I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals
chapter-152

"What is the origin of that cultivator who sold the quasi-third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talisman?"

The Fake-Dan Immortal sitting in the main seat suddenly thought of something and asked his men.

"Reporting to Immortal, after the old man sold the talisman, he disappeared without a trace. There’s no record of him in the vicinity of Huanglong Immortal City."

The Foundation Establishment cultivator who had acquired the talisman replied.

"He must be a remarkable individual with a grudge against Huanglong Mountain."

The Fake-Dan Immortal sighed but did not dwell on the matter.

He personally went to the frontline and handed the quasi-third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talisman to the Formation Master surnamed Cao.

"Excellent! This will increase our chances of breaking the formation by twenty percent."

Formation Master Cao clapped his hands and laughed.

...

Several li away, in a teahouse.

A young man with an ordinary appearance, in the Foundation Establishment stage, sat by the window.

"If this talisman can hasten the collapse of the Huanglong Mountain Formation and disrupt Fu Xuemei’s Core Formation, whether successful or not, the matter from that year can be considered settled."

Lan Chang'an mused to himself.

A single missed piece of intelligence can lead to the butterfly effect, potentially causing the downfall of an entire empire.

Much less a quasi-third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talisman aimed at the remnants of a grand formation that was not protected by any Core Formation Immortals.

Such scheming is commonplace in the cultivation world.

These plots aren't limited to small figures.

Certain top-tier bigwigs, with just a casual move of a chess piece, could influence the local trends within the cultivation world.

Two days later.

High above Huanglong Mountain, the Core Formation phenomenon entered its latter stages, and the extraction of spiritual energy from the heavens and earth became increasingly apparent.

Weak points in the mountain-protecting formation began to multiply.

The young Foundation Establishment cultivator disguised as Lan Chang'an stood at a distance, watching. He sensed that the complete destruction of the formation was imminent.

There is a fundamental difference between minor damage to a formation and the complete collapse of the formation. In the case of the former, it can be quickly repaired with the help of a Formation Master and sufficient spiritual energy supply.

At the foot of Huanglong Mountain.

The Formation Master Cao silently took out the quasi-third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talisman, targeting a critical weak spot in the mountain-protecting formation.

He did not immediately strike, waiting for a certain command.

A quarter of an hour later.

A commotion erupted within Huanglong Mountain, accompanied by a confrontation at the Fake-Dan level.

"He Yuanwu! You beast—"

Inside the mountain-protecting formation, an elegant elderly man in white robes, with surging core power, had blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, and his back was stained with blood.

The injured white-robed elder was none other than the eldest disciple of Huanglong Mountain, Ji Yifeng.

"Eldest Senior Brother, you reacted quickly."

Not far away, a burly man in purple robes with a bald head stabilized his stance, grinning fiercely as he retracted a bloodstained hand.

"Senior Brother He? You actually betrayed Huanglong Mountain!"

The direct disciples of Huanglong Mountain looked on in disbelief at He Yuanwu, the fourth disciple of Huanglong Immortal.

"Uncle He, how did the sect wrong you to make you betray Huanglong Mountain?"

A female Foundation Establishment cultivator chastised.

"Hmph! Back then, I was clearly younger, with talent in body cultivation, and greater strength and potential, yet Master was biased, giving the Core Formation opportunity to Senior Brother Ji, saying something about the eldest disciple being like the eldest son, with priority based on seniority."

He Yuanwu snorted disdainfully.

"When I attempted Core Formation, I only received half of the resources, and could only form a Gray-Dan. At that time, Master diverted crucial resources to help the Huang Dragon Beast advance to mid-third-rank."

"And now, Master is going all out to help Junior Sister Xuemei with her Core Formation. If I had received even half of this support during my Core Formation, Huanglong Mountain wouldn’t be in such a dire state."

"Heh, I deserved this wretched fate, haha…"

He Yuanwu laughed maniacally, his figure blurred, flying towards Fu Xuemei’s Core Formation cave.

"Stop him!"

Ji Yifeng staggered, coughing up blood.

However, most of the high-level forces of Huanglong Mountain were fully engaged in protecting the formation and couldn’t spare many hands.

He Yuanwu wasn’t just a Fake-Dan cultivator; his body cultivation was also formidable. Ordinary Fake-Dan cultivators would have a hard time dealing with him.

"Immortal He, you can't go in."

A young man in padded clothes at the early Foundation Establishment stage took a deep breath, summoned his magic weapon, and stood fearlessly in front of the cave entrance.

Ever since Fu Xuemei began her breakthrough, her younger brother Fu Dong had been guarding the cave, not moving an inch.

"Get lost!"

He Yuanwu roared impatiently, casually throwing a punch. The force shattered Fu Dong’s defensive magic weapon.

