Chapter 428 - 404: 150 Years

Chapter 428: Chapter 404: 150 Years

"Okay, but you’d better make your plans early. Otherwise, if you change your mind and I happen to be busy and unavailable, it’ll be a big problem," Zhang Chi said with a slight nod.

He appeared calm on the surface, but inwardly, he couldn’t help but feel emotional about the cruelty of time.

When he first met Chen Ling’er, she was just a loud, boisterous little girl, but now several hundred years had passed.

Of Chen Ling’er’s companions from back then, all except for Qin Susu had either passed away from old age or fallen in battle.

Even Chen Ling’er was now in danger of her lifespan ending.

"Senior Brother, I have a favor to ask. I’ve saved up a good amount of meritorious service points and want to exchange them for a Tier Four Life Extension Pill for my little sister, but my authority is far from sufficient. Could you ask Senior Brother Qin Yushan to help us make the exchange?" Chen Bufan said, gritting his teeth.

As it turned out, the Desert Divine Palace had always had Tier Four Life Extension Pills available for exchange, but the price was extremely high. Moreover, only a Palace Master’s True Inheritor at Nascent Soul Peak had the qualification to redeem one.

Although Chen Bufan’s combat power was immense, and he could be considered an astonishingly brilliant talent among Cultivators of the Same Tier, he was still a million miles away from becoming a Palace Master’s True Inheritor. He didn’t even have the standing to ask one for help, which was why he could only turn to Zhang Chi.

As soon as Chen Bufan spoke, everyone present immediately looked toward Chen Ling’er and Zhang Chi.

They were all quite envious of Chen Ling’er. As for Zhang Chi, they were full of anticipation, hoping he would help.

At the same time, they were also a little nervous. This was no small matter; if one’s relationship with a Palace Master’s True Inheritor was merely average, it would be impossible to get their help.

"I can do that! In fact, if any of the rest of you want to exchange for a Tier Four Life Extension Pill in the future, you can all come to me. Or, if you have a Longevity Fruit, I can help with the refining process as well."

Zhang Chi didn’t mind at all and immediately agreed.

’If I were to reveal my cultivation now, I could immediately become a Palace Master’s True Inheritor, but I have no intention of exposing myself so soon.’

’After all, the three Palace Masters would definitely see that I have secrets.’

’It can’t be helped. My cultivation speed is just too fast. A Nascent Soul Peak cultivator who is just over six hundred years old is unheard of, even in the entire Desert Divine Palace.’

’However, even if I’m not a True Inheritor myself, I can ask Qin Yushan or even Wang Chongming and the others for help. They wouldn’t even bat an eye.’

"Thank you, Senior Brother!"

Everyone was overjoyed to hear this, and Chen Ling’er was particularly emotional.

Even after taking the Tiers One, Two, and Three Life Extension Pills, Chen Ling’er’s maximum lifespan was only seven hundred and forty years.

But with one more Tier Four Life Extension Pill, it would directly increase to a full nine hundred years.

This way, she would have over two hundred more years to cultivate.

With Chen Bufan’s help, she would surely be able to become a Nascent Soul Cultivator before her lifespan ran out.

"Haha, it’s a small matter."

Zhang Chi just smiled, sent a message to Qin Yushan on the spot, and in no time, Qin Yushan arrived with a freshly exchanged Tier Four Life Extension Pill to trade with Chen Ling’er.

The Chen Family Siblings were even more thrilled, thanking him profusely. Afterward, Chen Ling’er immediately took the Lifespan Extension Pill, and her youthful appearance was instantly restored.

’She’s close with Senior Brother Zhang, and she has a brother in the Nascent Soul Realm. Chen Ling’er is so lucky!’

The Female Cultivator Wen couldn’t help but feel a pang of envy at the sight, but she could only watch.

After all, even with the help of a Palace Master’s True Disciple, the amount of meritorious service points needed to exchange for a Tier Four Life Extension Pill was immense.

’If only I had gotten together with Zhang Chi back then, just like Qin Susu did. I would have definitely reached the Nascent Soul Realm long ago!’

