Longevity: Starting From Getting Down The Mountain And Marrying A Wife

"We cultivators aspire to Foundation Building, seeking immortality, but it's difficult!"

"After struggling for decades, in the end, it all turns out to be in vain!"

"He Nian, my dear brother, is also a prominent figure in Qingyang. Who would have thought... sigh~"

Bai Siyuan sighed with a sense of sorrow, feeling the sadness of a rabbit's death and a fox's mourning.

Li Henian is only in his forties, at the late stage of Qi Refining. It is not impossible for him to reach Foundation Building with steady progress. At least he can live for another forty to fifty years, which should not be a problem.

Zhong Yan remained silent, empathizing with the situation. If it weren't for triggering the system panel, his life might have been even more desolate.

"Uncle!"

"Uncle!"

Li Shangwu rushed in, disregarding formalities, his face full of anxiety. "Uncle Zhong! My father asks you to come to our mansion!"

Zhong Yan and Bai Siyuan exchanged glances, realizing what had happened, and stood up in shock.

Bai Siyuan clasped his hands together. "Younger brother, go ahead. I won't come along."

Li Henian had already gone to the Bai mansion to find him privately.

Zhong Yan quickly left the mansion, asking as he went, "What happened?"

"Today, I accompanied my father to the Wanshen Hall. Just as we returned home, my father suddenly vomited blood and collapsed..." Li Shangwu choked up and couldn't continue.

The two arrived at the Li mansion and went straight to a room in the side hall.

Li Henian lay on the bed, with dark bruises on his face growing deeper and more intense, as if surrounded by death.

"Greetings, Uncle!"

"Greetings, Uncle!"

The family members in the room all bowed in salute.

Li Henian smiled, "Younger brother..."

"Elder brother!"

Zhong Yan paused for a moment, then sat on the edge of the bed, holding his outstretched hand and helping him sit up against the headboard.

Li Henian sighed with emotion and smiled, "Life is truly miraculous! Just yesterday, I felt like I could fight a few rounds with someone at the eighth level. I never expected it to come so violently. I regret not being able to have a drink with you, my dear brother, before the end of my life!"

Zhong Yan, who had been busy these past few days, thought he could live for another three to five months. He reproached, "Why didn't you seek medicine? At least it could alleviate the symptoms and find a solution in the future!"

Li Henian shook his head, "It's useless. The toxins have already infiltrated my meridians. Once I leave Mangdang Mountain, I know I will undoubtedly die. I just thought I could hold on for a few more days... cough~"

He coughed for a moment and glanced at the people in the room, saying, "All of you, leave."

After a while.

Only Li Shangwu and Li Yangshi remained in the room.

Li Henian said, "When I was nine years old, my family was destroyed, and I ventured out alone. By chance, I entered the cultivation world and struggled to survive. With my own hands, I managed to rise to a prominent position and build a prosperous family. Our parents in the underworld should be pleased... The only regret now is leaving behind this small family. My dear brother, you know that life is full of uncertainties. If I'm not here, Shangwu is still young and inexperienced. It will be difficult for him to support this family. So, my dear brother, I have a request... cough~"

Zhong Yan felt a tightness in his chest and tightened his grip on Li Henian's hand. "Elder brother, please speak. I will do everything I can!"

Li Henian smiled, "You and I both know that it's not easy with such a large family now. I can't demand too much from you, nor is it realistic. So, I only ask that you protect our lineage, adopt Shangwu as your son, and there's no need for great wealth and prosperity. Just help him carry on the Li family's incense, and I will have the face to meet our parents in the underworld... cough~ Shangwu!"

Li Shangwu immediately turned around and poured a cup of tea, tears welling up in his eyes as he knelt down and presented the tea. "Child pays respects to adoptive father!"

Zhong Yan let out a sigh, took a sip, and pulled up Li Shangwu, smiling, "Brother, rest assured, I will treat Shangwu as my own!"

