Checking in for 100,000 Years

Chapter 794: Chapter 794: Ancient Painting, Nangong Jade

”Hmph! These guys, neither human nor ghost, have extremely slow cultivation progress because they are bodies of the primordial spirit. Having lived in Gui Gou Abyss for hundreds of thousands of years, they are still only at the True God Realm...” Li Qikong snorted coldly. His gaze was sharp, occasionally flashing with a cold light, seemingly very disdainful of this method of longevity.

”Such longevity does come with a hefty price,” Ye Yun said with a casual smile.

They have lost their fleshly bodies; only the body of the primordial spirit remains. Their cultivation base progresses slower than a snail. For these five powerhouses, the word ’life’ now only means ’survival.’

”Their price is also huge,” Li Qikong laughed loudly. ”Not only is cultivation slow, but their combat strength has also drastically decreased. Even though they are at the True God Realm Fourth Level, the combat strength of their mere body of the primordial spirit is only half. What’s more interesting is that Gui Gou Abyss is like a prison to them; they are unable to step out for a lifetime!”

”Why is that?” Ye Yun asked.

”Who knows what happened to those God Soul Fragments?” Li Qikong sneered. ”Once they leave here, they will disappear. Hence, these five cowardly turtles have been honestly holed up here for hundreds of thousands of years, not daring to take a single step out...”

”I see. The price of this eternal life is indeed great!” Ye Yun said with a casual smile.

”Yes! Over these many years, many geniuses have entered Gui Gou Abyss to seek a lifeline, but most have failed...” Li Qikong sighed. ”Those God Soul Fragments, after all, were once Spirits with exceptionally powerful strength. Without powerful combat power, there’s no way to defeat them, let alone devour them!”

Ye Yun nodded, fully agreeing with Li Qikong’s words.

”Let’s go, take a look at my tomb!” With that, Li Qikong gave a carefree laugh. A light swept up, and he went into the large, earthen-yellow tomb. This tomb was rather unique.

The space wavered, and the two of them appeared in a dim hall. In the center of the hall was a dark red coffin. Ye Yun casually glanced at it. This red coffin, made from rare metals of the world, was of a quality rivaling an Emperor artifact.

”Interesting, there’s really a coffin in this tomb. Do you usually sleep in it, old man?” Ye Yun laughed.

”It’s just for my use after death...” Li Qikong sighed and touched the red coffin, murmuring, ”I too will die one day, so I’ve prepared my coffin in advance!”

”Your cultivation base is quite strong, and you can fight on par with those five. Why not seize the God Soul Fragments of the Spirits and become an immortal being as well?” Ye Yun asked.

Li Qikong reached out, and a wine jug materialized in his hand. He took a huge gulp and laughed heartily. ”In my life, I, Li Qikong, have always acted freely, doing as I pleased! Making me hole up in this cage, taking on a form that’s neither human nor ghost? I’d rather be dead!”

After saying that, Li Qikong tilted his head back. GLUG! GLUG! He fiercely poured the wine down his throat, finishing the jug quickly. Then he took out another jug of wine and began drinking wildly and freely.

Watching the hearty Li Qikong, Ye Yun showed a strange look in his eyes and nodded in approval. This guy does have some real character and is not unlikable.

After drinking a few jugs of wine, Li Qikong didn’t use his mana to dissolve the alcohol, and he appeared slightly drunk. ”Heaven far, earth wide, where can one find peace...” he sang lowly, not paying any attention to Ye Yun, but stumbling towards the depths of the hall.

In the depths of the hall, there was a hidden door. Li Qikong opened it and stepped inside.

”What’s the old man up to?” Ye Yun chuckled lightly. The door was left open, and wisps of blue smoke wafted out from inside. Burning incense? Ye Yun grew interested and walked over.

Upon entering through the door, he discovered a small secret room. In a corner of the secret room’s wall, there was an ancient altar. Hanging above it was an old painting. In the old painting, there was a veiled lady in red, standing with graceful elegance. Her figure was curvaceously beautiful, and she stood sideways with a posture reflecting an indescribable charm.

Nangong Jade? Upon seeing this woman, these two words immediately surfaced in Ye Yun’s mind. This veiled lady in red gave him such a strong impression; it was most likely an incarnation of Nangong Jade. Ye Yun had never expected to see a portrait of Nangong Jade in Li Qikong’s tomb.

”Honorable predecessor! I’ve already made five trips in and out. The curse within my body grows stronger. Even if I reenter the Divine Land, I’m afraid a mere hundred years won’t help me reach the next realm...” Li Qikong knelt on the ground, voicing his sorrows.

Ye Yun walked over. ”Who is this?” he asked softly.

Li Qikong, with a melancholic look and tipsy eyes, kept his head low and remained silent.

A ray of faint light suddenly flew out from Li Qikong’s mind, forming a white-haired old man in midair.

”This is Li Qikong’s benefactor, and he is also my benefactor...” the white-haired old man said as he descended from midair and knelt on the ground reverently.

Ye Yun was taken aback. He hadn’t expected that within Li Qikong’s mind, a strand of someone else’s soul was hidden. Now, Ye Yun suddenly understood why Li Qikong’s cultivation had soared unexpectedly after he turned fifteen. It seemed the answer lay with this white-haired old man. In his past life, the white-haired old man was an extremely powerful figure. A fragment of his soul, by a stroke of luck, entered Li Qikong’s Sea of Consciousness after his death. Since then, he had imparted Li Qikong with Ultimate Techniques, setting Li Qikong on the domineering path of becoming the First Ruthless Man. Ye Yun’s golden finger was the System. As for Li Qikong, his golden finger was this white-haired old man. Both of them led lives enhanced by ’cheats.’ However, the cheat Ye Yun got was exceedingly huge; when the hundred thousand years of check-ins concluded, he became invincible. Still, being invincible wasn’t necessarily a good thing. Luckily, Ye Yun had a resolute Dao Heart. He methodically utilized the resources in his inventory without prematurely resorting to certain magical treasures and pets that he was not supposed to use.

”Nangong Jade’s incarnation appears here and there unpredictably, even showing up in this place. What is this girl up to?” Ye Yun looked at the old painting, his gaze bewildered. Nangong Jade’s main body had already left the Divine Land. This incarnation of hers appeared from time to time throughout the ages, yet was so elusive as to leave one puzzled.

”What does ’five trips in and out’ mean?” Remembering Li Qikong’s previous words, Ye Yun suddenly grew curious and asked.

Perhaps because he felt the Divine Bridge Realm little girl beside him was too weak to cause any uncontrollable reaction, the white-haired old man showed no sign of caution after hearing Ye Yun’s question and explained, ”Five times entering the Divine Land, and five times exiting the Divine Land...”

”Divine Land?” Ye Yun was taken aback. He hadn’t expected Li Qikong to have gone to the Divine Land, then left, returning to the Cangnan Continent. What was he playing at?

The white-haired old man, supposing that Ye Yun was unaware of what the Divine Land was, explained in hushed tones, ”The Divine Land is another mysterious and powerful world. That world is vast and boundless; the spiritual energy in the air contains Divine Nature, suitable for cultivators at the True God Realm to cultivate...”

”If the Divine Land is so great, why not stay there and cultivate directly?” Ye Yun asked nonchalantly, smiling.