Eternal Life from Talisman Painting

Bibo Island.

Lin Chang’an had a breakthrough to the Core Formation Late Stage and repaired the Four Symbols Dragon Scale Armor, coming out in high spirits.

"Master, Li Tianmo visited half a year ago. Here’s the letter he left behind, along with some letters from the Yue Kingdom."

As soon as he stepped out of his cave dwelling, the Sword Servant came forward respectfully to greet him.

After hearing this, Lin Chang’an was momentarily taken aback. Li Tianmo? In his heart, the first person who should have come to find him after forming the core was that girl Zhou Bingxuan.

After all, among the three of them, whether it’s in terms of cultivation foundation or solid grounding, Zhou Bingxuan was undoubtedly the best among them now.

However, sitting in the pavilion, the Sword Servant respectfully brewed Spirit Tea beside him, with a unique aroma wafting through the air.

At this moment, as Lin Chang’an looked at the letter in his hand, the tea’s aroma seemed to fade.

"Yifan is gone."

A trace of sorrow flickered in Lin Chang’an’s eyes, and he eventually let out a soft sigh.

Birth, aging, sickness, and death – even cultivators cannot avoid these, although increased cultivation can delay the inevitable.

In letters exchanged years ago, that girl Wei Yingying mentioned Li Yifan’s poor health.

He didn’t expect that the first news he received upon coming out of seclusion was the passing of the child he watched grow up.

"Some injuries from his younger years could be healed with the pills I provided, but the lost Primordial Energy couldn’t be restored. In the end, he couldn’t escape this day."

Lin Chang’an had already anticipated this day when he learned of Li Yifan’s poor health, and he had specifically arranged for the Profound Sound Pavilion’s merchant ship to deliver some Life-extending Pills.

Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivation, passing at the age of 219.

Foundation Establishment Cultivators typically start with a lifespan of 200 years, and those cultivating Wood Attribute Techniques focused on health and cultivation could live to nearly 300.

Yet in the chaotic Immortal Cultivation Realm, most Foundation Establishment Cultivators either fall early or succumb to their hidden injuries, and reaching 200 years and passing away is considered fortunate.

At that age, while not exceptionally long-lived in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, leaving with no regrets is a very good ending.

Lin Chang’an’s slight sadness made the Sword Servant beside him fall silent, not daring to disturb.

"Another familiar face has departed."

After a while, Lin Chang’an took a sip of the Spirit Tea, not knowing why it tasted more bitter today.

Li Yifan, once called Zhou Yifan, was taciturn from childhood. At this moment, scenes from back then continuously emerged in his mind.

Erniu’s proud and excited face as he talked about his child being tested for a Spirit Root, and the subsequent events leading to Zhou Yifan reverting to the Li surname.

"For an ordinary cultivator, Li Yifan’s life was already exceptionally brilliant, coming from being the son of a live-in son-in-law to establishing the current Foundation Establishment Clan."

Though expected, seeing familiar faces depart is still hard when it happens personally, unavoidably mixed with emotions.

"This path of cultivation truly demonstrates the heartlessness of the Great Dao."

Embarking on the path of cultivation, as one’s cultivation deepens, they experience the so-called heartlessness of the Great Dao.

Familiar faces succumb to the cycles of life.

By the end of cultivation, many cultivators remain solitary through the passage of time.

Calculating the age, Shen Fan and Wei Yingying, those juniors, were also over 200 now.

Having lived over 250 years, Lin Chang’an had prepared for the departure of these familiar ones long back, suppressing his emotions to continue reading the letters from the Profound Sound Pavilion.

The letters were from two years prior, with a few from the Yue Kingdom.

Shen Fan and Wei Yingying mentioned hearing from their grandson Shen Zhuang regarding some matters, urging caution and sharing concerns about the current situation in the Yue Kingdom.

The poisonous miasma lingered over spiritual grounds, giving rise to many insect and snake demon beasts.

Yet, even with this high-tier spiritual ground turning into a Poisonous Miasma Area and many high-tier cultivators unable to cultivate in this place, the Yue Kingdom is still dominated by the Profound Sound Pavilion.

There was also a letter from two years ago, when Li Yifan was still alive, with content indicating his awareness of his life’s nearing end and containing insights reflecting on many things.

Things persistent from his youth, such as the oppression felt from the Zhou family as a youth, among other concerns.

No one expected a lifelong knot to be untangled at the end.

The words of a dying man are kind; Li Yifan’s insights before passing also gave Lin Chang’an much to reflect upon.

After all, Lin Chang’an watched Li Yifan grow, thus knowing many of his inner struggles.

"Didn’t expect to gain these insights from a junior in the end."

Understanding glimmered in Lin Chang’an’s eyes, as the strength in cultivation deterred him from experiencing the limitations of age and powerlessness.

Yet in Li Yifan’s letter, he saw the perfect closure of the obstinate youth’s life.

In the final passage of the letter, it mentioned Li Yifan visiting the Zhou family, returning to the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market where he grew up.

Walking through many familiar places in the Zhou family, finally chatting and laughing with two familiar elderly individuals, reconciling long-standing grudges.

Moreover, quarreling with someone he once didn’t get along with in the Zhou family, the two white-haired old men laughed away a lifetime of grievances, agreeing to become in-laws.

"The talent of this Zhou family’s daughter is admirable, possessing Qi Refining Late Stage cultivation, and she came to Five Dragons Island aboard the Profound Sound Pavilion’s merchant ship to meet Li Tianmo."

In Li Tianmo’s letter, he expressed his intention to form a Dao Companion relationship with the Zhou family’s daughter while also observing the turbulence in the Demon Beast Abyss, preparing to attempt Core Formation.