I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Chapter 369: Harvest in Cloudsky City

On this trip to Cloudsky City, True Monarch Purple Mist did not alarm the other cultivators of the sect. She only brought Lan Changʼan with her and quietly left the sect.

In the Fourth Layer of Nine Fiery Heavens.

A streak of glowing cloud light, no more than a few meters in length, carried the two of them forward.

A layer of soft purple radiance emanated from Purple Mist Fairy, enveloping Lan Changʼan in its protective glow, shielding him from the violent astral winds, heavenly fire, and falling meteors of the fourth layer of Nine Fiery Heavens.

The fourth layer of Nine Fiery Heavens corresponded to the early Nascent Soul stage. Traveling long distances here, True Monarch Purple Mist had deliberately contracted her escape light and protective barrier—likely to conserve her spiritual power—causing the two to be in close proximity.

Lan Changʼan caught a whiff of a light, lingering fragrance.

Senior Sister Jiang Ziyan was right beside him, dressed in an elegant purple palace gown. Her graceful, stunning figure exuded an ethereal beauty, and the fluttering silk ribbons of her robe were so close that they were nearly within reach.

During the monotonous journey, the picturesque sight before him provided some welcome distraction. Lan Changʼan did not shy away but openly appreciated the view.

Purple Mist Fairy, facing away from him, seemed oblivious.

She remained composed and serene, occasionally scanning the surroundings with her spiritual sense, maintaining a cautious vigilance over the journey.

In recent years, True Monarch Purple Mist had been particularly careful when traveling, never revealing her whereabouts lightly.

This caution stemmed from the fact that the peak combat power of Great Snake Mountain had clearly surpassed Yunxia Sect.

The newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator of Great Snake Mountain, True Monarch Red Refinement, was a grandmaster in the art of poison refinement—his threat could not be measured by the standards of an ordinary True Monarch.

After flying beyond Yunxia Sect’s sphere of influence, True Monarch Purple Mist turned her head back slightly. Following her gaze, Lan Changʼan also glanced in the direction of the sect’s mountain gate.

“Senior Sister Jiang, rest assured. The sect is guarded by Lord Earthrock, along with the fourth-rank grand formation and the assistance of a Core Formation Great Cultivator. It is as solid as an iron fortress.”

Sensing her concerns, Lan Changʼan reassured her in a soft voice.

“Mm.”

Purple Mist Fairy smiled slightly and withdrew her gaze.

Leaving Lord Earthrock to guard the sect was a decision they had made before setting out.

Without any burdensome companions, they reached Cloudsky Immortal City in just a few days.

...

After many years, Lan Changʼan once again laid eyes on Cloudsky City—the greatest immortal city of the Central Region.

Above the vast sea of clouds, the grand and majestic silver-white immortal city loomed, occasionally appearing and disappearing within the mist. The powerful geomagnetic force interwoven with the fourth-rank grand formation kept the city perpetually suspended in the sky.

Cloudsky City was an ancient immortal city, built from ores infused with geomagnetic essence. The Nine Fiery Heavens in the high-altitude region above also contained natural geomagnetic forces.

Because of this, the city frequently attracted rare meteorites, heavenly treasures, and exotic objects from beyond the heavens.

This unique phenomenon drew cultivators from all over, forming entire groups dedicated to treasure hunting and mining, which contributed significantly to the cityʼs bustling popularity.

“The Nascent Soul Exchange Gathering is in three days. Before that, Junior Brother Xiang, you may explore the city and test your luck.”

Upon entering the city, True Monarch Purple Mist gave a brief instruction before setting off alone.

“Take care, Senior Sister.”

Lan Changʼan cupped his hands in farewell, watching Purple Mist Fairy’s departing figure with a thoughtful expression.

Based on his observations, she was likely seeking materials to refine a top-grade magical treasure—and she lacked a few crucial materials.

Back then, during the battle at the Ancient Nether Hall, True Monarch Yunlan had his physical body destroyed. A few years later, his death was confirmed, resulting in Yunxia Sect losing its most powerful magical treasure.

Meanwhile, their adversary, Great Snake Mountain, had gained a Nascent Soul poison-refinement grandmaster. Such circumstances would naturally leave Jiang Ziyan feeling insecure.

