Seeking Immortality

At the top of Huashan Mountain, in the Qingxu Hall, the human masters gathered together and respected each other.

"The 'Soul-Eating Insect' was born."

After a long time, Immortal Zizhen said something that seemed like nonsense, but everyone was shocked again.

"How did he escape from the 'Absolute Spirit Formation'? He shouldn't be able to get any growth there, let alone have the ability to break through the 'Absolute Spirit Formation'..."

Mr. Liu had been keeping in touch with Xu Qingfan and was the only one among the people who had guessed the whole story. He suddenly looked at Zhang Xusheng and said coldly: "Speaking of which, Zhang Daoyou seems to have known that the 'Spirit-Eating Insect' would come back. Back then, I would rather be sealed in the 'Xuanjing Treasure House' for six hundred years than return to the vast land of China..."

These days, the elegant and feminine smile that often hangs on Zhang Xusheng's face has become rare. He is still so calm, but his temperament has changed from "while talking and laughing, ~: the oars are wiped out" to With the solemnity and seriousness of "not moving like a mountain, but moving, the ground shakes", the sense of majesty and oppression on his body actually made Mr. Liu feel bursts of discomfort. In front of Zhang Xusheng, he no longer responded as before. Feel free.

"Liu Daoyou, are you pregnant with me?"

Zhang Xusheng glanced at Mr. Liu lightly and asked softly.

"Not just me, everyone is asking you!!"

Mr. Liu looked at Zhang Xusheng quietly and replied.

Zhang Xusheng turned around and took a look. But he saw all the masters looking at him in bewilderment. There was jealousy and hostility in his eyes.

Zhang Xusheng smiled carelessly. The voice did not fluctuate at all: "Let's not talk about coincidences in the world. We don't understand the existence of the 'Spirit Devouring Insect'. What abilities it has. We have only heard about it. It is possible that it can break out. Sex. To account for ten..."

Following Zhang Xushengdi's words. Some people no longer looked at Zhang Xusheng with that kind of hostility. It seems that he accepted Zhang Xu Holy Land’s explanation. But some people were still staring at Zhang Xusheng with wariness and hostility. Zhang Xusheng's few words of explanation did not change his mind. produce the slightest wavering.

Zhang Xusheng smiled faintly. But he didn't care either. He just said suddenly: "Compared with being pregnant with me, you should think about how to deal with the upcoming crisis."

"Crisis? Do you mean the 'Soul-eating Insect'? It is certainly a huge threat. If we allow it to develop, sooner or later the whole world will be destroyed because of it. But..."

A grandmaster said worriedly.

However, Zhang Xusheng shook his head, and the disdain in his eyes was undisguised.

"I'm not talking about the 'soul-eating insect'. It is certainly terrifying and irresistible, but it moves slowly. It would take at least half a year to climb all the way from Youzhou to Youzhou. In fact, if we just run away, Within a hundred years, this 'Spirit-eating Insect' will not be able to deal with us, but a hundred years later, when the 'Spirit-Eating Insect' grows to a body as large as the 'Black Emperor Cliff' ten thousand years ago, it can move dozens of miles in one step, and its speed is faster than ours. Soon, we will no longer have the possibility of survival. But now, although the 'spirit-eating insects' are terrifying, they are still not our most urgent crisis. Our upcoming crisis is the decisive battle with the Shura tribe! "

"What's the meaning?"

Hearing Zhang Xusheng's words, everyone was slightly startled, including Immortal Zizhen and Mr. Liu. For a moment, they didn't understand why the topic suddenly shifted from "Soul-Eating Insects" to the final battle with the Shura Clan. .

"Let me ask you, is it better to eradicate the 'Soul-Eating Insect' as soon as possible before it becomes irresistible?"

"Although we haven't found a way to kill the 'Soul-Eating Insect' yet, we should do experiments and find a way before the 'Soul-Eating Insect' becomes more powerful."

"We want to kill the 'Spirit-Eating Insects', and the 'Shura Tribe' also wants to kill the 'Spirit-Eating Insects', and they all want to act as soon as possible, right?"

The masters nodded. Among them, Mr. Liu and Immortal Zizhen looked at each other, with enlightenment flashing in their eyes.

