Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 114: Preparing to Escape

The next day.

Early in the morning, Li An went to the Treasure Pavilion as usual to receive guests who came to appraise treasures.

Around noon, a cultivator covered in a cloak entered with the servant Xiao Wu leading the way.

"This is Master Zuo Wen--" Xiao Wu introduced briefly and then left.

The cloaked person sat across from Li An, only revealing their eyes. A hoarse male voice came, "I heard that you purchase Heavenly Calamity Stones here?"

"Yes."

"Help me take a look at this pile of Heavenly Calamity Stones, and tell me their quality..."

The cloaked person directly took out seven or eight stones of different shapes and colors.

The smallest one was about the size of a thumb, while the largest one was about the size of a fist.

Li An was somewhat surprised. Although Heavenly Calamity Stones were not particularly rare, they were still considered rare items. It was rare for someone to bring so many at once.

He became cautious.

The person in front of him should be a demonic cultivator?

Or perhaps, a devil cultivator?

Li An remained calm and first scanned with his divine sense, but he didn't find any major issues. At the same time, he sensed the aura of the cloaked person.

However, he discovered that this person seemed to have some kind of secret technique concealing their presence, and his divine sense couldn't detect it.

"The life essence has a major problem, it seems like it's about to split in half..."

Although cultivation level and the aura of cultivation could be concealed, the fluctuations of life essence couldn't escape him. The current state of this person was very poor, to the point where they were in danger of dying at any moment.

The Life Preservation and Immortal Cultivation Technique could sense the most fundamental life force.

"It's normal for demonic cultivators or devil cultivators to have this kind of problem."

Li An picked up each of the stones one by one, carefully inspecting and grading them.

Regardless of who the other person was, the rule of the Treasure Pavilion was to accept all treasures.

"Hmm?!"

However, when he picked up a gray Heavenly Calamity Stone, the seed of life within him trembled lightly. He suddenly felt as if there was an inexplicable aura that directly entered his body.

Li An activated the seed of life and forcefully blocked it!

But even the seed of life couldn't stop it, this aura was extremely powerful.

In that instant, Li An almost erupted with shock and turmoil in his heart, but with unimaginable willpower, he controlled his expression and actions, without any change.

Countless thoughts flashed through his mind.

This aura was extremely strange, it could evade the detection of divine sense. If he hadn't cultivated the Life Preservation and Immortal Cultivation Technique, it would have been impossible for him to sense it.

Was this person intentionally doing it, or was it unintentional and contained in the Heavenly Calamity Stone they brought?

Li An felt... it was very likely intentional.

Why would the other party target him?

Currently, there were only two parties with motives to make a move against him:

People from Xu Changkong.

And the demonic sect that he hadn't heard any news from for a long time.

The latter was more probable.

Did the demonic sect come looking for him...

Almost just a thought, he confirmed this point!

Li An couldn't help but feel a chill in his heart. After so many years, being so careful, without revealing any flaws, he was actually still found?

He couldn't help but feel a bit overwhelmed. Wasn't it just robbing the demonic sect twice? Was it necessary...

The demonic sect was so focused on him... they must have a big plan!

After thinking for a moment, he decided to wait and see.

Firstly, after this aura entered his body, it only lay dormant and hadn't caused any trouble yet, indicating that the other party wasn't ready to make a move.

Secondly, if he made a move now, he might not be a match for the person in front of him, and it would directly expose his identity.

His years of operation in the Treasure Pavilion would be completely ruined.

He decided to first understand this aura and the intentions of the demonic sect.

"How is it?"

The cloaked person asked.

Li An nodded, "The quality is good. I'll take them all and give you five thousand spirit stones!"

"This price is already considered high in the market!"

The cloaked person nodded, "Alright, deal."

Immediately, the two quickly went through the procedures and completed the transaction.

Then, the cloaked person left as if nothing had happened.

After he left.

