Chapter 22: Cultivation is difficult and life is short; when it comes to the end, people will go crazy.

  The dark clouds over the valley had already shifted, Wang Yang put away the red snake that had shrunk again, with a smile on his face.

  The giant wheel slowly pressed down and smashed down in the position where the dark cloud opened up.

  Innumerable vines were severed, a massive wheel crushed the air, rolling with vigor, sharp as a knife.

  Two or three people were crushed by the giant wheel and smashed into the ground, turning into a puddle of minced meat on the spot.

  Fierce gusts swept through, cutting back and forth in the mountain valley, countless runes floated out from the surface of the giant wheel, accompanied by the strong winds generated by the compression of the giant wheel, recklessly breaking open the protective spells around people's bodies, injuring their physical bodies.

  With a loud crash, the yellow light surrounding the delicate girl was finally torn apart by the talisman. Afterwards, this tender and delicate woman's body was covered in wounds all over her body amidst the strong wind.

  Perhaps it was Zhou Ling Wang who took into account that his own family was also in the mountain valley, and deliberately suppressed the power of the giant wheel. The original giant wheel that could flatten the entire mountain valley only scraped off two feet of skin from the mountain valley and peeled off a layer of rock wall.

  In this process, the vines that had grown for hundreds of years were also uprooted, and the debris flew out of the valley with the strong wind.

  The valley was empty for many days.

  The giant wheel slowly dissipated, revealing two puddles of congealed blood in the pit, a sight that made one want to vomit.

  The Buddhist rosary in Zhou Ling Wang's hand had its light retracted, showing a dark golden color. The seal was engraved with countless mysterious symbols, but the surface was dull and covered in cracks, making Zhou Ling Wang feel a pang of regret, thinking that this thing could probably only be used once more.

  "Zhou Ling Wang, Bai Lao Weng, what are you doing?" Zhao Ling shouted angrily.

  Zhou Ling Wang coldly smiled and remained silent.

  The old man chuckled and put away the duster, then with a gentle sweep, he erased the blood-stained young girl's vitality, only then did he put the duster back in his hand. Looking at him, he seemed so carefree and casual, as if he had just lent a helping hand, rather than intentionally taking a life.

  The feather duster that took the life of a young girl still didn't have any dust on it, as white as new. The old man in white used it to brush off the dust on his body and calmly said: "It's just a transaction with Wang Changlao, what's there to be surprised about?"

  Zhao Ling seemed unable to believe it, trembling as he pointed at the mountain valley above, saying: "Is that really him? A proud disciple of Yunxuan Gate, yet he's making a deal with an outsider barbarian and slaughtering his fellow disciples?"

  "Indeed, as a disciple of Yunxuan Gate, one of the nine great sects in Zhongzhou, what glory and splendor is this?" The old man stroked his beard, chuckling: "Coming from Yunxuan Gate, your vision is extraordinary. With the guidance of seniors, you are far superior to ordinary scattered cultivators. Generally, scattered cultivators have inferior techniques and shallow understanding. Whether in combat or cultivation, there are many places they cannot reach. Without the guidance of seniors, they will inevitably leave behind flaws. At the same time, my mastery of Qi is beyond that of ordinary scattered cultivators. I can even escape with my life from a scattered cultivator like Yun Leng Zhenren."

  The old man paused slightly, spread his hands and smiled, asking: "But why should I trade with a foreigner from the southern border?"

  For some reason, looking at this still gentle and kind smile, Zhao Ling, who was originally arrogant and unruly, suddenly felt a chill, and for a moment, he didn't respond.

  Zhou Ling Wang revealed a cold smile and patted his clothes.

  The old man burst out laughing, feeling extremely pleased and delighted. However, as he continued to laugh, his expression seemed to become somewhat ferocious.

  "In the eyes of a wandering cultivator, I was born with nobility and have extraordinary means."

  "In the eyes of worldly mortals, I am a divine being with a refined and elegant demeanor, white hair and a youthful complexion, an actual living god in the world."

  The old man's face, which had a divine and transcendent aura, suddenly became extremely charming, and he asked with a sly smile: "In the vast Cloud Mystic Sect, what am I considered to be?"

