Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 267 - 174: Qi Cultivation Level Two, Demon Calamity Erupts!

Chapter 267: Chapter 174: Qi Cultivation Level Two, Demon Calamity Erupts!

Traveling relies entirely on our own two feet; if we want to thoroughly investigate the abnormalities at Purple Ice Lake, it will demand a significant amount of time and effort.

Several days ago, when the investigation teams arrived at the territory of Three-Phase Mountain, in order to complete their probe as quickly as possible and avoid the cold spirit winds that strike around the end of the year, they were forced to split into three groups.

Qu Guang was assigned to the left route; this path was overseen by Master Baiyun of White Cloud Cave Mansion, so White Cloud Cave Mansion’s alchemists held considerable authority.

The banquet was little more than a title; in truth, it was a negotiation over how to assign personnel.

"You plan to join Alchemist Lei’s banquet?"

Qu Guang’s brows furrowed slightly.

The area of Purple Ice Lake is vast; even these three investigation teams have to be split into numerous smaller squads, each responsible for its own sector.

Only by doing so can the time needed be greatly reduced.

The reason the teams were halted here was precisely for the purpose of forming squads.

Alchemist Lei commanded one of these squads.

"Among all these more than ten teams, Alchemist Lei’s may not be the strongest, but its potential is worth betting on!"

Lin Jing tossed out a sound insulation talisman and spoke up.

"We’ve been preparing for decades; now all we lack is a Foundation Establishment Pill. Although Alchemist Lei’s strength might be average, he has good connections with Alchemist Zhou Lin."

Qu Guang nodded silently.

This was a reality impossible to ignore.

Otherwise, joining the Supreme Profound Sect disciples’ squad would be optimal; even teaming up with famed late-stage qi cultivation loose cultivators would be better than allying with an alchemist.

Everyone knows, alchemists have rather mediocre combat power; in places like this, they’re far less useful than loose cultivators skilled in fighting.

But sometimes, you have to think long-term; only when working alongside alchemists can you build deep ties, laying the groundwork to secure Foundation Establishment Pills in the future.

"The Supreme Profound Sect disciples are notoriously proud; what do they care for loose cultivators like us? As for your little grudge with Alchemist Lei, just bear with it this once."

Qu Guang’s expression flickered, but in the end, he sighed: "For Foundation Establishment, fine."

At this moment, Lu Chang’sheng’s image flashed across his mind. But reality reminded him—becoming a Grade Two alchemist was just too hard.

Alchemist Lin and Alchemist Lei, for example, spent ten or twenty years advancing to top Grade One alchemists, able to refine the highest-grade pills, but after decades more, neither has managed to step into Grade Two.

Just like how it’s near impossible for late-stage qi cultivators to break into Foundation Establishment, to achieve the rank of Grade Two alchemist truly is one in ten thousand.

······

"Dang!"

A deep, ethereal bell resounded throughout the White Cloud Pharmacy.

Just after returning to White Cloud Pharmacy, Lu Chang’sheng saw Steward Mo hurrying past, and couldn’t help but ask curiously, "What happened?"

"That’s the Joyful Bell—it rings when someone passes the Grade B Alchemist exam."

Grade B alchemist?

Lu Chang’sheng suddenly remembered; White Cloud Pharmacy has a rule—if an alchemist passes the Grade B exam, the Joyful Bell is struck as a sign of celebration.

He asked who it was, but Steward Mo replied that he wasn’t sure yet; though, there aren’t many who could advance to Grade B, so it wasn’t too hard to guess.

"If it’s not Zhong Ming from Junya Institute, it must be Zhou Lin inside the Mountain Gate."

"Zhou Lin? Isn’t he already a Grade B alchemist?"

"Officially, yes—but that’s just a rating, or you could call it potential. The true Grade B alchemist is different; they’ve actually met the full requirements."

Steward Mo didn’t linger long.

If not for his good relationship with Lu Chang’sheng, he wouldn’t even have paused to give his thoughts.

To work as a steward at White Cloud Pharmacy, one must be discreet.

The emergence of a Grade B-rated alchemist was a big event, and Steward Mo had to coordinate with the stewards at Grade B Institute for the celebration.

That evening, Lu Chang’sheng finally found out who had advanced to Grade B alchemist.

Zhou Lin!

"There are two main standards for becoming a Grade B alchemist: first, you need a 50% success rate creating top Grade One pills; second, your cultivation must have reached mid-stage qi cultivation."

Of course, there are some less important requirements, such as bone age and fire control.

These can vary depending on other factors, but only those first two are truly mandatory.

Lu Chang’sheng’s eyes showed a hint of envy.

He glanced at the light curtain panel, and that inferior spirit root talent on display stung his heart.

On the other hand, he was getting ever closer to Great Success in Qi Storage Pill refinement.

