I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 267

## Chapter 264: Body Tempering Technique

Several days later.

The bustling Qing Sha Bay had returned to its usual calm.

The Xia family sorted and delivered the congratulatory gifts from the Dan Formation Ceremony to Autumn Wind Island.

Lu Chang’an only accepted the gifts meant for him.

For example, the presents given by Li Hai, Ling Feng, Shen Bi Xin, Han Yu Zhen Ren, and others.

Many gifts were exchanged as part of the Five Fortune Merchant Guild’s social interactions.

Even so, the Xia family made a profit from the occasion.

Due to it being a Dan Formation Ceremony, the gifts received were more valuable than usual.

Some cultivation forces, with little relationship to the Five Fortune Merchant Guild, sent representatives to participate.

Lu Chang’an tallied the gifts, finding the harvest exceeded his expectations.

Among them, there were a considerable number of third-order spiritual objects or materials.

Han Yu Zhen Ren gave him a set of third-order talisman-drawing tools, including a brush, ink, and inkstone, for Lu Chang’an’s daily use.

Talisman-drawing tools are consumables.

The third-order mid-grade talisman brush he obtained years ago was severely damaged, leaving only dozens of uses.

“Soul Washing Pearl, Bitter Clear Bamboo…”

“The gift from Liang Shao Tian’s eldest disciple is indeed well-intended.”

Lu Chang’an smiled with a strange expression.

The Soul Washing Pearl is a soul-cultivation spiritual object used to nourish and refine the soul, far exceeding the value of ordinary third-order treasures.

The Bitter Clear Bamboo soothes the mind, clears the heart, and can dispel mental barriers and external demons, offering a slight benefit in breaking through to higher realms.

Using these two items together aids in soul recovery and fosters harmony with the physical body.

“This guy, does he really believe the ghost stories about Legendary Daoist Yan Donglai?”

Lu Chang’an speculated that Liang Shao Tian might have found information about “Yan Donglai” in ancient books, thus holding an inexplicable reverence towards him.

Yan Donglai wasn’t your average Nascent Soul late-stage cultivator. He was known as a Legendary Daoist, his legends not confined to a single region of the Heavenly Heng Continent.

This was a conclusion Lu Chang’an reached after experiencing two lifetimes.

In his previous life, the Great Kun had some records about Yan Donglai, but they were scarce, suggesting he wasn’t from the Great Kun.

Lu Chang’an didn’t know much about the levels above Nascent Soul.

He only heard that Nascent Soul True Jun possessed the strength to traverse cultivation realms.

Perhaps it was a long and risky journey for an early Nascent Soul stage, but for a late-stage Nascent Soul, it might be relatively easy.

Lu Chang’an learned from Xing Peng that the Ten Great Sects of the Great Qing Central Region had once produced a leader in the late Nascent Soul stage who, three hundred years ago, led the Xuanmen to defeat the Six Devil Sects.

That Xuanmen leader disappeared nearly two hundred years ago.

There’s a high probability that he left the Great Qing and went to other regions to wander, seeking the more elusive Nascent Soul chance.

…

Half a month later.

The newly-formed True Dan cultivator, “Chang Qing Zhen Ren,” became a retainer of both the Five Fortune Merchant Guild and the Snow Fox Merchant Guild.

This news quickly spread around Cloud Smoke Immortal City.

The Five Fortune Merchant Guild and the Snow Fox Merchant Guild reached a cooperation agreement, receiving support and preferential treatment from the latter.

Lu Chang’an, a True Dan cultivator with a reputation for being inspirational, became a nominal retainer of the Snow Fox Merchant Guild. It was a decent addition to their aura.

Due to unknown reasons, Xiang Jinglong suddenly abandoned his investigation of Han Yu Zhen Ren, and the internal and external crises facing the Snow Fox Merchant Guild were unexpectedly resolved.

Lu Chang’an and the Xia patriarch appeared at the Snow Fox Merchant Guild’s headquarters, confirming the news to numerous cultivators who saw them.

Han Yu Zhen Ren, in her silver hair and snowy robe, along with several high-ranking members of the guild, personally escorted Lu Chang’an and the Xia patriarch out of the guild’s headquarters.

“Daoist Lu is easy to talk to, truly a person of noble character, with great virtue and carrying a heavy responsibility.”

Several high-ranking guild members praised him.

Han Yu Zhen Ren watched the two of them disappear into the distance, a look of surprise in her eyes.

To make Lu Chang’an a retainer of both guilds and promote cooperation between them, was Han Yu Zhen Ren’s proposal.

She had thought there would be some resistance.

Unexpectedly, Lu Chang’an was agreeable and didn’t deliberately make things difficult during the negotiations.

As long as Lu Chang’an agreed, the Five Fortune Merchant Guild, which would also benefit, wouldn’t object.

