Chapter 81: Dan Ding Dao Sect: Lanjiang Dao Ren (Request Follow-Up)

The true [Treasure of the Immortals] is none of their business.

There must be something suspicious.

In Yu Ke’s memory, the last time the [Treasure of the Immortals] was opened, the outer disciples fought until they bled.

Mostly, it was disciples of the Second Tier with all three divine abilities fully awakened who fought for it—even outer disciples ranked in the top hundred were among them.

It wasn’t just about strength, but also about connections and family background.

The competition was simply too fierce!

These four before him—even the strongest among them, Feng Yuan—likely had no qualification to even enter.

Not to mention Zhou Liang, whose strength rivals the former body’s.

After learning the trial results,

Feng Yuan’s excitement overflowed, and he hurried away.

Yue Qiulan followed shortly after, glancing back at Yu Ke with a meaningful look.

Only Zhang Ziling had not left.

Zhou Liang’s face wore a smile; he sat back down and picked up a spirit fruit.

“Pfft!”

He took a bite.

“Yu brother, I know what you’re thinking.”

He saw Yu Ke’s doubt.

“If this truly is the sect’s [Treasure of the Immortals], none of us four would have a chance.”

“But fate is unpredictable—perhaps this time, we truly have a chance to enter the [Treasure of the Immortals].”

“Brother, please explain.”

Hearing this, Yu Ke thought of one possibility and said gravely:

“Could it be a newly discovered, still-unopened [Treasure of the Immortals]?”

Zhou Liang nodded.

“Exactly!”

“Otherwise, how could we even qualify for this trial?”

Yu Ke stared at the jade token in his hand, lost in thought.

This uncompleted [Treasure of the Immortals] clearly meant unknown dangers, with a mortality rate far higher than those already mapped by the sect.

Yet!

It also meant unprecedented opportunity—a [Treasure of the Immortals] untouched by any soul is a true treasure trove.

Like winning the ultimate “grand prize”—you win, and you don’t go home tonight!

Zhou Liang continued:

“This trial was personally surveyed by several elders of Jade Clear Peak. Though not fully mapped, it has been preliminarily rated as Yellow Lower Grade.”

“Jade Clear Peak has decided to entrust this [Treasure of the Immortals] to several True Disciples for exploration—Sister Li Qingshui is one of them.”

“All gains will be split with the sect; life and death are your own responsibility.”

Especially the last line—Zhou Liang emphasized it.

Yu Ke listened, then nodded slowly.

It was not uncommon for the Eight Inner Streams to develop [Treasures of the Immortals] independently.

Everyone understood the “life and death are your own” clause.

A Yellow Lower Grade [Treasure of the Immortals].

The lowest tier—likely the tomb or cave of an ancient Third Tier cultivator.

Inner disciples might not even care.

But!

Among outer disciples, it was the most sought-after: low danger, and a real chance to find Foundation Establishment opportunities.

Yu Ke looked at the jade token in his hand!

Could this truly be a stroke of fortune?

“Wait.”

Yu Ke suddenly grew alert.

If that were truly the case,

Jade Clear Peak wouldn’t need to hide it—this isn’t even against the rules.

Why send a True Disciple to secretly recruit people?

Yu Ke looked again at the two seated with him.

Zhou Liang sighed softly.

Zhang Ziling chimed in:

“Yu brother, you don’t know.”

“The first batch of outer disciples summoned for this trial mostly died inside—including three inner disciples. The news was suppressed by the True Disciples overseeing the trial.”

“Only one inner disciple barely escaped, bringing out three items.”

Yu Ke’s eyes sharpened.

Inner disciples were all Third Tier, Foundation Establishment or higher.

Only one escaped!

The cover-up meant this was either extremely serious—or the treasure was extraordinary.

Yu Ke asked:

“What did he bring out?”

Zhou Liang took up the thread, speaking slowly:

“A dantian furnace, inside which lay a shattered ancient Martial Vein Pill.”

At these words, Yu Ke was stunned.

Martial Vein Pill!

Legend said that consuming it allowed one to inherit the martial legacy of a predecessor, greatly elevating one’s martial realm—even offering a chance to directly reach Martial Foundation Establishment.

A [Treasure of the Immortals] contained a Martial Vein Pill!

The allure for outer disciples was immense.

Martial Foundation Establishment was the best Foundation Establishment method among the upper tiers.

“Besides that, there was a Dao robe and a scroll of alchemical scripture,” Zhou Liang added. “Jade Clear Peak’s elders have confirmed this was once the death site of one of Lanjiang Dao Ren’s disciples.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Ke frowned deeply.

Lanjiang Dao Ren!

He had no memory of this person.

Seeing Yu Ke’s confusion, Zhang Ziling continued:

“Yu brother, you may not have heard of Lanjiang Dao Ren, but you must know the Dan Ding Dao Sect—its fame rivals ours, the Shen Xiao Sect, renowned across the land for its alchemy.”

Yu Ke nodded—he knew the Dan Ding Dao Sect well.

Zhou Liang went on:

“Lanjiang Dao Ren was once a legendary figure of the Dan Ding Dao Sect ten thousand years ago. Originally, he was merely an ordinary spirit gardener—like our Shen Xiao Sect’s laborer disciples—responsible for cultivating spirit herbs, with mediocre talent.”

“Yet, astonishingly, within just a hundred years, his cultivation surged forward; by under two hundred years of age, he broke through to the True Person realm—a sensation in his time.”

“But even more legendary was that, upon reaching his peak, he mysteriously betrayed his sect.”

“To preserve the sect’s dignity, the Dan Ding Dao Sect sent four True Person-level experts to hunt him down—and ultimately slew him.”

Zhou Liang’s tone carried deep regret for this legendary figure.

After hearing this, Yu Ke finally pieced together the full picture of this trial.

[Treasure of the Immortals]—disciple of Lanjiang Dao Ren (suspected).

Difficulty—Yellow Lower Grade (danger potentially doubled).

Reward—Martial Vein Pill. (Possibility of hitting the jackpot.)

Yu Ke understood why the True Disciples had suppressed the news.

After all, this involved the legacy of a True Person—if it leaked, countless conflicts and troubles would follow.

The True Disciples might not care about the Yellow Lower Grade [Treasure of the Immortals] itself, but the legacy of a True Person carried weight enough to demand caution.

A swift strike, retrieving the treasure—undoubtedly the wisest choice.

Most [Treasures of the Immortals] were vast; a few people could never fully explore them.

Hence,

Several True Disciples of Jade Clear Peak chose to secretly recruit teams, jointly exploring and splitting the spoils fifty-fifty—an efficient, wise approach.

Yu Ke looked at Zhou Liang, sizing him up.

He couldn’t help but wonder:

This Brother Zhou, who preached enjoying life, treating cultivation as mere ornamentation—

How could he!

Pour his energy into a [Treasure of the Immortals], risking his life for it?

Zhou Liang seemed uneasy under Yu Ke’s gaze; he cleared his throat and said seriously:

"Yu Ke, I'm doing this not for myself."

"Only for Qing Shui."

"She's leading this expedition into the Hidden Immortal Land alone—I simply can't rest easy."

Especially the last sentence, drawn out in tone.

After hearing this, Yu Ke silently grumbled inside.

Sister Li Qingshui’s cultivation depth is such that she could take on ten of you, Zhou Liang, with one hand.

Tsk-tsk—

So you’re playing the pure love warrior, huh!

"Tsk-tsk… tsk."

Zhou Liang, seeing Yu Ke’s increasingly outrageous expression, finally couldn’t hold back:

"Yu Ke, what kind of look is that?!"

(End of Chapter)