I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 235

## Chapter 232: Spirit Pet’s Dan Formation

The southeastern border of Liang Guo (Liang Kingdom).

Amidst a collapsed mountain peak, dust still hung in the air.

A Dan formation battle had just ended.

Zhang Tieshan coughed blood from his mouth, forcefully using his cultivation to stabilize his shaky and weak body.

Looking at the True Dan cultivator’s corpse not far away, his eyes lit up with joy.

“Not bad, a Fake Dan cultivator slaying a True Dan cultivator in their prime. Even in the ancient and prosperous Middle State’s cultivation world, this is rare.”

A childish yet old-fashioned voice echoed in his mind.

“Without the assistance of the Spirit Artifact Senior, I wouldn’t have been able to achieve this.”

Zhang Tieshan said modestly, walking forward to collect the spoils from the Feng Guo True Dan cultivator.

Three years ago, he had traded with Lu Changan for some Five Elements Soil. His Spirit Artifact fragments had recovered more spirituality since then.

Although it could only exert a few supernatural powers for a short duration, it was enough to suppress ordinary magic weapons.

“When do you plan to transform and rebuild your Dan?”

“This time I was on a mission and was pursued by the Feng Guo True Dan cultivator. It was a good opportunity for me to leave the sect and battlefield for a while. Once I’ve recovered, I’ll go to the ‘Moon Gazing Immortal City’ to transform my Dan back into liquid and form a new Dan.”

Zhang Tieshan answered after taking two pills.

“Hmm, with this Spirit Artifact’s help, your transformation will be worry-free. If you give it a little bit of Spirit Artifact energy, you can even improve the quality of your Dan.”

“Thank you, Senior, for your blessing.” Zhang Tieshan exclaimed in delight.

“If you can help this Spirit Artifact find the other fragments and absorb the other spiritual fragments, these benefits are nothing.”

The childish voice said.

“Oh, right, the remaining small portion of Five Elements Spiritual Soil can be used for your Dan formation.”

“Five Elements Soil?” Zhang Tieshan asked with confusion.

“Five Elements Soil is known as the universal soil source, and it can be used as a Dan formation spirit object. Not only can it improve the quality of your Dan, but it also increases the stability of the Dan formation process, reducing the risk.”

“Unfortunately, your cultivation technique is not earth attribute. As a Dan formation spirit object, it cannot exert its full effect.”

…

On Autumn Wind Island, in the basement beneath the mansion.

Lu Changan took out two jars of Five Elements Soil, one of which was only half full.

The Di Yan Shu (Earth Rock Rat) looked at its owner with burning eyes, almost drooling at the two jars of Five Elements Soil.

“Five Elements Soil, a legendary heaven and earth spirit object, the universal soil source. The Di Yan Shu is an earth-type rat demon…”

Lu Changan quickly understood.

He had only read about Five Elements Soil in ancient books in his previous life, and didn’t know all its uses.

Lu Changan could only confirm that Five Elements Soil could be used as a Dan formation spirit object for earth-type demon beasts or cultivators with earth-attribute techniques.

Whether it could be used as a universal Dan formation spirit object remained uncertain.

“If Five Elements Soil can be used as a universal Dan formation spirit object, then the deal I made with Zhang Tieshan was a complete loss…”

Lu Changan pondered.

Thankfully, he had strictly controlled the amount he traded with Zhang Tieshan.

If that top-notch Dan transformation technique could significantly improve Lu Changan’s final Dan quality, it would be worth it.

“Hmm, half a jar of Five Elements Soil should be enough for you, right?”

Lu Changan smiled.

吱吱! (Zhi Zhi!)

The Di Yan Shu, like a chick pecking at rice, eagerly extended its paw to receive the half-jar of Five Elements Soil.

Lu Changan suddenly thought of something and retracted the Five Elements Soil.

吱？(Zhi?)

The Di Yan Shu was puzzled and stared at its owner with wide eyes.

“Follow me!”

Lu Changan opened the underground tunnel and went to the deep pool at the other end.

At the bottom of the deep pool, there was a stone house hidden and isolated from the water flow by an array.

Inside the stone house, a large porcelain jar containing the Xuan Mu Hu Luo (Mysterious Wood Gourd Vine) was filled with five-colored soil.

At the bottom of the jar, there was a large hole allowing the Five Elements Soil inside to contact the soil at the bottom of the lake, connecting with the “earth energy.”

