Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 68: Visiting Celestial Capital Mountain

Chapter 68: Chapter 68: Visiting Celestial Capital Mountain

Zhang Yao activated his magical power and first took out two jade scrolls.

He held a jade scroll, channeling his magical power into it, and immediately a vast amount of information flowed along the magical power, reflecting in his mind.

The first jade scroll recorded the "Thick Earth Spell."

The content of the cultivation technique was the same, but there were lengthy annotations throughout, and it also recorded several powerful earth attribute high level skills, evidently a heritage from the Hou Tu Sect.

The second jade scroll was left by Lunan himself.

This jade scroll contained a lot of content, recording more common knowledge of the cultivation realm and some taboos, as well as some simple knowledge on using magical artifacts, setting up array banners, identifying spirit grass, and setting up restrictions... all sorts of fragmented knowledge.

"It’s hundreds of thousands of words painstakingly written, clearly worried for the later generations."

"It’s just a pity that the later generations were disappointing, unwilling to let go of glory and wealth, and could only end up paying with their lives."

Zhang Yao shook his head and temporarily put down this jade scroll, taking out three magical artifacts and examining each of them.

The flying sword was an earth attribute low grade magical artifact, with only nine spirit pattern restrictions, obtained by Lunan through a transaction with someone.

The flying sword wasn’t very powerful but had the ability to fly, making it a standard accessory for an average loose cultivator, and taking it out wouldn’t arouse suspicion.

But the remaining two were different.

The earth-colored great seal, named "Nine Mountains Seal," was a purely offensive magical artifact, a bit slow to activate but with great frontal attack power.

The yellow-brown banner, called "Thick Earth and Cloud Banner," was both offensive and defensive, particularly excellent for protection, left by the first ancestor of the Hou Tu Sect.

These two, a seal and a banner, were high grade magical artifacts with tremendous value, which Lunan didn’t dare to openly use and could only keep hidden.

"No wonder he set up a restriction before he died."

Seeing these three magical artifacts, Zhang Yao understood.

The cultivation realm is not peaceful, besides places like the Lu Kingdom which are wastelands for cultivation, many other places are also filled with open and hidden struggles, with fierce competition.

The great path to immortality is difficult and cannot accommodate millions of people.

"I must say, Lunan’s acting wasn’t bad; he really played his role well."

"Even the Liu Family was completely fooled by him."

Thinking of this, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but laugh silently.

In the eyes of the Liu Family, Lunan was just a poor early stage Qi refining loose cultivator, with his entire possessions possibly being just one low grade magical artifact and a few low grade spirit stones, not even worth the effort to rob.

Their matriarch was a late stage Qi refining cultivator; how could she care about such trifles?

Because of this, Prince Zhen Nan’s Mansion was targeted by Emperor Yu Wenze, and Zhang Yao was able to be the third party reaping the benefits, gaining the heritage and thus stepping into the immortal sect.

If the Liu Family knew that Lunan actually had sect inheritance, they would probably have thought otherwise.

"The harvest is great, truly a surprise."

In a good mood, Zhang Yao put the jade scrolls and magical artifacts away and got up to leave.

"I’ll slowly go through these jade scrolls on the road, and will also need time to refine the magical artifacts."

With a thought, as magical power circulated within him, an earth-colored sheen emerged on his body.

The blue brick floor rippled like water, and he "melted" into it, disappearing from the room.

Underground:

Zhang Yao performed the "Earth Element Skill," traveling underground and soon leaving the Qingxu Temple area.

This the earth escape method, a survival skill, was practiced by Zhang Yao to the point of mastery, capable of being deployed almost instantly.

However, his cultivation was still shallow, and considering the skill’s not very advanced level, he could at most travel about ten feet underground; any deeper would be difficult.

"Huff!"

A moment later, a yellow light appeared on a mountain wall, and Zhang Yao’s figure emerged.

After determining the direction, he unsteadily walked towards the town outside the mountains, leaving behind the secluded mountain where he had meditated for decades.

...

More than two months later.

In the southern part of Central Province, near the Celestial Capital Mountain.

Zhang Yao sat in a carriage, lifting the curtain to look at the bustling scene outside.

"It’s been so long since I’ve been here; I didn’t expect it to be so bustling..."

Since the founding of the Lu Kingdom, a hundred years have passed, and now the fourth emperor is on the throne, with national power at its peak, truly a prosperous era.

Even an ordinary market town in Central Province was quite lively, thanks to the gathering market from nearby ten miles.

"Keep moving."

Zhang Yao watched the sugar blower for a while, then put down the curtain and ordered.

"Yes."

The driver immediately responded, raised the whip, and continued on the journey.

Within the Lu Kingdom, spiritual energy is very sparse, with only three miniature spirit veins: "Wuyin Island," "Kongqing River," and "Celestial Capital Mountain."

According to Lunan’s records, Wuyin Island has been occupied by the Liu Family, while a few loose cultivators form small communities in Kongqing River and Celestial Capital Mountain, making them somewhat of small earthly paradises.

Decades earlier:

When Zhang Yao had just become a cultivator, he had the opportunity to cultivate at Kongqing River or Celestial Capital Mountain, but he was cautious and dragged on until today.

"Within the Lu Kingdom, apart from the Liu Family, there are basically no middle stage Qi refining cultivators."

"With my current Qi Refining Third Layer magical power, mastery of numerous skills, possession of high-grade magical artifacts, and Martial Dao strength, I’m unlikely to encounter any danger."

Zhang Yao pondered silently, his thoughts surging.

The Lu Kingdom’s spiritual environment is ultimately too poor, and once a cultivator breaks through to the middle stage Qi Refining, they usually choose to leave.

As for why the Liu Family moved here, according to Lunan’s guess, it might have been due to pressure or some enemies, forcing them to do so.

After all these years, the Liu Family’s matriarch, and Yu Wenze’s in-laws, should have already passed away.

With time passing, it’s uncertain whether the Liu Family still has any middle stage Qi refining cultivators; they might have declined long ago.

"Sir, we’ve arrived at the Celestial Capital Mountain."

Several days later, the driver knocked on the carriage, speaking respectfully.

"Mm."

Zhang Yao pushed open the carriage door, casually tossed a piece of silver, and said:

"Here’s the remaining fare; thank you for your hard work on the journey."

"Not at all."

The driver quickly accepted the silver, joyfully polished it, carefully tucked it into his pocket, and then drove away.

After the driver left, Zhang Yao looked up at the majestic and towering Celestial Capital Mountain, shrouded in clouds and mist, and smiled:

"Celestial Capital Mountain... I’ve long heard of its reputation."

The Celestial Capital Mountain has been renowned since ancient times, known as the "Celestial Pillar."

At the foot of the Celestial Capital Mountain, numerous villages and towns are scattered, with occasional tales of immortal deeds being passed down.

A hundred years ago, when Zhang Yao was active in Central Province, he had heard of these tales, but at the time, he didn’t venture to explore the mysteries.

It wasn’t until a hundred years later, as a cultivator, that Zhang Yao set foot on the Celestial Capital Mountain for the first time.