Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

"Don’t count on them anymore. It’s good enough that they haven’t taken advantage of the chaos."

Celestial Wind True Master advised Shen Xuan to intensify his alchemy efforts alongside his cultivation.

After Medicine God Valley’s betrayal, it will surely impact the prices of spirit pills in Song Country.

The Yan-Song war between sects is currently ongoing.

Mysterious Trace True Master judged that Yan Country’s sects would seize this opportunity to inflate the prices of spirit pills and medicinal herbs, drain Song Country’s sect resources, and incite some cultivation clans and renowned loose cultivators to switch sides.

Besides, Mysterious Trace True Master also worried that the isolated lying Dragon Archipelago might be easily attacked by Yan Country’s sects.

"Senior Brother Mysterious Trace instructed that if things become unmanageable, I hope you, Junior Brother Profound Ice, prioritize your safety. All other matters are trivial."

Starlight Island may be good, but it’s not more important than Shen Xuan.

He’s not only an Ice Technique Golden Core.

He is also a Tier Three Water Technique Alchemist.

Moreover, he has a secret Tier Three Alchemist, Li Ruyi, backing him.

In the absence of pill masters due to Medicine God Valley’s betrayal.

Pill masters like Shen Xuan and Li Ruyi contribute to the sect far more than ordinary True Masters.

After Celestial Wind True Master left, Shen Xuan was left alone in the secret room, pondering for a long time.

He thought about only one problem.

To leave or to stay?

It’s hard-earned to have the foundation establishment on Starlight Island.

There are also many friends and family on the island.

Giving up like this makes him feel reluctant.

If he insists on staying, he will likely confront Yan Country’s sect head-on.

"I just want to focus on cultivation and pursue the Dao, why is it so difficult!"

Shen Xuan stopped thinking further.

He asked True Master Wei Chen to arrange manpower to stock up on strategic resources like various alchemy talismans and arrays.

With the protection of the Grand Water Convergence Array.

Breaking through Starlight Island is not an easy task.

...

Three months later, an explosive news spread across the lying Dragon Archipelago.

One of the seven sects of Song Country, Medicine God Valley, defected before the battle, joined Yan Country, and merged into Danxia Sect.

This news was extremely shocking, quickly spreading across nearby countries.

As a result, various neutral cultivation influences became even less optimistic about Song Country’s sects.

Inside Song Country, the prices for spirit pills and medicinal herbs skyrocketed.

Fortunately, Song Country’s six sects were prepared and soon launched large furnace refining, dumping a large number of commonly used spirit pills for Foundation Establishment Realm and Qi Cultivation Realm onto the market.

The prices of Spirit Gathering Pill, True Essence Pill, and Solid Spirit Pill were ten percent cheaper than usual.

Foundation Establishment Pills were available for exchange without quantity limits.

As long as you have enough war merits.

Yellow Dragon Pills and Essence Nourishing Pills for the Qi Refinement stage were also widely available.

With this, the prices of common spirit pills were quickly suppressed.

For ordinary loose cultivators, pill masters became a hot profession again.

The betrayal of Medicine God Valley didn’t affect them much.

The true impact was on the Core Formation True Masters within Song Country.

They were Medicine God Valley’s biggest clients.

...

Cold Ice Cave, Alchemy Room.

Shen Xuan and Li Ruyi were simultaneously opening the furnace for alchemy.

Ding Qingfeng and Shangguan Ming Yue were guarding nearby.

Both were refining Life-Extending Pills.

Shen Xuan’s pill success rate was noticeably better.

Both produced three Life-Extending Pills from a single furnace.

One of the pills in Shen Xuan’s furnace was of superior quality.

"Seal the furnace, rest for a day."

Backyard.

The moon was bright in the sky.

Shen Xuan and Li Ruyi sat facing each other.

Li Ruyi sipped on cold leaf spirit tea and asked softly, "Is there a change in the Yan-Song war?"

"Yes, Medicine God Valley betrayed us and merged into Danxia Sect."

"Danxia Sect, ah!"

Li Ruyi was slightly moved.

Shen Xuan didn’t pursue further questions.

After Li Ruyi congealed the Nether Pill, her memory was mostly restored.

If Shen Xuan guessed correctly, her past self was a pill master of Danxia Sect.

The one who plotted against her was her closest friend.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, can you find out information about a person for me?"

"Alright."

"He is called Liu Qianshan, over two hundred years ago, he was a Tier Three Pill Master with the title Qianshan True Master."

Li Ruyi’s voice wavered slightly.

"He should now be in the later stage of True Pill Realm, or perhaps his cultivation is fully perfected."

"I will write to Wan Meng Demon Venerable tonight, asking her to investigate quickly."

