Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Yun Caixiang’s intelligence struck a chord in Wang Ba’s heart.

He couldn’t help but recall the Shield-Armored Giant-Headed Turtle he had once seen in the Wind Sun Market. It was a Middle Grade specimen, massive in size, comparable to his own mutated turtle, Rice Bucket.

But unlike Rice Bucket, who was naturally gifted in Water-attribute spells, the Shield-Armored Giant-Headed Turtle was famous for one thing: raw, impenetrable defense.

Wang Ba had long harbored a specific plan. If he could bond with one of these turtles and use it as the vessel for a Substitute Death technique, the survival benefits would be astronomical. It was why he had instructed Bu Chan and the others to keep a lookout.

Unfortunately, the turtles had vanished from the local markets. If not for Yun Caixiang’s sudden lead, he might have given up on the species entirely.

However, the teleportation array wasn’t scheduled to open yet. Wang Ba had to suppress his urgency.

During the waiting period, he gathered his four subordinates—Bu Chan, Shen Fu, Su Lingling, and Yun Caixiang.

He spent the time drilling them on the finer points of cultivation.

Wang Ba was currently at the Qi Refining 8th Layer. From his elevated vantage point, the bottlenecks confusing these low-level cultivators were as clear as shallow water. He offered pointer after pointer, dissecting their flaws with surgical precision.

The four of them exchanged looks of shock and admiration.

They had never known Wang Ba’s true depth. He rarely displayed his power, so they had assumed he was perhaps at the 4th or 5th Layer—slightly stronger than them, but not by much.

They were wrong.

After the lecture, Wang Ba granted them access to the Spirit Water Courtyard.

“There are three cultivation rooms,” he told them. “I’ll take one. You four can pair up and use the other two.”

He had lived and worked with these people for years. He hoped they would all survive the coming storm. He had done everything he could; their fates were now in their own hands.

With his affairs in order, Wang Ba rounded up a batch of “spent” Low Grade Spirit Poultry—chickens whose Lifespan had been drained to the dregs—and hauled them to the market.

The beast shop owner knew him well and offered a lowball price, knowing these birds were practically husks.

Wang Ba accepted without haggling. His breeding costs were negligible, and right now, he needed liquid capital.

Ten days later.

The teleportation array hummed to life.

Gritting his teeth at the expense, Wang Ba paid the 120 Low Grade Spirit Stones fee. Along with a group of other travelers, he stepped onto the platform bound for the Sword Billow Garrison.

…

The world twisted. A sensation like his bones were being ground against each other washed over him.

When Wang Ba opened his eyes, he was standing in a new array, the air thick with unfamiliar Qi.

The surrounding cultivators dispersed quickly. Some looked lost; others moved with purpose.

Wang Ba remained in the center, looking out through the shimmering light curtain of the array.

In the distance, a massive mountain pierced the clouds. It was shaped uncannily like a giant sword stabbed into the earth. A colossal waterfall cascaded from its summit, the roar of the water sounding like thunderous applause or the crashing of ocean waves.

“Sword Billow Garrison…” Wang Ba murmured. “It truly lives up to its name.”

He didn’t waste time sightseeing. He slipped a few Spirit Stones to the array guard.

“Brief me.”

The guard pocketed the stones and recited his spiel. “This place used to belong to the Sword Billow Sect of the Yan Kingdom. Decades ago, our Sect Master personally crushed them and established this as the Heavenly Gate Sect’s third garrison.”

“The terrain is treacherous. Dangerous lands surround us, but that also means the wilderness is teeming with rare spirit herbs and beasts.”

“Looking for the market? That would be the Billowing Sound Market. Just head towards the mountain. You can’t miss it.”

Wang Ba thanked him and moved fast.

The teleportation array was only open for one day. If he wanted to return to the Eastern Sage Sect garrison, he had to catch the final return trip tonight. Otherwise, he’d be stranded here for a month.

A short walk later, the market came into view. The roar of the distant waterfall was constant here—hence the name “Billowing Sound.”

This market was significantly larger than the one back home.

It was bustling, the streets packed with vendors and shoppers. The energy was vibrant, a stark contrast to the gloom hanging over the Eastern Sage garrison.

