Chapter 929 - 653: Coveting Longevity

Not much later.

A rainbow-colored radiance suddenly appeared above the sky, clouds swirling about, with a clear and profound Dao Rhyme spreading from above.

Everyone instinctively looked up, and saw nine figures walking on clouds, their attire fluttering, their movements light and graceful, like Immortals descending to the world.

The one leading them was none other than Batu’s eldest son, Red Wood.

He was dressed in a plain Daoist Robe, with a jade belt around his waist, his face handsome, his posture upright, looking no more than thirty years old, full of vitality, his gaze clear, surrounded by a faint Spirit Light.

Behind him followed seven or eight younger members, each dressed in uniform cultivation attire, walking leisurely, with stern demeanor, oppressing the breath of all common people present.

The colorful clouds slowly descended, and the group landed steadily on the empty ground in the inner courtyard of the City Lord Mansion, the radiance beneath their feet dissipating.

Guests, village chiefs, headmen, and Elders all involuntarily bowed and lowered their heads, showing extreme obedience and reverence.

These younger cultivators are the Stabilizing Needles of the Mountain City!!

In this wild land, no matter how great worldly power is, it is as insignificant as dust before true cultivators.

Zhaxi saw this and hurriedly stepped forward, bowing respectfully:

"Uncle, you finally arrived."

Red Wood nodded slightly, his gaze sweeping past everyone, instantly falling upon Batu in the main position.

He quickly stepped forward, leading the group of cultivation juniors, bowing in unison:

"Greetings, Father, wishing you a hundred years of health, longevity, and peace for every year."

Upon seeing his eldest son, Batu’s originally old and weary face burst into a smile, the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes smoothing out.

"You have returned, good, good... Red Wood, you finally returned."

Red Wood rose, holding an archaic sandalwood box, presenting it to Batu:

"This is the Kaiyuan Pill that I specially sought for Father."

"This Pill, though not Heaven-defying in increasing longevity, can consolidate the foundation and nourish your bones and blood."

The gathered mundane guests and village chiefs heard this, each showing awe and envy, for it is unlikely they’d ever see an Elixir Pill refined by a cultivator in their lifetime.

An Elder from a nearby valley quietly sighed:

"The Old City Lord truly is blessed, having such promising children, protected by Immortal Envoys of the Grotto Heaven, enabling stability and prosperity!"

Batu gazed at his eldest son, already a century old, feeble and elderly, his face full of wrinkles, his body frail.

Yet his son, due to cultivation, remains youthful and vigorous as ever, looking younger and more agile than his great-grandson.

He gently patted his son’s shoulder, his voice tinged with a touch of sentiment:

"Cultivation indeed is beneficial, look at you, after all these years still so young, so energetic."

"These old bones of mine, having such accomplished children and descendants, this lifetime is worth it, truly worth it!"

His words evoked agreement among the guests, all bowing in unison, filled with respect and heartfelt conviction:

"The Old City Lord is right!"

"With Immortal Envoy’s protection, the tribe prospers, the Old City Lord enjoys longevity!"

Everyone reminisced for a while.

Red Wood personally opened the sandalwood box, taking out the Spirit Pill as lustrous as jade, presenting it to Batu:

"Father, you should take the Pill now, I will stand guard to ensure all is fine before I leave."

"Once the Pill enters your stomach, you will feel a warm current spread throughout your body, don’t panic, that is the medicine nourishing your blood."

Batu nodded with a smile, taking the Pill and preparing to swallow it:

"Alright!"

The surrounding Elders and village chiefs watched, all showing envy.

Red Wood gazed at his father taking the Pill, also nodding gently.

Though everyone calls Batu the "Wise One of the tribe, the totem of the mountains," Red Wood knows deep down.

His father has never been a talented leader, he is merely an affable, and somewhat muddled ordinary man.

In earlier years, all household matters were managed by his mother Ayimu, his father simply had good fortune, having children who eventually lifted him step by step to his current position.

He was cultivating in the Grotto Heaven, not serving by his side, and now, gifting the Spirit Pill is considered filial piety.

Batu took the Pill as instructed, and shortly after, showed a relaxed expression.

