I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 251: Illuminating the Fourth Life

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Lan Changʼan’s heart skipped a beat, and he felt a subtle sense of surprise.

In the past three lives, aside from the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu, this was only the second time that the Nine Seal Stele had shown any reaction.

The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu was the only known source of nourishment capable of illuminating the fourth life on the Nine Seal Stele.

Apart from this, no other substitute had been discovered.

Lan Changʼan had once speculated that the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu was a rare soul-path insect, requiring a physical host to inhabit, imbued with a mysterious soul-path power.

If that were the case, then could it be that the nourishment needed to activate regions of the Nine Seal Stele was related to soul-path energies? Especially something like a soul?

After all, the shadow of a past-life soul summoned by the Nine Seal Stele was also a unique form of soul power.

However, in his past life, Lan Changʼan had captured yin spirits and vengeful ghosts, and even interacted with the souls of cultivators, yet none of these had elicited any reaction from the Nine Seal Stele.

As for other soul-path items, the highest he had handled in his past life was a third-rank object, but still, nothing unusual happened.
“What’s wrong, Fellow Daoist Lan? Is there something wrong with my body?” Wang Feng keenly noticed the faint ripple of emotion that had briefly flashed across Lan Changʼan’s mind.

“No, there’s nothing wrong. Young Master Wang’s hidden injuries have been healing at a rate that exceeded my expectations. It seems you must have consumed quite a few rare medicinal pills.” Lan Changʼan replied with a friendly smile, though he grew cautious internally.

He couldn’t shake the suspicion that Young Master Wang might be hosting the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu.

By all logic, the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu should be wary of him after suffering a setback years ago and mysteriously vanishing. It shouldn’t dare approach him again.

Furthermore, Young Master Wang was a core disciple of the Flame Departing Palace, a Golden Dan Seed. He was watched over by the Flame Departing Palace’s True Dan elders and even the Nascent Soul True Monarch, which made the risk of the Hundred Abodes Soul Gu parasitizing him extremely high.

In fact, Lan Changʼan wouldn’t mind if Young Master Wang were indeed hosting the soul gu and even attempted to transfer it to him.

That way, he could use it as nourishment for the Nine Seal Stele.

“I joined up with the evacuation team from the Flame Departing Palace and received blessings from my elders, so naturally, I am not lacking in rare elixirs,” Wang Feng said with a faint smile, his back to Lan Changʼan.

Two hours later.

Lan Changʼan withdrew his hand from Wang Feng’s back, having finished the treatment.

During the healing process, a thought had crossed Lan Changʼan’s mind: should he strike from behind and capture Wang Feng in one swift move to search for the nourishment he needed for the Nine Seal Stele?

In the end, he dismissed the idea.

First, Wang Feng had no personal grudge against him; theirs was a simple transactional relationship.

Moreover, Wang Feng’s payment was generous, and he’d even promised Lan Changʼan a favor, making it well worth his while.

Second, Wang Feng wouldn’t have dared to travel alone if he didn’t have some hidden protection.

“Fellow Daoist Lan, your medical techniques and nourishing methods are no less skilled than a third-rank pharmacistʼs. The Flame Departing Palace has many injured disciples, and we plan to recuperate in Jing Kingdom for a few years. Would you be willing to come and assist with their recovery?” Wang Feng turned around and proposed.

Lan Changʼan was about to decline when Wang Feng produced a rare seven-petaled lavender flower.

“The Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower!”

Lan Changʼan’s expression shifted slightly; this was the rarest main ingredient for the Crystal Condensation Pill.

Owning this flower was equivalent to owning the Crystal Condensation Pill.

He had already gathered all the other ingredients needed for the pill; only the Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower was missing.

A couple of years back, when Wang Feng had requested faster healing progress, Lan Changʼan had tested the waters by suggesting either a Crystal Condensation Pill or a Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower as compensation.

