I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 303: Continuing the Past Life

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Lan Changʼan’s expression was grim as he immediately activated the Evergreen Technique to suppress the intense Golden Dan fluctuations that had surged uncontrollably after his breakthrough.

As the aura of the Evergreen Golden Dan subsided, the mysterious sense of resonance from the void quickly vanished.

“Even within the Great Qing, there are other cultivators of the Evergreen Technique.”

Lan Changʼan let out a slight sigh of relief.

From the vague direction of that distant resonance, he estimated its general location to be in the Great Qing Central Region.

The Central Region, dominated by the Ten Sects of the Xuan Gate, was the most flourishing area of cultivation civilization in all of Great Qing. It was also the cradle of the most ancient legacies.

Logically speaking, the possibility of finding remnants of the Evergreen Technique in the Central Region was indeed higher than in other areas.

Fortunately, once he restrained the Golden Dan fluctuations, that resonance disappeared.

The earlier resonance had mainly occurred because of the instability caused by his breakthrough, where his Golden Dan and magical power were not yet fully stabilized, resulting in the intense waves of energy.
Under normal circumstances, without deliberately releasing the aura of the Evergreen Golden Dan, the range of such a resonance wouldn’t be so vast—it would require closer proximity.

This range likely varied depending on one’s cultivation level.

“I sensed their existence, so it’s likely they’ve also noticed mine.”

“Luckily, at most, they would only sense my approximate location. Whether in the Central Region or the Eastern Region, the land is vast and boundless. I’ve hidden myself in the endless desert—searching for me would be akin to finding a needle in a haystack.”

Half a month later, Lan Changʼan had fully stabilized his cultivation realm.

The first thing he did after leaving seclusion was to focus entirely on divination, attempting to deduce the background of this “fellow disciple” in the Central Region of Great Qing.

What was their cultivation level?

What quality of True Dan had they formed?

However, due to the lack of sufficient information and the great distance between them, Lan Changʼan’s first attempt yielded only a hazy divination image without a definitive result.

The path of divination was not omnipotent; it required specific information as a medium.

The success rate of divination was influenced by the target’s cultivation level, the entanglement of karmic threads, and the amount of information available.

In the past, when Lan Changʼan divined Zhao Siyao and Li Erqing in the Liang Kingdom, it was relatively easy because he knew their backgrounds well, had ample information, and shared significant connections with them.

Moreover, divining a lower-realm cultivator as a higher-realm cultivator faced far less resistance.

“If that person hasn’t formed an Immortal Golden Dan, they likely wouldn’t know the secret that the Evergreen Dao Fruit can be mutually devoured to extend lifespan.”

Lan Changʼan pondered deeply.

Sixty years ago, when he formed his Immortal Golden Dan, he received faint enlightenment from the intricate markings of the perfected Golden Danʼs Dao patterns. It was then that he uncovered this profound secret.

Without forming a Golden Dan, this secret would remain unknown.

Even a cultivator with earth spiritual roots couldn’t guarantee the formation of an Immortal Golden Dan.

Lan Changʼan had the blessing of several lives, and this life was considered to be going smoothly, even obtaining the withered Xuanmu Vine Gourd and eventually forming the Immortal Golden Dan.

Ordinary cultivators of the Evergreen Technique would find it difficult to form a Golden Dan without sufficient accumulation and fortuitous opportunities.

Of course, as a precaution, Lan Changʼan could not afford to underestimate this potential rival.

Until proven otherwise, he would treat the target as if they had also formed an Immortal Golden Dan or perhaps even advanced to the Nascent Soul True Monarch stage.

...

“After reaching the mid-stage of Core Formation, I must prioritize improving my divination skills.”

Due to the potential threat posed by this unknown cultivator, Lan Changʼan revised his future cultivation goals.

Practicing divination came at a high cost to one’s energy and spirit. Probing too deeply into the heavenly secrets could invite karmic backlash, potentially shortening one’s lifespan. Excessive practice was dangerous, as it risked self-harm.

However, if one was willing to burn their lifespan, they could significantly accelerate their progress.

Standing on the shoulders of the foundation laid by the fourth life, Lan Changʼan held a distinct advantage in lifespan-burning cultivation of divination.

