I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 258

## Chapter 255: Taking the Blame Again

In a hidden stone hall on a secluded peak in the Black Mist Mountain Range, in the northern part of Jing Country, Elder Wang, with long eyebrows and yellow hair, dressed in gray robes, sat cross-legged, cultivating to heal his injuries.

“No good!”

His expression changed drastically, and he took out a colorful scroll depicting a purple-robed Daoist from his storage pouch.

*Ssshhh*

The Daoist portrait on the scroll flashed purple flames, emitting blue smoke, rapidly dimming and turning into lifeless gray-white.

It was like a portrait of someone deceased.

“This… how is this possible?”

Elder Wang’s expression went blank for a moment. After the initial shock, he felt more coldness than anger.

Unvoiced fear and unease surged through him.

The escape speed of a Nascent Soul spirit body was several times that of its peers.

Only a Nascent Soul cultivator with higher cultivation or divine powers could destroy it.

Below the Nascent Soul stage, it was extremely difficult to trap a spirit body. Their speeds were on completely different levels.

Unless top-tier Zhen Dan cultivators teamed up, laid ambushes, used Soul Dao treasures, and the Li Huo Daoist recklessly fell into their trap.

The latter possibility was unlikely. Zhen Dan cultivators couldn’t easily ambush Nascent Soul cultivators with their heightened senses.

Such a situation would involve a lot of manpower and would make a big commotion. It wouldn’t be hard to get news of it later.

Elder Wang knew that there was another possibility… a failed body snatching!

The Li Huo Daoist’s Nascent Soul was weak. If he attempted to snatch the body of a Zhen Dan cultivator, like trying to take Elder Wang’s body, he might fail.

But it wouldn’t lead to the Nascent Soul being destroyed. He could still retreat.

Unless the Zhen Dan cultivator he tried to snatch had a strong soul and techniques far surpassing Elder Wang’s.

“Master’s plan was to at most take over a Zhen Dan early-stage cultivator, not to target a Zhen Dan late-stage cultivator…”

Elder Wang’s face turned pale, and he shook his head in denial.

No matter what the situation was, it wasn’t something the current depleted Li Huo Palace force could handle.

“Feng’er!”

Elder Wang thought of something and immediately took out a soul lamp from his storage pouch.

The lamp flickered steadily with a flame.

*Whew*

Elder Wang let out a long sigh of relief. The worst-case scenario hadn’t happened.

If both old and young were gone…

The Li Huo Palace might not have any hope of resurgence.

“Master’s soul painting extinguished, only I know. I must keep this a secret for as long as possible…”

Elder Wang knew that if the Li Huo Palace disciples learned the truth, it would have a devastating impact on morale, and their hearts might easily scatter.

Thankfully.

Only the grandfather and grandson knew about the Li Huo Daoist’s plan to possess Wang Feng.

To look for the culprit?

It was absolutely forbidden to act rashly!

At most, he could only investigate discreetly, without fanfare, and he couldn’t be too serious.

Otherwise, he might be digging his own grave.

“When you reach the precipice, you need to rein in your horse.”

Elder Wang took a deep breath and suppressed his desire to find the culprit and avenge the Grand Elder.

For the current precarious Li Huo Palace, if they couldn’t hold back their impulses, they would face extinction.

Revenge could only be sought after the Li Huo Palace regained its glory.

In fact, deep down, Elder Wang had a prime suspect.

That person was blessed with incredible luck, was skilled in battle, and was deeply hostile towards the Li Huo Palace.

He possessed the True Fire Magic Flame, the best in all the countries, capable of suppressing spirit body Nascent Soul!

…

In a secret chamber on Autumn Wind Island, a human and a rat stared wide-eyed at a storage ring with broken restrictions.

The storage ring’s internal space was not much larger than an ordinary storage pouch.

After all, as a spatial artifact, it needed to be infused with rare spatial materials to be crafted.

The items inside the ring were fewer than expected, but the spirit aura and the overwhelming pressure they emitted made Lu Chang’an’s heart swell with joy.

“Millennium Soul-Nourishing Wood!”

A floating piece of green spirit wood immediately caught Lu Chang’an’s attention.

This was a legendary spirit wood, a rare Soul Dao type of spirit wood, even rarer than its counterparts of the same rank.

Lu Chang’an was originally considering using a high-grade third-order, Spirit-Penetrating Bamboo as the embryo for his future natal artifact.

The Soul-Nourishing Wood before him was a fourth-order wood, a better choice.

