My Journey to Immortality Begins with Hunting-Chapter 601 - Hierarchy - Part 3

The moment the figure appeared, a terrifying pressure crashed down like a falling sky. His red robes billowed violently, radiating heat and brilliance too blinding to look at.

It was the Fire Hall Master.

And he was not happy.

He had hoped to stay out of this mess. But now he realized that Ping’an was no pushover.

The little upstart hadn’t even been third rank when he first arrived in the Eastern Sea. But over the years, fighting alongside them in the first ancient hall, he had grown frighteningly powerful.

His cultivation hadn’t advanced much, but his mastery over clones had skyrocketed. 50 copies moving in perfect synchronicity, that had become his new normal.

And no spirit town lord could stand against that.

What no one expected was how quickly the kid had chosen to act. No hesitation. No buildup. Just violence.

This wasn’t the cautious, reserved Ping’an they were used to.

If the Fire Hall Master hadn’t shown up just now, Ping’an might’ve already forced his way through.

Yes.. the brat had clearly figured out why this group was blocking his path.

And that was why he struck fast, struck hard, an iron-fisted move in desperate times. 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

He was dangerous.

Hovering above, the Fire Hall Master stared down at the white-haired man below.

And Ping’an looked right back up at him.

The Fire Hall Master didn’t like that look one bit. Something shifted in his heart, an uneasy flicker of doubt.

Then, in a voice as calm as a breeze, he said, “Since Elder Li seems to understand the concept of hierarchy...then tell me. Between you and me, who stands higher?”

Ping’an, for all his clone mastery, had yet to reach the qualitative leap of true transformation. His tactics worked wonders in the ancient hall, but against a peak third rank cultivator? He still wasn’t enough.

Ping’an looked up at the Fire Hall Master towering high above, then calmly dispelled his clones. He clasped his fists respectfully and said, “Hall Master Luo, I travel west under the direct order of the Sect Master. I have no intention—”

Before he could finish, the Fire Hall Master cut him off coldly. “The Sect Master instructed you to go west. He said nothing about bringing your family. This is a critical time, and your decision to leave with them raises...suspicions.”

Ping’an remained composed. “It’s always been common for elders to travel with their family members and disciples.”

“That was then,” the Fire Hall Master snapped. “This is now.”

Ping’an replied firmly, “The Sect Master gave me no such restriction.”

“The Sect Master has more important things to do than micromanage,” the Fire Hall Master said with a sneer.

Ping’an took a deep breath, chest heaving slightly. His fingers curled tightly around the hilt of his sword, his knuckles whitening as if he meant to crush the handle into dust.

The Fire Hall Master watched his reaction with a cold smile. “In the Arcane Supreme Sect, the lesser obey the greater. So tell me, Ping’an, between you and me, who stands higher?”

Ping’an took several slow, burning breaths to smother the lava bubbling in his gut. At last, he answered, one word at a time: “You are greater. I am lesser.”

“Then go west,” the Fire Hall Master said, dismissing him with a flick of his sleeve.

Ping’an stared at him, eyes sharp as blades. “Then swear to me that nothing will happen to my family while I’m gone.”

The Fire Hall Master was briefly taken aback. “Who would dare harm the family of an elder? You’re worrying for nothing.”

Just then, a figure in yellow robes flashed into view, none other than the Earth Hall Master.

He wasted no time, barking orders to the spirit town lords who had been blocking Ping’an’s path, driving them back with a stern rebuke.

Then he turned to Ping’an with a reassuring smile.

“Don’t worry, Ping’an. All these years, you’ve fought and bled beside us. We’ve long since considered you one of our own. Now that you’re heading out, there’s no way we’d let anything happen to your family. And as for Hall Master Luo’s temper, you know how he is. Don’t take it to heart.”

Farther off, dressed in green, the Wood Hall Master stood watching coldly, saying nothing.

Ping’an was an elder from his hall.

And yet, he seemed content to let things play out.

Now that the mysterious figure named Li Yuan had stepped into the open, no one knew what to expect.

And Ping’an himself was clearly full of untapped potential. If father and son were allowed to act freely, without being aligned with their interests, it could become a serious problem.

Of course, by aligned with their interests, what they really meant was willingly becoming high rank cannon fodder for their expeditions into the ancient halls. Following their command. Handing over their gains. Letting them make all the calls.