"I know where my past body is located. If Fellow Daoist Shen has time, could you accompany me on a trip to retrieve my body?"

Shen Xuan frowned.

"Not at the moment. Starlight Island isn’t safe. Moreover, my cultivation isn’t sufficient to traverse Yan Country freely."

Without much thought, Li Ruyi’s flesh body is surely in Yan Country.

Currently, the war between sects of Yan and Song has reached a fever pitch.

Even veteran True Pill True Masters have entered the fray.

Soon, Golden Core True Masters will also enter the battle.

There’s no assurance that I can retreat safely from Yan Country.

Li Ruyi fell silent.

After a long pause, she said quietly, "Fellow Daoist Shen is right, Ruyi was too eager. After waiting for over two hundred years, I don’t mind waiting a few more decades."

Although Li Ruyi managed to congeal the Nether Pill.

Her real combat strength is comparable to an ordinary True Pill True Master.

Facing her past enemies, she stands no chance.

She can only rely on Shen Xuan.

"Fellow Daoist Li, don’t be impatient. If Shen has success in cultivation, I will definitely help you fulfill your wish."

Shen Xuan said earnestly.

He needs Li Ruyi, a Tier Three Alchemist, to continuously refine pills for him.

Naturally, he must offer appropriate compensation.

This promise is a reward for her pill refining.

The so-called wish is nothing more than retrieving her body and avenging her enemies.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, Ruyi trusts you."

Li Ruyi said earnestly.

She can only trust Shen Xuan.

Others would only seek to control her and extract all her worth.

Shen Xuan has always been true to his word with her.

Over the years, the two of them have worked very well together.

Day by day, time passed.

A year later.

Practice Room.

Shen Xuan completed the refinement of a portion of the Corrosive Gold Fire Crow Demon Core.

[Talent: Solar True Flame Entry Level (1/100)]

"Finally made it to entry-level!"

"Consumed one portion of Essence Blood, two Demon Cores, and a whole year!"

On the Mysterious Jade Talisman.

[Spirit Root: Fire 28/100]

Refining the Essence Blood of the Corrosive Gold Fire Crow increased Fire Spirit Root Talent by 10 points.

The Demon Core added another 12 points.

However, the second Demon Core did not enhance the Fire Spirit Root Talent.

This was similar to when he refined the Water Demon Essence Blood before.

The same Essence Blood and Demon Core, when refined later, could only increase Skill Proficiency, not Spirit Root Talent.

Shen Xuan’s Divine Thought slightly stirred.

At his fingertip, a small cluster of Spirit Fire formed, dark inside and bright outside, emitting a strong golden glow, supreme yang and firm.

Is this the original fire of the innate fire Divine Beast, the Great Sun Golden Crow?

Legend has it that the true Solar True Flame can burn everything with just a wisp.

Shen Xuan also had a small cluster of True Flame from the Golden Crow gifted by the Purple-Born Great Demon.

It had been nurtured with Fire Spirit Stones, and he wondered if it could be subdued and integrated.

"Begin cultivating [Nine Revolutions Fiery Sun Technique] and [Pure Yang True Flame Art], attaining entry level first."

With 28 points of Fire Spirit Root, it’s enough for entry level.

The situation outside is complex, Shen Xuan prioritizes enhancing combat power.

After entering [Solar True Flame], he immediately prepared to refine the Silver Light Cold Flood Dragon Demon Pill Essence Blood Lizard Scale.

...

Ten days later.

The cooldown period of the Mysterious Jade Talisman had passed.

In the Practice Room.

In front of the Jade Table, lay a freshly cut small piece of the Silver Light Cold Flood Dragon Demon Pill.

The Mysterious Jade Talisman flashed gold.

[Stealable Talents: Ice Spirit Dao Body, Silver Frost Ice Breath, Silver Light Ice Demonic, Ice Sealing a Thousand Miles, Silver Scale Ice Armor, Flood Dragon Roar, Ice Demonic Spirit Shield, Flowing Light Escape, Cold Flood Dragon Domain, Infinite Strength, Divine Dragon’s Suppression, Dragon Blood Boiling, Call the Wind and Summon the Rain, Overturning Rivers and Seas, Soaring Clouds and Mist, Wishful Size]

"Very good, another ice attribute Flood Dragon!"

Shen Xuan evaluated the various talent skills of the Silver Light Cold Flood Dragon.

Since it was an Ice Flood Dragon, naturally, he’d prioritize ice attribute talent skills.

"This Ice Spirit Dao Body, I wonder if it could merge with the Ice Demonic Body?"

If he had obtained the Silver Light Ice Demonic Demon Pill earlier, Shen Xuan would have chosen [Ice Spirit Dao Body].

