A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Lü Zhong was astonished to find that this actually involved him.

”As you can see, Fellow Daoist Lü, I am in this sorry state because I failed to cast the Soul Gathering Technique. Not only did I not achieve my goal of extending my life, but I was hit by a backlash from the power of the Nai River. Even my original body has now transformed into an Evil Spirit.” Elder Yun’s voice was filled with regret.

He had hoped to use the power of the Nai River to make his soul immortal, but the failed Casting resulted in a backlash that also greatly affected Changchun Valley. Now, a single misstep could lead to the destruction of its ten-thousand-year foundation.

After a long sigh, Yun Yao revealed another piece of information: Changchun Valley was collecting Small True Yang Talismans to suppress the Evil Spirit that his body had become.

”An Evil Spirit? What’s that? I’ve never seen any record of them in the ancient texts.” Filled with astonishment, Lü Zhong pressed for an answer.

”There’s still no consensus on what Evil Spirits truly are. From what I know, back in ancient times before the Immortals spread the Dao, this realm was overrun with them. This is also why, apart from the Immortal Dao, all the other Heterodox Daos seem so bizarre and terrifying. The truth is, these Daoist Lineages are imitating and studying the Evil Spirits.” Yun Yao’s grave voice revealed ancient secrets unknown to Lü Zhong.

Some things, one only earned the right to know after reaching a certain Realm.

Evil Spirits were one of them.

”I see…”

Lü Zhong had always thought that techniques like the Thunder Skill and Yang Qi Talismans were meant for dealing with Heterodox Cultivators. He never imagined the real reason behind their existence involved Evil Spirits.

Although he wasn’t entirely convinced, he had a feeling Yun Yao wasn’t lying.

Lü Zhong didn’t know exactly how powerful Evil Spirits were, but considering they once ran rampant in this realm and were the very beings that Heterodox Cultivators sought to imitate and study, he figured they couldn’t be weak.

Suddenly, a thought occurred to him.

”If… if it’s impossible to suppress the Evil Spirit, what will be the consequences?”

”Consequences? You’ve seen a Soul of the Dead, haven’t you, Fellow Daoist Lü? In essence, it’s a suppressed Evil Spirit. The one that transformed from my body will be equivalent to a Nascent Soul Stage Level Soul of the Dead. With the added power of the Nai River, I’m afraid its strength will be no less than that of a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator!” As Yun Yao spoke of this, his voice turned heavy.

Late-stage Nascent Soul may seem only one Small Realm above Mid-stage Nascent Soul, but the difference in strength is enough to be completely overwhelming. If Changchun Valley fails to suppress it, a Soul of the Dead with the power of a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator will emerge in the Southern Barbarian lands.

At that point, the Southern Barbarian lands will revert to an ancient era.

An era when Evil Spirits roamed the land and all living things struggled merely to survive.

”Are there no Tier Four Yang Qi Talismans, something similar to the Small True Yang Talisman?” Lü Zhong’s expression was grim, his heart filled with confusion as he asked.

”Hmph. They exist, but they are all in the hands of those few Immortal Sects in Central Earth. The high and mighty figures of those Immortal Sects couldn’t care less about the life or death of a mere Outer Small Sect. The worst outcome is just that the Evil Spirits run rampant in the Southern Barbarian lands, and it wouldn’t be the first time they’ve let something like that happen,” Yun Yao said with a few cold laughs, his tone dripping with contempt.

”Something similar… are you referring to the Western Realm?” Lü Zhong asked.

”The Western Realm? What about the Western Realm…?” Yun Yao asked, a puzzled look on his face.

A moment later, both Yun Yao and Lü Zhong realized they had misunderstood each other.

Lü Zhong held nothing back regarding the Western Realm. He had already decided to silence Yun Yao permanently, so there was no need for secrecy. He recounted everything—the great upheaval in the Western Realm and the Crimson Spiritual Energy that was polluting the land.

”Th-this… how is this possible?” Yun Yao cried out, losing his composure.

At this moment, he had completely lost the august bearing of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Seeing Yun Yao’s disbelief, Lü Zhong cast the Water Mirror Technique and projected some of the scenes he had witnessed during his trips to the Western Realm. Only then did Yun Yao finally accept the reality of the situation.

After a long time, Yun Yao finally spoke, a bitter smile on his face.

”Fellow Daoist Lü, you have stumbled upon something truly monumental! If I’m not mistaken, the anomaly in the Western Realm must be related to the Nai River. According to that Ancient Strange Book I read, those Heterodox Cultivators also call the Nai River the ’River of Ascension.’ Legend says it possesses the power to allow one to achieve Ascension…”

As he said this, Yun Yao drew in a sharp breath.

