I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals
chapter-186

In the heart of the Liang Kingdom, a young cultivator of the Foundation Establishment realm, with an unremarkable appearance, suddenly halted his flight amidst the clouds.

"Hmm?"

Lan Chang'an sensed a peculiar and indescribable feeling, his gaze distant as it fixed in the direction of the Feng Kingdom battlefield.

Just a moment ago, he faintly sensed that the treasure talisman he had secretly gifted to Zhao Siyao years ago had been used.

This occurrence would be deemed impossible for an ordinary talisman. However, Lan Chang'an's talisman was no ordinary one; it had been nurtured like a magical treasure.

When a magical treasure is nurtured for a long time, it gains a form of spirituality. Treasure talismans are crafted from extraordinary materials, and though they aren't quite like magical treasures, the principle was similar.

Additionally, due to the uniqueness of the Evergreen Technique he practiced, it was not entirely unexpected that after decades of nurturing, a subtle psychic connection would develop.

"For the treasure talisman to be used, Fellow Daoist Zhao must have encountered a great crisis. I can only hope she survives this calamity safely..."

A few days ago, the sudden postponement of Song Wenshu's wedding had already led Lan Chang'an to speculate that something might have changed on the Feng Kingdom battlefield. Zhao Siyao's use of the treasure talisman further confirmed his suspicions.

The talisman was crafted from a third-rank spiritual wood and had been nurtured for decades. If used appropriately, it could severely wound a typical Fake-Dan cultivator.

As for killing one, that was less likely.

The difficulty between defeating and killing is more than double.

Unless the Fake-Dan cultivator was careless or heavily injured.

Even for an early-stage True-Dan cultivator, it would be difficult to kill a Fake-Dan cultivator instantly. If three Fake-Dan cultivators joined forces, they could resist an early-stage True-Dan cultivator.

The power of a magical treasure controlled by a Fake-Dan cultivator is also stronger than that of a quasi-third-rank talisman.

Naturally, Lan Chang'an was unaware that Zhang Tieshan's short-term burst of power was comparable to that of a Fake-Dan Immortal, and together with Zhao Siyao, they managed to kill a Fake-Dan cultivator who was not in peak condition.

When Lan Chang'an had gifted the talisman, his initial intention was to help Zhao Siyao escape from a Fake-Dan cultivator.

As for True-Dan cultivators? Their numbers were far fewer than those of Fake-Dan cultivators.

If Zhao Siyao did encounter one, she would have to rely on her own luck.

Even if Lan Chang'an encountered a True-Dan cultivator, he wouldn't dare to say he could escape safely, even with more treasure talismans at his disposal.

Talismans of the same level can hardly threaten cultivators of the same realm. Because, the power of magical treasures is stronger than talismans of the same level.

Only by summoning the second life of the Nine Seal Stele and using treasure talismans in conjunction with it could Lan Chang'an have a good chance of escaping from a True-Dan cultivator.

...

Over the years, as his strength, connections, and wealth soared, Lan Chang'an found acquiring third-rank spiritual wood far less challenging than before.

In recent years, the number of talismans made from third-rank spiritual wood in his possession had increased, totaling more than ten.

Talismans made from third-rank spiritual wood, when nurtured with Evergreen mana, could quickly reach the power of early-stage third-rank, or even slightly surpass it.

The speed of nurturing also correlated with one's cultivation level.

When Lan Chang'an was at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, his nurturing speed was nearly twice as fast as it had been at the early stage.

Currently, the strongest treasure talisman in his possession was crafted from the third-rank mid-grade "Purple Radiant Spirit Wood," and had been nurtured for decades. Its power was even approaching the mid-grade third-rank level.

The one he gifted to Zhao Siyao was the strongest talisman made from the low-grade third-rank spiritual wood he had.

Theoretically, as long as the nurturing time is sufficient and the mana is strong enough, even a top-grade second-rank talisman could potentially reach true third-rank power.

However, once the talisman's power exceeded the material's limit, the speed of enhancement will be extremely slow.

...

A few days later.

In the fourth-floor reception room of the Tian Zhi Pavilion in Liaoyuan Immortal City.

"Which type of information is this fellow Daoist seeking?"

