Chapter 107: Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique, Immortal City of Damengze

“Without relying on Talisman Treasures and talismans, it’s not easy to kill a Late-Stage Qi Refining practitioner using only my strength.”

Lu Changsheng looked at the elder he had killed, his heart incredibly calm.

“Swoosh!”

A fireball appeared in his palm, flying towards the elder’s charred body, turning it to ash.

Then Lu Changsheng grabbed, using a spiritual hand to collect his Artifacts and storage bag.

When Lu Changsheng returned, Xia Long was no longer in the air, but resting on the ground.

He was already heavily injured, relying on secret techniques to suppress his injuries.

But after the attack of the Void Thunder, his already severe injuries exploded, worsening, and his whole body exuded a lifeless aura, like a candle flickering out.

“Cough cough cough, thank you, Comrade Lu, for saving my life. Please accept Xia’s gratitude.”

Xia Long sat on the ground, coughing up black blood, slightly bowing to Lu Changsheng.

Then, trembling, he took out two storage bags from his lapel, saying: “Comrade Lu, now that I’m on the verge of death, my greatest concern is my two children in the mortal world. If possible, I hope Comrade Lu can take care of them a little.”

“This is all my savings, including a Foundation Establishment spirit material and fortune gained in the Purple Secrets Realm, as a reward for Comrade Lu.”

Xia Long handed the storage bags to Lu Changsheng, speaking in a weak voice.

He was well aware of his current state, already on the brink of death.

Unless he had precious miraculous pills or a healer to extend his life.

But now, neither condition could be met, leaving only a dead end.

He even worried whether Lu Changsheng would covet his wealth.

Rather than that, it’s better to voluntarily offer everything.

Begging Lu Changsheng to look after his children.

Although he wasn’t very familiar with Lu Changsheng.

They only had occasional contact, dealing with each other a few times.

But based on their usual interactions and Lu Changsheng’s help, he felt Lu was a decent person of integrity.

“Taking care of the kids?”

Lu Changsheng furrowed his eyebrows slightly when he heard this.

He’d heard Xia Long mention his family in the mortal world with two children.

He worked so hard daily, hunting spirit beasts, exploring relics and Cave Dwellings, not only to try for a last chance at Foundation Establishment but also to pave the way for his children.

He didn’t expect that even on his deathbed, Xia Long would still be concerned about his children.

“Sigh, why does Comrade Xia work so hard for this?”

Lu Changsheng sighed softly.

In his view, if Xia Long hadn’t been so desperate, with his cultivation and strength, his living conditions wouldn’t be bad.

“Comrade Lu, if you are unwilling, then forget it. Consider these items a token of gratitude.”

Xia Long’s pale face was full of bitterness.

“Sigh, poor parents in the world.”

Looking at the once resolute and steady Xia Long, now pale and miserable, his eyes filled with pleading, Lu Changsheng sighed again.

“Comrade’s dying request, Lu cannot refuse.”

“But considering Lu’s own situation, Brother Xia is aware of my lack of time to care for others. I can only take your ashes back home.”

“If Comrade Xia has any last words, I can pass them on.”

Lu Changsheng said.

He himself had so many children to raise and care for.

Where would he find the time to take care of others’ children?

Besides, he remembered Xia Long saying his children were not young anymore.

“Thank you, Comrade Lu!”

Xia Long heard this and felt a bit lost.

But he also knew it was natural.

Lu Changsheng was already generous in his actions.

He immediately began to arrange his last affairs.

Explaining about his mortal family circumstances and matters to convey to Lu Changsheng.

Additionally, he mentioned a ‘Heavenly Curtain Five Elements Array’ in the courtyard he rented in Jiulong Market, capable of trapping enemies and isolating senses, which Lu Changsheng could take.

Under the small tree in the courtyard, a storage bag with three hundred Spirit Stones was buried for emergencies.

He hoped Lu Changsheng could hand these Spirit Stones to his son.

After his explanations, Xia Long, as if deflated, closed his eyes, collapsing limply to the ground.

“Brother Xia, rest in peace. I will deliver these Spirit Stones to your son.”

Lu Changsheng looked at Xia Long’s corpse, sighing gently.

A gentleman loves wealth, gains it with integrity.

Though he didn’t consider himself a paragon of virtue.

But under these circumstances, he would ensure the three hundred Spirit Stones were returned.

Just then, Xia Long slightly opened his eyes.

In a weak breath, he said: “My daughter is now of age. If Comrade Lu is interested, you could take her as a concubine.”