Moreover, the spiritual vein at Qing Sha Bay was at best a pre-third-order, unable to keep a True Dan cultivator.

“Xiang Jinglong dropping his pressure, perhaps that’s also related to Daoist Lu.”

That day, Li Hai, the Devil Sect’s Chief Disciple, participated in the Dan Formation Ceremony, and Han Yu Zhen Ren began to speculate.

Unknowingly, Lu Chang’an had done the Snow Fox Merchant Guild a great service.

Han Yu Zhen Ren, in addition to her admiration, felt a sense of gratitude and the urge to reciprocate.

Compared to the “Xiang Zhen Ren,” who disappeared and broke his promise, Lu Chang’an was an example of high morals and integrity.

Han Yu Zhen Ren had repeatedly tried to draw close to him, sending messages, hinting at her desire to “repay” him.

Lu Chang’an, unfazed, maintained a proper distance, being courteous and refined.

Han Yu Zhen Ren felt a sense of regret and melancholy.

Such a man, born from the mud yet untouched, like a beautiful jade, and yet she was unable to have him.

“The gap between people can be so vast.”

Thinking of the untrustworthy, withered, straw-cloaked elder, Han Yu Zhen Ren felt a pang of discomfort and shuddered.

If that old man could be replaced by Lu Chang’an, that would be perfect.

…

Leaving Cloud Smoke Immortal City.

Lu Chang’an settled his karma with the Snow Fox Merchant Guild.

He went along with becoming their retainer, fulfilling a past promise.

Lu Chang’an disliked owing others.

He wasn’t like Xiang Jinglong, who enjoyed freeloading and eating meals without paying.

His current identity could indeed allow him to discuss Daoism with Immortal Han Yu, continuing their fleeting romance.

Lu Chang’an didn’t do that.

Firstly, his interest had faded.

After all, indulging the body without the heart, lacking real feelings.

Secondly, if they were too close, it might be impossible to conceal his true identity from a woman’s intuition.

On the journey.

Lu Chang’an sensed the Xia patriarch’s concerns, seemingly feeling threatened by the Snow Fox Merchant Guild’s recruitment.

“Daoist Lu, the spiritual vein and Dao Field at Autumn Wind Island are too humble for you.”

Xia Hong Yu said apologetically:

“After two more years, with the combined strength of our Five Fortune Merchant Guild, we can hire an array master to cultivate a small third-order spiritual vein at the headquarters.”

In the cultivation world, spiritual veins can be cultivated and upgraded, including a certain degree of relocation.

However, it requires the intervention of a skilled array master.

This profession, a branch of formations, is rarer and more niche.

As long as enough compensation is paid, along with spirit stones and formations, a small section of a third-order spiritual vein can be taken from another location and used to upgrade a second-order high-grade spiritual vein to a third-order.

Of course, this is only a small-scale relocation, cultivating a small area of the Dao Field to reach a third-order spirit environment, sufficient for a True Dan cultivator’s daily cultivation.

If it were used for Dan Formation, it would require a massive amount of heaven and earth spiritual energy, proving inadequate.

The higher the order of the spiritual vein, the more difficult it is to cultivate and relocate.

Across the surrounding cultivation nations, there isn’t a single fourth-order array master.

The Xuan Yin Devil Sect’s mountain gate, it is said, spent a huge sum to obtain the assistance of a high-level array master to relocate a third-order spiritual vein and cultivate it.

“Xia patriarch, you needn’t waste your money. After Dan Formation, I won’t stay in Jing Nation for long, and I certainly won’t be considering the Snow Fox Merchant Guild.”

Lu Chang’an didn’t hide his future plans.

“That’s right, you’re a Liang Nation cultivator. After forming your Dan, you will eventually return home in glory.”

The Xia patriarch sighed and didn’t try to persuade him.

Lu Chang’an had already planned to leave.

If he wasn’t lured away by the Snow Fox Merchant Guild, he would be much happier.

The way Han Yu Zhen Ren, an ice beauty, noble and cold, lowered her pride to actively draw close to Lu Chang’an, how could Xia patriarch not see it?

He also admired Lu Chang’an for his strong willpower. If it were him, he might not be able to resist the temptation.

The Way of Nourishment emphasizes restraint.

It doesn’t necessarily require abstinence, but it absolutely forbids indulgence.

“Being fellow practitioners of the Way of Nourishment, no wonder Daoist Lu can go further. Viewing beauty as white bones, leaving no offspring, unburdened…”

Xia patriarch vaguely realized where the gap between him and Lu Chang’an lay.

…

Returning to Autumn Wind Island.

Lu Chang’an entered the deep pool through the tunnel.

The place was guarded by formations, with the pool water serving as a barrier.

If Lu Chang’an himself wasn’t there, the Earth Rock Rat would be guarding the place.

