I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 267: Overseas Tracking

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Less than a day had passed.

A man and a woman, both dressed in white robes, descended gracefully from the clouds like an immortal couple.

In their view, the outline of a vast lake expanded continuously. Under the brilliance of the morning light, its shimmering surface glistened like jade and emerald.

Lan Changʼan looked down at the familiar Feiyue Lake, the spiritual vein dojo where he had first embarked on his path to immortality in this life.

Zhao Siyao gazed at the man’s side profile. She could sense the special feelings Lan Changʼan shared with Feiyue Lake.

“Core Formation Immortal!”

The pair made no effort to conceal their cultivation, and the faint spiritual pressure emanating from them was felt by the cultivators of the Mu Family below at Feiyue Lake.

The clan-protecting formation activated briefly, causing a momentary flurry of panic.

“Uncle Lan!”
“Big Brother!”

Soon, from the central Moonheart Island in Feiyue Lake, two waves of Foundation Establishment-level spiritual energy surged into the air.

Leading the way was a female cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage, appearing to be nearly thirty years old.

She wore a dark blue gown, her features were elegant, and her bearing was dignified. Her figure had grown slightly fuller over the years.

This was none other than Mu Bingyun, the current Grand Elder of the Mu Family at Feiyue Lake.

Following closely behind her was an elderly man, stooped with age and moving a bit slower.

“Erqing?”

Lan Changʼan stared at the white-haired elder before him. Despite the wrinkles and aged demeanor, he recognized the familiar facial contours.

“Greetings, Uncle Lan. Greetings, Senior Zhao.”

Mu Bingyun slowed her pace and bowed respectfully.

She stood to the side, watching the reunion between the elder and the younger man.

The aged Li Erqing, his face lined with wrinkles and his eyes brimming with tears, shakily grasped Lan Changʼanʼs arm.

The scene was peculiar: an old man trembling as he clung to the arm of a young man in white, whose demeanor was calm and whose Core Formation aura was carefully restrained. The young man smiled gently as he patted the old man’s shoulder.

In the cultivation world, however, such sights were not uncommon.

Mu Bingyun’s clear, calm eyes wavered slightly as she observed the familiar figure. Ripples appeared in her gaze, but they quickly subsided, returning to stillness.

“Little Brother forgot to congratulate Big Brother on forming your Core…”

Li Erqing, now more composed, cupped his hands in a congratulatory gesture.

“Congratulations to Uncle Lan on reaching Core Formation. May your lifespan rival the southern mountains and your immortal path remain evergreen,” said Mu Bingyun with a radiant smile.

Lan Changʼan glanced at Mu Bingyun and nodded. “Managing such a large family has not been easy for you all these years.”

Mu Bingyun had changed significantly.

Having served as the ancestor of the Mu Family for decades, she had endured the brutalities of the cultivation world. She now exuded an air of maturity and regal elegance, carrying the faint authority of a Foundation Establishment elder.

But gain comes with loss.

The youthful purity and grace she once possessed had been worn away; the spirited aura of the girl she used to be had long been eroded.

Cultivators like Zhao Tan’er, who could maintain their sincerity and innocence, were exceedingly rare in the world of cultivation.

“Fellow Daoist Zhao, you’re here as well,” Li Erqing remarked with a look of relief when he noticed Zhao Siyao accompanying Lan Changʼan.

Under the respectful gazes of the Mu Family cultivators, the four of them chatted amiably as they flew toward Moonheart Island.

Lan Changʼan observed Li Erqing’s aura and estimated that he would not live past two hundred years. He likely had another twenty years or so left in his lifespan.

Years ago, Li Erqing had suffered severe injuries during a cultivation war.

Though he recovered after a year or two of rest, the damage had still taken a toll on his longevity.

…

Within the cave abode on Moonheart Island.

Lan Changʼan sat in the seat of honor, and the four of them reminisced about the past together.

“Big Brother Lan, to see you again before my lifespan runs out… I have no more regrets in this life,” Li Erqing said with a hearty laugh. Despite his aged face, it seemed to glow with vitality, like a fleeting burst of radiance before the end.

From a mere farmer’s boy to his current position, Li Erqing had built a family and seen it thrive within the world of cultivation. He was already deeply content.

