Immortality and Cultivation: I Have Three Times the Lifespan

Chapter 102 Uninvited Guest

The Kongyun Mountains are a notoriously dangerous place in the Southern Region's cultivation world, stretching for tens of thousands of miles from east to west, vast and boundless.

Its northern foothills are adjacent to Liuyun Immortal City, Qianxue Market and many Foundation Establishment families, to the west is the territory of the Danxia Sect, a major Golden Core sect, and to the east is the Wanshou Manor, a Golden Core force famous for its beast taming.

The outer perimeter of the mountain range is a paradise for first-tier monsters, the middle section is inhabited by powerful second-tier monsters, and the core area is frequented by third-tier great monsters.

Legend has it that a fourth-tier demon king, comparable to a Nascent Soul True Monarch, is lurking deep within, forming a forbidden area that even late-stage Core Formation cultivators dare not trespass upon.

It was this vast and treacherous mountain range, rich in treasures, that nurtured the prosperity of the surrounding Golden Core forces and countless Foundation Establishment families.

"A considerable harvest! We've finally gathered all the essential ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill: the Mystic Spirit Fruit!"

Liu Yanlong's voice was filled with barely suppressed excitement, as if the Foundation Establishment realm was already within reach.

"Damn it, the Xuanling Fruit is tightly controlled by major powers, and it can't be seen on the market at all. Only in dangerous places like the deep part of the Kongyun Mountains is there a chance to get it. This time... we lost several brothers who risked their lives to get it by luck."

When he spoke of the team members who had been lost, the excitement in his eyes dimmed for a moment, but was quickly suppressed by his even more fervent desire for enlightenment.

"The main ingredient of the Foundation Establishment Pill!" Yang Changsheng's heart stirred slightly upon hearing this.

These second-tier spirit fruits are almost never circulated in major shops, and are even rarer at auctions. Moreover, they are extremely expensive, often costing thousands of spirit stones.

Liu Yanlong took a deep breath, his gaze fixed intently on Yang Changsheng, and said directly:

"However, I'm a little short on snacks because of the payment for having a master alchemist refine a Foundation Establishment Pill. So, when I got this good stuff, I thought it was especially suitable for a puppet expert like you, so I shamelessly came to you first."

Yang Changsheng understood.

Liu Yanlong has returned from hunting demons and possesses the precious Xuanling Fruit, but he urgently needs spirit stones to pay for alchemy and wants to quickly convert some of his spoils into cash.

He lived a secluded life, and although he would occasionally go out to eat spiritual food, he was not extravagant or wasteful, and was not considered too poor by outsiders.

A humble smile appeared on Yang Changsheng's face as he slowly shook his head and said:

"Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Liu, on obtaining the opportunity to establish your foundation! This is a great fortune. However, I appreciate your kindness, but to be honest, I have just broken through to the seventh level of Qi Refining and my realm is not yet stable. The most important thing right now is to consolidate my cultivation and prepare to switch to a newly acquired cultivation technique. I really have neither the will nor the ability to acquire anything else."

"The treasure you obtained on this perilous journey must be of considerable value. It would be more appropriate to leave it to a fellow Daoist who needs it more or who has a better eye for its worth."

He did not harbor the slightest greed.

The difference between the seventh and ninth levels of Qi Refining may seem like only two levels, but in reality, they are an insurmountable chasm.

The intense murderous aura and fresh smell of blood emanating from Liu Yanlong were enough to prove that the source of the goods he sold was extremely dangerous and likely involved trouble.

Yang Changsheng knew that his foundation was still shallow, and that starting to cultivate the "Azure Emperor's Longevity Scripture" was the most important thing concerning his future path.

At this moment, any unexpected complications could bring unforeseen trouble.

In the vast world of cultivation, without strength, even the greatest opportunities cannot be seized.

Liu Yanlong's excited smile froze slightly, and a hint of disappointment flashed in his eyes, but it was quickly replaced by understanding.

He has lived for forty-five years, struggling and working his way up from the bottom of the rogue cultivators, and knows that everyone has their own difficulties and considerations.

