Eternal Life by Daily Divination

"Hongyu, the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm belongs to the entire Vermilion Bird Sect. How could I let an outsider in and damage the Sect’s interests just for your personal gain?"

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch sat high in the depths of the main hall, her expression serene.

Mu Hongyu pleaded, "Master, Daoist Li saved my life. If it weren’t for him, you and I, master and disciple, would have been separated by death. Can’t you truly let him into the Secret Realm?"

"Very well. I will help you this once."

Seeing the desperate plea on her face, the Vermilion Bird True Monarch’s tone softened.

「That evening.」

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch summoned the upper echelons of the Vermilion Bird Sect for a meeting.

Her gaze swept over the assembly as she stated Mu Hongyu’s request.

"Allowing an outsider into the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm violates our Sect’s rules. Though I am a True Monarch, I cannot be the one to break them. Therefore, I am seeking all of your opinions. If you agree, I am willing to place a Tier Four Treasure into the Sect Treasure Vault, free of charge, as compensation to the Sect."

The words had barely left her lips when Mu Chen stepped forward to object.

"Master, the Sect’s rules must not be changed. If we alter them for Hongyu’s personal whim, I fear that in the future, more people will try to circumvent the rules."

"Mu Chen, have you forgotten? In the ruins of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, Daoist Li broke through numerous Arrays for us. You received a share of the treasures from within those Arrays!"

A displeased look washed over Mu Hongyu’s face, and a flicker of fury appeared in her eyes.

She rebuked him loudly, "You received plenty of benefits from Daoist Li, yet now you seek to obstruct him. How can you be so petty?"

"Hongyu, I’m not being petty. I’m simply thinking of the reputation of the Sect and our Master."

Mu Chen’s expression remained unchanged as he defended himself.

He immediately stated that if they allowed Li Chang’an into the Secret Realm for selfish reasons, the Vermilion Bird True Monarch’s reputation would suffer.

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch herself didn’t seem to care about this.

However, many of the disciples in her lineage could not accept it.

Furthermore, the other True Monarch of the Vermilion Bird Sect also felt Mu Chen had a point and did not want the Sect’s rules to be broken.

For a moment, the voices of opposition grew louder and louder.

Mu Hongyu gritted her teeth, her eyes turning red as if burning with rage. She gripped her crimson spear so tightly she wished she could run Mu Chen through with it.

In the end, after some discussion, those in the main hall reluctantly agreed.

They could all see that the Vermilion Bird True Monarch intended to push the matter through, and they were unwilling to disrespect her.

However, the right to enter the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm could not be given to Li Chang’an for free.

Everyone declared that Li Chang’an must present a sufficient number of Treasures to exchange for this privilege.

In other words, they were making him buy the privilege from the Vermilion Bird Sect.

After a long discussion, the group drew up a list of Treasures.

The items on the list nearly sent Mu Hongyu into a furious rampage.

"Tier Four Red Fire Sparrow Essence Blood, Tier Four Flaming Profound Eagle’s Lifebound Spirit Feather, Tier Four Phoenix Blood Grass, Tier Four Fire Cloud Crystal..."

There were more than sixty items in total, and every single one was a Tier Four Treasure!

Moreover, even among Tier Four Treasures, these were considered exceptionally rare.

Even a Nascent Soul True Monarch wouldn’t necessarily be able to produce such items.

How could Li Chang’an, a mere Loose Cultivator in the Early Stage of Golden Core, possibly gather all these things?

This list was clearly just another way of rejecting him.

Mu Hongyu said angrily, "If you don’t want him to enter the Secret Realm, just say so! Why resort to these underhanded methods? If word of this gets out, we’ll be a laughingstock!"

No one spoke. Their silence was its own response, a clear statement of their stance.

They were deliberately making things difficult for Li Chang’an.

The lowest Cultivation among those present was Golden Core.

They weren’t the least bit worried about a Loose Cultivator in the Early Stage of Golden Core holding a grudge against them.

The Vermilion Bird True Monarch sighed to herself and said, "The number of Treasures on this list is, admittedly, a bit excessive. How about this: we’ll only ask Li Chang’an to produce one-tenth of them. What do you all think?"

Hearing this, the crowd exchanged glances, and for a moment, no one spoke.

Mu Hongyu sent a secret voice transmission: "Master, even just six types will be extremely difficult for Daoist Li to produce."

"I will prepare half of them for him. If he cannot even come up with the other half, it proves he has no destiny with the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm."

"Thank you, Master!"

Mu Hongyu instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

She knew that Li Chang’an was blessed with great luck and profound fortune.

For a mere three Tier Four Treasures, he just might be able to gather them.

Meanwhile, Mu Chen thought differently.

He believed that Li Chang’an couldn’t produce even a single one of the Treasures, let alone six.

’He can forget about ever entering the Vermilion Bird Secret Realm in this lifetime!’

...

After the meeting concluded, Mu Hongyu immediately left the Vermilion Bird Sect. She rushed to Changqing Mountain without stopping and told Li Chang’an everything that had transpired.

After she finished speaking, she placed the list of Treasures in front of Li Chang’an.

Li Chang’an glanced at it and sighed inwardly.

’It was always me making others gather Treasures for me. This time, I’m the one doing the Treasure Hunting for someone else.’

’They’re all Tier Four Treasures. I don’t have a single one right now. I’ll have to figure out a way to get my hands on them. Fortunately, I still have time.’

Li Chang’an’s Cultivation was only at the Middle Stage of Golden Core, still a long way from Golden Core Peak.

His need for a subsequent Cultivation Technique was not urgent.

’If I really can’t obtain these Treasures, I’ll just switch to cultivating a second-rate Celestial Grade Wood Element Cultivation Method, use it to reach the Nascent Soul realm, and then pay a visit to the Vermilion Bird Sect as a Nascent Soul True Monarch!’

’At that point, the Vermilion Bird Sect couldn’t possibly refuse me again.’

Mu Hongyu said with an apologetic expression, "Daoist Li, this matter was so difficult largely because of Mu Chen. I misjudged him in the past. I never imagined he could be so narrow-minded. I am truly sorry."

"It’s fine, Daoist Mu. This has nothing to do with you."

Li Chang’an waved his hand dismissively, seemingly unconcerned, but he had already added Mu Chen’s name to his list of scores to be settled.