I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 469: Fame Across Great Yuan, the Call of the Horn

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After advancing to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm, Lan Changʼan focused on consolidating his cultivation, not rushing to emerge from seclusion.

But as he reviewed the finer details of his breakthrough, his expression turned grave.

It turned out the process hadn’t been as effortless as the outside world assumed.

Even with his profound foundation of magical power and the boost from the Thousand Machines Divine Transformation Art, Lan Changʼan still found the bottleneck difficult to overcome.

His first few attempts to breach it actually failed.

In the end, it was only when the memories and will of his fourth life descended and fully merged, allowing his spiritual sense to reach the threshold of a late Nascent Soul cultivator, that he was able to succeed.

“No wonder True Monarch Cyanwood lingered at early Nascent Soul for so long without advancing…”

Lan Changʼan fell into deep thought, analyzing the possible causes.

First, it was the very nature of the cultivation method itself, it required a long period of accumulation and tempering during the Nascent Soul stage.
After all, the Evergreen Technique was a life-nourishing, longevity-extending technique, designed to cultivate gradually with patience and inner stillness.

If he had spent another hundred or two hundred years polishing his early-stage cultivation, breaking through might have been far easier.

Second, it was possible that Yan Donglai, the one who passed down the Evergreen Technique, had deliberately held something back or even tampered with it.

Lan Changʼan leaned toward the former.

It was likely Yan Donglai had deliberately omitted key secrets, just as a master might reserve a trump card from a disciple.

As for outright altering the method to plant hidden dangers and sabotage fellow cultivators… that was improbable.

The Evergreen Technique clearly wasn’t Yan Donglai’s own creation. Even in its current form, it was capable of guiding cultivators to the extremely high Void Refinement Stage.

It would be like asking a Foundation Establishment cultivator to alter a sect-defining technique meant for the Nascent Soul stage.

A slight deviation can lead to a thousand-mile ruin!

Especially with a technique like Evergreen, which pointed directly toward the Dao Fruit of Immortality.

Thus, Lan Changʼan concluded that the version he had received was fundamentally sound.

He, along with cultivators like True Monarch Cyanwood, were likely cultivating an “abridged version.”

This conclusion gave Lan Changʼan peace of mind to continue cultivating the subsequent stages of the technique.

But then Lan Changʼan’s pupils narrowed. A chill crept into his heart.

Was this deliberate on Yan Donglai’s part?

The cultivation ceiling of the human realm was the Deity Transformation Stage. Yan Donglai could have chosen to preserve only the Evergreen Technique up to that level.

But instead, he left behind something far more complete:

On one hand, this reduced the vigilance of those who obtained the method.

On the other, the greater the inheritance, the more alluring it became.

Otherwise, cultivators with great talent and affinity might not be tempted to take an interest, even if they happened to “coincidentally” acquire the technique.

…

“Strange. If Yan Donglai wanted to cast a wide net, why would he deliberately increase the difficulty of advancement?”

Lan Changʼan withdrew the ancient scroll of the Evergreen Technique and began examining it from beginning to end.

The earlier stages still had annotations and guidance, making cultivation manageable.

But once it reached the Nascent Soul stage, the annotations became increasingly sparse. By the time it touched upon the Deity Transformation realm, there were almost none.

On the surface, this seemed reasonable.

After all, the human realm only permitted cultivation up to the Deity Transformation Stage. Earlier realms had more cultivators, and naturally more notes and insights accumulated.

But fewer annotations didn’t mean the method couldn’t be cultivated.

Those with astonishing talent and comprehension could still cultivate a method to great heights, even without guidance from predecessors.

“Screening.”

Lan Changʼan had a moment of clarity.

If this was all part of a screening process. Then why, once every thousand years or so, did the Evergreen Tribulation descend, wiping out swathes of fellow cultivators?

“Life Extension.”

Lan Changʼan understood.

No matter how powerful the longevity effects of the Evergreen Technique, it was impossible for a Nascent Soul cultivator to live over ten thousand years.

That would be several times the lifespan of a Deity Transformation cultivator.

