The Path to Immortality: Mastery of All Arts Chapter Four: True Enemies

After locking the door and thoroughly checking the room to ensure everything was in order, Li Feng took out the storage pouch.

The pouch was exquisitely crafted, with a three-dimensional character for “Crane” embossed on the front, and on the back, an intricately embroidered celestial crane radiating spiritual energy.

Opening the pouch, he found inside a cultivation manual and a transparent jade vial.

In addition, there were twenty low-grade spirit stones and a notebook that the young cultivator had once desperately tried to burn.

Along the journey, Li Feng had already claimed the pouch as his own, but in the midst of fleeing, he hadn’t had the time to carefully examine its contents.

Now that he was finally settled, he was eager to study it thoroughly.

The transparent jade vial’s purpose remained unclear for the moment, so Li Feng decisively ignored it.

Curiosity piqued, he gently flipped open the notebook.

If the young cultivator had risked life and limb to destroy this, it must be incredibly valuable—perhaps a spellbook for the Qi Refinement stage.

Yet, as Li Feng carefully read, the contents shocked him.

“Damn, a secret love diary, and it’s about his own master’s wife. No wonder he was willing to die to destroy it.”

The diary began:

“Celestial Year 31,533, June 12, Clear.

I joined the Tianhe Sect with a medium talent for dual spirit roots. The first time I saw my master’s wife while choosing my sect, I was captivated by her graceful figure.

She stirred my blood and restless emotions. Without hesitation, I immediately became a disciple under my master.”

“Celestial Year 31,533, June 22, Rainy.

My master instructed me in cultivation and had the master’s wife oversee me. Then I secluded myself for three months. I knew my opportunity had come.”

...

“Celestial Year 31,533, September 14, Overcast.

The master’s wife lay in my arms, telling me that master would soon emerge from seclusion and that we must restrain our relationship.

The thought of never sharing intimate moments again filled me with sorrow. I wish master would perish soon so I could fulfill my filial duties.”

“Celestial Year 31,534, February 2, Clear.

The sect ancestor has lingered at the peak of the Golden Core stage for years without progress. His lifespan is limited. To seek a breakthrough, he has decided to gather 999 samples of Yin female essence blood to refine a fourth-grade Yin Blood Pill to shatter the Nascent Soul barrier.”

“Celestial Year 31,534, February 6, Overcast.

Master has begun to suspect the relationship between the master’s wife and me. To avoid exposing our secret, I volunteered to descend the mountain in search of Yin female essence blood.”

“Celestial Year 31,534, March 3, Clear.

With my Qi Refinement First Layer strength, I succeed effortlessly in the mortal world. Those so-called martial arts masters cannot withstand even one of my strikes.”

“Celestial Year 31,534, April 16, Clear.

My uncle lives in Qingfeng Town. My arrival greatly pleases them. They want me to recruit my cousin into the Tianhe Sect as a cultivator. I gladly agreed.

There is a maid named Li Lan in the Liu residence, possessing Yin blood constitution. Since descending the mountain, at last I have had a success.

I disclosed my purpose to my uncle’s family, and they willingly handed over the maid.”

Li Feng abruptly rose from beside the bed upon seeing the familiar and piercing name Li Lan.

He had long believed his sister was killed by the young master of the Liu family, yet the true culprit was this young cultivator and the Tianhe Sect behind him.

He struggled to suppress the flood of emotions within.

But ultimately, he could not hold back and angrily hurled the notebook to the ground.

After two hours of composure, he gradually calmed.

Exhaling deeply, Li Feng picked up the notebook and continued reading.

“The maid was delicate and pretty, but fiery-tempered. For some reason, the more fiercely she struggled, the more excited I became.

I gradually became addicted to the despairing posture of mortals; they are born to please me.

Before dying, the maid declared that her brother would avenge her.

Such ignorant words are amusing and brought me joy all day.

She didn’t know that mortals are as worthless as ants in the eyes of cultivators.

Refining the maid’s essence blood took me a full six months. When the sect ancestor learned of my success, he ordered me to return quickly.

According to sect rules, one vial of Yin blood grants two mid-grade spirit stones as reward, plus the sect ancestor’s teachings of Foundation Establishment spells. A bright future awaits me!”

The diary abruptly ended here.

Li Feng felt a stabbing pain in his chest, his breathing labored, his mind reeling.

He finally understood what the red liquid in the jade vial was.

It was his sister’s essence blood!

He forced himself to stabilize his emotions.

With his current strength, avenging his sister was unrealistic.

He must do everything possible to become stronger.

“System, why didn’t Madam Jin appear in the previous simulation content?”

[Host arrived at Anhe City three days earlier than in the simulation, causing deviations in the storyline.]

Li Feng was startled. “How many years of lifespan do I still have?”

The system displayed his personal information.

Name: Li Feng

Age: 19

Spirit Roots: Ten roots (Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, Earth, Wind, Thunder, Ice, Yin, Yang)

Cultivation: Qi Refinement, Second Layer

Manual: Crane Origin Technique (Qi Refinement stage technique)

Lifespan: 5.8 years

“System, is my spirit root really this mixed?”

Li Feng frowned, worry stirring.

In the Celestial Spirit Continent, the fewer and purer the spirit roots, the greater the potential for cultivation.

More than three types of spirit roots are considered false roots, or simply impure roots.

Cultivation sects rarely accept disciples with more than three spirit roots.

A cultivator like Li Feng, possessing ten spirit roots, was even rarer than finding gold in dung.

To advance on the cultivation path, the resources he would need would be extraordinarily immense.

The system was silent, seemingly disdainful of his talent.

Li Feng understood that only by becoming an alchemist could he find a glimmer of hope.

“Begin simulation!”

[This simulation consumes 1.2 years of lifespan; remaining lifespan: 4.6 years.]

[Simulation in progress…]

[At nineteen, you became the top technician at the Jade Beauty Hall.]

[You spent half a year deepening your relationship with Madam Jin, but your actions angered Tie Hamu, leader of the Red Mist Gang.]

[The Red Mist Gang serves the government, notorious for extortion and oppression of the common folk.]

[Tie Hamu has an ambiguous relationship with Madam Jin to curry favor with her husband, Jin Yanzi. Your appearance disrupted his plans.]

[Tie Hamu sent men to capture and silence you, but you seized the opportunity to kill him and installed the gang’s second-in-command as a puppet leader.]

[Using the Red Mist Gang’s power, you scour Anhe City for all books related to alchemy, studying frantically.]

[At twenty, Madam Jin recommended you to her alchemist husband, Jin Yanzi, as a pill disciple.]

[Jin Yanzi, at the Foundation Establishment stage, easily discovered your identity as a Qi Refinement Second Layer cultivator, suspected your ulterior motives, and mercilessly killed both you and Madam Jin.]

[You died!]

[Simulation ended. You may retain one of the following:]

[Your cultivation level at twenty.]

[Your cultivation combat experience at twenty.]

[Your massage experience at twenty.]

[Your alchemy experience at twenty.]

Li Feng sighed deeply and decisively chose the alchemy experience at twenty.

Immediately, a vast wealth of pharmacological knowledge imprinted itself in his mind.