Eternal Life by Daily Divination

It just so happened that this Han Feng True Monarch needed the Cold Crow Stone for his cultivation.

He was willing to trade a portion of Pill Transformation Water for it, but no one ever took him up on the offer.

”Pill Transformation Water?”

Li Chang’an’s heart leaped with joy. ’This is one of the three primary ingredients for refining the Nascent Soul Pill!’

The process of Shattering the Pill to form an Infant was impossible without Pill Transformation Water.

He had just been planning how to secure an opportunity for Nascent Soul Formation, and he hadn’t expected to hear about one of the primary ingredients so soon.

Mu Hongyu said in a solemn voice, ”Daoist Li, don’t get too excited yet. That Han Feng True Monarch has a bizarre personality. He almost exclusively trades with other Nascent Soul True Monarchs.”

”Oh? Has he never traded with Golden Core Cultivators?”

”He has.”

At this, Mu Hongyu’s expression grew several shades more serious.

She continued, ”My master told me that Han Feng True Monarch started out as a Tribulation Cultivator. He used to frequently use trades as a pretext to murder people and steal their treasures. He only reined himself in after becoming a True Monarch.”

From Mu Hongyu’s account, Li Chang’an learned about Han Feng True Monarch’s character.

The man had indeed become more restrained, but not completely.

「A few years ago.」

A few Golden Core Masters traded with Han Feng True Monarch.

After the trades were complete, those Golden Core Masters vanished as if they had evaporated from the face of the earth. No one ever saw them again.

Clearly, Han Feng True Monarch had returned to his old ways of murdering people for their treasures.

For a distinguished Nascent Soul True Monarch to do such a thing was disgraceful, but he had started out as a Tribulation Cultivator and couldn’t care less about his reputation.

This matter had caused a small-scale disturbance.

But the Vermilion Bird Sect, to save face, had forcefully suppressed the incident.

For this reason, Mu Hongyu warned, ”Daoist Li, if you want to trade with Han Feng True Monarch, you’d better possess the strength of a Fake Soul Cultivator yourself.”

Only by becoming a True Monarch could he avoid being murdered for his treasure.

Of course, Li Chang’an had another option.

He could give the Cold Crow Stone to a Nascent Soul True Monarch he trusted and have them trade with Han Feng True Monarch.

However, Li Chang’an didn’t trust a single Nascent Soul True Monarch.

He didn’t even fully trust Jiang Xuanyuan, who had helped him on several occasions.

This Cold Crow Stone was far too valuable. It was best if he handled the trade himself.

As for the strength of a Fake Soul Cultivator, Li Chang’an admittedly didn’t have it at the moment.

But he had already thought of two paths to temporarily obtain that level of power.

’Power of Faith, or a Tier Four Poisonous Insect.’

Li Chang’an pondered to himself.

He possessed an entire Fire Cloud Secret Realm.

The mortals within the Fire Cloud Secret Realm viewed cultivators as deities, making it an ideal place to cultivate the path of faith.

Li Chang’an had observed that nearly every cultivator in the Fire Cloud Secret Realm was surrounded by a measure of the Power of Faith; they just didn’t know how to wield it.

He didn’t know how, either.

However, the Great Qi Immortal Dynasty did!

’If I can just obtain the method for using the Power of Faith from the Great Qi Immortal Dynasty, then unify the entire Secret Realm and make all its mortals and cultivators believe in me... I could at least attain the power of a Fake Soul Cultivator. Perhaps even stronger!’

The Ninth Princess of Great Qi, Qi Yao, had once told Li Chang’an that the Fake Soul level was not the ceiling for the Power of Faith.

「Back then.」

When the Cyan Wood Celestial Monarch gifted the Faith Technique to the ancestors of Great Qi, he made it clear that the Power of Faith’s potential extended far beyond the Nascent Soul realm.

With enough Power of Faith, it was even possible to rival the Divinity Transformation realm!

But Great Qi’s territory and subjects were limited.

It could only produce one True Soul Cultivator or two Fake Soul Cultivators.

Great Qi chose to create two Fake Soul Cultivators, maximizing its number of Nascent Soul True Monarchs to protect its domain.

