I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 228

## Chapter 225: The Master of Autumn Wind Island

Two hours later.

Lu Chang An, aboard the Wu Fu Trading Company’s spirit boat, flew out of Gu Ri Xian City, a major stronghold on the border of Jing State.

There were six cultivators on the spirit boat, three of whom were at the Foundation Establishment stage.

Besides Lu Chang An and Xia Ming Qu, there was also the eight-character beard old man he had met on the spirit ship, who was at the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Xia Ming Qu called him “Chen Bo”.

At first, Lu Chang An thought he was some elder from the Xia family.

Through Xia Ming Qu’s introduction, Lu Chang An learned that his name was Wu Chen, an elder from the Wu Fu Trading Company’s Council of Elders.

He was also the head of the Wu family, one of the five major families within the Wu Fu Trading Company.

The Wu family and the Xia family had a close relationship and intermarried with each other.

In the following two or three days, the other three Qi Refinement cultivators on the spirit boat landed at a marketplace halfway through their journey, where the Wu Fu Trading Company had a shop.

“Chen Bo, there’s no need to send us further. My nephew is confident in bringing Wu Dao You back to the family.”

Xia Ming Qu transmitted through voice.

The spirit boat had reached the vicinity of Elder Wu Chen’s family lands, and it wouldn’t be on the way to the Xia family lands anymore.

“It’s not much of a detour! Anyway, I have nothing better to do, and it’s fine to travel for a couple more days.”

Wu Chen glanced at Lu Chang An and transmitted through voice.

Six days later.

The spirit boat arrived at Chang Hong River, Qing Sha Bay, in the southeast region of Jing State.

Lu Chang An sensed a powerful spiritual energy, clearly surpassing that of Wu Qi Mountain.

Passing through the mist-shrouded illusionary array, the spirit boat entered the heart of Qing Sha Bay, where the Xia family lands were located.

Water bays, riverbanks, small islands, and Wu Mountains, various beautiful natural landforms, relying on a mid-grade second-order spiritual vein, formed a picturesque landscape of mountains and rivers, lush vegetation, and vibrant birdsong.

The heartland of the family was enveloped by a near-third-order array.

“Young Master.” A cultivator patrolling within the Xia family lands flew over.

“Xia Xian Nephew, I’ll be off then.”

Elder Wu Chen did not linger at the Xia family lands. After delivering Lu Chang An and the other, he left without worry.

…

“Wu Dao You is invited.”

Xia Ming Qu led Lu Chang An towards the heartland of the family.

The Xia family cultivators they encountered along the way looked at Lu Chang An with curiosity, their reactions were unremarkable.

Lu Chang An, using the alias “Wu Fan”, had an ordinary appearance and temperament, resembling a rather down-to-earth, middle-aged man with a round face and yellow beard.

The young female cultivators of the Xia family only glanced at him and showed no interest in discussing him.

Moments later.

Lu Chang An followed Xia Ming Qu to a cliff with a cascading waterfall.

This place was the area with the most concentrated spiritual energy within the Xia family, almost reaching the level of a near-third-order spiritual vein.

“Water Curtain Cave?”

Lu Chang An glanced at the cave behind the waterfall, the stone tablet beside it carved with three ancient characters.

“Wu Dao You, wait a moment, I’ll go inform the patriarch.”

Xia Ming Qu left a message, entering the Water Curtain Cave.

Not long after, Xia Ming Qu returned and led Lu Chang An into the Water Curtain Cave.

Inside the Water Curtain Cave, stone pillars were clustered together, night pearls dotted like stars.

In a stone hall.

Lu Chang An met the most senior patriarch of the current generation of the Xia family, Xia Hong Yu.

“Wu Dao You, let’s chat privately.”

Xia Hong Yu, over two hundred years old, had a figure like a jade tree and a handsome face. At first glance, he looked no older than forty years old.

This False Core Real Person only had slightly graying temples, but upon closer contact, one could feel a sense of time’s passage.

Lu Chang An understood that he had met a cultivator who was also skilled in health preservation, and his cultivation was even higher.

“Earlier, I heard Ming Qu say that Wu Dao You is a loose cultivator from the Liang State cultivation world, hailing from Huang Long Xian City?”

Xia Hong Yu said with a touch of curiosity.

A pair of calm, unwavering eyes fell upon Lu Chang An’s face.

“That is correct.”

Lu Chang An detected subtle mental fluctuations. A flash of strange light appeared in the depths of this False Core Real Person’s eyes.

