Ye Chen immediately cupped his fists and communicated through Divine Sense, "Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist. The relocation of Deadman Peak to the Outer Sea is not an overnight task and will certainly bring you a lot of trouble. I, too, do not have much time left. Regardless of my decision, it is not the best option.

Therefore, I earnestly ask you to take my three disciples away and send them to Wind and Cloud Immortal City. You need not take care of them; they will conceal their identities and start anew. How far they can go in the future will rely entirely on their luck!"

"I have a Tier Two Lower Grade Longevity Pill. Its quality is not top-notch, but it can extend life by twenty to thirty years."

Upon hearing this, Ye Chen still shook his head, "Thank you for your kindness, Fellow Daoist. I have spent my whole life here on Deadman Peak, and this is my home. As my home is about to perish, I dare not live alone. However, as long as the younger generation survives and holds the hope of reviving Deadman Peak, I would be satisfied even in death."

"After Foundation Establishment, enduring for another ten to twenty years, you can re-establish a new Deadman Peak once the war is over," Wen Jiu insisted through communication, showing respect for personal wishes but unwilling to leave Ye Chen here to die, "As for the troubles Deadman Peak might face joining the Three Life Gates, you need not be concerned. Once it joins, I shall handle everything."

"I wonder what kind of great favor someone provided you, prompting you to assist Deadman Peak so relentlessly," Ye Chen sighed through Divine Sense, without further responding to Wen Jiu.

Wen Jiu wanted to persist further, but Ye Chen’s mind was set, refusing to give Wen Jiu a chance to persuade, "I ask you to help my three disciples. If you find Wen Jiu’s Heterodox Dao skills good, guide him; if not, leave him be. He will find his own path."

After the communication, Ye Chen gave a respectful bow to Wen Jiu.

Wen Jiu, left speechless, could only decide to temporarily abandon persuasion. Staying on Deadman Peak longer increased the chance of encountering other Foundation Establishment Cultivators. He still needed to head to Feixian Peak without delay.

Since Ye Chen did not want to burden him, nor join the Three Life Gates, another solution must be found.

"I will return tomorrow."

Wen Jiu left with this message through Divine Sense, turning his gaze back to Li Yan, speaking coldly, "Since that’s the case, be the eyes and ears for me. If you do well, I will help resolve the corpse qi in your Dao Foundation... By the way, a reminder, if you seek help, be cautious. For if that corpse qi is touched by others, I cannot control it, and it will crush your Dao Foundation instantly."

"No, definitely not!"

Li Yan replied hastily, not caring whether Wen Jiu’s words were true, and immediately made a Heart Demon Oath to show loyalty.

Such swift action left Wen Jiu somewhat surprised, yet he knew for someone like Li Yan, a Heart Demon Oath offered little restraint, so Wen Jiu added a Silencing Spell to prevent the day’s events from being disclosed.

Even if Li Yan were deceitful, Wen Jiu did not care, as long as today’s events remained a secret.

Once the war began and the Three Life Gates attacked, the Spirit-Extinguishing Corpse Qi would be controlled to kill and blame it on the Three Life Gates.

...

Soon.

Wen Jiu departed.

After Wen Jiu left, Li Yan slowly stood up, dared not look at Ye Chen, forced a bitter smile, and quickly flew away. Once inside his cave, he began to carefully examine the corpse qi within his Dantian.

Cautiously probing with his Divine Sense, he discovered that any Spiritual Qi attempting to enter the Dao Foundation was instantly devoured, causing Li Yan’s expression to change dramatically. He tried multiple times, yet no matter how much Spiritual Qi entered his body, it would be devoured instantly.

This scene profoundly shocked Li Yan, having cultivated for nearly a hundred years, he had never seen or heard of such terrifying corpse qi. Even the three major demonic qi of the Blood Demon Sect Demon Cultivators were not this bizarre or terrifying, were they?

Upon noticing something abnormal, when a Qi Cultivation Perfection disciple sought him, they were immediately blown away by a wave of his hand and punched repeatedly, "Why did you dare to enter the cave with your left foot first? I despise those who enter the cave with their left foot first!"

After a bout of punching and kicking, Li Yan’s anger subsided somewhat, but had also frightened the other Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks disciples from seeking Li Yan again.

