Chapter 67: Good and Bad News
Read 10 Chapters Ahead On Patreon ;) /Zwere
Back in the Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market Town, Lan Chang''an once took a Life Extension Pill, which had an astonishing effect, gaining double its normal longevity.
The power of Evergreen mana slightly increased as well.
For ordinary cultivators, Life Extension Pills of the same rank cannot have cumtive effects.
Lan Chang''an presumed that his situation was special, but at that time, he couldn''t openlypete for a second Life Extension Pill.
Lan Chang''an sat cross-legged and consumed a first-rank Life Extension Pill obtained from the Evil-faced Flying Eagle.
The Evergreen mana seemed to have a mind of its own as it swallowed the medicinal pill and absorbed it.
In an instant, Lan Chang''an sensed the familiar mysterious Qi of the ages.
Like dead wood encountering spring, spring passing and autumning, the cycle of life, round after round.During this process, Lan Chang''an''s mind seemed to be washed by the passage of time.
After eight cycles, the effect of the Life Extension Pill dissipated.
"Extended life by eight years?"
Lan Chang''an opened his ink-ck eyes, clearly sensing the specific increase in lifespan.
This time, the life-extension effect was two-tenths weaker thanst time, but it had already exceeded expectations.
The power of Evergreen mana slightly increased again!
Its power now clearly surpassedmon techniques, approaching the normal techniques of immortal cultivation sects.
Of course, it was still far inferior to those techniques renowned for their power or the major family or sect-protecting techniques.
"My current lifespan limit is 197 years, close to 200 years!"
Lan Chang''an was very happy, feeling a sense of security.
Originally, it should have been 198 years.
Reviving Mu Xiuyun consumed two months, and hatching the Profound Earth Trutle used up another half year of lifespan.
Reviving Mu Xiuyun was not true resurrection, bringing back the dead.
It could only be considered a secret technique of rejuvenation, pulling back someone who had half a foot in the gate of the underworld.
In this life, Lan Chang''an maintained his body well, never getting injured, and never experienced any great rage rage or sorrow. Both his physical and mental states were excellent. Therefore, his theoretical lifespan was hardly depleted.
This was the true way to live a long life.
"It seems that in the future, I need to strive for more Life Extension Pills, gather rted materials, and open the furnace to refine them myself." Lan Chang''an sighed.
He really didn''t want topete with elderly people for lifespan.
But who doesn''t want a longer life?
Moreover, while extending lifespan, he could also enhance his magical power.
……
In the following year, Lan Chang''an continued to collect materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
After Zhang Tieshan supplemented the Illusory Heart Grass.
Lan Chang''an was now only missing one primary and one supplementary material for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
The primary material: Xuanling Fruit.
The supplementary material: February Tears.
To have collected almost all of the materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill by himself was truly a miraculous feat.
The proportion of materials he personally collected was average.
Some of the materials were bought by Zhao Siyao in the sect and gifted to him.
The biggest contribution was from old Brother Nie Xiang.
If Lan Chang''an were at the ninthyer of Qi-Refining now, he could even use the defective Foundation Establishment Pill to attempt Foundation Establishment.
However, the defective pill, which even the Evil-faced Flying Eagle did not consider, was naturally not to Lan Chang''an''s liking, he would at most keep it as a backup n.
To avoid arousing any suspicions, Lan Chang''an bought some more of the materials to make his collection seem more adequate.
Otherwise, if Lan Chang''an stopped actions immediately after the Evil-faced Flying Eagle died, it would be somewhat abrupt.
……
Unknowingly, Lan Chang''an turned fifty-nine.
It had been more than ten years since he came to Huanglong Immortal City.
The Taoist Master across the street, Master Guan, was getting old, his body deteriorating day by day.
Recently, Guan Qiaozhi visited Water Moon Residence less frequently.
Guan Qiaozhi often went out to set up her stall by herself, shouldering the burden of the family business.
Fortunately, Guan Qiaozhi, now in the middle stage of Qi-Refining, with Lan Chang''an''s protection, was not bullied in the market area.
Lan Chang''an visited Old Guan a few times, judging he could live another three years.
Three yearster, when Lan Chang''an was sixty-two, he estimated he could reach the ninthyer of Qi-Refining.