But Zhang Xusheng still asked: "However, neither we nor the Shura Clan can guarantee that we can kill the 'Spirit Devouring Insect'. Even just a few attempts may cause heavy losses, right? If the Shura Clan When you go to deal with the 'Soul-Eating Insects', you will find ways to attack in secret and take the opportunity to deal with the Shura Clan. And if we go to deal with the 'Spirit-Eating Insects', you will also worry that the Shura Clan will take the opportunity to attack us. Under mutual concern, we and The Shura clan will wait silently for the other party to take action first, until the 'Soul-Eating Insect' becomes so powerful that we cannot resist and cannot even escape, right?"

"right."

Some masters replied subconsciously.

Unknowingly, Zhang Xusheng gradually became stronger, and this meeting was unfolding at Zhang Xusheng's pace. You know, beforehand, several masters had discussed how to deal with this meeting. Zhang Xusheng, but at this moment, under Zhang Xusheng's strength, he had already forgotten his original purpose.

Under Zhang Xusheng's continuous questions, everyone turned pale and finally understood the problem.

"In this case, what would you do when you became aware of the problem?"

Zhang Xusheng finally asked.

Everyone was silent. Finally, Immortal Zizhen replied: "The short-term pain is worse than the long-term pain. Let's have a final duel with the Shura clan in advance."

Zhang Xusheng nodded and said: "With the Shura clan's fierce and war-loving temperament, they will do this even more. In fact, at this time, they should have already started to prepare."

"Then what should we do?"

A grandmaster couldn't help but ask.

"First, send experts to monitor the movements of the Shura Tribe and the 'Spirit Devouring Insects' and report at any time. Second, launch a general offensive mobilization across all mankind and be ready for a decisive battle with the Shura Tribe! Third, contact the people from the Seven Islands of Xia Ling The birth of the 'Spirit-eating Insect' this time is a question of whether the whole world will be destroyed or not. It is useless for them to hide outside the East China Sea. "

Zhang Xusheng said calmly, then suddenly turned to Mr. Liu and asked: "Xu Qingfan, in fact, he is not dead yet, right?"

Hearing Zhang Xusheng's question, Mr. Liu hesitated slightly, but finally nodded.

As Mr. Liu nodded, all the masters were in an uproar. Did they watch Xu Qingfan die after performing "disintegration"?

Knowing that Xu Qingfan was not dead, Zizhen Immortal suddenly showed a look of regret on his face. If he had known this, he should have allowed the Xia Ling Seven Islands to take away a large number of monks from the Human Alliance. You know, a Xia Ling Seven Islands without a leader , it doesn’t matter how many monks join, after all, the Seven Xia Ling Islands are still a way out for mankind, but the Seven Xia Ling Islands are still led by Xu Qingfan, so that’s different.

If Xu Qingfan was a righteous monk, it would be okay. However, Xu Qingfan's style of doing things over the years looks like the next Zhang Xusheng.

Immortal Zizhen couldn't help but frown.

Zhang Xusheng, on the other hand, didn't look surprised and just asked: "I guess I was deceived by blood escape, then,

How did you open the 'Xuanjing Treasure House' in the first place? "

"Open the Heaven Cauldron."

At this point, Mr. Liu told the truth, from the origin of the Open Heaven Cauldron to the functions and taboos of the Open Heaven Cauldron.

When they heard that the "Open Heaven Cauldron" could freely open the "Xuanjing Treasure House", everyone's faces showed a look of madness. Even after hearing about the side effects of Kaitian Cauldron, nothing changed.

"Because Xu Xiaozi has vowed never to let the Kaitian Cauldron appear in the world, to prevent the scene of Xing Tianzun from reappearing, and Xu Xiaozi believes that after sealing us, the Shura tribe will definitely attack the Human Alliance base camp, and there is no time to delay. , and the appearance of the 'Open Heaven Cauldron' will inevitably cause a chaos... or even a melee between us, so we used the blood escape technique to cooperate with the Open Heaven Cauldron, and disguised as 'Shattered Void' to hide what happened next. You all know it.”

Finally, Mr. Liu explained.

