Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

Actually, from the very first time he saw True Monarch Red Flame, the undisguised greed in the other’s eyes had already put him on alert.

Later, when Red Flame sent an invitation, he directly declined, avoiding any meeting.

After realizing the other’s intention to seize possession, he had considered leaving altogether to avoid the confrontation.

After all, of the thirty-six strategies, running away is the best.

But the thought still lingered, and he couldn’t settle his mind.

Now, after a fierce battle, although he couldn’t capture the opponent’s Nascent Soul, he did seize its Lifebound Spiritual Treasure and Dao Body, which could be considered a great gain.

"It’s a pity that the Nascent Soul still escaped."

Shen Xuan felt a slight regret.

It was not without a plan.

However, he insisted on chasing the Nascent Soul of Red Flame, which would inevitably lead to a fight to the death with True Monarch Red Lotus.

The risks and rewards were not proportionate, wise men do not act this way.

"This enmity is already formed, it will be repaid one day."

Shen Xuan’s gaze turned cold: "Red Flame, I hope you can live a little longer."

With a thought, he checked the Mysterious Jade Talisman in his sea of consciousness:

[Lifespan: 242/875]

The lifespan had decreased.

The Other Shore Demon Flower had only bloomed for a few breaths, consuming sixteen years of his lifespan!

From this calculation, the unprepared True Monarch Red Flame should have lost about seven or eight years.

This reached the lifespan limit of his severely injured Dao Body!

If not for Spirit Flame True Monarch’s quick reaction, decisively emerging and escaping with the Nascent Soul.

Continued erosion from the demon flower might have severely injured the Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul is an exaltation of the Divine Soul and closely tied to lifespan.

Shen Xuan didn’t know how much lifespan the Red Flame Nascent Soul had left, and was unwilling to exhaust himself fighting it.

This time using the demon flower was truly a calculated move against the opponent’s fatal weakness of a broken Dao Body and limited lifespan, achieving a decisive victory.

Recalling the various experiences in the Bright Flame Sect, Shen Xuan couldn’t help but shake his head slightly.

Even someone like True Monarch Red Lotus, who has lived nearly a millennium, still appears narrow-minded and short-sighted in his perspective.

This is not just his personal fault, but a chronic disease formed by the abnormal development of the cultivation civilization in the Profound Origin Realm.

This realm advocates the survival of the fittest, with personal interests overriding the sect, race, and even the greater good of the Human Race.

So much so that someone like him, who diligently developed new Puppets for the Human Race’s frontline and could be considered a hero turning the tide, would still be plotted against by a Human Race Nascent Soul True Monarch for seizure.

Such thoughts are truly terrifying.

If not for his own strength being sufficient and having enough trump cards.

By now, he would have perished and his Dao would have dissipated. ’

If back then, he didn’t hand over the method to refine the Thunder Spirit Pearl.

The Celestial Mist True Monarch from the Spirit Control Sect would likely join forces with True Monarch Red Lotus and True Monarch Red Flame to coerce him into submission in the name of the Human Race’s greater good.

If he were just an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, besides surrendering, there would be no other choice.

"In the end, in my bones, I’m no different from that Demon Lord Ming Yu. Besides myself, I trust no one on this long path of immortality."

Anyone daring to scheme against him must be prepared to face the backlash and pay the price.

This time, what the Bright Flame Sect owed him, he took back with interest by his own hands.

...

Bright Flame Sect, Red Lotus Peak Cave Mansion.

The atmosphere was oppressive.

On the main seat, True Monarch Red Lotus sat cross-legged with closed eyes, his expression calm.

True Master Shou Yang, in a brand new purple robe, sat upright below, reporting in a low voice on sect affairs inside and outside.

His voice was dry, and his face was clouded with worry.

In the center of the Cave Mansion, True Monarch Red Flame’s Nascent Soul, wrapped in gentle spiritual light, floated in mid-air.

"That’s about it."

After finishing the report, True Master Shou Yang bowed his head and said nothing.

After a long while, True Monarch Red Lotus slowly opened his eyes, exhaustion deep in his eyes.

"Alright, what’s done is done, there’s no point discussing it further. At this point, let’s focus on the immediate matters."

"Shou Yang, the priority is to handle the aftermath, stabilize the sect, and especially to reassure those disciples whose minds are unsettled because of Guo Shiyan’s issue, particularly the people in the Puppet Hall."

"Yes, the disciple understands and will do his utmost."

True Master Shou Yang bowed and responded, though his heart was full of bitterness.

Stabilize?

Easier said than done!

"Red Flame, Profound Ice has fled far away, leaving no trace. Your Nascent Soul body cannot last long, delaying could bring trouble. The matter of seizing a new body and rebuilding must be decided early."

True Monarch Red Lotus raised his hand, and above the Cave Mansion, spiritual light gathered to reveal seven or eight lifelike images of cultivators, all young Golden Core True Masters within the Bright Flame Sect.

These were selected in their early years, secretly observed and nurtured as candidates for possession.

The red flame Nascent Soul swept its gaze over those images as if selecting goods.

After a while, it extended a tiny finger, pointing at a tall, thin image with a stern face in the middle.

"Chen Lixing, it’ll be him!"

He was one of the most talented Golden Core cultivators in the Bright Flame Sect, with a bright path ahead.

"Hmm."

True Monarch Red Lotus nodded slightly.

"Shou Yang, make the arrangements. Be thorough, find a reasonable explanation to avoid alerting others, especially those close to him."

"The disciple obeys."

True Master Shou Yang reluctantly complied.

The matter of True Monarch Red Flame’s Nascent Soul possession, revealed by Shen Xuan’s dao sound, caused a great uproar, leaving people in panic.

True Monarch Red Lotus had to suppress this scandal and have True Monarch Red Flame quickly recover to stabilize the sect’s high-level combat power.

Even if it meant the destruction of another Golden Core disciple.

In fact, True Master Shou Yang had been heavily injured by Shen Xuan, his Dao Foundation shaken.

The original opportunity to attempt a breakthrough to the Nascent Soul would have to be postponed by more than a decade.

"All of you may leave now."

True Monarch Red Lotus waved his hand, his tone filled with undisguisable fatigue.

True Master Shou Yang silently bowed and withdrew.

The red flame Nascent Soul glanced at True Monarch Red Lotus, transformed into a streak of red light, and entered a specially crafted soul-nurturing Jade Bottle in the depths of the Cave Mansion.

Inside the Cave Mansion, only True Monarch Red Lotus remained, in silence.

This time, the Bright Flame Sect took a heavy blow, losing face and suffering a significant loss of vitality.