I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Chapter 393: Fourth Rank

The White Bone Guild Master and his wife remained in place to heal their injuries. Madam Yuʼs wounds were severe—her body was nearly severed at the waist. Fortunately, this was not fatal for a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Ghost Dao.

Old Monster Golden Kun stood with his hands behind his back, inquiring about the details of the battle that had just taken place.

More precisely, he wanted to assess the combat capabilities of this new threat True Monarch Evergreen.

Before long, a second mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator arrived. True Monarch Netherwater was surrounded by dark, flowing water. Her figure was graceful yet indistinct, with long black hair cascading down her back and a pair of dark, luminous eyes that resembled an autumn pool’s chilling depths.

Less than half an hour later, three more early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators arrived together: True Monarch Dominating Martial, True Monarch Soaring Snow, and Demonic Blade Nangong Xiu.

True Monarch Dominating Martial was a towering figure with chiseled features, his pupils a deep shade of purple-black. His entire body was encased in heavy, ancient-looking demonic armor. Moving with the gait of a dragon and tiger, he radiated an overbearing presence, resembling a demonic sovereign.

True Monarch Soaring Snow was a fairy-like beauty dressed in a flowing white palace robe. Silken sashes danced around her as snowflakes swirled in the air, exuding an ethereal elegance. She was indeed stunning, but her gaze was as sharp as a blade, sending chills down one’s spine.

The last to arrive was a white-haired youth dressed in plain clothes, with an ancient blade strapped to his waist. Of average stature, his black eyes were as calm and deep as a still well, his hand resting constantly on the hilt of his sword. This was Demonic Blade Nangong Xiu. His aura was unassuming yet restrained, revealing a formidable presence beneath the surface.

“All have arrived.”

Old Monster Golden Kun nodded slightly at the ‘Heavenly Blade Successor’, Nangong Xiu.

Although Nangong Xiu was known as the Demonic Blade, his lineage originated from the ruling power of the Southern Domain in the previous generation before they were betrayed and overthrown by Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

“Based on the details of the previous battle, True Monarch Evergreen’s capabilities align with the intelligence reports. His strength far surpasses that of an ordinary early-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. His advantage lies in his numbers and defensive capabilities—enough to contend with a mid-stage Nascent Soul.”

“However, his weakness is that his offensive capabilities do not match that of a mid-stage Nascent Soul.”

Golden Kun’s analysis was generally accepted by the others.

If True Monarch Evergreen’s offensive power had been on par with a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, then Madam Yu wouldn’t have merely been severely injured.

True Monarch Soaring Snow furrowed her delicate brows and said in a deep voice, “That scoundrel Jing Wufeng has incredibly elusive movement techniques, and his attacks are unpredictable and difficult to guard against. Now that he has gained the assistance of Xiang Dalong, whose defense is formidable, dealing with them will be even more troublesome.”

“Fairy Soaring Snow, thereʼs no need to bolster the enemy’s morale. This time, we have Fellow Daoist Nangong on our side. Last time, he arrived too late and didn’t get the chance to make a move.”

True Monarch Netherwater’s raspy yet magnetic voice echoed.

Nangong Xiu was the opposite of Xiang Dalong, his offensive power was fully on par with a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator. He had a proven record of battling mid-stage Nascent Soul expert without suffering defeat.

Several decades ago, Nangong Xiu had been hired by Great Snake Mountain for a hefty reward. In the Ancient Nether Hall, he assisted True Monarch Red Serpent and Pagoda Wanderer, leading to the downfall of True Monarch Yunlan whose Nascent Soul failed to escape in time.

True Monarch Netherwater continued, “I originally intended to have Nangong face Xiang Dalong head-on. But upon reconsideration, sending two powerful early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators should be enough to keep Xiang Dalong occupied. After all, his offensive power isn’t that threatening.”

During the Nascent Soul Grand Ceremony of Yunxia Sect, True Monarch Netherwater had tested Lan Changʼan’s magical power and found it to be far less threatening than Jing Wufeng. His strength relied heavily on the support of his fourth-rank spirit pet and puppets.

Jing Wufeng was her primary target.

It would be more effective to concentrate their firepower, having Nangong Xiu join in dealing with True Monarch Jing Tian instead.

“Fellow Daoist Netherwater’s strategy is indeed sound. But there’s another approach. My cultivation technique and divine abilities are a direct counter to True Monarch Evergreen. If the timing is right, we can execute a swift decapitating strike, killing him in an instant. Once he is dead, his spirit pets and puppets will collapse on their own.”

