Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

Scholar Qianzhu remained calm.

She slowly drew her Lifebound Spiritual Artifact, the Profound Bamboo Sword.

Due to the Fake Pill shattering, she couldn’t channel Spiritual Power into it.

However, it didn’t matter.

The Profound Bamboo Sword was forged from Tier Three Thunder Sound Bamboo, exceptionally sharp.

Zhao Mingde wanted to escape.

But he also couldn’t use Spiritual Power.

Moreover, Shen Xuan had frozen the insides of his body.

This caused his legs to tremble, making it hard to move.

Scholar Qianzhu stepped forward, coming before Zhao Mingde.

Looking down from above, her eyes were resolute.

"No! Senior Brother Ming Yi, save me!"

True Master Ming Yi sighed softly, saying nothing.

He had seen through it.

True Master Profound Ice and Scholar Qianzhu were close friends.

He himself was a prisoner; his words were useless.

This time, Junior Brother Mingde couldn’t escape his fate.

The Profound Bamboo Sword was slowly raised.

The sword tip pointed at Zhao Mingde, slowly stabbing forward.

Scholar Qianzhu’s movements were slow.

Zhao Mingde’s body trembled uncontrollably, his teeth chattering.

"Daoist Qianzhu, spare me! I was wrong! I’ll make it up to you!"

Zhao Mingde’s voice was hoarse and dry, filled with fear.

Scholar Qianzhu remained expressionless, stared fixedly at him, as the Profound Bamboo Sword in her hand pierced Zhao Mingde’s heart, neither quick nor slow.

This thrust drained Zhao Mingde of his remaining strength, blood gushing out like a crimson fountain.

Scholar Qianzhu said nothing.

She concentrated on pulling out the Profound Bamboo Sword, stabbing again.

The emerald Profound Bamboo Sword turned crimson.

Covered entirely with Zhao Mingde’s blood.

"Pssh!"

Another thrust!

The Profound Bamboo Sword pierced Zhao Mingde’s neck, blood splattered out.

"Ah!"

Zhao Mingde let out a wretched scream, agony suffusing his voice.

Still, Scholar Qianzhu remained silent.

She continued to focus on pulling and stabbing.

As if performing an extremely sacred task.

"Pssh!"

This thrust, pierced Zhao Mingde’s abdomen.

Pulling the sword, stabbing again.

The sound of "pssh" echoed repeatedly.

At first, Zhao Mingde kept screaming.

Eventually, no sound remained.

After being stabbed seven times, Zhao Mingde’s eyes unfocused, he perished.

Even so.

Scholar Qianzhu still didn’t stop.

She continuously pulled and stabbed the sword.

Every thrust seemed to use all her strength.

After a dozen or so thrusts, Scholar Qianzhu impaled Zhao Mingde’s body with the Profound Bamboo Sword.

Exerting all her strength, unable to retrieve it.

Scholar Qianzhu finally paused.

She abandoned the Lifebound Spiritual Artifact, leaving it embedded in Zhao Mingde’s body.

Her legs gave way, powerless, she knelt on the ground, gazed at Zhao Mingde’s mutilated body, suddenly burst into laughter.

The laughter was desolate.

Tears mixed with blood slipped quietly from her eyes.

She tilted her head back, letting out a heart-wrenching cry.

"Daughter, I’ve avenged you with my own hands!"

The cry echoed in the air, piercingly sorrowful.

After the cry, Scholar Qianzhu’s eyes darkened, she fainted away.

...

Starlight Island, Ocean View Cliff.

At dusk, the setting sun slowly sank into the horizon, painting the sky and sea a brilliant gold-red.

The clouds seemed to burn, igniting the entire horizon with flowing hues, mesmerizing.

Beside the cliff, there was a chair.

Scholar Qianzhu sat quietly on the chair, holding a Jade Box containing ashes.

Beside her were Shen Xuan and Qin Yuehan.

Shen Xuan, clad in a green robe, looked calmly at the molten gold sunset.

Qin Yuehan, her white attire surpassing snow, quietly held Shen Xuan’s arm, occasionally glancing at the listless Scholar Qianzhu with concern.

Scholar Qianzhu’s gaze returned to calm.

Yet, her eyes held no sparkle.

The sea breeze was gentle, carrying the scent of ocean waves.

"Thank you, True Master Shen."

