A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

One day, Lü Zhong was having tea in the courtyard with his concubine.

Suddenly, the sky went dark in an instant. At the same time, the concentration of Spiritual Qi began to rise rapidly. Then, a dazzling pillar of light shot up into the heavens from the southeast, swiftly scattering the leaden clouds that had gathered. Afterward, iridescent clouds filled the sky, stretching for thousands of miles, as if an auspicious omen had appeared.

Seeing this, he shot to his feet, his eyes filled with shock.

But that shock soon turned into a grave expression.

”Chenyuan Palace has opened!”

The streets outside had also erupted into a bustling scene. Some cultivators were trying to take advantage of the increased Spiritual Qi concentration to raise their cultivation, while others pointed at the Spiritual Light Torch and discussed it animatedly.

Most people, however, were either summoning Beast Vehicles or breaking the Law Enforcement Hall’s rules by using Magic Skills to travel, scrambling toward the southeast gate. They all wanted to get near the Chenyuan Palace Secret Realm.

According to the ancient texts, whenever this Secret Realm opened and the Spiritual Light Torch appeared, a strange phenomenon would occur: Spiritual Qi would turn into rain. Spirit Liquid would fall from the sky, and collecting this pure substance could surely be exchanged for a considerable sum of Spirit Stones.

Moving against the flow of the crowd, Lü Zhong hurried toward Liuu Piaoniang’s residence.

As he passed the main hall of the Law Enforcement Hall, he saw a large contingent of its cultivators gathering at the entrance. Beside them were large carts pulled by Spiritual Beasts, looking as if they too were preparing to head for the Chenyuan Palace Secret Realm. However, whether they were going to maintain order or for some other purpose, no outsider could know.

When he arrived at his destination, Liuu Piaoniang was already waiting with Su Xu’Er.

Parked nearby was a thirty-foot-long Flying Vehicle, pulled by two Spiritual Birds he had never seen before. They distinctly emanated the aura of Tier Two Spiritual Beasts, an aura that seemed even faintly stronger than Lü Zhong’s own.

Seeing this, he could only conclude that Golden Core Masters and Foundation Establishment True Cultivators truly lived in two different worlds.

Though it hadn’t been long since he’d last seen her, Su Xu’Er had already broken through to the Foundation Establishment Stage, and her cultivation seemed quite stable. She was still holding a small beast in her arms. When she saw Lü Zhong approach, a smile lit up her face, and she waved eagerly to greet him.

”Fellow Daoist Lü, over here, over here!”

”This junior greets Elder Liuu!” Lü Zhong said, walking up to the two and clasping his hands.

”There’s no need for such formalities. Come aboard with us; the journey is rather long.” Liuu Piaoniang then helped Su Xu’Er onto the vehicle and boarded without a further word to Lü Zhong.

Lü Zhong nodded and followed them onto the vehicle.

The interior of the Flying Vehicle was quite spacious, about the size of a normal room. In the back was a brocade couch for resting and cultivating, separated from the rest of the space by a curtain of colorful beads. In the middle of the vehicle sat a small table with an exquisite silver-inlaid incense burner. Wisps of blue smoke drifted from it, releasing a fragrance that calmed the mind and focused the spirit.

Lü Zhong tactfully avoided the brocade couch, instead placing a cattail mat near the window and sitting down.

Immediately, he felt his body tilt slightly as the Flying Vehicle suddenly accelerated.

The buildings below receded at a rapid pace. Soon, the view changed to one of sprawling farmsteads, which in turn gave way to endless green mountains. They periodically passed through clouds and mist, until nothing but a vast expanse of white was visible.

Occasionally, they would see a streak of rainbow light or two flashing past.

All the streaks of light were headed in the same direction, toward the conspicuous pillar of light in the distance.

As the saying goes, mountains are farther than they appear. The Flying Vehicle’s speed was no less than the maximum speed of Lü Zhong’s own Flying Ship, yet after flying for a full ancient hour, they didn’t seem to have gotten much closer. The pillar of light only appeared more magnificent, like a heavenly column connecting sky and earth.

Suddenly, a streak of white light flew out from behind the beaded curtain.

Lü Zhong reached out and caught it, discovering it was a Jade Talisman.

”Junior, this is a Jade Talisman I refined myself. It can block three attacks at the Foundation Establishment Realm. The road to Chenyuan Palace is dangerous. I expect you to honor our Spirit Contract and protect Xu’Er so she can successfully retrieve that item.” Liuu Piaoniang’s voice followed.

’Only three attacks?’ Lü Zhong thought to himself. ’This is far worse than the one Shuini gave me. As expected, my own master is the one who truly cares for me. Oh well. For the sake of the Jade Vein Technique, I suppose making this trip is no big deal.’

He nodded in acknowledgment, and the Flying Vehicle continued on its way.

After another ancient hour of flight, a light drizzle began to fall. The raindrops were all formed from condensed Spiritual Qi, and the total amount they contained was not to be underestimated. It all originated from the Tier Five Spirit Vein in Chenyuan Palace.

The Flying Vehicle pushed on through the wind and rain, landing in a massive plaza half an ancient hour later.

Stepping out of the vehicle, he could see that many cultivators had already gathered in the plaza. They were split into two distinct groups along the plaza’s center line. On the left were mostly cultivators in the attire of the Lingyue Sect, while on the right was a group of Tied-up Daoists wearing Daoist Robes, evidently from the neighboring Huayi Temple.

Loose Cultivators like Lü Zhong, who came from the Lingyue Domain, stood together with the Lingyue Sect.

The same was true for the group on the other side.

The atmosphere between the two sides was somewhat tense.

Lü Zhong had read the relevant materials and knew that although the Lingyue Sect and Huayi Temple were both part of the Seven Alliances of the Southern Barbarians, there was no shortage of friction and dirty dealings between them in secret. Therefore, whenever the Chenyuan Palace Secret Realm opened, conflicts of all sizes would break out within it. It had reached a point where Loose Cultivators had to pick a side, or else they would face indiscriminate attacks from both.

As he waited, he looked around curiously.

Directly north of the plaza under his feet was the entrance to the Chenyuan Palace Secret Realm.

At this moment, all that was there was a massive, awe-inspiring vortex. Countless Prohibitions surged within it like a tide, radiating waves of astonishing power. They interlinked and overlapped in countless layers, all coming together to form an ancient Grand Array of extreme precision and complexity.