Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi

Three years passed swiftly.

Having stayed in Mani Kingdom for nearly twenty years, Zhang Yao had already cultivated the ’Celestial Wind Formless Body’ to Perfection. Even the ’Cold Cicada Divine Thought Method’, which he had just refined a few years ago, had reached a significant level of proficiency.

On this day:

Zhang Yao was meditating in the Sealed Demon Hall when his expression suddenly shifted, and he opened his eyes:

"Hmm? What is this..."

His Divine Thought sensed two auras approaching, both at the Golden Core Level. One was somewhat familiar, while the other was entirely strange.

"Dugu Tianyi? Why has he suddenly come to Mani Kingdom, and with a stranger..."

Zhang Yao frowned. His first reaction was that something must have happened in Da Li.

But then, he considered other possibilities and his expression relaxed.

"Come directly; I’ll be waiting for you in the hall."

After sending this message with his Divine Thought, he stood up and went to the front hall, quietly awaiting their arrival.

......

In the Changle Mountain area.

High in the sky, two Escape Lights were flying side by side.

In the azure Escape Light, vague arcs of electricity surged. The one controlling it was Dugu Tianyi, his expression solemn.

The other light, a blend of red and blue, belonged to a handsome young man with a noble appearance and spirited presence.

"We’re about to reach Changle Mountain, be attentive for a moment."

Seeing Changle Mountain approaching in the distance, Dugu Tianyi sent a reminder via Divine Thought:

"Though Elder Qingxu is not known for a bad temper, you should still know your place and avoid being reckless."

"Rest assured, granduncle."

The young noble smiled broadly, saying:

"This is Da Li’s Uncrowned King, the number one cultivator in the Southwest. How could I possibly ’disrespect the hall’?"

Dugu Tianyi gave him a stern look but didn’t comment further.

This rising star of the Dugu Family, Du Guyan, though usually carefree, was reliable when it mattered and wouldn’t cause trouble.

After a while longer of flying:

"Come directly; I’ll be waiting for you in the hall."

As they neared Changle Mountain, a powerful and unfathomable Divine Thought entered Dugu Tianyi’s mind.

"Yes."

Feeling invigorated, Dugu Tianyi quickly responded and gestured to Du Guyan to head towards the palace atop Changle Mountain.

After a dozen or so breaths:

"Boom!" "Boom!"

The two Escape Lights landed. Dugu Tianyi adjusted his attire and led Du Guyan into the hall.

In the front hall, Zhang Yao sat at the main seat. Upon seeing them arrive, he nodded slightly in acknowledgment.

"Greetings to Daoist Brother Qingxu."

Dugu Tianyi initiated the greeting, and Du Guyan courteously followed suit:

"Junior Du Guyan greets Elder Qingxu."

"You’re too polite, please have a seat."

Zhang Yao gestured for them to sit.

Once they were seated, after exchanging a few pleasantries, Dugu Tianyi began to explain the purpose of their visit:

"For the past decade, the Da Li Cultivation Realm has been rather peaceful, with nothing significant happening."

"This time, I have two matters to discuss with Daoist Brother."

"One of them involves my grandnephew Du Guyan, who managed to refine a Golden Core a few years ago and wished to come along to pay respects to you and witness your grace."

Hearing this, Zhang Yao gave Du Guyan an appraising look and nodded slightly:

"His foundation seems decent; the Dugu Family has its heirs."

Among the many Golden Cores in Da Li:

The Pingdu Ancestor was previously the oldest, and if not for the outbreak of the Five Sects War, he would have presumably passed away a hundred years ago.

Next was the Wanchuan Ancestor, not much younger than the Pingdu Ancestor. Back then, Zhang Yao deduced his identity as a Demon Cultivator; the biggest flaw was in his longevity.

Excluding those two, Dugu Tianyi was the oldest. Achieving Foundation Establishment Perfection as a Realm Breaker, he was just over four hundred years old then, and now nearly five hundred.

With only a few years left to live, seeing a successor in the juniors who achieved Golden Core and could inherit the legacy was a tremendous blessing.

"The Three Mountains Ancestor and True Yang Ancestor must be extremely envious, right?"

Zhang Yao joked with a smile.

"That’s all they can do—envy."

Dugu Tianyi laughed heartily, evidently quite pleased.

For major Golden Core-level factions, especially those outside the Celestial Continent Nine Mansions, the lack of heirs was always the greatest challenge, leading to the decline of most major powers.

If the Lingyang Sect and the Shanhe Sect failed to produce capable successors, within a century, the Dugu Family would likely dominate within the Da Li Territory.

"Hmm..."

Zhang Yao smiled lightly and turned his gaze to Du Guyan, who sat upright, and spoke:

"I notice within your aura, there’s an apparent interplay of water and fire, a fusion of kan and li. It should be the dual aspect of water and fire Earth Spirit Root, cultivated with the Dugu Family’s secret ’Ice Soul Celestial Fire Technique’, correct?"

"Yes, Ancestor, you are indeed insightful."

Du Guyan replied respectfully.

The ’Ice Soul Celestial Fire Technique’ is the foundation of the Dugu Family, though it is not their only top-level Technique.

Dugu Tianyi, being of a Thunder Attribute Exotic Spirit Root, cultivated a top-level Thunder attribute Technique, which due to its incompatibility, did not allow him to inherit the Dugu Family’s legacy Magical Treasure.

"Hmm, it seems like the ancestral ’Profound Ice Flame Sun Mirror’ of the Dugu Family is yours to inherit."

As Zhang Yao spoke, he took a Magical Treasure in the shape of a tortoise shell from his Storage Bag and handed it over:

"The Profound Ice Flame Sun Mirror is quite formidable in offense, but somewhat lacking in defense."

"Consider this Magical Treasure a meeting gift, for you to use as protection."

His Storage Bag contained dozens of Magical Treasures of various kinds.