“So the rumors were true, the Evergreen Technique can indeed dramatically extend life by devouring fellow cultivators.”

Lan Changʼan’s throat moved slightly. A dangerous temptation flickered within him.

The Master of Seven Stars Temple from the Great Qing Ten Xuan Sects had once hinted: devouring an Evergreen Dao Fruit might carry hidden consequences.

But compared to standing at the peak of the human realm, living for over ten thousand years, what did a few drawbacks matter?

And yet, just as the thought arose, Lan Changʼan shook his head.

As a rare beacon of integrity in this dark cultivation era, he saw no need to tread the cannibalistic path of those depraved cultivators.

He possessed the Nine Seal Stele, allowing him to reincarnate and restart freely, his margin for error was already extremely high.

Moreover, in the entire Heaven Honoured Continent, only Yan Donglai had reached the peak point of the Evergreen Technique, granting him the power to harvest others.

Everyone else, Lan Changʼan included were simply waves of chaff, waiting to be cut down.

“Still… if those corrupted cultivators who have taken the evil path of the Evergreen Technique possess such vast lifespans, then offering their lives to the Xuanmu Vine Gourd as a sacrificial catalyst might actually be the best use for them.”

At that thought, Lan Changʼan felt himself rise to a higher sense of purpose and mission.

It was his duty to bring those heretical cultivators of the Evergreen Technique to justice!

His gaze turned toward the far-flung seas beyond the horizon.

During this most recent breakthrough, the resonance from his Evergreen Dao Fruit had reached a new peak.

Through it, he sensed once again the presence of other Evergreen Technique cultivators across the ocean.

According to the intelligence he’d gathered, there was a legendary Evergreen Medical Sage dwelling overseas, rumored to have lived for countless years.

Even the most conservative estimates put that figure at over two thousand years.

At the very least, he had survived one Thousand-Year Tribulation.

The resonance had never been this strong before, meaning their cultivation levels were now more closely matched.

That Evergreen Medical Sage was at least mid-stage Nascent Soul.

After Lan Changʼan’s breakthrough, the resonance disappeared. Even when he deliberately activated his magical power, he couldn’t sense anything.

Which proved just how unimaginably far apart they still were. Under normal circumstances, there was no way to maintain a connection.

“To have lived that long… that Medical Sage must possess deeper foundations than I do.”

Lan Changʼan would not be so arrogant as to assume victory against such a peer.

The overseas cultivation world was far more perilous than the mainland.

That Medical Sage had not only survived in such treacherous territory for so many years but also dodged at least one Evergreen Tribulation. Who could say what extraordinary powers he wielded?

…

A month later.

Lan Changʼan had completely stabilized his cultivation.

After advancing to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul, his destiny as a diviner grew significantly stronger.

He attempted to divine whether his journey to Kun Province had been noticed by Yan Donglai.

However, any divination involving Yan Donglai returned nothing but a muddled haze, heavenly secrets shrouded in obscurity.

Lan Changʼan dared not force the reading, lest it alert Yan Donglai or provoke a backlash from the Dao of Heaven.

“Let’s assume he already knows.”

He wasn’t afraid to plan for the worst.

If Yan Donglai had indeed been alerted, staying in Great Yuan and within the Yunxia Sect would be far safer than roaming the land aimlessly.

With two Nascent Soul giants overseeing it, Yunxia Sect had already established a complete mid-grade fourth-rank formation, capable of withstanding direct threats from Great Cultivators.

More importantly, Lan Changʼan now required a mid-grade fourth-rank spiritual vein to continue cultivating.

Had he remained in a sect like Jin Yun Valley, which only possessed a low-grade fourth rank vein, his cultivation efficiency would be severely hindered.

Thus, staying in the Yunxia Sect to further his strength and divine arts was the more prudent path.

For instance, the Thousand Machines Divine Transformation Art had yet to be cultivated to the eighth layer, the level corresponding to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul.

However, Great Yuan was far from peaceful.

Lan Changʼan had not forgotten the looming threat of True Monarch Netherwater.