Scholar Qianzhu began to speak slowly, her voice hoarse: "This favor, heavier than Mount Tai. Qianzhu will repay in the next life."

Scholar Qianzhu paused briefly, the sea breeze lifting her graying strands.

Shen Xuan spoke softly, "Daoist Qianzhu, there’s no need for that. Just a fair trade, getting what we need."

Scholar Qianzhu unfastened the Storage Pouch from her waist, handed it along with the Profound Bamboo Sword to Shen Xuan.

Shen Xuan accepted them.

Scholar Qianzhu gazed at the sunset, her eyes increasingly distant, the wrinkles on her cheeks suddenly revealed a hint of a smile.

She seemed to see a very distant world through the splendid sunset glow.

There, two familiar figures beckoned to her.

"True Master Shen, could you do me a small favor?"

"Please tell."

"After I die, cremate my remains. Send my ashes, along with Ying’Er’s ashes, to the Lin Family at Wo Hu Ridge."

She gently caressed the White Jade Box in her arms, tenderly, as though stroking her daughter’s sleeping face.

"At the Lin Family’s ancestral land, there’s an old grave, the tombstone carved with the name Lin Xingjun."

When speaking this name, Scholar Qianzhu’s voice carried an indescribable tenderness and apology.

"True Master Shen, bury us mother and daughter beside Lin Xingjun. No need for a gravestone, let him be in the center, accompanying us both."

"In this life, the bond was shallow, we couldn’t be together forever. After death, turned to dust, the three of us will never part again..."

Her voice gradually faded towards the end.

Murky tears slid down her wrinkle-laden cheeks, dripping onto the Jade Box in her arms, splattering into a small water flower, soon dried by the sea breeze.

The sunset finally sank into the sea, its afterglow slowly retreating, magnificent yet transient.

It seemed as though only the eternal sound of waves crashing remained between heaven and earth, endlessly cyclical.

Scholar Qianzhu held her daughter’s ashes, gazing at the sunset glow with a faint smile lingering at the corner of her lips.

Perhaps, in that unknown world, she could reunite with her lover and daughter.

Night fell.

The world was pitch black.

...

Starlight Immortal City, Central Square.

The square and the four city gates were bustling at this moment.

A huge light screen was erected, displaying the latest notice.

Cultivators crowded around it.

"Yan Country’s Dominating Blade Sect wants to invade Starlight Island?"

"The army is approaching, and the war is inevitable. The Island Master has decided to fight to the death, to live and die with Starlight Island!"

"Then what do we do?"

"Doesn’t it state above? Within three days, Fellow Daoists renting Spirit Fields, Cave Mansions, and shops can go to the General Affairs Hall to process the termination of their leases."

"Sigh, after cancelling the lease, where will we go to make a living?"

"This Dominating Blade Sect from Yan Country is really something. So many Immortal Cities and Spiritual Lands, why do they come to Starlight Island!"

"Shh! Keep your voice down. I’ve heard it’s due to a personal vendetta between the Island Master and True Master Wisdom Blade."

"True Master Wisdom Blade! That’s a Golden Core stage True Master from Yan Country!"

"It’s over! What should we do? Can’t we just have a way out?"

"Why wouldn’t there be a way? It says clearly above. Within five days, all cultivators can freely leave Starlight Island after canceling their registrations."

"After five days, Starlight Island will enforce wartime security measures. From that moment, no cultivators can enter or leave, violators will be killed without mercy!"

"Gasp!"

A few cultivators below simultaneously took a deep breath.

A weathered Loose Cultivator sighed and said, "This time it’s really going to be a fight. It’s best to make plans early!"

The cultivators sighed, discussing one after another with worried expressions.

Such things were happening in the other four market cities too.

Aside from a few ambitious young cultivators, the entire Starlight Island was shrouded in a dense atmosphere of worry.

...

Cold Ice Cave.

Shen Xuan sat in the reception hall, browsing the Intelligence Jade Scroll he had just received.

Inside was a brief account of the battle between Spirit Sword True Master and True Master Wisdom Blade.

"Shen Lang, are you really going to face True Master Wisdom Blade alone?"

Qin Yuehan asked worriedly.

That’s a Golden Core late-stage who can directly confront Spirit Sword True Master.

No matter how strong Shen Xuan is, it’s unlikely he could defeat them.

