I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 327: Refinement and Control

Read 50 Chapters Ahead On Patreon :D /zilawere

"Greetings, Sect Master!"

Amid the respectful salutes of the gathered cultivators, the dazzling golden light of the flying technique dimmed and descended midair.

Dressed in a black robe adorned with intricate patterns, Zhang Tianfeng exuded an aura of majesty and composure as he arrived in front of the crowd of cultivators.@@novelbin@@

"Sect Master Zhang, about that mission… Could it be…"

Elder Miao and the others were stunned, caught completely off guard. A sense of disbelief and absurdity filled the air.

Zhang Tianfeng, who had just entered seclusion not long ago, had unexpectedly emerged and even acknowledged Lan Chang'an's seemingly outrageous claims.

"Elder Lan, it's been a hundred years since we last met. To think you’d retreat to the barren deserts for so long, it must have been hard for you."

With a solemn expression, Zhang Tianfeng gazed at the white-robed figure standing atop the massive Profund Water Turtle. He cupped his hands respectfully in greeting.

Providing crucial intelligence on the demonic sect’s spies, which had saved Jin Yun Valley from great losses.

Slaying Black Crow Immortal and avenging the death of Zhao Siyao.

Secretly orchestrating the capture of the Peacock Saintess and her fall from grace.

"Not hard at all. Sect Master Zhang, running the sect and resisting the demonic invasion is what's truly laborious," Lan Chang'an replied lightly, his tone calm and composed.

To him, his hundred years in Fengyuan Kingdom felt like a fleeting holiday—pleasant and all too brief.

With Zhang Tianfeng’s support as the sect’s foremost cultivator, the gathered Immortals fell silent. None dared mention the past allegations of "Turtle Lan" running away.

Zhang Tianfeng, now in the late Core Formation stage, had solidified his position as the most authoritative figure in Jin Yun Valley, surpassing even the late Grand Elder.

On the battlefield, Sect Master Zhang’s reputation was unparalleled, and could be called the strongest Core Formation cultivator in Liang Kingdom. His influence extended far beyond personal strength—his strategic leadership had enabled Jin Yun Valley to thrive despite the chaos of the demonic war, reaching heights unseen in centuries.

Furthermore, Zhang Tianfeng’s background in the Law Enforcement Hall, along with his fairness in rewards and punishments, had earned him immense respect from the sect’s disciples. ṛ𝔞₦ＯВÊs̈

"Elder Lan, having been away for a century, allow me to introduce the new Immortals who have joined our sect."

Zhang Tianfeng and Lan Chang'an walked side by side, their conversation light and informal, devoid of any airs.

It was as if they had shed the titles of sect master and legendary loose cultivator, returning to a time two or three centuries ago when they were ordinary cultivators just starting out in the vast world of cultivation, relying on each other for survival.

Witnessing the seamless camaraderie between Zhang Tianfeng and Lan Chang'an, the other Immortals present displayed mixed emotions—some envious, others deep in thought.

"I’ve heard that Sect Master Zhang and Elder Lan were immortal seedlings of the same entrance examination, having known each other since their youth. Together, they weathered the old era of the Liang Kingdom, the Golden Sun Northern Migration War, and the invasion of the demonic sects…"

"To think one would become the sect’s foremost cultivator and the other a legendary loose cultivator—it’s hard to imagine."

"Ah, centuries of friendship cannot be underestimated. Sect Master Zhang looking out for him is only natural."

The high-ranking cultivators of the sect, including guest elders, all came out to pay their respects.

"We humbly welcome Elder Lan back in glory!"

One of the Fake Dan cultivators shouted, prompting many others to echo the sentiment.

Even someone as thick-skinned as Lan Chang'an couldn’t help but silently curse, "Ridiculous."

Having been in hiding for a hundred years, he never expected that, thanks to the sect master’s attitude, he’d now be regarded as a triumphant hero returning in glory.

"This is Zhu Yuting, a fellow Daoist from Heng Kingdom who has recently joined us."

Zhang Tianfeng introduced with a smile.

The cultivator in question was a graceful woman dressed in an elegant violet gauze robe. Her features were delicate, her demeanor poised, and her cultivation level had reached the early Core Formation stage.

