Eternal Life by Daily Divination

「Inside the Soul Banner.」

Millions of souls drifted aimlessly.

The Evil Soul, with its hands on its hips, tossed the Xiahou Father and Son aside as a bizarre grin spread across its face.

”Another newcomer has arrived.”

The words had barely left its mouth when a soul materialized.

It was none other than Miao Bailian.

Her face was a mask of terror as she gazed at her surroundings.

”Wh-what is this place?”

”JIE JIE JIE, this is the Immortal Realm, of course. And I am an Immortal.”

The Evil Soul raised its hand, beckoning Miao Bailian’s soul toward it.

Just then,

the soul of Xiahou Qian, who was off to the side, suddenly cried out in alarm, ”Bai Lian, how did you die at Li Chang’an’s hands too?”

”Ah Qian?”

Miao Bailian froze. A flicker of joy crossed her face, but it was swiftly replaced by terror.

She finally understood what this place was.

’The Venerable Soul Banner!’

Meanwhile, Li Chang’an also learned why Miao Bailian had slandered him.

’So, it was all for Xiahou Qian.’

He had planned on a thorough interrogation, but that no longer seemed necessary.

It was clear that Xiahou Qian and Miao Bailian had some kind of illicit relationship.

Li Chang’an directly ordered the Evil Soul to question Miao Bailian about the whereabouts of the Flying Star Grass.

”If Miao Bailian refuses to talk, destroy Xiahou Qian’s soul.”

”You got it!”

The Evil Soul acted at once.

Its face contorted into a vicious snarl as it seized Xiahou Qian, pressing its claws against his head.

”Miao Bailian, where did the Flying Star Grass go? If you don’t tell me, I’ll obliterate this kid’s soul!”

”Don’t! I’ll talk! I’ll tell you right now!”

Frantic, Miao Bailian didn’t dare hide anything and immediately revealed what had happened to the Flying Star Grass.

She had already swallowed the Flying Star Grass.

She had felt that hiding it anywhere was too risky. After all, she was trying to frame a Golden Core Master; swallowing it was the only foolproof option.

This way,

even if they turned the entire Cyan Cloud Sect upside down, no one would ever find the Flying Star Grass.

’So she swallowed it.’

Li Chang’an looked at Miao Bailian’s corpse.

He channeled a wisp of Magical Power through her remains and quickly detected the residual medicinal energy of the Flying Star Grass.

Miao Bailian was only a Cultivator at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, suited for consuming Tier Two Spirit Medicines. The medicinal energy within a Tier Three Top Grade Spirit Medicine like the Flying Star Grass was far too potent; she couldn’t possibly absorb it all in such a short time.

Just then,

Xue Lin roared, ”Li Chang’an! How dare you kill a member of the Cyan Cloud Sect within our very own territory! Do you take us for another Yellow Crane Mountain?”

Seething with uncontrollable rage and killing intent, he summoned his Magical Treasure.

However, the other Golden Core Masters continued to hold him back, unwilling to let the situation escalate.

Still,

the way they looked at Li Chang’an had turned hostile.

Li Chang’an’s sudden, murderous outburst showed the Cyan Cloud Sect no respect whatsoever. Even for a Golden Core Master, such an act demanded an explanation!

Moreover, killing Miao Bailian looked very much like an attempt to silence a witness.

Gu Qinghong said gravely, ”Daoist Li, I require an explanation for this.”

Although he had not attacked, he had already taken out the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Treasure, the Cyan Heaven Flowing Cloud Seal.

As he saw it,

if a fight broke out, the dozen or so of them would be more than enough to subdue Li Chang’an, who was only at the Early Stage of Golden Core.

While it was true that Li Chang’an had effortlessly slain the Xiahou Father and Son on Yellow Crane Mountain, that was only because he had controlled the mountain’s Array.

And Gu Qinghong could feel the Cyan Cloud Sect’s Array; it remained firmly under his own control.

”Daoist Gu, what is there to explain? He’s obviously acting out of a guilty conscience! He stole the Flying Star Grass, refused to admit it, and then killed Bai Lian to silence her!”

Furious, Xue Lin urged the others to attack as one and apprehend Li Chang’an first.

Li Chang’an glanced at him coolly.

’This is strange,’ he thought.

’This man’s hostility toward me has been excessive from the very start.’

’He’s a Golden Core Master who has lived for centuries. Yet he’s insisting on taking down another Master of the same rank based solely on the word of a Foundation Establishment Disciple.’

’It’s completely irrational.’

Golden Core Masters generally did their utmost to avoid direct conflict with one another.

After all, they were all figures at the apex of the Southern Domain. If they came to blows over every trivial matter, the Golden Core Masters of the Southern Domain would have likely been wiped out long ago.

In contrast, the reaction from Gu Qinghong and the others was far more typical.

”Daoist Gu, just watch.”

After speaking to Gu Qinghong, Li Chang’an casually tossed Miao Bailian’s corpse into the air.

He pointed a finger.

The corpse exploded in mid-air, transforming into a mist of blood.

Immediately, a roaring fire erupted and engulfed the mist.

Using an alchemy technique, Li Chang’an meticulously extracted a silvery-white medicinal liquid from the mist of blood.

The liquid roiled and bubbled within the Pill Fire, its surface shimmering with brilliant, starlike motes of light.

Before long,

the liquid condensed into a silvery-white, soybean-sized Elixir Pill.

This Elixir Pill was precisely the residual medicinal energy of the Flying Star Grass from within Miao Bailian’s body.

”Daoist Gu, if I’m not mistaken, the medicinal energy in this Elixir Pill is from the Flying Star Grass.”

With a mere thought from Li Chang’an, the Pill Fire vanished.

The Elixir Pill then flew before Gu Qinghong.

Gu Qinghong’s expression was grave as he took the Elixir Pill. After carefully inspecting it with his senses, he nodded in agreement.

”Indeed. The medicinal energy within this Elixir Pill is from the Flying Star Grass.”

With that, he sent the Elixir Pill to the other Golden Core Masters so they could examine it as well.

At the same time,

he put away the Cyan Heaven Flowing Cloud Seal in his hand, a clear sign of his change in attitude.

Soon, Liang Chang and the others all confirmed the finding.

None of them were fools; they naturally understood what had transpired.

Gu Qinghong said apologetically, ”Daoist Li, my Cyan Cloud Sect was in the wrong today. Please forgive our embarrassing display.”

”Think nothing of it.”

Li Chang’an waved his hand, dismissing the matter.