I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 316: Reappearance of the White Robe

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Lan Changʼan’s face revealed a thoughtful expression as he exited his secluded cultivation alone.

Splash!

By the pool near the cave dwelling, Yun Ling, dressed in a simple, elegant white dress, was sitting absentmindedly, her rosy lips gently pursed, her gaze unfocused. Her small feet idly splashed at the water, creating ripples.

”Mister Xu, you’re out of seclusion,” Yun Ling’s clear eyes sparkled as she stood gracefully, bowing lightly in greeting.

Instinctively, her gaze flickered behind Lan Changʼan, but a hint of disappointment flashed across her face.

“The Big Turtle is still in secluded cultivation, practicing its spiritual beast secret technique. You’ll have to wait a bit longer…” Lan Changʼan had clearly noticed her thoughts.

A few years ago, Yun Ling had broken through a minor realm and smoothly advanced to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment.

“Mm.”

Yun Ling softly acknowledged, her worry evident but refraining from asking further questions.
Having spent so many years closely interacting with the Big Turtle, she couldn’t help but sense something peculiar:

The turtle’s spirituality and its nurturing, restorative water-bubble baths were far from ordinary, unlike typical Water Jet Turtles.

Her skin had grown even more delicate and supple, surpassing the smoothness of her youth. Her bone structure and physique, even her flexibility, had all remarkably improved.

Even the female cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion were envious and frequently sought Yun Ling for tips on skincare and maintenance.

Bang! Bang!

From the underground chamber, the Profound Water Turtle banged its head against the door in protest, making a loud noise to express its dissatisfaction.

Its deep, dark-green eyes no longer held the simple, innocent charm they once did but instead faintly revealed traces of agitation and aggression.

Recently, Lan Changʼan had forbidden it from meeting Yun Ling.

The reason lay in the Profound Water Turtle’s water-element techniques and demonic energy fluctuations, which had begun to carry a Chilling Yin energy —characteristics of the Heavy Water Divine Ability.

Until it could completely control its innate bloodline talent and cast harmless, pure water-element spells, it was prohibited from seeing Yun Ling.

For the Profound Water Turtle of the past, achieving such precision would have been extremely difficult.

It required precise control over its bloodline power to maintain its pure form as a Water Jet Turtle or a Profound Water Turtle.

Yet, in just three months—

The Profound Water Turtle emerged from seclusion, fully capable of controlling its bloodline’s transformative powers and casting pure water and wood-element techniques.

Lan Changʼan had tested its abilities, discovering that the Profound Water Turtle’s offensive capabilities had reached at least the average level of a heavenly-grade bloodline. Its combat prowess had grown immensely. ŗÀ𐌽𝘰ᛒÊⱾ

But gains often came with losses.

The Profound Water Turtle’s restorative and nurturing abilities for humans had decreased by 20-30%.

However, this decline did not extend to spiritual beasts, and its nurturing capabilities for the Xuanmu Vine Gourd had even improved.

“Big Turtle!”

Yun Ling’s eyes moistened with joy, her radiant smile blooming as she spread her arms wide.

The turtle was too large, so she could only embrace its head against her chest.

The agitated emotion in the Profound Water Turtle’s eyes settled, and it gently extended its head, affectionately nuzzling against her.

A few drops of water dampened Yun Ling’s dress.

Her exquisite, porcelain-like face flushed a rosy hue as she realized the impropriety of the situation. She quickly removed her shoes and sat cross-legged on the turtle’s back.

Lan Changʼan, clad in his simple green robes, stood with his hands clasped behind his back, nodding silently in approval.

The Profound Water Turtle after the elevation of its bloodline had been affected by the innate turbid qi, subtly altering its temperament.

After observing for several days, Lan Changʼan confirmed that Yun Ling’s presence and affection provided a stabilizing influence, aiding the turtle’s psychological development.

As for the Earth Burrowing Rat, there was no cause for concern. Its temperament had not changed significantly.

The Earth Burrowing Rat’s talent in earth-element spells, earth traversal, speed, and close-combat had all seen minor improvements.

Additionally, it had grown more adept at stealth, becoming harder to detect when burrowing underground or ambushing prey.