”Someone is trying to use the power of the Nai River to ascend to the Upper Realm!”

The moment the words left his mouth,

Suddenly,

a black mist abruptly materialized, centered on the Soul Nourishing Ring where Yun Yao’s soul resided.

With it came a terrifying aura that made one’s heart pound with fear.

Yun Yao’s expression twisted in horror, as if he were seeing something dreadful through the nameless black mist.

Through the haze, it seemed the other side of the black mist led to another place. A mountain-like figure sat cross-legged within, surrounded by swarms of flying souls. Slowly, it opened its eyes and looked in their direction.

A terrifying power was awakening.

The Soul Nourishing Ring trembled as the black mist began to pull it toward that other place.

”Fellow Daoist Lü, quickly!”

Yun Yao didn’t specify what he meant, but Lü Zhong understood immediately.

But he was pinned in place, finding it difficult to even lift a finger.

By biting the tip of his tongue, he managed to regain a sliver of freedom from the oppressive aura.

Without a moment’s hesitation, he activated a whole batch of Small True Yang Talismans.

In an instant, Yun Yao’s soul was obliterated.

Not even a trace of his True Spirit was left behind.

The black mist had appeared quickly, and it vanished just as fast.

In the blink of an eye, it was gone without a trace.

”Phew…”

Drenched in a cold sweat, Lü Zhong’s body went limp and collapsed to the ground.

’This is completely insane!’

He had never imagined that the anomaly in the Western Realm would involve the legendary Divinity Transformation cultivators—beings who stood at the very pinnacle of the Cultivation Realm.

Looking at the brilliant starlight shining upon his body, Lü Zhong knew exactly what was happening. That Divinity Transformation cultivator was trying to divine his location.

His heart instantly leaped into his throat.

If his position were exposed, he was afraid it wouldn’t even take a month for the other party to show up at his door. For a Divinity Transformation cultivator, killing a Core Formation Cultivator was easier than squashing an ant.

The starlight continued to flicker for three days and three nights before finally subsiding.

For some reason, the other party was never able to pinpoint Lü Zhong’s exact location.

He recalled an ancient text he had once read.

A passage in the book stated that Divine Power was several tiers higher than the power of Magic Skills. This meant it was entirely possible that his Star Shifting and Dipper Changing Divine Technique had blocked the other party’s attempt to peep at celestial secrets.

He then reviewed the incident using the Gray Mist Space.

And finally confirmed it.

The Divinity Transformation cultivator had indeed been unable to pinpoint his location because of the Star Shifting and Dipper Changing Divine Technique.

However, there was bad news as well.

Barring any surprises, the powerful being must now know that the person who stumbled upon their plan was located somewhere in the general region of the Southern Barbarian lands.

With the resources available to a Divinity Transformation Grand Venerable, Lü Zhong didn’t need to think twice to know they would send people to the Southern Barbarian lands to search for him with everything they had.

”Sigh, one problem after another…”

Lü Zhong couldn’t help but sigh.

At the same time, he was also secretly relieved.

Fortunately, he had been cautious earlier and hadn’t left any clues behind in the Western Realm.

’To think that person is actually plotting to use the power of the Nai River to ascend. Truly worthy of a Divinity Transformation Grand Venerable. A minor Core Formation Cultivator like me would never even dare to dream of such a mad plan.’

Ascending to the Upper Realm was still a distant prospect for Lü Zhong.

Only when a cultivator reached the Divinity Transformation Stage and found their cultivation could no longer advance an inch, limited by the Spiritual Qi and laws of this world, would they need to consider Ascending to the Upper Realm.

’But why did Yun Yao say the anomaly in the Western Realm was related to the Nai River? The Nai River is connected to the Nine Netherworld Yellow Springs… The souls within it are endless… Could it be that the mass death of living beings in the Western Realm is somehow helping that person’s plan succeed?’

’That’s it! The souls strengthen the power of the Nai River!’

At this thought, Lü Zhong’s expression changed drastically.

The consequences of Yun Yao’s failed attempt to extend his life with the Nai River’s power didn’t just send a prospering Nascent Soul Sect into decline; it also awakened an Evil Spirit with strength equivalent to a Late-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

So, if a cultivator as powerful as one at the Divinity Transformation stage were to fail, what would the backlash be like?

’I’m afraid,’ he thought, ’the world really would revert to the ancient era!’

But then he chuckled.

In any case, if the sky falls, there are taller people to hold it up.

Why should he be the one to worry about it?