That woman was like a ghost that refused to rest, relentlessly pursuing him, not merely out of revenge for her near-death encounter years ago, but more so out of greed for the unknown opportunity tied to the Tinghai Pavilion.

Before his breakthrough, Lan Changʼan had already divined that her obsession ran deep, and that she would continue seeking the source of that fated chance.

If left unchecked, the hidden danger would only grow.

Once the secret of the Xuanmu Vine Gourd was exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable, far more terrifying than even Yan Donglai.

“Now that I’ve advanced to mid Nascent Soul, I hope this woman knows when to retreat and gives up her foolish obsession…”

Lan Changʼan closed his eyes again, focusing on calculating this hidden karmic thread.

This time, he encountered little resistance and obtained a clear divination.

Unfortunately, it was bad news.

His advancement would not dissuade True Monarch Netherwater; in fact, the divination suggested the danger was intensifying.

“Courting death-”

Lan Changʼan’s expression turned cold, and a sharp killing intent surged in his eyes.

This woman had repeatedly sought trouble and refused to let go, she was an ever-growing threat.

When he was at the early Nascent Soul stage, he could defeat her but not easily kill her.

So, he had chosen to endure.

Now that he had advanced, how could he allow this menace to fester further?

She must die!

...

Half a day later, Lan Changʼan officially exited seclusion.

At the main hall atop Yunlan Peak, he received the first group to visit, True Monarch Purple Mist, Sect Master Xuefeng, Xiao Qingshan, and other senior Core Formation leaders of the sect.

“With Dalong’s breakthrough to mid Nascent Soul, our Yunxia Sect now truly boasts a duo giant foundation. A cause for celebration indeed.”

Jiang Ziyan smiled gracefully, serene and elegant, as if their relationship had returned to a time of utmost trust and closeness.

Lan Changʼan did not mind softening ties with her.

During the exchange of pleasantries, he calmly accepted the subtle flirtation in Purple Mist’s eyes.

After Jiang Haoyuan’s second failed attempt at forming a Nascent Soul, Purple Mist’s ambitions had significantly diminished and her reliance on Lan Changʼan had grown stronger.

“Congratulations, True Monarch Xiang, on reaching new heights.”

Everyone present was a late Core Formation cultivator, offering their congratulations.

Lan Changʼan’s gaze swept past Xiao Qingshan with a hint of surprise.

In the eight years since his trip to Kun Province, the young man had actually advanced to late Core Formation.

“Where is Haoyuan?”

Lan Changʼan asked casually.

Of all the sect’s late-stage Core Formation cultivators, only Jiang Haoyuan had not shown up.

At his words, the mood grew slightly awkward.

The dimples in Purple Mist’s polite smile stiffened.

She offered a soft apology: “Haoyuan suffered severe internal damage after his second failed Nascent Soul attempt. He’s still recuperating in his abode and couldn’t come to pay respects…”

“No matter. Let him rest and recover properly.”

Lan Changʼan responded generously.

In truth, it had been three months since Jiang Haoyuan’s failure. Though his injuries hadn’t fully healed, they were no longer serious enough to prevent him from showing up.

The real issue lay in his psyche.

Twice failing to form a Nascent Soul had left him utterly dejected.

After hearing of Lan Changʼan’s successful advancement, he reportedly sat in silence for three days, expression blank.

Eventually, traces of regret flickered across his face.

Purple Mist, understanding his mental state best, also felt a pang of remorse.

Before Lan Changʼan first left Great Yuan, he had subtly warned that Jiang Haoyuan would face a calamity before attempting Nascent Soul formation.

Had they heeded the warning and exercised more patience, the damage to his foundation might have been avoided.

Now, with Lan Changʼan effortlessly breaking through to mid Nascent Soul, those old words shone with renewed credibility.

Jiang Ziyan became increasingly convinced, Lan Changʼan must have an extraordinary background.

Even with her heavenly spiritual roots and lineage from a major Nascent Soul sect, it had taken her two centuries of careful planning and wartime tempering, along with help from Lord Earthrock, to reach mid Nascent Soul.

