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Two days later.
The flow of people in Cloudsmoke Immortal City greatly diminished after the auction concluded.
In the Xunxian Residence.
Inside the high-class guest room in a secluded courtyard, Lan Chang'an set up a temporary formation and isolation barrier.
He sat in meditation, eyes closed, and consumed the superior second-rank Life Extension Pill he had bid for at a high price.
Suddenly, a mysterious aura of the cycle of time began to surround him.
It felt as though he had transformed into an ancient towering tree, experiencing the passing of seasons—spring to autumn, withered wood rejuvenated, life cycles turning again and again.
This time, the medicinal effect lasted far longer than any previous instance.
“An increase of twenty-eight years!”
Lan Chang'an opened his deep, ink-black eyes, now exuding an aura of ancient wisdom and timeworn experience.
His state of mind had deepened, and even his magical power had subtly improved.
Truthfully, the effects of the superior Life Extension Pill had exceeded his expectations.
A flicker of surprise crossed his face as he pondered, “Ordinary cultivators gain just over ten years from a regular second-rank Life Extension Pill, and at most fifteen years from a superior version.”
Due to the unique nature of his Evergreen Technique, the effects of the Life Extension Pill on Lan Chang'an were doubled, and its life-extending benefits could even stack, although the potency of subsequent doses would gradually diminish.
“So, the superior second-rank Life Extension Pill's effect is equivalent to resetting the benefits?”
Lan Chang'an reached a preliminary conclusion.
For ordinary cultivators, gaining this level of longevity would require taking a third-rank Life Extension Pill or consuming life-extending spiritual treasures of the same level.
Reflecting further, Lan Chang'an realized that a superior Life Extension Pill was effectively half a rank higher than a regular one.
If even ordinary cultivators could experience an additional extension of life from it, it was no surprise that he, with his special cultivation technique, would receive such a significant boost.
“My lifespan now stands at four hundred ninety-seven years.”
This was the sixth second-rank Life Extension Pill he had taken.
He estimated that taking one more regular second-rank Life Extension Pill would push his lifespan beyond the five-hundred-year mark.
"The medicinal effect is indeed good! Unfortunately, superior Life Extension Pills are exceedingly rare, as both the materials and the alchemists required to make them are in short supply."
Lan Chang'an couldn’t help but feel a tinge of addiction to the sensation.
Having more years of life carried immense advantages for him.
It not only increased his magical power but gave him more time to plan for major breakthroughs, allowing him to avoid risking his life to compete for resources.
Furthermore, the Evergreen secret spell consumed lifespan to cultivate Xuanmu Vine and rapidly grow precious medicinal herbs.
In the cultivation world, there were many powerful techniques that also consumed lifespan.
For instance, the arts of divination and calculation.
In his second life, Lan Chang'an had only scratched the surface of this path. Besides not having the energy to pursue it further, he was also wary of the lifespan costs involved.
The effects of the superior Life Extension Pill made Lan Chang'an have more expectations and plans for the future.
...
After waiting three more days in Cloudsmoke Immortal City, Lan Chang'an finally received word from the Snow Fox Merchant Association.
Eight days had passed since their agreement, but Hanyu Immortal had not exceeded the deadline.
Lan Chang'an made his way alone to the Snow Fox Merchant Association's headquarters.
This time, he was greeted not only by Hanyu Immortal but also by another Fake Dan cultivator from the Snow Fox Merchant Association—a white-haired elder who had only about twenty years left to live and was the previous president of the guild.
Lan Chang'an guessed that Hanyu Immortal, wary of "Xiang Immortal’s" strength and identity, had invited a companion to back her up.
"Xiang Immortal, here is the 'Sha Yuan Pill' our guild expedited to Cloudsmoke Immortal City."
Dressed in her silver robe, Hanyu Immortal’s voice was cold and clear. With a graceful wave of her sleeve, she produced a jade bottle.
When she removed the cap, a grayish-white pill surrounded by demonic energy came into Lan Chang'an’s view.
Lan Chang'an used his spiritual sense to inspect it and gave a slight nod.
Inside his spirit pet bag, the Earth Burrowing Rat stirred excitedly.
“If Xiang Immortal is satisfied, we can proceed with the trade as agreed.”
“Of course.”
Lan Chang'an took out the dark purple third-rank demonic core.
The two items floated toward each other under the control of their respective magical powers.
No unexpected incidents occurred; Lan Chang'an successfully received the Sha Yuan Pill, smiling with satisfaction and feeling reassured.
The smoothness of this transaction was due to the powerful image and potential identity Lan Chang'an had cultivated.
Had it been an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator without any background, a transaction at this level might have been fraught with risks.
Sha Yuan Pills were strategic resources controlled by major forces, given their ability to help demonic beasts break through to third rank.
"Xiang Immortal is truly trustworthy! The Snow Fox Merchant Association is glad to count you as a friend," Hanyu Immortal said with a rare smile, her expression softening like the melting of winter snow as she verified the demonic core.
Although Lan Chang'an’s demonic core had been downgraded to low-grade third-rank, its rare lightning attribute and pure demonic energy made it quite valuable.
It would slightly improve the success rate and quality of future Sha Yuan Pills refined with it.
If they found the right True Dan cultivator, they might even be able to sell it at a high price.
Lan Chang'an was well aware of this but didn’t mind. This was simply the guild’s reasonable margin of profit.