"Yuehan, don’t worry. Senior Brother Spirit Sword replied. True Master Wisdom Blade was severely injured by him and won’t recover anytime soon, at most he can exert half his strength."

"Fellow Daoist Li will assist by controlling the Island Protection Array, and I can return to the island safely at any time."

Shen Xuan comforted her.

Currently, his Spirit Cultivation strength is comparable to the Golden Core middle stage.

Body Refining has reached the peak of the Dharma Realm.

By fully unleashing [Dragon Blood Boiling], activating all his Talent Skills, he should be able to confront the Golden Core late stage head-on.

However, prolonged use would deplete his lifespan.

"Sigh! Will True Master Wisdom Blade definitely come? It’s clearly their fault!"

Qin Yuehan sighed.

Seeing Scholar Qianzhu fall with her own eyes, she was saddened for a time and silently shed a few tears.

"Childish!"

Shen Xuan said solemnly, "On the Profound Origin Continent, when did it ever matter who was right or wrong?"

"I killed his only great-grandson, imprisoned his Direct Disciple, and forged a deadly vendetta. If he doesn’t come, he’ll lose face, how will he manage afterward!"

Zhao Mingde wasn’t killed by him.

This grievance, however, will still be attributed to him.

Having suffered such a great loss, True Master Hui Ming cannot possibly turn a blind eye.

...

The next day.

Shen Xuan met individually with the subordinates on Starlight Island.

Starting with True Master Wei Chen, Zhuang Xueqin, then Ding Yijin, Tie Wenda, Lin Zhongyue, Chu Duanlang.

He truthfully recounted the enmity with True Master Wisdom Blade, allowing them to choose freely whether to leave the island or stay.

Zhuang Xueqin and Ding Yijin’s decision to stay was expected.

After all, one was his supported junior brother, the other related through marriage.

What surprised him.

Tie Wenda, Lin Zhongyue, and Chu Duanlang all expressed their vow to follow the Island Master to the death.

They were initially Loose Cultivators with their own clans.

He originally thought they wouldn’t risk themselves for him.

Shen Xuan kindly advised.

Finally, he asked Chu Duanlang alone why he chose this.

Chu Duanlang laughed and said, "For someone like me, a Loose Cultivator, to find the Island Master and follow him, is the greatest opportunity of my life!"

Shen Xuan was taken aback.

Then, he waved his hand, indicating Chu Duanlang to leave.

Beside him, Qin Yuehan murmured, "Shen Lang, they all trust you."

Shen Xuan nodded.

For some reason, a warm feeling rose in his heart.

...

On Starlight Island, only a small portion of the cultivators left.

Most of the cultivators chose to stay.

On the sixth day, Starlight Island began military security, prohibiting anyone from entering or leaving.

Ding Yijin, Tie Wenda, Lin Zhongyue, Chu Duanlang organized manpower, stationed respectively at the four corners of Starlight Island.

Zhuang Xueqin personally presided over Starlight Immortal City.

In the control room of the Myriad Waters Converging Formation, Li Ruyi, along with Ding Qingfeng and Shangguan Mingyue, were ready for battle.

Shangguan Yan’Er went to protect Su Xue’Er and the offspring of Shen Mansion.

Shen Xuan sat alone at the peak of the main mountain, gazing at the East Sea.

From the beginning, he never planned to rely on the power of the Myriad Waters Converging Formation.

After enduring for many years.

Shen Xuan suddenly felt an impulsive desire to fight a satisfying battle.

"The higher the cultivation, the harder the heart."

"I’m almost losing all my emotions and desires."

The death of Scholar Qianzhu touched Shen Xuan inexplicably.

Many people live their lives only for a belief.

"Yan Country’s sects invaded Song Country, causing suffering to the living, countless cultivators and mortals perished, creating endless tragedies!"

"All this must come to an end!"

Days later.

Above the eastern skies of Starlight Island.

Dozens of massive Tier Three spaceships from Dominating Blade Sect, along with a hundred Tier Two ships, screeched forth, densely packed.

The display made the cultivators of Starlight Island shiver with fear.

Such a formation, the Island Protection Array clearly cannot defend against.

On a ship to the right, a Purple Robed Daoist flew out.

"True Master Profound Ice Shen Xuan, come out and meet your death!"