The Post Sky Tipping Era
Chapter 596 - 425: The Value of the Life Extending Pill

Chapter 596: Chapter 425: The Value of the Life Extending Pill

Everyone displayed expressions of shock. Even the other Taoist nuns of the Heavenly Fragrance Building widened their eyes in disbelief, unable to fathom that Master Aunt Xiang Xiangzi would use the Transplanting Flower and Wood Daoist Skill to bestow her most precious Primordial Spirit Flower upon a man she had never even met before. This act essentially meant entrusting her very life to him.

If he chose to nurture her Primordial Spirit Flower, she could potentially regain her peak cultivation. However, if he decided to absorb the Primordial Spirit Flower, all her years of cultivation insights would be gifted to him, and she herself would perish, reduced to fragrant ashes.

Although the mere utterance of the name Taiyi could invoke a cosmic opportunity...

She gambled her life for something so insubstantial. Such boldness was nothing short of extraordinary.

However, the moment Xiang Xiangzi handed over her Primordial Spirit Flower, her vitality instantly weakened. Even during her peak period, cutting off a Primordial Spirit Flower would severely damage her foundation, drastically diminish her cultivation, and render the Great Dao unattainable. In this End of Dharma era, as a cultivator, Xiang Xiangzi had already suffered a severe fall in her realm, reduced to the status of a mortal. With such devastation now dealt further upon her, it seemed inevitable...

At this moment, Xiang Xiangzi’s body began to wither rapidly, resembling a dying flower. Her former beauty could no longer be maintained. Within mere moments, she began to age. Her once smooth and alabaster skin turned dull, wrinkles emerged, liver spots blossomed, and her jet-black hair turned white.

Her voluptuous figure shrank and shriveled, aging decades in the blink of an eye.

Moreover, her life force began to wane.

"This is not good. Xiang Xiangzi is about to pass away," Tu Daoist exclaimed urgently.

"Forcing out her Primordial Spirit Flower has crushed her remaining thread of life. Passing away is inevitable. These days are not like before. We used to be able to scrape away the Three Flowers at the top and shut off the Five Qi within the chest while still remaining full of vigor. In this era, simply staying alive is already commendable," Wu the Taoist sighed wistfully.

Xiang Xiangzi simply smiled and waved her hand dismissively. "It’s alright. I’ve endured for many years, waiting for this exact opportunity. Even if it results in my death and the dissolution of my Dao, at least it’s a choice I made myself. It’s better than dying alone in despair."

As she spoke, she flicked her Daoist robe, and the Spirit Stone in her hand crumbled into powder, cascading to the ground.

Without this Spirit Stone, she wouldn’t even have been able to execute her Daoist skill.

"Ah, that’s true. Betting on reincarnation and the hope of returning to the Primordial Spirit to rebuild the Great Dao is better than sitting idly, slowly turning into a handful of dirt," Tu Daoist eventually came to terms with it, sighing deeply. "It’s just a pity I will no longer get to see Xiang Xiangzi play the qin. Another regret added to the path of life."

"Old friends are like autumn leaves, falling one by one," Wu the Taoist couldn’t help but wipe away tears, thinking of the many brothers and disciples who had passed in the past.

Nun Liu, being a woman herself, wore a darkened expression. She lamented inwardly how none of them ever wanted to witness youth fading and beauty changing. But bearing the responsibility of preserving the Three Flowers Sect meant she could not allow herself to die. She couldn’t afford it. If this old nun were to perish, the Three Flowers Sect would be utterly finished, leaving her unable to face the painstaking guidance of their masters and elders or the earnest exhortations made on their deathbeds.

Everyone has their difficulties.

In this End of Dharma era, no one had it easy.

"Hosting a meal should have been a joyful occasion—how did it turn into a farewell banquet? You people here are all strange, constantly speaking of death—it’s completely baffling," Li Yi muttered after regaining his clarity. Seeing a once-voluptuous and beautiful Daoist nun rapidly age and approach death left him troubled.

Just now, Tu Daoist was the same.

Never mind, someone had to step in, and he was always a straightforward man.

Without hesitation, he seized Xiang Xiangzi’s withered hand and performed the Guiding Skill, channeling the universal cosmic energy within his body directly into hers.

Though Li Yi was only at the Soul Realm, his physical strength was unparalleled due to his evolved body. Every cell within him brimmed with cosmic energy. If he could fully utilize this energy and convert it into Mana, his power would surpass that of Golden Core cultivators and rival even Nascent Soul cultivators.

Unfortunately, earthlings lacked cultivation methods, leaving their potential untapped and making them defenseless against attacks.

With the influx of Spiritual Energy, Xiang Xiangzi’s rapid aging slowed considerably, but it remained futile—her life force continued to fade.

"Taiyi, don’t waste your efforts. My time has come. Please take good care of my Primordial Spirit Flower in the future. Should Taiyi reach success in cultivation one day, perhaps we will meet again," Xiang Xiangzi smiled weakly. From his willingness to save her, it was clear to her that she hadn’t entrusted her Primordial Spirit Flower to the wrong person.

If he were heartless or unkind, he would not bother inviting Tu Daoist and the others for a meal at the Heavenly Fragrance Building.

This seemingly impulsive decision was, in reality, carefully considered.

"If Spiritual Energy doesn’t work, let’s try this instead."

Li Yi spoke decisively as he retrieved a white elixir, its surface radiating a faint glow and brimming with potent life force.

It was a Life Extending Pill, procured from the Four Seas and Eight Continents.

One pill could extend a person’s life by a hundred years.

