Longevity: My Cheat Unlocked in My Old Age

Not long after.

Li Ping, who was practicing Alchemy in a side hall, met Ji Shu Xuan’s family, who had been brought into the Sect by Ji Nianyun.

From him, Li Ping learned just how chaotic things had become outside the Flying Snow Sect.

Ji Shu Xuan had been brought into the Flying Snow Sect a day ago. After evacuating the family and friends of the Sect’s disciples, the Flying Snow Sect Cultivators, under Shi Yutong’s command, had decisively abandoned all areas outside the Sect and stopped maintaining order in the city.

Last night, Li Ping had stood on the roof of a large hall, observing the situation outside the Array.

He saw flames soaring into the sky outside the city, and the sounds of Cultivators engaged in Magical Combat echoed ceaselessly. The chaos only gradually subsided at dawn.

Besides the Tier Three Spirit Vein where the Sect was located, Flying Snow City still had many Tier One and Tier Two branch veins extending from it.

The Flying Snow Sect had established resource points like Spirit Medicine Gardens and Spirit Beast enclosures on these branch veins. When Shi Yutong ordered the Sect’s Cultivators to retreat, their primary objective was to preserve their own lives and take as many valuable resources as possible. A large number of ordinary resources were left behind, as there was no time to harvest them.

He guessed that the commotion last night was likely Loose Cultivators fighting over the items left behind by the Flying Snow Sect, as well as those in the shops of the market square.

After a night of chaos, perhaps many Loose Cultivators had struck it rich.

But by the same token, a great number of Loose Cultivators had fallen in the fray, never to see the light of dawn again.

Thinking about the turmoil outside last night, Ji Shu Xuan was still shaken.

If Ji Nianyun hadn’t joined the Flying Snow Sect, allowing his whole family to move into the Sect’s residence, the consequences would have been unimaginable.

In fact, he had been a little worried about Li Ping’s safety yesterday.

After all, Changping Square was in a relatively remote part of the city. Uncle Li living alone might have run into those bloodthirsty Loose Cultivators.

But after entering the Flying Snow Sect, he learned that Li Ping had never returned to his cave residence at all. When the chaos erupted in the city, Uncle Li was already safe and sound within the Flying Snow Sect.

This made him sigh with emotion: ‘Uncle Li is just too prudent. The older the ginger, the spicier it is!’

Ji Shu Xuan cautiously scanned his surroundings before sighing in a low voice, “I can’t believe the rumors were true. Mu Yun Master has fallen, and Qianxue Master has suffered a cultivation deviation. The city descended into chaos in an instant.”

Li Ping nodded in agreement.

It was confirmed that Mu Yun Master had fallen. As for Qianxue Master suffering a cultivation deviation, although it hadn’t been confirmed, she hadn’t made an appearance even with the city in such disarray.

Li Ping guessed that even if she hadn’t suffered a full-blown deviation, she was likely on the verge of one.

This far exceeded his expectations. He never thought the Flying Snow Sect would be so unlucky.

Within the city, they had the geographical advantage of a Tier Three Array.

In theory, as long as one of the Flying Snow Sect’s two Core Formation Masters was still alive, their rule should have been as solid as a mountain.

But as it turned out, with both Mu Yun Master and Qianxue Master running into trouble one after another, the situation in the city collapsed in an instant.

The main reason Li Ping hadn’t returned to his own cave residence and had come to the Flying Snow Sect instead was because he’d considered this the safest place in the city, with two Core Formation Masters presiding over it.

But now, both Core Formation combatants were out of commission.

This made Li Ping feel a little regretful, and a sense of unease crept into his heart.

He was considering whether he should leave Flying Snow City for now and come back after things had settled down.

However, after deliberately cultivating their relationship for several years, he got along very well with Shi Yutong and had already received her promise that he could borrow the Flying Snow Sect’s Tier Three Spirit Vein when he attempted his breakthrough to Core Formation.