"You… are not allowed to go in!"

Fu Dong, lying on the ground coughing up blood, struggled to stand up again.

...

"The time has come! Break the formation!"

Outside Huanglong Mountain, Wantie Immortal transmitted the order from high above.

Boom!

The Fake-Dan Immortals and Foundation Establishment cultivators who received the command launched a fierce assault, causing the formation to tremble as its spiritual energy supply faltered.

"Break!"

The quasi-third-rank Restriction-Breaking Talisman in Formation Master Cao's hand activated, transforming into a twisted beam of light that emitted a strange, destructive force, striking the mountain-protecting formation.

Boom!

A gap several zhang wide burst open, merging with nearby cracks, triggering a chain reaction that caused one entire side of the mountain-protecting formation to collapse.

"The formation has been breached!"

Although only one side of the formation was destroyed, the morale of the Anti-Huanglong Alliance surged.

This scene did not escape the notice of the two Core Formation Immortals battling high in the sky.

"Fellow Daoist Huanglong, do we still need to continue this fight?"

Wantie Immortal's attacks slightly slowed, as he spoke with victory in sight.

"Rebellious disciple! The reason I didn’t prioritize you for the Core Formation opportunity back then was because of your excessive murderous intent, and your seniority and character were both inferior to Yifeng's."

Huanglong Immortal’s face briefly changed, but he didn’t lose his composure.

"Fellow Daoist Huanglong, why not end it here? You’ve done all you could. Whether your disciple succeeds in Core Formation now depends on her own destiny."

Mo Weixing, a newly advanced Core Formation cultivator, had been entangled with the Huang Dragon Beast for a long time but couldn’t overcome its formidable physique.

After days of continuous battle, the Immortals present showed signs of fatigue, with some suffering injuries or depletion of their vital energy.

The Core Formation cultivators from the Mo Family and Hengchuan Merchant Association didn’t want to engage in a death struggle with Huanglong Immortal, whose lifespan was nearing its end.

As long as they could prevent Fu Xuemei from forming her core and secure the core interests of Huanglong Immortal City, their goal would be achieved.

"Heh, until the last moment, it’s still uncertain who will emerge victorious."

Huanglong Immortal’s face showed a mocking smile. His laughter was hoarse and resonant as if he didn’t even glance at the Huanglong Mountain below him.

Wantie Immortal and the other three showed surprise on their faces.

At this moment, He Yuanwu was charging towards Fu Xuemei's Core Formation cave.

Huanglong Immortal appeared indifferent, with his throat subtly moving as if he had swallowed something.

"Be careful!"

Noticing this detail, Wantie Immortal's eyes flashed with a hint of cold suspicion.

"You’re all tired and want to stop? This old man’s bones haven’t yet exhausted their strength!"

Huanglong Immortal's face was full of a wide smile, as the True-Dan inside him suddenly erupted with a powerful surge of magical energy, nearly doubling in strength within a few breaths.

Originally, his magical energy was inferior to the mid-Core Formation Realm. But at this moment, it instantly reached the peak of mid-Core Formation, approaching late-Core Formation.

The early-stage Core Formation cultivators present felt a heavy pressure.

Boom!

Huanglong Immortal formed a hand seal, and the massive mountain seal resembling Huanglong Mountain expanded by a circle. Ancient patterns danced on its surface, and dull golden light suddenly burst forth, enveloping Wantie Immortal from above.

"This old fool is pushing himself beyond his limits to return to his peak state. We can’t engage him head-on!"

Wantie Immortal, covered in pitch-black armor, used his divine ability to transform into a three-zhang tall iron tower giant, and was smashed by the enormous mountain seal with a deafening clang, shaking his qi and blood, forcing him to retreat.

If not for his magical treasure divine ability being good at defense, he might have already suffered injuries. Ordinary early-stage Core Formation cultivators would struggle to withstand this.

After repelling Wantie Immortal, Huanglong Immortal did not pursue but instead transformed into a radiant golden beam, distancing himself.

Realizing something was wrong, Wantie Immortal saw Huanglong Immortal heading towards Mo Weixing, the Mo Family’s True-Dan cultivator who was entangled with the Huang Dragon Beast.

"Fellow Daoist Mo, be careful!"

Wantie Immortal shouted a warning.

Seeing Huanglong Immortal's surge in strength, Mo Weixing naturally paid attention and wasn’t about to let himself be caught off guard.

His reaction was quick, and he summoned light underfoot, preparing to retreat.

Roar!

The Huang Dragon Beast’s massive body glowed with scales of earth-yellow crystal light. The half-sealed inner core within its body suddenly unleashed the full power of its third-rank earth-grade bloodline.

