Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 97: Chapter 97: Body Refinement Breakthrough, Huang He’s Past

After seeing off Su Yuyan and her group.

Li Chang’an returned to his room, took out the Talismanic Inheritance, and carefully looked through its contents.

’Tier Two Talismans are indeed far more complex than Tier One Talismans. I was thinking too simply before.’

Just from reading the opening section, Li Chang’an discovered that his previous approach to breaking through was full of flaws. No wonder every attempt had ended in failure.

He did have a talent for the Talisman Art, but he wasn’t among the absolute best, unable to compare to the original pioneers of Talisman Painting.

For more than a month, Li Chang’an didn’t leave his home. He shut himself in his room all day, diligently reading through the entire content of the Tier Two Low Grade Talismanic Inheritance.

One day, he sat cross-legged before his desk, holding the Tier Two Clear Heart Talisman Brush. In the Borrowed State, he attempted to draw a Tier Two Talisman.

But not long after he started, the Talisman Paper on the desk began to emit wisps of green smoke.

’A failure,’ Li Chang’an thought, his expression calm as he carefully recalled the Talisman Painting process.

The Clear Heart Talisman Brush was a great help, making his Talisman Painting much easier.

Even so, his own Magical Power remained a major problem.

After all, the vast majority of Talisman Masters had already reached Foundation Establishment by the time they could draw Tier Two Talismans.

Only a rare few with exceptional talent could draw a Tier Two Talisman before reaching Foundation Establishment.

’I can’t rush this. I have to take it slow.’

Li Chang’an had a good mindset.

In any case, his current Talisman Art was more than sufficient for his needs.

He put down the Talisman Brush, made no further attempts, and instead entered the medicinal bath to continue his Body Refinement.

「A few days later.」

The Ten Thousand Poison Gu underwent a change, successfully advancing into a Tier One Superior Gu Insect.

’It seems the poison mists I collected before really are precious Poison Dao Treasures.’

Li Chang’an was overjoyed and fed all the poison mist to the Ten Thousand Poison Gu.

“Eat up, eat a lot, grow quickly.”

A Tier One Top Grade Ten Thousand Poison Gu was already of considerable help to him.

Now, ordinary Tier One poisons no longer posed a threat to Li Chang’an.

…

「Over half a year later.」

The Sixth Stage of Body Refining was complete.

Li Chang’an tested himself as usual with a Puppet comparable to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer and found it couldn’t breach his physical defenses.

’I can now withstand a direct assault from a Qi Refining Sixth Layer cultivator.’

Li Chang’an slowly clenched his fists, feeling his entire body brimming with explosive power.

And he himself was only at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. Without resorting to means like Talismans or the Sword Array, he couldn’t even break through his own defenses.

He had already finished collecting the materials for the Seventh Stage of Body Refining long ago.

He had even gathered most of the Spirit Medicines and Essence Blood required for the Eighth Stage.

’Progress is fast. Soon, my Body Refining Cultivation will officially surpass my Qi Refining Cultivation.’

Li Chang’an mulled this over as he began to prepare the medicinal solution needed for the Seventh Stage of Body Refining.

During this period, the Marketplace remained peaceful. It was so quiet that he found it a little strange.

The Cao and Wu Families made no further moves against the Marketplace, merely continuing to target the Zheng Family disciples within the Secret Realm as usual.

Furthermore, Zheng Lingfeng had also been keeping a low profile lately.

’Peace and quiet is good.’

Li Chang’an enjoyed this kind of life.

There was nothing good about constant fighting and killing. Steady cultivation was the proper path.

…

「A few more months passed.」

One day, Li Chang’an left his residence.

His divination from the previous night had shown a lucky sign, indicating he might find a hidden treasure in the trading district.

He hurried to the trading district and managed to snag a Spirit Medicine needed for the Eighth Stage of Body Refining.

On his way back, Li Chang’an unexpectedly ran into Chu Daniu.

“Big Bull, how have you been lately?”

“Brother Li, I… I’ve been doing alright, I guess.”

Chu Daniu sighed softly.

His Spirit Wine brewing skills had long reached the limits of Tier One Low Grade, yet he had been unable to obtain a Tier One Middle Grade brewing inheritance.

