Cultivation: I Can Steal Lifespan from Spirit Beasts

Chapter 141: Golden Core

Eastern Sage Outpost.

Behind the massive, towering mountain gate, mountain ranges rolled like sleeping dragons, and palaces were scattered across the peaks in an orderly fashion. Clouds steamed and azure mists rose, painting a scene of an immortal paradise.

However, a faint trace of ferocity and sinister evil flashed through this serenity, diluting much of the immortal charm.

Figures clad in red and black Daoist robes occasionally darted among the peaks, disappearing to the north and south in the blink of an eye.

At this moment, a figure with a deep, steady aura and obscured features emerged from the mountains.

Raising his head slightly, he looked toward a nearby peak where a purple spirit beast was bound by countless chains. The figure paused for a moment before turning and flying deeper into the mountain range.

After a few leaps, he stood before a dilapidated, ancient palace.

The palace doors were slightly ajar, and not a sound came from within. Yet, the figure seemed certain of the occupant’s presence. He bowed respectfully, cupping his fists in salute.

“Bai Yu pays respects to Elder Lu!”

The old palace remained silent, but Bai Yu maintained his posture without the slightest slack.

After a long while, a faint, ghostly voice echoed from within:

“I have not yet been formally appointed. Continue to call me Steward.”

“I dare not. You have already entered the Golden Core realm. According to the Sect’s rules, even without a formal appointment, you are an Elder,” Bai Yu replied respectfully. “Moreover, the Sect Leader will personally preside over your appointment ceremony today.”

“Heh, fine. Do you have other matters to report? Come in and speak.”

The presence inside did not stand on ceremony.

The dilapidated doors swung open without a breeze, revealing a deep, swallowing darkness before Bai Yu. He did not hesitate and stepped inside.

The interior was as empty as the exterior suggested. In the dim, vast hall, there was nothing but a black-clad figure sitting cross-legged on a prayer mat.

However, unlike Bai Yu’s obscured features, this figure’s face was clear. He was handsome, with skin like carved jade and lips naturally red, resembling a graceful, dashing youth.

Three years had passed since they last met. Seeing Lu Yuansheng’s face restored to that of a normal human—no longer a skeletal horror—Bai Yu felt a rare twinge of envy.

He immediately suppressed the feeling and bowed again. “Bai Yu greets Elder Lu.”

This time, Lu Yuansheng accepted the title. He spoke calmly, “Speak. What is happening?”

“Yes.”

Bai Yu straightened up and began his report.

“Spies from the State of Sen report that cultivators from the outer continents beyond the West Sea border are frequently harassing the region. Additionally, the massacre of the West Sea State’s cultivation world years ago seems to have angered the Great Jin Dynasty.”

“Not long ago, the ‘Longevity Sect,’ one of the Great Jin Dynasty’s three great sects, dispatched over a dozen Nascent Soul True Lords. They slaughtered a total of eight Nascent Soul cultivators from the Xituo, Daosheng, and Tupi Continents, along with over 70 Golden Core cultivators and countless Foundation Establishment and Qi Refining cultivators.”

“This action shook the three continents. For a time, the threat from the outer continents was silenced. However, according to our spies, local cultivators in the State of Sen are pessimistic about the aftermath. They believe the Longevity Sect’s heavy-handedness failed to deter the enemy and will instead provoke a severe backlash from the three great continents…”

Hearing this, Lu Yuansheng’s handsome brow furrowed slightly.

The Great Jin Dynasty was the hegemon of the western Wind Descending Continent. It lay to the west of the States of Sen, Fu, and Chen, separated by the ‘State of Li.’

Although nations like Sen, Fu, and Chen appeared independent, they were all subtly suppressed and managed by the Great Jin. This was the primary reason the Heavenly Gate Sect plundered everywhere but dared not fully occupy a single state.

If the Heavenly Gate Sect showed any intention of annexing the other sects in the State of Chen, it might attract the Great Jin Dynasty’s gaze. Even if just one sect from the Great Jin acted, it could easily annihilate the Heavenly Gate Sect.

