Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

The Poultry Farm.

Wang Ba lay on his spotless wooden bed, letting out a long, luxurious sigh.

Even as a cultivator, the simple pleasure of lying down was unmatched. It was freedom. The spirit fields outside no longer demanded he pull weeds by hand, inch by painstaking inch. He no longer had to dance around the Azure Fire Spirit Berry trees to avoid damaging the leaves while harvesting.

His life had become efficient. Comfortable.

After resting for a while, his ingrained work ethic kicked in. He got up to inspect the stock.

The results were mixed. There were a few more fertilized eggs from the Low Grade Spirit Poultry, but the bulk of production came from Alpha-Nine, the Phoenix Feather Chicken. She was currently being relentlessly courted—or rather, ravaged—by the male chickens, resulting in a steady stream of eggs.

Paternity, however, remained unknown.

Judging solely by the appearance of the shells, it was impossible to determine which male had successfully passed on its genes.

The situation was similar in the turtle pond. He sifted through the sand in the laying pits and found a fresh clutch of spirit turtle eggs.

Confirming that operations were stable, Wang Ba prepared to head to the Spirit Water Courtyard for his daily cultivation session.

Projected timeline: Less than six months to Qi Refining 9th Layer.

Once he hit that milestone, few among the heterodox rogue cultivators would be his equal.

With this optimistic calculation in mind, Wang Ba turned to leave.

Suddenly, Bu Chan burst into the farm, her face pale.

“Senior Brother, it’s bad!”

“The Mandatory Mission… it’s started!”

Wang Ba’s expression darkened instantly.

He ripped the Heavenly Gate Task Token from his Storage Bag.

There, glowing in harsh crimson script, was the announcement.

[Mandatory Mobilization: Exterminate the Incense Fire Path] [Constraint: Three-Exemption Rule Nullified.] [Deadline: Accept a mission within 5 days.]

Wang Ba’s heart sank like a stone.

Yu Changchun’s paranoia had been prophetic.

Risk Assessment: Critical.

Despite his obsessive efforts to hide, the war had finally kicked down his door.

What left him speechless was the ruthlessness of the administration. Yu Changchun had explicitly stated that rogue cultivators had three chances to decline conscription. The Sect had simply deleted that rule.

They were forcing the rats out of the hole.

Why? Is the Incense Fire Path really pushing them this hard?

Wang Ba’s gut told him it wasn’t that simple.

He hesitated for a split second, then retreated into his hut. He retrieved the transmission talisman Yu Changchun had given him.

This was his lifeline to Bai Yu, the Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Yu Changchun had warned him: Do not use this unless it is a matter of life and death.

Definition of ‘Life and Death’: Now.

Wang Ba recorded a concise message and injected his Spiritual Power. The talisman flared and vanished into the sky.

He stepped back outside and ordered Bu Chan to recall Shen Fu immediately.

Bu Chan tried to contact him. Moments later, she looked up, her eyes wide with panic.

“He… he already took a mission.”

Shen Fu, in his eagerness to earn merit, had voluntarily accepted a free task targeting the Incense Fire Path earlier that day. The Task Token had automatically locked it in as his Mandatory Mission.

“That damn kid!”

Wang Ba’s face was as cold as iron. “He didn’t even consult us on something this massive?”

If he had known, he would have broken Shen Fu’s legs to keep him home. Shen Fu was only Qi Refining 4th Layer. In a real war, he was cannon fodder. He would die in a single encounter.

But Shen Fu was already gone. Anger was useless.

“Tell him to maximize caution,” Wang Ba ordered, his voice tight. “If he senses even a 1% probability of failure, abort and retreat to the garrison immediately.”

Bu Chan, equally furious and terrified, sent the message.

Almost immediately, the air shimmered. Bai Yu’s reply had arrived.

Wang Ba crushed the talisman. A cold, arrogant voice echoed in his ear:

“Come to Blood Bone Hall.”

The Heavenly Gate Sect.

Crossing the majestic mountain gate felt like stepping into another world.

Mist coiled around the peaks, hiding the jagged silhouettes of palaces that floated like islands in a sea of white.

Wang Ba walked the familiar path, a sense of alienation washing over him. It felt like a lifetime ago that he was a lowly servant here.

His gaze was involuntarily drawn to the massive purple spirit beast chained amidst the fog—Fan Ming.

Thick iron chains pierced its flesh, binding it to the mountain. It let out low, mournful roars, yet its posture remained unbroken, radiating defiance.

Wang Ba averted his eyes quickly. Even a glance at the eyes on its wings threatened to destabilize his soul, making him feel drunk and disoriented.

He followed the spiritual marker from Bai Yu’s talisman, moving with calculated stealth.

The paths were busy. Cultivators in the sect’s red-and-black robes moved with purpose. Occasionally, he saw other heterodox cultivators scurrying like frightened mice, heads down, terrified of drawing attention.

Despite his caution, the mist parted, and he ran straight into someone.

She was dressed in opulent robes, her face a blend of delicate charm and sharp, heroic beauty.

Lin Yu.

But she was different.

There were no sycophantic female cultivators trailing her today. She walked alone, stepping through the void between peaks without a Magical Artifact, as if the air itself was solid ground.

What stopped Wang Ba cold was her aura.

It was suffocating.

