New Life

Lifespan remaining:

One month and thirteen days.

Looking at the Lifespan column in his Personal Status, Wu Tao pinched an Evil-Breaking Talisman between two fingers, a fierce look flashing across his face. He poured a bit of spiritual energy into the Evil-Breaking Talisman, which immediately emitted a yellow glow.

Clenching the Evil-Breaking Talisman tightly with two fingers, he pressed it directly onto his forehead.

He let out a soft shout:

"Break!"

Sizzle! Sizzle!

As soon as the Evil-Breaking Talisman touched Wu Tao's forehead, black smoke billowed out, accompanied by a sizzling sound like an electric current.

Moreover, this current surged directly into his forehead, aggressively like an old general charging into battle, purging the Evil Aura within his body.

This process was extremely painful!

Wu Tao couldn't help but tremble as if his whole body was spasming, his consciousness suffering a massive shock. In an instant, every single hair on his body stood on end, cold sweat erupting from his pores and soaking his clothes, making him look as if he had just been fished out of water.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the painful process of breaking the evil with all his might.

After fifteen minutes, as a wisp of black smoke dissipated into the air, the Evil-Breaking Talisman began to burn. He quickly removed the talisman to avoid burning himself bald.

At the same time, he felt all his strength drain away, and he collapsed onto the ground. Cold sweat flowed like water, spreading across the floor from his clothes.

"Hoo hoo hoo..."

Wu Tao panted heavily, his fingertips still trembling slightly. As time slowly passed, he felt his strength gradually returning, the fine hairs on his arms drooping down, and the pain in his body completely dissipating.

Only then did he get up from the ground and go to the washroom. He took off his clothes, took a shower, and changed into dry clothes.

Afterward, he filled a basin with water. Lowering his head, his face rippled in the water's surface. Soon, the water calmed, and he clearly saw that the black mark on his glabella had completely vanished.

Emerging from the washroom, he circulated the Sanyang Technique, running it through his meridians. He was now certain that the Evil Aura had been completely cleared.

Furthermore, his body and mind felt incredibly light, as if a heavy burden had been lifted off him in an instant.

"Damn, it was just too painful. I reckon it's even more painful than childbirth for women. If some fairies from my past life knew about this, they'd probably use it to make their husbands experience the pain of childbirth."

Wu Tao muttered to himself. A flash of inspiration struck him, and he quickly opened his Personal Status.

[Lifespan: 25/83]

One glance.

Two glances.

Three Eyes.

"Hahaha..." After confirming three times, Wu Tao grinned and couldn't help but laugh heartily. No one else could understand the joy in his heart at this moment.

He laughed until his mouth twitched and his stomach hurt before stopping. He patted his numb face, and once he recovered, he started calculating:

"83 minus 25 equals 58. I have 58 more years... I can't calculate it like this. For cultivators, as their Realm breaks through, their Lifespan will gradually increase. The upper limit for Qi Refining is 150 years. If I reach Qi Refining Perfection, I can live to 150."

"If I break through to Foundation Establishment, that's another 150 Lifespan. Breaking through to Golden Core... Hmm, I don't know how long Golden Core cultivators live... This is..."

"This is..."

"Hope for eternal life!"

Wu Tao gently clapped his hands. The more he thought about it, the more he felt life had purpose and his future was boundless.

He became more and more excited, finally deciding, "This day of regaining new life must be celebrated."

With that, he took out the jin of Spirit Rice that Uncle Han had gifted him, put it in the pot, added water, and cooked it all.

This Spirit Rice was convenient; no need to wash it, as washing would remove some of the Spirit Qi.

Watching the pot lid jump incessantly and steam erupt from the sides of the lid, the entire room was filled with the fragrance of the Spirit Rice. Wu Tao smelled it and felt his appetite whet, wishing he could start eating right away.

Finally, the rice was cooked. Wu Tao was too lazy to get a bowl and just ate directly from the pot.

"So fragrant!"

He put a large mouthful of steaming Spirit Rice into his mouth, and Wu Tao's eyes immediately widened. While eating, he exclaimed, "Uncle Han didn't lie to me. It's truly fragrant and incredibly delicious even without any dishes."

"It's Spirit Qi, he added Spirit Qi!"

The entire pot of Spirit Rice was gone in less than five minutes. He slumped onto the chair, one hand hanging down, the other stroking his round belly, feeling utterly content with life.

"Right, Spirit Rice contains Spirit Qi, I can't waste it."

Wu Tao jolted up and immediately jumped onto the bed to meditate, circulating the Sanyang Technique to refine the Spirit Qi from the Spirit Rice in his belly.

As soon as he started circulating the Sanyang Technique, he was overjoyed. Indeed, it was slightly more concentrated than the Spirit Qi drifting in the heavens and earth.