For top-tier cultivators, the pill’s effectiveness would undoubtedly diminish; it couldn’t extend their life by a full century. But in the End of Dharma era, it was invaluable, perfectly suited for cultivators whose realms had fallen and who had been reduced to mortal status. For them, the Four Seas and Eight Continents’ Life Extending Pill was nothing short of ideal.

"Eat it." Li Yi didn’t give Xiang Xiangzi a chance to respond. He directly placed the pill into her mouth and used Jin Qi to shatter it.

As the life essence contained within the pill dispersed...

A miraculous scene unfolded.

The candle-like flame of Xiang Xiangzi’s nearly extinguished life flared up again. Her aged, frail body began to regain its youth and vitality at a visible pace, and as Li Yi infused her with Spiritual Energy, her body radiated light, purging the turbid air from within. She was once again vibrant.

Xiang Xiangzi, who had resigned herself to death, now found herself astonished by the transformation, her eyes widening in disbelief.

Though her realm remained heavily diminished, her physical form was now rejuvenated.

"Saved? Revived? Unbelievable. Unbelievable. What was that elixir that can defy life and death, bringing someone back from the brink of passing?" Tu Daoist exclaimed in shock.

"Ignorant Tu Daoist, your Daoqi Sect spends all its time crafting artifacts around the Qiankun Tripod and Heaven and Earth Furnace while neglecting the study of elixirs. The pill in Taiyi’s hand must undoubtedly be a Treasure Pill for extension of life—only such a pill could renew life itself for one nearing death," Nun Liu interjected. However, inside, her heart churned with turmoil.

A Life Extending Pill—given so casually to an almost-dying Daoist nun?

If this pill were brought to the Tao Court, countless sects would likely offer everything they owned in exchange for it.

A Life Extending Pill in this End of Dharma era?

Wu the Taoist’s lips quivered with emotion. "A Life Extending Pill was a treasure even at the height of the Tao Court. Now, in the End of Dharma, a single remaining pill can drive people mad. Earlier, Tu Daoist was willing to sell the inheriting Dao Artifact, the Qiankun Tripod, for a few Spirit Stones. But if he had this Life Extending Pill, even the most well-maintained Divine Artifact would likely be sold off."

After all, living was paramount. Once dead, everything ceases.

Cultivation itself is in pursuit of longevity—immortality.

Power is merely a means to achieve this end.

"Alive at last." Li Yi finally exhaled in relief, releasing Xiang Xiangzi’s hand and cutting off the cosmic energy flowing from his body.

He came here to cultivate, yet somehow ended up becoming a savior for those in despair.

"I feel I can live for another hundred years."

Xiang Xiangzi closed her eyes and took a deep breath, feeling her body vibrant with life, her age-old decay swept away. Such vitality—she hadn’t felt it in years, not since she first began cultivation.

Though the Three Flowers remained gone, and the Five Qi sealed, her realm stripped, experiencing youth again in this End of Dharma era was an immense blessing.

As she reopened her eyes, her gaze became fixed on Li Yi, her beautiful eyes unwaveringly following him.

Having gone through this ordeal, she was entirely convinced that Taiyi’s appearance symbolized the last stroke of destiny left in the Tao Court. The question now was which fortunate individual within the Tao Court would seize this opportunity.

Contemplating this...

Xiang Xiangzi couldn’t help but smile. She knew she had won her gamble.

The Transplanting Flower and Wood Daoist Skill could only be used on one person.

With Taiyi having accepted her Primordial Spirit Flower, unless he personally eradicated it, he would never be able to receive another.

"Miss, could we please calmly enjoy a meal? I still have many questions about cultivation I wish to ask the seniors here," Li Yi said helplessly. He felt that if he continued helping people like this, he might end up with an aura of karmic merit behind his head.

"Taiyi, it’s no problem. I’ll cook for you right now. From now on, anytime Taiyi wishes to dine, you are welcome at the Heavenly Fragrance Building—I’ll cover the bill," Xiang Xiangzi said in a sultry tone, her voluptuous figure unconsciously leaning closer. Her now-restored pristine hands lightly pointed at Li Yi.

But soon...

Xiang Xiangzi winced in pain and quickly retracted her hand.

A bead of blood appeared.

"Miss, it seems my armor doesn’t like being touched," Li Yi remarked.

Xiang Xiangzi gazed at the leather armor he wore, its scales appearing to writhe like living entities. At a glance, it seemed as though a Jiao Long was coiled around his body, guarding him completely.

"Living?" Only now did everyone focus on the armor Li Yi was wearing.

"This refining method... I didn’t realize it earlier," Tu Daoist exclaimed as he approached, eyes wide with curiosity as he examined the armor. Though it appeared crude and barbaric, it fully utilized every aspect of the Jiao Long’s value. The scales remained pristine, sealing the Jiao Long’s spirit within.

After prolonged wear, infused by the aura of its wielder, the armor seemed like a second skin—capable of self-repair and continuously maintaining its peak condition.

Upon closer inspection, Tu Daoist grew emotional and began weeping again.

"Had we been in the era before the End of Dharma, the Daoqi Sect would have gained another refining technique upon seeing this armor. But now, all I can do is admire it," he sobbed, reaching out to embrace a nearby beautiful Taoist nun, seeking comfort.

"You shameless bald donkey! Trying to take advantage of me, huh? Get lost!" The beautiful Taoist nun instantly erupted in fury, delivering a vicious kick that nearly turned Tu Daoist into He Daoist.

Xiang Xiangzi cast a cold glance in disdain, looking at Tu Daoist as though he were trash, without the slightest shred of pity.

However, when she turned towards Li Yi, her eyes shimmered with affection, her expression radiant—a look full of charm and allure.

"These people seem a little mentally unstable," Li Yi couldn’t help but think as this peculiar thought bubbled to the forefront of his mind.