I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Two years later.

Within the pitch-black expanse of the Black Fog Mountain Range, hundreds of li away from the ancient ruins, three streaks of light flew swiftly through the night, cloaked by the dense fog.

The group consisted of two men and one woman, all at mid-stage Core Formation or above in cultivation. The ripples of power emanating from them carried a foreign aura distinct from the local Great Qing.

“We found it! This is the Lingxu Ancient Pillar left behind by the ancestor of the Tinghai Pavilion!”

The blue-robed youth in the lead, though injured, was brimming with joy, as were his companions. This youth, at the late Core Formation stage, had strikingly sharp features, deep-set eyes, a hooked nose, and a pair of unusually large ears that extended outward from the side of his temples, far larger than those of an average person.

With a loud boom, the mountain face shattered under the force of his Core Formation power, revealing a fractured stone pillar. Its surface was marred with indistinct patterns, devoid of any luster.

“If we had delayed by another 'cycle of sixty years' (jiazi), the sensing capabilities of this Lingxu Ancient Pillar would have vanished completely. Even if we arrive in Qing Province after a thousand years of hard work, it will be in vain if we can't find the location of the sanctuary left behind by our ancestor,” the blue-robed youth said with a sigh of relief as he waved his hand, stowing the broken pillar into his storage artifact.

This wasn’t just any ordinary relic—it was made of rare spatial materials, a strategic resource of immense value.

“Congratulations, Grand Elder, on locating the ancestor’s legacy site in this distant province!”

The female cultivator, dressed in a feathered robe, bowed slightly, her tone full of respect.

“Congratulations to the great True Monarch Shazhai for accomplishing a feat left unfinished for thousands of years!”

The other man, a dark-skinned figure clad in strange scale armor made from sea monster materials, also offered his congratulations.

Although the blue-robed, large-eared youth shared the same Core Formation cultivation as the other two, he was treated with the deference reserved for a senior of much higher status.

The three foreign cultivators moved cautiously and soon arrived at the ancient ruins several hundred li away.

True Monarch Shazhai raised his hand, motioning for the other two to restrain their aura. His large ears twitched repeatedly, picking up the slightest movements within the area surrounding the ruins.

The range of his senses unexpectedly exceeded the spiritual sense of an average Nascent Soul True Monarch!

“That ruin is under the control of a Nascent Soul sect, with an early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator based there,” he muttered, his expression dark and grim.

The treasure vault left behind by his ancestor had been seized by others.

Today, with the Tinghai Pavilion in decline, True Monarch Shazhai was the first cultivator in thousands of years to reach the Nascent Soul stage and have great attainments in formations.

Through years of painstaking effort and immense sacrifices, he had managed to partially restore the concealed spatial node leading to the ancestor’s treasure vault. While cultivators below the Nascent Soul stage could attempt to pass through, they would face the risk of spatial turbulence and backlash.

After all the hardships, finding the location of the treasure vault only to discover it taken by another felt like a devastating blow.

True Monarch Shazhai’s face turned pale as veins bulged across his forehead. He was on the verge of vomiting blood.

“Grand Elder, what should we do next?”

The feathered-robed female cultivator and the dark-skinned man dared not breathe loudly, their expressions tense.

“Investigate! The cultivation civilization of Qing Province is far inferior to the Great Yuan. A mere Nascent Soul sect from such a small backwater is no match for us!” ℝáŊÒＢΕṠ

Suppressing the raging qi and blood within his body, True Monarch Shazhai’s gaze turned icy as he stared at the grand formation hall guarding the entrance to the ruins in the swamp ahead.

“We have no other way out. The ‘Sixteen Sea-Edge Sects’ have uncovered our identities as descendants of the Tinghai Pavilion and are relentlessly hunting us down. There’s no room to maneuver.”

Back in the Great Yuan, the Tinghai Pavilion had no place to survive. Even if they couldn’t reclaim the ancestor’s treasure, they could only remain in Great Qing, establish a foothold, and rebuild the sect.

Hunted, injured, and desperate, True Monarch Shazhai had no choice but to take this gamble. He had ventured into the dangerous ancient battlefield forbidden zones in the central region of the Great Yuan to seek an uncertain path of survival.

With a sudden whoosh, True Monarch Shazhai transformed into a dark-blue stream of water, silently approaching the formation hall established by the Golden Sun Sect.

“Who goes there…?”

The elder stationed at the formation hall—a decrepit Core Formation cultivator—barely sensed the intruder before his sea of consciousness was struck with a tremor. His entire body froze as if paralyzed.