’The Fire Cloud Secret Realm isn’t small. Its total area is comparable to the Southern Domain, and the number of mortals and cultivators living there is staggering.’

’As long as I can obtain the Faith Technique and defeat that Fire Cloud Divine Lord, the rest will be simple...’

Li Chang’an already had a plan.

If everything went smoothly, he could use the Power of Faith to temporarily become a Fake Soul Cultivator.

Of course, this power would be limited to the Fire Cloud Secret Realm.

The farther he traveled from the Secret Realm, the weaker his power would become, but it would still far surpass that of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator.

As long as he didn’t stray too far, he could still fight a False Soul True Monarch!

In addition, the path of the Tier Four Poisonous Insect was another option.

Poison Cultivators who practice Poison Techniques can merge with their Poisonous Insects, temporarily possessing a portion of the insect’s power.

Back then, the many Qi Refining Cultivators under the Five Poison Wanderer could obtain Pseudo-Foundation Establishment strength through Tier Two Poisonous Insects.

The Five Poison Wanderer had spent his life trying to cultivate a Tier Three Poisonous Insect King. He planned to merge with it to attain the strength of a Fake Pill Cultivator, then use that power to secure an opportunity for Core Formation.

If he hadn’t been stopped by Li Chang’an, he most likely would have succeeded.

’If I can cultivate a Tier Four Poisonous Insect, temporarily switching my Cultivation Technique would be a small price to pay.’

After all, it was the power of a Fake Soul Cultivator. Li Chang’an was willing to become a Poison Cultivator temporarily for that kind of strength. Besides, he had plenty of Poison Techniques in his possession.

However, this path was not easy.

Cultivating a Tier Four Poisonous Insect would require a massive amount of Poison Dao Treasures.

Li Chang’an didn’t have any High Tier Poison Dao Treasures.

His only option was to first cultivate countless Low Tier Poisonous Insects and have them devour one another. Using this method of Raising Gu, he could gradually produce Tier Two and Tier Three Poisonous Insects.

Finally, he would have a large number of Tier Three Poisonous Insects devour each other to create a single Tier Four Poisonous Insect!

’The Power of Faith and the power of a Poisonous Insect... both paths are viable.’

Li Chang’an mulled it over. He would pursue both paths.

If one of them had a major breakthrough, he would then consider whether to abandon the other.

Just then, Ning Mengwei suggested, ”Daoist Li, why don’t you give this Cold Crow Stone to my master? She can trade for the Pill Transformation Water on your behalf.”

”No, but thank you for your kind offer, Daoist Ning.”

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly and put away the Cold Crow Stone.

He didn’t even trust Jiang Xuanyuan, so how could he trust the Vermilion Bird True Monarch, whom he had only met once?

Although the Vermilion Bird True Monarch had helped him a lot, it was all for Mu Hongyu’s sake.

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch herself probably didn’t have a particularly favorable impression of him.

”Please, I must ask you both to keep what happened today a secret. This Cold Crow Stone is too valuable. If word gets out, I fear it will lead to my death.”

”Rest assured, Daoist Li. We will never speak of this to anyone.”

The two of them immediately swore an oath on their Dao Hearts, giving Li Chang’an their solemn promise.

After that, the three of them left the Vermilion Bird’s Nest together and headed for the entrance of the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm.

After ten days, the three finally returned to the entrance.

Li Chang’an stood there and looked back at the depths of the Secret Realm.

’This Vermilion Bird Secret Realm and its Vermilion Bird’s Nest still hold many secrets. I’ll come back and explore them when I’m strong enough.’

He collected his thoughts and strode out of the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm.

Outside the Secret Realm, the Vermilion Bird True Monarch was still waiting.

Beside her stood another figure, clad in a black robe, their expression impassive. They too exuded the aura of a Nascent Soul Cultivator.

It was the other Nascent Soul powerhouse of the Vermilion Bird Sect.

Canghong True Monarch!

His eyes narrowed, his gaze fixed on Li Chang’an as his cold voice rang out.

”Li, did you gain anything from your trip into the Secret Realm?”