Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

"Alright. I’m well aware of how much of a role I played."

Shen Tingchu gave Shen Changchuan a deep look. The boy simply waved a hand, refusing to take any credit.

’This kid is quite smooth,’

’He doesn’t have the spirited arrogance you’d expect from a fifteen or sixteen-year-old at all.’

’Is it because...’

’of the temperament he forged in the treacherous environment of the Shen Family Mansion...?’

’His aptitude is quite good,’

’yet he’s content to keep himself hidden.’

’He even knows how to subtly curry favor with others without revealing a hint of his true abilities.’

’With a mindset like that,’ 𝑓𝘳𝑒𝑒𝓌𝘦𝘣𝘯ℴ𝑣𝘦𝑙.𝘤𝑜𝑚

’even if you can’t say his future is limitless,’

’he’ll most likely go much further than other geniuses!’

This was their second meeting,

and Shen Tingchu’s internal assessment of Shen Changchuan rose another notch.

’He really is exceptionally talented.’

Despite this, however,

Shen Tingchu had no plans to invest in or sponsor Shen Changchuan any further for the time being.

’This world has never been short on geniuses.’

’But until a genius realizes their talent, they are merely that—a genius with potential.’

’Take the current Shen Changchuan, for example.’

’If Shen Changchuan had already reached the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Peak Realm and was just one step away from Soul Emergence,’

’and if his performance, much like it was now, remained superior to other Cultivators of the same Realm,’

’then Shen Tingchu wouldn’t mind investing in him.’

’He would help out where he could to assist his advancement to the Soul Emergence Realm.’

’In fact, if the benefits were great enough—or if Shen Changchuan displayed enough excellence to warrant a heavy investment—he wouldn’t even mind getting him a Soul Emergence Pill!’

’After all, if the boy managed to advance to the Soul Emergence Realm,’

’he would gain an ally with considerable potential in the future.’

’This would undoubtedly be a great help to his own struggles in the Immortal Cultivation Realm!’

But clearly,

Shen Changchuan’s strength was still far from sufficient.

He wasn’t the kind of person who was just one step away from a breakthrough.

He was merely a Cultivator at the Qi Introduction Sixth Layer Peak.

The distance to the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer Peak

was still quite considerable.

To cross that distance,

even with the talent and potential he was currently displaying,

and even assuming he had good fortune and opportunities in the future,

would still take several years, if not a decade or more, of hard work!

The Immortal Dao is an arduous path,

and fate is fickle.

A great deal can happen in the span of a few years, let alone a decade.

’Who knows what could happen in that time?’

’He might meet an untimely end and perish along the way.’

’Or what if, after advancing to the Qi Introduction Late Stage, his talent no longer seems so exceptional?’

This wasn’t Shen Tingchu being malicious or worrying for nothing.

This was simply the reality of the world.

Examples of child prodigies who failed to live up to their potential in adulthood were all too common in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.

’Too many uncertainties,’

’too great a risk.’

’The current Shen Changchuan is not yet worth the personal involvement of a True Cultivator of the Soul Emergence Realm like him.’

’As for an early investment,’

’that cultivation journal is enough of a primer to establish an initial connection.’

’As for anything else,’

’that can wait.’

Numerous thoughts flashed through Shen Tingchu’s mind.

However, he revealed none of this on his face.

"Lad, I have come here with a matter that requires your assistance."

Shen Tingchu didn’t waste any time,

getting straight to the purpose of his visit:

"You have likely heard the rumors swirling about concerning the Wu Family and the Cyan Essence Water Grass."

"I can tell you that there is a greater than fifty percent chance that these rumors are true."

"This is a matter of great importance. But the Wu Family has deep roots—they managed to send a junior disciple into the Yuqing Upper Sect, and they also have two Soul Emergence experts of their own. It wouldn’t be wise for me to get involved directly."

"With the news spreading, it’s the perfect opportunity to let those Loose Cultivators out there test the waters first."

"However, I have an urgent matter to attend to and will have to leave for some time."

"Therefore, I want you to help me keep an eye on the situation. The moment you hear any news related to the Cyan Essence Water Grass, you are to notify me immediately."

"Can you do this?"

As a True Cultivator of the Soul Emergence Realm, Shen Tingchu hadn’t come to Dawan Village just because he was idle.

Due to an urgent matter, he had to temporarily leave the Border Desolate Land.

But the stakes involved with the Cyan Essence Water Grass were too high,

and Shen Tingchu was unwilling to give up on it.

So, he thought of finding someone to keep an eye on the news for him and act as an informant.

Even if he couldn’t be on-site to claim the largest and most valuable share from the outset,

at least he wouldn’t miss out on the opportunity entirely.

And that was how the Shen Clan’s territory in this area, Dawan Village, and Shen Changchuan himself came into his view.

This was what had prompted his visit.

And it was by chance that he had seen Shen Changchuan’s cultivation lecture.

"Senior, you can leave it to me. Although my strength is meager and I cannot participate in the clashes of experts, I will be sure to inform you immediately if any news from the outside world reaches me."

Shen Changchuan agreed without much hesitation.

’This wasn’t a difficult task for him.’

’It was just a matter of keeping up with the latest gossip’

’and notifying the man if any news broke.’

’Of course,’

’that was all there was to it.’

’If someone discovered the Wu Family’s hidden secret about the Cyan Essence Water Grass, but a Soul Emergence Realm expert intervened, suppressed the news, and secretly carved up the spoils, leaving the outside world in the dark,’

’then there was nothing he could do about it.’

’After all, he was currently only at the meager Qi Introduction Sixth Layer,’

’nothing more than an ant before a great figure of the Soul Emergence Realm.’

’He couldn’t yet participate in the circles and schemes of such powerful figures.’

’Simply passing along public information was the absolute limit of what he could do.’

Fortunately, Shen Tingchu understood this.

He didn’t make any unreasonable demands.

In truth, for Shen Tingchu,

this was also just a choice born of necessity.

"In that case, I will leave this matter in your hands."

"If you succeed, I will reward you handsomely."

They made a little more small talk after that.

Shen Tingchu did not stay long

and departed directly.

Left in his place,

Shen Changchuan watched the man’s retreating figure, his eyes flickering thoughtfully.

’The Cyan Essence Purifying Spirit Pill he had obtained was deeply connected to the Wu Family.’

’It might even be tied to the Wu Clan of Wu Family Collection’s secret about the Cyan Essence Water Grass!’

’If he revealed this,’

’Shen Tingchu might be able to follow the clues to uncover more leads.’

But in the end,

Shen Changchuan said nothing.

’You take their money, you solve their problem...’

Shen Changchuan thought to himself.

’The Wu Family paid a huge price for him to keep their secret.’

’It would be wrong to accept such a great benefit only to secretly go back on his word.’

’That wouldn’t be right.’

Of course,

most importantly,

’Shen Changchuan didn’t want to bring trouble upon himself.’

’As a True Cultivator of the Soul Emergence Realm, Shen Tingchu could stir up trouble and then just walk away without a care.’

’But him?’

’He had no desire to return to the Shen Family Mansion and live like a prisoner under constant surveillance.’

’Better to leave things as they are for now.’

’In the end,’

’it all came down to a lack of strength!’