······

In a blink, it was already year’s end.

Lu Chang’sheng sat inside the alchemy room as a chill wind blasted in; even the thick stone walls couldn’t keep out the cold.

Cold spirit winds—able to reach everywhere, with no refuge.

"I wonder how teacher’s investigation is going?" A flicker of worry crossed Lu Chang’sheng’s eyes.

The Purple Ice Lake area is a forbidden zone for cultivators—besides the cold spirit winds and other strange phenomena, there are domain fields of all kinds.

The deeper you go, the more likely you are to encounter uncanny domain fields. The most notorious, apart from the cold spirit winds, are the ’spirit magnet’ phenomena.

Spirit magnet fields disrupt sound transmission shells and even treasure vault immortal insects to some degree.

Thus, since his last brief conversation with his teacher via sound transmission shell, he hasn’t been able to reach him again.

"Teacher said the teams planned to finish investigating before the onset of the cold spirit winds—but looking at things now, it doesn’t seem promising."

Though worried, there was nothing he could do.

Everyone sent into Purple Ice Lake is a late-stage qi cultivation big shot; if even they can’t manage, it’s hopeless for him.

A faint warmth welled up in his heart.

"Immortal Dao Root Bone +1!"

"Name: Lu Chang’sheng"

"Age: 60/155"

"Root Bone (Main): 2/10 [Immortal Dao Spirit Root, Inferior Grade, Next Stage: Grade D - Low]"

······

"Techniques: Five Wood Immortal Technique (Second Layer)······"

"Skills: Qi Storage Pill (Great Success), Everlasting Pill (Minor Achievement), Cyan Wood Fire Technique (Entry)······"

······

In the blink of an eye, Lu Chang’sheng had turned sixty.

Had he been living in the mortal world, he might already be halfway into the grave; in the Spirit Realm, though, he could be considered in the prime of middle age.

"Lifespan sure drains fast."

Most early-stage qi cultivators have a lifespan of 150 years; but by taking Longevity Pills lately, he’d managed to raise his lifespan to 155 years.

Before year’s end, leveraging an abundance of cultivation resources, he finally increased his magical power to 10 stocks, advancing into Qi Cultivation Second Layer.

This brought him great comfort.

Countless loose cultivators, at sixty, were still stuck on Qi Cultivation First Layer—like those few he’d met back in Great Yuan domain.

That he, despite his inferior Immortal Dao Spirit Root talent, had managed to reach Qi Cultivation Second Layer in this short time was surely thanks to his plentiful resources.

"Magical power feels much more refined now."

In his hand, a faint cyan flame danced among his fingers, jumping around like a sprite.

"So, the change at Qi Cultivation Second Layer isn’t only about the amount of magical power—it’s about the quality, too."

Lu Chang’sheng quietly savored the feeling.

Having just broken through in cultivation gave him the keenest sensitivity, allowing him to truly perceive the changes in his magical power.

Even if he only had one more stock of magical power now than before, the refinement meant that a single stock almost equaled two from before.

So, the leap from Qi Cultivation First to Second Layer is bigger than most imagine.

"No wonder mid-stage qi cultivators are so powerful."

Lu Chang’sheng flicked his finger, using his long-unused Martial Arts Finger-Pressing Divine Skill.

An air wave visibly flashed and vanished, striking the stone wall with a boom and leaving a bowl-sized crater behind.

He could never have achieved that at Qi Cultivation First Layer.

The stone walls of the alchemy room contained steelstone fragments, their hardness rivaling the finest mortal weapons.

He dared not keep testing, afraid to damage the alchemy room itself.

Tonight was New Year’s Eve; Lu Chang’sheng was preparing to return to Lu Mansion and spend the holiday with his family, but just as he stepped outside, Steward Mo hurried toward him.

"Alchemist Lu—bad news, something’s happened."

"Don’t panic, tell me slowly." Lu Chang’sheng’s heart sank; he saw a kind of panic on Steward Mo’s face he’d never seen before.

"There’s been a demon calamity at Purple Ice Lake."

Lu Chang’sheng’s brows shot up, shock flashing across his face.

"This—how is that possible!"

Demon calamity occurs when the number of demons reaches a certain threshold, unleashing disaster.

It’s said that in ancient times, demons occupied much of the Spirit Realm, warring with human cultivators until, eventually, the spirit realm came to be dominated by humans.

Places like the Extreme Cold North and Black Desert Ancient Domain are still overrun by demons.

But in the Guangnan Domain, demon calamity has been a rare thing.

"There are always signs ahead of a demon calamity—by rights, Guangnan Domain should lack the conditions for one to arise."

Lu Chang’sheng muttered under his breath.

Steward Mo had already hurried off; he’d only come to inform Lu Chang’sheng first out of friendship, but now needed to notify everyone else and figure out how to respond to what lay ahead.