Longevity by Grinding Skills

Chapter 443: Chapter 443: You’re the Real Fiend

Despite his words, Xu Yunfan was already planning ahead. ’When the Thunder Beads are nearly gone, perhaps I should take the initiative and make a trip to the Immortal Palace.’

A True Monarch never acted without reason. Every move was calculated.

’By bestowing this technique upon me, he’s likely setting me up for some incredibly difficult task in the future.’

’If I don’t do everything I can to strengthen my own foundations, I’ll be the one in a sorry state when that day arrives.’

Xu Yunfan let out a breath.

On the path of cultivation, fate and opportunity were both crucial.

Although he was now under True Monarch Qingyuan, he was still just a newcomer.

The True Monarch had few disciples. To earn his favor, one not only needed exceptional talent but also had to be blessed with great fortune.

If Daoist Master Hundred Peaks hadn’t roped him in, he probably would have met with disaster the moment he stepped out of the Divine Martial Realm.

Those Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters lurking in the shadows were like tigers watching their prey, specializing in picking off solitary cultivators.

With his insignificant cultivation level before reaching Foundation Establishment, yet possessing the materials needed to do so, he would have been a prime target. Without the True Monarch’s protection, he likely wouldn’t have survived even half a day.

On the path of cultivation, one wrong step could lead to a cascade of failures, and opportunities were fleeting.

Now that he was under the True Monarch’s wing, it was like having a protective talisman. Common vultures wouldn’t dare to make a reckless move against him.

Xu Yunfan knew perfectly well that as good as this opportunity was, it wasn’t a permanent solution. He absolutely could not afford to grow complacent.

The Primordial Sect had always revered the strong. If he failed to advance, once his usefulness was exhausted, a figure like True Monarch Qingyuan would not show him the slightest bit of personal consideration.

These were the rules of the Sect, and being under a True Monarch was no charity. Gaining even temporary protection was a rare fortune.

He was keenly aware of the cruelty of the Cultivation Realm—or, more accurately, of the Primordial Sect’s methods. Stories of an honored guest one day becoming a prisoner the next were all too common.

Such things happened far too often; they were a daily occurrence within the Primordial Sect.

The chances of turning the tables and rising to power were slim to none.

He was safe for now, borrowing the True Monarch’s fearsome reputation, but if he couldn’t continue to prove his worth, he would eventually be cast aside like a worn-out shoe.

This sense of crisis lingered in his mind, not allowing him to slack off for even a moment.

’This is nothing like the immortal cultivation I imagined...’

Xu Yunfan let out a breath, cleared his mind of distracting thoughts, and began to consolidate his Realm and diligently raise his Skill Levels.

He started by practicing the Turtle and Snake Disc, a defensive method from the *True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture*, which caused a Black Tortoise Illusion to appear around him. Next, he activated the *Wansheng Sword Transformation* technique. Using Thunder Power, his Lifebound Thunder Sword practiced the Basic Sword Forms of the *Wansheng Sword Transformation*, and bolts of lightning crisscrossed his cave dwelling. In his spare time, he would study the *Initial Understanding of Array Dao*.

With his Attribute Panel, the *Initial Understanding of Array Dao* wasn’t especially difficult for him. Every insight and every simulated array formation brought a notification that his Skill Level had increased.

Time holds no meaning in cultivation. Like an arrow, five years passed in the blink of an eye.

Xu Yunfan remained immersed in his training, practicing day and night without stopping. With the help of his Attribute Panel, his Cultivation steadily progressed.

He diligently cultivated the *True Martial Demon Suppressing Scripture* and practiced the Turtle and Snake Disc. The Black Tortoise Illusion around him grew increasingly solid. Driven by the *Wansheng Sword Transformation*, his Lifebound Thunder Sword’s momentum became fiercer, and surges of Sword Qi roiled within the cave amidst the flashing lightning.

He also never neglected his study of the Array Dao. Each time he studied the *Initial Understanding of Array Dao* and simulated setting up an array, the Skill Level on his Attribute Panel rose steadily.

For these five years, he hadn’t dared to be the least bit complacent.

However, just as he was deep in his cultivation, a sudden disturbance erupted outside True Martial Peak.

A massive commotion instantly jolted him from his trance.

