Life's Many Flavors, Looking Back on the Past, A Laugh in the Vast Ocean

The Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique has only three levels. To master the first level, one needs to sacrifice twenty years of lifespan. It can increase a person's affinity for Spiritual Qi energy by 20% to 30%, thereby improving their Spiritual Root Potential. The specific effects vary from person to person.

For He Yingyu, whose Lifespan Limit was still a loss she could afford.

Therefore, under Chen Dengming's protection and supervision, He Yingyu lost twenty years of her lifespan overnight. The traces of time surged violently, which only Chen Dengming could clearly observe with his Heavenly Eye.

After one night.

He Yingyu originally possessed a mid-to-high grade Spiritual Root Potential, and without any setbacks, she directly crossed the threshold and improved to High-grade Spiritual Root.

Even the lowest affinity among High-grade Spiritual Root is still ten times greater than that of the lowest affinity among Medium-grade Spiritual Root.

"Junior Brother, have I... has my Spirit Root really broken through to the superior grade?"

Inside the cave abode, He Yingyu's pretty face showed extreme surprise. She could clearly feel that her perception of the Spiritual Qi energy in the air had greatly improved.

Not only that, but their control over the situation has also improved significantly.

Chen Dengming watched this scene with a smile.

He Yingyu was experiencing now was exactly what he had experienced before, so he was well aware of the surprise and astonishment she was feeling.

He feigned nonchalance and smiled faintly, "Of course it's true, without a doubt. You already possessed a mid-grade superior Spirit Root, so it's perfectly normal for you to improve after paying the price of your lifespan."

"Shouyuan, yes, Shouyuan!"

He Yingyu then realized what was happening, subconsciously touching her cheek and examining her hair, worried that it had turned white overnight.

It turned out I had worried for nothing.

Still feeling uneasy, she went to the dressing table and, in front of Chen Dengming, took off her clothes to check them.

Seeing that her skin was fair and smooth, without any signs of aging or wrinkles, I breathed a sigh of relief.

Chen Dengming walked over and chuckled, "Senior Sister, you're now Golden Core Great Cultivator, and cultivators in our Longevity Sect have incredibly long lifespans. Losing twenty years of lifespan won't make you age prematurely. Otherwise, I wouldn't have let you try it. Don't worry!"

"Um!"

Seeing Chen Dengming admiring her reflection in the mirror, He Yingyu immediately puffed out her chest proudly, her beautiful eyes darting around Chen Dengming for a moment before she smiled sweetly:

"My dear Husband, you helped me improve my High-grade Spiritual Root. How can I possibly reward you properly?"

She moved gracefully and charmingly to Chen Dengming, her expression alluring.

Chen Dengming shrugged indifferently and said, "Rewards don't matter, as long as you improve."

"Yeah?"

He Yingyu's eyes darted around, and she took something out of her Storage Bag, giving a mischievous and charming smile, "Take a look at this, what a wonderful Law Treasure it is?"

"My God!" Chen Dengming was shocked, and his whole body went numb.

"Junior Brother, come, let's discuss this further. Can this Technique Method still improve my Spirit Root?"

Chen Dengming immediately regained his composure and calmly shook his head, saying, "The second level of this Technique Method cannot be cultivated now. It's best to wait until you break through to the Nascent Soul before you can cultivate the second level."

Completing the second level of the Life-Damaging Seedling Pulling Technique requires sacrificing 180 years of lifespan, but it can further increase Spiritual Qi affinity by 50% to 120%, depending on the individual.

Losing twenty years of lifespan is nothing to He Yingyu.

However, losing 180 years of lifespan could mean nearly a quarter of one's remaining lifespan.

Unlike him, He Yingyu's lifespan could be extended by practicing and improving her skills, but once her lifespan was depleted, it was gone. The specific improvement effect of cultivating a second-level Spirit Root also varied from person to person.

Since it couldn't be upgraded to Heavenly Spiritual Root, it was best to stop while the opportunity was still there.

Fortunately, He Yingyu was also rational and intelligent. She presented a dignified, noble and elegant demeanor on the outside, but always listened to Chen Dengming on the inside.

After Old Chen's earnest persuasion, He Yingyu quickly became obedient and followed her Husband's advice.

The next day, Chen Dengming returned to the Chen Manor, visited his children and daughter-in-law Li Xue, left two Foundation Establishment at home, and then departed to begin a new round of seclusion.

Now, overseas, though not his old home, Chen Dengming found that his cultivation life was even more comfortable and peaceful than it had been in the Four Inner Domain, now that his sect was on the right track.

This is mainly because there are no major external threats at the moment.

