My low-key cultivation of immortality was discovered by the emperor in my diary.

Chapter 266 Revealing Identity, The Secret to Longevity

The vines seemed endless.

Even if everyone works together and manages to suppress the monster temporarily, it is not a long-term solution.

If we cannot eliminate this monster's threat as soon as possible, we are likely to be defeated one by one after we are exhausted.

Therefore, everyone reached a tacit understanding and began to change strategies, each using their own methods to test the monster's weaknesses.

His savage blood surged, his body grew enormously, becoming as robust as a giant.

His hands were his strongest weapons. He grabbed the vines and tore them apart with all his might. Under the immense force, the vines broke one after another.

However, due to its enormous size and abundant energy, it became the primary target of the vines' attacks.

Numerous vines, like serpents, lashed out and coiled around him. Barbaric, clumsy as he was, he could not dodge and, filled with rage, cursed, "What kind of monster is this! It's impossible to kill it all, impossible to eradicate it completely!"

His eyes were wide open, his face contorted with rage, clearly he was furious beyond measure.

Saintess Mingyue, who had been observing the changing situation, took the lead and raised her voice to question, "I can't even see through this monster's cultivation level. Fellow innate cultivators of Wushan, what exactly is his relationship with you?!"

Upon hearing this, Palace Master Ju's expression changed slightly, and she immediately retorted, "You can eat whatever you want, but you can't say whatever you want. This monster has absolutely nothing to do with my Mist Mountain. Besides, why did he choose to appear today of all times? Hmph, I'm starting to suspect you!"

Her words were sharp and her tone was quite aggressive.

Although Madam Lan suspected that the vine monster was related to the Bai family patriarch, she felt that the guess was too far-fetched, so after hesitating for a moment, she did not say it immediately.

As the attack slowed down, the Bai family patriarch immediately had a chance to catch his breath.

His bloodthirsty and crazed gaze swept over everyone present, finally settling on the white crystal in Chu Lengyu's hand.

That was the source of his strength, his treasure.

The Bai family patriarch stared at the crystal like a mad dog eyeing its prey, shouting hoarsely with a hint of madness, "That's mine! Give it back to me!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was startled and turned to look at Chu Lengyu.

Her face was cool and aloof, her expression indifferent, and the white crystal in her hand shimmered with a faint light, adding to her mystery.

Chu Lengyu gently lifted the crystal and displayed it before the Bai family patriarch, asking, "Yours? Where did it come from?"

Just as the Bai family patriarch was about to answer, he suddenly thought of something, a look of fear flashed in his eyes, and he tightly shut his mouth.

The surrounding crowd was even more puzzled, but they had no idea what secrets were hidden behind the crystal.

Seeing this, Chu Lengyu was about to continue asking questions when Zhu Sheng interrupted her.

He was the only one at the Acquired Realm here. He used to be able to hide in fear and survive until now only by relying on the protection of others. But now he suddenly jumped out.

"So this monster is the trouble you caused! You outsider, don't even think about getting any more treasures from our Misty Mountain!" Zhu Sheng roared angrily.

"Shut up!" Madam Lan shouted angrily.

At the same time, she decisively flicked her long sleeves, bringing with her a sharp and powerful force, like a sudden gust of wind, instantly throwing Zhu Sheng away.

Zhu Sheng felt a tremendous force strike him, and he was sent flying backwards against his will, flying more than ten meters away before crashing heavily to the ground.

Madam Lan was incredibly intelligent, and she immediately guessed that this crystal was probably intricately connected to the strange cave beneath the ice pool.

Thinking of the body of the Bai family elite found in the cave, Madam Lan's heart sank, and she became almost certain of her previous guess.

She turned around, her expression grave, and said in a deep voice, "This person is very likely the patriarch of the Bai family."

"This person is the patriarch of the Bai family?!" Palace Master Ju exclaimed in surprise, her face full of disbelief.

"What?! He's the legendary Bai family patriarch who's lived for over two hundred years?!"

Upon hearing this, everyone was immediately filled with shock and disbelief as they stared at the monster that had become one with the vines.

The Bai family was the first to discover the Ice Lotus, and step by step they transformed Mist Mountain into a sacred place for cultivation. This thousand-year-old family has always been the most mysterious existence.

The patriarch of the Bai family was a legendary figure recorded in the Wushan Chronicles, active for over two hundred years and leaving behind countless amazing legends.

However, after the patriarch of the Bai family was over two hundred years old, he gradually faded from the world's sight, became inactive, and never reappeared. Everyone thought that he had died of old age and turned into a handful of yellow earth, but the Bai family kept his death a secret.

Who could have predicted that he would still be alive?!

The thought that they would actually fight against such a legendary figure filled everyone with shock.

Their eyes were fixed intently on the Bai family patriarch, their minds filled with countless thoughts, wondering how he had managed to live to this day, and what the special use of that crystal was.

Although the Bai family patriarch had fallen into a state of madness, seeing the shocked expressions on everyone's faces, he felt a sense of pride and laughed, "Haha, that's right, I am the Bai family patriarch!"

"How is that possible? How old is he exactly?" Yi Xiaoqi was visibly surprised, her eyes wide with astonishment.

Old Man Meilin also looked solemn.

He thought he knew everything about Wushan, but he never expected that there was a real monster living for hundreds or thousands of years hidden by his side.

He couldn't help but marvel at the vastness and wonder of the world.

Madam Lan said coldly, "The corpse in the cave died under suspicious circumstances. Although I have some guesses, I haven't had time to verify them yet. Patriarch Bai, you've lived for so many years, and you've still managed to turn yourself into this inhuman and ghostly state..."

She paused slightly at this point, then continued, "I'm afraid they 'ate' quite a few of the younger generation of the family."

In the Wushan cultivation theory, the three treasures of man—essence, energy, and spirit—are indispensable.

If the Bai family patriarch wants to prolong his life, he needs to continuously "make up for" these three aspects.

The body in the cave had no external injuries, so Madam Lan guessed that he might have died from psychological trauma. This method was too secretive for her to verify.

However, if you consider the perspective of the Bai family patriarch, it immediately makes perfect sense and you suddenly understand.

It seems there are still many things the Bai family is hiding regarding the Ice Lotus, the Empty Stone, the Cave…

Thinking of this, a cold glint flashed in Madam Lan's eyes.

The Bai family patriarch laughed and said, "Their only value is to become my 'offerings' and nourishment!"

As he spoke, he still exuded a terrifying aura, and a bulge appeared on his wooden skin, from which new vines extended.

Luo Yu and the others felt their scalps tingle.

The Bai family patriarch before us can no longer be considered human.

If his strange symbiotic relationship with the vine is the price of immortality, then they really wouldn't accept it.

After all, immortality may be desirable, but what is the point if one loses their humanity and becomes such a monster?