A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

Only after probing it with his Divine Sense did he understand why.

It wasn't that Qingxu Temple had been careless, but rather that this skill was easy to learn yet difficult to master.

For a beginner, its power was unremarkable.

Even after three to five hundred years of dedicated study, it was difficult to achieve anything without the right talent.

However, there were shortcuts.

Take Jia Yujun, for example—she had taken one.

Lü Zhong flipped his hand, revealing the ten Small Flags. He learned from the Golden Light Curse Jade Scroll that they were called Little Golden Radiance Banners. They were not Magical Treasures in the conventional sense but rather what the Daoist Sects called "Treasure Artifacts." Their purpose was to assist in casting the Golden Light Spell, amplifying its effects.

'Can I cultivate this?'

He truly coveted the advantages of the Golden Light Spell.

In his fight with Jia Yujun, she had demonstrated its characteristics to their fullest, showing it could be used for both offense and defense. Moreover, if the description in the Golden Light Curse Jade Scroll was true, then the power she had displayed was merely a drop in the ocean.

The more profoundly one cultivated it, the stronger the Golden Light Spell became.

The reason Qingxu Temple, which possessed this Magic Spell, had not risen to become one of the Central Earth Immortal Sects was because the spell was incredibly difficult to learn. Since ancient times, there had been few who truly mastered it.

Even someone like Jia Yujun had only managed to scratch the surface.

Lü Zhong didn't expect to master it, but he would be more than satisfied if he could just become like her and send a Ninth-Layer Prohibition Restricted Treasure flying with a single flick of his finger.

But that was a matter for another time. Lü Zhong put his things away and began to meditate and regulate his breathing.

The Spirit Medicines needed to refine the Evergreen Pills were already mature. However, a round trip for his incarnation to the Western Realm would take at least a year. Therefore, while preparing for his arduous training, he also started performing Alchemy again to get his feel for it back.

And so, time passed bit by bit.

During this time, Lü Zhong never set foot outside Tide Cave unless it was for a matter of extreme importance. For all occasions that required his presence, he generally had his incarnation stand in for him.

...

「In the blink of an eye, two years had passed.」

Inside the Alchemy Room of Tide Cave, Lü Zhong continuously formed one Technique Mantra after another. He had also summoned his Celestial Net Secret Eye to meticulously manage every step of the refining process.

Before him, the Gui Water Phoenix Wing Furnace glowed with a faint cyan light, and within its core, the Purple Nether Extreme Fire blazed fiercely.

Seeing that a batch of Evergreen Pills was about to be completed, Lü Zhong's expression grew slightly tense.

The Evergreen Pill was not easy to refine. He had already failed several times in a row, and the wasted materials, if converted into Spirit Stones, would be worth at least three to five hundred thousand.

'I hope this one succeeds!'

As time passed, a fragrance began to fill the Alchemy Room. However, Lü Zhong's expression didn't relax in the slightest. This phenomenon had also occurred during his previous failures, so he couldn't take it as a sign of success. On the contrary, he had to concentrate even harder to avoid failing at the final hurdle.

He persisted for another forty-five minutes.

The fragrance gradually faded until it was almost imperceptible. Yet, just a small whiff of the Pill's aroma was enough to invigorate the spirit. A look of joy finally appeared on Lü Zhong's face.

'Barring any accidents, this batch is a success!'

Still, Lü Zhong didn't dare to let his guard down. He quickly formed a Technique Mantra and slowly reined in the Spirit Fire within the furnace. As he did, the nearly imperceptible Pill fragrance suddenly grew rich and intense.

Once it reached its peak, he formed another Technique Mantra and then waved his great sleeve.

Three Pills instantly appeared in his palm.

The finished Evergreen Pills were about the size of longans—the standard size for medicinal Pills. They were translucent and crystalline, like jade, their surfaces covered in a layer of fine patterns and wreathed in wisps of Spiritual Qi.

Their appearance was truly extraordinary.

'Three Pills... The Pill Formation Rate is still a little low,' Lü Zhong thought to himself.

However, he wasn't refining Evergreen Pills to make money, so a low Pill Formation Rate was acceptable. At worst, he would just have to refine a few more batches. He would eventually be able to gather the required amount.

After examining them carefully for a moment and confirming they were finished Evergreen Pills, Lü Zhong placed the three Pills into a jade box.

He continued his Alchemy until all the materials were used up.

In the end, he had obtained a total of ninety-one finished Evergreen Pills. After setting aside the eighty-one needed to cultivate the Evergreen Seal, he had ten left over.

Instead of discarding the extras, Lü Zhong carefully stored all the Pills in jade boxes.

