Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant

In the outskirts of Cyan Yang Market, thanks to the turnaround in Cyan Cloud Sect, the greatest contributor was none other than Shen Xuan.

In He Zhengming's heart, he re-evaluated Shen Xuan's strength, elevating it by another level.

On par with himself.

In other words, a cultivator at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment possessed the combat power of one at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Moreover, he was a direct disciple of a Golden Core True Master like himself.

"What a prodigy! Who knows where he came from!"

He Zhengming was somewhat doubtful about Shen Xuan's claim of using a secret technique to forcibly enhance his strength.

As a leading figure, he still showed the necessary concern.

"Senior Brother He, quickly go to Tiger Stream Ridge to rescue Junior Brother Zhou and the others!"

"I only need some time to recuperate, and I'll recover!"

Shen Xuan said gratefully.

"Then, Junior Brother Shen, take care of yourself!"

He Zhengming remained worried about Zhou Haoyu, Pill Master Lin, and Artifact Master Dai.

If these three were to fall, it would be hard for him to explain to the sect.

The results of the trial would inevitably be poor.

Directly affecting his chances of Core Formation.

After a few reminders, He Zhengming, along with the cultivators except for Tie Wenda, sped back to Tiger Stream Ridge.

Shen Xuan glanced at the pale Tie Wenda.

"Friend Tie, will you return by yourself, or shall you come to my place to recuperate?"

Upon hearing this, Tie Wenda immediately brightened up.

"I am willing to follow Talisman Master Shen."

Shen Xuan nodded slightly.

He summoned the Red-winged Snake Corpse Beast and gestured for Tie Wenda to ride on it.

"Let's head back to my place first!"

"Yes, Talisman Master Shen."

The two of them rode the Red-winged Snake Corpse Beast, flying into the depths of the sky.

Soon after Shen Xuan and Tie Wenda left.

Wan Meng's figure emerged from the void several hundred meters away.

She looked at the tiny Red-winged Snake Corpse Beast in the sky.

A hint of puzzlement flashed in her eyes.

"How is Shen Xuan so powerful?"

She patted her slightly plump chest: "Fortunately, Wan Meng didn't participate in the Dao-Demon Trial at Cyan Yang Prefecture, it was too terrifying!"

...

Feiyun Mountain, Rain Listening Pavilion.

Shen Xuan returned with Tie Wenda and first entered the practice room to heal him.

Inside his Storage Pouch, there were quite a few Tier Two Spirit Pills.

He selected some with gentle properties for Tie Wenda to consume.

Then he operated the "Divine Hidden Sea Technique," channeling a bit of spiritual power to help Tie Wenda calm the chaotic spiritual power inside his body, regain circulating flow, activate the medicinal efficacy, and repair his meridians.

An hour later.

Shen Xuan slowly withdrew from the technique.

Under his treatment, Tie Wenda's injuries were seventy percent healed.

The remainder required slow recuperation.

Shen Xuan let Tie Wenda leave first.

He stayed alone in the practice room, quietly reflecting and reviewing.

This time, they encountered the ambush of the demon cultivators' main force at the outskirts of Cyan Yang Market.

As a leading figure, He Zhengming bore significant responsibility.

Fortunately, the losses were not great.

Two people were lost, and four were seriously injured.

The rest were lightly injured.

Among the disciples of Cyan Cloud Sect, only one was severely injured.

The rest were loose cultivators like Tie Wenda.

The demon cultivators suffered heavy losses.

Nangong Guang was gravely wounded by him, needing at least several years for recovery.

If unlucky, his demon foundation might be damaged, further reducing his chance of successfully condensing a demon pill.

Seven or eight demon cultivators were lost.

Though they were among the weaker in the demon team.

Still, cultivators in the Foundation Establishment Realm.

The demon cultivators of Cyan Yang Prefecture saw a significant decline in strength.

On the surface, Cyan Cloud Sect had turned the tables.

In reality, Zhao Family's betrayal fundamentally altered the strength of the two sects in Cyan Yang Prefecture.

"Alas, He Zhengming!"

In Shen Xuan's view, He Zhengming had strong personal strength but average leadership ability.

The Zhao Family's betrayal and siding with the enemy went completely unnoticed by him.