He hadn’t expected Wang Feng to bring it out now as a means of hiring him.

“If you’re willing to help for two years, this ‘Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower’ will be your reward from the Flame Departing Palace,” Wang Feng said with a smile.

“My apologies, but I cannot accept,” Lan Changʼan replied, swallowing as if he’d struggled to refuse.

He already had a complete opportunity for Core Formation and didn’t want to take unnecessary risks.

“You don’t need to worry about your safety, Fellow Daoist Lan. The Golden Sun Sect has ceased its pursuit of the Flame Departing Palace, and the remaining threats are hardly worth concern,” Wang Feng persuaded.

Lan Changʼan still declined.

Wang Feng sighed but didn’t press the issue.

Lan Changʼan stood, cupped his hands in farewell, and took his leave.

“This man’s spiritual power is somewhat unusual. Although he’s not particularly skilled in combat, there’s an elusive quality about him…” Wang Feng muttered to himself as he sat there, his eyes flickering with thought.

…

After leaving the Xunxian Residence, Lan Changʼan found a modest inn within the Cloudsmoke Immortal City to stay.

As night fell, a mysterious figure in a gray-white hooded robe appeared in the shadows of his room.

“How did it go?” Lan Changʼan asked without turning his head.

“Master Lan, we lost track of Wang Feng after he left the city,” Xing Peng reported with a troubled expression.

After the meeting between Lan Changʼan and Wang Feng, Xing Peng had focused his surveillance network on Wang Feng, trying to gather intelligence.

“Has this happened before?” Lan Changʼan inquired.

“It’s happened twice before. We lost him halfway, and he only reappeared around the outskirts of Cloudsmoke Immortal City,” Xing Peng replied.

“Why not just apprehend him directly?” Lan Changʼan asked.

“For one, our Unseen Gate prioritizes infiltration and information gathering before a conflict. Direct action is rare, as it risks exposure,” Xing Peng explained. “Moreover, Wang Feng has a high danger rating from our superiors. If he dares to travel alone, he likely has some means of protection.”

Lan Changʼan nodded in agreement with the Unseen Gate’s analysis.

He, too, suspected that Wang Feng had some sort of hidden protection.

During the recent treatment session, his Evergreen spiritual power had entered Wang Feng’s body, yet he’d detected no abnormalities—this method was more direct than any spiritual sense probe.

From this, Lan Changʼan deduced that Wang Feng’s protection might come from some external source.

Upon leaving the Xunxian Residence, he had sensed a faint feeling of being watched.

With the arrival of his “second life,” although it was in a semi-dormant state to reduce its soul energy consumption, his senses were sharper than ever.

If that faint sense of surveillance was real, it was likely a late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivator at the very least.

This made Lan Changʼan cautious.

“How many Core Formation elders from the Flame Departing Palace escaped?” he asked.

“Besides Elder Wang, two others broke through the siege, though one’s life or death is uncertain. At the time, their escape direction wasn’t towards Jing Kingdom, but after a year, it’s anyone’s guess.”

“Oh, and have there been any leads on the Flame Departing Palace’s Supreme Elder?”

Lan Changʼan’s mind stirred.

“Anything involving a Nascent Soul True Monarch is beyond my access to classified information,” Xing Peng replied, shaking his head. “But we can confirm that the Master Lihuo was severely injured and is likely hiding somewhere to heal.”

Lan Changʼan nodded in agreement.

If he were the Master Lihuo, he’d definitely find a place to lie low, using the time to recover from his weakest state.

This would be the most cautious and stable approach.

Otherwise, several Core Formation experts joining forces could threaten his life.

So long as the Master Lihuo remained hidden, no one would dare make a move against Elder Wang or the others.

…

Late at night, in his guest room.

Lan Changʼan closed his eyes to concentrate, summoning the soul shadow of his second life to enhance his perception.

In this state, the consumption rate of his soul shadow increased tenfold, but the heightened awareness was worth it.

