I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Chapter 378: Three-Life Nascent Soul

As soon as Lan Changʼan returned to the sect, True Monarch Purple Mist sensed his presence. While she felt relieved, she also let out a quiet sigh of relief.

Several years ago, Lan Changʼan had left on a journey, taking Lord Earthrock and valuable resources with him. Since then, there had been no news of him, leaving her feeling uneasy.

If this man who was rumored to be her secret lover had truly run away, Purple Mist Fairy would have suffered a major loss, both financially and emotionally, ending up with nothing.

Fortunately, Lan Changʼan was a cultivator with moral integrity. He had not taken advantage of her for nothing and had returned to Yunxia Sect as promised.

”Dalong, did you gain any opportunities on this journey?”

Purple Mist Fairy stood upon a cloud, her jet-black hair styled in an elegant updo. She wore a flowing lavender immortal gown that trailed to the ground, and her eyes shimmered with warmth and concern as she took the initiative to greet him.

”I have obtained the Infant Transformation Pill. The conditions for forming my Nascent Soul are now complete.”

Lan Changʼan nodded.

The two exchanged thoughts through voice transmission and, hand in hand, entered Zixia Peak’s cave abode.

After years apart, Lan Changʼan and Jiang Ziyan embraced intimately, whispering softly as they reconnected.

”Now that I’ve returned, I will soon enter seclusion.”

Lan Changʼan gently caressed Purple Mist Fairy’s smooth back, but he did not allow himself to be lost in tenderness.

Before advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, he could not afford any distractions.

Before stepping into Zixia Peak’s cave abode, he had even been on guard against any schemes, after all, he now possessed the full opportunity for Nascent Soul formation.

Purple Mist Fairy was not his Dao companion; their relationship was built on mutual benefit and attraction, unlike Zhang Tieshan, Li Erqing, or Zhao Siyao, with whom he shared over a century of deep trust.

Many cultivators, in the final stages before their breakthrough, had let their guard down and ended up ruining everything.

As a long-lived person, Lan Changʼan remained calm and clear-headed: no matter how beautiful a fairy was, she was merely a brief respite in the endless years of cultivation.

”Dalong, when do you plan to attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough?”

Purple Mist Fairy sensed Lan Changʼan’s unwavering Dao heart. Even with her unparalleled beauty, she could not shake his resolve in the slightest.

”In about half a year.”

Lan Changʼan had already calculated the timing for his breakthrough.

At the peak of the Core Formation stage, he still needed at least six months of refinement to reach complete perfection.

By then, Lan Changʼan would be nearly 380 years old.

”It won’t be long before news of my successful refinement of the Infant Transformation Pill in the Alchemy Dao Alliance spreads to the Great Yu Kingdom. In the coming year, we need to be on guard against forces like Great Snake Mountain.”

Lan Changʼan warned seriously.

”Alright, I’ll pass down the order.”

Purple Mist Fairy flipped her hand, taking out a command token, and simultaneously sent out several voice transmission talismans.

That very day, upon Lan Changʼan’s return, the Yunxia Sect fully activated its protective grand formation, placing the entire sect on high alert.

Normally, the sect’s formation remained active at a low-energy level. Now, it was fully powered, consuming a significant amount of resources.

Even back in the day, Immortal Yunqing had never received such precautions.

At present, the enemy forces of Great Snake Mountain were at an unprecedented level of strength in thousands of years. Not only did they have the fourth-rank Scarlet Abyss Serpent King and True Monarch Red Serpent, but also the poison-refining grandmaster, True Monarch Red Refinement.

Once Lan Changʼan entered seclusion to break through to the Nascent Soul stage, Yunxia Sect’s power would be at a disadvantage. They had to be prepared.

...

Before dusk.

Lan Changʼan returned to Lord Earthrock’s underground palace, which also benefited from the environment of a fourth-rank spiritual vein.

This was where he chose to form his Nascent Soul.

Upon returning, the first thing he did was plant the Xuanmu Vine Gourd in the underground chamber.

This location was ideal for the breakthrough—it was situated at a lower elevation, closest to the fortune-enhanced Xuanmu Vine.

Lan Changʼan observed the sect’s fortune fluctuations.