Refuse? That would be sowing discord, acting selfishly, and disrupting unity.

By the flying ship, the wind blew long and cold.

Ping’an’s robe flapped in the breeze, silver hair tousled like snow in a storm.

In his heart, calculations raced like lightning. Reading the situation. Balancing the game.

At last, he let out a long, weary sigh. But when he looked up again, his eyes gleamed like drawn swords.

He strode forward, passing his disciples. To three among them, he offered a subtle, respectful bow.

Then he raised his head and called out to the Fire and Earth Hall Masters, and to all those watching silently from afar.

“If anything happens to them...I, Ping’an, will give my life before I ever let it go unanswered.”

With that, he let out a sharp cry. And one by one, clones burst into existence again until there stood 101 Ping’ans.

The 101 Ping’ans moved in perfect formation, ascending the flying ship one after another. Once aboard, they all turned in unison, casting a long, silent gaze back at the figures of the Arcane Supreme Sect in the distance.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

A moment later.

The bell rang, the mooring ropes were loosed, and the flying ship lifted into the clouds, sailing off into the horizon.

Soon after, two more flying ships followed behind it, quietly rising into the sky in pursuit.

“It’s finally happening. Ha! It’s really happening! This is just perfect.”

“Took long enough for the Arcane Supreme Sect to start tearing itself apart. Tell me, if a couple of Ping’an’s family members were to disappear...you think the whole blame would fall on the sect?”

“Oh, it would. No doubt. But...you think that guy Li Yuan can really go toe-to-toe with the Arcane Supreme Sect?”

“Who cares? Anyone who could create those kinds of techniques and stir up chaos in the Central Plains is no simple character.”

“Hahaha, don’t I sound like one of those wise human strategists?”

A group of vagabond cultivators, all rough around the edges, had watched the confrontation from the shadows. Once the tension at the skyport subsided, they slipped away unnoticed, heading toward a more secluded location to begin their scheming.

As they walked, tails of various shapes and sizes began to emerge from behind them.

They moved toward a distant abode.

The spiritual energy in the abode was still usable, but compared to the abundant and stable energy of the major sects like the Arcane Supreme Sect, this place was chaotic and uneven.

It was like puddles after a rain, some deep, some shallow, some completely dry. In some spots, spiritual energy was dense and rich. In others, it was nearly absent.

And deep within the abode, dozens of glowing green eyes blinked in the darkness, demonic beasts.

These were demonic beasts the Arcane Supreme Sect trained its disciples to hunt.

And after being hunted long enough, some of those beasts gained intelligence...and with it, developed hatred.

Of course, it wasn’t just about blood feuds; it was about resources.

The Arcane Supreme Sect wanted to explore the ancient halls. So did the demonic beasts.

Not only that, but the demonics beasts had their eyes on the spirit towns too. If possible, they wanted to seize a few for themselves.

And the appearance of an unknown variable like Li Yuan gave them hope.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Five Spirits Institute, Faculty of Seduction.

A stunning fox spirit sat atop a lavish throne, her figure long and willowy, wrapped in a platinum robe that clung to every dangerous curve.

Her small feet dangled midair, toes painted in a vivid rosy hue from the crushed petals of celestial blossoms. They swayed gently as she lazily drummed them in the air, claws lightly flexing.

In her hand, she twirled a white lotus blossom.

She tilted her chin up slightly, eyes glazed in thought. They were as clear as dewdrops and soft as spring water.

If Cui Huayin was called a goddess, it was only because this woman had stepped aside and let her take the title.

However, what woman didn’t care about being seen as the most beautiful? Unless...she was already beyond the point of needing validation.

And this fox spirit? She had transcended such trivial concerns long ago.

She was the head of the Faculty of Seduction, one of the 13 most powerful figures in the entire Immortal Domain.

At that moment, she lifted her hand and waved lazily. “Lianjue, tell me, what do you think of this Li Yuan? I want to know whether this man...is worth me making a move personally.”

Seduction was like a creeping vine, subtle, enchanting, persistent.

And a vine, of course, needed something to climb.

The taller the tree, the higher the vine could reach.

And the stronger the man...the more intoxicating the entanglement.