Indeed, Li Erqing’s personal accomplishments were not remarkable.

But his grandson, Li Congren, was at the late Foundation Establishment stage and had founded a family of cultivators bearing the Li name.

Meanwhile, his son, Mu Jiuan, though distant in their relationship, had reached the Fake Dan stage decades ago. Within the Golden Sun Sect, Mu Jiuan held some status and connections.

“You’re nothing but old bones now. Control your emotions and avoid major ups and downs, or it will affect your remaining lifespan,” Lan Changʼan warned as he observed the elderʼs flush of excitement.

“I’m just too happy to see you, Big Brother,” Li Erqing replied nonchalantly.

Every time he reunited with Lan Changʼan, he felt as though he had returned to Jin Yun Valley 150 years ago.

Back then, he was just a farmer boy awakened by the crowing of a hen in the illusion of the third trial.

Though Li Erqing had many descendants, Lan Changʼan was the only one who had accompanied him through the years, witnessing his entire life.

From a farmer boy to a prosperous middle-aged man, and finally to his twilight years.

Half an hour later, Lan Changʼan had gained a deeper understanding of the current state of the Mu Family at Feiyue Lake.

The Mu Family’s situation was decent. Though its growth rate couldn’t compare to the Li Family at Snow Plum Mountain, it was stable and free of hidden dangers.

This stability was owed to several factors:

First, Feiyue Lake now had three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

In addition to Li Erqing and Mu Bingyun, there was also a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Second, their relationship with the Golden Sun Sect was favorable.

Back then, with Mu Jiuan’s support, the Mu Family had submitted to the sect, offering up a Youth Retaining Pill in exchange for favorable treatment.

After Mu Jiuan became a Fake Dan cultivator, he naturally extended some protection to the Mu Family.

Moreover, Mu Bingyun had formed a Dao companion relationship with an inner disciple of the Golden Sun Sect at the Foundation Establishment stage, and they had even had a child together.

This meant Feiyue Lake had gained additional external support.

As long as they proceeded cautiously and the Golden Sun Sect did not fall, the Mu Family would not face any major crises for the next century or two.

During their casual conversation, Lan Changʼan also learned confirmed news about Wuqi Mountain.

Wuqi Mountain, the spiritual vein site of Jin Yun Valley, had undergone no significant changes.

The Little Turtle Peak remained as it was, its name unaltered, and the mountain continued to be leased by the old caretaker, Qi Feng.

Both Mu Bingyun and Li Erqing had high praise for Qi Feng, describing him as skilled in dealing with others, possessing a steadfast Dao heart, and having abundant combat experience.

Qi Feng’s escort team had even collaborated with the Mu Family at Feiyue Lake in the past.

…

Lan Changʼan stayed at Feiyue Lake for several days.

During this time, both Li Erqing and Mu Bingyun visited him privately.

Li Erqing mainly came to reminisce about old times or discuss topics related to his children and family.

Mu Bingyun, on the other hand, sought advice on talisman crafting and cultivation. She also showed a nostalgic fondness for the time she spent as a servant girl on Little Turtle Peak all those years ago.

Through these discussions, Lan Changʼan realized that Mu Bingyunʼs cultivation progress had slowed significantly since reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage.

The benefits she had received from Lan Changʼan in the past—when he had nurtured her body and repaired her foundations—had now been almost entirely depleted.

With her mid-grade spiritual roots, her current accomplishments were already respectable and had fulfilled the expectations of her former master, Mu Xiuyun.

However, after marrying and having children, and spending most of her time overseeing the family, Mu Bingyun had grown comfortable and lacked the ambition to strive forward with fierce determination.

After Lan Changʼan left her life, she had not encountered any major opportunities to improve further.

During her final visit, Mu Bingyun brought along a handsome young boy dressed in white. He was only fifteen years old and had just reached the early Qi-Refining stage.

The boy’s name was Mu Changxiu.

“Changxiu?”

Hearing the name, Lan Changʼan silently repeated it in his heart and guessed the meaning behind Mu Bingyunʼs choice of name.

“Greetings, Grandpa Lan.”

Mu Changxiu knelt and kowtowed deeply to Lan Changʼan.