An elderly man at the Foundation Establishment stage greeted Lan Chang'an with a warm smile.

"I want to know about the situation on the Feng Kingdom battlefield."

The ordinary-looking young man disguised by Lan Chang'an responded without hesitation.

"Oh! The Feng Kingdom battlefield? Recently, there has been a significant increase in cultivators seeking information in that area," the elderly man remarked with a hint of surprise.

"The Feng Kingdom battlefield is one of our key focuses at the Tian Zhi Pavilion. Information is categorized into three levels: A, B, and C."

"Oh, what’s the difference between them, and how are they priced?"

"Level C information costs six hundred spirit stones. It provides basic information about the frontline, including some rumors, but the accuracy might be slightly lacking. This is the typical intelligence that mid-level cultivators from various sects can obtain."

"Level B information costs fifteen hundred spirit stones. It includes most of the frontline information accessible to high-level sect members."

"Level A information costs five thousand spirit stones. In addition to being more detailed, the main difference from Level B is that it includes the general movements of Nascent Soul cultivators and predictions about the future course of the war."

"Purchasing Level A information also requires swearing an oath of heart demon to not divulge the information to outsiders."

"Level A intelligence is so expensive?" Lan Chang'an mulled it over but ultimately decided to purchase the Level A information. After all, he was currently well-off in terms of spirit stones.

Having lived through several lifetimes, he understood the importance of key information at the upper echelons.

Wars in the cultivation world directly impacted his safety and future cultivation path.

The coming decades would be a critical transition period for him, from Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, and this was especially crucial.

"Five thousand spirit stones, please," the elderly man said with a broad smile, masking his inner surprise.

It was rare for an individual cultivator to purchase Level A information, as it was usually done on behalf of an organization.

After the payment, Lan Chang'an received a special jade slip.

As the elderly man had explained, once he read the contents, the information within the jade slip would automatically erase itself.

"By the way, does the Tian Zhi Pavilion still recruit members?" Lan Chang'an asked with a faint smile as he was about to leave.

If he could infiltrate a top-tier intelligence organization that operated across multiple nations, it would be quite a beneficial arrangement for someone with a long lifespan like his.

"Apologies, the Tian Zhi Pavilion has its own methods for cultivating members and does not openly recruit. We only consider external informants for temporary roles, which carry higher risks..." The elderly man smiled in response.

Lan Chang'an had only asked out of curiosity.

Even if the Tian Zhi Pavilion agreed, he might not have dared to join.

In the past, Lan Chang'an had once wondered about what kind of information the Tian Zhi Pavilion had on him and whether there were any potential leaks.

But he quickly dismissed the idea.

After all, supply follows demand.

Since he did not entangle himself in worldly affairs and held no significant interests, very few cultivators would pay attention to his information, and the Tian Zhi Pavilion wouldn’t delve deeply into it.

If he were to purchase information about himself, it would only add to his own problems.

...

Half an hour later.

In a crowded inn within Liaoyuan Immortal City, Lan Chang'an examined the Level A information contained within the jade slip.

"The sects of Liang Kingdom suffered a major defeat at the frontlines, falling into an ambush set by the 'Tantai Family' of Feng Kingdom. Several True-Dan cultivators perished, more than a dozen Fake-Dan cultivators were killed in action, hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators were slain, and thousands of Qi-Refining cultivators fell..."

"The ambush was orchestrated by major forces including the Golden Sun Sect, Proud Moon Palace, Blood Sword Valley, and the Tantai Family."

"The Nascent Soul True Monarch of Chen Kingdom seems dissatisfied with Liang Kingdom's intervention in the war to steal the victory. It is likely that some agreement was reached, as the 'Tian Luo True Monarch' of Chen Kingdom tacitly allowed one of Golden Sun Sect's Nascent Soul cultivators that was holding the back to quietly leave."

"The Nascent Soul True Monarch of Liang Kingdom, 'Master Lihuo,' was ambushed by the Nascent Soul cultivators from Golden Sun Sect and Blood Sword Valley, sustaining severe injuries. He narrowly escaped death and won't recover for at least twenty years."