He swept the Alchemy Room once before leaving.

He then turned and made his way to the Quiet Chamber.

After such a long delay, he could finally begin cultivating the Evergreen Seal.

...

「Time flew by.」

Lü Zhong remained in secluded cultivation within his Quiet Chamber.

Cultivating the Evergreen Seal was extremely difficult. Fortunately, it bore some similarities to cultivating the Wood Thunder Skill. By drawing on his prior experience, he was able to make progress. The process was still fraught with stumbles, but he never hit a true bottleneck.

While things were peaceful in Bihai, the Southern Barbarian lands were in turmoil.

The death of Jia Yujun, Spiritual Crane True Monarch's head disciple, immediately caused a huge uproar in the Southern Barbarian lands. No one had expected that such a powerful Fake Infant Realm Cultivator could die so inexplicably.

In response, the Daoist Sects mobilized their forces and launched a full-scale investigation into the matter.

But before the investigation could yield any results, another earth-shattering event occurred in the Southern Domain: the Profound City Celestial Attraction Secret Array was finally complete.

Without the slightest hesitation, the seven True Monarchs who had been waiting for so long sprang into action.

As thirteen pillars of light shot toward the heavens,

the Ten Thousand Witches Hall, once lost in the Void, began to slowly draw closer to this world. The process was expected to last more than ten years.

To ordinary cultivators, this was a long time.

But to a Nascent Soul True Monarch, with their long, three-thousand-year lifespan, it was but an insignificant moment.

The seasons turned in the blink of an eye.

On this day, Lü Zhong finally emerged from the Quiet Chamber.

With the aid of the Evergreen Pills, he had successfully cultivated the Evergreen Seal as expected.

Inside his Sea of Consciousness now rested a Small Seal that closely resembled the emblem of Changchun Valley. It was entirely cyan-green and spun lazily on its own. From time to time, it would overflow with streams of pure medicinal power, agitating his already restless Magical Power to the point of nearly running rampant.

Fortunately, Lü Zhong managed to suppress it in the end.

Now, whenever he wished, he could begin his attempt at Nascent Soul Formation.

However, Lü Zhong did not start immediately. Instead, he first made a trip to the Changchun Domain, where he sat in silent meditation inside a grass hut for a month to calm his turbulent emotions.

Only then did he return to Tide Cave.

After much deliberation, he decided to tell Yu Feng'Er that he was preparing for Nascent Soul Formation. Upon hearing the news, she froze on the spot, and it took her a long time to react.

"Husband..." Yu Feng'Er's eyes were slightly red.

"Don't worry," Lü Zhong began. "Nascent Soul Formation is dangerous, but I have a good deal of confidence this time. I'll be fine..." He wanted to say more, but he felt it would be tempting fate, so he fell silent. He simply pulled her into a tight embrace, feeling the slight tremble of her body.

"Mm, I believe in you, Husband," Yu Feng'Er said.

But as soon as the words left her mouth, she couldn't stop the tears from flowing.

As a Core Formation Cultivator, she knew exactly how difficult Nascent Soul Formation was. It was no exaggeration to say that only one in ten survived the ordeal.

"However, if I really... Sigh, let's not talk about it." Lü Zhong shook his head with a bitter smile, but he quickly fell silent again. It was best not to say anything inauspicious.

After spending the night with Yu Feng'Er, he sent a secret message to Shuini.

Achieving Nascent Soul Formation was not easy.

Without a Dharma Protector, the difficulty would be compounded.

Half a month later, Shuini rushed over.

"My good disciple, are you truly going to attempt Nascent Soul Formation?"

"The opportune moment has arrived. If I miss this chance, I fear I will have to wait a very long time for another," Lü Zhong said calmly, showing not a trace of fear for the dangers involved.

After staring at him for a full hour, Shuini finally broke into a radiant smile.

"Very well. In that case, I shall act as your Dharma Protector!"

"Husband..." Yu Feng'Er's eyes were red. She looked as if she wanted to say something but hesitated, before her expression firmed with resolve. "I will also do everything in my power. I will absolutely not let anyone disturb you!"

Hearing this, Lü Zhong glanced at Shuini.

She understood his unspoken meaning and gave a slight nod.

After that, the three of them spent another month together as usual.

Only then did Lü Zhong enter the Quiet Chamber to begin his final preparations for attempting Nascent Soul Formation.

Before beginning the process, it was crucial to bring his Essence, Qi, and Spirit to their absolute peak. His state of mind was especially critical, as the process involved passing the Heart Demon Pass, making it the most important priority of all.

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