I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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In the mountain valley a hundred li away, beyond the range of spiritual sense of the Core Formation cultivators like the Shadow Hall Chief and his men:

“Water Escape Technique!”

A white-robed man shouted in terror. Without looking back, he stepped onto his flying light and fled north.

Swoosh!

The blue torrent that True Monarch Shazhai had transformed into surged forward like a tsunami, its presence ominous and terrifying as it chased relentlessly.

In a flash, the torrent spanned two hundred zhang, closing in on the white-robed man. Suddenly, the dark blue waters halted mid-air in an eerie stillness.

Boom!

On the ground where the torrent was about to land, a powerful ripple of spiritual energy erupted.

However, True Monarch Shazhai had already seen through the hidden trap and avoided it in advance.

Not only that, but—

The deep blue waters beneath him rippled as he stepped forward.

Crack!

A stone pillar that had just risen from the ground was crushed into powder by his stomp, and the deep blue water waves penetrated into the earth below.

“Squeak—argh!”

A hidden Earth Burrowing Rat let out a muffled cry as blood seeped from its mouth.

Fortunately, the buffer of several dozen layers of rock prevented the full impact of the shockwave. The aftershock of True Monarch Shazhai’s casual strike only caused minor internal injuries.

The Earth Burrowing Rat fearfully burrowed deeper underground, not daring to launch an attack.

Witnessing this, Lan Chang'an’s face darkened.

Although he had anticipated this possibility, he hadn’t expected the mysterious outsider to be so formidable. His sensory abilities in combat were terrifyingly sharp, allowing him to predict dangers before they occurred.

Ambushes, sneak attacks—none of these tactics would work.

Fortunately, Lan Chang'an had come prepared for a tough fight this time.

The probing tactics of the Unseen Gate had given him a glimpse of True Monarch Shazhai’s strength. The latter’s power exceeded expectations, having reached the threshold of the Nascent Soul realm!

It was a wise decision to act decisively.

Had he dragged it out any further, he wouldn’t have risked confronting a full-fledged Nascent Soul True Monarch—he would have chosen to flee instead.

Thus, Lan Chang'an had intentionally revealed his true self to lure the opponent into battle.

Using a puppet clone might have been seen through by the opponent’s keen sensory abilities, just like the previous attempt in Nightless Town, which had ended in failure. ŕ𝐀ＮòβÊ𝙎

“Lan Chang'an! The world knows that you are as timid as a turtle, yet today you dare to ally with the Unseen Gate to attack me? It seems you’ve obtained an extraordinary fortune from the relic treasury of my Tinghai Pavilion!”@@novelbin@@

Within the dark blue torrent, a figure emerged—a blue-robed man with large ears and cold, piercing eyes glinting with killing intent.

“So, you’re a Nascent Soul True Monarch from Tinghai Pavilion?” Lan Chang'an’s expression darkened. “You’ve hidden yourself well! If I had known earlier, I would’ve fled to another country…”

He feigned regret, his tone filled with bitterness. At the same time, his body’s spiritual power surged, pushed to the peak of Core Formation through the use of a secret technique.

Stepping on his flying light, he stuck a superior-grade third-rank Wind Escape Talisman onto himself and fled desperately!

Against a Nascent Soul True Monarch, this was the standard reaction of a Core Formation cultivator.

“Hahaha! In the wilderness, how do you expect to escape this seat's Water Escape Technique?”

True Monarch Shazhai’s tone was leisurely as he transformed into a dark blue torrent once more, disappearing and reappearing between water sources.

After fleeing a few dozen li, Lan Chang'an found his path blocked by True Monarch Shazhai yet again, who had gotten ahead of him.

“You thieving brat, kneel!”

From above, True Monarch Shazhai conjured a massive deep blue hand of spiritual power, crackling with lightning, and sent it crashing toward Lan Chang'an.

Lan Chang'an’s arm muscles bulged, revealing golden-scaled patterns on his skin. With the power of a peak Core Formation cultivator, he unleashed all his might.

Swish!

Boosted by the Wind Escape Talisman and his explosive physical strength, his figure blurred and vanished, narrowly evading the massive blue hand.

Boom!