Mr. Liu's words were reasonable and reasonable. The masters could not find anything wrong for a while, but when they thought that Xu Qing had tortured them for so many years, their expressions were a little abnormal.

But Zhang Xusheng nodded, and did not show any abnormality because of the emergence of the "Open Heaven Cauldron". He still said calmly: "In this case, it is not a bad thing. I think we can put it at this time." Xu Qingfan invites him back to the Human Alliance. After all, the Seven Islands of Xia Ling he leads are already an indispensable part of the human force. At the same time, in the Human Alliance, the decision-making circle originally composed of me, Fellow Daoist Liu, and Fellow Daoist Zizhen, After the Xialing Seven Islands join, it will be expanded to five people, and Xu Qingfan will join them. However, Xu Qingfan must give up the ownership of the 'Open Heaven Cauldron' and hand it over to the entire Human Alliance for joint management. What do you think? ?”

After hearing Zhang Xusheng's suggestion, everyone couldn't help but nod. This is the best way to deal with it at present, and a trace of surprise flashed in Mr. Liu's eyes. Zhang Xusheng seemed to be a different person at this moment, more powerful than Immortal Zizhen. He is more righteous, more objective and realistic than himself, and he is as close-minded as ever...

Is this Zhang Xusheng, who seems to care about mankind wholeheartedly, really the Zhang Xusheng that he is familiar with?

For some reason, at this time, Mr. Liu actually felt extremely uneasy, but he couldn't tell what went wrong, and he had no reason to object.

Immortal Zizhen was also thinking about the same problem. Although it was not his wish to let Xu Qingfan take over the Human Alliance, in fact there was no better way.

Suddenly thinking of something, Immortal Zizhen asked: "You said that the decision-making power of the Human Alliance has changed from three to five. Besides me, Mr. Liu, you, and Xu Qingfan, who is the other one?"

Hearing Immortal Zizhen's question, Mr. Liu also looked at Zhang Xusheng alertly. Could this be Zhang Xusheng's foreshadowing?

"The number of people in the decision-making circle must be an odd number, so that when there is a dispute, the problem can be solved with the fastest efficiency." Zhang Xusheng replied calmly: "As for the fifth person, I choose Xu Qingfan's disciple-Qiu!!! "

After hearing Zhang Xusheng's answer, all the masters were in an uproar.

hatred? Although he has become very famous and powerful over the years, his seniority is too low, right? Most of the people on the field were two to three times taller than his master Xu Qingfan, so they lacked prestige.

More importantly, Qiu must have listened to Xu Qingfan, and Xu Qingfan was known to be compatible with Mr. Liu. They had always taken care of each other over the years. In this way, wasn't the entire Human Alliance completely influenced by Xu Qingfan's opinions?

Why was Zhang Xusheng so kind-hearted that he gave so much power to Xu Qingfan in vain? Didn't it mean that they have always been incompatible?

"No!!" Immortal Zizhen was the first to object. He would never allow the Human Alliance to be handed over to Xu Qingfan in vain, saying: "Qiu's origins are mysterious, his cultivation is treacherous, and it is not the right way. Moreover, his prestige is not enough. You can’t enter the highest decision-making level of the Human Alliance!”

"I have a reason. First of all, we are the Human Alliance, not the previous Righteous Alliance. No matter what Qiu's background is, there is no reason to prevent him from entering the decision-making circle. Secondly, in the final analysis, the world of cultivators still respects strength. At this time, it is even more important. It should be like this. Qiu's strength is no less than ours. He should enter the decision-making circle. Finally, and most importantly, although Qiu has only been born for eighty years, his experience in dealing with the Shura clan is the richest among all human monks. We need his experience in the upcoming battles. If you have a better candidate, I can give up my nomination."

In this meeting, Zhang Xusheng completely became the embodiment of reason and calmness. He was thinking about mankind wholeheartedly. Almost everyone began to wonder whether they had wronged Zhang Xusheng before, or deep down in their hearts, Zhang Xusheng Are saints the ones who really care about the future of mankind?

After hearing Zhang Xusheng's words, Immortal Zizhen had no reason to refute.

"In that case, does this article count as passed?"

