Eternal Life: My Lifespan Increases Daily

Chapter 374 - 296: Chuyun Province, Sword Training Fanatic! (Double-Length)

He didn’t elaborate on the trivialities of family affairs.

At this moment, he only had one question for his two older brothers.

"Brothers, would you wish to live?"

He sought a way to bring his two relatives back to life, but what mattered more was their own willingness.

Whether they wished to exist in the world as undead beings, that was crucial.

If they didn’t want to live like this, Song Changming could only respect their decision and grant them relief.

He would not force them to stay.

Song Changming explained the process involved, including the corpse transformation technique that was still in the ancient tomb.

"If the brothers wish to live, I will do everything in my power to help you master this technique!" Song Changming said seriously.

After listening, the two brothers exchanged a glance, both appearing hesitant.

"Changming, is there danger in this? I think it’s best to forget it. My second brother and I are already deceased; returning to the west should be our best conclusion," said the elder brother, Song Changping.

He heard what Song Changming said and understood how much effort Song Changming had made for them, feeling moved.

To give up so lightly on the hope of living seemed to betray Song Changming’s prior intentions.

But on the other hand, they didn’t wish to become a burden to Song Changming.

Song Changming walked this far, he should have a better future without having to continue expending effort for two deceased people.

"Brothers need not worry about anything else; as long as you wish, this is an alternative path of cultivation, with infinite development possibilities. Perhaps in the future, you could rid yourselves of this corpse-like body, reaching the extreme realm..."

He noticed the hesitance in his elder brothers, also seeing within that hesitation the desire to live, not simply seeking release.

Thus, he had already made a decision in his heart.

"Changming, second brother wishes to." Suddenly, Song Chang’an spoke after pondering silently for a long time. His tone was more determined.

If given a chance, he wasn’t willing to simply escape the world; there were still many things he wanted to do.

He wanted to resist, to kill all the villains from the Corpse Refining Sect, including Lou Baoqiu, to make amends for those harmed by them over the decades, to help Song Changming, fulfill brotherly duties, to return home and see the deceased parents, the elderly sister, to...

Song Changping sighed quietly, looking at Song Changming, without saying anything.

Song Changming nodded, already understanding his brothers’ thoughts, then turned to walk towards Lou Baoqiu.

"You..."

Lou Baoqiu felt panicked, but before he could open his mouth, Song Changming slapped him unconscious.

Looking back at his two brothers, they hadn’t lost control simply because the corpse refiner lost consciousness; their self-awareness was still intact.

This made matters easier.

Lou Baoqiu couldn’t be killed for now; just keeping him unconscious would suffice.

Thus, he couldn’t control the corpse puppets temporarily, and Song Changping and Song Chang’an even gained a small portion of physical control for the first time in decades.

This also resulted from Lou Baoqiu intentionally releasing control over the corpse puppets before he was knocked out; otherwise, even under unconsciousness, the puppets couldn’t have autonomous movement capabilities.

"I... can move..." Song Chang’an looked at his raised hands.

Rough textures, skin full of cracks and calluses, thick black fingers.

For many years, he hadn’t been able to look at his body like today.

Only ugly could describe it, but regardless of how ugly or unusual, the feeling of having a body was entrancing, truly not wanting to return to that eternal dark prison.

Therefore.

He looked at the unconscious Lou Baoqiu, and a desire to kill surged within.

"Second brother, once the technique is mastered, and the puppet identity is shed, there will surely be a time to kill him." Song Changming advised.

Song Chang’an worked hard to calm the murderous intent in his heart, and his raised foot fell back down.

"Changming is right, there’s no need to rush." Song Chang’an said.

From afar, Hu Yan couldn’t hear what Song Changming and the two corpse puppets were saying, waiting alone for a while, finally growing impatient and wanting to approach seeking remedy.

However, before he could speak, a purple gold flame fell from afar onto his head, burning him down to bones.

"Matters here are resolved, so next..." Song Changming looked into the distance.

Next, he must leave Chuyun Province!

...

The vast Yun Province, encompassing thirty-six territorial realms, over a thousand large cities, and a registered population of over five billion by the government!

To traverse Yun Province on foot would take countless years.

To rapidly cross mountains and state borders, flying is the only method.

Outside Yun Province, adjacent to the east are the Thirty-Six Grotto Heavens of Nanzhou, to the west are the Three Thousand Spirit Mountains Blessed Land.

A long canyon road trails alongside a river, where three large horses tread.

Among them, two individuals are burly and tall, shrouded in large white robes, covering their faces, maintaining a low profile.

In the center, the horseback rider was a young man, revealing his appearance, none other than Song Changming, who had left Cui Bai Dao.

Song Changming looked at the content displayed on his personal interface.

Sword Training Fanatic (Blue): A fanatic born for the saber, possessing high comprehension in the Sword Tao, often having unique insights, with pioneering potential, enhanced practice efficiency, increased saber power, with specific bonus effects for creating sword techniques and saber techniques.

This was his chosen reward following last night’s annual summary.

In the military for a year, he underwent various missions, receiving decent evaluations across the board.

Especially the major task of guarding the Spirit Crystal Vein, which significantly boosted the evaluation scores.

So much so that this year’s rewards included an upgrade trait selection option, a reward of two out of four choices.

Fortunate to choose two rewards, allowing him to select an additional life span number, so that he could meet the three thousand life span consumption required for this upgraded trait reward without affecting the one-life guarantee.

"Sword Training Fanatic, a fanatic born for the saber..." Song Changming looked at the new blue trait upgraded from ’Sword Practitioner.’

Reading the introduction, he felt this new trait was special, promising considerable assistance in the future.

Whether it’s the pioneering potential, or the bonus during self-created sword techniques, all are precious trait effects, provoking Song Changming’s thoughts.

Those martial arts grandmasters typically possess the ability to establish their own style.

And now, Song Changming seemingly touched upon that ability.

In other words, this new trait, to an extent, endowed Song Changming with the potential to become a martial arts grandmaster.

If truly achieving the grandmaster status, he would be qualified to establish a sect and spread martial arts throughout Ancient Abyss Country!

Of course, the specific trait power and effects would only be known after further development.

For now, he only felt more fluid and smooth when wielding saber, often bursting with greater power and destructive force than before during martial techniques.

Often having moments of inspiration, moments previously absent during saber wielding.

In terms of talent in the Sword Tao, he indeed was elevated by this new trait.

Just as he was contemplating, a carriage approached from behind, slowing slightly beside Song Changming and the others.

Inside the carriage, a young scholar with an air of scholarship lifted the curtain, first looking at Song Changming’s masked companions, then fixed his gaze on Song Changming, the only one revealing his face.

"Sir, could you tell me which way to the Celestial Tao Academy?"

"Apologies, I’m here for the first time too, unfamiliar with the way." Song Changming shook his head.

"Oh? Sir might also be heading to join a sect on Spirit Mountain, congratulations then, I’m Li Luzong from the Li Family of Shangli Dao, also heading to join the Celestial Tao Academy on Spirit Mountain." The young scholar cupped his hands.

"Congratulations to you as well." Song Changming said without further explanation nor revealing his own identity.

The young scholar, being perceptive, noticed Song Changming’s reluctance to converse further and didn’t force the issue, taking his leave.

"Changming, tell me why you, upon arriving in Ancient Abyss Country, chose to join the military rather than a Spirit Mountain sect for cultivation." After the carriage was gone, one of the masked white-robed individuals beside Song Changming suddenly spoke.

This was none other than his eldest brother, Song Changping, traveling with him.

"Sects lack freedom, so I joined the military, serving the government, it suits me better." Song Changming smiled.

...