A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

After a three-day journey, the two finally reached their destination.

Gazing at the giant city in the distance, Lü Zhong noticed that True Spirit Immortal City had changed significantly. Compared to the Lingyue Immortal City of old, not only had its footprint expanded, but several satellite cities now dotted its outskirts. They were arranged like stars around the moon, protecting the main city.

Each satellite city served a different purpose.

Shipping, warehousing, bulk trading...

Vast plantations filled the space between the main city and its satellites, creating a vista of swirling Spiritual Qi. Thanks to the increased concentration of nature’s spiritual energy, it was now possible to cultivate some Spirit Plants needed for the Low Spirit Stage even in wastelands without Spirit Veins.

He could see numerous figures bustling about in the fields.

Lü Zhong watched quietly for a moment before leading Yu Feng’Er toward the skyport.

The skyport had clearly been expanded. Seen from afar, it was a colossal tower, with more than double its previous number of berths. Flying Ships of all sizes were constantly taking off and landing, the berths emptying as quickly as they were filled. It was a scene of bustling activity. Yet even with all this activity, a large, empty space remained in the very center of the skyport.

A squad of True Spirit Sect cultivators stood guard here.

Their leader, a pale-faced middle-aged man, was a Core Formation cultivator; the rest were all at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

When two streaks of Escape Light touched down, the pale-faced middle-aged man was about to step forward and reprimand them—after all, this was a restricted landing area. But once he got a clear look at their faces, he quickly swallowed his words.

His expression changed in an instant, replaced by a natural smile.

”Welcome, Elder Lü and Elder Yu, to the Qian Nan Association. The Matriarch gave specific instructions that if you two arrived at True Spirit Immortal City, you were to proceed to the Colorful Spirit Tower first.”

”Colorful Spirit Tower?”

Lü Zhong committed the name to memory, then said calmly, ”Alright, I understand.”

’Actually, Shuini didn’t even need to tell me.’

’After arriving at True Spirit Immortal City, I was going to visit my master first anyway.’

He glanced at Yu Feng’Er and chuckled. ”Let’s go. We’ll make a trip to the Colorful Spirit Tower.”

A short while later, the two arrived outside the Colorful Spirit Tower. The building looked rather plain, constructed entirely from solid wood. Compared to the surrounding towers that soared into the clouds, the Colorful Spirit Tower, standing only about thirty zhang high, seemed almost squat.

Lü Zhong sensed the auras within. As expected, Shuini was inside.

He casually broke the Prohibition and stepped inside.

”You’ve finally arrived!”

The moment Lü Zhong entered, he saw Shuini seated in the main hall. She was already rising to her feet and walking toward them, a look of immense relief on her face.

Seeing her expression, Lü Zhong couldn’t help his curiosity. He asked,

”Did something happen?”

”Yes...” Shuini sighed. After gesturing for them to sit, she explained, ”I assume you’ve heard that Central Earth has sent people over? That’s where the problem is. I don’t know what happened en route, but the Gui Miao Immortal Sect suddenly changed their envoy.”

Hearing this, Lü Zhong immediately contacted his Incarnation.

At that very moment, his Incarnation, which was guarding the Transmission Array, witnessed a figure emerge from the formation. It was a cold Female Cultivator, clad in a Feather Robe, who looked like an Exiled Immortal Fairy.

Their eyes met for a brief, unintentional moment. The Female Cultivator suddenly let out a cold snort.

In that instant, a wave of killing intent washed over the Incarnation.

In the blink of an eye, the Incarnation’s world went dark.

’Such powerful killing intent!’ Lü Zhong was stunned.

He’d never imagined that someone could knock a Core Formation Cultivator unconscious with killing intent alone.

Clearly, the newcomer was incredibly powerful.

He then shared what he had discovered with the two women.

”This envoy is clearly not someone to be trifled with!” Shuini’s expression grew solemn. She conjured a Water Mirror Technique, which displayed a block of text. ”This just confirms my intelligence. According to my sources, the Daoist Sect faction, with the backing of the Immortal Sect cultivator, plans to challenge the three of us at the Qian Nan Association.”

”What are they planning?” Lü Zhong asked with a frown.

’They aren’t planning to attack us directly, are they?’

’If that’s the case, then I have nothing to worry about. I can just kill them. Based on what my Incarnation saw, there’s no way that Female Cultivator is a Late-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator. In combat against an opponent like that, even one from an Immortal Sect, I could hold my own for quite some time.’

’The real fear is...if they *don’t* resort to violence.’

”The Qian Nan Alliance. They want to form the Qian Nan Alliance!” Shuini said.

As soon as he heard this, Lü Zhong understood why the Gui Miao Immortal Sect had switched envoys at the last minute. They likely wanted to use this alliance to impose rules and restrictions on the Bihai Sect.

In other words, it was still an attack aimed at him.

’But how would they restrict him?’

’It was all the same old tricks from his past life.’

’But they were all overt plots, impossible to counter directly.’

’For example, they might propose ”restricting the scale of Spirit Medicine cultivation” under the guise of ”conserving Spiritual Qi.” It wouldn’t matter what people truly thought; as long as the Daoist Sect faction announced they would comply, the Bihai Sect would be forced to either follow suit or lose the moral high ground, which would inevitably lead to a cascade of problems.’

’But if the Bihai Sect did comply, it would be crippling itself.’

”Hah. How disgusting!”

As Lü Zhong considered this, a plan quickly formed in his mind.

When he explained his counter-plan, the two women looked surprised at first. But then they exchanged a look and burst out laughing together.

...

「The next day, the Qian Nan Association convened as scheduled.」

The venue was the Moon-Gazing Tower.

Unlike the previous gathering, the proceedings for this conference had been altered.

The popular bartering and trade fair had been separated from the main event. The conference would proceed directly to the main agenda. Every decision made here would influence the future of the Southern Barbarian lands.

And the only ones with the authority to make these decisions were the eight Nascent Soul cultivators seated at the round table.

At this very moment, inside the vast, circular hall,

The atmosphere was stretched to its breaking point!

Seated directly opposite Lü Zhong was a Female Cultivator—the envoy from the Gui Miao Immortal Sect. Her title was Hee Yun True Monarch, and she possessed a Mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivation.

Just as Lü Zhong had anticipated, after spouting a stream of pompous platitudes, she had indeed proposed the formation of the ”Qian Nan Alliance.”

”On this matter, what is Fellow Daoist Lü’s opinion?”

Hee Yun looked at Lü Zhong, her expression as cold and unchanging as ever. It was hard to tell if she had a natural poker face or if her mind was simply so calculating that her expression never faltered.

Lü Zhong remained composed, chuckling lightly. ”Forming the Qian Nan Alliance would be nothing but beneficial for the Southern Barbarian Immortal Cultivation World. In the future, should we face a disaster like the Withered Tide, having such a permanent institution would make communication much more convenient. I am in complete agreement. However...”

”However what?” Hee Yun asked, her face still a cold mask.

”Since the Qian Nan Alliance is being established for the future of the Southern Barbarian Immortal Cultivation World, then to prevent it from being exploited by those with ulterior motives...” Lü Zhong paused, his gaze sweeping over the other Nascent Soul cultivators, whose expressions varied, before finally settling back on Hee Yun. He gave a faint smile. ”Certain necessary mechanisms must be put in place, naturally.”

Such as a veto power!