A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Ever since he successfully formed his Golden Core, Lü Zhong had not set foot outside his home.

He spent his days engrossed in the Artifact Refining legacies he had purchased. This was partly to avoid the dangers lurking outside, but also because he wanted to forge his Lifebound Treasure as soon as possible and escape the awkward predicament of his limited combat strength.

During this time, he had instructed the Chengde Commerce Association to search for the materials needed to refine his Lifebound Treasure.

However, despite searching for a long time throughout the Changchun Domain, the Commerce Association only managed to gather most of the materials on his list. Three rare spiritual materials remained, which were unobtainable even when they offered a fortune in Spirit Stones.

It wasn’t that these items didn’t exist in the Changchun Domain.

Rather, the families and Sects that possessed them knew their value all too well. They considered these materials part of their foundational resources, and every one of them wanted to save them for their own Golden Core Masters. They would never sell them unless they faced a major crisis or were in decline.

Getting them to part with the materials would take more time.

Time flew by, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.

With the materials still not gathered, refining his Lifebound Treasure was out of the question. To improve his ability to protect himself, Lü Zhong had no choice but to turn his attention to the Heling Feixing Scripture. It contained a Secret Skill from his legacy that could be learned in the Early-stage Core Formation.

It wasn’t a Treasure Skill for offense, but an Escape Skill that could save his life in a critical moment.

Meteor Escape.

By burning his own Essence Blood and Primordial Qi, he could achieve an Escape Speed far exceeding his current Realm.

The cost of casting it was not small, but it could be a lifesaver in a critical moment.

When one didn’t need to flee for their life, it could also be cast by consuming True Essence. The resulting Escape Speed was significantly faster than a standard Tier Three Escape Skill, making it very practical.

Realizing he had yet to learn any Escape Skills, Lü Zhong immediately began to practice.

As a Tier Three Secret Skill, Meteor Escape was self-evidently difficult to cast. It was significantly harder than the Tier Two Star Pulling Skill and Star Fusion Burst, and would require at least three to five months of dedicated practice.

Fortunately, he had plenty of time.

Having formed his Golden Core, Lü Zhong had at least another five hundred years to live.

After familiarizing himself with the Casting Spell and Hand Seals, he rose and walked out of the Quiet Chamber.

Outside, the sky was awash with the rosy hues of sunset, and the eaves of Lintao Pavilion were adorned with festive lanterns.

’The Lantern Festival is here again...’ Lü Zhong thought to himself.

...

For the Chengde Commerce Association, this year’s Lantern Festival was particularly different.

With a Golden Core Master like Lü Zhong in their ranks, the status of the Chengde Commerce Association had risen accordingly. They were able to secure a better location on Changchun Street and put up more impressive lanterns to display their newfound strength.

Yu Feng’Er had been busy on Changchun Street for over half a month preparing for the event.

”Chairman, the Golden Dragon and Ice Phoenix Lamp is assembled.”

The Steward in charge of the site came jogging over, not even bothering to wipe away his sweat as he reported, eager to claim credit.

The Chengde Commerce Association was growing rapidly. If he could win the Chairman’s favor at a time like this, he might one day be able to afford the Spirit Stones for a Foundation Establishment Pill. He could become a revered Foundation Establishment True Cultivator and have his name recorded on the first page of his family’s ancestral records.

Yu Feng’Er nodded lightly and looked toward the lantern display.

There, in an open space, stood a gigantic, magnificent lantern.

The lantern was the work of a renowned master, hired for a hefty sum. No expense had been spared; it was constructed with a vast amount of costly spiritual materials. Both the golden dragon and the ice phoenix were crafted to be incredibly lifelike, not in the least bit inferior to the lanterns of the Great Commerce Associations nearby.

Once lit, it seemed to come alive.

After watching for a moment, Yu Feng’Er’s brows knitted together. Her expression instantly turned cold, and anger flared as she demanded, ”Where is the item that was supposed to be inside the lantern? I gave instructions countless times. Why was it omitted?”

”Ah...” The Steward looked closely at the lantern’s core, and his legs instantly went weak.

”H-How could this be? I was so sure! It’s over...”

He knew full well how much importance his Chairman placed on the item inside the lantern’s core. She had given him countless reminders and instructions, all for the sake of presenting it to the master of Lintao Pavilion during the Lantern Festival.

And now, he had completely ruined everything.

Just then, Lü Zhong walked over.

Seeing Yu Feng’Er’s furious expression, he couldn’t help but ask, ”Is something wrong?”

”Husband...” Yu Feng’Er looked so aggrieved she was on the verge of tears.

She had wanted to give Lü Zhong a surprise, but her subordinates had ruined it.

”Tell me what happened.” Lü Zhong stroked Yu Feng’Er’s back, comforting her as his gaze fell upon the nearby Steward. Though he didn’t release the slightest trace of his Golden Core aura, a single look was enough to shatter the man’s composure.

”I... I really...” The Steward stammered, then suddenly remembered something. With a THUD, he fell to his knees and pleaded, ”It was this subordinate’s failure to supervise properly! Someone took the small lantern from inside!”

He remembered an Elder from the Yu Family had visited in the afternoon. Coincidentally, the Chairman had been out, and he himself had been summoned by someone from Changchun Valley to go over some precautions for the Lantern Festival.

Clearly, the small lantern the Chairman had so carefully prepared had been taken during that time.

He hurriedly explained the entire sequence of events.

He didn’t hide a single detail, nor did he dare to embellish the story.

”I see.”

Lü Zhong glanced at Yu Feng’Er and thought, ’This can’t be considered an internal matter for the Yu Family this time. I can’t just stand by and watch. There are quite a few Yu Family members in the Chengde Commerce Association. If a Yu Family Elder dares to sabotage the lantern Feng’Er prepared, who knows what else they might try in the future. The Chengde Commerce Association is becoming increasingly important to me. The future of my cultivation path will largely depend on it. Otherwise, am I supposed to risk life and limb out in the world every day, like the protagonists from the stories of my past life, rushing from one Secret Realm to the next perilous trial? A bunch of fools who can’t see the reality of the situation!’

Since they dared to provoke him, Lü Zhong, they would have to pay the price.

Lü Zhong already had an idea of how to deal with them, but today was the annual Lantern Festival. It wouldn’t do to cause a major disturbance and ruin the celebration.

”Come, I’ll take you to a Preaching Conference.”

”A Preaching Conference? Ah! Could it be...” Yu Feng’Er had just suppressed her feelings of grievance. Hearing Lü Zhong’s words, her mind immediately jumped to the grand event held at this time of year—a gathering that only Core Formation Masters were qualified to attend.