Moreover, Xing Huiguang and the other three elders have not yet returned, so apart from Su Yan Yan, he holds the highest position in the sect.

The second-in-command naturally lived a very comfortable life, and did not need to go out of the sect to perform any Duty Assignment often, since the tasks that required his attention were usually rare.

At this moment, after leaving the Chen Manor, Chen Dengming met with Black Wind, who was stationed there, and another Foundation Establishment cultivator, Tan Jingtao, who had rushed over, at the largest auction house in Evergreen City, which was funded by the Longevity Sect Changshou Sect.

This Tan Jingtao was the manager who, because of Chen Dengming's words "to shelter all the poor and make them happy," made the Gathering Place of Rogue Cultivator in the city a success.

Upon seeing Chen Dengming, he immediately bowed and kowtowed with great excitement.

"Deacon Qin, there's no need to be nervous."

Chen Dengming sat in the main seat, took a sip of tea, raised his hand and smiled faintly.

"The main reason I called you here today is regarding the entry and exit of people in the city. I have some new suggestions to share with you, and I'd like to see if you can handle them."

Tan Jingtao immediately straightened his back, showing great respect, "Your Highness Daozi, please give me your instructions! Receiving your valuable guidance will be Tan Jingtao winning formula for managing the Immortal City in the future."

"I will certainly do my best to fulfill the tasks entrusted to me by Your Highness. Even if there are difficulties, I will do everything in my power to overcome and resolve them."

Consciousness!

This is enlightenment!

Although Chen Dengming was tired of hearing similar righteous words from Tan Jingtao in his previous life, and he himself was not a person who liked to listen to flattery, he still gave Tan Jingtao an approving look.

"Very good! Several incidents of Devil Cultivator harming people have occurred in the Inner Domain recently."

To prevent Devil Cultivator from infiltrating the vicinity of our sect, I hope you will gradually begin to strictly inspect the population entering and leaving the city, especially in the Rogue Cultivator Zone.

"Any suspicious persons discovered must be reported to the sect immediately. If anyone acts recklessly on the island recently, whoever it is, they will be expelled from the island."

Before beginning his secluded cultivation, Chen Dengming made sure to clear his path carefully, as a precaution.

Taking preventative measures before danger occurs is crucial for responding promptly and nipping it in the bud when it does happen.

Actually, he rarely inquired about these kinds of work arrangements before.

However, Ran Yiqiang is currently recovering from his injuries, and the sect is mainly managed by the other elders, so Chen Dengming is worried that there might be some oversights.

After all, those who haven't experienced the sinister and terrifying nature of Devil Creature might not take it seriously.

After giving instructions to Tan Jingtao, Chen Dengming smiled and nodded, seeing that the man's attitude was sincere and upright.

"Deacon Qin, this is a matter that needs to be focused on for the foreseeable future. If you handle it well, your position may be promoted."

Upon hearing this, Tan Jingtao was overjoyed, but he forced himself to remain composed and repeatedly bowed to express his gratitude for the Your Highness Daozi's patronage.

Although he is now a steward, he is not a steward who manages the affairs of the sect, but a steward who manages the planning of the immortal city. In terms of status, he is much lower than the stewards of the sect.

If one's position can be changed, and one can find a job within a sect, one's status will be elevated.

After dismissing Tan Jingtao, Chen Dengming gave Black Wind some more instructions, telling him to make sure to select a few more shrewd and capable subordinates to follow the hunchback and to take precautions against his son and daughter.

Upon hearing this, Black Wind tentatively inquired, "Your Highness, as you said, since Devil Cultivator have been rampant lately, why don't I personally go and secretly protect the young master and young lady?"

Anyway, I can handle the auction house business as well.

In his eyes, handling Chen Dengming's family affairs well was equivalent to handling the sect's major affairs well.

As for the auction house he manages, he doesn't need to worry about small matters, and there aren't many big ones either, so he has plenty of free time.

If something were to happen to His Your Highness Daozi's family, it would be a major event affecting the entire sect.

"No need, it hasn't come to that extreme yet."

Chen Dengming chuckled and patted Black Wind on the shoulder, "You're Foundation Establishment cultivator now. You should do less of the things those juniors used to do. Let the hunchback handle this; you just keep an eye on things."

Black Wind smiled, "If it weren't for the Your Highness Daozi Foundation Establishment you gave me, Your Highness, I, Black Wind, might still be a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, living on the edge of a knife, or even dead in the Four Domains. Your matter is of paramount importance to me."

"As long as Your Highness gives the order, I, Black Wind, will brave mountains of knives Mountain Foot Fire without batting an eye!"