"I’ve long heard of the illustrious name of Evergreen Immortal."

Zhu Yuting’s charming smile lit up her face as she curtsied slightly, her gaze filled with a mix of admiration and curiosity as she studied Lan Chang'an.

"So it's Fellow Daoist Zhu."

Lan Chang'an nodded slightly, showing little interest in further conversation.

This woman was someone he had encountered back in Wangyue Immortal City when they were both forming their cores.

At that time, Lan Chang'an had been using the alias "Nie Yuan."

Upon their first meeting, Zhu Yuting had shown indifference and aloofness toward "Nie Yuan," unwilling to lend him any aid.

However, after "Nie Yuan" successfully formed an Immortal Golden Dan, Zhu Yuting’s attitude changed dramatically. Under the matchmaking efforts of her grandma, she had even taken the initiative to present him with a personal token, inviting him to visit Heng Kingdom at his convenience.

Unexpectedly, after the fall of the Heng Kingdom, Zhu Yuting had relocated to the Liang Kingdom and now served as a guest elder in Jin Yun Valley.

…

The summit of the main peak at the heart of Jin Yun Valley was the ancestral residence of the sect’s foremost cultivators throughout history. It was also the most spiritually rich location in the entire valley.

Standing at the peak, Lan Chang'an and Zhang Tianfeng overlooked the rolling mountain range that spanned hundreds of li, taking in the grand view of Jin Yun Valley’s sect grounds.

In this moment, the two young cultivators who had once been mere seedlings of the immortal path, now hundreds of years later, stood at the pinnacle of their respective paths. It felt as if they were towering above the once-mighty immortal sect, the fruits of their hard-fought journeys firmly underfoot.

"The scale of the spirit veins in Jin Yun Valley has expanded remarkably. Fellow Daoist Zhang, could it be that you have a method for cultivating spiritual veins?"

Lan Chang'an withdrew his gaze and asked with interest.

Even within the same grade, spiritual veins varied in size and strength.

For instance, Jin Yun Valley's third-rank spiritual vein had grown to an almost enormous scale. It could sustain the cultivation of over a dozen Core Formation cultivators simultaneously without any strain.

Zhang Tianfeng didn’t deny it. "Indeed, I do have a method to accelerate the cultivation of spiritual veins, though it requires vast amounts of precious resources."

As the leader of a sect and a veteran of many battlefields, Zhang Tianfeng had collected numerous high-grade metallic ores over the years.

The progress in restoring his spiritual treasure fragments had also greatly accelerated, and it already had one tenth of the completeness of a true Spiritual Treasure.

The recovery of its artifact spirit had advanced even further, granting him a wealth of useful knowledge and experience.

During his recent seclusion, the artifact spirit had sensed a faint aura of threat and had issued a warning.

Unexpectedly, it was Lan Chang'an returning.

Lan Chang'an had concealed his cultivation level well, but the artifact spirit had detected that he was in the late Core Formation stage. Though the exact quality of his core remained unclear without a direct confrontation, Zhang Tianfeng guessed that Lan Chang'an was at least an upper tier True Dan—similar to himself. Otherwise, it would be impossible for him to have advanced to this level.

"How long would it take to cultivate a fourth-rank spiritual vein?"

Lan Chang'an's eyes flickered subtly, showing faint anticipation for Jin Yun Valley’s potential growth.

"It’s extremely difficult! Breaking through to a fourth-rank spiritual vein would take a very long time, and the resources required would far exceed those needed to nurture a Nascent Soul cultivator. This is closely tied to the heaven and earth fortune of Great Qing and the distribution of earth veins."

"Unless we can extract a portion of an existing fourth-rank spiritual vein, only then can the progress be significantly accelerated," Zhang Tianfeng said bluntly, his gaze sharp and unwavering. He did not attempt to hide his ambitions in front of Lan Chang'an.

Lan Chang'an chuckled softly, he was far from the only one waiting for the old order to collapse.

Zhang Tianfeng, born with low-grade spiritual roots, had defied the odds through sheer willpower and fortuitous encounters. His current accomplishments were striking in the cultivation world.

