Chapter 365: The Fortune of Zhong Shentong

"Zhong Shentong? He wants to see me?"

In the vast White Mist, Li Fan stopped his current work.

Listening to He Chen's report, Li Fan frowned slightly, feeling somewhat bewildered.

He had only met him once during a Seated Discussion; they had never formally met in the real world.

Seeing Li Fan's expression, He Chen lowered his voice and said, "According to this Zhong Shentong, he has a method to extend your Lifespan, Great Master Li. However, he insists on seeing you in person."

"Although this person only has Foundation Establishment Stage cultivation, his Seven-Colored Divine Light is truly unfathomably profound; it can even withstand the Devouring Yuan White Mist. The superiors in the Immortal Fortress also speak highly of him."

"Furthermore, this Zhong Shentong has a wide circle of friends. This time, it was through the introduction and guarantee of a Soul Transformation Cultivator that the Immortal Fortress allowed him to come over."

"It wouldn't hurt for you to meet him, Great Master Li," He Chen suggested.

Among the Cultivators at Jiaxu Outpost whom Li Fan saved two years ago, He Chen was the most grateful to him.

After Li Fan's Lifespan was nearing its end, he still insisted on fighting on the front lines to build the Formation. He Chen admired Li Fan to the point of complete devotion.

It even reached a point of faint fanaticism, where he obeyed Li Fan's every word.

Li Fan nodded slightly and said, "In that case, take me to meet this Zhong Shentong."

In his heart, he thought, "Just when I needed a pillow, someone brought it. Setting aside whether his so-called Lifespan extension method is true or false, just getting closer to him and probing the origins of his Seven-Colored Divine Light beforehand is good enough."

The two returned to Jiaxu Outpost. In the meeting hall, an old man with white hair and beard, wearing a Daoist robe, had already been waiting for a long time.

Li Fan stepped inside, and Zhong Shentong's gaze instantly focused on him.

After exchanging a glance, Li Fan saluted first, "Fellow Daoist Zhong, I have long heard of your reputation!"

Zhong Shentong also let out a long sigh, "A famous name is rarely without merit; the rumors outside are actually true. Fellow Daoist, you truly bear the appearance of someone whose Lifespan is rapidly decaying and whose end is near."

Upon hearing this, He Chen's gaze immediately turned unfriendly.

Li Fan's heart stirred, and he signaled for He Chen to leave for the moment.

Once only the two of them were left in the hall, he cupped his hands and said, "Fellow Daoist, your words seem to have a deeper meaning?"

Zhong Shentong stroked his beard and nodded, "It is precisely because I have had a similar experience to yours that I could be so certain at a glance."

"To be honest, Fellow Daoist, when I heard of your deeds in the outside world, I actually didn't believe them."

"Because I have personally experienced it, I know all too well just how intense that extreme disparity—and the fear brought by death—can be, when one moment you clearly have plenty of Lifespan left, and the next, you are nearing death."

"I once prided myself on having a resilient mind, yet I almost collapsed. It took me a long time to recover."

"But compared to you…" Zhong Shentong shook his head, "Earlier, you seemed to be overseeing the Formation construction work in the White Mist? Putting your own life aside…"

"This kind of Realm is beyond my reach!"

Li Fan smiled derisively, "I knew there was no hope of extending my life, so I just thought I would do as much as I could. As for being noble…"

"I don't think so," Li Fan said sincerely.

Zhong Shentong's expression became even more excited, "Yes, that is exactly the kind of transcendent and free-spirited attitude."

"How exactly did you achieve this? I hope you can teach me!"

After saying this, he bowed deeply with a solemn face.

Li Fan also reacted quickly, dodging the bow.

He said sternly, "Your visit here is suspicious, and your behavior is even more baffling."

"If you continue to speak in riddles, don't blame me for turning hostile!"

"Although your Seven-Colored Divine Light is powerful, I am not afraid of you!"

Zhong Shentong gave a bitter smile and slapped his forehead, "Forgive me, Fellow Daoist, I was reckless."

Straightening up, he pondered for a moment and slowly said, "What I said earlier about having a method to extend your Lifespan is indeed true."

"And my desire to ask for your guidance is also sincere."

"Have you ever heard of my deeds, Fellow Daoist?" Zhong Shentong looked at Li Fan and asked.

Li Fan nodded, "I have heard a little. You are famous for being a late bloomer, Fellow Daoist."

"In your sixties, a Mortal reaching Qi Refining. You spent decades in Qi Refining before finally reaching Foundation Establishment."

"You never gave up hope of breaking through to the next stage until death; I truly admire you for that."

Upon hearing this, Zhong Shentong actually blushed.

Looking around and seeing no one else, he whispered, "You are too kind, Fellow Daoist."

"Actually, there is a hidden story behind this."

"And it is related to my coming to find you this time."

"I am telling you this today, and I hope you will not spread it."

Li Fan's expression changed slightly, but he still nodded in agreement.

Zhong Shentong cleared his throat and said, "Fellow Daoist, have you ever heard of procrastination?"

"Procrastination?" Li Fan was somewhat surprised.

"Yes, I suffer from a very severe case of procrastination. It is incurable and deeply rooted," Zhong Shentong sighed.

"Back in the day, when I was eighteen, I accidentally obtained a profound cultivation technique. However, I really had no motivation to Cultivate. I thought that since I was still young, there was plenty of time ahead. Thus, I became increasingly lazy in my cultivation."

"Like that, I fished for three days and dried nets for two. I lived carefree until I was over fifty, still unable to break through to the Qi Refinement Stage."

"And at that time, I was still not in a hurry," Zhong Shentong narrowed his eyes, seemingly lost in memories.

"I prided myself on the fact that, given my physical condition at the time, I could live to be seventy or eighty. I still had more than thirty years to enjoy myself."

"Until that day, when I accidentally swallowed a poisonous fruit."

"Although I survived and didn't die on the spot, my body was in a precarious state, and my end was not far off."

"I had never felt death so close to me before, and I became unprecedentedly terrified."

"Between life and death, there is great terror!"

"So I thought that after breaking through to Qi Refining, my Lifespan would skyrocket."

"As if grabbing the last straw, I cast everything else from my mind and focused solely on Cultivate."

"Under the pressure brought by death, my cultivation speed was unimaginably fast."

"In just one day and night, I successfully stepped into the Qi Refinement Realm!"

"But after that, my Lifespan increased again, causing me to lose all motivation once more. Thinking I still had so many days to live, I decided to enjoy myself first."

"Until decades later, when I again reached the limit of my own Lifespan."

"Under the threat of death, I finally Cultivate and broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage!"

After Zhong Shentong finished speaking, Li Fan's expression became extremely strange.

If he wasn't lying, then this guy was truly a talent.

"So, what is this method of yours for extending Lifespan, Fellow Daoist?" Li Fan tried his best to appear amiable and asked patiently.

Zhong Shentong said confidently, "I heard that you don't have much Lifespan left, Fellow Daoist, and have given up on the plan to advance to the Nascent Soul? In my opinion, there is no need for that!"