A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

”Yes.” Lü Zhong nodded.

In the next instant, both of them attacked simultaneously.

Shuini used a White Jade Moon Sword. It was a rare style without a handguard, its design slender and fluid. Upon being summoned, it transformed directly into a full moon, radiating a cold lunar glow as it streaked toward Qingding and Huoyaozi’s hiding place—a rock shaped like a giant turtle.

Before the Moon Sword could strike, a dense barrage of Mirror Light had already overtaken it.

A chaotic bombardment forced the two figures out of hiding.

Qingding and Huoyaozi exchanged a glance, a look of unconcealable shock on both their faces. Neither could understand how they had been exposed.

Seeing the Magical Treasure’s attack bearing down on them, they no longer dwelled on the matter.

Qingding spat out a small, cyan sword.

This was his Lifebound Treasure—the Green Cauldron Sword.

As Magical Power surged through his body, the small sword grew in the wind, transforming into a giant sword over ten feet long. Its Spiritual Light flickered, unleashing a vast swathe of Sword Light. At the same time, the Mirror Light finally arrived and collided with the Sword Light. Like trading pieces in a game, they mutually annihilated, dissolving back into Spiritual Qi that returned to the world.

Just then, the full moon, glowing with a clear light, shot forward, leaving a trail of ice in its wake.

Seeing this, Qingding made a Sword Gesture and pointed forward.

BOOM! A deafening crash echoed.

Spiritual Qi billowed out like a tide, scattering in all directions.

The result was a green figure sent flying backward.

The full moon flickered, turning visibly dim, but its momentum was not yet spent. It continued its charge, knocking away four green snakes that had transformed from hairpins before finally exhausting its power. It then reverted to the form of the Moon Sword and, with a few fleeting shimmers, returned to Shuini’s hand.

Paired off, the four of them began a massive battle.

Just as planned, Lü Zhong faced off against Qingding.

Qingding had yet to realize that the person who had ambushed him at the Molten Rock Pool that day was none other than Lü Zhong. If he knew, his face would probably have turned the color of pig’s liver.

Without a word, he frantically channeled his power into the Green Cauldron Sword.

He continuously formed Sword Mantras and even spat out a mouthful of Essence Blood. Soaked in the mist of blood infused with Magical Power, the sword instantly erupted in a brilliant glow, spewing forth a torrent of sword images.

The cyan sword images converged, surging like a torrent with a rhythmic pulse. Each image radiated an astonishing Sword Qi, and wherever they passed, any rock they touched was instantly turned to dust.

But that wasn’t all. As Qingding formed another Sword Mantra, the sword images in the air began to multiply. In the span of a breath, ten thousand swords were attacking as one.

’Sword Light Bifurcation?’

’That’s a Sword Dao Divine Technique.’

Understanding the technique Qingding was using, Lü Zhong’s expression remained unchanged, still as calm as a gentle breeze and a light cloud. When it came to one-on-one combat, he had no fear of cultivators at the same level.

With a flick of his finger, he shot out a spark, releasing the Purple Nether Extreme Fire.

Then, he gently raised his left hand.

A Thunder Swamp was unleashed!

Assailed by both lightning and fire, the oncoming torrent of swords was instantly annihilated.

Qingding’s expression immediately grew solemn. He knew full well the power of his Sword Light Bifurcation technique. Yet, when used against Lü Zhong, it had been broken with such ease.

This was far beyond his expectations!

Before Qingding had much time to think, Lü Zhong was already making his next move. He held the Red Crow Sword in his left hand as a dazzling light erupted from his body, instantly cracking the ground beneath his feet into a spiderweb pattern.

He executed a series of Shooting Star Escapes, closing the distance in an instant.

Lü Zhong knew that Qingding was a Sword Cultivator through and through. Cultivators like him typically possessed agile Body Techniques, making it unrealistic to try and defeat them with Magic Skills alone.

The best method was to confront him in close combat.

CLANG! Sparks flew.

Spiritual Qi churned, forming a shockwave that swept out and shattered the surrounding mountains and rocks.

The Red Crow Sword pressed down on the Green Cauldron Sword. Feeling the immense force transmitted from it, Qingding’s expression grew even more solemn, and a great storm raged in his heart.

’Lü Zhong’s strength is absurd. This isn’t what a newly advanced Nascent Soul cultivator should be like.’

They clashed for dozens of rounds.

Although their duel didn’t produce brilliant flashes of light and resembled a fight between mortal Swordsmen, the reality was that the attacks of a Nascent Soul True Monarch were anything but ordinary. Sometimes the visual effects might seem unremarkable, even less grand than a battle between Foundation Establishment Cultivators. However, every strand of Sword Qi and every beam of Sword Light was condensed to the extreme, possessing astonishing power capable of splitting mountains and parting seas.

