Longevity Candle

Chapter 15: Wielding the Sword to Seek Immortality

Jiang Zhu reviewed A Yan's martial arts skills; she had already taken the Seven Star Sword Technique to a new level.

Although he had not yet reached the level of absorbing the power of the stars, he used his swordsmanship to evolve the seven stars and create the Seven Star Sword Formation.

In terms of martial arts talent, she was indeed the strongest he had ever seen.

Yan Nanxing and Yun He are no match for her.

He tried it out and used his magic to create the Seven Star Sword Formation, which actually accelerated the absorption of the essence of the sun and moon.

“This sword formation is excellent. Your talent is far superior to mine,” Jiang Zhu said. “I never imagined that the Seven Star Sword Technique could be used in this way.”

"You just don't have enough time," Ayan said. "As long as it's useful to you, I'll continue to study it."

"Are you still unmarried?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"I'm too outstanding, Jiang Zhu. With a martial artist as skilled as me, who would dare to marry me? And who could possibly catch my eye?"

Ayan said with a smile.

"Don't you find it boring to be all alone?" Jiang Zhu asked.

"Do you feel lonely when you're all alone?" Ayan asked in return.

“I won’t, because I spend most of my time in a deep sleep,” Jiang Zhu shook his head.

His slumber was too long, and his awakening too short. He used up all his time by exchanging a few words and accumulating magical power.

"I don't know either, because I spend most of my time studying martial arts." Ayan said with a smile, "You continue practicing, I'm going to continue studying martial arts."

This was the first time she had taken the initiative to end the conversation.

Perhaps it was out of guilt for deceiving him, or perhaps it was because he wanted to develop better martial arts to help Jiang Zhu.

Jiang Zhu nodded and focused on accumulating magical power.

Cultivation is a process that requires patience and perseverance.

When he returned to the Green Lamp, Ayan took out a secret manual: "Blood Burning and Mind Stabilizing Technique".

This is something she just obtained from a heretical martial arts master. It has cost her her lifespan and energy, but it has also greatly increased her true energy. Her mind will become extremely calm, her thoughts will be infinitely active, and she will enter a strange state.

This is a book of miraculous techniques, and she has already ordered people to investigate it.

“He has already seen how old I am, so what does it matter? I should still have a long lifespan, so using some of it shouldn’t be a problem.”

She resolutely opened the manual, her heart and soul burning, her lifespan dwindling, her true energy surging, more active than ever before.

Her mind was very calm, her thoughts were incredibly active, and things that she couldn't understand before, she now understood easily.

The Seven Star Sword Technique transforms into a Seven Star Sword Formation, accelerating cultivation. It can absorb the essence of the sun and moon, and it can also suppress the essence of the sun and moon.

She followed this line of thought to comprehend it, and a large number of martial arts manuals came to mind.

She wants to combine the strengths of all schools of thought and comprehend the essence of the sun and moon.

A year has passed, and her hair has turned completely white, with even more wrinkles.

With sagging skin, even the Jade Life Technique becomes difficult to maintain.

She went into seclusion to recuperate, and a subordinate came to report: "Alliance Leader, we have found a clue about the origin of the evil Taoist. He once went deep into the mountains and obtained the Blood Burning and Mind Stabilizing Technique in a cave."

"Good!" Ayan was overjoyed. "Is there any other news? Has the cave been found?"

"The cave has been found. Our men went in but never came out. They dared not go in again and are guarding outside," the subordinate said.

"Make the necessary preparations, and I'll head over now," Ayan said.

She turned her head and glanced at the green lamp surrounded by seven long swords, which was slowly gathering the essence of the sun and moon, much faster than basking in the sun or being bathed in moonlight.

This is her new version of the Seven Star Sword Formation.

She took out the booklet and wrote her story in it.

After recording everything, she left with her sword, but this time, she didn't take the green lamp with her.

Since it involves the supernatural, if I fail, the Green Lamp might fall into the hands of the supernatural.

Jiang Zhu may never wake up again.

She put on a straw hat and light veil to conceal her aged appearance.

The Qian Kingdom court, which had been keeping a close eye on her, immediately sent people to follow her when she left.

After a month-long trek through mountains and rivers, Ayan finally reached the heart of the mountains.

A narrow cave, the entrance only wide enough for one person to pass sideways.

