Eternal Life by Daily Divination

A faint yet palpable pressure, the might of a Nascent Soul, suddenly descended upon Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an promptly adopted a respectful expression, cupping his hands in a bow.

"Senior Canghong, this junior is dull-witted and lacks strength. I did not gain much in the Secret Realm."

He and the other two had long since discussed the situations they might encounter after leaving the Secret Realm.

Canghong True Monarch blocking their path was one of the very scenarios they had discussed.

This old man had never been happy about Li Chang’an entering the Secret Realm.

He would most likely try to make things difficult for Li Chang’an upon his exit.

Sure enough.

He asked coolly, "Li, did you not participate in the step-climbing trial?"

"Reporting to Senior, this junior did participate in the trial. However, my Divine Sense is weak. I barely made it to the hundredth step before I could go no further. I cannot compare to the Celestial Prides of the Vermilion Bird Sect and only managed to obtain a single Tier Three Treasure."

"Truly only a hundred steps?"

"Yes. How would this junior dare to deceive Senior?"

Li Chang’an’s expression was earnest, his tone sincere.

Mu Hongyu stepped to his side and said to Canghong True Monarch, "Supreme Elder, Daoist Li truly only made it to the hundredth step. His Divine Sense is on par with his Cultivation, and he was trapped in an Illusion Realm multiple times within the Vermilion Bird’s Nest."

"That’s right. Daoist Li was with us the entire time. Hampered by his lack of strength, he didn’t gain much."

Ning Mengwei also spoke up in Li Chang’an’s defense.

This very scene before them.

The three of them had rehearsed it many times, leaving no flaws.

Canghong True Monarch’s expression darkened slightly. His gaze swept over the three for a moment, and he seemed to want to ask something else.

But then, the Vermilion Bird True Monarch spoke.

"Mengwei, what were the results of your trial this time?"

"Reporting to Master, I reached the two hundred seventy-seventh step."

"Not bad!"

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch smiled and offered a word of praise.

She beckoned to the three of them. "You three, come with me. Tell me the details of your journey."

"Yes!"

The three responded in unison.

Afterward, they followed the Vermilion Bird True Monarch to a side hall in the Vermilion Bird Sect.

This left Canghong True Monarch with no further opportunity to question them.

Li Chang’an could tell.

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch was clearly helping him.

If Canghong True Monarch had been allowed to continue his questioning, he feared complications might arise.

As he followed the Vermilion Bird True Monarch to the side hall, he could faintly feel a gaze fixed on his back. It was obviously Canghong True Monarch’s.

’This old coot is really petty. Don’t tell me he wants me to leave all my gains in the Vermilion Bird Sect?’

Li Chang’an grumbled inwardly.

After they entered the side hall, the gaze finally vanished.

He secretly sighed in relief and cupped his hands to thank the Vermilion Bird True Monarch.

"Thank you, Senior!"

"It’s nothing."

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch’s expression was calm as she waved her hand.

"Li, I have no intention of finding out how many steps you truly climbed. However, if the Treasure you obtained is useful for the Vermilion Bird Sect’s Cultivation Techniques, you may trade it with us. I have quite a few Wood Element Treasures on hand."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Senior, but the item this junior obtained is not compatible with the Vermilion Bird Sect’s Cultivation Techniques."

Li Chang’an didn’t go into specifics.

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch didn’t press the matter, her gaze shifting away from him to question Mu Hongyu and Ning Mengwei.

The two of them recounted the details of their journey.

Of course.

They omitted the matter of Li Chang’an’s disappearance.

They also chose to conceal the true result of Li Chang’an’s trial.

「That evening.」

The three of them left the side hall and went to Mu Hongyu’s training grounds to celebrate the successful conclusion of their trip to the Secret Realm.

After some conversation, Mu Hongyu reminded Li Chang’an.

"Daoist Li, I’m worried that Canghong True Monarch is still paying attention to you. Why don’t you cultivate at my training grounds for a year or so before returning to Changqing Mountain?"

She said this, naturally, for Li Chang’an’s own good.

But at the side, Ning Mengwei gave her a strange look.

Mu Hongyu did not yet have a cultivation partner. If Li Chang’an were to cultivate in her training grounds for too long, it would likely start rumors.

Li Chang’an, however, didn’t think much of it.

"Thank you for your kind intentions, Daoist Mu. I don’t think Canghong True Monarch would go so far as to keep his eyes on a mere Golden Core junior like me."

He expressed his thanks, then calculated the time.

Midnight was approaching.

’If the Divination shows no problems, I’ll leave the Vermilion Bird Sect. But if there is a problem, I’ll do as Mu Hongyu said and cultivate in the Vermilion Bird Sect for a while.’

Mu Hongyu’s training grounds were located in a relatively core area of the Vermilion Bird Sect. The Spiritual Power concentration there reached Tier Three Peak, which was more than enough for his cultivation.

Soon, Midnight arrived.

The content of the Divination materialized before his eyes.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Peaceful]

[You will leave the Vermilion Bird Sect smoothly and return to Changqing Mountain, encountering no mishaps along the way]

"A Peaceful Trigram. Not bad!"

Looking at the Divination’s content, Li Chang’an’s heart was put at ease.

It seemed that Canghong True Monarch had some sense of shame after all, unlike White Tiger True Monarch.

Before long, Li Chang’an bid farewell to Mu Hongyu and Ning Mengwei.

He performed a Magic for Concealing Form and Breath and quietly left the Vermilion Bird Sect.

Just as the Divination had shown.

The journey was exceptionally smooth, and he did not encounter any ambushes.

...

「After returning to Changqing Mountain.」

Li Chang’an immediately burrowed deep into Changqing Mountain.

He used the Power of the Earth Element to hollow out an Underground Palace in an area with dense Spiritual Power.

"This Underground Palace will be used to cultivate Poisonous Insects."

Soon.

One secret chamber after another appeared.

Li Chang’an prepared a separate Array for each chamber to prevent the Poisonous Insects from escaping.

In addition, outside the entire Underground Palace, he also set up more than ten interlocking Quasi-Tier Four Grand Arrays.

After doing all this.

Li Chang’an released the Soul of Ye Feng, the Saint Child of the Five Poisons Valley, from the Venerable Soul Banner.

After a round of interrogation, he squeezed out every last bit of information about cultivating Poisonous Insects from Ye Feng’s mind.

After learning of Li Chang’an’s intentions.

Ye Feng stated clearly, "Li Chang’an, the resources required to cultivate Tier Four Poisonous Insects are far beyond what you can afford. Even within my Five Poisons Valley, there are very few Tier Four Poisonous Insects."