I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 236

## Chapter 233: Great Demon

Several days later.

Above the valley basin where the Iron Fortress was located, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth churned, gathering in massive quantities.

Dark clouds rolled across the surrounding area, condensation of baleful energy.

A powerful demonic aura emanated from the cultivation hall, causing the beasts near the Black Mist Mountains to tremble in fear and flee.

“It’s begun.”

Inside a side hall, Tiger Roar True Immortal and Jade Cold True Immortal sat facing each other, their expressions unchanging.

“Judging by the signs of Dan Formation, the Daoist friend’s beast should be an Earth-elemental beast of superior bloodline.”

Tiger Roar True Immortal leaned back on a beast-skin chair, his posture relaxed, and spoke nonchalantly.

“Jade Cold True Immortal kept this person and their beast so secretive, all mysterious. Zhou thought it was a beast of Earth-grade bloodline.”

Recently, Tiger Roar True Immortal’s Tiger Spirit Pet had failed in its attempt to form a Dan. It was also a superior bloodline.

Unfortunately, its luck was bad and it hadn’t even formed a False Dan. The violent potency of the Sasheng Dan brought backlash, causing the Tiger Spirit Pet’s cultivation to regress.

“As long as there is good fortune, a superior bloodline beast still has the chance to become a third-tier Great Demon.”

Jade Cold True Immortal’s voice was cold, detecting the mockery in the other’s words.

“That Daoist friend has at least a Sasheng Dan. From the aura, their Spirit Pet’s foundation is solid. Forming a False Dan should be no problem.”

Hearing this, Tiger Roar True Immortal’s face stiffened, his mood souring.

Jade Cold True Immortal was deliberately bringing up his sore spot.

The implication was that Tiger Roar True Immortal’s Spirit Pet failed because of his eagerness to achieve results, pushing the beast to grow too quickly, neglecting its foundation and potential.

Tiger Roar True Immortal’s face darkened, he snorted coldly, and swept his divine sense towards the cultivation hall.

A flicker of surprise flashed in his eyes, and he said with anger, “Why is that Daoist friend so guarded? Do they question our integrity?”

Tiger Roar True Immortal discovered that the cultivation hall was enveloped by layers of restrictions, blocking any attempts at investigation.

Not only that, but at the entrance of the cultivation hall, there was also a heavy, shield-wielding puppet standing guard.

Judging by its material, the puppet was close to third-tier.

Such protective measures, even two False Dan cultivators working together, wouldn’t be able to stop a Dan Formation.

Jade Cold True Immortal chuckled lightly, “Being cautious isn’t a mistake. That Daoist friend is just taking precautions against petty people. Tiger Roar True Immortal wouldn’t mind, would you?”

“Of course Zhou wouldn’t mind! But, their actions are stealthy and secretive, their name and Daoist title unknown. Zhou doubts their identity…” Tiger Roar True Immortal was a little annoyed, his eyes flashing with suspicion.

“My Snow Fox Trading House vouches for this person’s identity. We respect their privacy. Your Trading House has also brought cultivators with unknown identities to help their Spirit Pets form a Dan.”

Jade Cold True Immortal disagreed.

The reason she stayed here was to monitor Tiger Roar True Immortal, to prevent him from pulling any underhanded tricks that would affect Xiang Zhen Ren’s Spirit Pet Dan Formation.

Such situations had occurred before.

As long as there was no concrete evidence, the relatively weaker Snow Fox Trading House could only swallow the loss if they were wronged.

…

Four more days passed.

The Dan Formation aura in the sky gradually climbed.

Whoosh!

Above the cultivation hall, a swirling, ochre-yellow cloud formation condensed, covering an area exceeding a mile in diameter, radiating a powerful spiritual pressure.

Moreover, the ochre-yellow cloud formation was still continuously expanding.

“That’s quite a bit of momentum.”

Tiger Roar True Immortal took a sip of tea, his eyes narrowed slightly.

At this moment, the Dan Formation signs of that unknown beast had already surpassed his Tiger Spirit Pet.

As long as it remained stable, forming a False Dan wouldn’t be difficult.

Moreover, the Dan Formation signs showed steady progress.

Seeing this, Tiger Roar True Immortal felt a bit uncomfortable.

However, the situation developed far beyond the two True Immortals’ expectations.

“It’s endless! It’s still climbing?” Tiger Roar True Immortal’s face became increasingly unsightly.

On the tenth day of the Earth Rock Rat’s retreat, the ochre-yellow cloud formation in the sky, after reaching a certain point, its expansion speed increased dramatically.

It continued to expand until it reached a diameter of two miles before its speed finally slowed down.

With the ochre-yellow cloud formation as the center, the immense demonic energy emitted a pressure that faintly surpassed the level of a near third-tier.