If neither of them were present, the Earth Rock Rat would take the Mysterious Wood Gourd Vine from the depths of the pool.

Lu Chang’an entered the stone house at the bottom of the pool.

He circulated his Chang Qing True Qi, nourishing and irrigating the Mysterious Wood Gourd Vine.

After advancing to True Dan, Lu Chang’an didn’t cultivate, often coming here in recent days to nourish the Mysterious Wood Gourd Vine with True Qi.

“The Chang Qing True Qi at the True Dan level doesn’t have the effect of reviving the withered parts of the vine. It has a negligible effect on the small section with green shoots.”

After several days of testing, Lu Chang’an drew an initial conclusion.

The Chang Qing True Qi at the True Dan level, the effect of nourishing and healing, was several times stronger than during the Foundation Establishment stage.

Based on his current True Qi.

Back when he used “妙手回春” to cure the Miss Mu family’s illness and heal Xia Wen Yue’s root problem, he might not have needed to consume lifespan anymore.

Even so, True Dan level Chang Qing True Qi couldn’t revive the withered parts of the Mysterious Wood Gourd Vine.

“It seems that I have to consume lifespan.”

Lu Chang’an realized this might involve a kind of heavenly law.

Without a hefty price like consuming lifespan, it would be difficult to reverse the withered parts of the Mysterious Wood Gourd Vine.

Actually, after Lu Chang’an formed his True Dan, his lifespan was quite abundant.

Over a thousand years.

He could easily afford to consume a few decades or a hundred years, trying to revive the mysterious Mysterious Wood Gourd Vine.

“The time isn’t right yet.”

“During Transformation Dan, my cultivation will temporarily fall back to Foundation Establishment Ninth Layer, losing the thousand years of lifespan I currently have.”

To maintain better physical condition, Lu Chang’an couldn’t afford to consume a large amount of lifespan right now to attempt something with an uncertain outcome.

Regarding Transformation Dan.

Lu Chang’an had a rough plan.

From the intelligence Xing Peng gathered, the invasion of the Six Devil Sects was imminent.

Lu Chang’an aimed to complete his Transformation Dan reformation plan within a few years.

Fortunately, Liang Nation or Jing Nation, located near the Black Mist Mountain Range, were in the northern rear.

Feng Nation was vast and situated in the middle.

The former Yan Nation, along with Chen Nation, might face the initial onslaught.

Unless the cultivation war collapsed, it wouldn’t reach the rear for a few years.

“The final assault after Transformation Dan, the spiritual vein Dao Field I choose will be crucial.”

Lu Chang’an pondered, his deep gaze fixed on the direction of Liang Nation and Feng Nation.

For the final assault after Transformation Dan, the Ning Jing Dan, Pure Sky Water, Five Elements Earth, Bitter Clear Bamboo, and other precious resources would all be used.

A small place like Jing Nation wasn’t suitable.

It was quite rare to form an upper-stream True Dan in Jing Nation, attracting attention.

If the Dan quality was even better, easily breaking the centuries-old record.

In a larger cultivation nation, like Feng Nation or the Seven Nation Alliance, cultivators have broader horizons, so it wouldn’t be so shocking.

Obtaining a Golden Dan primarily means higher potential and more refined True Qi, making the chance of advancing to Nascent Soul greater than with ordinary Dan Formation.

But it’s not a guarantee of reaching Nascent Soul.

Even with a Heaven Spirit Root, it can only be said that there are no bottlenecks before Dan Formation, but it doesn’t guarantee reaching Nascent Soul.

It’s important to note that the final stage of the “Heart Demon Tribulation” during Nascent Soul tribulation ignores aptitude and True Qi.

…

Actually, Lu Chang’an had a complete set of Ning Jing Dan materials in his possession.

However, he only needed one Ning Jing Dan for his final assault.

Dan Formation was guaranteed to succeed, so he didn’t need multiple Ning Jing Dan.

Unless he could refine a premium Ning Jing Dan.

But the likelihood of that was low, and it would easily cause complications.

Without a third-order Dan Master he fully trusted, Lu Chang’an made a decision: no need to pursue a premium Ning Jing Dan.

The main benefit of a premium Ning Jing Dan was a higher Dan Formation success rate. It didn’t directly increase the quality of the Dan.

Because it made the Dan Formation process smoother, the cultivator would have more energy to pursue the quality of the formed Dan.

Lu Chang’an had the support of his soul from his previous life’s peak and his pre-third-order body tempering, making the Dan Formation process itself quite easy.

For him, a premium Ning Jing Dan was simply a luxury.

It was better to add a middle-to-upper-grade Dan Formation spiritual object, which would be more practical.

“Instead of pursuing a premium Ning Jing Dan, why not find a high-level body tempering technique and let my body tempering reach true third-order!”

