I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 268

## Chapter 265: Return to Liang Guo

Three months later.

Autumn Wind Island, underground chamber.

A puppet rat, with dark yellow fur, a streamlined body, and a length of about ten feet, was assembled in front of Lu Chang’an.

After embedding a few pieces of third-order puppet crystals, Lu Chang’an cast his puppet control technique.

The puppet rat’s dull, gray eyes shone with a cold red light, sending shivers down one’s spine.

*Sshh!*

A silvery-gray claw-shaped glow flashed past, tearing through the chamber’s restriction, leaving behind a deep gash.

The afterimage of the puppet rat solidified, emitting an invisible spiritual pressure, comparable to a third-order living creature.

“My first third-order puppet!”

Lu Chang’an beamed with delight, confirming the puppet’s stable operation.

After advancing to True Dan, Lu Chang’an’s spiritual sense and magical power surged. With an abundance of third-order materials, he managed to successfully advance to a third-order puppet master.

Prior to this, Lu Chang’an had failed twice, ruining quite a few materials.

The reason why the final puppet he crafted was a rat was because he had limited materials left.

A puppet with heavy defense requires a lot of materials.

Third-order materials are expensive and scarce. The puppet materials he had accumulated earlier were collected over twenty years.

The puppet rat, being small in size and relatively agile, requires less material.

Lu Chang’an designed the puppet based on the Earth Rock Rat prototype, simplifying its capabilities.

“Burrow!”

Lu Chang’an gave the command, and the puppet rat burrowed underground, raising dust.

The traces of its burrowing were noticeable, lacking the Earth Rock Rat’s seamless natural talent.

After a short while, the puppet rat scurried back, covered in dust and looking disheveled.

*Squeak Squeak!*

Behind it, an Earth Rock Rat, similar in size, chased after it with bright eyes.

“Alright, stop messing around.”

Lu Chang’an waved his hand and put the puppet rat away.

The Earth Rock Rat, still not satisfied, reluctantly withdrew its gaze.

“Master, can this puppet be my playmate?”

The Earth Rock Rat spoke in a childish voice.

“Didn’t you go to the Black Mist Mountain Range to play with that third-order bear demon? It’s been half a year, haven’t you had enough?”

Lu Chang’an said with a stern face.

Turns out, during the half-year search for body refinement cultivation techniques, Lu Chang’an had given the Earth Rock Rat a long vacation.

The Earth Rock Rat went to the Black Mist Mountain Range, seeking out the third-order mid-stage bear demon it had befriended during its advancement. There, it made some demon beast acquaintances.

The Earth Rock Rat shook its head in grievance. It had only been half a year, and it hadn’t even met any rat demons of the same stage.

Rat demon beasts are relatively weak in the Black Mist Mountain Range, occupying the bottom of the food chain. Very few of them grow into Great Demons.

“Don’t worry. We will be returning to Liang Guo soon. You will be able to see your old friends then.”

Lu Chang’an offered some comfort.

Hearing this, the Earth Rock Rat swallowed, seemingly recalling some pleasant experience.

…

After sending the Earth Rock Rat away, Lu Chang’an tested the puppet rat’s comprehensive abilities.

It definitely couldn’t match the Earth Rock Rat’s strength.

Even Lu Chang’an himself, relying solely on magical power and magic treasures, couldn’t defeat the Earth Rock Rat who had reached the semi-Golden Dan stage.

“Its defense is relatively weak, unable to withstand a few blows from a True Dan cultivator. Although it saved materials, you get what you pay for.”

“Thankfully, its attack power is not inferior to mine, and it’s quite agile.”

The first third-order puppet met Lu Chang’an’s expectations overall.

Currently, Lu Chang’an didn’t lack self-defense capabilities. Aside from treasure talismans, he also had the small teleportation talisman he got from the Li Huo Elder.

On the other hand, his offensive capabilities were lacking in normal situations.

Having an extra agile puppet rat would strengthen his offense, ambushes, and attacks.

