A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

「Half a year later, before the True Spirit Hall.」

A massive Flying Ship landed steadily on the square in front of the hall.

Compared to the Flying Ships common in the Southern Barbarian lands, this one was a clear size larger, only slightly smaller than the miniature one from Changchun Valley. It was over one hundred and eighty zhang long, and its sterncastle resembled a grand palace, with carved beams, painted rafters, and upturned eaves—every detail lavishly and exquisitely decorated.

If the Flying Ships of the Southern Barbarian lands were built for utility, then this one was a pure luxury item, seemingly showcasing the vast difference in values between the Southern Barbarian lands and Central Earth.

Huge banners hung from both sides of the ship’s hull, embroidered with an emblem similar to that of the True Spirit Sect.

The difference between the two was that the True Spirit Sect’s emblem depicted the Unity of the Four Spirits in a fused style, representing its four great lineages. The Immortal Spirit Sect’s, however, showed the Four Spirits achieving sanctification, merging into a single Immortal Spirit.

This latter design was the emblem of the Immortal Spirit Sect.

At this very moment, Lü Zhong was with Shuini, welcoming the delegation from the Immortal Spirit Sect.

A short while later, the Flying Ship came to a stop.

A platform extended from the side of the hull, immediately unfolding into a staircase.

A grand procession emerged from within.

At the head of the procession were two squads of Qingyou, who were responsible for clearing the path. Every one of them had a Foundation Establishment Cultivation, and each held a Platinum Banner embroidered with the Immortal Spirit Sect’s emblem.

Following them was a group of uniformly dressed Golden Core Masters, twelve in all—fully twice the number of the True Spirit Sect’s Core Formation Elders. Although they all stared straight ahead, it was obvious they were using the corners of their eyes to covertly survey their surroundings.

Once the twelve Immortal Spirit Sect Core Formation cultivators had taken their positions and the Immortal Music Drums began to sound, a stately Female Cultivator in magnificent palace attire appeared. Accompanied by a young man in a Jade Crown, she slowly walked out of the Flying Ship’s cabin door.

Upon seeing Shuini waiting to greet them before the hall, the Female Cultivator revealed a kindly smile.

Looking at the woman’s face, Lü Zhong noticed that she bore a slight resemblance to Shuini. It was only when the two walked over and began to converse that he learned that the person the Immortal Spirit Sect had sent was actually related to Shuini by blood—her maternal great-grandmother, Feng Miao True Monarch of the Immortal Spirit Sect’s Profound Wind Lineage.

Judging from her aura, which was several degrees more powerful than even Shuini’s, she was clearly a Middle Stage Nascent Soul Cultivator.

"Though I am far away in Central Earth, I have often heard of your deeds, Fellow Daoist. To think you could single-handedly build such a grand enterprise here in the Southern Barbarian lands... If Rui’Er were still with us, I’m sure he would be deeply gratified... Hahaha, but let’s not dwell on such ancient history. When the Sect decided to send people to the Southern Barbarian lands this time, I was the first to volunteer! I hope we can look out for each other during the upcoming trip to the Ten Thousand Witches Hall," Feng Miao True Monarch said with a laugh.

As she spoke, she turned to look at Lü Zhong.

She then glanced back at Shuini, and upon noticing her strange expression, seemed to understand something.

"This must be your disciple, Lü Zhong, yes? He is indeed a fine, handsome man. And his cultivation has already reached the Fake Infant Realm, which is about the same as my head disciple, Feng Huanyu... How about this? Let’s have him spar with my disciple. It would be a fine way to liven things up on this auspicious day, don’t you think?"

Shuini’s expression flickered at her words.

Without even glancing at the jade-faced youth, she refused outright.

’I don’t care if this is a show of dominance or a deliberate test. Even if I think Lü Zhong has a higher chance of winning, I have no intention of letting them have a match.’

"I’m afraid I must disappoint you, Fellow Daoist Feng. My disciple only just broke through. He needs to stabilize his cultivation, so now is not a suitable time for a match."

"Well, what a pity..." Feng Miao said with a faint smile.

She immediately dropped the subject and, accompanied by Shuini, entered the True Spirit Hall.

To receive the delegation from the Immortal Spirit Sect, Shuini had prepared a banquet of rare delicacies to welcome Feng Miao True Monarch. At her command, serving maids began to bring out dishes in a continuous stream.

During the banquet, the two inevitably began to discuss the matter of the Ten Thousand Witches Hall.

Thanks to the help of the Gui Miao Immortal Sect, progress on the thirteen Traction Towers had accelerated greatly, to the point that they were nearing completion after less than twenty years. Once the most crucial Traction Towers were finished, it wouldn’t be long before the Profound City Celestial Attraction Secret Array could be deployed.

At that time, they would officially begin to draw down the Ten Thousand Witches Hall.

And Feng Miao’s group had come precisely for the Ten Thousand Witches Hall.

After that, they continued with small talk.

It was mostly about records concerning the Ten Thousand Witches Hall found in ancient texts. Lü Zhong stood to one side, listening intently, when he noticed a discreet gaze fall upon him. It was from Feng Miao True Monarch’s head disciple; the man had been secretly sizing him up ever since he’d disembarked from the ship.

It felt as though he were gauging an opponent’s strength.

’An opponent...’

Lü Zhong mulled over the word. ’I think I’m starting to understand why Feng Miao True Monarch wanted me to spar with Feng Huanyu. I’ve probably stumbled into some kind of cliché drama again.’

’A love rival?’

’Heh. You’re not worthy.’

Lü Zhong couldn’t be bothered with Feng Huanyu.

Unexpectedly, this act of ignoring him made the other man feel he was being slighted.

As someone from a Cultivation Family and a Nascent Soul True Inheritance, Feng Huanyu had always held himself in extremely high regard. How could he tolerate being so blatantly disdained by Lü Zhong?

’In his eyes, this Southern Barbarian region was nothing but an uncivilized, Barbaric Land.’

’Although Lü Zhong has the same level of cultivation, I, Feng Huanyu, am from Central Earth. I’ve received the resources and training equivalent to a disciple of an Immortal Sect. I must have an overwhelming advantage in terms of strength.’

’If we were to actually fight, I could finish him in less than ten rounds.’

Just as Feng Huanyu was seething internally, unsure how to vent his frustration, a serving maid who came forward to pour wine failed to control her strength, causing the frothy head of the wine in the cup to ripple.

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