Chapter 220 - 179: Dialogue with Antiquity, Conception of Longevity

In that single instant.

He suddenly fell into a trance. It was as if a towering ancient tree had appeared before him, so tall its peak was lost to sight. It stood at the edge of the world, brimming with an ancient, weathered aura.

He didn’t know how much time had passed.

It could have been a thousand years, or merely an instant.

Li Chang’an’s body trembled as he snapped out of his trance, letting out a long, slow breath.

"Haaa..."

He looked at the key in his hand, the shock still lingering in his eyes.

That towering ancient tree seemed to have endured the endless passage of time, witnessing the world change time and again, yet it remained standing, unyielding.

Time could not weather it, nor could the ages lay a hand upon it!

This was the very path Li Chang’an sought.

Eternal life!

’Could it be that the Ancient Wood Evergreen Technique doesn’t just contain a method for Spirit Root Ascension, but also the secret to eternal life?’

Li Chang’an took a deep breath, his emotions in turmoil.

He felt a twinge of disappointment.

He hadn’t obtained the actual Cultivation Technique yet, only a key.

However.

After refining the key.

Li Chang’an could faintly sense the existence of three others.

It seemed those three keys had already been refined by others. Moreover, their holders weren’t far away—they were right here in Yellow Crane Immortal City!

That made sense, when he thought about it.

After all, most Cultivators who explored the Ancient Wood Secret Realm took up long-term residence in Yellow Crane Immortal City.

’Looks like I’ll have to find a way to gather all four keys once I get back.’

After a moment of thought, Li Chang’an carefully placed the key back in the Wooden Box. He then put both the box and the wooden table it was on into his Storage Pouch.

Although he couldn’t identify the materials of the Wooden Box and table, he figured they must be precious Treasures.

Since he was already here.

He might as well take everything.

Afterward, he didn’t leave immediately. Instead, he began knocking and tapping around the hidden chamber, searching everywhere to see if there were any other Treasures.

Just then.

Several figures suddenly approached the cave mansion from outside.

A young man among them held up a Jade Scroll and pointed toward the entrance. "We’re here! That’s the Ancient Cave Mansion the map pointed to!"

"Something’s wrong. Why is the cave mansion already open?"

"Damn it! Who snatched my opportunity?"

The figures rushed over, their faces a mixture of anxiety and fury.

Seeing this.

Li Chang’an’s expression turned cold, and he had a Puppet Body appear under his control.

He spoke through the Puppet in a deep voice: "Fellow Daoists, I have already claimed this place. You should look elsewhere."

"Die!"

The young man’s face was twisted in rage as he attacked without another word, unleashing an aura that far surpassed that of a Qi Refining Cultivator.

’A Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator!’

’No...’

’He’s strong, but he hasn’t reached the Foundation Establishment realm. It’s something like my own Fake Foundation Establishment state.’

Li Chang’an remained fearless. With a single thought, he released the Tier Two Puppet from his Storage Pouch.

"Go!"

The Puppet’s figure blurred as it shot forward to attack.

In a flash.

A true Foundation Establishment aura erupted from its body.

The young man’s expression changed drastically, his eyes locked onto the Puppet.

"A Tier Two Puppet!"

He immediately halted his advance, not daring to fight it. He hastily retreated, falling back to his companions’ side.

The auras of these people were quite strange.

Though they weren’t at Foundation Establishment, they were far stronger than Qi Refining Cultivators. All of them had reached the Fake Foundation Establishment realm!

Li Chang’an noticed.

Their pupils were all green, just like Song Xiao, the disciple of the Five Poison Wanderer he had killed previously.

At the same time, the Ten Thousand Poison Gu in his sleeve sent him a message: he had been afflicted by several powerful poisons.

’I’ve been poisoned?’

Li Chang’an was alarmed.

He had remained hidden the entire time, never revealing his true body, yet he was still poisoned.

’This entire cliff face must be covered in a colorless, odorless poison mist,’ he surmised.

"Are you Poison Cultivators from the Five Poison Wanderer Lineage?"

"We are!"

One of them replied.

He looked at Li Chang’an’s puppet, his expression grave.

"And who might you be?"

"I am nobody. Just a simple Loose Cultivator," Li Chang’an replied faintly.

The man asked again, "Sir, would you be willing to share a portion of the fortune found here?"

"No!"

"Very well. We apologize for the disturbance."

The man cupped his fists and gestured to the others, seemingly preparing to leave.

But then, Li Chang’an spoke up.

"If you’re planning to hide and wait for the poison to take effect, don’t bother. Your little toxins aren’t as potent as you think."

"What?"

The men’s faces paled.

They thought their plan was perfectly discreet, but Li Chang’an had seen right through it!

The Puppet Body before them had a powerful aura and showed no sign of being poisoned.

The men exchanged glances, a hint of fear in their eyes.

They all knew that if their Poison Techniques were useless, then the opportunity here was lost to them.

One of the men cupped his fists.

"Fellow Daoist, we have offended you today."

With that, he turned and left without a second glance, vanishing in a streak of light.

The others did the same, quickly following him into the distance.

"Safe travels."

Li Chang’an didn’t make a move, allowing them to depart.

’Those men were all Fake Foundation Establishment. Killing them all wouldn’t have been easy and would likely have caused a huge commotion.’

’It might even provoke the Five Poison Wanderer who stood behind them!’

’Years ago, the Five Poison Wanderer was already an expert at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment. His current strength was likely unfathomable.’

’His mastery of Poison Techniques was said to be unparalleled.’

’Few ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivators would dare to cross him.’

’Though Li Chang’an had the Ten Thousand Poison Gu, the little creature was only at the Tier Two Early Stage. It likely wouldn’t be a match for the Five Poison Wanderer.’

「A moment later.」

He left the cave mansion, picked up the discarded Jade Scroll, and let the Cyan Rattan fall back into place to conceal the entrance.

’The prize is mine. Time to go.’

Li Chang’an quickly recalled all his Puppets, left the area, and began his journey back.

「About ten days later.」

He returned to the entrance of the Ancient Wood Secret Realm.

「After a moment.」

His figure flashed, and he burst out from behind the waterfall, returning to the Black Dragon Mountain Range.

"Haaa..."

Li Chang’an felt the tension leave his body as he let out a long breath.

Next.

’I need to find a suitable Tier Two Demon Beast.’

He had encountered Tier Two Demon Beasts several times in the Ancient Wood Secret Realm, but he hadn’t made a move against them.

The reason was the omnipresent, oppressive feeling in the realm, which made him extremely uncomfortable. It felt as if his entire body was bound in invisible chains, preventing him from using his full strength.

Besides, the Secret Realm was simply fraught with too much danger.

If he caused too great a commotion.

He might attract some bizarre and unimaginable peril.