Eternal Life from the Golden Needle Technique

A Cultivator at the Qi Introduction Eighth Layer was already considered a rare expert.

They could make a name for themselves almost anywhere.

And a righteous man like Nangong City was held in even higher esteem, making him all the more popular.

For merchants,

befriending such a hero brought even greater benefits.

So,

after Nangong City had settled the matter, he allowed the vengeful victims to divide the corpses of the Blood Slaughter Three Demons among themselves. They could then take the remains home to pay tribute to their murdered kin.

Nangong City had planned to leave immediately, but Si Houqing and the other guild shopkeepers who did business in Dawan Village insisted he stay, inviting him to a banquet that evening.

He hadn’t wanted to stay for long or get too involved.

But Shen Changchuan, who was standing nearby, also urged him to stay.

His benefactor had spoken,

and considering he had yet to repay this great debt of gratitude,

Nangong City had no choice but to remain.

"It was nothing, really."

During the banquet,

several guild shopkeepers took turns toasting him. As they chatted, trying to build rapport by discussing the Blood Slaughter Three Demons, one of them asked Nangong City how he had gotten involved with those three fiends.

A bitter smile touched Nangong City’s lips.

"I was merely passing by when I saw several Cultivators slaughtering a mortal village. It seemed they were using the blood and qi of the mortals to refine something."

"The entire village, more than a thousand people, young and old alike, had all fallen into pools of their own blood."

"I couldn’t stand by and watch such an atrocity, so I intervened. I just never expected those three to be the infamous Blood Slaughter Three Demons. They also possessed that bizarre Blood Evil Gourd, and in the end, they injured me so badly I was forced to flee."

As he spoke,

Nangong City coughed violently a few times. His gaunt face was pale, and he wore another bitter smile.

"Whether I was defeated or not is of little consequence. This world is full of powerful people. I, Nangong City, am far from invincible, and I’m not someone who can’t handle a loss."

"The problem is that I lost to those three fiends. Not only was I left with an indelible injury, but their fame grew immensely after that battle, dampening the morale of many righteous heroes."

"As a result, their arrogance grew, and their evil deeds became even more vicious. This is truly my failing!"

Nangong City heaved a long sigh.

"I failed to save anyone and instead brought about even worse consequences."

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, you needn’t blame yourself. You’ve already done more than enough."

"Anyone else would have likely just looked on coldly, let alone tried to help."

"That’s right. They were just mortals. Most Cultivators would see them as strangers with no connection to themselves and simply watch from the sidelines. Only a hero like you, Hero Nangong, would step in to save them. In that regard, you’ve already surpassed countless others."

Shen Changchuan stood to the side, listening to the conversation without interjecting.

While he admired Nangong City’s chivalry,

a thought flashed through his mind.

’So, the Qi Introduction Eighth Layer Cultivator that Si Houqing told me about, the one who was injured by the Blood Evil Gourd... that was Nangong City?’

’So,’

’is Nangong City’s pale, gaunt face and sunken eyes the result of an indelible injury left by the Blood Evil Gourd’s power, an injury that will destroy his future on the path of the Dao?’

’I wonder,’

’what kind of injury is it,’

’and can it be cured with the Blood Evil Gourd itself?’

Shen Changchuan pondered this internally.

As his mind raced,

someone in the room spoke up again.

"I’ve heard that the Blood Slaughter Three Demons left Fellow Daoist Nangong with an indelible injury that damaged his foundation. I have a Top Grade Rejuvenation Pill here. I wonder if it might be of any use?"

"I also have a Top Grade Replenishing Essence Pill. If Hero Nangong has need of it, you need only say the word. Though we cannot slay demons and punish evil ourselves, we can certainly afford to offer a few Elixirs."

The merchants chimed in one after another.

As an Eighth Layer Cultivator, his past heroic deeds made him worthy of trust.

Forging a connection with him would be ideal.

Especially for merchants like them,

such a connection was all the more valuable.

But Nangong City just shook his head, clutching his chest with a bitter smile.

"Fellow Daoists, there’s no need. You’re too kind."

"My injury was caused by the Blood Evil Power lingering in my body. It’s like a maggot gnawing on my bones. Not only can it not be removed by ordinary means, but it actually devours any Magical Power or Medicinal Power I use, growing stronger."

"Over the years, I’ve tried countless remedies, but none have succeeded. In fact, they only made it grow stronger."

"I’ve completely given up on it."

Feeling the fiery Abnormal Power in his body, a constant reminder of his plight, Nangong City sighed.

Over the years,

he had built up a number of connections.

He knew Cultivators at the Qi Introduction Ninth Layer, and even some at the Ninth Layer Peak.

He could even exchange a few words with True Cultivators at the Soul Emergence Realm.

He had even personally visited major guilds, like the Ten Thousand Spirits Pavilion in Qing City.

But even after exhausting all his connections, he found no solution.

Nangong City didn’t believe a solution to the root of his problem could possibly be found in a small place like this.

Of course,

everyone meant well.

So, Nangong City simply forced out a wisp of his Magical Power, which appeared to be tainted by the Blood Evil Power.

He let the others feel it.

"This... The Blood Evil Power is actually entangled with his Magical Power?"

"Not only that, the Blood Evil Power is extremely corrosive. As his Magical Power completes its Circulation through his body, I’m afraid it’s constantly eroding his Dantian and meridians!"

"Sigh, it’s so tenacious. In that case, I’m afraid even a Tier Two Elixir like the Exorcism Pill would be of little use!"

Although no one present was a master of the Alchemy Dao or the Medical Dao,

their daily Cultivation meant that every Cultivator had a decent understanding of the body’s Dantian, meridians, and Magical Power.

Therefore, once they sensed how deeply that abnormal Blood Evil Power was entangled with his Magical Power,

they knew for certain.

An affliction like this was practically a death sentence for his cultivation!

Everyone looked at each other,

clearly helpless and at a loss for what to do.

"Our apologies. We were too presumptuous."

one of the guild shopkeepers said, sincerely apologizing to Nangong City.

Even with all their worldliness,

they had no solution whatsoever.

Seeing this,

Nangong City let out another bitter laugh and downed his cup of wine in one gulp.

’Right,’

’there was never any hope to begin with.’

’What was I even expecting?’

But just then, 𝚏𝕣𝐞𝗲𝐰𝕖𝐛𝐧𝕠𝕧𝚎𝚕.𝐜𝚘𝗺

a clear voice suddenly sounded in his ear.

"How about you let me give it a try?"