Eternal Life by Daily Divination

With a smile on his face, he arrived outside Changqing Mountain.

“Li, today’s events were Qingrong’s fault. Please accept these Talisman-crafting materials as an apology from the Zhang Family.”

As he spoke, a beam of Spiritual Light shot out from his Storage Pouch. It passed through the Changqing Mountain Array and landed before Li Chang’an, transforming into a pile of Talisman-crafting materials.

Among them were Tier Three Talisman Paper and Spiritual Ink!

At the same time.

Zhang Qingfeng also discreetly sent Li Chang’an a Sound Transmission.

“Daoist Li, my older brother was out of line today. I hope you can find it in you to forgive him.”

Earlier, after Zhang Qingrong had left, Zhang Qingfeng had immediately used a Wind Escape Technique, rushing to find the Zhang Family patriarch at top speed to explain the situation.

He hadn’t done this out of concern for Li Chang’an, but out of fear that his brother, Zhang Qingrong, would be killed by the Array.

He knew full well that Li Chang’an concealed his true strength and was far more capable than he let on.

Li Chang’an smiled. “Both of you can rest assured. He’s young and hot-headed, just acting on a momentary impulse. I won’t hold it against him.”

Hearing this, Zhang Qingrong felt a surge of indignation.

’A mere Foundation Establishment Cultivator is calling me, a Golden Core Master, young and hot-headed?’

Just as he was about to retort, Zhang Shengling cast a silencing Talisman, cutting off his voice.

Zhang Shengling stroked his beard and chuckled. “Li is right. Qingrong is young and hot-headed; he still requires a great deal of tempering.”

Then, ignoring Zhang Qingrong’s protests, he forcefully suppressed him and shoved him into a Spirit Beast Bag.

“I’ve heard you are also skilled in the Talisman Dao. If you ever have the time, you are welcome at the Zhang Family estate to discuss the art with my kinsmen.”

With that, he lingered no longer. Taking Zhang Qingfeng with him, he transformed into a streak of Spiritual Light and departed.

The reason for his humble attitude was something he had heard from Mu Yan, an Array Master from the Red Flame Sect: Li Chang’an was likely backed by a Tier Three Top Grade Array Master!

As the patriarch of a Noble Family, Zhang Shengling was naturally unwilling to offend an Array Master with such formidable skills.

Otherwise, who knew when that Array Master might seize control of the Zhang Family’s own Arrays and turn them against its members.

Once they were a safe distance away, Zhang Shengling released Zhang Qingrong and began to berate him.

“You fool! Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you almost brought upon the Zhang Family?”

Zhang Qingrong hung his head, not daring to argue.

In the end, he could only return to the Ancient Sect Ruins, empty-handed and disgraced.

Seeing him in such a state, Liu Xuanfeng and the others understood that he must have failed.

Zhang Qingrong cupped his fist in salute and sighed.

“Daoist Liu, this matter is a bit troublesome.”

Liu Xuanfeng asked, feigning surprise.

“Daoist Zhang, is that Li Chang’an really so capable? Not even you could handle him?”

“Li Chang’an himself is nothing special, but the Mountain Protection Array on Changqing Mountain is truly formidable.”

Zhang Qingrong recounted what had happened.

When he finished, everyone present had varied expressions.

After a moment, someone spoke up. “It must be a composite Array, a combination of several Tier Three Low Grade Arrays. Daoist Zhang, you just reached the Golden Core realm; it’s normal that your Magical Power isn’t deep enough to break it.”

The one who spoke was Wan Xing, a Celestial Pride of the Cyan Cloud Sect and a Tier Three Body Refinement expert.

Zhang Qingrong glanced at him and asked, “Daoist Wan, do you have a better idea?”

“There’s no need to break the Array. Just force your way through it and capture Li Chang’an!”

“Force my way through?”

Zhang Qingrong shook his head.

He didn’t practice Body Refinement; there was no way he could withstand the power of a Tier Three Array.

Of everyone present, only Wan Xing himself could actually implement this plan.

A thought stirred in Liu Xuanfeng’s mind, and he looked toward Wan Xing.

“Daoist Wan, are you planning to give it a try?”

“Haha, I was just thinking that!”

Wan Xing, of course, wouldn’t pass up such a good opportunity. He also wanted to build a rapport with Liu Xuanfeng, a Celestial Pride from a Nascent Soul Sect.

However, he didn’t intend to go right away. After all, Zhang Qingrong had just been there, so Li Chang’an would still be on high alert.

He would wait a few days for Li Chang’an to lower his guard. Then, he would force his way into the Array, striking with the speed of a thunderclap to capture Li Chang’an before he could react.

…

「Meanwhile, inside the Mechanical City.」

Li Chang’an had already dismantled the outer and inner layers of the Mechanical City, leaving only the very core.

The process went faster than he had anticipated.

A mere three days later, he completed the disassembly of the core area.

In the end, all the materials went into his Storage Pouch.

All that remained of the entire Mechanical City were the skeletal remains of its creator.

“Thank you for your legacy, Senior.”

Li Chang’an’s expression was grave as he bowed once more.

Afterward, he flew out of the area. Channeling Earth Element Magical Power with the Five Elements Mutual Production Method, he filled in the entire region, turning it into a grave for his predecessor.

With that done, Li Chang’an returned to Changqing Mountain and officially began crafting a Tier Three Puppet.

’A single Tier Three Puppet is enough to uphold the prestige of a Golden Core Family.’

’But as useful as a Puppet is, it’s ultimately an external power. I still need to achieve Core Formation myself as soon as possible…’

His thoughts inevitably turned to his recent assailant, Zhang Qingrong.

Rumors only said that the man had found a fortuitous opportunity for Core Formation, but there were no details about what it was.

No one knew the specifics.

’I wonder if Zhang Qingrong has already used up his opportunity for Core Formation.’

As for this man, Li Chang’an had already developed the intent to kill.

That day, he had originally intended to capture Zhang Qingrong and refine him into a Puppet.

But then he discovered that the Zhang Family patriarch, Zhang Shengling, had arrived and was hiding in the shadows, observing the Changqing Mountain Array.

It was for this reason alone that he had let Zhang Qingrong go for the time being.

’I can’t be hasty. I must wait for the right opportunity.’

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly, pushing the matter aside to focus on crafting the Puppet.

「About half a month later.」

A brand-new, humanoid Puppet appeared within his immortal cave.

The aura it emanated had astonishingly reached Tier Three!

’A Tier Three Low Grade Puppet. Its strength is comparable to that of an Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator. Not bad at all!’