I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 180

## Chapter 180: A Delightful Turn of Events

A month later.

Wu Qi Shan, Xiao Dan Peak.

Ye Fei invited Peak Masters Lu Chang’an and Shi Manrong to his subworld for a drinking feast.

“Haha, what a delightful turn of events! That ‘Xian Zhenren’ who came to Wu Qi Shan to show off back then is now on the Li Huo Gong wanted list.”

Ye Fei was in high spirits, celebrating with drinks.

“Are you talking about Xiang Jinglong?”

Lu Chang’an was startled, his expression filled with surprise, though it wasn’t an act.

It had been over half a month since they returned from Chi Shui Fang Shi, and everything had been quiet. Li Huo Gong hadn’t reacted abnormally, and Song Wenshu and other cultivators hadn’t come to Wu Qi Shan to investigate.

To avoid suspicion, he hadn’t deliberately sought out information.

Only now did he learn about the news.

“That’s right! It’s that scoundrel Xiang Jinglong! His name has been added to the Li Huo Gong Sect’s wanted list for its mission tasks.”

Ye Fei’s face was flushed, his tone confident.

Back then, Xiang Jinglong had come to Xiao Dan Peak and eaten a free meal, taking things without paying. It was hard for Ye Fei to not resent him at all.

“As a Fake Dan Zhenren, what did Xiang Jinglong do to be wanted by Li Huo Gong?”

Shi Manrong asked in astonishment.

“It’s said that he secretly acted as a rogue cultivator for years, engaging in many acts of bullying the weak, killing people, and stealing treasures. Among the victims were the relatives and descendants of Li Huo Gong cultivators. With several cases accumulating, the impact was serious, attracting the attention of Li Huo Gong’s Law Enforcement Hall…”

Ye Fei explained the reason.

“Xiang Jinglong is quite famous among the loose cultivators, but his reputation is not good. Now that he’s a wanted criminal, I’m sure many cultivators will be happy about it.”

Shi Xianzi smiled, her lips pursed, her mood quite pleasant. She didn’t think deeply about it.

Knowing the reason for Xiang Jinglong’s being wanted, Lu Chang’an’s eyes flickered slightly, and he roughly deduced the truth, finding it amusing.

That day, Xiang Jinglong had acted near Chi Shui Fang Shi without revealing his identity, including the identifying features of his magic treasures and cultivation techniques.

He even went so far as to call himself “He Mou” to try and confuse people.

In the end, the blame couldn’t be shifted.

…

Li Huo Gong, as the number one sect in Liang Guo’s cultivation world, a Nascent Soul level force, its intelligence network and investigation capabilities were beyond the imagination of ordinary cultivators.

Even though Xiang Jinglong acted cautiously and didn’t leave any obvious clues,

As long as he had stayed in Chi Shui Fang Shi for a while and left some traces, Li Huo Gong could investigate and analyze them to reach a conclusion.

Of course, on the surface, Xiang Jinglong was wanted for “past crimes” he committed.

Only Lu Chang’an knew that the real reason was the death of Senior Brother Zhuo, which had displeased the higher-ups of Li Huo Gong and led them to decide to punish him.

Lu Chang’an had lived through several lives, and this was not the first time he had seen something like this.

Sometimes, when a higher power suddenly took action to punish a “villain,” it might seem like they were eliminating a menace for the benefit of the common cultivators, earning them praise.

But in reality, the truth could be that the villain offended a powerful person in the upper echelons.

Or it could be the result of an upper-level power struggle, where they decided to make an example of the “villain,” finding a loophole in their past crimes and accusers, convicting them, and then implicating their upper-level opponents.

The starting point was from top to bottom.

It wasn’t from bottom to top, truly seeking justice for the victims among the common cultivators.

Otherwise, Xiang Jinglong, such a rogue cultivator who operated in the gray area, wouldn’t have been wanted by Li Huo Gong until now.