However, Zhang Tianfeng had now reached his peak. As the sect master of Jin Yun Valley, his influence was unparalleled. Rumors suggested he even had the backing of a Nascent Soul senior.

Even the nearby Nascent Soul cultivators, despite whatever schemes they might harbor, found it increasingly difficult to make a move against him.

Lan Chang'an speculated that Zhang Tianfeng’s spiritual treasure-related opportunity had likely granted him some means of self-preservation, even against the interference of Nascent Soul cultivators.

His performance on the battlefield likely concealed even greater depths.

"How long will you be staying this time, Fellow Daoist Lan?" Zhang Tianfeng asked with some expectation.

If Jin Yun Valley could gain another late-stage Core Formation powerhouse—especially someone as unfathomable as Lan Chang'an—it might have a real chance of becoming the second-ranking sect in the Liang Kingdom.

"Probably no more than ten years," Lan Chang'an replied with a light sigh.

"So brief? Does Fellow Daoist Lan have no confidence in the war against the demonic sects?"

Zhang Tianfeng was startled, his tone carrying a trace of disappointment. If he could get Lan Changan's help, it was not an extravagant hope for Jin Yun Valley to become a Nascent Soul Sect within a hundred years.

Lan Chang'an could guess Zhang Tianfeng’s thoughts and was indeed somewhat tempted.

He wouldn’t mind staying in a reliable sect to cultivate steadily to the peak of Core Formation, or even advancing to Nascent Soul in his own fourth-rank spirit vein.

However, his decision had been influenced by a private conversation with the Heavenly Master.

When he left Fengyuan Kingdom, the Heavenly Master had seen him off and performed a divination for him.

For that, Lan Chang'an owed the old fox a favor.

Between the two, there was another agreement.

"It has nothing to do with that," Lan Chang'an said, shaking his head without providing further explanation.

The Righteous Dao Alliance had now shrunk to three countries' territories. With more cultivators stationed in each nation, the defensive pressure was relatively lighter, especially when it came to handling high-level combatants.

...

That day, Lan Chang'an moved into a cave-dwelling on one of the main peaks in Jin Yun Valley’s central area, benefiting from a superior third-rank spiritual vein.

This peak was called Great Sun Peak.

With a mid-Core Formation cultivation, practicing in a superior third-rank spirit vein would be more efficient, and Lan Chang'an wasn't worried about revealing his true cultivation as a result.

As a guest elder, his "privileged" treatment was a rare exception in Jin Yun Valley. However, given his deep ties with the sect’s foremost cultivator, none of the other Immortal dared voice any objections.

The next morning.

Lan Chang'an went to pay his respects at the tomb of Zhao Siyao.

Over the following days, Lan Chang'an entertained visits from various Immortals.

It was clear to those with sharp eyes that, with Lan Chang'an’s strength and connections, he was poised to become the second most influential figure in Jin Yun Valley.

Most of the Immortal were eager to build a good relationship with him.

Zhu Yuting, the only female Core Formation guest elder in the sect, also visited him and stayed for an hour. Her beauty and cultivation made her quite popular among the Core Formation circle in the sect.

However, Lan Chang'an treated her no differently from others, showing no signs of favoritism.

"These are items and letters that were sent to Yunlai Peak in the past."

On this evening, a late-stage Foundation Establishment steward brought Lan Chang'an a collection of items and letters.

Yunlai Peak had been Lan Chang'an’s dwelling in Jin Yun Valley a hundred years ago.

Most of the letters were from old friends and juniors across the Liang Kingdom, many were requests for favors.

One letter was from Ye Fei of Wuqi Mountain, who had failed to reach Core Formation and died decades ago after failing to contact Lan Chang'an.

Another set of letters came from Xia Wenyue, the earliest dating back sixty years.

Lan Chang'an briefly read through them and recalled recent intelligence about Xia Wenyue.

She had advanced to the mid-Core Formation stage many years ago.

This woman had even made a name for herself during the defensive battles in Feng Kingdom, with a record of killing a Core Formation demonic cultivator.

Lan Chang'an wasn’t surprised by her achievements.

