Eternal Life Starts from Tai Chi

Chapter 197: Frenzied Output; Today, My Worldview Is Shattered

"What a beast. Look at you, nothing but skin and bones. You’ve probably got just enough strength to gnaw on a chicken’s foot. It’s clear you’re not far from death. You should skip this trip to White Jade City, lest you die on the road and become a bad omen."

Yan Jinfeng stepped out of his luxurious carriage with a sneer. He looked down the main road at a white-haired old man approaching, a sword strapped to his back. His words were venomous, with every sentence essentially a curse for the man to die an early death.

Disciples of the Celestial Sword Sect all carried Long Swords on their backs, unlike the common practice of hanging them at the waist. It was said they followed the path of the Ancient Sword Cultivators.

Carrying the Long Sword on their backs could foster a bond with the blade, creating an opportunity to develop Sword Intent.

Yang Chan had looked into this information. After learning about the Celestial Sword Sect, it had piqued his interest. He also knew basic information about many other powerful Sects, such as the Xuanqing Palace of Yu State, the Taiyi Sword Sect of Yun State, and the Celestial One Water Palace of Yan State.

This information was recorded in the Library Pavilion of the Cyan Yuan Sect’s Law Enforcement Hall. Borrowing these records didn’t cost any Contribution Points because it was considered essential knowledge that all Cyan Yuan Sect Disciples should be familiar with.

When disciples of the Cyan Yuan Sect traveled outside of Qing State, they would inevitably have dealings with disciples from other Sects. It was only natural that they needed to know about the other Sects’ methods and ways of doing things in order to respond appropriately.

"Then I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint you, Old Ghost Yan. I will most certainly outlive you. In the future, I’ll be sure to burn three sticks of incense at your grave—and I hope they burn down to two short and one long."

Luo Zhenming’s words were no less vicious. He wasn’t just cursing Yan Jinfeng, but also his entire family to a future of unrest.

As the saying goes, people fear unexpected disaster, and it is taboo for incense to burn down to two short sticks and one long one.

Two short and one long stick of incense represented incompleteness; it was an unlucky omen that foretold disaster would befall one’s family.

The two of them spoke, each more venomous than the last.

"Hmph. With that skeletal appearance of yours, you look like you’re about to drop dead any second. You won’t get the chance. And seeing as you’re all alone, there probably won’t be anyone to burn incense for you anyway."

Yan Jinfeng’s words were also filled with malice, a direct curse for the other man’s family line to be cut off.

Yang Chan watched from the side. It was the first time he had ever seen such a shouting match. The auras of two Inner Masters flared, yet they didn’t come to blows, choosing to fight with their mouths instead.

The scene reminded Yang Chan of a short video he had once seen of the legendary war of words between Zhuge Liang and Wang Situ. ’It seems they’re trying to make the other one die of anger first.’

All sorts of vicious words spewed from their mouths, making Yang Chan see Elder Yan in a new light. After all, before this, he had been an Advanced Pharmacist of the Cyan Yuan Sect, sitting in the carriage with his eyes closed in meditation, the very picture of a sagely master.

If he had been wreathed in an ethereal aura, he would have looked just like an old Immortal who had transcended the mortal world.

This current display, however, was impossible to reconcile with his previous impression.

It no longer felt like these two were figures of the Advanced Pharmacist Level, but rather like market shrews hurling insults at each other. They said whatever venomous thing came to mind, completely without restraint.

His earlier meditation with closed eyes seemed less like spiritual cultivation and more like he had been conserving his energy, all for this moment of frenzied verbal assault.

In fact, it wasn’t just Yang Chan who was surprised. Many of the escorting disciples on their first trip to White Jade City were also completely dumbfounded, obviously having never anticipated such a situation.

Yang Chan’s gaze also fell upon Ji Feng at the side, who wore an expression that said this was nothing out of the ordinary. Clearly, this wasn’t his first time seeing such a thing. His reaction confirmed to Yang Chan that Elder Yan and this Old Ghost Luo from the Celestial Sword Sect had gone at it like this many times before.

