Eternal Life by Daily Divination

The atmosphere of the entire birthday banquet was somewhat oppressive, far less relaxed than at Li Chang’an’s sixtieth birthday celebration.

Under the shadow of the Immortal Sect war, many faces were etched with sorrow.

Before long, people from the Cyan Cloud Sect arrived.

Their purpose was simple: to invite the four Peak Masters of the Cui Ping Mountain lineage to join the Cyan Cloud Sect.

The four discussed it amongst themselves in secret and unanimously refused.

After the guests from the Cyan Cloud Sect had left, they sat down together for a detailed discussion.

Liu Yuzhu asked worriedly, “What are your thoughts on the war between the Three Great Sects? This matter is escalating. It might soon affect Cui Ping Mountain.”

“Sigh, to think the upper echelons of the Three Great Sects could be so foolish.”

Yu Hongmei sighed, her face also filled with concern.

Xiang Chisong said in a low voice, “I have a method that might allow us to avoid this great turmoil, but the three of you would lose your freedom.”

Li Chang’an asked, “Daoist Xiang, are you suggesting we pledge allegiance to the Xiao Family and become their Honored Guest Elders?”

“Daoist Li is correct!”

Xiang Chisong’s proposal was simple.

The Xiao Family was the head of the Seven Great Noble Families. They had several Golden Core Masters within the family, and their ancestor was a Late Stage of Golden Core existence.

With such power, even the Three Great Sects were unwilling to provoke them.

As long as they became Honored Guest Elders of the Xiao Family and went to cultivate in the Xiao Family’s Dan Valley, they could safely weather this storm.

Of course, the price of becoming an Honored Guest Elder was the loss of a Loose Cultivator’s freedom.

But it was better than losing their lives.

“What do you all think?”

“There’s no rush. We haven’t reached the most critical moment yet. We can discuss this further.”

After some discussion, the four returned to their respective residences.

…

「In the years that followed.」

The conflict between the Three Great Sects indeed grew more and more intense.

Fortunately, everything on Changqing Mountain remained as usual, peaceful and calm.

The three major families at the foot of the mountain also grew steadily under the protection of Li Chang’an’s reputation.

By now, many people knew that Li Chang’an was a Tier Two Top Grade Alchemist.

In these chaotic times, the status of a Pill Master was particularly respected, and few would willingly offend one.

Time flies in cultivation.

Before he knew it, two years had passed.

Li Chang’an’s Puppetry Skill had advanced to Tier Two Middle Grade and was not far from Tier Two Top Grade.

On this day, he was fiddling with puppet components when Jiang Muyu suddenly delivered a message.

“Young Master, today the disciples of Yellow Crane Immortal City fought a great battle with the disciples of the Five Poison Wanderer. Cultivators from the Huanghe Alliance took the opportunity to launch a sneak attack. During the chaos, the Alliance Leader of the Huanghe Alliance, Ye Hao, killed Fang Yi, the tenth disciple of the Huang He Master.”

“Hmm?”

Li Chang’an looked up, immediately took the message from Jiang Muyu’s hand, and read it carefully.

According to the message, Ye Hao had, at some unknown time, advanced to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. His strength had increased dramatically, far surpassing what it was before.

However, although he killed Fang Yi, he himself was injured by the Fake Pill Great Power, Xiahou Hong, who had been hiding in the shadows.

’Ye Hao actually survived a direct blow from a Fake Pill cultivator?’

Li Chang’an was secretly astonished.

The strength of his old friend was somewhat surprising.

Soon, new information arrived.

“Ye Hao was severely injured and pursued by Xiahou Hong. He fled into the Black Dragon Mountain Range, entered the Blood Stone Secret Realm, and was ultimately left with no choice but to jump from the Soul-breaking Cliff within the Secret Realm. His fate is unknown.”

Soul-breaking Cliff was a place of certain death within the Blood Stone Secret Realm.

The cliff stretched for tens of thousands of miles. Below it, a black fog roiled, its depth unknown, completely obscuring any view of the bottom.

From ancient times to the present, not a single person who fell from the cliff had ever returned alive.

A Golden Core Master once tried to investigate by entering the fog, but he vanished shortly after, and the Life Soul Jade Token he had left behind in his Sect shattered.

Therefore, upon his return, Xiahou Hong announced that the leader of the Huanghe Alliance was dead!

But the Huanghe Alliance released a message through special channels, stating that Ye Hao would definitely return alive.

