I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 331: Three Hundred Years of Cultivation

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A year later, in the Jin Yun Valley.

A fourth-rank illusion array enshrouded the entire Great Sun Peak.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth fluctuated violently. Cold and damp water vapor surged, condensing into ominous black clouds in midair.

Droplets of dark water fell, each as heavy as a mountain, leaving large craters the size of vats where they landed.

A massive dark green turtle, several zhang wide, blinked its emerald-green eyes. It exhaled streams of mist, and its low growls resonated like muffled thunder.

The turtle’s spiritual energy climbed higher and higher, until it reached a critical threshold. Only then did the unusual small-scale phenomena surrounding it dissipate.

“Master, the Profound Water Turtle has successfully broken through.”

The Earth Burrowing Rat cast an earth-based spell to repair the damage left behind on the main peak during the Profound Water Turtle’s advancement to the mid-grade of the third rank.

“Hmm, take it down the mountain to stabilize its cultivation.”
Inside a secluded meditation room within a cave-dwelling, Lan Changʼan sat surrounded by various divination artifacts. His brows furrowed slightly.

The breakthrough of the Profound Water Turtle brought him no joy.

After absorbing innate turbid qi from the remnants of the fallen Xuantian relic, the Profound Water Turtle’s bloodline abilities and cultivation progress had shattered the shackles of its species.

Normally, a Profound Water Turtle required four to five hundred years to reach the third rank—let alone make progress beyond it.

However, the innate turbid qi had side effects. The Profound Water Turtle had grown increasingly irritable, with a latent ferocity now embedded in its temperament.

In the past, Yun Ling had accompanied it frequently, pacifying and soothing its aggression. But in recent years, those tendencies had resurfaced.

While Lan Changʼan’s presence and his Evergreen mana could help calm the turtle, his time was divided between multiple pursuits.

So, he had taken a more straightforward approach: combatting aggression with aggression. Every so often, the Earth Burrowing Rat would spar with the Profound Water Turtle, giving it a thorough thrashing to subdue its unruly behavior temporarily.

“The impending calamity in the eastern region of Great Qing has not dissipated with the death of True Monarch Shazhai.”

Putting away his divination artifacts, Lan Changʼan’s expression turned grim.

The Profound Water Turtle’s temperament wasn’t his primary concern. That issue was well within manageable limits.

His true worry lay elsewhere.

Since returning to the Liang Kingdom five years ago, Lan Changʼan had used all his strength in divination to glimpse the trends of fortune and misfortune in the future. R̃àɴȰ𝐁Εs

In the first few years, the results had been ambiguous—neither auspicious nor ominous.

But now, the pattern had shifted to uncertain fortune and misfortune.

While no immediate signs of calamity or disaster had emerged, the underlying risks remained indeterminate, perhaps still in the brewing stage.

This proved that True Monarch Shazhai was not the sole cause of the future calamity, and perhaps not even the primary threat.

The divination left behind by the Heavenly Master all those years ago remained largely the same.

The longer he remained in the eastern regions of the Great Qing, the higher the risk. If a certain threshold was crossed, it could escalate into a true calamity.

“It seems that once I illuminate the fourth life, I must head to the Feng Kingdom as soon as possible to obtain the Taiyin Jade Essence. As for the opportunities related to the Nascent Soul stage, I won’t force them.”

Lan Changʼan murmured to himself.

...

Several days later.

Lan Changʼan left Great Sun Peak and headed to the covert intelligence agency in the back mountains of Jin Yun Valley to gather the latest information.

Within Jin Yun Valley, Zhang Tianfeng had granted Lan Changʼan significant sect authority, including access to intelligence records.

Although the intelligence network wasn’t as extensive as that of the Unseen Gate, it was still reliable in matters concerning the Liang Kingdom and the Righteous Dao Alliance.

Half an hour later.

Lan Changʼan returned to Great Sun Peak, destroying the intelligence token in his hands.

“The Golden Sun Sect’s Immortal Golden Dan has reached the peak of the Core Formation stage. The sect is aggressively seeking resources for the Nascent Soul breakthrough, even secretly contacting fourth-rank alchemy masters…”

The movements of the Golden Sun Sect aligned with Lan Changʼan’s expectations.