The Xuan Shui Gui (Mysterious Water Turtle) was casting the Cloud Rain technique to irrigate the Xuan Mu Hu Luo.

The turtle was focused and seemed to enjoy it, not even noticing Lu Changan and the Di Yan Shu entering.

The Xuan Shui Gui was lazy by nature, but it was very enthusiastic about irrigating the Xuan Mu Hu Luo.

This unusual behavior made Lu Changan feel that the turtle was getting some hidden benefits from it.

However, he didn’t notice any changes in the Xuan Shui Gui.

Lu Changan had also often used his Everlasting Green cultivation to nourish the vine, but he hadn’t felt any benefits.

噗呜!(Pu Wu!)

As the Xuan Shui Gui complained, Lu Changan dug out a small portion of Five Elements Soil near the gourd vine.

The Di Yan Shu’s eyes widened, and the Xuan Shui Gui immediately calmed down.

“Is this enough?”

Lu Changan handed the small portion of Five Elements Soil he had dug out to the Di Yan Shu.

Lu Changan had often nourished the Xuan Mu Hu Luo and discovered that the Five Elements Soil here seemed to have more spirituality, an indescribable feeling.

The Five Elements Soil stored separately had less spirituality.

吱！(Zhi!)

The Di Yan Shu looked somewhat aggrieved, taking the clearly reduced amount of Five Elements Soil.

After communication, Lu Changan confirmed that this amount of Five Elements Soil was completely sufficient.

The reason the Di Yan Shu wanted more was that, besides being a Dan formation spirit object, Five Elements Soil had great benefits for earth-type demon beasts.

…

“A mere rat demon getting two top-notch Dan formation spirit objects. Even a direct disciple of the Li Huo Gong (Leaving Fire Palace) would probably not have this kind of treatment.”

Lu Changan couldn’t help but feel a little envious of the Di Yan Shu’s treatment as he returned to the mansion.

After all, his own, as the owner, only had one top-notch Dan formation spirit object.

Five Elements Soil, as a Dan formation spirit object, might not be suitable for him.

Even if he could use it, it probably wouldn’t be as compatible with his attributes as it was with the Di Yan Shu.

Thankfully, Lu Changan had the Dan transformation technique, so he didn’t covet the Di Yan Shu’s opportunity.

That Dan transformation technique was a human secret technique and was not suitable for demon beasts, unless it was modified.

Besides, Lu Changan had sworn a heart demon oath with Zhang Tieshan when they traded.

Lu Changan couldn’t pass this Dan transformation technique on to anyone else.

“With two top-notch Dan formation spirit objects, the Di Yan Shu has a very high chance of achieving True Dan. The Dan formation location is in the Qing Sha Wan (Clear Sand Bay) Xia clan. It might not be appropriate.”

Lu Changan’s plans had to be adjusted.

A Foundation Establishment cultivator, even one at the late stage, with a Fake Dan-level spirit pet, was a rare opportunity.

However, it was not considered earth-shattering.

Zhou Qingxuan from the Beast Control Zhou clan had a near-third-order demon beast during her Foundation Establishment stage.

However, a Foundation Establishment cultivator having a True Dan-level spirit pet was a bit exaggerated.

If this were to happen, Lu Changan would instantly enter the high-level field of vision in the entire Jing Guo cultivation world, and his reputation would even spread to surrounding cultivation kingdoms.

Only with a strong background could he remain calm and composed.

Lu Changan initially planned to let the Di Yan Shu form its Dan in Qing Sha Wan, considering this small possibility.

If it happened, he would have to take the Di Yan Shu and run away immediately, finding a new cultivation place.

Moreover, the Jing Guo Merchant Alliance would investigate his information, and his original identity would likely be exposed.

“Unfortunately, the Dan formation celestial phenomena are difficult to conceal. Even ordinary third-order arrays cannot do it.”

Lu Changan felt a headache.

When a cultivator or demon beast forms a Dan, the celestial phenomena can be used to roughly judge the quality of the Dan.

At least, Lu Changan hadn’t had any means to cover it up in his previous life.

Only at the level of Nascent Soul Zhen Jun (Nascent Soul True Monarch) or higher, or with a skilled array master, could they do this.

“It seems I have to cooperate with the Snow Fox Merchant Alliance. That special spirit vein location is more suitable for demon beasts, and more importantly, it’s in a remote location. The Dan formation celestial phenomena won’t attract too much attention…”

With the change in plans, Lu Changan had to make more adequate preparations.

