A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Lü Zhong had never read any such description in the ancient texts before.

Shuini hadn’t mentioned it either, and given their relationship, she wouldn’t have deliberately hidden it from him.

From this, he deduced it was likely another form of knowledge suppression. Only this time, the target of the suppression had shifted from Sects against Independent Cultivator Clans to Central Earth against the Southern Barbarians.

Just then, he saw Hundred Flowers present the fruit.

Countless green threads shot out from the fruit, rapidly transforming into thick vines that swarmed toward the Ancient Rock Python. Despite the python’s desperate struggles, its massive body became a liability against the flexible-yet-strong vines. It looked as though it was about to be bound.

Suddenly, the Ancient Rock Python let out a long hiss as a brilliant light flashed across its body.

Streaks of gray light began to pour from its body, landing on the vines. Instantly, the vines turned white and gray. In the space of a few breaths, any spot touched by the gray light turned to stone. Then, with a flex of the Ancient Rock Python’s Giant Strength, they all crumbled into a shower of rock dust.

”Not good! It’s the Petrification Divine Technique! Fellow Daoist, stop it quickly!” Hundred Flowers’ expression changed as she cried out.

Her Ten Thousand Wood Spirit Fruit was most vulnerable to this kind of area-of-effect attack.

Lü Zhong nodded grimly. He naturally knew how to prioritize.

Compared to the minor issue of being plotted against, obtaining the Qiluo Immortal Lamp was far more important.

So, with a raise of his hand, he fired three consecutive Thunder Spears, aiming for the Ancient Rock Python’s eyes and massive mouth. The python sensed the power of the Thunder Spears and twisted its enormous body to dodge them. In doing so, the Petrifying Spirit Light it was emitting was naturally interrupted.

Seizing the opportunity, Hundred Flowers pressed her attack with the Ten Thousand Wood Spirit Fruit.

With their close coordination, the Ancient Rock Python was soon trapped.

”Quickly! This effect will only last for one ancient hour. We must get the Qiluo Immortal Lamp before the Magic Skill wears off,” Hundred Flowers said, then dove downward without a backward glance.

Watching her figure, Lü Zhong’s eyes grew thoughtful.

Although the woman had yet to show any malice, it didn’t stop him from taking precautions. ’After all, one can’t be too careful. A few extra preparations are always for the best.’

He gently lifted his sleeve and released an Incarnation.

Upon reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, an Outer Body Incarnation could also receive power from the main body. The process involved some loss, but it didn’t prevent them from wielding the power of the Nascent Soul Stage.

The same was true for self-destruction.

’I hope it won’t be necessary.’

With his backup plan in place, he followed close behind.

Upon entering the canyon, the concentration of Spiritual Qi rose sharply. It was impossible to tell how long the Spiritual Qi had been accumulating here, but its density was even greater than that of a Tier Four Spiritual Vein. In such a high-qi environment, even a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s cultivation speed could increase by a fair amount.

However, Lü Zhong hadn’t come here to cultivate.

Following Hundred Flowers, he soon saw her land beside a Spiritual Pool.

The Spiritual Qi in the Spiritual Pool was even richer than elsewhere in the canyon, but wisps of cold air rose from its surface. The moment Lü Zhong landed by the pool, a shocking chill washed over him, actually causing his Magical Power to become sluggish.

At this moment, green light once again shot from Hundred Flowers’ eyes.

She was inspecting the situation within the pool.

But seeing her frown, he figured she couldn’t see clearly.

Lü Zhong, however, was different. With the help of his Celestial Net Secret Eye Technique, the obstruction from the pool water and the cold air was almost nonexistent, allowing him to see the bottom of the pool with perfect clarity.

Just as Hundred Flowers had said, a Qiluo Immortal Lamp was indeed growing at the bottom of the pool.

’Judging by the look of this Spirit Medicine, its age should be close to ten thousand years,’ Lü Zhong noted silently. Without showing any change in expression, he shifted his gaze to the side of the Qiluo Immortal Lamp, where a small plant was also growing.

It was pure, flawless white and had only nine small, diamond-shaped leaves.

Through observation, he could tell that it was the source of the cold air in the Spiritual Pool.

But he had never seen a plant like it in any text.

’Whatever it is, to be able to release such a shocking chill, it must be an incredible treasure... Since Hundred Flowers can’t see it, this treasure should be mine.’

Lü Zhong felt no guilt about this. Treasures belong to those fated to find them. Since she couldn’t see it, she naturally had no right to a share.