If Lan Changʼan were in her position, he too would suffer from a ”combat power deficiency anxiety syndrome.”

”Refining a top-grade magical treasure is not that simple…”

With three lifetimesʼ worth of Nascent Soul experience, Lan Changʼan was not optimistic about her prospects—at least, not within the next few decades.

Top-grade magical treasures were best suited for mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and above. Even if the materials were gathered, they would still need a highly skilled fourth-rank artifact master to refine them.

For Yunxia Sect, which had only one remaining Nascent Soul cultivator—who was also a female True Monarch—their adversaries were bound to interfere, either overtly or covertly.

Even traders might take advantage of the situation, demanding exorbitant prices.

Lan Changʼan himself possessed a top-grade magical treasure, called ”Wind Cloud Fan”, acquired from the old ancestor Heavenly Net. Its attributes happened to align well with Yunxia Sect’s core cultivation techniques.

His plan was to wait until he reached the Nascent Soul stage before trading the Wind Cloud Fan to Purple Mist Fairy—giving her a surprise.

This would also serve as a repayment for True Monarch Purple Mist’s care over the past decades—both toward himself and Lord Earthrock.

Had it not been for her assistance, Lord Earthrock would never have ascended to the level of a transformation demon king so smoothly.

Even the Moonfall Flower, the main ingredient of the Infant Transformation Pill Lan Changʼan had exchanged for two years ago, had been obtained thanks to True Monarch Purple Mist who had broken sect rules for his sake.

However, a mere Core Formation cultivator taking out a top-grade magical treasure was simply too shocking. If he revealed it too early, it might arouse True Monarch Purple Mist’s suspicions and lead to unnecessary complications.

...

Within Cloudsky City, the once-in-a-decade grand auction was approaching, drawing a massive influx of people, including cultivators from beyond the Central Region.

Over the next three days, Lan Changʼan visited several high-end shops, leveraging his status as a Core Formation Great Cultivator to purchase auxiliary ingredients for the Infant Transformation Pill.

Compared to the three main ingredients of the Infant Transformation Pill, these auxiliary ingredients were relatively easier to acquire.

In fact, over the past several decades, Lan Changʼan had already gathered a significant portion of the necessary materials. The remaining ones were merely a matter of time.

The next day, at a high-end medicinal store in the city, Lan Changʼan successfully traded for one of the auxiliary ingredients needed for the Infant Transformation Pill—a small but pleasant surprise.

To win over the shopkeeper, Lan Changʼan offered several precious herbs, spirit pills, and quasi-fourth-rank talismans, sealing a lucrative trade.

During his procurement, Lan Changʼan also took the opportunity to gather information on the upcoming Cloudsky City auction.

“This time, a slightly flawed Infant Transformation Pill is up for auction, drawing attention from various major factions.”

“Additionally, one of the three primary ingredients for the Infant Transformation Pill—the Miluo Grass—is being auctioned as a publicly available treasure.”

After weighing his options, Lan Changʼan decided to focus all his efforts on acquiring the Miluo Grass.

Among the three main ingredients, the Tianying Fruit was the most valuable and absolutely irreplaceable.

Although Miluo Grass was also precious and rare, the competition for it in the auction would be somewhat less intense.

As for the flawed Infant Transformation Pill, Lan Changʼan decisively abandoned any thoughts of bidding for it.

The Nascent Soul stage was a crucial threshold, the culmination of three lifetimes of effort. Naturally, Lan Chang’an would not allow himself to obtain a defective Infant Transformation Pill.

At the auctions, Nascent Soul old monsters from across the Central Region, including the hegemony-level forces would all compete fiercely, which could be described as dragons competing with tigers.

Such an auction was not just about wealth, but also influence and power beyond the bidding hall.

For a sect like Yunxia, which was already facing external threats, such reckless competition would be a dangerous gamble.

Thus, Lan Changʼan’s best strategy was to gather the necessary materials and have an Infant Transformation Pill refined in secret away from the public view, a far safer and more conventional approach.

In the Great Yuan, where cultivation civilization thrived even more than in Great Qing, fourth-rank alchemists were more abundant. Moreover, the Alchemy Dao Alliance, a neutral organization in the Central Region, provided an alternative path.