Two quarters of an hour later, Wu Tao stopped circulating the Sanyang Technique, and his round belly returned to normal. He carefully felt the condition of his Dantian and was delighted. His Dantian had gained a tiny bit of Spirit Qi. Although it was very, very little, it was still a small improvement in strength.

He hadn't felt his strength grow in a long time.

When he had Yin Evil Qi in his body, the Spirit Qi cultivated daily was all neutralized, and none could be retained.

Wu Tao took out his Spirit Stone Bag and poured out all the Spirit Stones inside: five Low-Grade Spirit Stones and nineteen Fragmented Spirit Stones. He picked up a Spirit Stone and said, "From now on, I will cultivate using Spirit Stones. Cultivation is the foundation of everything."

"When I earn more Spirit Stones, I'll go buy Pills to cultivate."

"Spells can't be neglected either. Spells are the art of protecting the Dao. The five basic spells recorded in my spellbook are Fireball Technique, Cleaning Spell, Fog-Dispelling Technique, Wood-Cutting Technique, and Earth-Digging Technique. Their attack power is average, but as a Loose Cultivator, I don't seem to have a choice..."

"My Secondary Profession is Body Cultivator. Body Cultivator Cultivation Techniques and Body Cultivator spells have bonuses, but spells are also very expensive..."

"Sigh, still poor!"

"My next plan is to refine Magic Robes, work hard to earn money, practice spells, improve my cultivation, and practice the First-Grade Level Three Small Spirit Light Shield Restriction..."

"Oh, right, I also need to investigate the Certification matter. After I pack up my stall next time, I'll go inquire. Otherwise, without a certificate, people will always haggle down the price. And with a certificate, stall fees and taxes are reduced."

Wu Tao made a brief development plan.

Knock, knock, knock!

At this moment, someone knocked on the door.

He didn't need to guess; he knew it was Zhang Li. He didn't know anyone else here.

Wu Tao turned to open the door. As if thinking of something, he re-tied the black cloth strip on his forehead, not wanting Zhang Li to see that he had already dispelled the Evil Spirit. Otherwise, if Zhang Li offered to look after his business, he would have no excuse to refuse.

He had just recovered from a serious illness and was in the process of recuperating. He couldn't carelessly deplete his Essence Qi.

When he opened the door, Zhang Li said, "Thank you for going to the Market to buy rice for me. I'm treating you to a meal."

"Ah? Fellow Daoist Zhang, I'm sorry, I just ate."

Wu Tao felt a little embarrassed upon hearing this. After all, the extra pound of Spirit Rice that Uncle Han had given him was thanks to Zhang Li.

He felt too embarrassed to tell Zhang Li.

"But I've already cooked yours. Come on, even a little bit is fine," Zhang Li said with a frown.

"Okay!" Wu Tao felt he shouldn't be so hesitant.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, I didn't expect your cooking to be so amazing. It's really delicious..."

"Eat slowly, no one's snatching it from you!"

"It's mainly because it's too delicious..."

"You said you already ate, yet you're still eating so much..."

"I'm just afraid of wasting it..."

"I'm done eating, Fellow Daoist Zhang. You just sit there; I'll wash the bowls."

After devouring all the food, Wu Tao took the initiative to wash the dishes. Zhang Li, meanwhile, sat on a chair, propping her chin with one hand and fanning herself with a Palm-leaf Fan, quietly watching Li Mo wash the dishes.

After putting away the bowls and chopsticks, Wu Tao turned around and saw Zhang Li staring at him intently. He immediately touched the corner of his mouth, confused, "Is there rice on my face?"

Zhang Li, hearing this, caught sight of a grain of Spirit Rice stuck to the corner of the table with her peripheral vision. An idea immediately struck her. Without changing her expression, she picked it up, walked over to Wu Tao, and wiped his mouth with her finger, showing him the rice on her fingertip.

"Huh, there's still some? I didn't even notice it just now..." Wu Tao gave an awkward laugh, took the rice, and put it in his mouth to eat.

Zhang Li was amused by his action, and she giggled, "You really don't waste anything. It's still early, keep me company for a chat..."

Wu Tao shook his head and said, "Fellow Daoist Zhang, that's where you're wrong. Now is not the time for chatting. The Spirit Rice in my stomach contains spiritual energy, and I can't let it go to waste. I'll go back and refine it first. Fellow Daoist Zhang, you should also meditate and refine it!"

With that, Wu Tao opened the door and left.

Zhang Li was stunned. Only when she heard the sound of the door closing next door did she forcefully kick the leg of the table, emitting a dull thud.

"I said you don't waste anything, and you really don't waste anything... Ouch... That hurts so much..."