Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Chapter 135: Summons

Spirit Water Courtyard.

Wang Ba slowly opened his eyes, emerging from his cultivation trance.

He glanced down at his hand. The Divine Essence Dew he had been holding was gone, completely absorbed.

At this moment, he felt his five senses sharpen to an uncanny degree. It was as if an invisible third eye had opened on his forehead, allowing him to perceive the slightest movements in his surroundings.

He knew this sensation well: his soul was nearing Perfection. Divine Sense was about to be born.

Once his soul reached Perfection, a faint Divine Sense would emerge. Only with Divine Sense could one truly observe their internal state and harmonize “Essence” and “Qi.”

That harmony—the Union of the Three Primes—was the key to assaulting the Foundation Establishment realm!

However, achieving that union was still a distant goal. After all, he was currently only at the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

“The effect of this Divine Essence Dew is extraordinary,” Wang Ba thought with satisfaction. “I only refined one drop, yet my Yin Spirit power has replenished significantly.”

Through his recent cultivation, he had gained a deeper understanding of Yin Spirit power.

In a sense, Yin Spirit power was a variant of soul power, yet subtly stronger. The location of his Yin Spirit Abode coincided perfectly with what spirit-refining cultivators called the “Brow Spirit Platform.”

Of course, differences remained. The Yin Spirit Great Dream Scripture had only three layers, whereas standard spirit refinement was divided into distinct stages from first to fourth. The two systems were not equivalent.

Wang Ba didn’t mind. He wasn’t a spirit-refining cultivator by trade; the scripture was merely a tool for self-preservation.

Feeling the swelling sensation in his brow, Wang Ba decided against refining another drop of dew. Instead, he scooped a few spoonfuls of Spirit Poultry essence and returned to his daily cultivation routine.

However, the peace did not last long.

Soon, he received two transmission talismans in quick succession.

“Shen Fu is back?”

Reading the first message, a look of genuine surprise and joy crossed Wang Ba’s face.

The mandatory mission had ended some time ago, yet Shen Fu had remained missing. His transmission talismans had gone unanswered, leading Wang Ba and Bu Chan to fear the worst.

The thought had cast a shadow over Wang Ba’s mood. Over the years, he had come to regard the young man almost as a younger brother.

He never expected the kid to finally return.

Suppressing his eagerness, Wang Ba opened the second talisman.

“Huh? From Bai Yu? He’s alive?”

Wang Ba stared at the message, stunned.

That day in Water Controlling City, he had personally watched Bai Yu get skewered by Ye Lingyu’s third-grade magic sword. The power of that strike would have terrified even a Golden Core cultivator.

He had assumed Bai Yu was dead.

But why would he reach out now?

Despite his shock and confusion, Wang Ba quickly scanned the contents.

His brow furrowed.

“Lu Yuansheng wants to see me?”

…

Eastern Sage Outpost.

Wang Ba paused before the majestic ruins of the Eastern Sage Sect’s mountain gate. He looked up at the towering palaces nestled among the clouds and mist, and the faint purple shadow lingering near the peaks.

This was his fourth visit here.

Every time, his feelings were complicated.

But remembering that he was here to meet Lu Yuansheng—the Heavenly Gate Sect’s Head Steward, second only to the Sect Leader and the Elders—he quickly suppressed his wandering thoughts.

He straightened his robes, ensured he looked presentable, and released Bai Yu’s transmission talisman to guide him. Following the trail, he arrived once again at the entrance of the Blood Bone Hall.

After being announced, Wang Ba was led inside, where he finally saw Bai Yu.

“You’re here. Cough… sit. Wait a moment.”

This time, Bai Yu did not use a technique to obscure his face.

He sat at a desk, writing with a brush. He glanced up briefly at Wang Ba before returning to his work.

As he coughed weakly, strands of raw flesh writhed like worms on his skeletal face, escaping from the bone only to be painfully reabsorbed. Wang Ba could see coagulated blood vessels and an Adam’s apple flickering into existence within his exposed neck.

Clearly, taking Ye Lingyu’s sword head-on had left severe injuries. Bai Yu was struggling to even maintain his blood bone form.

Wang Ba lowered his head, not daring to stare.

Before long, over ten other cultivators arrived. Among them were several Foundation Establishment cultivators with profound, intimidating auras.

Seeing that everyone had arrived, Bai Yu set down his brush. His dark, empty eye sockets swept over the group.

“Steward Lu called you here. Don’t overthink it; just know that this is a rare opportunity.”

“Later, answer whatever the Steward asks truthfully.”

“Yes.”

The group bowed in unison.

“Follow me,” Bai Yu said, leading them out of the Blood Bone Hall and toward the higher peaks. No one dared to speak.

Soon, they arrived at a dilapidated, unassuming palace.