  Zhao Ling was taken aback.

  The old man asked again: "You, Zhao Ling, consider yourself to be exceptionally talented, and now you're not bad either. But compared to the likes of Bai Yue, what are you?"

  Zhao Ling's face turned pale.

  The old man's tone softened a bit, and he sighed: "You're still young, so you can't understand my suffering. Do you know how old I am this year?"

  "Ninety-eight." Zhao Ling's voice became hoarse, and even he himself was startled.

  "Yes, ninety-eight." The old man's tone was melancholic as he sighed and said: "Although it is said that human life is a hundred years, ordinary people only get several decades. Only by focusing on the way of nurturing life, or coincidentally conforming to the way of nurturing life, can one live for a hundred years. And stepping into the threshold of refining energy, with muscles and bones relaxed, and blood and energy flowing smoothly, one can exceed a hundred years of age. Although I have already reached the level of controlling my breath, my lifespan is not much different from that of those who cultivate their internal energy."

  The old man asked: "Do you think I can still live for a few more years?"

  Zhao Ling had no words to respond with.

  "How many more years can I live?" The old man's face was bitter, and he said: "If the sect values me, there is still a chance to prolong my life. But after cultivating for a lifetime, I am only at the level of controlling my breath. A person like this, even if they die outside, may not be noticed by the seniors in the sect."

  Zhao Ling was stunned for a long time and finally sighed: "Why don't you work hard to cultivate?"

  " Cultivation?" The old man burst out laughing: "I've been stuck in the Qi Refining stage for decades, and the Cloud Striding stage is still far beyond my reach. Do you think that in these few years of life I have left, I can still break through to the Cloud Striding stage?"

  Zhao Ling glanced around, only to see Zhou Ling Wang's face calm and composed, already guarding the exit of the mountain valley. Zhao Ling smiled wryly and asked: "Zhou Ling Wang, you are not yet fifty, still less than half a century old, don't you have confidence in breaking through Yun Gang?"

  "With a lifetime of cultivation, I broke through the Cloud Shackles. I do have some confidence." Zhou Ling Wang smiled slightly, but unlike Old Man Bai, he didn't lose his composure. Perhaps it was because he wasn't very old yet and hadn't reached the end of his lifespan, so he was still calm at heart.

  "Then why did you?" Zhao Ling asked.

  "The boundary of Yun Gong, adds thirty years to one's life." Zhou Ling Wang said: "Yun Gong Zhen Ren can live up to 130 years, but what about after that? I have self-awareness, this life and the realm of Xian Huan Zhen Jun are not destined. Even if there is a great opportunity from heaven, achieving Xian Huan Zhen Jun, being valued by the sect, in today's world it would be considered a number one person, but how many more years of life would that bring?"

  "Xian Xuan Zhen Jun, Shou Yuan one hundred and fifty." said the white-haired old man.

  "Do you understand now?" asked Zhou Ling Wang.

  "I understand." Zhao Ling nodded and said, "The Southern Border Gu technique can make the Benming Gu insect absorb its own brain marrow, while also allowing the soul to inhabit the Gu insect. If there is a Gu Dao master to assist, it can restore spiritual consciousness. Are you asking for the secret method of refining the Benming Gu?"

  "Not bad."

  "Even if you are possessed by a Gu insect, without someone's help, you would still be just a dull and lifeless Gu insect, no different from being dead. Could it be that there is actually a Gu Dao master willing to help you recover your spiritual consciousness?" Zhao Ling asked.

  "Since my lifespan is exhausted, it's all the same whether I die or not. Living among these insects, there's still a glimmer of hope. Of course, with my abundant lifespan, I can probably hold on for several decades more. It's that old white-haired man who won't be able to wait."

  The old man burst into loud laughter, threw away his dustpan, scattered his hair, and white silk flew about. He laughed wickedly without stopping, and shouted loudly: "I can't wait any longer."

  "After talking for so long, I can't wait any longer."

  A faint voice came from high above, it was Wang Yang's voice.

  Everyone's face changed color in unison.