## Chapter 333: Three Hundred Years of Cultivation
One year later, Jin Yun Valley.
A fourth-order illusionary array enveloped the entire Da Ri Peak.
The spiritual energy of heaven and earth fluctuated violently, with icy water vapor rising and condensing into dark, black clouds in the sky.
Drops of pale, black water beads fell, heavy as if made of lead, creating pit craters the size of large water tanks on the ground.
A dark blue turtle, measuring several meters in width, with emerald-green pupils, inhaled the water vapor, its low, rumbling voice echoing like distant thunder.
Until its spiritual energy surged, breaking through a certain threshold, these abnormal and small-scale divine abilities disappeared.
“Master, the turtle broke through.”
Di Yan Shu, the Earth Rock Rat, used earth-type spells to repair the traces left by the Xuan Shui Gui (玄水龟) after its advancement to the mid-stage of the third tier, on the main peak.
“Mhm, take it down below to consolidate its cultivation.”
Inside the quiet room of the subworld, Lu Chang An was surrounded by numerous divination objects, his brow furrowed.
He showed no signs of joy at the Xuan Shui Gui’s breakthrough.
After absorbing the residual innate turbid energy from the remains of the Xuan Tian (玄天) creature, the Xuan Shui Gui’s bloodline divine ability and cultivation progress both broke free from the shackles of its original race.
A normal Xuan Shui Gui would take four to five hundred years to reach the third tier, not to mention beyond that.
However, the innate turbid energy also had some negative effects. The Xuan Shui Gui’s temperament was more irritable than before, its nature now contained a hint of hostility.
Yun Ling had been its constant companion in the past, soothing and resolving its anger. However, it showed signs of recurrence in recent years.
If Lu Chang An spent more time with it, and used his Chang Qing (长青) power to soothe it, there would be some effect.
But he had many skills to practice and didn’t have that much free time.
He simply used brute force to solve the problem. He instructed Di Yan Shu to spar with the Xuan Shui Gui every so often, giving it a good beating and making it obedient for a while.
“The future calamity in the Eastern Region of Da Qing has not dissipated despite the death of the Sea Killing True Monarch.”
Lu Chang An put away his divination objects, his expression grim.
His anxiety did not stem from the Xuan Shui Gui’s change in temperament, as the latter was actually within controllable limits.
Five years after returning to Liang Guo, he was now pushing his divination to the limit, vaguely grasping the future’s auspicious and inauspicious trends.
In the first few years after his return, the auspicious and inauspicious were normal, neither good nor bad.
Now, it was fixed as uncertain.
Although there were no obvious signs of a calamitous disaster, unpredictable risk factors might exist, perhaps brewing in the background.
This showed that the Sea Killing True Monarch was not the main cause of the future calamity, at least not the only hidden danger.
The divination result of the Heavenly Master back then remained largely unchanged.
The longer he stayed in the Eastern Region of Da Qing, the higher the risk. Beyond a certain threshold, it might even brew into a calamity!
“It seems that after the fourth life is lit, I must go to Feng Guo as soon as possible to obtain the Moon Yin Jade Liquid. As for the other Nascent Soul (元婴) opportunities, there’s no need to pursue them too hard.”
Lu Chang An pondered.
…
Several days later.
Lu Chang An left Da Ri Peak and went to a hidden chamber facility behind Jin Yun Valley to obtain the latest intelligence.
In Jin Yun Valley, Zhang Tian Feng gave Lu Chang An a lot of sect permissions, including access to intelligence.
Although this was not as good as the Wu Jian Men (无间门) in some aspects, it was not lagging behind in terms of local intelligence regarding Liang Guo and the Dao Protecting Alliance.
Half an hour later.
Lu Chang An returned to Da Ri Peak and destroyed the intelligence token in his hand.
“The Immortal Golden Pill of Jin Yang Zong has reached the peak of the Jie Dan (结丹) stage. The sect is actively planning for the things needed for Nascent Soul stage advancement, even secretly contacting fourth-tier alchemy masters…”
The actions of the Jin Yang Zong were in line with Lu Chang An’s expectations.
After losing a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the sect would inevitably do everything in its power to cultivate a second Nascent Soul stage cultivator as soon as possible.
