A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

By using the Human-Faced Flood Dragon Banner’s Fire-Eating Divine Technique to shatter the Purple Smoke Ball, Lü Zhong finally broke free. He flickered into an empty space, four small swords orbiting him.

Meanwhile, the Star Mirror continued to spin above his head.

This exchange had given Lü Zhong his first real taste of combat between Nascent Soul cultivators.

Compared to the straightforward battles of the Core Formation Stage—which relied on simple Magical Treasures, Magic Skills, and Secret Skills—the methods available to Nascent Soul Cultivators were far more diverse. He reckoned that once Divine Power Techniques were involved, combat would become even more bizarre and unpredictable, with an array of tactics that were impossible to defend against. He’d fallen for a trap this time, for instance.

If not for his Flood Dragon Spirit Banner and Human-Faced Flood Dragon Banner, he feared he truly would have fallen at Huoyaozi’s hands.

When Lü Zhong saw the Jade Tube burst open and release three brightly colored little insects, he knew they were dangerous. He immediately channeled his restored Magical Power, causing the Star Mirror to shoot out beams of Mirror Light, dealing with the insects one by one. Only then did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Afterward, the two exchanged several more blows.

In the process, Lü Zhong was pleasantly surprised to discover that while Huoyaozi seemed formidable, she really only had a few tricks up her sleeve. Once he countered the techniques she relied on, her strength was actually inferior to his.

But one person’s joy is another’s sorrow.

Huoyaozi, for her part, was now growing tense, all her earlier arrogance gone.

Watching Lü Zhong press his advantage, she couldn’t help but speak up. ”Wait, friend! Why don’t we each take a step back? If this continues, we’ll only end up destroying each other. I am willing to apologize and offer you a generous gift. Let’s end our grudge here and now.”

”And you think I would agree to that?” Lü Zhong’s tone was grim.

’Huoyaozi was the one who ambushed me and pushed me into a life-or-death situation. If I hadn’t been able to turn the tables back then, I’d be dead. Now that she’s losing, she wants to smooth things over? The world doesn’t work that way.’

Lü Zhong couldn’t be bothered to waste any more words on her.

’If you dare to make a move, you must be prepared to face the consequences.’

Besides, he was the one with the upper hand now.

After another fierce exchange, Huoyaozi was clearly on the losing end.

”Fine! You forced my hand!” Huoyaozi spat out a mouthful of foul blood, her face contorting with rage as she glared at Lü Zhong. She then formed a Technique Mantra, and the Six-Green Snake Hairpin immediately reacted, transforming into six streaks of green light that shot into her body.

The sound of sickening, corrosive sizzling followed.

A fleshy mound, covered in grotesque faces, bulged from Huoyaozi’s back. The mass of flesh writhed for a moment before detaching and sloughing off her body.

This was the Poisonous Nuo Corpse, a Secret Skill of her own creation. Refined from the toxic blood of a Medicine Man, it was essentially a type of incarnation, yet it possessed considerable power—enough to hold off even a Nascent Soul True Monarch for a short while.

The detached Medicated Corpse quickly wriggled and twisted, forming a humanoid shape.

She then touched her Storage Ring and threw out a dozen or so Jade Tubes filled with bizarre poisons. The tubes shattered upon hitting the Poisonous Nuo Corpse, dyeing its cyan body a rainbow of colors.

”Go! Stop him for me!” Huoyaozi commanded the Medicated Corpse, her eyes filled with venomous hatred.

As soon as the Medicated Corpse charged forward, she turned and fled without another word. In an instant, she transformed into a green rainbow, tearing through the sky and escaping into the distance at an incredible speed. She had clearly used some kind of acceleration Secret Skill.

Seeing this, Lü Zhong abandoned any thought of pursuit and focused his attention on the Medicated Corpse.

The Poisonous Nuo Corpse was, admittedly, a handful. Not only was it resistant to both Magic Skills and Magical Treasures, but it also possessed powerful self-healing abilities. Combined with the deadly poison coating its body, it was the kind of opponent that would give any ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator a massive headache.

Fortunately, it was afraid of fire and Thunder Skills.

He raised his hand and cast Thunder Swamp, instantly enveloping the Medicated Corpse.

By the time it escaped, it was scorched black from head to toe.

Before it could even catch its breath, a roaring Purple Flame surged forward and entangled the Poisonous Nuo Corpse. The creature shrieked madly as it burned, its aura weakening rapidly until, in just a few moments, it was reduced to ashes.

”Finally, that’s dealt with.” Lü Zhong sighed in relief. He glanced in the direction Huoyaozi had fled and hesitated.

’Although Huoyaozi’s aura had clearly diminished after using that Secret Skill, it didn’t mean her strength was completely spent. If I chase her rashly and she mounts a desperate counterattack, I might be the one to pay a heavy price.’

’Forget it. My goal has been achieved; there’s no need to stir up more trouble.’

After all, he was just a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator. To fight and defeat a veteran Nascent Soul cultivator was already an incredible accomplishment.