In the next instant, he collapsed, unconscious.

The ghostly shadow of True Monarch Shazhai flickered, appearing before the unconscious elder as though he had teleported.

Forming a claw with his hand, True Monarch Shazhai pressed it onto the elder’s crown, performing a soul-searching technique.

The formation hall and the ruins’ entrance were desolate in the dead of night, devoid of any other figures.

Before long, True Monarch Shazhai and his two companions completely took control of the ruins, sealing them off from the outside world.

Half a day later.

Following the incomplete formation diagrams and architectural layout he had memorized from the ancestor’s records, True Monarch Shazhai arrived at the ruins’ center—the site of the six-sided palace that once housed the treasure vault.

“Signs of spatial collapse…”

After sensing the surroundings for a long time, True Monarch Shazhai’s expression fluctuated between light and dark.

Small secret realms, artificially created, would gradually collapse if left without maintenance.

However, he could not determine whether this collapse had occurred naturally or if someone had looted the treasures and triggered it deliberately.

In fact, when Lan Chang'an had entered the small secret realm years ago, the space was already on the verge of collapse.

“We must investigate thoroughly! That unknown treasure, which could attract the attention of a Deity Transformation Heavenly Lord eight thousand years ago, might still leave fragments behind even if the space has collapsed!”

From the ancestor’s notes, True Monarch Shazhai deduced that the treasure vault likely contained a supreme treasure of unimaginable value.

Though its exact nature remained unclear, the fact that it had caused the downfall of the Tinghai Pavilion, pursued by the Ethereal Sect, the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, and the Nine Dragons Hall of the Outer Sea, suggested it held a world-shaking secret.

Judging by his knowledge, any treasure capable of enticing a Deity Transformation Heavenly Lord was likely a powerful true spiritual treasure!

...

One year later.

In the Fragrant Grass Oasis, hidden deep in seclusion, Lan Chang'an reached the age of 303.

On this day, news arrived from the Liang Kingdom that left him both surprised and uncertain.

“The ancient ruins controlled by the Golden Sun Sect were attacked by mysterious cultivators—no survivors.”

“Half a year later, Nightless Town was assaulted, and its third-rank formation collapsed...”

“The Liang Kingdom’s top loose cultivator, ‘Nightless Immortal,’ was gravely injured, his spirit pet killed, and several Core Formation experts fell in the battle. Fortunately, a Core Formation elder from a nearby sect passing through the area narrowly escaped with his life.”

“The Golden Sun Sect labeled the attackers as demonic spies trying to disrupt the rear lines and issued a bounty for their capture! However, the identities of the mysterious attackers remain unknown…”

Lan Chang'an quietly processed the details of the intelligence and fell into deep thought, his expression growing heavier by the moment.

He didn’t believe the attackers were merely demonic spies.

While demonic factions infiltrating and disrupting enemy territory wasn’t uncommon in various branches of the Righteous Dao Alliance, this situation seemed different.

“Ancient ruins… Jiang Yechen… Fairy Shi?”

Using the clues at hand, Lan Chang'an began piecing things together, eventually coming to a general understanding of the cause.

Fairy Shi had been one of the first cultivators to explore the ancient ruins—long before Lan Chang'an had even set foot there. She later obtained a third-rank formation inheritance.

As a talented formation master, she contributed significantly to her group’s research of the ruins, assisting with formation-breaking and exploration.

In the eyes of the outside world, Fairy Shi was the cultivator most familiar with the ruins and one of the earliest to benefit from its opportunities.

Unfortunately, Fairy Shi had passed away seven years ago, succumbing to old age.

“Fellow Daoist Jiang, as her dao companion for the last twenty years of her life, has now fallen victim to this disaster.”

Lan Chang'an sighed softly, a faint sense of guilt flickering across his expression.

Jiang Yechen had taken the fall for him!

Those foreign cultivators clearly sought to uncover clues about Fairy Shi’s connections during her lifetime.

As her dao companion, Jiang Yechen naturally became their primary target.

What’s more, Jiang Yechen’s reputation as the top loose cultivator in the Liang Kingdom gave the impression that he possessed considerable fortune and opportunities.

The foreign cultivators, seeking to plunder the ancient ruins, naturally set their sights on him first.

As for Lan Chang'an?

To the outside world, at most, he was merely Fairy Shi’s early flame. Such a relationship paled in comparison to that of a Dao companion.

“Ah, the title of ‘Liang Kingdom’s Top Loose Cultivator’—what a dangerous and unnecessary label to bear!”