He had already invested a certain amount of sunk cost in the Flying Snow Sect. He was a bit unwilling to just leave like this.

Ji Shu Xuan asked worriedly, “Uncle Li, do you think the Flying Snow Sect can survive this disaster?”

Li Ping glanced at him. ‘It seems I’m not the only one worried about safety.’

He couldn’t help but feel that Ji Shu Xuan had changed quite a bit since starting a family.

Back in Fenglan Immortal City, Ji Shu Xuan had voluntarily gone to fight in the Yan Kingdom, willing to risk his life to fight for a chance at Foundation Establishment.

If it were the him from back then, he probably would have been unable to resist the temptation to join last night’s “no-holds-barred fighting tournament.”

‘Don a black mask and go all out.’

But now, he only wanted to protect his wife and children and get through this disaster safely.

“Don’t worry. As long as there are no traitors, the Flying Snow Sect should have no problem defending its grounds with its current strength,” Li Ping said calmly, and his words made Ji Shu Xuan breathe a sigh of relief.

As they talked, Li Ping thought of something else. “By the way, how are Fellow Daoist Xu and Fellow Daoist Lin?”

Hearing Li Ping’s question, Ji Shu Xuan shook his head. “Senior Xu and Senior Lin left the city to hunt demons a few days ago. I don’t know where they are now.”

Li Ping then recalled that when he met Xu Guikai not long ago, the man had indeed told him he wanted to take advantage of the ongoing beast tide to hunt more Demon Beasts outside the city.

“It’s good they went out to hunt Demon Beasts. It’s safer outside the city than inside right now,” Li Ping nodded slightly.

…

That night, Li Ping leaped onto the roof of the main hall, sensing the commotions in the city from afar.

As Nightfall descended, the city once again erupted into chaos.

Loose Cultivators scurried everywhere, robbing others while being robbed themselves. The flashes of light from Magical Combat could be seen from time to time.

However, by the second half of the night, the city had become noticeably calmer.

Li Ping guessed that the easily plunderable resources in the city had already been snatched up by the Loose Cultivators. The “fat sheep” with substantial wealth had probably either fled or were already dead.

The ones left were the ruthless survivors of the “no-holds-barred fighting tournament.” Whether they formed gangs or acted alone, they were all tough nuts to crack, wary of each other and hesitant to resort to violence.

‘So what will they do next? Leave satisfied after getting their fill, try to crack other tough nuts, or…?’

Gazing at the now-quiet city, Li Ping took a deep breath.

He already knew from Ji Shu Xuan that the Flying Snow Sect’s Cultivators had withdrawn to the Sect in an active and orderly fashion. In the process, they had mostly abandoned Low-Tier cultivation resources outside the Sect.

The truly valuable resources had all been collected and brought back into the Sect by the Cultivators.

Could those mere scraps and leftovers really satisfy those bloodthirsty Loose Cultivators?

Li Ping thought it was highly unlikely. The Loose Cultivators had already cast aside their moral restraints. If they couldn’t plunder enough resources, how could they possibly be content?

The Loose Cultivators were thinking, ‘risk it all for a chance at Foundation Establishment’ or ‘risk it all for a shot at Core Formation.’ They weren’t going to be satisfied with just a few paltry gains.

As for cracking other tough nuts?

Even if they could, how much could they really gain from other Loose Cultivators?

The real Treasure in Flying Snow City was all hidden within the Flying Snow Sect!

If they could conquer the Flying Snow Sect, they could divide the wealth accumulated by a Core Formation Sect over countless years. This was an incredible temptation, and Li Ping didn’t believe those Loose Cultivators could resist it.

After all, the looting last night and tonight…

…had completely opened the Pandora’s box in their hearts, allowing their desires to fester. The spoils they had successfully reaped from their plunder also made them bolder and bolder.

Under normal circumstances, even if they were greedy, they would never dare to provoke a Core Formation Sect.