The next moment, Lan Chang'an appeared directly in front of True Monarch Shazhai, his golden-scaled, giant fist hammering down viciously toward the True Monarch’s face.

“Third-rank late-stage body refinement!”

True Monarch Shazhai’s eyelid twitched. The deep blue waters around him surged violently, hurriedly forming a radiant blue liquid robe.

Bang!

Lan Chang'an’s strike, filled with overwhelming force, landed like a meteor sinking into the ocean. The terrifying impact was significantly absorbed and neutralized.

The exquisite water-robe tore open, but in the blink of an eye, it mended itself.

True Monarch Shazhai grunted as his body was sent flying backward over a dozen zhang. His blood surged within, and his bones faintly ached.

Lan Chang'an’s sudden close-quarters attack had not completely broken through the defenses of the Deep Sea Robe, but the terrifying power of a body cultivator’s strike, coupled with its explosive force, had not been perfectly neutralized in Shazhai’s hasty defense.

...

“An Immortal Golden Dan paired with third-rank late-stage body refinement! This scoundrel… How many treasures did he steal from my Tinghai Pavilion?”

Steadying his slightly disheveled posture, True Monarch Shazhai’s expression turned grim.

It was impossible for an ordinary loose cultivator with basic spiritual roots to reach such heights.

The strength Lan Chang'an had just displayed far exceeded the limits of a typical Core Formation cultivator, rivaling the prodigies of great sects.

True Monarch Shazhai had nearly suffered a loss just now.

He now realized that his early-stage Nascent Soul power couldn’t easily crush Lan Chang'an without exerting some effort.

...

Lan Chang'an briefly gained the upper hand with his strike, but it failed to inflict any real damage on his opponent.

Instead, it only served to provoke an even stronger killing intent from True Monarch Shazhai.

With his Deep Sea Robe now fully activated, Lan Chang'an realized that breaking through his opponent's defenses would be nearly impossible.

“Senior, there’s no need to push me so hard. The fortune I gained from the ruins has already been fully digested,” Lan Chang'an said while pulling back to create distance. “Even if you kill me, there’s nothing left for you to obtain.”

He took this chance to retreat, scooping up the injured Earth Burrowing Rat and flying toward the skies above the Black Fog Mountain Range, reaching the turbulent winds of the Nine Fiery Heavens.

“I don’t believe you!” True Monarch Shazhai sneered, his voice chilling. “Unless you surrender yourself and allow me to search your soul and inspect your storage treasures.”

True Monarch Shazhai transformed back into his dark blue torrent form and pursued relentlessly, following Lan Chang'an to the windswept skies of the Nine Fiery Heavens.

The Nine Fiery Heavens were high above the clouds, where fierce gales howled ceaselessly. In this place, water was scarce, and the terrain provided no support for water-based techniques, significantly limiting the effectiveness of water-related divine abilities, including True Monarch Shazhai’s Water Escape Technique.

But True Monarch Shazhai was unconcerned. The open and windy skies of the Nine Fiery Heavens offered him a strategic advantage that the weaker party hindered by the astral winds, escaping would be even more difficult.

“Do you take me for a child who’ll obediently wait to be slaughtered?” Lan Chang'an snorted and changed course, flying toward the deserts of Fengyuan Kingdom.

“If this man escapes to Fengyuan Kingdom, I’ll lose my chance!”

True Monarch Shazhai’s eyes flickered as he recalled that Lan Chang'an had once taken refuge in the Fengyuan Kingdom for a century. Even the Peacock Saintess of Beast King Valley had failed to capture him back then and had been ensnared instead.

It was speculated by both the Righteous Dao Alliance and Beast King Valley that Lan Chang'an had likely gained the protection of the Heavenly Master and become one of his pawns.

If Lan Chang'an were to return to Fengyuan Kingdom, even with True Monarch Shazhai’s fully restored Nascent Soul-level power, killing him would be nearly impossible.

“You little thief! If you manage to escape even a thousand miles, I’ll consider it my loss!”

True Monarch Shazhai growled, his resolve hardening as he unleashed a surge of power. His Nascent Soul spiritual energy fluctuated, exuding the oppressive might of a True Monarch.

Whoosh~!

