Translator: Cinder Translations
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Song Wen changed his appearance to that of a young cultivator and arrived once again at the foot of the Su family's small town at Qingping Mountain.
He had thought that the death of Su Huayue and the escape of Su Xiaoshan would trigger a severe investigation by the Su family, but the reality was different. At least in the Su family's small town, Song Wen did not notice any unusual activity.
It seemed that the entire Su family was too preoccupied to pay attention to such trivial matters.
After wandering around the town and finding no valuable information, Song Wen left the town and headed toward the valley where Su Qian was in seclusion.
Ten miles outside the valley, Song Wen hid in a cave and released a Sacred Gu to fly toward the valley.
After surveying the area and confirming that everything in the valley was normal, Song Wen set up the "Concealing Spirit Formation" and the "Nine Palaces Yin Array," took out the Top-grade Ghost Banner, and began to refine the Ghost King.
For the next few days, Song Wen remained hidden in the cave, fully focused on refining the Ghost King.
On this day, the towering Ghost King suddenly broke through the Ghost Banner and appeared in the cave.
In an instant, a fierce wind swept through the cave, and ghostly energy surged.
Song Wen performed hand seals, and the Ghost King floated and drifted according to his thoughts within the small cave.
A look of surprise appeared on his face; the Ghost King had been completely refined.
After storing the Ghost King in the Ghost Banner, Song Wen silently calculated the time.
His brow suddenly furrowed. In his complete focus on refining the Ghost King, eight days had passed without him realizing it—days that had surpassed Su Xiu's memory of when Su Qian would activate the longevity technique.
Why was there still no movement in the valley?
The Du family hadn't shown up either.
Could it be that the Du family was simply watching as Su Qian extended his life without taking any action?
Song Wen emerged from the cave and gazed toward the valley.
It was deep night; the cave was dark and foreboding, resembling a giant beast lying in wait, ready to pounce at any moment.
Everything around the valley seemed normal, and the formations within it remained active, firmly enveloping the entire valley. The protective formation of the valley could block spiritual senses and sight, leaving Song Wen clueless about what was happening inside.
"Could it be that Su Qian has successfully extended his life?" Song Wen pondered inwardly.
If Su Qian really had succeeded in extending his life, his revenge against the Su family would have to be postponed, and he wouldn't dare to hide brazenly near Qingping Mountain anymore.
If Su Qian gained another cycle of life, he certainly wouldn't continue secluding himself in the valley and would surely emerge. If Song Wen remained near the Su family, the danger would increase exponentially.
Two days later, at noon.
A stunning figure appeared above the valley.
Through the Sacred Gu, Song Wen recognized the person's face, and a flicker of hatred flashed in his eyes.
The person hovering over the valley was none other than the Golden Core female cultivator from the Beast Control Sect who had chased him outside Donghua City.
"Brother Su Qian, my little sister has come at your invitation," said the voice of the Clear-faced Daoist, echoing throughout the valley.
At this moment, the Clear-faced Daoist looked vastly different from her previous sinister image while chasing Song Wen outside Donghua Square. She now appeared straightforward, unrestrained, and lacking in guile.
Suddenly, the top of the formation opened, and two figures descended into the valley, soaring upward.
The leading figure was the ancestral elder of the Su family, Su Qian.
He was followed by the Su family's Grand Elder, Su Wenshi.
A cheerful smile appeared on Su Qian's aged face, as if he were meeting an old friend he hadn't seen in a long time, and his mood was greatly lifted.
"Qingyan, you've traveled thousands of miles to assist me; I am truly grateful. I apologize for not welcoming you in time; that is a failure on the part of the Su family."
The Clear-faced Daoist smiled and said, "Brother Su, we are old friends; let's skip the formalities."
Su Qian stepped aside and gestured toward the valley, "Qingyan, please!"
In no time, the three entered the valley.
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In a small bamboo house within the valley.
