Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

Chen Qing said, "Wang Yuan, this matter has already ended. Return to the Buddhist sect and bring all the disciples here."

Chen Qing's next step was to unify the Death Realm, needing almost all its creatures to pay homage. Only when all cultivators bearing the Royal Decree submitted would the Death Realm be unified, earning the recognition of the Six Dao Ghosts.

Chen Qing glanced sideways at Xuan Mang and said, "Xuan Mang, take a thousand troops to guard Master Wang Yuan."

Hearing the title "Master Wang Yuan," Wang Yuan immediately felt a sense of desolation, signifying Chen Qing's distance from him.

"Lord Wen, why go to such lengths?"

Chen Qing replied with a smile, "Could it be, Master Wang Yuan, that you wish to stay within my palace forever?"

"If so, I would be overjoyed indeed."

Wang Yuan fell silent. "After this matter concludes, I must return to the West Desert to confess my sins before the Buddha, perform good deeds, and cleanse myself of sin."

Once Wang Yuan departed, Xuan Mang approached Chen Qing and asked, "Lord Wen, if among the Buddhist disciples, there are those who disrespect the command, what should be done?"

Chen Qing responded, "Handle it as you see fit."

"I am sending you because you are now the strongest being below the King-level, providing them with deterrence."

Xuan Mang inquired, "If they do not respect the command, is it possible to execute half of them?"

Chen Qing remained silent, not responding, and Xuan Mang immediately understood. Silence meant consent; taking action against the Buddhist sect was not a trivial matter.

"This subordinate understands. I will depart immediately!"

Chen Qing once again led his army on the march, heading towards Naihe Bridge.

After only two days of travel, news arrived. Qing Ran reported, "Lord Wen, it seems Ying Shenji is preparing for a Dragon King ceremony!"

Chen Qing let out a sardonic laugh, "A mere insect dares to claim kingship?"

Although Da Feng merely self-proclaimed as the Dragon King, a Dragon King ceremony meant the dragon clan also acknowledged Ying Shenji's status.

It seemed they had pushed the dragon clan into a corner.

Chen Qing wasn't particularly concerned about this, simply asking, "What is Li Chonghuan up to now?"

Qing Ran reported, "Recently, Li Chonghuan has been gathering Immortal Court disciples, seemingly harboring thoughts of withdrawal."

Chen Qing said, "He was drawn in by Ji Dang's scheme, and now that Ji Dang is dead, Li Chonghuan, with his esteemed status as the future leader of the Immortal Court, should also leave."

"Send a letter to Li Chonghuan. Out of respect for him, I give him one month to gather the Immortal Court disciples. After one month, I will show no mercy and will execute them all!"

"This is the last bit of dignity I am giving him."

After finishing, Chen Qing continued, "Also, send a message to Ting Yun."

"Say that I lack a sufficiently influential spokesperson among the dragon clan."

"If he is willing, let him foster the sole daughter of Ao Huanxiu, the Three-eyed Thunder Dragon, in the human realm."

"By the way, send a message to the dragon clan that if anything happens to Ao Huanxiu's daughter or if she dies, there will be no one from the dragon clan reaching Mystic Gate Realm for a thousand years!"

"Let Qilin Temple deliver this message."

"Tell Qilin Temple to think of a reason to take Ao Huanxiu's daughter away."

Qing Ran bowed and said, "As you command, subordinate."

Chen Qing beckoned, "Su Yi, any news from Da Yan?"

Su Yi bowed and reported, "According to messages from the human realm, it appears that Da Yan is preparing to send Princess Ruyi to take over command of the remaining Da Yan troops."

"In the Death Realm, Cao Guanxiu no longer obeys the command and has gone to welcome Princess Ruyi."

"Lord Wen, since the commencement of the war, Cao Guanxiu has never been particularly diligent in the fight and has had few encounters with us, thus bearing no personal grievances."

Chen Qing pondered briefly, "No need to rush this matter, wait for Princess Ruyi to arrive, then we will discuss it."

"We shall rest for a day; there's no hurry. The later we go, the more Da Yan soldiers under Ying Shenji's command will defect."

"Proceed slowly!"

Chen Qing, with six thousand troops, advanced en masse, leaving not a single piece of armor wherever he went.

After a massive number of Da Yan soldiers at the peak of the Ghost Face Realm broke through to the Mystic Gate Realm and left the Death Realm, the remaining Da Yan soldiers had no power left to resist Chen Qing.

The only force still capable of resisting was the hardly suppressed soldiers near Dragon City under Ying Shenji's command.

But their numbers should also be dwindling, with at most only four to five thousand left.

