I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Chapter 383: The Reason Behind Iron Calculationʼs Arrival

The spiritual pressure of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator far surpassed that of any True Monarch Lan Changʼan had ever encountered in this life.

He was both shocked and suspicious.

The last time he had seen Netherwater True Monarch was thirty to forty years ago when he had teamed up with Jing Wufeng to hunt the Corrupted Stoneheart Dragon.

At that time, Netherwater True Monarch had only been at the early Nascent Soul stage and had never seen Lan Changʼan’s real face.

But now, she had suddenly appeared again, already at the mid-Nascent Soul stage.

Had she obtained some rare opportunity?

Was it from looting the Stoneheart Dragon’s lair back then?

Or did she gain some other fortuitous encounter in the Ancient Nether Hall?

Over the years, the only notable rumor about Netherwater True Monarch was that she had entered the Ancient Nether Hall. However, back then, she had not yet advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage and had kept a low profile.

“Netherwater True Monarch, such generosity, I will remember this gesture well.”

Lan Changʼan’s expression was unpleasant, and his tone was neither cold nor warm.

He neither lashed out in anger nor endured silently, his reaction was exactly what the onlookers had expected.

It was obvious that Netherwater’s so-called ”gift” had actually been a test.

Had he been a weaker Nascent Soul cultivator, he would have suffered public humiliation just now.

Such brazen disrespect naturally displeased both Lan Changʼan and True Monarch Purple Mist.

However, as a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, backed by the Sixteen Sea-Suppressing Sects, Netherwater had the qualifications to act arrogantly.

“True Monarch Xiang is too modest.”

Netherwater smiled pleasantly, acting as if nothing had happened.

“I’ve heard that you and True Monarch Jing Tian share a close relationship. True Monarch Jing Tianʼs divine abilities rival those of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, surely, True Monarch Xiang’s strength is not far behind?”

Having tested Lan Changʼan, Netherwater did not press further.

She had learned something valuable from her little stunt, Xiang Dalong’s mana foundation was slightly stronger than she had expected.

Lan Changʼan’s expression relaxed slightly, his tone remaining composed yet firm.

“You overestimate me, True Monarch. I am merely an ordinary Nascent Soul cultivator. My acquaintance with True Monarch Jing Tian was purely based on past puppet-crafting transactions.”

By keeping his words ambiguous and not outright denying knowing Jing Wufeng, he avoided drawing further suspicion.

“Oh? So thatʼs how it is.”

Netherwater nodded as if convinced, before settling into her seat among the other Nascent Soul guests.

True Monarch Purple Mist let out a quiet sigh of relief.

She exchanged a subtle glance with Lan Changʼan, her eyes carrying a silent question.

Lan Changʼan shook his head slightly and transmitted a voice message to her.

“I have no personal connection to Netherwater True Monarch. This is likely due to past matters involving True Monarch Jing Tian.”

Hearing Netherwater mention Jing Wufeng, Lan Changʼan couldn’t help but analyze the situation further.

Back when they had hunted the Corrupted Stoneheart Dragon, Jing Wufeng had been petrified, only breaking free with a secret technique, exposing his true appearance.

Although the Illusory Void Thousand-Kill Formation they had used offered some level of concealment, intense combat always carried the risk of leaks.

It was possible that Netherwater had caught a fleeting glimpse of Jing Wufeng’s true form through the distortions in the array.

That alone was not a major issue.

However, over sixty years ago, when Jing Wufeng first arrived in the Great Yuan through a spatial rift, the “foreign aura” on his body had not yet dissipated.

During that time, he had been fighting demonic beasts, eventually getting chased by the Corrupted Stoneheart Dragon, a battle that had stirred up significant attention.

Netherwater had previously hunted True Monarch Shazhai, searching for Tinghai Pavilion’s lost relics.

To someone like her, any trace of outsiders or clues related to ancient sect ruins would have never been ignored.

To make matters worse, Jing Wufeng had later made a name for himself in the Ancient Nether Hall, rumored to be linked to the pseudo-spiritual treasure.

His actions had been extremely high-profile.

“Thankfully, Jing Wufeng stands out more than I do.”

After analyzing the situation, Lan Changʼan felt slightly relieved.

If Netherwater had truly been investigating him, she would have come knocking long ago.

It was only because of his recent rise to Nascent Soul, combined with True Monarch Red Serpent’s involvement, that he had finally entered her radar.

Now that True Monarch Red Serpent and Netherwater were working together, Lan Changʼan couldn’t help but think back to a small oversight he had left behind.