“I’m still at the Core Formation stage. I should refine some more puppet crystals for backup.”

Lu Chang’an took out a pile of spirit stones from his storage pouch and started refining third-order puppet crystals using his puppet techniques.

Puppet crystals are essential energy sources for high-level puppets.

They are crafted with spirit stones as the base material, consuming spiritual sense, and adding a small amount of soul-related materials.

Puppets embedded with third-order puppet crystals possess rudimentary spiritual intelligence.

Even without their master’s control, or even if their master is not present, they can execute simple tasks.

For example, guarding a subworld, patrolling, chasing enemies…

Of course, this intelligence is not the complex intelligence of sentient beings. It’s more like the rudimentary AI of Earth in Lu Chang’an’s previous life.

If the tasks are more complex, their reliability decreases.

“My supply of third-order puppet materials is running low. I’ll have to gradually accumulate more in the future…”

Lu Chang’an refined a pile of puppet crystals, which consumed quite a lot.

The Evergreen Technique had a strong recovery ability.

The next day, he completed his daily treasure talisman nurturing and didn’t need to cultivate the Evergreen Technique.

He had spare time to cultivate the mediocre body refinement technique, *Hundred Forged Golden Body*.

Lu Chang’an didn’t covet Xiang Jinglong’s *Earth Fiend Ascending Sky Technique*.

As he understood it, it’s a main cultivation type of top-tier body refinement technique, similar to the ancient body cultivator lineage.

Cultivating this technique would indeed grant some special abilities, even making one stronger than most cultivation cultivators of the same stage.

However, reaching the fourth stage would bring a Heavenly Tribulation, just like advancing to the Nascent Soul stage.

Lu Chang’an was a cultivator of the Longevity Lineage, pursuing a longer life. How could he subject himself to an extra terrifying Heavenly Tribulation?

Xiang Jinglong’s body refinement technique, when cultivated to the third stage, would likely require abandoning the False Dan cultivation and embarking on the true path of body cultivation.

Lu Chang’an only wanted to cultivate body refinement alongside his main cultivation, not seeking the special abilities of body cultivators.

He simply wanted a stronger body, allowing him to move faster.

The *Cloud Sand Body Refinement Technique* and *Hundred Forged Golden Body* he cultivated were essentially auxiliary cultivation techniques or methods.

…

Half a month later, Lu Chang’an turned one hundred and seventy-two years old.

On this day, a surge of rising water and wood-elemental spiritual energy emanated from the deep pool behind the mansion.

Lu Chang’an swept his spiritual sense across it and nodded slightly.

The Xuan Shui Turtle had broken through, reaching the second-order mid-stage.

Compared to the Earth Rock Rat’s achievements, its growth speed was comparable to a turtle.

This is the characteristic of the Xuan Shui Turtle, a long-lived species.

Actually, the Xuan Shui Turtle’s current cultivation progress is more than twice as fast as its peers.

Otherwise, how could Lu Chang’an have bought the sickly Xuan Shui Turtle egg with a few hundred spirit stones back then?

“Counting it, this turtle is only one hundred and thirty years old.”

Lu Chang’an mused.

A normal Xuan Shui Turtle takes about two hundred years to reach the second-order.

Lu Chang’an fed it with True Dan-level Evergreen magical power, allowing it to absorb the essence of the cycles of time.

Due to the large difference in their realms, the Xuan Shui Turtle would enter a period of rapid growth, possibly advancing to the third-order within a few decades.

This kind of growth speed is naturally extraordinary.

However, it is still slower than ordinary spirit beasts.

As a high-level cultivator, Lu Chang’an’s little secret regarding spirit beast cultivation is not a big deal.

Unless Lu Chang’an reveals his true identity, achieves the top tier of True Dan, or even Golden Dan, it might cause trouble.

Lu Chang’an had already planned for this.

The quality of the Core Formation can only be concealed when breaking through realms.

After Core Formation, there are many ways to hide the quality of the Core Formation. Only in an all-out battle would the details be exposed.

