Eternal Life by Dual Cultivation

Chapter 383 - 230: Zhao Wanyi: Fellow Daoist, Please Wait?

When this Magical Treasure went full-throttle, no one below the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm could catch up, making it perfect for traveling and escaping.

"Husband, this Blood Shadow Sword is perfect for you. It’s much more powerful than the Cloud Serpent Sword!"

Luo Qingxuan said, handing him a longsword that was wreathed in a blood-red light and exuded a menacing, baleful aura.

It was a Middle Grade Magical Treasure, yet its destructive power was already approaching the threshold of a Top Grade Magical Treasure. It would provide a significant boost to Ling Changqing’s combat prowess.

"This waistband is nice, too, and so is this pair of Jade Pendants. They’re both Middle Grade Magical Treasures. You should take them, Husband!"

Tang Qiu Yao handed Ling Changqing an exquisite waistband that overflowed with a five-colored radiance, inlaid with gold and jade, and adorned with patterns of dragons, phoenixes, and clouds.

Its defensive power was comparable to the Nether Moon Celestial Net Banner. Using them together in battle would provide Ling Changqing with even greater protection.

The pair of archaic Li Long Jade Pendants, which emanated a faint purple aura, were consumable Magical Artifacts. When activated, each could block a single full-power attack from a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Such a life-saving treasure, meant for critical moments, had been stowed away in its previous owner’s Storage Pouch. The Tribulation Cultivator never even had a chance to use it before Ling Changqing lopped his head off with a single strike.

Ling Changqing didn’t decline. He immediately began to refine all the treasures. With his current Cultivation, he could already unleash their full power.

The three women then chose a few Magical Treasures they fancied, and Ling Changqing put the rest away. They would decide what to do with them after they returned.

"Husband, are we... going to the next one now?"

Tang Qiu Yao asked.

Ling Changqing smiled. "Of course we’re going to the next one. The Bian Wujian Gate won’t be usable again for a few more days!"

Since they had such a tool at their disposal, they had to make full use of it. After all, one could never have too many resources.

Ling Changqing felt no guilt whatsoever robbing these Tribulation Cultivators and plundering their wealth. To him, it was an indisputable act of delivering heavenly justice.

Xue Qingtan took out the Jade Scroll Map and looked at it before speaking.

"The Qin Family’s territory is surrounded by Core Formation and Foundation Establishment powers, all of whom are vassals to this Nascent Soul power. The territory of the other Nascent Soul power, the Zhao Family, is over a hundred thousand li away!"

The relationship between the Qin and Zhao Families was not peaceful; they had gone to war more than once in the past. Since each family had two Nascent Soul True Monarchs, neither could gain the upper hand.

Therefore, the leaders of both families were now scrambling to nurture a new Nascent Soul True Monarch as soon as possible, hoping to crush their mortal enemy in one fell swoop.

"Alright then. Let’s go have a look," Ling Changqing said. With the Top-grade Treasure Level Tianzhou Skyboat, the journey wouldn’t take long.

...

Things had been rather turbulent recently in the coastal region of Yuzhou, right at the heart of the Songhe Sword Sect’s domain.

Two Ancient Immortal Mansion Ruins had appeared one after another, both surprisingly within the sect’s territory. The second one, the immortal abode of the Divine Dream Brahma from the Ancient Buddhist Sect, had attracted Divinity Transformation powerhouses from all the surrounding prefectures.

Consequently, some factions came to the logical conclusion that the Songhe Sword Sect’s territory likely held even more hidden opportunities, and they were determined to find them.

And so, even after the Divine Dream Venerable’s immortal abode had been picked clean, the Cultivators who had rushed over at the news refused to leave. They continued to roam all over the Nascent Soul power’s territory.

They had only one goal: to find more opportunities. They were willing to search every inch of the land, even if it meant clashing with the Cultivators of the Songhe Sword Sect.

Since they had strength in numbers, these foreign Cultivators paid no mind to the Songhe Sword Sect’s stance. They did as they pleased, operating with absolute and unbridled impunity.

This Nascent Soul power, which once held a respectable amount of prestige, could do nothing but suffer in silence before these more powerful factions.

The higher-ups of the Songhe Sword Sect initially tried to intervene, but as they saw the situation spiraling out of their control with more and more powerful outsiders arriving, they simply gave up and decided to lie down and take it.

They could only hope that these invaders would leave on their own after they had their fill of wreaking havoc, and not destroy the very foundation of their Sect.

In the shadows, a group of top-tier powers, including the Liu Ying Clan and Lu Hua Palace, had already dispatched large numbers of elite personnel. They were secretly investigating the many smaller factions throughout the Yuzhou coastal region and the nearby offshore areas.

