Eternal Life by Daily Divination

’This is bad,’ Qin Hong thought.

His luck was terrible. To think he would run into Zi Xi here.

In terms of strength, he was no match for Zi Xi.

Besides, he was alone, while Zi Xi had plenty of backup.

"Withdraw!"

Without a moment’s hesitation, Qin Hong pushed his Escape Technique to its limit and shot away as a streak of light.

Zi Xi did not give chase.

She was powerful, but Qin Hong was a Saint Child, after all. Killing him would be no easy task.

’Why is he at Changqing Mountain? Could he have also accepted a Decree from Huang Sha True Monarch?’

After a moment of thought, Zi Xi looked away.

A moment later, she piloted her Flying Ship to a steady landing on Changqing Mountain.

Li Chang’an had been waiting for some time.

He noticed a few unfamiliar Cultivators standing beside Zi Xi.

Most of them wore red robes, and a scorching Fire Element Power emanated faintly from them. ’They must be from the Vermilion Bird Sect.’

"Saintess, here are this month’s Elixir Pills."

Li Chang’an stepped forward and handed over a Storage Pouch filled with Elixir Pills.

After several transactions, Zi Xi had grown to trust Li Chang’an completely, so she accepted the pills without inspecting them.

She put the Elixir Pills away and introduced the person beside her to Li Chang’an.

"Daoist Li, this is the Vermilion Bird Sect’s Saintess, Mu Hongyu."

"Greetings, Daoist Mu."

Li Chang’an bowed with his hands clasped and sized her up.

The woman had a full head of red hair and stunning features. Clad in crimson Armor and holding a matching spear, she radiated a heroic aura.

The Qi she exuded was on par with Zi Xi’s.

’She must be one of the top Saint Children or Saintesses of the Vermilion Bird Sect.’

"Daoist Li."

Mu Hongyu’s voice was crisp and clear. She too was sizing up Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an’s Cultivation was only at the Early Stage of Golden Core, but for him to be so highly regarded by Zi Xi, the Saintess of the Purple Mist Sect, he had to be extraordinary.

After a brief exchange, the two were formally acquainted.

Mu Hongyu extended an invitation. "Daoist Li, you are skilled in Alchemy and Artifact Refining. Why not join my Vermilion Bird Sect? Within our Mountain Gate, we have a Tier Four Earth Fire that could help you hone your Skills."

"Thank you for the kind offer, Daoist Mu. I am used to my freedom and would not adapt well to a Sect’s rules."

Li Chang’an offered his standard excuse with a smile.

Hearing this, Mu Hongyu did not insist.

She traded some Tier Three Fire Element Spiritual Medicine with Li Chang’an for several types of Tier Three Spiritual Pills.

This kind of transaction could strengthen the karmic ties between them and quickly build rapport.

Since both were interested in forming a connection, the trade went very smoothly.

Afterward, Zi Xi warned him, "Daoist Li, the Yellow Sand Sect’s Saint Child, Qin Hong, was spying outside Changqing Mountain just now. He likely intends to move against you, so be on your guard."

"Qin Hong?"

Li Chang’an knew of this person.

He wasn’t worried. Even if every Saint Child from the Yellow Sand Sect tried to storm Changqing Mountain, he was confident he could make sure none of them left.

For a Golden Core Cultivator, a Tier Four Skill was practically a guarantee of invincibility.

After some more conversation, Zi Xi, Mu Hongyu, and their group departed.

Before she left, Zi Xi mentioned that both the Purple Mist Sect and Vermilion Bird Sect had recently suffered heavy casualties. She hoped Li Chang’an could refine more Healing Elixir Pills.

The Purple Mist Sect would pay a premium for these pills and would buy as many as he could provide.

’This war won’t end anytime soon. I should refine more Elixir Pills and build up a reserve. As for the price... I’ll keep it the same for the Purple Mist Sect, but I can raise it slightly for the other, more common powers.’

In chaotic times, it was normal for the prices of things like Elixir Pills and Talismans to increase.

Back during the Beast Tide, Li Chang’an had sold off many Treasures at inflated prices.

The current situation was even more chaotic than the Beast Tide, and the prices of all kinds of Treasures were skyrocketing.

He was still being quite generous, all things considered.

He’d heard that some of the Dan Valley Xiao Family’s Elixir Pills had already seen a price hike of over forty percent.

’Alchemy is such a lucrative business.’

Li Chang’an entered the Alchemy Room, unable to suppress another sigh of emotion.

After refining a batch of Elixir Pills, he was about to begin his Medicated Bath Body Refinement when he suddenly sensed a familiar and powerful presence.

"Elder Jiang?"

Li Chang’an’s figure blurred, and he instantly appeared in the courtyard on Changqing Mountain.

Jiang Xuanyuan, in a long robe, stood with his hands behind his back in the courtyard, looking down at the vast Changqing Immortal City below.

"Elder, please, have a seat!"

Li Chang’an immediately brought out his best Spirit Tea and Spirit Fruits to serve the Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Jiang Xuanyuan smiled and said, "No need. I came here today to inform you of a matter."

"Has something happened with the Great Qi?"

"Indeed."

Jiang Xuanyuan stated plainly that the Great Qi Immortal Dynasty was about to formally declare war on the Wang Family, a Nascent Soul Family.

These two Nascent Soul powers, much like the Purple Mist Sect and the Yellow Sand Sect, had years of accumulated conflict between them.

Although they had tried to form an alliance through marriage, the effect was minimal.

In recent years, conflicts had been erupting between the two sides with increasing frequency.

Just a short while ago, a prince of Great Qi was killed by a Wang Family cultivator while he was out training.

"I am heading out to fight the Wang Family and will be facing their Nascent Soul cultivators. I may not be free to intervene. If Huang Sha True Monarch moves against you again, you should leave this place for now."

"I understand. Thank you, Elder."

Li Chang’an thanked him solemnly.

Not long after, Jiang Xuanyuan departed.

Worried that Jiang Muyu would be concerned for him, he left without seeing her.

...

「A few days later.」

Li Chang’an learned the news that the Great Qi Immortal Dynasty and the Wang Family had declared war on each other.

At this point, all Four Nascent Soul Powers of Zhao Country had descended into bloody conflict.

That night, Li Chang’an stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing up at the heavens. His eyes were exceptionally deep as he poured all his energy into using the Power of Divination to foresee the future.

In an instant, he saw a vision of countless wailing souls.

But this vision of a Purgatory on earth flashed by in an instant, quickly vanishing as it was swallowed by a thick, bloody Qi.

Li Chang’an tried to see more, but he immediately sensed the risk of it shortening his lifespan.

’The secrets of heaven are unfathomable.’

He sighed inwardly and withdrew the Power of Divination.

After a while, Li Chang’an left Changqing Mountain, changed his identity, and entered the Black Market.

There was now a Black Market outside Changqing Immortal City as well, and it was even more impressive in scale than the one outside Yellow Crane Immortal City.

Not long ago, Luo Qiantong had moved his base of operations here.

This was the heart of the Southern Domain, after all, making it convenient for contacting various powers.

It was also easier for Li Chang’an to find him.

Of course, he still didn’t know that Li Chang’an was Li Fan.

To all the major powers, the identity of Li Fan remained shrouded in a veil of mystery.