A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

The Wu Family deeply empathized with the Lin Family’s tragic experience.

This shared misfortune brought the two families much closer.

”Fellow Daoist Wu, although Qingbu Square is only a day’s journey away, the rest of the path supposedly passes through many perilous lands. Why don’t we merge our caravans and travel together for safety?”

The Lin Family Patriarch was a man named Lin Ying. He had handsome features, but his build was unusually burly and much larger than an average person’s. His eyes shifted slightly as he made the proposal.

”No, that wouldn’t be wise.” After a moment’s hesitation, Wu Renxun flatly refused.

The Wu Family’s caravan was already quite large. If they added the similarly-sized Lin Family caravan, their numbers would approach thirty thousand. A gathering of so many living people would certainly attract the attention of Ghost Cultivators and be a powerful lure for the Soulless, which could lead to immense trouble.

”What’s unwise about it? I think your worries are unfounded. How about this: take tonight to reconsider, and give me your answer tomorrow. As the saying goes, many hands make light work. More strength means more security. As far as I know, the perilous lands on the outskirts of Qingbu are not something that one or two Foundation Establishment cultivators can get through.” Seeing Wu Renxun’s refusal, Lin Ying pressed on.

”Very well. We will discuss this again tomorrow,” Wu Renxun said noncommittally.

Later, at Wu Renxun’s request, the Lin Family’s caravan moved a considerable distance away to prevent any potential incidents from spilling over to the Wu Family. The Lin Family eventually formed a defensive circle with their wagons on a flat patch of ground about a li away and began to make camp.

As the last rays of the setting sun faded, members of the two families naturally began to trade amongst themselves, exchanging items they urgently needed.

Their spirits had been suppressed for a long time, and the need to relieve stress was immense. If a man and a woman took a liking to each other, they would invite the other into their tent.

The clan leaders and elders of both families tacitly approved of this.

While strolling outside, Lü Zhong naturally received several invitations as well, but he rejected them all.

The highest cultivation among those who invited him was merely the Qi Refining Stage. Compared to Nascent Soul Stage Kun Cultivators, who were thoroughly nourished by Spiritual Qi, these people were simply unsightly. In his eyes, they weren’t even qualified to serve as his Furnace Cauldrons.

He was far more interested in the popular local foods of the Northern Mountain than in carnal matters.

A region’s culture is shaped by its environment.

Naturally, the food from different places had its own local characteristics.

Take Wontons, for example. Here, they preferred to add a type of Spirit Medicine seasoning called Red Medicine Seeds, which tasted similar to the chili peppers from Lü Zhong’s past life. When added to the filling, it not only enriched the Wontons’ texture but also acted as a remarkable flavor enhancer.

It was nearly on par with Sturgeon Dragon Emperor.

For the sake of his future culinary enjoyment, Lü Zhong spent a few Spirit Stones to buy some seeds from the Wu Family, planning to take them back to be planted in his Spirit Medicine Garden.

The night grew darker.

Just then, Wu Renxun came to visit.

He came to discuss merging the two caravans.

Lü Zhong was indifferent to the matter. As a Mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, his power was self-evident; there was no trouble he couldn’t handle. Whether the two families merged was irrelevant to him.

Wu Renxun, on the other hand, had given it some thought and was now warming up to Lin Ying’s proposal.

The Wu Family cultivators he had sent out earlier reported that a massive number of wandering Soulless had appeared on the only road to Qingbu Square. Most of these monsters were transformed mortals, but they also included a significant number of cultivator Soulless. Their numbers exceeded ten thousand, enough to pose a serious threat to the caravan.

According to reconnaissance from the Spiritual Eagle, the path ahead was much the same.

Thus, the best course of action was for the two caravans to band together for safety.

Just as Wu Renxun was about to speak...

But at that exact moment, Lü Zhong, who had been sitting in meditation, opened his eyes. His gaze shifted with great interest toward the northeast, where he could sense that a slender figure had suddenly appeared.

Whatever it was doing, it released a bone-chillingly cold aura.

In an instant, this aura washed over both camps like a flood.

Wu Renxun couldn’t perceive it. As the cold aura enveloped him, his expression went slack. It wasn’t just him; the other members of the Wu Family and even the Lin Family Members in the adjacent camp all showed similar signs.

The scene looked exactly as if they had all fallen into an Illusion Realm.

”Interesting!” Lü Zhong chuckled softly.

To figure out what was happening, he raised his hand and released an Incarnation, deliberately lowering its defenses so it too would be enveloped by the aura.

...

After Lü Zhong took control of the Incarnation’s body, his ears were immediately filled with the din of a bustling crowd.

His eyelids fluttered open, and he was surprised to find himself in a bustling market. A constant stream of people flowed past him, and the air was filled with the unending sounds of haggling. It was as lively as a New Year’s festival. The shops on both sides were adorned with large red lanterns, each bearing the large character for ”Double Happiness.”

Inexplicably, new memories had also appeared in his mind.

He even had a new identity: an invited wedding guest.

’Have I fallen into an Illusion Realm?’ Lü Zhong mused.

He tried releasing his control over the Incarnation and smoothly returned to the outside world. His true body, with its Nascent Soul Cultivation, was too powerful to be affected by the cold aura’s corrosion.

If he wished, Lü Zhong could unleash his Thunder Skill, ”Thunder Descends,” at any moment. He could use its powerful Celestial Tribulation Aura to disperse the cold aura blanketing the area.

However, Lü Zhong didn’t act immediately.

Glancing toward the northwest, he got a clear look at the slender figure. It was a bride wearing a red bridal veil, and in his vision, she was wreathed in dense Yin Qi.