[Dao Companions: Tang Qiu Yao/Ling Qiyue/Ling Bingyun/Luo Qingxuan/Xue Qingtan/Meng Feiyu/Fu Yin Xue]

After becoming a Golden Core Master, his Lifespan shot past five hundred years, finally settling at 618.

This was naturally because of Ling Changqing's exceptional talent, as well as his possession of the Era Star Palace. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Moreover, Ling Changqing felt that his Lifespan still had room to grow before he reached the Nascent Soul True Monarch Realm. It would increase slightly with every minor realm he advanced.

The improvement in his Cultivation brought a significant increase to his Luck and Fortune. The same was true for other key attributes like his Root Bone, comprehension, and Divine Soul.

His primary Cultivation Techniques—the Taiyin Moonlight Divine Heart Refining Scripture, the Langhuan Celestial Essence Secret Manual, the True Understanding of the Sword Dao, and the Long Xiang Fan Brahma Scripture—had all reached the Second Level.

The Taiyin Moonlight Divine Heart Refining Scripture continuously enhanced and strengthened a Cultivator's Divine Soul Origin. Although Ling Changqing was only at the Early stage Golden Core, his Divine Soul was already as strong as that of a Late stage Golden Core Cultivator.

The power of the Langhuan Celestial Essence Secret Manual primarily lay in refining his Magical Power and increasing its total volume.

According to Gong Ling's assessment, Ling Changqing's Magical Power reserves were already fifteen times greater than those of Cultivators at the same rank. Its purity was also far superior, as was his recovery speed after expending it.

The True Understanding of the Sword Dao and the Long Xiang Fan Brahma Scripture increased his lethality in the domains of sword cultivation and body cultivation, respectively. They effectively compensated for Ling Changqing's weaknesses, taking his overall combat prowess to the next level.

To put it simply, Ling Changqing's current strength could already match that of an ordinary Late Stage Golden Core Cultivator—he might even have a slight edge.

If the current Ling Qiyue were to spar with Ling Changqing, she would be unable to defeat him unless she used some of her trump cards.

'...Should I spend some more Lifespan to upgrade my Supporting Art Skills?'

Ling Changqing pondered.

Gong Ling chuckled. "Of course you can! Besides, you can always get it back after you spend it."

"Alright then."

Ling Changqing nodded and spent fifty years of his Lifespan to raise his Talisman Dao proficiency from Rank One High Grade to Second Rank Low Grade.

Deciding that wasn't enough, he simply spent another hundred years of Lifespan to raise his Talisman Dao proficiency to Middle Grade Second Rank.

As a chaotic flame descended from the void, a massive amount of experience and insights regarding Talisman creation flooded his sea of consciousness. It took him quite some time to fully absorb it all.

With this, Ling Changqing's ability to create Talismans was now on par with Qin Yun's.

A Middle Grade Second Rank Talisman Master was a highly sought-after talent among veteran Golden Core powers and could live quite comfortably even within a Nascent Soul power.

By now, Ling Changqing's Lifespan had dropped from 618 to 468.

Ling Changqing thought for a moment, then took out all the second-rank and Third Rank Demon Beast Cores from his Storage Pouch and sacrificed them all to Gong Ling in one go.

When the last Core dissolved into a radiant flame, his Lifespan had recovered to 629.

'Might as well upgrade my Alchemy Dao too.'

Ling Changqing decided to do it. Upgrading his Alchemy Dao from Second Rank High Grade to Third Rank Low Grade cost three hundred years of Lifespan.

Gong Ling complied, and a faint, chaotic flame descended from the void, enveloping Ling Changqing and blazing intensely.

He soon felt a sea of Pill Formulas, scripture recipes, and alchemy experience flood his sea of consciousness. The sheer volume of information overwhelmed him, making him dizzy for a moment.

If Ling Changqing's Divine Soul Origin hadn't been so much stronger than that of an ordinary Golden Core Cultivator, he truly might not have been able to withstand the influx.

[Bone Age: 42/329]

[Alchemy Dao: 2/40000 (Third Rank Low Grade)]

[Talisman Dao: 2/30000 (Middle Grade Second Rank)]

Ling Changqing first nodded, then shook his head and muttered, "This Lifespan is really not enough. I need to find a way to recover it, and fast!"

He suddenly remembered the life-extending Elixirs he had in his Storage Pouch. He had ones ranging from Rank One to Third Grade, and he'd never used any of them.

Ling Changqing quickly took them all out and took stock. The Rank One Heavenly Flower Rejuvenation Pill could increase his Lifespan by five years.

The second-rank Songhe Rejuvenation Pill could add fifteen years, and the Third Grade Turtle Longevity Pill could add forty years.

However, all three Elixirs were only fully effective the first time they were taken. Any subsequent doses would have a greatly diminished effect.

Ling Changqing thought for a moment and took two of each Elixir.

Ultimately, his Lifespan recovered from 329 to 403 years.

"This will have to do for now," Ling Changqing said. "Once I get out, I'll hunt more Sea Beasts, collect their Inner Cores, and sacrifice them to recover the rest."

"Mm, and there's one more thing I need to tell you, Master,"

Gong Ling said, "your authority has increased. You can now use the Grotto Heaven Blessed Land inside the Era Star Palace!"

"Grotto Heaven Blessed Land?"

Ling Changqing looked slightly stunned. An instant later, he saw Gong Ling guide his Divine Sense into a brand-new space.

It was a small world, roughly a kilometer in diameter. A soft, hazy light illuminated every corner, and the ground beneath his feet was made of hard, light-cyan jade.

The Spiritual Qi here was exceptionally pure and abundant, surpassing that of a Third Grade high rank Spirit Vein and reaching the level of a Grade Four Spirit Vein. It was equivalent to the Cave Mansion Hall of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

'Looks like I can enter Cultivation in Seclusion here in the future. The results will be even better.'

Ling Changqing mused that as a Golden Core Master, he was fully capable of using a Fourth grade Spirit Vein Cave Mansion for his Cultivation.

The space was also large enough to serve as an oversized storage warehouse in the future, and its security was unquestionable.

"That's no problem. In fact, you can also use this place as a temporary sanctuary, Master. You can hide in here when you encounter a danger you can't handle."

Gong Ling said with a smile.

"Oh, really? Then I'll give it a try!"

As he said this, Ling Changqing opened his eyes.

With a mere flicker of his Divine Thought, his entire body vanished from the Cultivation Chamber, reappearing inside the Era Star Palace's Grotto Heaven Blessed Land.