Longevity: Starting from Refining Gu

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Late at night, Chen Qing and Xie Dayou returned to the mountain, each going back to their own cave mansion.

Sitting cross-legged in the cultivation chamber, he picked up a jade pot, sliced into his arm with his fingers like a sword, and used his index finger to dab the blood, beginning to draw runes on the jade pot of the Fog Gu.

"In the presence of the Spring and Autumn Cicada and the Floating Butterfly, I, Chen Qing, hereby form this contract with you!"

"I shall nourish you, and you shall lend me strength."

...

"With my body, I shall nurture yours!"

Spiritual energy within him started to rush towards the jade pot, and it stopped only after absorbing half of Chen Qing's spiritual energy.

Chen Qing felt a faint consciousness emerging within him.

He opened the jade pot, and the Fog Gu floated out according to his will.

It was a tiny black insect, sometimes turning into mist, sometimes reverting to its insect form.

[Mortal Fog Gu]

Quality: Second Transformation

Life Span: 26/56

Effect: Turns the flesh into mist within two breaths, allowing flight during the mist phase. After turning to mist, it requires thirty breaths to recover.

Growth Requirements: Illusion Spirit Flower

Growth Progress: 28/100

Promotion Requirements: Ninth Transformation, foggy weather, Rejuvenation Incense, one drop of White Tiger Essence Blood, one pound of Cold Jade

About to be promoted to the Third Transformation, not bad at all.

Chen Qing absorbed the Fog Gu into his body and began practicing its use.

Initially, mastering the Fog Gu was challenging, as he could only turn his whole body into mist without precise control.

A cloud of mist hovered in the air for two breaths before descending, and Chen Qing took a steady step and stood firm.

The Fog Gu indeed required frequent use to become proficient.

After practicing for an hour, Chen Qing discovered he had mastered a peculiar ability.

Initially wearing the robes of a Wuyou Mountain Hall Master, Chen Qing turned into mist and took flight.

The mist drifted a zhang away, and when Chen Qing landed, he was dressed in a black robe.

"Why is it that others develop combat-focused abilities, but my first discovered use is changing clothes?"

Lightning-fast outfit change, anyone?

It felt like he might have unlocked the cultivation realm in a slightly offbeat way.

"Never mind, there's plenty of time; I'll practice again tomorrow."

As long as there were enough Butterfly Transformation Gu, Foundation Establishment was within reach!

Once he reached Foundation Establishment, gaining a hundred years more of life span, there would be ample time to live freely!

But for now, he would work hard and focus on making money.

Lying on the bed, he solemnly said, "Every bit of my power, I've earned through my own hard work."

The next day, after his usual routine of getting beaten up, he went to his post; the Spirit Ginseng and sword heart grass in the field were thriving, likely ready for harvest by April of the following year.

Plants like Spirit Ginseng needed to go through the natural cycles, experiencing all four seasons, to fully develop their medicinal properties.

After his duties, he endured another round of beatings and returned home with his sword.

Just as he was about to have a few drinks of Spiritual Ginseng Wine and begin his cultivation, he found Feng Qi at the door.

"Chen," Feng Qi said, "Has Xiao Zhong sent anyone to find you recently?"

Chen Qing shook his head, "What's the matter? Is it that Senior Brother Xiao..."

Feng Qi took a drag from his pipe, "If Xiao Zhong seeks you out, don't entertain him; push him away with all your might."

Chen Qing clasped his hands in thanks, "Thank you for the warning, Senior Brother."

Feng Qi continued, "Your cave mansion is newly built, few people know about it, but the people of Lotus Cave were precisely able to find your place last time..."

Feng Qi didn't finish, but the implication was clear to Chen Qing.

There was concern that Xiao Zhong might leak information and collude with those from Lotus Cave.

Feng Qi's suspicion was reasonable, given that Lotus Cave cultivated quite a few Bishui Lotuses and had some dealings with Xiao Zhong.

Chen Qing replied, "I understand, Senior Brother."