If it were normal disguise and bone-shrinking techniques, even with profound skills, they would be exposed under a False Core Real Person’s deliberate investigation.

“Decades ago, Xia Mou once went to Huang Long Xian City, and even had the pleasure of meeting your country’s ‘Huang Long Zhen Ren’ once or twice.”

Xia Hong Yu smiled, withdrawing his gaze, shifting the topic to Huang Long Xian City.

During their conversation, Lu Chang An discovered that the man indeed had some understanding of Huang Long Xian City.

Not only had he met Huang Long Zhen Ren, but he also knew something about key figures from the Huang Long Mountain lineage, such as Ji Yi Feng and Fu Xue Mei.

Fortunately, Lu Chang An had indeed been a loose cultivator from Huang Long Xian City before. Facing Xia Hong Yu’s probing, he answered seamlessly.

“My alchemy skills only reached the second-order in recent years. At that time, Huang Long Xian City was in turmoil and unrest, and Wu Mou left that place of strife ahead of time.”

Lu Chang An added to his identity.

In this era of war, it would be troublesome to investigate the identity of an ordinary Foundation Establishment loose cultivator across countries.

There were countless loose cultivators in Huang Long Xian City, it was impossible to have information on every Foundation Establishment cultivator, there would always be some who hid their identities and cultivated in seclusion.

But if it were a second-order alchemist, it would be different, relatively easier to investigate.

“Wu Dao You, the Trading Company or the family will need you to handle some ordinary second-order pill refining tasks from now on. Of course, your primary duty will be to the family, and it would be best if you could guide some alchemy apprentices.”

Xia Hong Yu, after a mental investigation and casual probing, was basically assured of Lu Chang An’s identity.

More importantly, Lu Chang An had also signed a second-order spiritual contract.

If he violated it, the consequences would be severe, making it impossible to even move an inch in the Jing State cultivation world.

“Patriarch Xia, rest assured, this subordinate will abide by the contract. However, Wu Mou’s alchemy is only a secondary cultivation path, my main path cannot be shaken, I can only dedicate part of my energy to alchemy.”

Lu Chang An had set some limits on the number of pills he would refine in the spiritual contract he signed before.

Any pill refining tasks exceeding the basic quota would be subject to normal compensation. If the number was excessive, he also had the right to increase the price or refuse.

Hearing Lu Chang An’s haggling, Xia Hong Yu didn’t get angry, but instead felt a sense of reassurance.

Defending his own interests meant that Lu Chang An intended to fulfill the contract and had a certain degree of sincerity.

“In this jade tube, there is a second-order alchemist legacy, encompassing several pill formulas. Wu Dao You has recently become a second-order alchemist, perhaps you can refer to it.”

In their initial interaction, Xia Hong Yu presented a gift to win over Lu Chang An.

The alchemist legacy he brought out was only second-order lower grade, which would be somewhat beneficial for a newly promoted second-order alchemist. There would be higher-grade legacies in the future.

However, Lu Chang An had actually been a second-order alchemist for many years, he wasn’t lacking in alchemy legacies.

“Currently, the family has two cultivation grounds suitable for Wu Dao You’s cultivation. Later, let Ming Qu take you to see them.”

Xia Hong Yu gave his instructions and called Xia Ming Qu back in.

Xia Ming Qu led Lu Chang An to the sky above Qing Sha Bay, choosing a cultivation ground.

…

Lu Chang An observed the terrain and rejected the first cultivation ground recommended by Xia Ming Qu, which was located in the heartland of the family and had a second-order upper-grade spiritual energy environment.

“Wu Mou prefers solitude, the location of ‘Autumn Wind Island’ is more to my liking.”

Lu Chang An looked towards the vast water bay area, where there were scattered small islands and islets, some of which were man-made.

Among them, the most secluded island, with the fastest current, was called “Autumn Wind Island”.

This island was less than two miles in diameter, covered with a vast expanse of orange-leaved spirit trees.

The spiritual energy was not as good as the first cultivation ground, but the wood spiritual energy was more concentrated.

“Autumn Wind Island?”

Xia Ming Qu hesitated slightly but ultimately said nothing, leading Lu Chang An towards Autumn Wind Island.

Autumn Wind Island was shrouded in an array, and there seemed to be people living there.

“Wen Yue Gu Gu.”

Xia Ming Qu called out from outside, throwing in a sound transmission talisman.

Seeing Lu Chang An’s suspicion.

He explained: “This cultivation ground is temporarily looked after by an elder from Ming Qu’s family.”

