Chapter 131: Lifespan 300? Extend It!

After leaving the capital, Chu Danqing felt utterly at ease.

It was like being free of all debts.

He planned to head straight to Xiong Zhigang, taking his time along the way as a form of rest.

As for the Imperial Edict on Upright Conduct given to him by the young emperor, he was quite satisfied.

【Imperial Edict on Upright Conduct】

【Type: Knowledge Item】

【Quality: Excellent】

【Durability: 100/100】

【Effect: Reading increases base Command level】

One could only say the Paradise was truly generous—its sprint class benefits were exceptional.

It couldn't possibly be that his luck was this good, with whatever he needed appearing just in time.

After receiving a satisfactory severance package, Chu Danqing naturally walked away with everything settled.

He traveled slowly, pausing often, focusing on study and cultivation.

He did not choose to trigger any more hidden quests.

Primarily because he lacked channels to effectively trigger them; if he wished to continue quests, he should have stayed in the capital.

Secondly, because he needed to study and cultivate.

Gaining strength through Paradise Points was one thing, but improving one's own fundamentals was equally important.

The value of knowledge items showed that Paradise encouraged parallel advancement in strength and self-study.

On the third day after leaving the capital, Chu Danqing summoned Guo Ming via the Blood Oath Pact.

Primarily to obtain the secret technique of the Minor Five Elements Spirit Awakening Dao Base, and to acquire more resources—otherwise his cultivation progress would be too slow.

He spent the remaining time primarily on cultivation.

【You summoned your pact partner. This session consumed 4999 Paradise Points.】

【Pact partner has responded.】

【Pact partner's cognitive rationalization has been successfully modified.】

Good news: Base Command also affects the Blood Oath Pact, but its effect was negligible due to his low level.

Guo Ming stepped out of the vortex, about to speak, when his gaze fixed on Chu Danqing's back.

"Friend, is this also one of your companions, Brother Chu?" Guo Ming asked.

Chu Danqing spun around instantly—saw nothing—and replied: "No!"

As soon as Guo Ming spoke, Chu Danqing immediately suspected the culprit.

The Black Crow, a probationary apostle of the Dragon-Tiger Alliance.

At that moment, Guo Ming's two flying swords pierced the air three meters behind Chu Danqing with lightning speed.

The next instant, Black Crow exploded into feathers.

A fragmented human shadow fled for its life.

Clearly, the opponent had used some high-cost survival skill or item to escape Guo Ming's attack.

Chu Danqing immediately cast a Spirit Eye Technique.

But it missed.

Not because he failed to detect—because the man was already dead.

Black Crow hadn't even run a meter before being reduced to dust by the two flying swords—dead beyond any doubt.

"It seems this person has been lurking near Brother Chu for some time. Such concealment is truly bizarre," Guo Ming said, retracting his swords.

"Normal. Brother Guo, you can't expect a summoner like me to compete with a specialist," Chu Danqing said.

If it came to direct combat, Chu Danqing certainly wasn't afraid.

But to pit his untrained domain against an expert's specialty? If he could win, he might as well abandon the summoning path entirely and choose the opponent's—far more promising.

With the enemy hiding like this, and neither he nor Dabao able to detect him better than the concealment, it was indeed troublesome.

"Brother Chu, with all this free time, you weren't even hunted?" Guo Ming teased, then asked: "I assume all matters are settled—you've come for the secret technique?"

"Yes. I plan to find Xiong Zhigang," Chu Danqing replied without concealment. "And I'd like you to examine these items for any special properties."

Chu Danqing pulled out his treasure-type items.

It was an impromptu idea.

After carefully examining them, Guo Ming sighed: "Luxurious objects—likely imperial tribute items."

"The materials aren't rare, but the craftsmanship is exquisite. Their monetary value is indeed substantial."

"But as for practical use? Probably political capital."

Meaning he saw no real functional value.

"I have an idea, Brother Chu—if you're willing to part with the Spring Flower Autumn Moon Wall and a box of night pearls, I'll have my father present them to the emperor and request the Imperial Astronomical Bureau to divine two secret scrolls of the Five Elements Spirit Beasts Technique for you."

"Though the scrolls will be limited to Excellent quality due to the Five Elements Spirit Beasts Technique's restrictions, I guarantee you'll be satisfied," Guo Ming said immediately.

Chu Danqing heard this and thought: Damn, 30, 00 Paradise Points. No—34, 00, plus round-trip processing fees.

"Done!" Chu Danqing didn't hesitate at all—he accepted immediately.

Paradise Points were meant to be spent.

Guo Ming's trial world was high-level; spending 34, 00 to hire the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was only possible because of the Guo family's influence.

A probationary apostle from any other faction couldn't even dream of such access.

You couldn't even buy your way in—and this was going through the emperor's channel, so the Bureau would take it seriously.

As for low quality? Irrelevant. Excellent-grade items were too high-end for him to use anyway.

Like the Flesh Scholar's spellbook—his equipment requirements couldn't possibly be met.

Low quality had its advantages.

Guo Ming put the items away, then pulled out a scroll and a commentary.

The scroll contained the secret technique of the Minor Five Elements Spirit Awakening Dao Base, acquired from Liu Lianju.

