Eternal Life by Daily Divination

’Still, even a Tier Three Peak physique couldn’t block a single strike from a Nascent Soul...’

Li Chang’an pondered for a moment, various methods for dealing with Shi Hu Master flashing through his mind.

After a moment, he resumed questioning Xue Lin.

"When does Shi Hu Master plan to attack Changqing Mountain?"

"I don’t know about that. Shi Hu Master seems to be wary of you and isn’t completely confident."

"How much does he know about me?"

"That... I’m not sure about that either..."

Xue Lin shook his head, a cold sweat gradually beading on his forehead.

After this, Li Chang’an asked several more questions.

But Xue Lin didn’t know the answers to most of them, only having a vague idea about a very few.

’Completely clueless. What a waste!’

Li Chang’an was somewhat disappointed. He activated the Wood Seed Technique, reasserting his control over Xue Lin.

He manipulated Xue Lin into leaving Changqing Mountain and heading straight for the Western Domain.

「The next day.」

Xue Lin arrived at Shi Hu Immortal City in the Western Domain.

By now, the news of Xue Lin’s defection to the Western Domain had already spread throughout the Two Domains.

He entered the Immortal City without a hitch and met with Shi Hu Master.

"Daoist Shi Hu, I was so close to succeeding, but that Li Chang’an is just too cunning. I don’t know when he started tailing me, causing my efforts to be in vain."

Li Chang’an, speaking through Xue Lin, gave a vivid account of that day’s events. He declared that there was no longer a place for him in the Southern Domain and that he only hoped to find refuge in Shi Hu Immortal City.

After listening, Shi Hu Master showed no sign of disappointment.

He immediately arranged a Tier Three Cave Mansion for Xue Lin, gifted him a Spirit Medicine Garden, and even gave him a large number of Treasures for cultivating Spirit Plants.

Furthermore, he publicly promised to help Xue Lin enter the Yellow Sand Sect to study more advanced Spirit Plant Skills.

This news quickly spread from Shi Hu Immortal City throughout the territories of the Two Domains.

All the major powers in the Southern Domain received the news.

"Xue Lin’s cover was blown and he failed his mission. He’s basically a discarded pawn with no use, yet Shi Hu Master gave him so many benefits?"

"If he had succeeded, would he have gotten even more?"

"Defecting to the Western Domain... doesn’t seem so bad after all."

In response to this news, some were angered, while others began to entertain strange ideas.

A peculiar atmosphere settled over the entire Southern Domain.

「Meanwhile.」

Inside Shi Hu Immortal City, Shi Hu Master was questioning Xue Lin, trying to learn the specifics of Li Chang’an’s strength.

Under Li Chang’an’s control, Xue Lin put on an indignant expression and replied, "That Li Chang’an’s strength is about the same as mine, but he had the advantage of a sneak attack. If not for that, I wouldn’t have had to flee on the spot."

"So you’re saying he really only has the strength of the Early Stage of Golden Core?"

"Correct!"

’Could it be that I’ve been overestimating him all this time?’

Shi Hu Master’s brows furrowed. He stood atop the high city wall, hands clasped behind his back, gazing toward Changqing Mountain in the Southern Domain.

After a moment, he slowly shook his head.

’I can’t be hasty. For Li Chang’an to reach Core Formation with a Low Grade Spirit Root, he must possess some great fortuitous encounter. I need to probe him slowly... Regardless, his head and his opportunities will ultimately be mine!’

Just then, a streak of light suddenly arrived above Shi Hu Immortal City, transforming into the figure of Cyan Snake Master.

She handed over a Jade Scroll and said, "Daoist Shi Hu, Liu Feiyan of Mandarin Duck Valley has sent another message, urging us to breach Changqing Mountain and capture Li Chang’an."

"Liu Feiyan? Why is that old woman in such a hurry?"

Shi Hu Master was displeased, but he had no choice but to accept the Jade Scroll.

Although Liu Feiyan’s strength was comparable to his own, both being Late Golden Core Stage Cultivators, her status was superior. She was the Daoist companion of his master, Huang Sha True Monarch.

It was Liu Feiyan who had originally asked Huang Sha True Monarch to deal with Li Chang’an.

Later, Huang He True Monarch signed a Spirit Contract with Jiang Xuanyuan, preventing him from taking the initiative to attack Li Chang’an again.

That was how the task of dealing with Li Chang’an fell to Shi Hu Master.

’Li Chang’an only killed the father and son, Fan Wei and Fan Yunfei. Those two were not related to her in any way.’

’Why is that old woman’s killing intent so strong? It’s not like her son was the one who died...’

Shi Hu Master extended his Divine Sense into the scroll and soon heard Liu Feiyan’s words, filled with murderous intent, urging him on.

Cyan Snake Master said, "Daoist Shi Hu, I don’t think Li Chang’an’s strength is all that great. We can just gather a large number of Golden Core Masters, launch another sneak attack, break through Changqing Mountain’s defenses, and capture him."

"No, we can’t be rash. We’ll test him a few more times."

Shi Hu Master channeled a burst of Spiritual Power, shattering the Jade Scroll.

Li Chang’an had Xue Lin step forward and say, "Daoist Shi Hu, if you’re going to attack Changqing Mountain, please count me in. I simply can’t let this humiliation stand!"

"Rest assured, Daoist Xue. You will definitely have a part in this."

Shi Hu Master gave his promise on the spot.

After that, the puppet Xue Lin settled down peacefully in Shi Hu Immortal City.

As a Tier Three Spirit Plant Master skilled in cultivating various Spirit Plants, he quickly began interacting with the many Golden Core Masters in Shi Hu Immortal City.

However, being from the Southern Domain, he couldn’t yet earn the complete trust of the Western Domain’s Golden Core Masters.

Li Chang’an was in no hurry about this.

His goal was to slowly infiltrate and gradually take control of the Golden Core Masters in Shi Hu Immortal City.

...

「On Changqing Mountain.」

Li Chang’an sat cross-legged deep within his Cave Mansion, holding a Jade Scroll.

Within this Jade Scroll was the Tier Three Top Grade Spirit Plant legacy he had found in Xue Lin’s Storage Pouch, a level higher than even the Mu Family’s legacy.

’The contents of this Spirit Plant legacy are actually quite useful to me.’

In the days that followed, he began practicing his Escape Technique while also studying the Spirit Plant Skills.

Time flew by during cultivation, and in the blink of an eye, five years had passed.

During this period, people constantly tested Changqing Mountain’s defenses, but each time they would only send a Puppet or a Spirit Beast to strike once before retreating, posing no significant threat.

However, Li Chang’an did not let his guard down.