Her innate Dao physique wasn’t about speed in cultivation but rather the natural advantages it provided, such as enhanced abilities or unique divine spells.

Her "Cold Soul Jade Marrow" constitution granted a significant boost to ice-based spells, making her combat prowess far superior to most of the same stage.

Theoretically, Lan Chang'an could now head to Feng Kingdom to claim the Taiyin Jade Essence from her.

"Let’s wait a little longer…"

Lan Chang'an planned to first refine the quasi-fourth-rank puppet before making any moves.

After all, claiming the Taiyin Jade Essence could easily attract hostility.

As far as he knew, Xia Wenyue had many admirers in Feng Kingdom, each one of them a dragon and phoenix among men.

Her master was also none other than the Nascent Soul cultivator of the Proud Moon Palace.

Lan Chang'an didn’t want to risk mishandling the situation and provoking a Nascent Soul cultivator’s wrath.

It was better to bide his time and accumulate more strength before heading to Feng Kingdom.

...

Half a year later.

Zhao Tan’er returned from the Jing Kingdom battlefield as part of the reinforcements.

Learning that Lan Chang'an had returned, Zhao Tan'er was pleasantly surprised.

However, for several days after learning the news, she stayed secluded in her cave abode, seemingly sulking and unwilling to see him.

At first, Lan Chang'an thought she was holding a grudge.

Perhaps, a hundred years ago, if he hadn’t “fled” and had instead stayed to become Dao companions with Zhao Siyao, the tragedy of her death could have been averted.

Until the early morning of this day.

On this particular morning, Lan Chang'an went to pay his respects at Zhao Siyao’s tomb and “coincidentally” encountered Zhao Tan’er, who was also there to offer her prayers.

Zhao Tan’er’s hair cascaded like a waterfall, her slender figure radiating a natural grace. Her bright, expressive eyes shimmered with star-like brilliance, but at this moment, they were clouded with misty tears as she stood silently, gazing at her master’s tombstone in a daze.

"Uncle Lan..."

Hearing footsteps behind her, she turned and saw Lan Chang'an. Her reddened eyes and trembling voice betrayed the rush of emotions swelling in her chest.

Her nose twitched, and she almost broke into tears on the spot.

“There’s no need to blame yourself,” Lan Chang'an said gently, patting her on the shoulder to calm her.

Through his inquiries, he had learned that Zhao Tan’er had been burdened with guilt over her master Zhao Siyao’s death.

It wasn’t anger toward him that made her avoid him; instead, it was her own self-reproach that kept her from facing him.

"Uncle Lan, it’s all my fault. I took the life-saving talisman you gave my master…"

Tears rolled down Zhao Tan’er’s cheeks as she spoke, her voice thick with remorse.

Seeing the closest elder figure she had left in the world, she finally found an outlet for the emotions she had kept bottled up for decades.

Her long hair swayed in the morning breeze, carrying a faint, pleasant fragrance. Turning, she threw herself into Lan Chang'an’s arms, burying her head in his chest as she sobbed softly.

"Uncle Lan, Master, we both wouldn’t blame you. Besides, your master had already reached the end of her road as a Fake Dan cultivator. Instead of clinging to this life, it’s better to look forward to the next."

Lan Chang'an had calculated long ago. Even if the events of that year had never happened, Zhao Siyao would have succumbed to the limits of her lifespan within a few years.

"Uncle Lan… Do cultivators truly have reincarnation and a next life?"

Zhao Tan’er wiped her tears, lifting her gaze to meet his. A flicker of light danced in her eyes, filled with curiosity and hope.

"Yes."

"Are you that certain? Don’t tell me you’ve actually seen it?"

"I have," Lan Chang'an replied firmly.

His resolute answer brought a sense of peace to Zhao Tan’er’s heart, even though she suspected that her Uncle Lan might just be comforting her.

After a long time, Zhao Tan’er’s emotions finally settled. She loosened her embrace, her delicate face tinged with a faint blush.

She thought back to her master’s final words and hesitated, her gaze lingering on the eternally youthful, white-robed man before her. Though he was like half a teacher and elder to her, she opened her mouth but didn’t know how to put her thoughts into words.

