Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 230 168: A Clean Sweep

Ling Changqing paid it no mind, focusing solely on fishing and pocketing all sorts of Spirit Gold Materials.

At last, the final moment arrived.

The mysterious ocean of stars within the volcano gradually dimmed until it vanished completely, signaling that this round of fortune had come to an end.

To witness this extraordinary sight again, one would have to wait fifty years for the next chance to enter.

"Not bad at all. It's rare to come away with such a full haul!"

Ling Changqing slowly rose and put away his fishing rod, his tone suggesting he hadn't quite had his fill.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, shall we leave now?"

Yu Qingyang asked in a gentle tone. At his subtle signal, the surrounding Yu Family cultivators rose to their feet, entering a state of combat readiness.

"Of course. As for our next major destination, why don't you decide, Brother Yu?"

As Ling Changqing spoke, Yu Yalan and Yu Youqin came forward, linking their arms with his, one on each side.

He felt himself enveloped on both sides by towering, magnificent peaks, soft yet surprisingly resilient. The sensation was simply sublime.

Yu Qingyang mused, "You see the situation. Dragon Soul Valley is a hornet's nest; we shouldn't linger. Why don't we return to the family's encampment first?"

Now that they had found the greatest prize of all—the Child of Destiny—the other spoils paled in comparison. All Yu Qingyang wanted was to get Ling Changqing out of here as quickly as possible.

"Husband,"

Yu Yalan added quickly, "The family treasury is filled with wonderful things! Whatever Heavenly and Earthly Treasures you desire, it's no problem at all. Let's go back first!"

She, too, was afraid of unexpected complications. The fiery, burning gazes from the many female cultivators around them looked as if they were ready to pounce and snatch him away at any moment.

"Alright then. We'll do as Brother Yu suggests."

Ling Changqing said.

A Yu Family cultivator summoned a Tianzhou Skyboat over thirty zhang long. With their arms linked with Ling Changqing's, Yu Youqin and Yu Yalan were about to board.

"...What? Leaving so soon, Fellow Daoist Yu?"

As Yu Piaoyun's eerie voice rang out, the cultivators of the Yu Family silently closed in.

Yu Qingyang's expression instantly frosted over. He turned to face them.

"What do you think you're doing? I guess you didn't learn your lesson last time, is that it? You want me to teach you again?"

The atmosphere instantly grew tense and heavy with killing intent.

It wasn't just the Yu Family. Cultivators from several other families also looked eager, as if ready to jump into the fray.

Liu Ying Meng Luan watched Ling Changqing, who was now encircled by cultivators, her expression fraught with anxiety. In this situation, even trying to rush over and seize him would be difficult.

Yu Piaoyue's handsome face was an unreadable mask of indifference.

"Hand over that Dragon Race Cultivator, and we will spare you today. Otherwise, none of you are leaving this place!"

Yu Qingyang sneered. "Such big talk. Does your Yu Family think itself so powerful? You dare speak to the Yu Family in such a tone?"

As he spoke, the aura around Yu Qingyang began to swell, like a primordial Fierce Beast stirring from a long slumber.

At the same time, as if sensing something, Yu Yalan suddenly lashed out with her sword, striking the air in front of Ling Changqing and drawing an unfamiliar, wretched scream.

A vague, indistinct figure materialized—it seemed to be the same Tang Family cultivator who had ambushed Ling Changqing before.

This time, however, his tricks proved useless against the well-prepared Yu sisters.

"Die!"

With a flick of her wrist, Yu Youqin struck. Amid a piercing whistle, her soft whip dissolved into a flurry of afterimages that engulfed her target.

A moment later, the man was covered in his own blood, bones shattered and tendons torn. The terrifying force of the blow sent him flying into the distance, clearly not long for this world.

"Tang Yifeng, you've got a death wish too?"

Yu Qingyang's gaze, brimming with killing intent, fell upon the Tang Family's contingent.

Tang Yifeng's face was now an iron mask of cold fury. He slowly unslung the massive bow from his back and said icily:

"We're past the point of words. Let me see for myself what Young Master Yu is capable of!"

Just as the two sides were at daggers drawn, about to come to blows, Ling Changqing's figure quietly faded. Before the incredulous eyes of the crowd, he vanished from where he stood in the blink of an eye.

「Thousands of miles away.」

Deep within a primeval jungle, Ling Changqing's figure slowly materialized.

"...They won't be able to track me here, will they?"

Ling Changqing asked in a low voice, casually dispatching a giant, ape-like Fierce Beast that had attempted an ambush with a single stroke of his sword.

"Rest assured. I can apply Shielding to the auras and karmic ties of the items you carry. No one will be able to divine your whereabouts!"

Gong Ling responded.

The price, of course, was merely three years of his Lifespan.

"That's a relief."

Ling Changqing breathed a sigh of relief.

With Gong Ling's help, everything, including the pair of Red Jade Crystal Bracelets from Bai Qingyi and her daughter, could be perfectly concealed.

From now on, he wouldn't have to worry about his true identity being exposed when he traveled.

"Take all of these. And help me change my appearance and aura. I can't use the identity of Wang Chang'an anymore."

Ling Changqing said, taking out all the Second and Third Rank Demon Beast Cores he had obtained in trade over the last few days.

"Of course!"

Gong Ling agreed. As the dozens of Demon Beast Cores vanished one by one, Ling Changqing's Lifespan steadily increased.

The amount of Lifespan gained from each core varied according to its grade.

For example, a Third Grade Demon Beast Core could add five years to his Lifespan, while a second rank core only added about one year.

When the sacrifice was complete, after subtracting the portion he had just consumed, his total Lifespan stabilized at 366.

Although he had lost a batch of materials that could have been used for Alchemy, his own Lifespan was far more important.

By now, Ling Changqing had transformed into a stout man with rippling muscles, thick eyebrows, and large eyes. He wore a magnificent, multicolored long robe that shimmered with Spiritual Light, and a broad-bladed Heavy Sword was strapped to his back.