There was an unspoken rule in Liang Guo’s cultivation world:

Zhenren level strong cultivators, as long as they hadn’t committed major crimes or left behind solid evidence, the sects wouldn’t easily issue warrants for their arrest.

After all, it wasn’t easy to capture a Zhenren, and it could lead to retaliation.

“This Xiang Zhenren probably doesn’t know the real reason why he’s wanted.”

Back on Xiao Gui Peak, Lu Chang’an smiled calmly, his expression relaxed.

It wasn’t because Xiang Jinglong was stupid.

It was because he simply didn’t know Senior Brother Zhuo’s identity or the inner details.

He didn’t even know who he had offended.

…

In the following months.

Lu Chang’an quietly paid attention to the situation regarding Xiang Jinglong’s being wanted, but he couldn’t appear to be deliberately watching.

There were various versions of rumors circulating.

Some said that Xiang Jinglong had been seriously injured by sect cultivators.

Others said that he had gone into hiding, taking on a new identity, hiding in the mortal world, or even fleeing to a neighboring country.

Judging from the rumors alone, Li Huo Gong’s effort to capture Xiang Jinglong wasn’t small.

Until a few days after Lu Chang’an turned one hundred twenty-nine.

Song Wenshu came to visit Wu Qi Shan, bringing definite news.

Song Wenshu wasn’t alone.

He was accompanied by a gaunt, long-robed old man with dull eyes.

“Lin…Lin Daoyou?”

“Lin Danshi?”

Lu Chang’an and Shi Manrong were surprised, looking at the old man, recognizing his identity from his facial contours and the dark red patches.

This person was Lin Ye Danshi, the former Peak Master of Xiao Dan Peak.

Lu Chang’an observed briefly and found that Lin Ye’s cultivation had fallen to the initial stage of Zhu Ji, his body was damaged, seemingly having endured torture, and his mind was somewhat confused.

It had been twenty years since Lin Ye Danshi had left Wu Qi Shan, and they hadn’t heard from him since.

At the time, Lin Danshi had said he was returning to his hometown to enjoy his old age.

Given the circumstances, it might be that he had cut ties with the cultivation world, so Lu Chang’an and Shi Manrong hadn’t investigated the matter.

The cultivation world was like that, full of countless passersby in the long years.

Even long-lived individuals couldn’t know the fate and ultimate destination of every acquaintance.

“Lu…Daoyou…Shi…Shi Xianzi.”

Lin Ye forced a smile onto his face, a kind of silly smile, and spoke haltingly.

“Lin Daoyou was imprisoned by Xiang Jinglong for twenty years, forced to refine pills day and night, subjected to torture, and implanted with various restrictions. His sea of consciousness was damaged, and his sanity suffered some aftereffects…”

Song Wenshu secretly transmitted his voice, explaining the situation.

Lu Chang’an and Shi Manrong looked at each other, feeling sympathy and regret.

After communicating, Lu Chang’an initially judged that Lin Ye had the intelligence of a three or four-year-old child.

His memories were fragmented and chaotic, but he had deep affection for Wu Qi Shan, and he had a strong impression of Lu Chang’an and Shi Manrong.

“Lin Ye was rescued, but his mind is not clear, and he requested to come to Wu Qi Shan…”

Song Wenshu added.

Lu Chang’an nodded, preparing to invite Song Wenshu to his subworld on Xiao Gui Peak.

“Xiao Dan Peak…”

Lin Ye muttered, staring fixedly at the tallest peak on the other side, unwilling to move.

…

Soon after.

The three peak masters, Song Wenshu, and Lin Ye settled down in the subworld on Xiao Dan Peak.

After arriving at Xiao Dan Peak, Lin Ye’s expression became peaceful, lost in the brick and tile, every plant and tree.

“Song Daoyou, has your palace captured Xiang Jinglong yet?”

Lu Chang’an asked in a deep voice.

Given the current situation, it was reasonable to inquire about Xiang Jinglong.

“…We have set a net to catch him, seriously injuring him, pushing him to the brink. However, an unexpected incident occurred at a critical moment.”