“True Dan is possible!”

Jade Cold True Immortal and Tiger Roar True Immortal were both astonished.

Jade Cold True Immortal was even more surprised.

If Lu Chang An’s beast could form a True Dan, the favor he promised would be extremely valuable.

“Could that beast be hiding something? Is it actually Earth-grade bloodline, or did it have a superior Dan Formation spirit treasure to help?”

Tiger Roar True Immortal felt worse than if he had swallowed a fly. Thinking about the failure of his Spirit Pet’s Dan Formation, he couldn’t help but feel jealous.

Jade Cold True Immortal’s pair of ice-blue eyes shone with light, as she pondered, “Xiang Zhen Ren’s beast has recently consumed a Sasheng Dan, its Dan Formation momentum is violent but orderly, the control is far superior to that of Tiger Roar True Immortal’s Tiger Beast.”

This showed that Xiang Zhen Ren’s beast had a solid foundation and deep potential.

This wasn’t an effect that could be achieved with a simple superior Dan Formation spirit treasure.

After all, common Dan Formation spirit treasures could only improve the quality of the Dan formed, but they had little impact on the success or failure of Dan Formation.

“If the Snow Fox Trading House gets a True Dan-level ally, it will be greatly detrimental to our family.”

Seeing the steady climb of the Dan Formation signs in the sky, without any turbulence, Tiger Roar True Immortal couldn’t sit still.

He took out a jade pendant and sent a message.

Jade Cold True Immortal also quietly sent a message to the upper echelons of the Trading House.

The birth of a third-tier Great Demon was enough to alarm the True Dan ancestors of the Trading House.

…

Inside the cultivation hall.

Lu Chang An sat several feet behind the Earth Rock Rat, providing protection.

The Earth Rock Rat, radiating a ferocious demonic power, covered an area of ten feet around itself, making it impossible for anyone to approach. The terrifying demonic energy and pressure would be enough to injure ordinary False Dan cultivators.

The terrifying demonic energy and pressure caused even Lu Chang An, the owner, to feel a sense of unease and a suffocating feeling.

If he hadn’t cultivated his Body Tempering Scripture to near third-tier and possessed a powerful divine sense, he wouldn’t be able to withstand being in the vicinity, let alone protect the Earth Rock Rat.

“Five-Element Earth, truly a universal source of earth! In addition to serving as a Dan Formation spirit treasure, increasing the potential of Earth-elemental beasts, it can also enhance the stability of the Dan Formation process!”

Lu Chang An’s expression relaxed, he smiled.

Increased stability meant a lower risk of failure during Dan Formation.

Therefore, the potent potency of the Sasheng Dan was actually a good thing for the Earth Rock Rat, allowing it to maximize its effects.

Thanks to this stability.

Lu Chang An’s protective duty this time was easier than he imagined, he hardly had to do anything.

“Demonic energy crystallizing! The quality of the Dan formed will depend on this step.”

Lu Chang An noticed that the Earth Rock Rat’s liquid demonic energy was transforming into tiny, sand-like crystals, like mercury, appearing like bamboo shoots after a rain.

These tiny demonic energy crystals were constantly condensing in the center, continuously compressed by the powerful spiritual pressure and bloodline power.

A crystal-yellow, rudimentary Dan was slowly taking shape.

Lu Chang An, with his past life experience in Dan Formation, had extensively studied the theory, guiding the Earth Rock Rat to use the Five-Element Earth and Profound Yellow Crystal at the appropriate times.

The rudimentary Dan already showed signs of a True Dan. After fusing the two Dan Formation spirit treasures, its aura began to surge.

The surface of the rudimentary Dan bloomed with five-colored flames and an ochre-yellow halo.

“The lower-level True Dan is completely stabilized!”

“Approaching the middle-level True Dan… exceeding the middle-level True Dan… approaching the upper-level True Dan!”

In Lu Chang An’s perception, the quality of the rudimentary Dan was rapidly and steadily improving.

When it exceeded the quality of a middle-level True Dan, the quality of the Earth Rock Rat’s Dan formed had already surpassed that of his past life!

Lu Chang An’s heart swelled with a long-suppressed excitement.

Although it wasn’t his own Dan Formation, his Spirit Pet’s Dan Formation surpassing his past life was a kind of surpassing in its own way.

The quality of the Dan formed affected the potential after Dan Formation and also had a certain impact on strength.

For example, two cultivators with the same aptitude and the same cultivation techniques formed a Dan.

The cultivator whose Dan formed in the upper-level would have slightly more potent magical power than those in the middle and lower levels.

Although the difference was not particularly large, it could still make a difference at critical moments.

…

“This Dan Formation sign, could it be forming an upper-level True Dan?”

