A Loose Cultivator's Path to Longevity

”Hmph!”

...

「Three years later.」

The sky had just begun to lighten when Lü Zhong emerged from his Quiet Chamber.

Thanks to a massive investment of resources, the whereabouts of a missing book page had finally been found. It was in the hands of the Illusion Cloud Sect in the Lingyue Domain. Because the secret behind the page had to be protected, he couldn’t obtain it through normal negotiations, lest he alert his target. He would have to go and handle the matter personally.

He glanced at the Quiet Chamber across from his. Yu Feng’Er was still in closed-door cultivation.

Ever since he reached Core Formation, the two of them had seen each other far less. Either he was in seclusion, or Yu Feng’Er was spending months on end consuming Pills for her cultivation.

’Perhaps it’s because she sensed this that she keeps using the Vein Tempering Formula as a pretext to maintain our connection.’ A smile graced Lü Zhong’s lips at the thought.

’It’s a nice thought, but the one putting the plan into action is a bit too weak.’

’She loses every time, to the point where she has to hold onto the wall just to leave.’

...

「Half a month later.」

Lü Zhong arrived at the Illusion Cloud Sect.

It had taken him so long because he’d made a detour to the Heling Sect to visit his master, Shuini, and maintain their relationship. As a result, he had received a small amount of Star Stone, which was a pleasant surprise.

At this moment, he stood atop a towering, sheer cliff.

Looking ahead, he could see a turbulent, churning sea of clouds. In the very center of it sat a massive complex of buildings—the mountain gate of the Illusion Cloud Sect.

According to the information from the Chengde Commerce Association, the Illusion Cloud Sect had run into some trouble recently.

’This is an opportunity,’ Lü Zhong thought. ’I might be able to use this to get my hands on the page smoothly. I don’t mind if the process is a little troublesome.’

’Before that, I’ll head to the Illusion Cloud Market first and see what I can find out.’

He concealed his aura, disguising his cultivation as that of an Early-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so as not to startle the cultivators of the Illusion Cloud Sect, who only had a single Early-stage Core Formation patriarch.

With that, he leaped from the cliff and flew toward the Illusion Cloud Market nestled beneath the sea of clouds.

The landscape was a picturesque scene of crisscrossing paths, shimmering lakes, and verdant mountains.

The Illusion Cloud Market was situated in a truly scenic location. Its magnificent landscape, like something from a splashed-ink painting, ranked among the most beautiful places Lü Zhong had ever visited.

He took a few extra moments to admire the view before landing at the market’s entrance.

A long line of cultivators waited to enter the market. Some were driving carts laden with raw materials, while others looked dusty and travel-worn, their purpose for visiting the Illusion Cloud Market unclear. The queue stretched for nearly a third of a mile.

When a market guard saw Lü Zhong approaching, he was about to tell him to get back in line. But then he suddenly sensed a powerful aura emanating from the unremarkable-looking Daoist before him. The guard’s indifferent expression did a complete one-eighty, and his face instantly broke into an obsequious, fawning smile.

”Senior, this way, please!”

With that, the guard led Lü Zhong straight into the market.

”I’ve heard there’s been some trouble around here lately. Do you know what’s going on?” Lü Zhong asked, tossing a Spirit Stone to the round-faced, paunchy guard leading the way.

’These people are the local insiders; there’s no one better to ask for information.’

”You don’t know, Senior? This junior thought you were here for the Demon Extermination Order...” The paunchy guard accepted the Spirit Stone, his smile growing even wider, so pleased that his round face scrunched up in delight.

”A group of Demon Cultivators has appeared to the north. The Sect Leader has issued a Demon Extermination Order, calling on powerful cultivators to join the great cause of eliminating them. It’s a perfect opportunity for an expert like you, Senior. I hear that if you accumulate enough merit, you can even exchange it for a Foundation Establishment Pill from the Treasure Vault!”

At this, the paunchy guard couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy toward the senior before him.

’A senior with such high cultivation lives a carefree life, coming and going as he pleases. Not like me, having to crawl out of bed before dawn every single day to stand guard, enduring wind, frost, rain, and snow all year round.’

Just as he was lost in thought, another Spirit Stone appeared in his hand.

The paunchy guard felt a surge of gratitude and looked up to thank him, but the senior was already gone.

...

A roadside tea stall.

Lü Zhong, now in a different set of clothes, was sipping tea.

’The paunchy guard had already explained the gist of the trouble the Illusion Cloud Sect was facing. The fact that they were even offering Foundation Establishment Pills in exchange for help suggested the problem was anything but small.’

’Now I just need to confirm whether that book page is on the exchange list.’

’Confirming that should be simple enough. I just need to make a trip to the Illusion Cloud Sect.’

