Eternal Life: I Can Control My Essence Qi-Chapter 114 - 109: Lu Kingdom Border

Half a month after leaving Li Kingdom.

Zhang Yao traveled north all the way, crossing seven desolate zones and spanning tens of thousands of miles, finally reaching Lu Kingdom.

To the north of Lu Kingdom, after crossing another vast desolate zone, lies the cultivation paradise that everyone in the Southwest Countries yearns for—the Da Li Cultivation Realm.

However, the final part of this journey is not easy, full of dangers.

At this moment, on the northern border of Lu Kingdom, within a canyon:

The cliffs on both sides of the canyon are densely packed with large and small caves, with escape lights darting back and forth, bustling with activity.

In the central area of the canyon, many cultivators were strolling and browsing among the stalls, forming a rather unofficial marketplace of considerable scale.

"This Lu Kingdom border area is really chaotic..."

In white attire, Zhang Yao mingled with the crowd, observing in the border canyon’s marketplace.

The desolate zone to the north of Lu Kingdom is thousands of miles wide, even a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator finds it difficult to traverse it in one go relying solely on their magical power.

Vast roads and difficult magical passage aside,

the main danger lies in the large groups of tribulation cultivator gangs lurking on the edge, ready to act at any moment.

Killing people and seizing treasures is the quickest path to wealth.

These tribulation cult groups are very complex, some from Da Li; others from the Southwest Countries; often mingled with demon cultivators and evil cultivators.

They consider those cultivators from the Southwest Countries who yearn for Da Li and attempt to cross the desolate zone northward as prey, like tumors blocking the inevitable route north.

"In the desolate zone, spiritual qi is nearly depleted, making any fluctuation in spiritual qi exceptionally conspicuous, like a torch in the night."

"If one travels alone, it’s easy to become a live target, constantly watched by the tribulation cultivators..."

Zhang Yao thought of this, and couldn’t help looking up towards the highest point of the canyon.

There stood a majestic building established for many years, a special branch of the Celestial Treasure Tower, manned year-round by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

In the Lu Kingdom border, there are usually only two ways to cross the desolate zone—

First, wait for a large group of Qi Refining cultivators to gather, act collectively, and travel north together, using sheer numbers to counter the powerful tribulation groups;

Second, pay a high fee of spirit stones, wait at the branch of the Celestial Treasure Tower until ten people gather, then unify under the escort of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Forget it, better not complicate matters."

Zhang Yao shook his head secretly, withdrawing his gaze.

Hiring a Foundation Establishment cultivator for escort requires a thousand spirit stones per slot, and most Qi Refining cultivators don’t have such a reserve of spirit stones.

Although Zhang Yao is wealthy, he does not intend to hire a Foundation Establishment cultivator for escort.

With his current strength, he confidently believes he can cross the desolate zone alone, and the first method is almost a sure thing.

Besides, unless absolutely necessary, he doesn’t intend to deal with Foundation Establishment cultivators before advancing to the Foundation Establishment Stage himself.

"In three days, a new northbound team is set to depart!"

On one side of the canyon, beneath a flag, several cultivators were loudly announcing:

"To aspiring participants, make haste!"

"Currently, over one hundred and thirty fellow cultivators have joined..."

Amidst the noisy clamor, many Qi Refining cultivators crowded over, choosing to join.

The border area of Lu Kingdom continuously draws Qi Refining cultivators from all over, mostly loose cultivators, but also often with family and followers.

Often within two or three months, a group of one to two hundred can gather, setting off to cross the desolate zone northward.

"Count me in!"

Zhang Yao also came under the flag, signing up for the team departing in three days under the alias ’Zhang Qing’.

"Fellow Daoist, don’t forget, gather in three days!"

After recording Zhang Yao’s name and appearance, those cultivators reminded him.

"Mm."

Zhang Yao nodded slightly and turned to leave.

"Fellow Daoist, wait!"

He hadn’t walked a few steps when someone called out to him.

His heart tightened slightly as he turned back, seeing a middle-aged beautiful woman dressed in a blue palace dress, with a graceful figure.

Judging from her aura, she was clearly a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist."

Zhang Yao politely greeted and spoke:

"I wonder why Fellow Daoist has suddenly stopped me, what is your intention?"

"Forgive my abruptness, I hope Fellow Daoist won’t mind."

The woman in the palace dress returned the courtesy gracefully and tentatively asked:

"Could we speak privately?"

"...Alright."

Zhang Yao hesitated slightly, but then nodded in agreement.

Anyway, it’s within the boundary of the canyon, she can’t openly act without reason, or she’d face collective attack.

"This Fellow Daoist."

The two arrived at a corner of the canyon, where the woman in the palace dress warmly said:

"If I’m not mistaken, Fellow Daoist should also be a Qi Refining Perfection cultivator?"

Zhang Yao didn’t change his expression, nodding:

"Correct."

With his current magical power, unless under scrutiny from a Foundation Establishment’s divine sense, no one in the Qi Refining Stage could detect his true realm.

The woman’s inability to discern his depth was a common mistake.

"That’s right then."

The woman in the palace dress smiled slightly and said:

"I forgot to introduce myself; I am Chen Qingju, a loose cultivator from Tao Kingdom."

"The reason for my sudden intrusion is seeing Fellow Daoist signing up for the northbound team in three days, I wish to form an alliance."

"An alliance?"

Zhang Yao raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised:

"I’ve heard that the success rate of the previous northbound teams crossing the desolate zone is as high as seventy to eighty percent."

"There’s no need for you to seek an alliance with me given your Qi Refining Perfection cultivation, is there?"

As they say, one must be on guard against others.

Many loose cultivators converge at the Lu Kingdom border, and no one knows each other; who would rashly bother someone else?

Coordinating with strangers might be even more dangerous.

Chen Qingju’s sudden approach instinctively made him defensive.

"You are unaware, Fellow Daoist."

Chen Qingju shook her head, her face showing a trace of seriousness:

"The so-called seventy to eighty percent rate is rumors from years ago; actually, the current success rate is only about fifty to sixty percent."

"In recent years, the number of tribulation cultivator gangs at the Da Li border has increased, making this journey increasingly perilous."

"Last time, even Qi Refining Perfection cultivators faced fatalities; how could I dare to be careless?"

"This..."

Zhang Yao frowned slightly and inquired:

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Chen knows the reason behind this?"

As far as he knew, many tribulation group leaders were merely Qi Refining Perfection cultivators.

And while the northbound teams seem powerful due to sheer numbers, they are merely assembled for numbers.

Nobody knows each other, no trust exists, and encountering danger might just scatter them, leaving each to their own fate.

To put it bluntly—

I only need to run faster than my companions, not faster than the tribulation cultivators.

In such scenarios, even Qi Refining Perfection cultivators rarely face fatal encounters, perhaps once in decades or a century.

"I do know a bit of insider information..."