“This jade has nourishing effects on the body. This is Grandpa Lanʼs meeting gift to you,” said Lan Changʼan, as he handed over a second-rank spirit jade.

“Thank you, Grandpa Lan.”

Despite his young age, Mu Changxiu understood the prestige of a Core Formation cultivator. He was extremely respectful, and his eyes shone with admiration and longing.

After Mu Bingyun and her son left, Lan Changʼanʼs expression carried a hint of surprise.

Mu Changxiu bore some resemblance to him in both appearance and temperament, particularly in his white robes.

It wasn’t until later that Lan Changʼan learned the truth: Mu Bingyunʼs husband in the Golden Sun Sect happened to look somewhat like him.

The next morning.

Lan Changʼan and Zhao Siyao bid farewell to the Mu Family.

As they flew through the clouds and gained some distance, the two exchanged a glance and a smile, parting ways with a silent understanding born of over a century of companionship.

...

Journeying to Wuqi Mountain.

As he traveled toward Wuqi Mountain, Lan Changʼan found himself reminiscing about the four people he had once befriended at Jin Yun Valley.

“In the end, I still influenced their fates…”

Lan Changʼan knew that, despite not deliberately interfering, his occasional actions had inevitably altered their lives.

Without him, Zhao Siyao and Li Erqing, who both started without any background in the cultivation world, would have faced far greater difficulties, especially in their early stages of cultivation.

For instance, Zhao Siyao had once faced exploitation within her sect. Without the treasure talisman he had given her, she would have already perished on the battlefield.

Li Erqing’s life had been saved by another life-saving talisman during a family conflict. While fleeing, he had fallen and broken his leg but survived.

As for Lin Yi, the young marquis, his independent spirit meant he was influenced the least by Lan Changʼan. However, he was also the first among them to die.

Now, Li Erqing’s cultivation path had reached its end, and he had less than twenty years left to live. Zhao Siyao still had over a hundred years of lifespan remaining, though her chances of further breakthroughs were slim.

Staring toward the northern horizon, Lan Changʼan’s gaze grew deep.

“The person I am now is just a long-lived cultivator who is no longer a part of the lower echelons of the cultivation world, but I am far from being someone mighty.”

Even great cultivators, after a long life, would inevitably leave behind some regrets.

Half a day later.

Surrounded by clouds and mist, the familiar Wuqi Mountain appeared in Lan Changʼan’s sight.

The overall outline of Wuqi Mountain had not changed much.

However, several damaged peaks in the surrounding area seemed to serve as scars of the “Golden Sun Northern Relocation” cultivation war that had taken place.

Perhaps due to efforts to cultivate the spiritual veins, the quality of Wuqi Mountain’s spiritual energy had improved compared to the past.

Lan Changʼan’s powerful True Dan aura quickly alerted the cultivators residing on the mountain.

Little Pill Peak, Xiao Pan Peak, and Little Turtle Peak—the three main peaks—were each protected by formations and housed Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The master of Little Pill Peak had the highest cultivation among them, being in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

“True Dan aura!”

“Lan… Lan Changʼan!?”

On Little Pill Peak, a middle-aged alchemist with a neatly trimmed beard and dressed in green robes widened his eyes in disbelief.

Ye Fei, who lived in relative seclusion and often immersed himself in alchemy, had not yet heard the news of Lan Changʼan’s Core Formation breakthrough.

In the Golden Sun Sect, spanning six major sects and ten great families, there were still a fair number of Core Formation cultivators.

For ordinary cultivators, especially those at the lower levels, the emergence of a new Core Formation cultivator in a neighboring kingdom was often unnoticed. Many had even forgotten that Lan Changʼan had left Liang Kingdom and gone to Jing Kingdom.

“Fellow Daoist Ye, it’s been thirty years. How have you been? It seems you are now the most senior figure in Wuqi Mountain,” Lan Changʼan greeted him with a hearty laugh, his tone tinged with playful teasing.

Years ago, it was Lan Changʼan who had approved Ye Fei to become one of the three peak masters of Wuqi Mountain.

At the time, Ye Fei was the youngest and least experienced of the three. Now, he had become the de facto leader of the mountain.

“I-Immortal Lan, you overpraise me!”

