A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 45: Chapter 44: Li Dong’s Visit

Lü Zhong entered a shop that sold Pills and asked about ”Breaking Through Pills.”

So-called ”Breaking Through Pills” were Pills one or two tiers higher than one’s current cultivation. The goal was to use the pure Spiritual Qi within them to aid in breaking through to the next level.

For instance, he currently wanted to buy a bottle of Origin-Nurturing Pills.

The Origin-Nurturing Pill was a type of Pill that could increase one’s cultivation. It was suitable for those at the Mid-stage Qi Refining, and when a cultivator at the Early-stage Qi Refining took one, they had a certain chance of breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

”Do you have any Origin-Nurturing Pills? I’ll take a bottle.”

Hearing this, the male Receptionist in the shop shook his head and cupped his hands. ”Ah, Fellow Daoist Lü. You’ve come at an inopportune time. Today is market day, so our stock has already sold out. It will take three days to restock. Perhaps you’d like to choose a different Pill?”

Lü Zhong’s brow furrowed slightly. ’To help break through, the gentle Origin-Nurturing Pill is the best choice.’

’Other Pills are either too volatile, making it hard to control the dispersal of their medicinal power, or they contain too little Spiritual Qi to be of any help in breaking through.’

”No, thank you. I only want Origin-Nurturing Pills.”

He walked out of the shop and went to ask the other two pill shops on the street, but he received the same answer: the Origin-Nurturing Pills were sold out.

’I can’t believe a place as large as Qingliu Square can’t even maintain an adequate supply of Origin-Nurturing Pills.’ Lü Zhong had just discovered another one of Qingliu Square’s limitations.

The Loose Cultivators who gathered here were simply too weak, making it difficult to find even slightly High Tier items.

Ultimately, Qingliu Square was just too small.

So much so that even slightly High Tier cultivation resources could end up in the annual Workshop Market auction.

’Staying in a place like this for too long will probably slow down my cultivation speed.’

’It seems the plan to go to Yanling Mountain Market needs to be moved up on my agenda.’

With that in mind, he changed his plans and headed toward a restaurant, preparing to order a table full of Spiritual Food.

Spiritual Food could also help one break through, but it cost far more Spirit Stones than taking Pills. Lü Zhong hadn’t been willing to spend the money at first, but now that he had no other choice, he had to opt for Spiritual Food.

A bowl of Bright Green Spirit Rice for fifteen spirit stones, a plate of Steamed Spirit Fish for thirty-six, and a pot of Aged Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine worth twenty-seven spirit stones—this made for a standard breakthrough meal of spiritual food.

Although the meal was painfully expensive, he had to admit the food was absolutely delicious.

The Bright Green Spirit Rice was fragrant, soft, and chewy. Its texture was far superior to Cyan Rice Spirit Rice, and it contained more than ten times the Spiritual Qi. The meticulously Steamed Spirit Fish was just as impressive; seasoned with all sorts of precious spices, it had no fishy taste at all. Instead, it had a refreshing aroma that clung to the teeth, making it impossible to stop eating.

As for the Spirit Wine, it came in a small pot that likely held no more than a hundred milliliters.

But after just a few sips, Lü Zhong felt a wave of drunkenness wash over him. Startled, he quickly ate a few more bites of food to avoid the embarrassment of passing out.

To absorb every last wisp of Spiritual Qi, he let none of the food go to waste, eating until he had all but licked the plates clean.

When he was full, even his burps seemed to release puffs of Spiritual Qi.

’I can’t. I can’t waste any of the Spiritual Qi I’ve consumed.’

Sensing the Spiritual Power in his body beginning to boil, Lü Zhong sat cross-legged and focused on circulating the Water and Wood Sword Mantra. He hadn’t expected the Spiritual Food to be so effective; the bottleneck shattered instantly, and the Spiritual Power in his body surged once more.

And just like that, he broke through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer.