That dragon roar, was a type of soul-shaking innate divine ability, causing the newly advanced early-stage Core Formation Mo Weixing to turn red in the face, his body freezing for a moment as if glued to the spot.

Bang!

The Huang Dragon Beast’s strength and speed surged, and with a swipe of its tail, it sent the just-recovering Mo Weixing flying, shattering his protective magic shield.

As Mo Weixing spat blood mid-air, feeling the immense pressure behind him, he realized he was flying directly towards Huanglong Immortal.

"No! Senior Huanglong, please—"

Under Mo Weixing’s despairing gaze, Huanglong Immortal reached out and condensed a giant yellow hand of radiant light, crushing him instantly.

Boom!

Blood splattered everywhere, and the loud explosion drowned out any screams.

The fall of a Core Formation Immortal made the high-altitude battle go silent for a moment.

"Among the Core Formation Immortals present today, only you, the Mo Family, have a true grudge against my Huanglong Mountain.

His figure blurred, and he took advantage of the lingering effects of the secret medicine to charge towards another early-stage Core Formation cultivator aiding the Mo Family.

"Huanglong Immortal, you’ve gone too far!"

Wantie Immortal roared in anger, shaking off the now uncontrolled Huanglong Mountain Seal, and swiftly intercepted Huanglong Immortal.

The Huang Dragon Beast let out a fierce roar, moving to block Wantie Immortal.

"Hidden so deeply! The Huang Dragon Beast hasn’t dropped to quasi-third-rank, its cultivation remains at early third-rank. Instead, using a secret method it had only sealed its inner core, the actual strength still surpasses ordinary early-stage Core Formation."

Wantie Immortal's face turned grim, realizing he couldn’t quickly deal with the Huang Dragon Beast.

"No wonder the Level A intelligence report from the 'Tian Zhi Pavilion' suggested that Huanglong Immortal may have visited 'Wangyue Immortal City' back then. Who knows what price he paid…"

Fortunately, Huanglong Immortal’s foundational strength had indeed dropped, and he could only rely on a secret medicine to temporarily return to peak performance.

...

The moment the Mo Family’s True-Dan cultivator fell, miles away on Huanglong Mountain, Lan Chang'an sensed it.

"As expected of the number one loose cultivator of the Liang Kingdom, even in old age with his True-Dan damaged, he can still kill a newly advanced Core Formation Immortal so easily."

He had always kept a part of his attention on the Core Formation battle in the sky. Lan Chang'an speculated that Huanglong Immortal's explosive strength wouldn't last long, and there would be consequences afterward.

"The situation has changed. It’s not wise to stay in Huanglong Immortal City for long." Lan Chang'an decided to retreat.

In any case, he'd already nudged events along by secretly breaking Huanglong Mountain formation.

The attacking Fake-Dan Immortals and Foundation Establishment cultivators outnumbered those of Huanglong Mountain.

Not to mention, there was also He Yuanwu, the traitor, leading the charge towards Fu Xuemei’s Core Formation retreat.

There was no need for him to involve himself any further.

He was neither the instigator nor a participant in this war.

Whoosh! Boom!

High above Huanglong Mountain, the clouds surrounding the Core Formation phenomenon suddenly dispersed.

"Did the Core Formation fail?"

Lan Chang'an, who had flown more than ten li away, couldn’t help but glance back at Huanglong Mountain, feeling that things had gone too smoothly.

At this point, he had only two guesses.

First, Fu Xuemei truly failed in her Core Formation.

Second, the cultivator attempting Core Formation on Huanglong Mountain wasn’t Fu Xuemei herself.

...

Within Fu Xuemei's cave on Huanglong Mountain.

Boom!

He Yuanwu, carrying the pale-faced Fu Dong, forcefully broke through the secret chamber's restriction and barged in.

"Senior Brother He, I didn’t expect you to be the first one in here."

Inside the secret chamber, a simple-looking middle-aged man with a square cap sat cross-legged. Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth, and his face was pale due to the backlash from the failed Core Formation.

"Junior Brother Cheng? Weren’t you expelled from the mountain years ago?"

He Yuanwu was shocked.

"Where did Junior Sister go?" He then demanded.

"What, Senior Brother He, do you intend to pursue and kill Junior Sister? I recall you guys were on good terms and didn't have any grudges."

With a sneer on his face, Junior Brother Cheng took a healing pill.

He Yuanwu pondered for a few moments and didn’t make a move.

Before being expelled, Junior Brother Cheng had been as close as a brother to him. There was no point in killing him, as he was just a Foundation Establishment cultivator pretending to attempt Core Formation.

"Junior Sister should still be on Huanglong Mountain, right?"

He Yuanwu's eyes gleamed as a smile played on his lips, looking at Junior Brother Cheng, who was cross-legged to heal his wounds.

(End of chapter)