Inside the side hall, Jade Cold True Immortal and Tiger Roar True Immortal’s expressions were filled with shock.

In the sky, the ochre-yellow cloud formation, rotating with five-colored halos, expanded to a diameter of three or four miles.

The demonic energy fluctuations emanating from the cultivation hall were clearly at the level of a third-tier Great Demon.

Tiger Roar True Immortal was filled with both jealousy and anxiety.

“It has reached the final stage of Dan Formation…”

Tiger Roar True Immortal knew that if no external force intervened, a third-tier Great Demon comparable to a True Dan cultivator would be born.

True Dan cultivators or third-tier Great Demons were already the deterrent force of the major forces in the Jing Kingdom’s cultivation world.

What was even more terrifying was.

The unknown beast had a high possibility of achieving an upper-level True Dan.

This meant that in the future, when it advanced to the late third-tier, it would be highly likely to become comparable to a human cultivator at the late Dan Formation stage.

Perhaps even a fourth-tier, shape-shifting Demon King comparable to a Nascent Soul True Jun would be a possibility.

This was the advantage of achieving an upper-level True Dan.

If it were a middle or lower level True Dan, the door to reaching the Nascent Soul True Jun would essentially be closed.

“What should we do? Jade Cold True Immortal, that woman, is watching me, plus the mysterious False Dan True Immortal providing protection, and a near third-tier puppet…”

Tiger Roar True Immortal felt powerless.

Against three, even though he considered himself strong, he had no chance of winning.

This secret base in the Black Mist Mountains was jointly guarded by the two Trading Houses, with a False Dan True Immortal rotating shifts, along with several Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Jade Cold True Immortal was watching him, making it difficult for him to do anything underhanded.

Tiger Roar True Immortal didn’t want to take the risk, the success rate was too low.

But just now, the ancestor of the Ten Thousand Beasts Trading House had sent a message, asking him to find an opportunity to sabotage the Dan Formation, even if it meant breaking with the Snow Fox Trading House.

Roar!

From the depths of the Black Mist Mountains, a soul-chilling roar erupted, interrupting Tiger Roar True Immortal’s thoughts.

“A third-tier Great Demon! Could it have been attracted by the astonishing Dan Formation signs?”

Tiger Roar True Immortal felt the approach of a third-tier Great Demon’s aura, his heart lifted in joy.

This secret base, although jointly controlled by the two Trading Houses, was located in the Black Mist Mountains after all.

Such astonishing Dan Formation signs could be sensed remotely by third-tier Great Demons even from hundreds, even thousands of miles away.

“A mid-third-tier Great Demon?”

Inside the cultivation hall, Lu Chang An frowned, his expression solemn.

This spiritual vein location was guarded by a False Dan True Immortal, and there was a third-tier formation, making it invulnerable to the attack of an ordinary third-tier Great Demon.

At least, it would be enough to hold out until reinforcements arrived.

However, the Earth Rock Rat was in the midst of Dan Formation, forming an upper-level True Dan, absorbing a large amount of heaven and earth spiritual energy, causing the power of the third-tier formation to be significantly weakened.

…

Roar!

A large, third-tier Bear Demon, upon nearing the valley where the Iron Fortress was located, slowed down.

The Bear Demon, from a distance of five or six miles, peeped in.

Perhaps due to a certain degree of fear, unsure of the situation, it didn’t make any further moves for now.

“The power of the third-tier formation has been halved. If that Bear Demon attacks, the consequences will be unimaginable.”

Tiger Roar True Immortal’s face was stern, he took out a formation flag and walked towards the side hall.

“What are you doing?”

Jade Cold True Immortal gave a clear rebuke, blocking his way.

“Of course I’m going to strengthen the third-tier formation? Are we supposed to sit here and wait for that Bear Demon to attack, and get us all killed?”

Tiger Roar True Immortal spoke with righteous indignation.

He wasn’t entirely pretending.

Faced with the intrusion of a mid-third-tier Great Demon, he was indeed panicking, worried about his own life.

“This…” Jade Cold True Immortal hesitated.

If Tiger Roar True Immortal strengthened the third-tier formation, it would inevitably draw on the spiritual energy, causing insufficient spiritual pressure for the Earth Rock Rat’s Dan Formation.

“Jade Cold True Immortal, don’t worry. Zhou will appropriately strengthen the formation, there will only be a minor impact on the Dan Formation of that Daoist friend’s Spirit Pet. Perhaps the quality of the Dan formed will be slightly reduced, but it’s better than all of us losing our lives, right?”

Tiger Roar True Immortal argued logically, his words seemingly flawless.

In the face of an existential crisis, sacrificing the minor interests of individuals to ensure the safety of the collective, seemed like a matter of course.

