A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Even with his Pure Spirit Body, Lü Zhong felt a warmth radiate from the Pill just from touching it. Had it been an ordinary low-level cultivator, they would have felt a scorching heat course through their body, as if holding red-hot charcoal. Let alone consuming and refining it—they would likely perish from their meridians drying up the moment they swallowed it.

He took the Six Yang Sandalwood True Pill and began circulating his energy to refine it.

One after another.

Compared to the Pills he had taken before, the Six Yang Sandalwood True Pill was remarkably effective. He could clearly feel his cultivation advancing rapidly, at a rate at least ten times faster than before.

This astonishing efficiency was matched by the staggering cost of the materials needed to refine the Pill.

The Pills Lü Zhong had used before cost just over a thousand Spirit Stones each, but the cost of the current Six Yang Sandalwood True Pill had skyrocketed. On average, each one cost at least three thousand Spirit Stones.

’Cultivation really burns through money!’

Lü Zhong sighed inwardly at the thought, then popped another Six Yang Sandalwood True Pill into his mouth.

You get what you pay for.

Cultivation was a competition of resources. The more resources one controlled, the greater their chances of reaching a higher Realm. Factors like talent, background, and strategy only became valued by later generations as a means to reduce the demand for those resources.

After all, according to the ancient texts, the true beginning of the Immortal Path was actually the Foundation Establishment Stage.

This gave rise to the saying, ”Hundred-Day Foundation Establishment.”

As for the Qi Refining Stage before Foundation Establishment, it was merely a compromise adopted to lower the difficulty of cultivation and reduce the demand on resources.

...

「The Spirit Court.」

The security was tight. Not only was the Half-Saint Demon Peng, Feng Hex, present, but six other Great Demons from the Demon Court were also gathered in one place, all to guard the giant cocoon of flesh and blood at the center of the Spirit Court.

Just then, a sudden, thunderous BOOM rang out.

Billowing waves of dense Demon Qi surged out from the cocoon of flesh, sweeping in all directions. In the blink of an eye, it covered the hundred-li Spirit Court. Then, it converged with the storm of Demon Qi in the sky, forming a massive cyclone that spanned a thousand li. The spectacle was as grand and astonishing as the descent of a True Spirit.

”Heheheh, it’s finally over!”

A raspy voice drifted from the roiling Demon Qi, and a figure slowly emerged: a handsome, jade-faced man with golden hair and golden eyes, dressed in a Feather Robe. The Demon Qi he radiated was incredibly pure and dense; his aura surpassed even that of the Demon Roc, Feng Hex.

He ignored the demons kneeling before him, instead gazing toward the far east and muttering to himself. ’I took such a great risk to stop my Metamorphosis. I hope it was the right decision. They say the Celestial Dao always leaves a path to survival. If I can really grasp this final sliver of hope, forget just passing the Thunder Tribulation to become a Demon Saint—it might even be possible to turn heaven and earth upside down.’

The jade-faced man then took a few steps forward and vanished without a trace.

...

「Meanwhile, in the Tide Cave of the Bihai Island Group.」

Lü Zhong, who was in secluded cultivation, suddenly opened his eyes.

After a moment of contemplation, he rose and walked out of the Quiet Chamber.

A flash of lightning followed, and when he reappeared, he was on a deserted island ten thousand li away. He casually used his Magical Power to conjure a stone table and chairs, then unhurriedly began to boil water and brew tea, pouring a cup for himself and starting to drink.

Before long, a figure quietly materialized.

”Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Feng Rui, the world’s last surviving Wind-Avoiding Golden Roc. I am also the Common Ruler of the Demon Court, commanding a hundred thousand Great and Little Demons.” After appearing, the jade-faced man did not attack, but instead announced his identity.

”Bihai Sect, Lü Zhong,” Lü Zhong replied calmly.

Handing the other man a cup of Spirit Tea, he continued, ”But since you’ve come with good intentions, you might as well state your purpose clearly.”

”I like your straightforwardness!” Feng Rui drained the Spirit Tea in his cup in one gulp, then placed a yellowed Ancient Scroll on the table. He smiled. ”This is a map to the Immortal Ancient Land! As for its origins and what it’s for, allow me to explain.”

Lü Zhong gestured for him to proceed.

He then listened to Feng Rui’s explanation while sipping his tea.

”The so-called Immortal Ancient Land is what you Immortal Cultivators would call the Land of Immortal Arrival. It’s the place where Immortals from the Upper Realm first appeared. I’m sure you’ve never seen that term in any ancient texts, have you? That’s quite normal. Records of the Land of Immortal Arrival were lost during an upheaval three hundred thousand years ago. Even your Immortal Sects only possess legends and rumors about it.”

