Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Ning Daohuan sat cross-legged on the mountain peak, his brow furrowed in a tight knot.

The news that the Incense Path had surfaced near the Eastern Sage Sect’s old stronghold injected a new sense of urgency into his plans.

After a moment of contemplation, he issued instructions to the guards standing nearby. They bowed and hurried away.

Moments later, a figure shrouded in black robes flew in from the distance, landing softly before approaching with respectful, measured steps. It was Lu Yuansheng.

“This disciple pays respects to the Sect Master.”

Ning Daohuan opened his eyes, his expression grave.

“Enough. Dispense with the formalities. I ask you: what have you uncovered regarding the Incense Path?”

Lu Yuansheng straightened, his voice turning serious.

“Regarding the activity near the Eastern Sage stronghold, all invading Yin Ghosts have been captured. According to Elder Tao of the Profound Soul Path, based on the strength of these ghosts and their refining methods, these Incense Path cultivators are, at most, at the Foundation Establishment stage.”

“Foundation Establishment? Are you certain Elder Tao said that?” Ning Daohuan asked, surprised.

“I am certain, Sect Master.”

Lu Yuansheng paused to organize his thoughts. “Additionally, Elder Tao noted that these Yin Ghosts lack the blessing of divine power. He suspects they are a group of wandering Incense Path cultivators who have lost their enshrined deity.”

Hearing this, the tension in Ning Daohuan’s face evaporated.

“If they have lost their deity, then they are of little concern. They were likely ostracized by their own sect and drifted here like flotsam.”

“However,” his eyes narrowed, “we cannot underestimate these pests. If they gather enough believers, they could rise from the ashes.”

“Go. Issue the order to hunt down and exterminate every Incense Path cultivator in the region. Scour every settlement near the Eastern Sage stronghold. I will not tolerate a single mortal or rogue cultivator worshiping these evil gods!”

“Furthermore, open negotiations with the other four sects in the State of Chen. Explain the danger of the Incense Path and demand their cooperation in eradicating this infestation.”

Lu Yuansheng hesitated. His blurred face betrayed no emotion, but his posture radiated unease.

“What? Is there a problem?” Ning Daohuan frowned.

“I dare not hide anything from the Sect Master,” Lu Yuansheng said carefully. “Since we seized the Eastern Sage stronghold, the other four major sects have grown extremely wary of us. Apart from the Nine Spirits Sect, with whom we still trade, the others view us with deep suspicion. They may not trust our word.”

“Hmph. A bunch of country bumpkins,” Ning Daohuan sneered. “But your point stands. These provincials likely don’t even understand what the Incense Path is, let alone the threat it poses.”

“Fine. I will write a personal letter. Take it to them. Once they read it, they will know what must be done.”

After dismissing the local cultivators with characteristic disdain, Ning Daohuan shifted topics.

“And the remnants of the Eastern Sage Sect? Have you found them?”

Lu Yuansheng shook his head. “Not yet. They have operated in the State of Chen for centuries. They know the terrain of the three states—Sen, Chen, and Fu—like the back of their hands. If they truly wish to hide, rooting them out will take time.”

“Hard or not, you must find them!”

A surge of anger rose in Ning Daohuan’s chest. Despite his power, he still could not fully subdue the Divine Chicken, Fan Ming.

“The Downcast Divine Light is ineffective. I can only rely on the Spirit-Locking Bell to control Fan Ming’s primordial spirit. To do that, I need Ji Lan!”

Lu Yuansheng lowered his head, but his expression remained hesitant.

Ning Daohuan’s gaze sharpened. “Speak.”

“Yes… Subordinates recently reported a string of ambushes near the stronghold. A group of unknown cultivators has been targeting our Left Path members and low-level disciples. They are audacious and seemingly bear a deep grudge against us. Disciple suspects… could this be the work of the Eastern Sage Sect?”

Ning Daohuan’s eyes lit up. “You mean they’ve been under our noses the whole time?”

“The Sect Master is wise,” Lu Yuansheng flattered. “Years ago, they slipped through our fingers and vanished. Now, they suddenly reappear? If it truly is the Eastern Sage Sect, they likely have a larger scheme in motion.”

“I don’t fear them coming,” Ning Daohuan said with a cold smile. “I fear them not coming.”

“However, they are in the dark while we stand in the light. We must not be careless. Prepare your forces. Let us see what tricks these homeless dogs have prepared for us!”

“Yes!”

The Market.

“Forget damage to the three origins! Even if your Qi Sea collapses—hell, even if you have one breath left in your lungs—this pill will drag you back from the gates of hell!”

Inside the pill shop, the proprietor was in rare form, his sales pitch flowing like a river.

Wang Ba stared at the blood-colored pill in the man’s hand. He sniffed lightly, detecting a faint, metallic scent of blood. His expression was conflicted.

Seeing his hesitation, the shopkeeper doubled down.

“This was personally refined by Senior Brother Luo of the Profound Pill Path! This is the only one in the shop! Fifty Spirit Stones is a steal for a second life. Fellow Daoist, what is there to hesitate about?”