Xu Yunfan’s expression sank. He got up, deactivated the Concealing Array of True Martial Cave, and walked outside. The moment he stepped out of his cave dwelling, a mountain wind carrying a sharp Spiritual Pressure rushed to meet him.

Looking up, he saw a middle-aged man in a black robe standing before his peak.

The black-robed man stood with his hands behind his back on a green boulder about thirty yards away. His dark Magic Robe billowed without a wind, and the crimson centipede pattern subtly embroidered on its hem seemed to glow with a bloody light under the sun.

The man’s features were sharp, as if chiseled. A dark purple vertical line between his eyebrows pulsed with his breathing—a Manifestation unique to Magical Power. He had clearly cultivated some kind of Eye Technique.

The aura around the black-robed man churned, and a grim Evil Qi faintly seeped from the grayish-white mist coiling around him.

Xu Yunfan’s gaze hardened as he carefully sensed the man’s aura. His Magical Power was dense, but it hadn’t reached the depth of the Mid-Stage Foundation Establishment. The man was clearly only at the Early-Stage Foundation Establishment.

What was more disturbing was that the grayish-white mist was no ordinary Magical Power. It was condensed from countless living souls. Within its wisps, twisted human faces could be faintly seen, letting out silent wails.

A closer look confirmed it: every wisp of the coiling mist was forged from living souls.

’Classic Demon Dao methods.’

’Cultivating such a potent Life and Death Qi must have cost a great number of lives.’

These sinister methods confirmed it for Xu Yunfan: the Primordial Sect was, in truth, the Primordial Demon Sect. The man’s grayish-white mist was a Soul Refining technique, a common practice among followers of the Demon Dao.

He had seen so many Foundation Establishment Daoist Masters in the Primordial Sect cultivating seemingly grand and righteous techniques that, after a while, he had almost forgotten he wasn’t part of the Righteous Dao.

The realization left Xu Yunfan a bit dazed.

’Early-Stage Foundation Establishment, yet he’s cultivated such sinister arts...’

’Such a heavy aura of blood and slaughter...’

Xu Yunfan’s eyes flickered as his gaze swept over the defensive array before his gate, which had been smashed open by brute force.

The Nine Palace Array, set up according to the *Initial Understanding of Array Dao*, was now in ruins. Three of the eight Cyan Nether Stones that served as the array’s core were shattered, while the remaining five were riddled with web-like cracks.

Although the array wasn’t top-tier, to have found its weak point with such precision, the intruder clearly had considerable skill in the Array Dao.

Seeing Xu Yunfan examining the wreckage of the array, the Black Robe Daoist Master gave a sinister laugh. "Quite the cautious junior, aren’t you? A pity. For such a crude array, it does grasp the true essence of the art. You must have immersed yourself in arrays for decades to reach this level, right?"

Xu Yunfan remained expressionless. He had comprehended this defensive array three years ago after reaching the Minor Achievement stage in the *Initial Understanding of Array Dao*. Though called a defensive array, it focused more on misdirection, so its protective capabilities were somewhat lacking.

Although he had set up the array outside his gate rather casually, he had drawn upon his accumulated knowledge of the Array Dao. Coupled with the insight of his Martial Arts Celestial Eye and the aid of the Divine Sense unique to a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Xu Yunfan had long since memorized the contours of the mountain’s terrain and its Spirit Veins.

With a single glance, he could accurately survey the nodes of the Earth Vein and place an array at the most critical Spirit Core.

As a result, even an ordinary Nine Palace Array, when adjusted and placed by him, would have its power increased by at least thirty percent.

As he spoke, the Black Robe Daoist Master suddenly stomped his foot, and the remaining array stones exploded. "It couldn’t even hold me back for a few minutes."

The corner of Xu Yunfan’s mouth twitched.

’He’s being a bit too theatrical.’

’As much as I’d like to plant my fist in his face, I have to go through the proper channels. Otherwise, I might accidentally offend some True Monarch.’

’I have True Monarch Qingyuan’s backing, but if I run to him too often, I’ll just look like I’m high-maintenance.’

’That would be no good.’

At this thought, Xu Yunfan couldn’t help but sigh inwardly. He didn’t know if he was just unlucky, if his fortune was in decline, or if he had simply used up all his luck after forging his Dao Foundation and becoming a Foundation Establishment Daoist Master.

’Even when I stay behind closed doors, people still come looking for trouble.’

"You look unfamiliar, Senior Brother."

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