Lately, he had also been corresponding with Xu Fugui and learned that Xu Fugui had already become a Tier One Middle Grade Spirit Chef.

Meanwhile, the Talisman Art that Li Chang’an displayed to others was also at the Tier One Middle Grade.

Chu Daniu couldn’t help but feel a little melancholic.

The brewing skills he had once been so proud of no longer brought him satisfaction.

After learning of his friend’s troubles, Li Chang’an thought for a moment and said, “A Tier One Spirit Wine inheritance should be available for public sale in Yellow Crane Immortal City, but the price is rather steep. Big Bull, if you save up more Spirit Stones, you’ll be able to afford it eventually.”

“I understand.”

Chu Daniu knew that, but the price was simply too exorbitant.

For now, all he could do was dream about it.

…

That evening, Chu Daniu returned to his residence, his heart heavy with melancholy.

He had also moved into a new residence with a courtyard, though the Spiritual Qi Concentration couldn’t compare to Li Chang’an’s.

He pushed open the door, about to check on a newly brewed batch of wine.

Suddenly, his expression tensed. He realized someone was sitting in his room.

“Who are you?”

Chu Daniu’s entire body went rigid. He stared fixedly at the man, a sense of unease growing in his heart.

He had, after all, learned from Li Chang’an and set up an Array in his own residence.

Although it was only a Tier One Middle Grade Array, it should have been enough to stop most intruders.

Yet this person had managed to enter his room without a sound and without causing the slightest damage to the Array. It was unbelievable!

’Did he appear out of thin air?’

“Who are you? State your name!”

Chu Daniu demanded again, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

But the man seemed not to have heard him.

He simply picked up a jar of wine at random and unsealed it.

The clean scent of bamboo, mingled with the aroma of wine, instantly filled the air.

“Cyan Bamboo Wine. I haven’t had this in over two hundred years.”

The man sighed softly.

His words were quiet, but to Chu Daniu’s ears, they sounded like a clap of thunder.

’Over two hundred years?!’

’Anyone who’s lived for more than two hundred years must be a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator at the very least, and one entering their twilight years at that.’

’But this man before me looks so young, without the slightest trace of age about him.’

“Sen… Senior…”

Chu Daniu’s expression was tense, and his voice stammered.

He didn’t dare to imagine what this man’s Cultivation level could possibly be.

“Don’t be nervous. I just came in for a drink,” the man said with a friendly smile, his tone easygoing.

He made a casual gesture.

Chu Daniu was horrified to find his body was completely beyond his control. As if he were a Puppet, he walked stiffly over and sat down opposite the man.

“You’ve brewed this Cyan Bamboo Wine just right. It has a hint of bitterness, which is exactly how I like it best.”

The man said in praise, then poured himself a bowl.

He then continued, “Back then, I was ambushed by that old dog Huang He and forced to flee deep into a Secret Realm. I was trapped there for over two hundred years… During that whole time, the one thing I missed most was Cyan Bamboo Wine.”

’Huang He?’

Hearing that name, Chu Daniu’s scalp instantly went numb.

’The Huang He this person is talking about… could he mean the Huang He Master of Yellow Crane Immortal City?’

He didn’t dare listen any further.

But he had no control over his own body.

“Did you know, Huang He and I were once the closest of friends, like blood brothers. But for a chance at the Golden Core, he ambushed me from behind.”

“I asked him why. He said… for Cultivation. For eternal life.”

…

「One month later.」

One morning, Li Chang’an was practicing Body Refinement while browsing the contents of the Beast Taming inheritance.

Suddenly, Chu Daniu came to visit.

“Brother Li, I… I’m going to Yellow Crane Immortal City, too.”

“Big Bull, are you going to look for Fugui?”

Li Chang’an subconsciously assumed that Chu Daniu was going to the Immortal City to catch up with Xu Fugui and buy a brewing inheritance on the side.

Chu Daniu first nodded, then shook his head.

“Brother Li, a certain senior has taken a liking to my brewing skills and has asked me to follow him.”

“Oh?”

Li Chang’an was surprised.

’Even Chu Daniu managed to catch a senior’s eye?’