Hide in the world of gods and demons

Chapter 113 Two Hundredth Birthday

Since arriving in Luanluo City, Chen Li has always kept a low profile and acted cautiously, avoiding any conflicts whenever possible and never revealing his strength in front of others, living a peaceful and stable life.

He spent the entire summer in a state of daily asceticism.

no pain no gain.

Aside from mastering the finger flick of spiritual power, he has finally reached the master level in some spells, and not just one.

First came the rebuke and flash spells, low-level spells that reached the master level, followed by palm lightning and pull spells. As for the protective and wind-controlling spells, although they haven't reached the master level yet, the progress is quite gratifying, both advancing to the master level.

In just one summer, his strength had completely changed.

……

In the underground training room.

A terrifying traction field filled the entire space.

At this moment, Chen Li was enveloped in a solid protective shield, moving like a phantom at high speed, his movements not confined to the ground. Walls and ceilings were all places where his figure flashed by.

Under the traction field, his every move seemed to be in harmony with the power of heaven and earth, and both his speed and attack power were greatly amplified.

Chen Li suddenly drew his sword.

The sword light flashed like a startled swan.

Although Chen Li was more than ten meters away from the wall, far beyond the range of the sword energy, the wall still seemed to have been slashed by an invisible blade, leaving a bottomless cut.

“A talisman-based protective shield would probably shatter with a single blow under the pull spell. Even a golden talisman probably wouldn’t last long.” Chen Li paused, lost in thought.

The power of a master-level traction spell is comparable to a first-tier level eight spell, while the protective shield in the talisman version is equivalent to a first-tier level six spell. Even if the traction spell is not a purely offensive spell, its power is still beyond what a first-tier level six spell can withstand.

"Plus, with a master-level protective spell that's practically a ninth-tier technique, I could even get a run into a Foundation Establishment cultivator!" Chen Li clenched his fist tightly, and the air crackled slightly.

The entire training room shook, and gravel fell in a flurry.

"Now I finally feel a little safer and can barely establish myself in Luanluo City."

Chen Li was in a good mood.

"Dinner's ready!" Zhou Hong's voice came from outside.

"Come right away!"

Chen dispelled the traction and protective techniques, left the training room, and walked to the entrance of the passage.

With a light leap, he reached out and grabbed a protrusion on the rock wall, using both hands and feet, and in the blink of an eye, he had flipped over and was outside.

Chen Li washed up and had just sat down at the table when Zhou Hong handed him an invitation: "It's from the Yu family, inviting you to the Yu family patriarch's 200th birthday celebration. The person who delivered it left immediately."

Two hundred years of birthday celebration.

They're really good at surviving.

Chen Li opened the invitation and found it was for next month.

About two weeks later.

"Are you going?" Zhou Hong prepared a meal for Chen Lisheng and placed it in front of him.

"I definitely have to go. They've already sent me an invitation, so it's not right or wrong to refuse!" Chen Li glanced at it, then put the invitation in his storage bag, picked up his chopsticks, and started eating.

"Alas, two hundred years of birthday celebration, this is almost the end of his life," Zhou Hong sighed.

"You're just a Qi Refining cultivator, yet you're pitying a Foundation Establishment cultivator!" Chen Li mocked. "How many people can live to be two hundred years old and still live a life of luxury and extravagance? No matter how you look at it, this life is worthwhile. If you just hang in there a little longer, you might live another ten or twenty years."

"If it really comes to that, who would feel that their life was worthwhile!"

“That’s true.” Chen Li paused, thought for a moment, and said.

If I were the patriarch of the Yu family, feeling that my days were numbered and death was approaching, even if I spoke calmly, I would probably still feel resentful.

Who in their right mind would feel like they've had enough of life?

Thinking about being two hundred when you're one hundred.

At two hundred years old, he still longed for immortality.

Human desires are never satisfied.

……

Half a month passed quickly.

Early in the morning, Chen Li got up to wash and prepare for the sunrise before heading to the Yu family patriarch's two-hundredth birthday celebration.

The gates of the Yu residence were wide open.

Lanterns hung high, red ribbons paved the road, and people came and went, creating a lively scene.

After Chen Li announced his name, he presented a high-grade magic artifact as a gift along with an invitation. Immediately, a member of the Yu family led Chen Li to the main hall and invited him to take a seat. The Yu family patriarch had not yet appeared, and the main table remained empty.

The hall was filled with distinguished guests, and the atmosphere was bustling with activity.

Everyone was laughing and chatting, calling out to friends and acquaintances.

Yu Fanzhen and several important members of the Yu family did not show up, which clearly indicates that there are other arrangements.

Some scantily clad dancers had already begun dancing in front of the seats, creating a lively and festive scene.

Chen Li looked at one of the dancers.

He was shocked to discover that it was his neighbor, Sun Yu.

Sun Yu had obviously noticed Chen Li as well, and her face showed some surprise.

"Are all the female cultivators in the brothels of this world so talented?" Chen Li wondered to himself.

He simply began to admire the dancer's graceful movements.

Guests kept arriving, and dishes made from various rare and precious ingredients were served in a continuous stream. It wasn't until almost noon that the Yu family patriarch finally made his appearance.

Perhaps it was because he was in high spirits, but he looked like a man with white hair and a youthful face, and was in much better spirits than when they had met before. He didn't look like he was already two hundred years old at all.

He smiled, cupped his hands in a respectful bow, said some polite words, then picked up his wine glass and drank it all in one gulp, instantly making the atmosphere even more lively. Guests came forward one after another to raise their glasses in congratulations, which the Yu family patriarch accepted with a smile, this time only taking a small sip to moisten his lips.

