A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

The day of the sect’s destruction was still far away.

Under the circumstances, Lü Zhong continued to live his leisurely life.

After feeding the Water Flood Dragon Demon Pill to the Great Honey Insect, it quickly spun a cocoon and began its metamorphosis. He expected it to transform from a Tier Two Demon Insect into a Tier Three once the process was complete.

’I’m really looking forward to it—Tier Three Spirit Ascending Honey!’

Once this honey could be successfully produced, even if the quantity was small and the cost immense, it would alleviate his current predicament. He wouldn’t be like he was now, suffering from a lack of Pills and forced to absorb Spiritual Qi from a Spirit Vein.

It was difficult to go from luxury to austerity.

He had grown accustomed to the rapid progress in his cultivation from taking Pills. Now, forcing Lü Zhong to go back to cultivating by absorbing Spiritual Qi, the feeling of training for days on end without making any progress... it was truly more unbearable than death itself.

...

「One year later.」

Lü Zhong soared through the air in a streak of Rainbow Flight, his eyes taking in a landscape of endless, snow-capped peaks.

He was currently in the Profound Sun Domain. His goal was to visit the renowned Artifact Refining Master of the Southern Barbarian lands, Huo Yezi, who lived in the Zhonglong Snow Mountain range where the Profound Sun and Changchun Domains met.

According to the information he had gathered, Huo Yezi had a strange and volatile temperament. He was not an easy person to deal with.

But what could be done? Huo Yezi not only possessed a Mid-stage Core Formation cultivation but was also an Artifact Refiner skilled in the art of Artifact Refining. The combination of these two identities had inflated his temper.

His temper grew worse and worse, yet the number of people coming to request his services only increased.

When Lü Zhong arrived at Zhonglong Snow Mountain, he saw a sprawling, well-ordered complex of buildings.

He spent a few Spirit Stones to make some inquiries and learned that the people living inside were all cultivators who had come to request Artifact Refining from Huo Yezi. Most of them represented their respective factions and were obediently queuing to have their requests accepted.

Upon further inquiry, Lü Zhong discovered that even with his Mid-stage Core Formation cultivation base and his status as the master of the Chengde Commerce Association and the Bihai Sect, he was only qualified to cut ahead of a portion of the crowd. There were still fifty or sixty people in front of him, all of them major figures from the Southern Barbarian lands whose power and influence were no less than his own.

”...” Lü Zhong was speechless.

At a rate of one artifact every three to five years, he would have to wait over a hundred years at the very least.

Although that amount of time was only a third of a Core Formation Cultivator’s lifespan, it was still far too long no matter how he looked at it. This was only suitable for families or Sects, who could pass the refined Magical Treasures down to future generations.

For someone in Lü Zhong’s situation, rather than wait over a hundred years, it would be better to refine it himself or simply find a less skilled Artifact Refiner. Although the resulting Magical Treasure would be weaker at first, after being nurtured for a century, its power would surely surpass a Magical Treasure fresh from Huo Yezi’s forge.

He immediately felt like backing out.

Just as he was about to turn and leave, he heard a voice call out from behind.

”Is that Elder Lü up ahead? My master requests your presence!”

Lü Zhong looked toward the voice and saw a middle-aged woman in green robes. While her face was still alluring, the rest of her body was a mass of knotted, bulging muscle, and she stood nearly ten feet tall.

As she rushed over, she carried an intimidating presence.

Everyone scrambled to get out of her way.

”Might you be Elder Lü? My master invites you. If it’s convenient, he asks that you come speak with him,” the middle-aged woman said, rushing over and cupping her fists in a salute.

”I am. And your master is?”

”My apologies, I forgot to introduce myself. My name is Yao Yuting, and I am the eldest disciple of my master, Huo Yezi. Master just sent word, asking me to invite you to Zhonglong Peak for a meeting,” the middle-aged woman said, her face full of apology.

’I see,’ Lü Zhong thought. ’Huo Yezi must want something from me. Oh well, I’ll go hear him out. If the request is reasonable, I’ll agree. If it’s too dangerous, I can just refuse.’

So, he nodded, and Yao Yuting led the way.

Their passage attracted many stares. Everyone was curious about the background of the black-haired young man. What kind of person could warrant Huo Yezi’s eldest disciple coming out to personally lead the way for him?

After all, thanks to the transcendent status of her master, Huo Yezi, Yao Yuting’s own standing was by no means low. In many places, she was treated with the same respect as a Core Formation Cultivator.

And yet now...