Their target was, of course, the Child of Destiny: Ling Changqing.

He had suddenly appeared as a Primordial Spirit projection and snatched away the Divine Dream Venerable’s legacy. It stood to reason that his true body was most likely hidden somewhere in this vast region.

Although the chances were slim, none of the major powers had any intention of giving up. They were determined to see the investigation through to the end. What if, by some miracle, they actually found him?

...

「Zhao Family Territory, Flame City Marketplace.」

Ling Changqing had changed his appearance once again, transforming into a handsome scholar in a feathered robe and silk headscarf. He began to swagger through the various merchant guilds, open-air markets, and underground trading posts.

In the territories of these Nascent Soul powers, certain high-demand Cultivation Resources were indeed easier to acquire, and their prices were fairer.

’For a moment, I even considered visiting the territories of those Divinity Transformation powers,’ he thought. ’Maybe there would be even bigger surprises there?’

’Of course, my current Cultivation is limited. I’m afraid I couldn’t guarantee my safety. I’ll have to wait until I advance to the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm.’

As he acquired huge quantities of Cultivation Resources, he unsurprisingly attracted the attention of certain observant parties.

Ling Changqing paid them no mind. This was exactly the effect he was aiming for.

After completing his shopping spree, Ling Changqing stayed at an inn for a few extra days.

Only when the Bian Wujian Gate was ready to be used again did he leisurely settle his bill, leave the inn, and head toward the exit of the Marketplace.

However, a tall, slender beauty in white stood gracefully at the exit, a large retinue of maids and guards behind her.

The moment they saw her, the people who had been tailing Ling Changqing from a distance instantly vanished without a trace.

’...What’s all this about?’

Ling Changqing grumbled to himself, feeling a little annoyed.

’This woman is probably some high-ranking figure from the Zhao Family. With her interfering, those Tribulation Cultivators naturally have to back off.’

’But doesn’t this ruin my plan to rob the robbers?’

Across from him, the exquisitely beautiful Zhao Wanyi—her skin fairer than snow, her jade-like legs perfectly shaped and slender—watched the handsome, robed youth approach. Swaying her slender waist, she stepped forward and spoke in a soft voice:

"Fellow Daoist, please wait a moment. My name is Zhao Wanyi. I feel as though we are kindred spirits. I was wondering..."

Ling Changqing waved his hand dismissively. "I am merely a Loose Cultivator with no sect or backing. We are strangers, Young Lady. It would be best if we kept it that way.

I have some urgent matters to attend to, so I’ll be on my way. Please don’t make things difficult for me, Young Lady."

Zhao Wanyi was speechless.

She stared at the handsome youth, looking him up and down. ’I am the Patriarch’s daughter! My word has always been law in this Marketplace. No one has ever dared to show me such disrespect!’

Just then, a glamorous and attractive woman beside her spoke with displeasure:

"Young man, our Young Miss means you no harm. This is a sincere invitation, so don’t be ungrateful!"

Ling Changqing frowned slightly and said impassively, "And what business might the Young Lady have with me?"

He had already faintly sensed the aura of a distant Nascent Soul True Monarch taking notice of him, so his only option was to play along for now.

Zhao Wanyi breathed a sigh of relief and smiled. "This isn’t the place to talk. Fellow Daoist, please accompany me to the Tianweifang Inn. Allow me to host a banquet in your honor. What do you say?"

"Then I shall trouble you, Young Lady!"

Ling Changqing nodded. With his concealment techniques, he wasn’t afraid of whatever tricks they might have up their sleeves.

Zhao Wanyi gestured, and a lavish, bejeweled carriage pulled up. It was drawn by four tall, exceptionally spirited horses, their coats a pure, unblemished white.

A guard lifted the beaded curtain, and Ling Changqing boarded the carriage with her. The driver flicked the reins, and the carriage began to move slowly down the wide street.

Inside the carriage, Zhao Wanyi sat down first, leaning her graceful, poised figure against a soft couch. Her glistening, beautiful eyes fell upon Ling Changqing, who sat opposite her.

"You’re new here, Fellow Daoist. May I ask your name?"

Zhao Wanyi asked softly.

"Ling Changxing. There’s no need to ask about my background. I’m just passing through your territory for business, and I have no other intentions."

Ling Changqing replied calmly.

The Patriarch’s daughter’s Cultivation was currently at the Golden Core Peak, just a hair’s breadth from the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm.

Of course, without some special fortuitous encounter, plenty of people remained stuck at this bottleneck for their entire lives.