With a wave of his sleeve, the sound of a tsunami echoed across the Nine Fiery Heavens.

Boom!

A massive wave, accompanied by roaring winds, surged forward, engulfing everything in its path. At the center of this tidal force was a Sea Banner Treasure, commanding the overwhelming sea-like energy as it rushed toward Lan Chang'an.

Using the Sea Banner Treasure, True Monarch Shazhai conjured a miniature ocean, amplifying the power of his Water Escape Technique and closing in on Lan Chang'an at terrifying speed.

“I can’t get away!”

Lan Chang'an realized he was now surrounded by a vast ocean of water. Without resorting to the Crimson Sun Blood-Escape Technique, he wouldn’t be able to escape this predicament.

True Monarch Shazhai formed a hand seal, controlling the Sea Banner Treasure to create a massive vortex-like abyss in the sky above Lan Chang'an.

The horrifying pull of the vortex descended upon him.

Even with his dual cultivation of body and qi, Lan Chang'an found himself struggling to resist the overwhelming force.

At this critical moment—

A six-zhang-tall, zombie-like puppet clad in green armor appeared at Lan Chang'an’s side.

Boom!

The green-armored puppet swung its massive arm, releasing a wave of Yin energy and ghostly mist. A tempest of azure iron gale erupted, enveloping the surrounding area for miles.

The azure gale collided with the abyssal water vortex above, tearing apart more than half of it. The remaining power of the vortex was no longer a threat to Lan Chang'an.

“A quasi-fourth-rank puppet?!”

True Monarch Shazhai’s expression shifted in shock. He hadn’t expected Lan Chang'an to possess such a trump card. This puppet was likely another relic of the Tinghai Pavilion’s ancestor.

Taking advantage of the situation, Lan Chang'an broke free from the vortex’s pull. His peak Core Formation power surged as he summoned a Braided Rope Treasure.

Zzzzt! Zzzzt!

The Braided Rope Treasure expanded with the wind, crackling with lightning as it transformed into a dazzling thunder-serpent whip. It lashed out at the Sea Banner Treasure with lightning speed.

Simultaneously, arcs of electricity rapidly spread across the water’s surface, forcing True Monarch Shazhai out of his Water Escape Technique.

“This thief is experienced in battle!”

Covered by his Deep Sea Robe, True Monarch Shazhai found himself surrounded by crackling arcs of lightning. Although he remained unharmed, his hair stood on end, leaving him looking disheveled.

What was worse, the thunder-serpent whip had coiled around his Sea Banner Treasure, binding it tightly.

“Break!”

True Monarch Shazhai roared, using his Nascent Soul-level spiritual energy and spiritual sense to forcibly shake off the Braided Rope Treasure.

The thunder-serpent whip dimmed, its lightning fading as it returned to Lan Chang'an.

The Sea Banner Treasure, too, stopped producing massive waves and tsunamis.

“A perfect chance!”

Lan Chang'an’s eyes gleamed sharply. Ignoring retrieving his Braided Rope Treasure, he seized the chance while True Monarch Shazhai was forced out of his Water Escape Technique and focused on regaining control of his treasure.

Lan Chang'an and the green-armored puppet charged forward from two directions, closing in for close combat.

True Monarch Shazhai had just recalled his Sea Banner Treasure when his expression changed dramatically.

At this moment, he had two options for dealing with the situation:

The first was to attack head-on.

However, his opponents were a dual cultivator of body and qi who exceeded the limits of Core Formation and a quasi-fourth-rank puppet with an indestructible body. If they engaged him in close combat, even his early-stage Nascent Soul power wouldn’t guarantee an advantage. This was the worst option.

Second, use the water escape technique to flee.

The surrounding water remnants could still be used to activate his Water Escape Technique, allowing him to avoid their attack temporarily.

But doing so would be humiliating.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator from the Great Yuan, True Monarch Shazhai naturally looked down on the backward Qing Province cultivators.

Even if they were at the same level of Nascent Soul stage, they wouldn't be able to enter his eyes.

To be forced into retreat by a Core Formation cultivator and a puppet—this was unacceptable for a hunter chasing his prey.

“A quasi-fourth-rank puppet… A body refinement master…”

In a flash, hundreds of years of Nascent Soul experience and combat instincts allowed True Monarch Shazhai to devise a countermeasure.

