Chapter 589: The Tree That Simmers Human Lifespans

"Let's not even discuss where one would find so many corpses of fallen Golden Core cultivators.

"When a cultivator dies, their Dao returns to heaven. A Golden Core is the condensation of a cultivator's comprehension of the laws of heaven and earth, but it is ultimately built upon a Curio of heaven and earth as its Dao Foundation.

"Once the Dao returns to heaven, the Curio loses its wondrous properties, and the laws condensed within the Golden Core lose their foundation. Not only does the quality of the Golden Core suffer drastically, but over time, it risks dissipating entirely. They cannot be preserved long-term."

It was clearly his area of expertise. Daoist Rottenwood spoke with great authority, and a rare vitality appeared on his face; the tight-drawn wrinkles across it relaxed without his seeming to notice.

"But all these problems can be easily resolved, provided the cultivator is willing.

"If the Golden Core is extracted while the cultivator is still alive, it does not trigger the mechanism of heaven's malice. With the Curio of heaven and earth at its core, the Golden Core can then be preserved indefinitely.

"True, the cultivator loses all their cultivation and becomes no different from a mortal. But it's only the Golden Core realm. Starting over isn't much trouble!

"With sufficient resources, they can condense a new Golden Core in ten years at most.

"Hmm, the production cycle is still somewhat long, I admit. But given our current number of cultivators, we can achieve a harvest of several hundred Golden Cores annually."

Daoist Rottenwood delivered these words in the most serene of tones.

"Long-term, stable, harmless. Can that Zhang Debiao fellow, who had a stroke of luck, compare?

"Obviously not!

"So, Fellow Daoist, if you have a need, you must come to us first!"

Daoist Rottenwood looked at Li Fan, a flash of eagerness in his eyes.

Li Fan was not so easily swayed. He shook his head. "Fellow Daoist, don't take me for a fool. What cultivator would willingly have their Golden Core extracted, then repeat the whole cycle every ten-odd years? Just thinking about it makes my skin crawl."

"A misunderstanding, a misunderstanding!" Daoist Rottenwood cut him off.

"Our extraction technique has long since been refined to be painless and harmless. Those cultivators feel no pain whatsoever. They experience a rather unique pleasure, in fact. I even know of one fellow who, in order to keep experiencing the ecstasy of Golden Core removal, throws himself back into cultivation the moment his core is taken.

"He is now our most productive cultivator. On average, he yields a Two-Law Golden Core every three to four years."

Daoist Rottenwood saw absolutely nothing wrong with any of this, and explained it to Li Fan with genuine enthusiasm.

Even someone as detached as Li Fan felt a chill creeping through him as he looked at the man.

"So, Fellow Daoist, your concerns are entirely unnecessary.

"We have passed inspection by the Myriad Immortals Alliance and are officially recognized. Think about it—we are required to supply a set quantity of materials to the Alliance every year. If there were any quality issues with our goods, the Myriad Immortals Alliance would be the first to come knocking! You can rest easy, Fellow Daoist!"

Li Fan's eyes narrowed slightly. "The Myriad Immortals Alliance knows about your practices? Then why have I never heard of it?"

At that, Rottenwood muttered, almost to himself, "Simply because the concept is ahead of its time. The Alliance said that if it were made public, it would surely cause widespread misunderstanding among ordinary cultivators.

"So we keep it quiet.

"Common folk can't accept it, and that's to be expected. But a person like yourself, Fellow Daoist, you can grasp what we're doing here, can't you?"

Daoist Rottenwood looked at Li Fan with hopeful anticipation.

"I can understand it," Li Fan said, half-truthfully. "It's just... a bit difficult to accept all at once."

Daoist Rottenwood looked as though he had finally found a kindred spirit. He clapped his hands. "I knew it! I was not wrong about you! Fellow Daoist, you possess great wisdom!"

He sprang to his feet and began pacing, speaking with rising excitement. "It's only natural to grieve for one's own kind! Of course you can't shift your perspective overnight!

"But I believe that once you see our place for yourself, you'll come around quickly!

"So, what do you say? Would you like to come for a visit?"

There was no need to think about it. Li Fan was ready to refuse outright.

Then something utterly unexpected happened.

He found himself looking at this aged, frail cultivator, and thinking of the countless Golden Cores that might be waiting there.

Li Fan, who needed intact Golden Cores to unlock his anchor points, felt his thoughts drift as if steered by an unseen hand.

"Fine! It wouldn't hurt to take a look!"

He nodded in agreement.

The moment the words left his mouth, shock and horror flooded through him.

He understood then that this grey-robed cultivator was infinitely more dangerous than he had ever imagined.

All he had wanted was to buy some Golden Cores. How had he ended up in this mess?

His luck was just too damned bad.

Return to...

He stopped himself halfway through the thought.

A strange notion surfaced. Perhaps it wasn't such a big deal.

Surely it hadn't come to the point of needing to Return to Truth yet?

After all, the other party was officially recognized by the Myriad Immortals Alliance. It wasn't likely they'd resort to murder and robbery.

And he had spent so much time laying the groundwork in this lifetime, finally reaching this point. If he used Return to Truth now, everything would start over. Wouldn't that be a tremendous hassle?

These thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant, and somehow, they convinced him. He let the idea go.

"Fellow Daoist Rottenwood, what is your place called, and how do we get there?" Li Fan asked, his expression now one of keen interest.

Rottenwood smacked his own forehead, looking chagrined. "Ah! I nearly forgot to mention that, Fellow Daoist Yu.

"Our place is called... the Simmering of Lifespans."

It might have been Li Fan's imagination, but when Rottenwood spoke that last phrase, something shifted in his tone and in his face, turning faintly sinister.

A moment later, Rottenwood's fervent enthusiasm returned as if it had never left.

"As for how to get there, just hold onto me!"

Li Fan reached out and grasped Daoist Rottenwood's sleeve as though it were the most natural thing in the world.

"Steady yourself, Fellow Daoist!" Rottenwood called, then began to chant under his breath: "Heaven and earth hold the Ruomu Tree, day and night it consumes living years..."[1]

It was like a billowing wave of thick smoke rushing in. In an instant, everything around them was swallowed by a grey murk.

There was nothing to see but constantly shifting light and shadow, and the eerie sound of something whistling past. All other scenery was gone.

Yet Li Fan felt not a shred of danger.

Looking out at the grey mist coiling around them, he felt an inexplicable sense of belonging well up within him, as though he had always been meant to be here.

He had no idea how much time passed before the gray mist dissolved.

The surrounding scenery sharpened back into clarity.

"Fellow Daoist Li, we've arrived!"

At Daoist Rottenwood's call, Li Fan finally laid eyes on the Simmering of Lifespans.

Before them stood a single tree—colossal enough to prop up the heavens, yet utterly withered and yellowed, its bark mottled with dark spots.

From its branches, packed densely together, hung countless cultivators, dangling like fruit from a heavily laden bough.

1. Legendary Tree of the Setting Sun ☜

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