Entering the Path of Immortality, Mastering a Hundred Arts: Chapter Thirty-Three - Cultivating Cui Cui (Seeking Collections)

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【At thirty-five, with the cultivation resources gifted by Lei Peng, you broke through to the ninth level of Qi Condensation.】

【Your lifespan increased by four years.】

【You became increasingly proficient in alchemy, talisman-making, puppetry, and formations, yet you were unable to advance any further.】

【At forty, you stormed the Skyward Crane Sect and slaughtered nearly half its members.】

【More than a dozen Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Skyward Crane Sect fell by your hand.】

【At the critical moment, the Skyward Crane Patriarch appeared and slew you.】

【You are dead!】

【This simulation has ended. You may retain one of the following!】

【Your cultivation realm at forty.】

【Your formation experience at forty.】

【Your alchemy experience at forty.】

【Your talisman-making experience at forty.】

……

“Cultivation realm.”

【Congratulations, Host. You have obtained your cultivation realm at forty.】

【Host, you have only 20.2 years of lifespan remaining.】

This simulation had not brought him much in the way of strength.

Still, he had learned a great deal in advance.

Overall, it was not a bad result.

Li Feng felt the power of the ninth level of Qi Condensation within him.

His goal had grown even firmer.

The farther one advanced in cultivation, the greater the disparity between realms.

It could almost be said that each level was an imposing mountain in its own right.

The mist-like spiritual power within his dantian had already thickened to a certain degree.

All he needed was one more step forward.

Then he would enter the realm of Foundation Establishment.

As the saying went, beneath Foundation Establishment, all were mere ants.

That was no exaggeration.

Only upon entering the Foundation Establishment stage could one truly secure the foundation of the Great Dao.

After the simulation ended, twenty years of memories flooded into his mind all at once.

Li Feng had been prepared for it.

He silently endured the swelling pain in his head.

As he bore the pain, his divine sense also grew.

The increase was exceedingly slow.

Even so, it had reached a level beyond the capabilities of ordinary secret arts and cultivation methods.

Once he had adapted to the changes in his body, Li Feng immediately sought out Hong Ling.

He proposed bringing Cui Cui in as his personal maid.

His explanation was that his usual cultivation and alchemy left him lacking in time and energy, so he needed someone to take care of his daily life.

Hong Ling was rather surprised.

Li Feng was rarely this proactive where emotions were concerned.

At times, she even wondered whether he was truly a normal young man.

“You only want Cui Cui?”

“Mm. One is enough.”

As a second-order alchemist, Li Feng’s request naturally had to be fulfilled.

Never mind one maid—

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even if he wanted dozens of beautiful women, Hong Ling would have agreed without hesitation.

She might even have arranged an apothecary for him to tend to his health.

Who knew how many factions longed to curry favor with a second-order alchemist, yet could find no avenue to do so?

“All right. I’ll arrange it tomorrow.”

It was already well past midnight, and Anhe City lay in complete silence.

“No. Have her come over now.”

Li Feng was worried that delaying might lead to unforeseen complications.

Hong Ling glanced at him twice and could see that he was indeed in a hurry.

Without saying a word, she went straight to Azure Beauty Hall.

In less than half an hour, she had brought Cui Cui back to Spirit Plant Hall.

Cui Cui stood behind Hong Ling, nervously twisting the corner of her clothes. Her head was lowered, and her delicate face was filled with shy unease.

Li Feng’s gaze fell upon the girl, and he was overcome with emotion.

Who could have imagined that this would be the person the Demon Venerable had sought so desperately?

At Hong Ling’s suggestion, Cui Cui had deliberately changed into a gown of pale goose yellow.

Her figure was slender and graceful, her features fresh and lovely.

In the lamplight, her eyes shimmered with nervous apprehension.

From this day onward, her role would be that of a personal maid.

A maid had to understand her duties.

She had to be cautious and attentive in every respect.

“Brother Zhang… Brother Li Feng.”

Cui Cui knelt to pay her respects, nearly addressing him incorrectly.

Although Hong Ling had told her Li Feng’s true identity, she had yet to fully absorb the revelation.

When Li Feng had disappeared back then, Hong Ling had offered little explanation.