"Feng Kingdom is conducting psychological warfare, spreading false rumors that Master Lihuo has perished, or that his body was destroyed and only his Nascent Soul escaped, to incite panic."

At this point, Lan Chang'an felt his heart pounding. He hadn't expected that in the recent major battle, the Supreme Elder of Flame Departing Palace had almost perished.

If the information he had purchased had not been of a high enough grade, he wouldn't have been able to obtain an accurate assessment of Master Lihuo's condition.

If he had been misled by vague intelligence, he might have made a wrong decision, such as recklessly leaving Liang Kingdom.

"The shift in the situation seems largely influenced by the Nascent Soul powers of Chen Kingdom. Feng Kingdom's sects likely offered some benefits to reach a covert agreement." Lan Chang'an mused.

Fortunately, the strongest Nascent Soul cultivator of the Yan Kingdom, "Chu Tianfeng," had no particular interest in the Liang Kingdom.

This mid-stage Nascent Soul prodigy was primarily focused on securing a mid fourth-rank spiritual vein and establishing a domain befitting his status and cultivation.

Otherwise, the return of Master Lihuo to Flame Departing Palace might not have been possible.

The intelligence also provided an explanation for the fourth mobilization of the sects in the Liang Kingdom.

This time, the recruitment of cultivators wasn't for an expedition.

It was to "escort" the defeated army of the Liang Kingdom back to safety.

"No wonder Song Wenshu postponed his wedding," Lan Chang'an realized as he pieced together the causes and effects.

The Supreme Elder of Flame Departing Palace had almost died, and high-level True-Dan cultivators had perished. When such a big event happened and reinforcements were called for, even core disciples could not enjoy any privileges.

...

The Level A intelligence also included the Tian Zhi Pavilion's predictions regarding the war's future direction.

"Liang Kingdom's sects suffered a costly defeat. With the Nascent Soul True Monarch gravely injured, they are unlikely to invade Feng Kingdom again and will probably retreat to defend their homeland."

"The war between Yan Kingdom, Feng Kingdom, and Chen Kingdom might see a new phase, and peace talks cannot be ruled out."

"In about ten years, there is a chance that Liang Kingdom's homeland might become a battlefield."

"If the 'Six Sect of the Devil's Path,' one of the largest alliances in the Great Qing cultivation world, continues to expand eastward, this possibility will be doubled!"

Reading these predictions, Lan Chang'an felt a tremor in his heart.

At first, he thought the intelligence was overpriced, but now it seemed worth every spirit stone.

Many of the intricate details of this war would not have been revealed in Level B or Level C intelligence.

"Ten years, huh? By then, I should have advanced to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm, significantly increasing my strength. Even if I have to flee to another country, I'll be much safer." Lan Chang'an's mind settled somewhat.

In two months, he would turn one hundred thirty-four years old.

He had spent about twelve years each advancing through the first two layers of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment.

However, progressing from mid-stage to late-stage Foundation Establishment required more accumulation, and it would likely take about fourteen to fifteen years.

It was estimated that after reaching one hundred forty years old, he would be ready to break through to the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

...

After obtaining the intelligence, Lan Chang'an didn't leave Liaoyuan Immortal City immediately.

He stayed in the city for two months to collect materials.

This time, his focus was on collecting third-rank spirit sand, as well as materials for top-grade second-rank puppets and quasi-third-rank puppets.

Lan Chang'an's "body refinement talent" far exceeded his spiritual root aptitude.

Years ago, he had already cultivated the "Cloud Sand Body Refinement Manual" to the peak of its sixth layer.

This body refining technique wasn't high-tier and didn't include the inheritance for third-rank body refinement. The highest it could reach was the seventh layer, which was quasi-third-rank.

Even reaching the quasi-third-rank level of body refinement was more difficult than an ordinary cultivator forming a Gray Dan. As for True-Dan level body refinement, it was even harder than achieving a True-Dan.

Lan Chang'an wasn't overly ambitious. He aimed to first cultivate the "Cloud Sand Body Refinement Manual" to the seventh layer, which would be equivalent to the physical body of a Fake-Dan-level demonic beast.

At that point, he would be much more comfortable facing threats at the level of Fake-Dan Immortals.