The surrounding terrain, battered by the aftershocks of their attacks, was rapidly and drastically changing. Mountain peaks collapsed into piles of rubble, and deep chasms split the ground.

An occasional stray Sword Qi would shoot into the sky, instantly cleaving through miles of clouds.

When a passing Core Formation Cultivator saw the four figures locked in mortal combat, his face turned pale with horror. Without the slightest thought of spectating, he immediately retreated in the direction he had come from.

He feared that if he retreated too slowly, he would be caught in the aftershocks of their battle.

If a Core Formation Cultivator were truly caught in the blast, they would be severely injured at the very least.

Meanwhile, Lü Zhong exchanged several hundred blows with Qingding.

Just as he had observed before, Qingding’s left arm injury had not yet healed. He was at a significant disadvantage in the exchange. Despite being a Sword Cultivator specializing in the Sword Dao, he was being suppressed by Lü Zhong, a Magic Cultivator.

Finding himself on the losing end, Qingding was already thinking of escaping.

However, Lü Zhong, relying on his own Escape Skill, relentlessly pursued him without any intention of stopping. Every time Qingding managed to escape some distance, Lü Zhong would quickly catch up with just a few flashes.

Qingding instantly understood. ’I’m afraid I’ll have to leave something behind today.’

’Either my life or my physical body.’

With a ruthless glint in his eyes, he spat a mouthful of cyan qi at the Green Cauldron Sword. The Flying Sword was immediately shrouded in a layer of green flame, and the Sword Light it pulsed with became almost tangible.

”Nascent Soul Qi?” Lü Zhong’s expression grew a few shades more solemn.

For a Nascent Soul cultivator, Nascent Soul Qi was tantamount to one’s cultivation itself. It could be converted into incomparably pure Magical Power, thereby enhancing the power of a Magical Treasure. It was often used in life-or-death struggles.

In other words, to spit out Nascent Soul Qi was to be ready to fight to the death.

It would be impossible for Lü Zhong to say he felt no pressure. Fortunately, he had the Flood Dragon Spirit Banners for protection—five of them in total.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! Five Little Flood Dragons shot out.

At the same time, he also used the Flood Dragon Transformation Technique.

Fine, dense scales covered his entire body. They provided a defensive buffer, at least ensuring that in the coming clashes, he wouldn’t suffer internal organ damage or have the webbing of his hand split from the transmitted force.

CLANG! A heavy impact.

Both the Red Crow Sword and the Green Cauldron Sword let out a series of mournful cries.

With his Lifebound Treasure damaged, Qingding’s face paled slightly, but he continued to channel his Magical Power and swing his sword forward, ruthlessly slashing at Lü Zhong.

In close-quarters combat, things like Sword Techniques and Swordsmanship were no longer important.

One slash, then another... and another!

Every time their blades clashed, a shocking wave of Spiritual Qi would erupt, forming a pillar of light that shot into the heavens.

For a moment, the sheer scale of the confrontation was immense.

Throughout this process, Qingding grew more and more shocked.

He discovered that in their clashes, although both of them were injured, the rate at which his own strength was fading was clearly greater than Lü Zhong’s. The latter’s face was flushed, but because the five Little Flood Dragons absorbed the force of each impact, his aura had barely weakened.

’If this continues, I’m afraid I’ll be the one to fall.’

As this thought surfaced in his mind, Qingding ignored the risk of aggravating his injuries and spat out another mouthful of Essence Blood. The Green Cauldron Sword once again flared with a dazzling light, and with a single strike, he forced Lü Zhong back.

Seizing the opportunity, he reached to his waist with his left hand and produced a shimmering golden Talisman Paper.

At the Nascent Soul Stage, every piece of Talisman Paper was hard to come by.

Take this Jia Yuan Heavenly Talisman, for example. It was crafted from the hide of a Tier Four Demon Beast, infused with the immense effort of a Talisman Maker, and drawn with precious Spiritual Ink. Its value was no less than that of a high-quality Magical Treasure.

The preciousness of the Jia Yuan Heavenly Talisman lay in the trace of Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi it contained.

With this Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi, one could channel the might of the world itself.

Qingding had been reluctant to use it. After all, once a trump card like this was played, it was almost impossible to obtain another without a heaven-defying stroke of luck.

But now, to save his physical body, he had no choice but to activate it, despite the pain of doing so.

CRACK.

Qingding unhesitatingly flicked the Golden Talisman out and tapped its gold-like surface with his finger. There was no astonishing phenomenon—the Jia Yuan Heavenly Talisman simply flashed, and a wisp of clear qi instantly flowed into his body.

The sensation was distinctly different from that of Spiritual Qi.

It was just a tiny, insignificant wisp, yet it contained an indescribably terrifying power.

This was Heaven and Earth Primordial Qi.