As long as he could gather all the required materials and secure the backing of a Nascent Soul-level power, commissioning a fourth-rank alchemist to refine an Infant Transformation Pill would be a matter of course.

...

On the last day of procurement, Lan Changʼan quietly dispatched a puppet clone to the official courier station in the city, attempting to contact True Monarch Jing Tian.

Both Lan Changʼan and Jing Wufeng were ”foreign guests” from beyond the Great Yuan, and in their early years, they had exchanged contact methods in Cloudsky Immortal City.

They had collaborated twice, first in hunting the Corrupted Stoneheart Dragon, and later in the profit-sharing of the Ancient Nether Hall expedition, which built mutual trust and recognition of each other’s strength.

Back when they hunted the Corrupted Stoneheart Dragon, Lan Changʼan had done so to secure transformation resources for Lord Earthrock—and in the process, he owed Jing Wufeng a promise.

According to their agreement, within one full cycle of sixty years, Lan Changʼan was to assist Jing Wufeng in the forbidden zone of the Central Region and seal a certain place where demonic energy was leaking.

The puppet clone formed a hand seal, sensing a storage locker containing a token, and retrieved a specially crafted ”Heaven” character sound transmission talisman from within.

As soon as it was activated, Jing Wufeng’s voice transmitted through the talisman, directly sharing its message with Lan Changʼanʼs consciousness.

“Immortal Lan, I am unable to show myself for the time being. If it is an emergency, you may contact me after the auction.”

Once the message ended, the talisman let out a faint ”hiss” as it self-ignited, burning into a wisp of smoke before disappearing completely.

Lan Changʼan’s heart sank slightly, and he severed the thought of contacting True Monarch Jing Tian.

In these final ten years of preparing for his Nascent Soul breakthrough, Lan Changʼan had considered the possibility of leveraging Jing Wufeng’s power for another trade.

Jing Wufeng was one of the biggest winners of the Ancient Nether Hall expedition, and after emerging, he successfully advanced to the Nascent Soul stage. He had once defeated two enemy Nascent Soul cultivators in an outnumbered battle in the Yaqi Mountain region, shaking the entire Central Region.

For a Nascent Soul powerhouse of his caliber, acquiring resources for a breakthrough should not have been difficult.

Moreover, Jing Wufeng came from a mysterious force in the Heaven Honoured Continent, it was even suspected that he had not used a Infant Transformation Pill during his advancement—implying he possessed an alternative, superior method.

He had even mentioned ”Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul Formation”, suggesting that he might know the legendary method of forming a Heavenly Dao Nascent Soul.

All of these factors were why Lan Changʼan had come to Cloudsky City intending to contact him.

Yet, Jing Wufeng’s response was unusual.

For a Nascent Soul early-stage powerhouse with near-invincible combat ability—especially one possessing a spatial-type Innate Dao Physique—even a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator would struggle to handle him.

Under normal circumstances, he would have no need to lay low.

Lan Changʼan couldnʼt help but speculate—perhaps Jing Wufeng was in trouble.

In recent years, he had remained exceptionally low-key. Even if he had arrived in Cloudsky City, he refused to reveal himself.

If it weren’t a serious matter, why would he avoid Lan Changʼan entirely?

”Could it be related to the pseudo-spiritual treasure from the Ancient Nether Hall?”

Lan Changʼan pondered the possibility. With Jing Wufeng’s divine abilities and cultivation, normal conflicts shouldn’t be an issue.

For him to hide like this, the situation had to be far from ordinary.

...

Noon, the following day.

Lan Changʼan received a transmission from True Monarch Purple Mist and went to meet her. They were about to attend the Nascent Soul cultivators’ gathering—a grand event held once every ten years in Cloudsky City.

This event was one of the few that could draw so many Nascent Soul cultivators from all across the Central Region.

The venue for this Nascent Soul exchange meeting was located outside Cloudsky City, hidden within a void-concealing ink painting.

Swish! Swish!

Lan Changʼan followed Purple Mist Fairy into the painting, finding themselves inside a sprawling ten-mu pastoral space.

A clear stream ran through the field, emanating rich spiritual energy fluctuations. Various spiritual herbs and medicinal plants grew nearby, all protected by powerful restrictions.