She felt stronger than Bai Yu. When Wang Ba looked at her, his primal instincts screamed. It was the feeling of standing before a prehistoric apex predator. Fear rose in his throat like bile.

Lin Yu saw him.

To his shock, she didn’t ignore him. She turned and smiled.

Her red lips parted to reveal pearly white teeth. It was a beautiful, enchanting smile.

Wang Ba felt his blood freeze.

It was the smile of a tiger looking at a rabbit.

She held his gaze for a second, then turned and vanished into the mist.

Wang Ba exhaled, his chest heaving. The pressure lifted, but the cold sweat remained.

He shook his head, pushing the image away.

Observation: The person formerly known as Lin Yu… is gone.

He suppressed the turmoil in his heart and hurried toward the summit.

He reached the Blood Bone Hall.

The palace was magnificent, dripping with gold and jade, yet the atmosphere was as cold as a morgue.

A few cultivators with blurred faces sat in meditation.

Lining the walls were ornate shelves. Displayed upon them were not books or artifacts, but bones.

Human bones.

Crimson, polished, and arranged by size and shape.

Wang Ba stood at the entrance, not daring to cross the threshold.

Moments later, a familiar figure strode out. Though his face was obscured by magic, his direct approach confirmed his identity.

Bai Yu.

He didn’t waste time on pleasantries.

“You want to dodge the Mandatory Mission?”

Wang Ba bowed deeply, his posture screaming submission.

“Junior is truly helpless,” Wang Ba said, his voice trembling slightly. “Although I am at Qi Refining 8th Layer, I have zero combat ability. I have no offensive artifacts, no killing techniques. I only know how to raise chickens and brew wine.”

“If I go to the front lines, my death is irrelevant, but dying so pathetically would bring shame to the Holy Sect.”

He deliberately emphasized the word ‘wine’.

Bai Yu paused. He seemed to consider this.

“Disciple-Nephew Yu spoke for you. And… the wine you provided last time was indeed acceptable.”

Bai Yu’s voice was transactional. “I can speak to Senior Uncle Bei. I can get your name removed from the roster.”

“But do not forget this year’s tribute.”

Wang Ba couldn’t believe his ears.

It’s that easy?

Then again, this was the way of the Demonic Path. Rules were for the weak; influence was currency.

“Senior, rest assured!” Wang Ba nodded furiously. “In a few months, the new batch will be ready to unseal.”

Bai Yu nodded, satisfied. He turned to leave, but saw Wang Ba still standing there, fidgeting.

“What? Is there a problem?”

Wang Ba forced a pitiful, ingratiating smile.

“Senior… there is one small matter. I have a Junior Sister. She is only at Qi Refining 4th Layer. Could she also…”

The temperature dropped instantly.

“Are you trying to push your luck?”

A terrifying pressure slammed into Wang Ba. It wasn’t an attack, just a flare of Bai Yu’s aura, but it nearly buckled Wang Ba’s knees. Cold sweat drenched his back instantly.

“No! I wouldn’t dare!”

Wang Ba clasped his hands, bowing so low his nose nearly touched his knees.

“Hmph!” Bai Yu’s voice was dripping with disdain. “This is the Holy Sect’s grand strategy. I am making an exception for you only because you have some marginal utility. Do not mistake yourself for someone important.”

Bai Yu snorted, dialing back the pressure slightly.

“This mandate is coming from the top. Even the Profound Soul Path tried to complain to the Sect Master and got shut down. Pulling you out required me to burn a favor with Senior Uncle Bei, and I only did it because Yu Changchun begged me. You think a few jars of wine are enough to save two people? Hah…”

Wang Ba trembled, terrified. “Junior understands! Junior was foolish! Thank you for your mercy, Senior!”

Bai Yu waved his hand dismissively.

“Stop shaking. The mission isn’t a death sentence. Our elite disciples have already marked the Incense Path’s heavy hitters. The rest are just paper tigers. With your cultivation, self-preservation should be trivial.”

“Forget it. Whether you go or stay, I will remove your name. That is the deal.”

“Now, get out of my sight.”

“Yes! Thank you, Senior Bai!”

Wang Ba retreated respectfully, stepping onto his Magical Artifact and fleeing the mountain as if escaping a dragon’s den.

At the mountain gate, he looked back one last time.

In the mist, the beast Fan Ming was still struggling against its chains. Silent. Bound.

Just like him.

Back at the Poultry Farm.

“Senior Brother,” Bu Chan asked anxiously as soon as he landed. “What did the Senior say?”

Wang Ba stood there, looking at her.

She wasn’t particularly beautiful. Her face was plain, her robes simple.

But he found himself looking at her. Really looking at her.

And for the first time in his life, the words stuck in his throat.

“I… I…”

He couldn’t say it.

I bought my life with yours.

He couldn’t look her in the eye.

Silently, Wang Ba turned and walked into his small wooden hut, closing the door and locking himself in the darkness.

Bu Chan stood in the yard, staring at the closed door.

She watched his retreating back, and a slow realization dawned in her eyes. The light in them dimmed, just a fraction.

She stood there for a long time.

Slowly, she reached into her sleeve and pulled out an ancient, tarnished ring.

She hesitated, her thumb tracing the worn metal.

Then, she walked up the steps and knocked on his door.