Chapter 398
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Chapter 398: Ancient Method of Cultivating Immortality
Qingming Mountain range.
Several blurry spirits drifted into a cloud-shrouded valley, disappearing without a trace.
Further away.
Lingling Taoist Priest frowned, standing on a nearby hill, and said:
"Indeed."
"Immortal Gate is a special place. It’s either guarded by powerful individuals or by magical formations."
"Qingming Valley is not far from Xuantian Sect. It makes sense that it’s protected by magical formations." She turned and asked,
"Mr. Qiao, I’ve heard that martial artists like you, with exceptional skills and sharp intuition, can you sense where those Medicine Men’s spirits have gone in the valley?"
Lingling Taoist Priest was also a bit puzzled.
After finally tracking down Qingming Valley, they found the Medicinal Valley, but lost track of the Medicine Men’s spirits.
"I didn’t notice anything," Qiao Mu replied.
"Oh…," Lingling Taoist Priest suddenly remembered something, and she exclaimed,
"Mr. Qiao, wait!"
Qiao Mu didn’t understand, he just turned his head and looked at her with a puzzled expression.
He hadn’t done anything yet, so why was Lingling Taoist Priest so excited?
"Qingming Valley is not far from Xuantian Sect, and it is an important place for the sect. If we act rashly, the consequences could be dire. It might be even worse than directly attacking the sect’s gate."
Lingling Taoist Priest seemed to feel that what she said was not very convincing, and then added:
"Actually, I am also skilled in the art of formations. As long as Mr. Qiao gives me a few days, I can locate the soul of the Medicine Man Mr. Qiao is looking for, it shouldn’t be too difficult…"
After speaking, Lingling Taoist Priest nervously looked at Qiao Mu.
Qiao Mu suddenly understood, Lingling Taoist Priest was worried that he would make a rash move and directly attack Qingming Valley…
"I think your stereotype of our Qiao family members is too deep," Qiao Mu smiled and said:
"I am not a hotheaded young man like Qiao Shuangxin, why would I do something reckless?"
He spoke with sincerity and seriousness.
He is not a reckless brute, but a brave warrior who thinks before acting.
He used to act fiercely due to knowing the cost of his death. He willingly chose to follow his heart despite the consequences.
The cost of recklessness for most people is death, but Qiao Mu is different.
The Long Life Lock keeps him immortal, but the price is an increasingly long Long Life Dream.
After the Long Life Lock broke four times, the huge cost of each death made even the 2,400-year-old Qiao Mu a bit nervous.
He could endure hundreds of years in the Long Life Prison, but facing thousands of years ahead, he wasn’t sure if he would wake up as clear-minded after his next dream.
A saint sacrifices without hesitation, but Qiao Mu knows he is not a saint. He can bear a bit more than others, hence he acts according to his heart.
"Don’t worry, I have it under control," Qiao Mu smiled.
But his smile, when seen by Lingling Taoist Priest, made her feel a bit uneasy.
She was in Nan Province, and with all the recent buzz about forest destruction and temple demolition in Nan Province, how could she not know?
The declined Earth Origin Temple dared not provoke the Xuantian Sect, and naturally showed deep respect towards the Qiao family member who dared challenge the Xuantian Sect.
"That’s fine, that’s fine," Lingling Taoist Priest nodded, sweat forming on her forehead.
However, Qiao Mu asked again at this moment:
"So, do you want me to wait outside this valley for these few days?"
"Well…" Lingling Taoist Priest hesitated.
"Master." Qiao Canxue spoke up from the side.
"Why don’t we split up? You, Master, stay outside the valley to study how to break the barrier."
"Shall we go explore Qingming Valley together to find Senior Sister Yuanyuan’s trail?"
"Okay." Lingling Taoist Priest nodded, knowing she couldn’t control Qiao Mu.
"You said earlier that you needed a few days…how many exactly?" Qiao Mu asked again.
"Seven days…no, three days."
"Three days, that works." Qiao Mu didn’t have time to wait around.
He knew that Wang Songhe was the Medicine Man of the Xuantian Sect, which meant that after this Medicine Man’s soul entered the formation, things could go either way.
The later it gets, the more dangerous it becomes.
"In that case, let’s go in."
Qiao Mu looked at Qiao Canxue in front of him.
He doesn’t understand magic spells or formations, he only has a pair of iron fists that can break magical treasures.
Now, what needs to be done is a secret investigation. Qiao Mu only knows how to sneak in like an assassin from the Creed. Naturally, he needs Qiao Canxue, a knowledgeable cultivator of magic, to guide him.
"The spirit of Medicine Man is missing. After entering the valley, let’s go find Senior Sister Yuanyuan first," said Qiao Canxue with her eyes closed, followed by a sigh.
