A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Without the help of this Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator, Wanmu knew that even if he did manage to catch up to Lü Zhong, he would be no match for him.

Yet Wanmu found it incredibly difficult to accept the fact that Qingding had fallen.

Once Qingding died, Changchun Valley’s advantage of having two Nascent Soul cultivators would come to an end.

He didn’t have to think hard to know what would happen next. The Bihai Sect would surely seize the opportunity to challenge Changchun Valley. And given Shuini’s relationship with Lü Zhong, it was entirely possible that Changchun Valley would face a crisis the likes of which it hadn’t seen in ten thousand years.

And though the Upper Sect Eternal Life Hall was powerful, it was just a toothless tiger under the control of the Gui Miao Immortal Sect, unable to provide help in a war between two sects.

At this thought, Wanmu fell into a deep contemplation.

Some time later, the three of them arrived at Huoyaozi’s location.

Their gazes swept over the chaotic scene. The landscape had been completely transformed, especially where Qingding and Lü Zhong had clashed. Shock appeared on all three of their faces as their minds instinctively pictured the life-and-death struggle between the two, deepening their astonishment.

Zhuyuan sent a Technique Mantra into the Puppet.

With a flash of Black Light, Huoyaozi materialized from within a cloud of black qi, her expression grim. She was covered in blood, and a deep gash on her cheek, with flesh curling at the edges, made her already ferocious face even more terrifying.

Her gaze shifted to the distant Stone Hall. The Prohibition there had been broken by Shuini, and the Ancient Treasure inside had surely been taken long ago. She had gained absolutely nothing from this trip.

Not only that, but she had also sustained considerable injuries.

Meanwhile.

Seeing that Huoyaozi was all right, Zhuyuan relaxed.

He immediately turned, his gaze falling on Wanmu, and said in a grave voice, ”Fellow Daoist Wanmu, it is unfortunate that Fellow Daoist Qingding has fallen. I also bear much responsibility for this matter. When we next encounter that Lü Zhong, I will certainly help you capture him. But until we do, we must prioritize the mission...”

The opening of the Ten Thousand Witches Hall’s Inner Hall was imminent.

Zhuyuan couldn’t be bothered with whether Wanmu would become disloyal over this. As long as he could successfully obtain the Primordial Saint Crystal, it would be a great achievement for him, even if it meant losing Changchun Valley as an ally. He might even be able to use this merit to obtain the resources needed to break through to the Late-stage Nascent Soul and become a Great Cultivator.

...

「Nameless Mountain Cave.」

Lü Zhong finished regulating his qi and slowly opened his eyes.

Shuini sat quietly beside him. Seeing that Lü Zhong had temporarily suppressed his injuries, she immediately shot him a reproachful look and said with a hint of anger, ”Once a Nascent Soul Cultivator’s physical body is destroyed, there will be plenty of chances to kill them later. Why did you have to risk your life to chase after him? Do you have any idea how... how worried I was!”

”I... I just wanted to pull it out by the roots,” Lü Zhong said sheepishly, his heart touched.

’The only people in this world who truly care about me are the woman right here and Yu Feng’er, far away in Bihai.’

Thinking of this, his face filled with apology. ”I’ve troubled you this time! If you hadn’t held up Huoyaozi, I’m afraid I wouldn’t have had the chance...”

”What’s this talk of ’trouble’ between us? Since it’s done, we should focus on what’s next: how to deal with Changchun Valley.” Shuini sighed. Lü Zhong had really stirred up a hornet’s nest this time. The fall of a Nascent Soul True Monarch would inevitably change the entire landscape of the Southern Barbarian lands.

A great battle was now unavoidable.

Lü Zhong understood this as well.

”Don’t worry. I will definitely take Changchun Valley’s place!”

”I certainly hope so!” Shuini said, exasperated.

The two spoke for a while before they began to help each other heal.

Before long, the Inner Hall of the Ten Thousand Witches Hall would open. They didn’t know what they would encounter inside, so they naturally needed to recover their strength as much as possible.

About half a month later, Lü Zhong felt his condition had improved a great deal.

His strained muscles, bruised internal organs, and ruptured blood vessels were no longer worsening. Aided by his powerful physique, his body began to recover and repair itself. With time, he would make a full recovery.

From now on, as long as he didn’t use his full strength, he wouldn’t have to worry about his injuries relapsing.

At this moment, Shuini took out two items from her Storage Ring.

They were a White Jade Ruler and a Cyan Jade Bottle.

”These are the treasures I retrieved from the Stone Hall. Since you were the one who gave me the method to break the Prohibition, the right to choose first should naturally be yours.”

Hearing this, Lü Zhong didn’t suspect Shuini of hiding anything.

His gaze fell upon the White Jade Ruler.

This White Jade Ruler was obviously no ordinary object. Without any injection of Magical Power, it could float in the air on its own, absorbing and expelling Spiritual Qi. The middle of the ruler was covered in patterns of birds and beasts—all images of ancient Exotic Beasts—and three words were clearly inscribed on it.

”White Bright Ruler”

After injecting a bit of Magical Power, he learned of the White Bright Ruler’s function and was slightly disappointed.

It was an offensive Ancient Treasure.

In terms of power alone, it was equivalent to a Restricted Treasure with an Eighteenth-Layer Prohibition.

Lü Zhong didn’t lack offensive methods, so he set down the White Bright Ruler without a second thought. He picked up the Cyan Jade Bottle, a look of anticipation in his eyes. Ancient Treasures with this design often had more unusual, esoteric functions, sometimes with unexpected effects that might just be what he needed.

”Cyan Nether Forbidden Bottle”

Thinking of the Cyan Nether Hall, Lü Zhong guessed that this treasure was the most precious item in the Stone Hall.

He quickly learned its function.

It was a rare Sealed Ancient Treasure.

When activated, it could release an azure mist that filled the sky, capable of interfering with a cultivator’s teleportation.

While within the azure mist, space would be continuously disturbed. One would have to focus their entire Heart and Spirit to escape the mist’s interference; otherwise, it would be impossible to use abilities like Instant Teleportation or other teleportation methods.

As the wielder of the treasure, however, one could ignore the mist’s effects.

’My luck has finally turned for the better!’ Lü Zhong was overjoyed.

’No need to even think about it.’

’I’m choosing the Cyan Nether Forbidden Bottle.’

With this bottle, when he faced other Nascent Soul Cultivators in the future, he could release the azure mist to disrupt space. Although the mist couldn’t harm an enemy, disabling their Instant Teleportation ability would still tip the scales of victory in his favor.

Just then, an invisible wave swept past.

HUMMM—

A low-frequency sound came from a distance.

Then the frequency rose, becoming sharp and ear-piercing.

In the direction of the Inner Hall, at the center of the Ten Thousand Witches Hall, a massive black mountain was visible. Suddenly, a milky-white pillar of light shot up from it, erupting with an astonishing amount of Spiritual Qi.

It was as immense as a mountain!

Its power was astounding!

Like a tide, it spread out in all directions.

This phenomenon heralded the opening of the Ten Thousand Witches Hall’s Inner Hall.