Previously, he had chosen [Ice Demonic Body].

Their effects should overlap somewhat.

However, one is applicable to Demon Beasts and the other to Demon Creatures.

"My Body Refining Technique originally embodies the Dragon Dharma Aspect. If it’s for Demon Beasts, maybe it’s more suitable."

Although equipped with the Nine-Colored Treasure Lotus and Mysterious Jade Talisman for protection.

Cultivating the [White Bone Observation Internal Vision Method] to refine the Glazed Treasure Body.

Demonic Qi scarcely affected him.

Yet, his Body Refining Technique tilted more towards Demon Beasts.

For the [Ice Spirit Dao Body], he naturally felt more affinity.

"Forget it. Those Ice Techniques are useless to me."

"It’s either [Ice Spirit Dao Body] or [Dragon Blood Boiling], I have to choose one."

"I’ll try the [Ice Spirit Dao Body]!"

"At worst, waste a Demon Core."

Shen Xuan mused to himself.

Once the decision was made.

The Mysterious Jade Talisman displayed flickering golden archaic characters.

[Talent: Ice Spirit Dao Body (24/100)]

[Dao Rhyme: 2323226]

Three percent of the Demon Core portion.

Twelve thousand and one hundred Dao Rhyme points.

Slightly higher than the Ice Demonic Body Flood Dragon.

Presumably also a Tier Three Middle Grade.

However, the increase in talent value is evidently higher.

It turns out, that the Demon Beast Demon Core Essence Blood is more aligned with Shen Xuan.

Fully refining the Silver Light Cold Flood Dragon Demon Pill Essence Blood Lizard Scale would also require three years.

Given Shen Xuan’s lifespan, it was entirely manageable.

He feared more that the sects of Yan Country would invade Wolong Archipelago, sparking war, disturbing his peaceful cultivation.

After leaving the secret chamber.

Qin Yuehan handed him a sealed Jade Scroll.

Shen Xuan opened the Jade Scroll as agreed with Demon Venerable Wan Meng.

His Divine Sense swept over it, revealing the Hehuan Sect’s latest information.

Indeed, the Danxia Sect had a Qianshan True Master, late stage True Pill, Tier Three Upper Grade Pill Master.

Furthermore, his Alchemy talent was quite exceptional.

Reportedly, the Nascent Soul True Monarch in the Danxia Sect highly appreciated him.

He consistently supported him significantly, taking him as an inheritance disciple, assisting him in forming a Nascent Soul.

Qianshan True Master had a resolute Dao Heart, cultivating at the Danxia Sect’s headquarters for extended periods, seldom venturing out.

Meanwhile, the war between Yan and Song Countries grew increasingly intense.

Due to Medicine God Valley’s betrayal, the six Song sects had nowhere to retreat.

The Profound Celestial Sect took the lead, with Golden Core True Masters joining the fray, initiating a counterattack wave.

The Golden Sun Sect followed in step, leading multiple Golden Core True Masters, pushing back the Yan Country cultivator army.

The Divine Sword Sect, Cyan Cloud Sect, Thousand Mechanism Sect, and Beast Emperor Pavilion simultaneously surged forward.

In an instant, the sects of Song Country gained momentum, unsettling the ranks of Yan Country sect cultivators.

To avoid significant casualties, the Yan Country sect cultivators retreated, reorganizing themselves.

"So, even the five Yan Country sects fear the relentless stance of the Song Country sects."

"The sect war between Yan and Song Countries is nearing its end."

Golden Core True Masters stepping in signifies that the Song Country sects have reached their limit.

Continued conflict implies an unending battle.

The five sects of Yan Country had annexed Medicine God Valley and many prefectures along Song Country’s border.

These newfound territories and Spiritual Lands require time to be assimilated.

If nothing unexpected happens, negotiations between the two countries should commence next.

"No, it’s not that simple."

"It should be simultaneous fighting and negotiations."

"What can’t be gained on the battlefield won’t be secured at the negotiation table."

The six Song sects must showcase their strength to reclaim some lost territory from Yan Country sects.

As for Medicine God Valley.

It’s foreseeable that the cultivators of Medicine God Valley, especially the Pill Masters, are about to face a nightmare existence.

Historically, those who surrendered would not be highly regarded by their new superiors.

The ordinary Pill Masters of Medicine God Valley, once esteemed authorities, would turn into ceaseless laborers.

"These people only know Alchemy, ignorant even of being exploited!"

Shen Xuan sneered coldly.

He would never place his destiny in someone else’s hands.

What of the Danxia Sect!

For the sake of the Silver Light Cold Flood Dragon, he dared to scheme against even the Profound Celestial Sect.

"Hopefully, they don’t provoke me!"