Lu Chang’an took out the Millennium Soul-Nourishing Wood, and his soul felt inexplicably at ease and comfortable, as if bathed in a flowing hot spring.

Even the flow of his soul power, due to his second life’s possession, slowed down.

This wood alone made Lu Chang’an ecstatic, his trip was worth it.

“Two Nascent Soul-level artifacts!”

Lu Chang’an then discovered two artifacts emitting a powerful spirit aura.

Artifacts were exclusive to cultivators at the Zhen Dan stage and above.

They were classified into lower, middle, upper, and top grades.

Each level of artifact differed greatly in its demands on spiritual power and mental strength.

Lower-grade artifacts were suitable for Fake Dan and Zhen Dan early-stage cultivators.

For Fake Dan cultivators, it was highly demanding and couldn’t be sustained for long.

Middle-grade artifacts were suitable for Zhen Dan middle and late-stage cultivators.

Upper and top-grade artifacts were generally used by Nascent Soul cultivators in the early and mid-stages.

Unless one possessed profound spiritual power and strong mental strength, it would be difficult to utilize cross-grade artifacts and would consume immense energy.

Above artifacts were Spirit Treasures.

Spirit Treasures were for cultivators at the Nascent Soul stage and above. They were practically nonexistent in the cultivation world.

Even if they appeared occasionally, they were mostly imitations, fragments of broken Spirit Treasures, or just pieces.

The two artifacts in the Li Huo Daoist’s storage ring were a green rope and a purple gourd.

The rope artifact was a top-grade artifact, which the Li Huo Daoist had used in the previous battle, transforming into a nimble, thunder-snake whip, nearly ensnaring Lu Chang’an.

The purple gourd was a top-grade fire-type artifact, which was highly valuable even for early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators.

There were two reasons why the Li Huo Daoist didn’t use a stronger gourd artifact:

First, his initial goal was to capture Lu Chang’an alive and probe his secrets.

Second, it was already a struggle for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to control the top-grade rope artifact.

Although his mental strength was sufficient, his spiritual power was lacking by a million miles.

If it weren’t for years of refinement and nurturing, with the remnants of previous spiritual power, it would have been difficult to control any other artifact.

“Main ingredient for Pill Formation, Seven-Star Moon-Darkness Grass!”

“Good, good! Now the materials for the Crystallization Pill are complete…”

“Huh! Small Translocation Talisman!”

Among more than ten third-order talismans, Lu Chang’an found two special talismans.

Their material was different from ordinary talisman paper, with a jade-like texture. Besides complex talismans, their surfaces shimmered with a faint translucent silver.

Speaking of Small Translocation Talismans.

Liang Shaotian’s eldest disciple Li Hai used one before the Qingming Secret Realm, and Master Wang used it to escape when pursued by the Demon Sect.

Small Translocation Talismans usually came in the third or fourth order.

Higher ranks would omit the word “small.”

These two Small Translocation Talismans were top-grade third-order. Theoretically, they could be used to escape from a Zhen Dan late-stage cultivator’s grasp.

However, Small Translocation Talismans also had some drawbacks. They were good for fleeing, not for pursuing enemies.

As space-type talismans, they were unstable. The user couldn’t control the distance, nor was the direction precise.

For example, if the enemy ran out five or six miles, using the Small Translocation Talisman would instantly teleport them dozens of miles away.

Combined with the imprecise direction, the chase would only lead them further apart.

“Such masterful crafting techniques!”

Lu Chang’an admired these two Small Translocation Talismans, knowing he couldn’t match them.

There were too many types of talismans. Every talisman master, even if they devoted their entire life to it, could only master a few.

The Small Translocation Talisman was one that Lu Chang’an hadn’t mastered in his previous life, mainly due to a lack of practice opportunities.

For talisman masters above the third order, materials were incredibly scarce, whether it was the talisman paper, brush, or spirit ink.

Small Translocation Talismans required spatial materials, which were several times rarer.

In his previous life, Lu Chang’an finally became a top-grade third-order talisman master, but he wasn’t exceptional among his peers.

In this life, he had re-entered the path of talisman making, nurtured and comprehended the Treasure Talismans, gaining more skills and insights.

“Third and fourth-order pills, over twenty bottles, half of them are for healing and cultivation. It seems they were prepared for body snatching and cultivation.”

“Third and fourth-order medicinal herbs, spirit beasts, and ores, about two or three dozen.”

“Over ten top-grade spirit stones, hundreds of middle-grade spirit stones… and over 200,000 lower-grade spirit stones.”

Lu Chang’an guessed that this wasn’t all the Li Huo Daoist’s wealth.

