Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 56: Nie Luncai

In Yunxiao Mountain.

Under the night sky, Zhang Yao gazed at the vast expanse of stars, while also looking at the invisible light screen in front of him:

Name: Zhang Yao

Talent: Primordial Energy Spring, Essence Qi Transformation

Martial Arts: Qingxu True Scripture (100%)

Martial Techniques: Heaven-Flipping Hand (100%), Celestial Nine Strikes (100%), Innate True Aura (100%)

Skills: Herb Mastery (95%), Alchemy (77%), Medical Skill (96%), Chess Skill (80%), Culinary Skill (62%), Calligraphy (74%), Disguise Skill (91%)...

"Twenty years have passed!"

Zhang Yao sighed deeply, his heart filled with melancholy.

For twenty years, he continuously refined and integrated his martial arts, combining them into a single Qingxu True Scripture under his youthful Taoist title, encompassing Inner Strength, External Skills, and the Soul Capturing and Thought Extraction Technique utilizing spiritual power.

This was his lifetime’s pinnacle achievement in the Martial Dao, a unique Divine Skill in the Nineteen Provinces, whose dissemination would undoubtedly stir endless turmoil.

Including his martial techniques, they have continuously evolved, breaking free from their original limitations and forging his own path.

Especially the Innate True Aura, a unique Magic Skill purely utilizing Martial Arts True Qi, its power astonishing, only the likes of "Night Emperor" and "Chang Chunzi" on the same level of Grandmasters might have the qualifications to cultivate it.

The long years have also brought him a plethora of life skills, enough to fill several lines on a list.

"Unknowingly, I’m already seventy years old."

"I’ve truly touched the limits of the Martial Dao, recent progress has been minuscule, yet the Immortal Dao still remains far out of reach..."

Zhang Yao regained his senses, sighed with reflection, and his mood once again returned to tranquility.

Since twenty years ago, leaving Baihe City alone:

He had already prepared psychologically to spend long years, step by step touching the Immortal World, and now just twenty years have passed, he remained unhurried.

"Next, it’s time to turn towards Cangmang Mountain."

With this thought, he revealed a slight smile:

"I’m quite looking forward to that young lad giving me a surprise..."

......

In the north of Qin Province, within Cangmang Mountain.

Passing through the winding mountain paths, a majestic fortress can be seen, nestled deep within the mountains.

The scale of the fortress is immense, akin to a small county town, sufficient to house tens of thousands, this is the renowned "Cang Mang City" of Qin Province.

Speaking of Cang Mang City, it indeed carries a legendary nature.

Decades ago, at the end of Da Wei amid the chaos, a group of refugees escaped pursuit and fled into the mountains, unexpectedly discovering amidst the expansive thousand-mile mountain range, a valley plain with flowing water and abundant resources, delighting the refugee army leader who decided to settle there.

Decades have passed:

Cang Mang City continuously absorbed refugees, encouraged childbirth, already passing down three generations, now commanding tens of thousands, thriving and prosperous, seeming as a small nation within a nation.

After the establishment of Lu Kingdom, Qin Province’s government office attempted several times to organize a large military siege but returned fruitless.

The fundamental reason being the current Cang Mang City Lord "Nie Luncai," a prodigy in the Martial Dao, reaching the Grandmaster Realm at forty-eight, shaking Qin Province.

Seven years ago, Nie Luncai ascended to Grandmaster, relying on his martial prowess, reputation, and Cang Mang City’s heritage, quickly unified the Three States Green Forest, being honored as the Seventy-Two Water and Land Chief, his prestige unparalleled.

Recently, it is Nie Luncai’s fifty-fifth birthday, Cang Mang City held a grand feast, lasting an entire month, bustling in its peak.

Noble Families and sects from Qin Province’s various grand circles, even high officials and many heroes of the Three States Green Forest came to celebrate the birthday, transforming the mountains almost into a market, showcasing Nie Luncai’s vast influence.

