I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 49: Sudden Bad News

Lan Changʼan placed his hand on the surface of the eggshell, faintly sensing the heartbeat and subtle movements inside.

He confirmed that the Profound Water Turtle had entered the incubation stage.

For a period of time thereafter, he nourished the turtle egg daily with a bit of Evergreen mana, providing energy and sustenance.

Whenever he infused Evergreen mana, the life within the eggshell would send out affectionate and dependent spiritual waves.

Lan Changʼan believed that the hatched turtle, even without a spirit pet contract, would recognize him as its master.

Two months later.

With a ”crack,” the eggshell broke.

A miniature turtle, smaller than a babyʼs palm, adorably struggled to break out of the shell. Using all its strength, it first emerged with its head, then its body and limbs, finally crawling out of the eggshell.

After hatching, the little Profound Water Turtle, with its cute, clumsy eyes, looked around nervously, quickly locking onto Lan Changʼan.

Sensing the familiar aura, the baby turtle affectionately crawled over, rubbing against Lan Changʼanʼs wrist.
Lan Changʼan spread his hand, and the Profound Water Turtle climbed onto it, occupying only a third of his palm, continuously rubbing against his handʼs aura, almost toppling over, looking extremely cute.

After the Profound Water Turtle hatched.

The Earth Burrowing Rat in Lan Changʼanʼs spirit pet pouch became restless and agitated.

Squeak, squeak!

The large Earth Burrowing Rat was released, staring at the Profound Water Turtle on Lan Changʼanʼs palm, a cold glint flashing in its eyes, baring its teeth.

The Profound Water Turtle was frightened and tried to crawl into Lan Changʼanʼs clothes.

Bang!

Lan Changʼan kicked the Earth Burrowing Rat, which squeaked in pain, its murderous intent receding, revealing a wronged expression.

”From now on, it is also your master. If you dare to have any ill intentions, Iʼll send you to the beast fighting arena...”

Lan Changʼan warned and then put the Earth Burrowing Rat back into the storage pouch.

Not to mention the difference between middle-grade bloodline and earth-grade bloodline. The Profound Water Turtle was personally nurtured and hatched by him, with much care and effort.

The Earth Burrowing Rat was merely a trophy obtained halfway through. Naturally, there was no comparison between the two.

Lan Changʼan fed the baby turtle some spiritual liquid and checked its physical condition.

In the jade slip given by Zhou Qingxuan, there was an illustrated guide of the Profound Water Turtle, including the baby turtle.

Lan Changʼan compared and found that the appearance was basically the same. However, the pattern on the turtle shell had slight differences.

Lan Changʼanʼs baby turtle had a slight leaf-like pattern on its shell, which was hard to notice unless looked at carefully.

The baby turtle was very small, and Lan Changʼan usually kept it in the spirit pet pouch, creating a moist environment inside.

This turtle was quite clingy; Lan Changʼan would take it out daily to interact and infuse it with a bit of Evergreen mana.

The Profound Water Turtle mainly had water attributes but also some wood attributes.

The one Lan Changʼan was raising could, within a few days of birth, spit out light green bubbles, accompanied by faint mana fluctuations.

...

In Bamboo Leaf Mountain Market Town.

Lan Changʼanʼs days remained largely unchanged.

Although he had an additional pet, the Profound Water Turtle was actually quite easy to raise. It was quiet and didnʼt cause trouble.

It didnʼt consume many resources, far less than normal earth-grade spirit beasts, with the only drawback being its slow growth.

In the blink of an eye, a year or two passed.

It had been five years since the auction. Lan Changʼan was now forty-three years old.

His cultivation had almost reached the peak of the sixth layer of Qi-Refining, needing another year or two to advance to the seventh layer. His appearance still looked around twenty, in his prime.

At this time, the baby Profound Water Turtle had grown to the size of an adultʼs palm, its mana fluctuations reaching the early stage of Qi-Refining.

Lan Changʼan felt that his Profound Water Turtle might be growing slightly faster than described in the jade slip.

...

After feeding the Profound Water Turtle, Lan Changʼan went to the shopʼs first floor.

”Young lady, youʼre back?” Mu Xiuyun, dressed in a green silk long dress, was at the shop counter checking talismans.

Two years ago, Mu Xiuyun had advanced to the ninth layer of Qi-Refining and had been frequently absent from the shop since then.

It was unclear if her family had matters to attend to or if she was planning her Foundation Establishment.

Fortunately, the shopʼs business was stable, not particularly good or bad, and the two apprentices had grown.

Mu Shan and Mu Ershun had become first-rank low-grade talisman masters, their low-grade talismans already profitable.

Among them, Mu Shan was adept at dealing with people and was considered the shopʼs second manager.

”Changʼan, this is a spirit pigeon message delivered by the market post.” Mu Xiuyun elegantly moved her hair, gracefully and gently handing a letter to Lan Changʼan.

The envelope bore the mark of Jin Yun Valley, sent by Zhao Siyao.

In the cultivation world, fixed cultivation settlements, like major marketplaces, sects, and families, had postal services for exchanging letters.

The messages from the spirit pigeons were relatively fast.

Lan Changʼan used a specific method to break the restriction on the envelope and opened the letter.

A few years ago, Zhao Siyao went to Huanglong Immortal City near the Black Fog Mountain Range and occasionally kept in touch with Lan Changʼan.

Recently, Zhao Siyao had almost gathered the resources for the Foundation Establishment Pill and had returned to Jin Yun Valley.

”Changʼan, whatʼs wrong?” Mu Xiuyun looked over with concern.

Lan Changʼanʼs face changed abruptly, his brows furrowing as he read the letter halfway.

