A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

”Can I really attend?”

Lü Zhong patted her head and smiled. ”Of course you can. If others can bring their favored juniors, I can certainly bring my Dao Companion.”

”Dao... Dao Companion...” Yu Feng’Er’s face instantly turned red.

Her mind felt like mush.

She didn’t even realize Lü Zhong was leading her by the hand, the two words ”Dao Companion” echoing repeatedly in her ears.

By the time she came to her senses, they had arrived in a brightly lit grand hall.

The vast hall was divided into several areas.

Each area was filled with people—all Core Formation Cultivators who had brought their favored juniors. It was unusual for someone like Lü Zhong to bring his Dao Companion to a Preaching Conference.

Almost every Core Formation Cultivator in the Changchun Domain was gathered here.

Even so, there were just over thirty of them.

This wasn’t the Preaching Conference Yu Feng’Er had imagined; it was more like a banquet. Tables and chairs were set up in each area, laden with exquisite food and fine wine brimming with Spiritual Qi. Many of the dishes were priceless delicacies, nearly impossible to find in the outside world, yet here a serving was placed on every table.

Led by a serving maid, the two of them walked toward their seats.

Along the way, Lü Zhong spotted a white-haired old Daoist whose face was covered in age spots and looked noticeably more ancient than anyone else present. It was Master Dongbu, the master of Dongbu House.

He stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, ”Greetings, Fellow Daoist Dongbu.”

”Haha, so it’s Fellow Daoist Lü!” Seeing Lü Zhong’s greeting, Master Dongbu returned the gesture with a broad smile. He then called over a dark-faced young man standing beside him. ”This is my son, Dongbu Nan. What are you still standing there gawking for? Hurry over and pay your respects!”

The dark-faced young man seemed a bit slow-witted. Upon hearing this, he began to bow.

But it wasn’t a simple clasping of hands; he was about to perform a full kowtow.

”That’s wrong, you oaf!” Master Dongbu covered his face, so ashamed he wished the ground would swallow him whole. With a flick of his sleeve, he pulled Dongbu Nan up and made him perform a proper hand-clasping bow before turning to Lü Zhong with an apologetic smile. ”I’ve made a fool of myself in front of you, Fellow Daoist Lü...”

”Your son is...” Lü Zhong was so embarrassed he didn’t know how to respond.

He had not expected this at all.

What surprised him even more was that a renowned Alchemist like Master Dongbu, whose accomplishments in Alchemy proved he possessed an intellect far beyond ordinary people, actually had a son like this.

’Truly unbelievable!’

Most importantly, this Dongbu Nan only had a Fifth Level of Qi Refining Cultivation.

With Master Dongbu’s financial resources, his own son shouldn’t have such a low cultivation. Force-fed vast amounts of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, and eating all sorts of Pills like they were candy, he should at the very least be a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

From this, it was clear that Dongbu Nan must have Five Spirit Roots, the worst possible talent for cultivation.

The two of them chatted idly for a while until a bell chimed, bringing their conversation to an end.

They took their seats.

Soon, an oppressive presence descended upon the hall.

A middle-aged cultivator in a green Daoist Robe and a lotus-shaped Jade Crown, with a rather unremarkable appearance, slowly walked into the hall accompanied by a group of Changchun Valley cultivators. He finally sat on the main seat, which was floating in the air.

’So this is Wanmu True Monarch?’

A Foundation Establishment True Cultivator, a Core Formation Master, and then at the Nascent Soul Realm, a True Monarch.

In the Southern Barbarian lands, there were no Divinity Transformation cultivators, making Nascent Soul True Monarchs the absolute peak of power. A single word from them could determine a Sect’s fate, and a wave of their hand could destroy an entire Golden Core Clan.

A Core Formation Master might be awe-inspiring in the outside world, but they were nothing before a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

’A higher Realm truly does crush those below!’

Lü Zhong thought to himself. He had worked so hard to reach the Core Formation Stage, yet there was still such an existence looming over him. They could kill a Core Formation Master with no more difficulty than squashing an ant. Things like freedom and independence were out of the question; he would certainly have to abide by certain rules.

’But it’s still better than being at Foundation Establishment. At least a Master has theoretical freedom.’

Shaking his head, he pushed the thoughts aside.

Wanmu True Monarch was as amiable as the rumors said. He began with some pleasantries, praised the families and vassal Sects loyal to Changchun Valley, and, as was custom, made them some grand, tasty promises before finally addressing the crowd:

”Eat, eat, or the food will get cold.”

’Well, don’t mind if I do!’

Lü Zhong immediately started eating.

Besides bedroom affairs and drinking tea, this was his only other hobby.

It had to be said, the Spiritual Food prepared by Changchun Valley was light in flavor, which perfectly suited his palate. Crafted by a master Spirit Chef with superior knife skills and perfect cooking, it was a truly satisfying experience to eat.

Yu Feng’Er was also eating with her head down, but it seemed more like an attempt to hide her nervousness.

Partway through the meal, Wanmu True Monarch began his sermon.

The moment he started speaking, everyone’s chopsticks stopped.

They held their breath and focused, afraid of missing a single word.