In fact, the Jin Yang Zong had been secretly planning for this for years, but the news could no longer be concealed in recent years.
“Old Ancestor Tian Luo was injured again, his plan to obtain a fourth-tier spiritual vein failed, leaving him disheartened.”
“There was recently an unconfirmed rumor that the Tian Luo Zong, unable to accept the continuous losses and decline of the sect, is planning to relocate out of the Dao Protecting Alliance.”
Another important piece of intelligence concerned Lu Chang An’s enemy, the Tian Luo Zong, the Xie family of Chen Guo.
“Relocate the sect?”
Lu Chang An was stunned, feeling that Old Ancestor Tian Luo had a bit of a temper tantrum.
Back then, the Tian Luo Zong lost control of Chen Guo and retreated to Jing Guo, they should have received some promises from Alliance Leader Chu.
For example, assistance in rebuilding a fourth-tier spiritual vein.
In the Dao Protecting Alliance, Alliance Leader Chu’s prestige was unquestionable, his word was law.
But the prerequisite for fulfilling the promise was to make corresponding contributions during the fight against the invasion of the Demon Dao.
Initially, when Yan Guo hadn’t fallen, the Tian Luo Zong was certainly unwilling to go to that fourth-tier spiritual vein.
Subsequently, in the fight against the Demon Dao invasion, the Tian Luo Zong was extremely lackluster, their battle merits were even lower than those of the Xuan Yin Sect.
Moreover, the Tian Luo Zong was internally corrupt, deeply infiltrated, and had leaked intelligence more than once, holding back the Dao Protecting Alliance.
When the Tian Luo Zong led the Jing Guo cultivator world, they also suffered repeated defeats.
In this situation, Alliance Leader Chu could hardly persuade other forces within the Dao Protecting Alliance to sacrifice their own sect’s spiritual veins to help the Tian Luo Zong rebuild a fourth-tier spiritual vein.
Moreover, Old Ancestor Tian Luo’s lifespan was not long, exceeding 800 years, his fighting prowess was mediocre among his peers.
It would be better to support the Xuan Yin Sect than to support this pile of mud.
The Xuan Yin Sect was efficient and their disciples fought fiercely, they wouldn’t create so many problems.
“With the current situation, relocation options for the sect are few, and the journey is riskier.”
Lu Chang An did a brief calculation and discovered that the Tian Luo Zong only had one destination.
East of Jing Guo, the Jin Yang Zong controlled Liang Guo.
One mountain cannot hold two tigers, the Jin Yang Zong would never allow the Tian Luo Zong to relocate to their territory.
Moreover, the Jin Yang Zong was planning for the Nascent Soul opportunity at this crucial time.
Even if someone within the Dao Protecting Alliance took them in, the Tian Luo Zong would still be without a fourth-tier spiritual vein, and under the attrition of war, they would continue to weaken and decline.
North of Jing Guo, across the Black Mist Mountains and the endless desert, is the territory of Feng Yuan Guo, even more unrealistic.
Southwest is within the Demon Dao’s sphere of influence.
The only possible route is to move westward along the Black Mist Mountains north of Jing Guo. That is the territory of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.
One hundred and twenty years ago, the Li Huo Palace moved westward along the western side of Jing Guo, eventually settling in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, obtaining a near-fourth-tier spiritual vein.
At that time, the Li Huo Palace did not yet have a Nascent Soul True Monarch.
The outside world didn’t know that the Li Huo Palace was able to obtain a near-fourth-tier spiritual vein at that time, thanks to Lu Chang An’s secret help.
Now, because most of the surrounding areas are controlled by the Demon Dao, relocating to the Seven Kingdoms Alliance is much riskier than back then.
“If they move in that direction, it’s quite a coincidence!”
Lu Chang An’s eyes flickered as he murmured.
…
The next day, the only female True Dan guest elder of Jin Yun Valley came to visit Da Ri Peak.
“Lu Elder has recently emerged from seclusion, so I’m here to pay a short visit.”
Zhu Yu Ting, dressed in a plain white silk dress, with a beautiful face and graceful figure, possessed an elegant and ethereal aura.
“Please come in, Fairy Zhu.”