……
"Xuanling Fruit, too difficult!"
One day, Lan Chang''an attended arge auction in Huanglong Immortal City, returning disappointed.
There was no three hundred-year-old Xuangling Fruit at the auction. There were Foundation Establishment Pills for auction instead.
Cultivators from the major families, sects, and mysterious individuals allpeted.
Thepetition was far more intense than in the Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market Town back then.
Dozens of Foundation Establishment cultivators participated in this auction, including even Fake-Dan cultivators!
Lan Chang''an observed the whole process, not daring to release his spiritual sense, lest thete-stage Foundation Establishment or Fake-Dan cultivators detect any abnormalities.
For example, spiritual sense inconsistent with his cultivation, or his strong physique.
Evergreen Technique''s aura concealment ability is strong but he wasn''t sure how well it would work. He was only confident that he could hide from cultivators in the early and middle Foundation Establishment stages. Thete Foundation Establishment stage was a different matter.
Even if he had the financial means to crush the major forces and obtain the Foundation Establishment Pill, being so high-profile in public, the risks were unpredictable.
Through this auction.
Lan Chang''an confirmed again: In the Liang Kingdom''s cultivation world, it''s almost impossible to obtain Xuangling Fruit through normal channels.
Back then, Young Master Zhou, who managed to procure Xuangling Fruit, indeed had some connections.
……
"The main material, Xuangling Fruit, is notpletely irreceable."
Lan Chang''an remembered more than one form for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
Certain special second-rank monster cores could rece the Xuangling Fruit, with only minor adjustments needed to the form and refining method.
These monster cores were simr to a cultivator''s dantian, the core where mana was stored.
The monster cores of third-rank monsters evolved into "inner dan," equivalent to the true dan or golden dan of Core Formation cultivators.
Huanglong Immortal City, adjacent to the ck Fog Mountain Range, also had methods circting to rece the main material of the Foundation Establishment Pill with special monster cores.
However, obtaining such special monster cores was costly and had many restrictions.
First, the quality requirements for the monster cores were high.
Only some superior-grade bloodlines and earth-grade bloodline monsters'' second-level monster cores met the requirements.
Second-level monsters were as powerful as Foundation Establishment cultivators, with the superior or earth-grade bloodline monsters being exceptionally strong, posing a danger even to ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Second, the purity of the monster core had to be high, and the power contained couldn''t be too violent, otherwise, it couldn''t be harmonized with the other materials of the Foundation Establishment Pill.
For example, monster cores of fire or thunder elements, even if they were of earth or heaven-grade bloodlines, would not meet the conditions.
Compared to Xuangling Fruit, the channels to obtain special monster cores were slightly more extensive.
However, the risks were greater, requiring one to venture into the ck Fog Mountain Range to hunt.
For example, the Evil-faced Flying Eagle never considered this route.
He couldn''t even defeat ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, let alone obtain such special monster cores.
In the Liang Kingdom''s cultivation world, many Foundation Establishment cultivators seeking Foundation Establishment for their descendants met their end in the ck Fog Mountain Range while searching for such special monster cores.
……
The monster core method was just Lan Chang''an''s backup n.
His physical body wasparable to a second-rank monster. By the ninth rank of Qi-Refining, his mana would be stronger. With some second-rank talismans, he indeed had the ability to kill second-rank monsters.
But he wouldn''t venture alone.
If he could refine strong second-rank talismans and had a trusted Foundation Establishment cultivator as the main force, he might consider it.
Squeak, squeak!
In the courtyard, the Earth Burrowing Rat carried a letter over, looking ttering.
Among Water Moon Residence, the Earth Burrowing Rat had the highest cultivation but the lowest status.
Lan Chang''an saw it was a letter from Li Erqing.
The letter contained one good news and one bad news.
*Author Notes;
I have a piece of good news and bad news to tell everyone.
The bad news is that for the next two or three days, I can only update about 4,000 words per day. Normal updates will resume after Friday.
The good news is that the novel''s sales are pretty decent. The editor is helping me apply for a good rmendation slot, but it can''t exceed 200,000 words. This way, the book can gain more exposure, and if there are good results, I can have a stable and long life like our protagonist.
I hope everyone can click to follow and vote in support.*
TL/Basically the next 8 chapters will be 400-500 words shorter.