Of course, with Xue Qingtan's help, solving this problem wouldn't be difficult. Even if it meant paying a premium, Ling Changqing didn't mind. He wasn't short on Spirit Stones at all right now.

「Inside the Cultivation Chamber.」

Ling Changqing activated all the Array Restrictions, then sat down cross-legged on the Cold Jade Cloud Bed in the center.

His Divine Thought sank into the depths of his Sea of Consciousness, where the grand and majestic Era Star Palace, shrouded in an aura of Dao Rhyme, stood tall and unyielding.

The infinitely charming and alluring Gong Ling, her every move graceful and bewitching, came forward to greet him. Smiling, she wrapped her arms around him and gave him a kiss.

"Master... do you require Dual Cultivation right now?"

After a moment of tenderness, she straddled Ling Changqing and asked with a smile.

Ling Changqing was speechless for a moment. He looked at her and said, "Can you even perform Dual Cultivation right now?"

"I can't,"

Gong Ling shook her head. "It will be a very long time! At the very least, we'll have to wait until you break through to the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm and my true form has recovered to a certain extent."

"That day will come,"

Ling Changqing said with a smile. "I gained a great deal from the last great battle. I'd like to improve my Supporting Art Skills. What do you think?"

Gong Ling replied, "Of course that's not a problem. Master, which one do you plan to improve?"

A series of numbers, exuding a profound and unfathomable aura of Dao Rhyme, appeared:

[Master of the Era Star Palace: Ling Changqing]

[Bone Age: 40/385+70]

[Cultivation: Foundation Establishment Peak]

[Destiny: 151+317]

[Blessed Fortune: 145+266]

The increase in his Lifespan came from the Era Star Palace devouring that Nascent Soul Ancestor from the Haoyue Sect. Even though it was only a heavily wounded Nascent Soul, the benefits were extraordinary.

Afterward, Ling Changqing had spent thirty years of Lifespan to acquire a special Restriction technique for controlling Spirit Beast Combat Companions, which he used to successfully turn Liu Chengbin into his slave and fighter.

Furthermore, Ling Changqing's Destiny and Blessed Fortune had also clearly increased. This was a result of the improvement in his overall strength.

"If I choose to improve my Alchemy Dao skill, how many years of Lifespan will it cost?"

Ling Changqing asked. He was currently a Pill Master of the Middle Grade Second Rank, and having accumulated more than half the required experience, he wasn't far from reaching the Second Rank High Grade.

"One hundred years."

Gong Ling replied.

If he had no accumulated experience, advancing from a Middle Grade Second Rank Pill Master to a Second Rank High Grade Pill Master would have cost two hundred years of Lifespan.

"Then if I wanted to reach the level of a Third Rank Low Grade Pill Master, wouldn't the price be more than three hundred years?"

Ling Changqing asked with a frown.

"Yes, but you don't need to worry, Master. In any case, you can restore your Lifespan by hunting Demon Beasts and sacrificing their Inner Cores."

Gong Ling explained with a smile.

Ling Changqing pondered for a moment. "In that case, let's raise my Alchemy Dao skill to Second Rank High Grade first."

"Alright."

Gong Ling agreed.

Immediately, Ling Changqing felt the Era Star Palace erupt in brilliant light. Countless profound and esoteric insights about the Alchemy Dao flooded into his Sea of Consciousness, merging with his Divine Soul.

[Bone Age: 40/355]

[Alchemy Dao: 2/30000 (Second Rank High Grade)]

Ling Changqing considered this for a few breaths, then decided, "Then let's spend another thirty years of Lifespan and raise my Talisman Dao skill to Rank One High Grade as well."

'Anyway, I'm not far from the Golden Core Master Realm. When I break through, not only will my Lifespan be restored, but it will even increase. There's nothing to worry about.'

"As you wish, Master."

Gong Ling complied.

A moment later, Ling Changqing's Talisman Dao skill was raised to Rank One High Grade, just as he had wished.

[Bone Age: 40/325]

[Alchemy Dao: 2/30000 (Second Rank High Grade)]

[Talisman Dao: 2/30000 (Rank One High Grade)]

Although both required 30,000 experience points, the difficulty of accumulating them was on completely different levels. 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Ling Changqing reviewed the changes and was quite satisfied. Even with his remaining Lifespan, he still had more than an ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator, and it could still be restored.

"For the next little while, I plan to..."

Before Ling Changqing could finish, Gong Ling interrupted him. "Master, you should probably stay at home for a few more years. It's best not to go out casually."

Hunker down... Don't get reckless.

This was Gong Ling's advice to Ling Changqing.

"Alright, it's a deal then!"

Ling Changqing agreed.