Li An closed the door to the appraisal room and immediately began to introspect.

Above his dantian, there was now a dark black aura.

This aura was intangible and could only manifest under the influence of his life essence.

When this aura manifested, the demonic energy within him began to stir.

"It really is from the Demon Sect!"

Furthermore, he discovered that this aura was floating above his dantian pool, seemingly wanting to enter it.

But with his life essence rooted in his dantian, the dantian pool was also under the control of his life essence. Although this aura could break through the resistance of his life essence and enter his body, it couldn't penetrate into the dantian pool.

"Is the target my dantian pool?"

He pondered for a moment and guided some spiritual liquid to fly out of the dantian pool.

That dark black aura instantly merged into the spiritual liquid, but the liquid couldn't withstand the aura and fell back into the dantian pool like rainwater.

"The target... is Golden Core?!"

Li An suddenly realized!

This aura was too strong, and the spiritual liquid couldn't bear it. At least, the liquid needed to solidify and successfully form a Golden Core before it could carry it.

"Do they see me as some kind of cauldron?"

This was the most likely possibility.

When Li An cultivated to the Gold Core realm, this aura would occupy the Golden Core he formed. All his hard work might be in vain.

If it weren't for the Life-Nurturing Immortal Casting Technique, he would never have noticed.

"This aura is at least from someone at the Golden Core level, or even... possibly higher!"

"A big shot from the Demon Sect?"

Li An couldn't help but feel a headache. How did he attract the attention of such a person by only dealing with the Demon Sect twice?

What qualifications did he have to become their cauldron? Generally, this kind of thing should be reserved for geniuses.

But now, that didn't matter.

He exerted all his efforts to operate the Life-Nurturing Immortal Casting Technique and stimulate the power of his life essence.

"It's effective! But very slow!"

Li An couldn't help but feel pleasantly surprised.

This aura could be erased.

"The source of this aura is too strong, and I am currently too weak. My life essence hasn't grown yet, like a young tiger trying to swallow a huge cow, so it will be very difficult..."

"If my realm is higher and I cultivate the Life-Nurturing Immortal Casting Technique for a longer time, this aura wouldn't be able to enter my body at all!"

This made Li An feel delighted. The Life-Nurturing Immortal Casting Technique had always been his greatest reliance in this life. If he couldn't deal with this aura... it would be very frustrating for him.

"If that's the case, by the time I reach the Golden Core stage, this aura should be completely refined..."

He felt relieved.

He could grit his teeth and endure it, spending two or three hundred years to slowly refine it. That would be more than enough.

However, for safety's sake, the best course of action would be to run away...

If he ran away, all the preparations he had made over the past few decades would be wasted...

He had already found three poisonous herbs!

"Safety comes first. If necessary, I can go to the Central Plains or other places and spend a few decades to make new preparations. It's better than risking my life..."

After hesitating for a long time, Li An decided to run away!

That day, he left the Treasure Pavilion early and returned to his residence.

He packed his things and prepared to leave early the next morning.

He also wrote a letter, intending to give it to Gu Hong.

After much thought, he believed that Gu Hong was the only clue the Demon Sect had to find him.

Gu Hong was being targeted.

He didn't plan to deliver the letter to Gu Hong himself. Instead, he would wait until he had been gone for a month or two before having a servant deliver it to her...

This way, he could completely ensure his safety.

Otherwise, if he went to find Gu Hong now, it would startle the snake. For the sake of Gu Hong, he might end up implicating himself.

He had just finished writing the letter.

"Master, master..."

The voice of a servant came from outside.

Li An opened the study door and asked, "What's the matter?"

The servant said, "The Third Miss of the Wang Family is here to visit..."

Li An was instantly stunned, the Third Miss?

Why would such a powerful figure come to his residence?

...

Because I've been on a road trip to Tibet recently, I only updated this chapter today. Normal updates will resume tomorrow. Sorry about that.

(End of this chapter)