A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

”Hahaha, Fellow Daoist Zhuyuan, you jest. Would I, Nan Cang, be the sort of petty man to shrink from a fight? However, if you really were to make a move, then I would certainly avoid a confrontation. After all, I am deeply wary of your Candle Origin Fan!” Nan Cang declared brazenly, without a hint of shame.

Zhuyuan’s beard twitched upon hearing this.

He had no time to trade barbs with Nan Cang. There were more important matters to attend to; the conflict with the Daoist Sect could be settled later. With a simple lift of his hand, he led Huoyaozi and the others away.

As he watched the five figures depart, Nan Cang’s expression instantly darkened. He glanced back at the Stone Hall, and after a moment of thought, decided to leave it be for now. Just like Zhuyuan and his party, he also had a critical task to accomplish: a mission from the Gui Miao Upper Sect that the Eternal Life Hall could not defy.

...

”So this is Jade Dragon Grass?”

Gazing at the strangely shaped Spirit Grass in his hand, Lü Zhong failed to see any resemblance to a jade dragon. But since it was a Thousand-year-old Pill, he certainly wasn’t going to pass it up.

He glanced over his shoulder. A mountain-like Demon Beast lay dead on the ground behind him.

The Demon Beast’s origins were unknown. The fact that it wasn’t mentioned in any known records meant it was unsurprisingly weak. Despite possessing Tier Four strength, it hadn’t been able to withstand a hundred breaths against him.

After harvesting its valuable parts, Lü Zhong continued toward his next destination.

The Outer Hall of the Ten Thousand Witches Hall was a veritable gold mine.

For the sake of his future cultivation, he decided to gather as much Spirit Medicine as possible.

Increasing one’s cultivation was already difficult, and it was even more so at the Nascent Soul Stage. Without Pills, relying solely on absorbing nature’s spiritual energy made for despairingly slow progress.

’Now that such a rare opportunity has presented itself, how could I just let it pass?’

Before long, he arrived at the base of a towering, crimson peak.

The peak was a thousand zhang tall, piercing the sky like a great torch. It was completely shrouded in fiery clouds, a striking contrast to the lush green jungle surrounding it.

This was Lü Zhong’s next target.

”Hm? Someone’s coming.”

Lü Zhong let out a soft sound of surprise, his gaze suddenly shifting to the southwest. Two Escape Lights were flying toward him, side by side. One of them looked vaguely familiar—apparently, an old ”friend” of his.

’Qingding.’

Recognizing the person, Lü Zhong vanished from sight, simultaneously suppressing his aura to its absolute limit.

A moment later, the two Escape Lights touched down.

Only then did Lü Zhong see that the Nascent Soul Cultivator traveling with Qingding was Fire Dragon of the Xuanyang Sect. He couldn’t help but wonder, ’Strange, what purpose brings the two of them here?’

To avoid being discovered, he averted his gaze.

The Spiritual Sense of a Nascent Soul Cultivator was astonishingly sharp; one could never be too careful.

”Fellow Daoist Fire Dragon, according to the message from the Elder in the valley, the mountain peak ahead hides the Fire Lotus you need. As I mentioned before, a Seven Extremes Fire Scorpion is guarding it. They say the beast’s strength is not to be underestimated. Are you certain you have a way to handle it?”

Qingding walked ahead, sending a voice transmission to Fire Dragon as they went.

”A true Seven Extremes Fire Scorpion, once it reaches Tier Four, is a ferocious creature with strength comparable to a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator. Of course I couldn’t handle that. However, if your information is correct, Fellow Daoist, the Demon Beast hiding in the mountain is most likely a mere Five Extremes Fire Scorpion. If so, dealing with it won’t be difficult.”

”I see. Good!” Qingding instantly understood Fire Dragon’s meaning and led him into a stone fissure up ahead.

Only after seeing the two of them enter the fissure did Lü Zhong reveal himself.

He had heard their entire conversation clearly using the Gray Mist Space, and it made him wonder if he should follow them.

’Might as well go take a look,’ Lü Zhong thought.

The two men ahead continued their conversation as they walked.

”...The encroachment of Evil Spirits in the Southern Border grows more aggressive by the day. If the Withered Tide breaks through the Spiritual Energy Great Wall, we Southern Barbarian Cultivators won’t even be able to return to our homes. In this situation, these so-called cultivators from the Upper Sects care only for their own missions and have no regard for the rest of us. It is truly disheartening. Fellow Daoist Qingding, for the sake of the ten-thousand-year friendship between our sects, perhaps you could be frank with me. What is the Eternal Life Hall’s real purpose for coming to the Ten Thousand Witches Hall?”