. "The spirits of those Medicine Man seem like bait, just luring us to Qingming Valley, then using a big formation to hide their whereabouts…"
"Entering the valley like this, I wonder if we have played right into the hands of Xuantian Sect…"
"Played right into their hands?" Qiao Mu shook his head.
"As long as your fists are strong enough, you can turn the tables!"
Qiao Canxue was slightly surprised and glanced at Qiao Mu with her eyes closed.
She remained silent for a moment, then changed the subject, talking about Taoist Yuanyuan’s matters.
"My senior sister Taoist Yuanyuan is actually a very approachable person, and she is at the advanced stage of Qi Refining."
"Only the advanced stage of Qi Refining?" Qiao Mu was surprised.
"Reaching the advanced stage of Qi Refining is already quite difficult," said golden core cultivator Qiao Canxue.
"In our Earth Origin Temple, we practice an ancient method and do not involve ourselves in worldly matters. This means that as we progress in our cultivation in the mortal world, it becomes increasingly challenging," explained Qiao Canxue.
"Most wanderers, without the assistance of worldly matters in their cultivation, often remain at the Qi Refining Stage. Even those with good aptitude can only break through to the Foundation Building Stage. Beyond that, the path to immortality is almost cut off…"
Qiao Mu nodded in understanding.
The obstacles in practicing the ancient method align with what Wang Songhe mentioned earlier. By not involving in worldly matters, reaching the Foundation Building Stage is the ultimate achievement.
However, there are very few exceptions.
Wang Songhe was able to advance to the Golden Core Stage, but at the cost of becoming a Medicine Man.
And why is this Qiao Canxue here, and at what cost?
"My senior sister Taoist Yuanyuan is stuck at this pass, stuck at the late stage of Qi Refining Stage, unable to progress further to Foundation Building," Qiao Canxue continued:
"So she decided to join the Xuantian Sect to learn the orthodox method of cultivating immortality through the Nine Heavenly Immortal Gates, hoping to make a breakthrough."
"And the reason we are on this journey is actually for her…"
Their figures entered into the mist-covered valley, gradually disappearing from sight.
…………………….
Qingming Valley is protected by a large formation, appearing misty and unclear from the outside, but inside it is a beautiful place with abundant spiritual energy.
The valley is filled with medicinal fields and lush spiritual plants, with well-built houses and cultivators and Spiritual Farmers moving around in an orderly manner.
"Sweet Rain Skill."
Female Cultivator Yuanyuan pinched a hand gesture.
Five or six tall Taoist soldiers in blue walked up to her, with holes in their wrists where a faint spiritual water splashed out, sprinkling onto the spiritual field.
The blue Taoist soldiers walked through the spiritual field, leaving water marks that quickly spread throughout the entire field, blending into the soil.
"Finally finished." Female Cultivator Yuanyuan wiped her sweat.
She was a round-faced, slightly plump middle-aged female Taoist, with a demeanor somewhat similar to Lingling Taoist Priest, looking kind and benevolent.
However, her face was a little pale at the moment, showing obvious signs of exhaustion.
Female Cultivator Yuanyuan didn’t know the "Sweet Rain Skill."
As a Qi Refining cultivator, her mastery of techniques was limited, and did not include skills like the "Sweet Rain Skill" for planting spiritual plants.
So she was actually just indulging her taste buds earlier, mainly relying on her five or six blue Taoist soldiers.
"The planting with the green robe Taoist soldiers from Xuantian Sect is really useful, but a bit expensive. Each statue costs a thousand lower grade spirit stones. And for me, who is at the Qi Refining Stage, it consumes quite a bit of spiritual power."
Taoist Yuanyuan looked troubled as she counted under the shade of the trees.
"Increased spiritual power consumption means less time for daily cultivation. When will I achieve a complete Qi cultivation, save up the required thirty thousand lower grade spirit stones for the sacred Fire Spirit position, and advance to the Foundation Building Stage?"
Behind her, there were dozens of ordinary people bowing their heads and laboring in another herbal field.
The herbal field was lush green, cultivating a spiritual herb called "Nine Earth Grass." The herbs were thriving and it was time for harvesting.
The ordinary people were bent over in the spiritual field, cutting the spiritual herbs with sickles like harvesting wheat.
Suddenly.
A faint hissing sound was heard.
A black demon snake with wings sprouting from its back suddenly burst out of the ground, knocking down a Spiritual Farmer harvesting herbs. It hissed with a long snake tongue.
At a crucial moment, a tall Spiritual Farmer stepped forward and stomped on the tail of the snake.
The snake, in pain, forgot about the Spiritual Farmer under it and lunged at the tall man behind it.
In just a moment’s delay, a Taoist soldier in green robes arrived, his wrist revealing a sharp blade as he sliced the snake in half.
