A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

’Rather than being knocked back to square one after a period of prosperity, I might as well cash in on this opportunity.’

...

In the blink of an eye, it was almost time for the Lantern Festival.

After a summer rain, Lü Zhong appeared in the small valley.

Countless rare and wondrous flowers adorned the place, making it look like a celestial paradise. Wisps of floral fragrance drifted on the air, inevitably bringing to mind the small moments of life from sixty years ago.

A wave of sadness washed over him.

He paid his respects, then lingered in the thatched cottage for a few more days before departing.

Upon returning to Ganquan Prefecture, he once again immersed himself in his cultivation.

Perhaps it was a case of his accumulated efforts finally paying off, for he successfully crafted a Small True Yang Talisman for the first time.

The finished Small True Yang Talisman was gold, the proper color for Sun Essence Qi. It felt distinctly hot to the touch, and a powerful force was contained within it.

He tested it out. Even against a Sea Beast, it could severely injure a Tier Two one.

”Its power is comparable to an ordinary Tier Three Talisman,” Lü Zhong concluded.

However, the primary purpose of this Yang Qi Talisman, infused with Sun Essence Qi, was to deal with Demon Cultivators or creatures like Zombie Demon Ghosts. To such beings, the Sun Essence Qi within the talisman was no different from a descending Tribulation Thunder.

He recalled that Changchun Valley had been acquiring large amounts of Sun Essence Qi recently.

They were even spending Sect Merits to do so.

Lü Zhong decided to stockpile some Small True Yang Talismans. They might prove to be of great use in the future.

He turned and left the Talisman Making Room.

The outside had been newly decorated. Painted lanterns hung everywhere, from the eaves to the treetops. Each one was exquisitely crafted, clearly the work of a master artisan.

Just then, Yu Feng’Er was directing a group of maids, making preparations.

Wrapping his arms around her from behind, Lü Zhong stroked Yu Feng’Er’s head and said, ”You need to prioritize your cultivation. From now on, just delegate tasks like this to others. I’m still waiting for you to reach Core Formation!”

”Ah, I know!” Yu Feng’Er’s cheeks flushed red as she pried away his mischievous hands.

Seeing the flickering in her eyes, Lü Zhong knew that this wife of his was still thinking about getting pregnant. She was probably afraid that once she broke through to the Core Formation Stage, it would be even more difficult to conceive.

’Sigh, honestly.’

So Lü Zhong leaned close to her ear and whispered, ”Starting today, you’ll enter seclusion to cultivate with me. We won’t separate until you reach Core Formation.”

”My husband...” Yu Feng’Er grew anxious.

”No room for discussion!” Lü Zhong cut her off directly.

...

They entered seclusion together.

Lü Zhong was no longer lonely, but it was a bit taxing on his back.

On a new day, when he got out of bed, he actually felt a bit of an ache in his back. For a Mid-stage Core Formation Cultivator, this was truly incredible.

It seemed as if Yu Feng’Er, in retaliation, had pulled him into dual cultivation for the entire night.

’Ah well, as they say, there are only bulls that work themselves to death, never a field that’s over-plowed...’

Putting the thought aside, he pulled the feigning-sleep Yu Feng’Er up and began supervising her meditation and cultivation.

If she didn’t complete her daily cultivation, she couldn’t even think about stepping out of the Quiet Chamber’s doors.

He shook his head.

’What has my life become?’

Pushing aside his stray thoughts, he also consumed a Miaoxing Pill.

The Miaoxing Pill was a Tier Three Pill refined from Molten Fire Essence and other spiritual materials. It was an extremely rare Gold Stone Pill, renowned for its significant effect in advancing one’s cultivation as well as for its severe side effects.

’I have no choice. I’ll have to take what I can get...’

After a session of meditation and cultivation, his cultivation advanced slightly once more.

Lü Zhong opened his eyes to find a pretty face extremely close to his. He didn’t hesitate to lean in, causing Yu Feng’Er, who had intended to tease him, to blush furiously.

”My husband, I’ve finished cultivating...” Yu Feng’Er said weakly.

”Hm? Let me check... You’re still a bit short. Take this pill and refine it.” Lü Zhong said nonchalantly, pulling Yu Feng’Er toward him with a magical force and feeding her a Tier Two Pill without another word.

The following days were basically a constant battle of wits.

Day by day, life passed in an interesting way.

「In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.」

Thanks to Lü Zhong’s relentless efforts, Yu Feng’Er finally reached the Fake Pill Realm.

’It wasn’t easy!’

Now that she was at the Fake Pill Realm, the next step was to prepare for Core Formation.

There wasn’t much to worry about in this regard. Shuini had sent over a Spiritual Object that could block the power of one Thunder Tribulation. Combined with the other Spiritual Objects collected by the Chengde Commerce Association in recent years, Yu Feng’Er’s chances of passing the Three-Nine Thunder Tribulation were not much lower than Lü Zhong’s had been.