Ye Fei snapped out of his daze and immediately flew out of Little Pill Peak to greet Lan Changʼan.

“No matter the past or the present, you will always be my great elder brother. You may call me ‘Little Ye,’ as always,” Ye Fei said with a flattering smile, clearly excited. He enthusiastically invited Lan Changʼan to visit Little Pill Peak for tea.

At this moment, the other two peak masters had also been alerted by the commotion and came out to pay their respects to the Core Formation cultivator.

The master of Xiao Pan Peak was a middle-aged woman at the early Foundation Establishment stage.

Lan Changʼan found her vaguely familiar, as if she was one of the maidservants who served Fairy Shi back then?

The master of Little Turtle Peak, on the other hand, was a robust man in leather armor, exuding a calm and steady aura.

“Grandpa Lan! You’re back!”

The burly man was none other than Qi Feng, who, upon seeing the white-robed man who had remained unchanged over thirty years, became emotional, his eyes misting over.

Qi Feng, the mountain caretaker, was a descendant of Lan Changʼan’s adoptive father in this life. Blessed with spiritual roots, Qi Feng had embarked on the path of immortality using the Origin-Opening Scripture left behind by Lan Changʼan.

Later, Guan Qiaozhi, unable to walk the immortal path herself, had returned to the secular world and became Qi Feng’s immortal guide, much like how Master Guan had once guided Lan Changʼan to immortality.

Before leaving Liang Kingdom atop his turtle mount, Lan Changʼan had left Qi Feng with a chance to reach Foundation Establishment and a collection of cultivation insights.

In addition, the two old second-rank puppets that guarded his former cave abode had been left behind at Little Turtle Peak.

Politely declining Ye Fei’s invitation, Lan Changʼan instead followed Qi Feng to Little Turtle Peak.

...

“Qi Feng, you have not disappointed Grandpa Lan.”

Lan Changʼan glanced at Qi Feng, then surveyed the environment of Little Turtle Peak, a satisfied expression appearing on his face.

Qi Feng had reached the third level of Foundation Establishment, and his spiritual energy was solid and stable.

His spiritual sense was tough and cultivation speed rivaled that of those with mid-grade spiritual roots. It seemed that Qi Feng had encountered some fortuitous opportunities while venturing in the outside world.

The general layout of Little Turtle Peak remained unchanged from years ago.

...

Squeak! Squeak!

Plop! Plop!

The Earth Burrowing Rat and the Profound Water Turtle leapt out from Lan Changʼan’s spiritual pet pouch, thrilled to return to the familiar surroundings of the peak.

The Earth Burrowing Rat burrowed into the mountain, quickly finding the tunnels it had dug years ago still intact.

The Profound Water Turtle lazily lounged beside a pond, content and relaxed, instinctively gazing toward a specific direction as if recalling old memories.

Toward the back of the mountain, Lan Changʼan’s sharp senses detected two graves.

One of the tombstones bore the inscription: “The tomb of Lady Guan Qiaozhi.”

“These are Aunt Guan and Rou’er’s graves,” Qi Feng explained in a somber tone as he introduced the two resting places.

Upon hearing the story, Lan Changʼan came to understand what had happened.

Years after Lan Changʼan left the Liang Kingdom, Guan Qiaozhi had passed away.

The orphaned mortal children she had adopted buried her. Later, when Qi Feng became the master of Little Turtle Peak, he relocated her grave to this mountain.

As for those orphans Guan Qiaozhi had cared for, two or three of them had turned out to have spiritual roots. Qi Feng had guided them onto the path of cultivation and carefully nurtured them, eventually recruiting them into his personal escort team.

The second grave belonged to Lan Rou, a maidservant of Little Turtle Peak in the past.

After Lan Changʼan’s departure, Qi Feng and Lan Rou had married.

Lan Rou eventually cultivated to Qi-Refining Stage ninth layer, comparable in age to Guan Qiaozhi when she attempted Foundation Establishment. Qi Feng obtained an inferior Foundation Establishment Pill in the hopes of helping her breakthrough.

Unfortunately, Lan Rou failed her attempt to reach Foundation Establishment. The backlash severely damaged her health, and she passed away a few years later.