Previously, the Earth Burrowing Rat relied solely on acquired skills in concealment, honed through years of practice. Now, it had developed an innate talent in this area.

...

Another month passed.

The Profound Water Turtle’s condition stabilized, and the Earth Burrowing Rat showed no signs of unusual behavior.

Only then did Lan Changʼan feel relieved.

The innate turbid qi, while beneficial to most spiritual beasts, posed potential negative effects on humans. For humans, it was often harmful.

One day, Lan Changʼan called Yun Ling aside for a private discussion.

“Ling’er, the Big Turtle, and I will be returning to the Righteous Dao Alliance. You may return home for a year or so to reunite with your grandmother and elder brother,” Lan Changʼan explained his plans.

Yun Ling nodded in agreement. Every two to three years, she would return to the River Source Oasis for a visit.

Since Fang Zhen’s death years ago, the greatest threat from the Flame Departing Palce had been eliminated. This allowed the sect to steadily develop in the Outer Sect Alliance.

The mountain villa where Lan Changʼan had once trained had now given rise to a new cultivation family known as the Duan Clan.

Perhaps out of protection or for other reasons, Yun Ling’s grandmother had not forced the Yun siblings to change their surname.

Three days later.

Lan Changʼan and Yun Ling set off in a humble, low-profile carriage magical treasure. The carriage, with its unassuming dark-green exterior, shielded them from the outside wind and sand.

After traveling thousands of li, a veiled woman in a green dress joined them midway.

Lan Changʼan and the green-dressed woman exchanged polite nods but did not speak.

Yun Ling could only catch a faint glimpse of her vague features through the veil. Apart from her graceful figure, the woman’s appearance and aura seemed unremarkable.

The carriage reached the clouds above the River Source Oasis.

Yun Ling bowed and bid farewell to Lan Changʼan.

Before leaving, she couldn’t help but glance at the veiled green-dressed woman again.

“This little girl Ling is becoming more and more refined. Her innate beauty and potential have grown so much that even I’m tempted to take her as a direct disciple,” the green-dressed woman finally spoke after Yun Ling departed.

Her voice, clear and melodious like pearls cascading onto a jade plate, carried a sense of ethereal beauty, leaving listeners feeling tranquil and pleased.

This seemingly ordinary woman in green was none other than Fairy Ni Yue, the top Core Formation female cultivator of the Outer Sect Alliance.

“She has already entered the path of Talisman Dao and does not have the energy to pursue musical arts,” Lan Changʼan said flatly.

Fairy Ni Yue chuckled softly, “I was merely testing you, but you reacted as though guarding a treasure. You’ve given yourself away!”

“Mister Xu, could it be that you’re grooming an exceptional beauty early on, hoping to replace me in the future once I grow old and lose my charms?”

Her gentle, flirtatious tone carried a trace of feigned grievance.

“Is the renowned first beauty of Fengyuan Kingdom so insecure?” Lan Changʼan replied with a faint smile.

He wasn’t one to ”raise treasures” for a specific taste.

From an investment perspective, such endeavors were highly inefficient.

The process required extensive time and resources, not to mention the effort to shield the person from various threats.

Even if one succeeded, there was always the risk that someone else might swoop in and reap the benefits.

Fairy Ni Yue herself was a prime example. A peerless beauty with such a transparent and harmonious heart was a rarity, appearing only once every few centuries.

This was why Lan Changʼan had refrained from heavily investing in Xia Wenyue back then, choosing instead to send her to a broader, higher stage.

One month later.

The carriage left the Fengyuan Kingdom, crossing the endless desert and approaching the borders of the Righteous Dao Alliance.

Lan Changʼan glanced at Fairy Ni Yue’s veiled face.

“Rest assured, Mister Xu,” she said with a charming smile. “I will not reveal my identity or act impulsively. This time, I’m merely accompanying you to Liang Kingdom to revisit old places and search for traces of Liu Qingyan.”

As she spoke, she cast a secret art on her veil, adding another layer of restriction.

Only then did Lan Changʼan nod in satisfaction.

...

A few months ago, Lan Changʼan had calculated that some of his old acquaintances and juniors, with whom he had ties in the past, were nearing the end of their lifespans.

