Chapter 895 - 395: Exchanging for the Celestial Soul Fruit, Wang Yannian’s Shock

Years ago, his Cultivation had already touched upon the Late Stage of Golden Core. He could have forcefully broken through back then, but he chose to let nature take its course, continuously accumulating his strength until today.

"I have accumulated to the absolute limit. I cannot increase it by even a single thread. It is time to break through."

With a single thought, Li Chang’an sealed the doors of his cave dwelling and retreated into the secluded cultivation chamber deep within. He activated the Grand Array, using the Array to conceal any anomalies in the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power, and immediately circulated the advancement Chapter of his Cultivation Technique.

Soon, Heaven and Earth Spiritual Power surged forth rapidly, forming a small vortex atop Changqing Mountain. Thanks to the Array’s concealment, no outsiders noticed anything amiss. Only the few Spirit Beasts that had signed a Spirit Contract with Li Chang’an sensed the change.

"Is Master about to break through to the Late Stage of Golden Core?" Xiaohai and Dahuang exchanged glances, their eyes filled with excitement. As long as one stepped into the Late Stage of Golden Core, they would be standing at the starting point of the path to Nascent Soul Formation.

In the back mountain.

Inside the Spirit Medicine Garden, Long Niu stopped playing the Guqin and looked up at the sky.

"A Late Stage of Golden Core cultivator under two hundred years old... Not bad!

"If everything goes smoothly, he can break through to the Nascent Soul in his two hundreds. That would make him one of the most top-tier geniuses in the current Cultivation Immortality Realm."

Zi Xia True Monarch of the Purple Mist Sect had achieved her Nascent Soul in her two hundreds. With her special physique and astonishing Spiritual Roots, she was renowned as a peerless Celestial Pride since childhood. Many believed she possessed the potential to become a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator. In this generation, figures like Zi Xi and Wang Qianling had all entered their final accumulation phase, similarly planning for Nascent Soul Formation in their two hundreds. Almost every single one of them was a blessed child of heaven.

Li Chang’an, on the other hand, was merely a Loose Cultivator. His initial talent and resources could not compare to those of these Celestial Prides, and he had only barely reached Foundation Establishment in his fifties. His starting pace had been slow, but he walked steadily, and his momentum only grew faster.

Several hours slipped by quietly. By dawn, the Spiritual Power Vortex in the sky had dispersed steadily.

Deep within the cave dwelling.

Li Chang’an slowly stood up, a smile surfacing on his face.

"Late Stage of Golden Core!"

During this breakthrough, he hadn’t felt any obstructions or bottlenecks. It could be said that conditions were perfectly ripe for success. He stepped into the Late Stage of Golden Core with effortless ease. At this point, there was only one final threshold remaining before Nascent Soul Formation. This threshold had thwarted countless Golden Core Cultivators; even the Holy Sons and Saintesses of major factions rarely managed to cross it.

"As long as I prepare adequately, I should be able to survive those two tribulations." Li Chang’an took a few deep breaths to calm his mind before sitting back down.

Seven days later.

Only after his Cultivation had completely stabilized did he open the doors and step out of the cave dwelling. Xiaohai and Dahuang stood on either side of the entrance, their faces beaming with joy as they offered their congratulations in unison.

"Congratulations, Master!"

"Mhm." Li Chang’an gave a slight nod, intending to head to the courtyard for a cup of Spirit Tea to refresh his state of mind.

But right at this moment, Long Niu came running over excitedly, cradling a Guqin in his arms.

"Li Chang’an, I’m here to play the Guqin to add to the fun!"

Hearing this, Li Chang’an felt a headache coming on. When he broke through to the Middle Stage of Golden Core last time, Long Niu had come to celebrate as well. It seemed that every time he achieved a breakthrough in the future, his ears would have to be cleansed by this fellow’s Guqin playing. For the sake of this beast’s majestic luck, he had no choice but to patiently endure, listening to a full half an hour of chaotic Guqin plucking.

When it was all over, Long Niu picked up the Guqin and chuckled.

"No need to thank me! Today was just a small warmup piece. Once you break through to the Nascent Soul, I’ll perform something grand for you and celebrate for seven days and seven nights!"

With that, he ran off with the Guqin in his arms.

Li Chang’an felt utterly helpless. At the mere thought of seven days and seven nights of such music, his mood for tea completely evaporated.

At this time, Xu Fugui suddenly came running up Changqing Mountain. His face was glowing red as he held his round belly, jogging right up to Li Chang’an.

"Chang’an, your two-hundredth birthday is fast approaching. A longevity banquet like this absolutely cannot be handled carelessly!"

"Oh? I’m already turning two hundred?"

Li Chang’an calculated the time and couldn’t help but sigh with emotion. There was less than a month left before his two-hundredth birthday. An ordinary Foundation Establishment Cultivator only had a lifespan of around two hundred and forty years.

Many of the good friends Li Chang’an had made back when he reached Foundation Establishment—such as Zhou Sheng of the Zhou Family and Mo Wenyuan of the Mo Family—had basically reached the final stretch of their lives. Even Xu Fugui, standing right before him, was no exception.

Xu Fugui was around the same age as him. Back when they were still in the mortal village, the two of them often celebrated their birthdays together. Today, Li Chang’an remained youthful, but Xu Fugui’s hair was fully gray, and his back had hunched slightly. His vitality was no longer what it was in his prime, and it was unknown whether he would live to see Li Chang’an achieve Nascent Soul Formation.

"Fugui, there’s no need to prepare too much. Many people are still in the Northern Domain fighting the Demonic and probably won’t be able to make it." As he spoke, Li Chang’an took out a pouch filled with Spirit Stones and told Xu Fugui not to worry about the expenses, instructing him to arrange everything with the best quality.

Seeing the mountain-like pile of Middle Grade Spirit Stones, Xu Fugui immediately beamed with joy. He promptly flew into Changqing Immortal City to begin bustling about with the longevity banquet preparations.

Time flew by.

Soon, it was the eve of Li Chang’an’s longevity banquet.

He sat beneath a tree in the courtyard, casually flipping through the congratulatory letters sent by various factions. Just as he had anticipated, many were unable to attend and could only have their Disciples deliver their gifts. The Demonic certainly wouldn’t halt its invasion just because he was celebrating his birthday.

"The Demonic’s recent offensives have been rather fierce. Many Righteous Dao outposts along the borders of Zhao Country and Yuan Country have already been captured. If this continues, the battlefield will gradually shift from the borders into the heartlands of the Northern Domain in both countries," Li Chang’an thought, his brows furrowing slightly. He naturally did not want the Righteous Dao to collapse too quickly. But at present, there were no good solutions.

Just as he was thinking, a familiar aura suddenly appeared in his perception.

"Lin Xuanyan?" Li Chang’an was somewhat surprised. He hadn’t received a reply from Lin Xuanyan and had assumed the man wasn’t planning to attend the banquet.

Soon, Lin Xuanyan’s figure appeared. He looked to be in a great hurry, his breathing somewhat erratic. He flew directly through the Grand Array of Changqing Mountain and landed in front of Li Chang’an.

"Daoist Lin, you’ve come here late at night. Is something the matter?" Li Chang’an asked curiously.

"A major matter!" Lin Xuanyan took a deep breath, his expression exceedingly solemn. "Please take a look, Daoist Li."

A flash of Spiritual Light appeared in his hand, revealing a Crystal Bottle. Inside the bottle resided the Soul of a Demon Beast.

Li Chang’an looked closely. To his shock, it was the Old Turtle!

For a Demon Soul to leave its body, much like a Human Race Cultivator’s Soul leaving its physical form, usually meant only one thing.

Death!