A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

’Well, this is...’ Lü Zhong was speechless.

They say all investments have risks, and he was certainly feeling it firsthand.

’Did I really just lose a Spirit-Seeking Rat worth nearly a thousand Spirit Stones, just like that?’

Fortunately, the situation wasn’t a total loss. When the family heard he was the owner of the Spirit-Seeking Rat, they apologized profusely and ended up compensating him with nine hundred Spirit Stones.

Accepting the Spirit Stones, Lü Zhong thought, ’This is a classic case of trying to get a little and losing a lot. What a huge loss.’

Resigned, he had no choice but to head for the Inheritance Hall.

On the way, he passed by the Treasure Hall, where the Sect Treasure Vault was located, and didn’t forget to go inside to exchange for his three-year supply of Secret Pattern Pills. Only then did he cross a series of covered bridges, walk for a while among the peaks shrouded in Cloud Qi, and arrive at the Inheritance Hall.

It seemed his luck had run out. The Foundation Establishment Master Uncle on duty inside was actually his master Shuini’s rival, Hong Biyun.

Next to her stood a pretty Female Cultivator, whose eyes were slightly red as if she had just been reprimanded.

Hong Biyun glanced at Lü Zhong and naturally recognized him at once as Shuini’s only apprentice. However, her expression wasn’t as cold as last time; she treated him no differently than any other disciple.

After registering him as usual, she said flatly, ”Alright, you may go in.”

Lü Zhong took his Identity Token, bowed with his hands clasped, and walked toward the inner part of the Inheritance Hall.

After Lü Zhong’s figure disappeared into the Prohibition, the pretty Female Cultivator beside Hong Biyun asked curiously, ”Master, is that the apprentice Master Shui took? He’s handsome, but he doesn’t seem particularly outstanding in any other way. It’s hard to believe he’s the one Ancestor Louu Xing personally praised!”

”You can’t judge a book by its cover, Yun’Er. You must remember that. Don’t just look at a person’s appearance...” Hong Biyun seized the opportunity to start lecturing her apprentice again, causing the pretty Female Cultivator to look miserable. Still, she could only listen obediently, lest she be caught letting it go in one ear and out the other and earn another scolding.

”...I know, Master. I’ll remember. I really will!”

...

Upon entering the main Inheritance Hall, Lü Zhong quickly found the sub-hall for the Flying Star Inheritance.

As an inheritance, the Magic Skills naturally came in a complete set. These combinations of Magic Skills, when carefully matched, could unleash immense power. This was also the greatest feature distinguishing sect cultivators from Loose Cultivators.

’Found it! This is the book, *The Flying Star Inheritance*!’

He opened the introductory book to the inheritance and saw it was densely packed with summaries of Magic Skills. Nearly half of them had the ”Flying Star” prefix, making him wonder if they were all Secret Skills that were never taught to outsiders.

However, as he read on, he realized he was mistaken.

According to the book, these Flying Star Magic Skills should more accurately be called Inheritance Magic.

’The Flying Star Qi Introduction Skill, the guiding technique for all Flying Star Magic Skills!’

According to the description, this guiding technique was indispensable for casting any Flying Star Magic Skill.

’Interesting. Is it similar to the breathing method for the Qingyang Fire Rain Technique? Except the Flying Star Lineage takes it a step further, replacing it with an extremely special Spiritual Power guiding method. This makes it almost impossible for an outsider to learn these Flying Star Magic Skills without first obtaining this Secret Skill.’

Lü Zhong flipped through the pages, his eyes gradually lighting up with excitement.

He especially couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret when he saw an Inheritance Magic called the ”Flying Star Flame Rain Skill,” which was similar to the Qingyang Fire Rain Technique. He regretted not choosing the Flying Star Inheritance sooner.

The Flying Star Flame Rain Skill was an enhanced version of the Qingyang Fire Rain Technique.

As an Inheritance Magic, it had its own unique advantages. Its power could be freely adjusted, from a violent bombardment of fire rain like a ”torrential downpour” to a gentle scorching like a ”continuous drizzle.”

As long as one mastered the Flying Star Flame Rain Skill, one could do either at will.

This was a significant improvement over the Qingyang Fire Rain Technique, whose power was fixed, as it allowed for precise control over Spiritual Power consumption.

The book even mentioned that with thorough mastery, one could cast deceptive versions of the skill—Magic Skills that looked vast and mighty but actually had no power, used to confuse an opponent.

’It truly lives up to its reputation for adaptability. With all this feinting and deception, it probably wouldn’t be hard to play an opponent like a fiddle!’ Lü Zhong marveled internally, gaining a new understanding of the Flying Star Lineage.

However, he had no intention of doing so. He was a firm believer in the simple, crude truth that ”enough force can make a brick fly.”