Lu Chang An activated the formation and welcomed Zhu Yu Ting into the subworld for a chat.
In their conversation, Lu Chang An was neither enthusiastic nor cold.
In the Jie Dan circle of Jin Yun Valley, Fairy Zhu was very popular and pursued.
The implicit comparison seemed to make Lu Chang An appear aloof.
Zhu Yu Ting was secretly puzzled. According to the records of “Journey of the Xuan Gui (玄龟),” this Lu Zhen Ren (真人) didn’t mind having a casual affair with certain fairies.
In terms of beauty, temperament, and status, she was obviously superior to the women Lu Chang An had been involved with before.
In their first two encounters, Zhu Yu Ting thought it was a matter of being unfamiliar, slow-heating, or perhaps the deliberate aloofness of Lu Zhen Ren due to his superior status.
Later, she realized that Lu Chang An’s attitude and gaze towards her were similar to those of Sect Master Zhang Tian Feng, treating her and other elders no differently, with impartial fairness.
“Yu Ting once heard a rumor that Lu Zhen Ren had a feud with the Peacock Saintess of Beast King Valley?”
Zhu Yu Ting looked curious.
“That’s true. Why do you ask, Fairy Zhu?”
Lu Chang An knew that this was no secret.
After returning to Jin Yun Valley, the other elders who came to visit had also asked or indirectly inquired.
“Speaking of which, a few months ago, when Yu Ting went to visit and exchange with Jin Yang Zong, I saw that Peacock Saintess who had been reduced to a servant girl.”
Zhu Yu Ting said with a smile.
“Oh?”
Lu Chang An couldn’t help but ask about the Peacock Saintess’s current situation.
Zhu Yu Ting smiled sweetly, her voice soft and melodious as she described her observations in Jin Yang Zong.
As Beast King Valley conquered more territory, the Peacock Saintess’s treatment in Jin Yang Zong got better.
At first, she was imprisoned, unseen by the light of day.
Later, after her grandfather, True Monarch Wan He, sent people to negotiate, she regained some freedom, being allowed to move within a certain range of Jin Yang Zong’s mountain gate, but forbidden from communicating with the outside world.
Now, the Peacock Saintess was nominally a servant girl, but she didn’t have to work in the mountain gate. Apart from her cultivation being restricted, she couldn’t leave the mountain gate, and her treatment was almost the same as the disciples within the sect.
Furthermore, the Jin Yang Zong allowed the Peacock Saintess to enter the Sutra Pavilion, learn about the outside world, and communicate with some reliable cultivators.
“That day, the Peacock Saintess heard that I was an elder of Jin Yun Valley, and she came over to chat on her own initiative. During that time, she secretly transmitted a message, asking me to convey a message to Lu Zhen Ren.”
“What did she say?”
“The Peacock Saintess said: Ask Lu Zhen Ren to come to Jin Yang Zong for a meeting, she has something important to tell him; if he doesn’t go, he will surely regret it.”
“Heh! As a hostage and prisoner, she dares to threaten this Zhen Ren?”
Lu Chang An chuckled, his expression contemptuous.
In reality, he felt a warning sign. The Peacock Saintess dared to send a message, threatening him, did she perhaps have some hold over him?
For example, revenge against some old acquaintances.
Or, she might spread rumors that Lu Chang An was a threat, using terms like reincarnation and body snatching. Even though the Peacock Saintess had been captured back then, she hadn’t fought with Lu Chang An and didn’t know his true strength.
“The words of that demon girl, who knows what kind of scheme she has, Lu Zhen Ren doesn’t need to worry too much and be influenced by her.”
Zhu Yu Ting chatted for a while, realizing that Lu Chang An was not in the mood for a chat, she bid farewell and left.
…
Inside the subworld, Lu Chang An fell into deep thought, feeling that something was amiss.
He recalled that two years before Xing Peng’s death, he had mentioned an uncertain piece of intelligence:
It was said that True Monarch Wan He of Beast King Valley had tried to rescue the Peacock Saintess, needing the assistance of the Wu Jian Men.
Perhaps the price was too high, and the rescue plan was put on hold.
“Could it be that this woman is confident in escaping from her prisoner status and returning to Beast King Valley?”