After the death of a Nascent Soul True Monarch, the sect was bound to pour its resources into cultivating another Nascent Soul-level cultivator as quickly as possible.

In fact, the Golden Sun Sect had already been planning this in secret for several years, though the information had only recently become public.

“The ancestor of the Heavenly Net Sect is injured again. His attempt to claim a fourth-rank spiritual vein has failed, leaving him disheartened.”

“There are unconfirmed rumors that the Heavenly Net Sect, unable to bear its continued losses and decline, is preparing to relocate from the Righteous Dao Alliance.”

This was another critical piece of intelligence, involving one of Lan Changʼan’s old enemies: the Heavenly Net Sect and the Xie Family of Chen Kingdom.

“Relocating the sect?”

Lan Changʼan was momentarily stunned. It seemed like the Heavenly Net Sect’s ancestor was acting on impulse.

Years ago, the Heavenly Net Sect had lost its footing in the Chen Kingdom and retreated to the Jing Kingdom, relying on promises made by Alliance Leader Chu.

For example, Chu had promised to assist in rebuilding a fourth-rank spiritual vein.

Within the Righteous Dao Alliance, Alliance Leader Chu’s authority was unshakable. His word was law.

However, the promise came with conditions: the Heavenly Net Sect had to contribute significantly in the fight against demonic cultivators.

Initially, when the Yan Kingdom had yet to fall, the Heavenly Net Sect had no desire to relocate to the spiritual vein there.

Later, when the battle against the demonic cultivators intensified, the Heavenly Net Sect proved utterly incompetent. Their battlefield contributions were outmatched even by the Xuan Yin Sect.

Moreover, the sect was riddled with corruption and had been infiltrated multiple times, leaking intelligence and hindering the Righteous Dao Alliance.

When they led the Jing Kingdom’s cultivation world, they suffered repeated defeats.

In such circumstances, Alliance Leader Chu found it hard to convince other factions within the Righteous Dao Alliance to sacrifice their own sects’ spiritual veins to help the Heavenly Net Sect rebuild.

What’s more, the Heavenly Net Sect’s ancestor was nearing the end of his lifespan at over eight hundred years old. His combat ability was mediocre among those of the same rank.

Helping the Heavenly Net Sect was akin to propping up a crumbling wall—it wasn’t worth the effort compared to fostering the Xuan Yin Sect, whose cultivators fought fiercely in battle and caused far less trouble.

“Given the current situation, their relocation options are limited, and the risks of moving are even greater.”

After a brief calculation, Lan Changʼan determined that the Heavenly Net Sect had only one viable destination.

To the east of the Jing Kingdom lay the Liang Kingdom, ruled by the Golden Sun Sect.

“A mountain cannot house two tigers.” The Golden Sun Sect would never tolerate the Heavenly Net Sect encroaching on its territory, especially during such a critical time in its Nascent Soul plans.

To the north of the Jing Kingdom was the Black Fog Mountain Range and the endless desert—territory belonging to the Fengyuan Kingdom, which was even less feasible.

To the southwest lay the lands under the demonic sects sphere of influence.

The only plausible option was to migrate through the Black Fog Mountain Range to the west, toward the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

Over a century ago, the Flame Departing Palace had taken a similar route, eventually settling in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance and claiming a quasi-fourth-rank spiritual vein.

At the time, the Flame Departing Palace hadn’t even possessed a Nascent Soul cultivator.

What most didn’t know was that their success had been thanks to Lan Changʼan’s secret assistance.

However, circumstances had changed. Much of the surrounding land was now under the control of demonic sects, and migrating to the Seven Kingdoms Alliance posed far greater risks than in the past.

“If they head in that direction, it’ll be quite the coincidence.”

Lan Changʼan’s eyes flickered with a thoughtful glint as he muttered to himself.

...

The next day.

The only female Core Formation guest elder in Jin Yun Valley visited Great Sun Peak.

“Elder Lan has recently left seclusion, so I’ve come to disturb you briefly,” said Zhu Yuting, dressed in a plain, gauzy dress. Her willow-like brows and elegant features, combined with her graceful bearing, exuded an otherworldly celestial aura.

“Please come in, Fairy Zhu,” Lan Changʼan replied, deactivating the formation and welcoming Zhu Yuting into his cave dwelling for a discussion.