He felt a warm current instantly spread through his limbs and torso, his originally dull and declining blood gradually becoming active, repeatedly praising the miraculous properties of the medicine.

Red Wood observed for another moment, seeing Batu’s breath steady and expression pleasant, confirming no issues before bowing in farewell:

"Father, I must return to the Grotto Heaven to cultivate, I cannot accompany you long, please take care."

Batu waved his hand smilingly, advising:

"Go on, go on, cultivate well, don’t worry about me."

Red Wood bowed again before leading the group of cultivation juniors, riding the clouds, swiftly disappearing into the sky and clouds, coming swiftly, departing swiftly.

Batu watched his son leave, feeling a sense of lament in his heart:

"Cultivation is truly wonderful... Unfortunately, in this lifetime, I ultimately have no spiritual aperture."

In his youth, he too had tested for cultivation potential. Born without a spiritual aperture, he was destined to have no connection with the celestial path and could only abandon this notion early on.

He felt some regret in his heart:

"Red Wood can cultivate, he will have longevity."

"Ayimu has also been gone for over ten years, and I have reached a hundred years old... I wonder how many more days I have left to live."

Thinking this, the Old City Lord, who had led a smooth life, rarely fell into silence.

At this moment.

The crowd from the inner courtyard gathered around, their faces full of curiosity and reverence, chattering in inquiry, their tone filled with flattery:

"Old City Lord, how does the elixir pill personally refined by the Immortal taste? Isn’t your whole body feeling warm?"

"It must be an Immortal Treasure Pill! Look, Old City Lord, your complexion is much rosier than before, and your eyes are brighter!"

"The Old City Lord has great fortune!!"

"Truly a blessed one by destiny, raising such capable children and being nourished by an Immortal Pill, you will surely live for decades more!"

"Indeed! Fortune and longevity go hand in hand!"

Batu, showered with compliments, relaxed his brows and touched his teeth with a smile, responding cheerfully:

"Good! Very good! The elixir warms the belly, makes the whole body feel light, even has the strength to chew meat!"

As he spoke, he couldn’t help but sigh again:

"Red Wood is truly filial, and it is thanks to his cultivation achievements that he could bring me this Immortal Treasure Pill."

Beside him, Zhaxi quickly chimed in:

"Grandfather is right, Uncle is the pride of our tribe, and you are the root of our good fortune. Without you, there wouldn’t be the thriving Batu clan we have today."

The guests all nodded in agreement, each word a compliment and respect, filling Batu’s heart with joy.

He was originally of a broad-minded nature, and the brief moments of life and death reflection just now were thrown to the Jiuxiao clouds above.

He immediately called for a servant:

"Bring up the freshly stewed lamb! Today, I want to have a good feast!"

"Today, in the fortune of the Immortal Pill, let’s feast well!"

...

Time passed silently, and a few years hastily flew by.

The medicinal effect of the Longevity Pill eventually dissipated, and Batu’s body declined day by day.

In the end, he could only lie bedridden, even struggling to get up, relying on a few sips of rice soup to cling to life every day.

The once kind-hearted, calm, and stable Old City Lord grew increasingly irritable and volatile.

As the younger generation served the decoction, he raised his hand and violently slapped it to the ground.

"Clang——"

The porcelain bowl shattered, spilling the decoction all over the floor.

"Take it away! Take it all away! Drinking it won’t help! Drinking it won’t keep me alive!"

A life of contentment and no conflict, Batu, nearing life’s end, ultimately felt a deep resentment and greed.

He looked at his children and grandchildren in the hall.

His eldest son, Red Wood, with a never-aging appearance, on a smooth celestial path;

Many among his grandchildren and great-grandchildren entered the Immortal Sect, soaring through the skies, long-lived.

Yet he, the old patriarch who had expanded the family and supported the entire clan, had no spiritual aperture, couldn’t cultivate, and could only lie here, waiting to die of old age.

Why?

Why am I the only one without potential?

I want to cultivate too!

...

In another dimension, deep in the void.

Chen Sheng, who had been silently watching over this realm, let out a long sigh of relief, his brows finally easing.

He had waited for this day for far too long.

"Finally, it has arrived."

"At the brink of death, he has finally developed the obsession for longevity and the desire to cultivate. At least there’s some spirit, some pursuit."

...