Chapter 117: Cannot Comprehend

"When a lifespan nears its end, the personality warps."

Li Chang’an mused.

This situation was not unfamiliar to him.

Su Yuyan had once invited him to explore a senior’s abode, and that senior had been in a similar situation.

He had been kind and gentle in life, yet after his death, he had left behind countless traps and mechanisms in his abode.

’Could it really be that the fear of death and inner terror gave rise to a Heart Demon, causing his mind to be influenced by it?’

Li Chang’an frowned, unable to quite understand.

Logically speaking, having lived for over two hundred years and weathered countless storms, he should have come to terms with it by now.

’Forget it. I shouldn’t judge others by my own standards. Perhaps when my own time comes, I’ll also develop a Heart Demon.’

Li Chang’an shook his head slightly. He didn’t want to die either.

After all, he had truly died once before!

His greatest goal in this life was to achieve eternal life, to be untouched by the ravages of time, and to never again have to walk the Reincarnation Path.

’Since that Foundation Establishment cultivator will go berserk, I can’t go to this birthday banquet. But I have to find a way to get my hands on the Profound Crystal.’

Li Chang’an stared at the contents of the Divination, lost in thought for a long time.

The Profound Crystal.

Just from the name, it sounded like it was fated to be with his Profound Water Turtle.

This was an extremely precious Water Element Treasure. It could increase a Water Element Demon Beast’s advancement success rate by twenty percent, and its effect could be stacked with other Treasures.

If he could obtain this Profound Crystal and add it to the two Treasures he already possessed, the combined effect of all three could increase the Profound Water Turtle’s advancement success rate by thirty percent.

’Even without any Treasures, the Profound Water Turtle’s natural chance of advancement is already quite high. With a thirty-percent boost, there should be basically no problems at all!’

And even if something went wrong, he had the Cold Nether Pill to save its life!

Because of this, Li Chang’an was desperate to obtain the Profound Crystal mentioned in the Divination.

Once the Profound Water Turtle successfully advanced, he would essentially have a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator as a guardian.

That was far more useful than a Foundation Establishment Favor!

’According to the Divination, this Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator doesn’t have much longer to live. After he dies, the Treasures in his possession should fall into the hands of his descendants or disciples.’

That night, Li Chang’an contemplated for a long time.

「The next morning.」

Just as the Divination had shown, two figures appeared outside Li Chang’an’s residence.

They were Xu Fugui and Zhou Xuan.

"Fugui, Daoist Zhou, what can I do for you?"

Li Chang’an pretended not to know and invited them into the courtyard.

Zhou Xuan was all smiles. "Haha, Daoist Li, I asked around everywhere for you and finally heard about an extremely rare Water Element Treasure! It can increase the advancement success rate by twenty percent!"

"Oh? And what Treasure might that be?"

"The Profound Crystal!"

Zhou Xuan sat across from Li Chang’an and explained in detail.

At noon today, an Elder from their Zhou Family was celebrating his birthday.

This Elder held a high position in the Zhou Family, having raised several Tier Two Demon Beasts, and he possessed many Treasures that could help Demon Beasts advance.

Among them was the Profound Crystal!

"Daoist Li, I’ve already asked for you. This Elder is willing to sell his Beast Taming Treasures, including the Profound Crystal, in exchange for Cultivation Treasures to foster his descendants."

As he spoke, Zhou Xuan handed over an invitation card.

It was the very invitation to that Foundation Establishment Elder’s birthday banquet!

"Daoist Li, this invitation wasn’t easy to get."

A birthday banquet for a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator, especially a crucial one for his 250th birthday, was an event where nearly all attendees were prominent figures.

They were either seniors of the same Foundation Establishment Cultivation or juniors from the Qi Refining realm with excellent backgrounds and talent.

It was indeed quite difficult for Zhou Xuan to have obtained this invitation for Li Chang’an.

But Li Chang’an looked troubled.

"Daoist Zhou, I’m truly sorry, but I’m not feeling well today."

"This..."

Zhou Xuan was stunned, the smile on his face freezing for a moment.

He almost couldn’t believe his ears.

A birthday banquet for a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator was a prime opportunity to expand one’s network, something most Loose Cultivators would beg for.

And Li Chang’an had refused?

"Daoist Li, are you truly unwell? Or is there another reason?"

Zhou Xuan’s smile vanished as he asked with great seriousness.

Li Chang’an sighed and replied, "Daoist Zhou, I am indeed unwell. I was too hasty and failed to break through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, suffering a backlash."

"So that’s what happened!"

The realization dawned on Zhou Xuan, and he immediately understood.

With Li Chang’an’s talent from his Low Grade Spirit Root, it was normal to fail when breaking through to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer.

A severe backlash could even be fatal.

Even a relatively minor one would require several months of rest.

In other words, it was already quite remarkable that Li Chang’an could still sit and speak with them while keeping his aura stable.

If he went to the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator’s banquet, the pressure from the Great Cultivator’s aura could disrupt his own, making it impossible to suppress his injuries. He could easily make a fool of himself.

At this moment, Xu Fugui secretly sent a Sound Transmission.

"Brother, since you’re not going, let me go in your place. I’ll find a way to trade for that Profound Crystal for you."

"No, Fugui, you shouldn’t go either!"

Li Chang’an immediately replied, stopping him from pursuing the idea.

Xu Fugui was surprised and couldn’t help but feel puzzled.

But with an outsider like Zhou Xuan present, it wasn’t convenient for him to ask more, so he kept his expression normal.

After a while, Zhou Xuan left with the invitation.

’Since Li Chang’an isn’t going, I’ll go myself. I’ll try to trade for that Profound Crystal and expand my network while I’m at it.’

A corner of Zhou Xuan’s mouth lifted as he hatched his little scheme.

If he could trade for the Profound Crystal, he would sell it to Li Chang’an at an inflated price and ask for an additional reward on top.

Earning double!

’However, the Profound Crystal is very rare and expensive. With my own assets, I probably can’t afford it. I’ll have to go borrow some Spirit Stones from my elder cousin.’

’Sigh, how is Li Chang’an so rich? Having a Foundation Establishment Powerhouse backing you really makes a difference.’

Zhou Xuan couldn’t help but feel a little envious.

His talent and Cultivation were both stronger than Li Chang’an’s, yet no Foundation Establishment Powerhouse was willing to sponsor him.

In the courtyard, Xu Fugui scratched his head and voiced the question on his mind.

"Brother, why didn’t you want me to go?"

"Fugui, I’ve been feeling uneasy these past few days, as if something bad is about to happen. We should both try to avoid complicated places."

"It’s a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator’s birthday banquet. Surely no one would dare cause trouble, right?"

Xu Fugui was baffled, still not understanding.

Li Chang’an patiently explained to him.

"Su Yuyan once told me that some Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators undergo a drastic change in temperament when their lifespan is about to end, becoming crazed and bloodthirsty."

"Something like that can happen?"

Xu Fugui was taken aback and thought about it carefully.

It seemed his master had also told him something similar.

However, such things rarely happened.

Xu Fugui didn’t think he would be that unlucky.

’Sigh, Brother is still too cautious. It’s just like back in Qinghe Marketplace, holed up at home all day, not even going after opportunities when they appear.’

Xu Fugui thought this to himself but didn’t say it out loud.

He felt it was a shame.

If he had known this was the reason, he should have taken the invitation himself.

But now it was too late.

With this regret, Xu Fugui also took his leave and returned to Yuelai Restaurant.

However, that same day at noon, a shocking piece of news, as if it had grown wings, spread rapidly throughout all of Yellow Crane Immortal City.