Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 104: Chapter 104: Neglecting Cultivation

The woman was dressed in black and carried a longsword on her back. She had no discernible Magical Power fluctuations, making her seem like an ordinary person.

But Li Chang’an only needed one glance to feel a faint stinging pain in his eyes.

His heart skipped a beat as he recalled the description from his divination.

“Greetings, Elder!”

Li Chang’an didn’t dare to be disrespectful and immediately clasped his hands in a salute.

The woman’s expression was indifferent. She only gave a slight nod.

She walked straight over to Liu Lu and asked the same question as before.

“Your Big Master, where in Yellow Crane Immortal City is he now?”

“E-Elder, I really don’t know…”

Liu Lu replied, his face drained of color as he trembled.

He had figured it out as well.

This seemingly unremarkable woman was, in fact, a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!

And for some reason, she held enmity toward Black Wind Mountain.

“You really don’t know?”

“Elder, my big brother almost never revealed his plans for Foundation Establishment to us. I only know he was still missing a few key treasures, so he went to Yellow Crane Immortal City.”

After hearing this, the black-clad woman asked no more questions.

With a casual wave of her hand, she sucked Liu Lu into her Spirit Beast Bag before turning to ask Li Chang’an.

“The Black Wind Mountain faction harmed my disciple. This man is useful to me, so I need to take him away for questioning. Do you have any objections?”

“No objections at all! Please, Elder, take him away!”

Li Chang’an shook his head repeatedly.

’How could I dare have any objections when facing a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator?’

“Very well!”

The black-clad woman’s expression was cold as she casually tossed out a Jade Token.

Li Chang’an immediately caught it and took a closer look.

On the front of the Jade Token, the word “Pei” was engraved.

“So it’s Elder Pei!”

Li Chang’an instantly guessed the woman’s identity.

Huang He Master had many disciples, and the ninth among them was named Pei Yingyao. She was a Sword Cultivator at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, skilled in slaughter, with unfathomably deep strength!

“You were the one who captured this man, after all. By taking him, I’m putting you at a disadvantage. Take this Jade Token. If you run into danger in Yellow Crane Immortal City in the future, crush it, and I will intervene on your behalf once.”

“Yes, thank you, Elder!”

Li Chang’an was overjoyed and carefully put the Jade Token away.

This wasn’t just any ordinary Foundation Establishment Favor, but a favor from a disciple of Huang He Master!

This Jade Token, within Yellow Crane Immortal City, was practically a get-out-of-death-free card!

Pei Yingyao glanced at him and said coolly, “The path of cultivation should focus on one’s own strength. As long as your Cultivation is strong enough, any difficulty can be cut down with a single stroke of the sword! You rely too much on external objects and have neglected your own cultivation. Reaching Foundation Establishment is almost hopeless for you.”

She shook her head slightly, offering this casual piece of advice before departing without another word.

「In the blink of an eye.」

She transformed into a streak of light and vanished over the distant horizon.

’Neglected my own cultivation?’

Li Chang’an was taken aback for a moment.

He certainly hadn’t neglected it; he had been cultivating almost day and night for all these years.

It was just that, compared to his Spirit Beasts and Puppets, his own strength did seem a bit low.

But that couldn’t be helped. After all, he only had a Low Grade Spiritual Root.

At his age, most cultivators with a Low Grade Spiritual Root would have barely broken through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

’This Elder Pei has a Top Grade Spiritual Root and is a disciple of Huang He Master. She doesn’t lack cultivation resources, so her cultivation speed must be extremely fast. That’s why she has such confidence. But I’m different.’

Li Chang’an thought with a sigh.

’Some advice from elders is best just listened to, not taken to heart.’

If he hadn’t relied on external objects, he would have likely died long ago.

’It’s okay to be a little slower. As long as I walk a steady path, I’ll reach Foundation Establishment sooner or later!’

…

「Not long after.」

Li Chang’an returned to his residence.

He took out Liu Lu’s Storage Pouch, feeling secretly glad.

’Thank goodness I took Liu Lu’s Storage Pouch before Elder Pei showed up.’

Liu Lu was, after all, the second-in-command of Black Wind Mountain.

His strength was considerable.

And he had been a Tribulation Cultivator for so many years.

’The treasures in his Storage Pouch definitely won’t be few.’

Li Chang’an erased the restriction on the Storage Pouch and opened it. A smile immediately appeared on his face.

“Indeed, there’s quite a lot. Befitting of his status!”

There were two Top Grade Magical Artifacts, both of considerable value.

There were also many Elixir Pills and Talismans, far more than what a typical Late Stage of Qi Refining cultivator would have.

It was probably because he fought with others often, so he had to keep more on hand.

In addition, there were also many other kinds of treasures.

Among them were even two treasures that Li Chang’an needed for the Ninth Stage of Body Refining.

’This trip was a huge gain. I got a favor from a Foundation Establishment Master and so many treasures.’

A smile on his lips, Li Chang’an began to take inventory of the treasures in the Storage Pouch one by one.

「A moment later.」

His eyes lit up as he took out a deep, jet-black pearl from within.

“A Profound Nether Water Pearl. A treasure that can accelerate the growth of a Water Element Spirit Beast.”

This kind of treasure was extremely rare and could only be chanced upon, not sought out.

Li Chang’an immediately tossed it to the Profound Water Turtle.

“Eat up. Once you’ve finished absorbing it, you should be able to reach Tier One Peak.”

The Profound Water Turtle lifted its head, caught the pearl, and swallowed it in one gulp.

A look of satisfaction immediately appeared on its pitch-black turtle face.

His growth speed was very fast.

He wasn’t far from Tier One Peak to begin with.

…

「More than a month later.」

The Profound Water Turtle finished absorbing the pearl and officially grew into a Tier One Peak Spirit Beast.

He was only a single step away from Tier Two!

He informed Li Chang’an that even if he were to force a breakthrough right now, he was highly confident he could advance to Tier Two.

This was the advantage granted by his bloodline.

In contrast, Dahuang, who was also at Tier One Peak, didn’t dare to attempt a breakthrough. He currently had no confidence at all and was very likely to fail.

The Profound Water Turtle asked Li Chang’an if he should break through now.

“No, wait a little longer. Let me find a few more treasures suitable for a Water Element Spirit Beast’s breakthrough.”

Li Chang’an shook his head, feeling it wasn’t safe enough.

Although the chance of success was high, if he failed, he could die from the backlash. The price was simply too great.

「A few days later.」

The Profound Water Turtle’s strength completely stabilized.

Li Chang’an had him use his Borrowing Technique Talent to lend his Magical Power to him.

He quickly entered the Borrowed State.

Human-Turtle Unity!

Gentle Water Element Magical Power continuously poured into his meridians, causing his strength to skyrocket. He almost instantly reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

Then it continued to rise.

In just a few breaths, he broke through to the Qi Refining Eighth Layer, and the momentum didn’t even slow!

In the end, Li Chang’an’s aura settled at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.

A feeling of unprecedented power slowly rose within his heart.

“Good, very good!”

Li Chang’an smiled, exceptionally pleased.

In this state, he took out Talisman Paper and Spiritual Ink, held the Tier Two Clear Heart Talisman Brush, and once again tried to paint a Tier Two Talisman.

After a while, he failed once again.

However, his progress in Talisman Painting this time was quite obvious. The hope of success was already in sight!

’It seems that before long, I’ll be able to paint a Tier Two Talisman.’

「Over the next few months.」

Li Chang’an continuously attempted to paint Tier Two Talismans.

He experienced failure after failure, wasting countless sheets of Talisman Paper and vials of Spiritual Ink.

His skills steadily improved, and the degree of completion on his failed attempts grew higher and higher.