"No matter, that's He Zhengming's business, not mine."

Shen Xuan stopped overthinking.

Previously, in the Dao-Demon war, He Zhengming was still hiding his strength and did not give his all.

Although only one disciple of Cyan Cloud Sect was seriously injured.

But these loose cultivators who aligned with the sect aimed for sect merits and resources for Immortal Cultivation.

Seeing no hope of victory, even if they didn't defect to the Demon Sect, they'd scatter, disappearing into the wilderness.

In Shen Xuan's eyes.

He Zhengming was not grounded.

His speech and mannerisms were unmistakably arrogant, failing to integrate with the clan cultivators and loose cultivators.

Relying solely on the dozen or so disciples of Cyan Cloud Sect would hardly reverse the situation in Cyan Yang Prefecture.

...

Shen Xuan left the practice room.

In the dining hall, Tie Wenda was diligently helping Su Xue'Er chop demon beast meat.

Su Xue'Er was at the Qi Cultivation Fifth Layer.

Normally, chopping this Tier Two Middle Grade Demon Beast Meat was quite labor-intensive.

For Tie Wenda, a cultivator at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, it was effortless.

"Lady Shen, is there more?"

Tie Wenda smilingly asked as he wielded the Phoenix Wing Saber.

Shen Xuan chuckled inwardly.

A dignified cultivator at the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment trying to win over someone at the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.

Su Xue'Er obviously enjoyed being called "Lady Shen."

"Thank you, Brother Tie. That's all; there is no more. My husband only buys a hundred pounds each time."

Su Xue'Er said with a bright smile.

"Talisman Master Shen!"

"Husband!"

Seeing Shen Xuan enter, Tie Wenda and Su Xue'Er each greeted him.

"Friend Tie is here, make an extra serving for dinner."

"Alright!"

"Oh, it's too much trouble for Lady Shen!"

Su Xue'Er slyly observed Shen Xuan's expression.

Seeing his calm demeanor and not correcting the address of "Lady Shen,"

she felt content in her heart.

Shen Xuan asked Tie Wenda back: "Excuse me? Then are you here to eat?"

"Here to eat!"

Tie Wenda immediately replied: "I'm just worried about exhausting Mrs. Shen!"

"Then help her out!"

"Sure thing!"

Tie Wenda agreed quickly.

There wasn't a trace of dissatisfaction at being ordered around.

On the contrary, he was all smiles, looking quite pleased.

"You!"

Shen Xuan shook his head and walked out of the dining hall.

He had a lot of things to do, no time to waste here.

The Water Purification Bottle needs to be refilled and refined with spirit water.

The three Golden Body Taiyin Corpse Beasts are severely injured, heavily damaged, and need to be thrown into the Corpse Beast Pool for recuperation.

Corpse Refining Gold Powder still needs to be prepared.

Shen Xuan casually checked in on the Silver-Horned Celestial Horse and the Jade Spirit Clam.

The Silver-Horned Celestial Horse is growing well.

With significant intelligence, it is extremely affectionate with Shen Xuan.

Upon seeing Shen Xuan coming, it excitedly circled around Shen Xuan.

Shen Xuan infused a trace of Water Spiritual Power to help it strengthen its Dantian Demon Power.

The Silver-Horned Celestial Horse snorted comfortably several times.

As for the Jade Spirit Clam.

Shen Xuan hasn't extracted its essence blood for a long time.

After achieving Great Success in [Water Spirit Absorption], the effect of the Jade Spirit Clam's essence blood has become extremely poor.

Even Dao Rhyme Points, after repeated refinements, had dropped precipitously.

The Mysterious Jade Talisman has its limitations.

Holding onto a demon beast constantly is not feasible.

With plenty of good food, drink, and water, the Jade Spirit Clam has grown pleasantly plump and round.

Anyway, it doesn't cost many spirit stones, so Shen Xuan simply lets it live freely in the Spirit Pool.

When he has the time, he'll study how to make it produce Sea Spirit Pearls.

...

Dusk.

The sun sets.

In the courtyard of the Rain Listening Pavilion.

The jade table is covered with demon beast meat.

An intoxicating fragrance wafts through the air.

It is a scent that penetrates deep into the soul.

Shen Xuan devoured quickly, soon swallowing four pounds of demon beast meat.