After the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, he finally stabilized his cultivation. Sensing the ceaseless flow of Spiritual Power in his Dantian, his expression was tinged with disappointment. He smacked his lips and muttered,

”So this is the power of the Qi Refining Fourth Layer?”

Compared to the Qi Refining Third Layer, his Spiritual Power had increased by sixty to seventy percent after breaking through to the Fourth Layer.

Beyond that, there were no other major differences.

...

A few days later, Lü Zhong took advantage of the Ghost Market’s opening to sell off all his spare goods.

First, he sold his old Storage Bag for 105 Spirit Stones. Then, he quickly sold the Lower-grade Magical Artifact, the Flame Spear, to a passing cultivator for 118.

In total, he earned 223 Spirit Stones.

Counting the Spirit Stones he already had, his total now exceeded three hundred.

Lü Zhong decided to save them for now. He planned to get himself a new Basic Skills technique, one with special properties.

He had this idea because there was a problem with obtaining the full Water and Wood Sword Mantra.

He had stopped by the Ten Thousand Laws Pavilion to ask about this Basic Skills technique. They told him that when the Magic Technique Pavilion changed hands, this Cultivation Technique wasn’t part of the sale. It had most likely been lost during the turmoil.

That was why he was considering switching his Basic Skills technique.

When he returned to Ninghe Lane, Lü Zhong saw a familiar figure standing at his gate. It was Li Dong, who had been gone for a long time.

He looked gaunt and much older, with streaks of white at his temples.

Upon seeing Lü Zhong, Li Dong’s expression brightened. He cupped his hands and said with a smile, ”Congratulations on breaking through to the Qi Refining Fourth Layer, Fellow Daoist Lü! Your future is promising!”

”Thank you, Fellow Daoist Li. To what do I owe the pleasure?” Lü Zhong said coolly.

”I want to discuss a deal with you!” Li Dong said after a moment’s hesitation. He glanced around and asked, ”May I come inside to talk?”

Lü Zhong thought for a moment and decided it was worth hearing him out, so he opened the courtyard gate.

”Come in.”

The two sat facing each other in the living room. Lü Zhong had no intention of brewing a pot of Spirit Tea for his guest and said directly, ”Just say what you need to say. I hope it’s a good deal.”

Li Dong didn’t seem to mind and got straight to the point.

”Have you ever heard of the General’s Tomb?”

Hearing this, Lü Zhong was suddenly reminded of the wilderness where the will-o’-the-wisps had appeared. He instinctively made the connection. ”You don’t mean the one in the southern wilderness...?”

”That’s right! The very same.” Li Dong gave Lü Zhong a surprised look, a hint of admiration in his voice. ”I didn’t think you’d know the location of the General’s Tomb. The tomb existed before the Qingliu Ruins were even established; its specific origins are unknown. There used to be a Tier Two Zombie lurking inside, but it was completely cleared out when the Qingyang Sect was developing the area.”

”If that’s the case, what business does Fellow Daoist Li have there?”

”I’m looking for a Coffin Mushroom.” As he spoke, Li Dong’s expression darkened. ”My son has unfortunately contracted a serious illness. As things stand, his only chance of survival is to consume a Coffin Mushroom, a powerful restorative.”

Only then did Lü Zhong understand that the boy was Li Dong’s own flesh and blood. No wonder he treasured him so much.

’But is that really the case?’

He wondered silently, but didn’t voice his doubts.

Returning to the matter of the Coffin Mushroom, the only place it could possibly exist was likely the General’s Tomb.

”I see. So, Fellow Daoist Li, your purpose is to ask me to enter the tomb with you to find this so-called Coffin Mushroom. What are you offering in return?”

Speaking pragmatically, he wouldn’t venture into a dangerous place without some benefit for himself.

Besides, he would need to investigate the General’s Tomb himself before deciding whether to participate. He couldn’t just take Li Dong at his word; he had to make his own judgment.