They waited respectfully at the entrance. Though surprised by the humble state of the building, Wang Ba and the others kept their heads low and their expressions neutral.

A moment later, a figure in black robes emerged from the shadows.

It was the Heavenly Gate Sect’s Head Steward, Lu Yuansheng.

Bai Yu stepped forward. “Steward, these are the cultivators skilled in raising spirit beasts from the various outposts.”

Lu Yuansheng nodded slightly.

He paced slowly to a tall Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“What is your name? What spirit beasts are you skilled in raising?”

The cultivator, having anticipated the question, replied instantly. “This humble cultivator is Zheng Yi. I am skilled in raising swine beasts. I once bred a Second-Order Low Grade swine beast.”

“Second-Order…” Lu Yuansheng mused. “You stay.”

Zheng Yi beamed and stepped aside.

Lu Yuansheng moved to the second person.

“This Junior is Liu Hu, skilled in breeding avians. I once bred a flock of First-Order High Grade Hundred-Flower Peacocks.”

“Avians… you stay for now.”

The Qi Refining cultivator’s face lit up with joy. He knew this was a golden opportunity.

Lu Yuansheng continued down the line. Most were rejected—either their specialty was unneeded, or their results were too low-grade.

“Do they want to cultivate high-grade spirit beasts?” Wang Ba wondered.

Wary of Lu Yuansheng—the man who had killed Senior Brother Zhao—Wang Ba decided to downplay his abilities.

I’ll just say I’m skilled with Spirit Poultry. As for the grade… Middle Grade. That should be safe.

He had only ever shown Middle Grade poultry to the public. Only Shen Fu and Bu Chan knew about the Top Grade ones, and they wouldn’t talk. Anyone else who knew was dead.

Soon, Lu Yuansheng stood before him.

Wang Ba kept his expression carefully neutral. “This Junior is Wang Ba, skilled in raising Spirit Poultry. I once bred Middle Grade Spirit Poultry.”

Hearing “Spirit Poultry,” a flicker of blue light ignited in Lu Yuansheng’s hollow eyes.

But upon hearing “Middle Grade,” he shook his head regretfully.

“A pity.”

He moved on.

Wang Ba breathed a sigh of relief. Safe.

The pressure radiating from the Head Steward was suffocating. Just standing near him felt like being crushed by a mountain.

But just as Wang Ba thought he was in the clear, Bai Yu stepped forward and whispered to Lu Yuansheng.

“Steward, although his Spirit Poultry are low grade, his breeding speed is exceptional. Perhaps… he could be of use?”

Wang Ba’s vision went dark. Bai Yu, you traitor!

Lu Yuansheng paused, considering. Then, as if recalling something, he turned back, his pitch-black sockets fixing on Wang Ba.

“What did you say your name was?”

Wang Ba’s heart tightened. “This Junior is Wang Ba.”

“You once raised poultry at Ding Eighty-Seven Manor… is that you?”

Wang Ba froze. The gazes of everyone around him—surprised, envious, confused—bore into him. Even Bai Yu stared with palpable astonishment.

Wang Ba’s scalp went numb. How did the Head Steward know about his time at Ding Eighty-Seven Manor?

He dared not lie. “Yes… this Junior raised poultry there. That is why I know a little about the craft.”

Lu Yuansheng nodded slowly, his jawbone parting in a skeletal smile.

“Hehe. You should know my seventh brother, Lu Yuanfeng… Before he left, he specifically asked me to look after you.”

The atmosphere shifted instantly.

The surrounding cultivators looked at Wang Ba with undisguised envy. He has connections with the Head Steward’s family?!

Even Bai Yu seemed to view him with new respect.

Only Wang Ba felt a sudden hollowness.

“Shopkeeper Lu has… left?”

After the fall of the Eastern Sage Sect, Wang Ba had avoided the Lu family, assuming Lu Yuansheng’s rise to power would secure their safety and prosperity. He never expected to hear of his old friend’s death here.

Counting it up, of all the people he knew from the old sect, only Zhao Feng, Ye Lingyu, and Yu Changchun remained. And it had only been five or six years.

Lu Yuansheng sighed, seemingly touched by the memory.

“Before my seventh brother passed, he told me that when the Lu family was in dire straits, you took great care of them, even sending Spirit Poultry to aid them. The kindness was immense. Since that is the case…”

Wang Ba could feel the jealousy radiating from the rejected cultivators. Even the selected ones looked at him with a mix of envy and disdain for “riding coattails.”

Wang Ba wanted to scream. I don’t want to get involved!

But Lu Yuansheng was the second most powerful man in the Sect. Refusing his “kindness” now would be a slap in the face, potentially turning gratitude into a death sentence.

Wang Ba prepared to force a smile of tearful gratitude.

Then, Lu Yuansheng spoke softly.

“Since that is the case, you should go back.”