Chen Dengming laughed heartily, nodded slightly, and patted Black Wind on the shoulder with a sigh, "Life is good now, so focus on cultivating and improving. Why bother with any more trials and tribulations!"

He said this, but in his heart he felt gratified. The people he had mentored were all loyal and righteous, and his efforts had not been in vain.

However, he was quite at ease about the safety of his two children, as one was protected by two Foundation Establishment Water Snakes and the other by Black Cloud Leopard in the shadows.

The hunchback and the others were mainly responsible for preventing anyone from getting close to the two children and deceiving them, since if a person is disguised, the spirit beast may not be able to see through it.

After arranging a series of things.

Chen Dengming no longer had any worries.

Upon returning to the sect, he began to continue his cultivation using the Cold Jade Ice Crystal Bed.

At his cultivation speed before he cultivated the clone technique, even if he cultivated with all his might every day without slacking off, it would take him at least twenty-three years to break through from the Golden Core Mid Stage realm.

Having mastered the clone technique and now possessing a better cave abode, his cultivation efficiency has greatly increased. It will only take him twenty years to progress from the mid-stage to the late-stage of cultivation.

Now, with the addition of the Cold Jade Ice Crystal Bed, a precious treasure to aid cultivation, this time will be shortened by half.

The premise is that he can use this bed for that long, and he must maintain his cultivation on this bed every day, continuously and without ever letting up.

This is no easy task.

His rapid progress in cultivation was achieved through a frenzied cultivation method, requiring more than ten times the diligence of ordinary people.

It would be difficult for anyone else to follow suit.

Even with the same amount of resources, such fanatical Devil Cultivator over ten years could easily lead to rigid thinking, a dead end, and a rapid onset of cultivation bottlenecks that are difficult to overcome, resulting in more harm than good.

"Cultivating like this every day would be very boring, and I definitely couldn't last ten years. I need to stick to the original plan and send out two clones to entertain and play on my behalf, which would help me relieve stress."

Chen Dengming sat inside the cave abode, forming three clones by making hand seals.

One of them was Heavenly Immortal Clone who stayed at home with him to cultivate the Longevity Merit, assisting his cultivation and occasionally going out to handle sect affairs on his behalf.

The other two are Heavenly Immortal Clone and Martial Immortal Clone, respectively. They are only responsible for going out to play and have fun, occasionally practicing Immortal Method, upholding justice, exploring hidden places, and traveling in the mortal world.

He had once undergone the baptism of 'Heavenly Timing' in the Heavenly Immortal Hall, and then experienced the journey of 'Heartlessness' again within the body of Senluo True Body.

Those two spiritual uplifts have enabled his summoned clones to exist for more than twenty days without consuming much Spiritual Qi.

Both of these Technique Method are nearing a breakthrough.

After the next breakthrough, the strength and duration of the clone will inevitably increase.

Chen Dengming thus completed the wonderful division of labor.

Realize the dream of sitting at home while enjoying the outdoors.

He had a similar dream in his past life, hoping to have several clones: two to work and earn money, one to spend money and enjoy life, and one to travel, explore, and have fun.

Life has many flavors; you'll experience them all if you take on a few different personas.

Those dreams could not be realized.

Now, in the Cultivation World, he has successfully fulfilled his dream.

That year, I was twenty-three, a typical office worker, working from six to nine with no overtime pay. My girlfriend, understanding my situation, left to sleep with someone else. I couldn't afford to buy a house, so I had to pay rent. Even if I bought a used car, I'd still have to pay for parking. Looking at my wallet, I knew things were going to get really bad.

Now, in my twilight years, I cultivate immortality, Longevity Dao Child. My daughters are beautiful, my master's bed is wonderful, and I can choose any spirit boat or cave abode I like. I play with my children with a few old friends. Looking back on the past, I laugh heartily at the vast sea.

Time passed.

A year has passed in the blink of an eye.

Within the four great seas, the winds and clouds shifted, the situation was turbulent, and many strange Devil Creature appeared frequently. Some even witnessed a Devil Creature resembling a giant whale emerging from the deep sea, smashing a celestial island, devouring thousands of cultivators on the island, and then disappearing into the deep sea.

In addition, several sects have had cultivators who suddenly went mad, pointing to the sky and cursing, calling their fellow disciples insects. Their mad behavior was seen as Demonic Nature Infected Heretic, and they were either killed on the spot or captured and imprisoned.

Some escaped the net, recruiting and bewitching many Rogue Cultivators, spreading the belief in the Devilish Immortal Way, forming the Devilish Immortal Sect, hiding and causing considerable harm.

