A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Chapter 142: Chapter 121: Unceasing Turmoil (2)

”Is that them?” Lü Zhong asked, looking at Li Hejun.

”Yes.” Li Hejun confirmed after a careful look, her tone certain.

”Wait here. I’ll be right back.” Lü Zhong cast the Light Body Skill and leaped down from a hundred zhang in the air.

「On the ground.」

Niu Fu received a report from his subordinate that a cultivator was descending from the sky.

”Huh? Is that Lü Zhong?” Niu Fu squinted at the figure in the sky, his voice uncertain.

Beside him, a handsome youth replied, ”Second Grand-uncle, it is Lü Zhong!”

”Are you sure? He’s clearly wearing the uniform of a Heling Sect disciple—an Inner Sect Disciple!” A bad feeling flashed through Niu Fu’s mind. According to his previous investigation, Lü Zhong was just a background-less Loose Cultivator at the Qi Refining Sixth Layer. That was why robbing him was no big deal; he didn’t have to worry about bringing trouble to the family.

But now...

Niu Fu finally got a clear look at the man’s face and couldn’t help but regret his decision. ’Sigh, I’m getting old and senile. Fortunately, it’s not too late to mend my mistake.’

A vicious glint flashed in his eyes as he watched the figure descend.

A few breaths later, there was a loud THUD as he landed.

Before the dust had even settled, dozens of Fireball Bullets shot out from within it, flying in all directions. It was as if they had eyes, each one heading straight for a member of the Niu Family’s convoy.

In an instant, scorching flames engulfed everything.

An azure glow gathered in both of Lü Zhong’s hands, forming into two Late Sun Magic Swords. He leveraged the overwhelming power of a Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator against Early-stage Qi Refining cultivators to dispatch the two Niu Family members who charged at him.

”You!”

Niu Fu never imagined that Lü Zhong would be even more ruthless than he was, attacking without a single word. He hastily summoned his Magical Artifact, hoping to use his decades of experience to restrain Lü Zhong.

But the moment they clashed, he realized that although they were both at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, their strength was on completely different levels.

And that was the benefit of Divine Sense.

With his Divine Sense, Lü Zhong’s reactions were incredibly fast, allowing him to counter every move.

In just over ten rounds, he had beaten Niu Fu to the point where he could no longer fight back.

With a sickening squelch, Niu Fu’s head flew high into the air.

Ignoring the small fry who were fleeing, Lü Zhong let out a long breath.

’Haaa... Vengeance really does clear the mind.’

He felt better than ever. It was true that some venting was necessary, especially when someone had pushed you too far.

Now, it was time to collect his spoils.

Using the Object Capturing Skill, Lü Zhong quickly collected all the valuables.

As for the Printing Machine...

’It’s like a child carrying gold through a busy market. Until I have the strength to protect it, I’d better put a stop to this for now.’ Lü Zhong then conjured a Fireball Bullet, melting the Printing Machine into molten iron and charcoal, leaving not a single complete part behind.

Controlling the Beast Taming Order, Lü Zhong once again mounted the back of the Ox-headed Crane.

Then, he flew toward the Heling Sect’s main gate.

...

「Time passed, and the day of the initiation ceremony arrived.」

Lü Zhong rose before dawn, washed up, and left his room.

Stepping out the main door, he glanced back at his new residence. It was a small, two-story bamboo house, much smaller than the courtyard he had previously rented. Its only praiseworthy feature was the high concentration of Spiritual Qi, which was far superior to that in Yongling City.

Cultivating in a place like this was twice as fast as cultivating down the mountain.

’No wonder so many Loose Cultivators would break their heads trying to become Sect Disciples. This treatment alone is enough to make anyone envious,’ Lü Zhong mused, recalling the sect benefits he had enjoyed over the past three months.

But it wasn’t all good news.

The Niu Family also had clan members among the Heling Sect disciples. Based on his observations over the past few days, he could clearly tell that someone was spying on him from the shadows. Evidently, the feud between him and the Niu Family was not yet over.

Lost in thought, he walked across a hundred-zhang-long covered bridge and arrived at a massive plaza.

The plaza was situated on a mountaintop in the center of the Heling Sect’s grounds. At this moment, streams of Cloud Qi whistled past, forming dragon-like currents that made the large ”Three Spirits Unification Seal” banners hanging around the plaza flap and snap in the wind.

Quite a few cultivators had already gathered here for the initiation ceremony.

As a newcomer, Lü Zhong didn’t know many people, so he found a less crowded corner and stopped. He passed the time by gazing at the illusory banner shimmering with Spiritual Light directly ahead, trying to guess its origin.