…

Three months later.

Behind the tranquil Autumn Wind Island, Lu Chang’an had already packed all his belongings.

“How are the preparations?”

Inside the side hall, Lu Chang’an circulated his dan force, brewing a pot of scalding hot tea, pouring two cups in mid-air.

One cup of third-order spirit tea flew to the corner behind him.

“Mr. Lu, I have made all the necessary arrangements. I’m prepared to be transferred to the Liang Guo cultivation world to carry out a special mission.”

Xing Peng, dressed in a gray robe and a hood, was startled as he received the teacup.

Lu Chang’an was going back to the Liang Guo cultivation world.

If Xing Peng was left behind in Jing Guo, he might pose a risk of escaping Lu Chang’an’s control.

The restriction that Lu Chang’an had implanted back then, incorporated with the principle of Soul Gu, could not be easily broken by anyone below the Nascent Soul stage.

However, there was still a sliver of risk if he was out of Lu Chang’an’s control range.

Lu Chang’an also valued intelligence from the cultivation world. He hoped Xing Peng could be transferred to Liang Guo.

As a beneficiary of connections, Xing Peng was used to slacking off. He asked his cousin, the Shadowless Hall Master, to help get him transferred to Liang Guo for a special mission.

This special mission was basically to keep an eye on Lu Chang’an.

After Lu Chang’an advanced to True Dan, his priority on the Wu Jian Men’s list of figures to be watched increased significantly.

Lu Chang’an, being a good-natured散修 (San Xiu), had made many acquaintances in Liang Guo, including a third-order formation master, the Law Enforcement Elder of Golden Cloud Valley.

To ensure the transfer was successful, Xing Peng reported Lu Chang’an’s hidden information to the Wu Jian Men.

For instance, Lu Chang’an had become a third-order Grand Talisman Master.

He confirmed that Lu Chang’an had obtained Core Formation opportunity from an ancient relic.

This included the secret of nurturing the Xuan Shui Turtle.

“Once you go to Liang Guo, it’s no longer your cousin’s territory. Be careful in your actions.”

Lu Chang’an instructed.

“Mr. Lu, rest assured. My cousin is a rising star in the Wu Jian Men, and he’s likely to become the branch master in Jing Guo in a few years. The branches and sub-branches in Liang Guo will allow me some leeway because of him.”

Xing Peng said in a relaxed tone.

“That’s good.”

Lu Chang’an nodded in satisfaction and promised:

“In a few years, once I’m settled, I might consider giving you a chance to Core Formation.”

“Thank you for your grace, Mr. Lu.”

Xing Peng showed timely gratitude and bowed in thanks.

He was skeptical about the Core Formation opportunity offered by Lu Chang’an, but there was still a glimmer of hope in his heart.

After all, Lu Chang’an had obtained Core Formation opportunity from an ancient relic. It’s not impossible that he might have Core Formation opportunity.

Secondly, with prolonged contact and understanding, Xing Peng realized that Lu Chang’an was no ordinary True Dan cultivator.

Reaching True Dan at the age of one hundred and seventy was already a small miracle that ordinary people couldn’t achieve.

Even Lu Chang’an’s pet had formed a True Dan.

Xing Peng was actually thirty-odd years younger than Lu Chang’an, and he had decent aptitude. Theoretically, there was hope for him to Core Formation.

“Go then.”

Lu Chang’an waved his hand, watching Xing Peng melt into the shadows and disappear in the side hall.

Lu Chang’an had considered that if he had the ability to help others successfully Core Formation, he would be able to easily cultivate and control loyal subordinates in the future.

In the cultivation world, True Dan cultivators are rare, but there are quite a few False Dan True Immortals.

However, successfully Core Forming oneself is different from helping others Core Formation.

Condensing the Core or Core Formation is something that outsiders cannot easily intervene in.

The Core Formation process mainly relies on the individual cultivator, while outsiders provide protection and assistance.