Their conversation was cordial, neither overly warm nor distant.

Within Jin Yun Valley’s Core Formation circles, Fairy Zhu was highly admired and sought after. Compared to the way others treated her, Lan Changʼan’s composed demeanor seemed almost indifferent.

Zhu Yuting found herself puzzled. From the records in The Journeys of the Profound Turtle, this Immortal Lan didn’t seem opposed to fleeting romances with certain fair ladies.

In terms of beauty, temperament, and status, she clearly surpassed the women Lan Changʼan had been involved with in the past.

During their first two interactions, Zhu Yuting had assumed he was reserved or slow to warm up, or perhaps that his exalted status made him aloof and deliberately elusive.

However, she later realized that Lan Changʼan’s attitude toward her was no different from how he treated Sect Leader Zhang Tianfeng or the other elders: impartial and professional.

“Yuting once heard a rumor: Immortal Lan has a grudge against the Peacock Saintess of Beast King Valley?” Zhu Yuting asked, her expression curious.

“That’s true. Why does Fairy Zhu ask?” Lan Changʼan replied calmly. He knew this was no secret.

After returning to Jin Yun Valley, other visiting elders had also brought it up, either directly or in passing.

“It’s a coincidence, but a few months ago, during a visit to the Golden Sun Sect, I saw the so-called Peacock Saintess—now a lowly servant.” Zhu Yuting smiled faintly as she spoke.

“Oh?” Lan Changʼan raised an eyebrow and asked about the Peacock Saintess’s current situation.

Zhu Yuting chuckled softly, her voice melodious as she described her observations at the Golden Sun Sect.

With Beast King Valley expanding its territory, the Peacock Saintess’s status in the Golden Sun Sect had gradually improved.

At first, she had been imprisoned, never seeing the light of day.

Later, after her grandfather, Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch, intervened in negotiations, she was granted limited freedom within the sect’s territory, though contact with the outside world remained forbidden.

Now, while still nominally a servant, the Peacock Saintess was no longer required to perform menial labor. Aside from restrictions on her cultivation and her inability to leave the sect grounds, her treatment was comparable to that of an inner disciple.

She was even allowed access to the sect’s library, could gather information about the outside world, and was permitted to interact with select trusted cultivators.

“That day, the Peacock Saintess approached me after learning I was an elder from Jin Yun Valley. During our conversation, she secretly transmitted a message, asking me to pass on a sentence to Immortal Lan.”

“What did she say?” Lan Changʼan asked, his tone calm but with a hint of curiosity.

“She said: Tell Immortal Lan to visit the Golden Sun Sect and meet her in person. She has something important to convey. If he doesn’t come, he’ll regret it.”

“Hah! A hostage, a mere prisoner, and she dares to threaten me?” Lan Changʼan chuckled, his expression filled with disdain.

However, a sense of unease arose within him.

If the Peacock Saintess dared to pass such a message, perhaps she had discovered some leverage against him. For instance, she might seek revenge on his old acquaintances.

Alternatively, she could spread claims portraying Lan Changʼan as a threat—perhaps even accusing him of reincarnation or body possession. While the Peacock Saintess had never fought him directly, and thus didn’t know his true strength, she might attempt to use misinformation to harm his reputation.

“Her words are likely a ploy. Immortal Lan shouldn’t let her affect your mood or plans,” Zhu Yuting reassured him, her tone gentle and sincere.

After chatting a while longer, Zhu Yuting noticed Lan Changʼan’s interest waning and decided to take her leave.

...

Back in his meditation room, Lan Changʼan sank into deep thought. The situation seemed suspicious.

He recalled that two years before Xing Peng’s death, the man had mentioned a vague piece of intelligence:

It was rumored that Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch of Beast King Valley had sought the assistance of the Unseen Gate to rescue the Peacock Saintess.

Perhaps the cost had been too great, and the plan had been put on hold.

“Could it be that this woman now has the confidence to escape captivity and return to Beast King Valley?”

Lan Changʼan attempted to divine the reason behind the message, but the threads of fate were obscured by a mysterious haze, leaving him with no clear answers.

One thing, however, was certain.