Golden Kun being seasoned and experienced, added his own insight.

The latter decapitation strategy was more situational, it required Golden Kun himself to take action, supported by either Netherwater or Nangong, while the others distracted Jing Wufeng momentarily.

“Hahaha! If the main plan requires a Nascent Soul cultivator to keep Xiang Dalong occupied, count me in!”

True Monarch Dominating Martial laughed heartily, clearly interested in True Monarch Evergreen.

Back at the Cloudsky Auction, before he had advanced to Nascent Soul, Xiang Dalong had competed against him for one of the main ingredients for the Infant Transformation Pill, the Miluo Grass. That incident had left a minor grudge between them.

Who would have thought that the once Core Formation junior had now become a major figure in the Central Region’s cultivation world, so much so that even mid-stage Nascent Soul experts took him seriously?

“True Monarch Dominating Martial has dual cultivation in body refinement and spiritual arts, making him a fierce combatant, indeed a fitting choice to stall Xiang Dalong.”

Seeing Dominating Martial volunteer, Golden Kun nodded with a faint smile.

Dominating Martial’s body refinement had reached the quasi-fourth rank, cultivated through the consumption of vast amounts of rare and precious elixirs after his Nascent Soul breakthrough.

His magical treasure was of quite high quality, his combat style brutal, and his survivability was exceptional—making him an early-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse with no apparent weaknesses.

“Fellow Daoists, Jing Wufeng possesses not only rare treasures but also personal grudges with several among us. He has repeatedly ventured into the Central Region Forbidden Zone, refusing to retreat despite our encirclements. Now, he has even brought in reinforcements.”

“I am certain, Jing Wufeng must have discovered an extraordinary opportunity in the Central Region’s Ancient Battlefield. It may even surpass the Ancient Nether Hall itself!”

True Monarch Netherwater’s raspy voice carried a tone of encouragement as she revealed her conjecture.

Simply relying on the benefits of the Ancient Nether Hall and personal grudges was not enough to unite this group. They needed a greater incentive, a bigger prize to make everyone willing to fight together.

Jing Wufeng’s repeated, reckless incursions into the Central Region’s Forbidden Zone were already suspicious. Coupled with his remarkable fortune, many among the Nascent Soul cultivators couldnʼt help but feel envious, making them more receptive to Netherwater’s theory.

…

One year later.

The Seven True Monarchs launched their siege on their targets. Though the two sides occasionally clashed and engaged in skirmishes, no full-scale battle had broken out.

The Seven True Monarchs coordinated their tracking and encirclement efforts. Other than the mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouses, the early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators always moved in groups of two or three, never acting alone.

The few direct confrontations that did occur were brief and inconclusive.

Before the encirclement could fully take shape, Lan Changʼan and Jing Wufeng decisively withdrew from the battlefield.

Both sides were wary of each other.

Lan Changʼan and Jing Wufeng feared being completely surrounded and falling into a deadly trap.

The Seven True Monarchs, on the other hand, wanted to avoid being picked off one by one and further reducing their numbers. As a result, they maintained a tight formation.

Unknowingly, both sides ventured deeper into the Ancient Battlefield, reaching the Ten Thousand Demons Valley.

The environment here was harsh, spiritual energy was sparse, and the air was filled with demonic qi, baleful energy, and other corrupting miasma.

For high-level cultivators, restoring their magical power became a slow process, forcing them to rely on spirit stones and elixirs.

Aside from powerful demonic creatures, there were also some dangerous forbidden places that even Nascent Soul True Monarchs risked death if they ventured into.

Thus, both factions moved with even greater caution, keeping their presence as concealed as possible.

...

Beside an underground river in the Ten Thousand Demons Valley.

The river was hidden away, exuding a filthy and baleful aura.

A white-robed man sat at the riverbank, completely ignoring the foul stench of decay in the air. His appearance was refined and elegant, yet there was a sense of deathly weariness about him.

Floating around him were various divination artifacts, ancient bronze coins, divination sticks, tortoise shells, and jade talismans.

At some point, his once-pristine white robes had turned yellowed, and his thick black hair had begun to show streaks of gray.

From behind, he looked as though he had aged twenty years.

In the cultivation world, such an occurrence was usually aftereffects of losing too much longevity in a short period of time.

Strangely, however, his face had not aged—his skin remained smooth and youthful, indicating that his foundations remained intact.

“Three hundred and ninety-nine years old… I’ve finally taken this step!”

Lan Changʼanʼs eyes suddenly opened, his gaze was deep and unfathomable, as if containing the vast stars of the heavens and the ever-changing mysteries of fate.

