Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

Chapter 202: Chapter 199: Return

「One day later.」

「Dawan Village.」

News of the great catastrophe at the Wu Family Collection had already spread.

Not long after hearing the news, the many Cultivators who had been lingering in Dawan Village swarmed toward the Wu Family Collection.

The village streets were now much emptier.

The whole village now seemed desolate, its former bustle faded.

「At this time.」

「Half-Mountain Courtyard.」

Han Qinhu looked at the little girl Shen Changchuan was leading by the hand. She was bundled up tightly, her eyes timid, and she pressed herself against Shen Changchuan’s back, wary of strangers.

A strange expression crossed his face.

”Changchuan, this is...”

If he didn’t know that Shen Changchuan was a man dedicated to the Dao, and that he had only been in Dawan Village for a little over a year, he would have almost suspected the little girl was his illegitimate daughter.

”Her name is Xiaoyu. A senior entrusted her to my care for a while... Hmm, her identity is a bit sensitive and shouldn’t be known by outsiders... Grandmaster Han, could I trouble you to get her settled in? Let’s have her stay here in the Half-Mountain Courtyard.”

Shen Changchuan explained vaguely.

In truth, he didn’t know the girl’s true identity either.

The reason she was here was that she was the ”favor” Wu Tianhao had asked of him.

That day, not long after Wu Tianhao had led him away, they traveled dozens of li before finally entering an underground cavern concealed by a hidden Array.

To Shen Changchuan’s surprise, many Wu Clan Members were living inside.

It seemed the Wu Family’s upper echelon had anticipated the catastrophe at the Wu Family Collection and had already transferred a portion of their people.

This unexpected sight sparked curiosity in Shen Changchuan’s heart.

’Could it be the Wu Family anticipated this disaster?’

’But were they aware that the Wu Family Collection would collapse over an area of several li, or about the white pillar of light that nearly every Soul Emergence Realm Cultivator was fighting over?’

Numerous questions flashed through Shen Changchuan’s mind at the time.

But since they didn’t elaborate,

Shen Changchuan didn’t press the matter.

Wu Tianhao then led Shen Changchuan to a more secluded area within, where a quiet little girl known as Xiaoyu was sitting.

Wu Tianhao explained the favor he needed:

for Shen Changchuan to take Xiaoyu and care for her until the situation stabilized, at which point he would return for her.

Regarding Xiaoyu’s identity,

Wu Tianhao was vague.

He only hinted that she was the daughter of some unnamable, powerful figure and was connected to matters of great importance.

Because of the recent disaster, the Wu Family could barely fend for themselves, so they had no choice but to entrust her to Shen Changchuan for the time being.

To this,

Shen Changchuan did not refuse.

Although this little girl, Xiaoyu, seemed strange no matter how he looked at her,

she didn’t appear to be part of the Wu Family and was likely involved in something complicated.

But none of that mattered compared to the fact that they had saved his life.

And so,

under Wu Tianhao’s escort, Shen Changchuan brought Xiaoyu safely back to Dawan Village.

”Alright, I understand. In that case, Xiaoyu, come over to Grandmaster Han.”

Han Qinhu nodded, not pressing further.

He waved to Xiaoyu and said kindly.

However,

the little girl named Xiaoyu clutched the corner of Shen Changchuan’s clothes, hiding behind him and staring fearfully at Han Qinhu,

refusing to move.

”This...”

”Alright, the little one seems a bit wary of strangers. Grandmaster Han, could you have someone prepare a room next to mine? I’ll take her over myself in a bit...”

”Very well. I’ll go see to it.”

Han Qinhu nodded, unconcerned.

In his eyes, it was only natural for a four or five-year-old girl to be wary of strangers after being brought to an unfamiliar place.

She would warm up to them in a few days.

”Xiaoyu, don’t be afraid. I’m here.”

Shen Changchuan gently patted the little one’s head, comforting her.

”Mm...”

Xiaoyu’s small hand clutched Shen Changchuan’s sleeve, and she responded with a hum as quiet as a mosquito’s buzz.

Shen Changchuan couldn’t help but sigh internally.

’Looks like she won’t be able to leave my side for a while.’

’Regardless,’

’I just need to take good care of her.’

Speaking of which,

according to Wu Tianhao,

he and Xiaoyu actually shared a bit of history.

Last year, on his way to the market at the Wu Family Collection, he’d been caught up in an assassination attempt. He had killed the reckless pursuers and found a Cyan Essence Purifying Spirit Pill in their Storage Bags...

On that occasion,

one of the targets of the pursuit had been Xiaoyu!

According to the vague details Wu Tianhao revealed, the Cyan Essence Purifying Spirit Pill had originally belonged to Xiaoyu. She knew the pill had ended up in his hands, but she had insisted he keep it as thanks for saving her life and refused to take it back...

Perhaps for this reason,

Xiaoyu wasn’t as wary of Shen Changchuan as she was of others; in fact, she seemed rather dependent on him.

She would grow restless and anxious if she didn’t see him for a while.

Seeing this,

Shen Changchuan simply moved his cultivation to the courtyard plaza

so Xiaoyu could see him at any time.

Besides, at his current Cultivation Realm, the Spiritual Qi in the Spiritual Spring Secret Chamber was of little use to him anyway.

Moreover, after returning from such a chaotic event,

the most pressing matter wasn’t to enter secluded cultivation to raise his Cultivation Realm.

Instead, he needed to review his recent experiences,

digest the insights gained from combat,

and especially focus on the transformation he underwent during his clash with the Blood-Patterned Black-Robed Man from the Soul Emergence Realm.

...

[Secret Technique]

[Nine Elements Divine Extraction Technique: ??%]

...

Shen Changchuan focused his attention on the progress panel before him,

specifically on the last line of the panel, the separate entry for his Secret Technique.

The progress status displayed after the Nine Elements Divine Extraction Technique

was particularly eye-catching.

”What’s going on?”

Shen Changchuan frowned, pondering the question in his mind.

He’d known for a long time that the Secret Technique section was different from the Magic section.

For every Magic he cultivated in the Magic section, a progress bar would appear, showing his level of mastery.

Once it reached one hundred percent Perfection, certain Traits would appear, along with Cultivation Experience for the corresponding Magic System.

Accumulating enough of this Cultivation Experience could significantly reduce the difficulty of cultivating other Magic within the same system.

He had mastered Cyan Wood Sword Light—a powerful Magic that surpassed the abilities of most Qi Introduction Realm Cultivators—by accumulating Cultivation Experience from its related Magic System.

But the Secret Technique section was different.

When he first obtained and successfully cultivated the Nine Elements Divine Extraction Technique,

Shen Changchuan had noticed that it had no progress bar.

It seemed that Secret Techniques that enhanced his own attributes didn’t come with proficiency bars.

But now,

a progress bar reading (??%) had appeared?

What was going on?

And what did the double question marks mean?

For a moment,

Shen Changchuan’s mind was filled with questions.