Li Henian nodded slightly, glanced at Li Yangshi, and said, "Liu'er followed me when she was nineteen, and you have suffered these years."

Li Yangshi wiped her tears with a handkerchief, "Master..."

Li Henian smiled, "Liu'er is capable and smart, she should be able to help you with worldly matters and business."

"As for the others, I heard that you value Shangwen a lot and have the intention to cultivate her, so I don't need to worry about the second wife anymore."

"This time, I see that Jingqiu has grown up well. Brother, you should marry her. We have already discussed this!"

After arranging three wives who have given birth to children, Li Henian didn't care anymore. "As for the rest, the eighth and ninth wives were picked from Wangyicheng at a high price. Since you can't handle them all, it's better to dismiss them together."

Pausing for a moment, Li Henian's face turned serious, "In the future, when you buy concubines, try not to go to the Marriage Pavilion. It's best to find them yourself. Even if they have a low status as refugees, it doesn't matter much."

Seeing that Zhong Yan was not surprised, Li Henian blinked and smiled, "It seems that you have noticed."

Zhong Yan asked, "What's the problem?"

Li Henian shook his head, "I'm not sure about the details, but the spy in my house is planted by Qin Ben, that bastard. He has been deceiving me for many years, hahaha... cough~"

Li Yangshi suddenly realized, no wonder the master favored the fourth wife so much, even though she had been in the house for many years without giving birth to a child.

After coughing for a while, Li Henian continued, "I never doubted your abilities, but your cultivation level is still a bit low. I have made some connections for you these days. As long as you stay in Qingyang City, there shouldn't be any problems for five or six years."

"So, brother, take this time to improve your cultivation. If you reach the sixth level of Qi Refining, you should be relatively worry-free..."

"Bai Siyuan is someone you can trust. Besides being greedy and not very smart, he is loyal and trustworthy. If you do business with him, it wouldn't hurt to give him a little more. He will remember it..."

"Be careful of Yang Yanqing. He is a smiling tiger, but you don't need to worry too much. It won't be long before the Yang family establishes their own clan and moves out of Qingyang..."

After mentioning some important matters in the city, Li Henian suddenly switched to telepathy, "The spiritual root is in Baoshu Lane, West District, number seven. Take some time to go and make arrangements. I heard that the Fire Cloud Sect is still investigating, so don't be too hasty..."

After the telepathy, Li Henian laughed heartily, his spirits suddenly lifted. He sat up straight, raised his voice, and said, "Let Shangwu and Liu'er tell you the rest. Bring the wine!"

They clinked glasses.

Li Henian drank it all in one gulp, let out a sigh, and his face showed a nostalgic expression.

"I still remember that year when the two of us met for the first time in Yunmeng Swamp. I lay in ambush without moving for three hours, but my thunder strike couldn't kill you. I was surprised at that time and thought to myself that this pretty boy has some skills..."

Zhong Yan also had a nostalgic look on his face and smiled, "We fought fiercely back then, and in the end, we were both exhausted and unable to move. It was you who surrendered first and suggested splitting the herbs."

It was just a Fire Glow Grass worth less than ten low-grade spirit stones.

"That was just a temporary measure. How could I surrender!"

Li Henian glanced sideways, laughed, and took another sip of wine. "A few days later, we met again and actually killed a disciple of the Five Elements Sect together..."

"To be honest, even now, I still have some awe for you in my heart. Your thoughts are too terrifying. While others think one step ahead, you can think ten steps ahead. You understand so much at such a young age. I used to suspect that you were possessed by some old monster..."

Li Henian drank cup after cup of wine, recounting past events.

"The luckiest thing in my life is to have you as a friend..."

Suddenly, there was a loud crash as the wine cup fell to the ground.

"Father!"

"Master!"

Zhong Yan pursed his lips, watched his smiling friend leave, and after a long time, he wiped the corners of his eyes with the back of his hand, let out a sigh, and walked out.

He didn't know if he would ever meet such a compatible friend again.

...