If there was a late-stage Core Formation cultivator spying on him, they would struggle to escape his detection.

Even an early Nascent Soul cultivator probing him with spiritual sense would likely be sensed, because this was a state of full alert and vigilance.

By dawn, Lan Changʼan hadn’t detected any unusual surveillance.

“Perhaps it was a mere coincidence. Young Master Wang’s hidden protector might have simply brushed over me with their spiritual sense as a routine check.”

To be thorough, Lan Changʼan maintained this vigilant state for another two days, but he sensed nothing suspicious.

His doubts gradually lessened.

A few days later, near dusk.

An elderly man in a straw raincoat arrived at the Snow Fox Merchant Association’s residence and was personally received by Hanyu Immortal.

To avoid drawing suspicion, Lan Changʼan didn’t always meet with Hanyu Immortal whenever he met with Wang Feng over the years.

…

In a fragrant and elegantly furnished chamber within the guild’s compound.

“Big Brother Xiang is interested in purchasing a mid-grade third-rank talisman brush? Are you perhaps acquainted with a senior third-rank talisman master?” Hanyu Immortal asked, her face still slightly flushed, as she donned a fine, white palace gown to cover her fair and delicate back.

Lan Changʼan nodded. “Indeed, I know a third-rank talisman master who is owed a favor by me, and this is my way of repaying it.”

He wasn’t concerned that Hanyu Immortal would link this identity to Lan Changʼan.

After all, he was only at the late Foundation Establishment stage and couldn’t possibly wield a mid-grade third-rank talisman brush.

A third-rank talisman brush was a simplified magic treasure that required an extremely high level of mana and spiritual sense to use.

A third-rank mid-grade, even a third-rank talisman master with a Fake Dan cultivation would struggle to handle it.

“If it’s a superior-grade third-rank talisman brush, the Snow Fox Merchant Association won’t be able to help. Even finding a regular mid-grade one would take some luck…”

Hanyu Immortal hesitated, her expression showing some difficulty.

Although the Jing Kingdom had a flourishing trade network and skilled artisans, genuine third-rank talisman masters were as rare as phoenix feathers.

Some of them only had Fake Dan cultivation and could barely handle low third-rank talisman work.

With such high rank and low market demand, this item was naturally a niche product.

“If you don’t mind waiting a few months, Big Brother Xiang, the Snow Fox Merchant Association can pull some strings through our network to help you acquire one,” Hanyu Immortal said, contemplating.

“I don’t mind.”

His initial suspicions about the mysterious surveillance hadn’t fully dissipated, Lan Changʼan felt it was safer to stay a bit longer in the Snow Fox Merchant Association’s domain.

Even a True Dan cultivator wouldn’t dare to act recklessly within the Guild’s territory in the heart of a major trade city.

Moreover, the Lihuo Palace, having recently suffered defeat, was in a position where they needed to keep a low profile and lie low.

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

During this time, Lan Changʼan did not indulge in the discussion of the Dao but instead used other identities to mingle at the bottom of the immortal city.

One day, Hanyu Immortal left a message for him at a designated location.

Lan Changʼan returned once again to the Snow Fox Merchant Association’s compound.

“This mid-grade third-rank talisman brush is heavily worn and will probably only last for a few dozen more uses,” Hanyu Immortal said as she opened a box to reveal an old talisman brush adorned with silver patterns.

With use, a talisman brush inevitably suffers wear and tear. Fully restoring it would be extremely costly, nearly as expensive as creating a new one from scratch.

The third-rank talisman brush Lan Changʼan currently used was also second-hand, a low-grade one at that. It was just barely adequate for drawing mid-grade talismans, but anything higher would be a drag.

“This will work! I’ll just add a few extra spirit stones as compensation to my talisman master friend.”

Since the materials he had prepared for talisman crafting were limited, a few dozen uses would be sufficient.

