I forge eternal life with the Dao seed

Inside the thatched hut on Qingxia Peak, ever since Yun Qingxue promised to refine the Bone Tempering Pill for Zhao Heng, he had been busy investigating the required materials.

He discovered that many of the materials were extremely valuable and scarce, including one of the key ingredients: the heart of a Tier-2 Mystic Beast.

In the end, Zhao Heng decided to personally venture into the mountains to gather the necessary herbs. As for the Tier-2 Mystic Beast heart, if all else failed, he would have to purchase one at a high price.

With his plan set, Zhao Heng didn't rush into action. Instead, he remained in the hut and entered closed-door cultivation for several days.

Dusk arrived, and after the rain cleared, the air became sweet and refreshing.

The fragrance of spiritual herbs lingered around the hut, and dense mystic energy swirled in the surrounding area.

Sitting cross-legged on his wooden bed, Zhao Heng completed the final cycle of the Green Pine Technique. He felt his blood and energy surging, his vital force brimming—his state had reached its absolute peak.

At that moment, Zhao Heng took out a "Body Refinement Pill" that he had treasured for a long time.

With plans to leave the sect and venture into the wilderness, Zhao Heng decided to break through to the ninth level of the Body Refinement Realm to better prepare for any potential dangers.

As the pill dissolved in his stomach, a familiar heat spread throughout his body.

The pill's pure mystic energy merged with his blood, stirring it into a raging torrent—surging, gathering, and finally bursting forth!

As the energy reached its peak, Zhao Heng activated the perfected Green Pine Technique, guiding the turbulent blood to circulate through his body, nourishing his muscles, bones, skin, and internal organs.

At the same time, the concentrated mystic energy around the hut seemed to respond to his call, rushing toward him and flowing into his body through his acupoints.

In that moment, Zhao Heng's aura surged steadily and methodically.

The next morning—

In a small courtyard halfway up the Servants' Peak, Liu Hong opened the door to his room. His swollen, dark eye bags made it clear that he hadn't been sleeping well.

"It's been over a month, and that brat still hasn't left the sect. What should I do?" Liu Hong muttered to himself.

He was, of course, referring to Zhao Heng.

Ever since the servant assessment, where his men were completely wiped out and Zhao Heng became Yun Qingxue's personal attendant, Liu Hong had felt as though he had released a tiger back into the wild. These past days, he hadn't had a single good night's rest.

He had secretly assigned people to monitor Zhao Heng's movements at the foot of Qingxia Peak.

But over the past month, Zhao Heng had shown no intention of leaving the sect, apart from making one trip to the Scripture Pavilion.

Recently, Liu Hong discovered that Zhao Heng had been inquiring about certain medicinal materials.

This made Liu Hong even more uneasy—he suspected that Zhao Heng was preparing to break through to the Bone Refining Realm.

This realization filled him with dread. He was even prepared to use his personal connections within the sect to eliminate Zhao Heng, regardless of the risks.

To Liu Hong, it was better to take the risk than to allow his enemy to continue growing stronger and eventually turn the tables on him.

Just as Liu Hong was once again caught in indecision—

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

Someone knocked urgently on the courtyard door.

One of his subordinates rushed in, whispering a few words into Liu Hong's ear.

Liu Hong, who had been tense and sullen moments earlier, suddenly lit up with energy.

"That brat has finally left the sect!"

"This time, I'll handle it myself. I won't let him return alive."

An hour later—

On a mountain path leading to Niu Jiao Mountain in the northwest of the Yuhua Sect, a young man in gray traveling gear walked briskly.

He carried a shield on his back, with two bulging pouches strapped to his waist. A dagger was held in a reverse grip in one hand, while his other hand hovered near the hilt of the blade at his side.

This young man was none other than Zhao Heng, who had just left the Yuhua Sect to head toward Niu Jiao Mountain.

Although Niu Jiao Mountain was dangerous due to the frequent activity of mystic beasts, it was also the most abundant source of spiritual herbs near the sect.

Zhao Heng hoped to try his luck—given his current strength and means, he might even be able to kill a weaker Tier-2 Mystic Beast.

As he walked along the rugged mountain path, Zhao Heng's peripheral vision frequently darted behind him.

He mobilized his blood energy, sending two streams of warmth toward his spiritual senses, enhancing his eyes, ears, and other senses.

"Qi Observation Technique—activate!"

In an instant, Zhao Heng's six senses sharpened dramatically. He faintly sensed several concealed gazes following him from a distance.

Among them, one gaze felt particularly dangerous—and disturbingly familiar.