Whoosh!

He slowly stood up, shaking off the dust and grime from his body. His loose black hair, now streaked with traces of white, fluttered gently.

His youthful face no longer held the same fresh vigor, but in its place was an aura of profound wisdom and time-worn mystery, a majestic and transcendent presence.

“Perhaps… this is the price of becoming a fourth-rank Divination Grandmaster.”

Lan Changʼan’s expression was complex as he sighed, gazing at the new strands of gray mixed within his black hair.

Over the past year, he had pushed his divination arts to the absolute limit, constantly engaging in intensive divination calculations and deductions against the Seven True Monarchs to seek the most optimal path to victory.

The interference from the Seven True Monarchs’ fate was immense, causing Lan Changʼan to burn through his lifespan at an alarming rate. Yet, through relentless refinement, his divination skills had gradually broken through their bottleneck.

From the moment he had stepped into the Nascent Soul realm, eighteen years had passed, and in that time, he had sacrificed nearly seventy years of lifespan.

He had burned both his energy and lifespan.

But in the end, he had forced his divination abilities to surpass their limits, ascending to an entirely new level.

”True Monarch Xiang has delayed for over half a year, has the most opportune moment for action finally arrived?”

A gentle breeze swept by. Jing Wufeng appeared beside Lan Changʼan, spreading his hands in exasperation.

Lan Changʼan had previously confirmed that the plan had a seventy percent success rate.

After all, they didn’t need to completely wipe out the Seven True Monarchs—they only needed to kill one or two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and seriously wound a mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse.

Over the past year, they had actually encountered several good opportunities to strike.

Back then, Madam Yu of the White Bone Merchant Association had still been gravely wounded—not as recovered as she was now.

To Jing Wufeng, a seventy percent chance of victory was already more than enough.

But Lan Changʼan, as a divination master, kept postponing the plan, forcing Jing Wufeng to endure the wait.

For instance, during one particular opportunity, Lan Changʼan foresaw a small possibility of an enemy counter-ambush and immediately called off the attack.

“The time is ripe!”

Lan Changʼan smiled, forming a hand seal as he began another calculation.

His mysterious, boundless gaze peered into the great web of fate, where countless interwoven threads connected various causes and effects. Among them were his own fate, Jing Wufeng’s fate, and the fate of the Seven True Monarchs.

A mystical river of destiny unfolded before him—waves rising and falling—revealing the flow of time and the branching paths of the future.

Within this river of fate, he could glimpse the Seven True Monarchs’ karmic threads—their lifelines tangled and chaotic, woven with the unpredictable currents of destiny.

As Lan Changʼan’s calculations deepened, vague scenes of the future flickered at the far end of the mystic river, revealing countless possibilities.

With his new grandmaster-level divination arts, Lan Changʼan methodically eliminated paths that harbored fatal risks, shifting their fate toward a more favorable outcome.

...

”Congratulations, True Monarch Xiang!”

Jing Wufeng spoke in congratulations, his tone carrying a mix of genuine happiness and an undeniable trace of envy.

”A fourth-rank Divination Grandmaster is an extreme rarity anywhere in the Heaven Honoured Continent, far more uncommon than other paths of the hundred immortal arts of the same level.”

Achieving fourth-rank Divination was far more difficult than reaching fourth-rank Formation Mastery, not to mention, the art of divination was already a niche field in the cultivation world, making experts in this domain even scarcer.

But such things could not be envied.

The Path of Divination was not only highly dependent on innate talent, but it also came with the price of sacrificing oneʼs lifespan and the risk of heavenly destiny backlash.

”Dare I ask, True Monarch Xiang, how much has our planʼs success rate improved?”

Jing Wufeng asked expectantly.

Lan Changʼan pondered for a moment before replying:

”The Seven Nascent Soul True Monarchsʼ interference with fate is strong, especially the two mid-stage powerhouses. I can only make a minor increase in our chances of success and reduce the risk of unexpected variables.”

”That’s good enough.”

Jing Wufeng thought to himself. At least the wait wasn’t for nothing.

Meanwhile, Lan Changʼan remained silent, internally reflecting:

I can only ensure that I have eliminated any fatal risks for myself.

As for Jing Wufeng, his fate was shrouded in obscurity, tangled with a higher-level force of destiny. Even Lan Changʼan dared not recklessly divine matters beyond his own comprehension.

Due to the significant lifespan depletion, Lan Changʼan’s magical power had actually weakened slightly compared to a year ago.

However, with the fourth-rank Divination Grandmasterʼs enhancements, their overall success rate had still slightly improved.