But now, both of the Flying Snow Sect’s Core Formation Cultivators were incapacitated, and the Sect was in a weakened state.

A huge Treasure lay before them. A once-in-a-lifetime opportunity was perhaps right here, right now.

Putting himself in the shoes of those Loose Cultivators, even Li Ping couldn’t help but swallow hard.

‘This is clearly a case of “To reject a gift from heaven is to invite disaster.”‘

“Sigh!”

A sigh echoed in the air. It didn’t come from Li Ping, but from an Elder Cultivator on the roof of another hall.

Tonight, many of the Flying Snow Sect’s Cultivators were unable to meditate peacefully. Instead, they stood at various high points around the Sect, observing the situation in the city.

It was obvious that Li Ping wasn’t the only one who had thought of what the Loose Cultivators would likely do next.

…

Returning to the hall, Li Ping sat cross-legged, his mind silently pondering.

‘In this Land of the Far North, a Tier Three Spirit Vein that can support my Core Formation is hard to find. If I go to other Main Cities, I might have to expend a lot of effort just to get the right to use a Spirit Vein.’

‘I’ll wait a little longer! The Flying Snow Sect is protected by a Tier Three Array. It won’t be easy for the Loose Cultivators to break through.’

‘If the Flying Snow Sect’s Sect Protection Array is breached, I must leave.’

…

Numerous thoughts flashed through his mind. Although he was reluctant to abandon his sunk costs, Li Ping still set a stop-loss point for himself.

Once the Tier Three Array was broken, given the madness of the Loose Cultivators, the Flying Snow Sect would be on the brink of annihilation.

Li Ping considered himself to have numerous methods and believed he could easily defeat Cultivators of the same rank, but in the face of such an overwhelming trend, he could only step aside.

Only a Core Formation Cultivator had the power to turn the tide!

Of course.

With his strength, Li Ping might not be able to reverse the tide, but he still had the ability to protect himself and escape in the chaos.

Once the Array was broken, the Loose Cultivators would be too busy looting to care. Few would be interested in stopping him from leaving.

Even if some fool tried to block his path, if he was determined to leave, with his three puppets and a full set of Treasures, anyone less than a Core Formation Cultivator would die at his hands.

Even if a hidden Core Formation Cultivator were to make a move, Li Ping wasn’t afraid.

Once he unleashed his Blood Shadow Escape Skill, not even a Core Formation Cultivator could catch him.

In truth, the reason Li Ping wasn’t in a hurry to flee…

…was firstly the Flying Snow Sect’s Tier Three Sect Protection Array, and secondly, the fact that Xiao Yunzhi was in a nearby palace, attempting her breakthrough to Core Formation.

Others might not know, but Li Ping knew very well.

With her Celestial Spiritual Root aptitude, a new Core Formation Cultivator could appear in Flying Snow City at any moment. Moreover, this Core Formation Cultivator owed the Flying Snow Sect a favor and had promised to do three things for them free of charge.

As long as Xiao Yunzhi reaches Core Formation, the situation in Flying Snow City can also be stabilized.

‘Surrounded by a pack of wolves, I’m probably not the only one thinking about running.’

Thinking this, Li Ping shook his head, cast the numerous thoughts from his mind, and focused on his Cultivation.

Rely on a mountain, and it will collapse. Rely on a river, and it will run dry.

Only one’s own Cultivation is fundamental.

…

「Changping Square, Li Ping’s Cave Residence.」

“BOOM!”

Several Dharma Artifacts bombarded the Tier Two Array enveloping the cave residence, causing the Array to fluctuate violently.

After several more attacks, the Tier Two Array finally let out a ‘wail’ and shattered.

Just as the attackers’ faces lit up with joy, they were shocked to discover another, nested Array beneath the broken one.

And when they finally expended great effort to forcibly break this nested Array, all they saw was an empty cave residence.