The stronger Beast King Valley’s position grew, the more likely the Peacock Saintess was to regain her freedom.

If the Righteous Dao Alliance suffered a complete defeat, the Golden Sun Sect would undoubtedly leverage her status as a hostage. They might even release her willingly or negotiate secretly with Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch to stage a deliberate handover.

“Itʼs a pity that Xing Peng is not here. Without him, it’s difficult to uncover the hidden details of this matter,” Lan Changʼan sighed inwardly.

If he wanted clarity, he’d have to take matters into his own hands—or meet with the Peacock Saintess directly to probe her motives.

To eliminate this potential threat, the safest course of action would be to infiltrate the Golden Sun Sect and kill the Peacock Saintess.

After all, her cultivation was sealed. As long as the Golden Sun Sect’s Six Sun True Monarch was not present, Lan Changʼan could accomplish this, albeit with some risk.

However, this could also be a trap devised by Beast King Valley to lure him into making a move.

“No rush!”

Lan Changʼan thought of the uncertain calamity in the future. Acting recklessly now could tip the balance in unexpected ways.

For now, caution was the best approach.

...

Two months later.

Under the moonlit sky, a man in a blue robe and wide-brimmed hat quietly slipped out of Jin Yun Valley.

The man moved with extreme caution, his spiritual sense scanning the surroundings thoroughly.

After confirming there was no one nearby, he transformed into a streak of green light imbued with wood elemental energy and disappeared into the night, flying toward the central regions of the Liang Kingdomʼs cultivation world.

The following evening.

In the mountains several thousand li from the Golden Sun Sect, the blue-robed man descended silently, once again sweeping the area with his spiritual sense.

“Hm?”

He noticed something amiss and gripped a handful of talismans, his expression growing vigilant.

On a high ridge hundreds of meters away, six or seven figures dressed in black blended into the shadows.

Perched on a tree branch, a black crane about ten feet tall with a long neck and sharp beak observed the man. Its ghostly blue eyes glimmered as it spoke in a raspy, human-like voice.

“Departing from Jin Yun Valley, with wood-elemental flying light and late-stage Core Formation spiritual fluctuations—this must be him.”

The black crane’s eyes gleamed as it issued a command:

“This one is no ordinary opponent! Do not hesitate—attack with all your strength and kill him in one strike!”

At the crane’s order, the six or seven black-clad figures moved. Their bodies melted into the shadows, and they charged at the blue-robed man with terrifying speed.

Poisonous mists, eerie winds, shadowy scythes, enchanted weapons, and dark talismans…

Among them were two late-stage Core Formation experts, including the notorious Shadow Hall Chief, all elite assassins from the Unseen Gate.

As their deadly attacks closed in on the blue-robed man, a piercing cry that shook both the heavens and the earth erupted.

A massive crane silhouette, hundreds of zhang wide, emerged against the night sky. Its enormous wings blotted out the stars as it paused at the apex of its flight.

Whoosh!

In the blink of an eye, the colossal crane shadow descended like a blur of light, passing through the blue-robed man’s body.

The oppressive spiritual pressure it unleashed briefly surged to the level of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

“Unseen Gate assassins!”

“A Nascent Soul spirit binding… Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch!”

The blue-robed man let out a desperate, dying scream. His body, which was as resilient as a mid-grade third-rank tempered physique, was shattered into pieces in an instant.

At the same time, the Shadow Hall Chief and the other late-stage Core Formation assassin each activated a fourth-rank talisman—one imbued with metallic destructive energy and the other with water-elemental trapping power.

The corpse of the blue-robed man was reduced to ashes, leaving not even fragments of bone behind.

“Congratulations, True Monarch, on slaying the thief Lan!” the Shadow Hall Chief and his team bowed deeply.

“Too easy... He didn’t resist at all?”

The giant crane shadow vanished, revealing a black crane at the peak of the third rank. Its seven orifices were bleeding, and its eyes, dim with exhaustion, glinted with doubt.

Using a beast-binding spirit possession technique, the crane had unleashed a temporary Nascent Soul-level attack, one imbued with a soul-stunning force.

“Something’s wrong—there’s only a false soul imprint. There’s no blood essence aura of a true Core Formation cultivator.”

After a thorough investigation, the black crane spoke again, its human-like voice trembling with rage and frustration.