...

A few days later.

At a carefully chosen time, Lan Changʼan and Jing Wufeng departed from their hidden underground river hideout.

By coincidence, just as they left, two groups from the Seven True Monarchsʼ faction passed through this very area one after another.

First came True Monarch Golden Kun, who moved alone.

Then, not long after, a trio of Nascent Soul cultivators—Nangong Xiu, True Monarch Dominating Martial, and True Monarch Soaring Snow—passed through.

After the trio had left, Lan Changʼan and Jing Wufeng discreetly followed from the flank, maintaining a careful distance.

Now that Lan Changʼan’s divination had advanced to the fourth rank, his abilities in tracking and sensing had greatly improved, reaching a level that bordered on mystical intuition.

Over the past year, through their continuous struggles against the Seven True Monarchs, Lan Changʼan had gathered countless mediums of information. Both parties were now tightly interwoven through cause and effect.

”These two groups are about to cross paths in the same region but will soon separate again.”

Lan Changʼan closed his eyes and divined the situation for a brief moment.

His plan was to avoid Golden Kun, instead targeting one of the early-stage Nascent Soul groups.

At present, the trio of Nangong Xiu, True Monarch Dominating Martial, and True Monarch Soaring Snow were the stronger of the two early-stage groups.

”Golden Kun is heading far away to check on the White Bone Guild Master and Madam Yu. Meanwhile, True Monarch Netherwater is starting to move closer toward Nangong Xiu’s group.”

Half a day later, Lan Changʼan suddenly opened his eyes, his hand clenching into a fist, grasping a point of opportunity.

“Is today the day we strike?”

Jing Wufeng asked.

”Although itʼs not the perfect moment, the longer we wait, the greater the uncertainty of fate.”

Lan Changʼan’s voice was calm and steady.

At the very least, he was certain that this opportunity had eliminated all fatal risks, even if they failed, they could still retreat safely.

”When do we move?”

”In one more quarter of an hour. If the mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators cannot provide immediate backup, the three early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators on patrol will likely adopt a more defensive strategy, avoiding prolonged confrontation. This will also make it easier to deal with True Monarch Netherwater later.”

Lan Changʼan and Jing Wufeng maintained their distance, silently trailing their targets while carefully avoiding demonic beasts and hidden detection formations in the area.

...

”Soon, we’ll be crossing paths with True Monarch Netherwaterʼs area.”

Near a fractured canyon, Nangong Xiu, True Monarch Dominating Martial, and True Monarch Soaring Snow swept their spiritual senses across the surroundings, operating their tracking techniques as they searched.

”Ever since Xiang Dalong arrived, Jing Wufengʼs style has changed drastically.

”He used to be unpredictable, striking suddenly out of nowhere, creating immense pressure on us. But now, heʼs become so cautious that it’s even harder to pin him down.”

True Monarch Soaring Snow’s brows furrowed slightly as she waited, growing restless.

She ached for vengeance against Jing Wufeng, but the opportunity to avenge her husband felt like it was slipping further and further away.

Buzz!

At that moment, the divination compass in her hand hummed and trembled, its needle erratically oscillating in the southeastern direction.

”Detected spatial fluctuations. Abnormal magical power is approaching.”

The three Nascent Soul True Monarchs immediately tensed, their spiritual senses sharpening.

In the depths of the Ancient Battlefield, the harsh environment weakened spiritual perception, making it harder to detect threats in advance.

Two Nascent Soul auras were closing in.

”Fairy Soaring Snow, I know youʼre eager for revenge... but one must eat their meal slowly, bite by bite.”

From within a pale green streak of light, a white-robed man emerged, it was True Monarch Evergreen.

His presence carried a profound and ancient aura.

To the side, Jing Wufeng flickered into view, moving fluidly through space, his green robes swaying like a breeze, his figure flickering in and out of existence.

The Three True Monarchs exchanged glances, their hearts flooded with joy.

”True Monarch Netherwater should arrive soon. If we hold out, the three of us working together will be enough to last until then.”

True Monarch Dominating Martial transmitted his thoughts, his booming laughter full of confidence.

True Monarch Soaring Snow bit her lip, then suggested:

”True Monarch Dominating Martial, can you hold off Xiang Dalong for a while?

”Jing Wufeng’s spatial techniques are elusive, but my profound ice techniques can assist Nangong in containing him first.”

”Fine. I’ll do my best.”

Dominating Martial understood Soaring Snowʼs desperate thirst for vengeance, so he reluctantly agreed.