After waiting for a while.

The array on Autumn Wind Island opened, and a delicate young woman in a light blue gauze skirt, with eyebrows like ink-washed jade, flew out.

“Ming Qu, you’re here?”

The girl coughed lightly, her jade-like face turning pale with sickness.

Her star-like eyes looked at Lu Chang An with unease.

There was a hint of sorrow between her brows, as if shrouded in light smoke, exuding a sense of fragility and frailty.

Lu Chang An felt a surge of astonishment. Xia Ming Qu called her “Gu Gu”, he thought it was some elderly woman.

From the lifespan perception, the girl’s age was probably a few generations younger than Xia Ming Qu.

This kind of situation wasn’t uncommon in cultivation families.

For example, a Foundation Establishment ancestor who was a hundred or so years old could find a young woman as a concubine, and the children they bore would be of high status.

“Wen Yue Gu Gu, this is Wu Dan Shi, who has just joined the family, a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

Xia Ming Qu introduced.

“I have met Wu Dan Shi.” Xia Wen Yue, with a courteous curtsy, quickly glanced at the ordinary-looking, round-faced middle-aged man.

“From now on, Autumn Wind Island will be Wu Dan Shi’s cultivation ground.”

“Yes, I know.”

Xia Wen Yue lowered her head, her pearly teeth gently biting her lower lip, and softly responded.

Xia Ming Qu felt sorry for her, silently sighed, and smiled at Lu Chang An:

“Wu Dan Shi, I’ll take you inside to have a look.”

Xia Wen Yue stood there, her eyes filled with tears, watching the two of them step onto Autumn Wind Island.

Lu Chang An looked at the island beneath his feet. At the center was a large garden courtyard, the buildings inside were elegant and exquisite, resembling a cultivation ground used by female cultivators.

Behind the garden courtyard, there was a deep pond, several dozen feet in diameter, suitable for Xuan Shui Gui to inhabit.

Lu Chang An looked around. This fresh and tranquil style was more to his liking.

“Xia Shao Zhu, what connection does this cultivation ground have with the young woman earlier?”

Lu Chang An didn’t make a decision right away.

He first wanted to find out if there were any historical disputes.

“Wen Yue Gu Gu’s mother, according to our lineage, is my great aunt, she was once a family elder, and made great contributions to both the Xia family and the Trading Company. Ten years ago, she suffered an unfortunate incident…”

“According to family rules, the descendants of Foundation Establishment elders can only live in their cultivation ground cave for a maximum of five years. Out of consideration for old feelings, the patriarch allowed Wen Yue Gu Gu to stay here for over ten years. Of course, the subsequent years were under the pretext of looking after the cultivation ground.”

“Wu Dao You, rest assured, there are no remaining issues with this cultivation ground. Wen Yue Gu Gu is a reasonable person and won’t have any grievances.”

After listening to Xia Ming Qu’s explanation, Lu Chang An nodded, without further probing.

He just felt that Xia Ming Qu didn’t want to talk about Xia Wen Yue’s mother in detail.

Moreover, Xia Wen Yue followed her mother’s surname, and Xia Ming Qu didn’t mention her biological father.

…

Entering the garden mansion at the center of Autumn Wind Island.

Lu Chang An saw some home furnishings and clothing used by female cultivators.

“Wu Dan Shi, can you give this little girl half an hour to pack up the things in the house?”

Xia Wen Yue followed behind, her pale and sickly jade face flushed with a faint blush, hurriedly packing her belongings.

Lu Chang An naturally didn’t make it difficult for her, and he walked out of the garden mansion with Xia Ming Qu.

Lu Chang An discovered that the spiritual vein environment of this island was nominally second-order mid-grade. But the deep pond in the center seemed to connect with the earth vein, and the spiritual energy was very active.

If a spirit gathering array was set up and spirit stones were invested, it could reach second-order upper grade.

“Wu Dan Shi, Wen Yue Gu Gu has lived here for a long time and has special feelings for this cultivation ground. Could you consider letting her be the steward or maid here, it would be more convenient for her to manage it.”

Xia Ming Qu pleaded on her behalf.

Although Xia Wen Yue was a Qi Refinement cultivator and her aptitude was not good, as the daughter of the deceased elder, it was somewhat humiliating for her to be a servant.

However, this was Xia Wen Yue’s own request.

If one day, Autumn Wind Island became the cultivation ground of some elder, she hoped to stay here, even if it was as a servant.