It had happened before Lord Earthrock ascended to become a transformation demon king.

Back then, Lan Changʼan had traded purified dragon blood with True Monarch Red Serpent, in exchange for a Spirit Nourishing Beast Pill.

Without that beast core, Lord Earthrock might not have been able to overcome his Heart Demon Tribulation and successfully transform.

At the time, Lan Changʼanʼs fourth life had descended, and he had disguised himself as a Nascent Soul cultivator with a completely different aura.

True Monarch Red Serpent had never seen through his disguise.

The Great Yuan was a coastal cultivation region, and the primary source of dragon blood came from sea-dwelling jiao dragons.

Now that True Monarch Red Serpent had formed connections with Netherwater, he had likely shared this past transaction with her.

If Netherwater cross-referenced that dragon blood with her own knowledge of oceanic beasts, she might begin questioning its true origins.

...

“Fellow Daoist Shura, do you sense anything unusual about him?”

After taking her seat, Netherwater True Monarch closed her eyes, seemingly resting.

However, in reality, she was communicating with the ancient oil lamp stored within her storage treasure.

The lamp’s base was crafted from Soul-Nurturing Wood, and within its flickering glow, a pale, ghostly green wisp floated, a fragment of the soul of ”Shura Ghost Lord.”

“There’s something wrong with him.”

The split soul of the Shura Ghost Lord confirmed this without hesitation.

“I was once the master of the Stoneheart Dragon. I had a spiritual contract with it, making me intimately familiar with its bloodline aura. Just now, I used a secret technique to probe him and detected faint traces of the Stoneheart Dragon’s bloodline within his body.”

“Had you not been standing so close to him, even I wouldn’t have noticed it.”

Netherwater’s gaze sharpened slightly.

“Did Xiang Dalong notice your probing? Did we risk alarming him?”

The ghostly green wisp flickered, and Shura Ghost Lord let out a faint chuckle.

“Heh, I am a peak mid-stage Nascent Soul ghost cultivator. Even as a mere split soul, my ghost path techniques are so refined that even veteran early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators cannot detect them.”

“Besides, you distracted him with your little ‘gift.’ The boy was too preoccupied with protecting himself to notice anything.”

Shura Ghost Lord’s tone was laced with confidence.

Back in his prime, he had once wounded a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, though the battle had cost him dearly, nearly claiming his life.

That encounter had made him famous, but the severe price he had paid had also led to his eventual downfall.

Netherwater pondered for a moment before continuing.

“What do you think of him?”

Shura Ghost Lord’s soul flickered before responding:

“As a newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator, Xiang Dalong is most likely an accomplice of Jing Wufeng.”

“According to True Monarch Red Serpent, this man possesses a puppet army formation, capable of restraining early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.”

“Years ago, if Jing Wufeng had Xiang Dalong’s assistance, along with a fourth-rank grand formation, they could have indeed threatened the Stoneheart Dragon.”

Netherwater nodded in agreement.

“Hmm, that would also explain how Lord Earthrock acquired the Stoneheart Dragon’s Essence Spirit Core and successfully ascended to its transformation demon form.”

“Xiang Dalong has assisted Jing Wufeng multiple times, including during the Ancient Nether Hall expedition.”

“He must have obtained some portion of the dragon’s blood materials. Even if he purified and refined it, its core essence remains unchanged. In close proximity, Fellow Daoist Shura, your sensing technique would never miss it.”

At this realization, Netherwater’s heart surged with excitement.

Perhaps Xiang Dalong was the key to tracking down this big fish Jing Wufeng.

Jing Wufeng was an outsider from another realm, as well as the greatest beneficiary of the Ancient Nether Hall expedition, a child of fate.

With his spatial techniques, this person was good at digging up relics and treasures, he might have discovered remnants left behind by True Monarch Shazhai, who had fled to an unknown realm centuries ago.

Perhaps, Jing Wufeng had even obtained part of Tinghai Pavilion’s lost legacy.

Netherwater knew that, alone, she could not easily deal with Jing Wufeng.

His Nascent Soul cultivation was as strong as a mid-stage expert, and his spatial escape techniques made him nearly impossible to catch.

Fortunately, Jing Wufeng had made many enemies during the Ancient Nether Hall expedition.

Many Nascent Soul elders from the Central Region’s great powers had spent years tracking the pseudo-spiritual treasure and had recently confirmed that Jing Wufeng was the key figure.

Netherwater could use them to her advantage, leveraging their forces to corner Jing Wufeng.