In Lu Yuansheng’s view, these small buffer states existed solely to separate the Great Jin from the Great Yan to the north, the Great Qi in the center, and the Great Chu to the south. Once the major powers made a move, small fries like Sen, Fu, and Chen would be the first to suffer.

However, that was a headache for Sect Leader Ning Daohuan. Lu Yuansheng didn’t care much. His brow relaxed.

“Anything else?”

“Yes. Outside the outpost, the Path of Incense and Fire has revived and is spreading rampantly. Three Foundation Establishment cultivators—Zheng Yuanhua, Li Canghai, and Wen Sheng—have emerged from nowhere. Each possesses a third-order technique or Magical Artifact. Many of our disciples who ventured out have lost their lives to them. Currently, few dare to leave the safety of the Formation.”

“The cultivators at the Eastern Sage Outpost have many complaints about this.”

Lu Yuansheng frowned deeply again. “Has no Golden Core Elder taken action?”

Bai Yu shook his head slightly. “It seems… the Elders have concerns.”

Lu Yuansheng thought for a moment, then understood.

Seven years ago, a senior Golden Core Elder had ventured out to seize a top-grade third-order magical sword, only to be ambushed and killed by the remnants of the Eastern Sage Sect. This incident clearly made the other Elders wary.

Since the Eastern Sage Sect’s high command had suffered no losses, any Elder leaving to eradicate the Path of Incense and Fire risked being surrounded by Ji Lan and his people. Unless Sect Leader Ning intervened in time, death was all but guaranteed.

Under such circumstances, the Golden Core Elders naturally dared not leave.

Without the threat of Golden Core cultivators, Zheng Yuanhua and his cohorts ran wild. As long as they maintained their distance and avoided instant death, they could strangle the Heavenly Gate Sect’s logistics and allow the Path of Incense and Fire to take root.

Clearly, these enemies understood the mindset of the Heavenly Gate Sect Elders perfectly.

“What did the Sect Leader say?” Lu Yuansheng asked curiously.

“The Sect Leader said nothing, only that we should wait until you emerged from Secluded Cultivation to discuss it,” Bai Yu replied truthfully.

“Wait until I emerge…”

Lu Yuansheng fell into deep thought. Bai Yu dared not disturb him.

Quickly regaining his composure, Lu Yuansheng looked at Bai Yu. “Anything else?”

“Yes, good news this time. Shortly before you emerged, Cheng Shu successfully bred a Second-Order Middle Grade Spirit Poultry. I inspected it myself; the grade is correct, and it was indeed bred from a Rare Fowl mother.”

Lu Yuansheng nodded slightly, unsurprised.

Cheng Shu was a captive Foundation Establishment cultivator, originally from the Eastern Sage Sect’s Myriad Beast Department. He was an expert in this field.

In just over two years, he had bred hard-to-obtain First-Order High Grade Spirit Poultry into Top Grade ones. Before Lu Yuansheng entered seclusion, Cheng Shu had already achieved Second-Order Low Grade.

Now, after three years, reaching Second-Order Middle Grade was well within expectations. Not surprising, but satisfactory.

“What about the others? How is their progress?” Lu Yuansheng asked casually.

“That is what I wanted to report. Due to a lack of experience, the others have at best produced Top Grade Spirit Poultry,” Bai Yu said, then hesitated. “But… I wonder if Elder Lu remembers a person named Wang Ba?”

“Wang Ba?”

“I certainly remember him.”

Hearing the name, Lu Yuansheng narrowed his eyes.

He recalled the minor cultivator who, before his seclusion, had unexpectedly bred a Top Grade Spirit Poultry, meeting his harsh requirements and forcing him to honor a promise he had considered breaking.

“What? Is there a problem with him?”

“Not exactly. It is just that not long ago, he bred a Second-Order Low Grade Spirit Poultry. I took Cheng Shu to verify it; it was genuine.”

“Second-Order Low Grade?”

“Are you sure he bred it himself?”

For the first time, astonishment colored Lu Yuansheng’s handsome face.

Cheng Shu took over two years to go from First-Order Top Grade to Second-Order Low Grade. Wang Ba took nearly three.