Feng Qi then added, "But don't worry too much; although Xiao Zhong isn't particularly aligned with the sect, it shouldn't come to that."

After saying that, Feng Qi left.

Chen Qing cultivated for two hours, then decided to continue practicing with the Fog Gu.

After three days of practice, Chen Qing rather awkwardly discovered that he had become increasingly skilled at changing outfits, even managing to reduce the time to half a breath.

It seemed his talent lay in something rather peculiar...

However, he did manage to master an additional ability during those three days of practice.

He could now selectively turn only a part of his body into mist!

With this method, the duration of the mist phase extended significantly.

If he turned only one hand to mist, it could last a full five breaths.

Nevertheless, only his limbs could be selectively misted; once his head or body turned to mist, it was the entire body.

Also, although misting was possible, once reverted, any wounds on the arm remained and couldn't be healed through body reconstruction.

Next, he continued practicing simultaneous sword moves while turning to mist to evade the enemy's attacks.

Chen Qing was focusing on a move that involved turning to mist to dodge an attack, then rapidly regaining his true form to unleash a practiced strike.

While it wasn't particularly honorable, in matters of life and death, honor was irrelevant.

Days gradually settled into a rare period of peace.

He led a standard routine every day.

Wake up.

Get beaten up.

Attend duties.

Cultivate.

Finish duties.

Get beaten up.

Cultivate.

Practice his unique skill.

Such regularity that even Chen Qing found it initially unsettling.

The Alcohol Gu advanced to the Ninth Transformation, allowing him to brew superior Ginseng Ganoderma Wine.

Regrettably, he couldn't expose this and had to continue using Spirit Ginseng for his own brew.

Fortunately, the Ninth Transformation Alcohol Gu produced Spiritual Ginseng Wine of excellent quality, significantly boosting cultivation speed; Chen Qing estimated he needed just one year to break through to the fourth level of Qi Refinement.

The sword Gu was on the verge of ascending to the Sixth Transformation, and the Fog Gu was merely one day away from reaching the Third Transformation.

Sitting on his bed, he counted his fewer than a thousand lower-grade Spirit Stones once again, sighing, "Why am I so broke?"

The Alcohol Gu's Butterfly Transformation was out of the question, given the exorbitant Spirit Stone requirement.

In fact, he could barely sustain the sword Gu and Fog Gu for a few more days.

He hoped Red Lotus could swiftly enhance her Gu.

Wuyou Mountain wasn't truly a single mountain but a series of mountains along a vast mountain range.

The Spirit Plant Garden was situated in the middle of these mountains.

It served as the fundamental wealth accumulation of a sect.

Also providing the root of the sect's cohesion.

And it was the source of Chen Qing's authority.

In the morning, shortly after Chen Qing arrived at the Spirit Plant Hall, a disciple from the War Affairs Hall came to request his presence.

"Master Chen, Senior Brother Ye has called for a Hall Master meeting, and he requests your attendance."

Naturally, Chen Qing had to attend the meeting, but he didn't know what had happened that required his presence.

He reckoned it probably had little to do with him since his role mainly involved overseeing agriculture, not warfare.

His invitation was likely out of respect.

Calling out to Li He, Chen Qing followed the disciple from the War Affairs Hall, passing many senior brothers' residences along the halfway point of the mountain, arriving at the council chamber next to the Ancestor Master Hall.

Inside the council chamber, more than twenty seats were arranged, with a Mountain and River Map of Wuyou Mountain at the center.

Next to each seat was a tea table, and servants gradually served tea to the front seats.

Meanwhile, in the square outside the council chamber, hall masters gathered in small groups, discussing matters.

Among these people, Chen Qing was most familiar with Gongsun Xiu, so he approached him and asked, "Do you know what has happened to warrant such a grand scene today?"

Gongsun Xiu replied, "It's no secret. Lotus Cave has been excessively overbearing lately, and Junior Brother Ye wants to teach them a lesson."

Chen Qing nodded, relieved that it had nothing to do with him.

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