Due to its nearly worn-out condition, Lan Changʼan was able to acquire the talisman brush for a little over ten thousand spirit stones.

...

Two days later, Lan Changʼan left Cloudsmoke Immortal City. His journey went smoothly.

As he flew near the Changhong River, he was only a hundred li away from the tributary of Qingsha Bay.

”Hmm?”

Lan Changʼan looked at the dense forest along the riverbank and felt his heart jolt.

This forest was where the Earth Burrowing Rat had devoured Yu Qin and the vice president of the Xinyue Merchant Association.

It wasn’t because he sensed an ambush. Rather, it was because he had just passed by this exact forest a few breaths ago.

It felt as if he were caught in a “ghost wall” illusion, going in circles.

“An illusion formation!”

Lan Changʼan’s eyes sharpened as he activated the sensory amplification granted by his Second Life.

He faintly perceived a distorted, circular, pale purple light membrane permeating the void. It extended over an area of twenty li, creating a strange space that isolated him from the outside world.

To deceive the senses of a cultivator of True Dan Great Cultivator, this had to be at least a superior-grade third-rank illusion formation, possibly even fourth-rank.

“Turtle Talisman Master, you really arenʼt simple. You actually detected the illusion formation’s location.”

From within the forest, a figure emerged—a handsome man in purple robes with sharp features. He floated leisurely into the air.

“Wang Feng, what is the meaning of this?”

Lan Changʼan’s expression changed as he scanned his surroundings, but saw only Wang Feng.

At that moment, he noticed something strange about Wang Feng.

Not only had his demeanor changed, but his deep, piercing gaze seemed to weigh down on Lan Changʼan like a mountain, making his soul tremble inexplicably.

There was no one below the Nascent Soul level who could exert such pressure on him in his current state.

“Of course, it’s to take you with me! It’s the first time I’ve seen a Foundation Establishment cultivator with a five-hundred-year lifespan.”

Wang Feng’s eyes gleamed with an eerie purple flame.

“Supreme Elder Lihuo!”

Lan Changʼan’s heart shook. Why would the Supreme Elder of the Flame Departing Palace, instead of recuperating from his injuries, possess or take over Wang Feng’s body?

Could it be that Master Lihuo’s injuries were more severe than the outside world had guessed, to the point that he had to abandon his physical body and release his Nascent Soul?

Not only that, but he had waited here in ambush for Lan Changʼan rather than making a move near the city.

Suddenly, Wang Feng’s figure blurred in Lan Changʼan’s vision and vanished.

Boom!

The next instant, Lan Changʼan’s consciousness was assaulted by a burning sensation, and his mind went dark.

The soul shadow of his Second Life, the white-bearded old man, abruptly dimmed by a quarter.

Within the illusion formation, Lan Changʼan let out a muffled groan and fell unconscious, plunging headfirst toward the roaring river below.

Swish!

A purple silhouette took the form of “Wang Feng” and appeared ten zhang behind Lan Changʼan like a phantom.

The purple flames in “Wang Feng’s” eyes flickered and died down.

He pointed a finger, and a whip-like magical treasure crackling with arcs of electricity shot out from his sleeve. It twisted like a living thunder serpent, wrapping around the unconscious Lan Changʼan.

At this moment, “Wang Feng’s” cultivation surged to the late Foundation Establishment stage. Restricted by his cultivation level, he could only partially unleash the Nascent Soul-level power of his magical treasure.

Even so, if this whip bound someone, even an early True Dan cultivator would be rendered helpless.

Snap!

The lightning serpent whip shattered the phantom image of Lan Changʼan in white robes.

In that instant, Lan Changʼan’s eyes snapped open, his body swelling and growing taller as he emanated a powerful aura of blood and vitality.

Slash!

With the strength of a ferocious beast, Lan Changʼan twisted in mid-air, gripping a black-gold curved saber as he slashed directly at Wang Feng’s face.

“A Fake Dan-level body cultivator. I anticipated this.”

