Three months had passed in a blink.
In the Quiet Room, Zhao Yu was sitting with his eyes tightly closed, sweat pouring down like raindrops, as tiny bits of pitch-black, foul-smelling filth slowly emerged from the pores of his body.
When Zhao Yu opened his eyes, a sharp light flashed in them. He let out a long howl, filled with exuberance, "Hahaha!! The Turtle Spirit Longevity Art indeed extends life!!"
"Zhao Yu."
"Lifespan 38/98."
"Turtle Spirit Longevity Art Twentieth Level (0/100)."
"Vajra Dragon Elephant Art Twentieth Level (0/100)."
"Qinggong: Phantom Step (Master Level 356/800)."
"Flying Daggers (Master Level 278/800)."
"Lightning Sword Technique (Master Level 456/100)."
Originally, Zhao Yu had a lifespan of only sixty-eight years, but after cultivating the Turtle Spirit Longevity Art, his lifespan had directly extended by thirty years—such was the power of the Turtle Spirit Longevity Art.
The lifespan of a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator was much higher than that of an ordinary person. However, the Earth Elemental Skill was not a lifespan-extending technique, and Zhao Yu's previous life as a spirit farmer involved laborious day and night work, and his essence was being absorbed by the demoness of the Thousand Mysteries Sect, which is why he only had a lifespan of sixty-eight years.
Even so, Zhao Yu's lifespan was much longer than that of many mortals in the Ten Mortal Cities, where the average lifespan of a mortal was only about forty years.
"Let me see the power of the Vajra Dragon Elephant Art!"
Zhao Yu took out the only low-grade Magical Instrument, the Bronze Awl, poured mana into it, and slowly aimed it at his left arm. At the same time, he activated the Twentieth Level Vajra Dragon Elephant Art, his left arm's muscles bulged and emitted a faint glow.
The Bronze Awl slowly pricked Zhao Yu's left arm. He initially used thirty percent of his strength, then fifty, and finally full strength, but the Bronze Awl could not penetrate his left arm.
"With my Qi Refinement Third Level mana and the Bronze Awl, I can't break through. Therefore, my Vajra Dragon Elephant Art should be able to withstand attacks from mid-grade Magical Instruments, but not from high-grade Magical Instruments. Unfortunately, this martial art also reaches its limit here!!"
A flicker of excitement crossed Zhao Yu's eyes, followed by a sigh of regret.
The talent of a Martial Arts Genius allowed Zhao Yu to easily master various martial arts and combine the strengths of different schools to deduce a stronger martial art. Though Zhao Yu could continue to study the Martial Path and deduce the path onward, the efficiency was too low, and the dangers were substantial.
After Zhao Yu's Phantom Step rose to Master Level, his movement speed had increased by another thirty percent. His Flying Dagger Technique reaching the Master Level also saw another thirty percent increase in power. The Lightning Sword Technique, now at Master Level, had also made his swordsmanship even more powerful.
Zhao Yu left the Quiet Room and found that Li Xianjiao had already prepared the meal and was waiting for him.
Zhao Yu glanced at Li Xianjiao and was slightly surprised, "Oh, you've reached the Second Level of Qi Refining?"
Li Xianjiao said, "I don't know how, but I just recently broke through."
Zhao Yu remarked with emotion, "Heavenly Spirit Root! This is the Heavenly Spirit Root indeed!"
Zhao Yu's previous self had lived for decades and reached only the First Level of Qi Refining, while Li Xianjiao had reached the Second Level of Qi Refining after just a few months of cultivation without even consuming any elixirs. Such talent naturally attracted the interest of countless powerful factions.
Zhao Yu spoke with grave seriousness, "During this period, you must stay at home. I'll go find a technique for you to cultivate that hides your aura; otherwise, we will both be in danger!"
Li Xianjiao obediently replied, "I understand!"
Not long after they had finished eating, there was a knock on the door of the small courtyard.
Zhao Yu waved his hand, letting Li Xianjiao hide inside the house while he opened the door, to find Ling Chongshan standing outside.
Zhao Yu said, "Brother Ling, please come in!"