……

"Wang Xu from the Wang family has arrived!"

……

"Liu Honghui from the Liu family has arrived!"

……

"Xu An Ding of the Xu family has arrived!"

……

"Zhou Xutang of the Zhou family has arrived!"

……

"Xu Renchun from the Xu family has arrived!"

……

"Wen Jianwei of the Longevity Sect has arrived!"

……

As time went on, truly distinguished guests arrived one after another.

The Yu family patriarch personally came out to greet them one by one, with a beaming smile.

"All six Foundation Establishment families have arrived, even the Longevity Sect has sent people!" Chen Li thought to himself, secretly observing them. Wang Xu, the patriarch of the Wang family, and Xu Renchun, the patriarch of the Xu family, also looked quite old, but were much younger than the patriarch of the Yu family.

The rest all looked middle-aged.

“Xu Anding…isn’t this the person the Zhou family patriarch wanted to see at the restaurant last time?” Chen Li noticed that this Foundation Establishment cultivator looked vaguely familiar, and after thinking about it carefully, he remembered.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator with an unpleasant expression that I encountered when I visited the Yu family patriarch a year ago was this person.

Wen Jianwei of the Longevity Sect looked to be in his forties or fifties, with a cheerful round face, small eyes, and a constant smile. He was inconspicuous among the Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet he was subtly at the center of attention.

The entire birthday celebration was filled with a harmonious atmosphere, with everyone chatting and laughing.

At least Chen Li couldn't see any open or covert struggles among the Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After several rounds of drinks and dishes, the banquet was in its latter half. The patriarch of the Yu family got up and toasted each table. Soon he came to Chen Li's table, and everyone stood up to offer their congratulations.

The Yu family patriarch smiled and drank the cup in one gulp, then looked at Chen Li and said, "Young friend Chen, it's been a long time since you've visited the Yu family."

Chen Li quickly put down his wine cup, cupped his hands in greeting, and said, "I have often thought of visiting you, but I am afraid of disturbing you..."

"What do you mean by 'causing trouble'!" The Yu family patriarch waved his hand: "I don't have so many rules here. We'll have to keep in touch more often in the future."

"I am deeply grateful for your high regard, senior. I will remember it!" Chen Li said helplessly.

Everyone couldn't help but turn their heads.

Even the table where Foundation Establishment cultivators were sitting looked over.

Wen Jianwei chuckled and called over a Yu family cultivator who was serving on the side: "Who is this young hero who has caught the eye of your ancestor?"

"Reporting to senior, this person's surname is Chen, given name Wen, and he is a cultivator from Green River Workshop. I know nothing else about him," the Yu family cultivator replied respectfully, not daring to be negligent.

Since killing Qiao Guanyuan, Chen Li has been using the alias Chen Wen.

Nowadays, in the entire city of Luanluo, apart from Zhou Hong, outsiders only know him as Chen Wen, but no one knows his real name.

Green River Workshop! Upon hearing this, Zhou Xutang frowned slightly, a thought flashing through his mind, before he chuckled to himself, realizing he was indeed being a bit paranoid.

How could a mere Qi Refining cultivator possess such strength?

I won't mention killing Zhou Dongbo.

The second time, he killed seven family cultivators in an instant, including one at the eighth level of Qi Refining, and died without even seeing the murderer's face. This was something that a Qi Refining cultivator could not do.

But if it's for building a foundation.

Who could it be? There are too many suspects!
He sighed inwardly.

It's been almost half a year already.

Although he had been investigating secretly.

But so far there are still no useful clues, and the whole incident seems to be shrouded in mystery.

"I never expected that such a remote place as Green River Village would have such a talented individual." Xu Renchun glanced at Zhou Xutang and said with a smile, "No wonder Fellow Daoist Zhou searched the entire city for the people of Green River Village back then. By the way, did you find the murderer?"

Zhou Xutang's face darkened, but he was not one to be trifled with a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. He snorted inwardly and replied in a neither soft nor hard tone, "That's none of Fellow Daoist Xu's concern!"

“Look at this, what kind of talk is this? I was just trying to be helpful,” Xu Renchun said.

"Is this concern or schadenfreude?" Xu Anding said with a laugh.

Seeing that the atmosphere was not right, Wen Jianwei immediately smoothed things over, and the atmosphere quickly became harmonious again.

On Chen Li's side, as soon as the Yu family patriarch left, the attitude of the cultivators at the same table and nearby immediately became enthusiastic. He had no choice but to drink quite a lot of wine. After the party, even Chen Li, with his physique, was a little drunk.

……

"Why did you drink so much? You never drink alcohol." Zhou Hong helped Chen Li into the room, made him a cup of tea, and handed it to him.

"You can't refuse a toast offered by someone out of kindness. In life, things can't always go your way."

Chen Li wasn't actually that unhappy. In just three years, he went from the third level of Qi Refining to the eighth level. He went from living in fear every day to barely being able to stand on his own two feet. He had enough money, a wife, and the prospect of Foundation Establishment and longevity was within reach.

Compared to his previous life, he is undoubtedly doing a hundred times better in this life.

After finishing his tea, Chen Li was mostly sober. He carefully recalled the expression and reaction of Zhou Xutang, the patriarch of the Zhou family, during the meal. Soon, his brows relaxed, as the other party had not shown any unusual reaction from beginning to end.

They probably didn't suspect themselves.

(End of this chapter)