A cold snort echoed in Lan Changʼan’s mind.

The figure of “Wang Feng” shifted, seeming to teleport to Lan Changʼan’s left.

Lan Changʼan’s full-powered slash, bolstered by his physical cultivation, missed its mark, leaving him briefly off-balance.

Whoosh!

The lightning serpent whip struck again, this time coiling toward Lan Changʼan’s leg with no room for escape.

“As expected of an old Nascent Soul monster!”

Lan Changʼanʼs chest lit up with the spiritual glow of a treasure talisman, creating five spinning crystal-blue shields that protected his tall figure.

Crack!

The lightning serpent whip was deflected by one of the rotating crystal shields, which shattered upon impact.

“A mid-grade third-rank talisman?”

“Wang Feng’s” eyebrows knitted in surprise.

A talisman of such high rank, in the hands of a mere late Foundation Establishment cultivator? Even among the neighboring nations, there were hardly any genuine fourth-rank talisman masters, and mid-grade third-rank talismans were exceedingly rare.

The higher the rank of a talisman, the rarer and more demanding the materials needed to craft it. How difficult would it be to hunt a large demon of the middle to late third rank, or even a transformed Demon King?

In this critical moment, Lan Changʼan activated one of his strongest defensive talismans, narrowly escaping capture.

Four more crystal-blue shields rotated around Lan Changʼan, each capable of withstanding a blow from an early-stage True Dan cultivator.

“Activate!”

With a flick of his white robes, Lan Changʼan unleashed two more talismans in rapid succession.

Thunderbolt Talisman!

A vast storm of electric light and thunderclouds materialized between him and “Wang Feng,” engulfing the latter in an instant.

This was yet another mid-grade third-rank treasure talisman, crafted months ago, and was in his peak second lifeʼs state.

Thunderous booms, accompanied by “Wang Feng’s” furious roar, echoed from within the storm.

“Fortunately, he’s only possessing a Foundation Establishment body, and his magical power is insufficient to unleash the true power of his magical treasure and techniques.”

Lan Changʼan activated another talisman, a Flight Talisman.

Instantly, a whirlwind of wind formed around him, propelling him forward in a dazzling green streak of light as he flew toward the edge of the illusion formation.

“Turle Talisman Master! This fourth-rank remnant formation is not something you can break through!”

A chilling voice rang out as “Wang Feng” emerged from the storm, encased in a protective cloud of ice from a defensive talisman. He charged out of the turbulent thundercloud.

He activated a third-rank flight talisman and chased after Lan Changʼan with great speed.

Lan Changʼan headed toward the riverbank forest, approaching the boundary of the illusion formation.

Thanks to the amplification from his second life possession, Lan Changʼan’s spiritual sense was incredibly powerful, allowing him to locate the edges of the illusion formation and even detect its weaker points.

“Break!”

Lan Changʼan took out a stack of talismans—six or seven in total—all of which were third-rank Restriction-Breaking treasure talismans.

The first one alone caused the edge of the illusion formation to flicker and tremble, with the distorted images in the void wavering.

After all, this was merely a fourth-rank remnant formation without a controller, temporarily powered by spirit stones. Its defensive power was considerably weaker.

“So many third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans?”

“Wang Feng’s” pupils shrank, his expression frozen for a moment.

Third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans were precious strategic resources on the battlefield for cultivators.

This man, Lan Changʼan, surely possessed an extraordinary fortune.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

Three consecutive blasts from the Restriction-Breaking Talismans caused cracks to form on the boundary of the illusion formation.

“Wang Feng’s” expression darkened.

A Nascent Soul, wearing a purple Daoist robe, appeared faintly on the surface of his body, radiating a dreadful aura.

Hum…

The Nascent Soul’s hands formed a spell seal, releasing an unsettling energy. A few purple flame-like characters, resembling tadpoles, encircled “Wang Feng.”