“You ignorant thief! Do you think the dignity of a True Monarch can be so easily provoked?”

The Deep Sea Robe billowed, radiating a profound, dazzling water light.

Facing the incoming Lan Chang'an and the puppet, True Monarch Shazhai stood firm. With his fingers pressed together, his eyes flickered with eerie and dim electric currents.

Soul-Shaking Water Thunder Strike!

Between his fingers, a semi-transparent sphere of Water Thunder formed, rippling with strange electric patterns.

In an instant, it shot toward Lan Chang'an.

With a deafening crack of thunder, the sphere detonated, releasing a tsunami-like explosion that rippled through the spiritual and soul level.

“Not good! A Nascent Soul-level soul attack!”

Lan Chang'an’s earlier strike had gained him a fleeting advantage, but now the tides of battle shifted drastically.

On the other side of the battlefield, the quasi-fourth-rank green-armored puppet experienced a brief moment of disorientation. Puppet Master Wei, the spirit inhabiting the puppet, felt faint dizziness and fear from the aftershock of the Soul-Shaking Water Thunder Strike. The thunderous explosion, especially its innate suppression of ghostly Dao techniques, made the puppet falter.

If the puppet, merely grazed by the attack’s aftermath, was this affected, Lan Chang'an—who had taken the full brunt of the attack—was surely worse off.

Lan Chang'an’s robes were shredded, and his figure became motionless, shrouded in the misty aftermath of the Water Thunder explosion.

“Hahaha! A strong body, capable of controlling puppets? With one strike of this True Monarch’s soul-based secret technique, you’re as good as destroyed!”

True Monarch Shazhai threw his head back and laughed, his voice tinged with cruel mockery.

A single blow of his Nascent Soul-level soul technique would have severely damaged Lan Chang'an’s soul, leaving him temporarily incapacitated.

At the same time, it would sever the link between Lan Chang'an and his quasi-fourth-rank puppet, rendering it inactive.

A single strike to achieve both goals—what a masterful move!

True Monarch Shazhai raised his hand, prepared to take down both Lan Chang'an and his puppet in one decisive motion.

Hm?

True Monarch Shazhai’s smug expression froze.

He realized, to his surprise, that the quasi-fourth-rank green-armored puppet had not lost control.

Instead, it launched an even fiercer counterattack.

“Jie jie…”

The puppet’s mouth split open into a wide, grotesque grin, revealing two black-green fangs that suddenly separated from its maw. The fangs ignited with eerie ghostly green flames, flashing in the air before striking True Monarch Shazhai’s Deep Sea Robe.

Puff! Puff!

Boom!

The fangs tore through the robe’s defenses, creating a jagged tear. The ghost flames exploded, leaving a corroded hole in True Monarch Shazhai’s chest. Cold and sharp, ghostly energy began to invade his body.

“Damn it! This puppet actually has an independent ghostly consciousness!”

True Monarch Shazhai’s face twisted in fury as his figure wavered and the Deep Sea Robe began to repair itself rapidly.

Thankfully, such a devastating attack required the quasi-fourth-rank puppet to charge up energy, preventing it from launching continuous strikes.

Meanwhile—

Squeak!

The injured Earth Burrowing Rat suddenly emerged from the side, its tiny paws weaving hand seals as it unleashed a powerful earth-elemental spell.

A massive earthen-yellow prison cage began to form around True Monarch Shazhai, slowly closing in on him.

True Monarch Shazhai, still recovering from the ghostly attack, managed to steady himself and sneered.

“A mere third-rank rat demon…”

Blue waterlight burst from around him, his powerful spiritual energy surging outward. The earthen prison shattered instantly, unable to contain his might.

He hadn’t even finished his words when—

Something changed.

Not far away, Lan Chang'an, who had been standing still as if stunned, suddenly moved. His tattered robes billowed, and his eyes shone with blinding light, like twin scorching suns.

A surge of immensely powerful soul energy erupted from him, shaking the very air.

“Nascent Soul-level soul energy—”

For the first time, True Monarch Shazhai’s expression turned to one of terror.