If he accelerated this process, he estimated that he could reach the third-rank superior-grade level in divination within one or two decades.

The mutual devouring of Evergreen Dao Fruits was a double-edged sword, bringing both benefits and risks.

By devouring another Evergreen Dao Fruit, one could absorb a certain percentage of the target’s lifespan.

With more lifespan at his disposal, he could afford to squander it to his heartʼs content, and speed up the cultivation of the Xuanmu Vine Gourd and hastening its growth.

If he could wield the Lesser Xuantian Gourd in the future, even when facing the legendary Great Cultivator Yan Donglai, he wouldnʼt lose his backbone.

At his Mountain-Water Manor, Lan Changʼan continued cultivating for another ten days. However, while absorbing and converting the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, he began to feel a sense of obstruction as if the supply was insufficient.

His cultivation efficiency dropped by more than half.

As a result, he now had to spend double the time in cultivation each day, leaving little room to focus on other skills like puppetry, body refining, and divination.

Helpless, Lan Changʼan had no choice but to rely on spirit stones and medicinal pills as supplementary resources.

While this approach was manageable in the short term, it was unsustainable in the long run.

Lan Changʼan understood the root cause—this small third-rank spirit vein was insufficient to comfortably support his mid-stage Core Formation cultivation.

For an ordinary mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, he could still barely make do by increasing the investment in spirit stones for the Spirit Gathering Array.

But as a cultivator with an Immortal Golden Dan, his demands on the quality of spiritual veins were at least 30% higher.

Moreover, the Mountain-Water Manor wasn’t his alone; the Profound Water Turtle also cultivated here.

Thankfully, the Earth Burrowing Rat was left to roam wild and free. Otherwise, Lan Changʼan would likely need to establish his own cultivation sect before it would be enough to support their cultivation in the long run.

Lan Changʼan had already anticipated this predicament.

His options were clear: either join the Xuan Yin Pavilion as a guest elder or align himself with one of the major cultivation forces in the oasis of the Outer Sect Alliance.

The advantage of the Xuan Yin Pavilion was its familiarity—he had collaborated with them before, and they had shown great sincerity.

The disadvantage, however, lay in the ill fate of Fairy Ni Yue, whose life was marked by misfortune and early death. Associating with her might entangle him in unnecessary karmic troubles.

Lan Changʼan recalled Fairy Ni Yue’s invitation from several years ago.

He wondered whether the Xuan Yin Pavilion had completed the construction of their new mountain gate in the spiritual vein oasis.

Lan Changʼan decided to wait for news. Based on what was said back then, the five-year timeline should be nearly up.

...

It was night, Lan Changʼan entered the underground chamber to check on the growth progress of the Xuanmu Vine Gourd.

After reaching the mid-stage of the Core Formation realm, the nurturing and healing capabilities of his Evergreen mana had ascended to a whole new level.

Over the past half month of testing, Lan Changʼan confirmed that his mid-stage Core Formation cultivation significantly accelerated the vineʼs recovery process.

Back during the early stage of Core Formation, he had once used the Evergreen secret spell to sacrifice his lifespan to stimulate the growth of the vine.

At that time, every ten years of lifespan restored one foot of green vitality to the vine.

Now, Lan Changʼan decided to try again, sacrificing another ten years of his lifespan to further revive the Xuanmu Vine Gourd.

“Ten years of lifespan restores roughly two feet of greenness.”

A smile appeared on Lan Changʼan’s face; the result was exactly as he had anticipated.

The entire vine, with its twisting and winding structure, was approximately three zhang and six chi (about 12 meters) in length.

Over the years, through accumulated lifespan sacrifices and natural recovery, about one-third of the vine’s greenness had been restored.

If Lan Changʼan was willing to sacrifice another 120 years of lifespan, he could completely restore the Xuanmu Vine’s greenness.

However, restoring the vine’s vitality only meant that it would truly come back to life and begin nurturing the gourd, the Xuantian Treasure Gourd.

It didn’t mean he would immediately obtain the Lesser Xuantian Gourd.

“This withered gourd sprout... Who knows when it will finally fall?”