Meanwhile, Lan Changʼan had cultivated to the peak early Nascent Soul for roughly a decade, and advanced further with ease.

Comparison is the thief of joy.

Each time she thought of this, Jiang Ziyan couldn’t help but feel a sense of imbalance.

Her one remaining edge over Lan Changʼan, her higher cultivation, had now vanished completely.

...

After sunset, the visiting Core Formation elders gradually took their leave.

Only Lan Changʼan and Jiang Ziyan remained within the Yunlan Cave Residence.

“Dalong has advanced to the mid-stage of Nascent Soul. Will you be holding a celebration?”

Purple Mist Fairy spoke sweetly, her voice melodic as she leaned gently against Lan Changʼan’s chest.

“There’s no need,” Lan Changʼan replied without hesitation.

Jiang Ziyan looked a little surprised.

Back then, when Xiang Dalong and Lord Earthrock broke through to the Nascent Soul stage, they had been eager to host grand ceremonies and reap a wealth of gifts and resources.

But the present was no longer the past.

At Lan Changʼan’s current level, petty offerings and minor gains held little appeal.

The fourth-rank puppet formation had reached its current limit, and he had little use for ordinary fourth-rank materials.

Puppet Master Wei was the core of the formation, and he could no longer bear the burden of additional fourth-rank puppets.

The way forward lay in refinement.

To significantly elevate the quality of his constructs, he required not only rarer resources but also far superior puppet-refining skills.

To hold a high-profile celebration just to gather some mundane offerings and in doing so possibly expose himself to hidden dangers was utterly unnecessary.

“Dalong’s divine abilities now surely surpass those of the average central-region giant. Even the imperial family would be wise enough to show deference,”

Jiang Ziyan smiled faintly, her amethyst eyes glimmering with subtle admiration.

Lan Changʼan made no comment, though inwardly, he found it rather satisfying.

Holding the noble beauty in his arms, her slender waist nestled against him, her delicate fragrance lingered around his nose.

He thought silently: even before this breakthrough, the imperial clan would have had to show me some measure of respect.

He cast a sidelong glance at the woman in his arms and asked indifferently:

“Ziyan, do you have something in mind?”

“Great Snake Mountain is at a low ebb, with only one aged Nascent Soul cultivator left. The imperial family is still recovering and focused on consolidating their hold over the northern territories. If Dalong is willing to make a move, now is the perfect time to eradicate Great Snake Mountain,”

Purple Mist Fairy said with confidence and a brilliant smile.

Before Lan Changʼan came to the Great Yu Kingdom, Great Snake Mountain had been a long-standing rival of the Yunxia Sect.

Now was a rare opportunity, Jiang Ziyan was reluctant to let it slip away.

“Great Snake Mountain poses little threat. True Monarch Red Serpent’s lifespan is nearly spent. Better to maintain the current pressure and continue suppressing their development,” Lan Changʼan replied calmly.

“If we destroy Great Snake Mountain now, Yunxia Sect would then have to face the imperial clan and noble families head-on with no buffer.”

As long as Great Snake Mountain remained, the imperial clan would continue to split its attention in support of that faction, avoiding direct confrontation with the Yunxia Sect.

Moreover, Great Snake Mountain might even turn to the Black Sea Sect for help, drawing out hidden threats.

In Lan Changʼan’s eyes, Great Snake Mountain was no longer a true enemy, it had become a pawn, useful in maintaining the balance between greater powers.

…

Purple Mist Fairy sighed quietly. Without Xiang Dalong’s support, she had to abandon her ambition of swallowing Great Snake Mountain.

Even if they succeeded in its destruction, once Xiang Dalong left the Yunxia Sect, she would be the only Nascent Soul cultivator in the sect, unable to resist the might of the Great Yu imperial clan alone.

In the end, it all boiled down to the same truth: Xiang Dalong remained aloof and unpredictable, ultimately unreliable.

Even if she laid her heart bare, she could not tether him firmly to her side.

The promising disciples of the Yunxia Sect’s lineage had yet to prove themselves. A new generation of Nascent Soul cultivators had not emerged.