Wang Ba remained silent for a moment before speaking. “If I buy three, what’s the discount?”

“Three?” The shopkeeper blinked, then grinned. “That’s easy. If you buy three, I’ll authorize a discount of… three Spirit Stones! Don’t look at me like that; orders from above say prices are fixed. My hands are tied.”

The “only one in stock” lie evaporated instantly.

Wang Ba was speechless at the stingy discount, but he didn’t argue. He counted out the Spirit Stones and purchased three Pure Blood Returning Yang Pills.

The pills were allegedly refined from the blood of seventy-six different living beings, supplemented by rare herbs.

If it were just spirit beast blood, Wang Ba wouldn’t care.

But with the Profound Pill Path, there was a non-zero chance that one of those seventy-six ingredients was human.

Still, in a life-or-death situation, morality was a luxury he couldn’t afford.

He had originally planned to buy just one for Shen Fu, but after hearing the pitch, he bought two extras for emergencies.

Leaving the shop, Wang Ba turned toward the exit, intending to return to the chicken farm.

Suddenly, a group of female cultivators walked toward him. Leading the pack was a face he knew well: Lin Yu.

She had changed.

Compared to their last meeting, she radiated a new air of nobility and arrogance. Her demeanor was icy, unapproachable, like a fairy from a frozen palace.

More shockingly, the fluctuations of Spiritual Power rippling off her were profound—easily rivaling the likes of Meng Randao.

She had reached the Perfection state of the tenth layer of Qi Refining.

Surrounded by her sycophantic entourage, Lin Yu walked with her chin held high, making ordinary cultivators shrink back in inferiority.

Is she here for me? Wang Ba wondered, puzzled.

Then, a memory resurfaced.

Six months ago, Yu Changchun had mentioned something about the Mystic Maiden Path.

Female cultivators raised by the Mystic Maiden Path grow with terrifying speed. But when their cultivation approaches or surpasses their master’s, they are ‘assimilated’—consumed to boost the master’s power.

At the time, the warning had felt abstract. Now, looking at Lin Yu, the pieces clicked into place.

In less than five years, she had rocketed from a lowly third-layer cultivator to the tenth layer.

Even in a major sect like the Heavenly Gate Sect, such speed was unnatural.

Unless her talent was god-tier and her master was a philanthropist… but Wang Ba doubted it.

He hesitated. Should he warn her? They were technically old acquaintances from the Eastern Sage Sect.

As he debated, Lin Yu swept past him. She glanced at him briefly, frowned with mild distaste, and then ignored him completely, marching straight into the pill shop he had just exited.

Wang Ba, hand half-raised in greeting, stood frozen in awkward silence.

I thought she was here for me. Turns out I was being presumptuous.

He chuckled self-deprecatingly. The impulse to play the hero died instantly.

However, one of the female cultivators trailing Lin Yu recognized him. Her smile vanished, replaced by a scowl.

“It’s you again!”

“How can you be so shameless? Knowing Senior Sister is coming, you lay in wait like a stalker!”

“Let me give you some advice: stop dreaming! Senior Sister is a phoenix who will soon reach Foundation Establishment. You are nothing but a toad lusting after swan meat! Leave immediately, or I will find ways to punish you within the sect!”

Wang Ba stared at her, genuinely speechless.

He didn’t bother explaining. He turned on his heel and walked away.

“Senior Sister, who were you talking to?” another girl asked.

“Nobody. Just a delusional toad. I chased him off.”

“Ugh, why bother with these trash cultivators? Master Jiang promised that once Senior Sister reaches Foundation Establishment, he’ll help us breakthrough too!”

“Exactly! Master Jiang is so busy, we rarely get to see him. We have to perform well…”

Their eager, naive chatter faded as Wang Ba walked away.

He shook his head.

Good advice is hard to give to those destined to die.

Especially when they won’t even let you speak.

He put the matter out of his mind. It was just a fleeting moment of misplaced kindness. He had his own problems to solve.

Back at the chicken farm, Wang Ba gave the pill to Shen Fu, explaining its dubious origins.

Shen Fu didn’t hesitate. He swallowed the Pure Blood Returning Yang Pill in one gulp.

Seeing the immediate effect, Wang Ba sent him to the Spirit Water Courtyard to recuperate, where the abundant Spiritual Qi would speed his recovery.

With Shen Fu settled, Wang Ba finally had a moment of peace.

He dragged the Black Feather Chicken into his wooden hut for a comprehensive examination.

Despite a battery of tests, he couldn’t figure out how this idiotic bird had devoured the soul-monster.

“Alpha-Nine’s ability is beauty… and the Singing White Chicken’s ability is defense and evil suppression. But this… this isn’t suppression. It’s consumption.”

“Is this a mutation? A new trait born from the hybrid bloodline?”

Wang Ba pondered, recording his hypothesis in his logbook.

He gave this new ability a name:

Soul Devouring.

Two days later, another piece of good news arrived.

After more than six months of incubation, the ten eggs produced by the mating of the Shield-Armored Giant-Headed Turtles and the mutated turtle, Rice Bucket, finally hatched.