Lan Changʼan examined the withered gourd sprout on the vine, which now exuded an even denser aura of death.

At this moment, the sprout was an ashen black, shriveled and lifeless.

Lan Changʼan had previously attempted to divine the exact time the sprout would fall, but the results were ambiguous, with no definitive outcome.

It could wither and fall in the next second, or it might take several more years.

Clearly, this was a manifestation of the Xuantian Gourd’s innate ability to shield its heavenly secrets, creating interference in divination.

As a result, Lan Changʼan tasked the Profound Water Turtle with keeping watch over the gourd sprout. The moment it fell, he was to be informed immediately.

Although he couldn’t divine the exact time, Lan Changʼan’s intuition told him that the moment of its fall was not far off.

...

Two months later.

Lan Changʼan finally received news from the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

With a swoosh, a muscular female cultivator with a powerful build and broad shoulders descended upon the Mountain-Water Manor on a massive drum-shaped flying magical treasure, as large as a house.

“Mister Xu, this is an invitation that our pavilion master asked me to bring,” the female cultivator said with a bow.

Miao Jing, dressed in a flowing long robe, bowed politely, causing the robe to puff up slightly like an inflated garment. Her large, round eyes sparkled as she gazed at the elegant and handsome Mister Xu. She deliberately softened her voice, making it sound sweet and alluring.

Lan Changʼan felt a chill down his spine but maintained his refined persona, raising a hand with a polite smile.

“Fairy Miao, there’s no need for such formality.”

Sigh, it seemed that the ethereal and pure Jiang Fairy had developed some grievances against him. This time, they sent Miao Jing instead.

Hearing herself addressed as “Fairy Miao,” a trace of softness and joy flickered in Miao Jing’s eyes.

Among all the Core Formation male cultivators she knew, only Mister Xu treated her with such courtesy, not being blinded by appearances and focusing on the beauty of the soul instead.

Lan Changʼan accepted the invitation, and the elegant, flowing script on the letter seemed to carry a faint fragrance and the ethereal sound of strings.

Fairy Ni Yue formally invited Lan Changʼan to visit the new mountain gate of the Xuan Yin Pavilion and offer his guidance.

Miao Jing added in a deliberately tender tone, “Mister Xu, the spirit vein on the Fragrant Grass Oasis has been cultivated into a third-rank mid-grade vein. The sect’s protective formation has been initially constructed and is currently being perfected. You are the first honored guest to be invited.”

“Xu is unworthy of such regard from Pavilion Master Ni Yue.”

Lan Changʼan appeared flattered and humbled.

If what Miao Jing said was true, it was indeed a bit unexpected.

The Xuan Yin Pavilion undoubtedly sought to recruit not just Lan Changʼan but likely several other experts as well.

However, as a third-rank alchemist in the Fengyuan Kingdom, Lan Changʼan did hold a certain level of prestige.

“Fairy Miao, please convey my thanks to your pavilion master. I will visit the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s new mountain gate within the next two months.”

After exchanging a few pleasantries, Lan Changʼan politely sent Miao Jing off from the Mountain-Water Manor.

Miao Jing was a little disappointed that Mister Xu hadn’t invited her to stay as a guest. The last time Jiang Ruotong came, she had stayed for several days.

“The divination remains unchanged.”

Lan Changʼan once again performed a divination to predict any dangers within the next two months. The results indicated no immediate threats.

This decision had not altered the earlier outcome of his divination.

This was to be expected. After advancing to the mid-stage of the Core Formation realm, there were virtually no cultivators in the Outer Sect Alliance who posed a significant threat to Lan Changʼan.

An Immortal Golden Dan cultivator at the mid-stage, who also had third-rank mid-grade body refinement, was a rarity even in all of Fengyuan Kingdom. There might not be a second person like him.

The only potential threats he could think of were from the Five Poisons Sect or the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, whose hidden branches might be operating in this region.

For caution’s sake, Lan Changʼan decided to divine the cause of Fairy Ni Yue’s early death.

“Hmm? Has the divination changed? It’s now completely opposite to her earlier fate...”

Lan Changʼan’s expression turned curious and slightly amused.

