A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

He got up and left the Quiet Chamber.

Lü Zhong went to the Waterside Pavilion to rest, and as it happened, Yu Feng’Er was there too.

He subconsciously condensed a Star Shifting and Dipper Changing Seal, wanting to lightly tap it on Yu Feng’Er’s forehead, but he quickly came to his senses, realizing the action was a bit inappropriate.

He tried to pull his hand back.

But to his surprise, she leaned in.

Only after the Dharma Seal had merged into her Divine Soul did Yu Feng’Er belatedly touch her forehead. She noticed something new inside her, and for some reason, her face flushed red as she asked in a small voice:

”Husband, what was that just now?”

Lü Zhong was exasperated with his wife. ’She just leaned in without asking a single question. Isn’t she afraid I’d do her harm?’ He sighed silently, then patiently explained the seal’s function in detail.

”Ah, if that’s the case, will you be...?” Yu Feng’Er exclaimed in alarm.

Lü Zhong knew what she was thinking. She was probably afraid the Dharma Seal could only work on one person. He gently stroked her head and said, ”What are you thinking about? Don’t worry, I won’t be affected.”

He then started making small talk with Yu Feng’Er.

Perhaps because people had adapted to the changes in the environment, the Southern Barbarian lands gradually calmed down.

Although a great number of people were still dying every day, everyone from the top to the bottom was getting used to it. It was hard to say if this was normal, but the idea that life and death are determined by fate was already deeply ingrained in people’s hearts.

Influenced by this, the saying ”more children bring more blessings” began to spread throughout the Southern Barbarian lands.

As their conversation reached this topic, Yu Feng’Er glanced at her own uncooperative stomach, and her eyes instantly reddened as tears threatened to fall.

’Women... how is she still like this even after reaching the Core Formation Stage?’

Lü Zhong felt utterly helpless but had no choice but to patiently console her.

The consoling lasted until the next morning.

Quietly getting out of bed, Lü Zhong glanced at the soundly sleeping Yu Feng’Er, put on his robes, cleaned himself up, and then turned to leave the bedroom.

Today, he planned to go to Changchun Immortal City.

To achieve Nascent Soul Formation, the Nascent Soul Qi and Nascent Soul Immortal Guide from Shuini alone were not enough. If Lü Zhong wanted to succeed with his current aptitude, he needed to find more ways to increase his chances.

To that end, he was preparing to attend the largest trade fair in the Southern Barbarian Immortal Cultivation World—the Qian Nan Grand Assembly.

This grand assembly was initiated thirty thousand years ago by Qian Nan True Monarch. It played a major role in helping the conflict-ridden Seven Sects reach a basic consensus when dealing with the Barbarian Race uprising of that era.

At first, it was just a channel of communication for the Seven Southern Barbarian Sects, but it gradually evolved into a trade fair, held once every hundred years and hosted by the Seven Sects in rotation.

Furthermore, the Seven Sects had a tacit agreement that during the assembly, there would only be trading; all feuds and grudges were to be temporarily set aside.

Therefore, whether it was the Daoist Sect factions, other Southern Barbarian Sects, or even accomplished Loose Cultivators, none would miss this rare event. They often participated to trade for what they lacked.

Every time the grand assembly was held, quite a few good things would appear.

All sorts of treasures and rare materials emerged one after another.

At the last Qian Nan Grand Assembly, a Spirit Treasure even appeared, causing a sensation not only in the Southern Barbarian lands but also reaching the ears of those in the East Sea, which led to considerable turmoil.

’A hundred years ago... that seems to be when Changchun Valley and the Daoist Sect went to war.’ Lü Zhong recalled this memory and couldn’t help but suspect that the reason for the war was related to the appearance of the Spirit Treasure back then.

’To know the truth of the matter, I’m afraid I’ll have to reach the Nascent Soul Realm.’

The information one could access at different Realms was sometimes worlds apart.

In fact, if Shuini hadn’t mentioned the Qian Nan Grand Assembly in her recent letter, he probably still wouldn’t know that the Southern Barbarian lands had a trade fair that required Core Formation Stage Cultivation just to qualify for attendance.

He flew across the sea.

Along the way, he dealt with a few Evil Spirits that blocked his path.

Soon, Lü Zhong arrived at Changchun Immortal City.

This day also happened to be the day of the Changchun Domain’s grand auction.

Before the auction began, many cultivators had set up stalls, displaying goods they had prepared in advance, and other cultivators were indeed coming to inquire about prices.

If both parties could agree on a price, a deal would be made.

The once somewhat desolate Changchun Immortal City started to bustle with activity, as if trying to dispel the gloom of the past and return to its former days of prosperity and excitement.

”Murder! An Evil Spirit is killing people!”

Suddenly, someone screamed.

An Evil Spirit made of flowing water had burst out from the cracks between the stone slabs. The yellow, turbid, and foul-smelling water gathered into a humanoid shape and enveloped a cultivator who couldn’t dodge in time.

The water churned, and in just a few moves, it had turned the person into a bloody pulp.

Having successfully devoured a person, its body shot up from its original three feet to nearly ten feet tall.

Just as the water-shaped Evil Spirit was about to make another move and pounce on a nearby stall owner who was scared stiff, several Magic Skills landed on its body.

They were followed by even more Magical Artifacts.

For cultivators who would normally stand by and watch trouble unfold to willingly get involved and unite against it, it was clear how deeply everyone hated these Evil Spirits.

Ever since the chaos of the Withered Tide began, it wasn’t just mortals who suffered heavy casualties; cultivators were no exception.

This was especially true for low-level independent cultivators. They were already strapped for cash, and now they had to spend money specifically on Evil Exorcism Talismans to save their own lives, causing their cultivation to stagnate.

The appearance of these Evil Spirits was tantamount to destroying a person’s path of cultivation.

How could they not hate them?

Unfortunately, ordinary Five Elements Magic and Magical Artifacts, while having some effect on Evil Spirits, were generally very weak—not even as damaging as a single Evil Exorcism Talisman.

Perhaps everyone had forgotten to bring any, as they were momentarily unable to deal with this Evil Spirit.

The water-shaped Evil Spirit twisted its body, and the filthy water needles it released immediately injured several cultivators. Then, it reformed into its humanoid shape and opened a large mouth made of flowing water, intending to swallow the injured and grind them to death.