The martial arts practitioners guarding the place rushed forward: "Alliance Leader, this cave is difficult to move by human power. We have tried many methods, but none of them can widen the cave."

“You all leave. The court officials have followed. I will meet you after I come out,” Ayan said.

"Yes."

Many martial arts masters in the Jianghu were not worried about her safety at all; she was a sword immortal of the martial world, who had fought her way in and out of armies seven times. The imperial court only dared to keep an eye on her and dared not make a move against her again.

After everyone left, Ayan drew his sword and slashed at the cave entrance.

Like slicing tofu, a piece of stone was cut off, widening the entrance to the cave.

"Merit?" Ayan realized in his heart.

Any power involving the supernatural can be stripped of one's merits!

Without the slightest hesitation, she widened the opening and rushed inside.

"She went inside."

"Why is this sword immortal here to open up the mountains?"

"Could there be some treasure inside?"

In the dense forest, a group of imperial military officers looked puzzled.

They followed Ayan here, but they never expected that she would come to open up the mountain.

"Perhaps there really is some treasure. Without a stroke of luck, how could she have cultivated her martial arts to such an inhuman level?" The leading court warrior pondered. "Let's wait and see. If she comes out unharmed, we'll retreat. If she's injured, then our chance has come."

Roar

Suddenly, a deafening roar and an angry howl echoed from inside the cave: "Mortal, how dare you harm me?"

The terrifying roar echoed through the mountains and forests, causing the ears of the imperial warriors to ring, their blood to surge, blood to seep from their mouths and noses, and those with weaker strength to faint directly.

"Retreat quickly, retreat quickly."

They retreated in horror, not knowing what was inside; its roar alone had injured them.

Inside the cave, the sounds of clashing swords and roars filled the air, causing the entire mountain to shake and countless boulders to tumble down its slopes.

The next moment, the mountain split open, and seven sword beams shot into the sky, landing in the position of the Big Dipper.

A blood-stained figure, surging with true energy, the sword of merit gleaming brightly.

Among the seven swords, a colossal figure emanated a massive black aura.

"Damn it, I have no grudge against you, why are you risking your life to deal with me?" the black mist roared.

"Lead me into the path of immortality, and grant me eternal youth and endless lifespan." Blood trickled from the corner of Ayan's mouth as her true energy surged forth.

Even mortals can harm the divine!

"You don't have the talent for immortality, so I can't do it. At most, I can restore your appearance, but it will only last for a year," the black mist said coldly.

"No talent for immortality?"

Ayan was shocked and gripped the sword tightly: "Then you can die!"

"You can't kill me. I just don't want to get hurt. I haven't even achieved immortality myself, how can I make you immortal?"

The black mist roared, "If I could do it, why would I fear you?"

Ayan fell silent, her sword momentarily halting in her hand: "You can't live forever either?"

"No, at most I can extend your appearance by three years, but I cannot extend your lifespan. If I extend the life of a mortal, I will surely be punished by the heavens. I would rather take your sword." The black mist said coldly.

If any other mortal dared to offend him in this way, even if he were killed, there would be no karmic retribution.

But Ah Yan, who was standing in front of him, was holding the Sword of Merit and had activated the Blood Burning and Mind Stabilizing Technique. The Seven Star Sword Formation was gathering the power of the sun and moon, and Ah Yan was unable to escape for the time being.

He simply couldn't imagine how an ordinary person could do that.

Isn't the light of the sun and moon something that only immortal beings can control?
“If you wish to prolong your life, there is another way to avoid divine retribution, but not now,” the black mist said.

"What method?" Ayan asked.

"If you seek out longevity spirits, I can teach you a way to avoid karma. As for whether your body can withstand that, I don't know," the black mist said.

"You speak."

The court officials in the distance were already terrified. The surging, billowing mist revealed what appeared to be a giant centipede.

Could those cracked mountain peaks really have been created by human hands?

After an unknown amount of time, Ayan walked out of the mountain alone, transforming into a black shadow and heading into the distance.

The black mist gave the court officials a cold look before disappearing into the deep mountains.

"Strange, monster..."

Terrified screams rang out, and the court officials dared not linger any longer, scrambling away in a panic.

In the distant mountains and forests, the martial arts practitioners did not wait for Ayan.

(End of this chapter)