Also due to hosting numerous important guests, Nie Luncai couldn’t easily detach himself, therefore, even after the emergence of Night Emperor’s Secret Collection, he hadn’t been able to leave.

"Hahaha, everyone drink!"

"Come, drink this cup to the fullest!"

"City Lord Nie’s martial prowess is unsurpassed, how could he fear being drowned in alcohol? Let’s toast City Lord Nie another cup..."

Cang Mang City in the night remains illuminated, bustling everywhere.

If not seen in person, it would be hard to believe such a lively fortress is hidden within the mountains.

Lingering among the banquets, Nie Luncai finally found free time late at night, returning drunk to his residence.

"Ugh..."

He hiccupped, his face flushed, staggering towards the bedroom.

His appearance seemed to be only in his thirties, quite handsome, much like his name, resembling a refined scholar.

As a dignified Martial Arts Grandmaster, Nie Luncai wouldn’t likely become drunk, this scenario merely reflected his enjoyment and indulgence in such a feeling.

At least, that’s how the guests and subordinates viewed it.

"Hoo!"

Returning to the bedroom, Nie Luncai exhaled deeply, his facial flush quickly faded, regaining clarity.

"Why hasn’t he come yet!"

He glanced at the vacant bedroom and revealed a trace of impatience.

Hosting guests and unable to detach was merely his excuse, truly wishing to leave, who could blame a Martial Arts Grandmaster?

He remained in Cang Mang City, not pursuing the Night Emperor’s Secret Collection for one specific reason, actually waiting for a person.

A person inspiring him with immense fear and respect.

"If that old monster doesn’t come, this Night Emperor’s Secret Collection might be beyond my reach!"

Nie Luncai fretfully paced in the room for a while, unable to calm himself, thus slowly approached the bedside and opened a hidden compartment.

Inside the compartment lay a round metal ball.

Looking at this metal ball, he instantly became calm, picking it up to play with it, his gaze complex.

Without physical touch, it would be hard to believe this ordinary steel ball weighs several times more than regular copper and iron, heavier by far than gold of the same size.

"Unmatched in the human realm, unmatched..."

Nie Luncai sighed deeply, inevitably recalling their meeting seven years ago.

Seven years ago, he had just become the lord of the Three States Green Forest, and the Seventy-Two Water and Land Chief, at the pinnacle of his ambitions, eager to expand his grand path.

At that moment, one night, beside his bed, he encountered the Silver faced Old Monster.

The Silver faced Old Monster requested he assist in utilizing the Green Forest’s extensive network, gathering specific information, and compiling it every three years for inspection.

Initially, he objected, only viewing the opponent’s Martial Arts as unfathomable, intending to negotiate verbally and seize opportunity.

What happened next shattered his imagination, imprinting eternally in his memory:

The Silver faced Old Monster drew from his room a Treasure Sword, before his eyes molding it into an iron ball, and with terrifying True Qi compressed the iron ball forcefully.

The adult fist-sized iron ball, in the Silver faced Old Monster’s hands, gradually compressed to a size resembling a baby’s fist.

This scene instantly stunned him.

Only a fellow Grandmaster could truly comprehend the horror of such a feat.

Until now, Nie Luncai struggles to imagine how much overwhelming True Qi is needed to penetrate steel’s depths, paired with formidable strength, achieving the miracle of compressing steel?

No matter, he couldn’t achieve it, even joining ten of them couldn’t accomplish such an outrageous act.

Thus at that moment, he knelt, obediently bowing his head, agreeing to assist Silver faced Old Monster, harboring not a hint of evasion.

If Silver faced Old Monster utilized Elixir Pills or poison to control him, he still might hope to escape bondage.

But Silver faced Old Monster merely displayed before him an earth-shattering martial feat, and he immediately despaired within.

Faced with such terrifyingly unimaginable martial prowess:

Even if he hid in heaven or earth, escaped into the Imperial Palace, it would be of no use; should Silver faced Old Monster wish to kill him, none under the heavens could save him.