Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

A few days later, Lu Chang’sheng walked out of the Alchemy Room, brushing his smooth forehead.

With his accumulated knowledge of the Alchemy Dao and his Great Success in Fire Control, he quickly reacquainted himself with his suddenly surging alchemy strength. Still, a major problem stood before him.

He was still short a few materials to refine the second-grade pill.

Over the years, he’d used his connections to discover plenty of treasures—among them, materials for crafting a new puppet beast, and parts for the True Essence Pill.

To craft a puppet beast, one had to cultivate Puppetry Technique, which was itself a rare type of magic, not at all easy to master. As a result, competition for puppet beast materials was much less intense.

Lu Chang’sheng estimated that among several Immortal Cities around Platinum Immortal City, only a handful had any real achievement in Puppetry Technique.

Including Fang Yuan, who’d already set off for Ancient Ancient Origin Immortal City.

Just a few more materials and he’d have enough for the True Essence Pills he wanted. Feeling an itch in his heart, Lu Chang’sheng sent messages to several acquaintances to ask around.

But most replied they had no news at present.

True Essence Pill was a second-grade pill, strictly controlled by most Immortal Sects.

But just then, a message reached his ears that made his heart leap—a thrill. He hurried out the door.

Glazed Glass Trading House.

Lu Chang’sheng waited a good while before seeing Wu Yun emerge from the Alchemy Room.

"In such a rush? You actually came in person?"

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng, Wu Yun’s weathered face registered full surprise.

Ever since the new steward took charge, Lu Chang’sheng had rarely visited here. Rumor had it he once incurred the new steward’s displeasure—the man even repeatedly expressed his distaste for Lu Chang’sheng in front of others. Without friends lending support, they might have fallen out by now.

Back then, Wu Yun and Lu Chang’sheng already knew that newcomer had backing.

Lu Chang’sheng didn’t want trouble, so he kept his distance. He’d even thought the steward might strip him of his Honored Guest Elder status—but it had never happened.

"I’ve got urgent business."

"Alright then!"

Lu Chang’sheng had already settled his aura since his breakthrough, so Wu Yun didn’t notice any change in his cultivation.

"That new steward has no stomach for things. If it wasn’t for friends watching over this place, this Trading House would’ve collapsed already."

Wu Yun grumbled.

He’d been here for decades, and it was no lie to say he felt attached. A steward treating people poorly made him very uncomfortable.

Lu Chang’sheng just smiled and said nothing.

Wu Yun was only venting. If it came down to a choice, he’d still stay here.

Enjoying the shade under a big tree beat being a Loose Cultivator any day. The status and power he had now—he owed much to Glazed Glass Trading House’s support.

"Enough about all that. You said earlier you might know a place with the materials I need—was that true?"

"Seems real. The place is a bit secretive—just showed up recently. There might be some risks, but a lot of high-level Qi Cultivators turn up there."

Wu Yun took a deep breath and said, "I’ve spotted a few Foundation Establishment cultivators there too."

"So they’re hiding deeper than I thought." Lu Chang’sheng didn’t doubt Wu Yun’s word.

After spending most of his life in Platinum Immortal City, he was way more plugged-in than Lu Chang’sheng.

"Any idea who’s running the show?"

Wu Yun shook his head. "It’s probably just a temporary fence. By tomorrow, it could be gone."

"I’ll have to trouble Fellow Daoist Wu, then."

"No problem at all. If you ever step up to the next realm, just don’t forget this old man, alright?"

Wu Yun showed a hint of humility.

Ever since Lu Chang’sheng earned a spot for Heaven-Burning Valley— even though he was ultimately replaced by Zhou Lin— Wu Yun’s attitude hadn’t much changed.

Lu Chang’sheng nodded in response.

The location Wu Yun described was secluded—an underground trading fair.

Such underground fairs weren’t rare in Platinum Immortal City; Lu Chang’sheng had visited several. Usually, they were set under nondescript buildings at the corners of the Immortal City.

Unfortunately, after a few visits, he’d been thoroughly disappointed. Mostly, they were places for low-level Qi cultivators to trade shady goods.

Typically, the strength of the traders limited the grade of items they offered.

A beginner in Qi Cultivation could hardly bring out anything above mid-level.

And Lu Chang’sheng, after all, was searching for second-grade goods.

But lately, things seemed to be changing.

Inside a spacious room at the fair, Lu Chang’sheng encountered many seasoned cultivators.

From them radiated subtle waves of magical power typical of late-stage Qi Cultivators.

But the fluctuations were so faint—they sent a message: Don’t mess with me.

"These people probably aren’t from Platinum Immortal City."

Lu Chang’sheng started to suspect—especially when he noticed a man with a fiery-red sable perched on his shoulder. Its fluffy tail rippled, scattering minute sparks of fire.

Clearly, this sable was the man’s Good Beast spirit animal, trained in the style of Master Qu.

To parade a spirit beast so openly meant this man’s strength couldn’t be underestimated.

Sure enough, maybe sensing Lu Chang’sheng’s gaze, the man glanced over; a faint, hidden aura flashed across him.

Instantly, all the late-stage Qi Cultivators standing or sitting nearby froze, a subtle feeling of suffocation in the air.

Foundation Establishment master!

Lu Chang’sheng composed his heart and mind, not daring to look again.

He couldn’t help reflecting—at a time like this, Foundation Establishment masters were only showing up in Platinum Immortal City because of the situation at Purple Ice Lake.

"Wonder if they’re from Good Beast Sect, or just Loose Cultivators?"

This fair was held market-style, with booths all around.

Seeing the crowd, some people grabbed wooden plaques, scribbled their wares, and set up spots to display them.

Lu Chang’sheng approached a booth and took a look. Understanding the procedure, he did the same: taking a board and writing what he wanted to trade, then staking it in the ground.

He only had high-grade pills, supreme pills, and Perfect Pills worth offering.

Anything else, like puppets, was out of the question for trade.

Puppet beasts of a certain caliber couldn’t be operated unless crafted personally— no amount of Spiritual Sense could compensate. You couldn’t wield them at will.

So, typically, only the craftsman could use any given puppet beast.

As time passed, people strolled by, glanced at the goods listed on Lu Chang’sheng’s plaque. Some just walked on; some stopped to ask questions.

A few seemed interested, but not many.

You could buy high-grade pills outside, with safety guaranteed. No one would bother shopping for pills here unless forced to.

Of course, supreme pills and Perfect Pills were another matter.

At first, Lu Chang’sheng didn’t want to put out a Perfect Pill.

Since advancing in cultivation, he qualified to consume a Perfect Pill himself—and found not only that it boosted magical power more purely, but also somehow helped his Spiritual Body cultivation.

So he’d intended to keep them for his own use.

But after a long while without moving any goods, he finally wrote out an offer for one Perfect Pill and set that on his board.