He suspected that his involvement might have altered Fairy Ni Yue’s destiny.

After all, with Lan Changʼan’s current strength, which could be considered the pinnacle in the Outer Sect Alliance, it wasn’t surprising that his influence could affect the fates of others.

“Should I lend Fairy Ni Yue a helping hand?”

Lan Changʼan decided to further divine whether this decision would entangle him in unnecessary karmic burdens.

To ensure a more accurate result, he sacrificed a small amount of his essence blood.

“How intriguing!”

As he delved deeper into the divination, Lan Changʼan’s expression became increasingly animated.

“It seems I have to make a trip to the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s new mountain gate.”

...

The day after Miao Jing left.

The next day, Granny Yun and Yun Ling visited the Mountain-Water Manor.

Although Lan Changʼan had been living here for years, this was the first time Yun Yan, the matriarch of the Yun family, had come to visit.

During the meeting, Yun Ling’s gaze flitted nervously, her delicate brows shyly lowered.

She didn’t sit down, instead quietly attending to tea and serving water for Lan Changʼan and Granny Yun, moving gracefully, her every action exuding gentleness and thoughtfulness.

“Ling’er, step out for now. I have matters to discuss with Mister Xu,” Granny Yun said after a brief exchange of pleasantries.

As Lan Changʼan watched Yun Ling’s slender figure retreating, a thoughtful expression flickered across his face.

“Mister Xu, after knowing each other for so many years, what do you think of Ling’er as a person?” Granny Yun asked with a warm smile, her aged face creased with wrinkles yet radiating a strange, maternal charm.

“She’s intelligent and gentle—a piece of unpolished jade with great potential,” Lan Changʼan replied earnestly, offering a fair and balanced evaluation.

“I can tell that you and Ling’er get along well. Over the years, she’s admired you greatly, and I trust you’ve sensed her feelings,” Granny Yun said, her voice soft yet pointed.

Her kind smile carried an undertone of careful persuasion.

“And what is it you wish to say, Madam Yun?” Lan Changʼan asked, his expression calm and unreadable.

“Mister Xu, you live alone, without a Dao companion. Would you consider taking Ling’er as a concubine?” Granny Yun’s gaze remained fixed on Lan Changʼan, carefully observing every subtle change in his expression.

Originally, Granny Yun’s plan had been to have Yun Ling become Lan Changʼan’s disciple or even recognize him as her godfather.

However, Yun Ling had resisted those plans and had revealed her true feelings instead.

“I have no intention of marrying or taking a concubine. I wouldn’t want to disappoint Ling’er’s devotion,” Lan Changʼan replied honestly, his tone calm yet resolute.

“And why is that?” Granny Yun frowned slightly, genuinely puzzled.

She had seen Lan Changʼan’s gaze of admiration toward Fairy Ni Yue during the auction, it was not the gaze of a man who was entirely detached from worldly emotions or uninterested in women.

“The cultivation world is a turbulent place. A Core Formation cultivator may seem powerful, but they are merely at the threshold of the higher ranks. In the face of the greater forces of the cultivation world, we are but pawns on the chessboard, where one wrong move could lead to complete ruin,” Lan Changʼan said with a sigh.

“As a man in exile, hunted and on the run, my fate is not my own. How dare I take a wife and children, only to burden them with a doomed future?”

Lan Changʼan’s tone carried a natural grace and sincerity, as though his words came from deep conviction.

Granny Yun was momentarily stunned, falling into deep thought.

As the Dao companion of a former Nascent Soul True Monarch and a witness to the downfall of the Flame Departing Palace, she understood all too well the truth in Lan Changʼan’s words.

Even someone as powerful as her husband, the Nascent Soul cultivator Master Lihuo, had fallen in the face of the ever-shifting tides of the cultivation world. One wrong move had led to a cascade of failure, ultimately ending in death.

Without the protection of her Nascent Soul husband, she, once a woman of supreme status in the Liang Kingdom, had been reduced to living cautiously, carried along by the whims of fate.

“Even if you don’t marry or have children, Mister Xu, surely after decades of solitary cultivation, you’ll need someone by your side to attend to your daily needs,” Granny Yun said gently, her tone full of persuasion.