Over the past six years, Yunxia Sect’s rising fortune had slowed down but had not declined.

The next day, Lan Changʼan entered a semi-seclusion state.

His focus was on refining his foundation and adjusting his state of mind.

The nature of his Evergreen Technique meant that training tirelessly day and night would be meaningless.

Thus, Lan Changʼan had plenty of free time each day, which was perfect for refining the top third-rank puppet for Alchemist Le.

Before parting at Earthfire Peak, Lan Changʼan had exchanged voice transmissions with Alchemist Le and received the materials prepared by the latter.

For safety reasons, Lan Changʼan had returned to the sect immediately. He would finish refining the puppet first and gain Alchemist Le’s understanding.

Lan Changʼan promised to complete the top-grade third-rank puppet before his Nascent Soul breakthrough, at which point Alchemist Le would send disciples to retrieve it.

With the assistance of Puppet Master Wei, Lan Changʼan found it easy to refine a third-rank top-grade puppet. It was expected to be completed in two months.

Had he stayed in the Alchemy Dao Alliance for two more months, the news of the Infant Transformation Pill’s refinement might have leaked, leading to unpredictable consequences. In that case, Lan Changʼan might not have been able to return to Yunxia Sect so smoothly.

...

A few days later.

Great Snake Mountain, Abyssal Forbidden Land.

”What?! Xiang Dalong has likely obtained the Infant Transformation Pill, and Yunxia Sect is now on full alert?”

When True Monarch Red Serpent received this intelligence, he was completely caught off guard.

He knew that Xiang Dalong had been scheming for Nascent Soul resources, but he hadnʼt expected him to act so quickly.

The level of vigilance displayed by Yunxia Sect was far greater than when Immortal Yunqing, their Immortal Golden Dan cultivator, had attempted his own Nascent Soul breakthrough.

Great Snake Mountain had planted informants within the Yunxia Sect and stationed spies in the surrounding areas.

However, Lan Changʼan’s journey back to the Great Yu Kingdom and Yunxia Sect had gone completely unnoticed.

By the time they realized something was amiss, Xiang Dalong had already begun his seclusion, entering the critical prelude to forming his Nascent Soul.

”Senior Brother, if we activate our informants inside Yunxia Sect now and combine it with my newly refined concealed fourth-rank venom, can we disrupt or prevent Xiang Dalong’s Nascent Soul formation?”

An elder with a face like red-hot charcoal, clad in a crimson Daoist robe, proposed the idea.

This red-robed elder was True Monarch Red Refinement, who had advanced to the Nascent Soul stage twenty years ago.

”Itʼs already too late.”

True Monarch Red Serpent’s expression was grim, but he could only sigh deeply.

”Yunxia Sect is now on full alert, making it extremely difficult to communicate with our inside agents.”

”Moreover, that Xiang Dalong defies common sense. His strength and methods are extraordinary. He even has a fourth-rank demon king as his protector, along with a host of high-rank puppets guarding him…”

When it came to Xiang Dalong, both True Monarchs found him troublesome, there was no clear weakness to exploit.

The man was discreet and cautious, rarely stepping outside, making his movements unpredictable.

Dealing with Xiang Dalong was even more difficult than facing an ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Whether it was the fourth-rank demon king or his puppet formation, their lethal fourth-rank venom was far less effective against them than it would be against other Nascent Soul cultivators.

”Xiang Dalong is quite old. He neither possesses an Innate Dao Physique nor an Immortal Golden Dan cultivator. Letʼs just hope he fails in forming his Nascent Soul.”

The two True Monarchs sighed, pinning their hopes on this possibility.

Yunxia Sect was as secure as an iron fortress, there was simply no way to breach through.

Even if they disregarded the Great Yu Kingdom’s rules, they still wouldn’t be able to break through Yunxia Sect’s fourth-rank grand formation.

”Senior Brother, don’t worry. Unless Xiang Dalong has some kind of extraordinary fortune, attempting the Nascent Soul breakthrough at his age carries a high risk of failure.”

True Monarch Red Refinement wasn’t optimistic about Xiang Dalong’s success.

In truth, when he had broken through to the Nascent Soul stage, he had been of a similar age to Xiang Dalong.

