A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

「One year later.」

In the Quiet Chamber of Tide Cave.

Lü Zhong stared ahead, his gaze fixed on a cyan Jade Scroll, lost in silent contemplation.

During this time, apart from his daily meditation for Qi Refining and continuing to improve the Shattering Star Finger, he had focused his energy on collecting Pill formulas to advance his cultivation.

Compared to the Early-stage Nascent Soul, Pill formulas suitable for the Mid-stage Nascent Soul had suddenly become scarce.

Lü Zhong did have some such Pill formulas on hand. After obtaining the legacy of Changchun Valley, he possessed a total of three Pill formulas suitable for Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivation.

The Jade Scroll he now held contained the Pill formula for one of them: the Yellow Extreme Celestial Dust Pill.

’To refine this Pill, I still need one more ingredient: Yellow Extreme Jade Exhausted...’ As he thought of this, Lü Zhong couldn’t help but furrow his brow.

This was because this particular Spirit Medicine grew naturally in the world and had no seeds that could be cultivated. Therefore, he now possessed the Pill formula but was unable to refine the Pill.

Lü Zhong had, in fact, long expected a day like this would come.

As his cultivation rose, the Spirit Medicines he needed would inevitably become more precious, especially upon reaching the Nascent Soul Stage, when available Spirit Medicines became exceedingly few. Over the course of a million years, as one type of Pill after another went extinct, the options for substitute Spirit Medicines in Pill formulas had also dwindled.

Back when he was in the Early-stage Nascent Soul, Lü Zhong had encountered a similar problem.

At that time, however, he had bypassed the issue by choosing Pill formulas that didn’t require Heaven and Earth Spiritual Medicine. He never imagined it would now become an obstacle to advancing his cultivation.

’The Pill formulas I can find probably all require Heaven and Earth Spiritual Medicine. Formulas that don’t might exist, but they are surely the exclusive secrets of major powers, held only in the hands of the Immortal Sects. Otherwise, it would be impossible to explain how the Immortal Sects consistently produce new Divinity Transformation cultivators.’

The possibility of Lü Zhong obtaining such a Pill formula was virtually nonexistent.

He now had three options:

First, like a traditional cultivator, he could begin to travel the world, exploring ancient perilous lands or venturing deep into Exotic Realms. He could seek a breakthrough through repeated life-and-death battles or hope to find natural treasures that would give him a chance to advance his cultivation.

This approach was tantamount to relying on luck. After a million years of development in the Immortal Dao, the success rate had become incredibly slim, but it wasn’t entirely without a chance.

Second, he could accelerate the research into Spiritual Energy Conversion Technology.

The current Creation Secret Array could only convert Demon Pills into nature’s spiritual energy. Due to issues with conversion rate and efficiency, it couldn’t yet be applied to Alchemy. At the same time, regarding the conversion of Spirit Medicines, it could only solve the problem of lacking high-age Spirit Medicines; it wasn’t yet capable of freely converting Medicinal Spiritual Qi.

Unless the Western Realm made a major breakthrough...

But breakthroughs in technological research weren’t something that could be achieved on command.

The reality was often that massive amounts of resources were poured in, only to vanish like stones skipped across water, leaving nothing behind but a faint splash.

As for the last option, it was to continue searching for a suitable Pill formula.

Lü Zhong didn’t hold out much hope for this.

After some thought, considering his plentiful resources, he decided to tackle the problem from all sides.

On one hand, he would continue to increase his investment in the Western Realm, helping them solve their external problems to facilitate an early breakthrough in Spiritual Energy Conversion Technology. At the same time, he would rely on luck, hoping to either obtain a suitable Pill formula or be fortunate enough to find a Heaven and Earth Spiritual Medicine to refine the Pill he needed.

Until then, he could only continue taking his existing Pills.

Although the progress of his cultivation would be slower than if he took a suitable Pill, it was still far better than the plight of those Nascent Soul Cultivators whose cultivation had stagnated due to having no Pills at all.

...

Just then, Lü Zhong’s brow furrowed.

He rose and walked out of the Quiet Chamber, heading outside.

Making his way to Bihai Hall, he saw a silver-haired old man already waiting inside. The man stood there, seeming to blend perfectly with his surroundings, as if he were an intrinsic part of the hall itself.

Lü Zhong instantly realized who—or what—this visitor was.

’He’s a Divinity Transformation cultivator!’

Though shocked, he suppressed the urge to retreat. He kept his expression unchanged while his mind raced, trying to discern the reason for the man’s sudden appearance.

The only good news, for now, was that this Divinity Transformation cultivator was not a Kun Cultivator.

’He’s not the Divinity Transformation master from Gui Miao, so where could he be from...?’

The Divinity Transformation master from the Daoist Sect could also be ruled out.

Lü Zhong didn’t believe that someone who had successfully passed the Celestial Tribulation would choose not to step through the Ascension Gate to the Spirit Realm, a place countless cultivators longed for.

’That only leaves the Divinity Transformation masters from the North Sect and the Eastern Sect.’

Since the man had chosen to reveal himself instead of using force, and his attitude seemed amicable, it was clear he wanted something. He was probably here to propose some kind of deal.

At this thought, Lü Zhong composed himself.

Across from him, the silver-haired Divinity Transformation cultivator observed the subtle changes in Lü Zhong’s expression and likely guessed most of what he was thinking. He smiled faintly and spoke in a leisurely tone:

”Friend Lü, do you know who I am?”

”Please, Senior, enlighten me!” How could Lü Zhong possibly know? He could only clasp his hands respectfully.

”To think that after a thousand years in seclusion, the world no longer recognizes me... Ah, well.” The silver-haired old man muttered to himself before stating his identity. ”I am Cangmingzi, the current Sect Leader of the Celestial Origin Celestial Palace.” He then added, ”I have come to find you today, Friend Lü, to propose a trade.”

As Cangmingzi spoke, he held out a Jade Scroll.

”Recorded within is the formula for an unnamed Spirit Liquid. Although it is a Tier Four Spirit Liquid, I imagine you would have no trouble refining it, Friend Lü. Am I correct in this assumption?”