Shangguan Ruolin gently caressed Ruotong's head, her voice soft yet resolute, "I will cultivate to achieve the Nascent Soul and succeed our father as the sect leader of Sky Palace Sect. By then, everything will change because of me."

"You're deluding yourself. No one has ever achieved the Nascent Soul by cultivating two cultivation techniques."

Releasing Shangguan Ruotong, she gazed into her disbelieving eyes, gently wiping away her tears, "Believe in your sister. There will come a day."

But Shangguan Ruotong shook her head vehemently, "I will never believe you again! Don't think speaking like this will make me forgive you. If you don't kill me today, I will find ways to kill you in the future."

Suddenly, Shangguan Ruolin extended her hand towards Ruotong's abdomen. Drawing out Ruotong's Golden Core using their shared cultivation technique, six mysterious characters flew out from her bracelet and sealed the Golden Core.

"This seal won't hold you for long. If you want to make trouble with your sister in the future, you can. However, you can't cause chaos in the Immaculate Realm. Once the transfer array opens, you should leave. This is not a place to stay."

After saying this, she turned to Shu Han and instructed, "Dissolve the array. With my seal, she, at most, only has the power to defend herself now."

Shu Han nodded and retracted the star bead that was suppressing Shangguan Ruotong's acupoints. Avatars that had collected the storage bags dropped by the six cultivators earlier returned fully loaded. However, their defensive magic treasures and life-bound magic treasures had been destroyed by Shangguan Ruotong's powerful magic, leaving only miscellaneous supplies in the storage bags.

Then, Shangguan Ruolin gently touched Ruotong's head and left with Shu Han, leaving a distraught Ruotong at the Burial Furnace Slope, her tear-filled eyes watching their receding figures.

After walking for a while, Shu Han looked at the still expressionless Shangguan Ruolin, sensing the immense pressure hidden beneath her calm facade.

In the world of cultivation, it's not necessarily true that the higher one's cultivation level, the more comfortable one's life.

At this moment, Shu Han looked towards the peak of the Immaculate Mountain. The multicolored rosy clouds had dwindled to just a tiny cluster, showing signs of imminent dissipation. Shangguan Ruolin remarked, "It looks like the Immaculate Mountain is about to open. I wonder what the final battle for the Heavenly Creation Fluid will be like."

An idea flashed across Shu Han's mind, and he immediately turned back to the Burial Furnace Slope.

By now, Shangguan Ruotong had already left. At the base of the slope, he found Qiu Pengxing, who was leaning against a rock, barely hanging on to life. Having taken a spiritual medicine, Qiu Pengxing was self-healing. Suddenly sensing something amiss, he looked up to see Shu Han's smiling face peeking out from above the rock.

"Pff!"

Interrupted in his healing process, Qiu Pengxing spat out a mouthful of old blood, his voice trembling, "Fellow Daoist... Who are you?"

Shu Han, feigning realization, immediately morphed into the appearance of Gui Wu and gave a cheeky grin, "Recognize me now?"

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Qiu Pengxing's bloodshot eyes bulged out. Pointing shakily at Shu Han, he bellowed, "It's you! Wasn't stabbing me twice enough? You despicable..." Suddenly noting Shu Han's frosty expression and the menacing sway of the Eight-Direction Evil-Breaking Sword, he swiftly shifted gears, "... peerlessly handsome master!"

Shu Han chuckled, hopped down, and patted him on the shoulder, "You're too kind."

Qiu Pengxing quickly shrank back, pleading, "Master, please be gentle. I've already got two bloody holes in me!"

Shu Han laughed, "My apologies for that. Let me heal those wounds for you."

Reacting as if avoiding the plague, Qiu Pengxing quickly retreated, "No need for your kindness. I just want to quietly recover here in this corner. Once I'm a bit healed, I'll leave the Immaculate Realm."

"Why leave so early? From the moment we met, I felt a kinship with you. Why not spend more time together? Come, Fellow Daoist Qiu, accompany me in the quest for the Heavenly Creation Fluid. Don't worry, I have a plethora of elixirs that will ensure your wounds are healed."

Hearing this, Qiu Pengxing's legs went weak, his voice quivering, "Please no! To be honest, I can't even defeat a Qi Refining phase cultivator right now. I really don't dare to go to the mountain peak! Please, be kind and let me go!"

Shu Han's face darkened, "You have two choices: come with me or be buried here. Your call!"

This...

Qiu Pengxing sighed, "In my everyday life, I've always been kind-hearted. Why did I run into someone like you in the Immaculate Realm? Two stabbings weren't enough; you're intent on dragging me to my doom. Such is my cruel fate..."

"Ah! You misunderstand!" Shu Han draped an arm around Qiu Pengxing's shoulder, "What if we manage to obtain the Heavenly Creation Fluid? I'll share some with you."

"I just wish to stay alive!"

Shu Han promptly stuffed two storage bags from the Golden Silkworm Association into Qiu Pengxing's hands, saying, "This is a deposit for assisting me. Sincere enough?"

Qiu Pengxing swallowed hard, cursing inwardly, Damn it, this is clearly all from our Golden Silkworm Association!

Resignedly, he said, "Given the situation, I suppose I have no choice but to accompany you. I just hope you won't trick me further."

Shu Han inquired, "Looking at the rosy glow on the mountain peak, when do you think it will fade?"

Qiu Pengxing observed for a moment and said, "The glow has now concentrated on the mountain peak. In no more than three days, it will dissipate. By then, experts from various paths will converge at the peak of the Immaculate Mountain. The Heavenly Creation Fluid will emerge, and surely, a bloody battle will ensue. In my current condition, wouldn't I be courting death?"

Shu Han consoled, "I'll heal you first. Within three days, ideally, you should recover by around seventy to eighty percent. By then, you must wholeheartedly assist me."

Qiu Pengxing looked puzzled, "You're certain that after I recover, I'll assist you?"

"Of course not. After all, I did stab you twice. I'm sure you hate me deep down. But don't be hasty. Someone will place a restriction on you shortly. Also, you'll tell me all the details about the contest for the Heavenly Creation Fluid so I know what to expect."

Qiu Pengxing thought, Such a shameless person!

Subsequently, Shu Han, dragging the injured Qiu Pengxing, met with Shangguan Ruolin. On seeing Shangguan Ruolin, Qiu Pengxing was terrified, mistaking her for Shangguan Ruotong. Trembling in fear, he truthfully answered whatever she asked. Shu Han saw this but chose not to correct the misunderstanding.

Shu Han located a secluded cave and force-fed Qiu Pengxing healing medicine until his stomach was round. He then lent some of his cultivation power to Shangguan Ruolin, enabling her to place a restriction in Qiu Pengxing's Dantian. Should Qiu Pengxing defy either of their commands, the restriction would destroy his Dantian.

Feeling the restriction in his Dantian, Qiu Pengxing began to question his life choices, wondering what wrongs he'd committed in his past to end up with such a treacherous duo.

Then, Shu Han took a mid-grade spirit stone, divided it into three, and began assisting Qiu Pengxing in rapidly healing. With countless spiritual medicines and the aid of magic power, Qiu Pengxing's injuries were swiftly mended.

During the healing period, under the pressure of the restriction, Qiu Pengxing had no choice but to disclose everything he knew about the Heavenly Creation Fluid to both Shu Han and Shangguan Ruolin.

And just like that, three days flashed by, and the colorful glow atop the Immaculate Mountain finally vanished completely.