But back then, True Monarch Red Refinement had relied on a special opportunity his senior brother had brought back from the Ancient Nether Hall, which had greatly increased his chances. Even so, his breakthrough had been fraught with danger, and he had only succeeded by the slimmest of margins.

…

Half a year later.

Yunxia Sect welcomed two guests from the Alchemy Dao Alliance.

”Fellow Daoist Chu, Fairy Le, this underground palace is the cultivation site of Lord Earthrock. Elder Xiang is currently in seclusion here.”

The current Sect Master Xuefeng personally received Chu Yang and Le Qingni.

As a peak Core Formation cultivator and a quasi-fourth-rank alchemist, Chu Yang was treated as an esteemed guest in any Nascent Soul-level sect.

”Seclusion? Could it be that Elder Xiang has already begun his Nascent Soul breakthrough?”

Chu Yang’s expression changed slightly. He exchanged a glance with Le Qingni, whose delicate brows knitted together.

According to Alchemist Le’s instructions, before advancing to the Nascent Soul stage, Lan Changʼan was supposed to hand over a custom-made top-grade third-rank puppet to the two of them.

”That, I do not know. I can only help relay your request.”

Immortal Xuefeng chuckled and sent a message to the underground palace.

”Fellow Daoist Chu, Fairy Le, please come in.”

At that moment, a powerful spiritual sense swept through the area, followed by Lan Changʼan’s voice.

The three Core Formation Immortals were visibly moved.

This spiritual sense fluctuation had already surpassed the limits of the Core Formation stage, stronger than the two late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivators present.

However, considering that Elder Xiang was a top-tier puppet master, it was not too surprising.

”Please, both of you, go ahead. I still have sect affairs to handle, so I won’t be accompanying you.”

Sect Master Xuefeng wisely took his leave, refraining from probing into Elder Xiang’s connections with Alchemist Le’s lineage.

Elder Xiang held a special status. With his close ties to the Supreme Elder, his position within the sect was on par with a Nascent Soul True Monarch. Even as the Sect Master, Xuefeng had to yield by three points.

Lan Changʼan had not entered full isolation and received Chu Yang and Le Qingni in the grand hall of the underground palace.

Lord Earthrock also joined them, reassuring Alchemist Le’s lineage.

After all, it was Alchemist Le’s interest in Lord Earthrock that had led to his agreement with Lan Changʼan in the first place.

”This is the puppet that Alchemist Le commissioned. You may examine it as you please.”

Lan Changʼan raised his hand, producing a command token. With a flash of azure light, a large Azure Feather Eagle Puppet materialized in midair.

Whoosh!

The eagle puppet flapped its azure wings, unleashing an invisible wave of wind pressure that instinctively prompted Le Qingni, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, to activate her protective barrier.

”As expected of a top-grade third-rank avian puppet. Its speed surpasses that of the average late-stage Core Formation cultivator.”

After a brief test, both Chu Yang and Le Qingni were pleasantly surprised and satisfied.

It was worth noting that even Lan Changʼan himself didn’t have such a puppet, mainly due to a lack of materials.

In recent years, he had exhausted his resources on setting up his puppet army and refining the Exotic Spirit Peacock Puppet.

”Elder Xiang kept his word and has outstanding integrity.”

Le Qingni finally accepted the puppet and the command token, her smile blooming like a flower.

After this meeting, her impression of Lan Changʼan had significantly improved.

Perhaps it was due to his status and position, or perhaps it was his exceptional puppet craftsmanship.

”This bottle of fourth-rank beast pills can enhance the cultivation of earth-attribute transformation demon kings. My grandfather entrusted me to gift it to Lord Earthrock.”

Le Qingni took out a jade porcelain bottle and respectfully presented it to Lord Earthrock with both hands.

During their conversation, both guests actively engaged with Lord Earthrock, displaying a tone of respect and enthusiasm.

Lan Changʼan, observing this, couldn’t help but feel slightly envious.

Internally, he scoffed—clearly, Alchemist Le’s lineage didn’t have much confidence in his Nascent Soul breakthrough.

”Elder Xiang, when do you plan to attempt your Nascent Soul breakthrough?”

”In about a month.”