Lan Chang'an flicked his sleeve.
Twenty spirit stones and a jade slip landed in Wang Feng’s hands.
“Thank you, Senior, for the reward!”
Wang Feng expressed his gratitude sincerely and bowed again.
His appreciation wasn’t just for show. As a low-level cultivator now, he couldn’t go anywhere without spirit stones.
After being hunted by the Demonic Sect and later robbed by bandits, Wang Feng hadn’t managed to retrieve his storage pouch when he fled to the Jing Kingdom.
After escorting Lan Chang'an out of the Xunxian Residence, Wang Feng returned to his own quarters, where he examined the jade slip he had been given.
“A prescription for treating my injuries?”
Wang Feng’s heart trembled as he read its contents.
The jade slip contained a medicinal recipe tailored to treat the hidden injuries that had caused his cultivation to regress and damaged his meridians and dantian. The ingredients listed were rare and precious.
Realizing that the senior had seen through his condition, Wang Feng felt a wave of fear.
“Could this senior be a true expert? Has he already discovered my true identity?”
Wang Feng had a gut feeling that he might have missed a chance to return to the Flame Departing Palace in the Liang Kingdom.
The other party had seen through his identity but hadn’t made things difficult for him, indicating that there was no malice involved.
Wang Feng quickly rushed out of the inn, but by then, the old man in the straw raincoat had already disappeared.
...
Lan Chang'an had no desire to get entangled with "Young Master Wang," even though there were secrets that could potentially be uncovered from him.
Young Master Wang’s background involved a high-ranking elder in the Flame Departing Palace, likely a late-stage Core Formation Immortal, placing him at a level similar to Lan Chang'an’s peak in his previous life.
Thus, instead of making things difficult, Lan Chang'an chose to extend a small gesture of goodwill before leaving.
The prescription would require quite a few rare materials, but if Wang Feng managed to gather the necessary spirit stones, there was a chance he could recover his cultivation.
...
Two days later.
Having left Cloudsmoke Immortal City, Lan Chang'an reverted to his original appearance as the alchemist "Wu Fan."
Now brimming with success, Lan Chang'an flew toward the Xia Family's estate in Qingsha Bay.
The next day, he was half an hour away from Qingsha Bay.
Lan Chang'an flew high above the vast Changhong River.
Qingsha Bay was connected to this river, one of the three largest river systems in the Jing Kingdom.
“Hmm?”
As Lan Chang'an enjoyed the view of the river, he suddenly sensed the fluctuations of a battle.
Focusing his gaze, he saw two gray-robed Foundation Establishment cultivators chasing down a tall, blue-robed female cultivator.
"Help me, Daoist! I am Xia Shenglan, a cultivator from Qingsha Bay!"
The female cultivator was at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment. Though not stunningly beautiful, she was dignified and graceful. However, at the moment, she was in a miserable state—her robe stained with blood, her face pale, and cold sweat dripping down her brow.
She was clearly injured from the fight, and her magical power was nearly depleted.
Whoosh!
With the open view across the Changhong River, Xia Shenglan spotted Lan Chang'an flying toward Qingsha Bay and, as if grasping a lifeline, she activated a secret technique to fly toward him.
“Fellow Daoist don't mind your own business!”
One of the gray-robed cultivators, a lean youth at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, was controlling a supreme-grade magical weapon in the form of a flag, which stirred up a cyan-colored wind mist, unleashing sharp wind blades to pursue Xia Shenglan.
“You are... Alchemist Wu?”
As Xia Shenglan flew closer, she caught sight of the round-faced, yellow-bearded middle-aged man and seemed to recognize Lan Chang'an.
The two had never met before, but Lan Chang'an had a guess about her identity, recalling that Xia Wenyue had briefly mentioned her in conversation.
“As an external guest of the Xia Family, how can I stand by and do nothing when something happens near the estate?”
Lan Chang'an wasn’t in a hurry. He summoned a supreme-grade magical weapon in the form of a silver shield.
Hum!
The silver shield shot out, expanding to several zhang in size, covering Xia Shenglan and allowing her to meet up with Lan Chang'an.
The two gray-robed cultivators were only at the Foundation Establishment stage, and although one of them was at the late stage, Lan Chang'an didn’t take them seriously.
Being so close to the Xia Family’s territory, he decided to lend a hand and curry favor with the family.
“Haha, Fellow Daoist Wu, you were forced into a contract with the Xia Family to only perform your duties as an alchemist. Why risk your life for their sake?”
A loud, disdainful voice came from the brawny late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Though his aura indicated he was at the peak of Foundation Establishment, Lan Chang'an hadn’t paid him much attention until now.
“Heh, so it’s you, Fellow Daoist Fang Zhong.”
Lan Chang'an glanced at the burly man, detecting a sinister aura, and immediately saw through his disguise. He couldn’t help but laugh lightly.
“Fellow Daoist Wu, we once crossed paths aboard the Jiuchen Merchant Association’s spirit ship. Step aside, and I’ll spare your life,” Fang Zhong said sharply, his tone brooking no argument.
Xia Shenglan was badly injured, and her magical weapons were damaged. Using her secret technique had drained her body, leaving her in an overdrawn state.
If Lan Chang'an refused to back down, Fang Zhong was confident he could kill him before any Xia Family reinforcements from Qingsha Bay could arrive.