He looked solemn and remained silent for a long time.

”Lin Yi... gravely injured and dead?”

Mu Xiuyun took the letter, her expression shocked, her delicate fingers trembling lightly.

”What! Uncle Lin is dead?”

Not far away, Mu Ershun, busy with work, heard the conversation and exclaimed in shock.

Lin Yi was his fatherʼs friend.

For twenty years, he had visited the Mu family many times, including during the auction in the market town.

The last meeting was five years ago.

At that time, Uncle Lin had asked his proud son, Lin Lu, to interact more with Mu Ershun.

Unexpectedly, today, this bad news came suddenly.

Mu Xiuyun put down the letter and said softly, ”Changʼan, are you going to visit?”

”Yes.”

Lan Changʼan nodded, considering the friendship of over twenty years.

As a talisman master, he frequently traded with Lin Yiʼs Hidden Immortal Pavilion, and they had a box full of exchanged letters.

Zhao Siyao was heading to Hengshui Prefecture.

Regarding Lin Yiʼs cause of death.

The letter described that Lin Yi led cultivators from the Hidden Immortal Pavilion to assist Jin Yun Valley disciples in encircling a wanted evil cultivator. Initially, it seemed like a sure victory, but they encountered an ambush.

In the end, although they repelled the evil cultivator, Lin Yi was severely injured and beyond saving. By the time he was sent back to Hengshui Prefecture, he had already died from his injuries.

...

”Letʼs find Changqing first.”

Lan Changʼan rode on Mu Xiuyunʼs flying boat, and the two set off together.

In the past ten years, it was Lan Changʼanʼs first time leaving the market town.

”Wow! The sun must be rising from the west. That turtle talisman master is actually going out?”

Familiar cultivators in the marketplace, seeing Lan Changʼan leaving, couldnʼt help but be amazed.

Nowadays, the vicinity of Bamboo Leaf Mountain is relatively stable, with few marauding cultivators causing trouble.

The evil-faced flying eagle of the past was now just a rumor, long gone.

Even if it appeared.

With Lan Changʼanʼs body refining attainments, the Earth Burrowing Ratʼs peak first-rank strength, even without using talisman trump cards, he was confident in handling it. Not to mention, he had Mu Xiuyun, a ninth-layer Qi-Refining cultivator, with him.

The flying boat was fast, reaching the Mu family residence at Feiyue Lake in less than a day.

After ten years away.

Seeing the sparkling, jade-like Feiyue Lake, Lan Changʼan felt a sense of familiarity.

Feiyue Manor and the surrounding spiritual fields and herb gardens had changed significantly.

The number of family cultivators had noticeably increased, with many young faces.

The flying boat landed at Li Ergouʼs courtyard.

”Lin Yi is dead? The young marquis is dead?”

Hearing the bad news, Li Ergouʼs round face trembled slightly, stunned for a long time.

Perhaps his most vivid memory of Lin Yi was still that young marquis exuding royal authority twenty years ago, commanding respect.

Lan Changʼan and Li Ergou agreed to go to Hengshui Prefecture to pay their respects.

”Changʼan, Iʼll go with you.” Mu Xiuyun said softly.

”No need, you are now a senior member of the Mu family with important duties to attend to.” Lan Changʼan shook his head.

He knew Mu Xiuyun was busy, traveling between the family and the shop, and planning her Foundation Establishment. Moreover, Mu Xiuyun had no personal relationship with Lin Yi.

Mu Xiuyunʼs gentle eyes darkened slightly, and she softly replied, ”Then Iʼll lend you the flying boat.”

...

A few days later.

The flying boat arrived at a valley a hundred miles south of Hengshui City.

This was the Hidden Immortal Pavilionʼs base, concealed by an illusion array. Lin Yiʼs last wish was to be buried here.

Landing in the valley.

Lan Changʼan saw five or six cultivators sitting in a corner of the valley.

There was a tomb there with a tombstone.

Zhao Siyao, dressed in white, sat beside a slightly dark-skinned young man and waved to them.

”Uncle Lan, Uncle Li.”

Lin Lu knelt before the tombstone, his eyes bloodshot, his face haggard and sorrowful.

Li Ergou stared blankly at the name on the tombstone. Suddenly, he broke down and wailed. This made Lin Lu, kneeling beside him, start sobbing as well.

Lan Changʼan was slightly surprised. Although Li Ergou had known Lin Yi for a long time, their relationship wasnʼt particularly close.

When they first met, Lin Yi had somewhat looked down on Li Ergou.

Li Ergou was very afraid of that young marquis. Later, they became friends, letting bygones be bygones, with no secrets between them.

Zhao Siyao and a few cultivators came over to console Li Ergou.

”Big brother, Lin Yi was smarter and more capable than me, creating a cultivation force single-handedly and enjoying great glory. I canʼt compare to him!” Li Ergou said, wiping his tears.

”On this long road of cultivation, how many more steps can we take than him? Eventually, we will all...” Lin Yiʼs death had severely shaken Li Ergouʼs Dao heart.

Lin Yi was the first but not the last!

The path ahead seemed dark.

This pessimistic mood even affected Zhao Siyao and a few cultivators, making the atmosphere heavy.

Lan Changʼan lit an incense stick and bowed to the tombstone.

He broke the silence.

”You are right, we cannot see the end of the immortal path. Each step may lead to our downfall. But with each step, we see sights never seen before, which makes the immortal destiny of our life worthwhile. If you canʼt succeed in this life, thereʼs always the next one!

”I donʼt seek eternity in the Great Dao, I only wish that the immortal way remains evergreen.”