Yang Changsheng had not lived here long, kept a low profile, and focused on puppet making. He certainly did not seem like someone with particularly abundant wealth or a penchant for adventure.

It's perfectly reasonable that the other party needs to consolidate their realm after just breaking through.

"Haha, it's alright, it's alright!"

Liu Yanlong waved his hand dismissively, trying to ease the slightly awkward atmosphere:

"It was my rudeness, Fellow Daoist Yang. You have just broken through to a higher realm and should indeed focus on consolidating your cultivation and switching to a new technique. I apologize for disturbing you! I will look for other avenues. Please cultivate in peace, Fellow Daoist!"

"Thank you for your understanding, Fellow Daoist Liu. I wish you a speedy success in raising the necessary funds, completing your Foundation Establishment, and taking another step forward on your path to immortality!"

Yang Changsheng cupped his hands in greeting, his attitude remaining polite and unchanged.

"Thank you for your kind words, fellow Daoist!"

Liu Yanlong clasped his hands in a fist salute, said no more, and turned to leave.

The tall figure quickly disappeared at the end of the street in Qingzhuju, leaving only a faint smell of blood lingering in front of the courtyard gate for a moment.

Immediately, it was dispelled by the spiritual energy flowing through the array in the courtyard.

Looking in the direction where Liu Yanlong disappeared, Yang Changsheng frowned slightly, a sense of vigilance rising in his heart.

The excitement and eagerness in Liu Yanlong's eyes were genuine, but deep within those fleeting glances, there seemed to be a trace of barely perceptible anxiety.

And those specks of blood on the leather armor, could they only come from demonic beasts?

Is it really that simple—the process of the demon-hunting team losing two members in exchange for the Xuanling Fruit was just encountering a powerful demon beast?

Deep within the Kongyun Mountains, there are not only demons, but also humans.

Murder for treasure and double-crossing are nothing new among independent demon-hunting teams, and even between demon-hunting teams and certain unscrupulous family cultivators.

Could the valuable item that Liu Yanlong is so eager to sell turn out to be a hot potato, or even... lead to further trouble?

He gently closed the courtyard gate, shutting out everything from the outside world.

The jade tablet flashed slightly, and layers of array light curtains instantly lit up, completely enveloping the Green Bamboo Residence and isolating it from the outside world.

Ripples spread across the pond in the courtyard, where several blue carp leisurely swayed their tails. The blood-coagulating flowers in the spirit field, nourished by the spirit-gathering array, had their veins shimmering with a faint reddish luster.

Back in his quiet room, Yang Changsheng did not immediately begin practicing his cultivation technique.

He sat cross-legged, facing the sky, and immersed his mind in his sea of ​​consciousness.

The golden ancient tree imprint rooted in the center of his consciousness exuded a gentle and timeless aura, like a stabilizing pillar, quickly bringing his mind back to clarity and tranquility.

The immense power of divine consciousness, like an invisible stream, slowly spread outwards from him.

Thanks to his cultivation of the "Great Evolution Myriad Souls Technique", his divine sense now covers a range of forty-five feet, and its sensitivity far surpasses that of ordinary Qi Refining Level 9 cultivators.

His divine sense, as fine as silk threads, meticulously swept over every corner of the Green Bamboo Residence.

Check whether the core nodes of the defensive formation are stable, whether there are any abnormal fluctuations in the avoidance formation, and whether the trigger points of the alert formation are sensitive.

The spirit fields, spirit pools, workshops, alchemy rooms... everything was confirmed to be normal, with no signs of being spied on or intruded upon, and no inappropriate "small actions" left by Liu Yanlong were found.

Only when the entire courtyard was thoroughly examined by his divine sense and confirmed to be safe did Yang Changsheng truly relax.

Caution is the first rule for survival in the dog-eat-dog world of cultivation.

The neighbor's sudden visit reminded him that even in the seemingly safe Qianxue City, under the protection of the Lu family, he could not afford to be complacent in the slightest.

A single moment of carelessness could disrupt his carefully planned training schedule and even expose a secret that could cost him his life.

With the hidden dangers eliminated, the mind finally finds peace.