...

「One early morning.」

”My husband, my opportunity for Core Formation has arrived,” Yu Feng’Er said suddenly.

Sensing her rapidly rising aura, Lü Zhong nodded heavily and smiled. ”Don’t worry. I’ll be by your side to act as your Dharma Protector. Just focus on Crossing the Tribulation!”

”Mhm!” Yu Feng’Er responded.

After getting dressed, the two of them went hand-in-hand to the nearby Qingquan Island.

The island had been modified with many auxiliary Arrays to aid in the tribulation. It had been prepared as her tribulation site, which would greatly increase her chances of success.

Lü Zhong didn’t think Yu Feng’Er would fail.

Her talent for combat was even higher than his own. She was just lazy and unwilling to practice on normal days, but she never dropped the ball when it mattered.

Once she finished regulating her breathing and meditating, Yu Feng’Er consumed the Golden Core Pill she had prepared.

As for Lü Zhong, he cast all sorts of Magic Skills and Divine Techniques upon himself. Boosted by the effects of the Star Gathering Skill, Star Blessing, and others, his aura reached its peak.

He brought out his Magical Treasures one by one.

Rouge, the Shimmering Gold Jade...

His Lifebound Treasure, the Star Mirror, had been nurtured for many years and enhanced with numerous rare spiritual materials. It was now a Six-layered Forbidden Treasure.

It hovered above Lü Zhong’s head, spinning on its own.

Between his brows, the Celestial Net Eye had also opened, vigilantly watching for any movement in the surroundings.

He was poised and ready to strike.

Time ticked by, second by second.

The celestial phenomenon of Core Formation was nearly identical to the emergence of a great treasure. Unsurprisingly, it attracted a large number of cultivators, including Foundation Establishment True Cultivators and even True Cultivators at the Core Formation Realm.

Seeing that someone was standing guard, they either turned back from a distance or offered their apologies and voluntarily retreated.

Just as the final Tribulation Thunder was about to fall, with Yu Feng’Er on the verge of successfully completing her tribulation...

Lü Zhong suddenly felt an inexplicable palpitation in his heart. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught sight of a massive shadow under the distant ocean surface rapidly approaching. His heart sank.

Without hesitation, he raised his hand and unleashed a Wood Thunder Skill.

He had been gathering power for the Thunder Skill for a long time, and its might was instantly increased by thirty percent!

BOOM!

A massive explosion erupted.

It was caused by the lightning electrolyzing the seawater.

”ROAR!!!” A furious roar echoed out.

Hearing this sound, Lü Zhong’s heart sank even further.

It was a Water Flood Dragon!

He had expected this.

To the Demon Race, an Immortal Cultivator’s Golden Core was an absolute top-grade supplement. This was also why the conflict between humans and demons could never be reconciled; after all, devouring a single Golden Core was equivalent to at least several hundred years of hard cultivation.

Even a Demon Beast whose Spiritual Wisdom had been awakened would find it difficult to resist such a temptation.

Sure enough.

When the water vapor dissipated, a Water Flood Dragon revealed itself.

The Water Flood Dragon bore some resemblance to the True Dragons of legend. Its body was a full hundred zhang long, with a pair of forked, pointed horns on its head. Its belly was also covered in scales, but with white patterns, while its back had ink-blue patterns that radiated a multicolored Spiritual Light under the starlight. Its four powerful claws were webbed, an evolution for moving at extreme speeds in the water, and even its dorsal fin was similar to that of a fish. Its tail was like a snake’s. On the upper part of its brow, there were protruding lumps of flesh that crossed between its eyes.

Despite being hit by a Thunder Skill, it only had a few extra scorched marks on its body.

’This... is a Flood Dragon?’

Lü Zhong felt an immense pressure.

This feeling came not only from its colossal size but also from its Flood Dragon aura.

Glancing at Yu Feng’Er in the distance, he didn’t retreat a single step.

”ROAR!” It let out another roar.

The Water Flood Dragon took the initiative and attacked.

It was born with the Water Manipulation Divine Technique, allowing it to control the flow of water as easily as moving its own limbs. After breaking through to Tier Three, it could even manipulate hundreds of millions of jin of seawater at once.

DONG! DONG! DONG!

A dozen massive pillars of water shot up into the sky!

Then, as if they had minds of their own, they converged on Lü Zhong in a combined attack.

Lü Zhong had no doubt that if he were hit by these pillars of water, he would die on the spot.

He dodged out of the way.

A mocking glint flashed in the distant Water Flood Dragon’s eyes. It clenched its left and right Flood Dragon Claws, and under its control, all the water pillars instantly exploded, transforming into countless water needles that shot out in all directions.

Struck by this blow, more than half of the Gang Qi protecting Lü Zhong’s body was instantly worn away.