Zhang Xusheng looked around at the masters around him. No one could refute, they all acquiesced, and a hint of joy flashed across Mr. Liu's face.

"Then let's talk about the last thing. Who will contact Xu Qingfan?"

Almost everyone's eyes were focused on Jin Qinghan, who had been silent.

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When the meeting ended and all the masters left, they all looked a little dazed.

Is the person attending the meeting today really Zhang Xusheng?

Everyone is thinking about this problem.

Zhang Xusheng was the first to leave. He wanted to arrange candidates to monitor the Shura clan and the "Soul-eating Insects". Although he got the most dangerous job, Zhang Xusheng did not complain at all.

"You are the one organizing this meeting."

When only Mr. Liu and Immortal Zizhen were left on the field, Mr. Liu looked at Immortal Zizhen beside him and said suddenly.

"I know, but he does it better than me."

Immortal Zizhen said slowly.

"These arrangements are correct, but why do I feel uneasy?"

"Me too……"

When Mr. Liu also left, Immortal Zizhen looked at Mr. Liu's back, a trace of gloom flashed in his eyes.

Maybe Mr. Liu didn't realize that from the moment it was decided that Xu Qingfan would take over the Human Alliance, in a certain sense, he and Immortal Zizhen had completely broken off. After all, from now on, Mr. Liu would join forces with Xu Qingfan and Chu, Stealing the right to speak in the Human Alliance that Immortal Zizhen has controlled for many years...

Immortal Zizhen shook his head, trying to throw away the abnormal emotions in his mind, but no matter what, this uncomfortable feeling just couldn't go away.

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Two months later.

Deep in the East China Sea, there are seven Xialing Islands and Yuheng Island.

Xu Qingfan looked troubled, his brows furrowed into the character "Chuan", and after a long silence

He shook his head helplessly, threw the chess piece in his hand on the chessboard, and sighed to Mei: "I lost."

"Thirty-one consecutive times."

Dongfang Qingling, who was watching the battle from the side, covered her mouth and smiled.

Xu Qingfan smiled bitterly and said: "Actually, I think I'm pretty good at playing chess, but Ningmei's talent in Reversi is really great. She is a natural chess player. Her current level has already surpassed that of a generation of national players. It's normal for me to lose to her." ”

"But, you have lost thirty-one times in a row, and you have lost more than ten times in each game. Is this normal?"

Xu Qingfan nodded: "I said that Ningmei Othello's natural talent is very high. Even a first-generation national player will lose more than twenty points. I can play to this point, which is already very strong."

"real?"

Dongfang Qingling's eyes lit up and she asked.

Xu Qingfan nodded again. At this time, Xu Qingfan could only use Zhang Ningmei's strength to cover up his failure.

Then Dongfang Qingling sat in front of Xu Qingfan, taking Ting'er's original position.

"Can you play Othello?"

Dongfang Qingling nodded and said, "I wouldn't do it at first, but after watching you play chess these days, I understand the basic rules."

Then, after about two sticks of incense, Xu Qingfan gave up and admitted defeat again, shook his head and sighed: "I really don't have any talent for playing chess."

This time, even those who were watching, such as Tian Zhenxian, Tian Zhenling, Bai Yu and others, couldn't help it. They began to laugh regardless of the majesty of the master. Apart from the fact that Qiu's face was still hidden in the darkness under the hood and no expression could be seen, even Ting'er's expression was a little abnormal.

Although he lost face in front of all the disciples. After all, there were only a few disciples except Dongfang Qingling and no outsiders, but Xu Qingfan didn't care. Instead, there was an inexplicable look in his eyes.

If he had predicted correctly, this would probably be the last time everyone would be so happy.

After the chess game ended, Xu Qingfan did not go back to his house to practice as usual. In fact, he had never practiced again since he came out of seclusion.

At this moment, Xu Qingfan was walking on the beach of Yuheng Island, followed by Ting'er as always.

"Uncle, does it really matter if you haven't practiced even a day over the years?"

Ting'er suddenly asked.