One of them had less than six months left, and their passing was imminent.

Thus, Lan Changʼan decided to make a trip back to the Liang Kingdom.

However, his reasons for returning were not limited to this alone.

There were two other matters he intended to resolve.

The first matter being the superior-grade puppet he had been working on—one at the late-third rank—required several rare and high-level materials.

While Lan Changʼan wasn’t lacking in wealth, collecting all the necessary materials would take a considerable amount of time, as some of the rarer items depended entirely on luck to acquire.

Even with the assistance of Xuan Yin Pavilion and the Star Moon Merchant Association, progress was slow.

The scope of the Outer Sect Alliance was simply too limited.

Fortunately, the Righteous Dao Alliance was currently in a period of truce, and its territory included more high-grade immortal cities and Nascent Soul powers. This offered a better chance of finding the materials he needed.

As for the second matter, the Xuanmu Vine Gourd, and the potential hidden dangers it carried.

With Lan Changʼan’s current Nascent Soul stage insight, he speculated that the strange phenomenon surrounding the gourd vine back then might indicate that his gourd vine wasn’t the only one of its kind in this realm.

When the withered Xuan Fruit fell to the ground, it was possible that other gourd vines had also gained opportunities to sprout.

However, the gourd vine he possessed, which had absorbed the nutrients from the Xuantian relic, should have a greater advantage.

Years ago, when he had obtained the vine from the mysterious core space of that ancient ruin, Fairy Shi had used a formation to forcefully destabilize the space, causing it to collapse.

Later, this ruin was sealed off by the Golden Sun Sect, the leading sect of Liang Kingdom, with access restricted to sect disciples for training and treasure-seeking.

At the time, Lan Changʼan’s cultivation wasn’t sufficient to return to the core of the ruin.

Now, with his strength and abilities greatly increased, he wanted to confirm with Fairy Shi whether it was possible to re-enter the core of the ruin and investigate any remaining traces or clues.

Although the theoretical probability of finding anything was low, doing so would bring him peace of mind.

Fairy Shi was another person whose lifespan was nearing its end.

Her situation, however, was slightly better; she still had seven or eight years left to live.

Ordinarily, a Fake Dan cultivator could live for about 300 years.

However, during her Foundation Establishment stage, Fairy Shi had been subjected to a spiritual sea restriction by a Fake Dan Immortal. Although she eventually broke the restriction through a clever method, it came at the cost of severe backlash, leaving her temporarily amnesiac.

That incident had shortened her lifespan and limited her to forming only a Fake Dan.

Upon entering Liang Kingdom, Lan Changʼan did not immediately seek out Fairy Shi. Instead, he flew toward the direction of Feiyue Lake.

Fairy Ni Yue, who now knew Lan Changʼan’s true identity, gazed at the Liang Kingdom’s landscape below, her moonlight-clear eyes reflecting the ever-changing world, her emotions surging.

As they passed by Wuqi Mountain, Lan Changʼan paused briefly, his spiritual sense sweeping across the Little Turtle Peak below.

The tomb of Guan Qiaozhi still rested outside the cave dwelling, where she was honored by the Qi Family as their ancestral matriarch.

Qi Feng, now over 160 years old, was a peak mid stage Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivator, appearing as a white-browed elder in his fifties.

With such age and cultivation, Qi Feng had no hope of forming a Core, not even a Fake Dan.

Looking at the white-browed elder, Lan Changʼan could faintly see traces of his adopted father, Qi Jingyun, the leader of the Angry River Gang, in this life.

Now the Little Turtle Peak had become the spiritual vein base of the Qi Family and their escort company.

Qi Feng had purchased the 200-year usage rights to Little Turtle Peak, paying in two installments. If the clan’s future supply of spirit stones was sufficient, they could secure full ownership of the peak.

Such preferential treatment was due in part to additional support from Jin Yun Valley.

Another factor was luck.

During the latter half of the demonic path war, the major sects had exhausted a massive amount of resources and needed to compensate for their casualties. At one point, they were so short on spirit stones that they sold or leased properties at discounted prices to gather more spirit stone reserves by extending the lease period.