”A cave-type magical treasure?”

Lan Changʼan was slightly surprised. Despite having three lifetimes of Nascent Soul experience, this was his first time entering the interior of such a treasure.

At the center of the pastoral land, a small farmstead stood.

Within the courtyard’s open space, over a dozen Nascent Soul cultivators sat scattered around.

Among them were also a few ”juniors” like Lan Changʼan—either Core Formation Great Cultivators or Golden Dan cultivators—who had accompanied their Nascent Soul seniors to this gathering.

”Fellow Daoist Purple Mist, it has been a long time.”

”I have long heard of Purple Mist Fairy’s beauty. Now that I see you in person, the rumors do not do you justice.”

The arrival of Purple Mist Fairy immediately drew attention and whispered discussions.

A young and stunningly beautiful female Nascent Soul cultivator was extremely rare anywhere in the cultivation world.

Jiang Ziyan remained poised and composed, greeting familiar Nascent Soul cultivators before settling onto an empty seat with Lan Changʼan.

This time, the Nascent Soul Exchange Gathering was of a higher caliber than before.

Its organizer was a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, a silver-haired elder, who was also the owner of this cave-dwelling magical treasure.

The silver-haired elder sat cross-legged at the center of the courtyard, appearing to be in a half-asleep state. However, whenever a Nascent Soul guest arrived, he would greet them with a faint smile.

After sitting down, Lan Changʼan noticed several familiar figures among the attendees.

These included Tianyuan Sword Lord Yu Yuanjin from the Imperial Family of Great Yu, True Monarch Red Serpent from Great Snake Mountain, Alchemist Le from the Alchemy Dao Alliance, as well as some other familiar faces he had encountered in the last exchange meeting.

Notably, Purple Mist Fairy’s interaction with Yu Yuanjin was noticeably less familiar than before.

This was because the Imperial Family of Great Yu had once attempted to arrange a marriage between Yu Yuanjin and Jiang Ziyan—but it had failed.

Their relationship now carried a subtle awkwardness, and Purple Mist Fairy deliberately kept her distance, maintaining a reserved and polite demeanor.

Yu Yuanjin, however, appeared calm and unbothered, exchanging a few words with Purple Mist Fairy before nodding courteously to Lan Changʼan as a greeting.

“Senior Yu.”

Lan Changʼan cupped his hands in respect.

Years ago, when the Earth Burrowing Rat was undergoing transformation, it was from Yu Yuanjinʼs hands that he traded the Thunder-Dissolving Pearl.

Some years ago, Lan Changʼan had also politely declined the Imperial Family’s recruitment and marriage alliance.

Among the Nascent Soul cultivators, some were aware of Lan Changʼan’s background—notably, that he was the master of a fourth-rank demon king and regarded him as a peer.

One such person was Alchemist Le, who offered a friendly glance and even initiated conversation.

“Fellow Daoist Xiang, you didn’t bring Lord Earthrock this time?”

Compared to their last meeting, Alchemist Le appeared older, with deep-set wrinkles and a long white beard draping over his chest.

However, his spirit remained sharp, and his cloudy eyes occasionally flickered with clarity.

“Lord Earthrock is cultivating in the sect and did not accompany me this time.”

Lan Changʼan responded courteously.

Alchemist Le, having long been fond of Lord Earthrock, had previously expressed admiration and envy during the Transformation Ceremony.

This Alchemist Le had already entered the twilight years of the Nascent Soul stage. He was not adept at combat but possessed extensive connections and abundant wealth.

At this stage in life, his pursuits were nothing more than safeguarding his path, prolonging his lifespan, and paving the way for his descendants.

“I’ve recently refined two bottles of fourth-rank earth-attribute beast pills to assist high-rank demons in cultivation. If you are interested, we can discuss a favorable trade later.”

Upon learning that the Earth Rock Rat had not come, Alchemist Le appeared slightly disappointed. However, he quickly resumed his smiling demeanor, enthusiastically promoting his pills.

Lan Changʼan offered polite thanks but did not take the offer too seriously.

There was no real friendship between him and Alchemist Le. The latter was likely just looking to conduct business and earn a profit rather than offering any genuine discount.

