Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

Chapter 331: Chapter 328: Predicament

To be honest, at first,

a part of him was still quite reluctant to take on a mission outside the Sect.

It was the kind of reluctance a homebody feels about leaving the house.

But when Wu Tianhao mentioned the specific, generous reward,

that sliver of reluctance in Shen Changchuan’s heart completely vanished,

annihilated without a trace!

He couldn’t help it.

The reward was simply too immense!

One hundred and fifty thousand Spirit Stones was already a considerable fortune!

And an Alchemist’s legacy was even more precious!

Because mastering the art of Alchemy,

was almost equivalent to controlling a gold mine that endlessly produced Spirit Stones!

With that legacy,

combined with Dawan Village under his command,

and the current influx of outside Immortal Cultivation Forces around the Dragon Cloud Sect,

Shen Changchuan could already see

a path to escaping poverty in the near future!

The thought made Shen Changchuan’s breath turn heavy.

”Rest assured. With me on this trip, I will absolutely ensure they both return home safe and sound!”

His voice was firm and decisive

as he spoke with conviction.

’I have to get my hands on this huge reward!’

”If we succeed, we’ll split the Spirit Stones fifty-fifty.”

”As for the Alchemy legacy and Pill Formulas, how about we each make a copy?”

Wu Tianhao nodded and replied.

”Of course!”

”Thank you for this opportunity, Senior Brother!”

Motivated by the generous reward,

the two of them didn’t delay,

and headed directly for the External Affairs Hall.

This mission was issued to the Sect, and the mission rewards had also been sent to the Sect in advance.

If they wanted to complete the mission,

and get the reward,

they naturally had to first go through the procedure of accepting the mission at the External Affairs Hall.

”You know, the only reason that clan is willing to pay such a steep price is because they have no other choice.”

”Their clan only has a single ancestor, who’s at the First Layer of the Soul Emergence Realm. He went on a trip, never came back, and is now trapped in danger. With him gone, the clan currently has no one at the Soul Emergence Realm to protect it. If outsiders were to learn the truth, they would instantly become fresh meat for the surrounding wolves to devour!”

”That’s why they’re willing to pay such an enormous price, even giving up the very foundation of their clan. They’re banking on the reputation of our Dragon Cloud Sect, hoping to pledge their allegiance and gain us as a powerful backer.”

On the way to the External Affairs Hall,

Wu Tianhao’s voice was laced with emotion as he spoke of the unusually generous reward.

An Alchemy legacy—a skill capable of generating a constant, massive income—is without a doubt the absolute core of a Soul Emergence Clan.

In a remote region like the Tian Nan Domain, every clan guards such skills with their lives, never letting the secrets out. Even if their defenses were breached, most would rather choose mutual destruction than allow an enemy to get their hands on it.

This just went to show

what an incredible price that clan was paying by offering their Alchemy legacy as a reward!

Regarding this,

Wu Tianhao felt a certain sense of empathy.

Back then, because of the Cyan Essence Water Grass affair,

and also the Ancient Grotto Heaven Ruins where the Sect is now located,

they had been offered up under the threat of annihilation...

’In fact,’

’when faced with the life and death of one’s clan,’

’some prices,’

’simply have to be paid...’

Chatting idly,

very quickly,

the two arrived at the External Affairs Hall.

”Huh? Isn’t Senior Brother Hong Yang here?”

Entering the main hall of the External Affairs Hall,

they saw that Hong Yang, who was usually lounging in a chair behind the mission hall desk, was nowhere to be seen.

In his place,

were several Outer Disciples standing respectfully behind the desk.

They were probably Outer Disciples ’working’ to earn Sect Contribution Points or Spirit Stones.

”Elder Hong accepted a mission a few days ago and left.”

The Outer Disciple behind the desk trembled slightly as he faced two ’Sect bigshots’ of the Soul Emergence Realm,

and he answered respectfully.

”Senior Brother Hong Yang actually went on a mission?”

Wu Tianhao and Shen Changchuan exchanged a look of disbelief, question marks practically appearing over their heads.

Even Shen Changchuan, Master Wandering Dragon’s youngest disciple who had joined the most recently, knew perfectly well

that Hong Yang

was by no means the diligent type!

”What kind of mission would make him go personally?”

Shen Changchuan couldn’t help but ask out of curiosity.

”I wouldn’t know about that.”

”After entrusting matters to us, the Hall Master left.”

”Alright then, help us accept a mission...”

After accepting the mission,

the two didn’t linger,

and left the Dragon Cloud Sect directly, heading towards the Demon Beast Forest.

...

Time flew,

and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day,

deep within the Demon Beast Forest.

ZWING!

Following the cry of a sword that echoed through the valley, so clear it felt as if it could shatter one’s eardrums,

a cyan sword light erupted from the forest floor, flooding the area. It shot out in a straight line for over a thousand feet, carving a long, deep trench through the lush woods.

At the same time,

blood burst from a giant, dark-furred ape that stood dozens of feet tall, and it collapsed with a thunderous crash.

The surrounding trees snapped and splintered with a groaning CRACK.

Its immense weight made the very ground tremble.

”Every time I see you use a technique like that, Junior Brother, I find it unbelievable!”

”How in the world do you cultivate, Junior Brother? How have you managed to master so many Magic Skills to the Realm of Perfection?”

Floating in mid-air, Wu Tianhao watched the scene unfold,

his face filled with admiration as he sighed.

He couldn’t help it.

Over the past half-month, Shen Changchuan’s performance had been simply too stunning!

One time, they had accidentally wandered into the territory of a Soul Emergence Realm Middle Stage Demon Beast, angering it into launching a frenzied attack.

At the time, Wu Tianhao had been prepared to escape with serious injuries.

Who would have known,

that Shen Changchuan would suddenly unleash a Perfection Tier Two Skill he had mastered,

activating it in an instant,

casting it twice in a row,

and forcefully blasting the Demon Beast back.

And they had used that opportunity to escape.

It was also that time that Wu Tianhao learned that not long after advancing to the Soul Emergence Realm, Shen Changchuan had already mastered a Perfection Tier Two Skill!

And it wasn’t just one!

This made Wu Tianhao’s heart fill with mixed feelings.

After all,

he had been in the Soul Emergence Realm for over a decade,

but the core Tier Two Magic Skill he had mastered was only at the Great Success level.

There was still a considerable distance from the Perfection Level.

Perhaps only after he broke through to the Soul Emergence Fourth Layer and entered the Soul Emergence Realm Middle Stage, after his Divine Sense underwent a transformation, would he be able to truly master it to Perfection!

Compared to Shen Changchuan,

Wu Tianhao couldn’t help but feel as if his decade-plus of cultivation had all gone to the dogs!

”It’s nothing special. Perhaps I just have a little more aptitude for cultivating Magic Skills than the average person...”

’Just a little?’

’That ”little” seems pretty damn big to me.’

Wu Tianhao couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.

But he didn’t continue on this topic.

He raised his head,

and gazed at the endless sea of mountains and forests before him, a sense of frustration creeping in.

”Where on earth is that guy?”

Without a doubt,

after half a month,

their search mission

had reached an impasse.