If it were him, he wouldn’t put all his belongings on a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

If they encountered a powerful enemy, the Nascent Soul could easily escape, but the Foundation Establishment body would be helpless.

Even so, this was the biggest harvest Lu Chang’an had ever had, in this life or even his three lives.

A single top-grade artifact alone was worth more than the assets of an ordinary Zhen Dan cultivator.

Unfortunately, even if Lu Chang’an advanced to the Zhen Dan stage, he wouldn’t be able to control the top-grade artifact for a while.

Moreover, the purple gourd artifact was probably one of the Li Huo Palace’s treasured artifacts, clearly stolen goods.

“Fourth-order Soul-Nourishing Wood, Small Translocation Talisman, Seven-Star Moon-Darkness Grass, spatial storage ring… enough, enough, one shouldn’t be too greedy.”

Lu Chang’an sorted his spoils, handing over some suspicious items to the Earth Rock Rat, asking it to dispose of them far away.

The Earth Rock Rat, rewarded with dozens of middle-grade spirit stones and a third-order spirit fruit, gleefully burrowed underground.

…

In the secret chamber, Lu Chang’an pondered for a moment and then entered the Nine Seals Monument’s fourth life, examining the Li Huo Daoist’s vast memory fragments.

Half a month later, Lu Chang’an shook his head.

The memory fragments were too scattered and lacked classification or connections. The useful memories were less than one in ten thousand.

This was probably due to the Nine Seals Monument swallowing the Nascent Soul, shredding it into particles, and then scrambling and reassembling it.

However, Lu Chang’an still found clues.

In a certain memory fragment, the Li Huo Daoist closed a palace in an unknown location, killing a group of powerful warriors.

At that time, the Li Huo Daoist wasn’t injured, so it was likely a secret route he had prepared years ago.

In addition, from Wang Feng’s shallow memories, he learned that the Li Huo Daoist had entrusted some important resources to Elder Wang.

Elder Wang was the current manager of the Li Huo Palace. Without promises of strategic resources, how could he retain those injured and retreating disciples?

Cultivation emphasized “wealth, companions, law, and land.”

Of which “wealth” ranked first.

If one had enough “wealth,” the other three wouldn’t be difficult.

This was also the reason why the Li Huo Palace, even after losing their spirit vein and Daoist grounds, still had a chance to rise again.

“Forget it! If I don’t resolve this karmic debt, convert the Li Huo Daoist into a previous life reincarnation, I’m not qualified to seek more. Otherwise, it’s excessive greed, which can easily ruin things.”

Lu Chang’an no longer pushed for more, focusing on cultivation and skills, no longer spending much time deliberately sifting through those vast, disordered memory fragments.

…

Half a year passed.

Lu Chang’an’s second life’s soul projection had dissipated.

In the Nine Seals Monument, the carving of the second life, an old man with a white beard, was now lifeless. Under soul nourishment, it began to slowly light up again.

Lu Chang’an estimated that it wouldn’t take ten years.

Ten years to light up, that was when he was at the Foundation Establishment early stage.

Now, at the Foundation Establishment late stage, his soul had grown significantly.

Based on the current trend, it would take at most four or five years to light up again.

Before the second life’s possession vanished, Lu Chang’an crafted eight third-order Treasure Talismans from the third-order, top-grade Spirit-Penetrating Bamboo.

The remaining half of the Spirit-Penetrating Bamboo was in Wang Feng’s storage pouch.

Having obtained the fourth-order Soul-Nourishing Wood, Lu Chang’an didn’t need to be frugal.

Because he used top-grade third-order spirit bamboo as the material, the eight Treasure Talismans he crafted this time exceeded his expectations, producing two top-grade third-order talismans.

The remaining six were all at least mid-grade third-order, basically all high-quality.

Ordinary talismans were equivalent to a single attack from a cultivator of the same rank, less powerful than artifacts controlled by their peers.

Therefore, talismans posed less danger to peers; against powerful cultivators of the same level, they were even a little like scratching.

Unless one used quantity to win.

High-quality talismans were different. They were like a cultivator’s full-power attack, significantly increasing the threat.

“The eight Treasure Talismans I used in the fight against the Li Huo Daoist have been replenished, and they are of a higher quality!”

In the secret chamber, Lu Chang’an was nurturing over sixty Treasure Talismans.

The eight in the center were all made from top-grade third-order Spirit-Penetrating Bamboo, with immense potential!

Based on previous experience, nurturing them to top-grade third-order, even the highest quality, was not a problem.

