A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Having already retreated several yards without a sound, Lü Zhong’s expression remained unchanged as several gazes fell upon him. He stared at Li Wuzhen and said, ”Aren’t your words a bit too arrogant? There are four of us here. If we work together, it’s still uncertain who will come out on top. Do you really think being at late-stage Foundation Establishment makes you invincible?”

At these words, Chengg Danan shot him a surprised look, and Chen Xiaohe’s eyes widened in shock.

Only the Child followed Lü Zhong’s example, subtly backing away.

”If that’s how it is, then you can all just die,” Li Wuzhen said coolly, as if he were dealing with nothing more than a group of ants. The small silver hammer in his hand flew out again, but this time, its target was the retreating Child.

He was going for the weakest link first—a principle everyone understood.

THUD! THUD! THUD!

Dust and debris flew as the small hammer slammed down repeatedly, causing the ground to undulate like waves—a testament to its terrifying power.

And yet, the Child managed to narrowly avoid each strike.

His face was pale, a clear sign that his vitality was severely depleted. Whatever technique he’d just used must have come at a steep price.

”Together! He’s only one person!” Lü Zhong commanded in a cold voice.

’Normally, I would have abandoned the other three and fled on my own.’

’But there was something good in that spirit medicine field!’

’For that prize, I’ll grit my teeth and fight this Li Wuzhen. I saw the looks on Chengg Danan’s and Chen Xiaohe’s faces; I know this guy is no pushover.’

’But so what? If I’m going to make a move, now’s the time!’

He slapped his Storage Bag, and the Qingyang Mirror flew out, enveloped in a radiant glow.

”A Spiritual Artifact!” Chengg Danan exclaimed, his face a mask of astonishment.

’This Fellow Daoist Lü is truly hiding his strength. To think he even possesses a rare Spiritual Artifact.’

Seeing this, he felt more assured and temporarily abandoned the idea of fleeing.

’With a Spiritual Artifact like that on our side, we might actually have a chance to drive Li Wuzhen back.’

He exchanged a look with Chen Xiaohe. Then, they both summoned their Magical Artifacts and joined Lü Zhong’s attack.

Far away, the Child who had just escaped with his life watched, his expression turning grim and uncertain. He glanced toward the distant spirit medicine field, where Thunderlight flickered on and off, and his eyes couldn’t hide his yearning.

When he saw that Lü Zhong’s group of three could actually hold their own against the Small Hammer Talisman Treasure, the Child finally made a decision. He immediately sat cross-legged and spat out a small, cyan banner. It was painted with gold and silver patterns of a dragon and a tiger, so vivid they looked ready to leap off the fabric.

This was an inherited Magical Artifact the Child had obtained, named the Dragon and Tiger Banner. It had once been the legacy treasure of some Minor Sect.

It was thanks to this banner that he had been able to overcome his past. Once a dwarf who endured constant scorn, he had relied on a will of iron far beyond that of ordinary people to rise from a Little Independent Cultivator. Step by step, he had earned the resources for Foundation Establishment and become a Foundation Establishment True Cultivator whom everyone respected.

He muttered an incantation, then violently spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood.

In an instant, the Dragon and Tiger Banner pulsed violently, and Spiritual Light began to pour from it.

Then, the cry of a dragon and the roar of a tiger boomed out. Amidst surging winds and gathering clouds, a Dragon Shadow and a tiger appeared: one, a draconic phantom, and the other, a massive, solid tiger with two wings.

With a low shout, the dragon and tiger charged toward Li Wuzhen together.

Facing an attack from four people, Li Wuzhen’s expression showed not a hint of alarm. Instead, he began to laugh loudly.

”Hahaha, do you really think the four of you working together can do anything to me?”

As he finished speaking, the Small Hammer Talisman Treasure in Li Wuzhen’s hand exploded with a ring of Spiritual Light, forcing the four attackers back. His jade-like hands formed a series of seals, and he began chanting an incantation.

Then he took a deep breath, his abdomen swelling like a drum.

He exhaled, unleashing a furious gale!

Wherever his lips pointed, a raging current of wind as sharp as blades rolled forth.

The first to bear the brunt of the attack was Chengg Danan, who couldn’t retreat in time. He hadn’t been the closest, but Lü Zhong had backed away the fastest, so Chengg Danan became the primary target. Suddenly, he felt the world go dark as a storm of flying sand and rolling stones surged toward him.

Flashes of Spiritual Light erupted as his life-saving treasures were destroyed one after another.

In a matter of moments, even his Protective Gang Qi was dispersed.

The distant Child watched, his eyes wide with disbelief.

”Daoist Divine Techniques!”

How could he not recognize it? This was the greatest power the Daoists of Huayi Temple relied upon.

Unlike the cultivators in the Lingyue Domain, the Daoists of Huayi Temple were neither Magic Cultivators nor Artifact Cultivators. They relied solely on the Daoist Divine Techniques they cultivated themselves. It was said the power of these techniques was in no way inferior to a Spiritual Artifact’s.

’Seeing it today, I know it’s true!’

At that moment, the Child completely abandoned any thought of the prize in the spirit medicine field.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he waved the Banner Flag. The phantoms of the dragon and tiger enveloped him, carrying him swiftly into the distance.

When Lü Zhong saw this, he thought, ’This guy is even more decisive than I am.’

’But I have no intention of giving up.’

’Li Wuzhen is using a Daoist Divine Technique. I can tell that much at a glance.’