…

In the basement of Autumn Wind Island mansion.

The Di Yan Shu, having received the Five Elements Soil, began its closed-door cultivation again.

By absorbing the soil source essence from the Five Elements Soil, the Di Yan Shu could increase its foundation.

In the basement, Lu Changan took out a semi-finished heavy puppet and began to study it intently.

In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

Lu Changan’s puppet techniques finally made a breakthrough, and he crafted a near-third-order puppet.

“With this puppet, even if a True Dan cultivator at the early stage comes, I can resist them head-on.”

Lu Changan examined the armored puppet holding a heavy shield in its hand.

The crafting of puppets wasn’t as meticulous as that of magic weapons or magic artifacts. As long as the material strength was sufficient, it would basically meet the standard.

Puppet masters didn’t need to comprehend the core techniques of weapon refiners. They only needed to know how to forge and process materials. The core knowledge was more inclined towards mechanism construction and soul control techniques.

Of course, for some high-end components, puppet masters could ask weapon refiners to do it for them.

Lu Changan put away the near-third-order heavy armored puppet.

Not long after, the Di Yan Shu emerged and followed its master to the deep pool again.

Because he was going out for a long time, Lu Changan took the Xuan Mu Hu Luo from the stone house at the bottom of the pool, and the Xuan Shui Gui had to follow.

“You two stay here on Autumn Wind Island and take good care of yourselves. I’ve already prepared several months’ worth of common second-order spirit pills in advance.”

Lu Changan called over two medicinal disciples, Xia Mingcheng and Xia Wenyue.

Xia Mingcheng was a genuine medicinal disciple and a first-order Dan Master with good talent.

Xia Wenyue was more inclined towards medicinal theory and medicine. On Autumn Wind Island, she played the dual role of a medicinal disciple and a maidservant.

“Yes, Master Wu.”

The two medicinal disciples bowed and retreated after Lu Changan gave them instructions.

…

Lu Changan flew to the center of Qing Sha Wan to meet the young master, Xia Mingqu, to say hello.

Since he saved Xia Shenglan, the Xia clan had become increasingly trusting of Lu Changan.

When he mentioned going out this time, Xia Mingqu didn’t dissuade him at all.

Half an hour later, Lu Changan left Xia Mingqu’s cultivation dojo with a strange expression.

During their meeting, Xia Mingqu had subtly probed Lu Changan’s feelings for Xia Shenglan.

The Xia clan was actually trying to match Lu Changan with Xia Shenglan.

“It seems that the relationship between Xia Shenglan and her husband from the Xin clan is now merely a formality.”

“Xia Shenglan hasn’t returned to the Xin clan yet…”

Lu Changan realized that the relationship between the two strongest clans within the Five Fortune Merchant Alliance, the Xia and Xin clans, had reached a freezing point, and they might tear each other apart at any time.

This was essentially a dispute over an unequal distribution of benefits and power.

Decades ago, the Xia clan dominated the Five Fortune Merchant Alliance, with the position of leader always being held by the Xia clan.

But ten years ago, the Xin clan also produced a Fake Dan cultivator, younger than the Xia clan head, Xia Hongyu.

Although the Xia clan had relinquished some power and benefits, the Xin clan was still dissatisfied, as they had different strategic ideas about managing the merchant alliance.

If Xia Shenglan continued to stay with the Xin clan, she would be increasingly isolated and closely guarded by that clan.

…

A month later.

In the Black Mist Mountain Range’s branch in the northern part of Jing Guo.

An iron fortress was located in a mountain valley basin, hidden by a third-order array.

Inside a side hall of the iron fortress, two cultivators, a man and a woman, were sitting.

“Master Xiang, I apologize for making you wait.”

Master Han Yu, with silver hair and a snow-white robe, skin like jade, and an icy and elegant aura, apologized to Lu Changan.

“It’s alright. After all, this spirit vein cultivation place isn’t exclusively owned by your merchant alliance.”

Lu Changan, disguised as an old man in a straw cloak named Xiang, said in a flat tone.

Half a month ago, Lu Changan had contacted Master Han Yu of the Snow Fox Merchant Alliance, intending to borrow the special demon-transformed spirit vein the merchant alliance owned in the Black Mist Mountain Range.

Master Han Yu readily agreed, but also put forward corresponding conditions.

Lu Changan, besides paying a fee for using the location, also owed the Snow Fox Merchant Alliance a favor.

