Chapter 256: Chapter 156: Immortal-Seeking Squad

After delivering his message, Master Tongshan saw that Li Jizhou remained unresponsive and could not help but frown slightly.

However, this only further confirmed his suspicions that Master Huangshi must have come from beyond.

In the swamp, there is no control of public opinion by those major forces.

This was one of the reasons he was so eager to invite Master Huangshi to join the team.

“Master Huang, I just want to tell you that since the Wuji Immortal Palace last appeared, it has been ten thousand years. Recently, news from the Astrology Palace said it would reappear within a hundred years!”

The entire Spirit Vein of the Celestial Profound Continent is hidden underground, covered by the surface. Only the surface of the Ten Thousand Poison Swamp was blasted open by that counterfeit Spirit Vein Ancestral Source, leading to the possibility of emergence of existences within the Spirit Vein.

In the past tens of thousands of years, the Wuji Immortal Palace has appeared in the swamp several times, the last time being ten thousand years ago.

“In the Wuji Immortal Palace, there are not only the legendary Immortal Artifacts of great treasure, which are beyond our reach, but apart from these, the Venerable of the Infinite’s greatest regret back then was lifespan. Therefore, he collected the most Longevity Fruits and various divine medicines.” Master Tongshan stopped beating around the bush and hit directly on Li Jizhou’s sore spot.

Over three years, Master Tongshan gathered some information on Master Huangshi through various channels, determining he was from outside, and even learned some key information from the Liu family, confirming his strength was not weak, and most importantly, he had requests.

Moreover, this request seemed rather strong.

Thus, Master Tongshan deduced that Master Huangshi’s lifespan might not be as abundant as sensed.

It was precisely with these three points that he was determined to invite Master Huangshi.

Li Jizhou smiled lightly, “Friend Tongshan, I am aware of your intentions. Allow me to consider it further.”

Li Jizhou had long been familiar with Master Tongshan’s actions.

Due to the tradition of treasure-hunting in the swamp, teams searching for immortals abound, and a small team like Master Tongshan’s, just starting out, eagerly recruiting capable members is very normal.

In the past three years, it wasn’t the only team trying to recruit him.

“Master Huang, joining us, no need to worry about anything else, we all make the Heart Demon oath upon joining, ensuring there won’t be any internal strife and everything obtained will be distributed according to contribution.”

“Oh, by the way, Master He from the opposing team has also had a change of heart and recently rejoined our Immortal Seeking Team.”

Master Tongshan once again beat his chest in assurance.

“Master Huang understands, when I’ve weighed everything, if I decide to seek the immortal fate, I will surely choose you, Hongtian.” Li Jizhou finally conceded.

The Hongtian squad was the name of this Immortal Seeking Team of Master Tongshan’s, signifying great fortune, very straightforward.

Its greatest advantage was the Tier Three Spirit Rat for treasure hunting.

However, its disadvantages were also very obvious, with a much higher mortality rate compared to ordinary teams of the same level seeking immortals.

Three years ago, the team had seventeen members, but now, including the return of Master He, only thirteen remain.

In these three years, five Core Formation Stage masters had died!

This is the primary reason Hongtian finds it difficult to recruit long-term resident cultivators in the area.

As for why the mortality rate was so high, malicious competitors often explained it as internal betrayal or an unjust captain.

But this kind of rumor couldn’t hold up.

So some cultivators tended to believe the Hongtian squad had suffered calamity or offended the Witch God Sect and was cursed by them.

“Friend Huang, our Hongtian awaits your good news!” Master Tongshan was overjoyed.

Sending Master Tongshan off, Li Jizhou’s eyes gradually brightened.

In an ancient text he had accidentally read earlier, it was mentioned that the Venerable of the Infinite once went through a period of fanatic collection of Longevity Fruits from the world.

But ultimately, due to resistance, neither consumption of Lifespan Extension Pills nor direct swallowing of Longevity Fruits had much effect, leading to a terrifying batch of Longevity Fruits being sealed away.

No matter the version, the Venerable of the Infinite likely sealed that batch of Longevity Fruits in the Wuji Immortal Palace.

“To appear within a hundred years?” Li Jizhou couldn’t suppress his excitement within his heart.

