Yellow Court Daoist

Primordial Spirit Realm.

Even with the long life span of the Dragon Clan, it lasts merely twenty or thirty thousand years at most.

Lu Qingfeng had refined Rejuvenation Water to extend Ao Le's life by twelve thousand years. But after twelve thousand years, Ao Le still faced the end of her lifespan. Lu Qingfeng then searched for other longevity methods and Spiritual Medicines and Pills.

But eleven thousand years ago, those resources were depleted too.

Left with no other choice, Lu Qingfeng could only use his own flesh and blood to sustain Ao Le's life, while frantically searching for all kinds of exotic items and secret places that might help Ao Le make a breakthrough.

Under his commands, the officials of the Investigation Divine Bureau, along with thousands of demons, scoured Chunshen Nine Provinces and Ancient Shang Region. He personally visited several Mahayana True Immortals within and outside the Shang River, and even sought audiences with the two venerable ancestors of the Shang River.

But between Primordial Spirit and Mahayana lies the vast chasm separating Mortals from Immortals, impossible to cross by ordinary means.

In the end, all efforts were futile.

Resulting in the current situation.

Lu Qingfeng looked at Ao Le clenching the 'Nine Revolutions Life Extending Elixir' tightly, tears unstoppable, cascading down her face as her body trembled slightly.

Lu Qingfeng felt increasingly troubled, "The Red Dust Longevity Technique I practice can prolong life, yet rejects all other methods. I had the opportunity to cultivate it. Ordinary people practicing it have to forsake all Combat Skills, and the flesh of living beings often ends up as 'Longevity Meat' eyed by demons. I don't want you to be coveted by demons day and night, nor do I wish to even think of the possibility of you being devoured by them."

Is there a perfect solution in this world?

Even if there were,

it's beyond Lu Qingfeng's reach now.

Life Span is determined by heaven.

He could defy the heavens and seize tens of thousands of years, even using his own flesh and blood to extend Ao Le's life. But in this world, there are also countering forces.

He had never anticipated—

That Ao Le, upon taking the so-called 'Nine Revolutions Life Extending Elixir', could somehow conjoin minds with him, understanding the truth behind it.

"I—" Lu Qingfeng's mouth was dry, his voice hoarse.

Ao Le, holding the 'Nine Revolutions Life Extending Elixir', handed it back to Lu Qingfeng, wiped her tears, and with a slight smile showing her white teeth, said, "With my husband potentially achieving True Immortality or even the undying status of an Earth Immortal True Monarch, having my husband to protect me, whether I practice the Red Dust Longevity Technique or become a deity of Shang River, I can always stay by your side."

God.

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

Even after Divine Enthronement, which offers a semblance of eternal life, firstly, there is no advancement in strength; secondly, one thrives on Incense Fire Wish Power which taints the Divine Soul and could lead to significant changes in personality and wear down one's true nature. Thirdly, even though Divine Dao rules over the world, accruing Merit, the persistent accumulation of Tribulation Qi over time can bring about natural disasters and calamities, impossible to guard against.

And gods do not truly die.

With limited positions in the Three Great Dragon Palaces, Heavenly Court, and Da Jing Dynasty, as Divine Positions near completion, they often provoke disturbances in the Divine Dao. Each disturbance results in countless gods falling.

Ancient Shang Region,

Through the ages,

Rare are the gods who survive a million years.

Said to be eternally indestructible, but in reality, many only last hundreds of thousands, or even tens of thousands of years before falling from their Divine Positions. Countless gods perish with no chance for reincarnation.

Unfettered tranquility for immortals is nonexistent.

Lu Qingfeng did not wish for Ao Le to step into the Divine Dao, plunging into a predicament not of her own choosing.

"Practicing the Red Dust Longevity Technique and becoming a deity are merely last resorts. Before that, try not to give up on cultivating the Immortal Dao," Lu Qingfeng said, seeing Ao Le still maintaining the gesture of offering the 'Nine Revolutions Life Extending Elixir'. He took the elixir, and said softly.