Jade Cold True Immortal fell silent, seemingly unable to refute.

A cunning glint flashed in Tiger Roar True Immortal’s eyes, he bypassed Jade Cold True Immortal, clutching the formation flag, and walked towards the side hall.

“Humph! Such naivety! If I’m going to do this, I’ll do it right!”

Tiger Roar True Immortal sneered inwardly.

He planned to manipulate the third-tier formation, amplifying its power to the maximum, causing the spiritual vein supply to be insufficient.

At the same time, he would use a secret passage to cut off the Gathering Spirit Formation of the cultivation hall.

This way, when the beast was at a crucial moment in its Dan Formation, its spiritual pressure would plummet, causing it to experience backlash!

…

Tiger Roar True Immortal stepped out of the side hall, ready to implement his plan.

Suddenly, his body went numb, and he stumbled, falling into the abyss.

The night sky above was dark and stormy, and below was a bottomless abyss, he fell towards the endless hell.

“Not good!”

Tiger Roar True Immortal was terrified, he roared in his heart, forcefully biting his tongue.

“Crack” a sound came from Tiger Roar True Immortal’s chest cavity, as if it had cracked.

By the time he escaped the third-tier illusion and his consciousness returned to reality, he had already lost control of his body.

To be precise, the body had already stopped breathing.

“Tiger Roar True Immortal, you finally couldn’t help yourself and decided to make your move?”

A man in a straw raincoat stood before him, his voice indifferent, as he smashed all the internal organs in his chest cavity with a palm strike.

“You, you all…”

Tiger Roar True Immortal uttered with difficulty, his seven orifices bleeding, he fell to the ground.

Before his death, he finally understood that Lu Chang An had been guarding against him all along.

As long as he dared to interfere with the Dan Formation, the other party would decisively launch a thunderous strike.

“Xiang Zhen Ren, you killed him directly?”

Jade Cold True Immortal’s delicate face turned slightly pale.

She had discussed with Lu Chang An beforehand that if Tiger Roar True Immortal secretly interfered, they would join forces to stop him.

She never imagined that Lu Chang An, if he didn’t make a move, he would strike decisively and directly kill Tiger Roar True Immortal.

This was a veteran False Dan True Immortal, even two cultivators of the same level working together might not be able to take him down.

“It’s fine! If this matter causes Jade Cold True Immortal any trouble, Xiang will owe you an additional favor.”

Lu Chang An said generously.

“Okay then! When Xiang Zhen Ren prospers in the future, don’t forget your promise today.”

Jade Cold True Immortal’s icy-white face showed a rare smile.

Lu Chang An said firmly, “Xiang’s word is his bond!”

Hearing this, Jade Cold True Immortal felt reassured.

She looked towards the third-tier Bear Demon wandering outside the valley, a flicker of worry in her eyes,

“Xiang Zhen Ren, if that Bear Demon charges in…”

“Jade Cold True Immortal, rest assured, Xiang still has some trump cards. Even if that Bear Demon charges in, we’ll join forces, together with the weakened third-tier formation, we’ll be able to buy enough time until the Dan Formation is complete.”

Lu Chang An said confidently.

“Trump cards?”

Jade Cold True Immortal, thinking about the other’s background and identity, felt a sense of reassurance.

She inexplicably felt a sense of security, she couldn’t help but feel a little curious about this Xiang Zhen Ren, even a hint of fondness.

“I think that Bear Demon might not be malicious.”

Lu Chang An looked towards the third-tier Bear Demon outside the valley, lost in thought.

…

For the next half-day, the Bear Demon lingered outside the valley, but didn’t break in.

Until a certain moment.

The huge cloud formation above the cultivation hall began to dissipate steadily.

Rays of light lingered above the hall, faint Daoist sounds descended into the hall.

Lu Chang An noticed that the Earth Rock Rat’s Dan Formation was nearing its end, and it was different from his past life, and even from Fu Xue Mei’s Dan Formation.

He had been guarding against the third-tier Bear Demon outside, neglecting to focus on this.

Boom!

When the Dan Formation signs faded, a True Dan-level demonic energy surged from within the hall.

For a moment, demonic energy soared into the sky, the wind and clouds stirred, and the beasts fled in fright.

“Demonic energy ascends to the heavens, this is the sign of a Great Demon!”

Lu Chang An stroked his beard and laughed, his face beaming with joy, a huge weight lifted from his heart.

The Earth Rock Rat had just reached the third-tier, and the demonic energy fluctuations it emitted were already comparable to those of a long-established Great Demon.

Such Dan Formation signs and demonic energy fluctuations could only mean that it had formed an upper-level True Dan.

At this moment, the Bear Demon outside the valley, even if it charged in, would no longer pose a real threat.

(End of Chapter)

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