"Liu Hong!"

From the moment Zhao Heng had stepped out of the sect, he had vaguely sensed Liu Hong's presence.

As he moved farther away from the sect, Liu Hong's aura became increasingly clear.

"So he's finally decided to act personally."

Zhao Heng had anticipated this. His trip wasn't just about gathering herbs—it was also about "luring the snake out of its hole."

He knew that Liu Hong had been having him monitored for weeks. Both of them were waiting for the right moment to eliminate the other.

Liu Hong feared that Zhao Heng's growing strength would one day spiral out of control, while Zhao Heng worried that Liu Hong would use his connections to strike preemptively.

Both were equally desperate.

However, Zhao Heng believed that with his current strength and trump cards, he could face Liu Hong head-on.

Thus, he had made the first move. If he could kill Liu Hong outside the sect, the threat would be permanently neutralized.

That said, the mountain path they were currently on wasn't the ideal location. Zhao Heng planned to make his move at Niu Jiao Mountain.

It seemed that Liu Hong had a similar idea—they both continued forward without incident, one in the open and the other in the shadows.

After an hour of travel, two peaks resembling bull horns loomed high in the distance.

The dense forest on the mountain was shrouded in shadow, and the chilling roars and howls of beasts echoed from within, sending shivers down one's spine.

"Niu Jiao Mountain, finally."

Zhao Heng paused briefly, sensing the restless auras of those behind him.

Without hesitation, he quickened his pace, activating the Bone Transformation Steps, and rushed into the dense forest surrounding the mountain.

However, instead of taking the nearest trail up the mountain, Zhao Heng deliberately circled around to a steep and hidden path he had once discovered.

Knowing that Liu Hong was a Bone Refining Realm cultivator and had brought reinforcements, Zhao Heng had no intention of confronting them head-on.

His best strategy was to set up an ambush.

Meanwhile, at the base of Niu Jiao Mountain, Liu Hong and his elite subordinates had followed Zhao Heng's trail.

Just as they were about to make their move, Zhao Heng accelerated into the dense forest, vanishing from their sight.

"Damn it. That brat might've noticed us!" Liu Hong's eyes narrowed, and he quickly made a decision.

"Go! Don't give him time to set up an ambush."

Under Liu Hong's command, the group charged up the mountain trail.

But after advancing only a few hundred meters—

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Dozens of arrows tore through the forest, piercing through branches and leaves as they rained down on Liu Hong's group.

"Watch out!" Liu Hong roared, quickly dodging alongside his subordinates.

Despite their swift reactions, one of their men was struck in the chest by an arrow, sustaining serious injuries.

Liu Hong's first thought was that this was Zhao Heng's doing.

But upon second thought, it didn't make sense—Zhao Heng had only just entered the mountain. How could he have prepared such an ambush?

Drawing his blade, Liu Hong pointed it toward the shadows of the forest.

"Who dares ambush us? Do you know we're disciples of the Yuhua Sect?"

In response, a burst of raucous laughter echoed from the forest.

"Heh heh… Of course, we know you're from the Yuhua Sect. That's the whole reason we attacked!"

Moments later, more than a dozen fierce and oddly dressed men and women emerged from the shadows, their eyes filled with malice as they glared at Liu Hong's group.

Liu Hong's eyes narrowed. With a glance, he determined that these people were not righteous cultivators.

"So, you're demonic cultivators. Do you think you can challenge the Yuhua Sect and live to tell the tale?"

The leader, a burly man in black, sneered. "The Yuhua Sect? Your sect crippled one of our disciples and slandered our Hehua Sect. Do you think we wouldn't retaliate?"

Liu Hong's heart sank. He was torn between confusion and urgency.

He couldn't afford to waste time dealing with these demonic cultivators while Zhao Heng got further away.

"What do you want? Say your piece and let us through!"

The burly man snorted. "We'll let you through… after you help us find someone."

"Who?"

"A servant from the Yuhua Sect, from Servants' Peak—Liu Hong."

Liu Hong froze in shock. "What…? Why are you looking for me?"

The burly man's eyes widened with fury, his gaze like a blade.

"You're Liu Hong? Ha ha ha… What luck! We've been searching for you everywhere, and here you are!"

"Brothers, cut this bastard into pieces!"

"What?!…"

Liu Hong was stunned. He didn't understand why they would immediately attack him upon hearing his name.

But as the demonic cultivators charged with murderous intent, Liu Hong had no choice but to grit his teeth and lead his men into battle.

[--------------------------------------------]

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