Chapter 455: Fourth Master of the Immortal Lineage

At the Sect of Seeking Dao, upon the Peak of a Hundred Refinements.

Li Haoran remained lost in the memories of his past life, tracing the fragmented moments shared with Mu Baiyi.

As a vice-cult leader of the rising generation, Mu Baiyi had been young and full of vigor, earning the deep appreciation of Qin Haoran.

"Mu Baiyi was a pitiful child, born into a destitute family. When he finally became a cultivator and joined a sect, he thought he could earn some money. Who could have foreseen that before he could make a coin, the sect would close its doors first?"

"Later, seeing that the Ghost of the Nine Serenities Cult offered a decent monthly stipend, he chose to join them."

"I heard him say he originally wanted to join the Immortal Cult. After all, the stipend for their believers was three times that of the local officials."

"Then why didn't he join?" Qin Yanyan cut in.

"The Immortal Cult was hidden too deeply; he couldn't find their threshold. The Ghost of the Nine Serenities Cult, however, was easy to find. If you tracked down a stray ghost, there was a one-in-ten chance it belonged to them. Following the vine to the melon, he naturally found his way in."

"Of course, that was in the past. Later on, Qin Haoran realized this method carried too high a risk of being caught by the righteous factions, so he learned from the Immortal Cult. Now, even the Ghost of the Nine Serenities Cult has become quite elusive."

"Qin Haoran shared a reasonably good relationship with Mu Baiyi. Back during their time in the cult, Mu Baiyi had provided him with no small amount of assistance."

"There was once when Qin Haoran heard that banks were profitable and wished to establish one. Yet, fearing that no one would come to deposit money and make a jest of them, he had Mu Baiyi transform into men, women, the old, and the young to queue up and deposit money on the opening day."

"It was merely hiring shills, a very common commercial tactic." Thanks to the memories bequeathed by Qin Haoran, Li Haoran was now well-versed in all manners of underhanded business schemes.

"So, did the bank succeed?"

"No. The bank Qin Haoran opened lacked the official government approval. Consequently, the two of them were arrested for the crime of illegally absorbing public deposits."

"We explained that no one had actually deposited any money, that it was all an act we directed and performed ourselves."

"And the government released you?"

"No. The government ruled that this constituted both the illegal absorption of public deposits and fraud, demanding a combined punishment for multiple offenses."

Lu Yang: "..."

Qin Yanyan: "..."

"During their time in the grand prison, the two of them advanced hand in hand, devoting their hearts to studying various laws. Eventually, upon completing their sentences, they were released, returning accomplished." Li Haoran had not completely assimilated Qin Haoran's memories; otherwise, he would undoubtedly be a grand master of jurisprudence by now.

"Fortunately, Qin Haoran had prepared for a rainy day, anticipating this disaster. Before entering prison, he arranged the subsequent affairs, ensuring that the cult's deficit was never exposed."

This was sufficient proof that Qin Haoran was a man of extraordinary foresight.

Li Haoran wished to continue recounting the glorious years of the Ghost of the Nine Serenities Cult when a cold, elegant silhouette materialized behind him.

"Eldest Senior Sister."

"Greetings, Eldest Senior Sister." As a member of the Heavenly Court Cult, Qin Yanyan had once wrestled with whether to call Yun Zhi the Cult Leader or Eldest Senior Sister. After a brief psychological battle, she chose to follow the crowd.

"Eldest Senior Sister, I was just confirming with Junior Brother Li. The one wearing the white paper hat in Hanshui City is indeed the Leader of the Ghost of the Nine Serenities Cult, named Mu Baiyi."

"Mu Baiyi, Leader of the Ghost of the Nine Serenities Cult? I see. You have both done well. Junior Brother, come back with me."

Lu Yang obediently stood beside Eldest Senior Sister, following her back to the Peak of the Heavenly Gate.

"Eldest Senior Sister, did you look for me for a particular matter?"

"I am not looking for you, but for Senior Immortal."

"Looking for this Immortal?" Hearing these words, the Immortal Fairy sprang up from the bed like a leaping carp, merrily emerging from the spiritual space.