With [Sharp Teeth and Fangs] and [Devouring All Things], Shen Xuan handling these Tier Two Middle Grade demon beast meats is just a regular affair.

Contrastingly, Tie Wenda across from him.

Barely ate two pounds, before rubbing his belly, feeling uncomfortably bloated.

Tier Two Middle Grade demon beast meat, with its intense demon power, is not that easy to digest.

"Don't rush, eat slowly."

Shen Xuan poured Tie Wenda a glass of spirit wine.

"Hey, let me, let me do it myself! I can't accept this, Shen Talisman Master, Tie really can't accept this..."

Shen Xuan smiled and insisted on filling Tie Wenda's glass with wine.

"Come, I toast to you."

Shen Xuan drank it all in one go.

Tie Wenda hurriedly toasted.

"Take a rest."

"Hey, let Shen Talisman Master down!"

Tie Wenda reluctantly set down his chopsticks.

It's not like he hasn't eaten Tier Two Middle Grade demon beast meat before.

But he's never eaten four pounds of it in one sitting like today.

That's just too extravagant!

Three meals a day, just for food, would cost two to three hundred spirit stones.

Where would he ever indulge in that!

Shen Xuan asked: "So tell me, what were you thinking at the time?"

"Ah! Last time, Tie had the fortune to follow Shen Talisman Master, slaying demons and exterminating devils, and earned five thousand sect merit points."

"That Nangong Guang had such audacity to sneak attack Shen Talisman Master! Tie didn't think much, just felt I could block for Shen Talisman Master, paying back the kindness!"

Shen Xuan shook his head.

"Speak honestly!"

Tie Wenda immediately chuckled awkwardly.

"Shen Talisman Master, what I just said, was a bit exaggerated. Tie knows Shen Talisman Master has a graceful disposition, not wanting to fight endlessly with demon cultivators."

"However, that Nangong Guang, despite being Saint Child of the Blood Spirit Sect, has a narrow mind, always resenting Shen Talisman Master."

"Tie thought, rushing in to block would suffice. Even if I take some minor injuries, it allows Shen Talisman Master time to destroy Nangong Guang."

"Additionally, Tie wishes to follow Shen Talisman Master, and work for him."

Shen Xuan nodded.

This was Tie Wenda's true thought.

If he were truly a brainless loose cultivator, could he survive so long and cultivate to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment?

"Why me?"

"Frankly speaking, Shen Talisman Master, Tie has inquired about you. Your character is unimpeachable! Additionally, like Tie, you also come from a loose cultivator background!"

"I wanted to rely on He Zhengming, but he looks down on Tie! Besides, I don't trust He Zhengming and his group!"

Shen Xuan suddenly said seriously: "Tie Wenda, do you know how much I lost because of you?"

"Ah?"

"Water Purification Bottle spirit water, corpse beasts' injuries, and many Tier Two premium talismans. I estimated, tens of thousands of spirit stones were spent."

"Here's the deal, I'll give you a discount, let's say ten thousand spirit stones!"

"Pay with spirit stones!"

Tie Wenda said with a bitter face: "Shen Talisman Master, don't scare old Tie. If old Tie could bring out that many spirit stones, how could he be mixed with this crowd?"

Shen Xuan smiled slightly, raising his glass for a drink.

This is indeed the elite among loose cultivators.

Seemingly foolish, but they have already planned it all out.

He himself also emerged from being a loose cultivator.

He knows and understands these people's dispositions and temperaments.

"What are your future plans?"

When tending to Tie Wenda's injuries, Shen Xuan had discovered that Tie Wenda's Dao Foundation was long heavily scarred.

Being able to cultivate to the Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment was extremely rare.

Attempting another breakthrough would be more difficult than ascending to heaven.

"What plan! Earn spirit stones, bid for a Tier Two Spirit Vein, and establish the Tie Family Cultivation Clan."

"I only have such minor aspirations!"

Shen Xuan nodded slightly.

This is also the thought of most independent practitioners at the Foundation Establishment Realm.

As for condensing the Inner Core, the chances are too slim, they don't dare to dream.

"Oh. Which Tier Two Dao Ground do you plan to bid for?"

"Of course, within the core area of Cyan Cloud Sect!"