Eternal Life by Daily Divination

"Daoist Li, what can I do for you?"

Zi Xi spoke, her voice as clear and ethereal as a heavenly melody.

Li Chang’an took out a Storage Pouch, wrapped it in a wisp of Magical Power, and sent it floating before Zi Xi.

"Saintess, I would like to propose a trade."

"A trade?"

Zi Xi glanced at the Storage Pouch, unconcerned that Li Chang’an would try to harm her. She immediately extended a wisp of her Divine Sense into it.

In the next instant, a flicker of shock appeared in her perpetually calm, beautiful eyes, and her breath hitched for a moment.

Even with her composure and worldliness, she had nearly lost her poise.

This showed just how immensely beneficial the Giant Smoke Stone was to her.

After a long moment, Zi Xi withdrew her Divine Sense and looked back at Li Chang’an, studying him intently.

"Daoist Li, where did you find this?"

"The Black Market."

Li Chang’an didn’t hide the details. He recounted how he had purchased the Smoke and Mist Stone and even repeated what the stall owner had said.

As he spoke, a Spiritual Light flashed in his hand, revealing a map of the Thousand Lakes Secret Realm.

He sent the map over as well, adding, "Saintess, I’ve marked the location of that Spiritual Ore mine on the map."

"Excellent. You’ve been very thoughtful."

With a graceful wave of her hand, Zi Xi accepted the map.

That Spiritual Ore mine was somewhat unusual; digging deeper might yield even more Treasures.

But Li Chang’an had no intention of going himself.

After all, what one unearths from a Spiritual Ore mine isn’t always a Treasure. It could just as easily be something strange and dangerous.

Years ago, all kinds of strange things used to happen in the Zheng Family’s Spiritual Ore mine.

Zi Xi, however, was clearly intrigued and intended to investigate the Spiritual Ore mine herself.

"Daoist Li, what sort of trade did you have in mind?"

"Saintess, I’ve advanced to the Golden Core realm, but I lack a suitable Tier Three Spirit Vein for my Cultivation Dojo."

"I see."

Zi Xi was well aware of Li Chang’an’s situation.

She pointed a finger, and a wisp of purple Qi shot from its tip, deactivating the Mountain Protection Array around the towering mountain range behind her. Its full majesty was revealed before Li Chang’an’s eyes.

"Daoist Li, what do you think of this Spirit Vein?"

"This is..."

Li Chang’an was stunned, his eyes fixed on the majestic mountain range.

’From the sound of it, she means to trade this entire mountain range for my Smoke and Mist Stone!’

When this towering mountain range first appeared, it sent shockwaves through the entire Southern Domain. Countless Cultivators had rushed from all corners of the land, attempting to claim it.

Li Chang’an had been one of them.

Unfortunately, the Purple Mist Sect’s Flying Ship had arrived before anyone else, claiming the Tier Three Spirit Vein.

Though the others were unwilling to concede, there was nothing they could do but retreat.

「After that.」

This Spirit Vein became the Cultivation Dojo for Zi Xi and the other Cultivators from the Purple Mist Sect.

According to rumor, the Spiritual Power concentration in its core reached Tier Three Peak, and was even faintly approaching Tier Four.

In the entire Southern Domain Cultivation Realm, only the Spirit Veins of the Three Great Sects and the Dan Valley Xiao Family could compare to it.

Li Chang’an took a deep breath to calm his racing heart.

He didn’t agree to the trade immediately. Instead, he asked, "Saintess, if you trade this Spirit Vein to me, where will you and the others cultivate?"

Zi Xi replied, "That’s simple enough. Come aboard the Flying Ship."

"Yes, Saintess."

Without hesitation, Li Chang’an transformed into a streak of light and landed on the Quasi-Tier Four Flying Ship.

The moment he landed, he felt a dense concentration of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power.

"A Tier Three Spirit Vein!"

Li Chang’an was astonished.

There was a small, fully cultivated Tier Three Spirit Vein inside the Flying Ship.

’As expected of a Magical Treasure from a Nascent Soul Sect.’

’What an extravagance.’

With a treasure like this, the members of the Purple Mist Sect would never have their cultivation delayed while traveling on sect business.

Neither Zi Xi nor her many Honored Guest Elders were surprised by his astonished expression.

"Daoist Li, this is but one of the benefits of being part of the Purple Mist Sect. Our sect has a legacy spanning ten thousand years; its foundations are far beyond anything the Golden Core Influences of the Southern Domain could hope to match."

As she spoke, Zi Xi waved a hand, and a Spirit Contract flew out of her Storage Pouch.

Spiritual Light flowed across the Spirit Contract as characters materialized on its surface, quickly forming a complete agreement for the trade.

A purple glint flashed in her eyes, and her name instantly materialized upon the Spirit Contract.

All Li Chang’an had to do was add his name, and the Spirit Vein would be his.

But just then, one of the Honored Guest Elders stepped forward from the group.

He cupped his hands in a salute and said, "Saintess, you previously promised to lease this Spirit Vein to me for one hundred years so I could use its Tier Three Earth Fire to hone my Artifact Refining Skill. In return, I was to supply the Purple Mist Sect with Tier Three Treasures."

Hearing this, Li Chang’an’s interest was piqued.

’Tier Three Earth Fire?’

That kind of Earth Fire was a natural treasure for both Alchemy and Artifact Refining.

Before now, only three Spirit Veins in the entire Southern Domain were known to possess Tier Three Earth Fire: those belonging to the Dan Valley Xiao Family, the Artifact Refining Ou Family, and the Red Flame Sect.

’With Tier Three Earth Fire, my efficiency in both Alchemy and Artifact Refining would improve dramatically,’ Li Chang’an thought. ’But it seems Zi Xi already promised this Spirit Vein to someone else.’

Li Chang’an found the situation odd and glanced at Zi Xi.

’Surely the esteemed Saintess of the Purple Mist Sect wouldn’t go back on her word, would she?’

Zi Xi’s elegant brows knitted together. She addressed the man, "Honored Guest Elder Wu Shuo, I did promise you a Tier Three Spirit Vein, but I never specified it would be this particular one. I will find you another Spirit Vein that contains Earth Fire."

Apparently unwilling to concede, Wu Shuo spoke up again.

"Saintess, Daoist Li has no use for Tier Three Earth Fire. Why not arrange a different Spirit Vein for him instead?"

Clearly, he had his heart set on this specific Spirit Vein.

The Tier of this Spirit Vein was simply too high. It was considered top-notch among all veins below Tier Four, and was potent enough to support a cultivator all the way to Golden Core Peak.

He sent her a private Sound Transmission: "Saintess, with Daoist Li’s level of talent, he’ll be lucky to even reach the Middle Stage of Golden Core. Giving this Spirit Vein to him is an utter waste—a waste of the Earth Fire and a waste of the vein’s high Tier. A simple Tier Three Low Grade Spirit Vein would be more than enough for him. Besides... he’s not one of us. He’s not from the Purple Mist Sect."