Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

Cold Ice Cave, inside the Practice Room.

Shen Xuan looked at the Mysterious Jade Talisman.

[Spirit Root: Fire 36/100]

Thirty-six points of Fire Spirit Root, just fourteen points short of Upper Grade Spirit Root.

Shen Xuan’s plan is to raise the Spirit Root to Upper Grade, then cultivate Fire Technique and establish a Fire Technique Dao Foundation.

"Of the Divine Dragon descendant spiritual objects in hand, only the Cold Ice Chi Dragon Demon Pill remains."

"But there are indeed many fire attribute spiritual objects."

Shen Xuan assessed them.

A Divine Feather of the Bird King, suspected to be from a Three-winged Thunder Bird or the descendant of the Divine Bird Phoenix, with dual attributes of thunder and fire.

Two Tier Two Red Flame Tiger carcasses, and three complete Tier Two Blazing Bird carcasses.

Also, one cluster each of Golden Crow True Flame, Red Flame Demon Fire, Celestial Thunder Tribulation Fire.

Three mature Fire Qilin Fruits.

"Therefore, if I want to emulate the Five Fire Seven Birds Fan, the five fires are already collected."

Solar True Fire, Celestial Thunder Tribulation Fire, Bifang Divine Fire, Red Flame Demon Fire, Burning Heart Demon Fire.

Additionally, two of the seven birds have been collected.

A Divine Feather of the Bird King of unknown origin, is the life essence feather of a wind attribute demon bird.

A wing bone of a demon bird, to be used as one of the main materials for a wind attribute spiritual artifact.

As for the Three-winged Thunder Bird Divine Feather, Shen Xuan would attempt refining it.

"As long as I don’t leave the island, Shadow Kill Sect can’t make a move."

Actually, in the environment of the East Sea, even if Shadow Kill Sect dispatched Late-stage Golden Core True Masters, they wouldn’t be able to handle Shen Xuan.

And as for the Late-stage Golden Core True Masters, the entire Shadow Kill Sect probably has only two or three.

"The offer from True Master Changsheng isn’t worth the risk for Shadow Kill Sect’s Late-stage Golden Core True Masters."

This level of skilled killers is definitely Shadow Kill Sect’s trump card.

If Shen Xuan manages to hold them off, causing losses in the East Sea, it would greatly damage the vitality of the entire Shadow Kill Sect.

Shen Xuan being attacked, Cyan Cloud Sect would absolutely not just stand by.

"The Cold Ice Chi Dragon Demon Pill is a near Tier Four spiritual object. Such treasures are hard to gather. Good steel should be used on the blade, I’ll refine it near the breakthrough."

At this point, Shen Xuan could still hone his skill in Dragon Blood Boiling through diligent practice.

It’s just about consuming some lifespan, that’s all.

"Still unsure what has happened to Demon Venerable Wan Meng!"

"If it really doesn’t work out, I’ll entice Demon Venerable Thousand Eyes to take a trip to Yan Country."

Originally, Shen Xuan planned for Demon Venerable Wan Meng to go out and purchase some Tier Three Demon Flood Dragon materials from Yan Country.

For some reason, Demon Venerable Wan Meng is trapped in Yan Country.

Even her Master, Demon Venerable Ming Yu, was alarmed.

"With Demon Venerable Holy Pill making a move, Demon Venerable Wan Meng should be fine."

Even if something happens, he wouldn’t be able to help.

He definitely couldn’t go to Yan Country right now.

He could only give Demon Venerable Wan Meng some blessings.

"In the future, I’ll still need to delve into the Longevity Pill."

Among Tier Three Life-Extending Spirit Pills, the Longevity Pill is of higher grade than the Life-Extending Pill.

One Longevity Pill can extend the lifespan of a True Pill True Master or Golden Core True Master by ten years.

Shen Xuan estimates, if he takes the Longevity Pill, the life-extending effect starts at doubling.

Looking at the lifespan number reaching up to eleven hundred, Shen Xuan felt quite satisfied inside.

This is his greatest confidence.

Even if his lifespan stops increasing, he can still live for nine hundred more years.

Even through perseverance, he can last until Golden Core Perfection.

"Better to start by refining the Red Flame Tigers and the Blazing Birds!"

Shen Xuan made up his mind.

...

Half a month later.

Chang Chun True Master cheerfully arrived at Starlight Island.

Cold Ice Cave, waiting room.

Shen Xuan brought out Spirit Wine, Spirit Tea, and Spirit Fruit to entertain Chang Chun True Master.

"Brother Xuan Bing, is there any Heavenly and Earthly Treasure that requires my help for transplantation?"

After three rounds of wine, Chang Chun True Master asked with a smile.

"I knew it couldn’t be hidden from Senior Brother Chang Chun."

Shen Xuan took out the treasured gourd Spirit Vine obtained from Liuyun Leopard.

"Brother Xuan Bing, this is good stuff!"

Chang Chun True Master’s eyes brightened upon seeing the treasured gourd Spirit Vine.

