Chapter 57: Danxia's Ceremony
Night fell.
Inside the house, the brocade-white patterns woven by the Immortal Crane's waves undulated under the light of the crystal lamp.
Shen Ping stood beside the wooden bed expressionlessly and looked at this delicate woman. He frowned. After several days of waiting, he could see that Luo Qing's emotions had already calmed down. But he did not gain much from the conversation in the quiet room. He did not intend to make her open her heart with words. He just wanted to see if there was any further possibility.
From the looks of it, the possibility was very small.
"Third level of Qi Refinement. Exotic Bloodline. Forget it, after half a hundred years of lifespan has passed, I'll send her back to the Ze Kingdom if there's a chance." He sighed in his heart.
Shen Ping no longer hesitated. He casually pulled off the brocade-white dudou and placed it under Luo Qing. Soon, the wooden board swayed gently.
A moment passed, the brocade-white patterns became brighter. He glanced at Luo Qing and saw the redness on her cheeks. He could not help but smile. He opened the attribute panel. There was a change on it.
[You have dual cultivated with your Dao Companion once. You have obtained magical resistance +2]
[Current Dao Companion Favorability: 50]
[Effect of Black Water Spirit Turtle Bloodline (Weak): You will obtain an additional day of lifespan.]
[Duo Cultivation Bonus: 0]
[Magic Resistance: Low-grade Level 1 (2/1,000)]
[Lifespan: 46/95]
His gaze swept to the new virtual frame. His pupils constricted.
Lifespan.
Luo Qing's exotic bloodline actually gave him an additional lifespan during dual cultivation. Although it was only for a day, it was still very precious.
Cultivators fought for longevity.
Two hundred years upon reaching Foundation Establishment.
Five hundred years old upon reaching Golden Core.
In order to fight with the heavens for this lifespan, countless cultivators had to suffer. Even genius cultivators with single-element Heavenly Spirit Roots and mutant Spirit Roots had to work hard for their gradually depleting lifespan to break through to the Golden Core Nascent Soul realm.
Every time pills and rare treasures that could increase one's lifespan appeared at the auction of the True Treasure Pavilion, cultivators would go crazy.
"If I had enough lifespan, why would I go out?" Shen Ping's breathing gradually became heavier. With a dazzling light in his eyes, he looked at Luo Qing, who was lying flat on the wooden bed again. He could not help but turn over.
The floor shook.
Luo Qing frowned. She bit her lower lip and turned her face to the left.
Soon, he glanced at the attribute panel again.
[Your Dao Companion has developed a trace of disgust towards you. Current favorability: 40]
[Do you want to dissolve the Dao Companion relationship?]
Shen Ping could not help but rub his eyes. There was no change in the virtual frame. He was a little dumbfounded and sat silently at the side.
"I was careless. I'm so excited that my brain is affected!" After clearing his mind, he patted his head in frustration. "Fellow Daoist Luo. I was wrong just now. I didn't consider your feelings." As he spoke, he slowly covered her with spiritual energy to nourish her. His movements were very gentle.
Ten minutes passed, Luo Qing blushed again. She opened her eyes and said, "Senior Shen, if you still want to, hurry up." After saying that, she hurriedly closed her eyes.
Shen Ping kept staring at the virtual frame. When he saw that his favorability had returned to 50, he heaved a sigh of relief. Fortunately, the remedy was timely. Otherwise, he would really suffer a huge loss.
This was lifespan!
…
At dawn the next day, the wooden barrel emitted a fragrance.
When Shen Ping came over, Yu Yan was not as anxious as usual. Instead, she said sarcastically, "Fellow Daoist Shen, you're really energetic. How's your new Dao companion? Did she satisfy you?"
The favorability of the virtual frame did not change. He smiled and went forward. Without any nonsense, he picked the grapefruits. It was when the waves rolled up that Yu Yan take the initiative.
…
The boring life passed quickly. In the blink of an eye, the Wei Kingdom's Lantern Festival arrived.
On this day, rays of light streaked across the sky above Cloud Mountain.
