Eternal Life by Daily Divination

The Curse Killing Skill was also one of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortality.

This technique was bizarre and mysterious.

Mastering this skill allowed one to kill from a distance, taking a life from thousands of miles away.

But this skill did not come without a price.

Much like Divination, the slightest mistake could cause the user to suffer a backlash.

Minor cases resulted in a shortened lifespan; severe cases meant instant death.

Furthermore, this skill was exceedingly vile and insidious.

Using it too often would diminish one’s own luck and fortune, leading to an unending streak of misfortune.

’A Tier Three Top Grade curse killing technique... If it’s only being used on an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator, it shouldn’t diminish his luck by much. That must be why the Curse Master is so confident.’

Li Chang’an rubbed the spot between his eyebrows, pondering to himself.

That sinisterly cold nail seemed to have only pierced the straw effigy, yet it made him, far away in the heart of the Southern Domain, feel deeply uneasy.

A subtle, stabbing pain emanated from between his eyebrows.

Moreover, his mind was in turmoil, as if disaster was about to strike, and an indescribable weakness washed over his entire body.

’If all seven nails were driven in, I’d be gravely injured, even if I didn’t die.’

Breaking this curse wouldn’t be difficult.

All he had to do was reveal the Qin Hong Puppet and kill the Curse Master before the other Saint Children and Saintesses could react.

But if he did that, Gu Yunqi would surely become guarded.

That course of action was a last resort.

Li Chang’an swallowed a few calming Elixir Pills to maintain his composure, then unleashed his Tier Four Divination Skill.

Instantly, a mysterious aura enveloped him. His eyes deepened, their gaze becoming as vast as a sea of stars.

A faint, slender thread appeared in his vision.

The thread’s aura was profound and mysterious. It stretched all the way from the distant Ancient Ruins Secret Realm, connecting the spot between his eyebrows to the straw effigy.

’As I thought, most of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortality are interconnected.’

Li Chang’an also knew methods for killing from a distance.

Mu Yan had nearly been killed by him in that very way.

It was for this very reason that Li Chang’an thought of using Divination to break the Curse Killing Technique.

’Sever!’

With a single thought, he condensed his Power of Divination into a long saber and brought it down hard on the slender thread.

The slender thread snapped instantly, dissipating into the world.

The stabbing pain between Li Chang’an’s eyebrows vanished!

The turmoil in his mind dissipated as well.

He felt as if he were reborn, his entire body feeling much lighter.

...

「At the same time.」

Aboard the Yellow Sand Sect’s Flying Ship in the Ancient Ruins Secret Realm.

"Rest assured, everyone. Li Chang’an is a dead man!"

The Curse Master’s face was brimming with confidence. He formed a hand seal, preparing to send out the second nail.

But the moment the words left his mouth, the aura of Li Chang’an on the straw effigy suddenly vanished. Its features reverted to normal, and it became an ordinary scarecrow once more.

The Curse Master’s expression changed drastically. As if struck by a heavy blow, he collapsed to his knees and spat out a large mouthful of blood.

The six remaining nails, which had been levitating, all fell at once.

Then the nail embedded in the effigy’s head suddenly trembled. It pulsed with a dark light, flew out of the straw head, and transformed into a cold gleam that shot straight for the Curse Master’s own head!

"Suppress!"

The White Tiger Saint Child, Cui Baihong, acted at once, blocking the nail.

CLINK.

The nail fell to the ground, its glow extinguished.

Cui Baihong’s brow furrowed. He looked at the Curse Master and asked, "What happened? Why did you fail?"

But the Curse Master couldn’t answer.

His face was a mask of terror as he knelt there. Unsettling trickles of blood flowed from his eyes, ears, and nose. The moment he opened his mouth, he vomited another large mouthful of fresh blood.

He could not see, hear, or speak. He couldn’t even extend his Divine Sense, making communication all but impossible.

Seeing his wretched state, everyone understood that he had suffered an extremely severe backlash.

Without treatment from Top Grade Spirit Medicine, he would likely be crippled for life.

"Forget it."

Cui Baihong was utterly disappointed. With a wave of his hand, he stuffed the man into his Spirit Beast Bag.

His expression was grim.

After all, he had previously boasted that killing Li Chang’an would not be difficult.

But his subordinate’s performance had been a true embarrassment.

Gu Yunqi’s expression remained neutral. He said, "That Li Chang’an is no easy opponent. He is blessed with great fortune and has likely had many fortuitous encounters. Failure is to be expected. After all, he is the first person in the entire Southern Domain of Zhao Country in a thousand years to achieve Core Formation with a Low Grade Spirit Root."

He said this, of course, to give Cui Baihong a way to save face.

Sure enough, the grim look on Cui Baihong’s face vanished, replaced by a touch of astonishment.

"Core Formation with a Low Grade Spirit Root?"

"That’s right."

Gu Yunqi and the others all nodded.

They too had been surprised when they first learned this news.

’Not only can that Li Chang’an achieve Core Formation with a Low Grade Spirit Root, but he can also thwart a Tier Three Top Grade curse killing technique... He must have some kind of Tier Four fortuitous opportunity on him... ’

Cui Baihong’s heart was in turmoil. As he gazed toward Changqing Mountain in the Southern Domain, another idea began to form in his mind.

...

「A few days later.」

Deep within his cave abode, the thick stench of blood filled the air.

Li Chang’an slowly rose from a scarlet medicinal bath, his body a mass of bulging, knotted muscle.

His old, cracked skin flaked away, turning to dust and revealing tougher flesh beneath.

"Fourth Layer of Body Refining!"

Today, he had officially stepped into the Middle Stage of Tier Three Body Refinement.

With such a physique, he could withstand the attacks of a Middle Stage Golden Core Cultivator head-on.

’My Body Refinement has once again outpaced my Magical Power cultivation.’

Li Chang’an slowly clenched his fists. He felt every inch of his body surge with explosive power, and for a moment, he felt invincible.

Just then, Midnight arrived.

A golden light manifested.

[Divination Refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Ominous]

[You will suddenly sense the killing intent of a Nascent Soul. The White Tiger True Monarch of the White Tiger Sect will descend upon Changqing Mountain to capture you alive, but you will use the Realm-Sundering Talisman to escape.]

Upon seeing the contents of the Divination, the sense of invincibility that had just swelled within Li Chang’an’s heart vanished without a trace.