But what the Female Cultivator Wen didn’t know was that Chen Ling’er was also feeling envious on the inside, and the object of her envy was none other than Qin Susu.

Meanwhile, Qin Susu felt quite fortunate.

’If not for Zhang Chi’s help back then, let alone becoming a Nascent Soul faster than Chen Ling’er and the others, I might not have even succeeded at Foundation Establishment. I might have passed away from old age even sooner than He Yan and He Shi.’

But now, she was more than just a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Thanks to her Charm Demon Bloodline, her cultivation speed increased with her Realm, and she had successfully broken through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage not long ago.

Her cultivation speed was even faster than Chen Bufan’s.

Even Xiao Yunhong had only just broken through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage, but Xiao Yunhong had clearly achieved Nascent Soul Formation much earlier than Qin Susu.

Of course, Chen Bufan had to help Chen Ling’er, so his cultivation speed was naturally dragged down significantly.

As for Lan Xuan, although she was also at the Nascent Soul Early Stage, she was at most a few decades away from a breakthrough.

With the Chen Family Siblings having obtained the Lifespan Extension Pill, and with Female Cultivator Wen and Zhong Yu both having reached the Nascent Soul Realm, everyone was in high spirits. They specially prepared a grand celebration with plenty of Spiritual Food and Spirit Wine.

After that, Zhang Chi continued to cultivate while also participating in the Desert Divine Palace’s great war against the Beast Alliance.

In the blink of an eye, another fifty years passed. As expected, Lan Xuan successfully broke through to the Nascent Soul Middle Stage.

Another hundred years later, when Zhang Chi was exactly eight hundred years old, the Desert Divine Palace’s pioneering campaign was finally nearing its end.

Over ninety-nine percent of the entire Endless Desert Sea had been occupied by the Desert Divine Palace.

The Beast Alliance and the Heaven-defying Alliance had long since started cooperating openly, but their combined strength was ultimately insufficient. They had already retreated to the edge of the Desolate Black Desert.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

At this moment, countless cultivators, like a swarm of locusts, had completely surrounded a massive oasis to the north.

Innumerable Magical Treasures and spells converged into torrential streams, fiercely bombarding the translucent green barrier of light surrounding the oasis.

And this oasis was the Beast Alliance’s main lair; even the Heaven-defying Alliance had long since moved its headquarters here.

Of course, this was actually all thanks to Zhang Chi.

During his exploration of the Supreme Profound Immortal Mansion back then, he had obtained a great deal of intelligence. He had long ago used a false identity to sell that intelligence to Qin Yushan and the others, who in turn submitted it to the Desert Divine Palace.

As a result, the Heaven-defying Alliance and the Beast Alliance held almost no secrets from the Desert Divine Palace.

In fact, if not for their steady and cautious approach to prevent the Beast Alliance and Heaven-defying Alliance from making a comeback, it wouldn’t have taken nearly this long to reach the enemy’s main lair.

At this time, all the attacking cultivators belonged to the Desert Divine Palace’s side, and Zhang Chi was among them.

However, he had kept his cultivation hidden the entire time. Compared to the Palace Master’s True Inheritors and the three Palace Masters high in the sky, he was inconspicuous.

That’s right, this time even the three Palace Masters had personally taken action. The two Divinity Transformation Celestial Monarchs from the Beast Alliance and the Heaven-defying Alliance were also present, currently engaged in a great battle with the three Palace Masters high in the sky.

Outnumbered, they were at a disadvantage even with the aid of an array.

The situation below was the same; the number of powerhouses from the Beast Alliance and the Heaven-defying Alliance was clearly no match for the Desert Divine Palace’s side.

"Die, you beasts!"

"That’s right! And you scum from the Heaven-defying Alliance! Give up your resistance. Maybe then we’ll grant you a quick death."

The morale of the Desert Divine Palace cultivators was sky-high. Many of them were shouting taunts as they attacked.

In contrast, the morale of the Beast Alliance and Heaven-defying Alliance was clearly low. Although they mounted some counterattacks, they posed no real threat, and even their retorts were nothing more than impotent rage.