”In the Qinghe Realm, I am likely the only one who can confirm that the Land of Immortal Arrival truly exists!” Feng Rui said with a confident expression, then took another large gulp of his Spirit Tea before continuing. ”The reason I bring up the Land of Immortal Arrival is that the Qinghe Realm is facing a great deal of trouble right now. You only need to look at the recent movements of the Central Earth Divinity Transformation cultivators to verify what I’m saying.”

Hearing this, Lü Zhong nodded.

He had long suspected as much, but had never found any proof.

He listened as Feng Rui continued.

”As for what the trouble is... it’s not easily explained. You just need to know that the root of the problem lies with the Nai River. The Nai River is fundamental to this realm’s Reincarnation, but it seems to have been flawed from the very beginning. After operating for so long, its collapse is inevitable. This problem has been festering for ages, and after a million years, it’s finally time for it to erupt. As for the Soul Loss Syndrome, what the Hei Ming Daoist did was merely the push that toppled a dead tree. Even if that hadn’t happened, this realm wouldn’t have lasted another thousand years. With the complete collapse of the Nai River, the Soul Loss Syndrome would have broken out anyway, on a much larger and irreversible scale.”

”...” Lü Zhong fell silent.

’It was impossible not to be shocked after suddenly hearing so many secrets. But he was more concerned with the word Feng Rui had used: ”collapse.” If all this was true, then the Qinghe Realm was truly on a countdown—one measured in mere centuries.’

”So?”

”We have to go to the Land of Immortal Arrival! The emergence of the Nai River is related to the Immortal Arrival event. If there is a solution, it can only be found there. Moreover, according to my information, the Immortal Envoy who first brought the Dao to this realm seems to still be stranded here.” Feng Rui, never one to make an understatement, revealed another earth-shattering secret.

And yet, Lü Zhong had a feeling that everything Feng Rui said was true.

There was no ’nine parts truth, one part lie’; every single sentence was fact.

’What a headache!’

’I haven’t even reached the Divinity Transformation Realm, and the Qinghe Realm is about to collapse. This is an unbearable weight. It also means my Immortal Path will be severed. After all, if the Spiritual Lands vanish, getting resources will be impossible. How could I advance my cultivation without Spiritual Objects?’

’So, it seems I really have no choice but to save the Qinghe Realm.’

’But if the sky is truly falling, shouldn’t the tallest people be the ones to hold it up?’

”To be honest, since this realm is about to collapse, why don’t you seek out the Central Earth Divinity Transformation cultivators, or ask the Water Palace Demon Saint for help? In terms of raw power, they are far superior to me.” Lü Zhong looked at Feng Rui and voiced his thoughts directly, without beating around the bush.

At these words, Feng Rui laughed.

”Why? For the opportunities, of course. I’m merely at the Perfect Transformation Realm; what right do I have to cooperate with Divinity Transformation masters? I’m afraid the Central Earth Divinity Transformation cultivators would pretend to agree, then the moment I led them to the Land of Immortal Arrival, they would turn on me, kill me, and skin me for materials!”

His logic was irrefutable.

”As for the Water Palace Demon Saint? What Demon Saint? That old flood dragon couldn’t hold on any longer and passed away from old age long ago. His body was even devoured by his ’filial’ descendants. How could I cooperate with a Demon Saint like that? So, looking across the entire Qinghe Realm, the only person I can choose to cooperate with now is you.”

”Besides, if I’m not mistaken, you should already possess a Pure Spirit Body, right? Tsk tsk, to think an Immortal Cultivator could complete their body’s transformation before reaching Divinity Transformation. But this is perfect. It’s a mandatory condition for obtaining the opportunities within the Land of Immortal Arrival.”

”Speak plainly. What are your thoughts?” Feng Rui asked.

”Alright,” Lü Zhong agreed.

’Feng Rui’s words don’t seem false. Besides, I can verify them later. With the Gray Mist Space as my safety net, the chances of this being a trap are slim.’

’I have a faint feeling that if I want to advance to the Divinity Transformation Realm, my own opportunity lies in this.’

’An opportunity is right in front of me.’

’How could I possibly refuse?’

”Good!” Feng Rui’s eyes shone with golden light, his voice booming like thunder.

Then, he flipped his hand and produced a Jade Disc, showing it to Lü Zhong. ”This is the Dao Transmission Jade Disc, the required token to enter the Land of Dao Transmission. Since you’ve chosen to cooperate with me, shouldn’t you also demonstrate your strength? Let this Dao Transmission Jade Disc serve as your test!”