Lan Chang'an couldn’t help but feel a mix of gratitude and relief. He was thankful for his decision back then to firmly reject Jiang Yechen’s offer to pass the title onto him.

Now residing far away in the Fengyuan Kingdom, his presence in the Liang Kingdom had long faded from public view. Even if those foreign cultivators eventually turned their attention toward him, it would take them quite some time to locate him.

Lan Chang'an began analyzing the information at hand, attempting to deduce the identity and strength of the foreign cultivators.

To be able to break the third-rank formation of Nightless Town, severely injure Liang Kingdom’s top loose cultivator, and almost claim victory—this was no ordinary late Core Formation Great Cultivator.

Jiang Yechen, whom Lan Chang'an had sparred with in the past, likely still had some hidden trump cards. Jiang also owned a third-rank soul treasure, granting him a heightened sense of danger. Furthermore, he was on his own turf, supported by allies.

“At the very least, the attackers included a top-tier late Core Formation Great Cultivator! For them to escape afterward, evading the Golden Sun Sect’s pursuit and bounty, they must possess sensory abilities rivaling or even surpassing those of a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Perhaps they’re even stronger than the Peacock Saintess.”

For now, Lan Chang'an’s estimation of their strength was concerning but not overwhelming. However, he feared their true strength might exceed his current analysis.

As for their identities, even with sufficient clues, Lan Chang'an’s attempts to deduce further details encountered significant resistance.

He suspected the situation might involve a Nascent Soul True Monarch or be veiled by higher-level interference.

“From the Great Yuan… connected to the Tinghai Pavilion.”

Expending a small portion of his lifespan, Lan Chang'an performed a more precise divination.

Upon confirming the involvement of the Tinghai Pavilion, a sense of foreboding gripped his heart.

Without capturing or interrogating the attackers, Lan Chang'an knew he wouldn’t find peace of mind.

Only, now at the critical moment of cultivation, the late Core Formation stage is getting closer and closer...

Lan Chang'an didn't know about the strength and details of the opponents to be sure of victory.

“Sigh, forget it! Let Fellow Daoist Jiang hold the line for a few more years.”

Lan Chang'an quickly made his decision.

“Once I advance to the late Core Formation stage, my mana will multiply, and my divine abilities will improve significantly. At that point, even if the intruders include a Nascent Soul True Monarch, I’ll have the means to contend with them—or at least hold my ground.”

Lan Chang'an's original plan was to leave Xuan Yin Pavilion after reaching the late-stage Core Formation. The mid-grade third-rank spiritual vein here was insufficient to sustain his future cultivation.

He was sure to make a trip back to the Righteous Dao Alliance to seek opportunities for advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, including Xia Wenyue's Taiyin Jade Essence.

Now, however, he had one more task to accomplish.

...

Four years later.

At 307 years old, Lan Chang'an had steadily cultivated to the pinnacle of the mid Core Formation stage.

From mid-stage to the peak of it, it had taken him seventy years—a rate considered average among Core Formation cultivators.

Lan Chang'an’s greatest advantage lay in his ability to overcome bottlenecks more easily.

For most Core Formation cultivators, the transition to the late stage was a daunting barrier that could take decades of painstaking effort. Achieving a breakthrough within ten years was considered remarkable.

Many Core Formation cultivators, even after a lifetime of cultivation, failed to enter the ranks of late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivators.

In the end, cultivation speed wasn’t the decisive factor; what truly mattered was one’s potential for breaking through bottlenecks and reaching higher realms.

This was the advantage of having a high-quality Dan.

If one were a low-tier True Dan cultivator, it would be nearly impossible to advance to the ranks of late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivator, even with earth spirit roots.

The impact of spirit root qualifications is most significant during the early and mid-stages of cultivation.

By the time a cultivator reaches the Core Formation stage, their innate foundation and aptitude will have undergone some improvement.

At this stage, whether one's aptitude is good or bad no longer carries the same weight as it does during the Qi-Refining and Foundation Establishment stages—it becomes just one of many factors.

This is why Lan Chang'an was not surprised when Zhang Tieshan advanced to the late Core Formation stage.

This was because Zhang Tieshan was very likely a high-tier True Dan cultivator who had concealed the true quality of his Dan—a speculation Lan Chang'an had came up with in his earlier years.

Half a month later, Lan Chang'an made his first attempt to break into the late Core Formation stage—but he failed.

The layer of resistance at the late stage of Core Formation was exceptionally tough!

Even with an Immortal Golden Dan or heavenly spiritual roots, achieving a breakthrough in one attempt was rare.@@novelbin@@

“It seems I’ll need to temper myself for a while longer,” Lan Chang'an murmured, fully understanding the situation.