Also in that year, after setting up the Immortal Sealing Array, the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance, which had been quiet and inactive for a long time, suddenly announced to the sects and cultivators of the Four Seas that overseas Devil Cultivator and evil Evil Dao had invaded and that they would be recruiting to establish the Four Seas Cultivator Defense Army.

The cultivators' anti-defense force will first eliminate the Demonic Nature Infected Heretic, led by the Devilish Immortal Sect, throughout the four seas, and then invade the four regions to expel the External Dao Malevolent Cultivator.

After this proclamation was spread, it caused an uproar throughout the land, filled people with fear, and led to a rapid surge in prices and political instability in many regions.

Meanwhile, Chen Dengming, who had been in seclusion in his cave abode for a year, was startled by a piece of news and had to temporarily end his cultivation and come out of seclusion.

The reason is that the Three Longevity Old Ancestors had guarded the border for five years did not return after their term of guarding expired. Instead, they were all summoned by the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance to discuss the important matter of forming the Four Seas Cultivator Defense Army.

Also summoned were the Heavenly Dao Second Ancestor, as well as the Nascent Soul Ancestor of the Shu Sword Pavilion, the Dragon Transformation Sect, and the Five Elements Escape Sect.

Perilous Hall, Su Yan Yan's expression was solemn as he analyzed the sudden situation. "The Four Seas Cultivation Alliance's move can be described as cutting off our lifeline, forcing us Four Regions Cultivators to take the lead as the main force for the counterattack."

My three Senior Brothers had actually anticipated this situation a year ago and had warned me about it.

Unexpectedly, the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance actually did just that. Once the Four Seas Cultivator Defense Army is established, all of us Four Regions Cultivators will surely be summoned to join it."

Upon hearing this, everyone in the hall turned grim, their expressions turning sour.

Who would be willing to charge ahead on the Battlefield?

That means they're cannon fodder.

Those who follow the Longevity Sect are especially unwilling to risk their lives.

But this is precisely the situation we have no choice but to accept now.

Since they came from overseas, their counterattack on the four regions was also to reclaim their homeland. The fact that cultivators from all over the world were willing to help was already a sign of shared hatred against a common enemy. Naturally, it was impossible to force cultivators from all over the world to take the lead in the battle.

In fact, if the threat from External Dao Malevolent Cultivator weren't so great, the Four Seas Cultivation Alliance might not have been willing to call on cultivators from all over the world to fight to the death; now, they probably have no other choice.

Fortunately, we still have some time to prepare.

Su Yan Yan's expression softened slightly as she said, "To quell external threats, we must first secure internal stability. Currently, heretical cultivators, led by the Devilish Immortal Sect Devil Cultivator Sect, are frequently emerging within the Four Seas Four Seas Cultivation Alliance intends to eliminate these internal threats first before launching a counterattack. This will likely give us a few years to prepare. Everyone should be ready."

Despite this, everyone remained in low spirits, and after some discussion, the meeting ended unhappily.

Chen Dengming was privately stopped by Su Yan Yan, who asked him about his cultivation progress.

"Good."

Chen Dengming thought that his Martial Aunt Su wanted the Cold Jade Ice Crystal Bed. Although he was reluctant, he still thanked him and said with a smile, "Martial Aunt Su, Nephew Disciple you want the bed? I'll bring it to you right away."

Su Yan Yan frowned slightly, her ears turning a barely perceptible red. She turned her face away and said calmly, "No need. This bed is for you to cultivate on. Clean it up and return it to me after you break through to the Golden Core Late Stage."

Chen Dengming was taken aback, only then realizing that Su Yan Yan had given him this bed for cultivation last year, probably because she had already been reminded by other elders that the future situation was severe, and therefore she had found a way to improve his resources to help him, the Longevity Dao Child, grow up quickly.

Chen Dengming was deeply moved and bowed in gratitude.

Su Yan Yan sighed inwardly, slowly walked out of the hall, and said, "It has been five years since Master went to the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm."

Chen Dengming was startled. Looking at Su Yan Yan's delicate and slender body, he couldn't help but understand the complex feelings in this woman.

Since the Longevity Sect disintegrated five years ago, the Longevity First Ancestor disappeared in the Shattered Heavenly Immortal Realm, and the other Third Ancestor were also summoned to serve.

She alone upholds the Longevity Sect, sitting in charge as Nascent Soul Ancestor to protect and safeguard it. She has to protect and manage the sect, shoulder the mission of nurturing him as a Dao Child, and worry about the safety of her Senior Brother and master. Even with Su Yan Yan's resilience and strong State of Mind, she must feel tired.

After all, these were things that she, the junior sister among the ancestors, had never had to worry about before.