On paper, Wang Ba was inferior.

But Cheng Shu was a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator with Divine Sense, ample experience, and lineage heritage. Breeding came easily to him.

Wang Ba, if Lu Yuansheng recalled correctly, should only be at the eighth layer of Qi Refining.

The gap between them was not merely one of cultivation realm.

“This… I cannot be completely certain, but logically, no one else should have been involved,” Bai Yu said, sounding unsure.

Lu Yuansheng shook his head slightly. “Then it should be him.”

A thoughtful expression appeared on his face. “I originally thought his previous success was pure luck. Now it seems he indeed possesses some skill.”

“What did he request?”

Bai Yu, startled by the shift, hurriedly replied, “He gave me a list of materials needed for breeding. However, some items are quite valuable. I dared not agree immediately, so I came to ask for your decision.”

“Let me see.”

Lu Yuansheng took the list Bai Yu offered. After scanning it, he frowned.

The materials weren’t just valuable; some were rare enough that even ordinary Golden Core rogue cultivators would struggle to gather them. Of course, for the plunder-happy Heavenly Gate Sect, it wasn’t difficult.

After some consideration, Lu Yuansheng put the list away.

“Is there anything else? If not, return first. I will give you a reply later.”

Bai Yu took his leave.

Alone in the empty hall, Lu Yuansheng held the list, deep in thought. He sent out a transmission talisman.

Soon, a figure arrived and bowed respectfully.

“Criminal cultivator Cheng Shu pays respects to Elder Lu.”

Lu Yuansheng smiled faintly. “Fellow Daoist Cheng, no need for such formality. We are old acquaintances from the Eastern Sage Sect.”

“I dare not,” Cheng Shu replied, bowing lower.

Lu Yuansheng handed him the list. “Fellow Daoist Cheng, can you discern anything from this?”

Cheng Shu scanned the list quickly, then read it again carefully, a trace of confusion appearing in his eyes.

“If I am not mistaken, this list is related to spirit beast breeding. However, materials like the ‘Third-Order Immortal Jade Monkey Peach,’ ‘Second-Order Low Grade Psychic Ghost Loach,’ ‘Third-Order Formless Immortal,’ and ‘Second-Order Jade Imbued Begonia’… these seem incompatible with the other materials. Perhaps my learning is too shallow to see the deeper meaning.”

“So, you think this is a genuine list for spirit beast breeding?” Lu Yuansheng asked.

“It should be, but I cannot guarantee it. Elder Lu, this is…”

“Hehe, it is nothing,” Lu Yuansheng interrupted with a smile, casually putting the list away. “By the way, my appointment ceremony will be held shortly. Fellow Daoist, you might as well attend.”

Confused but relieved, Cheng Shu forced a smile. “That would be my fortune.”

Soon, cultivators arrived to escort Lu Yuansheng. Cheng Shu followed him through a teleportation array to a destination he had never seen before.

An endless black swamp. A statue he remembered vividly towered into the clouds, seated amidst the muck.

The statue possessed twenty-four arms. On each arm stood a figure with an unfathomably deep aura.

Heavenly Gate Sect Leader Ning Daohuan sat atop the statue, overlooking all beings.

Below, numerous Heavenly Gate cultivators in red and black robes stood in the swampy domain.

There were no lavish decorations, nor any complex rituals.

Lu Yuansheng’s appointment ceremony began in this hidden swamp, unknown to the outside world.

Mysterious and solemn. Grand and austere.

Cheng Shu was deeply awed.

…

Eastern Sage Outpost. South Lake Shore. The Chicken Farm.

Bu Chan gently pushed open the gate and saw a monkey sitting cross-legged on a broken wooden stump nearby. Its furry ears twitched, but it did not open its eyes.

She knew the Mountain Moving Ape had identified her through the Formation.

“Somehow, this fellow doesn’t seem like it’s only First-Order Top Grade as Senior Brother said…” Bu Chan muttered to herself.

She lightly tossed a few Green Fire Spirit Berries toward it.