In the final decade before reaching the peak of the Core Formation stage, Lan Changʼan’s primary goal was to strategize for his own Nascent Soul breakthrough, matters concerning the Lord Earthrock could wait.

...

After waiting for about half an hour, the small pastoral courtyard had gathered over twenty Nascent Soul cultivators—a mere fraction compared to the vast Central Region of the Great Yuan.

Once the silver-haired elder, the host of the event, spoke, the Nascent Soul Exchange Gathering officially began.

Despite its name, the first and most crucial segment was not an exchange of insights—but trade.

Much like the previous gathering, each Nascent Soul True Monarch took turns presenting their rare treasures and listing the resources they sought.

At the Nascent Soul level, transactions mainly revolved around fourth-rank spiritual materials—including medicinal herbs, spiritual pills, heavenly treasures, artifact-refining materials, spirit talismans, rare artifacts, and cultivation techniques...

Many of the displayed items moved Lan Changʼan’s heart.

Fourth-rank talisman-making materials, puppet materials, Nascent Soul breakthrough resources—these were expected.

But what truly caught his eye was a damaged fourth-rank divination artifact—along with a fourth-rank divination inheritance!

The Dao of Divination was an extremely niche path in the cultivation world, and its breakthrough difficulty was immense—far exceeding that of forming a Nascent Soul.

This was why, in the Eastern Region of Great Qing, there had only ever been one known divination grandmaster, the Heavenly Master.

For years, Lan Changʼan had struggled to advance in divination, largely due to a lack of proper opportunities and inheritances.

”Canʼt be greedy!”

He suppressed his impulse, reminding himself of his true purpose for this trip—he needed to focus all his resources and not divert his attention.

Once he attained the Nascent Soul stage, acquiring such external resources would come naturally.

Unlike the previous exchange meeting, this time, Lan Changʼan was granted the opportunity to make an official trade announcement—a privilege typically reserved for Nascent Soul elders.

This was thanks to Purple Mist Fairy, who personally requested permission from the silver-haired elder organizing the event.

A Core Formation cultivator possessing a fourth-rank spiritual beast was rare but not unheard of in the Great Yuan.

Thus, while some Nascent Soul True Monarchs were mildly surprised upon learning this, they merely gave Lan Changʼan a second glance, rather than making a big deal out of it.

Lan Changʼan did not hold back and stated his trade requests openly:

“I seek main ingredients for refining the Infant Transformation Pill, as well as superior spirit items for the Nascent Soul breakthrough. Items I can trade include custom-made high-quality third-rank puppets, superior-grade magical treasures, quasi-fourth-rank talismans, third-rank longevity fruits, and Crystal Condensation Pills.”

At this level, searching for resources to form a Nascent Soul was impossible to conceal as long as one acted.

Among the accompanying Core Formation juniors, most had similar needs, making his request fairly normal.

“Why seek distant waters to quench a near thirst? The resources needed for Nascent Soul formation—our Great Snake Mountain has some in reserve, including two nearly mature main ingredients…”

A hoarse, mocking voice transmission suddenly echoed in Lan Changʼan’s mind.

He glanced toward a dry, withered old man in a black cloak. The manʼs face and limbs were wrapped in black serpent tattoos, and his eyes glowed like eerie lanterns, sending a chill down one’s spine.

This was True Monarch Red Serpent, the Supreme Elder of Great Snake Mountain.

”If Immortal Xiang chooses to abandon the darkness and join us at Great Snake Mountain, why would you need to—”

Snap!

The voice transmission was abruptly severed.

”Hmph!”

Beside Lan Changʼan, True Monarch Purple Mist’s star-like eyes flashed with a cold light. With a sharp snort, she forcibly cut off True Monarch Red Serpent’s voice transmission.

True Monarch Red Serpent, however, was unfazed.

His purple-red tongue licked his dry, cracked lips, and he let out a low chuckle, making no further moves.

Lan Changʼan pretended not to hear anything, instead casting a reassuring glance at the visibly annoyed Jiang Ziyan.

“Immortal Xiang, I happen to have some extra ingredients for the Infant Transformation Pill.”

A soft chuckle came from the outer courtyard.