Shortly after Lan Changʼan’s departure, the white-browed elder Qi Feng opened a letter. After reading its contents, he sighed deeply.

The old ancestor of their clan, who had once held Lan Changʼan in great esteem, had cared for their family out of that respect.

Not long after, Qi Feng brought along his most talented grandson and headed toward Feiyue Lake.

...

Feiyue Lakeʼs Mu Family, Moonheart Island.

In the heart of Moonheart Island, a scenic and elegant cave dwelling lay before the gathering of numerous members of the Mu Family.

These Mu Family cultivators were part of the original branch of the family and had no connection to the lineage of Li Erqing.

Ever since Li Erqing passed away and the subsequent demonic war took its toll, the Mu Family had fallen into decline. It was no longer the prosperous family of three Foundation Establishment cultivators that it had once been.

Today, the Mu Family had only two Foundation Establishment cultivators, and one of them was nearing the end of their lifespan.

The cultivators gathered outside the ancestral cave dwelling of the Mu Family wore expressions of sorrow and worry.

At this moment, a powerful aura streaked across the sky, heading straight toward Feiyue Lake.

The invisible pressure of a Fake Dan cultivatorʼs spiritual energy caused the Mu Family cultivators to tense as they raised their heads in awe.

The source of the light was a middle-aged man with a high crown. His stern expression and the dignified bearing of a superior commanded immediate respect.

“Greetings, Immortal Li!”

“Greetings to the patriarch of the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain!”

The Mu Family members bowed in unison, their attitudes reverent and humble.

The current head of the Mu Family, Mu Changxiu, a Foundation Establishment early-stage cultivator, hurried out of the cave dwelling to greet the visitor.

Mu Changxiu was the only heir of Mu Bingyun.

“Immortal Li’s visit brings great honor to Feiyue Lake.”

Dressed in white robes, Mu Changxiu carried himself with elegance and poise, his demeanor refined and scholarly. Yet, at this moment, his expression revealed an almost servile excitement as he bowed deeply to the figure above.

The high-crowned middle-aged man was none other than Li Congren, the patriarch of the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain.

He was also the first Fake Dan cultivator in the history of Li Erqing’s direct descendants.

“Brother Changxiu, there’s no need for such formalities,” Li Congren said warmly, waving his sleeve dismissively.

In terms of seniority, Li Congren and Mu Changxiu were of the same generation, though the former was slightly older.

When Li Congren landed, he was accompanied by a young man and woman, one at the Foundation Establishment stage and the other at the eighth layer of Qi-Refining. Both were descendants whom Li Congren favored highly.

“Immortal Li, please come inside.”

Mu Changxiu respectfully extended his hand, inviting Li Congren and his two juniors into his mother’s cave dwelling.

The elder members of the Mu Family watched their family head fawn over and flatter the visitors with mixed feelings of bitterness, envy, and indignation.

Over a hundred years ago, when the Mu Family split into two branches, who could have foreseen today’s outcome?

After decades of fleeting prosperity, the Mu Family began to decline.

Meanwhile, the Snow Plum Mountain Li Family, which had branched out on its own, produced a Fake Dan cultivator and rose to fame as a powerful cultivation family in Liang Kingdom.

With Mu Bingyun’s passing, the surrounding powers would begin eyeing Feiyue Lake’s remaining resources.

Now, the Mu Family had no choice but to seek an alliance through marriage with the Snow Plum Mountain Li Family, hoping to gain their protection.

This explained Mu Changxiu’s deferential and humble demeanor.

“Sigh, we never should’ve given half of Old Ancestor Erqing’s ashes to the Snow Plum Mountain Li Family back then! It spoiled the feng shui of the Mu Family!”

An old man of the Mu Family, watching from afar, clenched his fists in frustration. His voice trembled with regret and anger.

That meddlesome Turtle Immortal back then, he was really too biased in his behavior!”

“Rise and fall, tides of fortune... Do you really think half a jar of ashes can determine the fate of Feiyue Lake?”

A calm and indifferent voice suddenly echoed beside the old man’s ears.

“Who?! Who’s there?!”

Startled, the elderly man looked around in panic, but there was no one to be seen.

