Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

Shen Xuan summoned the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse and took to the sky on its wings.

A few days later, he returned to the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Since he had made up his mind to help the Great Demon Ziyun withstand the tribulation, Shen Xuan would give it his all and strive for a good outcome.

To take a step back.

Even if the Great Demon Ziyun failed the tribulation,

he still had to obtain the ten-thousand-year Ziyun Wood Heart as compensation.

Even if it was only a portion,

it would still make up for his losses.

Of course, he still hoped the Great Demon Ziyun would succeed in transcending the tribulation.

This was not just a good karmic tie.

It was also part of his network of connections.

After returning to the Cyan Cloud Sect, Shen Xuan went directly to find True Master Mysterious Trace.

"Junior Brother Profound Ice, you have an urgent matter and wish to pay respects to the Supreme Elder?"

True Master Mysterious Trace looked doubtful when he heard Shen Xuan’s request.

He really could not figure out what urgent matter Shen Xuan had that he would hide even from him and directly seek audience with True Monarch Qing Yun.

The Sects of Yan and Song had already halted their war.

What other matter could there be that he, the Sect Leader of the Cyan Cloud Sect, could not resolve?

"I ask Sect Leader Senior Brother to make things convenient."

In truth, as a Golden Core True Master, Shen Xuan was qualified to directly request an audience with True Monarch Qing Yun.

It was just that doing so would instead make True Master Mysterious Trace suspicious.

"Very well. I’ll contact the Supreme Elder at once. Junior Brother Profound Ice, wait a bit."

The next day, a flying message talisman arrived from True Master Mysterious Trace.

True Monarch Qing Yun told him to come directly to Cyan Cloud Peak.

Shen Xuan flew to Cyan Cloud Peak and, outside the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, transmitted his voice, saying, "Disciple Profound Ice pays respects to the Supreme Elder."

"Come in."

True Monarch Qing Yun’s voice travelled over from afar.

Within the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land, upon a high platform, Shen Xuan saw True Monarch Qing Yun again.

"Profound Ice, what matter is it that you had to see me in person?"

"Supreme Elder, this disciple has a good friend who is about to face the tribulation."

Shen Xuan gave a brief account of the Great Demon Ziyun’s impending tribulation.

"Oh? That old tree is finally going to attempt the tribulation?"

As expected, just as Shen Xuan had guessed.

True Monarch Qing Yun knew of the Great Demon Ziyun.

Among the disciples of the seven Sects of Song Country, quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators of Wood Technique had been to Luoxia Lake.

The Great Demon Ziyun had never taken their lives.

He even provided Ziyun Spiritual Qi to help them solidify their Dao Bodies.

There was quite some connection between the Great Demon Ziyun and the seven Sects of Song Country.

Otherwise, it would be hard to explain.

Never mind that the Great Demon Ziyun had a lifespan of ten thousand years as a tree.

If he failed his tribulation, he would perish and his Dao would dissipate at once.

"How do you plan to help him?"

Shen Xuan briefly outlined his plan.

"Lightning-Attracting Needles, Emperor’s Liquid, and a Spirit-Replenishing Array — using all three in concert can indeed have some effect."

True Monarch Qing Yun gave Shen Xuan a meaningful look.

Shen Xuan hurriedly took out that piece of Ziyun Spirit Wood and respectfully presented it.

"This is what the Great Demon Ziyun used to trade for Upper Grade Wood Spirit Stones."

True Monarch Qing Yun only glanced at it.

"Keep this Spirit Wood for yourself. I’ll have True Master Mysterious Trace prepare one thousand Upper Grade Wood Spirit Stones and offset them with the Life-Extending Pills on you."

"Yes, Supreme Elder."

All these years, Shen Xuan and Li Ruyi had been refining Spirit Pills for the Cyan Cloud Sect.

The most valuable of them was this Life-Extending Pill.

Every year they would refine several furnaces, and skim off a few pills.

One thousand Upper Grade Wood Spirit Stones sounded like a lot.

By market price, that was only ten Life-Extending Pills.

"As for the Lightning-Attracting Needles and the Spirit-Replenishing Array, go find Jade Sun and Chong Xu."

"As for the Emperor’s Liquid..."

True Monarch Qing Yun pondered for a moment, then took out a token and handed it to Shen Xuan.

"Among the six Sects of Song Country, only the Beast Emperor Pavilion has a large stock of Emperor’s Liquid. Take my token and negotiate with their Sect Leader, True Master Wan Ling."

Shen Xuan respectfully accepted the token.

"This disciple thanks the Supreme Elder."

With True Monarch Qing Yun’s consent, it would be much easier for Shen Xuan to act.

Otherwise, asking True Master Jade Sun and True Master Chong Xu to drop their current work to refine Artifacts and lay arrays for him would be a huge favor.

Debts of favor are not good to owe.

If you can avoid owing them, then don’t owe them.

"Profound Ice, since you’ve chosen to lend a hand, you’ve taken on that karmic tie. In your opinion, how much chance does that Ziyun demon have to succeed in transcending the tribulation?"

"This..."