With it, Chu Danqing could establish a Dao Base—otherwise, given the quality of the Five Elements Spirit Beasts Technique, he could never form one.

The commentary concerned the Minor Five Elements Spirit Array.

"The formation of the Minor Five Elements Spirit Awakening Dao Base requires the Minor Five Elements Spirit Array as a catalyst—but this array demands the Five Elements Spirit Beasts Technique be perfected."

"But Brother Chu, you're still far from perfection. To cultivate prematurely, you'll need this commentary's aid," Guo Ming said.

In Guo Ming's world, he could simply hire a master of arrays to teach him—he'd master it in a few days.

"Understood," Chu Danqing said, unconcerned.

Then Guo Ming pulled out a vial of pills.

"This is the improved Wu Yun Pill—Excellent quality. I think Brother Chu can afford the processing fee."

"Its potency far surpasses the previous Excellent-grade version. This single vial should suffice until you perfect the Five Elements Spirit Beasts Technique."

Chu Danqing checked his Paradise Points and accepted without hesitation.

Expensive? There's a reason.

His talent was only slightly above average—if he didn't spend, how would he grow stronger?

"In the remaining time of your trial world, can you reach perfection? If so, summon me after you do."

"By then, the two secret scrolls will surely be ready," Guo Ming estimated Chu Danqing's progress and asked.

"Yes," Chu Danqing also estimated his own progress—he suspected the scrolls required perfected Five Elements Spirit Beasts Technique to cultivate.

"Good. I await your good news. Farewell!" Guo Ming, having no further business, prepared to leave.

But Chu Danqing pulled out the Longevity Blood Pill and handed it to him: "This is for you. It has side effects, but—"

He hadn't finished speaking when Guo Ming's eyes locked onto the Longevity Blood Pill.

"A longevity item," he swallowed hard. "This is too precious."

"Read the commentary—it likely won't even extend your lifespan," Chu Danqing said, exasperated.

"Irrelevant. It can be reforged," Guo Ming beamed. "My ancestral patriarch's days are numbered. If this pill can be reforged, it might preserve the Guo family's prestige for another thirty years."

"I'll boldly accept it."

Guo Ming snatched it instantly, with astonishing speed.

"Don't cultivators in your world gain longevity along with power?" Chu Danqing found this absurd.

"Extending life is possible, but even the Supreme Master of Tai Ping Dao has a lifespan limit of three hundred years."

"This pill, if reforged successfully, grants a ten percent increase in lifespan—it's already defying heaven."

"In my world, there are no longevity pills. Only exceedingly rare heavenly treasures can extend life."

"And even then, the gain is short—three to five days, or at most one or two years—and consuming them invites heavenly retribution," Guo Ming said.

Hearing this, Chu Danqing wondered whether he should give Guo Ming the Flesh Scholar's spellbook.

But remembering the cost of that item, he realized giving it might unleash something terrifying.

Keeping it might just mean it'd rot in his hands.

Lowered sanity turns you into a madman—and even Dabao couldn't use it.

Dabao was just foolish, but after losing sanity, he'd go mad too.

Yet giving it to Guo Ming—given the Guo family's resources—they could suppress and exploit it without issue.

The Guo family had helped him so much; Chu Danqing gritted his teeth and finally pulled it out.

He had indeed paid Paradise Points as processing fees for what they gave him—but these items couldn't even be bought with Paradise Points, let alone at the cost-price fee he'd paid.

"The Longevity Blood Pill was produced by this item. Don't ask me how it's made—I don't know either." After retrieving the spellbook, Chu Danqing displayed its attribute panel.

"I can give it to you, but you must promise me not to use this item to commit evil deeds or harm the innocent."

Guo Ming, upon seeing the attribute panel, understood the full context.

Low quality doesn't matter—what matters is that it came from the Paradise.

"Brother Chu, rest assured. There are countless demons, monsters, criminals, and villains in the world." Guo Ming himself felt uneasy, but ultimately grasped that giving someone a fish is not as good as teaching them to fish.

If the spellbook could truly be used by the Guo Clan to produce Longevity Pills, the Guo Clan might have a chance to advance further.

Chu Danqing could not guarantee how the other would use it, but letting it fall into the hands of other Apostles might not be a good thing either.

At least giving it to the Guo Clan allows him to monitor it through Guo Ming. After completing all arrangements, Chu Danqing would send Guo Ming back.

【Detected unnotarized spellbook and consumable item. Since provided by covenant partner, you may choose standard notarization or waive notarization.】

【1. Notarize: consume 2, 00 Paradise Points for Excellent-tier, 25, 00 for Fine-tier.】

【2. Waive notarization: item will be returned with you upon repatriation.】

—

【Detected equipment and items carried by covenant partner, belonging to a Reserve-Dimension Apostle. You may choose to pay a processing fee to transfer ownership or waive transfer.】

【1. Processing fee: 8, 00 Paradise Points (3 Excellent-tier: 3, 00; 1 Fine-tier: 5, 00).】

【2. Waive transfer: items will remain where they are.】

—

【You returned your covenant partner. Repatriation cognitive rationalization completed. Current duration: 1 hour. Cost: 999 Paradise Points.】

(End of Chapter)