Before the current Dragon Cavalry, this military strength was completely insignificant.

As Chen Qing continued to lead his army in a sweeping advance towards Naihe Bridge, the number of Da Yan soldiers under Ying Shenji who defected kept increasing aside from Dragon City.

Even those who did not leave the Death Realm on their own were gravitating towards Cao Guanxiu, preparing to welcome Ji Ru.

Most of these cultivators are from the Royalist Faction, not the Ji Dang faction.

Chen Qing turned a blind eye to this and let them escape anyway.

Even if he really controlled the Death Realm, it wouldn't be possible to completely seal off the ascendancy from Ghost Face Realm to Mystic Gate Realm under Da Yan's jurisdiction.

Such drastic measures could provoke strong backlash.

Chen Qing had no interest in enduring the retaliation from Da Yan after returning to the human world. If he truly attracted the attention of a True Monarch, his situation would be far less comfortable than it is now.

According to Chen Qing's estimate, the Jiguang Sect should be seeking an audience with him soon.

This would guide his actions in the Death Realm.

Nanli needed a large number of slots for ascension from Ghost Face Realm to Mystic Gate Realm, and the Jiguang Sect aimed to reinstate itself as an orthodox faction.

Sword Travel Palace needed to grow itself and rebuild its cultivation environment.

These goals didn't conflict much with Chen Qing's interests, but would actually elevate his status and authority among the three major powers.

As for whom he should favor between Nanli and the Jiguang Sect, that was not for Chen Qing to consider.

Being a member of the Sword Travel Palace, the grand Taichu should not be concerned with such matters.

Do as you please.

If you want me to join Nanli, I'll join Nanli. If you want me to pledge allegiance to the Jiguang Sect, I'll pledge my allegiance.

After another three days of travel, during a rest interval, Ma Yuan asked to see Chen Qing.

Chen Qing greeted him, "What is the meaning of this from the sect?"

Ma Yuan said, "My Lord, this is not something that a small figure like me would know."

"The sect requests your attendance at the council tonight."

"It's about the Golden Ghost Mask that Lord Si Zhao gave to you."

Chen Qing nodded, "Hmm, I see."

Deep into the night, Chen Qing arrived at the campsite wearing the Golden Ghost Mask, prepared to observe the evening's gathering.

This was his first true encounter with the high-ranking officials of the Jiguang Sect.

It was also his formal entry into the higher echelons of the Jiguang Sect.

This encounter would likely determine his standing within the Jiguang Sect.

The situation in the Death Realm was largely settled; all that was missing was the final stroke.

This much was evident from the defection en masse of practitioners from Da Yan upon Chen Qing's return.

When he reappeared on the Cloud Platform, it wasn't just him and Lord Si Zhao this time.

Lord Si Zhao gave a slight nod to Chen Qing, and then said, "Good, we're just waiting for the Western, Northern, and Eastern Chief to arrive."

Sitting next to Lord Si Zhao was a woman in red, who seemed quite delighted at the sight of Chen Qing.

"You've finally accomplished what my husband did all those years ago."

Chen Qing recognized her as Chi Yuxian, the queen of South Sea, and bowed respectfully, "I must thank my sister for your assistance."

Before long, three more people appeared in the remaining seats.

Lord Si Zhao introduced, "This is our Western Chief of the Jiguang Sect, overseeing the Jiguang Sect in the West."

Chen Qing looked towards him, and the person resembled a Buddha, smiling slightly at Chen Qing, "So you must be Taiyi?"

Chen Qing gave a gesture of respect.

The Western Chief said, "From now on, the ascension of cultivators in the Death Realm to the Mystic Gate Realm will be depending on you."

Chen Qing replied with a smile, "Of course, we are all on the same side."

Lord Si Zhao continued, "This one here is the Northern Chief."

Chen Qing looked at the individual, feeling a sense of familiarity but unable to pinpoint it.

This person was dressed in a wolf-skin outfit, exposing a broad chest, looking like he came from a barbaric land.

The Northern Chief said, "Don't worry about the matter of the Snow Wolf Lord, it was our arrangement, his death was already destined."

It was only then that Chen Qing realized that at that critical juncture, the Jiguang Sect had secretly incited the wolf clan to get involved, thereby easing his pressure.

At this time, the Eastern Chief said solemnly, "Let's put aside reminiscing for later. We should seriously discuss the gains our Jiguang Sect should acquire from this battle."

Chen Qing looked towards the Eastern Chief, only to find it was a woman, her voice exceptionally gentle and her figure alluring, naturally generating a sense of fondness.