Eternal Life by Daily Divination

The purpose of this meeting was to discuss the true strength of Mu Yuanchen.

"Black Snake, is that Mu Yuanchen from the Mu Family really as formidable as the rumors claim? Did he seriously injure you with just a few casual moves?"

The speaker was the Sect Leader of the Hundred Beasts Sect, also the strongest member of the entire sect.

The Hundred Beasts Elder!

Upon hearing this, Li Chang’an had Black Snake Master put on an indignant expression.

"Those rumors are all false. I was only injured because I underestimated him. That Mu Yuanchen can indeed match a Middle Stage Golden Core cultivator, but I initially treated him as just an ordinary Early Stage Golden Core Cultivator."

Hearing his explanation, the assembled Golden Core Masters and Demon Kings in the secret chamber all wore expressions that showed this was what they had expected.

"I see."

"So it really was because you underestimated him!"

"Black Snake, you need to change this old habit of yours. You shouldn’t have been the one to go to the Mu Family that day. If it had been me instead, Daoist Fang would never have died..."

The thought of the late Fang Mao made them all sigh with regret.

That was a Tier Three Top Grade Array Master!

Even in the Western Domain, few could claim such mastery in the art of Arrays.

Even the Western Domain’s Upper Sect, the Yellow Sand Sect, had once invited Fang Mao to be an Honored Guest Elder, but Fang Mao preferred life in the Hundred Beasts Sect, so he stayed.

The Hundred Beasts Elder sighed and said, "Black Snake, you have decent talent, but you’re not level-headed enough. If you keep this up, even if you advance to the Late Stage of Golden Core, I won’t feel comfortable entrusting the Hundred Beasts Sect to you."

Li Chang’an replied, "I have learned my lesson this time. I will change in the future."

"Fine. Just make sure you remember."

The Hundred Beasts Elder shook his head slightly and looked at the Tier Three Snake King.

Afterward, he and the others began to question the Snake King.

The Snake King’s answer was identical to Black Snake Master’s, confirming that Black Snake had indeed underestimated his opponent.

As for why he himself had escaped, he explained it was because his physique was comparable to a human at Tier Three Body Refinement. Mu Yuanchen couldn’t kill him instantly, which gave him an opportunity to flee.

The testimony from the two of them allowed the crowd to determine Mu Yuanchen’s true strength.

Their conclusion was that he was at the Early Stage of Golden Core but could fight above his rank. An ordinary Middle Stage Golden Core cultivator was no match for him. It would take a Late Stage Golden Core cultivator to deal with him, but the Mu Family’s Array was also a major problem...

The Mu Family was now a tough nut to crack.

To crack it by force would come at a considerable price. A few Golden Core Masters might even die in the process.

The other Golden Core Sects and Noble Families of the Southern Domain were also tough nuts to crack.

In the days that followed, the war between the Two Domains remained at a stalemate, with neither side making much progress.

Black Snake Master and the Tier Three Snake King, controlled by Li Chang’an, did not arouse any suspicion from the Western Domain.

’My identity as Black Snake Master is secure for now.’

’In a little while, I’ll find an opportunity to get close to his Dao companion, Cyan Snake Master, and refine them into a puppet as well.’

Li Chang’an was in no hurry. He slowly adapted to his identity as Black Snake Master, lest he expose himself later.

After all, Dao companions are very familiar with each other.

...

「Three months passed in the blink of an eye.」

Having failed to break through after a long siege and suffering heavy casualties, the forces of the Western Domain gradually retreated.

The Southern Domain got a chance to catch its breath.

On this day, Golden Core Masters from the various major Sects and Noble Families arrived at the Mu Clan Territory one after another.

They came both to congratulate Mu Yuanchen on his successful Core Formation and to ask how he had accomplished it.

The Mu Clan Territory grew lively, rivaling the earlier hustle and bustle at Changqing Mountain.

After a round of congratulations, Gu Qinghong was the first to ask, "Daoist Mu, I remember you were only a Foundation Establishment Cultivator before. How did you break through to the Golden Core realm so quietly? Did you perhaps discover a hidden Tier Three Spirit Vein deep inside a Secret Realm?"

As soon as he opened his mouth, the entire Mu Family’s main hall fell silent.

The people from the other Sects and Noble Families no longer spoke.

They all looked at Li Chang’an, all wanting to know the answer to this question.

Li Chang’an didn’t hold back, explaining to them the method for concealing the Celestial Phenomenon.

"Using an Illusion Array to conceal the Celestial Phenomenon?"

Hearing this, the crowd exchanged stunned glances.

No one had ever tried this method before.

They worried that concealing the Celestial Phenomenon would cause a mishap during the process, leading to failure.

But since Li Chang’an had succeeded, it meant the method was viable!

"Thank you, Daoist Mu!"

Everyone thanked him with sincere words.

Li Chang’an waved his hand dismissively. "Everyone, don’t get careless. Although I was lucky enough to succeed without the Western Domain noticing, it might have just been a fluke."

"We understand."

"Rest assured, Daoist Mu. Even if we fail, the fault will be ours alone."

They spoke one after another, stating that any failure would have nothing to do with Li Chang’an.

That evening, representatives from the various powers hurried back to prepare their own Celestial Prides for Core Formation.

A mere half a month later, news of a success arrived.

The Zhang Family’s Celestial Pride, Zhang Qingfeng, successfully completed his Core Formation, and his Pill Quality was that of a Superior True Pill!

The entire Core Formation process went undetected by any outsiders.

Even many of the Zhang Family’s own clan members didn’t know.

The Zhang Family’s ancestor, Zhang Shengling, used an Array to conceal the Celestial Phenomenon and a massive amount of Spirit Stones to maintain the density of Spiritual Power, pulling off a grand deception that added another Golden Core Master to the Zhang Family’s ranks.

The Zhang Family now boasted four Golden Core Masters, reaching a new height of glory and power.

Of course, Zhang Qingrong was still under Li Chang’an’s control, a puppet of his.

Once the news spread, the many Golden Core Influences that still had reservations cast them aside. They all began preparing their own disciples for Core Formation.

Soon, the Celestial Prides from the various powers began attempting Core Formation.

Most of them were successful.

After all, the cost of concealing the Celestial Phenomenon was quite steep.

Those who could attempt Core Formation at this time were almost all the top Celestial Prides of their respective clans, like Ou Lingshan and Xiao Haoran. They all possessed profound foundations, far surpassing ordinary Golden Core Seeds.

During this period, most of the powers in the Southern Domain were immersed in joy.

However, a pall of sorrow hung over the Mu Family.

Seeing that the Mu Family’s situation had stabilized, Fake Pill Ancestor Mu Song finally let go of the last thread of will he had been desperately holding onto.

His breathing grew faint. Lying on the bed, his body was as gaunt as a piece of deadwood, and his Fire of Life flickered ever more dimly.

After making some final arrangements, he had everyone else leave.

Only Li Chang’an remained.

"Yuan... Yuanchen..."

Mu Song’s dim eyes looked at Li Chang’an.

His voice was weak. He was on the verge of death, struggling to speak the last words of his life.

"Yuanchen... just... staying with the Mu Family... isn’t... isn’t so bad..."