The ape extended a hand slightly, and the berries seemed to fly into its grasp. It opened its eyes, expressionlessly popped the fruit into its mouth, and then closed its eyes again, resuming its meditation like an ascetic monk.

Used to this behavior, Bu Chan walked to the expanded pond and poured a large basket of berries into the water.

The calm surface exploded. Dark shadows surged from the depths, and massive spirit turtles breached the surface, snatching at the fruit in mid-air.

Two carriage-sized Green Water Spirit Turtles caused the most commotion. Even the large-headed Rice Bucket seemed like a mere seedling beside them.

One turtle dove, splashing half the pond’s water into the air. The other stretched its long neck, using water manipulation to freeze the droplets in mid-air and sweep them into its mouth.

Even a small pond could host a magnificent spectacle.

After feeding the turtles, Bu Chan moved to another pool. Sensing her arrival, the water stirred faintly.

Looking at the slimy, wriggling shapes breaking the surface, Bu Chan steeled herself and threw a dozen dead Spirit Poultry into the water.

Instantly, straight, earth-yellow figures shot like arrows through the carcasses, dragging them underwater. Blood bloomed in the water. Numerous slimy, yellow-black, snake-like figures writhed over the prey.

Even after seeing it many times, the feeding frenzy of the Psychic Ghost Loaches disgusted her.

“Next time, I’ll let Senior Brother feed them, or have the human puppet do it. I don’t know why he wants to raise these loaches.”

Suppressing her unease, she checked the chicken coops, confirmed everything was fine, and returned to the wooden hut.

Just as she raised her hand to knock, a familiar voice called out.

“Come in, Junior Sister.”

Bu Chan pushed the door open. Wang Ba sat cross-legged on the wooden bed, smiling at her.

“Senior Brother, I’ve found the ‘Red Gold Fire’ you wanted…”

She paused mid-sentence, her eyes widening in shock. “Senior Brother, you… you’ve achieved the Union of the Three Primes?”

“Junior Sister has good eyes.”

Wang Ba nodded slightly, hiding nothing from his partner.

His heart swelled with emotion.

Over the past seven years, aside from studying the Beast Taming Path, he had devoted himself to diligent cultivation. With few distractions, he had finally ground his cultivation to Qi Refining Level 10 Perfection.

The subsequent unification of Essence, Qi, and Spirit—the Three Primes—had been surprisingly simple.

Although the Lifespan consumption options did not include “Three Primes Unification,” he managed to harmonize them on his own.

‘Essence’: Daily consumption of Spirit Poultry essence ensured his vitality was overflowing. ‘Qi’: He never took pills. His Spiritual Energy, derived purely from Spirit Poultry and hard work, was flawless. ‘Spirit’: With the Yin Spirit Great Dream Scripture as a foundation, the Yin Spirit power in his Yin Spirit Abode was abundant.

The three unified naturally. Now, he could attempt to break through the Foundation Establishment barrier whenever he wished.

“The Lifespan consumption options now show a ‘Foundation Establishment Bottleneck’ cost of only a little over two years…”

“But, better to be safe.”

Despite his urge to rush, Wang Ba remained calm. He mentally reviewed his condition to ensure no flaws existed.

“Senior Brother, I’ll go cook a few dishes. Let’s celebrate!”

Bu Chan was overjoyed. Before Wang Ba could nod, she hurried out of the hut.

Wang Ba smiled, letting her go. A small celebration would be good relaxation before the breakthrough.

Just then, he looked up as a transmission talisman arrived.

Reading the content, Wang Ba looked puzzled.

“Bai Yu? He’s coming over shortly?”

Without wasting time on speculation, he immediately sprang into action. He began collecting the eye-catching spirit beasts in the farm one by one.

One Second-Order Low Grade Mountain Moving Ape. Two Second-Order Low Grade Green Water Spirit Turtles. Second-Order Low Grade Phoenix Feather Chicken, Alpha-Two. Second-Order Low Grade Black Feather Chicken, Beta-One. Second-Order Middle Grade Phantom Chickens, Alpha-Fifteen and Alpha-Sixteen… And ten Second-Order High Grade Psychic Ghost Loaches.