Longevity: Starting as a Sect Servant-Chapter 241 - 187: Zhou Libai’s Recruitment (Extended - ) (Part 2)
Could it be all...
Taken by an insider??
This is not impossible!
Someone might be taking advantage of the conflict between Mountain Master Bai and Mountain Master Jie to reap the benefits.
If that’s really the case, then the insider must have been aware of Jiang Ribai’s plan last time, and participated in the raid on Mountain Master Jie’s hideout this time!
Li An carefully thought about the people who went to attack Mountain Master Jie this time...
A shadowy figure vaguely appeared in his mind.
Lady Shee.
Could it be her?
A thought flashed through Li An’s mind.
But he didn’t dwell on it further; being cautious in the future was enough for him.
To him, as long as it didn’t affect him, it didn’t matter!
Even if the insider got rid of Mountain Master Bai and took over, it would be the same for Li An.
Whether the emperor changes or not, does it affect the monthly salary of ordinary people, earning three thousand? If the mountain master changes, will the rent of Li An’s spirit vein decrease every month?
...
Li An shut himself off from the outside world and began his seclusion.
His cultivation was already at the Mid-Stage Golden Core, one step closer to the Nascent Soul.
But the cultivation of the Purple Mansion was still far from up to speed!
The Purple Mansion is the foundation for the emergence of the Nascent Soul, even if a cultivator has achieved perfection in the later stages of Core Formation, without a fully developed Purple Mansion, they still do not have the qualification to impact the Nascent Soul.
The Purple Mansion requires daily accumulation and constant absorption of the yin energy.
Obtaining it from the spirit vein is difficult and time-consuming.
Fortunately, Li An wasn’t anxious, he’d persevere slowly.
"I can try to become a Third Grade Alchemist now..."
He was quite excited.
Alchemy has always been the most sought-after profession in all of cultivation, and in his past life, Li An suffered from poor aptitude and didn’t even have the qualification to learn it.
In this lifetime, it was only upon reaching the Core Formation Stage that his spirit root was finally altered by the Life Nourishing Immortal Skill, giving him the chance to step into the field.
And now, in a certain sense, he lacked nothing: a renowned teacher, heritage, talent!
So his progress was very fast.
...
In the blink of an eye, another year passed.
"There are changes in the Celestial Killer Mountain range, and the disputes among the various Mountain Masters have all stopped temporarily, it seems the Mountain Masters are all undergoing reforms!"
"Yes, Mountain Master Jin has already reorganized over seventy cultivators under him into three teams and appointed three captains. According to some internal news, Mountain Master Jin and his followers might be absorbed by the Demon Race!"
"Indeed, I also heard that deep in the Celestial Killer Mountain range, a great demon army is about to arrive in the area!"
At the trade fair, all sorts of information spread rapidly, bustling among the True Core cultivators.
Primarily, it was because the cultivators in the Celestial Killer Mountain range, frankly speaking, were merely tenants!
They paid rent to the Mountain Masters and worked for them, but strictly speaking, there was no subordinate relationship between them.
For example, as long as Li An found a better place to go, he could leave at any time.
And now, the changes in the Celestial Killer Mountain meant that all human race cultivators needed to make a choice.
If they stayed, they would have to accept the various Mountain Masters’ reforms, etc., and might eventually become part of the Demon Race, though their future was uncertain.
If they left, where would they go? After all, those who came to cultivate at the Celestial Killer Mountain typically had some trouble outside, not to mention, rumors spoke of chaos and war outside, making it not an ideal choice to leave.
Li An also pondered, but ultimately, he decided to stay for now.
According to his recent information, the external Great Li Dynasty was becoming more aggressive, never ceasing to conquer lands. The outside is dangerous, and besides, if he left the Celestial Killer Mountain, it would be difficult to find such a comfortable place to cultivate.
Spirit veins could be used freely!
In other places, who knows how much it would cost.
If something dangerous really happened later on, he could just escape then.
Li An’s principle had always been, selling himself was acceptable, but not his life!
That day, as Li An was in seclusion cultivating, striving to become a Third Grade Alchemist, suddenly a voice came from outside Spiritual Evil Peak:
"Friend Lin, are you there?"
Li An was quite surprised because the voice was... Zhou Libai’s.
He pretended to be afflicted with evil qi and went out, opened the array, and invited Zhou Libai inside.
Zhou Libai gracefully descended and entered his cave dwelling. She sensed the evil qi around and faintly frowned, then sighed deeply and said, "Friend Lin living here... must be hard."
Li An said, "I’m okay, I’m used to it. Friend Zhou, please sit."
They both sat down.
The present Zhou Libai had become more composed and elegant compared to when she was at Spirit Charm Mountain, and since she replaced Jiang Ribai, she no longer had any Dao companion and maintained her distance from affairs of men and women.
Li An could understand, back then, she was burdened with nurturing the Hehuan Butterfly, prioritizing her future over chastity. Now, with a different status, naturally, she carried herself with more self-respect.
"Since we parted back then, this is the first time we’ve met,"
Zhou Libai said, "We were once old acquaintances, and seeing Friend Lin living here now, Libai truly feels uneasy. How about moving to a B-grade spirit vein?"
She got straight to the point.
Li An’s heart slightly tensed, Zhou Libai actually coming to show goodwill? There must be something suspicious!
"I cannot accept reward without merit. My contributions to the Mountain Master are limited... I appreciate Friend Zhou’s kind intentions."
"Friend Lin is now a Second Grade Alchemist, it won’t be long before you naturally advance to a Third Grade Alchemist. By then, moving to a B-grade spirit vein will come naturally, why humble yourself?"
She smiled slightly and then said seriously, "Friend Lin, I won’t beat around the bush with you; Mountain Master Bai is about to reform his subordinates, forming two teams led by Xiaoli and Great Lizard, who will serve as Left and Right Captains."
