Eternal Life: I Have the Favor System

Even though it was just a tiny bit, the power boost was visible to the naked eye.

And he had only swallowed and absorbed a single strange object. Just imagine: if the experts of Yuanchu Mountain absorbed the majority of them, what level would their power reach?

"WHOOSH!"

Every three hundred years was a Reincarnation Node, and vast swaths of vine roots erupted from the ground.

Endless power was searching for its corresponding hosts. The disciples of Yuanchu Mountain, and everyone who wanted to join Yuanchu Mountain, used the Demon-slaying Sword Technique to eliminate the vines.

Also on this day, rumors began to spread among the common folk: fusing with the strange objects could awaken all of one’s latent abilities. The matter became a hot topic throughout the Martial Arts Realm.

This open defiance of Yuanchu Mountain gave many people something to gossip about, and the rumors spread far and wide. Those who were unable to join Yuanchu Mountain or pass its trials, yet were desperate to achieve a breakthrough and awaken their latent abilities, began to take desperate risks.

Countless people ventured into the Hundred Thousand Mountains in search of the strange objects.

’The denser the Spiritual Qi, the more likely the strange objects are to appear. In densely populated urban areas, an entire city often only has two or three of them.’

’If you want to fuse with a strange object, you have to be bold and venture into the Hundred Thousand Mountains.’

Chu Lingguang thought to himself.

Over the past few days, he had been traveling toward the Hundred Thousand Mountains with Li Mao, Zhang Xuan, and the others, and they had been encountering more and more strange objects.

Zhang Xuan and Li Mao had been refining and absorbing the vines along the way, and the Spiritual Power fluctuations from their bodies were visibly growing stronger.

Chu Lingguang watched, itching with an unbearable urge to join in. Finally, he couldn’t hold back any longer and started to swallow and refine them too.

「Seven days later.」

Eight vines had also appeared above Chu Lingguang’s Star System.

In those seven days, he had found over twenty strange objects. Thanks to his Spirit Root Attribute, many of the strange objects would actively emerge after sensing his aura, which made searching for them relatively easy.

While Li Mao and Zhang Xuan were busy swallowing and refining, he secretly refined several for himself.

With the help of the Qi Condensation Technique, his own strength had also grown noticeably.

"Up ahead!"

"A demon!"

"Stop!"

On this day, a commotion erupted within the Hundred Thousand Mountains, near Wolf Valley Pass.

A figure that had fused with a strange object was targeted by Outer Disciples from Yuanchu Mountain.

Two Outer Disciples gave chase.

Zhang Xuan and Li Mao were at a critical moment in their absorption and refinement.

"Junior Brother Chu, go provide support!"

Zhang Xuan shouted.

"Alright."

Chu Lingguang dashed over.

Possessing a Spiritual Root and aided by the Qi Condensation Technique, his strength far surpassed that of many Outer Disciples. These Outer Disciples followed Yuanchu Mountain’s orders without question, collecting any strange objects they found, but none dared to rashly swallow and refine them.

Now that they had discovered someone who had fused with a strange object, their eyes lit up. If they could slay the demon, it would be a great achievement, and they would be rewarded upon their return.

"WHOOSH!"

Chu Lingguang shot forward.

His body quickly overtook the two Outer Disciples.

As an Inner Sect Disciple, he had yet to receive a formal cultivation Skill, but his existence was already known within Yuanchu Mountain. The two Outer Disciples recognized him, and upon seeing him join the chase, they followed behind with looks of envy.

They wanted to see just how powerful Chu Lingguang, the one with a Spirit Root Attribute, truly was.

"BANG!"

Chu Lingguang hurled his Long Spear.

It shot toward the distant figure.

The person reached the edge of a cliff and leaped down without hesitation.

Although he had just fused, he had already awakened all of his latent abilities. His physical body and Qi Blood had been strengthened, allowing him to traverse even a bottomless abyss.

After leaping down, he quickly grabbed onto the cliff face and jumped his way down, continuously slowing his descent as he bounded further into the chasm.

Chu Lingguang jumped down after him.

Wielding Telekinesis, with a single thought, the Long Spear appeared beneath his feet. It carried him downward at high speed, and in an instant, he saw the panicked figure.

"Lin!"

A moment later, his eyes widened.

The person who had fused with the strange object was actually the leader of Wolf Valley Pass, Lin Shirong.

At this moment, Lin Shirong had taken on a pig-like form, his body covered in coarse hair, but his facial features were unchanged.

Seeing Chu Lingguang draw near, he reverted to his human form, his mouth stained with blood, and looked at Chu Lingguang.

"Commander Chu!"

Lin Shirong was also stunned.

"ROAR!"

