Eternal Life by Daily Divination

"It was merely a transaction." Li Chang’an waved his hand, completely unbothered.

Pu Rongzheng’s face flushed with excitement as he asked, "Senior, are... are you a Loose Cultivator?"

"Yes."

"In that case, I beg you to become our clan ancestor. Our Pu Family is willing to change our surname. Every single member will adopt your surname, and we shall enshrine and worship you for generations to come."

"I have no intention of leading a clan. Do not bring this up again." Li Chang’an sat down cross-legged and spoke indifferently.

Over the years, he had encountered numerous requests to become a clan’s ancestor. As early as his Foundation Establishment days, there were Qi Refining Clans begging him to take up the mantle, similarly offering to change their entire clan’s surname. They wanted nothing more than a powerful backer. In the Cultivation Realm, the upper limit of a clan ancestor’s strength dictated the absolute ceiling of the entire clan.

If Li Chang’an agreed, the Pu Family would instantly leap to become a Nascent Soul Family, standing at the very pinnacle of the Cultivation Immortality Realm. With every clan member’s status and prestige skyrocketing, what did a mere surname matter?

Pu Rongyun stepped forward, her voice far softer than before. "Senior, traveling alone, you will inevitably encounter tedious chores. I am willing to follow you and handle all trivial matters on your behalf."

"I have always kept to myself. Do not mention this again either." Li Chang’an’s tone remained aloof, not even sparing her a glance.

Hearing this, Pu Rongyun’s expression dimmed, and she silently withdrew.

After her, Xiong Yuanshan and his two brothers approached with apprehension, apologizing to Li Chang’an for their previous attitude. They were well aware that Li Chang’an had definitely overheard their private Sound Transmissions.

"Senior, we three brothers are just reckless brutes with loose lips. Please be the bigger person and spare us."

In response, Li Chang’an simply indicated that he did not mind.

For the rest of the journey, the Flying Ship encountered no further ambushes. They enjoyed smooth sailing and successfully arrived in the Southern Domain.

According to their previous plans, the Flying Ship slowly descended in an area near Changqing Mountain. This region had no Golden Core Influence; the strongest cultivators here were merely at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

"There is no Tier Three Spirit Vein here. Fortunately, our Pu Family has accumulated wealth over many years. Taking out a portion of our savings will be enough to hire someone to cultivate a Tier Three Spirit Vein," Pu Rongzheng said, gazing northward with eyes that held both nostalgia and a hint of worry. "From now on, we should be able to avoid the Battle of Righteous and Evil and properly recuperate for a time."

His only fear was that the Demonic path might prove too strong and fight their way all the way to the Southern Domain. If that day came, they would have no choice but to continue fleeing.

Pu Rongzheng quietly made up his mind. "I must build a good relationship with Daoist Li Chang’an as quickly as possible. Since he values his life so much, he has likely mapped out an escape route long ago."

Afterwards, he walked over to Li Chang’an and bowed deeply. "Thank you for escorting us all the way, Senior."

"Mm. Now that you have arrived in the Southern Domain, our transaction is complete. We shall meet again if fate allows." Leaving behind only that indifferent sentence, Li Chang’an departed from the Flying Ship, vanishing over the horizon in the blink of an eye.

Hearing his parting words, everyone aboard the Flying Ship felt a deep sense of loss.

***

That very day.

Li Chang’an hurried to the Western Domain of Yuan Country.

He thought, "According to that Quasi-Tier Four Poisonous Insect, Qian Shi True Monarch reserved an elixir for Crossing the Heart Demon Tribulation on its behalf, right here in the Western Domain of Yuan Country."

While escorting the Pu Family’s Flying Ship, he had mobilized his various clones and Puppets stationed in the Western Domain of Yuan Country to secretly investigate Tribulation Treasures for Crossing the Heart Demon Tribulation. He originally assumed the investigation would take a long time, but to his surprise, he received news about the treasure very quickly.

Not long ago, disciples from the Golden Core Clan, the Cui Family of the Western Domain of Yuan Country, had accidentally unearthed an extremely special elixir pill while Treasure Hunting in an Ancient Ruins Secret Realm.

The Heart Inquiry Worm Pill!

This pill was a Tier Four Middle Grade Elixir that offered immense benefits for Gu Insects, Poisonous Insects, and other bugs during their Heart Demon Tribulation, making it an absolute top-tier Tribulation Treasure. A single pill was enough to immunize a tribulation-crossing insect from the vast majority of the Heart Demon Tribulation’s effects. Its Pill Formula had long been lost to time. Because of this, the value of this Heart Inquiry Worm Pill was simply incalculable.

The Cui Family announced publicly that a mysterious buyer had originally reserved the Heart Inquiry Worm Pill, promising a massive haul of treasures in return. For some unknown reason, however, the buyer suddenly cut off all contact with them. After multiple failed attempts to reach out, the Cui Family decided to host a trade fair to maximize the pill’s value. They prepared a vast array of treasures to trade with various factions, and the Heart Inquiry Worm Pill was among them.

"The trade fair will be held in half a month.

"Any faction is welcome to attend. Not only can they trade with the Cui Family, but various factions can also trade amongst themselves.

"This kind of trading format is quite nice. There should be opportunities to pick up some overlooked treasures," Li Chang’an murmured with a smile, looking at the intelligence report in his hands.

That mysterious buyer was more than likely Qian Shi True Monarch. The reason he broke off contact was probably because of Li Chang’an.

He pondered, "Could it be that he’s afraid I’ll gather a group of Nascent Soul True Monarchs and ambush him at the Cui Family?"

Li Chang’an felt this was highly likely. After all, that Quasi-Tier Four Poisonous Insect had leaked Qian Shi True Monarch’s plans when it mistakenly thought victory was assured. If he were Qian Shi True Monarch, he definitely wouldn’t show up at the Cui Family again either.

Soon after.

He arrived at Cui’s Immortal City. The Cui Clan Territory was situated right next to the Immortal City.

"To think that the Cui Family, a mere Golden Core Clan, has several Tier Four Arrays guarding their clan territory." Li Chang’an’s gaze deepened as he looked toward the Cui Clan Territory.

The Cui Family’s status in the Western Domain of Yuan Country was identical to the Xiao Family’s status in the Southern Domain of Zhao Country. Also an Alchemy Clan, they could easily be called the number one Noble Family in the Western Domain. The clan possessed profound accumulated foundations and boasted over ten Golden Core Cultivators. Furthermore, many of their disciples had entered the White Tiger Sect, putting down roots and branching out within its ranks. Cui Baihong and Cui Baiying were both bearers of the Cui Family bloodline.

Li Chang’an retracted his gaze and waited peacefully.

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day.

The trading district in Cui’s Immortal City was a hubbub of noise. Various factions had brought large quantities of treasures to trade. Looking around, one could see not only factions from the Western Domain but also many attendees from the other domains of Yuan Country, and even from Zhao Country. The area was bursting with a cacophony of voices and shoulder-to-shoulder crowds; the atmosphere was incredibly lively.

Li Chang’an bypassed the trading stalls of the other factions and walked straight to the deepest part of the district. This was where the Cui Family’s trading stall was located. At this moment, quite a few people were already crowded around the stall, seeking to make a deal with the Cui Family. Their goal, unsurprisingly, was the Heart Inquiry Worm Pill.

Right at that moment, a young voice rang out.

"Why are you all wasting your time here? My White Tiger Sect is absolutely determined to win this Heart Inquiry Worm Pill. You lot should go look elsewhere."