’Since they’re offering such rewards, it stands to reason they’d have a corresponding catalog, and the prices for exchange would certainly be listed.’

’I hope it’s on there...’

’Otherwise, things are going to get much more complicated.’

Just as he was thinking this, Lü Zhong’s expression flickered. He looked up to find that, at some point, a Female Cultivator in a black veil had seated herself across from him. Moreover, she felt vaguely familiar.

’Li Qionghua!’

’Should I run, or...’

His mind raced as he quickly considered his options.

’The woman across from me is a ruthless one. She once heavily wounded a Nascent Soul True Monarch and dared to make an enemy of a Nascent Soul Sect. Against someone like her, my chances of winning are probably very low.’

’So there’s only one option—run!’

”Pfft! You’re an interesting one, junior!” Li Qionghua suddenly laughed. She seemed to have seen right through Lü Zhong’s intentions. Noticing he was about to stand and bow, she cut in, ”Let’s just address each other as Fellow Daoist. It’s rare for me to meet someone who isn’t utterly detestable, so I thought I’d come and reminisce a little.”

As she spoke, she gave Lü Zhong a suspicious look.

”Fellow Daoist Lü, you’re using Concealed Breath to pass as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator... don’t tell me you’re planning to participate in the Demon Extermination Order? If so, perhaps I... erm, I can help you out. You don’t have the exchange catalog yet, do you? Here, this is it. But I never help for free. In return, you’ll have to show some sincerity.”

Lü Zhong took it and swept it with his Divine Sense, only to receive bad news.

The book page wasn’t in the catalog.

’Recalling Li Qionghua’s words, it seemed this former Nascent Soul Old Monster had anticipated this. Perhaps that was why she offered to help.’

’Heh, what an old monster.’

Lü Zhong cursed inwardly, unafraid of Li Qionghua knowing. Even if she could guess his thoughts, she probably wouldn’t care. After a moment of deliberation, he decided to hear the woman’s demands.

’Although this felt a bit like asking a tiger for its hide.’

”What sort of repayment do you require, Fellow Daoist Li?”

”Heh heh, I knew it!” Li Qionghua said with a smirk, her eyes raking over Lü Zhong’s entire body as she spoke in a teasing tone. ”But... let me think. Spirit Stones? Meaningless. Hmm, a Cultivation Technique? Mine is pretty good already. Well... what if... I wanted you?”

”You must be joking, Fellow Daoist...” Lü Zhong’s expression remained impassive, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but wonder.

’What’s wrong with Li Qionghua? She seems to have suffered some kind of Qigong Deviation. Compared to when we first met, she no longer has the composure of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.’

’It’s... it’s like she’s a completely different person.’

’Is this the price she paid for heavily wounding a Nascent Soul True Monarch?’

”Of course, I was just kidding. Don’t tell me you actually thought...” Li Qionghua seemed to be thoroughly enjoying herself. She let out a soft laugh. ”Chatting with you has actually improved my mood quite a bit. It seems you’re my lucky star, Fellow Daoist. Alright, enough joking around.

This is a token. With it, you can enter the Illusion Cloud Sect’s Treasure Vault and pick any one item. You could even pick the Sect Leader himself! Hahaha!”

Li Qionghua burst out laughing at this, but seeing Lü Zhong’s placid expression, her smile vanished. ”Hmph. How boring! My condition is very simple. Spirit Ascending Honey. Ten thousand jin of it!”

’This old monster certainly knows how to name her price,’ Lü Zhong cursed inwardly.

’And she claimed she was just passing by. I’m afraid this was premeditated all along.’

The demand for ten thousand jin of Spirit Ascending Honey was right at the very limit of what he could manage.

”What do you need so much Spiritual Honey for?”

”It’s certainly not to refine Creation Spirit Liquid. As for its specific purpose... well, I suppose I could tell you... heh heh, as long as you, Fellow Daoist Lü, are willing to spend one night with me. Hmm, just one night will do,” Li Qionghua said, sounding entirely serious.

An opportunity presented itself.

Lü Zhong had a strong feeling that the woman wasn’t joking.

’Just what would a Nascent Soul Female Cultivator be like? If he agreed, he might actually get to find out.’

’But on second thought, he decided against it. Who knew what sort of schemes were involved?’

’As a mere Core Formation cultivator, he couldn’t possibly out-scheme a thousand-year-old monster.’

”Ten thousand jin of Spirit Ascending Honey, that’s no problem!”

”Hmph! You don’t know what’s good for you.” Li Qionghua seemed genuinely angry. She slapped the token down on the table with a SMACK, stood up, and stalked out of the tea stall. As she left, she tossed a final sentence over her shoulder, ”Just deliver the goods to the Illusion Cloud Sect.”

Lü Zhong was speechless.