Upon finishing his words, he breathed his last.

“Ah, this Comrade Xia is truly fixated on paving the way for his son.”

“Even in death, his heart is mostly on his son. Suggesting his daughter becomes my concubine also reflects a desire for care.”

Lu Changsheng gazed at Xia Long, shaking his head slightly with a sigh.

Although Xia Long had a son and daughter.

In his final arrangements, most of it was about his son.

He mentioned his son was about to turn twelve next year, with a chance to join a Spirit Sect.

He hoped Lu Changsheng would give guidance in various ways.

Even this last sentence sounded like it was ultimately for his son.

This matter, Lu Changsheng could not comment on.

He confirmed Xia Long’s death with a Fireball Technique, reducing the body to ashes.

He then took out a Jade Box, gently placing the ashes inside.

“Xia Long mentioned the Purple Secrets Realm; he was ambushed after coming out.”

“The Purple Secrets Realm has ended. I wonder if the Lu Family survived and gained anything.”

Lu Changsheng pondered.

Xia Long advised not to seek revenge.

Lu Changsheng asked about the Purple Secrets Realm.

Finding out this time, a death rate of 60-70% was revealed.

Xia Long originally entered with a group of six, but only two returned.

One of them was the owner of Little Talisman Hall.

On their way back, the owner suddenly attacked him, leading to what Lu Changsheng witnessed.

This made him reflect on the allure of wealth.

He also worried about the Lu Family’s situation.

Lu Changsheng didn’t think much, he located the young man’s body from earlier, securing his Artifacts and storage bag.

With the beast tamer token, he recalled the frightened Iron Feather Eagle, returning it to the Spirit Pet Bag.

He took out a Hundred Mile Escape Talisman, leaving for a cave to tally his gains.

“Hmm? Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique?!”

“Steal the essence of heaven and earth, return it to oneself!”

Lu Changsheng found an emerald Jade Slip in Xia Long’s storage bag, and upon examining its contents, he was astonished.

The Jade Slip contained a cultivation technique called ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’.

It allows one to disregard aptitude, with steady progress towards Golden Core Formation and Nascent Soul without bottlenecks.

Moreover, it grants 300 years of life in the Foundation Establishment stage, 800 in the Golden Core stage, and 2000 in the Nascent Soul stage.

However, despite its power, it poses extremely harsh conditions and critical flaws.

Firstly, cultivating this requires finding a ‘Celestial Spirit Plant’.

Then, ‘Celestial Spirit Plant’ must be refined into one’s ‘innate spirit root’!

The ‘Celestial Spirit Plant’ must be planted and nurtured.

Using it to absorb the essence of heaven and earth, endless vitality, nourishing oneself.

Allowing practitioners of this technique to ignore innate qualities, cultivating unimpeded to the Nascent Soul stage.

And longevity is greatly superior to the same realm cultivators.

“To be considered a Celestial Spirit Plant, it must at least be a third-tier spirit plant.”

“This level of plant needs to be planted in a second-tier spiritual vein.”

“To effectively foster a third-tier spirit plant, drawing endless vitality from the essence of heaven and earth, it must be planted in a third-tier spiritual vein!”

“Also, once the plant is set, to cultivate the ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’, one cannot be too far from the plant, effectively being bound to one spot.”

“Even if these strict conditions are met and the technique is mastered, it’s quite useless.”

“Because the ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’ focuses solely on cultivating longevity, abandoning all offensive and defensive capabilities.”

“All spiritual energy goes to nurturing the body and soul, leaving no combat ability. Even if one reaches the Golden Core stage, direct combat would be comparable to Foundation Establishment. Nascent Soul stage, comparable to Golden Core.”

Lu Changsheng, observing the technique recorded in the Jade Slip, couldn’t help but shake his head.

This technique is truly unrivaled.

It allows one to ignore spirit root aptitude, cultivating unimpeded to the Nascent Soul stage.

And lifespan is twice that of the same realm.

But the cultivation conditions are harsh beyond belief.

And the drawbacks are extremely apparent.

Once cultivated, there’s no method for protecting one’s path, no capabilities for defense.

“Among the obstacles in cultivation, without divine abilities or combat techniques, long life is futile.”

“Eventually, it leads to destruction, and the path ends.”

“The ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’ is suitable only for those sheltered by the great powers of the cultivation world, who have protectors and no need to fight, happy living in tranquility.”

“Otherwise, for the average cultivator, the strict conditions alone are enough to deter one, let alone mastering it.”

Lu Changsheng remarked.

