Longevity Begins With Zongmen Handyman

Chapter 67: Reunion with an Old Friend

Half a year later.

"Qi Refining Ninth Layer!"

Li An emerged from seclusion, his expression calm but filled with anticipation.

The promotion of his spiritual roots, coupled with the Life-Nurturing Immortal Technique, had greatly enhanced the quality of his spiritual power. With the assistance of elixirs, he had smoothly broken through.

Li An was already seventy-seven years old.

However, his appearance remained unchanged, with a touch of maturity and composure compared to when he first entered the Xuan Yang Sect. There were no signs of the passage of time, no wrinkles or anything of the sort. In fact, his complexion seemed even more radiant than before.

"The range of my divine sense has also expanded to ten meters."

The growth of his divine sense brought Li An even greater joy.

But when he checked the current situation of his spirit stones, Li An suddenly felt heartache.

"The harvest from eight years ago has almost been depleted..."

Eight years ago, he plundered over seventeen thousand spirit stones, and combined with the ones he already had, he had over twenty thousand spirit stones.

But after eight years, he now only had about a thousand spirit stones left.

In fact, Li An's cultivation was not the main reason for this. The main reason was that the consumption of the formation in the Gu Valley was too great.

He had to consume around two hundred spirit stones every month.

But this expenditure was necessary. Without protection, Li An couldn't focus on cultivation.

During these eight years, there were also some scattered cultivators who had come to the Moon Tempering Valley, but they were all frightened away by the formation in the valley.

After all, there was a second-grade spiritual vein here!

At this time, the disadvantage of scattered cultivators was revealed.

If it were in the past, Li An could cultivate in peace in the Qingyang Market without worrying about safety.

"It's time to go out..."

Back then, in addition to spirit stones, Li An also obtained resources worth about ten thousand spirit stones, including magical tools, elixirs, talismans, materials, and so on.

But they were too trivial. To sell them all, it would take a long time, which was not urgent.

In the next half year, while stabilizing his cultivation at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, Li An began to change his appearance and visited some small towns and cities to gather information.

After eight years, everything that happened back then had already spread throughout the entire northern region of Dalai. Li An quickly understood the situation without much effort:

Just as he had guessed, the Xuan Yang Sect was infiltrated from within.

Back then, the fake Foundation Establishment Elder Li Yuan, who killed the Soul-Seeking Horse-Faced Demon in the Qingyang Market, was possessed by the Soul-Seeking Horse-Faced Demon and had been plotting within the sect.

The collusion between insiders and outsiders led to the destruction of the entire Xuan Yang Sect.

The sect's mountain gate, along with the spiritual veins, had been destroyed, leaving only ruins.

The Liu Yang River Market and the Xuan Yang Sect's spiritual mines had changed hands and were now occupied by the Sword God Sect and the Hundred Beasts Sect.

The cultivation forces that were once affiliated with the Xuan Yang Sect had also switched sides.

For example, the Zhao family, which was attached to the Xuan Yang Sect, joined the Hundred Beasts Sect and gained great favor. Over the years, they had been absorbing the remnants of the Xuan Yang Sect and had gained quite a reputation in the northern region of Dalai.

Li An tried to inquire about who was still alive, but the information was not accurate.

"The depths of the demonic cult are unfathomable."

Li An was cautious. Even today, no one knew the details of how the Xuan Yang Sect was breached.

Especially Xuan Yang Zhenren, how did he lose?

After all, Xuan Yang Zhenren was a Foundation Establishment expert, and even if the Soul-Seeking Horse-Faced Demon possessed Li Yuan, it was only a fake Foundation Establishment cultivator. It was impossible for him to be a match for Xuan Yang Zhenren.

Li An suspected that there might have been a demonic cultivator of the same level who made a move in that battle.

If that was the case, it meant that the strength of the demonic cult was even more terrifying than anyone could imagine.

Moreover, after annihilating the Xuan Yang Sect, the demonic cult disappeared without a trace, and their whereabouts were too mysterious.

"What are they planning?"

Li An couldn't figure it out, but he vaguely felt that the Xuan Yang Sect was probably not the final target of the demonic cult.

They must have bigger ambitions.

