Eternal Life by Daily Divination

"I am Li Chang’an, a Loose Cultivator from the Southern Domain of Zhao Country," Li Chang’an replied with a cupped-fist salute.

Fu Sheng True Monarch asked him, "Li, what is the purpose of your cultivation in this life?"

"For immortality."

"You have great ambitions. I am inferior to you," Fu Sheng True Monarch said with a smile.

He didn’t offer Li Chang’an any guidance, merely sharing his perspective on immortality. In his eyes, there were many paths to immortality in this world, but only one could be called "Dachangsheng," while the rest were all "Xiaochangsheng."

This perspective was actually quite similar to that of the Artifact Spirit of the Flying Ship from the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.

The so-called Dachangsheng was the path of proving one’s Dao through continuous breakthroughs. The other paths to immortality were all minor paths.

However, even so, it was extremely difficult for ordinary Cultivators to set foot upon these minor paths. Back then, the Flying Boat Spirit had pointed out a minor path for Li Chang’an, which was transforming into an Artifact Spirit. Today, Fu Sheng True Monarch also pointed out a minor path for him.

"Li, have you ever heard of the path of the Immortal Soul?"

"Immortal Soul?"

"Exactly!" Fu Sheng True Monarch explained to Li Chang’an.

Many years ago, he had accidentally seen records of this path on the stone walls of an ancient ruin. After a Cultivator died, their Soul would go to the Reincarnation Path. If they remained in the world due to various accidents, their Soul would grow increasingly weak until it completely dissipated between heaven and earth.

Just like Granny Medicine in Wang Qianling’s ring. The reason she needed the Soul Nourishing Jade was precisely because her Soul was dissipating.

However, the stone wall recorded a type of Magic Gate that could preserve the Soul and keep it immortal. Furthermore, there was another Magic Gate that could make one’s flesh and blood so powerful that it could not be destroyed by myriad tribulations, reaching the level of an "Undying Body."

If both the Soul and the body were immortal, then it would be no different from true immortality!

After hearing Fu Sheng True Monarch’s explanation, Li Chang’an couldn’t help but feel moved. He immediately asked, "Senior, do you know of these two Magic Gates?"

"I do not," Fu Sheng True Monarch smiled and shook his head. "However, since there are records, it means this path might be feasible. You can very well attempt it yourself, Li. There are countless paths in this world, and every single one was forged by predecessors... In the eyes of future generations, you will also be a predecessor."

"I understand. Thank you, Senior."

After their conversation, Li Chang’an vaguely felt that this Fu Sheng True Monarch seemed different from other Nascent Soul True Monarchs. He had already embarked on a special path.

A while later.

They bid farewell to Fu Sheng True Monarch and left the dreamscape. Led by the Dream Soul Silkworm, the group returned to the foot of the mountain.

Zhuo Wanshuang and the others looked up at the sky, as if wanting to know whether this world was real or fake. Li Chang’an didn’t think too much about it. He only wanted to continue surviving. As long as he lived long enough, he would eventually uncover all the secrets one day.

Soon after, he bid farewell to the group and left the Cyan Dragon Sect.

...

Half a day later.

Li Chang’an returned to Changqing Mountain. He entered the Artifact Refining Room deep within Changqing Mountain and sat cross-legged in front of the Forging Furnace.

"I’ve gathered all the many Treasures needed to refine the Trapped Soul Net, but I only managed to obtain a single portion of most of them. I absolutely cannot fail. Once I fail, I’ll have to search for them all over again."

Li Chang’an didn’t immediately begin refining. He swallowed a few Elixir Pills to achieve a Calm Heart and Peaceful Mind, slowly recovering his condition.

About a quarter of an hour later.

Li Chang’an’s Essence, Qi, and Spirit had recovered to their Peak. With a thought, dozens of Treasures, including the Netherworld Silk, flew out of his Storage Pouch and hovered around him.

For the next dozen or so hours.

Li Chang’an focused his complete attention, remaining entirely motionless as he went about refining the second of the Three Treasures of Soul Destruction. The process of refining the Trapped Soul Net was far more complex than that of the Soul Suppression Nail. It wasn’t until the morning light of the second day that this pitch-black net gradually took shape.

A while later.

Li Chang’an raised his hand and beckoned. "Come!"

The large net immediately flew over and landed in his hand. It felt exceptionally freezing to the touch, as if it came from the Netherworld Hell, making his Nascent Soul feel extremely uncomfortable.

"With this item, my certainty of dealing with Qian Shi True Monarch has increased by another point!

"Of the Three Treasures of Soul Destruction, I’m only missing the final piece: the Forbidden Soul Bottle. This bottle can seal and suppress a Nascent Soul long-term, and the materials required to refine it are the most precious."

A Cultivator’s Nascent Soul, just like a Demon Beast’s Demon Core, was the very essence of their being, containing immense power. Some Demonic Secret Techniques could use a Nascent Soul for Alchemy, while others allowed one to swallow a Nascent Soul raw after cultivation, nourishing oneself with the enemy’s Nascent Soul.

Li Chang’an had once read in Ancient Texts that during the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty era, there were specialized trades for Nascent Souls. Because it could suppress a Nascent Soul long-term, the Forbidden Soul Bottle was highly sought after in these trades.

"I’m still missing a few materials. This Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade is quite rare, though it seems to have appeared in the Northern Domain before."

Li Chang’an put away the Trapped Soul Net. His figure flickered as he left Changqing Mountain.

A moment later.

He entered the Black Market, found Luo Qiantong, and asked him for news regarding the Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade.

Luo Qiantong quickly informed him, "Uncle Li, a few months ago, a piece of Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade appeared in the Northern Snowfield Mountain Range."

"Whose hands did that Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade fall into?"

"The Saintess of the Five Poisons Valley, Ye Qiuling."

"To think it’s her."

Li Chang’an was no stranger to this name. This woman was Ye Feng’s senior martial sister. Furthermore, she was also connected to Wu Zhe, the Saint Child of the Nether Soul Sect. Back then, the reason Wu Zhe had collected a large number of Poison Dao Treasures to nurture Poisonous Insects was to win Ye Qiuling’s favor.

After the Battle of Righteous and Evil began, this woman had successively achieved great battle results. Her fame skyrocketed, and she became nearly the number one figure among the numerous Demonic Path Saint Children and Saintesses.

According to the news, that piece of Ten Thousand Year Cold Jade was originally discovered by a Righteous Influence. But Ye Qiuling intercepted them halfway, forcefully snatching the Treasure from the hands of many Righteous Dao Celestial Prides. She killed several Holy Sons and Saintesses in a row before finally swaggering away with the Treasure.

"Uncle Li, this Ye Qiuling is not easy to deal with. It’s said that she wields Tier Four Spiritual Poison and has refined herself into a Poisonous Man. Even a Nascent Soul True Monarch would have to be wary of Spirit Poison of this Tier."