“Oh, by the way, what does Dalong think of Xiao Qingshan? Could he be cultivated as a seed for Nascent Soul?”

Purple Mist Fairy gently brushed a hand across his cheek, suggesting the idea proactively.

“Xiao Qingshan?”

Lan Changʼan paused in thought, sensing her deeper intent.

Xiao Qingshan’s innate aptitude wasn’t outstanding, but he had surprising potential and outshone many of his peers within the sect.

His accomplishments in the more unorthodox Yin-Yang path had exceeded Lan Changʼan’s expectations, he seemed like a younger version of Lord Longyang.

His background was rather delicate.

He was born of the Yunxia Sect’s orthodox lineage, unlike Lan Changʼan, who had joined midstream as a guest cultivator.

Yet he also hailed from the noble Xiao clan of the Great Yu imperial family and had once served as Xiang Dalong’s trusted steward, earning him certain privileges.

“Let things take their course,” Lan Changʼan replied noncommittally, showing no special interest.

Still, he had to admit Jiang Ziyan’s instincts were correct.

Xiao Qingshan was a key bridge.

Nurturing him could help mend the tenuous relationship between Xiang Dalong and the sect, and even smooth over tensions with the imperial family’s noble clans.

For now, Xiao Qingshan’s chances of reaching Nascent Soul weren’t high, certainly lower than the Immortal Golden Dan Jiang Haoyuan.

But if by chance he succeeded, he’d become a Nascent Soul cultivator of the Yunxia Sect’s own Dao lineage, undoubtedly a worthwhile investment for Jiang Ziyan.

“Alright, enough talk of business,”

Jiang Ziyan lifted her smooth, snow-white swan neck, her starry eyes shimmering with affection. Wrapping her arms around Lan Changʼan’s neck, she whispered:

“There are rumors that Dalong has now reached the fourth stage of body refinement. I find myself quite curious to test that firsthand…”

Faced with such a blatant tease, Lan Changʼan naturally wouldn’t hold back. He swept up the Purple Mist Fairy into his arms without hesitation.

At dawn the next day, Purple Mist Fairy stumbled through mist and clouds as she left the Yunlan Peak residence. Her face was pale, the scent of passion still clinging to her as pain and regret flickered in her brows.

…

Within a few short months, the news of Lan Changʼan’s ascension to the mid-stage Nascent Soul realm spread across the Central Region of Great Yuan.

Major forces in the other regions of Great Yuan quickly received urgent intelligence.

The name Xiang Dalong even entered the scope of the Three Great Cultivator Powers.

After all, Xiang Dalong was not only a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator but also a fourth-rank Puppet Master. Even at the early-stage, he could contend with mid-stage cultivators.

For the Yunxia Sect to possess two mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouses was a rarity in Great Yuan, this was seen only among top-tier hegemonies and regional overlords.

Most sects had no territorial conflict with Yunxia Sect, so the news was more startling than threatening, it did not cause widespread upheaval.

The greatest impact, however, was within the borders of the Great Yu Kingdom.

Apart from the neighboring Great Snake Mountain, which grew increasingly anxious...

…the one who found it most troublesome was the Great Yu Imperial Court.

Great Yu Imperial City.

Late at night, the light in the imperial study was dim and weary.

More than ten years had passed.

The Emperor of Great Yu once again received the recently recovered True Monarch Iron Calculation.

Once a refined man in plain robes, he now looked twenty years older. His hair grayed, his face was lined with deep wrinkles.

“Cough! Him again? Xiang Dalong? Your Majesty is merciful… I would still like to live a few more years…”

True Monarch Iron Calculation’s face was pale, and at the mere mention of that name, he shuddered as if hearing a tigerʼs roar.

No matter what, he would never again attempt to divine anything related to Xiang Dalong, not even a single strand of karmic cause.

A decade ago, he had forcibly divined Xiang Dalong’s secrets, sacrificing a vast amount of his lifespan, only to glimpse a fraction of the truth.

