it, you do not have the Sealing God Decree. In the lands above, each mountain, each river must have their own life, each with its own Mountain God, river god."

"Even on a small scale, you would need to become the king of the Holy Spirit Sect first."

"Indeed, under this sea, there is a palace. That was our main base when we confronted the Jiguang Sect."

"But, you can't enter it."

Chen Qing said, "In the Death Realm, there is nowhere I cannot enter."

Jia Mu shook his head, "That palace still has Mana circulating within it, guarded by the Ten Thousand Gods Formation outside."

"The Ghost Face Realm cannot open the Ten Thousand Gods Formation."

Chen Qing said, "After countless ages, it is still in operation, and it's maintained by Mana, not Spiritual Energy?"

Jia Mu said, "Yes, it's Mana, not Spiritual Energy."

Chen Qing curiously asked, "How is this possible?"

Jia Mu said, "Because what maintains the formation is the Spiritual Treasure Tree!"

"That is the branch of the Spirit King Tree that contains the most transformations, and also the origin of Mechanical Techniques."

Chen Qing, after hearing this, revealed a slight smile, "In that case, there is still hope."

"Then, let's break through to the Mystic Gate Realm first."

Jia Mu said, "But once you break through to the Mystic Gate Realm, you will leave the Death Realm."

"This is unsolvable, we had already considered the consequences of defeat, thus the Spiritual Treasure Tree was completely sealed within the formation, to prevent it from falling into the hands of the Jiguang Sect after defeat."

Chen Qing said, "I have my own methods to return."

"All right, you just started to develop consciousness, and count as part of the Demon Clan. Enjoy this rare freedom first."

Having not cultivated in a long while, it's time to make arrangements and first break through to the Mystic Gate Realm.

This time returning to the mortal realm, I should appear at the Haoran Temple.

It's also time to see my teacher and meet the Mountain Master.