With Yunxia Sect’s defensive measures and the confirmed acquisition of the Infant Transformation Pill, external forces could easily deduce that Xiang Dalong was preparing for his breakthrough soon, at 380 years old, the longer he delayed, the lower his chances of success.

While Core Formation cultivators theoretically had a lifespan of 500 to 600 years, most only lived to around 500.

”Oh? The two of you wish to observe my Nascent Soul breakthrough?”

Lan Changʼan was a bit surprised by Le Qingni’s proposal.

After a brief moment of contemplation, he agreed.

For one, he had already accepted the gift of fourth-rank beast pills, and it would be impolite to refuse.

Secondly, Alchemist Le had been generous this time, allowing him to delay the puppet’s refinement, which reduced his risks.

Moreover, the two were neutral guests from the Alchemy Dao Alliance, allies rather than enemies.

Even if he successfully advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, he would still need to establish connections with fourth-rank alchemists.

”You may stay in Yunxia Sect’s guest quarters. I will soon enter full isolation to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.”

Half an hour later, Lan Changʼan escorted the two out of the underground palace.

Yunxia Sect had a designated guest peak for visitors, located a safe distance away.

Once Lan Changʼan began his breakthrough, the entire underground palace and its surroundings would be declared a forbidden zone, with no access permitted.

”Alchemist Le made a shrewd move by sending these two, he’s truly killing two birds with one stone.”

Lan Changʼan mused inwardly.

First, Chu Yang and Le Qingni could establish connections with both him and Lord Earthrock.

Second, observing a Nascent Soul breakthrough was highly beneficial to Core Formation cultivators, aiding their comprehension and insights.

This was especially true for Le Qingni, who had yet to attempt the Nascent Soul breakthrough.

Even Chu Yang, who had previously failed his breakthrough, could gain valuable insights by watching another cultivator’s attempt.

…

Three days later, Lan Changʼan’s state of mind began to settle as the Evergreen Golden Dan within him circulated its power at a steady, unhurried pace.

At this moment, his cultivation realm had reached the peak of the Core Formation stage, perfect, seamless, and without a single flaw.

His mana, spiritual sense, and mental state continuously adjusted as he sought the perfect moment when the spiritual energy of heaven and earth would converge in a single, fleeting instant.

During this process, ripples occasionally surfaced in his sea of consciousness, bringing forth fragmented memories from over three hundred years of cultivation.

—Breaking through the mystery of the womb, awakening in Jin Yun Valley.

—The four young, inexperienced youths who had first stepped into the cultivation world together.

Zhao Siyao, Lin Yi, Li Erqing, Lan Changʼan—all rising from the lowest levels of Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world, each walking vastly different paths over the course of centuries.

One schemed and built vast networks of connections, only to fall before reaching his peak.

Another formed a Fake Dan, perishing on the battlefield, her beauty and talent fading like fleeting mist.

Yet another lived a full life, passing away in old age with descendants surrounding him, leaving his fate to the next reincarnation.

Of the original four, only Lan Changʼan had reached the pinnacle of Core Formation, now on the verge of challenging the peak of the cultivation world.

”Jin Yun Valley... Feiyue Lake’s Mu Family… Huanglong Immortal City… The Three Peak Masters of Wuqi Mountain…”

”The invasion of the Six Demonic Sects… Seeking refuge in Jing Kingdom… Laying low in the Fengyuan Kingdom… Shifting to the Seven Kingdoms Alliance… And now, winds rising in the Great Yuan…”

Centuries of cultivation flashed through his mind like an endless tide.

The many familiar faces in his memory were not limited to his earliest companions but also included the many figures he had encountered along the way.

Zhang Tieshan, Mu Xiuyun, Mu Jiuan, Liang Shaotian, Zhou Qingxuan, Jiang Yechen, Shi Manrong, Xia Wenyue, The Yun Siblings…

Three centuries of experiences—tides rising and falling, connections forming and fading.

Yet through it all, Lan Changʼan’s heart remained steadfast, like an ancient tree taking root and flourishing over time. His will only grew stronger, firmer, and more unshakable.

”With three lifetimes of accumulation, I shall now ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm!”

...

One month later.

At the underground palace cultivation site, the winds howled, and the heavens and earth trembled as spiritual energy surged and converged.