The vine is only seven feet long, surrounded by colorful Spiritual Light, with faint Dao patterns flowing on its body, emanating a vast and surging vitality.

Chang Chun True Master observed it closely for a long time.

"This is the treasured gourd Spirit Vine, a thousand years later, it can produce Innate Spiritual Artifact treasured gourd."

"Ordinary Spirit Plants grow by absorbing Heaven and Earth Spiritual Qi. But this treasured gourd Spirit Vine is extremely special."

"When it bears fruit, it will frantically absorb all kinds of Spiritual Power nearby. Ultimately, the treasured gourd produced, its Divine Power attribute, greatly correlates with the Spiritual Power absorbed before it matures."

"Gold Attribute can be refined into a Sword Nourishing Gourd; Wood Attribute into a Creation Gourd, Water Attribute into a Profound Water Gourd; Fire Attribute into a True Fire Gourd; Earth Attribute into a Divine Sand Gourd."

Upon hearing this, Shen Xuan felt a spark within.

He instantly understood the value of the treasured gourd Spirit Vine.

This is an extremely malleable innate Spirit Embryo.

"I see, thank you for the guidance, Senior Brother Chang Chun."

He needed to dual-cultivate Fire Technique and was lacking a fire attribute spiritual artifact.

If he could merge various Anomalous Fires into one, forming a brand new Anomalous Fire, its power will surely greatly increase.

Subsequently, Shen Xuan asked Chang Chun True Master to transplant the treasured gourd Spirit Vine in the Cold Ice Cave, connecting it to Starlight Island’s Spirit Vein.

For this, he specifically opened up a piece of Spiritual Land and arranged a Spirit Locking Array.

The array eye contained Upper Grade Fire Spirit Stones.

Chang Chun True Master employed Spirit Plant Secret Technique, rooting some tendrils of the treasured gourd Spirit Vine into the heart of the Spirit Locking Array.

This way, the treasured gourd Spirit Vine could fully absorb the Fire Spiritual Power of the Spirit Locking Array.

After transplantation, the treasured gourd Spirit Vine grew tender new branches, winding and spiraling.

The whole Spirit Vine shimmered, as if cheering joyfully.

Clearly, it was quite satisfied with its new home.

After sending Chang Chun True Master off.

Shen Xuan returned to the Spirit Locking Array, a thread of Solar True Fire burned on his fingertip, slowly approaching the branches and leaves of the Spirit Vine.

Ordinary Spirit Plants encountering Solar True Fire would all curl up in fear.

But the treasured gourd Spirit Vine behaved as if it had found a treasure.

The slender vine branch extended, lightly touching the Solar True Fire, gently absorbing it.

The color of the treasured gourd Spirit Vine began to change subtly.

On its main branch and leaves, some fire Dao patterns faintly appeared.

From its original emerald green, a few strands of gold emerged.

That was the color of Solar True Fire.

Such evident effects delighted Shen Xuan inwardly.

"If there is an innate spiritual artifact, ordinary True Pills would be unstoppable!"

He planned to nurture the treasured gourd Spirit Vine with five types of Anomalous Fires.

Once the Fire Attribute Treasure Gourd is formed, it can be refined into the True Flame Treasure Gourd.

"Two hundred years is too long. It seems I still have to use the Demon Wood Sect Secret Technique."

The principle of the Demon Wood Sect’s Secret Technique is simple.

It involves using abundant Spiritual Objects and the cultivator’s Spiritual Power to forcibly induce Spirit Plants to grow.

In fact, there is a faster-acting Demon Sect Secret Technique, which is sacrificing the cultivator’s lifespan to enhance the vitality of Spirit Plants.

However, in Shen Xuan’s view, it’s uneconomical and unnecessary.

No matter how much lifespan he has, he wouldn’t waste it on the growth of Spirit Plants.

Even if it’s the rare Treasure Gourd Spirit Vine capable of forming an innate Spiritual Artifact, he wouldn’t do it.

Shen Xuan also had over a dozen Tier Two Blazing Heart Demon Butterfly corpses.

After extracting the Demon Core, Essence Blood, and oral parts, he buried the remaining corpses around the Treasure Gourd Spirit Vine.

Then, he cast a spell, using the Demon Wood Sect’s Spell to completely merge the Blazing Heart Demon Butterfly corpses into the underground Spirit Vein.

Once everything was done.

Shen Xuan felt the Treasure Gourd Spirit Vine’s joyful intent becoming more intense.

"It seems to like the Fire Demon corpses as well."

Shen Xuan watched for a while.

Seeing the vigorous vitality of the Treasure Gourd Spirit Vine and the overflowing Spiritual Qi.

Only then did he feel assured enough to leave.

...

Two years later.

In the Practice Room.

Shen Xuan finished refining a Blazing Bird Demon Core.

Golden characters on the Mysterious Jade Talisman flashed continuously.

[Spirit Root: Fire 46/100]

The rate of improvement for his Fire Spirit Root had noticeably slowed down.