He tucked the memory of this grudge away.

With a flicker of his body, Lü Zhong once again became a streak of rainbow light and continued on his way.

...

「In the Quiet Chamber.」

The firelight flickered.

Lü Zhong sat cross-legged on a cattail mat, refining materials into the Star Mirror.

His fight with Huoyaozi had made him realize the huge gap in strength between himself and a veteran Nascent Soul cultivator.

Although he had ultimately won his combat against Huoyaozi, he suspected the outcome might have been different against another Nascent Soul opponent.

This filled him with a sense of urgency.

And the fastest way to increase his strength was undoubtedly to enhance his Lifebound Treasure.

Thanks to the trade with the Western Realm, Lü Zhong had acquired a significant amount of Star Stones and other similar materials. In just three short months, he successfully upgraded the Star Mirror, turning it into a Thirteen-layered Restriction Magical Treasure. Once he carefully nourished it with his Nascent Fire, its power would increase even further.

He finished refining the last piece of Spiritual Que Jade.

Lü Zhong stopped, a helpless expression on his face.

’Increasing one’s strength is a gradual process, after all,’ he thought. ’It’s unrealistic to expect to do it all at once. Fortunately, I still have an Evil Technique I can use...’

The corners of his mouth lifted slightly at the thought.

With a flip of his hand, he produced an object—the Sword Summoning Box.

”’Nourish the sword with Sword Qi, then use an Incarnation to activate the treasure, sacrificing the Incarnation to kill the enemy.’ As Lü Zhong recalled this treasure’s heretical use, his eyes gradually brightened.”

Without further thought, he immediately brought out the Thunder-Attracting Needle. He used it to generate an endless stream of Sword Qi, which he then poured into the Sword Summoning Box. The box, in turn, absorbed it all.

This way, he would have another trump card when the Ten Thousand Witches Hall finally arrived.

...

「Time passed, day by day.」

Lü Zhong’s life was exceptionally peaceful.

Having reached the Nascent Soul Stage, he stood near the apex of the Cultivation Realm. As long as he didn’t go looking for trouble, trouble would rarely find him. Aside from his unwavering routine of taking Pills to advance his cultivation, he also made sure not to neglect his comprehension and practice of various Secret Skills.

Occasionally, he would also engage in dual cultivation with Yu Feng’Er.

This not only pleased both body and mind, but also helped to dispel the fiery restlessness in his Magical Power.

「In the blink of an eye, summer passed into autumn.」

During this time, with the aid of Spirit Forging Fire Pills, Lü Zhong finally mastered the Third Layer of the Flame Manipulation Technique. The effectiveness of his Spirit Forging Fire increased significantly as a result. The Pill Poison purification effect, which had been lagging behind his needs, was once again sufficient for his cultivation requirements.

Yet, instead of joy, this brought him worry.

Achieving Great Success with the Spirit Forging Fire meant that the technique’s potential had been exhausted.

From now on, the only way to improve his Pill Poison purification was to enhance the power of his Spirit Fire. But that path, even with the help of the Fire Cultivation Mantra, was an incredibly arduous one.

Lü Zhong knew this from personal experience.

Even with the resources of an entire Sect at his disposal, allowing him to gather a massive amount of Flame Essence, and even with all that, and after spending decades cultivating his Purple Nether Extreme Fire, the results were still less than ideal. While the increase in the Spirit Fire’s power was certainly satisfying, the corresponding improvement in Pill Poison purification was disappointing.

By his careful calculations, it was less than a tenth of the benefit gained from achieving Great Success with the Spirit Forging Fire.

’If I can’t find a way to further improve my Pill Poison purification, I’ll have to set aside time each day for arduous cultivation just to dissolve the Pill Poison that accumulates from taking pills. My time is already tight as it is; this would stretch my schedule to the breaking point.’ At this thought, Lü Zhong’s brow furrowed deeply.

’I have to find a solution.’

’Otherwise, the speed of my cultivation will slow down drastically.’

Tucking the matter away in his mind, Lü Zhong rose and walked out of the Quiet Chamber.

It was autumn, yet the Bihai Sect remained a sea of verdant green. The trees and flowers showed no signs of withering, and only the abundant fruit hanging heavy on the branches gave any hint of the season.

He made his way to the Insect Nest.

He had barely arrived when Su Caocao led a group out to greet him. The group included many Foundation Establishment Cultivators, all of whom were Stewards responsible for the Insect Nest’s operations. Every one of them wore a terrified expression.

As for the reason...

Lü Zhong already knew why, thanks to a report from Su Caocao.

There was a problem with the Insect Nest.

The Great Honey Insect Nest, which produced vast quantities of Spirit Ascending Honey every year in exchange for a tremendous amount of Spirit Stones and resources, played a pivotal role in the Bihai Sect’s prosperity.

It would not be an exaggeration to call it the very foundation of their prosperity.

But now, a strange disease was spreading through the Insect Swarm.