Among those secrets: a practitioner of the Evergreen Technique, a fourth-rank Body Refiner, a fourth-rank Divination Grandmaster, and a fourth-rank Puppet Master…

At the time, Iron Calculation was utterly stunned.

The imperial family had unknowingly provoked such a monster.

Fortunately, Xiang Dalong was profit-driven, lacked ambition, and had shown no overt hostility toward the imperial court.

Now that this Evergreen Technique monster had advanced to mid-stage Nascent Soul, there might be no one in the Central Region capable of restraining him.

“There’s no need to divine further. I would hate to lose our only fourth-rank Diviner.”

The Emperor gave a wry smile.

Back when he had investigated the traitor within the court, Xiang Dalong had toyed with him, leaving the palace in a state of unrest.

Even after gaining control of the Jade Dragon Seal and conquering the Great Luo Kingdom, establishing unmatched prestige, the emperor found himself utterly stymied by this hidden monster within his own borders.

The reason he summoned Iron Calculation this time was to discuss countermeasures.

“These years, I’ve searched all I could on practitioners of the Evergreen Technique. Most of them struggle to advance in the Nascent Soul stage, requiring decades of deep accumulation…”

“For Xiang Dalong to go from the peak early to mid-stage in about ten years… It’s almost unheard of across all of Great Yuan. He must have encountered some extraordinary opportunity, something beyond the norm for even Evergreen cultivators.”

Though he dared not divine again, True Monarch Iron Calculation could deduce much through logical inference.

A great opportunity?

The Emperor’s eyes flashed slightly, then he shook his head.

Every cultivator who ascended to mid or late-stage Nascent Soul had come upon such fortunes.

Were it not for the decline of spiritual energy in the current age, any one of today’s Nascent Soul Great Cultivators could’ve stepped into the Deity Transformation stage during ancient times.

“My humble suggestion is that Xiang Dalong cannot be confronted directly. We should instead focus on appeasement.”

“Support Great Snake Mountain as a buffer, and avoid direct confrontation with Yunxia Sect. Xiang Dalong places cultivation interests above all else. Judging from his past, he might not stay in the Great Yu Kingdom forever.”

Iron Calculation’s strategy leaned toward tolerance, buying time for the imperial court to recuperate and digest the spoils of past conflicts.

“Cannot be confronted?”

The Emperor’s brows arched sharply as he said grimly:

“Do you mean to tell me that with the height of my cultivation, and the Nine-Dragon Seal in hand, I still cannot contend with that man?”

Iron Calculation showed visible unease. He knew the lofty Emperor Yu, who once stood above all in the Central Region was still coming to terms with this new reality.

He bowed respectfully and said, “So long as Your Majesty remains in the capital and wields the ancestral dragon weapon, you stand unshaken, invincible within the Great Yu Kingdom.”

“However… Xiang Dalong has longevity on his side, and his power is not bound by the influence of national artifacts.”

The Yu Emperor frowned deeper, clearly displeased.

But in the end, he let out a long sigh.

With the Evergreen Technique, Xiang Dalong would outlive him. Even if their strength were equal, Xiang could simply wait him out.

In the cultivation world, the winner is the one who lived longer.

...

Eastern Great Yuan.

The meandering Blackriver of Nine Bends twisted like a savage serpent. The dark, icy waters carried a faint stench of rot, winding toward the coastal edge of Great Yuan.

The Black Sea Sect lay at the river’s middle stretch, perpetually shrouded in leaden mist. Swamps sprawled for thousands of li. Two rotting dragonbone pillars jutted from the black marshes beside its gates.

Deep within the marsh, in the Darkwater Grotto.

“Xiang Dalong… Mid-stage Nascent Soul…”

True Monarch Netherwater’s pale fingers clenched tightly. A high-grade message talisman crumbled into dust before her and scattered into the black river.

The news sent a tremor through her heart.

Xiang Dalong’s speed of advancement was simply beyond her expectations.

Back when he was only early-stage Nascent Soul, he could already contend with regional giants and had even made her suffer a loss.