Besides, his defensive abilities were top-tier, and True Monarch Evergreen’s offense was weaker than a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator’s, his main advantage lay in numbers.

As long as he could hold his ground, the situation wouldn’t become too dangerous before True Monarch Netherwater arrived.

The three True Monarchs finished communicating in an instant.

Clang!

Nangong Xiu moved first.

His grip slowly tightened on the hilt of his ancient, unadorned blade—and then, in an instant, he unsheathed it.

A single slash tore through the demonic mist, unleashing a blazing red-blue blade light.

Like a heavenly thunderbolt, the blade arc cut across the void, severing space itself as it struck directly where Jing Wufeng had been flickering in and out.

Boom!

The blade seemed to extend into eternity, its sheer force shattering the surrounding space.

Jing Wufeng had nowhere to escape.

He was forced to retreat, summoning a silver-blue energy barrier shaped like an umbrella, layering it over himself as he absorbed the blade’s impact while retreating rapidly.

However, once Nangong Xiu gained momentum, his Heavenly Blade’s power was like a relentless river of destruction, continuously building upon itself with every strike.

”Worthy of the ʼHeavenly Blade Successorʼ! Offense is the strongest defense.”

Watching Jing Wufeng get forced onto the defensive, Lan Changʼan couldnʼt help but admire Nangong Xiu’s strength.

It was no wonder he could cross ranks to battle mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouses without losing.

”Jing Wufeng!”

True Monarch Soaring Snow’s cold gaze sharpened, her slender fingers rapidly forming seals.

Her snow-white palace robes fluttered, and around her, a storm of ice and snow began to swirl, brewing a terrifying wave of frost energy.

Ice Soul True Light!

A pillar of crystalline light surged forward like the auroras of the north, freezing mountains and forests in its wake, sealing Jing Wufeng’s escape routes.

In an instant, the space where he had been standing was entirely frozen, his body seemingly impaled by the frigid force, shattering into pieces.

”This damn woman! She just won’t let me be!”

Jing Wufeng cursed as his real body appeared a hundred zhang away, his green robes now rimmed with layers of frost, the chilling energy slowing his blood flow, stiffening his movements.

Seeing Jing Wufeng struggling, Lan Changʼan prepared to intervene.

”True Monarch Evergreen! It’s been a long time since the auction… what a shame I never got the chance to ‘spar’ with you!”

A booming voice, like a lion’s roar, rang out.

From the front, True Monarch Dominating Martial approached, clad in black-gold demonic armor, stepping through the air.

In his hands, he wielded a three-pronged, double-edged halberd, and unlike the spell-based duels of cultivators, his battle stance resembled that of an ancient war god.

As he charged, his body and heavy demonic armor expanded, transforming into a five-zhang-tall demonic warlord.

The halberd in his hands ignited with a three-colored flame, radiating immense destructive force.

”Close-combat method?”

Without a second thought, Lan Changʼan executed the Wood Escape Technique, a flash of green light streaking through the air as he reappeared amidst distant weeds In an instant.

At the same time, he deployed his puppet army formation.

Lan Changʼan summoned the Dragonwood Staff, transforming it into a scarlet dragon-shaped pillar, stretching seventy to eighty zhang in length, swinging it down toward True Monarch Dominating Martial.

”Hah!”

Dominating Martial scoffed, eyes filled with disdain.

With a shake of his armored arms, his quasi-fourth-rank body refinement strength erupted as he lifted his massive halberd.

Despite his smaller size compared to the massive Dragonwood Staff, he effortlessly parried the attack, sending the staff flying away.

The three-colored flames surged along the weapon’s surface, attempting to consume the staff and counterattack its master.

”You think you alone can stop me? How delusional.”

Lan Changʼan opened his mouth, spitting forth the evergreen true flame.

The Dragonwood Staff, bathed in this flame, flared with radiant green light, immediately dispersing the three-colored flames before swinging back toward Dominating Martial even fiercer than before.

At the same time, the puppet army formation unleashed a massive energy beam, streaking with arcs of lightning, directly striking True Monarch Dominating Martial.

”Impudent junior! Don’t get cocky!”

Dominating Martial roared in fury as his demonic armor surged with a flow of black and golden light. Gripping the three-pronged, double-edged halberd with both hands, he braced himself as though facing a formidable foe, enduring the combined onslaught of the Dragonwood Staff and the puppet formation.

Boom!

His towering, nearly five-zhang-tall armored frame trembled violently. Letting out a muffled grunt, he leveraged the impact to somersault mid-air, hurtling backward for a hundred zhang, barely managing to withstand the ferocious assault.