A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Her injuries weren’t severe, but she was covered in blood.

”COUGH COUGH, my good disciple, this is as far as your master can help you.”

For the time being, she would be unable to fight.

Lü Zhong helped Shuini onto the Flying Ship. He was immensely grateful that she had gone this far. Any other Core Formation Cultivator would have, at most, only stalled the Sea Dragon. They would never have risked injury to kill it.

He knew Shuini was helping him eliminate a future threat.

If the Sea Dragon had escaped, it would have been a real headache for Lü Zhong and the Chengde Commerce Association. One day, a convoy or fleet might have been attacked, resulting in massive losses.

”Thank you, Master. This disciple will never forget your kindness!”

Without another word, Lü Zhong left two bottles of Tier Three Healing Pills and hurried out.

With the Bidao Wanderer dead, the island of Bidao below erupted into chaos.

Without a Core Formation Cultivator to defend it, the Grand Array’s destruction was only a matter of time. Streaks of light were already rising from below, fleeing in all directions. The very reason he had summoned seven Flying Ships was to intercept these people.

’If they dared to make a move, they had to be prepared to die.’

...

「By noon, the battle was over.」

Lü Zhong stepped into the main hall of the Cultivation Association.

The hall reeked of blood. Bodies lay strewn about, and the blood was deep enough to nearly submerge his boots. Many of them were Evil Cultivators wanted by Changchun Immortal City. They knew that surrender meant certain death, so they could only cling to a final shred of hope and resist to the bitter end.

But in the presence of a Core Formation Master, all resistance was futile.

”Pavilion Master, all the surrendered cultivators from the Cultivation Association have been screened. How should we proceed with them?” Yu Yuqing, who served as vice chairman, walked in and asked respectfully.

”Kill those with blood on their hands. Send the rest to the Bitter Mine for ten years,” Lü Zhong said flatly.

Anyone who chose to join the Bihai Cultivation Association was no saint. If they had even a shred of conscience, they would have joined the Lianhai Alliance to band together for protection.

From what he knew, the Lianhai Alliance had been established precisely to resist the oppression of the Bihai Cultivation Association.

The captives’ testimonies also proved this point.

”Understood!” Yu Yuqing nodded.

He raised no objections. After all, members of the Yu Family were among the slaughtered Commerce Association personnel.

The others in the hall also agreed with this decision.

At that moment, Lü Zhong looked at the crowd and announced:

”Next, we will use the Cultivation Association’s headquarters as our base to begin constructing the Bihai Market. Vice Chairman Yu, send someone to negotiate with the Lianhai Alliance. See where they stand. It would be best to win them over.”

’As long as we offer the right terms, it shouldn’t be difficult to win over the Lianhai Alliance.’

Lü Zhong was confident enough in that regard.

Once these cultivators, who were familiar with the Bihai Island Group, joined them, the establishment of the Bihai Market would have a solid foundation of cultivators. The production of local Spiritual Objects would quickly recover, and it wouldn’t take long for it to grow into a proper workshop market. This would be a huge boon for the Commerce Association’s future exploration of the Nether Abyss Continent.

...

For the next few days, Lü Zhong remained on Bidao to oversee things.

He was both protecting the newly established Bihai Market and acting as a Dharma Protector for Shuini, allowing her to heal in peace without worrying about external threats.

Time flew by.

In the blink of an eye, nearly half a year had passed.

On this day, a Spiritual Qi Vortex suddenly formed in the sky above Bidao. It quickly took the shape of a funnel as a massive amount of Spiritual Qi gathered and poured into a secret chamber on the mountain peak.

A while later, Shuini emerged from the secret chamber with a smile.

Her Cultivation Realm had advanced; she had astonishingly reached the late-stage of Core Formation.

”Congratulations on your breakthrough, Master. The Nascent Soul realm is now within your reach!” Lü Zhong, who had been waiting outside, offered his timely congratulations.

”Not at all, it was just a breakthrough built on a solid foundation. The Nascent Soul Dao is still far out of reach,” Shuini said, shaking her head. Yet, she couldn’t suppress the joy in her heart.

As she spoke, she couldn’t help but laugh again.