But after coming to his senses, he still chose to continue leaping down the cliff, trying to get away from Chu Lingguang, escape the valley, and disappear from the encirclement of Yuanchu Mountain’s disciples.

"Lin!"

Chu Lingguang gave chase.

’Lin Shirong’s appearance is a clear sign that he snatched a strange object from a Pig Demon. Only after successfully fusing with it did he take on the Pig Demon’s form.’

’It’s just like with Qin Yu.’

’After days of exploration and encountering many strange objects, I’ve discovered that if one directly fuses with a strange object that hasn’t previously merged with a Demon Beast, one doesn’t turn into a Half-human, Half-demon.’

’Take Yan Zhen, for example.’

’After fusing, his body can turn into a transparent liquid.’

’The same is true for Yun Hong.’

’The strange objects both of them fused with were not contaminated by Demon Beasts, so they didn’t become Half-human, Half-demon.’

’But Lin Shirong and Qin Yu snatched their strange vines from a Pig Demon and a Wolf Demon, respectively.’

’Although they can also revert to their human forms...’

’...when fighting an enemy, it’s clear that transforming into a Wolf Demon or Pig Demon makes them much more powerful.’

"AHH!"

Seeing Chu Lingguang catching up, Lin Shirong kicked a huge boulder away and ran desperately through the valley. He was like a veritable pig demon.

His speed was incredible, and the rocks in the valley were shattered by his powerful body as he charged through.

"Lin! The valley is surrounded! There are people from Yuanchu Mountain above and below! If you trust me, stop running!"

Chu Lingguang transmitted, using a pulse of Spiritual Power.

As a Qi Refining expert, he had already grasped the basic ability to transmit his voice with Spiritual Power. This wasn’t some Magical Technique or Divine Ability; it was something one naturally developed after reaching a certain level of strength, with no need for specific training.

He didn’t dare to shout out loud.

Lin Shirong, who had been charging ahead, felt Chu Lingguang’s Spiritual Power transmission and slowly came to a halt. Having worked with Chu Lingguang for many years, he had a deep memory of his character.

Loyal, righteous, grateful, and trustworthy—these had always been Chu Lingguang’s trademarks.

Overjoyed, Chu Lingguang hurriedly flew over.

Lin Shirong slowly took two steps back.

Chu Lingguang released a Spiritual Sense Fluctuation, attempting to cover the entire area inside and outside the valley, as well as the cliffs above, to ensure no experts from Yuanchu Mountain were approaching.

Fortunately, Zhang Xuan and Li Mao were still busy absorbing the strange objects and wouldn’t be concerned about a single demon. As for the two Outer Disciples, they were far weaker and slower than Chu Lingguang. Even if they dared to jump down from the cliff, it would take time, not to mention that Chu Lingguang and Lin Shirong had already run a large loop through the valley.

Catching up to them here wouldn’t be easy.

Furthermore, Spiritual Sense originated from the Sea of Consciousness. Thanks to his elementary Telekinesis cultivation method, Chu Lingguang’s Sea of Consciousness Power, while still considerably weaker than Zhang Xuan’s, was now augmented by his newly formed Telekinesis. He was confident he could detect even Zhang Xuan and Li Mao in advance if they drew near.

"Lin!"

Chu Lingguang retracted his aura and put away his Long Spear.

He slowly walked toward Lin Shirong.

Lin Shirong didn’t sense any danger from Chu Lingguang and slowly relaxed. He reverted to his human form and leaned against a large boulder, panting heavily.

"Commander Chu, congratulations on entering Yuanchu Mountain and becoming an Inner Sect Disciple."

Lin Shirong said in congratulation.

"Congratulations to you too, Lin, for breaking through your physical limits and successfully stepping into the Qi Refining realm."

Chu Lingguang congratulated him in return.

His words left Lin Shirong stunned.

’Yuanchu Mountain has labeled everyone who fuses with a strange object as a demon, wishing for nothing more than to exterminate them all. As an Inner Sect Disciple of Yuanchu Mountain, could Chu Lingguang possibly not know the reason?’

"These vines that grow from the ground are born from a single Immortal Vine. Since they are a part of the Immortal Vine, what’s the harm in fusing with them? How can they be labeled as demons?"

"If there is any demonic attribute, it’s only because they were mixed with the blood of other Demon Beasts before fusion, leading to a mutation."

"But even so, demons can be good or bad. Don’t you agree, Lin?"

Chu Lingguang pulled a vine up from the ground, crushed it, enveloped it with Spiritual Power, and then absorbed it completely. A vine that didn’t contain the strange aura possessed no power.

But Chu Lingguang discovered that even these vines could be absorbed. The more he absorbed, the more vibrant the colors of the eight vines in his Star System became.