Eternal Life by Daily Divination

Chapter 29: Chapter 29: Startling News

The manor was indeed not far.

Just a quarter of an hour later, the two of them arrived.

Li Chang’an remained vigilant. This was, after all, the lair of two Tribulation Cultivators, and they could have set traps inside.

Therefore, he sealed Wang Er’s Cultivation.

He then had his Puppet Body and Dahuang follow Wang Er beneath the manor to retrieve the Treasure.

Before long, the Treasure appeared before Li Chang’an’s eyes.

“It’s actually a Spiritual Eye!”

Li Chang’an was surprised, then overjoyed.

This thing was truly priceless!

In the Cultivation Immortality Realm, there are what are known as Spirit Veins. Qinghe Marketplace, for example, was built on a Tier Two Spirit Vein.

A Spirit Vein can gather the Spiritual Qi of Heaven and Earth, making cultivation in such a location far more efficient than in areas without one.

Therefore, any Cultivation Immortality Influence, whether a family or a Sect, would first seek out a Spirit Vein before establishing themselves.

A Spiritual Eye, on the other hand, was the nascent form of a Spirit Vein.

If nurtured with care, it could be developed into a small-scale Spirit Vein.

’Even without nurturing it, it can still gather Spiritual Qi. Its effects are far superior to that Small Spirit Gathering Disc I found before.’

Joy filled Li Chang’an’s heart as he directed the Puppet to put away the Spiritual Eye.

A Spiritual Eye could also be carried on one’s person.

Once it was nurtured into a Spirit Vein, although its ability to gather Spiritual Qi would be stronger, it would become fixed in place and very difficult to move again.

Nearby, Wang Er could only watch helplessly as Li Chang’an took the Spiritual Eye.

Although he was resentful and reluctant, he didn’t dare try to stop him.

’As long as I can live, I can give up anything!’

“Li Chang’an, are you satisfied with this Spiritual Eye?”

Wang Er asked cautiously, his heart filled with anxiety.

“Quite satisfied!”

Li Chang’an smiled, his tone gentle.

Seeing this, Wang Er finally relaxed.

’It looks like Li Chang’an plans to keep his promise and let me go.’

But suddenly, a cold glint flashed before his eyes.

SHINK—

Wang Er’s body trembled. He clutched at his neck, his pale face a mask of panic.

Fresh blood gushed out, staining the front of his robes red.

He stumbled back several steps, his voice trembling.

“You… you promised you wouldn’t kill me…”

“Daoist Wang, you are a Tribulation Cultivator. How could you be so naive as to trust someone so easily?”

Li Chang’an asked in a tone of mock surprise.

Wang Er’s eyes bulged as he pointed a blood-stained finger at Li Chang’an.

“You… you…”

A moment later, he collapsed, all life gone from him. He, too, died with his eyes wide open.

Li Chang’an casually produced a Fireball Talisman and incinerated the corpse, leaving no trace behind.

’Time to head back.’

He cleaned up all traces of his presence and then started on his way back.

…

During the few days he was away, the Marketplace hadn’t changed much. Everything was business as usual.

「Inside his room.」

Li Chang’an took out Wang Da’s and Wang Er’s Storage Pouches and began to take inventory of their contents one by one.

’These two had quite a lot of good stuff in their Storage Pouches.’

The combined value of the Spirit Stones, Elixir Pills, Talismans, and Magical Artifacts in the two Storage Pouches was no less than what the original owner of the dwelling had left behind.

After all, the dwelling’s owner had used most of his resources in his attempt to reach Foundation Establishment.

’I have no use for some of these things, so I can sell them off. It’s not convenient to do so in the Marketplace, but I could try my luck at the Black Market.’

Li Chang’an mused.

Outside the Marketplace, there was a Black Market.

It was a place for trading all sorts of illicit goods.

The Black Market was a chaotic and poorly managed place, a melting pot of good and evil, and far more dangerous than the official Marketplace.

In the past, Li Chang’an hadn’t been strong enough and would never have dared to go to the Black Market.

Now, however, he felt he had the strength to do so.