But in the next moment, Lu Changsheng’s eyebrows twitched, as if realizing something.

“Though the ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’ isn’t fit for me.”

“In situations like Zhenzhen and Miaoyun, it’s perfect, even children like Xian’er can cultivate this technique.”

“As long as I achieve Golden Core or Nascent Soul, I can provide such conditions, give them a sanctuary, for cultivating the ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’.”

Lu Changsheng suddenly thought.

With the System by his side, Lu Changsheng had confidence in his future cultivation.

But his wives and children had difficulties.

Qu Zhenzhen had an Eighth-Tier Spirit Root, yet has only reached the second layer of Qi Refining.

Though Lu Miaoyun possessed a SeventhTier Spirit Root, already at the fourth layer of Qi Refining upon marrying.

But childbirth and child-rearing slowed her cultivation, and she’s still at the peak of the fourth layer.

It’s nearly a half-abandoned cultivation.

As for Lu Xian’er and Lu Quanzhen.

Though they had spirit roots, they were mere lower-tier spirit roots.

Lu Changsheng doubted his capability to nurture these children to Foundation Establishment or Golden Core.

Seeing this ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’, he felt that once conditions allow, he can fully let his wives and children cultivate this technique.

Thus making their cultivation path simpler in the future.

Also, he didn’t require these wives and children to join fights or duels.

“This matter, for now, is too distant.”

“At least until I become a Golden Core or Nascent Soul True Person and have a spiritual vein to call my own.”

Lu Changsheng took a deep breath and exhaled, not dwelling on this.

It’s too early to consider this.

Yet, the ‘Heaven and Earth Longevity Technique’ added a hint of urgency to his cultivation.

Then Lu Changsheng continued checking the three people’s storage bags.

After a long time.

The three storage bags were sorted.

1,256 Spirit Stones.

One body refining Foundation Establishment spirit material.

One top-tier Artifact.

Four mid-tier Artifacts.

Seven mid-tier Artifacts.

One mid-tier first-level puppet.

Three lower-tier first-level puppets.

Over a hundred talismans.

Several pills.

Various spirit plants and spiritual herbs!

“Xia Long and the owner of Little Talisman Hall must have explored the realm, converting Spirit Stones into pills, talismans, or treasures like the Void Thunder.”

“Thus, the Spirit Stones were few.”

“However, these Artifacts, talismans, puppets, and spirit plant materials are worth several thousand Spirit Stones.”

Lu Changsheng, after organizing their items, held a Brocade Box.

Inside, there was a fist-sized, crimson fruit with blood-colored patterns flowing on it, quite mysterious.

“And having this Blood Sun Fruit, a Foundation Establishment spirit material for breaking the ‘Vitality Pass’, the third barrier of Foundation Establishment.”

“I now have all three Foundation Establishment spirit materials.”

“Unfortunately, I lack the main ingredient, Celestial Spirit Fruit, for Foundation Establishment Pill, otherwise, I could proceed.”

Lu Changsheng pondered.

Before, he inquired about the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Thinking that once he acquires second-tier pill refining, he might craft it.

But he realized he thought too much.

Though difficult to refine, the real challenge is the ingredients, especially the main Celestial Spirit Fruit.

Its rarity limits production to the Purple Secrets Realm.

Elsewhere, it’s extremely rare.

This is why the major Spirit Sects monopolize the Purple Secrets Realm, rarely trading Foundation Establishment Pills.

Next, Lu Changsheng made slight repairs, waiting for the Iron Feather Eagle to recover, then rode it back to Jiulong Market.

Planning to organize Xia Long’s belongings.

He concealed his identity, transforming into a plain, wooden young man.

Following Xia Long’s instructions on array breaking, Lu Changsheng entered Xia Long’s home, collecting the ‘Heavenly Curtain Five Elements Array’ from his courtyard.

This mid-tier array is valued at over a thousand Spirit Stones.

He then followed Xia Long’s words, uncovering a storage bag under a tree.

Inside, three hundred Spirit Stones.

Lu Changsheng glanced around the house briefly.

Gathering a few of Xia Long’s belongings as mementos for his wives and children.

Once done, Lu Changsheng left Jiulong Market.

He didn’t directly head to Xia Long’s mortal family.

Instead, he returned home first.

His sixtieth child was due in half a month.

Two days later.

Lu Changsheng successfully returned to Qingzhu Mountain.

Through chatting with Lu Miaoyun, Lu Changsheng leared about Lu Yuanshan’s return from the Purple Secrets Realm.

But he came back with one arm missing.