“And you mean to say…?”

“Ling’er is willing to be a maid by your side,” Granny Yun said with a sigh.

Hearing this, Lan Changʼan fell silent.

In his previous life, Guan Qiaozhi had also willingly become his attendant. Although she had harbored feelings for him, in the end, she lived out her life in the mortal world, dying of old age.

The mountain guardian, Qi Feng, had buried her at Little Turtle Peak.

His only regret was that, due to her limited talent, she had been unable to successfully advance to the Foundation Establishment realm.

When Guan Qiaozhi had failed in her attempt at Foundation Establishment, Lan Changʼan had used her as a test case to explore whether the backlash from a failed breakthrough could be healed using the Evergreen secret spell.

That experiment had laid the groundwork for Lan Changʼan’s later success in reforming his Core multiple times.

“I’m not asking for a grand title or higher status for her. Could you at least give her an attendant concubine status?” Granny Yun said hoarsely, her tone carrying a hint of pleading.

Lan Changʼan glanced at her calmly, then said, “I’d like to speak with Ling’er alone.”

Granny Yun gave a slight bow before quietly leaving the room.

Yun Ling returned shortly after, her slim figure dressed in a simple yet elegant light green gown. Her cheeks were flushed, and her head was bowed, too embarrassed to meet Lan Changʼan’s gaze.

“Ling’er, are you acting of your own will, or is someone forcing you?”

Lan Changʼan’s deep black eyes remained calm and steady as he spoke.

“Ling’er is acting of her own free will,” she said softly, raising her delicate face with great effort. Her rosy lips trembled slightly, and her eyes were filled with determination.

“To receive Mister Xu’s guidance and to spend my days with the Water Jet Turtle—even as a mere servant—would be Ling’er’s greatest blessing,” she confessed with reddened eyes, her voice trembling with sincerity.

Moreover, from her grandmother’s attitude, she had sensed that building a closer relationship with Mister Xu would benefit their lineage and provide them with stability.

Lan Changʼan, sensing her thoughts, saw that she was not lying. His expression softened slightly.

“Think carefully. In the future, I will leave the Fengyuan Kingdom and possibly even the Eastern Region of Great Qing. I may journey to faraway and unknown lands, and I cannot guarantee I’ll take you with me,” Lan Changʼan said, his tone turning cold and serious.

“Ling’er doesn’t mind,” she replied firmly, her eyes filled with stubborn resolve. “I only wish to serve you while you remain in the Fengyuan Kingdom. Even if you go to the Xuan Yin Pavilion...”

“Very well. Until you reach Foundation Establishment, you may serve as my attendant,” Lan Changʼan finally agreed.

“This servant greets her master,” Yun Ling said with tears in her eyes, bowing deeply in submission.

“There’s no need to change how you address me. Whenever you tire of being a servant, you’re free to leave at any time,” Lan Changʼan said, using his Core energy to lift her gently back to her feet.

It seemed like fate—both in this life and the previous one, this woman had chosen to become his attendant.

If Yun Ling could remain steadfast in this life, Lan Changʼan didn’t mind giving her a push, helping her step onto the path of Core Formation and become a True Dan cultivator.

By the time Yun Ling reached the late Foundation Establishment stage, Lan Changʼan would likely be a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. The disparity between them would be incomparable.

This could also serve as a way to make up for the regrets of his previous life, repaying her for her loyalty across two lifetimes.

Furthermore, by staying close to Yun Ling for an extended period, Lan Changʼan could explore the mysteries of reincarnation and the mysteries of the womb.

For these reasons, he finally accepted Yun Ling, allowing their fates to intertwine once more.

...

That day, Yun Ling, now officially a maid of the Mountain-Water Manor, stayed behind to fulfill her duties.

Lan Changʼan granted her additional authority as a steward to manage the estate’s various mundane affairs. Even the three young alchemy apprentices were instructed to follow Yun Ling’s orders.

In order to live in harmony, Lan Changʼan established three ground rules for Yun Ling:

First, she was not to disrupt the cultivation of the Water Jet Turtle. While it was fine to accompany it occasionally, this would be limited to once every seven days.

