Rising from Small Cloud Rain Technique

In his hand, the seal technique shifted, and the furnace kept expanding until it reached the size of a water vat.

He opened his mouth and swallowed, and a ball of green ghost fire flew out, burning below the furnace.

The man tapped on the corpse storage bag at his waist, and a completely blackened zombie emerged.

“Get to work!”

Following the man’s command, the Black Corpse continuously grabbed human corpses and tossed them into the furnace.

It was unclear what this Black Furnace was; bodies kept being thrown in with seemingly no effect.

From the bottom hole of the furnace, gray-white residue continuously emitted.

After about two double hours, the square was empty.

The man pinched a demon technique, and the green ghost fire flew back into his mouth.

He uncovered the pill furnace, and two pigeon egg-sized crimson pills flew out.

The man kept shaking his head, “So many ordinary people, yet only two Blood Food Pills were refined, it’s too difficult.”

In the last batch, a dozen Qi Refining cultivators could refine one!

He placed the Blood Food Pills into a blood-colored bag, concealing his trail and left.

…

Red Flame Peak, living room.

Ji An raised his glass and said solemnly:

“To return safely from Mingfeng Mountain is truly fortunate.

Everyone, please drink this cup to the full.”

He had witnessed too much death at Mingfeng Mountain, feeling deeply touched inside.

Though the Demon Calamity was not over, he didn’t know how many familiar faces he would never see again.

Chu River’s ashes had already been returned to the family at Little Cang Mountain, and Zhang Yuanshan sent a message, asking whether he would join the funeral tomorrow.

Due to being afflicted by the Blood Transformation Soul-Chasing Curse of the Golden Core Demon King, Ji An did not promise to go along.

Liu Yu, Ge Luoying, and Wei Songnian all raised their glasses, and the group drank together.

Wei Songnian spoke:

“We killed a lot of Demon Beasts at Mingfeng Mountain, but the price was heavy too, many families might never recover.

I heard that some families’ Foundation Establishment inheritance can no longer be maintained, and they might become Loose Cultivators without a Spiritual Vein.”

At times, humans can be more terrifying than Demon Beasts.

“The Law Enforcement Hall has already started compiling this kind of situation, and the Sect once promised to protect these families, at least for fifty years on the surface.”

Wei Songnian shook his head, “Senior Brother Liu, what you say is very true, it’s safe on the surface, but what about behind closed doors?”

The human heart is greedy, and the evil within will be released bit by bit.

Liu Yu remained silent, knowing everything said was the truth.

When a cultivator has the power to protect their own interests, they appear restrained.

Once they can’t protect those interests, many forces will spring up, like hyenas, biting fiercely.

Ge Luoying said coldly:

“The Demon Calamity continues, any cultivator crazily seizing interests now is a complete fool.”

Ji An spoke:

“Senior Sister, there are many fools in this world.”

Cultivators, because of strong power, ironically become more lawless instead of noble.

His tone changed and asked:

“Senior Brother, what went wrong in the Canglan Secret Realm, can you tell now?”

He was curious about what happened in the Secret Realm to make the Sect issue a gag order.

Liu Yu and Ge Luoying exchanged a look, and spoke:

“It’s a nightmare, the Three Sects and Loose Cultivators sent five hundred people into the Secret Realm, fewer than a hundred came out alive.”

Ji An’s eyes suddenly widened, how could there be such high casualties in a resource Secret Realm?

He only felt his throat go dry, took a gulp of wine, waiting for the continuation.

“A group of Loose Cultivators was controlled by Soul Gu, these controlled cultivators entered a forbidden area in the Secret Realm, luring out Chao Origin Stage Demon Beasts, a total of four.

Then, it was a massacre…

Senior Brother Li Haoran united the remaining cultivators, showcasing divine prowess to kill two of them, stabilizing the situation…”

Liu Yu’s voice was even, without highs or lows, very calm.

Wei Songnian, however, listened, feeling ice-cold all over, a batch of cultivators most hopeful to break through to the Chao Origin Stage was lost in the entire Western Continent.

Ji An frowned deeply, asking:

“How many survived from the Sect?”

“Twelve, among them, two Senior Brothers succumbed to severe injuries shortly after exiting the Secret Realm.”