The Snow Fox Merchant Alliance only asked for a verbal promise.

Lu Changan readily agreed.

When he first arrived at this secret base, another merchant alliance that co-owned the spirit vein with the Snow Fox Merchant Alliance had a spirit pet trying to breakthrough to the third order.

“The array and cultivation room are ready. Please come with me, Master Xiang.”

Master Han Yu received a message on a jade pendant and said to Lu Changan.

The two walked side by side to a cultivation hall in the center of the iron fortress.

This cultivation hall was set up with Gathering Spirit Array, Demon煞 (Demon煞, similar to negative energy) Array, and the spiritual pressure was almost equivalent to a third-order spirit vein, making it very suitable for demon beasts to break through to the third order.

“What’s your name, Daoist friend? What kind of demon beast are you preparing to break through to the third order?”

A burly man in a tiger-skin cloak stood in front of the cultivation hall and asked lightly.

Master Han Yu gave Lu Changan a wink.

“It turns out to be Master Hu Xiao from the Beast Control Merchant Alliance.”

Lu Changan had heard Master Han Yu mention this person before. He was the guardian of the Beast Control Merchant Alliance in this location.

After arriving at the cultivation place of this special spirit vein, Lu Changan learned that although the Snow Fox Merchant Alliance and the Wrong Word Merchant Alliance jointly managed the place, their influence was not as strong as the latter.

This was because the Beast Control Merchant Alliance was more powerful and was considered the number one in Jing Guo when it came to beast control.

The Snow Fox Merchant Alliance’s advantage was that they were the first to discover this spirit vein location. Later, when the news leaked, they had no choice but to develop it with the Beast Control Merchant Alliance.

“I’m an unknown person, a loose cultivator who formed a Fake Dan in a small place and haven’t taken a Daoist name. This time, the demon beast breaking through to the third order is an earth-type beast.”

Lu Changan didn’t reveal much useful information.

He had discussed with Master Han Yu beforehand, keeping his personal information highly confidential for this spirit pet’s Dan formation.

Master Hu Xiao snorted coldly, didn’t ask much more, and opened the cultivation hall.

The Snow Fox Merchant Alliance was also a major merchant alliance within the merchant alliance, holding half the usage rights of this place. He had no reason to stop them.

…

“Master Hu Xiao’s previous near-third-order tiger demon died in battle. Later, he cultivated the offspring of that tiger demon. A month ago, he took煞元丹 (煞元丹, a kind of powerful pill) and a common Dan formation spirit object to form a Dan. As a result, the tiger demon failed to advance. The potency of煞元丹 was too strong, causing a backlash, leading to a decline in cultivation…”

Entering the cultivation hall, Master Han Yu explained.

This was also the reason for Master Hu Xiao’s bad mood.

“I understand.”

Lu Changan nodded, then learned about the usage of the cultivation hall from Master Han Yu.

“This array token can control the arrays and restrictions within the cultivation hall, affecting the size of the spiritual pressure…”

Master Han Yu explained a few things before leaving the cultivation hall.

She was also curious about what spirit pet Lu Changan was using to break through to the third order and what kind of Dan formation spirit objects he had prepared.

Unfortunately, Lu Changan kept his mouth shut and didn’t reveal any key information.

Lu Changan was not confident about the arrays in the hall, so he set up a few more restrictions.

He even used幽影石 (You Ying Shi, a type of stone that can block spiritual sense) to create isolation materials near the cultivation stone bed to prevent the spiritual sense of outside cultivators from exploring.

With everything prepared, the Di Yan Shu emerged from the spirit pet bag and sat on the stone bed in the cultivation hall.

吱！(Zhi!)

The Di Yan Shu looked at its master and closed its eyes peacefully, circulating its bloodline and demon power.

Lu Changan sat a few meters behind it, personally protecting it.

Half a day later, the Di Yan Shu entered a stable state, its energy, vitality, and spirit soaring.

The initial stage of Dan formation didn’t pose any risks.

Lu Changan’s gaze looked towards the northeast direction of the Black Mist Mountain Range.

Following that direction, his gaze seemed to penetrate through layers of space, jump over the land of Jing Guo, pass by the Beast Control Zhou clan, and Mount Wu Qi.

Moving slightly north, it finally reached the location of the Qing Ming Secret Realm.

“One hundred and forty-six years old. The Qing Ming Secret Realm last opened exactly fifty years ago.”

(End of Chapter)

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