Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi

Inside Panlong Palace.

Zhang Yao and Daoist Tianshuang were still discussing the changes in the Celestial Continent. The details piqued Zhang Yao’s interest.

Yu Wen Tai had already refined a Golden Core, and although his strength wasn’t yet on par with Zhang Yao, it wasn’t far off. Daoist Tianshuang was only in the early stage of Golden Core; how did he escape from Yu Wen Tai?

"... It was indeed sheer luck!"

When Daoist Tianshuang mentioned this matter, he looked quite frightened:

"The array master with the surname Liu seemed unremarkable but was incredibly powerful!"

"Back then, I set up a trap using the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul as bait and teamed up with another fellow practitioner to ambush him. But unexpectedly, he easily broke the trap and killed that fellow practitioner with a wave of his hand!"

"At that moment, I was terrified out of my wits and almost thought I was destined to die there..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao showed a thoughtful expression.

Given his understanding of Yu Wen Tai, he likely saw through the trap long ago, but played along to gain more Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul.

"So what happened afterward? How did you manage to escape unscathed?"

Zhang Yao asked further.

"As for what happened after..."

Daoist Tianshuang displayed a look of relief as he spoke:

"It was a lucky coincidence. I was severely wounded, about to die by his hands, when a ’Celestial Gate Envoy’ appeared."

"The Celestial Gate Envoy used the ’Taiyi Mirror’ to shine upon me and said I shouldn’t die that day. The array master Liu immediately retreated..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Yao immediately looked enlightened:

"You truly have fortune on your side!"

The Celestial Gate Envoys, from the ’Nine Heavens Alliance’ that governed the Celestial Continent Nine Mansions, have always considered maintaining the orthodoxy of the Celestial Continent as their duty. They are few in number and act mysteriously.

It’s rumored that the selection criteria for Celestial Gate Envoys are very peculiar, based on a cultivator’s birth date and destiny, regardless of cultivation level. A Celestial Gate Envoy might be a Nascent Soul Old Monster or a small cultivator in the Qi Refining Stage.

The Taiyi Mirror in their possession is said to reveal the past, present, and future, setting one’s fate. Few dare to defy their words.

In the memories of the Five Elements Wanderer Liu Cang, he’s encountered Celestial Gate Envoys more than once, leaving a deep impression despite limited interaction.

"Indeed, looking back, it really feels like a brush with death."

Daoist Tianshuang sighed deeply:

"After that day, I hid in a cave at the Celestial Island Marketplace, carefully nursing my wounds and avoiding vendettas for a whole decade."

"It wasn’t until a few months ago, when I learned that the array master Liu had vanished two years prior and was nowhere to be found, that I dared to come out freely."

"Only after collecting enough Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul did I hastily leave the Celestial Continent and return to Mani Kingdom."

Hearing this, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but sigh:

"Fellow Daoist Tianshuang has indeed had a challenging journey."

Then, he paused and said:

"For the kindness you’ve shown me, I’m willing to trade five million Spirit Stones and five Magical Treasures for your batch of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul. What do you think?"

"That price is too high."

Daoist Tianshuang shook his head repeatedly.

Five million Spirit Stones and five Magical Treasures are equivalent to the entire wealth of many Golden Core Ancestors, enough to tempt any Golden Core Cultivator.

But the issue is, if he was that short-sighted and greedy for worldly wealth, he wouldn’t have put his affairs on hold and ventured far to the Central Plains in pursuit of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul.

His goal was to ensure that the renowned and promising Elder Qingxu genuinely owed him a great favor, not to accept a high price.

"Daoist Brother Qingxu, your offer is above market value, but what I provided is below market value. Just cover the cost price."

Daoist Tianshuang said this, paused, then continued:

"Just one million Spirit Stones and one Magical Treasure will do."

"... Alright!"

Zhang Yao looked deeply at him, didn’t try to persuade further, and agreed immediately.

He understood what the other party wanted, and assured him on the spot, giving him peace of mind:

"Rest assured, Daoist friend, if you’re ever in trouble in the future, just send word, and I will not decline to assist!"

"With your words, Daoist Brother, I am truly satisfied!"

Daoist Tianshuang was overjoyed, expressing gratitude repeatedly. Zhang Yao also returned the courtesy solemnly.

Soon:

The two completed their transaction, and the entire batch of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul fell into Zhang Yao’s puppet incarnation’s hands.

After some casual conversation with Daoist Tianshuang, the small-scale gathering was nearing its end, and many Golden Core cultivators bid farewell and left.

Zhang Yao also took the opportunity to apologize to the host, Ancestor Heze, and then rode his escape light straight away, heading back to the Changle Mountain region as fast as possible.

Three days later:

Zhang Yao’s incarnation traversed tens of thousands of miles and finally returned to Changle Palace.

In the Sealed Demon Hall:

Zhang Yao sat cross-legged on a cushion, in front of a huge piece of light blue transparent ice crystal, which reflected his blurry silhouette and emitted an astonishing cold aura.

"Crack, crack, crack..."

The cold aura emanating from the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul even caused frost to form on the green jade floors, beams, and ceiling of the Sealed Demon Hall, despite the array-powered resistance, stimulating spiritual light from the array to flicker and resist the extreme cold.

The characteristic of the Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul is that the larger the volume, the more astonishing the cold aura. Just the cold aura from this batch is enough to freeze an average Foundation Establishment Cultivator to death.

"Such cold aura, it surely is genuine Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul!"

Zhang Yao nodded in satisfaction:

"It’s rare for Daoist Tianshuang to be so diligent; I’ve indeed owed him a significant favor this time."

With such a large volume of Ten Thousand Years Ice Soul, if he were to gather it bit by bit, who knows how long it would take.