Ao Le rubbed her tear-stained face on Lu Qingfeng's chest, wetting his clothes, then looked up at his helpless expression and couldn't help but smile, "I'll follow my husband's arrangements. But I really do not want to take this 'Nine Revolutions Life Extending Elixir' anymore. If my husband turns into a pile of bones, even if I live on, I wouldn't be happy."

"Alright," Lu Qingfeng nodded gently, holding the Spirit Pill. Seeing Ao Le watching, he smiled and pressed it into his arm. Instantly, flesh grew on the upper half of his arm, though his forearm and palm remained skeletal.

With a thought,

Lu Qingfeng then used a Blinding Technique to make his forearm and palm appear normal again.

But Ao Le knew that both flesh areas had been consumed by her, and unless refined, they could not regenerate.

Her heart ached, myriad emotions swirling. Her swollen, tearful eyes looked at Lu Qingfeng, and with both heartache and affection, she reproached, "Why does my husband have to treat Le'er so well!"

Lu Qingfeng smiled, not answering.

But looking into Ao Le's eyes, a spirit light flickered—

[Life Span: 56746/56850]

"One hundred and four years!"

In this life,

Lu Qingfeng had lived for fifty-six thousand three hundred and seventy years, Ao Le was born three hundred and seventy-six years even before him, and now, just one hundred and four years remained in her life span.

Lu Qingfeng reflected on these fifty thousand years—

Treasure hunting,

Competing,

Stealing,

Traveling all around borrowing Cultivation Secret Realms,

Refining Spirit Pills for cultivation, extending life...

Over these fifty thousand years,

Countless treasures collected, numerous Spirit Pills refined, and endless secret realms visited.

Memories tumbled through his mind, eventually settling on the Supreme Treasures of the Three Great Dragon Palaces.

"Le'er hails from the Dragon Clan of Ancient Shang, possessing a supreme treasure once known as the 'Dragon Transformation Pond.' Due to great calamities, it was split into three parts: 'Dragon Transformation Pond,' 'Dragon Gate,' and 'Nine Dragon Seal.' Before I entered the Chunshen Realm, I have twice ventured into the 'Dragon Transformation Pond,' a sanctuary for cultivation, and for the Dragon Clan, it represented an immense opportunity."

"When Le'er was trapped in the Divinity Transformation Realm, I personally sought the Shang River Dragon King's permission for Le'er to cultivate in the 'Dragon Transformation Pond' for ten years, enabling him to breakthrough to the Soul Emergence Realm."

"At the peak of Soul Emergence Realm, he moved to the East Sea, exchanging twelve Dragon Abyss Swords for thirty years of cultivation opportunity and advanced to the Primordial Spirit Unification Realm."

"Now stuck at Unification Realm without crossing the initial threshold, his physical body, Primordial Spirit, and Dharma Image have yet to merge, making the comprehension of his own Dao path seem unreachable. If he could use the 'Dragon Gate' in the West Sea to overcome the first threshold of the Unification Realm, he might have a hope in understanding the Dao and advancing to be a True Immortal!"

However.

Access to the Shang River Dragon Transformation Pond is feasible; as Lu Qingfeng, holding the title of Shang River Investigating God Monarch, and with Ao Le being a Third Grade God Spirit of the Shang River, entering the Dragon Transformation Pond for a decade or two is not difficult.

Within the Dragon Palace of the East Sea, Lu Qingfeng also has considerable connections; with the right price and by pulling the necessary strings, using the 'Nine Dragon Seal' for decades of cultivation is also within reach.

But the West Sea.

The 'Dragon Gate' alone!

"After extracting Le'er's mother from the West Sea and embarrassing them, I've repeatedly tried with Le'er to request some days of cultivation at the 'Dragon Gate,' only to be turned away."

"The West Sea Dragon Gate."

Lu Qingfeng pondered silently, making a decision, "It's time to advance to True Immortal!"

…

Primordial Spirit advancing to Mahayana.

There are myriad barriers in this process, and the toughest among them involves comprehending the Heavenly Dao naturally, distinguishing one from the countless paths between heaven and earth to attain enlightenment, thus achieving True Immortality.

Once accomplished.