Among the accompanying Lu Family disciples, only Lu Miaokun returned.

Lu Miaofa did not return, falling in the Purple Secrets Realm.

As for the Purple Secrets Realm’s gains, even Lu Miaoyun didn’t know.

“If Lu Yuanshan didn’t acquire the Celestial Spirit Fruit, the losses for the Lu Family are significant.”

Lu Changsheng reflected.

A cultivator like Lu Yuanshan, after losing an arm, sees a significant decline in combat power.

And body impairment affects their prospects for Foundation Establishment, likely unable to advance.

A Lu Family elite like Lu Miaofa is rare within the family.

They represent future core strength, Foundation Establishment potential.

Each loss is a severe blow to the Lu Family.

Regarding this, Lu Changsheng had no deep thoughts.

Such issues were beyond his concern.

Now, he only observed if new Foundation Establishment grand cultivators emerged from Lu Family within two years.

If not, it suggests Lu Yuanshan likely gained nothing from the Purple Secrets Realm.

Or that the Lu Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators failed at breakthrough.

In the coming years, their chances of producing new Foundation Establishment cultivators are slim.

Meanwhile.

In the northern border of Jiang Kingdom, Da Mengze.

A pretty girl in a purple dress stopped her flying Artifact.

Before her stood a grand city, brimming with spiritual light.

The city seemed endless, its outline only faintly visible through the spiritual light; rows of walls and peaks resided within.

Around the city gate, numerous cultivators flew on swords, boats, or spirit beast mounts, mesmerizing passersby.

Even powerful presences flew in, indicative of Golden Core cultivators, causing others to clear a path.

“Now, I possess the main ingredient, Celestial Spirit Fruit, for Foundation Establishment Pill.”

“I can buy the other two supplementary ingredients in Immortal City of Da Mengze.”

“Once all materials are collected, a second-tier pill refiner here can craft the Foundation Establishment Pill.”

“Then I can commission him to refine it for me!”

Meng Xiaochan landed her flying Artifact, walking towards the city gate.

On the tens of feet of city gate stood ‘Immortal City of Da Mengze’ in calligraphy.

Inspiring a sense of ancient grandeur and sublimity.

“It’s said Alchemist Chen Ping can make at least one Foundation Establishment Pill each time he sets up his cauldron.”

“On average, he’d yield two. With luck, three.”

Meng Xiaochan thought of her Foundation Establishment Pill being secured.

At this moment, an image of a handsome, upright young man flashed in her mind.

“When he advances to Foundation Establishment, he’ll certainly need a Foundation Establishment Pill, too.”

“If I give him one, he’ll be quite pleased.”

“But what excuse should I use to give him one?”

“I understand he’s quite flirtatious with many wives. If I give him a pill, and he proposes marriage, requesting I become his partner, what then?”

Meng Xiaochan suddenly felt hesitant, her cheeks blushing.

“When the time comes, should I accept or not?”

“If I agree right away, will it seem too hasty, too immodest?”

Her heart raced like a deer, hands covering her flushed cheeks.

Her mind wandered, envisioning such a scene.

Next moment, Meng Xiaochan shivered.

Her eyes showed fear.

“No, I must reach Foundation Establishment soon, or the Locking Emotion Gu’s influence will worsen!”

Meng Xiaochan bit her lip, her fingers touching her forehead, a resolute look in her eyes.

Half a month later.

Lu Changsheng’s sixtieth child was born.

“No money for gifts?”

Seeing his newborn, Lu Changsheng felt disappointed not receiving System gift money.

Previously, every ten children birthed granted a lottery draw.

But now, not receiving it left him feeling a bit let down.

“Phew, if not, then not.”

“I had long suspected it wouldn’t rely solely on sheer numbers to gain rewards.”

Lu Changsheng exhaled, quickly accepting it.

He had mentally prepared for this.

Aware that relying on childbirth for rewards would only last so long.

Once reaching this limit, he’d need to focus on nurturing and improving his children himself.

“Since the child count approach won’t work, it’s time for quality upbringing.”

Lu Changsheng pondered.

In three years, forty children were born.

More than in the previous five years.

Attempting to test his luck through numbers, Lu Changsheng admitted he had intentions to try and gain System rewards through childbirth.

Now, gaining rewards through childbirth was harder, with reduced returns.

Lu Changsheng considered slowing down.

Focusing on wives with spirit roots.

These years, children from wives with spirit roots had satisfactory chances of also having spirit roots.

This approach allows more time for cultivation.

After all, frequent childbirth did somewhat affect his cultivation pace.