Wang Ba recalled the reason. When the Heavenly Gate Sect conquered the Sword Billow Sect, they wiped out the leadership but spared the low-level disciples and rogue cultivators. The population base here had remained intact, leading to a prosperous economy for Left-Path Cultivators.

Prices here were generally lower, especially for biological resources.

However, news of the conscription had clearly arrived. Inflation was rearing its ugly head here, too.

Wang Ba headed straight for an artifact shop.

He browsed for a while but found nothing spectacular. Eventually, he settled on a set of Flying Needles.

The set contained twelve needles. Individually, each was only a Middle Grade Magical Artifact. But when deployed together in a formation, their combined power rivaled a High Grade Magical Artifact.

It was a finicky weapon, requiring immense skill and focus to control. But Wang Ba didn’t have many options.

He paid 300 Spirit Stones and pocketed the set.

Next stop: The Spirit Beast Shop.

He stepped inside and his eyes immediately locked onto a tank in the corner.

Black, heavy shells that looked like forged iron armor. Massive heads.

Shield-Armored Giant-Headed Turtles.

There were ten of them, ranging in size.

Wang Ba kept his face neutral. “Shopkeeper, how much for the turtles?”

The shopkeeper glanced up from his ledger. “Small ones are 230 Spirit Stones. The big ones are 450.”

He gestured to the larger specimens. “But don’t bother with the big ones. The Joyous Life Path disciples already reserved the lot.”

Joyous Life Path?

Wang Ba paused. Why would they want defensive turtles?

Then, realization dawned.

The Shield-Armored Turtle was famous for its defense… and its potent Yang essence. It was a powerful aphrodisiac and vitality booster.

Of course, Wang Ba thought, rolling his eyes. Even Demonic Cultivators are obsessed with fixing their erectile dysfunction.

“I’ll take the four small ones,” Wang Ba said decisively.

The shopkeeper paused. He looked at the turtles, then slowly lowered his gaze to Wang Ba’s crotch. His expression shifted to one of pity and confusion.

Young man, you need four of them? At your age?

Wang Ba’s face twitched.

“…”

What the hell is with that look?!

He paid quickly and turned to leave, ignoring the judgment.

But as he passed a display cage near the door, he froze.

Inside sat a small ape, meditating cross-legged like a tiny human.

[Mountain Moving Ape] Age: 3 years. Maturation: 50 years. Potential: Upon reaching adulthood and surviving the ‘Minor Heavenly Thunder Tribulation’, it evolves into a Tier 2 Low Grade Spirit Beast (Foundation Establishment equivalent). Abilities: Divine Strength, ‘Mountain Collapse and Earth Split’ spell. [Price: 72 Middle Grade Spirit Stones]

Wang Ba stared at the ape, his heart pounding a frantic rhythm against his ribs.

A beast that can grow to Foundation Establishment.

If he used his Lifespan ability to force-feed it years… what would happen? How fast could he create a Foundation Establishment bodyguard?

The temptation was unbearable.

But then reality crashed down. 72 Middle Grade Spirit Stones. That was 7,200 Low Grade stones.

He couldn’t afford a single hair on this ape’s head.

However, the encounter sparked a new idea.

Tier 2 beasts are expensive. But what about Tier 1 Top Grade beasts?

Could I buy a combat-ready Tier 1 beast and use Lifespan to push it past its limits? Wouldn’t that be easier than trying to mutate chickens from scratch?

The logic was sound. Wang Ba’s excitement surged.

He began prowling the shop, scanning the high-end inventory.

[Green-Eyed Striped Tiger]… [Black Armor Crimson Light Snake]…

He compared stats and prices. Finally, he checked his wallet.

He only had enough for one.

After a long, agonizing deliberation, he pointed to a cage.

“I’ll take the Singing White Chicken.”

Transaction complete, Wang Ba did a final sweep of the market stalls. He picked up a few miscellaneous supplies and struck gold with a rare consumable:

A Heavenly Thunder Pearl.

It was a one-time-use grenade. But its power was terrifying—enough to severely maim a Qi Refining 10th Layer cultivator if they weren’t prepared.

It was the ultimate “get off me” tool.

Wang Ba stored it with extreme care, treating it like the volatile explosive it was.

Checking the time, he hurried back to the teleportation array. After a tense wait, the array flared, carrying him back to the familiar gloom of the Eastern Sage Sect garrison.