It marks the Mahayana First Realm, known as the Sensing Realm.

Seamlessly interconnected, inactive yet accomplished, unseen yet all-knowing—such are the characteristics of Dao's responsiveness.

At this level—

Interconnected seamlessly, nothing is unreachable;

Inactive yet accomplished, no act unachieved;

Unseen yet all-knowing, no lore unknown.

Capable of sensing and responding to heaven and earth, understanding the Heavenly Dao naturally, one seeks the technique of longevity. It can draw the Immortal Energy from the Immortal Realm, cleanse the marrow and shed the impurities, transform the Postnatal to Innate, achieving an Innate Taoist Body, crafting a Mahayana Immortal Body.

The depth of Dao ability is unimaginable.

Previously, the Primordial Spirit was still 'Mortal'; after, Mahayana is considered 'Immortal'.

From Primordial Spirit Unification to advancing to Mahayana Sensing, the difficulties in between are immense.

"I have lingered in Primordial Spirit Unification for fifty thousand years, perceiving the profound Dao. Even among the Dutian Dao, twelve paths are yet to reach Perfection; Time and Space have only been slightly grasped, far from integrating these twelve paths into the unified Dutian Dao."

Lu Qingfeng shook his head.

His intention was to thoroughly cultivate the twelve celestial paths contained within the 'Twelve Heavenly Demon God Skill,' then combine the twelve to transform into the 'Pangu Dutian Dao,' assuming an unparalleled stance to advance to the Mahayana realm.

Yet, each of the Dutian Demon God's paths encapsulates infinite complexity and is incredibly challenging.

Lu Qingfeng cultivates diligently.

With various means and Divine Skills at his disposal, after spending fifty thousand years, he has only comprehended the paths of Thunder, Fire, Metal, and Earth extensively, while Water, Wind, Rain, Wood, and others just met the basic standards.

As for Space and Time, they are far from reach.

Initially.

Lu Qingfeng possessed the Supreme 'Red Dust Longevity Technique,' with the first three levels of Great Success sufficing to extend his life by one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years, providing ample time for gradual cultivation and accumulation.

But now, he can't wait any longer.

"Among the twelve paths, Thunder, Earth, and Metal have deeper comprehension due to prior cultivation of 'Five Thunder Heart Sutra,' 'Yellow Robe True Skill,' and 'Luofu Sword Scripture.' Fire is commanded by the first Zhu Rong Demon God manifested from the 'Twelve Heavenly Demon God Skill,' equally not lacking."

"The Dutian Dao is temporarily unattainable."

"Choose one from these four paths."

Lu Qingfeng's thoughts flowed.

Within his chest, a Demon God emerged—mouth and hands clutching a snake, tiger-headed and human-bodied, with hooved feet and long elbows—Qiang Liang Demon God, enshrouded in thunder, dreadfully fearsome.

"There's little difference between the four paths."

"Then, it shall be Thunder."

Lu Qingfeng doesn't dwell further, choosing the path of Thunder. Since Ao Le's cultivation involves the 'Five Thunder Heart Sutra,' Lu Qingfeng's breakthrough in the path of Thunder might make guiding and aiding Ao Le's advancement easier in the future.

As for Qing Mountain and Qingyu.

Currently, they are far from reaching the Primordial Spirit Realm; by the time the duo achieves Primordial Spirit and reaches the Peak of Primordial Spirit, Lu Qingfeng might have already become an Earth Immortal in his undertakings.

From this high perspective.

Guiding their cultivation of 'Luofu Sword Scripture' seems no challenge.

With a thought, he began attempting to breakthrough.

Previously refined during the Peak of Soul Emergence Realm, the Twelve Layers of Du Tian Demon God Dharma had already merged into his body, synchronizing with his Primordial Spirit. His mana was nearing Perfection, his Dao ability already surpassed.

Now attempting a breakthrough, everything was naturally aligned.

Three 'Immortal Ascension Pills' consumed.

Instantly.

The breakthrough began—

Primordial Spirit strengthened!

Physical body transformed!

Mana soared!

Amidst these drastic changes, Lu Qingfeng's aura grew stronger day by day.