The spiritual force emanating from Lan Chang'an wasn’t just Nascent Soul-level—it had reached the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage, and it was even stronger than Shazhai’s own spiritual energy!

“I’ve been tricked!” True Monarch Shazhai thought, horrified.

This was no ordinary Core Formation cultivator. Lan Chang'an’s body was clearly possessed by a Nascent Soul powerhouse!

Instinctively, he activated his Water Escape Technique, trying to retreat, but it was already too late.

The Earth Burrowing Rat’s earth-elemental spell disrupted the surrounding water, cutting off access to the water sources True Monarch Shazhai needed to execute his escape technique.

Squeak!

The Earth Burrowing Rat bared its fangs, opened its mouth, and spat out a Barbed Arrow, aiming it directly at the damaged portion of Shazhai’s Deep Sea Robe.

True Monarch Shazhai’s entire body tensed. He could sense an aura of death emanating from the incoming attack.

From afar, Lan Chang'an lifted a finger, guiding the Barbed Arrow with a surge of spiritual energy.

In an instant—

A terrifying screech, like the sound of metal being torn apart, pierced through the air.

The Barbed Arrow, flashing with an eerie blue light, streaked across the void with speed far surpassing that of a Nascent Soul cultivator’s escape technique.

True Monarch Shazhai froze in place.

His Nascent Soul spiritual body, already injured from the ghost flames, was now wracked with agony as the Barbed Arrow pierced through his defenses, ripping apart his soul energy and plunging him into chaos.

Pfft!

A bloody hole appeared in True Monarch Shazhai’s chest as the Barbed Arrow shot straight through him.

Boom!

True Monarch Shazhai coughed up a mouthful of blood, his body sent flying as the green-armored puppet followed up with a devastating punch.

The Deep Sea Robe shattered completely, and Shazhai’s bones creaked under the impact, nearly disintegrating.

“The restriction of a mere third-rank rodent demon managed to incapacitate a Nascent Soul True Monarch’s soul and physical body simultaneously,” Lan Chang'an said calmly, his voice steady and devoid of emotion.

He made no rash move to deliver the killing blow, knowing well that even a Nascent Soul True Monarch with a hole through their chest couldn’t be killed so easily.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Lan Chang'an waved his hand, releasing several superior-grade third-rank earth-elemental talismans to create layers of barriers around True Monarch Shazhai, further restricting his movements.

At the same time, two additional puppets—the assassin puppet and the Pink Butterfly Puppet, both mid-grade third-grade—set up formations in the surroundings. Their purpose was clear: if Shazhai attempted to break free, they would self-destruct without hesitation to stop him.

Although Shazhai had been severely injured, with his chest pierced and his soul disrupted, a Nascent Soul True Monarch was incredibly difficult to kill outright.

The greater threat was the damage to his Nascent Soul spirit body, inflicted by the poisoned Barbed Arrow’s first strike. This injury made it impossible for Shazhai to recover quickly.

Silently, Lan Chang'an prepared two additional Barbed Arrows, ready to strike at any sign of Shazhai attempting to unleash his Nascent Soul to escape.

Meanwhile, the green-armored puppet led a coordinated attack, combining with the Earth Burrowing Rat’s earth-elemental techniques to close in on the heavily injured True Monarch Shazhai.

The encirclement tightened.

"To think Your Excellency has hidden so deeply, calculated so ruthlessly, and pushed me to this point... Truly, you’ve earned the right to be proud," True Monarch Shazhai said, his body staggering, riddled with wounds. His expression was venomous, his gaze filled with hatred and malice.

Ultimately, he had been outwitted by Lan Chang'an.

His opponent had concealed his most powerful Nascent Soul trump card, deliberately showing weakness and leaving openings to bait him into using his soul-based secret technique. In that moment of overconfidence, the tables had turned entirely.

Lan Chang'an, with the insight of a Nascent Soul cultivator, had seen through the flow of battle. From the very beginning, he had presented himself as weak and vulnerable. Every so-called "flaw" in his defenses had been meticulously planned, all to prepare for his ultimate killing blow.

"But... you don’t have Nascent Soul-level magical power. Killing me is impossible. You can’t even force my Nascent Soul out of my body!"