His breathing grew erratic, and he fell to the ground, trembling with fear. The voice he had just heard seemed like a hallucination.

...

Moonheart Island, Mu Familyʼs Old Ancestorʼs cave dwelling.

“How is Aunt Bingyun’s condition?” Li Congren asked.

“She’s barely holding on. Her qi and blood have dried up, and her body can no longer accept any supplements. Only a trace of spiritual energy sustains her…”

Mu Changxiu’s voice was low and sorrowful, but he didn’t seem overwhelmingly grief-stricken.

After all, Mu Bingyun had lived to the age of 210, and the family was already preparing for a dignified funeral.

The group entered Mu Bingyun’s sleeping chamber, speaking in hushed tones.

“Mother, Immortal Li is here,” Mu Changxiu said softly, bowing by his mother’s bedside.

On the bed lay a silver-haired female cultivator. Despite her advanced age, her face retained the appearance of someone in their forties. Her features were delicately made up, and her elegant, well-defined facial structure made her look like a timeless beauty frozen in sleep.

This sight caused Li Congren to pause for a moment, a certain rumor from the past flashing through his mind.

He raised his hand to signal his two juniors to remain silent.

Hearing the voice, the silver-haired woman struggled to open her eyes. Her fatigued and lifeless gaze flickered faintly with disappointment upon seeing Li Congren.

“Congren… After I’m gone, please…”

Mu Bingyun managed to speak a few words to Li Congren before her eyes closed again.

She was far too weak, clinging to life only through sheer willpower.

Li Congren sighed as he turned away.

He could tell that while Mu Bingyun’s passing would be a peaceful one, her final moments were tinged with melancholy, as though a lingering regret weighed on her heart.

Just now, it seemed as if she wanted to ask him something but lacked the courage to do so.

Li Congren knew what Aunt Bingyun wished to ask—he wanted to know the answer as well.

The trail of that personʼs life and death remained a mystery in the Liang cultivation world.

“Lan... Uncle Lan…”

Suddenly, a cry broke the silence.

The aged voice of Mu Bingyun rang out from her bed, her tone rising in intensity.

Li Congren, Mu Changxiu, and the two juniors turned back abruptly.

They saw Mu Bingyun’s trembling, withered hand reaching out, as if grasping at something invisible in the air.

Her dull, murky eyes seemed to light up like candles, gleaming with a brilliance that hadn’t been seen in decades.

It was as if she had returned to her days on Little Turtle Peak, once again the gentle and lonely maidservant of her youth.

However, to the four people watching, the space before Mu Bingyun’s bed was completely empty.

“Is the old ancestor experiencing hallucinations at the end of her life?”

The two young Li Family juniors exchanged glances, their eyes filled with curiosity and confusion.

Only Li Congren, with his Fake Dan cultivation, suddenly froze, his expression shifting dramatically.

Through his spiritual sense, he detected an invisible ripple—a transparent barrier that isolated the space in front of the bed from the outside world.

Within the ripple, a familiar figure in white robes stood silently by Mu Bingyun’s bedside.

The man’s youthful appearance remained unchanged, his expression calm and indifferent, as if untouched by the passage of time.

He held Mu Bingyun’s frail hand with a faint smile, speaking softly with the silver-haired woman who was now radiant with the light of her final moments.

“Uncle Lan… Little Turtle Peak… May we meet again in the next life…”

In her final moments, Mu Bingyun’s face relaxed, a gentle smile curving her lips. At long last, she fulfilled her final wish.

The man in white placed his hand over her eyes, gently closing them. His expression remained serene, neither joyful nor sorrowful.

“The Mu Family’s fortune at Feiyue Lake ends here…”

The man in white stood, pausing momentarily in thought as he calculated something with his fingers. His brows furrowed slightly.

During this time, he cast a faint glance at Li Congren and the others.

“Grandfather, what are you doing…?”

The two juniors from the Li Family were stunned.

Before their eyes, the stern and dignified patriarch of the Li Family, a Fake Dan Immortal, bowed deeply toward the empty space by Mu Bingyun’s bed.

His expression was solemn and reverent, and he remained prostrate for a long time, without rising.