’I don’t have to enter the Black Market personally; I can just send the Puppet in.’

Li Chang’an considered this for a moment.

With a flicker of his will, he retrieved the Thousand Faces Divine Skill manual from his Storage Pouch.

’First, though, I need to learn how to alter my aura.’

…

For the next few months, Li Chang’an remained in seclusion as usual, diligently focused on his cultivation.

Cultivating the Thousand Faces Divine Skill proved to be more difficult than he had anticipated.

He cultivated for a long time before barely reaching the Minor Achievement stage, which allowed him to just manage to alter his aura.

One evening.

Li Chang’an sat cross-legged with his eyes slightly closed.

The aura around him slowly began to transform.

Soon, he exuded a fierce air, his body cloaked in a faint but scorching Spiritual Qi, making him seem for all the world like a Cultivator with a Fire Spirit Root.

Nearby, a hint of confusion appeared in Dahuang’s eyes.

“Woof?”

The Li Chang’an before him seemed like a completely different person.

However, the connection from their Spirit Contract was still present.

That was why Dahuang was so confused.

“Dahuang, did even you almost fail to recognize me?”

Li Chang’an laughed heartily, extremely satisfied with this Magic.

If his own contracted Spirit Beast was confused, it went without saying that others wouldn’t be able to see through it either.

「The next day.」

Li Chang’an put on a mask and changed into a new outfit.

He left the Marketplace and headed straight for the Black Market.

’I can sell all the Magical Artifacts I’ve recently acquired, except for the Shadowless Net and the Ghost Soul Needle.’

On the way, he mused to himself.

’Now that my funds are plentiful, I should buy a few more protective Magical Artifacts. With my current Cultivation, I can just barely activate a Tier One Top Grade Magical Artifact…’

Just as he was thinking this, his ears suddenly twitched.

He heard some unusual sounds.

Not far ahead, the faint sounds of shouting and cursing rang out.

Furthermore, the owner of the voice was someone Li Chang’an recognized.

’It sounds like Elder Zheng.’

Li Chang’an slowed his Speed and concealed his aura.

He directed his Puppet to stealthily approach the source of the noise.

Before long, a bloody scene unfolded before Li Chang’an’s eyes.

In the forest ahead, the bodies of more than a dozen Zheng Family Cultivators were strewn about, each one having died a brutal death.

A chill went through Li Chang’an. ’Who would dare to attack the Zheng Family so close to the Marketplace?’

At that moment, in that part of the forest, only one Zheng Family Cultivator was still alive.

The man’s name was Zheng Yunting, a Middle Stage Qi Refining Cultivator.

’So it is Elder Zheng.’

Li Chang’an’s gaze sharpened, his expression turning grave.

Back when Chu Daniu was being pursued by Tribulation Cultivators, Li Chang’an had saved him. On their way back to the Marketplace, they had run into a Zheng Family patrol led by this very same Zheng Yunting.

Now, he was covered in wounds, his armor stained crimson. One of his arms had been severed, and he looked absolutely wretched.

“Come on! Who else wants a taste of my sword?”

Zheng Yunting roared, gripping his Longsword tightly in his one remaining hand and brandishing it wildly.

Surrounding him were more than a dozen masked Cultivators dressed in black.

Every one of them exuded a powerful aura, their eyes as cold as a pack of jackals circling their prey.

“Zheng Yunting, how does it feel watching your own juniors get slaughtered one by one?”

One of them spoke, his voice cold and detached.

Zheng Yunting’s eyes blazed with fury as he glared at the man.

“Just you wait! The Zheng Family will never let you get away with this!”

“Hmph! The Zheng Family?”

The man sneered, completely unconcerned.

“Your Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment Ancestor doesn’t have much longer to live. His last appearance was just him putting on a brave face! Once he dies, do you really think your remaining Foundation Establishment Ancestor can withstand the pressure from the Cao and Wu Families alone?”

“Utter nonsense!”

Zheng Yunting roared, swinging his sword.

From the shadows, Li Chang’an was secretly shocked. He seemed to have just overheard some explosive information.