Lu Chang’an’s body tempering level was infinitely close to third-order.

If he could advance to third-order, his physical body would be comparable to a third-order great demon, ensuring true invincibility during Transformation Dan or Dan Formation.

Unfortunately, the 《Cloud Sand Body Tempering Technique》 he initially learned had a maximum level of pre-third-order.

Now, it wasn’t his talent but the upper limit of the technique that restricted Lu Chang’an’s body tempering advancement.

“Before leaving Jing Nation, I’ll try to find a high-level body tempering technique that’s compatible.”

As long as he had the right technique, Lu Chang’an was confident in his ability to advance his body tempering to third-order in a relatively short time!

…

In the following half-year.

Lu Chang’an traveled across the Jing Nation cultivation world, visiting various immortal cities and marketplaces.

The Jing Nation cultivation world was commercially advanced, and the circulation of cultivation techniques was far greater than in Liang Nation.

For ordinary cultivators, this was beneficial.

Of course, Lu Chang’an no longer considered himself an ordinary cultivator.

Simply obtaining a True Dan-level body tempering technique wouldn’t be difficult for Lu Chang’an.

The difficulty lay in:

Finding a body tempering technique with a similar style and type to the 《Cloud Sand Body Tempering Technique》.

Otherwise, it would be like starting over from scratch, wasting more time.

Similar cultivation techniques could be considered a transfer, so the time spent would be significantly shorter.

As for the technique being stronger or weaker, Lu Chang’an didn’t mind.

He wasn’t focusing on body tempering or taking the path of a body cultivator.

Besides compatibility, Lu Chang’an didn’t want to expose his identity when searching for the technique.

Body tempering techniques are confidential, and things can go wrong at any time.

These two factors implicitly increased the difficulty.

Fortunately, Lu Chang’an had a source of information, with the Wu Jian Men’s incense master assisting in the shadows.

There were also forces in Jing Nation that sold intelligence.

Within half a year, Lu Chang’an had obtained two backup body tempering techniques.

They were the 《Hundred Forged Jin Gang》 and 《Demon Dragon Overlord Body》.

The reason they were backups was obvious.

The 《Hundred Forged Jin Gang》 was generally mediocre, using the method of forging iron to temper the body, reaching a level of third-order late-stage. It required a large amount of precious materials and imposed a heavy burden on the body.

Lu Chang’an directly purchased it from the “Myriad Books Pavilion” with spirit stones.

The 《Demon Dragon Overlord Body》 was a fragment of a technique, powerful in effect. During cultivation, it required the integration of several types of special great demon blood, granting the ability to transform into a demon form.

This technique was obtained through intelligence, purchased from a declining beast-taming family.

“If there’s no better choice, I’ll go with the 《Hundred Forged Jin Gang》.”

Lu Chang’an sighed.

It was just mediocre, with no outstanding power, but the overall style was somewhat similar to the 《Cloud Sand Body Tempering Technique》.

As for the 《Demon Dragon Overlord Body》, the cultivation method was demanding, absorbing demon blood Qi. Subsequent battles required demonization, which didn’t align with Lu Chang’an’s management philosophy in this life.

Lu Chang’an returned to Autumn Wind Island, ready to cultivate the 《Hundred Forged Jin Gang》.

Xing Peng brought a new piece of intelligence.

“Master Lu, I have obtained another piece of relevant intelligence. That body tempering technique is considered the top in Liang Nation, even among the top in surrounding nations.”

The gray-robed, hooded man emerged from the shadows of the room.

“What technique is it?”

“That body tempering technique is called the 《Earth Fiend Supporting Heaven Technique》. The practitioner is Xiang Jinglong, the Devil Sect’s external elder.”

“This man cultivates such a top-tier technique? Why haven’t I heard of it before?”

Lu Chang’an was surprised.

“Because that technique was bestowed upon Xiang Jinglong by Liang Shao Tian twenty years ago, causing him to switch cultivation methods. The 《Earth Fiend Supporting Heaven Technique》 isn’t noticeable before third-order, it just makes you stronger and gives you heavier evil Qi.

“However, a few months ago, Xiang Jinglong committed himself to a closed-door cultivation session, pushing himself to the brink of life and death. Recently, he emerged from his seclusion. After his seven orifices bled, he managed to break through and reach third-order body tempering!”

Upon hearing this, Lu Chang’an couldn’t help but feel admiration:

“Xiang Zhen Ren is indeed an extraordinary person!”

He estimated that Xiang Jinglong likely transformed his resentment into motivation, breaking through in a perilous way.

This kind of ruthlessness, if applied to Dan Formation, might have backfired, but applied to body tempering breakthrough, it held the potential for success amidst danger.

“Where is Xiang Jinglong now? Do you have specific information about the 《Earth Fiend Supporting Heaven Technique》?”

(End of Chapter)

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