Having made his decision, he turned to Hundred Flowers and said in a calm tone, ”The Qiluo Immortal Lamp is at the bottom of the pool. Shouldn’t you tell me now, Fellow Daoist Hundred Flowers, how we are to retrieve this treasure from the Cold Pool? I can see the chill in this Cold Pool is extraordinary. Even a Nascent Soul Cultivator might suffer frostbite to their physical body if they went down...”

”Rest assured, Fellow Daoist, I have come prepared! This Warm Jade is no ordinary object. It contains a trace of Sun Fire Essence, which will allow you to move within the pool for several breaths. With this Warm Jade, you will easily be able to harvest the Qiluo Immortal Lamp,” Hundred Flowers said, taking out a piece of golden jade.

”Sun Fire Essence?” Lü Zhong looked at the Warm Jade, a little stunned.

He hadn’t expected Hundred Flowers to possess something like this.

Sun Fire Essence was good stuff. It could be called the ”Ancestor of Yang Fire.” Regardless of the grade of the Yang Fire, whether it was an Innate Spirit Fire or an Acquired Spirit Fire, integrating even a trace of Sun Fire Essence would cause a complete transformation.

’If my Purple Nether Extreme Fire could refine this, it would surely gain immense benefits.’

’My body seems strong enough to withstand the chill in the pool. Perhaps I can use this Warm Jade for...’ An idea sparked in Lü Zhong’s mind. While he appeared to be contemplating, he was secretly using the Gray Mist Space to run a simulation.

In just over a hundred breaths.

The simulation results quickly came in: he could harvest both treasures in the pool at the cost of only minor frostbite, and he would be able to save the Warm Jade for himself.

At this thought, the corners of Lü Zhong’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch slightly.

At that moment, Hundred Flowers, who had been subtly observing Lü Zhong, noticed this minute change in his expression, and her heart skipped a beat.

”Damn it, he’s discovered our plan!” a demonic male voice echoed in Hundred Flowers’ mind.

”I don’t think so. You’re being too suspicious, Jing Yang. I don’t understand what he’s thinking or why his expression changed, but you have to remember, we haven’t even handed him the Warm Jade yet. How could he have discovered the trick we played on it?” Hundred Flowers replied, her voice devoid of any emotion.

”Hmph, I hope you’re right!” The male voice knew he was being paranoid again. He’d been this way ever since he started cohabiting her body, the polar opposite of Hundred Flowers.

With a cold snort, he fell silent again.

Their conversation took place entirely within Hundred Flowers’ mind; Lü Zhong, of course, was completely unaware. He then took the Warm Jade and, just as he had in his simulation, slowly stepped into the Cold Pool.

The moment he entered, a bone-piercing chill assaulted him.

But Lü Zhong already had a countermeasure for this.

Calmly, and without relying on the Warm Jade, he first accelerated the circulation of his Cultivation Body to enhance the protective effect of his Magical Power. At the same time, he used the Flood Dragon Transformation Technique. The resulting Flood Dragon Scales were not just for show; they had a considerable defensive effect against the encroaching chill. After that, he activated the Water Control Divine Technique of the Dharma Robe he was wearing.

With his knowledge from a past life, he naturally knew how to insulate himself from the cold.

Using the Divine Technique, he pushed the surrounding pool water away, forming a vacuum-like insulating layer. With this, the astonishing, bone-piercing chill was instantly weakened by more than half.

This couldn’t stop the cold air from seeping out of the pool water, but it did reduce the harm Lü Zhong would suffer, allowing him to move about in the pool unharmed for a while longer. This extra time was enough for him to harvest his target for this trip, the Qiluo Immortal Lamp, as well as that unknown little plant.

While Lü Zhong was harvesting the Qiluo Immortal Lamp, Hundred Flowers, on the bank, also made her move.

She first flicked her hand, shooting over a hundred small, green flags toward the edge of the pool. It was obvious at a glance that she was setting up some kind of Grand Array. At the same time, she was communicating with someone in her mind:

”Jing Yang, are you certain that wisp of Puyuan Fire Poison can truly paralyze a cultivator’s Nascent Soul?”

”I have firsthand experience!” Jing Yang said through gritted teeth.

It was because of the Puyuan Fire Poison that his body had been destroyed.

”Good. Then we’ll proceed according to plan. As we agreed, I will help you obtain a physical body, and you will help me remove the Gui Miao Divine Ban. You haven’t forgotten that, have you?” Hundred Flowers said, her tone completely devoid of emotion.

The reason she was so emotionless was because of the Gui Miao Divine Ban.

Furthermore, because of this Divine Ban’s existence, no matter how much she trained, her cultivation could never advance. She was forever trapped in the Early-stage Nascent Soul realm, destined to remain there until her lifespan was exhausted and she died.

This was not the ending the owner of a Ten Thousand Woods Spirit Body deserved.