Shen Xuan thought about it very seriously.

"About fifty percent."

In Shen Xuan’s view, that probability of success was somewhat low.

If it were him, he would think of every possible way to raise the chance of success to eighty or ninety percent.

He did not expect True Monarch Qing Yun to actually nod. "A fifty percent chance is already quite good."

"Which Demon Emperor has he invited to act as his guardian?"

"The Great Demon Ziyun said himself that he invited the Divine Power Ape Emperor to act as guardian."

"The Divine Power Ape Emperor?"

Hearing the tone, Shen Xuan felt his heart sink.

"Supreme Elder, is there something improper about that?"

True Monarch Qing Yun let out a sigh.

"In the Wilderness there are seven Demon Emperors. They are not harmonious with each other."

Shen Xuan was slightly taken aback.

Very quickly, he understood.

Those Demon Emperors, just like the Sects of the Human Race, each had their own divided territories.

They did not acknowledge one another, formed factions, and frequently clashed.

"One of those Demon Emperors is a mortal enemy of the Divine Power Ape Emperor. That Demon Emperor is a descendant of the Golden-Winged Roc, known as the Golden-Winged Eagle Emperor, and his strength clearly suppresses the Divine Power Ape Emperor."

"Ah!"

Only now did Shen Xuan sense something amiss.

"Supreme Elder, I heard the Great Demon Ziyun say that among the Demon Race of the Wilderness there’s a rule passed down for tens of thousands of years: a Demon Emperor has the responsibility to act as guardian for the tribulation of the Demon Race within his territory, protecting them from outside interference."

"Rules exist to restrain the weak. Why would the strong need to abide by rules?"

True Monarch Qing Yun said in a low voice.

Shen Xuan fell silent.

It was not that he did not understand this.

He had simply not expected that the powerful of the Demon Race, just like those of the Human Race, would likewise fail to keep to the rules.

After a moment, Shen Xuan cupped his hands and asked, "Supreme Elder, what should I do?"

True Monarch Qing Yun saw that Shen Xuan remained as calm as ever and nodded slightly.

This Mental Realm was far above ordinary people.

No wonder he could stand out from among Loose Cultivators and condense a Golden Core.

His achievements were one in a million among Loose Cultivators.

"The Golden-Winged Eagle Emperor will not strike at the Ziyun Demon. He will only hold back the Divine Power Ape Emperor."

"The Ziyun Demon’s true natural enemy is the Heart-Burning Rainbow Butterfly. Its larva, the Heart-Burning Worm, feeds on all kinds of spirit tree branches, leaves, and fruits."

"The Heart-Burning Rainbow Butterfly is a butterfly demon?"

Shen Xuan’s heart gave a slight jump, secretly astonished.

The Ziyun Demon had never mentioned this matter to him.

"The Heart-Burning Rainbow Butterfly is a gregarious demon insect; the Butterfly King is Tier Three Upper Grade. Their Innate Divine Power is the Heart-Burning Demon Flame. The demon butterflies suck spirit tree sap, the larvae gnaw on spirit branches and spirit leaves, and both can release Heart-Burning Demon Flame, igniting spirit trees and turning them to ashes."

Dao Lord Qing Yun glanced at Shen Xuan.

"With your current cultivation, as long as you are not bewitched by the Heart-Burning Butterfly King and lose your mind, you can resist it for a very long time."

Shen Xuan pondered inwardly.

Compared to demon birds and demon beasts, the strength of a single demon insect was somewhat weaker.

The Heart-Burning Rainbow Butterfly was also Fire Attribute.

He was an Ice Technique Golden Core; the Five Elements Mutual Inhibition favored him.

There was no need to worry overly much.

"If this disciple guards the Ziyun Demon while it crosses its tribulation and kills those Heart-Burning Demon Butterflies, will the Golden-Winged Eagle Emperor strike at this disciple?"

"He will not."

True Monarch Qing Yun shook his head.

"The sects of the neighboring countries around us and the Demon Race of the Wilderness have an agreement. We discussed it long ago. True Monarchs and Demon Emperors must not casually strike at the other side’s True Masters and Demon Kings."

Shen Xuan let out a long breath.

This was what he had been most worried about.

One had to know that at this moment, if he faced a Demon Emperor, it would be certain death.

The crushing of a Great Realm, the disparity in strength was too great.

As for inviting Dao Lord Qing Yun to go to Luoxia Lake to assist...

That was even more absolutely impossible.

Shen Xuan’s emotional fluctuations were all taken in by Dao Lord Qing Yun.

"Xuanbing, do not grow careless! I just said, the strong need not keep to the rules. If you offend the Golden-Winged Eagle Emperor too badly, he will still make a move."

"Even if he does not directly kill you, it is still possible for him to wound your Elixir Core foundation and destroy your path."

"Xuanbing will not offend the Golden-Winged Eagle Emperor."

Shen Xuan already had his decision.

Do all that is humanly possible and leave the rest to the heavens.

He would absolutely not go provoke the Golden-Winged Eagle Emperor.

If the risk was too great...

He would definitely grease the soles of his feet and run for it.