’Perhaps those previous encounters were even more spectacular than this one.’

...

That night, Yang Chan took his prepared medicine in his inn room. During the day, Elder Yan and the Advanced Pharmacist from the Celestial Sword Sect had unleashed a frenzied verbal assault, cursing at each other for nearly two hours. Throughout the entire process, they barely paused for breath. Such a feat was beyond even common market shrews.

Some people used their Inner Master Cultivation to kill, while others used it to trade insults.

For his part, Yang Chan considered it an eye-opening experience.

This was all happening on the road to White Jade City; they hadn’t even arrived yet. Yang Chan had a feeling this trip to White Jade City would be full of trouble.

Luo Zhenming of the Celestial Sword Sect was the first, but he likely wouldn’t be the last. ’I’ll probably get to see more of this grand drama unfold.’

When the time came, he would be following Elder Yan, Xu Gaocen, and the others. Although he wouldn’t be the center of attention, he’d be right next to it. His desire to keep a low profile might not be fulfilled.

Judging by Elder Yan’s behavior today, he felt that if the old man hadn’t had his fill of cursing, he might even drag Xu Gaocen, and perhaps even him, into the fray. That seemed highly possible.

Yang Chan wasn’t in the habit of keeping a journal, otherwise he would have written, ’Today, my entire worldview was shattered. So this is the true face of an Advanced Pharmacist.’

After swallowing a Lantian Jade Refining Pill, Yang Chan began practicing the Tiger Demon Bone-Refining Fist. He did not practice the Flood Dragon Demon Breath Method, because it wasn’t just Inner Master experts like Elder Yan and Elder Ji Feng nearby; there were also Inner Masters from the Celestial Sword Sect in the vicinity.

The Cyan Yuan Sect contingent had rented rooms at a public inn, whereas the Celestial Sword Sect was staying at an inn run by one of its Affiliated Forces. Here in Yu State, the Celestial Sword Sect naturally had many advantages.

With so many Inner Master experts around, Yang Chan naturally wouldn’t choose to practice the Flood Dragon Demon Breath Method. He would only practice his External Refining Cultivation Techniques. After all, in everyone’s eyes, his current External Refining Copper Skin Cultivation placed his Martial Arts Cultivation at the very bottom of the group traveling to White Jade City.

After all, the escorting Elite Disciples were all at the External Refining Steel stage, a level just slightly higher than his ’apparent’ cultivation.

After he finished absorbing the Lantian Jade Refining Pill, he took a First Revolution Nourishing Viscera Pill. He had prepared a large supply this time, enough to last him for more than two months—double what he anticipated needing. This followed the same principle as his preparation of silver coins: it was a precaution against the unexpected.

Once he reached White Jade City and entered the Pharmacist Alliance, he would have opportunities to replenish his stock. The Elixirs he currently possessed could be traded for rare medicinal ingredients, or even for the ingredients needed to refine more Elixirs.

The Elixirs he held were far more valuable than silver coins. Some rare medicinal ingredients couldn’t be bought with money, but they could be traded for Elixirs, making them true hard currency.

The First Revolution Nourishing Viscera Pill was also effective for Tempering the viscera. However, at this moment, Yang Chan had to let go of most of its Medicinal Power. He could only allow it to integrate into his body naturally, absorbing a small portion through his body’s instinctual processes while the rest simply dissipated.

This might seem wasteful to others, but to Yang Chan, nothing was wasted. The number of his Potential Points after midnight would prove that his choice was the correct one.

During his days on the road, although he hadn’t practiced the Flood Dragon Demon Breath Method, his Inner Refining Cultivation had still been steadily increasing. This was because he spent one Potential Point on it every day, an improvement that no one could possibly detect.

He used his remaining Potential Point on the Wind-Stepping Technique, and its progress was extremely rapid. Just as he hoped, it should reach Tier Four before he arrived in White Jade City.