Lu Chang An secretly calculated the reason behind this message, but was blocked by a veil of invisible fate, unable to obtain a definitive answer.
But one thing was certain.
The more advantages Beast King Valley gained in the future, the higher the possibility of this woman regaining her freedom.
If the Dao Protecting Alliance was completely defeated, Jin Yang Zong would definitely make use of the hostage’s identity, and wouldn’t rule out voluntarily handing over the hostage, or secretly communicating with True Monarch Wan He, deliberately letting her go.
“Unfortunately, Xing Peng is not here, I cannot get any inside information related to this.”
Lu Chang An sighed, feeling a sense of regret.
To investigate this matter, he would have to find a way himself.
Or, he could talk to the Peacock Saintess face-to-face and probe her intentions.
If he wanted to eliminate this hidden danger.
The most secure method was to infiltrate Jin Yang Zong and kill the Peacock Saintess.
Since the Peacock Saintess’s power was restricted, as long as the Six Yang True Monarch of Jin Yang Zong was not in the mountain gate, Lu Chang An had a chance to accomplish this, but it would carry a certain level of risk.
But this might also be a scheme by Beast King Valley, waiting for him to take action.
“No hurry!”
Lu Chang An thought of the uncertain auspicious and inauspicious signs of the future calamity, he needed to be even more cautious in his actions.
…
Two months later.
Under the moonlight, a man in a green robe with a hood over his head quietly snuck out of Jin Yun Valley.
He was extremely cautious, scanning the surroundings with his spiritual sense.
Making sure no one was around.
The man in the green robe transformed into a streak of green light and entered the Nine Gang Sky, flying towards the central region of Liang Guo’s cultivator world.
The next day in the evening.
In the mountains, thousands of miles away from Jin Yang Zong, the man in the green robe quietly landed, his spiritual sense once again probing the surroundings.
“Hmm?”
The man in the hooded green robe sensed something unusual, cautiously clutching a handful of talismans.
On a high ridge several hundred meters high.
Six or seven shadowy figures blended into the darkness.
On a tree branch stood a black crane with a long, pointed beak and neck, about three meters tall.
“Leaving from Jin Yun Valley, wood-type遁光 (Dun Guang), the spiritual sense fluctuations of a late-stage Jie Dan cultivator! It must be that kid.”
The crane’s azure-blue eyes flickered, emitting a human voice, old and raspy.
“This kid’s strength is extraordinary! Don’t hesitate, strike with all your might, kill him with one blow!”
With the crane’s command, the six or seven shadowy figures transformed into blurred shadows, charging towards the man in the hooded green robe with terrifying speed.
Poisonous gas, strange winds, shadow scythes, magic weapons, hidden weapons…
Among them were two late-stage Jie Dan cultivators, including Leader Jue Ying, all elite assassins from the Wu Jian Men.
As their attacks enveloped the man in the hooded green robe.
A cry like that of ghosts and demons, a crane’s call, pierced through the night sky, dark and windy.
A gigantic crane shadow, several hundred meters wide, blocked the sky, flapping its wings and pausing at the highest point of its flight arc.
Swoosh!
In the next instant, the giant shadow teleported, passing through the man in the hooded green robe’s body.
The terrifying spiritual pressure, momentarily reaching the level of a Nascent Soul cultivator.
“Wu Jian Men assassins!”
“Nascent Soul附灵 (Fu Ling) … True Monarch Wan He…”
Before his death, the man in the hooded green robe let out a deathly scream, his body, refined to the level of a mid-tier third-tier炼体 (Lian Ti) cultivator, shattered instantly.
At the moment of his demise.
Leader Jue Ying and the other late-stage Jie Dan assassin each activated a fourth-tier talisman.
One was a golden attack talisman, and the other was a water-type confinement talisman.
The body of the man in the hooded green robe turned into ashes, not even leaving any bone fragments.
“Congratulations to True Monarch, for eliminating the thief Lu.”
Leader Jue Ying and the others bowed.
“Too easy, no struggle at all?”
The giant crane shadow disappeared, leaving behind a seven-holed bleeding black crane, a peak third-tier beast, with a look of confusion in its eyes.