The act of possession had inflicted severe backlash on the earth grade black crane that he had cultivated, causing irreparable damage to its spirit and body. As a result, the bloodline potential it had would never reach the fourth rank.

...

Jin Yun Valley, Great Sun Peak.

“How insidious! They actually set up an ambush to kill me!”

Lan Changʼan opened his eyes, the remote sensory connection fading completely.

Without lighting his fourth life, if Lan Changʼan had gone in person, that ambush would have posed significant danger.

The massive crane shadow’s attack, briefly at a complete Nascent Soul level, had a speed akin to teleportation, presenting a greater threat than True Monarch Shazhai ever did.

Moreover, there had been two fourth-rank talismans as well as an elite team of Unseen Gate assassins lying in wait.

Even the near-fourth-rank puppet caught in such an ambush would likely have been destroyed.

Still, the failed ambush came at a high cost.

For Beast King Valley, such an elaborate setup, especially involving Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch, was a grievous blow. A dignified Nascent Soul True Monarch had been outmaneuvered, left both furious and humiliated.

As for Lan Changʼan, his losses amounted to a newly crafted mid-grade third-rank humanoid puppet. It wasn’t even a fully completed version, as its core materials had been somewhat recycled.

The costliest part of the loss was a fragment of his second life soul shadow, more than half of which had been expended.

With the advanced imitation techniques borrowed from the Thousand Mechanisms Sect and enhanced by Lan Changʼan’s own wood-elemental magic, the decoy had been lifelike enough to deceive at a distance.

“No wonder the longer I stay in the eastern regions of Great Qing, the more dangerous it would become.”

Lan Changʼan now understood this deeply.

The potential threats he faced were not limited to Shazhai of the Listening Sea Pavilion. He now had to contend with the Nascent Soul elder of Beast King Valley, Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch, who was also the grandfather of the Peacock Saintess.

Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch, an experienced elder of Beast King Valley, was at the peak of the Nascent Soul early stage. His strength far surpassed that of the weakened and exiled Shazhai True Monarch.

It wasn’t just about individual power.

Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch’s influence, backed by Beast King Valley and the Six Demonic Sects, was far greater than loose Nascent Soul cultivators like True Monarch Lihuo or Six Sun True Monarch.

“And then there are others, such as fellow practitioners of the Evergreen Technique from the central regions of Great Qing. Whether or not they will come over in the future is also unknown.”

As Lan Changʼan continued to calculate the risks, the situation grew increasingly clear: the potential threats he faced in the eastern regions were numerous, perhaps far more than he had originally anticipated.

There could even be dangers lurking in the shadows that he had yet to uncover.

“Zhu Yuting… She’s a problem!”

A cold light flashed in Lan Changʼan’s eyes as he recalled her recent actions. He suspected that Zhu Yuting might have been bribed by the demonic forces.

Decades ago, the two of them had formed their Core around the same time in Wangyue Immortal City. Now, after more than a century, the world had changed dramatically.

A few years ago, Heng Kingdom had fallen to Beast King Valley’s forces.

Over a century, allegiances and morals could shift drastically.

Since his return to the Liang Kingdom, Lan Changʼan had mostly stayed within Jin Yun Valley, rarely venturing out. This made it difficult for Ten Thousand Crane True Monarch to orchestrate an ambush.

Zhu Yuting’s message, designed to sow doubt and mislead, had been suspicious from the start.

In the cultivation world, those who were cautious or deeply calculating were often prone to distrust. Even wise figures like the Heavenly Master would overthink and leave room for error.

If the Peacock Saintess truly had a hold over him or a means of escape, there was no way Lan Changʼan would remain indifferent and take no action.

Sweeping his spiritual sense across the Jin Yun Valley, Lan Changʼan found no trace of Zhu Yuting.

“Fairy Zhu left for the frontlines half a month ago,” said a gatekeeping elder when asked about her whereabouts.

“Hmph! What a coincidence,” Lan Changʼan muttered coldly, his suspicion further solidified.

If Zhu Yuting had remained in the sect, there was a chance she was being manipulated by Beast King Valley or the Peacock Saintess.