True Monarch Shazhai’s cold laughter filled the air, as he allowed the green-armored puppet to land a devastating strike on his head.

Splash!

His body exploded into a massive surge of water, scattering into tens of thousands of water droplets that shimmered in the air.

The attack of the quasi-fourth-rank puppet had no discernible effect.

Buzz!

The countless droplets of water quickly began to converge, reforming into the figure of a blue-water youth. His appearance, aura, and even the smallest details were identical to True Monarch Shazhai before his "death."

"What kind of divine ability is this?"

Lan Chang'an’s eyes widened in shock, as if he had just witnessed a miracle of resurrection.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The green-armored puppet, the Earth Burrowing Rat, and a barrage of attacks from the other puppets all struck the blue-water youth. Yet, he didn’t move to evade, nor did he even flinch.

The spells merely splashed harmlessly against him, scattering into droplets of water that immediately reformed.

Even when his body was pierced through by attacks, the flowing water repaired itself almost instantly.

Bang!

Refusing to believe it, Lan Chang'an blurred into motion and personally delivered a devastating punch that tore through the chest of the blue-water youth.

Splash!

Water sprayed everywhere.

But the hole in the blue-water youth’s chest simply flowed shut, the water rapidly reforming. His face twisted into a mocking grin.

"The ‘Undying Water God’ of Tinghai Pavilion is a Nascent Soul-level life-saving divine ability. Even if you exhaust all your spiritual energy, burn through every puppet core you possess, and shatter your strongest treasures, you still won’t be able to kill me!"

True Monarch Shazhai stood motionless, allowing Lan Chang'an and his puppets to unleash everything they had on him.

His expression was filled with contempt.

He knew that as soon as they were drained of energy and resources, not only could he escape unscathed, but he might even have a chance to counterattack and turn the tables once more.

"Immune to spells? Impervious to physical attacks?"

Lan Chang'an’s expression shifted repeatedly, disbelief written across his face.

Even with the perspective of his fourth life as a Nascent Soul cultivator, he had never encountered such a powerful life-preservation technique.

Could this be the difference between the cultivation civilization of the Great Yuan and that of the Great Qing?

Or was this simply the legacy of the Tinghai Pavilion, whose foundations vastly surpassed the cultivation sects of Qing Qing?

"Lan Chang'an, once I leave, I will expose your possession of a True Spiritual Treasure to the world."

The blue-water youth’s voice was chilling, layered with malice and a sinister undertone.

After delivering this threat, he began to break through the encirclement. A massive water hand formed and swatted the green-armored puppet aside, sending it flying.

"True Spiritual Treasure?"

Lan Chang'an froze for a moment, then quickly understood. It seemed True Monarch Shazhai had no knowledge of the Xuanmu Vine Gourd or its secrets.

That made sense—this kind of supreme treasure that could make the Tinghai Pavilion collapse was naturally kept extremely secret when its ancestor plotted it.

...

"Your Excellency might as well stay," Lan Chang'an said coldly, as he pulled out a fourth-rank earth-element treasure talisman and directed it toward True Monarch Shazhai’s Undying Water Form.

This was one of the eight fourth-rank treasure talismans he possessed.

Since breaking through to the late Core Formation stage, the nurturing speed of his treasure talismans had increased significantly, but such a high-grade talisman was still incredibly precious.

"A fourth-rank spirit talisman?"

True Monarch Shazhai’s water-blue body stiffened for the first time as a massive stone dragon, tens of zhang long, coiled around him and clamped its jaws over his body.

In an instant, his water-blue form began to petrify, turning completely brown and yellow, sealed in layers of hardened stone.

"Hmph! Fourth-rank stone dragon lock? At most, it can seal me for half a moment," True Monarch Shazhai sneered, completely unbothered.

It was true that earth-element techniques restrained water-element cultivators to some extent.

However, the Undying Water God, as a life-saving divine ability, was a complete exception to such restraints.

Once the talisman’s energy was depleted, he would easily break free.

Even if he were fully petrified, he could simply split his form into countless droplets and recombine. At worst, it would cost him some of his vital spiritual energy.

"Even the restraint of a fourth-rank earth-element technique isn’t enough to deal with him?"

Lan Chang'an frowned in frustration.