It was as if an ancient tree, its roots deeply entrenched and its branches vast and flourishing, was drawing in the surrounding spiritual energy amidst the storm.

Boom!

A tidal vortex of spiritual energy erupted, stretching from dozens of li to hundreds, then expanding to over a thousand li!

The phenomenon of Nascent Soul formation shook the lands for a thousand li!

”The Nascent Soul breakthrough, it has begun!”

Within Yunxia Sect, Purple Mist Fairy, Hu Ang, Chu Yang, Le Qingni, Immortal Xuefeng, Xiao Qingshan—countless disciples and elders were drawn by the astonishing spectacle, turning their gazes toward the underground palace cultivation site.

It had been decades since the last Nascent Soul breakthrough attempt in Yunxia Sect. That attempt had failed, leaving behind a long-lasting shadow.

But today, the phenomenon of Nascent Soul formation had once again emerged.

From the very start, the pressure of the mana surging from the underground palace had already exceeded the limits of the Core Formation stage, pressing directly against the threshold of the Nascent Soul Realm!

”Impossible! Isn’t that brat from some remote region?! Yet his Nascent Soul phenomenon soared up like a rising cloud, fierce and steady, calm and unhurried...”

At the corner of Zixia Peak, Hu Ang stared at the heavenly phenomenon in stunned disbelief, his lips parting in shock.

Lan Changʼan’s Nascent Soul breakthrough was not only surging with momentum, it was also too smooth!

Such an experienced and stable method of forming a Nascent Soul was far superior to what Hu Ang had achieved in his ”previous life”.

Even if he were to do it all over again in this life, he wasn’t confident he could do better than Lan Changʼan.

”With such profound mana foundations… could Dalong’s Core actually be an Immortal Golden Dan?!”

Jiang Ziyan stood in the clouds, her Nascent Soul-level spiritual sense allowing her to observe the intricate details of Lan Changʼan’s breakthrough.

As a heavenly spirit root holder and an Immortal Golden Dan cultivator herself, she had the qualifications to make an accurate comparison.

”Dalong, just how many secrets are you still hiding from me?”

A mix of joy and frustration surfaced in Jiang Ziyan’s heart.

She had believed that she and Xiang Dalong had been completely open with each other, with no secrets between them. Their relationship was intimate, built on trust.

Yet, she now realized that his previous ”confession” had still concealed truths, he had told her his Core was only at the Half-Step Golden Dan level, and that he had only a 30-40% chance of success in his Nascent Soul breakthrough.

At the guest peak, Le Qingni watched the scene intently, a gleam of yearning flashing in her eyes.

”Big Brother Chu, this Xiang Dalong’s breakthrough… seems to be, um, just a little bit stronger than yours was back then.”

Her tone carried a hint of astonishment.

Chu Yang stared blankly for a moment before slowly responding, his voice somewhat unsteady.

”The initial momentum… is indeed much stronger than senior brother’s breakthrough. But whether he succeeds or not… will depend on the final result…”

However, his voice lacked conviction.

After all, he himself had failed in his attempt to shatter his Core and form a Nascent Soul. He never even reached the final stages of the process.

...

Inside the underground palace.

Lan Changʼan, carrying the accumulated foundation of three lifetimes, launched his attempt to break through to the Nascent Soul stage.

To ensure success, he couldnʼt afford to hold back, he had to go all out, unleashing his full potential.

”In my past life, I exhausted too much mental energy at this step. Combined with insufficient resources, I ultimately failed at the final juncture.”

Now, in this life, he faced the same challenge with far greater composure. He even had the spare capacity to compare his approach with the techniques of his past self and those of several ancient Nascent Soul cultivators whose memories he had inherited.

With a potential lifespan of over a thousand years, his Evergreen mana had become extraordinarily refined and pure, providing him with an unparalleled foundation.

His spiritual energy flowed smoothly, without the slightest hint of obstruction.

Three days later.

The Evergreen Golden Dan, now covered in radiant glazed-gold patterns, began to develop fine cracks across its surface.

At that moment, an overwhelming surge of violent power erupted from Lan Changʼan’s body, suffused with the destructive aura of shattering core energy.

Inside the chamber, the protective formations flickered erratically.