“If this person is truly loyal, I can experiment with him in the future if I have the opportunity.”

Lu Chang’an made up his mind.

…

A few days later.

Lu Chang’an left a letter on Autumn Wind Island and quietly departed.

He didn’t say goodbye to Xia Hong Yu, Xia Ming Qu, or Xia Sheng Lan, avoiding the pain of parting.

Jing Guo was only a temporary stopover for Lu Chang’an.

It was not like his native Liang Guo, where he had a strong sense of belonging.

He didn’t have much to cherish here.

Even the seeds he had sown, Xia Wen Yue, the Innate Heavenly Body, had joined the Aoyue Palace of Feng Guo.

Nine罡 天 (Ji Gang Tian), above the clouds.

“Living in exile for thirty years, others laugh at my cowardly life. But now that I have swallowed a True Dan, I dare to say that longevity is a joke!”

A handsome, ethereal man in white robes, stood with his hands behind his back, his bright eyes gazing down at the mountains and spiritual veins of the Jing Guo land, as he stepped on a light blue遁光 (Dun Guang).

Nine罡 天 (Ji Gang Tian), also known as the Nine Layers of罡 天 (Gang Tian), is the realm where high-level cultivators fly.

The winds are fierce here, and a Core Formation cultivator would be torn to shreds in an instant.

Lu Chang’an dared only fly in the lower three layers of the Nine罡 天 (Ji Gang Tian).

It is said that the higher you go in the Nine罡 天 (Ji Gang Tian), the higher the chance of encountering celestial spiritual objects while flying.

In his previous life, Lu Chang’an could only fly in the lower three layers. In his lifetime, he had encountered very few celestial spiritual object materials.

The middle three layers are forbidden territory for Nascent Soul True Immortals, and the chance of encountering celestial spiritual objects is higher there.

Theoretically, as long as your luck is good enough, even in the lower three layers of the Nine罡 天 (Ji Gang Tian), there is a chance of encountering fourth or fifth-order celestial spiritual objects.

Lu Chang’an had heard similar rumors in his previous life. Ordinary True Dan cultivators had had great luck in the Nine罡 天 (Ji Gang Tian), obtaining spiritual objects of the Spiritual Treasure rank, directly changing their cultivation destiny.

In just one day, Lu Chang’an reached the border of the Jing Guo cultivation world.

Next came a vast stretch of wasteland between the two nations, mostly barren lands, spirit-less lands, and some treacherous areas.

The hardships and twists and turns of smuggling in the past were almost non-existent for Lu Chang’an now.

The flight speed of a True Dan expert far surpasses that of a Core Formation cultivator.

Robber cultivators along the way were seen as ants.

Only some spirit-less areas slowed Lu Chang’an’s flight speed.

True Dan cultivators have magical power as vast as an abyss.

Even for small spirit-less areas, he didn’t even need to stop for rest and replenish his magical power.

…

Two days later.

Near a river in the border wasteland, two screams rang out.

A combination of an old man and a girl in a pink dress lay in a pool of blood.

“Enchantment and poisoning? Child’s play!”

A blue-robed young man in the late Core Formation stage sneered, coughed lightly, blood spilling from his mouth.

*Pfft Pfft!*

Nie Yuan wielded his top-grade magic sword and mercilessly delivered a few more strikes on the old man and the girl, making sure they were dead beyond resurrection.

In this battle, he, a late Core Formation cultivator, had fought against two early Core Formation cultivators, but had actually sustained minor injuries.

Nie Yuan was unhappy about this, after all, he was once a disciple of a great sect.

“Young friend, you are not very old, but your magical power is pure, and your origins are not simple. You have the potential to Core Formation. Why have you fallen to become a robber cultivator, engaging in black-on-black schemes here?”

A gentle voice came from above.

“Who are you?”

Nie Yuan’s heart skipped a beat as he looked towards a plain-looking man in civilian clothes descending from the sky.

The other party appeared out of nowhere, his cultivation level unfathomable.