At the tombstone, Lan Chang'an and Zhao Tan’er chatted for a long time, the conversation stretching into the evening.

"Lin Lu?"

During their talk, Zhao Tan’er mentioned Lin Lu, a junior from the Feng Kingdom battlefield who had gone missing in the early years.

Lin Lu was the son of the Young Marquis Lin Yi. Once a wayward youth, he had turned over a new leaf and shown great filial piety to Lan Chang'an. When he was in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, he had participated in the sect’s campaign against the Feng Kingdom.

Somehow, despite the twists and turns of fate, Lin Lu hadn’t died. Instead, he had switched to cultivating a demonic path, advanced to the Fake Dan stage, and settled in the demonic sect’s territory, where he married and started a family.

"What else do you have to say to Uncle Lan?" Lan Chang'an asked before leaving, noticing that Zhao Tan’er still seemed to have something on her mind.

"No, that’s all," Zhao Tan’er said with a bright tone, skillfully changing the subject. "It’s been a hundred years since we last met, and now that we’re both mid-Core Formation cultivators, so Uncle Lan can accompany Tang'er to have a good sparring session."

In those warm and simple years at Jin Yun Valley, Lan Chang'an had often sparred with Zhao Tan’er, teaching her practical combat techniques that had proven invaluable on the battlefield.

A few months later.

Zhang Tianfeng and Zhao Tan’er both departed for the demonic battlefield.

Before leaving, Zhang Tianfeng entrusted Lan Chang'an with overseeing the sect, refining talismans, and ensuring the sect remained secure while he went to the battlefield to earn battle merits.

Lan Chang'an gifted Zhao Tan’er a superior-grade third-rank escape talisman, reminding her not to be reckless or overly ambitious.

...

One year later.

Lan Chang'an had now been back in Jin Yun Valley for two years, having just turned 313 years old.

The return of Evergreen Immortal had sparked some buzz in the Liang Kingdom for a time, but with the ongoing invasion of the demonic sects, the major factions didn’t give the matter much attention.

On this day, the Great Sun Peak Cave.

Within the quiet confines of his cave abode, Lan Chang'an sat cross-legged in meditation. Suddenly, his eyes snapped open, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Fellow Daoist, you’ve finally woken up," he murmured.

A flash of white light flickered from his storage ring, and the silhouette of a male puppet in green armor appeared on the ground. Its body had a corpse-like rigidity, but its form radiated an eerie presence.

This was the same quasi-fourth-rank puppet that had suffered severe damage during the chaotic battle several years ago. While its external shell had been battered, the damage was repairable, and Lan Chang'an had painstakingly restored it.

"Hmph! Brat, are you the one who repaired this body?"

The green-armored puppet's hollow eye sockets lit up with a flickering ghostly green fire. Its tone was filled with hostility as it spoke, clearly uncomfortable with its condition.

"Indeed. How’s my handiwork?" Lan Chang'an replied with a calm smile.

"It’s nothing but patchwork! Sloppy repairs slapped together like a dog’s skin plaster!"

The puppet’s tone was harsh, and it seemed ready to lash out, but its body froze in place. The ghostly consciousness inhabiting the puppet, the puppet spirit, sensed a cold and sinister aura emanating from deep within its core—a binding restriction.

The puppet spirit immediately realized that its life and death were entirely within Lan Chang'an’s control.

"Your Excellency, it won't be too late to open your mouth after you understand your current situation," Lan Chang'an said lightly.

Hearing this, the puppet spirit fell silent, forcing itself to recall the events of its last battle. Regret filled its consciousness as it came to terms with its predicament.

After a long pause, it asked in a strained voice, "Fellow Daoist captured me alive, what do you intend to do with me?"

"Hehe, it depends on whether fellow Daoist wants to live on, or completely go up in smoke and lose the qualifications to even reincarnate?"

His casual tone, which treated the puppet spirit’s life and death as an afterthought, sent a chill through the puppet spirit’s core.

The price of turning into a ghost cultivator was the inability to reincarnate. While its spirit could persist in the world far longer than a normal soul, the constant erosion of its essence by yin energy would eventually twist its nature, reducing it to nothing more than a mindless, savage ghost.

