Supreme Alchemist-Chapter 2418 - 2408: The Treasured Item

Feeling no pain, Long Yan opened his eyes, only to see a thin figure shielding him. The once-clean blue garment was now covered with dried bloodstains.

Jian Wuchen barely exerted himself to end Ming Wu’s life. For someone with such gifted sword techniques, this task was mere child’s play. When Jian Wuchen entered the Netherworld, Ming Wu was already drunken beyond measure.

Looking at Ming Wu, sprawled drunk on the bed like mud, Jian Wuchen showed no trace of pity. With a single stroke, he severed Ming Wu’s head and turned around to leave the Netherworld.

As he beheaded Ming Wu, a faint sense of satisfaction rose in Jian Wuchen’s heart. At least in the Illusionary Realm, the maiden could now live peacefully, and for Jian Wuchen, that was more than enough.

If Jian Wuchen wanted to leave, he could do so at any moment. But thinking of Long Yan, Jian Wuchen decided against leaving immediately and headed straight toward the Emperor Clan’s residence in Chang’an City. Upon scaling the wall to cross in, however, he saw Long Yan slumped on the ground, his face lifeless, while Young Master Liu held his sword aloft.

Without hesitation, Jian Wuchen sprang into action. Though his frame was slight, he gathered all his strength and unleashed a flash of Sword Intent.

At the critical moment, Young Master Liu tilted his head, and the flash of Sword Intent grazed his cheek, leaving a wound on his pallid, sickly face. This greatly enraged Young Master Liu.

He had actually suffered a setback—against these so-called pugilistic swordsmen, he had suffered a setback.

Fueled by wrath, he attacked, his sword tracing illusory shadows in the air as he madly slashed toward Jian Wuchen. Though Jian Wuchen was young, he was considered a master of sword art. Faced with Young Master Liu’s frenzied, rabid attacks, Jian Wuchen calmly countered each strike.

"Die already!"

Young Master Liu’s sharp voice became even shriller in his rage, but Jian Wuchen remained unfazed, leaving Young Master Liu unable to overcome him for the time being.

Long Yan’s breath grew ever weaker; his vision even started blurring. The Rainstorm Pear Flower Needle he had thrown earlier had used up the last of his strength in a final desperate burst, and now, his end was imminent.

"Hey, is that old lady still around?"

Long Yan’s voice was faint, but as the surrounding world started fading into black and white, he knew he had bet correctly. It seemed that the transaction here could be done at any time, and the old lady before him should be capable of controlling his time.

"What do you want? But I’m not really interested in dealing with you right now. You’ve been picky and dragged the trial out indefinitely."

The old lady looked at Long Yan with disdain. Having been rejected twice by him, despite her status as the soul born naturally from the Heart Inquiry Road, even she found herself displeased.

"You’ll definitely be interested in what I’ve got this time, won’t you?"

Long Yan knew that after killing Di Lingtian, he hadn’t felt any sense of escape from the Heart Inquiry Road, meaning his trial was far from over. However, he believed he still had a chance.

"Oh?"

The old lady looked at Long Yan with interest. Given Long Yan’s utterly pitiful state, she doubted he even had anything left to trade.

Seeing the old lady’s expression, Long Yan curved his lips into a sly, wicked smile. He had never said he would use something from the Illusionary Realm as collateral.

"I’m offering the years of my life from reality."

Long Yan’s smile grew darker and more seductive, but upon hearing the term "life span," the old lady froze, thinking this kid had lost his mind.

"This is an Illusionary Realm. You must understand that even if you hold on to what you want here, it’s all fiction. Avenging yourself in the Illusionary Realm won’t change reality."

The old lady thought Long Yan was simply beyond reason. In her eyes now, Long Yan was like a gambler, fully aware the chips on the table were illusions yet still determined to stake his real-life wager.

"I’m absolutely not joking."

Maybe because this world differed from the Illusionary Realm, Long Yan felt his wounds frozen in time. Though still uncomfortable, he clearly felt significantly better, so he sat up for good measure.

"Even in an Illusionary Realm, I don’t want to leave regrets behind."

The old lady fell silent. She undoubtedly possessed all of Long Yan’s memories; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been able to craft such an eerily lifelike Illusionary Realm. Yet no one had ever done what Long Yan was attempting.

"While our conversations have been limited, anything here can serve as collateral for exchange, right?"

Though phrased as a question, Long Yan spoke with absolute certainty. Early on, both he and Jian Wuchen had fallen into the misconception that the old lady was merely a heart demon meant to disrupt their resolve. But in truth, she was the very key to the Heart Inquiry Road’s test.

What you cherish most would inevitably be the first bargaining chip the old lady offered, but it wasn’t the only chip. With a change in approach, you could use something intrinsic to yourself to trade for whatever you desired—such as life span.

"Looks like you might actually pass."

Far-reaching truths aside, even in recent times, those passing the Heart Inquiry Road would often face various challenges on the path to cultivation. This was because they hadn’t yet entirely severed ties with the mortal realm. Humans are not unfeeling beings; trading something most precious to oneself to erase a heart demon might ironically nurture a new one. That was its cruel irony.

"But do you know how many years of your life span you’ll have to sacrifice?"

The old lady cast Long Yan a sinister look, but the latter remained utterly unbothered. Ever since stepping into the cultivation path, Long Yan had never entertained the thought of a peaceful end. This was, instead, an oddly fitting alternative.

"Let me ask you one last time. If you proceed with the exchange, you’ll only have three months of life span left. If you fail to find a way to extend your life or ascend to immortality within these three months, what awaits you will be the Netherworld."

"Yes."

Seeing the old lady’s solemn expression, Long Yan put away his smile and nodded. Even so, he wasn’t about to back down.

Feeling the power return to his body, Long Yan, who had become somewhat accustomed to his inability to muster strength earlier, now felt rather unprepared for its resurgence. But the sensation of True Qi flowing vigorously through his veins filled him with boundless comfort.

What a joke, Young Master Liu—watch me cleave you in two.

"Oh, by the way, you might find a way to extend your life span in that little lady of yours."

Before departing, the old lady tossed this cryptic remark to Long Yan, leaving him bewildered as he focused on recovering his body.

Could Lingxi have something capable of extending life span?

Before Long Yan could voice his question, the entire world regained its colors. There was no time to dwell on these things now. Though he was still on the verge of collapse, with his strength restored, Long Yan swiftly healed all of his injuries.

"Young man, Grandpa is here to punish you!"

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