"Speak, what business do you have with this Immortal?" It was a rare occasion for the Immortal Fairy to find Yun Zhi requesting her aid, leaving her thoroughly refreshed, as if she had grown ten years younger.

She was now only six years old.

"The Emperor of Xia's lifespan has run into a problem. He has roughly ten years remaining. The Lesser Medicine King is of no use to him. Fairy, do you have any insights?"

Lu Yang was startled by this revelation. The outside world claimed that the Emperor of Xia was in his prime, executing grand strategies for a brilliant future. How could he suddenly have so few years left to live?

The Immortal Fairy's face beamed with excitement, eager to try as she said, "When shall we launch the uprising?"

She felt that the Sect of Seeking Dao possessed vast foundations and the capital to contend for the world. Once the time was ripe, the world would respond in unison, and success would be guaranteed!

Was that not exactly what Lu Yang's strategy for the Ghost of the Nine Serenities Cult had suggested?

With her and Yun Zhi as two peak combat powers, could they not become the Emperor whenever they pleased?

"...It is not an uprising. Senior Immortal, do you possess a method to extend a lifespan?"

The defining trait of the Immortal Fairy's Dao Fruit was immortality. Even in death, chanting her title and name could bring her back to life. Forget ordinary cultivators; even the Lesser Medicine King envied such an ability.

In Yun Zhi's impression, the Immortal Fairy was the most likely to resolve the Emperor of Xia's predicament.

"Give him a rudimentary form of the Immortal Dao Fruit, and let that whatever Emperor of Xia become the Fourth Master of our Immortal lineage?"

Everything followed a sequence of arrival; the latest to arrive naturally ranked last.

The Immortal lineage was powerful and prosperous. The Grand Master was the head of the five ancient immortals, the Second Master was the Golden Core Ancestor, the Third Master was a half-immortal, and the Fourth Master would be the current Emperor.

Lu Yang suddenly felt that his position as the Second Master of the Immortal lineage carried immense weight.

"The Imperial Palace's Ancestral Land will certainly not agree to that." Yun Zhi shook her head.

For no apparent reason, the Emperor of Xia would become the Fourth Master of the Immortal lineage. Yun Zhi could well imagine that if this came to pass, the person in the Ancestral Land would likely leap in fury, demanding a duel with the Immortal Fairy.

Furthermore, this would expose the Immortal Fairy's existence.

What Yun Zhi desired was a method that could be displayed openly before the eyes of the world.

"If the Lesser Medicine King is ineffective, then it must be an Immortal Fruit... This Immortal's fruit can preserve a corpse from decaying, which is only useful after death."

"The Immortal Fruits of the Qilin Immortal and the Yantian Immortal also lack the effects of eternal youth or extending lifespan."

"Right, does he have any sons? Go look for the waters of the Mother-Son River; it can at least leave him a descendant."

"He has nine sons and seven daughters."

"So capable of breeding, is he raising piglets?" the Immortal Fairy muttered. Even drinking the waters of the Mother-Son River and the Twin River couldn't compare to the Emperor of Xia's fertility.

The Qilin Immortal and the geniuses of the Dragon and Phoenix clans had labored for how many years, yet not a single young Qilin had been born.

The higher one's cultivation, the more difficult it became to leave offspring.

"Oh, right!" the Immortal Fairy cried out, recalling a clue. "There exists a spiritual root of heaven and earth in this world, a peach tree born from nature itself, outside the categories of ordinary natural treasures. The flat peaches it bears have the power to extend lifespan!"

"The five of us once ate the peaches from that tree. They were incredibly delicious and bursting with juice."

"Where is this spiritual root of heaven and earth?" It was the first time Eldest Senior Sister had heard of such a spiritual root; no ancient records made mention of it.

"I don't know. The peach tree grew legs. After we plucked its peaches, it ran away."

Eldest Senior Sister nodded. This counted as a clue, though it would be difficult to trace. She instructed Lu Yang to continue his cultivation while she went to consult the other elders.

After Eldest Senior Sister departed, Lu Yang fell into contemplation, turning his steps toward the Library Pavilion.

"What are you going to do?"

"I vaguely recall seeing a spell in the Library Pavilion related to longevity. It was pressed at the very bottom, so few people should have studied it. Perhaps it will be of use."