“Truly a man of loyalty and devotion,” Lan Changʼan said in his heart, and he felt a little more appreciation for Qi Feng, the mountain guardian.

“Next, Grandpa Lan will be staying at Little Turtle Peak for some time. Don’t worry, I won’t freeload off you,” Lan Changʼan remarked with a smile during a lavish dinner in the cave dwelling.

One of the reasons he chose to remain here was to wait for Fairy Shi.

About twenty years ago, Shi Manrong had left a message with Zhao Siyao, claiming there was an important matter she needed to discuss.

Lan Changʼan had no desire to actively search for her whereabouts.

Now that he had returned to his homeland with the status of a True Dan cultivator, word of his presence would quickly spread across the Liang Kingdom.

If the matter Shi Manrong wanted to discuss was indeed important, she would naturally come to Wuqi Mountain to find him.

“Grandpa Lan, you will always be the true master of Little Turtle Peak. Stay as long as you wish,” Qi Feng replied, his excitement barely contained. He could not have hoped for a better outcome.

...

In the days that followed, Qi Feng served Lan Changʼan in the manner of a devoted junior.

Besides Qi Feng, a few of his trusted subordinates also resided on Little Turtle Peak.

The main chamber of Lan Changʼan’s former cave manor had been left completely untouched by Qi Feng. This wasn’t a last-minute gesture to impress but rather a reflection of his genuine reverence for Lan Changʼan.

Lan Changʼan, taking some free time, offered Qi Feng guidance on his cultivation and even repaired the two damaged second-rank puppets that had been left behind.

Each session of advice was like a revelation to Qi Feng. Every word from Lan Changʼan seemed to strike at the core of his cultivation challenges.

“Truly a great Core Formation powerhouse,” Qi Feng thought in awe.

He couldn’t help but compare Lan Changʼan with Ye Fei, the neighboring peak master. The difference was like heaven and earth.

Despite humbling himself and offering gifts to Ye Fei in the past, the advice he received was nowhere near as effective as Lan Changʼan’s.

Qi Feng did not receive guidance from other Immortals, and failed to realize that such deliberate and insightful guidance could be called a once-in-a-lifetime blessing.

...

Seven days later.

A surge of Fake Dan-level spiritual energy approached Little Turtle Peak. Soon, a graceful and elegant figure descended.

“Fairy Shi!”

The peak masters of Wuqi Mountain, along with the affiliated cultivators from the outer peaks, immediately recognized the newcomer.

Among them were many who gazed at her with admiration.

Shi Manrong, dressed in a moonlight-colored gown, had an air of refined elegance that accentuated her curvaceous figure.

Her high bun framed her beautiful, round face, while her calm and dignified demeanor made her seem as untouchable as a pure chrysanthemum.

Thanks to the Youth Retaining Pill she had obtained in a transaction with Lan Changʼan, coupled with her advancement to the Fake Dan stage, Shi Manrong’s appearance had remained unchanged from decades ago.

“Fairy Shi, I have been waiting here for days,” Lan Changʼan said as he stepped out of the cave manor on Little Turtle Peak, dressed in his usual white robes and smiling warmly.

“To think that the renowned Evergreen Immortal would personally wait for me—I’m unworthy,” Shi Manrong replied, biting her lower lip lightly. Her tone carried a faint trace of displeasure.

Seeing the familiar, unchanging figure of the jade-like man in white, her emotions were subtly stirred.

Lan Changʼan chuckled, understanding her mild annoyance at his abrupt departure all those years ago.

Over the past three decades, the cultivation world of Liang Kingdom had undergone significant changes. Even the most powerful Nascent Soul faction had been overthrown.

Due to the chaos of war and disrupted cross-border communications, Shi Manrong had spent a long time uncertain of whether Lan Changʼan was dead or alive.

…

In the tea room of the cave manor.

Perhaps due to the long years of separation, Lan Changʼan and Shi Manrong treated each other with formal courtesy.

Shi Manrong sat with impeccable grace, exuding an air of elegance and composure. Her gaze was as tranquil as still water, seemingly devoid of the interest she once held in Lan Changʼan.

As a Fake Dan cultivator and a third-rank formation master, her identity naturally carried a noble and unapproachable aura that made others feel unworthy of her presence.