However, leaving for the frontlines at such a convenient time seemed too deliberate if she were attempting to feign innocence while remaining at Jin Yun Valley to sow discord, that might have worked against a typical guest elder.

But against Lan Changʼan, the sect’s most trusted expert, her chances of succeeding were slim.

Later that day, Lan Changʼan used his sect authority to send an urgent message to Zhang Tieshan and Zhao Tan’er, his allies on the frontlines, detailing Zhu Yuting’s suspicious behavior.

Lan Changʼan knew that once Zhu Yuting entered the battlefield, her return was unlikely.

Although he regretted missing the chance to capture her for interrogation, removing a potential traitor from Jin Yun Valley’s leadership was still a worthwhile accomplishment.

In cultivation sects, Core Formation cultivators who joined mid-career as guest elders rarely became central figures. They were often left in nominal positions without real power.

Only those trained from a young age within the sect, like Zhang Tieshan, could rise to the ranks of core elders and eventual leaders.

Zhu Yuting’s example proved that this set of promotion rules of the cultivation sects had its own rationale.

...

Nearly two years later.

As expected, Zhu Yuting never returned to Jin Yun Valley after leaving for the frontlines.

During this time, Zhang Tianfeng visited the valley once, officially stripping Zhu Yuting of her status.

Taking advantage of that meeting, Lan Changʼan had a long, private conversation with Zhang Tianfeng, and the two reached another mutually beneficial deal.

On this day.

The fourth life of Lan Changʼan’s Nine Seal Stele was finally lit once again.

At this point, Lan Changʼan had reached the age of 318 years, marking the first decade since his breakthrough to the late Core Formation stage.

“From awakening my memories of this life at eighteen and embarking on the path of immortality, three full centuries have passed in my journey as a cultivator.”

Dressed in pristine white robes, Lan Changʼan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, his expression calm and composed, like a still and unshaken pond.

His tall and straight posture resembled a towering ancient tree, its roots firmly planted in the earth, enduring centuries of the cultivation world’s cycles of chaos, storms, and turmoil—yet remaining steadfast and unyielding.

Its roots grew thicker, its branches more abundant.

Its thriving vitality made it appear as if it were an evergreen tree, eternal and unwithering.

“Three centuries of cultivation, and my strength has far surpassed that of my previous life. Even against an ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarch, I now have the power to contend and protect myself.”

“What’s more, with the Nine Seal Stele’s fourth life lit ahead of schedule, I’ve begun to unlock some of its deeper uses and mysteries.”

Lan Changʼan closed his eyes and delved into the world of the Nine Seal Stele.

The handsome man of the first life.

The white-bearded old man of the second life.

The white-robed man of the third life, faint and indistinct, his figure yet to be fully formed.

The purple-robed Daoist of the fourth life.

These four imprints were all fully lit.

The fifth life, however, was only partially illuminated, with just one-tenth of the imprint glowing faintly.

Unknowingly, Lan Changʼan had progressed through nearly half of the Nine Seal Stele’s reincarnation cycle.

Each life represented a part of Lan Changʼan’s reincarnation experience or a transformed simulated cultivation reincarnation.

What would happen when all nine lives were lit and unified into one?

Lan Changʼan could not fathom the answer.

The fifth life upwards was beyond his comprehension, their mysteries transcending his current understanding of cultivation.

The cultivation world only had knowledge of higher realms because ancient texts from antiquity had been preserved, and in even older eras, it wasn’t uncommon for cultivators of higher realms to descend.

In the current mortal realm, across all territories, a Nascent Soul True Monarch was a significant figure of great power.

Even in the more advanced cultivation civilization of the Great Yuan, this remained true.

“Over the past three centuries, I’ve drifted with the tide, often powerless to control my own fate. Even as a Core Formation Great Cultivator, I am insignificant in the face of the great tides of the cultivation world.”

“Only by achieving the Nascent Soul Realm can I transcend the masses and gain the potential to become a player in this grand game, rather than merely a piece on the board.”

Exiting the Nine Seal Stele, Lan Changʼan gazed toward the horizons beyond the eastern regions of Great Qing.

At this moment, he solidified his goal for the next century:

To fulfill the unfinished aspirations of several lifetimes and devote himself fully to achieving Nascent Soul!

(End of this chapter and also the third volume, the next vol is a blast)