Two of them were already top-grade third-order, and one day, they might even be nurtured to the fourth order!

“With my current Foundation Establishment cultivation, nurturing mid and top-grade third-order Treasure Talismans hardly makes me feel any progress!”

Lu Chang’an estimated that after forming the Pill, his long-lasting spiritual power would nourish the third-order Treasure Talismans, and the effect would become noticeable.

Moreover, over half of the Treasure Talismans were initially made from high-grade second-order spirit wood. After being nurtured to the lower-grade third order, they had reached their limit.

After all, the material grade limited their potential.

Unless one reached a higher cultivation, such as the Nascent Soul or Nascent Soul stage, nurturing lower-grade Treasure Talismans might have a “turning stone into gold” effect.

…

Another two or three months passed.

Lu Chang’an would be turning one hundred and sixty years old.

At this time, Lu Chang’an and Wang Feng’s final treatment appointment was less than half a month away.

Over the past half-year, Lu Chang’an used the “Wu Jian Men” to monitor the Li Huo Palace’s intelligence.

As a result, he hadn’t received any news of the Li Huo Daoist’s demise. The outside world seemed oblivious to it.

Lu Chang’an wasn’t surprised.

If the only Nascent Soul cultivator of his faction had mysteriously died, would he dare to seriously investigate or avenge it?

If he didn’t pack his bags and run, it would be considered a conscience discovery.

Even if the Li Huo Palace had suspects, Lu Chang’an would be ranked lower.

The Li Huo Palace, which had once dominated the country, had many enemies.

Lu Chang’an had no enmity with the Li Huo Palace, and he was even on good terms with the sect’s disciples Song Wen Shu and Wang Feng, at least on the surface.

Master Wang had been out for six months, gathering resources, searching for a physical body, and meeting countless cultivators.

Lu Chang’an had been meeting with Master Wang for years. If he had any ill intentions, he would have already acted, why wait until now?

As for body snatching, there was even less motive.

The Li Huo Daoist was a Heaven Spirit Root, who had achieved the Nascent Soul stage.

Would he look at Lu Chang’an, an aging, mediocre Wood Spirit Root?

Even if he didn’t care about talent or age, their spirit root attributes weren’t compatible.

Therefore, unless the Li Huo Palace had a god’s eye view or Lu Chang’an had a hostility aura, he wouldn’t be considered the most suspicious target.

“The Li Huo Palace’s attitude will depend on whether Wang Feng dares to come for the final treatment.”

Lu Chang’an sat back and waited.

The Wu Jian Men’s small leader helped gather intelligence, confirming whether Wang Feng was going to the Cloud Smoke Immortal City alone.

With his numerous life-saving cards, including the Small Translocation Talisman, he wasn’t afraid of injured Zhen Dan cultivators coming after him.

As the appointed time drew closer.

“Mr. Lu, there have been no signs of Wang Feng around Cloud Smoke Immortal City recently.”

On this day, Xing Peng emerged from the shadows in the room, reporting recent intelligence.

“It seems that Wang Feng may have some suspicions or is being cautious and doesn’t dare to go out casually.”

Since Wang Feng wasn’t coming to the Immortal City, Lu Chang’an naturally didn’t need to go to the appointment.

…

Two days later.

An unexpected visitor arrived at Autumn Wind Island to visit Lu Chang’an.

“Daoist Lu, this is something Master Wang asked me to deliver to you.”

Shen Bi Xin wore a woman’s robe, with a straw hat and green gauze veil, concealing the ravages of time on her once beautiful face.

Through the gauze, Lu Chang’an faintly saw a pair of black eyes and a delicate facial outline.

“Oh? Daoist Shen has met Master Wang?”

Lu Chang’an received a sealed jade box.

Shen Bi Xin’s arrival was actually expected.

After Song Wen Shu died in battle, Shen Bi Xin, carrying his child, became the widow of the Li Huo Palace.

Initially, Wang Feng had sought medical help, and it was Shen Bi Xin who acted as an intermediary.

“I haven’t seen him.” Shen Bi Xin’s voice was calm. “That night, this appeared on my bed. There was also a note with Master Wang’s message, asking me to help deliver it.”

“It’s hard work for Daoist Shen to make the trip.”

Lu Chang’an entertained her politely.

Although they had been friends in the past, it was not appropriate for Lu Chang’an to interact too deeply with the current widow.

He maintained his etiquette and saw Shen Bi Xin off from the manor.

Back in the room, Lu Chang’an investigated and broke the jade box’s restrictions.

Inside the box was a third-order, mid-grade spirit wood.