Song Wenshu sighed.

“What kind of unexpected incident?”

The three peak masters couldn’t help but be curious.

If it had been other sects, capturing a Fake Dan Zhenren wouldn’t be easy.

But Li Huo Gong, as the ruler of Liang Guo’s cultivation world, if they were determined to make a Fake Dan cultivator die, it would be hard for them to escape.

“If it’s confidential, Brother Song, you don’t have to tell us.”

Seeing Song Wenshu’s hesitant expression, Lu Chang’an smiled lightly.

“This matter isn’t considered confidential in the sect circles.”

Song Wenshu hesitated for a moment, then revealed the truth.

“That scoundrel Xiang Jinglong, to escape, actually colluded with remnants of the Demon Cult. On the border of Liang Guo, he was rescued by Liang Shaotian’s senior disciple, ‘Li Hai’.”

“Remnants of the Demon Cult! Liang Shaotian’s senior disciple?”

The three peak masters were shocked.

Liang Shaotian had ascended to the Jie Dan stage decades ago, in a battle to encircle and suppress the Demon Cult, he fought alone against several Zhenren, before escaping with serious injuries.

This leader of the remnants of the Demon Cult in Liang Guo’s cultivation world, though he had been in hiding for many years, was rumored to have fled to another country, but he still held a legendary reputation in Liang Guo.

Liang Shaotian’s senior disciple, “Li Hai,” although he didn’t have the same opportunities and good fortune as his master, as an Earth Spirit Root genius, he had inherited his master’s powerful Demon Dao cultivation techniques, his strength far exceeding his peers.

Li Hai had once caused chaos in the “Qing Ming Secret Realm,” washing away the shame of his master, Liang Shaotian, and killing Xia Fan, the grandson of Li Huo Gong’s Law Enforcement Elder.

It was also in that battle that Li Hai became famous, with his peak筑基中期修为, he killed a 筑基后期 cultivator who was a higher level than him.

Forty years had passed, and this Earth Spirit Root Demon Dao prodigy had already ascended to the Jie Dan stage. He had saved Xiang Jinglong on the border of Liang Guo.

“Liang Shaotian, Li Hai, Xiang Jinglong…”

Thinking that these few people might be together, Lu Chang’an felt a strange sense of unease.

“Regarding this matter, the few of you should not spread it around.”

Song Wenshu warned.

The failure to capture Xiang Jinglong and the intervention of the Demon Cult’s remnants was detrimental to Li Huo Gong’s reputation.

“Song Daoyou, rest assured, we aren’t the gossipy type.”

Ye Fei solemnly assured him.

Those present understood that this matter wasn’t a secret in the upper echelons, it wouldn’t be hidden for long.

The news of the Demon Cult remnants made Lu Chang’an feel as if a storm was brewing, a time of great upheaval.

Back then, Liang Shaotian wanted to revive the Xuan Yin Demon Cult, establish secret bases, but he was jointly suppressed by the sects and ultimately failed.

All of these outcomes were within Lu Chang’an’s expectations.

Previously, he had always been pessimistic about Liang Shaotian’s ambitions.

The main reason was that decades ago, Liang Guo’s cultivation world, as well as the surrounding cultivation nations, were very stable.

There was simply no fertile ground for the Demon Cult to rise.

Even if Liang Shaotian was incredibly talented and had great fortune, he couldn’t fight against the tide of the times.

“Now, it seems we are entering a chaotic era…”

Lu Chang’an knew that he would probably have to retract his previous pessimism about Liang Shaotian’s aspirations for revival.

If the cultivation war in neighboring countries couldn’t end in the short term, the remnants of the Demon Cult in Liang Guo would have a chance for a revival unprecedented in hundreds of years.

Note: I included an introductory sentence for the first paragraph as it flowed naturally and seemed fitting for the style of the novel. I also added an introductory sentence for the final paragraph, which summarized the main point of the chapter and foreshadowed future events.

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