“This one is naturally someone who upholds justice.”

The man in civilian clothes looked down from above, his palm slowly pressing down.

A wind-like, blue-green palm expanded in his field of vision, making the surrounding air as heavy as a mountain.

“True Dan magical power! Senior, spare my life——”

The ground under Nie Yuan’s feet collapsed, revealing his fear. He immediately dodged, but felt like he was stuck in mud.

It wasn’t that he was much slower, but that the palm was too fast, bringing a suffocating pressure.

*Bang!*

Nie Yuan’s protective magic shield shattered in an instant, and the hastily activated top-grade magic weapon shattered on the ground.

The next moment, he was enveloped in endless darkness.

“Nie Yuan… an inner disciple of the Li Huo Palace… turned into a bandit… amassing resources for Core Formation…”

“Hmm, his identity is quite good.”

Lu Chang’an placed his palm on Nie Yuan’s corpse’s head, extracting information from the remnants of his soul memory that hadn’t yet dissipated.

This person had a lot of killing intent and had taken many lives in the border wasteland.

Lu Chang’an had no qualms about killing him.

After soul searching, Lu Chang’an collected the person’s essence blood and residual soul energy, sealing them in two bottles.

In the future, Lu Chang’an could simulate this person’s identity through the Hundred Illusions Mask, even matching his magical power aura.

“It’s still easy to pick on weaklings!”

Lu Chang’an chuckled, waved his hand to clean up the scene, and erased all traces.

During this time, his spiritual sense remained vigilant, ensuring there were no other observers.

Nie Yuan was not the first late Core Formation cultivator that Lu Chang’an had killed on his journey.

Having more Core Formation identities for re-cultivation wouldn’t hurt.

…

After flying for a thousand miles or so, a huge third-order spirit ship appeared in his field of vision.

Lu Chang’an felt a sense of familiarity.

“This… is it the inter-national spirit ship of the Nine Zenith Trading Company?”

With a brief recollection, Lu Chang’an reached a conclusion.

He wasn’t sure if it was the same spirit ship he had taken before.

But it looked the same, with the flag of the Nine Zenith Trading Company.

Back then, when they were on the Nine Zenith Trading Company’s inter-national spirit ship, they were relegated to the cargo hold below deck. They had no choice but to pay extra spirit stones to exchange for a cabin, at the mercy of others, being treated like commodities for trade.

“True Dan cultivator! Is it coming for us?”

On the spirit ship, the steward of the Nine Zenith Trading Company and the hundreds of cultivators on board were anxious.

True Dan cultivators on their journeys usually fly within the Nine罡 天 (Ji Gang Tian) and don’t interact with merchant ships.

The True Dan cultivator ahead was clearly heading straight for the spirit ship.

“Huh! The one coming seems to be ‘Evergreen True Immortal’!”

“Evergreen True Immortal? That one who…”

When the handsome, elegant man in white robes came into their sight, some people on the spirit ship recognized him.

The steward of the Nine Zenith Trading Company couldn’t help but feel relieved.

Evergreen True Immortal is known as an inspirational True Dan expert, respected for his virtue. He is definitely not a robber cultivator.

“I am Fei Tang, steward of the Nine Zenith Trading Company, responsible for this spirit ship. Evergreen True Immortal, it is an honor to have you grace us with your presence. What brings you here?”

An old man of about sixty, with a False Dan cultivation, came out to greet him, bowing in respect.

Lu Chang’an politely returned the salute and said with a smile:

“This one was once ‘favored’ by the Nine Zenith Trading Company. I managed to escape the cultivation war and smuggle myself into the Jing Guo cultivation world, eventually, luckily, achieving True Dan.”

“Now, seeing the spirit ship from those days, my heart is filled with nostalgia. I plan to rest on the ship for half a day.”

Hearing this, the cultivators on the merchant ship’s spirit ship were dumbfounded.

The Evergreen True Immortal of those days actually had such a twisty past. It was a good story to tell.