His cultivation method, Evergreen Technique, ensured a solid foundation and offered benefits for breakthroughs, but it couldn’t completely bypass bottlenecks.

In his earlier stages—Qi-Refining and Foundation Establishment—his decades of accumulated experience, combined with the Evergreen Technique’s strong foundation, had allowed him to advance with little resistance.

But now, at this critical juncture before Nascent Soul, his prior advantages of past life experiences and skills did not have the same effectiveness as in the past.

“If breaking into the late Core Formation stage is this difficult, the Nascent Soul Tribulation will be a hundred times harder. Even the Evergreen Technique's laid foundation may only provide limited assistance!”

Over the next year, Lan Chang'an patiently refined his cultivation, gradually loosening the bottleneck. He occasionally took breaks to relax his mind, sharing tea and enjoying music with Fairy Ni Yue, which helped maintain a calm and open state of mind.

Although he hadn’t returned to Liang Kingdom in recent years, he kept a close eye on developments involving the mysterious foreign cultivators.

Through a puppet clone, he visited the desert borderlands and negotiated with Xing Peng, tasking him with using the Unseen Gate’s network to track the intruders.

Xing Peng reported that the Unseen Gate had already noticed the foreign cultivators. The trio seemed to have appeared out of thin air, with no discernible background. Although attempts were made to track them, only scant traces were found.

Some Unseen Gate spies who pursued too closely had vanished without a trace.

“No doubt about it—these are high-level cultivators from the Great Yuan. Even the Unseen Gate has suffered losses without mobilizing their top experts.”

Lan Chang'an felt a sense of alarm.

He concluded that the foreign cultivators possessed exceptional sensory or anti-tracking abilities.

For now, though, Jiang Yechen continued to divert most of their attention, buying Lan Chang'an valuable time.

With Golden Sun Sect’s bounty and the Unseen Gate’s scrutiny, the foreign cultivators had been forced into a more subdued state in recent years.

Still, Lan Chang'an remained vigilant. Through Xing Peng, he relayed warnings to his old acquaintances—Zhou Qingxuan, Li Congren, and Zhao Tan’er—advising them to be careful.

If the foreign cultivators began investigating him but couldn’t locate him, they might turn their attention to his former allies and juniors for leads.

...

On this day, within the chief guest elder’s cave dwelling of the Xuan Yin Pavilion, the fourth-rank illusion formation fully concealed the entire area.

Except for Fairy Ni Yue, no other disciples within the pavilion noticed anything unusual.

After centuries of collecting rare materials, Lan Chang'an had finally repaired the incomplete formation from years ago, restoring it to a fully functioning fourth-rank formation.

Even with the formation’s concealment, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth outside began to show signs of unusual turbulence, rapidly converging toward his location.

To cover up this anomaly, a sudden "coincidental" small-scale sandstorm swept across the Fragrant Grass Oasis, filling the skies with rolling yellow sand and dark clouds, perfectly masking the disruption.

Within his secluded chamber, Lan Chang'an sat cross-legged, his Immortal Golden Dan, resembling an elliptical fruit, spinning and trembling within him. Its surface glimmered with flowing golden patterns, as vibrant as glazed light.

With each grand circulation of his Evergreen Mana, the energy returned to the core of the Golden Dna, not only refining its quality but also increasing its quantity.

He was entirely enveloped in a layer of verdant spiritual mist, exuding an endless aura of vitality. The incomparably compressed Golden Core within him began to expand steadily, inching toward its ultimate limit.

Ten days later.

Lan Chang'an’s Immortal Golden Dan expanded to its utmost size, vibrating with a low rumble as it resonated with his sea of consciousness.

Simultaneously, his soul force climbed to greater heights, surging along with his breakthrough.

Buzz!

In the sealed chamber, waves of verdant light burst forth, exuding the vibrant aura of eternal greenery. The space became suffused with a dreamlike fragrance of ancient trees and ripe fruits, an enchanting aroma that evoked a primal longing and an irresistible allure.

"308 years old... Late Core Formation Stage!"

The Immortal Golden Dan within his body now resembled a miniature, unquenchable sun, radiating terrifying power and explosive potential.

The strength of his Golden Dan had doubled, not only in quality but also in sheer capacity! His spiritual sense had also advanced significantly, far surpassing the peak of his previous life’s late Core Formation stage.

From this moment onward, Lan Chang'an had truly become a late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivator, surpassing his second life in every conceivable way!

“The Immortal Golden Dan truly lives up to its name!”