And if needed, she could always call upon reinforcements from her sect, the Black Sea Sect.

However, the head cultivator of the Black Sea Sect was stronger than the newly promoted mid-stage Netherwater True Monarch. In order to avoid losing her control over the operation, she would not easily seek help from the sect.

From her earlier test, Netherwater had already noted one important detail.

“From what I sensed earlier, Xiang Dalong’s cultivation method does not follow the path of Tinghai Pavilion.”

Netherwater’s thoughts moved quickly.

“This means he likely has no connection to True Monarch Shazhai or the lost Tinghai Pavilion archives.”

“Jing Wufeng, on the other hand, is a different story.”

As an outsider, wielding spatial divine abilities, and having participated in the Ancient Nether Hall expedition, he fit the profile far too well.

Netherwater turned her focus back to Shura Ghost Lord’s soul fragment.

“Fellow Daoist Shura, do you have confidence in helping me capture Xiang Dalong?”

The ghostly wisp pulsed lightly before responding.

“At my current state, I can only unleash ghost path techniques at the early Nascent Soul level.”

“If Xiang Dalong stays within Yunxia Sect, we have absolutely no chance. Unless he ventures out alone without Lord Earthrock, then it may be possible.”

Netherwater’s expression darkened slightly.

Yunxia Sect had three Nascent Soul cultivators, in addition to a fourth-rank sect-protecting formation.

Even a mid-stage Nascent Soul expert would struggle to do anything against them.

Furthermore, many Nascent Soul guests attending the ceremony were either allied with the Yunxia Sect or neutral, making this the worst possible time to act.

Seeing Netherwater’s hesitation, Shura Ghost Lord’s wisp flickered ominously, making a sinister suggestion.

“If you truly wish to increase your chances of success, you should continue gathering soul-nurturing resources for me.”

“Once my ghost path techniques reach a higher level, I will be able to directly suppress and weaken his Nascent Soul, making him far easier to capture.”

His tone carried an undeniable allure, tempting Netherwater with the prospect of absolute victory.

Back when Netherwater had raided the Stoneheart Dragon’s lair, she had captured Shura Ghost Lord’s remaining soul fragment and interrogated him mercilessly.

To save himself, Shura Ghost Lord had revealed the location of one of his hidden treasure caches in the Central Region’s forbidden zone.

That cache had significantly boosted Netherwater’s cultivation, making her one of the stronger Nascent Soul cultivators in the Black Sea Sect.

Later, she had taken him into the Ancient Nether Hall, where his knowledge of forbidden techniques had helped her gain even more power.

With so many benefits obtained through their partnership, Netherwater had kept him alive, gradually nurturing his ghost path cultivation back to partial strength.

...

Netherwater True Monarch was the only mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator present at the ceremony.

Her quiet communication with the Shura Ghost Lord’s soul fragment went completely unnoticed by any early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator nearby.

However, not far away, a blue-robed scholar sat calmly, his deep, abyssal eyes flickering with an unusual glint as he observed Netherwater, who had seemingly closed her eyes to rest.

“Cough! Ziwei, accompany me for a walk.”

With a few dry coughs, True Monarch Iron Calculation slowly stood up, motioning for Princess Ziwei to follow.

The Nascent Soul Ceremony lasted three days, and many guests wandered around exploring the surrounding peaks, as long as they did not trespass into Yunxia Sect’s restricted areas.

To the casual observer, Iron Calculation and Ziwei seemed to be enjoying the scenery.

But in reality, as a fourth-rank divination grandmaster, Iron Calculation was observing Qi flow, surveying Feng Shui, and assessing Yunxia Sect’s overall fortune and trajectory.

As a sect with a ten-thousand-year lineage, the Yunxia Sect naturally possessed heavenly artifacts that obscured divination, preventing outsiders from prying into its deeper secrets.

Half an hour later.

Netherwater True Monarch and True Monarch Red Serpent departed from Yunxia Sect.

Iron Calculation, watching them vanish into the distance, suddenly activated his divination technique.

With a swift motion, he reached into the void and grasped the air.

Shua!

A black iron divination token materialized in his palm.

Mysterious arcane patterns glowed faintly, forming a series of ancient tadpole-like characters that no ordinary person could decipher.

Reading the message on the token, Iron Calculation’s expression turned pensive.

Princess Ziwei was unfazed by this sight, as she had witnessed similar divinations before.

However, she couldnʼt understand why Iron Calculation had focused his divination on Netherwater instead of Xiang Dalong.

