Eternal Life by Daily Divination

”What kind of Treasure is this?”

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

His knowledge was already quite impressive. After all, he had seen the Treasure Vaults of many Golden Core Influences and read through numerous books cataloging Treasures.

But in his memory, there was no record of a Treasure that looked like this.

Just then, a cool, aloof female voice sounded.

”This is a Smoke and Mist Stone. It is extremely rare, so it’s perfectly normal for you not to recognize it.”

Li Chang’an was very familiar with this voice. He had heard it during the war between the three sects.

The Zi Xi Saintess of the Purple Mist Sect!

He immediately turned around.

A massive Quasi-Tier Four Flying Ship had appeared at some point in the sky not far behind him, with over a dozen figures standing on it.

Zi Xi, dressed in a long purple dress, stood at the very front.

Her eyes were clear, her skin was as white as snow, and her temperament was quiet and elegant. She had a somewhat ethereal air about her, like an otherworldly Fairy who did not partake in the mortal world.

In an instant, she vanished from her spot and appeared before Li Chang’an.

A gentle breeze swept past, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance.

Li Chang’an cupped his hands in a salute.

”Greetings, Saintess!”

”You are Li Chang’an, the Loose Cultivator from Changqing Mountain?”

Zi Xi looked at him calmly as her cool voice sounded.

Li Chang’an said respectfully, ”I am. I never thought the Saintess would remember a minor figure like myself.”

Before this, he had only truly met this Saintess once.

It was in the main hall of the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Zi Xi slowly began to speak, ”You are hardly a minor figure. I have heard people talk about you. I hear you’re skilled at staying alive?”

”They’re just a few little tricks, not worth mentioning in front of the Saintess.”

”Mm.”

Zi Xi nodded slightly, her gaze falling upon the gem in his hand.

”This Smoke and Mist Stone is useless to you. Sell it to me.”

Hearing this, Li Chang’an didn’t hesitate.

He immediately offered up the gem in his hand.

”I don’t even know what this is. If the Saintess has a use for it, please take it.”

”There’s no need for that. I’m not a tyrant. I won’t force a sale, nor will I let you suffer a loss.”

With a gentle beckon of her hand, the Smoke and Mist Stone landed in her palm.

The wisp of light purple mist inside the stone condensed into a single strand, slowly floating out of the stone and into her body.

The next moment, Li Chang’an felt that the Zi Xi before him had become even more ethereal.

Although she wore a veil, he could faintly see a look of satisfaction appear on her beautiful and transcendent face.

”Not bad. The quality of this Smoke and Mist Stone is even higher than I expected. It has benefited me greatly.”

With a light tremor of her hand, Zi Xi turned the gem into dust.

It was clear that only the wisp of purple Qi had been useful to her.

A purple glint flashed in her clear eyes as she glanced at the surrounding Array.

”Li Chang’an, you have rendered a service by offering this Treasure, and you possess Skills in the Quasi-Tier Three Array Dao. Would you be willing to become my Honored Guest Elder?”

Perhaps because she was in a good mood, she gave Li Chang’an an opportunity.

Becoming an Honored Guest Elder.

He would be able to go with her to the Purple Mist Sect.

He would shed his identity as a Loose Cultivator and become a member of a Nascent Soul Immortal Sect.

Furthermore, her talent was exceptional. It was highly likely she would one day achieve Nascent Soul Formation and become the next Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Purple Mist Sect.

When that time came, Li Chang’an’s status would rise along with hers.

Not just anyone gets the chance to become an Honored Guest Elder to a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Any other Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator who received such an opportunity would surely be ecstatic and agree on the spot.

But after a moment of deliberation, Li Chang’an politely refused.

”Thank you for your kind offer, Saintess, but this junior is unruly by nature and is only suited to being a Mountain Wanderer Cultivator. If I were to join a Sect, I would inevitably cause trouble for you.”

Hearing this, an imperceptible flicker of surprise flashed through Zi Xi’s perpetually calm eyes.

She had never imagined that Li Chang’an would actually refuse.

It wasn’t just her; the dozen or so people on the Flying Ship behind them also showed looks of surprise and confusion.

They all thought that Li Chang’an would surely accept the opportunity.

Zi Xi spoke slowly, ”Li Chang’an, if you become my Honored Guest Elder, you will still have a glimmer of hope to reach Core Formation. But if you continue as a Loose Cultivator, your Cultivation might stagnate here forever. Have you truly thought this through?”

”Saintess, this junior has already thought it through.”

”Very well. Since you are unwilling, I will not force you.”

Zi Xi’s tone was indifferent as she dropped the matter of the Honored Guest Elder position.

She was one to give only a single chance. Since Li Chang’an was unwilling to seize it, there would not be a second.

On the Flying Ship behind them, everyone couldn’t help but feel it was a pity for Li Chang’an.

”Sooner or later, this guy will realize what kind of fortuitous opportunity he just missed.”

”Once the Zi Xi Saintess succeeds in her Nascent Soul Formation, it’ll be too late for him to try and follow her.”

They communicated via Sound Transmission, all feeling that Li Chang’an was too short-sighted to see the bigger picture.

After a while, Zi Xi returned to the Flying Ship.

Before leaving, she told Li Chang’an that if he were to ever provoke a disciple of the Purple Mist Sect in the future, she would intervene on his behalf once. This was to be considered payment for the Smoke and Mist Stone.

”Safe travels, Saintess.”

With a respectful expression, Li Chang’an watched the Flying Ship depart.

After that, he transformed into a streak of Spiritual Light and left the ruins.

...

「Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, another year had passed.」

During this year, Li Chang’an controlled Zhang Qingrong, maintaining an excellent disguise within the Zhang Family without revealing a single flaw.

During this time, Jin Yue of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower passed away.

His descendant, Jin Luo, took his place as the Shopkeeper of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower.

Li Chang’an went to the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower and found that Jin Luo’s cultivation talent was decent. He had already reached the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, but he had not prepared many Foundation Establishment Treasures.

He immediately lent him a High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill and a top-tier Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.

Jin Luo was overjoyed and thanked him repeatedly, ”Thank you, Elder Li!”

”It’s nothing. Your grandfather was a great help to me when he was alive.”

Li Chang’an said with a smile.

The Golden Cloud Qi had helped him immensely, so it was only right for him to lend these Treasures.

Not long after, Jin Luo successfully reached Foundation Establishment in Yellow Crane Immortal City.

He promised Li Chang’an that he would return the Foundation Establishment Treasures as soon as possible.

Li Chang’an, however, was unconcerned, merely telling him to focus on his Cultivation.

...

「Half a year later.」

Li Chang’an revealed his Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation to the Mu Family.

The many members of the Mu Family were overjoyed and congratulated him one after another.

Once at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment, Core Formation was not far off.