"In that case, to guard against the unexpected, I will imprint a strand of Spiritual Power projection into the token. If you encounter an emergency, you may summon my projection out."

True Monarch Qing Yun sent a strand of Spiritual Power projection into the token.

Shen Xuan was overjoyed.

This also meant he had gained another life-saving trump card.

No matter what, the Golden-Winged Eagle Emperor could not, in front of True Monarch Qing Yun, kill a Golden Core True Master of his sect.

Holding this token was equivalent to being able to invite True Monarch Qing Yun’s projection to appear at any time.

"Many thanks, Supreme Elder, for bestowing this treasure."

Shen Xuan’s expression was excited, his face full of joy.

"If there is no emergency, there is no need to summon my projection."

"Yes."

True Monarch Qing Yun and Shen Xuan chatted about matters to be mindful of when crossing a tribulation.

After Shen Xuan thanked him again, he saluted, took his leave, and walked out of Qing Yun’s Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.

After Shen Xuan left Qing Yun Peak, True Monarch Qing Yun rose, a sharp light flashing in his eyes.

"This Shen Xuan’s aura is strange, and his Body Refining Technique is progressing with astonishing speed. Could he truly be a blood descendant of True Monarch Shen of Jin Country?"

...

After leaving Qing Yun Peak, Shen Xuan first went to Mist Peak and found Sect Leader Mysterious Trace True Master.

This matter of assisting the Ziyun Demon in crossing its tribulation had obtained the strong support of True Monarch Qing Yun.

Subsequent matters like Artifact Refining, Array Formation, and collecting Emperor’s Liquid would all become much easier.

After Shen Xuan took out True Monarch Qing Yun’s token, Mysterious Trace True Master issued a Sect Leader command, ordering True Master Jade Sun, True Master Chong Xu, True Master Tong Xuan, and the others to fully cooperate.

Shen Xuan first went to find True Master Tong Xuan and used ten Life-Extending Pills to exchange for one thousand pieces of Upper Grade Wood Spirit Stone.

Then he used three hundred thousand sect merits to exchange for all the Yuan Copper Dark Gold in the warehouse, a full two hundred jin.

Using one million and two hundred thousand Spirit Stones, he exchanged for all thirty-plus bottles of Emperor’s Liquid in the warehouse.

After that, he found True Master Jade Sun and had him open the furnace, working day and night, to forge all the Yuan Copper Dark Gold into Lightning-Attracting Needles over ten zhang tall.

Then he went to find True Master Chong Xu to refine a Spirit-Replenishing Grand Array.

Once all these were set in place...

Shen Xuan left Cyan Cloud Sect, mounted the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse, and flew toward the Beast Emperor Pavilion.

More than ten days later.

Shen Xuan appeared before the Sect Leader of Beast Emperor Pavilion, True Master Wan Ling.

He took out True Monarch Qing Yun’s token and placed it on the Jade Table.

True Master Wan Ling swept it once with his Divine Sense and said with a hearty smile, "Fellow Daoist Xuanbing rarely comes to my Beast Emperor Pavilion. If there is something, just speak freely."

"I wish to purchase your sect’s Emperor’s Liquid."

"Oh, that is a small matter. How many bottles do you want?"

"One thousand bottles."

True Master Wan Ling’s expression shifted slightly.

"Fellow Daoist Xuanbing, don’t joke with me!"

"The entire Song Country could not bring out one thousand bottles of Emperor’s Liquid."

Shen Xuan asked, "How many bottles does your sect have?"

True Master Wan Ling pondered for a moment, then said, "Fellow Daoist Xuanbing, to tell you the truth, there are a bit over three hundred bottles of Emperor’s Liquid in the Beast Emperor Pavilion."

"I’ll buy them all."

"No!"

True Master Wan Ling refused outright.

"The Beast Emperor Pavilion has many Spirit Beasts. From time to time there are Spirit Beasts breaking through and advancing that require Emperor’s Liquid to be allocated to support them."

"You can purchase from the Cultivation Clans of Song Country."

Shen Xuan’s expression grew heavy as he said, "In this matter, I must ask Daoist Brother Wan Ling to lend a hand."

He gently pushed the token on the Jade Table to True Master Wan Ling’s side.

True Master Wan Ling cast a glance at the True Monarch token.

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Xuanbing will be paying in Spirit Stones or trading with other Spiritual Objects?"

Shen Xuan calmly took out three Medicine Bottles.

Inside were nine Life-Extending Pills, worth nine million Spirit Stones.

They could just trade for three hundred bottles of Emperor’s Liquid.

True Master Wan Ling opened the Medicine Bottles and took a look; his expression immediately eased.

The Life-Extending Pill was a Tier Three Special Spirit Pill; after a Fake Pill True Master took it, it could extend their Longevity by ten years.

Shen Xuan using Life-Extending Pills to trade for Emperor’s Liquid was full of sincerity.

"Two hundred bottles of Emperor’s Liquid, in exchange for six Life-Extending Pills. Fellow Daoist Xuanbing, this is for the True Monarch’s sake. Otherwise, I would have no way to explain myself to my sect brothers."