“Senior, why did you divine Netherwater True Monarch and True Monarch Red Serpent instead of Xiang Dalong?”

She knew that Iron Calculation had been sent for one purpose, to investigate Xiang Dalong’s origins.

She was here only to assist him in his mission.

“Cough! Divining that boy?”

Iron Calculation let out a soft chuckle and shook his head, sighing faintly.

“I still wish to live a few more years.”

His tone was half-joking, half-serious.

Princess Ziwei’s eyes widened slightly in curiosity.

“A newly ascended Nascent Soul cultivator… Why canʼt he be divined?”

Iron Calculation’s expression grew solemn as he explained.

“That so-called True Monarch Xiang is carrying at least multiple divination-resisting artifacts, and that’s only what I could detect, he may very well have even more treasures that shield him from fate-reading.”

“Moreover, there is another powerful divination grandmaster’s influence woven into his destiny, further clouding his fate. Combined with the protective forces of the Nascent Soul realm, his Qi is far too turbulent to read.”

“If I were to forcibly divine him, my fragile body wouldn’t survive the backlash.”

He spoke with a wry smile, but the weight behind his words was clear.

Diviners who forcibly peek into the secrets of heaven, inevitably have to pay a price.

Shortening of lifespan is a common ailment.

The divination method practiced by True Monarch Iron Calculation reduced the harm of ”shortening lifespan” by several degrees, which was quite impressive.

However, the corresponding price was a weak body and impotence.

Princess Ziwei was genuinely stunned.

“Another divination grandmaster has left their mark on him?”

The art of divination was an obscure and difficult Dao, and reaching the fourth rank as a divination grandmaster was far more challenging than simply breaking through to the Nascent Soul stage.

“Then, what about Netherwater True Monarch? Did you uncover anything useful?”

Iron Calculation let out another soft cough, shaking his head.

“That one may be a new mid-stage Nascent Soul, but even she is difficult to divine. Still, I managed to gain some insight, enough to see a part of the larger picture.”

Princess Ziwei’s curiosity deepened.

She was about to press further, but Iron Calculation merely smiled cryptically.

Without answering, he simply turned and led her back toward the Nascent Soul Ceremony venue.

...

Two days later, the Nascent Soul Ceremony finally came to a close.

By now, most of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs had left midway, returning to their respective territories.

However, two individuals remained, Alchemist Le and True Monarch Iron Calculation.

Alchemist Le had his own reasons for staying.

As for Iron Calculation’s prolonged presence, Lan Changʼan found himself growing wary.

Yet, over the past two days, Iron Calculation had not acted out of line.

On the contrary, at one point, he had even taken the initiative to offer Lan Changʼan a drink, displaying a sign of goodwill.

Given Iron Calculation’s frail health, it was significant to note that he had only drunk once throughout the entire ceremony and that one drink had been with Lan Changʼan.

As he was preparing to leave, Iron Calculation suddenly spoke up.

“Cough! True Monarch Xiang, might I have a private word with you?”

Lan Changʼan hesitated momentarily but eventually nodded in agreement.

“Very well.”

As the royal representative, Iron Calculation’s words carried weight.

Now that he had extended a hand of goodwill, offending him was unwise.

Once alone, Iron Calculation wasted no time.

“True Monarch Xiang, after your interaction with that unexpected guest… cough… did you notice anything unusual about her?”

Lan Changʼan’s expression remained calm.

“Unusual?”

He shook his head.

“I didn’t notice anything strange, but she clearly harbors hostility toward me. Most likely due to my past association with True Monarch Jing Tian.”

This was the truth, his cultivation base and spiritual sense were inferior to hers, so he had indeed failed to detect anything amiss.

Iron Calculation’s gaze sharpened slightly.

After a brief pause, he leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice:

“That woman carries a faint but distinct ghostly aura.”

Lan Changʼan’s mind whirled, and countless thoughts flashed through his mind in an instant.

Ghostly aura?

A sudden realization struck him.

The Corrupted Stoneheart Dragon he had hunted years ago had originally belonged to Shura Ghost Lord, a formidable ghost cultivator.

However, the Shura Ghost Lord had vanished for years, and his whereabouts had remained unknown.

And yet, Netherwater True Monarch had looted the Stoneheart Dragon’s lair.

Had she discovered something there?

Lan Changʼan cupped his hands in genuine gratitude.

“Many thanks for the warning, Senior.”

This information was crucial.

If Netherwater and Shura Ghost Lord were truly working together, then the threat level she posed was far greater than he had anticipated.