The Blazing Tiger Demon Core had increased it by six points, while the Blazing Bird Demon Core had only increased it by four points.

"Actually, this speed is already very fast. Much faster than during the Water Spirit Root enhancement."

Shen Xuan recalled the process of enhancing the Water Spirit Root, pondering to himself.

The fast improvement of the Fire Spirit Root was partly because the fire demonic creatures refined were of high tier, both being Tier Two.

Additionally, the refining capability of the Mysterious Jade Talisman had somewhat increased.

[Solar True Flame Skill Level (68/200)]

[Blazing Heart Demon Flame Skill Level (36/100)]

[Scarlet Flame Demon Flame Skill Level (8/200)]

[Bi Fang Divine Flame Skill Level (12/100)]

Shen Xuan occasionally injected these four types of Anomalous Fire into the Treasure Gourd Spirit Vine to let it adapt to the Anomalous Fire attributes.

Once it forms the innate Spiritual Artifact Treasure Gourd, absorbing these Anomalous Fires will be twice as effective.

"Rest for a while, then think of a way to refine the Celestial Thunder Tribulation Flame."

This group of Celestial Thunder Tribulation Flame was the Nine Heavens Purple Thunder Flame that the Purple Yunting Tree Emperor traded to him.

Its power was immense, capable of burning to death a quasi Tier Four member of the Demon Race.

Of course, Shen Xuan only had a small group of it, estimated to pose a threat to Tier Three members of the Demon Race.

Over the years, Shen Xuan had been nurturing it with Fire Spirit Stones.

He pondered silently.

He was close to a Middle Grade Fire Spirit Root.

Both the Nine Revolutions Fiery Sun Technique and Pure Yang True Flame Spell had only reached the skill stage after two years of training.

With his current Fire Spiritual Power level, he found it difficult to subdue the Celestial Thunder Tribulation Flame.

"Forget it, if there’s an opportunity, I’ll seek advice from Senior Brother Jade Sun."

True Master Jade Sun was known for Fire Technique True Pills and should have a solution.

Shen Xuan’s current Fire Spiritual Power was equivalent to Late Stage of Qi Cultivation.

If he focused on cultivation for two years, he could establish a Dao Foundation.

He planned to delineate a new area in the Dantian, forming a new Dao Foundation Spirit Sea with the fire Spiritual Qi within him.

During these two years.

Shen Xuan cultivated the True Ice Heart Technique and Dragon Blood Boiling, engaging in Alchemy, talisman making, refining Fire Demons, and exploring fire techniques.

Life was peaceful and stable.

During these two years, he received five commissions for Golden Transformation Pills.

Each time, successfully refining two Golden Transformation Pills.

The most recent instance yielded a high-quality Golden Transformation Pill.

It caused a sensation in the Cyan Cloud Sect.

Then stirred excitement throughout Song Country.

With the elevation of Shen Xuan’s Alchemy Dao, his status in Cyan Cloud Sect rose rapidly.

He never attended the Sect True Master Council meetings.

However, for every important topic, Mysterious Trace True Master would write a secret letter, seeking his opinion.

Shen Xuan rarely made a statement.

Generally, he tacitly agreed.

Until this time when Mysterious Trace True Master asked him to definitely attend the True Master Council meeting.

Because, this meeting concerned a significant topic.

True Master Changsheng sought to resign from the position of Alchemy Hall Master.

Shen Xuan thought for a moment and politely refused.

Stating that his cultivation had reached a crucial stage, preventing him from leaving his retreat.

In Shen Xuan’s view.

Whether True Master Changsheng resigned was of no consequence.

He even preferred True Master Changsheng to continue serving as the Alchemy Hall Master.

Even if the position was merely nominal.

Time was on his side.

No need to press True Master Changsheng excessively.

Once he broke through to the Middle Stage of Golden Core.

With further progress in his Alchemy Dao, easily refining high-quality Golden Transformation Pills and Longevity Pills.

Handling True Master Changsheng would be no different than crushing an ant.

However, True Master Changsheng wasn’t foolish.

Soon, Cyan Cloud Sect conveyed shocking news.

True Master Changsheng had disappeared!

"So, did Changsheng betray the sect and flee?"

Staring at True Master Xuan Yuan, who had come specifically to inform him, Shen Xuan couldn’t believe it.

"Master issued a Sect Leader’s order, to kill Changsheng on sight!"

True Master Xuan Yuan said with resentment.

"True Master Changsheng could perish due to cultivation deviation, but mustn’t betray the sect! Nor flee to the Danxia Sect!"

Shen Xuan slowly nodded.

Mysterious Trace True Master acted decisively.

"After receiving the news, Master and the senior brothers sealed all land exit routes of Cyan Cloud Sect."

"However, Master speculated that True Master Changsheng might’ve been aided by the Danxia Sect, transferred via the East Sea, escaping to the Yan Country Danxia Sect headquarters."

Shen Xuan smiled slightly as he looked at the solemn-faced True Master Xuan Yuan.

"Go back and tell Senior Brother Mysterious Trace, I understand."