Eternal Life by Daily Divination

The vast expanse of ice and snow suddenly reminded Li Chang’an of Mo Qingxue.

He shook his head, pushing the thoughts aside to focus on his search.

「More than ten days later.」

Following the trail of Qi, Dahuang tracked their target deep into the Northern Plains, to a land of countless mountains and ravines blanketed in ice and snow.

"Master, the trail of Qi is getting stronger. Wang Qianling must be nearby!"

"Conceal your Qi. Keep searching."

"Yes!"

Dahuang immediately activated the Qi Concealing Pearl.

Li Chang’an, in turn, cast a Magic to hide his own Qi.

The man and his dog searched tirelessly through the frigid wind. In the blink of an eye, several hours passed, and night fell once more.

Dahuang suddenly stopped and gazed at an ice mountain thousands of feet high in the distance.

"Master, Wang Qianling’s Qi is coming from inside that ice mountain!"

"Good."

Li Chang’an nodded slightly and recalled Dahuang into his Spirit Beast Bag.

He didn’t rush into the mountain. Instead, he first used a Communication Treasure to contact Wang Xiaoqi and confirm that Wang Qianling’s Soul Lamp was still lit.

This meant Wang Qianling was still alive.

However, Li Chang’an didn’t know what the inside of the ice mountain looked like or if there were any traps.

He was extremely cautious. He calculated the time and waited quietly for the Divination to appear.

Before long.

A golden light materialized before his eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[You will enter the ice mountain and find Wang Qianling in peril. You will rescue her, and to show her gratitude, she will give you the Tier Four Withered Spirit Flower.]

’An Auspicious Trigram. This is a sure thing!’

Li Chang’an’s eyes lit up as he looked at the three words "Withered Spirit Flower" in the Divination.

As long as he could obtain this Array-Breaking Treasure.

The arduous tracking over the past days would all be worth it.

He hesitated no longer, immediately casting an Escape Technique to slip quietly into the ice mountain.

Soon.

Li Chang’an noticed a strange sensation.

’This place is unusual. The flow of Qi is chaotic, and the secrets of heaven are obscured. No wonder I couldn’t perform a divination. It’s a fitting hiding spot for Cultivators wanted by Major Sects.’

He remained vigilant as he ventured deeper into the ice mountain.

After a short while.

The interior of the ice mountain appeared before his eyes.

Inside the ice mountain was a remarkably vast space. Suspended all around were hundreds, even thousands, of ice shards that resembled clear mirrors.

At the very center of this space was an ice bed that radiated a chilling aura.

Wang Qianling was lying on the ice bed.

Her face was deathly pale and her eyes were shut tight. She was motionless, her entire body covered in frost.

Before the ice bed.

Stood the Soul of an old woman, her form almost completely transparent.

At this moment, the old woman no longer looked as benevolent as she once had. She made no effort to hide the greed plastered across her face.

"The body I have nurtured for so many years... it is finally time to use it."

Her voice was strange, sharp and hoarse.

As she spoke.

The old woman projected streams of Soul Power, which landed on the suspended ice shards around them.

In the process, her body grew increasingly transparent, as if she were about to dissipate completely.

’What is she doing?’

Li Chang’an was puzzled.

He had assumed the old woman was going to possess Wang Qianling’s body.

But from the looks of it now, it didn’t seem like a possession attempt.

’Whatever. It’s useless to overthink it. I’ll just rescue Wang Qianling first.’

Hiding in the shadows, he quietly began to channel a Demonic Technique.

The Nether Soul Sect in the Yan Country had a vast arsenal of Magic for dealing with Souls.

Li Chang’an had killed many Nether Soul Sect Cultivators, including a Saint Child, so naturally, he knew plenty of such techniques.

Just as he was about to unleash the technique...

Wang Qianling suddenly opened her eyes, a flash of pain in their depths.

"Grandma, why are you doing this to me?"

"Qian Ling, haven’t you figured it out yet? My Soul can no longer sustain itself. I can’t even walk the Reincarnation Path. My only choice is to borrow your body and merge with you as one."

The old woman let out a strange laugh, the greed in her eyes undiminished.

She looked at Wang Qianling’s body as if it were a priceless Treasure.

Hearing this.

Sorrow filled Wang Qianling’s bright eyes, and two streams of tears flowed down her cheeks.

"Grandma, all those times you were so good to me... was it all just to cultivate a suitable body?"

"That’s right!"

The old woman nodded, explaining everything.

In her life, she had also been a Cultivator with Ice and Fire Dual Spirit Roots. Furthermore, both of her Spiritual Roots had reached the Earth Grade, exactly matching Wang Qianling’s constitution.

That was precisely why she had spared no effort in nurturing Wang Qianling.

"Qian Ling, you must understand that there is no kindness without reason in this world. I helped you stand out among the many Celestial Prides of the Wang Family, even helping you defeat the Wang Family’s Spirit Body. I let you enjoy a century of glory. Now, it is time for you to repay me."

At these words, a deep sadness washed over Wang Qianling’s pretty face.

It wasn’t that she had never had her doubts.

But after so many years together, those doubts had long since vanished. She had even come to see the old woman as family, despite their lack of blood ties.

Now.

She finally understood.

The tales of senior Cultivators’ remnant souls helping their juniors... most of them were probably lies.

’How could there be so many kind-hearted seniors in this world?’

Wang Qianling lamented in her heart.

She thought of the warning Li Chang’an had once given her.

At the time, she had paid it no mind, even thinking that Li Chang’an was overly cautious, always assuming the worst of others.

If not for that, he wouldn’t have earned the nickname "Turtle."

Thinking back now.

Li Chang’an’s mindset was what a proper Cultivator should have.

’I’ve ended up in this situation because I was too quick to trust an outsider. I really shouldn’t have.’

"Qian Ling, it’s good that you understand. It seems Grandma has taught you another valuable lesson in cultivation. However, you’ll only be able to use this lesson in your next life."

The old woman looked at Wang Qianling, her strange voice full of smug satisfaction.

"No, that’s not right. I’m going to devour your Soul to replenish my own. You won’t have a next life! Don’t blame me. If you must blame someone, blame yourself for being so quick to trust..."

Before she could finish her sentence.