One must know that Lan Changʼan still carried purified Stoneheart Dragon blood in his possession.

“Cough, cough… If you are truly grateful, would you be willing to answer one question for me?”

Iron Calculation’s eyes gleamed strangely, his tone carrying an unreadable undertone.

Lan Changʼan stiffened slightly, feeling a hint of unease.

After a brief pause, he forced himself to nod slowly.

“If it does not involve my private affairs, I will answer as best I can.”

Iron Calculation chuckled faintly.

“I only have one question.”

His gaze became piercingly sharp, as if attempting to see through Lan Changʼan’s very soul.

“My humble self only has one question, which realm does True Monarch Xiang come from outside the Great Yuan?”

Lan Changʼan’s heart clenched.

This was the last question he had expected.

His origins beyond the Great Yuan were a closely guarded secret.

To this day, only True Monarch Purple Mist knew the truth, and even she had promised to keep it to herself.

At most, she had told her Dao companion Yunlan, no one else knew his true background.

“I am from Kun Provience.”

Lan Changʼan thought about it and decided to give a “real” answer.

He vaguely realized that this question was important to the imperial family and that it was best not to avoid it.

“Oh? Kun Province? Thatʼs not too far away.”

Iron Calculation narrowed his eyes, his deep gaze locked onto Lan Changʼan’s expression.

As a fourth-rank divination master, his ability to read people was exceptional.

After a brief pause, he finally nodded slightly.

From what he could tell, Lan Changʼan was not lying.

And indeed, Lan Changʼan’s past life did belong to a Great Kun cultivation family.

Satisfied, Iron Calculation shifted the conversation to Kun Province’s local customs.

Lan Changʼan responded fluidly, as he was well-acquainted with its history and geography.

After several exchanges, Iron Calculation’s smile deepened.

His mission in Yunxia Sect was now complete.

What mattered most was ruling out the possibility that Xiang Dalong was affiliated with the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty.

Seeing an opportunity, Lan Changʼan decided to probe for information of his own.

“Senior, how much does the imperial family know about Netherwater True Monarch?”

The Great Yu imperial family was a dominant force in the Central Region and had access to vast intelligence networks.

Iron Calculation smiled knowingly.

“Netherwater True Monarch hails from Black Sea Sect, one of the Sixteen Sea-Suppressing Sects.”

“For years, she has been obsessed with hunting down the remnants of Tinghai Pavilion, seeking to unearth its lost treasures.”

“A century ago, she relentlessly pursued True Monarch Shazhai, a Tinghai Pavilion survivor. However, he vanished without a trace.”

“More recently, she has frequently been spotted near the Central Region forbidden zone, likely following a new lead.”

Iron Calculation’s information was extensive, further confirming Netherwater’s ambitions. Lan Changʼan suspected that this person might be in charge of the intelligence department in the Imperial Family.

Then, he added another key piece of information:

“Thirty years ago, Netherwater True Monarch entered the Ancient Nether Hall. She was one of the hidden victors of that expedition.”

“During that time, two Nascent Soul cultivators fought over a rare heavenly treasure. When both were injured, Netherwater swooped in and took the prize for herself.”

“Her breakthrough to mid-stage Nascent Soul may very well be due to that harvest.”

Lan Changʼan secretly staggered as he listened.

This women actually picked up otherʼs treasures not once, but twice, both at the Stoneheart Dragon’s lair and within the Ancient Nether Hall?

Such insider information was previously unheard of by Lan Changʼan; only the imperial familyʼs intelligence network knew the truth.

...

Before parting, Lan Changʼan decided to probe for one final piece of information.

“Senior, do you happen to know True Monarch Jing Tian’s whereabouts?”

For years, the Central Region had remained silent about Jing Wufeng, and Lan Changʼan had heard no news of him.

Iron Calculation let out a rough cough, pausing for a few breaths before glancing at Lan Changʼan.

His expression seemed to say:

You brat, you answered just one of my questions, and now you want to freeload even more information?

Lan Changʼan was slightly embarrassed, realizing his shamelessness.

Still, Iron Calculation humored him.

“Jing Wufeng is rumored to have left the Central Region and is now hunting sea beasts near the Eastern Region’s coastline. However, this information is unverified.”

With those words, Iron Calculation waved his sleeve and left Yunxia Sect.

High above the clouds, Iron Calculation shook his head, chuckling softly.

“If not for the fact that your fate is exceptionally strong…”

He had chosen to show goodwill toward Lan Changʼan based on his earlier divinations.