Now at mid-stage… his strength likely ranked among the elite of this realm.

To Netherwater’s estimation, the pinnacle of mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were the ruling figures of the top sects among the Sixteen Sea-Suppressing Sects.

Even her own sect’s grand elders who were at the peak of mid stage could not compare.

“It must be the opportunity from Tinghai Pavilion!“

Her first reaction wasn’t fear but overwhelming jealousy and indignation.

She had hunted the remnants of Tinghai Pavilion for centuries, scouring ancient texts and chasing vague clues…

Through immense sacrifice, she had finally claimed a chance fortune, securing her current level of cultivation.

And now, Xiang Dalong had effortlessly surpassed her.

Each time he vanished, he returned vastly stronger. It was obvious, he had stumbled upon an extraordinary inheritance.

“The descendant of Tinghai Pavilion, True Monarch Shazhai, has never reappeared. Most likely, he was looted clean by Xiang Dalong and Jing Wufeng!”

Though lacking evidence, Netherwater was convinced. Xiang Dalong had likely discovered the pavilion’s teleportation network…

…and perhaps even unearthed their hidden vaults.

There was no other explanation. Profiting off trades alone couldn’t possibly account for such swift growth.

In recent years, she had sorted through ancient materials and concluded when Tinghai Pavilion fell, part of its strategic reserves were relocated and buried in a remote land as a contingency for its revival.

That secret vault had likely been found by Xiang Dalong.

After a long silence, True Monarch Netherwater took a deep breath. Her expression remained dark and cold.

That was the legacy of a former Deity Transformation Holy Land. Tinghai Pavilion’s grand fortune!

And yet she knew: with her damaged body and unstable foundation, she could no longer stand against Xiang Dalong.

He had already risen. Not just her, even the combined strength of the entire Black Sea Sect couldn’t stop him.

Fortunately, the Black Sea Sect belonged to the Sixteen Sea-Suppressing Sects alliance.

That alliance had withstood foreign threats for centuries thanks not only to their geography but to their unity.

“It seems... monopolizing the Tinghai Pavilion’s legacy is no longer realistic.”

Netherwater’s gaze flickered with cold calculation.

A few years ago, the Sea-Suppressing Sect’s supreme cultivator had returned from wandering the seas.

She had always hoped he could help her restore the flaws in her foundation.

Now, perhaps, it was time to pay the price.

...

Netherwater True Monarch composed herself and prepared to visit the Sea-Suppressing Sect once her senior brother emerged from seclusion.

That grand cultivator was not easily met.

Her own standing was still shallow, but if the Grand Elder of the Black Sea Sect accompanied her, the odds of success would be much higher.

Splash—

The black river surged at her feet as a red-robed beauty with long damp hair and skin pale as a ghost drifted in from downstream, arriving at the entrance of the cave mansion.

“Ancestor! Recently, on the Ruins Coast, one of our branch disciples discovered a relic from Tinghai Pavilion.”

The red-robed cultivator knelt and presented a jade box.

“A relic of Tinghai Pavilion?”

Netherwater True Monarch had never ceased her search for such clues.

But most of the ancient items found thus far had proven unremarkable.

Opening the jade box, a broken ocean horn came into view.

“This is... the Endless Horn of Tinghai Pavilion?”

She gently caressed the horn with her palm to examine it, and a gleam of joy lit her eyes.

After so many years of research, she had developed deep familiarity with relics from the Tinghai Pavilion.

This particular horn was a unique artifact crafted exclusively by the sect, used to transmit messages swiftly across vast stretches of sea.

Several identical Endless Horns could connect across immense distances, conveying brief messages over millions of li over the vast sea.

Only the core disciples of Tinghai Pavilion could possibly possess such a thing!

The last time she had found a lead this significant was centuries ago and that clue had ultimately led her to a great opportunity from Tinghai Pavilion, forming the foundation of her current cultivation.

“Tell me everything!”

Netherwater True Monarch suppressed her delight, a cold glint flashing in her eyes as she asked:

“Where exactly on the Ruins Coast was this horn unearthed? And how many others know of this?”