Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 51: Chapter 51: The Young Lady’s Surprise

「Earlier.」

The Tribulation Cultivator who had died in the sneak attack was the Seventh Master of Black Wind Mountain.

“Both of them were at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. They targeted the Zheng Family because they were hired by the Foundation Establishment Cao Family.”

After a round of interrogation,

Li Chang’an got the answers he wanted.

The Foundation Establishment Cao Family was actually colluding with the notorious Tribulation Cultivators of Black Wind Mountain.

If word of this got out, it would certainly cause a massive uproar.

But Li Chang’an wasn’t the least bit surprised.

After all,

Zheng Jinbao had once colluded with Wei Sen, the Third Master of Black Wind Mountain.

’The Cultivation Immortality Families… few of them are clean.’

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly.

Black Wind Mountain existed within the sphere of influence of the three great Foundation Establishment Clans. Far from weakening, it had actually grown stronger.

Their Big Master,

just as the rumors said, was only a hair’s breadth away from Foundation Establishment.

He simply lacked the treasures needed to assist with the process and hadn’t dared to make the attempt.

’If that Big Master succeeds in reaching Foundation Establishment, a Tribulation Cultivator at that level will definitely cause a lot of trouble.’

Li Chang’an pondered for a moment.

’Forget it. This has nothing to do with me. Let the Zheng Family deal with the headache.’

Once the interrogation was over,

Li Chang’an brought his palm down, ending the man’s life.

As usual, he activated a Talisman, burning the corpse to ashes.

Then, he opened the man’s Storage Pouch.

After a quick look inside,

a smile instantly appeared on his face.

’Not bad. More treasures worth over two thousand Spirit Stones.’

This trip out today

had been quite fruitful!

…

「At the same time.」

Back at the site of the earlier battle, many disciples of the Zheng Family had arrived one after another.

Among them, surprisingly, was Zheng Qingqing.

’The Young Miss actually came.’

Li Chang’an glanced in that direction, his heart skipping a beat.

Because…

far behind Zheng Qingqing, he sensed an extremely faint yet powerful aura.

’Could it be that Foundation Establishment Ancestor?’

“Elder Songhe, how are your injuries?”

Zheng Qingqing stepped forward and asked with concern.

Beside her was the still-shaken Zheng Ling’Er.

“Sigh… I nearly lost my life here today. It’s all thanks to this Daoist’s intervention.”

Zheng Songhe sighed with emotion.

Then, he recounted the entire incident to the crowd in great detail.

After hearing his story,

the members of the Zheng Family present all looked at Li Chang’an with a bit more goodwill.

Of course,

there was also some suspicion.

After all, the timing was just too coincidental.

Did this expert at the Late Stage of Qi Refining, who had appeared out of nowhere, have some other motive?

Could he even be one of Black Wind Mountain’s own people?

Just then,

Zheng Qingqing suddenly spoke up.

“Everyone, rest assured. This Daoist is trustworthy.”

“Young Miss, could it be that you know this Daoist?”

“Yes.”

Zheng Qingqing smiled and turned to look at Li Chang’an.

She sent a private voice transmission, her tone tinged with surprise. “Daoist Li, I never expected it to be you. This Puppet Body of yours… could it be Zheng Lingfeng’s Shadow-Chasing Puppet?”

Hearing this, Li Chang’an was taken aback.

He transmitted back, “Young Miss, how did you figure it out?”

In truth, he had never planned to hide this Puppet from Zheng Qingqing.

After all, the Zheng Family would never allow a masked man of unknown identity into their Library.

But being called out so suddenly by Zheng Qingqing still surprised him.

Zheng Qingqing pursed her lips and replied, “I obtained an Ancient Treasure in the Secret Realm that can detect auras.”

“I see.”

Li Chang’an understood.

Many Ancient Treasures had come out of the Secret Realm, and some of them possessed exceptionally unique abilities.

It seemed

Zheng Qingqing was also a person of great fortune.

’This Young Miss is likely hiding many secrets herself.’

Li Chang’an thought to himself.

Little did he know,

Zheng Qingqing was thinking the same thing.

She was finding it increasingly difficult to see through Li Chang’an.

Every time they met, Li Chang’an would display abilities that exceeded her expectations.

’Logically, that Shadow-Chasing Puppet can only be controlled by a member of my Zheng Family. How is Li Chang’an able to command it?’

Zheng Qingqing fell into deep thought.

Before long,

the group returned to the Marketplace.

Zheng Qingqing did not reveal Li Chang’an’s true identity to the others.

With so many people around, prying eyes and ears were everywhere. Who knew if there was a spy from Black Wind Mountain within the Zheng Family?

