Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

Chapter 360: Chapter 357: Fangxian City

’Gu Refining is somewhat similar to Alchemy. The process requires balancing the changes in the spiritual power of the materials to induce the transformation of the Essence of Heaven and Earth. However, compared to Alchemy, the success rate of Gu Refining is much higher, and the requirements aren’t as stringent...’

’But there’s always a possibility of failure in Gu Refining.’

’Especially for someone like me, who’s only just started dabbling in Gu Technique. Even if I had all the materials right now, my success rate for refining the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu would be less than ten percent!’

’Before I finish gathering the materials, I have to improve my Gu Technique as quickly as possible...’

Shen Changchuan gazed at the progress of his Tier One Gu Technique on the progress bar panel, and below it, the Tier Two Gu Technique, which was only at 0.1% progress.

He couldn’t help but frown slightly.

That was right.

The Tier One Gu Technique and Tier Two Gu Technique existed simultaneously on the progress bar panel.

It was just like with Alchemy;

back then, the Basic Alchemy Technique and the Tier One Alchemy Skill had existed at the same time.

It wasn’t that mastering the Basic Alchemy Technique to 100% Perfection automatically granted him the Tier One Alchemy Skill.

Instead, it required a corresponding inheritance.

As long as he studied and had some level of understanding, it would appear on the panel to some degree.

The Tier Two Gu Technique Shen Changchuan currently possessed had been acquired over two months ago.

He had entrusted Wang Xiao’Er to keep an eye out and purchase any Gu Technique inheritances that might appear on the black market in Qing City. This was a lucky find from the black market.

However, the contents of this Tier Two Gu Technique were still very profound for the current Shen Changchuan.

After all, he hadn’t even mastered the Tier One Gu Technique.

Naturally, he wouldn’t find it easy to understand higher-tier content.

Furthermore, that Tier Two Gu Technique inheritance was incomplete,

which was why Shen Changchuan’s progress was only at 0.1%.

’Even if Gu Refining is much easier than Alchemy, I can’t expect to master both the Tier One and Tier Two Gu Techniques to Perfection before trying to refine the Golden Wind Jade Dew Gu. But I should at least raise my Tier One Gu Technique to over 90% and my Tier Two to over 50% so I don’t waste the materials.’

’But improving my Gu Technique progress requires a lot of hands-on practice... practical refining of various Gu Insects. That means I’ll need to buy large quantities of Poisonous Insects and refining materials, which will inevitably cost a huge amount of Spirit Stones.’

’But if I do that, it will definitely slow down my Magic accumulation, and in turn, slow the speed at which my Cultivation Realm improves.’

’Is it worth it to temporarily slow my Cultivation Realm’s progress in exchange for double the cultivation speed in the future...?’

For a moment, Shen Changchuan was lost in thought.

...

「At the same time.」

Dragon Cloud Sect.

”Junior Wu, the direct disciples—the demon sons—of the Seven Extremes Sect and White Bone Temple have appeared on the front lines. A few days ago, they launched a successful surprise attack, causing significant losses... Master has ordered us to be transferred to Barbaric City to stand guard and prevent sneak attacks from those Demon Dao villains.”

”Has it already come to this? What’s the situation at the front lines now?”

”They’ve already started probing and clashing with each other. For now, it’s mainly a back-and-forth struggle between Cultivators at the Qi Introduction Realm and the Soul Emergence Early Stage, with both sides trying to infiltrate the other... The final battle probably won’t begin until we see which side’s Divine Travel Realm experts make the first move.”

”You junior brothers don’t need to worry. Master knows that those inhuman Demon Cultivators cultivate all sorts of cruel Secret Techniques, giving them superior combat power compared to others at the same tier. Therefore, your main task is to garrison Barbaric City and reinforce the defenses of the bridgehead we’ve established. As for missions like leading teams out, those will primarily fall to the senior brothers and sisters at High Tier Soul Emergence and above...”

”In that case, let’s get moving.”

”Don’t worry, Senior Brother. I will be careful. Although this battle is dangerous, it might not be a bad thing. This place is barren. If one wants to obtain more cultivation resources and advance their Cultivation Realm, they can only rely on slowly exploring and honing it themselves. In contrast, with a war breaking out, it’s not impossible to get rich overnight...”

Not long after, Wu Tianhao and several other figures boarded a Flying Ship.

The Flying Ship also carried several hundred new entry-level disciples who had joined only a few months ago.

Wu Tianhao glanced back at the Dragon Cloud Sect Mountain Gate, let out a long breath, and the Flying Ship activated, before disappearing over the horizon.

This scene was not unique to the Dragon Cloud Sect.

The great clans with Divine Travel Realm experts, such as the Shen Family of Tian Nan City, the Ancient Sword Sect, and the Nangong Clan, were also dispatching their elite disciples and those of their subordinate forces on Flying Ships.

Of course, in addition to these major powers,

small and medium-sized forces of all levels, as well as Loose Cultivators tempted by the high bounties, also flocked together, boarding cheap Flying Ships and heading south.

...

Shen Changchuan was unaware of the changes happening in the Tian Nan Domain.

Because at this moment, he had already entered the Heisei Domain, and after just a few days of travel, he had arrived at Fangxian City.

The Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion’s auction was still a few days away, but Fangxian City was already teeming with a large number of Cultivators.

Cultivators from all over had gathered here for the auction.

Of course, since this grand event was primarily aimed at Soul Emergence Realm Cultivators, the city was crowded but not yet overflowing.

After all, Cultivators at the Soul Emergence Level were already considered part of the upper-middle class in the Immortal Cultivation Realm of the surrounding domains.

Moreover, not every Soul Emergence Realm Cultivator needed something from the auction.

Only those like Shen Changchuan, who desperately needed a rare item that happened to be on the auction block, would travel such a great distance.

It had to be said, coming to an Exotic Realm and witnessing a prosperity that far surpassed any immortal city in the Tian Nan Domain was a real eye-opener for Shen Changchuan.

The immortal city was filled with a dazzling array of goods.

Even before the auction began, he had already purchased a set of foundational knowledge on Tier Two Gu Technique from the Workshop to build up his own understanding. He also spent several thousand Spirit Stones to buy a Pill Formula for the Purple Gold Pill, which could be consumed by Qi Introduction Eighth Layer Cultivators.

Other than that, Shen Changchuan didn’t buy anything else.

Although many items held a certain appeal for him, Shen Changchuan was well aware of his goal for this trip. He wouldn’t spend his money recklessly until he had the Ten Thousand Year Spirit Jade in hand.

During the few days of waiting, Shen Changchuan didn’t feel bored at all.

This was because quite a few interesting things were happening in Fangxian City before the auction started.

For example, a certain well-known Loose Cultivator issued a challenge to a prodigy from the Nanyang Sect.

The battle erupted in the arena at the city center.

The fight between the two Soul Emergence Realm prodigies attracted the attention of many Cultivators.

On that day, the arena in the center of Fangxian City was so completely surrounded by Cultivators that not even a drop of water could get through.

Shen Changchuan also went to join the crowd.

He witnessed the prodigies of the Heisei Domain in combat.

Both combatants were at the Soul Emergence Realm Second Layer.

Their combat power seemed quite impressive.

Not only did each of them master a Perfection Tier Two Skill, but they also possessed two or more Treasure Artifacts.

During the battle, they frequently unleashed powerful techniques, leaving the surrounding Cultivators in constant astonishment.