Only Fei Tang, the steward, looked slightly startled, sensing something amiss.

“True Immortal Lu, you are being too modest. There happens to be a high-grade cabin on board. Please come in.”

The steward and the other cultivators on the Nine Zenith Trading Company’s spirit ship welcomed Lu Chang’an with the utmost courtesy.

They even temporarily vacated a high-grade cabin, as there wasn’t a spare one.

“So this is the high-grade cabin on the inter-national spirit ship? The place where Master Wang stayed back then?”

Lu Chang’an moved into the top-floor cabin, a luxurious suite of over a hundred square meters, ten times larger than the cramped cabin he stayed in back then.

The high-grade cabins on the spirit ship even have dedicated servants and maids for service.

The kind of service one can enjoy in ordinary immortal cities can be found here.

Half a day later.

Lu Chang’an flew towards the Liang Guo cultivation world, under the gaze of the cultivators on the inter-national spirit ship, who looked at him with awe.

“True Immortal Lu is truly magnanimous. He said half a day, and it was only half a day. He also paid the room fee.”

“True Immortal Lu is broad-minded and easygoing. Just now, I bowed from a distance, and he even nodded in acknowledgement.”

Amidst the chorus of praise, the steward of the Nine Zenith Trading Company had a hint of bitterness in his mouth.

In the past half-day, the Nine Zenith Trading Company had served Lu Chang’an with the utmost care.

Mountain delicacies, spirit tea, spirit wine, beautiful companions…

And he had secretly taken out ten thousand spirit stones and a VIP token of the trading company to welcome the Evergreen True Immortal.

Before leaving, Evergreen True Immortal did indeed pay the room fee.

…

After another day of flying, Lu Chang’an finally left the border wasteland behind.

The familiar aura of the Liang Guo land swept over him.

He couldn’t help but look back. Many things from the past were now insignificant.

The unpleasant experience he had on the Nine Zenith Trading Company’s spirit ship many years ago, which he had once kept in mind.

He was not a petty person.

He had simply relaxed on the spirit ship for half a day.

He didn’t do anything, nor did he bother the cultivators of the Nine Zenith Trading Company.

After arriving in Liang Guo, Lu Chang’an slowed down and switched to traveling by the Xuan Shui Turtle, taking the opportunity to see the changes in the Liang Guo land.

After crossing the Liang Guo border, Lu Chang’an felt something amiss.

The two groups of sect patrol cultivators he encountered along the way had a murderous aura and were on high alert.

Upon confirming Lu Chang’an’s identity and his True Dan cultivation level, the cultivators of the sect patrol, after a brief shock, answered respectfully.

“The demon sect’s six sect armies have reached the border of Yan Guo…”

“The Boundless Hall of Feng Guo, led by Chu Tianfeng, has gathered the cultivators of the surrounding sects, facing off against the demon sect forces.”

Lu Chang’an received startling news, even though he had anticipated this day.

At the moment, Feng Guo and its surrounding areas, along with the demon sect forces, were on the verge of war, poised to clash.

Besides,

From the reactions of the sect patrol cultivators, Lu Chang’an realized that they didn’t know about his Core Formation.

The upper echelons of Liang Guo must know about Lu Chang’an’s Core Formation.

However, there is a delay in information for the ordinary cultivators in the lower strata across cultivation countries.

It is these kinds of information disparities that make it impossible for ordinary cultivators to keep up with the upper echelon cultivators throughout their lives.

“The closest place to the border where I have acquaintances is the Li family of Snow Plum Mountain…”

Lu Chang’an sat on the broad back of the Xuan Shui Turtle, surrounded by waves, flying towards a certain direction.

The Li family of Snow Plum Mountain, their head of household, Li Cong Ren, was the most outstanding grandson of Li Er Qing.

Thirty years ago, when Lu Chang’an smuggled himself into Jing Guo, it was through Li Cong Ren’s connections that he was able to board the inter-national spirit ship.

(End of Chapter)

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