Ji An was silent, a ninety-percent death rate, unsure how long it would take to accumulate so many middle to late-stage Foundation Establishment disciples again.

Wei Songnian cleared his throat, stating:

“We’re all alive, that’s the greatest fortune.”

“True, let’s drink to that.”

The four raised their glasses again, then sought lighter topics, talking about their respective cultivation.

Half an hour passed, Ji An said:

“Senior Brother, you said there was a big gain in the Secret Realm, what was it?

Quickly, show your younger brother!”

He had long wanted to ask this question.

Liu Yu laughed,

“I knew you couldn’t resist asking, haha, Senior Sister, bring it out.”

Ge Luoying produced a seed, placing it on the table,

“We originally had two seeds; Aunt-Master said to leave one to plant at Ningcui Cliff.

Junior Brother, can you recognize what seed this is?”

The seed was slightly larger than a thumb joint, with grooves, and a green shell.

Ji An pinched the Object Control Technique, holding the seed in his palm, examining it carefully with his Divine Sense.

After a moment, he frowned and shook his head:

“It looks like a peach seed, but I’ve never seen a peach seed with this kind of shell.”

“It is indeed a peach seed, a Longevity Peach seed.

Sister and I fortuitously acquired four Tier Two Lower Grade Longevity Peaches, handed two to the Sect, and gifted two to Master.”

As the name implies, Longevity Peaches can increase lifespan.

A Tier Two Lower Grade Longevity Peach should increase lifespan by about ten years.

This kind of Spirit Fruit can only be consumed a limited number of times in a cultivator’s life, excessive use will render it ineffective.

“So it’s Longevity Peach,” Ji An showed some joy, this kind of Spirit Fruit, those near the end of their lifespan would surely compete for desperately.

The only drawback is the rarity of these Spirit Fruits, if a tree bears ten, it would already be good.

“Unfortunately, we can’t use this kind of Spirit Fruit.”

Ji An sighed softly, actually hoping for Spirit Wood seeds like Celestial Essence Pear and Dragon Blood Fruit, so that after the Spirit Fruits were cultivated, he could consume them to enhance his cultivation.

In his opinion, as long as cultivation steadily progresses, if one breaks through to the next realm before the end of lifespan, there’s no need for things like Longevity Peach or Lifespan Extension Pill.

“By the way, has Master’s condition improved after consuming Longevity Peach?”

Ge Luoying bit her lip, slowly saying:

“Aunt-Master refined the Longevity Peach into a Lifespan Extension Pill, forming five pills, but she refused to consume them.”

“Why?”

Ji An was surprised, lifespan was what Master needed most.

“She said her Essence and Qi began declining seven or eight years ago, even consuming a Lifespan Extension Pill would only slow the decline, prolonging life without much meaning.”

Ge Luoying’s mood turned gloomy, having experienced Essence, Qi, and Spirit decline for so many years, Aunt-Master’s vitality had also faded.

Even with over ten more years of life, igniting the Fire of Life to achieve the Chao Origin Stage was impossible.

Thus, Aunt-Master gave up on a prolonged life.

She revealed a slightly bitter smile, sighing:

“I tried to persuade her, but she’s quite stubborn now, and wouldn’t listen at all.”

Liu Yu said:

“I also tried to persuade Master, with the same result as Senior Sister’s.

Master asked me then, ’What’s the point of lingering for another ten years? What’s there to look forward to in the future?’

I didn’t know how to answer.”

Ji An ran a hand through his hair, “I’ll find an appropriate time and try to persuade Master.”

He began thinking about how to advise her to appear valuable, suddenly raising an eyebrow, saying:

“I thought of a method, let’s try it in a few days!”

Ge Luoying’s eyes suddenly lit up, “What method?!”

A glint of joy passed through her eyes; since joining the Sect, Aunt-Master’s guidance surpassed everyone except the Master, her concern exceeded even the Master’s.

Before, she hadn’t thought much of it, but now seeing the other’s graying hair and wrinkles rapidly increase, she wished for more time together.

“Let’s keep it confidential for now, the method has a prerequisite condition, otherwise, all is for naught.”

Ji An did not reveal the answer, his gaze grew profound, internally thinking:

’Hope there’s still time!’

Ge Luoying slightly frowned, then relaxed:

“After trying, regardless of the result, please let me know.”

“Certainly!”