Just as the morning sun dyed the sea of clouds a golden yellow, three streaks of Escape Light flew in from the distant horizon together.

At the same time, a pressure originating from High-level cultivators washed over him.

Although it was very faint, Lü Zhong, who was experiencing it for the first time, still felt a sudden, baseless panic well up inside him.

Fortunately, the pressure vanished as quickly as it came.

”The three ancestors have arrived!” someone shouted.

Hearing this, Lü Zhong looked at the three figures who had landed on the high platform in front of the plaza. ’So these are the three ancestors who control the three branches of the Heling Sect, whose cultivation has reached the Core Formation Stage?’

This reminded him of the choice he faced regarding his Cultivation Technique inheritance.

The Heling Sect has three branches: Profound Moon, Flying Star, and Tuoyang.

All three inheritances are complete and allow for smooth cultivation all the way to the Nascent Soul Stage, though their focus differs. Profound Moon leans toward Sword Cultivators, Flying Star specializes in training Magic Cultivators, and Tuoyang emphasizes Body Refining Mystic Cultivation.

Lü Zhong still hadn’t decided which inheritance to choose.

In his opinion, it would be best if he could cultivate all three inheritances simultaneously.

After all, whether it was Sword Cultivators, Magic Cultivators, or Mystic Cultivators, each path had its own flaws.

Unfortunately, this idea was impossible to realize.

While the Four Spirits Technique could indeed be converted to any of the three inheritances, the price was a complete transformation of the Spiritual Power within his body. It would either become the sharp and fierce Profound Moon Sword Qi, the vast and enduring Flying Star Magical Power, or be largely converted into Tuoyang True Qi and integrated into his physical body.

’Thankfully, I don’t have to rush this decision before I reach Foundation Establishment.’

Lü Zhong decided to wait.

For now, he could use the Four Spirits Bead, a gift from his convenient new master, to suppress the latent conflict within the Spiritual Power of his Four Spirits Technique. Thus, he didn’t need to worry about any immediate issues with his Cultivation Technique. Rather than waste brainpower on these matters, it was better to focus his energy on cultivating.

After the three ancestors appeared, the initiation ceremony began in earnest.

It began with a solemn and formal ritual honoring the Founding Ancestors. By participating, Lü Zhong learned quite a few things. He discovered that the Heling Sect actually had a significant history and maintained deep connections with the Central Earth Sects.

As the ceremony dragged on, procedure after procedure, Lü Zhong became so sleepy he could barely keep his eyes open.

He suspected more than once that the three ancestors, who took turns speaking on the stage, were reciting a sleeping spell rather than giving a speech. Even a dignified Late-stage Qi Refining cultivator like himself was struggling to stay awake.

Fortunately, this didn’t last long.

Finally, the ceremony ended.

Lü Zhong walked alone toward the disciple residential area.

On the way, he passed a sprawling complex of magnificent buildings.

He suddenly remembered that he had yet to pay a visit to his convenient new master.

Although he didn’t particularly approve of this master, Lü Zhong figured it would be wise to pay his respects. Otherwise, he would feel too awkward to ask for her help in the future.

After identifying himself to the gate-keeping disciple, Lü Zhong was granted entry.

He followed the path, searching as he went.

Amidst the intoxicatingly dense Spiritual Qi, he soon found his convenient master’s cave residence.

Gazing at the sprawling, jade-green buildings, which appeared and disappeared in the swirling Cloud Qi, Lü Zhong couldn’t help but compare them to his own living quarters. He concluded that he was living in a ”pigsty.”

He submitted his visiting card and waited a long while before receiving a response.

”Sorry to keep you waiting, my dear disciple. Master will open the Array for you now.” The shimmering protective barrier that enveloped the entire cave residence, constantly flowing with light, suddenly opened into a circular hole just large enough for one person to pass through.

Inside, on the grass beneath a Laurel Tree, Shuini sat cross-legged in a simple Daoist robe, her aura still fluctuating.

Judging from the various medicine bottles scattered on the ground, she must have been in secluded cultivation.

”Disciple Lü Zhong pays his respects to Master!” Lü Zhong bowed respectfully.

While etiquette was a superficial formality that couldn’t represent one’s true thoughts, the act of bowing could show one’s attitude, letting the other party know that the disciple respected the master.

Indeed, seeing Lü Zhong act so deferentially, a satisfied smile appeared on Shuini’s face.

”My dear disciple, no need for such formalities.”