This type of Inheritance Magic, which could be altered at will, was the perfect skill for blanketing an area with Fireball Bullets, as long as one supplied enough Spiritual Power. It was perfectly suited for a cultivator like Lü Zhong, who had profound Magical Power from practicing the Four Spirits Technique and planned to cultivate the Gathering Element Technique in the future. The two were a match made in heaven.

He continued reading, dazzled by the array of Magic Skills.

After looking through them, Lü Zhong suddenly realized that the Flying Star Lineage didn’t seem to focus on cultivating Body Techniques. Instead, it aimed to compensate for this deficiency with a series of Inheritance Magic.

Take the ”Star Shifting Step,” for example. It was a short-distance displacement Magic Skill.

Its effect was somewhat similar to the legendary Instant Teleportation. It couldn’t cover exaggerated distances of thousands of feet in a single leap, but it allowed one to dodge and maneuver within a ten-zhang radius, similar to the distance covered by an ordinary Body Technique.

’No wonder...’ A look of understanding dawned in Lü Zhong’s eyes as he read this.

When he had watched Senior Sister Fengy’s match before, he had wondered why her Body Technique was so fluid and graceful, her dodges so fast that even the sword-wielding cultivators of the Profound Moon Lineage couldn’t keep up. It turned out to be because of this Inheritance Magic, the Star Shifting Step.

Having finished his research, Lü Zhong walked out of the sub-hall and approached Hong Biyun.

”Master Hong, this disciple wishes to receive the Flying Star Inheritance.”

”Hm? You’ve chosen the Flying Star Inheritance?” Hong Biyun’s expression did not change when she saw his choice.

”According to Sect rules, since you became an Inner Sect Disciple through the ranking tournament, you are entitled to one impartation. If you are certain about your choice, come with me,” Hong Biyun said indifferently.

Although she had issues with Shuini, she was still capable of separating her personal and professional duties.

Lü Zhong nodded and followed Hong Biyun to a side hall.

Entering the heavily guarded side hall, he saw that the vast chamber was empty, save for a shimmering, light-blue Prohibition in the very center, which faintly pulsed with a powerful Spiritual Qi fluctuation.

”Go inside and select the Flying Star Inheritance,” Hong Biyun instructed.

”This disciple understands!” Lü Zhong bowed with clasped hands and walked toward the Prohibition.

Prohibitions came in various sizes. A large Prohibition was a variant of an Array, usually formed by combining multiple Arrays, and thus possessed immense power.

One didn’t need to think hard to guess the general function of this Prohibition in the Inheritance Hall.

Besides imparting the techniques, it would certainly have the function of verifying one’s Divine Soul Aura to prevent outsiders from stealing the inheritance.

As he reached out and touched the surface of the Prohibition, Lü Zhong suddenly felt as if he were being seen through completely.

This sensation lasted for several breaths. Then, three options appeared on the surface of the Prohibition: ”Profound Moon,” ”Flying Star,” and ”Tuoyang,” representing the three great inheritances of the Heling Sect.

Lü Zhong had already made up his mind and directly selected the ”Flying Star” inheritance.

Instantly, a flood of Technique Mantras and Techniques surged into his mind. It was the complete Qi Refining section of the Flying Star Inheritance, including the Cultivation Technique and all its accompanying Magic Skills. Naturally, not a single Inheritance Magic was missing.

At the same time, a warning voice echoed in his mind.

”He who receives this inheritance shall have a secrecy Prohibition branded onto his Divine Soul. If the inheritance is leaked, whether voluntarily or through a Soul Search, the Prohibition’s countermeasure will be triggered. We advise you to be cautious in your words and actions!”

A chill went down Lü Zhong’s spine, and he committed the warning to heart.

When he came to his senses, the light of the Prohibition before him had receded, returning it to its original state.

Seeing that Hong Biyun had already left, Lü Zhong also exited the side hall.

’Now that all the preparations are complete, it’s time to set out!’

...

Lü Zhong rode the Red-tailed Eagle, flying at lightning speed.

He occasionally encountered other cultivators but paid them no mind, focusing only on his journey. After flying for a full day and night, he finally arrived at a place called Weier City.

The reason he came here was to meet the village chief of Water Summoning Village.

The distress letter had been sent by this person, passed along by a Cultivator Clan in Weier City before it reached Shuini’s hands.

To make the subsequent protection detail easier, Lü Zhong felt it was necessary to meet the Water Summoning Village chief first. He figured that if they could communicate well, it would save him a lot of trouble later.

Ten li outside the city, Lü Zhong jumped off the Red-tailed Eagle.

He took out a piece of Yin Scythe Mouse Meat as a reward for the beast.

After waiting for the Red-tailed Eagle to finish eating, he returned the Beast Taming Order and turned to walk toward Weier City.