Had the formations been any weaker, the entire underground palace would have been obliterated by the sheer force of this transformation.

This critical step required absolute mastery over mana and an immense level of spiritual sense control.

If oneʼs mana lacked purity, the process would become increasingly difficult to control, making it impossible to achieve the necessary qualitative transformation, forcing a reliance on external aids.

Many cultivators below the Immortal Golden Dan level failed at this stage. The fortunate ones only suffered backlash injuries, while the unlucky ones were left with crippling internal damage, affecting their cultivation path permanently. In the worst cases, the cultivator perished outright.

”Shatter the Core, Form the Nascent Soul—this is the decisive moment!”

Lan Changʼan held nothing back. He swallowed the Infant Transformation Pill and immediately followed with the consumption of the Ziwu Clear Wind, the Rejuvenating Withered Vine, the Five-Element Earth… In addition, there were many other rare spiritual treasures and incenses, all ignited and circulating around him.

Crack!

The Evergreen Golden Dan split open from the top, like a spirit beast egg about to hatch, revealing the new life growing within.

Buzz!

The core, resembling a mystical fruit, ignited from within, its essence burning and sublimating into a semi-transparent crystalline glow, inscribed with golden-green Dao patterns.

At the same time—

In his sea of consciousness, his divine soul sank downward, fusing with the boiling, ascended Core essence.

A vague ethereal shadow emerged, nourished by the golden dan’s essence, intertwined with Dao resonance, slowly taking the form of an infant silhouette.

In an instant, Lan Changʼan felt his consciousness being drawn in, as if experiencing the primordial evolution of heaven and earth.

For a brief moment, he felt as if only an instant had passed.

Yet, at the same time, it seemed like an eternity.

Finally, the once-illusory figure solidified completely, transforming into a three-inch-tall, cyan-colored Spirit Infant, its features resembling a youthful version of Lan Changʼan.

At the very moment his Nascent Soul took shape—

The surrounding heaven and earth energies churned violently. A mysterious ripple of divine resonance emanated outward, reaching into the depths of his soul.

Above the underground palace, radiant auspicious clouds gathered, while the previously raging spiritual tides briefly stagnated.

A pure, pristine Nascent Soul-level aura was born.

...

”The Nascent Soul is formed!”

Purple Mist Fairy was the first to perceive the newly birthed Nascent Soul.

Now, only the final Nascent Soul Tribulation stood between Lan Changʼan and his ascension into the ranks of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs that stood firmly in the very upper echelons of the cultivation world.

What truly shocked her was that Lan Changʼan’s newly-formed Nascent Soul exuded an unparalleled presence, even stronger than when she or True Monarch Yunlan had undergone their own breakthroughs.

”Shattering the core and forming the Nascent Soul… he completed it so effortlessly?”

Hu Angʼs expression fluctuated between gloom and disbelief. He clenched his teeth, an ominous premonition creeping into his heart.

The process of shattering the core and forming the Nascent Soul had been too seamless, so smooth that Lan Changʼan had conserved much of his mental and spiritual energy.

This meant that for the next step, the Heavenly Lightning Tribulation, he would face significantly reduced strain.

And if he had sufficient tribulation-resolving treasures prepared, his chances of overcoming the lightning tribulation would be considerably high.

Inside the underground palace.

Now that Lan Changʼanʼs Nascent Soul had successfully taken form, he was granted a brief window of adjustment.

During this time, his mana fully integrated with the Nascent Soul, initiating its transformation into Nascent Soul-grade spiritual power.

This step, too, he executed effortlessly, his entire process steady and composed.

Boom! Crackle!

High above, in the heavens, dark tribulation clouds gathered, lightning rolling within them.

Only moments ago, the sky had been clear and bright, but now it was covered in a thick, oppressive darkness.

”The second step of Nascent Soul breakthrough, The Heavenly Lightning Tribulation!”

Throughout Yunxia Sect, cultivators were seized by an overwhelming sense of awe and dread, their spirits trembling under the sheer divine might of the tribulation.

Those who had been watching from closer vantage points now found themselves struggling under the suffocating pressure of the impending heavenly punishment.

Within the underground palace, Lan Changʼan raised his head, his gaze piercing through the layers of formations and stone walls, locking onto the churning gray tribulation clouds in the sky.