Second, certain restricted areas within the estate were strictly off-limits, and the secrets of the estate were not to be shared with the outside world.

Third, until she reached Core Formation, Yun Ling would remain a maid in title and would not be permitted to share his bed.

Half a month later, Yun Ling had fully adapted to her new role, organizing the manor with meticulous care.

Seeing this, Lan Changʼan nodded to himself, reassured by her diligence.

“Ling’er, I’ll be leaving for a while. The manor is in your care,” Lan Changʼan said before departing, leaving the Mountain-Water Manor.

This trip’s purpose was to secure a cultivation site with a third-rank mid-grade spiritual vein.

...

The oasis where the new mountain gate of the Xuan Yin Pavilion was located lay northeast of the Gutian Immortal City, in the desolate desert between Gutian and Changfeng, two major immortal cities.

The location was quite remote from either city, situated on an oasis with a spiritual vein unaffiliated with any major power.

Such isolated oases far from immortal cities often lacked strong security but were more affordable and provided peace and quiet—a single sect could claim it entirely.

Lan Changʼan rode his flying carpet magical treasure at the speed of a True Dan cultivator. Braving sandstorms and gales, he reached his destination after half a day.

Descending from the Nine Fiery Heavens, he saw a small green speck in the distance that gradually expanded into a lush oasis spanning a hundred li. The area was verdant, with abundant grass and gentle streams flowing through it.

Even before approaching, Lan Changʼan could sense the spiritual pressure emanating from a third-rank spiritual vein, as well as the third-rank protective grand formation.

“Indeed, this is a third-rank mid-grade spiritual vein,” Lan Changʼan remarked to himself as he landed at the edge of the oasis.

A patrolling spiritual bird in the skies above spotted him and promptly alerted the female cultivators within the oasis.

“Mister Xu, you’ve come such a long way. My apologies for not greeting you sooner,” came a gentle and melodic female voice.

Two streaks of light emerged to welcome him.

The leader was a graceful and elegant woman in a flowing white dress, her long hair cascading like a waterfall. It was none other than Jiang Ruotong, a familiar face to Lan Changʼan.

“Mister Xu has arrived,” she greeted with a faint smile.

Behind her stood a young man in white, tall and slender, with a refined and handsome appearance. He carried a medicine pouch on his back, exuding an air of warmth and courtesy.

“Fairy Jiang, Fellow Daoist Dongfang,” Lan Changʼan greeted the pair politely.

The young alchemist in white was Dongfang Xi, a guest elder of the Xuan Yin Pavilion and someone Lan Changʼan had met during the auction.

Accompanied by the two, Lan Changʼan entered the lush oasis protected by the formation.

As they walked, Lan Changʼan noticed that the oasis seemed sparsely populated, with only a handful of cultivators present. The third-rank formation had only recently been set up and still required further reinforcement.

“This oasis will serve as the new headquarters and main sect grounds of the Xuan Yin Pavilion. For now, only a portion of our core members have moved here, primarily the upper echelon. Most of our mid- and lower-level female cultivators skilled in musical arts are still stationed in various immortal cities, managing our Xuan Yin Halls and other local industries,” Jiang Ruotong answered his unspoken doubts.

“A sect of female cultivators, displaced from their homeland during chaotic times, carving out their own oasis in a barren desert—it’s truly commendable,” Lan Changʼan said, offering genuine praise.

This spiritual vein oasis was the culmination of generations of effort by the Xuan Yin Pavilion. Over the past sixty to seventy years, they had poured immense dedication and endured countless hardships to build their Xuan Yin Halls across the land, eventually earning enough to purchase this oasis.

“Elder Dongfang, could I trouble you to check on the medicine garden? I’ll take Mister Xu to meet the Pavilion Master,” Jiang Ruotong said with a smile.

Dongfang Xi, a third-rank alchemist, had joined the Xuan Yin Pavilion years ago out of admiration for Pavilion Master Ni Yue.

Over the years, he had worked tirelessly for the sect, earning the quiet affection of many female cultivators. However, Dongfang Xi’s heart belonged solely to Fairy Ni Yue, and he had rejected all other romantic advances.