Even if it required sacrificing a Puppet, he was determined to take a chance.

If Li Jizhou obtained the Venerable of the Infinite’s batch of Longevity Fruits, the outcome… is hard to estimate!

Just as Li Jizhou was lost in thought over the Venerable of the Infinite’s batch of Longevity Fruits, his Divine Soul suddenly stirred.

“The Ghost Shadow Puppet is under attack!”

Divine Sense fully opened, he exerted all his efforts to control the Ghost Shadow.

At this moment, the Ghost Shadow Puppet was over eight thousand miles away from Guzhu City, and his ability to control it via Divine Sense was less than fifty percent.

Moreover, being controlled remotely, its speed and aura weren’t very stable.

As it passed over a forest of dead trees, it was unexpectedly spotted by three people below.

“It’s indeed a puppet!”

“Aura is chaotic, deep Divine Might, must be remotely controlled, take it down!”

A Middle Stage of Core Formation and two Early Stage of Core Formation cultivators watching the puppet fly overhead immediately had thoughts.

Especially upon sensing its unstable aura.

The most useful tool in the swamp wasn’t Magical Artifacts but puppets.

They are perfect aides in treasure-hunting and avoiding dangers, an unmatched choice, even more useful than Spirit Beasts.

After all, ordinary Spirit Beasts are prone to being corroded while under poison mist for long periods.

Whereas puppets don’t have this concern.

However, puppets aren’t cheap and not everyone has them.

So, in the swamp, ordinary cultivators wouldn’t let their puppet stray too far, or it might easily become someone else’s.

“Get down here!”

The Middle Stage of Core Formation cultivator snorted coldly, and a water dragon soared into the sky.

“From now on, it’ll belong to us brothers!” Another Early Stage of Core Formation cultivator urgently threw out a long whip.

The long whip grew with the wind, instantly turning into a ten-zhang Binding Dragon Rope, tightly winding around the Ghost Shadow Puppet.

Li Jizhou frowned, watching as the water dragon with Ghost Shadow’s formidable might came rushing, he was at a loss.

“Bang!” The water dragon was extraordinarily agile, and in the next moment, directly hit the Ghost Shadow Puppet.

The accompanying Binding Dragon Rope showed no hesitation in tightly securing the puppet.

“Haha, this puppet must be at least Tier Three!” Seeing the puppet easily captured, the three were very satisfied.

Out seeking opportunities today, failing to find treasures beneath the swamp, yet capturing a puppet.

Quite a profit.

“Huh… this… Tier Three Advanced Puppet.”

“How can this be? What… what should we do?”

“How could it be a Tier Three Advanced Puppet? And its materials are likely beyond Tier Three…”

However, when the Ghost Shadow Puppet landed captive, the three stepped forward to see, and instantly paled.

They had only sensed the puppet’s weak aura and instability, assuming it was at most Tier Three Junior Level and its owner far away.

Never did they expect its level to be so high.

With their strength, against someone possessing such a puppet, the odds were grim.

“Big brother, what should we do?”

“Humph, what else? Once we’ve acted, there’s no turning back with a drawn bow! Especially since it’s so far, difficult to control with Divine Soul, I might just refine its Divine Soul Mark!” The leader gritted his teeth.

—

“Patriarch, shouldn’t that Li Jizhou guy not have run this far? We’re all the way to the northern swamp now.”

Amid the poison mist, two figures flew towards Guzhu City.

“We’ve lingered long enough in several Holy Cities in the southeast, left enough information, we can only try our luck here.”

“But when the Sect Leader led the congregation away from Guzhu City back then, he said he’d never let them step foot here again.”

“In urgent circumstances, one must adapt, can’t bother with such things now.”

The two were, of course, Yu Ziyu and Zhou Cang.

They had entered the swamp searching for Li Jizhou for three years, staying for some time in each Holy City in the southeast of the swamp and left sufficient signals.

Three years passed with no news at all.

Helpless, they had to head north to Guzhu City, where the Wuxiang Sect once resided for a time.

“Hmm? What are those three doing? Capturing a puppet?” Suddenly, Zhou Cang watched the actions of the three nearby, becoming cautious.

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