However, for now, he didn't need to worry too much. As long as it didn't endanger himself, Li An didn't care even if the demonic cult caused chaos.

While he was away, he also sold some basic supplies and earned over three thousand spirit stones in half a year.

"It's time to leave..."

Li An pondered. After breaking through the ninth level of Qi Refining, he needed to start planning for Foundation Building. This meant that he couldn't just stay in the Cuiyue Valley.

He had already had a direction in mind!

Baihu City!

Baihu City was a holy land for scattered cultivators, with the presence of the White Tiger True Immortal offering protection to cultivators who entered.

Moreover, resources were more concentrated there, making it more convenient to purchase medicinal materials and the like.

Another important reason was that Li An couldn't afford to stay in the Cuiyue Valley any longer.

Even a Qi Refining stage cultivation family couldn't afford the expenses of a second-order formation. At least the strength of a Foundation Building stage power was needed.

Li An, fighting alone and without any income from industries, this kind of consumption... was too excessive.

Before going to Baihu City, he still needed to make some preparations.

- The turtle shell and horn he obtained in the Yunhuan Mountain Range were still lying around.

If he could refine them into a second-order magic weapon, Li An would have more confidence in going to Baihu City.

"I need to make a trip to Qiling County..."

The Zhao family, a Foundation Building cultivation family, was located in Qiling County. Li An went there mainly to find Wang Dazhu.

If Wang Dazhu was still alive, the Zhao family would be his only destination. Moreover, with his talent, he should be close to becoming a second-order refiner by now, right?

...

After arranging everything in the valley, he headed towards Qiling County.

...

A few days later.

Li An arrived at Zhao Family Town in Qiling County.

Qiling County had a total of seven major towns, densely populated, and in recent years, they had almost all fallen under the influence of the Zhao family.

Zhao Family Town was the core area of the Zhao family's power. Most of the people in the town were mortals, but there were also many cultivators coming and going.

Li An disguised himself as a Qi Refining third-level cultivator and quickly obtained the information he wanted -

Wang Dazhu was indeed still alive and was in the Zhao family!

Moreover, Wang Dazhu held a high position in the Zhao family and was revered as a guest. Three years ago, he successfully refined two second-order treasures for the Zhao family.

In addition, there was recent news that the head of the Zhao family, Zhao Xianchuan, intended to marry his younger sister or older sister to him.

Zhao Xianchuan was also still alive, and in these years, he led the Zhao family to join the Hundred Beasts Sect and annexed several surrounding cultivation families. His prestige in the family was already very high, and he succeeded to the position of family head five years ago.

Recently, the Zhao family was also striving to take charge of the Liuyang River Market. If successful, the Zhao family's strength would increase significantly.

The world is unpredictable. In a sense, the destruction of the Xuan Yang Sect has actually achieved something for the Zhao family.

Li An lingered in Zhao Family Town for over a month before finally finding an opportunity.

Late at night, Li An was squatting in front of the Mianhong Residence in Zhao Family Town.

After careful inquiries and repeated observations, he discovered that Wang Dazhu had developed a new interest since his time in the Xuan Yang Sect - women.

He was deeply addicted, and there were several favorites in the Mianhong Residence.

Li An wasn't too surprised by this. When Wang Dazhu was in the Xuan Yang Sect, he was just an outer disciple with a low status and had no chance to enjoy such things.

But now things were different. He was already capable of refining second-order magic weapons, and Zhao Xianchuan would definitely go all out in terms of wealth and women to win him over. At first, he might be able to stay true to himself, but over time, it was normal to sink into it.

Having led the development of a cultivation family in his previous life, Li An was well aware of the means involved.

Li An waited until the next day, until the sun was three poles high, before Wang Dazhu, who now looked middle-aged, walked out of the Mianhong Residence.

Wang Dazhu had a satisfied expression on his face as he got on the luxurious carriage waiting for him.

Just as he sat down, his brows furrowed and he picked up a letter from the seat -

"Escaping the disaster of the Ling Mine, Brother Wang has risen to great heights. I am delighted for you. If you have time tonight, why not meet in the Maple Forest in the Southern Mountains?"

"From an old friend of the Wu Ling Sect."

Wang Dazhu was momentarily stunned and said, "Ange?!"