At this moment, a heavy weight pressed down upon his mind and body, as if he had been locked in place by the will of the heavens.

Time itself seemed to halt, leaving him with no room for escape.

...

Boom—Zzzt!

A streak of azure tribulation lightning tore through the skies, piercing the inky-black thunderclouds as it descended toward Lan Changʼan within the underground palace.

”Rather than passively endure the strike, why not take the initiative?!”

To prevent damage to the underground palace, and driven by a certain bold idea, Lan Changʼan suddenly acted on an impulse!

Whoosh!

Only an afterimage remained inside the underground palace.

Boom! Crackle—Zzzt…!

The fearsome azure lightning, imbued with heavenly might, was suddenly caught mid-air by a massive pale-green mana-infused hand.

The instant they clashed, the blinding thunderbolt exploded into countless arcs of crackling electricity, illuminating the sky in a chaotic burst of light and darkness.

Lan Changʼan’s figure flickered midair.

His arm, which had caught the tribulation lightning, was covered in wild arcs of electricity. His robes were scorched black.

Yet, he was unharmed.

”Just as I thought! Although wood-based mana is not known for offensive strength, it naturally resists lightning! And with my body refinement already at the peak of the third rank, the residual tribulation lightning is actually refining my physique!”

”Even if I do get injured, the Evergreen Technique will heal me quickly. There’s no risk to my foundation!”

A rush of excitement filled Lan Changʼan’s heart as his daring theory was confirmed.

After enduring the first wave of tribulation lightning, his Nascent Soul mana rapidly transformed, refining itself at a far faster rate than that of other magic cultivators.

When the second bolt of lightning struck, Lan Changʼan’s mana had already grown stronger.

Once more, he launched another pale-green mana-infused hand, while surrounding himself with fourth-rank greenwood vines to soften the impact of the thunder.

Boom—Zzzt!

The second bolt of lightning was significantly stronger than the first. The crackling lightning serpents spread across his entire body, sending shivers through the cultivators observing from afar.

”He’s not using any magical treasures? He’s facing the heavenly tribulation with nothing but his mana and body?!”

Purple Mist Fairyʼs expression flickered between shock and disbelief.

”Is Dalong insane… or just unbelievably confident?”

She couldnʼt help but suspect that Xiang Dalong practiced body refinement, otherwise, he wouldn’t dare to take such a reckless approach.

Jiang Ziyan secretly gritted her teeth: This Xiang Dalong… how many things has he been hiding from me?!

As the second bolt of heavenly lightning dissipated, Several charred scars appeared on Lan Changʼan’s skin.

However, under the effects of his healing spells, the wounds rapidly closed.

Meanwhile, his Evergreen Mana continued to circulate, replenishing itself in an endless cycle.

For safety’s sake, he swallowed two additional recovery pills.

Yet, by the time the third bolt descended, Lan Changʼan had decided not to take unnecessary risks.

From his storage ring, he retrieved a Thunder-Dissolving Pearl, significantly reducing the impact of the tribulation lightning.

The fourth, fifth, and sixth bolts followed in rapid succession—each stronger than the last, until they reached the equivalent of a mid-stage Nascent Soul attack.

Fortunately, Lan Changʼan had prepared for this.

He steadily rotated through several magical treasures, while discreetly embedding three Barbed Arrows within his mana barrier, allowing them to experience the heavenly lightning’s baptism.

Finally, the seventh and final bolt of tribulation lightning arrived.

Boom—!

A colossal thunder dragon, its body formed from pure destructive lightning, roared down from the heavens!

The Thunder-Dissolving Pearl shattered instantly.

Two superior-grade magical treasures were destroyed on impact.

Whew!

Lan Changʼan let out a long exhale.

His robes were completely reduced to ashes, his face covered in soot, and his body swayed unsteadily, nearly collapsing.

”The Heavenly Lightning Tribulation passed!”

Although Lan Changʼan looked battered and exhausted, his remaining mana was purer and more condensed than that of most newly-advanced Nascent Soul cultivators.

What was even more pleasing was that the bottleneck in his body refinement which had been stagnant for years had finally loosened. Additionally, the quality of the three Barbed Arrows had also significantly improved!