"Fellow Daoist Zhou, Fellow Daoist Long, you two should just surrender. We can promise not to kill you and even let you join our Desert Divine Palace. If you refuse to listen, then don’t blame us for being merciless."

High in the sky, the three Palace Masters were also speaking, but they were genuinely trying to persuade the other side to surrender.

The reason was simple: although they had the upper hand, they weren’t confident they could kill or capture their opponents.

Therefore, if their opponents escaped, it would lead to endless trouble in the future, even if they managed to occupy the entire Endless Desert Sea.

Furthermore, if both sides fought to the death, they would, at best, only achieve a pyrrhic victory, even if they did win in the end.

On the other hand, if they could make the other side surrender, not only would it prevent future trouble, but it would also greatly increase the strength of the Desert Divine Palace.

"Heh, thank you for your kind intentions, fellow Daoists. Normally, we would accept your invitation to join the Desert Divine Palace. Unfortunately, we have already pledged allegiance to the Third Prince of Great Qian."

"So, unless the three of you pledge allegiance alongside us, the Third Prince of Great Qian will not allow us to join you."

Fellow Daoist Zhou said with a cold laugh.

He was the Alliance Leader of the Heaven-defying Alliance.

"That’s right. And don’t think you have the upper hand now. Experts from Great Qian will be here to reinforce us soon. When that happens, the tables will turn immediately, and not even the three of you will be able to escape your doom!"

The Beast Alliance’s Divinity Transformation Demon Beast, Fellow Daoist Long, chimed in.

Even though the two of them were at a disadvantage, there was no trace of anxiety or anger on their faces.

"So you really have pledged allegiance? What a pity. I thought you two were men of unyielding integrity, but it turns out you’re just a couple of power-chasing cowards who fear death!"

"Exactly! You’re not even as good as us three weak women. And don’t you know what the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty is like? Even if you pledge allegiance, you’ll just be their dogs. Not only will you have no chance of Ascension, but you’ll never be put in a position of importance!"

"That’s right, you should still join us. Even if you’ve already sworn an oath or made a Spirit Contract, I have ways to break those bonds for you. Besides, your subordinates will be able to develop freely in the Endless Desert Sea in the future!"

Even though the three Palace Masters had anticipated this, they were still quite disappointed. They immediately began trying to persuade them, using both threats and promises.

"How could we not know what you’re saying? But this isn’t a matter of what we want. The Great Qian Immortal Dynasty is simply too powerful. If we hadn’t agreed, we would have been dead long ago!"

"That’s right. Even if the chances of Ascension or being given an important position are slim after joining the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty, it’s still better than being killed. Besides, if it weren’t for the three of you being so beautiful and capable, and the fact that the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty has been busy crusading against the Xingluo Sea, you would have been conquered or killed long ago!"

Fellow Daoist Zhou and Fellow Daoist Long sighed lightly at their words, but their attitudes remained resolute.

BOOM!

The next moment, an enormous pillar of golden Spiritual Light suddenly shot up from an extremely distant place. It reached above the Nine Heavens Gang Wind Layer, then reflected back down, landing with perfect precision on the Beast Alliance’s oasis lair.

’Is that an Ancient Teleportation Array? This is bad! The reinforcements from the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty must have arrived!’

Zhang Chi was fighting, but at the same time, he was using his powerful Divine Thought to observe the three Palace Masters and the two enemy Divinity Transformation cultivators.

Seeing the somewhat familiar golden pillar of light, his gaze sharpened, and he was instantly filled with a bad premonition.

"Damn it!"

"Didn’t our fellow Daoists from the Xingluo Sea say they could hold back the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty’s Divinity Transformation Powerhouses?"

Even the three Palace Masters of the Desert Divine Palace were aghast at the sight of the golden pillar of light.

They knew the Great Qian Immortal Dynasty was backing the Beast Alliance and the Heaven-defying Alliance, yet they still brazenly launched this great war. Naturally, they wouldn’t have done so without any preparations.

But now, it seemed their preparations were clearly insufficient, or perhaps something had gone wrong.