He had assumed that perhaps the issue before was the insufficient level of his spells or their lack of intensity.

Now, it seemed likely that it would take a Great Cultivator at late Nascent Soul stage to completely destroy True Monarch Shazhai’s Undying Water God in a direct confrontation.

Having already expended a precious fourth-rank treasure talisman to restrain Shazhai’s form, Lan Chang'an wasn’t willing to give up. He began analyzing ways to break this seemingly invincible technique.

As a test, Lan Chang'an fired another Barbed Arrow directly into the head of the blue-water youth.

The result was the same.

All he got was a faint grunt of discomfort, as the wound swiftly closed and the Undying Water Form returned to its previous state.

Lan Chang'an’s eyes narrowed in thought.

He had detected a faint trace of True Monarch Shazhai’s Nascent Soul spiritual body when the Barbed Arrow struck.

The Undying Water God had no specific vulnerabilities, distributing and absorbing damage through the power of water.

It was practically immune to both physical and magical attacks.

Even the soul attack contained in the Barbed Arrow could not bypass its defenses completely, with most of the damage being neutralized.

"Physical attacks won’t work, soul attacks won’t work… unless…"

An idea struck Lan Chang'an.

"What if I use the Nine Seal Stele?"

He recalled how the ancient stele had devoured the Nascent Soul of the legendary Master Lihuo back then.

The Nine Seal Stele’s ability to devour Nascent Souls was largely passive, requiring direct contact with the Nascent Soul spirit body.

After a moment’s deliberation, Lan Chang'an extended his hand and grabbed True Monarch Shazhai’s head, closing his eyes to heighten his spiritual perception.

Combining the two lives, his merged soul strength far surpassed that of most early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

This naturally placed him above True Monarch Shazhai, who had not yet reached the peak of the early Nascent Soul stage.

Gurgle!

Lan Chang'an’s hand stirred the interior of the blue-water body, probing for the presence of Shazhai’s Nascent Soul spirit body.

As his hand made contact, his own Nascent Soul-level soul power began to surge, tracing the faint essence of Shazhai’s spirit body.

At the same time, deep within his consciousness, the ancient, dark Nine Seal Stele began to glow with a faint, hazy white light.

"Your Excellency doesn't have to do anything pointless..."

True Monarch Shazhai’s voice was cold and dismissive.

His Nascent Soul was concealed deep within the Undying Water Form and could freely shift locations.

Even if Lan Chang'an managed to touch it, the damage would be minimal unless the Undying Water God was first broken.

But before he could finish speaking, his Nascent Soul suddenly froze, enveloped in a bone-chilling cold.

"Ah! This is?!"

A terrified scream erupted from True Monarch Shazhai’s Nascent Soul.

Buzz!

In Lan Chang'an’s consciousness, the ancient and mysterious Nine Seal Stele lit up with an eerie gray-white glow.

Through the connection between his hand and Shazhai’s spirit body, the stele’s power surged forth, grasping and pulling out Shazhai’s Nascent Soul.

A translucent blue infant-like spirit, dressed in a tiny blue robe, was forcibly yanked out of the water body.

The Nascent Soul flailed and screamed in terror, but it was surrounded by the gray-white glow of the stele, bound by an unshakable force of laws and rules.

The scream came to an abrupt halt.

True Monarch Shazhai’s Nascent Soul was shredded into countless tiny fragments by the power of the stele.

Inside the fifth frame of the Nine Seal Stele, a faint gray light spread, illuminating one-tenth of the frame’s surface.

Boom!

In the material world, True Monarch Shazhai’s water-blue Undying Water Form collapsed almost instantly, disintegrating into a pool of lifeless, inert water.

The water turned red as blood sprayed out, and the lifeless liquid dissipated into nothingness.

In mere moments, True Monarch Shazhai’s soul and body were completely obliterated, leaving no trace of his existence.

Lan Chang'an retracted his hand and exhaled lightly, a faint mocking smile on his face.

"Self-inflicted misfortune can't be blamed on others."

He withdrew his consciousness from the Nine Seal Stele.

If True Monarch Shazhai had chosen to escape immediately using his Nascent Soul, Lan Chang'an wouldn't have absolute confidence in stopping him.