At the bottom was a letter.

“ … Wang is untrustworthy and cannot fulfill our agreement at the Seeking Immortal Manor Inn. Please forgive Wang. Also, the other half of the Spirit-Penetrating Bamboo was accidentally lost, and I am using this complete third-order spirit wood as compensation. The debt I owe you from before still stands.”

In the letter, Wang Feng apologized, concluding the transaction between them.

The letter also mentioned that Wang Feng received treasures from his grandfather, so even if there was one missed treatment, it wouldn’t affect his foundation.

Lu Chang’an pondered for a moment. From the content of the letter, Wang Feng’s reaction seemed normal.

Out of caution, he didn’t dare to go out casually. He entrusted someone to write a letter telling Lu Chang’an that he couldn’t go to the appointment.

If Wang Feng simply disappeared, Lu Chang’an would suspect he was wary of him.

At the same time, this letter might not be without testing intentions.

After thinking for a while, Lu Chang’an took out paper and a brush and wrote back a letter.

“Thank you for the compensation, Master Wang. Lu is ashamed to accept it…”

It was a conventional polite greeting, expressing approval and admiration for Master Wang.

At the end of the letter, Lu Chang’an offered sincere blessings;

“May Master Wang soon achieve the Immortal Pill and revitalize the Li Huo Palace!”

The main reason Lu Chang’an hadn’t dealt with Wang Feng that day was because it was related to the Li Huo Daoist’s wishes.

To revitalize the Li Huo Palace, cultivate Pill Formation cultivators, find stable mountain spirit veins, and see hope for their return to glory.

Secondly, Wang Feng had no grudge against Lu Chang’an.

Killing him wouldn’t bring any benefits, nor would it reduce risks. It would even affect Lu Chang’an’s completion of the Li Huo Daoist’s wishes, resolving the karmic debt, and gaining reincarnation of his previous life.

After finishing the letter, Lu Chang’an summoned the Earth Rock Rat.

Shen Bi Xin’s flight speed wasn’t fast, so the Earth Rock Rat took the letter and delivered it to Master Wang.

Lu Chang’an believed that as the widow of the Li Huo Palace, Shen Bi Xin, having already moved to Jing Country, must have a way to communicate with her late husband’s sect.

…

Two months later.

In a large courtyard in a cultivation market town on the northern border of Jing Country.

Wang Feng finished reading the letter, especially the sincere blessings at the end, and was slightly moved.

“Daoist Lu’s character is noble, he didn’t hesitate to drain his energy to help me heal my hidden injuries. I… actually had doubts about him?”

Wang Feng felt a pang of guilt.

Only he and his grandfather knew about the Grand Elder’s demise in the Li Huo Palace.

Before, he wasn’t doubting Lu Chang’an himself.

But he was speculating: Could Lu Chang’an have been bought off?

For example, providing intelligence, cooperating with a mastermind to set up a scheme, and killing the Li Huo Daoist’s Nascent Soul.

In his mind, Lu Chang’an was at most an accomplice, so he was wary of him.

“My grandfather’s analysis was correct, the biggest suspect is Liang Shaotian!”

A glint of fury flashed in Wang Feng’s eyes.

Afterward, the Li Huo Palace used the Celestial Knowledge Pavilion to buy Liang Shaotian’s whereabouts during that period.

The answer was that Liang Shaotian was in seclusion.

Elder Wang believed that seclusion was a sham!

As long as Liang Shaotian didn’t appear publicly during that time, he couldn’t clear his suspicion.

A year before the Li Huo Daoist’s demise.

Liang Shaotian led a team to attack the Li Huo Palace’s force, causing casualties and engaging in a battle with the Li Huo Daoist.

The Li Huo Daoist’s injuries worsened, adding insult to injury. Would Liang Shaotian miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity?

“Liang Shaotian!”

Wang Feng made up his mind. When he achieved the Immortal Pill, and then the Nascent Soul stage in the future, he would avenge his Grandmaster and eliminate the Demon Sect.

He was an Earth Spirit Root, better than Liang Shaotian’s Top-grade Spirit Root talent.

Liang Shaotian’s conditions for forming the Pill weren’t ideal back then, so he only formed a higher-grade Zhen Dan.

It was nothing compared to him now. He was the sect’s only Pill Formation seed, a Nascent Soul seed, and he was being cultivated with maximum resources.

With his grandfather’s full support, as long as he achieved the Immortal Pill, he would eventually surpass Liang Shaotian!

(End of chapter)

Previous Chapter | TOC | Next Chapter