The puppet spirit, now composed of the ghostly remnant of its former self, hesitated for a moment before trying to negotiate.

"This old man's consciousness and the puppet spirit are indistinguishable from each other. Fellow Daoist, if you attempt to kill me outright, the puppet’s core will collapse, rendering the entire puppet useless."

This point was the puppet spirit’s ace in the hole—and also the very situation Lan Chang'an wanted to avoid.

While Lan Chang'an had successfully repaired the puppet’s external shell, its core mechanisms were far beyond his current expertise to replace or restore.

At this level of craftsmanship, a puppet’s true power relied on the refinement and control of the puppet spirit at its core. Replacing or nurturing a new puppet spirit would take years and be extremely troublesome.

The soul power from the past life is not equivalent to this puppet spirit; it is akin to a blank slate. Whether it can be transformed into a puppet and how to go about it remains an unknown.

"So, you’re aware of your leverage and are bargaining for survival," Lan Chang'an remarked with a teasing smile.

His words stung the green-armored puppet spirit, causing it to growl in frustration. "This isn’t mere survival! I willingly became a ghostly spirit so that I could refine a true fourth-rank puppet and avenge the slaughter of my family!"

Lan Chang'an observed the spirit’s emotional outburst with quiet amusement. Its instability as a ghostly entity made it highly susceptible to manipulation. A few simple provocations, and it had already revealed crucial information about its past.

It seemed that the two of them might have a shared goal: the completion of a true fourth-rank puppet.

After probing the spirit’s boundaries, Lan Chang'an quickly gained the upper hand in the ensuing negotiations.

The puppet spirit introduced itself as Puppet Master Wei, a former prodigy of the Thousand Mechanisms Sect. During his life, he had reached the peak of Core Formation and spent his entire life refining a fourth-rank puppet. However, his sect betrayed him, with his so-called supporters stealing his work and murdering his wife and child.

After half an hour of back-and-forth, the two reached an agreement and sealed it with a heart demon oath.

Puppet Master Wei pledged to assist Lan Chang'an in refining a true fourth-rank puppet and would pass on all his lifelong skills as a puppeteer.

In return, Lan Chang'an promised that once the puppet reached true fourth-rank status, he would allow Puppet Master Wei to seek revenge and would provide assistance when the time came.

With the terms settled, Puppet Master Wei actively cooperated with Lan Chang'an, helping him refine and take full control of the quasi-fourth-rank puppet, erasing all lingering marks of its previous master.

...

After some time, Lan Chang'an officially became the master of the quasi-fourth-rank puppet.

He set up an illusory formation within his cave abode to conduct tests and was thoroughly satisfied with the results.

Thanks to the puppet spirit’s intelligence, which had belonged to a fourth-rank puppet master in life, the puppet didn’t require Lan Chang'an’s constant control to unleash its full strength.

The puppet’s materials were already close to the quality of Nascent Soul items. The only significant shortfall was the puppet spirit itself, which wasn’t yet strong enough to unlock the puppet’s full potential.

If this issue could be resolved, the green-armored puppet’s combat power would rival that of a fourth-rank Demon King from Beast King Valley.

Its raw destructive power might be slightly inferior, but its flexibility, intelligence, and tactical versatility more than made up for it.

After some thought, Lan Chang'an decided to summon the shadow imprint of his second life’s peak Core Formation soul and tried to fuse it into the puppet spirit of the green-armored puppet, a technique he was calling "Soul Seed Planting".

Puppet Master Wei half-heartedly cooperated. The results exceeded both of their expectations.

“This soul... It’s so pure! Wait... this aura…”

Puppet Master Wei, controlling the puppet spirit, was stunned as it successfully absorbed the descending soul energy from Lan Chang'an’s second life.

In an instant, the puppet spirit’s power surged dramatically. Its control over the puppet, as well as its ability to perform advanced techniques and spells, leaped to a whole new level.

Lan Chang'an was thrilled. With this improvement, the green-armored puppet was now equivalent to having a portable fourth-rank Demon King, the same configuration as the Peacock Saintess back then.