Lü Zhong had intended to keep eating. After all, with the Gray Mist Space, he could rewind and replay this Preaching Conference countless times until he had squeezed every last drop of benefit from it.

But on second thought, that would be far too conspicuous.

’Forget it. I’m not here to show off.’

So, he also began to listen intently.

Just like any other Preaching Conference, the insights and realizations Wanmu True Monarch spoke of were vague and held back at all the crucial points, with only an occasional morsel of true substance revealed.

Even so, everyone present benefited greatly.

Beside him, Yu Feng’Er listened with rapt attention, completely mesmerized.

She had clearly absorbed a great deal from it.

When she came to her senses again, Wanmu True Monarch was already gone.

Looking around, she saw that many Masters had already left. Some other cultivators, as if they had grasped some enlightenment, had even sealed their five senses on the spot and begun meditating to digest what they had learned.

”Husband, I...”

Before she could finish, Lü Zhong waved his hand, activating a sound-muffling and screening Prohibition he had set up. He popped a piece of fish into his mouth and said, ”Go ahead.”

”Mhm!” Yu Feng’Er nodded vigorously and also sat cross-legged to digest her gains.

She sat like this until dawn the next day.

Lü Zhong was still eating. Changchun Valley had prepared a lot of food, enough for him to savor until now.

He felt a gaze fall upon him and saw that Yu Feng’Er had finished her meditation. Seeing the excitement on her face, he knew she must have gained a lot.

He deactivated the Prohibition. There were still quite a few people in the hall.

Those who could attend this conference were basically the geniuses of their respective clans and Sects. Their comprehension was beyond that of ordinary cultivators. Coupled with the fact that Wanmu True Monarch had deliberately catered to them during his sermon, it wouldn’t be surprising if one or two had an epiphany.

Seeing this, Yu Feng’Er secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

She had been afraid she would be the only one left, causing Lü Zhong to lose face in front of others.

As they walked out the door, a Changchun Valley Master came up to greet them.

He was here to recruit Lü Zhong, hoping to invite him to become a Changchun Valley Honored Guest Elder.

There were many benefits to becoming an Honored Guest Elder. The most direct one was a reduction in taxes. In addition, one could perform tasks to accumulate Merit, which could then be exchanged for treasures from the Changchun Valley’s Treasure Vault.

Lü Zhong chose to refuse, though his tone was polite.

The reason was rather simple.

He felt the risks of becoming an Honored Guest Elder outweighed the benefits.

Changchun Valley Honored Guest Elders were usually free and enjoyed many enviable privileges, but every ten years, they had to participate in a mandatory mission—one that required them to risk their lives.

He, Lü Zhong, was no ordinary Loose Cultivator. There was really no need for him to become an Honored Guest Elder.

Seeing that the recruitment had failed, the man had no choice but to give up.

He didn’t make any threats.

Judging by his expression, he seemed more disappointed about missing out on a referral commission.

...

Back at Lintao Pavilion.

Lü Zhong’s life returned to tranquility.

The collection of materials for the Star Mirror continued, and he didn’t slack off on his Meteor Escape practice either. He even took in four new concubines, as was fitting for his status as a Golden Core Master.

During this time, he also dealt with the Chengde Commerce Association and the Yu Family.

Relying on his absolute superiority in strength, he simply adopted a policy of ”submit or die.”

After this consolidation of power, there were no more voices of opposition.

「Half a year passed in the blink of an eye.」

In the Quiet Chamber.

Lü Zhong formed hand seals and began Chanting, his body flickering with Spiritual Light.

The next moment.

A layer of Spiritual Light covered the surface of his body.

If he wished, he could now easily soar into the sky, transforming into a streak of rainbow light and vanishing.

’I finally did it!’

Lü Zhong was overjoyed.

A Tier Three Secret Technique was not easy to cultivate. The reason he had made such progress was due to the huge gains he’d reaped from constantly rewinding and re-experiencing the previous Preaching Conference.

...

「Several days later.」

「Over a deserted stretch of sea.」

A figure slowly rose into the air. It was Lü Zhong, who had come out to sea to test his Meteor Escape.

After ascending, he transformed into a golden streak of rainbow light.

Suddenly, he accelerated sharply.

CRACK!

In that instant, the air around Lü Zhong compressed, and the water vapor rapidly condensed into a cone-shaped sonic boom cloud.

He shot out over a hundred zhang in a flash, disappearing without a trace in a matter of moments.

A Core Formation Master’s Escape Light was a Rainbow Transformation, and their Escape Speed could exceed the speed of sound.

”Hahaha, a physical body breaking the sound barrier! Cultivators are truly something else!”

”Next, let’s see how fast I can go by burning my Essence Blood and cultivation...”

No sooner said than done.

Lü Zhong rapidly formed hand seals and began Chanting.

The rainbow light he had become immediately turned golden-red. The trail of Spiritual Qi stretched for a hundred zhang, and his speed was pushed to the absolute limit. Even the scenery in his vision became a blur, his field of view shrinking to a narrow slit.

RUMBLE!

A streak of rainbow light shot across the sky.