Through the secret technique of 御兽附灵 (Yu Shou Fu Ling), the crane temporarily unleashed Nascent Soul level attacks, including a soul-shaking震慑 (Zhen She).
“Wrong – it’s just a false soul projection, there is no blood and flesh aura of a Jie Dan cultivator.”
After careful examination, the old human voice of the black crane revealed a gasp of anger and despair.
In this attack, the crane, cultivated from a rare bloodline, suffered a great backlash, losing its potential for advancement.
…
Jin Yun Valley, Da Ri Peak, Cave Dwelling.
“Indeed insidious! They actually planned an ambush for this Zhen Ren!”
Lu Chang An opened his eyes, the image on the other end of the感应 (Gan Ying) connection disappeared.
Without lighting up the fourth life, if Lu Chang An had been present in person, facing the ambush just now, he would have faced considerable risk.
The attack of the giant crane shadow was at the full Nascent Soul level, its speed was like teleportation, even more threatening than the Sea Killing True Monarch.
Moreover, there were two fourth-tier talismans, and the surrounding elite Wu Jian Men assassins.
Even a near-fourth-tier puppet would be defeated if caught in this.
However, the ambush and scheme just now had a high cost.
If it failed, the elders of Beast King Valley would all feel pain and anger.
A dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch had suffered a major setback.
Lu Chang An’s loss was a newly crafted mid-tier third-tier human puppet, not a complete body, the core materials were relatively economical.
The second life’s soul shadow that had been integrated was also mostly consumed.
However, it had incorporated the imitation technology of the Thousand Mechanism Sect, and Lu Chang An’s wood-type power, as long as it wasn’t in close proximity, could achieve a realistic disguise.
“No wonder it becomes more dangerous the longer I stay in the Eastern Region of Da Qing.”
Lu Chang An deeply realized this now.
The potential threats he faced were not just the Sea Killing True Monarch of the Listening Sea Pavilion, but also the Nascent Soul elder of Beast King Valley, the grandfather of the Peacock Saintess.
True Monarch Wan He, a senior elder of Beast King Valley, with peak early-stage Nascent Soul cultivation, his threat in terms of power far exceeded the Sea Killing True Monarch who was not in his prime and fled in a sorry state back then.
It was not just the difference in individual power.
True Monarch Wan He had the backing of Beast King Valley, the Six Demon Sects of the Demon Dao, his deterrent and influence surpassed that of Nascent Soul cultivators like the True Monarch Li Huo Shang Ren (离火上人) and the Six Yang True Monarch.
“There are also those who practice the Chang Qing technique in the Central Region of Da Qing, whether they will come in the future is still an unknown.”
Lu Chang An calculated again, the situation became even clearer.
The potential threats he faced staying in the Eastern Region of Da Qing were simply not limited to one or two.
Perhaps there was still an aspect he didn’t know about.
“Zhu Yu Ting, there’s something wrong!”
A cold glint flashed in Lu Chang An’s eyes, speculating that Zhu Yu Ting might have been bought by the Demon Dao forces.
The two of them had formed Jie Dan together in the Moon Watching Fairy City, a hundred and twenty years had passed, a sea of change had taken place.
In recent years, Heng Guo had been conquered by Beast King Valley.
Human hearts can be fickle, their stances and alliances can change drastically over a century or more.
Since returning to Liang Guo, Lu Chang An had been staying in Jin Yun Valley, hardly ever going out.
True Monarch Wan He’s ambush was difficult to have a chance to strike.
Zhu Yu Ting’s previous message was a smoke screen, making Lu Chang An suspicious.
In the cultivator world, those who were deep or cautious in their actions were more likely to be suspicious.
Even a wise man like the Heavenly Master would be overcautious and err on the side of caution.
If the Peacock Saintess had some hold over him, or had a chance to escape, Lu Chang An wouldn’t be indifferent and wouldn’t take any action.
Lu Chang An’s spiritual sense swept across the mountain gate of Jin Yun Valley, but he did not detect Zhu Yu Ting’s presence.
“Fairy Zhu, left for the front lines of the battlefield half a month ago.”
He then learned of her whereabouts from a mountain-guarding elder.
“Humph! It’s quite a coincidence!”
Lu Chang An became even more certain that there was something wrong with Fairy Zhu.
