A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

On the way back to Lintao Pavilion.

Lü Zhong hunted two Sea Beasts, both of which were the delicious kind.

After sating his appetite, he continued his closed-door cultivation of the Celestial Net Secret Eye Technique.

The first layer of this skill required one to first construct a Spiritual Eye somewhere on the body to serve as the prototype for the future Celestial Net Eye. All subsequent cultivation of the Magic Skill would then revolve around this Spiritual Eye.

He chose to construct it on his brow, rather than in strange places like the palm of his hand or the back of his head.

In fact, this was the choice of most cultivators.

The construction process wasn’t difficult; one simply had to follow the instructions step-by-step.

The only trouble was that it was time-consuming.

The construction of the Spiritual Eye involved eighteen steps.

It involved three hundred and seventy-two Prohibitions, both large and small, which showed just how complex it was.

During the process, each step had to be completed in one go.

Otherwise, one would have to start all over again.

Lü Zhong spent a great deal of effort and two full years before finally completing it.

The Spiritual Eye, constructed from Magical Power, was not a true physical eyeball. When activated, it merely manifested as an eye-shaped Spirit Pattern on his brow, which emitted a Spiritual Light that extended for about a foot.

The Spiritual Light was exceptionally conspicuous, which went against his habit of keeping a low profile.

After adjusting it for a long time, he finally managed to retract the Spiritual Light until it resembled a woman’s Flower Ornament.

Although it was still eye-catching, at least he was no longer a ”walking light source.”

Only after constructing the Spiritual Eye did the true cultivation begin.

By continuously polishing and nurturing the Spiritual Eye, its internal Prohibitions would merge into one until it underwent a Metamorphosis into the Celestial Net Eye.

This process was a matter of slow, patient work.

There were no shortcuts.

...

Spring turned to summer, and an unexpected storm arrived.

RUMBLE!

After several claps of thunder, raindrops began to fall like cannonballs.

In the courtyard, Lü Zhong lay on a Grandmaster’s Chair, savoring the newly arrived ”Immortal Grass Tea from the Western Realm.”

Although he didn’t know which Western Realm this referred to, the Immortal Grass Tea was certainly delicious. It had a strong, sweet taste that could wash away a day’s fatigue.

Drinking tea after his daily cultivation had already become his habit.

As he drank his tea and read his book, his mind kept wandering.

A set of light footsteps approached.

”Master, the Beast Vehicle is ready,” a maidservant reported.

”Good.” Lü Zhong set down his teacup and stood up.

He went outside, boarded the Beast Vehicle, and headed east.

Today, he had to make a trip to Changchun Valley to attend an important meeting.

The mere thought of it made his brow furrow.

Living within the Changchun Domain, there were some things one simply could not escape.

If you enjoyed the benefits, you had to fulfill the obligations.

Take this time, for example. Changchun Valley and the neighboring Yan Zhen Sect had fallen into a serious conflict over a newly discovered, large-scale Spirit Stone Mine.

After a series of unsuccessful negotiations, both sides were now busy preparing for war.

As the number one Sect in the Southern Barbarian lands, Changchun Valley’s strength went without saying.

But the Yan Zhen Sect was not to be trifled with either.

This Sect was ranked fourth in the Southern Barbarian lands, but like the neighboring Huayi Temple, it was one of the Daoist Inheritance Sects.

Huayi Temple and the Yan Zhen Sect had long since formed an alliance.

According to Lü Zhong’s guess, Huayi Temple, the second-largest Sect in the Southern Barbarian lands, had likely fanned the flames behind the scenes for the conflict to have reached this point.

With war on the horizon, Core Formation Cultivators like him living in the Changchun Domain would inevitably be dragged into it.

Changchun Valley had given them two choices.

Either assist in the war effort or pack up and leave the Changchun Domain.

’Even a Golden Core Master can’t be free and unfettered!’ Lü Zhong had no choice but to be dragged into this. Fortunately, this wasn’t some great war that would decide the fate of a Sect; the intensity of the conflict was controllable.

But as for how many people would die, and who they would be, that was all down to luck.

As he was thinking, the Beast Vehicle slowly came to a stop.

Before him stood a Golden Hall. It wasn’t large, but it was far from simple, as one could tell just from its name.

”Changchun Hall.”

He walked inside. The vast hall felt somewhat deserted.

Cultivators stood in groups of three or five, while others stood in corners with their eyes closed in meditation. Without exception, their cultivation was at the Core Formation Stage, same as Lü Zhong. All of them were renowned figures within the Changchun Domain.

An old man with a graying beard, dressed in a plain Dharma Robe, saw Lü Zhong enter, and his eyes lit up.

He smiled and cupped his hands. ”Fellow Daoist Lü, long time no see!”

”Greetings, Mr. Chen!” Lü Zhong returned the gesture.

This was Chenqiong, a major partner of the Chengde Commerce Association.

The Chen Family controlled several large-scale workshops involved in everything from Alchemy to Artifact Refining. The Commerce Association entrusted many of the materials it collected to the Chen Family’s workshops to be processed into finished goods.

The two parties had a division of labor and had yet to encounter any major conflicts.

After exchanging greetings, the two began to chat.

Judging by Chenqiong’s expression and tone, he was clearly not too worried about this war.

”Rest assured, fellow Daoist. I’ve been through this kind of conflict several times. They’re usually all thunder and no rain. You can set your mind at ease. The two Sects will probably just go through the motions for a few skirmishes, and the war will be over.”

”Then I shall take you at your auspicious words, fellow Daoist!” Lü Zhong said with a smile, cupping his hands.

Despite his words, he did not let down his guard.

’War is no child’s play. I can’t be careless!’

As they talked, the number of people in the hall gradually increased.

The Core Formation Cultivators summoned here were not limited to those from the Changchun Immortal City area. Any Golden Core Master from the entire Changchun Domain who did not wish to abandon the foundations they had long been building had to come here for the meeting.

Just as the meeting was about to begin, Lü Zhong did a careful count.

’Thirty-seven people. To think that in the vast Changchun Domain, spanning tens of thousands of square li, there are only this many Core Formation Cultivators!’

Just as he was thinking this, an immense pressure descended upon them.

Wanmu True Monarch appeared, dressed in a green Daoist Robe and wearing a Lotus Treasure Crown. He was followed by a dozen or so Changchun Valley Masters, all of whom radiated a powerful battle intent.

Everyone’s attention was focused entirely on Wanmu True Monarch.