Eternal Life by Daily Divination

The Withered Wood Cliff Master had been missing for many years.

He had vanished long before Li Chang’an even reached Foundation Establishment.

Back then, he had suffered a backlash from his Spirit Plant and ventured into the Black Dragon Mountain Range alone, searching for a chance to survive.

The last time he was seen, he was already gaunt and sallow-faced, so thin he was nothing but skin and bones, like a candle flickering in the wind.

After so many years, everyone assumed he had died somewhere.

But just a few days ago,

he carved a bloody path through the Beast Tide and returned from the Black Dragon Mountain Range!

Furthermore,

he had successfully reached Foundation Establishment and was no longer the Qi Refining Junior Cultivator of old who could only rely on his Spirit Plant.

"He actually reached Foundation Establishment?"

"It’s absolutely true!"

Luo Baitong said with absolute certainty.

The day the Withered Wood Cliff Master returned, nearly half the Black Market was shaken.

A tyrannical Foundation Establishment aura emanated from him. Just getting close was enough to make one gasp for air under the immense pressure.

"He said he had a brush with death in the Black Dragon Mountain Range, where he stumbled upon a chance for Foundation Establishment left behind by an elder. Then, in the Ancient Wood Secret Realm, he found a Tier Two Spirit Vein and was fortunate enough to succeed."

"However, he still hasn’t solved the problem of the backlash from his Spirit Plant."

Even after succeeding in Foundation Establishment, the Withered Wood Cliff Master was still suffering from the Spirit Plant’s backlash.

He couldn’t bear it any longer, so he sent out a message, inviting fellow Foundation Establishment Daoists to help him resolve the issue.

At this, Luo Baitong sighed.

"Unfortunately, he specified that he wants Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators. Daoist Li, you don’t have a chance."

"That’s not necessarily true."

Li Chang’an smiled and released a trace of his Foundation Establishment aura.

Upon sensing this aura, Luo Baitong’s expression changed drastically. His eyes went wide as he stared at Li Chang’an in shock.

"Daoist Li, you... you’ve reached Foundation Establishment?"

"Yes."

Li Chang’an smiled. "I got lucky and found a Tier Two Demon Core during the Beast Tide. I had someone refine a Foundation Establishment Pill for me, and I managed to succeed."

"This... This is truly..."

Luo Baitong was so shocked he was momentarily speechless.

He took a deep breath.

A moment later, he cupped his fists in a bow, his tone more solemn than ever before.

"Elder Li!"

"Mm."

Li Chang’an nodded slightly.

Luo Baitong’s expression became even more respectful.

"Elder Li, since you’ve reached Foundation Establishment, this makes things much easier. Please wait here for a moment. I’ll go get someone from Withered Wood Cliff for you."

With that, he hurried away.

Before long, Luo Baitong returned with Hu Yu.

It was Hu Yu who had invited Li Chang’an to join Withered Wood Cliff in the first place.

After the Withered Wood Cliff Master entered the Black Dragon Mountain Range, Hu Yu became the temporary head of Withered Wood Cliff, managing all its affairs.

Now that the Withered Wood Cliff Master had returned, he had not retaken control, allowing Hu Yu to remain in charge.

Now, upon learning that Li Chang’an had reached Foundation Establishment, Hu Yu was also shocked.

"El... Elder Li!"

"Hu, we meet again," Li Chang’an said with an easygoing smile.

Hu Yu never would have imagined that a Loose Cultivator he had casually invited back then would now become a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator.

By that logic,

Withered Wood Cliff now had two Foundation Establishment cultivators!

"Elder Li, you wish to meet with Elder Wu?"

The Elder Wu he spoke of was none other than the Withered Wood Cliff Master.

Wu Ming!

Li Chang’an nodded. "Where is Daoist Wu now?"

"Elder Wu went to another region. He plans to invite a senior elder to help him resolve the Spirit Plant backlash. He won’t be back for another three days."

"Alright, then I’ll come find him in three days."

Li Chang’an wasn’t too worried.

If that strange vine truly was a Heaven and Earth Spirit Root, its backlash wouldn’t be so easy to resolve.

A moment later, Li Chang’an left the Black Market and headed for Yellow Crane Immortal City.

...

Inside the Immortal City, at Yuelai Restaurant, the past few days had been filled with joy.

Xu Fugui had successfully reached Foundation Establishment and had taken over the restaurant from Wang Fu’an.

Just as it had been when Li Chang’an reached Foundation Establishment, people had been coming to see him in a constant stream these past few days.

Some came to congratulate him, others to invite Xu Fugui to join their factions.

"Fugui, congratulations."

Li Chang’an said with a smile as he entered the restaurant.

Xu Fugui was originally on the second floor, but he hurried downstairs upon hearing the voice.

"Big Brother, you could have just come. Why bring a gif— oh, you didn’t bring a gift."

He had received so many gifts recently that he subconsciously tried to refuse, only to realize Li Chang’an was empty-handed, which made things a little awkward.

Li Chang’an chuckled. A flash of Spiritual Light appeared in his hand, and a celebratory gift materialized.

He tossed it over casually.

"These are some partial remains from a few Tier Two Demon Beasts. The flesh and blood can be used to make some decent Spiritual Cuisine. Take them and get some practice."

"Thanks, Big Brother!"

Xu Fugui was overjoyed.

His Spirit Chef Skills were stuck at Tier One Peak. He was just one step away from Tier Two and was in desperate need of some Tier Two ingredients to practice with.

This gift couldn’t have come at a better time!

Afterward, the two of them went up to the second floor together.

Li Chang’an told Xu Fugui about the path of Foundation Establishment and stressed the importance of one’s Cultivation Technique.

"Fugui, what Cultivation Technique are you practicing now?"

"Big Brother, the Cultivation Technique I’m practicing was passed down to me by my master. Its Tier just barely reaches Earth Grade," Xu Fugui answered truthfully.

His master, Wang Fu’an, had a fortunate encounter in his youth and obtained this Cultivation Technique in a Secret Realm.

The limit of Liquid Magical Power that could be condensed with this technique was three hundred and one drops, just barely crossing the threshold for an Earth Grade Technique.

Hearing this, Li Chang’an couldn’t help but reflect once again.

’Having a good master really makes the path of cultivation much easier.’

With this Earth Grade Technique, Xu Fugui wouldn’t have to worry about a Cultivation Technique during the Foundation Establishment Stage and could continue to cultivate smoothly.

As for the matter of Golden Core...

Xu Fugui hadn’t even thought about it!

"Big Brother, I failed at Foundation Establishment twice. I have no hope of reaching Golden Core in this lifetime. I probably won’t even make it to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment."