Eternal Life by Daily Divination

「Ten days later.」

Li Chang’an arrived at the Vermilion Bird Sect.

Inside the Mountain Gate of the Vermilion Bird Sect, he met Mu Hongyu and the junior sister she had mentioned.

"Daoist Li, this is my junior sister, Ning Mengwei."

"A pleasure to meet you, Daoist Ning."

Li Chang’an clasped his hands and bowed.

Ning Mengwei’s demeanor was somewhat similar to Mu Hongyu’s.

She, too, was clad in Crimson Battle Armor, exuding a scorching aura. Her red hair billowed, and her Cultivation had reached the Late Stage of Golden Core.

"A pleasure to meet you, Daoist Li."

Ning Mengwei returned the gesture, her voice clear and crisp.

Once they were acquainted, Mu Hongyu began to explain the situation in the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm to Li Chang’an.

The Vermilion Bird Secret Realm was named "Vermilion Bird" not because of the Vermilion Bird Sect, but because there was a massive Vermilion Bird’s Nest within the Secret Realm.

The interior of the Vermilion Bird’s Nest was a complex labyrinth fraught with peril.

Ning Mengwei’s Land of Trial was located inside.

"Daoist Li, perhaps the place you’re looking for is also inside the Vermilion Bird’s Nest."

Mu Hongyu didn’t ask about Li Chang’an’s specific objective.

She handed him a Jade Scroll.

Within the Jade Scroll was a map of the entire Vermilion Bird Secret Realm.

Li Chang’an took the Jade Scroll and extended his Divine Sense into it. After seeing the full map, he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

The Vermilion Bird Secret Realm wasn’t very large.

One month was enough time for him to fly there and back.

...

「The next day.」

The three of them arrived together before the entrance to the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm.

According to the rules of the Vermilion Bird Sect, they were all supposed to be inspected by a True Monarch.

However, the Vermilion Bird True Monarch turned a blind eye. He didn’t inspect Li Chang’an and simply let him pass, only making him walk past a Tier Four Illusion-Breaking Treasure.

"Thank you, Senior!"

Li Chang’an immediately expressed his thanks.

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch had helped him a great deal in being able to enter this Secret Realm.

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch waved his hand and said nonchalantly, "Go on in. Don’t disappoint my disciple."

"Yes!"

Li Chang’an then transformed into a streak of light and flew into the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm.

In an instant, a scorching wave of Qi washed over him.

This heat was different from that of the Fire Cloud Secret Realm; it was mixed with a dense Demon Qi.

A crimson world appeared before Li Chang’an’s eyes.

The sky was crimson, as if it were on fire.

The earth was dry and cracked, with streams of Earth Fire of varying Tiers continuously erupting from the fissures.

Li Chang’an took a single breath, and the searing air surged into his body, feeling as if it would incinerate him from the inside out.

’As expected of the place where the Vermilion Bird nested.’

The Vermilion Bird was a mythical, divine bird.

A Secret Realm chosen by such a creature for its nest would naturally be full of wonders.

Li Chang’an silently took out the four keys, infused them with Magical Power, and carefully sensed his surroundings.

’The Ancient Wood Cave Mansion is located deep within this Secret Realm.’

His eyes grew profound as he gazed into the distance.

Deep within the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm was only that massive Vermilion Bird’s Nest—the site of Ning Mengwei’s trial.

Mu Hongyu said, "Daoist Li, my junior sister and I are heading to the Vermilion Bird’s Nest. Would you like to join us?"

"Let’s go together."

Li Chang’an nodded.

He was in an unfamiliar place, so following Mu Hongyu, the Vermilion Bird Saintess, was his best option.

And so, the three of them traveled together, venturing deep into the crimson Secret Realm.

「Ten days later.」

A colossal Vermilion Bird’s Nest, tens of thousands of feet tall, appeared before Li Chang’an’s eyes.

The entire Vermilion Bird’s Nest radiated an indescribable pressure. Just a single glance made him feel a considerable weight.

The Spirit Wood used to build the nest was all crimson, and each piece flowed with Spiritual Light, clearly a High-Tier Treasure.

Even with Li Chang’an’s current knowledge, he couldn’t identify any of this Spirit Wood.

Mu Hongyu explained, "Outside the Vermilion Bird’s Nest, there is an invisible Array of at least Tier Five. We can enter, but we must not try to take any of the Spirit Wood used for the nest. Otherwise, the Array will certainly attack us."

Apparently, the previous generations of Vermilion Bird Sect seniors had already tried to take the Treasure.

But their fates had not been kind.

The inside of the Vermilion Bird’s Nest was also full of danger.

Large numbers of Fire Element Demon Beasts roamed the area.

Additionally, various Illusions appeared frequently.

Mu Hongyu said to Li Chang’an, "Daoist Li, these Illusions are all tests of a Cultivator’s Divine Sense. If one’s Divine Sense is strong, they can quickly see through them."

She said this, of course, to warn Li Chang’an.

Normally, a Cultivator’s Divine Sense grows along with their Cultivation. The stronger the Cultivation, the stronger the Divine Sense.

Among the three of them, Mu Hongyu was the strongest, already at the Golden Core Peak.

Her junior sister, Ning Mengwei, also had a Late Stage Golden Core Cultivation.

Only Li Chang’an was weaker, at just the Early Stage of Golden Core. His Divine Sense was therefore unlikely to be very strong, making it difficult for him to cope with the many Illusions in the Vermilion Bird’s Nest.

"Daoist Li, although you have a Guardian Divine Sense Treasure, the Illusions in the Vermilion Bird’s Nest are very peculiar. They don’t aim to attack you but rather to make you become lost in them. Your Treasure may be useless."

"Thank you for the information, Daoist Mu."

Li Chang’an wasn’t worried.

He wasn’t relying on a Treasure, but on his own Divine Sense, which had surpassed the Tier Three Limit.

Mu Hongyu’s Divine Sense wasn’t particularly strong; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been injured by the Consciousness Skill of the Five Poisons Valley Cultivator, Ye Feng, all those years ago.

If even she could make it out of the Vermilion Bird’s Nest, then Li Chang’an naturally could as well.

At this moment, Ning Mengwei also said, "Daoist Li, if you’re going to enter the Vermilion Bird’s Nest, stay close to me and Senior Sister Mu. Don’t go off on your own."

"Alright."

After a brief discussion, the three of them passed through the Grand Array guarding the Vermilion Bird’s Nest and entered its interior.

Inside the Vermilion Bird’s Nest was a network of intricate passages formed by countless crisscrossing pieces of Spirit Wood.

Li Chang’an sensed that the Ancient Wood Cave Mansion was not far off.

It was just ahead!

The three of them ventured deeper together.

Before they could reach the cave mansion, a strange Illusion suddenly descended upon them.

In this Illusion, Li Chang’an obtained countless opportunities, grew at lightning speed, broke through to the Nascent Soul realm, and after several hundred years, became a Divinity Transformation Celestial Monarch, looking down upon the entire Cultivation Realm.

He didn’t become lost in it, realizing its falsehood almost immediately. However, he wanted to experience the false sensation of Nascent Soul and Divinity Transformation Power, so he didn’t wake up right away, savoring the feeling for a while longer.

But before he could finish his experience, Mu Hongyu’s worried voice rang in his ears.

"Daoist Li, wake up! Quickly!"