A red-robed old woman holding a bone staff stepped forward, speaking with a gentle tone.

Her aura was deep and unfathomable. At first glance, she appeared to be in her seventies or eighties—yet her skin was smooth and delicate, looking no older than thirty or forty.

Upon closer examination, she seemed no older than twenty or thirty—the longer one looked, the younger she appeared, exuding an eerie and unnatural aura.

”Madam Yu of the White Bone Merchant Association.”

Purple Mist Fairy’s transmission reached Lan Changʼan’s ears, carrying a hint of caution.

Having spent years in the Central Region, Lan Changʼan immediately recalled the relevant information.

The White Bone Merchant Association was an extension of a Northern Region demonic force, and it was rumored to be backed by the Ghost Palace.

Madam Yu, the wife of the association’s leader, had a mysterious identity, and even her Dao title was unknown. She was responsible for managing the association’s operations.

”So it is Madam Yu.”

Lan Changʼan exchanged a few polite words and then proceeded with a private transaction.

Madam Yu did have several Infant Transformation Pill materials, but they were not the rarest or most essential. Most of them overlapped with what Lan Changʼan already had.

From this, Lan Changʼan could tell, she was offering excess stock.

As a merchant cultivator, Madam Yu conducted business with proper etiquette, making no attempt to take advantage of him.

In exchange for a third-rank puppet and a supplement of over ten thousand spirit stones, Lan Changʼan successfully obtained two auxiliary ingredients for the Infant Transformation Pill.

With this transaction, he was nearly finished gathering all the necessary auxiliary ingredients.

However, the moment the deal was concluded, Lan Changʼan felt a chilling sensation—as if Madam Yu had seen through something about him.

She collected the transaction items without a word, yet there was a hint of intrigue in her expression.

”This child’s spiritual sense is extraordinarily strong, exceedingly rare below the Nascent Soul stage. He would make a good seedling to switch to the ghost path...”

Madam Yu mused silently, her gaze calm yet filled with interest.

...

An hour later, the trading session gradually came to an end.

Lan Changʼan’s expression revealed a hint of disappointment and regret.

During the trade, a superior Nascent Soul spirit item had appeared, the ”Infant-Nurturing Grass”, which was a rare Soul Dao-type spirit item.

This treasure could temporarily strengthen one’s soul, amplify spiritual sense, and greatly enhance the success rate of forming a Nascent Soul.

Unfortunately, just as the bidding competition intensified, True Monarch Red Serpent from Great Snake Mountain intervened—driving up the price and making the bidding overly fierce.

In the end, the items Lan Changʼan offered did not match the seller’s needs, and since he was unwilling to recklessly overextend his resources, he had no choice but to withdraw.

Ultimately, neither he nor True Monarch Red Serpent obtained the Infant-Nurturing Grass.

Lan Changʼan already had one superior Nascent Soul spirit item on hand, the ”Ziwu Clear Wind”.

However, different types of Nascent Soul spirit items could be stacked for greater effect, so the more, the better.

”That old venomous snake…”

Lan Changʼan glanced at True Monarch Red Serpent with an expressionless face, quietly noting down this debt.

Back when he was competing for the Thunder-Dissolving Pearl, this person had interfered as well.

Just as Lan Changʼan was feeling frustrated, a calm and pleasant elderly voice echoed beside him:

”Old me happens to have a mature Tianying Fruit in hand. I wonder if Immortal Xiang would be interested?”

The voice belonged to none other than Alchemist Le, whom he had briefly chatted with earlier.

”A mature Tianying Fruit?”

Lan Changʼan’s heart leaped with joy, and he immediately turned to look at Alchemist Le.

The Tianying Fruit was the single most important and irreplaceable main ingredient for refining the Infant Transformation Pill.

Even taken alone, it provided direct benefits for forming a Nascent Soul.

”What would Alchemist Le require in exchange?”

Lan Changʼan quickly transmitted his response.

Alchemist Le, stroking his long white beard with a leisurely expression, replied unhurriedly:

”Hehe, old me has no interest in the trade items you displayed earlier.”

”However, if Immortal Xiang is willing to agree to one condition, I will not only gift you the Tianying Fruit but also personally help you refine your Infant Transformation Pill.”