"Little Zhao, I have news about the matter you asked me to inquire about! There indeed was a beauty named Zheng Qiaoman at the Hundred Flowers Building. She was said to be as popular as the Thousand Mysteries Sect's Fairy Caihua, the top courtesan of the Hundred Flowers Building. However, a month ago, she could no longer endure the humiliation and committed suicide."
Ling Chongshan entered the room and sat on a chair, his face filled with regret.
After several months of interaction, the relationship between Ling Chongshan and Zhao Yu had grown quite close.
Suddenly, a sound of something crashing to the ground came from within the room, followed by bouts of crying.
"Is Zheng Qiaoman Little Xianjiao's mother?"
Ling Chongshan, who appeared burly and tough with a stern face, was actually extremely perceptive and immediately guessed the truth of the matter.
Zhao Yu nodded slightly.
Ling Chongshan said, "Let's not talk about that now! By the way, the Cangling Sect is currently recruiting a Beast Hunting Team! The season for hunting demonic beasts is here! This is a great opportunity to earn Spirit Stones. What do you say, would you like to team up with me and hunt demonic beasts together?"
Every autumn, the demonic beasts of the Canglong Mountains would become active and head to the Ten Mortal Cities to hunt humans, using them as food to last through the winter.
Similarly, during this season, the Cangling Sect would form Beast Hunting Teams to patrol the Ten Mortal Cities and hunt these demonic beasts, thus protecting the mortals. After all, the humans in the Ten Mortal Cities formed the foundation for Little Black Mountain Market's existence, continually supplying cultivators to the market.
Zhao Yu shook his head slightly and said, "Hunting demonic beasts is too dangerous for someone at my Early Qi Refining Stage! I do not want to go!"
Ling Chongshan said, "The hunting teams are generally formed of five members each. Besides myself, there are three others in my group who are old friends. They are all experts at the Sixth Level of Qi Refining with extensive experience in hunting demonic beasts. If you join our group, I will protect you, and you will definitely be safe."
"Moreover, by joining the hunting team, you can earn twenty Spirit Stones, and we only need to submit ten percent of the demonic beasts we catch to the Cangling Sect. The rest are ours. Every hunting season, I manage to earn hundreds of Spirit Stones!"
Zhao Yu smiled and said, "Brother Ling, I am a Talisman Master and a Pill Master!"
Ling Chongshan said solemnly, "Right! You truly are a Pill Master!! I almost forgot!! However, Zhao, there are times when men must face danger directly. Even Little Black Mountain Market might not be safe forever."
Zhao Yu said, "Brother Ling, you are right!"
Ling Chongshan showed a relieved smile.
Zhao Yu said, "However, I still plan to stay in Little Black Mountain Market to properly cultivate and enhance my cultivation level. Being at the Early Qi Refining Stage is still too weak. If I went, I would just be a burden!"
Ling Chongshan's smile stiffened slightly as he shook his head and said, "You! Well, you do have a point! Let's wait until you reach the Middle Stage of Qi Refining then!"
Zhao Yu said, "Brother Ling, could you help me buy a Magical Technique Manual that conceals one's aura so that others cannot discern one's cultivation level?"
Ling Chongshan, looking puzzled, said, "I have one right now. However, that magical manual isn't profound—it's just a minor technique to conceal one's aura, and it can only deceive those in the Qi Refining Realm. It won't fool a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator who can extend their Divine Sense. Why do you want that?"
As a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator at the third level, Zhao Yu stood at the bottom of the Cultivation World, often overlooked. If it weren't for his roles as a Talisman Master and a Pill Master, and his good rapport with Ling Chongshan, he could never have formed an association with a late-stage Qi Refining expert like Ling Chongshan.
Zhao Yu said, "I have my uses for it!"
Ling Chongshan said, "I'll bring it to you in a few days!"
The two chatted a while longer before Ling Chongshan left Zhao's house.
Zhao Yu went into the inner room and saw Li Xianjiao, who had cried herself into a state of total despair, resembling a delicate doll that had lost all vitality, helplessly slumped on the bed.