Many of the sisters in Azure Beauty Hall had discussed the matter for a long time.

Now that he had suddenly become the most honored alchemist of the Apocalypse Clan, Cui Cui was utterly astonished.

Hong Ling gave a few simple instructions, then left with a smile, no longer disturbing the two of them.

Li Feng taking in a maid was a situation the Apocalypse Clan was more than happy to see.

Only in this way could he be firmly bound to the Apocalypse Clan.

Li Feng went up to the second floor.

Cui Cui followed behind him in small, cautious steps.

When the door closed, her heart began to race, and her face flushed like the evening clouds.

Yet things did not develop as she had imagined.

In the sitting room, Li Feng laid out a bedroll for her.

Cui Cui was utterly bewildered.

She lightly pressed her lips together and asked in a voice softer than a mosquito’s buzz, “Am I sleeping on the floor tonight?”

“Of course. You can’t expect me to sleep on the floor, can you?”

Out of caution, Li Feng took out the teardrop-shaped warm jade and brought it close to Cui Cui for another confirmation.

As expected, the warm jade grew scorching hot when it neared her.

Li Feng was secretly delighted.

He had initially thought Lei Peng’s request would come to nothing.

Who could have guessed that the person he was looking for would be right beside him?

With Cui Cui’s identity, he could obtain no small number of opportunities from Lei Peng.

Besides, through the simulation, he had essentially mastered the second-order Thunderburst spell.

The next time they met, he could claim that he was not interested and have Lei Peng exchange it for some other item, profiting once again at no cost.

The more he thought about it, the broader the smile that rose from the depths of Li Feng’s heart.

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“Brother Li Feng, did Cui Cui do something wrong?”

“If there is anything about me that displeases you, please tell me. I promise I’ll change.”

Cui Cui had long been accustomed to excessive caution. It was no wonder her thoughts had run wild.

“It’s nothing. Go to sleep early. I’ll assign you a task tomorrow.”

The lamplight went out, and the two of them lay down separately.

The night passed.

The sun rose over the horizon.

Cui Cui had deliberately risen early, only to discover that Li Feng had awakened even earlier. He was in the study, writing away with great concentration.

He was not practicing calligraphy, but making talismans.

According to the information from the simulation, Cui Cui possessed four spiritual roots and was capable of cultivation, though the cost of nurturing her would be extremely high.

Given Lei Peng’s temperament, sooner or later he would turn Cui Cui into a cultivator.

Rather than wait for that to happen, Li Feng decided to help her cultivate himself and deepen the favor between them.

Cui Cui came to the study door and apologized with a flushed face.

“Brother Li Feng, please wait a moment. I’ll fetch some water.”

Li Feng called out to her. “What for?”

“To bathe you and help you change clothes.”

As a maid, these were all things she was supposed to do.

“Come here.”

Li Feng beckoned, signaling for her to enter.

Cui Cui stepped lightly into the study, terrified that she might damage something nearby.

“I didn’t bring you here to serve others.”

“From today onward, you have only one task: to become a cultivator.”

Li Feng’s words left Cui Cui momentarily stunned. For a long while, she could not react.

Disbelief appeared on her fresh and lovely face.

“Brother Li Feng, I… I’m only a maid.”

She had never dared dream of such a thing.

Her inferiority had taken root when she was still very young.

Li Feng did not respond to her words and continued speaking.

“There is a second-order Spirit Gathering Formation in the house. Cultivating within it will greatly improve your efficiency.”

With that, he tossed her a cultivation manual suited to her.

He also gave her one thousand low-grade spirit stones.

Clutching the manual, Cui Cui’s eyes filled with tears, and her heart surged with gratitude.

She dropped to her knees with a thud.

“Brother Li Feng, from now on, Cui Cui belongs to you. I will serve you with all my heart.”

“Get up. Stop kneeling at every little thing.”

“Cultivate diligently. Do not disappoint the care I am investing in you.”

Seeing that his purpose had been achieved, Li Feng helped her to her feet.

As long as he had this connection through Cui Cui, Lei Peng would remain a powerful backer for him.

After settling Cui Cui, Li Feng did not rest.

It was time to deal with the Murong family as well.