Blood oozed from the snake’s body, with a strange gray hue mixing with the bright red color.
"Black Water Winged Snake?" Female Cultivator Yuanyuan’s face showed bitterness.
"This creature has a deadly poison in its blood. Once it dies, the land will be tainted and destroyed. It’s a huge loss."
"It’s my fault…"
Female Cultivator Yuanyuan made the Taoist soldier in green robes step back, feeling bitter as she counted in her mind.
Approaching the farmland, she waved for the nearby ordinary Spiritual Farmers to retreat and praised the brave tall Spiritual Farmer who had stepped up.
"You did well. Among regular people, very few are as brave and decisive as you. What’s your name?"
"周…Zhou Xin." the tall Spiritual Farmer replied, "The fortune teller said my luck is bad, lacking in wealth, so I go by Zhou Xin."
"Who asked you so many questions?" Female Cultivator Yuanyuan showed a hint of impatience on her face.
"Forget it. You can come to my cave tomorrow to receive your reward, as for now…" Female Cultivator Yuanyuan looked at the spirit field contaminated by gray blood and sighed softly.
"You all can rest for now and leave. Let’s not worry about this spirit field for now."
"Ok."
"Immortal Yuanyuan’s power is vast… easily destroying this snake disaster.."
The crowd of Spiritual Farmers smiled happily and stepped back one by one.
Although they didn’t understand what kind of monster it was, just one glance at that creature sent shivers down their spine, indeed they were hesitant to get involved.
After walking far away and blending in with the crowd, Qiao Mu using the alias Zhou Xin began to investigate:
"Is this Immortal Yuanyuan very powerful?"
"Hmm…" The Spiritual Farmers frowned, but when they saw Zhou Xin bravely stopping the monster snake earlier, their expressions softened a bit.
People who, like Zhou Xin, can step in to help in dangerous situations are often respected and befriended. Soon, someone answered:
"Are you new here?"
"A disaster caused by Black Water Winged Snakes also happened on the nearby mountain. Many people died back then, leaving many lives to be accounted for."
"Here, the Black Water Winged Snake was just discovered and swiftly slain by Immortal Yuanyuan’s soldiers. How impressive can other immortals be compared to that?"
"Is it really that powerful?" Qiao Mu wondered to himself.
To Qiao Mu, the Black Water Winged Snake did not seem like a fierce monster at all.
A Taoist soldier controlled by a Qi Refining cultivator can easily kill, so it’s not a big deal.
"It’s not that the monster is powerful, it’s just that it’s tricky…" a female farmer named Qiao Canxue whispered, using a camouflage technique to hide her appearance.
"It’s easy to kill with poison, but it’s not so simple to drive away," Qiao Canxue said.
"This Black Water Winged Snake is actually quite cowardly. Once startled, it often tries to escape by shedding its tail."
"After shedding its tail, the poisonous blood spreads out and the residual poison is endless. So, in order to capture it unharmed without startling the Black Water Winged Snake, one must have the cultivation level of Foundation Building."
"Foundation Building…"
………
"Always talking about Foundation Building, when will you achieve it? Taoist Friend Yuanyuan, your approach is not wise."
In front of Female Cultivator Yuanyuan’s cave, a middle-aged cultivator with a short beard shook his head and sighed.
"Now that the spirit field is ruined, it may cost thousands of lower grade spirit stones to compensate."
"Dealing with the Black Water Winged Snake is indeed difficult," said Female Cultivator Yuanyuan, shaking her head.
"To invite a senior from the Foundation Building Stage sect over, it will take some time. By the time they arrive, casualties among my Spiritual Farmers may be severe."
"Taoist Friend Shanyin, I heard your spirit field also faced a snake disaster. How did you handle it back then?"
The middle-aged cultivator with short beard paused, staring straight at Female Cultivator Yuanyuan as if she were a strange creature, and said, "…"
"Friend, why are you so innocent?"
"Before joining Xuantian Sect, were you always cultivating in the mountains, ignoring worldly affairs?"
Female cultivator Yuanyuan suddenly choked up.
Both he and the Taoist Shanyin in front of him are considered disciples of the Xuantian Sect.
The other person is a wandering cultivator, while she actually comes from the "Earth Origin Temple". It’s not entirely wrong to say that cultivating in the mountains without caring about worldly matters.
The Earth Origin Temple, a declining sect, dares not show itself in the current cultivation world, so it’s indeed not wrong to ignore worldly matters…
"I have something else to attend to, so I’ll take my leave." The short-bearded cultivator did not answer her question, just waved goodbye.
Only Female Cultivator Yuanyuan was still standing in a daze at the entrance of the cave… This Taoist Friend Shanyin has not answered her question yet, how to deal with this snake disaster…