Su Qian and the Clear-faced Daoist sat facing each other.
"Brother Su, how are the preparations for extending your life coming along?" she asked.
"All preparations are complete; I'm just waiting for your assistance to activate the 'Devouring Soul Formation.' Initiating the 'Devouring Soul Formation' is a tremendous drain on both mind and spirit; relying solely on myself, I wouldn't have the confidence to control it."
"Moreover, with my life nearing its end, excessive spirit consumption could lead to my remaining life force draining away rapidly. That's why I specially invited you to lend me your strength."
The Su family used a woman with a baby to cultivate yellow essence mushrooms, infusing them with a trace of life energy to ensure that Su Qian could consume them during the activation of the 'Devouring Soul Formation' to replenish his depleting life force.
The Clear-faced Daoist looked at Su Qian, her eyes reflecting a sense of nostalgia.
"Brother Su, when we five first explored the ancient secret realm of the Longevity Palace, we thought that with the combined strength of five Golden Core cultivators, we could uncover its secrets. But we didn't expect the Longevity Palace to be fraught with danger. Before we even entered the main hall, we suffered severe injuries—three of our Golden Core cultivators died, and you and I barely escaped with our lives."
"Having paid such a painful price, our rewards were minimal; the only valuable item we obtained was that 'Longevity Token.'"
"I replicated the contents of the 'Longevity Token' and studied it for nearly ten years, but I gained almost nothing. Yet you, Brother Su, have comprehended the 'Longevity Token' and spiritged to set up the 'Devouring Soul Formation'; your talent is truly exceptional."
Su Qian shook his head, a bitter smile crossing his face.
"It's merely that my life is nearing its end; I had no choice but to pursue this path. If I were truly extraordinarily gifted, I wouldn't have been stuck at the initial stage of Golden Core for over two hundred years, exhausting my lifespan without making any progress."
The Clear-faced Daoist responded, "With over two hundred years of hard training, once you succeed in extending your life, you will certainly make great strides in your cultivation."
"Thank you for your kind words, Daoist," Su Qian said, cupping his hands in gratitude.
The Clear-faced Daoist changed the subject.
"Brother Su, could you first let me see the 'Devouring Soul Formation'? I'm very curious about this ancient formation that can extend life."
"Of course, if you are to help me control the 'Devouring Soul Formation,' you must understand how it operates."
The two figures then disappeared from the wooden house and arrived above a flat area in the center of the valley.
The flat area was about three miles wide, paved with azure stone from a spirit mine.
On the surface, intricate and profound formation patterns were engraved.
From a high vantage point, the formation patterns resembled long serpents intertwining with each other. Even though the formation had not yet been activated, an eerie and sinister aura emanated from it.
The formation was divided into eastern and western parts; the eastern patterns were white, while the western patterns were black.
At the center of the formation, there was a circular platform about ten feet wide, with the formation patterns on it in crimson red.
Suddenly, a large and a small array plate appeared in Su Qian's hands.
"The 'Devouring Soul Formation' consists of a main and a secondary array plate; the larger one is the main, and the smaller one is the auxiliary."
"I will hold the main array plate and sit on the central platform of the formation. You will hold the auxiliary array plate and sit in the eastern section of the formation, while the living sacrifice will be placed in the western section."
"Once the formation is activated, the life force within the living sacrifice will be absorbed by the 'Devouring Soul Formation' and funneled into my body."
Next, Su Qian taught the Clear-faced Daoist the control methods for the auxiliary array plate, but only the basic control techniques; he did not reveal a word about the operational principles of the 'Devouring Soul Formation.'
"Qingyan, I'll need you to go into seclusion for two days to comprehend the control method for the auxiliary array plate. After two days, the life extension will officially begin."
The Clear-faced Daoist replied, "Brother Su, rest assured; I will make sure to study it thoroughly and won't let any mistakes occur."
(End of the Chapter)
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