Lu Chang An hesitated: “Wu Mou prefers to be alone, and I have just arrived at the Xia family lands, I don’t know much about the situation. It’s better to reconsider the choice of maids later.”

“Ming Qu is being too forward.”

Xia Ming Qu smiled apologetically and didn’t insist.

He thought that Lu Chang An was concerned about Xia Wen Yue’s identity or that he didn’t want the servants assigned by the family.

“Congratulations Wu Dao You, on becoming the new island master of Autumn Wind Island.”

Xia Ming Qu didn’t stay long, bidding farewell and leaving.

Another quarter of an hour passed.

Xia Wen Yue’s willow-like figure emerged from the mansion.

“Wu Dan Shi.”

The girl’s face became even paler, she forced a smile at Lu Chang An, bowed slightly, and reluctantly left.

Lu Chang An expanded his mental perception and examined her condition.

Xia Wen Yue was inherently cold and weak, with a root cause of illness, she was actually not suitable for living on an island with heavy moisture.

…

That day, Lu Chang An began planning and setting up his cultivation ground.

Lu Chang An didn’t plan to touch the existing array and spirit gathering array on the island, which served as the outer array, covering the entire Autumn Wind Island.

With the mansion and the cold pond behind it as the center, he planned to re-set up his own array.

Before leaving Little Tortoise Peak, Lu Chang An had removed the core part of the original near-third-order array.

This was originally the array set up by Shi Xian Zi.

Now, he planned to move this array core to the mansion on Autumn Wind Island.

A near-third-order array was somewhat high-profile.

Lu Chang An divided it into two layers, overt and covert.

The overt array was a second-order upper-grade array; the covert array had a stronger concealing effect.

The combination of overt and covert arrays constituted a near-third-order array.

With this array in place, no one from the Xia family could pry into Lu Chang An’s cave’s privacy.

Ten days later.

Lu Chang An’s array in the new cultivation ground was basically complete.

The deep pond behind the mansion was incorporated into the array.

Xuan Shui Gui would live in the deep pond on a daily basis. If there were any visitors, the Xuan Shui Gui’s breath-holding ability could allow it to submerge itself to the bottom of the deep pond, hidden by the array, and ordinary Real Persons would have difficulty detecting it.

As for the Earth Rock Rat, it was currently staying in the mansion or underground, silently cultivating the Shape Shifting Technique.

Once its technique reached a certain level, it could change into another type of rat and work on the island.

Actually, Earth Rock Rat wasn’t a rare breed in terms of bloodline.

As long as it didn’t appear at the same time as the Xuan Shui Gui, and just happened to encounter a cultivator from Liang State, Lu Chang An’s identity wouldn’t be easily exposed.

“Xue Mu Hu Luo, to truly grow, it’s best to take root in the ground. Well, I need to find a hidden and secure place to study it slowly, no need to rush…”

“The Jing State cultivation world has a thriving trade, it should be easier to buy longevity pills and materials for near-third-order puppets than in Liang State.”

“The Earth Rock Rat can cultivate to the peak of the second-order, when things stabilize here in Jing State, I need to plan its Core Formation.”

“In addition, I need to stay informed about the war in the Liang State cultivation world, including information about Shi Xian Zi, the ancient ruins, and the Jin Yang Sect…”

Upon arriving in Jing State, Lu Chang An had many plans for the future.

However, he had not yet established himself, was unfamiliar with the surrounding environment, and lacked connections, so it was best not to rush things.

…

One month later.

Lu Chang An had adapted to his new identity as a Xia family’s external hire, the Master of Autumn Wind Island, and had spent a peaceful and tranquil first month in Jing State.

Soon, the first batch of materials for pill refining from the Xia family was delivered to his mansion.

Actually, the Wu Fu Trading Company had a second-order upper-grade alchemist as a retainer, but he was old and his energy was limited, so he couldn’t meet the demand for pill refining.

The Xia family had also cultivated a new generation alchemist, but he betrayed the family and was poached by someone else.

Lu Chang An’s arrival was mainly to refine ordinary second-order pills, helping to alleviate the pressure on the demand for second-order pills.

If he could cultivate and mentor some alchemy apprentices, that would be even better.

The art of alchemy depended heavily on talent and comprehension. If you only had the legacy but no alchemist guidance, it would be difficult to learn on your own.

Normal updates will resume after the May Day holiday…

(During the holiday, I took my wife and children to her mother’s house in Wuhan to have fun, and I planned to write on my phone. However, I couldn’t adapt to sleeping and writing in a different place, so I just relaxed for two days.)

(End of Chapter)

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