As for puppetry, Lan Chang'an had begun to meet the conditions for crafting top-grade second-rank puppets, but he still needed more practice.

Regarding quasi-third-rank puppets, whose combat strength matched that of Fake-Dan cultivators, he would probably need to wait until he reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment to start researching and attempting them.

Currently, the main factors limiting Lan Chang'an's progress in puppetry were the lack of high-quality materials and the lack of inheritance.

The puppet inheritance left by Puppet Master Sang only covered up to this point.

"Unfortunately, the inheritance for third-rank puppets is even rarer and more obscure than that of third-rank alchemist inheritance."

Over the years, Lan Chang'an hadn't neglected the auctions held in the nearby immortal cities.

Only with great luck at a large auction might he encounter a third-rank puppet inheritance.

In two months, Lan Chang'an's collection of materials was not progressing well.

Through the Tengxing Merchant Association's channels, he managed to acquire some top-grade second-rank puppet materials.

However, his search for quasi-third-rank puppet materials, which involved third-rank materials, yielded little results.

The third-rank spirit sand, which Lan Chang'an valued most, was acquired in only a tiny quantity, not enough to reach the seventh layer of the body refinement manual.

"I wonder if Shen Bixin can be of help?" Lan Chang'an pondered.

In the past, he would have preferred to collect materials slowly as a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator collecting a substantial amount of third-rank materials would raise suspicion.

Even though body refining schools were numerous, the purpose of collecting spirit sand stones could not be easily discerned, and now having received the intelligence predicting that the war might spread into Liang Kingdom's territory, it was justified to expedite his progress for the sake of survival.

The Tengxing Merchant Association, unlike Huanglong Mountain, had no one above the Fake-Dan realm and posed no threat to Lan Chang'an.

...

The day before leaving Liaoyuan Immortal City, Lan Chang'an, in his true identity, visited the Tengxing Merchant Association's residence to meet with Shen Bixin.

At this time, Shen Bixin was supposed to be marrying Song Wenshu, but she was still waiting to wed.

"Miss Shen rarely sees guests these days, yet she is personally receiving a Foundation Establishment male cultivator today?"

Under the curious gazes of two maidservants, Lan Chang'an entered a side hall of the Tengxing Merchant Association's residence.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, it’s rare for you to visit in person. I’m flattered," Shen Bixin, dressed in a long skirt, her demeanor gentle and refined, stood up to greet him.

Despite her slightly haggard appearance, she was still the same elegant and beautiful lady with a scholarly and serene aura as before.

"Miss Shen is too courteous. I should be the one feeling flattered," Lan Chang'an responded with polite small talk.

He understood that given Shen Bixin's current status and her engagement, she was breaking protocol by meeting with a male Foundation Establishment cultivator. She must have been mindful of the favor he did in helping treat her illness in the past.

However, on the surface, Lan Chang'an had only assisted in the treatment back then and had received proper compensation.

Afterward, the VIP token from the Tengxing Merchant Association that Shen Bixin had gifted him had also been quite beneficial, effectively repaying the favor.

"This time, I’m here to acquire some materials on behalf of a Fake-Dan senior..." Lan Chang'an brought up the reason for his visit after some idle chat.

"These materials, quite a few of them are of the third rank, the difficulty is not low," Shen Bixin said, contemplating.

"If I leverage the association's higher-ups and Song Lang's network, it might take about half a year to gather everything."[1]

After Shen Bixin’s engagement to Song Wenshu, the Tengxing Merchant Association’s ability to source items in Liaoyuan Immortal City had improved significantly.

In the past, this level of efficiency would not have been possible.

Even so, it would require considerable effort on Shen Bixin’s part to fulfill this request.

"I appreciate the trouble, Miss Shen. If this matter comes to fruition, I will owe you a favor," Lan Chang'an promised, recognizing the implication behind her words.

Owing a favor in exchange for accelerating the progress of his body refinement technique to quasi-third-rank was a fair deal.

If the war came to Liang Kingdom, there might not be another chance to repay the favor.

"That’s exactly what I was hoping for, Fellow Daoist Lan," Shen Bixin replied with a bright smile, her eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

...

(End of chapter)

[1] Lang=Darling, basically.

3k words chappy