She didn’t want Li Chang’an to be targeted by Black Wind Mountain.

“Daoist, please come with me.”

Zheng Qingqing said softly, calling Li Chang’an away privately.

The two of them went to her residence together.

“Daoist Li, why are you able to control the Shadow-Chasing Puppet?”

She finally voiced the question that had been weighing on her mind.

Li Chang’an shook his head in denial.

“Young Miss, this isn’t the Shadow-Chasing Puppet. It’s the one I bought at the auction. I had someone repair it.”

“Oh? I see.”

Zheng Qingqing didn’t press the matter.

The Puppet from the auction had indeed been a Tier One Top Grade.

If one were willing to spare no expense in Spirit Stones and hire a Top Grade Puppet Master, it was certainly possible to have it repaired.

However,

the cost would be so astronomical that most Cultivators wouldn’t do it.

“Young Miss, this is the Tribulation Cultivator’s head.”

Li Chang’an took a head out of his Storage Pouch.

Zheng Qingqing glanced at it and said, “This man is the Seventh Master of Black Wind Mountain. He has killed many disciples of our Zheng Family. This time, Daoist Li, you have done our Zheng Family a great service.”

“Young Miss, I have an impudent request.”

“Please speak, Daoist Li.”

Zheng Qingqing had already anticipated this.

Facing two experts at the Late Stage of Qi Refining,

given Li Chang’an’s cautious nature, he wouldn’t have intervened unless he had something to gain.

Li Chang’an said directly:

“I wish to enter the Zheng Family’s Library and choose a better Cultivation Technique.”

’Just as I thought.’

Zheng Qingqing had guessed as much.

The corners of her lips curled up as her beautiful eyes fixed on Li Chang’an.

“Daoist Li, for an outsider to enter the Zheng Family’s Library, they must first present themselves before our Foundation Establishment Ancestor. Are you sure you want to try?”

“This…”

Li Chang’an froze.

He hadn’t expected the Zheng Family’s rules to be so strict.

He had no desire to come face-to-face with a Foundation Establishment Ancestor.

If that Ancestor saw that he possessed great fortune and decided to forcibly keep him there, it would be a disaster.

Although the possibility was slim, he wasn’t willing to take the gamble.

Just then, Zheng Qingqing suddenly smiled.

“Don’t worry, Daoist Li. You don’t need to see the Ancestor. I happen to have extra family contribution points and can privately exchange them for a Wood Element Technique for you.”

“That would be wonderful! Thank you, Young Miss!”

Li Chang’an breathed a sigh of relief.

He had been on the verge of giving up.

Afterward,

the two discussed for a moment and finally settled on the Cultivation Technique Li Chang’an needed—the Cyan Wood Technique!

“The Cyan Wood Technique is considered a high-quality technique among Middle Grade ones. The Wood Element Magical Power it cultivates is extremely dense, and it possesses a self-regenerating characteristic, allowing for incredibly fast recovery.”

Zheng Qingqing explained slowly.

This Cultivation Technique was the most suitable one for Li Chang’an at his current stage.

…

That night,

the Cultivation Technique was delivered to Li Chang’an.

He sat cross-legged and read through it carefully.

The more he read, the more delighted he became.

’This technique really is extraordinary!’

The Evergreen Technique he had previously cultivated simply couldn’t compare.

The difference between the two

was like heaven and earth!

Li Chang’an immediately dispersed the foundation of his Evergreen Technique and began to switch to the Cyan Wood Technique.

This kind of Dispersion Technique only scatters the characteristics of the original technique.

His Cultivation level remained.

About an hour later,

Li Chang’an successfully switched techniques. All his Magical Power transformed into the dense Magical Power of the Cyan Wood Technique.

At that moment,

he could clearly feel that his speed of absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power far surpassed what it was before.

’From now on, my cultivation speed won’t be so slow anymore.’

Li Chang’an silently savored the feeling.

Suddenly,

his whole body trembled, and a profound and mysterious aura emanated from him.

A joyous expression appeared on Li Chang’an’s face.

’My cultivation is finally about to break through!’

It was truly a double blessing!

He immediately focused his mind and concentrated on his breakthrough.

…

That night,

Li Chang’an wasn’t the only one having a breakthrough.

At the estate of the Foundation Establishment Cao Family, located some distance from the Marketplace,

within their clan grounds,

a burst of hearty laughter suddenly echoed from the depths of the estate.

“HAHAHA! After so many years of cultivation, I’ve finally advanced to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment! Zheng the Ghost, this old man is coming for you!”