Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 90 - 89: Breaking Free

Deep underground.

Zhang Yao, with crimson light blazing all over his body, was burrowing a hundred feet below the surface.

His eye sockets were deeply sunken, his skin dry and sallow, his entire figure nearly skin and bones, his hair almost fallen out, looking like he was about to die at any moment.

Among the two major evil secret techniques: 𝑓𝑟ℯ𝘦𝓌𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝓋𝑒𝓁.𝑐ℴ𝓂

Every breath of the Celestial Deformity Technique burns a year of lifespan, but with the gift from the Primordial Energy Spring constantly replenishing, it effectively equates to not burning it.

However, the Essence and Yuan Qi are interdependent, closely connected, and intense fluctuations in Lifebound Primordial Qi also lead to damage to Essence Qi.

Plus the impact of the Blood Burning Skill, causing Zhang Yao’s robust blood and energy to burn rapidly. It sustained him for just over half an hour before nearing depletion.

"That’s about it. If I keep burning, I won’t hold on."

"Traveling such a distance in one breath, at least several hundred miles, those Foundation Establishment Cultivators can’t possibly catch up."

With this thought, Zhang Yao carefully maneuvered the Escape Technique to head toward the surface.

A few breaths later, Zhang Yao poked his head through the surface, finding himself in an unfamiliar area of hills, surrounded by silence, only the sounds of insects and birds.

"Phew... finally safe."

Zhang Yao emerged from underground, released the evil secret technique and "Mountain-Penetrating Earth-Digging Skill," and sat heavily on the ground, panting heavily.

Not until this moment did his heart truly settle, and he relaxed considerably.

"Gulp..."

He took Fasting Pills from his Storage Bag, swallowed several in succession, and swiftly refined them using his Essence Qi Transformation gift.

A half-hour later, Zhang Yao’s blood and energy were replenished, his skin regained its luster, and even his hair grew back, looking almost unchanged from before.

"This time, it was truly perilous!"

Zhang Yao sat cross-legged, reflecting on the night’s experiences, unable to stop cold sweat from flowing.

"How did I become so arrogant? So underestimated the Cultivators, leading to neglecting caution, and bringing such calamity."

He reflected on his experiences in Qingyunfang City and realized the grave mistakes he made.

Having advanced to the pinnacle of the Martial Dao, undefeated among mortals for years, and then mixed within the small Lu Kingdom Cultivation Realm after entering the Immortal Sect, he hadn’t faced any substantial threats and lived without worry for many years.

Over time, he unconsciously became complacent, let his guard down, and subconsciously underestimated these Cultivators.

But the truth showed that these Cultivators’ depth, cunning, and tactics were far beyond what he expected.

"They live in a world of deceit and cunning, struggling for decades to centuries, none of them are simple characters."

"If luck was just a bit worse today, I wouldn’t dare imagine my outcome."

Zhang Yao didn’t need to think to know.

The Celestial Treasure Tower’s extensive mobilization, the Foundation Establishment Cultivators personally taking action, and bewildering his mind surely aren’t just to take his life.

It’s most likely to control him.

Considering he might end up manipulated by others, potentially becoming puppet-like, losing self-awareness, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but shiver.

"If it truly comes to this fate, I’d rather die early and be liberated."

He took a few deep breaths, calming his mental realm.

Having lived for two hundred years, and experienced great storms, surviving a life-and-death crisis doesn’t lead to instability, he soon regained composure.

"However, looking back, many doubts remain in this matter..."

Zhang Yao fell into contemplation, reviewing the situation from the start, gradually sensing something amiss.

If there’s an issue with the Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature, why not just seize and force him to cultivate it?

Why take such circuitous and arduous efforts to set a trap?

"Moreover, the Celestial Treasure Tower’s grand scale recruiting is itself filled with suspicious points..."

As Zhang Yao pondered, a sudden insight flashed.

"...Right, the Five Elements Wanderer!"

The Cultivation Technique Jade Scroll he obtained recorded mentions of the Five Elements Wanderer.

The record mentioned that the deeds of the Five Elements Wanderer were widely known, this Da Li’s first Golden Core Powerhouse completed the entry stage of the Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature in just ten years during his youth.

Even he would need twenty years to confidently enter, how did the Five Elements Wanderer achieve it?

"It seems the speculation by Da Li’s Golden Core Ancestors was likely true, the Five Elements Wanderer’s swift entry and smooth path to cultivating a Golden Core had hidden secrets, impossible for others to emulate."

"But what if someone got the complete inheritance of the Five Elements Wanderer or his relics?"

Starting from this point, Zhang Yao’s thoughts gradually became clear.

"The Five Elements Wanderer originally hailed from Da Li Cultivation Realm."

"If forces behind the Celestial Treasure Tower obtained his relics, it’s entirely possible."

"Their objective... is likely to select puppets to walk the path of the Five Elements Wanderer again, grooming a master who can control a Golden Core Invincible?"

As Zhang Yao considered this, more speculations surfaced:

The Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature itself should have no issue; the issue might be with the people at Celestial Treasure Tower?

They recruited large numbers of cultivators and mortals with five Spirit Roots specifically to train them in the Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature and select a successor for the Five Elements Wanderer?

The cultivation process probably requires the cultivators to voluntarily complete it to facilitate their methods, secretly controlling the Divine Soul?

Those like Qian Le, who willingly fall into the trap, are easiest to deceive; as for the coerced bottom-tier cultivators and mortals, once they arrive in Da Li, Celestial Treasure Tower’s methods should easily manage them.

Only those like him, masking his Spirit Root Attribute, likely holding big secrets, couldn’t join the Celestial Treasure Tower and needed to be avoided.

Thus, this elaborate setup and trap are intended to lure him to voluntarily cultivate the Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature, allowing Celestial Treasure Tower’s people to subtly influence and manipulate his mind.

"The Cultivation Realm has no shortage of obscure investigation magic."

"My physique and Divine Soul strength were likely inquired and discovered by Celestial Treasure Tower, hence their focus on me, even deploying Foundation Establishment Cultivators at great expense..."

Reaching this thought, Zhang Yao couldn’t help but sigh.

Though he couldn’t be certain whether these deductions pieced from clues represented the truth.

Even if it’s the truth or close to it, he has no solution to counter it.

This major loss was a wasted experience, and he’ll wait for future opportunities to reclaim it.

"Forget it, a fall into the pit, a gain in wisdom."

"This experience serves as a lesson, never underestimate anyone!"

Zhang Yao silently pondered, his thoughts churning.

If he gained any benefit this time, it was that the Scripture of All Transformations and True Nature was truly obtained.

He certainly didn’t dare carry the Cultivation Technique Jade Scroll, fearing the Foundation Establishment Cultivators had implanted tracking restrictions inside, so he left it behind.

But he memorized all its contents, which became a valuable asset.