Lan Changʼan understood this distance; after so many years apart, some estrangement was only natural.

Although he and Shi Manrong had always gotten along well, their relationship had never gone beyond a fleeting connection, more akin to a passing romance than any deep emotional bond.

This lack of commitment allowed for great freedom—neither side had to restrain the other or bear any responsibility.

After some small talk, the two exchanged accounts of their lives over the years.

As a third-rank formation master, Shi Manrong was highly sought after in the Liang Kingdom. She maintained long-term collaborations with several immortal cities and large families, cultivating an extensive network of connections.

...

“Fairy Shi, before leaving the ancient ruins all those years ago, I once advised you…”

Lan Changʼan gradually turned the conversation to the matter that had been on his mind.

“After Fellow Daoist Lan left, I continued studying the formations within the ruins and eventually became a third-rank formation master. Before I departed the ruins, I followed your suggestion to collapse the ancient remnant formation in the core of the ruins.”

“And the treasury space within?”

“It collapsed along with it,” Shi Manrong replied flatly.

Thanks to her deep understanding of the ancient ruinʼs formations and the inheritance she received, Shi Manrong was able to precisely dismantle the core array with minimal effort.

“Well done, Fairy Shi. You handled it beautifully.”

Lan Changʼan sighed inwardly in relief.

Shi Manrong’s expression, however, turned serious. “But I do have some bad news to share with Fellow Daoist Lan.”

“Oh? Was something overlooked back then?”

Lan Changʼan’s brows furrowed slightly.

In truth, with his current status and cultivation, as long as he did not expose the secrets of the Xuanmu Vine or the Five Element Earth, there should be no cause for trouble.

Opportunities like ancient ruin inheritances were not uncommon in the cultivation world.

According to the intelligence from Unseen Gate, Lan Changʼanʼs success in Core Formation was attributed to a fortuitous opportunity he encountered within the ruins. To higher-level cultivators, the potential rewards from such ruins—valuable to lower and mid-tier cultivators—were of little significance.

However, the seriousness in Shi Manrong’s tone caught his attention.

“This matter…”

Shi Manrong’s expression grew solemn as she surveyed their surroundings. She motioned for Lan Changʼan, who was at the Core Formation Realm, to lay down a tight restriction.

After he complied, she leaned forward slightly, her lips moving silently as she began transmitting her voice directly into Lan Changʼan’s mind.

“Tinghai Pavilion? The Nascent Soul-level sect from the coastal regions of the Heaven Honoured Continent? Didn’t they once have close to ten Nascent Soul cultivators, including a late-stage Nascent Soul Great Cultivator?”

At first, Lan Changʼan’s expression remained calm. However, as Shi Manrong continued, his face suddenly froze in shock.

“What?! A Deity Transformation cultivator?”

The information Shi Manrong shared made Lan Changʼan’s scalp tingle, and a chill ran down his spine.

It turned out that after Lan Changʼan had left, Shi Manrong had broken through another set of restrictions in the core area of the ruins.

Within a certain pavilion, she discovered a jade scroll, akin to a journal, containing additional intelligence about Tinghai Pavilion.

According to the jade scroll, the ancient ruin had once served as a refuge for the Tinghai Pavilion. However, during its time as a sanctuary, it had been tracked down by an overseas force, specifically a Deity Transformation cultivator.

...

Deity Transformation Heavenly Lord!

In two lifetimes of cultivation, Lan Changʼan had never encountered one. He hadn’t even heard of any confirmed appearances of such figures.

Even across the vast Heaven Honoured Continent, only the ancient and mysterious Central State or the Fenghua Province, home of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, could possibly produce such unparalleled experts.

For regions like the Liang Kingdom or its neighbors, whether in his previous life’s Great Kun or his current life in the Great Qing, the lack of fifth-rank spiritual veins meant the emergence of a Deity Transformation Heavenly Lord was practically impossible.

...

Shi Manrong’s calm and confident voice broke the tension.

“Fellow Daoist Lan, there’s no need to worry too much. According to the jade scroll’s writer, it was likely not the true body of the Deity Transformation Heavenly Lord that descended, but rather an avatar or projection of their power. Besides, so many years have passed since then—who knows if that Heavenly Lord is even still alive?”