Although he couldn’t directly divine Lan Changʼan because the cost was too steep, he had another method.

Instead, he divined Lan Changʼan’s adversaries.

While the full picture remained obscured, he had managed to detect a crucial trend.

Netherwater True Monarch’s fortune had reached its peak, but there were faint signs of decline, an omen of ‘rising too high before falling.’

This meant that Lan Changʼan, as her adversary, was someone shrouded in fate and extremely difficult to predict, and it was even more inadvisable to offend him compared to the Netherwater True Monarch.

...

After the Nascent Soul Ceremony, Lan Changʼan entertained Alchemist Le and his granddaughter, Le Qingni, at Yunlan Peak.

It turned out that Lan Changʼan had a separate agreement with Alchemist Le, asking him to help refine a fourth-rank Life Extension Pill.

The top-grade third-rank longevity fruit brought from the Great Qing had been cultivated for decades. It was further accelerated by the Evergreen Techniqueʼs secret spell, greatly increasing its growth rate and reaching the fourth rank.

Lan Changʼan had collected the other materials for the Life Extension Pill. He not only relied on himself but also exchanged for them from the Yunxia Sectʼs treasure vault and by issuing sect missions.

”Fourth-rank longevity fruit, the age is acceptable.”

Alchemist Le examined the materials and was quite surprised that Lan Changʼan had managed to gather the complete set of materials for the fourth-rank Life Extension Pill.

The most precious among them was the fourth-rank longevity fruit, which alone could extend life by decades and was more valuable than the Infant Transformation Pill.

”Once I adjust the caveʼs ground fire and formations, I will start refining the Life Extension Pill.”

Alchemist Le did not ask for payment and directly accepted the commission.

Lan Changʼan felt a sense of anticipation. For him, the Life Extension Pillʼs effect was twice as good as for ordinary cultivators, and his tolerance for the pill would only gradually decrease.

In the past, his first third-rank Life Extension Pill had extended his life by sixty years.

Taking the fourth-rank Life Extension Pill could extend his life by at least a hundred years.

Increasing his lifespan could enhance the mana of the Evergreen Technique. If he took more than two fourth-rank Life Extension Pills, the significant extension of his life would likely result in a noticeable increase in Nascent Soul-level mana.

...

While Alchemist Le prepared to refine the pill, Lan Changʼan analyzed and calculated the potential risks brought by Netherwater True Monarch.

However, he had not yet reached the fourth rank as a divination master, and could only calculate up to the fourth rank, finding the heavenly secrets obstructive and shrouded in mist.

As a mid-Nascent Soul stage cultivator, Netherwater True Monarch was difficult to deduce accurately.

Lan Changʼan repeatedly confirmed that there were no flaws left in the matter of the Tinghai Pavilion. Even if there were, they were isolated in the Great Qing and not brought to Great Yuan.

”The transaction of dragon blood with True Monarch Red Serpent back then did leave a flaw. However, now that both Lord Earthrock and I have reached the Nascent Soul stage, the hidden transactions of the past are no longer significant.”

Having advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, many of Lan Changʼanʼs previous secrets were no longer a concern if exposed.

Even if the Evergreen Technique was known, at the Nascent Soul stage, it was not considered a shocking secret.

In various regions of Heaven Honoured Continent, there were definitely more than just one or two cultivators practicing the Evergreen Technique.

Only the secrets related to the Tinghai Pavilion and the Xuanmu Vine Gourd must never be revealed.

After confirming that there were no major omissions, Lan Changʼan focused on the present.

True Monarch Iron Calculationʼs previous inquiry left a doubt.

Without evidence or clues, how did the imperial family and True Monarch Iron Calculation know he was from another region?

As a divination master, Lan Changʼan knew that calculating without clues was difficult, and the accuracy was greatly reduced without a medium.

Importantly, as a diviner with many rare divination-resisting treasures, Lan Changʼan had a strong resistance to heavenly fortune calculations, which was a secret unknown to outsiders.

True Monarch Iron Calculation only realized this after contacting him.

With this in mind, Lan Changʼan visited True Monarch Purple Mist to inquire about the matter.

Jiang Ziyan replied, ”Regarding Dalong coming from another province, I only mentioned it to Senior Brother Yunlan and no one else. And Senior Brother has long passed away...”

Upon hearing this, Lan Changʼan frowned slightly.

If it was merely private communication between Nascent Soul True Monarchs, the inherent interference to heavenly secrets would make it difficult to deduce.

Either Jiang Ziyan was lying, or the late True Monarch Yunlan had left a loophole.