The disciples of the various large sects, cultivation families, and large numbers of unaffiliated cultivators in the market flew towards the entrance of the Danxia Sect's branch sect. Facing the morning sun, countless rays of light dragged a long flame tail towards the majestic mountain peak of Cloud Mountain.
Shen Ping did not join in the fun. Instead, Yu Yan was excited and wanted to attend the ceremony. After all, such a grand event was rarely seen.
Seeing that his wife and concubine were also tempted, Shen Ping thought for a moment and left Yunhe Alley with his wife, concubine, Yu Yan, and Luo Qing. They stepped on the flying artifact. His wife and concubine hugged Shen Ping's arms and looked down at the pleasant scenery excitedly and curiously. Ever since they moved to Yunhe Alley, they had gone out less and less.
Today was the celebration of the Danxia Sect's founding. Along the way, there were Danxia Sect disciples constantly patrolling and no one dared to cause trouble on this day. Even the demonic cultivators of the Luosha Demonic Valley were much more restrained.
Therefore, after comprehensive consideration, Shen Ping readily agreed.
As they approached the Cloud Mountain, 100,000 majestic mountains gradually came into view. A large number of cultivators floated in the sky in front of them. The periphery was filled with rogue cultivators. Only the disciples of other sects and some powerful cultivation families could really watch the ceremony at close range.
It was already good enough for the rogue cultivators to stay outside and feel the atmosphere. Moreover, they could not resist the powerful spiritual pressure when they entered.
"Level 2 spiritual vein."
"It doesn't match the status of the Danxia Sect."
"It can't be helped. Although Cloud Mountain is vast, there are fewer mountains with spiritual veins. They're basically occupied by the Golden Sun Sect. Danxia Sect can be considered lucky to find this Level 2 spiritual vein."
He listened to the casual exchanges of the surrounding cultivators. Shen Ping silently looked at the distant mountain gate. For the sect, the spiritual energy of a Level 2 spiritual vein was insufficient.
The Acacia Faction, the Myriad Sacred Mountain, and the other major sects did not announce that they would establish the sect. The main reason was that Cloud Mountain did not have any extra spiritual vein mountains.
It was almost noon. Colorful clouds rose from the mountain gate, and cranes flew. All kinds of auspicious signs circled above the mountain range. As the rich pill fragrance spread, most of the rogue cultivators in the periphery felt refreshed.
"Fellow Daoists coming to watch the ceremony brings light to my Danxia Sect." A moment later, a purple-robed phantom appeared in the sky of the entire mountain range. His voice spread gently.
All the rogue cultivators in the periphery were excited.
Danxia Sect's elder.
A Nascent Soul expert!
How could they, Qi Refinement cultivators, see such a person usually? This trip was not in vain!
Yu Yan was inexplicably excited. "Nascent Soul, it's a Nascent Soul cultivator!"
Nascent Souls had a thousand years of lifespan. To be able to sit and watch the vicissitudes of the world while the dynasty changed, such a living fossil-like cultivator was the dream and pursuit of every rogue cultivator.
Longevity was only a saying, and Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, and Nascent Soul were existences that every cultivator could truly look up to.
Shen Ping did not think much of it. He glanced at his wife and concubine from the corner of his eye.
Bai Yuying's face was as excited as Yu Yan's. Although Wang Yun was excited, her eyes revealed sadness. She was only a mortal after all. This scene was like a dream to her. On the other hand, Luo Qing's expression was calm, and there was no sign of any ripples.
As time passed, the grand ceremony of the Danxia Sect ended. The rogue cultivators outside formed groups. Some looked forward to each other, some discussed the Danxia Sect, and some hoped that the Danxia Sect would recruit disciples as soon as possible.
Amidst the lively atmosphere, the rogue cultivators left one after another.
"Talisman Master Shen!" On the way back to the market, Shen Ping met Shopkeeper Chen and chatted briefly before parting ways.
The owner of the Spring Embroidery Pavilion had broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm. Shopkeeper Chen's attitude towards him was still relatively enthusiastic, but he no longer urged him to make talismans as soon as they met.