If she were still in the mountain gate, she would still have the possibility of being utilized by Beast King Valley and the Peacock Saintess.
As for pretending to be innocent and staying in Jin Yun Valley to cause division? If it were an ordinary guest elder, there would still be a possibility.
But the target was Lu Chang An, the core elder of Jin Yun Valley would not believe Zhu Yu Ting.
That day, Lu Chang An, using his sect permissions, sent an urgent message to Zhang Tie Shan and Zhao Tan Er on the frontlines, informing them about Zhu Yu Ting’s situation.
Lu Chang An knew that Fairy Zhu, having gone to the battlefield this time, would not be returning to Jin Yun Valley.
Although he had missed the opportunity to capture her, he had removed a high-level poison from Jin Yun Valley, which could be considered a contribution.
In a cultivator sect, Jie Dan cultivators who joined midway would not become core elders, they were often just guest elders, unable to obtain real authority.
Only Jie Dan cultivators who were cultivated from a young age, like Zhang Tie Shan, could become core elders of the sect and eventually the leaders.
The example of Zhu Yu Ting confirmed the reason why this set of rules for promotion existed in cultivator sects.
…
In the blink of an eye, nearly two years had passed.
As Lu Chang An had anticipated, Zhu Yu Ting did not return to Jin Yun Valley after going to the front lines that time.
During that time, Zhang Tian Feng came back once and formally removed Zhu Yu Ting’s name from the sect.
During that meeting, Lu Chang An had a long private conversation with Zhang Tian Feng, and they made another deal.
On this day.
The fourth life of Lu Chang An’s Jiu Yin Bei (九印碑) finally lit up again.
Lu Chang An’s age reached 318 years old.
Ten years had passed since his advancement to the late-stage Jie Dan.
“Since the awakening of this life at the age of eighteen, stepping onto the path of cultivation, it has now been a full three hundred years of my cultivation life!”
Lu Chang An, dressed in white, stood with his hands behind his back, his face calm as a still pond.
His upright posture was like a towering ancient tree, rooted in the earth, having experienced hundreds of years of reincarnation and ups and downs in the cultivator world, standing tall and unwavering.
His roots grew thicker and his branches and leaves grew more lush.
He was full of vitality and prosperity, like an ancient Chang Qing tree that would never wither.
“Three hundred years of cultivation, my strength has completely surpassed my previous lives. Even facing an ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarch, I have the ability to maneuver and defend myself.”
“More importantly, the Jiu Yin Bei has lit up the fourth life ahead of schedule, revealing some of its uses and secrets.”
Lu Chang An closed his eyes and entered the Jiu Yin Bei.
The handsome young man of the first life.
The white-bearded old man of the second life.
The man in white of the third life, faintly visible, but not yet fully formed.
The purple-robed Daoist of the fourth life.
The above four seals were all lit up.
The fifth life, with one-tenth of the area lit up.
Unknowingly, the nine-life progress of the Jiu Yin Bei was almost halfway complete!
Each life was Lu Chang An’s reincarnation experience, or a transformed and simulated cultivation reincarnation.
What kind of achievements would there be if all nine lives were lit up, and eventually merged as one?
Lu Chang An could not fathom it.
From the fifth life onwards, it was beyond his comprehension.
The reason why the cultivator world knows about higher realms is because of the transmission of ancient scriptures, in the more ancient times, there were many upper realm cultivators who descended.
On the current human world continent, across all realms, Nascent Soul True Monarchs were at least local leaders.
Even in the Greater Abyss, where cultivator civilization is more developed, it is no exception.
“The past three hundred years have been spent drifting with the current, unable to control my own destiny. Even achieving Jie Dan cultivation, I am insignificant in the face of the grand scheme of the cultivator world.”
“Only by achieving Nascent Soul can I break free from the ordinary masses, have the possibility of becoming a chess player, and thus control the ebb and flow of the cultivator world!”
Lu Chang An exited the Jiu Yin Bei, his gaze fixed on the direction beyond Da Qing.
At this moment, he had a clear goal for the next hundred years, to fulfill the aspirations of several lives, to plan wholeheartedly for Nascent Soul!
(End of Chapter)
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