"When you reach my level, you will understand that at some point, simple cultivation is no longer useful. What you seek turns from the accumulation of spiritual energy and the understanding of heaven to 'seeking the Tao'. The Tao here is not heaven." Tao', but the 'Tao' around you, such as chess, painting, etc., transform your state of mind through these inconspicuous aspects, and integrate all your previous understanding of the earth and heaven into these laws, so that your magical powers Recategorize and combine to reach a new realm.”

Xu Qingfan slowly explained.

Ting'er remembered that Xu Qingfan often read a chess book these days, and asked: "Is the rule chosen by uncle the chess way?"

Xu Qingfan nodded and said: "It is an expectation. The mutual checks and balances between the black and white pieces and their changes are consistent with the "Life and Death Art" I have cultivated, and the control and competition for the space on the chessboard by the black and white pieces are also consistent with my "The Secret of Life and Death". "Dai Tian Jue" matches, nothing is more suitable for me than this."

As he said that, Xu Qingfan shook his head regretfully: "Unfortunately, my talent in chess is too poor. One move counts as three moves. I only see one move. Others see the overall situation when playing chess. I can only see one area, and I can only see one area." I often get it wrong..."

Ting'er suddenly shook her head seriously and said: "Uncle, it's not that you don't know how to play chess, it's just that there are too many times when you need to make one move or three moves, and there are too many times when you need to take the overall situation into consideration. This is basically It has taken up all your time in the past few years except for practicing, so when you play chess, you don’t want to think so much. Every time uncle, you need to do more calculations when playing chess, you always instinctively give up on random moves, just because this."

Xu Qingfan was slightly stunned, but he didn't expect Ting'er to see it so clearly.

At this moment, Shen Gang walked quickly towards Xu Qingfan and said respectfully: "Master, Uncle Jin is here."

"What's supposed to come has finally come..."

Xu Qingfan sighed and murmured.

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When Xu Qingfan and Jin Qinghan met, they looked at each other for a moment, and suddenly smiled at the same time, both understanding what was in each other's eyes.

"When I asked you to return to the Human Alliance and help the Human Alliance tide over the difficulties, you always said that the time has not come yet, the opportunity has not come yet, what about now?"

Jin Qinghan asked.

"The time has come, but the opportunity has still not come, but the situation is anxious and I can't care about it anymore." Xu Qingfan shook his head and sighed, and then asked: "Those people agree to my going back?"

"Agreed, the conditions are beyond your imagination. The decision-making circle has been changed from three to five, including you and Qiu. But you must hand over the 'Open Heaven Cauldron' to be co-managed by the Human Alliance."

Jin Qinghan said.

"Mr. Liu proposed it, right? Zhang Xusheng and Immortal Zizhen actually agreed?" Xu Qingfan was slightly stunned. He had thought about all the situations, but never considered this one.

"Immortal Zizhen did not agree, but Mr. Liu agreed. You must not have imagined that this was proposed by Zhang Xusheng."

As he said that, Jin Qinghan frowned. He slowly recounted the appearance of Zhangxu Holy Land at that time.

After finishing speaking, he looked towards Xu Qingfan and saw that Xu Qingfan's brows furrowed even more tightly.

After a long time, Xu Qingfan still couldn't guess Zhang Xusheng's true thoughts. This matter was always weird. Although Zhang Xusheng's previous layout was extremely clever, people could always find some causes and consequences. But this time, Xu Qingfan But there is only confusion in my heart.

It seems that the only explanation is that Zhang Xusheng really started to think about mankind this time, but this explanation is impossible for a casual person like Zhang Xusheng.

After a long time, Xu Qingfan shook his head and decided to investigate carefully after returning to the Human Alliance. Dreaming now has no results.

However, thinking of Zhang Xusheng's various behaviors, Xu Qingfan felt faintly uneasy in his heart.

"Shen Gang, gather all the Tianzuo Camp, Tianyou Camp, Tianxin Camp, and Qisu Guards. All the alchemy-forming people on the island will return to the Divine Alliance with me. Follow me to become the master of the Human Alliance!!"

At this moment, Xu Qingfan's eyes were filled with a certain brilliance, a brilliance that even Xu Qingfan himself was unaware of.

It was an exciting emotion.

Although he was in a hurry, Xu Qingfan had been waiting and preparing for this day for too long.

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ps: Sixth update...