Eternal Life by Daily Divination

If the two of them made an emotional appeal, they should be able to persuade the Elders to suppress Li Chang’an for the sake of the Cyan Cloud Sect’s continuation.

…

Li Chang’an was unaware of their scheming.

He left Yellow Crane Immortal City, returned to Changqing Mountain, and went deep into his cavern estate.

’The Bodhi Seed can enhance my comprehension, but not for long.’

Li Chang’an mused.

He only had eight hours.

In such a short time, it would likely be impossible to perfect the four magic techniques from the Blood Seed Technique. He had to prioritize.

Before long, he made his choice.

’The Substitute Death Technique is the most important. If I can master it, my ability to survive will increase significantly.’

Next were the Blood Seed Technique and the Blood and Flesh Regeneration Technique.

As for the Clone Technique, Li Chang’an placed it last.

He had the Skin Painting Technique and the Puppetry Technique. A combination of the two was enough to create a decent clone.

After making his decision, Li Chang’an didn’t rush to use the Bodhi Seed.

He bathed, burned incense, and meditated for three days, bringing his condition to its absolute peak.

…

On this day, as dawn broke, Li Chang’an sat cross-legged deep within his cavern estate with three items before him.

They were the Three-orifice Bodhi Seed, a Death Substitution Puppet, and the Jade Scroll that recorded the four magic techniques.

He had obtained this Death Substitution Puppet years ago in the Qinghe Marketplace.

At that time, Liang Ying, the fifth master of Black Wind Mountain, had broken into his residence. He was repelled by an Array and left this Death Substitution Puppet behind.

Back then, Li Chang’an didn’t understand how precious a Death Substitution Puppet was.

Now, he understood.

After so many years, he had never seen a second Death Substitution Puppet!

This type of Puppet was a product of the Ancient Era. Not a single Puppet Master today knew how to create one.

If one wanted to obtain one, they could only try their luck in a Secret Realm.

With Li Chang’an’s current skill in puppetry, he could already understand some of the Spirit Patterns carved on the Death Substitution Puppet.

’Today, I’ll see if I can combine this Death Substitution Puppet and the Substitute Death Chapter from the Demon Planting Technique to create my own Substitute Death Technique.’

Li Chang’an took a deep breath, calming his heart and mind.

A moment later, he picked up the Three-orifice Bodhi Seed, held it in his palm, and instantly entered a state of epiphany!

In an instant, inspiration flowed like a spring, bubbling up endlessly.

’The Substitute Death Technique from the Demon Planting Technique works by substituting a portion of one’s flesh and blood for one’s own death.’

’This Death Substitution Puppet works the same way…’

Li Chang’an’s eyes were closed as he contemplated continuously.

Without him realizing it, two hours had passed.

He suddenly opened his eyes. A Spiritual Light flashed in his hand, revealing a piece of Tier Three Treasure Wood.

Next, his hands flew as he carved one Spirit Pattern after another onto the Treasure Wood, constantly making adjustments based on the ideas in his mind.

Time flew by, and soon another hour had passed.

At this point, the Treasure Wood in Li Chang’an’s hands had already become a puppet that looked identical to him.

Moreover, the aura on the puppet was exactly the same as his, interconnected and indistinguishable, as if it were a part of him!

Immediately after, a flash of sword light appeared in Li Chang’an’s hand.

Nine Tier Two Spiritual Swords materialized and formed a Sword Array, which suddenly blasted toward him.

BOOM!

Li Chang’an’s body trembled. He had withstood a blow powerful enough to kill a Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, and his face only turned slightly pale.

But the puppet in his hand instantly exploded, its aura vanishing in a flash.

It had clearly taken the blow for him.

“It worked!”

A smile appeared on Li Chang’an’s face.

This Treasure Wood Puppet was the Substitute Death Technique he created by referencing the Death Substitution Puppet and the Substitute Death Chapter from the Demon Planting Technique.

He named it the Green Wood Tribulation Technique!

This magic technique still had many flaws.

For example, the puppet’s aura was fused with his own.

It couldn’t completely nullify the damage from each fatal blow, which meant he would still be injured.

Just like the Substitute Death Chapter from the Demon Planting Technique, every death and resurrection came at a price; he couldn’t revive at full strength.

The more times he died, the weaker Li Chang’an himself would become.

But, no matter what, it was, at the very least, a Substitute Death Technique.

Moreover, this magic technique was not restricted by the Demon Planting Cultivation Technique; any Cultivator could use it.

’This could be considered an alternative type of Death Substitution Puppet.’

Li Chang’an was quite satisfied.

Next, he began to contemplate how to improve the Blood Seed Technique.

Time passed in a flash, and four hours went by.

Li Chang’an combined the Blood and Flesh Puppetry Technique from his puppetry inheritance with the Blood Seed Technique to create his own “Wood Seed Technique”!

With a thought, the corpse of a Tier Two Demon Beast flew out of his Storage Pouch.

Then, a green light flashed in his hand, and a verdant seed appeared.

Under his control, the seed flew into the Tier Two Demon Beast’s corpse. It took root and sprouted, growing slender, green branches that spread rapidly through the corpse’s flesh, organs, bones, and Meridians.

Before long, the Demon Corpse had become a special, controllable Tier Two Puppet.

“Retract!”

Li Chang’an activated the Wood Seed Technique.

The Wood Seed immediately began to absorb the power within the Tier Two Demon Beast’s corpse.

After just a few breaths, the Demon Corpse was completely shriveled.

The Wood Seed, now much larger than before, flew back into Li Chang’an’s hand and fed back a trace of extremely pure Magical Power to him.

“Not bad!”

Li Chang’an was content, as his Cultivation had increased by a tiny amount.

Although the power fed back by his Wood Seed Technique couldn’t compare to the Blood Seed Technique, it possessed all the necessary abilities.

If he continued to develop it, it might become even more perfect.

However, the Three-orifice Bodhi Seed only had one hour of effect left.

In such a short time, it was impossible to deduce a more perfect technique.

Li Chang’an could only wait for now, letting the Three-orifice Bodhi continue to accumulate Spiritual Light. Once it had gathered enough, he could continue his deductions.

’My Wood Seed Technique is theoretically good enough, but it lacks a real test subject.’

He thought to himself, planning to visit the Black Market to buy a few slaves burdened with heavy sins to test it on.

Just as he was thinking this, Midnight arrived.

A familiar golden light appeared.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Neutral]

[Cyan Cloud Sect Cultivator Xie Jiang will come to your door. He will bring three Late Stage Foundation Establishment Elders in an attempt to suppress you and force you to sign a Servant Contract, but you will kill them instead.]

’Xie Jiang?’

Li Chang’an’s eyes lit up.

Just when he was worrying about not having a test subject, someone had delivered themselves to his door!

…

「The next day, around noon.」

Four figures appeared outside Changqing Mountain.

It was Xie Jiang and three Late Stage Foundation Establishment Elders from the Cyan Cloud Sect.

He stood in mid-air and called out in a clear voice, “Is Daoist Li present?”

Li Chang’an walked out of his cavern estate.

He feigned ignorance and asked, “Daoist Xie, what matter brings you here?”

Hearing this, Xie Jiang gave a friendly smile.

“Don’t worry, Daoist Li. It’s something wonderful!”