A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 54: Chapter 53: New Waves Arise

Peaceful days drifted by.

It only took Lü Zhong one day to switch his Cultivation Technique. However, the Qi Refining Chapter of the Four Spirits Technique had nine layers. It took him a full two months to cultivate from the First Layer back to the Fourth Layer, restoring his former Realm.

It was high summer once again, and the Lantern Festival was just around the corner.

On this day, Lü Zhong set up his stall as usual, laying out the Talismans he had drawn.

Because the creation of Evil Exorcism Talismans was always limited by his Yang Qi, his output of them remained pitifully low. As a result, he sold two types of Talismans at his stall: the Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talisman for ten talismanic coins each, and the Evil Exorcism Talisman, which sold for a whole One Spirit Stone a piece.

Before long, a customer approached.

He was a rugged-looking man with a dark complexion, dressed in coarsely stitched leopard skin. He carried a hunting bow wrapped in cloth strips on his back and wore a finely forged longsword in a deerskin scabbard at his waist.

This was one of Lü Zhong’s regular customers, an old hunter who made a living from the hunt and often bought a few Arrow Avoidance Talismans.

”Talisman Master Lü, three Arrow Avoidance Talismans, please!” the old hunter called out, same as always.

Hearing this, Lü Zhong reached into his Storage Bag, took out three Seven Profound Arrow Avoidance Talismans, and handed them over.

After accepting the talismanic coins, he glanced at the old hunter’s empty back and couldn’t help but ask, ”Hm? How come you aren’t carrying any boars or pheasants to sell today?”

Usually, when the old hunter came to the market, he would bring some game to sell in exchange for supplies.

But for some reason, he had come empty-handed today.

”Sigh, it’s a long story. I was recently conscripted by an Immortal Master from the Five Spirits Sect to scout the mountain paths to the south. I almost died in those forests several times.” As he spoke, the old hunter looked thoroughly shaken by the memory.

Then, he glanced around cautiously. Seeing no Five Spirits Sect disciples on the street, he lowered his voice and said mysteriously, ”I don’t know if it’s true, but I heard the Five Spirits Sect is about to go to war with the Qingyang Sect. Have you heard anything, Talisman Master Lü?”

War?

Lü Zhong’s heart jolted when he heard this, but his expression remained calm as he shook his head. ”I haven’t heard anything like that.”

”Is that so...” The old hunter sounded a bit disappointed to hear that, but he didn’t leave.

Seeing his expression, Lü Zhong knew exactly what the man was thinking.

After a moment’s thought, he picked out a Cleaning Talisman from the stack on his table and handed it to the old hunter.

”I can’t confirm if the news is true, but thanks for the tip all the same.”

The old hunter took the Cleaning Talisman, a smile spreading across his weathered face. ’I’ll have to keep my ears open for more news in the future,’ he thought. ’Maybe I can trade it for another Cleaning Talisman or two.’

After thanking Lü Zhong profusely, he finally turned and left.

At his stall, Lü Zhong was lost in thought.

The old hunter’s news wasn’t just an empty rumor. Combined with the fact that he’d been conscripted to scout the southern mountain paths, it was likely that the Five Spirits Sect, having stabilized its control over Qingliu Market, was now plotting something against the Qingyang Sect.

He then recalled some of the negative rumors about the Five Spirits Sect. It was said to be a Sect that would stop at nothing to achieve its goals.

Among these rumors, whose truth was hard to discern, it was even mentioned that the Five Spirits Sect had once dispatched its own disciples, disguised as Demon Cultivators, in order to seize Qingliu Market.

Thinking of this, Lü Zhong couldn’t help but feel extremely worried about the future.

’This war probably won’t start immediately,’ he mused. ’To see if I have the strength to protect myself, it seems necessary to undertake a third trial to test my abilities. Since I’ve finished switching my Cultivation Technique and my corresponding Magic Skills are proficient, maybe it’s time I found a Demon Beast to practice on.’

Having made his decision, he planned to head to the Tongfu Tea House after closing his stall for the day.

...

At dusk, Lü Zhong left the market alone.

Just as he had planned during the day, he had purchased accurate information about a Demon Beast’s lair from Shopkeeper Tong of the Tongfu Tea House. The target was a Tier One Steel-maned Boar.

The Steel-maned Boar wasn’t a Demon Beast that yielded precious materials, but its meat was rich in Demon Qi. That, combined with other materials like its hide and tusks, could fetch an income of over a Hundred Spirit Stones.

After deducting the cost of the information, he would probably be left with eighty or ninety Spirit Stones—a decent profit.

Lü Zhong had chosen it after careful consideration.

Although this Demon Beast possessed immense strength, it only knew two types of attacks: charging and goring. It wouldn’t be too difficult to deal with. Moreover, his Green Frost Sword could counter the Steel-maned Boar to some extent.

As long as enough Cyan Frost Cold Qi accumulated, he could eventually slow it down, at which point it would be nothing more than pork on a chopping block.

He encountered no one along the way.

Walking alone through the wilderness at dusk, Lü Zhong couldn’t help but marvel at how much he had changed.

Just a year and a half ago, he had been nothing but a rookie who had just entered the Cultivation Realm. Now, after a long and arduous journey and having experienced so much, he had finally become a cultivator who could walk the wilderness alone and dare to challenge a Demon Beast by himself.

Just as he was filled with emotion, a Spiritual Light suddenly flickered in his black-and-white vision.

Immediately after, the sounds of a fierce battle reached him.

’There are people in combat up ahead, and it sounds like a lot of them!’ Lü Zhong realized. He gazed at the forest before him, which was lit up like a fireworks festival with all sorts of flickering Spiritual Light, and abandoned the idea of going to investigate.

The constant sound of thunder rumbled from ahead—a clear sign that High-level cultivators were in combat. Terrifying auras washed over him, one wave after another.

’There’s no need to put myself in danger just to satisfy some pointless curiosity.’

After some thought, he decided to circle around the area to avoid getting caught up in the fight.

’Have the Five Spirits Sect and the Qingyang Sect already gone to war?’ Lü Zhong wondered as he took a detour, his expression shifting uncertainly.

If that were true, it was definitely bad news.

Once a war started, unless a victor was decided quickly, there would never be a day of peace.

And Qingliu Square, as the front line between the two major Sects, would most likely become a fortified stronghold or a point of contention for both sides. To continue staying in such a place would be tantamount to standing under a crumbling wall.

’It seems I really can’t stay in Qingliu Square any longer.’

Lü Zhong sighed. He decided that after this trial was over, he would move to Yanling Mountain Market.

He had already figured out the route to Yanling Mountain long ago. He had just been reluctant to leave Qingliu Square, since, in a way, the place had become his hometown.

Sighing heavily again, Lü Zhong cast aside his stray thoughts and focused on his journey.

From time to time, traces of wild beasts appeared in his vision. Occasionally, he would also spot one or two small animals that hadn’t hidden in time, as well as other creatures like snakes and birds.

But as for Demon Beasts, there wasn’t a single trace.

He traveled for four ancient hours, and soon it was the fourth watch of the night.

When he reached a mountain stream, his gaze fell upon a cave opening in a moss-covered boulder.

Faintly, he could hear the sound of heavy breathing coming from within.

’Just like the map indicated, this should be the Steel-maned Boar’s lair.’

In his vision from the Qi Observation Skill, he could vaguely make out a massive Blood Shadow. He could tell there was indeed a Demon Beast hidden in the cave, but he couldn’t confirm its identity.

’If only I had a Puppet Mechanism Beast...’