This news immediately sparked discussions among countless factions.

“Can that Ye Hao really come back alive?”

“Impossible!”

“From ancient times until now, everyone who has jumped into Soul-breaking Cliff has vanished without a trace. What makes Ye Hao an exception? Could he be a Son of Heaven’s Mandate?”

“…”

…

「Yellow Crane Immortal City.」

「Yuelai Restaurant, Second Floor.」

Li Chang’an, Xu Fugui, Chu Daniu, and Xu Yang sat around a table.

Chu Daniu sighed, “Sigh, that guy Ye Hao… he was so worried about implicating us that he refused to meet with us even once.”

“Brother Li, do you think Ye Hao is really dead?”

“It’s hard to say.”

Li Chang’an pinched his fingers together in a divination attempt, trying to deduce Ye Hao’s fate, but all he could perceive was a thick fog.

He had a premonition that Ye Hao was most likely not dead!

Furthermore, the next time he appeared, he would probably shock countless people.

Although Ye Hao’s fate was unknown, the Huanghe Alliance still existed, joining forces with the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage to fight against Yellow Crane Immortal City.

Yellow Crane Immortal City soon issued more bounties.

Li Chang’an went to look at the bounties and was immediately surprised.

’That guy Jiang Yunsheng… his bounty is actually ranked number one, tied with the Five Poison Wanderer.’

He glanced at the Cultivator responsible for posting the bounty list and noticed that the man’s appearance was very similar to Jiang Yunsheng’s. He instantly understood.

This Cultivator was Jiang Yunsheng’s father.

Jia Huairan!

This man was heartless and treacherous.

Years ago, for the sake of some Foundation Establishment Resources, he had sold Jiang Yunsheng and his mother to Demonic Cultivators to be used as Corpse Refining Materials.

Jiang Yunsheng had escaped after surviving a near-death experience, and his greatest goal in life was revenge.

’Huh? Why is my Li Fan identity on the wanted list too?’

Li Chang’an discovered that the name “Li Fan” also appeared on the wanted list, and quite high up.

After making some inquiries, he learned the reason.

Because Li Fan also possessed a Venerable Soul Banner, he was considered an accomplice of Jiang Yunsheng and was wanted as well.

Li Chang’an said, “Daoist Jia, I’ve heard this Li Fan is extremely powerful. If you anger him, I’m afraid it won’t end well.”

“Heh heh, Daoist Li, you’re a bit too timid.”

Jia Huairan chuckled, unconcerned.

He had heard of Li Chang’an’s reputation as a “Turtle,” so he wasn’t surprised by Li Chang’an’s words.

“That Li Fan is nothing but an empty reputation. If I were to encounter him, I could kill him within three moves!”

“…”

Li Chang’an said no more and turned to leave.

He left Yellow Crane Immortal City, changed into his Li Fan identity, confirmed no one was following him, and then headed to a stronghold of the Huanghe Alliance.

Before long, Li Chang’an met with Jiang Yunsheng, Xiao Wantang, and the others, asking them about Ye Hao’s specific situation.

But they didn’t know either and could only wait for Ye Hao’s return.

After asking a few questions, Li Chang’an prepared to leave.

Just then, Jiang Yunsheng stopped him to speak alone.

“Daoist Li, I have a favor to ask.”

“Daoist Jiang, are you asking me to kill your father?” Li Chang’an asked, his tone flat as he looked at him.

Ye Hao had killed Fang Yi, so his great enmity could be considered avenged.

But Jiang Yunsheng’s revenge was not yet complete.

He shook his head and said, “Daoist Li, I want to ask you to hold off the others from Yellow Crane Immortal City to create an opportunity for a fair fight between my father and me.”

“A fair fight? Are you confident, Daoist Jiang?”

Li Chang’an could see that Jiang Yunsheng had already advanced to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment.

But his father, Jia Huairan, had long been at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment with profound Magical Power reserves.

If the two of them were to fight, Jiang Yunsheng’s chances of winning were very low.

“Daoist Li, you need not worry about this. I have my own methods!”

Jiang Yunsheng didn’t explain, simply stating his terms.

As long as Li Chang’an was willing to help him, he was willing to offer the Venerable Soul Banner as payment!

Furthermore, after the matter was settled, he would also tell Li Chang’an how to contact orthodox Demonic Cultivators.

Those Demonic Cultivators did indeed have Souls for sale!

“Daoist Li, what do you think?”