With a surge of purple flames beneath his feet, “Wang Feng’s” speed instantly doubled!

In a few breaths, he was within dozens of zhang of Lan Changʼan.

Boom!

A massive stone wall shot up from the ground within the forest, directly blocking his path.

“Damn it—!”

“Wang Feng” was moving too fast, and his current body lacked the control needed to avoid the stone wall conjured by a True Dan-level demonic beast.

Crash!

The stone wall shattered, and a cascade of rocks buried “Wang Feng’s” body, accompanied by faint screams.

“Well done!”

Lan Changʼan’s fifth Restriction-Breaking Talisman created a crack about a foot wide in the boundary of the illusion formation.

A flash of earthy yellow light darted into Lan Changʼan’s spirit pet bag.

Through the crack in the formation—

The illusion dissipated, and Lan Changʼan appeared above a clear, fresh stretch of river.

“At that speed, even with Wang Feng’s body, he’d be hard-pressed to avoid injuries.”

Lan Changʼan’s heart finally settled.

Fortunately, he had stockpiled a wealth of treasure talismans over the years, all of them third-rank or higher, amounting to over sixty in total. With an abundance of trump cards, he could mitigate unforeseen dangers.

He hadn’t expected that Master Lihuo’s injuries would be so severe that he would abandon his own body.

In truth, the exact state of Master Lihuo’s injuries was only known to himself and Chu Tianfeng; no other faction had accurate information.

…

To be able to escape from the hands of a Nascent Soul old monster is enough to be proud of oneself, even though itʼs a crippled Nascent Soul.”

Lan Changʼan took a deep breath.

Whoosh!

Stepping onto a third-rank flight light, Lan Changʼan headed toward the heart of Jing Kingdom, rather than the Xia Family in Qingsha Bay.

He reasoned that “Wang Feng” would find it difficult to pursue him.

In terms of cultivation and physical strength, Wang Feng was no match for him.

As for using flight talismans, Lan Changʼan was not concerned.

Without enough body cultivation, a normal Foundation Establishment body couldn’t endure high-speed travel for long without sustaining damage.

However, barely ten li into his flight, a cold, resonant voice echoed in his mind:

“Lan Changʼan, I told you—you cannot escape!”

A foot-long purple-robed Nascent Soul appeared, flickering like an afterimage, closing the distance within a few breaths.

“A Nascent Soul out of body!”

Lan Changʼan’s flight came to an abrupt halt, and he gave a bitter smile.

A Nascent Soul in spirit form could fly several times faster than a typical Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Alone, a Nascent Soul was fragile and lacked combat strength, but it still possessed some soul-based techniques.

“A Foundation Establishment body with a five-hundred-year lifespan… this Taoist would like to see it for himself.”

In a flash, the purple-robed Nascent Soul drilled into Lan Changʼan’s body.

Lan Changʼan didn’t resist.

He sighed inwardly; unless absolutely necessary, he hadn’t wanted to risk this.

Ever since learning that Wang Feng was possessed by a Nascent Soul, he had suspected the reaction of the Nine Seal Stele earlier.

Boom!

The second lifeʼs soul shadow in Lan Changʼan’s mind dimmed by half, torn open violently.

The purple-robed Nascent Soul forced its way into his sea of consciousness, trying to seize control.

Buzz!

From the depths of his consciousness, an ancient, pitch-black stone tablet emitted a dim white glow, enveloping the invading Nascent Soul.

“No—!”

The Master Lihuo’s Nascent Soul was immobilized, bound by some kind of law-bound power.

A soul-shaking scream echoed and then fell silent.

In the fourth seal of the Nine Seal Stele, the purple-robed Nascent Soul was ground into fine particles.

Then, a radiant, crystal-clear white light emerged, spreading quickly through the gray, deathly silent region of the stele.

Not only that—

Within the fourth seal frame, a faint outline of the purple-robed Daoist began to take shape.