Seeing this, Ye Chen couldn’t help but smile at the corners of his mouth. What could be more satisfying than seeing someone like Li Yan down on their luck? Alas, the misfortune of Deadman Peak seemed destined to be washed away in the upcoming torrent, or else with Han Li’s help, Deadman Peak might have been able to continue for centuries.

"If only that Wen Jiu brat could find favor in Fellow Daoist Han’s Dharma Eye," Ye Chen retracted his gaze and sighed gracefully.

...

After leaving Deadman Peak, Wen Jiu, with the Demon Corpse, headed straight for Feixian Peak.

Along the way, the side peaks were controlled by Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks disciples, while the Loose Cultivators in the Independent Practitioner Market scattered in flight. Yet, most were low-level Qi Refining Cultivators, with little chance of escaping far at night.

In this Golden Core Level influence war, their fate was sealed, and survival seemed nearly impossible. Witnessing this, Wen Jiu couldn’t help but muse, without the daily settlement panel, without practicing the Heterodox Dao, he too would be struggling in the upcoming torrent.

Upon reaching Feixian Peak, Wen Jiu used Blood Corpse Escape to return to his former Cultivation Residence, where Wang Nian seemed just to have entered, appearing dejected. Wang Sao held an infant in her arms, still in swaddling, seemingly sensing Wang Nian’s unease, crying incessantly without being soothed.

"Husband, there’s still no news from our second uncle?" Wang Sao inquired hastily, simultaneously uncovering her clothes to silence the baby’s mouth.

Yet, the baby wasn’t hungry, hence couldn’t be silenced.

Wang Nian took the child lovingly, "Xiaoying, don’t cry, Daddy is back... Look, hey, is Daddy handsome... hey, Daddy turned into a monster again..."

After a round of face-changing antics, the baby burst into giggles, bringing short-lived smiles to Wang Nian and his wife’s faces.

"The second uncle is barely keeping himself safe; Feixian Peak stands at the forefront of the war. The sect ordered Deadman Peak Cultivators not to retreat, and even Deadman Peak’s main summit is already under sect control. We truly have nowhere to retreat," Wang Nian spoke softly.

Wang Sao’s face darkened, "It’s no big deal if we die, but our child was just born, barely a month old..."

"I know, of course, but this is a sect battle, for lower-level Qi Refining practitioners like us, there’s no choice," Wang Nian sighed wearily, finding slight solace in the baby’s laughter.

It was but amusement amidst suffering.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, congratulations, congratulations," came a voice as a figure appeared silently inside the room.

Wang Nian and his wife were startled, turning to see Wen Jiu approaching slowly, nodding with a smile at the baby.

Seeing Wen Jiu, Wang Nian was overjoyed, "Elder Wen!"

Wang Sao was equally overjoyed, eagerly inviting Wen Jiu to sit while hastening to brew tea in the backyard.

"No need to be so formal, I shall leave shortly," Wen Jiu spoke, using Yin Technique to stop Wang Sao.

Wang Nian, sensing the profound Wen Jiu before him, felt momentarily dazed, wanting to speak but ultimately hesitating, a fleeting image of Wen Jiu as the young Corpse Burier flashing in his mind.

"No time for even a meal?"

Wang Nian tried asking.

Wen Jiu nodded, "No time, there are matters I must attend to. I am here to ask if you both are willing to move to the center of Divine Extinction Thousand Peaks. There lies Wind and Cloud Immortal City, guarded by Golden Core Zhenren, a Neutral Immortal City of Loose Cultivators exempt from this war’s impact. You two can move there to start a new life."

Upon hearing this.

The couple’s expressions tightened.

Mentioning a place untouched by war, Wang Sao immediately rejoiced.

"Willing, willing!"

Wang Nian too couldn’t hide his excitement, but first asked, "Elder Wen, won’t this be troublesome for you?"

Wen Jiu responded, "Not at all, merely relaying a message. There are Foundation Establishment cultivators from the main peak secretly leading the way."

Upon hearing this, Wang Nian was overjoyed and was about to kneel. He knew such an opportunity could not have possibly come to a mere low-level Qi Refining cultivator like him without Wen Jiu asking for this privilege for them.

[The second update will be before midnight.

Looking forward to your votes!]