’Not only that, I can even tell it’s the Sand Flying Stone Divine Technique.’

’Daoist Divine Techniques are powerful, but they aren’t flawless. Their Magical Power consumption is terrifying. Li Wuzhen must have been trying to trick us into handing over the Golden Palace Jade Talisman earlier. He wanted to avoid spending a massive amount of Magical Power to break through it.’

Seeing Chengg Danan sent flying, covered in blood, Lü Zhong couldn’t help but applaud him internally.

’You’ve done well, fellow Daoist. I’m surprised you lasted that long!’

He couldn’t resist another glance at the spirit medicine field. His eyes fixed on a stalk of the Thunderlight Pill, and his resolve hardened.

The Small Hammer Talisman Treasure was clearly losing momentum, its power all but spent. Lü Zhong directed his Qingyang Mirror to intercept and tie it up. Then, he stroked his left hand, and the Qianfeng Ring began to glow with Spiritual Light.

A moment later, a Qianfeng Spear shot out.

On the other side, Li Wuzhen spat out more furious wind, sending Chen Xiaohe flying in just a few blasts.

She was truly worthy of being a Sect Disciple; she had no shortage of life-saving items on her. She actually managed to get up from the ground quickly, looking only a little dusty and disheveled. Seeing this, Li Wuzhen’s expression darkened.

The sound of an explosion to his side forced him to abandon his plan to finish the woman off.

Despite his excellent Qi Nourishing Technique, Li Wuzhen almost cursed out loud when he turned to look.

”A second Spiritual Artifact!”

’I’m one of the Seven Sons of Huayi, and I don’t even have a single Spiritual Artifact, yet this young man opposite me has two.’

His breathing quickened, and he struggled to maintain his composure.

”Die, you insignificant Loose Cultivator!”

Li Wuzhen tossed a Pill into his mouth, immediately took a deep breath, and formed a series of Magic Fingers with his hands. Instantly, another raging gale erupted from his mouth.

Potent as the Qianfeng Spear was, it was effortlessly dispersed by the gale.

’You can only understand the true terror of a Daoist Divine Technique by facing it head-on!’

’I thought I had a good estimate of its power, but only now do I realize how absurdly wrong I was.’

’If I had to describe it, it felt like I was fighting against the might of heaven itself.’

’Damn it! If Daoist Divine Techniques are this powerful, why don’t the texts rank them up there with Sword Cultivators and Thunder Law Cultivators? It’s completely misleading!’

He cursed internally but had no choice but to resist with all his strength.

’My First Layer of defense is the Ink Crystal Shield and the Water Pattern Shield.’

At that moment, his Magical Power drained away like a torrent, and the Water Pattern Shield shattered in an instant.

With a harsh grinding sound, even the Ink Crystal Shield only lasted a few moments before exploding into a shower of debris.

’This is insane!’ Lü Zhong thought.

’I have no idea how Chengg Danan and Chen Xiaohe managed to survive that. They were only injured, not killed.’

’My Second Layer of defense is the Three-Flower Jade Talisman from the old Heling Sect Leader. It still had enough power left to block a single Foundation Establishment attack, but it only held for an instant before crumbling to white ash and dissipating.’

Looking over at Li Wuzhen, he could see the first signs of his power failing.

’I know that if I can just block this wave, he’ll have no choice but to flee.’

’The Third Layer of defense, a Golden Palace Jade Talisman that had already lost half its power, quickly shattered as well.’

Gritting his teeth, he took out his last remaining Golden Palace Jade Talisman.

’Once I use this, the protection Shuini gave me will be gone for good.’

He crushed it without hesitation, and a protective shield materialized.

Time seemed to crawl by, each second an eternity. For the first time, Lü Zhong understood just how powerful a true elite from a major Sect could be. It was completely beyond his expectations. They were truly in the highest tier among cultivators of the same realm.

’If Chengg Danan and Chen Xiaohe hadn’t been there to wear him down first, I doubt I would’ve had even a sliver of a chance.’

Finally, the furious wind from Li Wuzhen’s mouth ceased.

’I won!’

A cold light flashed in Lü Zhong’s eyes as his Qianfeng Ring condensed another Qianfeng Spear.

In the distance, the Small Hammer Talisman Treasure, its power exhausted, reverted to a silver talisman and burst into flames.

The Qingyang Mirror, now free, immediately flashed and shot out beams of Mirror Light.

Li Wuzhen’s expression finally changed. He immediately summoned a Dharma Treasure Lamp, which released a brilliant light to barely protect him.

Facing a nearly unscathed Lü Zhong, he knew his chances of victory were gone. His expression flickered with indecision before he finally crushed a silver Jade Talisman.

Instantly, an immense Spiritual Pressure descended.

Under the crushing weight of this immense Spiritual Pressure, both the Qianfeng Spear and the Mirror Light dissipated.

And Li Wuzhen’s figure rapidly vanished within the pillar of light that descended with the Spiritual Pressure.

The pillar of light appeared and vanished in a flash.

Lü Zhong watched this unfold, sighing with a mix of emotions.

’To have a Teleportation Talisman as a life-saving trump card... That’s a luxury to be jealous of!’

Letting Li Wuzhen escape was a definite regret, one that would surely lead to future trouble.

Fortunately, he hadn’t come away empty-handed.

Looking toward the depths of the spirit medicine field, Lü Zhong’s gaze gradually grew feverish.