The massive leap in strength left Lan Chang'an’s heart surging with excitement, rekindling his confidence for the road to Nascent Soul.

It was at this moment, his Evergreen Golden Dan emitted a faint hum, sparking a resonant response within his sea of consciousness. A mysterious and indescribable sense of destiny welled up within him.

Lan Chang'an’s instincts sharpened as his gaze turned toward the central regions of Great Qing.

He felt an uncanny pull—a faint yet irresistible sensation that something of great importance awaited him in that direction.

“It’s clearer than before!”

His expression turned serious, and a cold gleam flashed in his deep, pitch-black eyes.

Decades ago, when he first achieved the mid Core Formation stage, Lan Chang'an had experienced a similar sense of guidance. However, it had been vague and fleeting at the time, lacking the clarity and magnetic pull he now felt.

Through careful deduction, Lan Chang'an connected the dots:

“The higher the cultivation level and the closer in realm, the stronger this resonance becomes.”

The Evergreen Golden Dan had once imparted an abstract truth to him: Evergreen Dao Fruits could consume one another to extend their lifespan.

Now, with this second occurrence of resonance, Lan Chang'an refined his understanding:

The resonance was more pronounced when the cultivation levels of two practitioners were similar. Moreover, the act of consumption was far more effective when the life level of the two parties was close.

This explained why, at lower cultivation levels, the benefits of consuming a weaker Evergreen Dao Fruit were negligible. The lifespan gain would be minimal due to the vast difference in life essence.

But for practitioners of similar strength, the extension of lifespan could be far more substantial, creating a compelling pull of fate between them.

After a long while, Lan Chang'an withdrew his mana, and the distant resonance gradually faded.

He understood that the phenomenon was tied to the fervent transformation state of his Golden Dan during the breakthrough. In his normal state, such resonance would only occur if the other party were much closer.

...

Half a month later.

Lan Chang'an emerged from his seclusion.

Though he was in high spirits after achieving the late Core Formation stage, the long-term uncertainties weighed on his mind, tempering his excitement.

Fortunately, his newfound strength granted him the confidence to contend with Nascent Soul-level threats.

As for the Evergreen Technique cultivator in the central region, they were both a source of worry and an opportunity.

“Judging by the resonance, that person is likely at least late Core Formation stage, possibly early Nascent Soul stage,” Lan Chang'an reasoned.

The possibility of them being stronger seemed low. If that were the case, they would have already made their way to the eastern regions of Great Qing long ago.

For seventy years, the cultivator had remained absent. This indicated a lack of overwhelming strength.

“As a central region cultivator, traveling to the eastern territories of Great Qing is a long and risky journey—especially with the Six Demonic Sects waging war here.”

Lan Chang'an speculated that the other cultivator’s absence was likely due to insufficient power.

The Evergreen Technique wasn’t particularly suited for combat. Its practitioners lived longer than most and progressed slowly, but their cultivation advantages often didn’t translate into superior fighting strength.

Unlike sect geniuses such as the Peacock Saintess, most Evergreen practitioners were relatively mediocre. Not even fit to shine their shoes! Having a lot of lifespan was also a hidden danger.

Lan Chang'an guessed that the “fellow disciple” in the central region was most likely a homely longevity cultivator.

In addition, that person probably didn't form a Golden Dan, and didn't know the secret that the Evergreen Dao Fruit could be swallowed to prolong one's life.

This time, however, the resonance felt different.

Both parties had similar levels of cultivation, the pull of fate could compel the other person to take action and come to the eastern region.

“If they dare to come, they’re likely a Nascent Soul cultivator and confident in their abilities.”

From Lan Chang'an’s perspective, even an early Nascent Soul cultivator would face significant risks traveling into the demon-plagued eastern territories. If they were unlucky enough to be noticed by a demonic True Monarch, they could be surrounded and killed.

“If they don’t come, it’s more likely they’re just a late Core Formation cultivator—or an early Nascent Soul cultivator with lackluster combat abilities and insufficient courage.”

Having thoroughly analyzed the situation, Lan Chang'an devised his plan:

If the other person came, he would simply flee.

If they didn’t, he would bide his time. Once he resolved matters with the Righteous Dao Alliance and maximized his strength and techniques, he would travel to the central region of Great Qing to investigate.

Unlike the mysterious foreign cultivators from the Great Yuan, whose motives and abilities were shrouded in uncertainty, Lan Chang'an felt confident in his understanding of the Evergreen Technique and its practitioners.

It was the unknown that demanded caution; the familiar, he could face with clarity and resolve.