Qingding hesitated, remaining silent.

After a long moment, he finally prepared to speak.

But at that very moment, disaster struck!

A pillar of fire erupted from the crevice, engulfing the two of them in an instant. At almost the same moment, a fiery red figure shot toward them—it was a colossal, multicolored scorpion. Swinging pincers the size of a house, it aimed straight for the necks of Fire Dragon and Qingding.

There was no doubt whatsoever.

If those pincers found their mark, both men would be killed on the spot.

”A five-colored tail! It really is a Five Extremes Fire Scorpion!” Fire Dragon shouted to Qingding. This wasn’t a kind warning; he was simply afraid the other man would mistake it for a Seven Extremes Fire Scorpion and shrink from the battle.

The ”Five Extremes” referred to the five different types of fire venom the scorpion carried.

Its venom was so potent that it was nearly impossible to avoid.

But Fire Dragon advanced instead of retreating, raising his hand to summon a crystalline shield. This was his Lifebound Treasure, the ”Fire Dragon Shield.” It had been forged with a Fire Flood Dragon Essence as the core component, supplemented with several rare spiritual materials, and refined for a century within the Profound Sun Volcano Crater before finally being completed as a Magical Treasure.

Anything trapped beneath the Fire Dragon Shield would be assaulted by relentless flames.

Even a trapped Nascent Soul Cultivator would be reduced to ashes if they could not break free.

Watching the two men battle the Five Extremes Fire Scorpion, their fight collapsing the cavern in just a few exchanges, Lü Zhong was struck by a sudden inspiration. He realized this was the perfect opportunity to fish in troubled waters. Right now, Fire Dragon, Qingding, and the Fire Scorpion were all completely focused on one another.

He could take advantage of this opening to go and pluck the Fire Lotus.

But on second thought, Lü Zhong felt that was a bit petty. ’I am a dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch, after all,’ he mused. ’I should be thinking of an open and decisive victory, not skulking around in the shadows.’

’But this... this is how I survive!’

In reality, this ”skulking” could be reframed to sound much more impressive.

It was simply a case of ”when the snipe and the clam grapple, the fisherman profits.”

Soon, Lü Zhong had bypassed the battlefield and arrived before a Molten Rock Lake. Gazing toward the center of the lake, he saw a large patch of fiery-red lotus leaves. In their midst, a single crimson lotus flower glowed brilliantly, pulsing with a staggering amount of Spiritual Qi. The sight was incredible.

If he wasn’t mistaken, this had to be the Fire Lotus that Qingding had mentioned.

Seeing his target, Lü Zhong did not let his guard down.

With the help of the Gray Mist Space, he carefully inspected the area and quickly made a startling discovery. Hidden beneath the seemingly calm Molten Rock Lake was another Fire Scorpion. Judging from its seven-colored tail, this was clearly the legendary ”Seven Extremes Fire Scorpion.”

Lü Zhong’s mind reeled.

’That was close!’

’If I had acted rashly, I would have already ended up in the scorpion’s maw.’

’No, wait... it seems to be in a deep sleep!’ Lü Zhong realized.

After confirming several times, he was certain that the Seven Extremes Fire Scorpion was, for some unknown reason, in a state of deep slumber. It seemed unlikely to awaken unless there was a major disturbance.

’This is an opportunity...’

After a moment’s thought, Lü Zhong sent out an Incarnation.

It was just a matter of picking the Fire Lotus; there was no need for his true body to act personally. Whether the Seven Extremes Fire Scorpion was genuinely asleep or just faking it, sending an Incarnation to test the waters was the safest bet.

The Incarnation’s mission went surprisingly smoothly.

Soon, the fiery red lotus flower was in Lü Zhong’s hand.

’Another treasure! Hahaha, this trip was truly worth it...’ His heart swelled with joy, but he quickly suppressed his excitement.

He was still in a perilous place and had to remain vigilant at all times.

Meanwhile, Fire Dragon had finally managed to suppress the Five Extremes Fire Scorpion with his Fire Dragon Shield. Although the suppression would only last for a short while, it was long enough for him to retrieve the Fire Lotus he so desperately coveted.

He rushed to the Magma Lake and stared at the conspicuous empty spot in the center of the Lotus Pool.

Fire Dragon froze.