I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 287

## Chapter 284: The Third-Order Xuan Shui Gui

Lu Chang An knew Li Er Qing well enough, their bond deep. Therefore, this divination was accurate and relatively easy.

Divination requires certain clues and evidence. If performed blindly, it becomes significantly more difficult, affecting accuracy. Some treasures, high-level cultivators, and divine abilities that shield heavenly secrets can also hinder the success rate of divination.

If one recklessly probes the Heavenly Secrets and recklessly divines the fate of a great figure, it might even lead to retribution and shorten one’s lifespan.

“Everyone has their own destiny. Er Qing can live out his life peacefully, raise a family, and have many grandchildren. That is a great blessing in itself.”

Upon learning of his friend’s impending end, Lu Chang An felt a tinge of sadness but no genuine grief or regret.

A mere farmer, a lowly son-in-law who eventually became a Zhu Ji ancestor of a cultivating family, enjoyed all the wealth and prosperity. His children and grandchildren are also capable.

Of the four talented young cultivators from Hengshui Mansion back then, Li Er Qing might have had the most fulfilling life.

The young Marquis, Lin Yi Zhong, met an untimely demise.

The remaining two, Zhao Si Yao and Lu Chang An, cannot be assured of a peaceful end in this life.

Zhao Si Yao faces a significant risk in resisting the invasion of the demonic path.

Lu Chang An’s Chang Qing technique has its drawbacks. Perhaps it’s involved in the legendary cultivator, Yan Donglai’s, plans.

Moreover, climbing the peaks of Nascent Soul and Hua Shen in this life is also a thorny path.

Although Lu Chang An has been managing things steadily, he must compete for crucial resources at key junctions. A fourth-order spiritual vein will be indispensable in the future.

Even he, might face an untimely demise in the future.

A few days later.

Zhao Tan Er, as a junior, went ahead to Fei Yue Lake to visit Li Er Qing on behalf of both Lu Chang An and herself.

Li Er Gou, as the oldest Zhu Ji ancestor of Fei Yue Lake, was nearing the end of his lifespan, which would have a significant impact both internally and externally.

The arrival of a True Dan elder from the sect would be enough to deter any villains lurking within or outside Fei Yue Lake.

…

Two months later.

Jin Yun Valley.

Above Yun Lai Peak, the wind and clouds shifted, and the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth gathered in abundance.

For miles around, the spiritual energy of the heavens and earth churned. The intangible might of the heavens and earth made the many disciples of Jin Yun Valley’s mountain gate feel oppressed.

At the center of the vortex where spiritual energy converged, a cloud of spiritual energy slowly took shape.

“Breaking through to True Dan!”

“Seems to be accompanied by demonic energy fluctuations. Whose true person’s spiritual pet is this?”

“In recent years, it seems that only Chang Qing Elder’s Xuan Shui Gui has been preparing for the True Dan stage.”

“If that Xuan Shui Gui ascends to become a third-order great turtle, wouldn’t it be a clear sign of…”

The True Dan phenomenon on Yun Lai Peak sparked much discussion.

A few days later.

The cloud of spiritual energy in the sky slowly expanded to a radius of two miles, steadily progressing.

“As expected of an Earth-grade bloodline, achieving True Dan is a certainty.”

The Xuan Shui Gui’s True Dan phenomenon, with the potential to achieve True Dan, was within the expectations of the outside cultivators.

Normally,

Earth-grade bloodline spiritual pets, with sufficient True Dan resources, can often form an upper-tier True Dan.

A whole month later.

The cloud of spiritual energy in the sky slowly expanded to a radius of four miles.

“It’s usually lazy and sluggish, but even forming a True Dan is so slow.”

In the pavilion outside the cave, Lu Chang An sipped on his cool tea, grumbling softly.

He had never seen a cultivator form a True Dan so slowly.

“Right! So slow, wasting the master’s time.”

The earth dog-sized Di Yan Shu, lying at Lu Chang An’s feet, looked towards the secluded room where the Xuan Shui Gui was in seclusion, its voice childish, sharing his resentment.

“Little Rat, what kind of Dan do you think the Xuan Shui Gui will form?” Lu Chang An asked casually.

“Big Turtle is pretty stupid, unlike Little Rat who has his own superior True Dan spirit creature.” The Di Yan Shu, with a thoughtful expression, seriously analyzed.

“It only has the Ning Jing Dan gifted by the master, and the Five Elements Earth clashes with its Water and Wood attributes, making the spirit creature’s effectiveness poor. Achieving an upper-tier True Dan is probably its limit.”

“Hm, Big Turtle’s True Dan conditions are indeed the worst among us.” Lu Chang An nodded slightly.

He hadn’t gone out of his way to find a superior True Dan spirit creature for the Xuan Shui Gui.

Those top-tier True Dan spirit creatures are probably even rarer than the Ning Jing Dan.

Lu Chang An had posted a task in the sect and found a common water-type True Dan spirit creature. It was just a formality.

He was so casual about it mainly because he was worried about the Xuan Shui Gui’s formed Dan quality being too high.

If it formed an Immortal Golden Dan, it would be too ostentatious, easily attracting trouble.

The long-lived Xuan Shui Gui, at a low to mid-level cultivation, doesn’t have much appeal to the outside world.

But if it forms a Golden Dan, it has great potential, a long lifespan, and is naturally suited to being a sacred beast guarding the mountain gate.

At least a late-stage True Dan cultivator is needed to be worthy of such a spiritual pet.

Lu Chang An had already taken a risk by secretly forming an Immortal Golden Dan in the Wan Yue Immortal City, and he couldn’t afford to help the Xuan Shui Gui hide its identity.

Ten more days passed.

The cloud of spiritual energy above Yun Lai Peak slowly expanded to four and a half miles before coming to a halt.

“Thank goodness…”

Lu Chang An let out a sigh of relief. With such poor True Dan conditions, it almost formed a Golden Dan.

He had anticipated the possible changes caused by the Xuan Tian Hu Teng.

Fortunately, the Xuan Shui Gui’s True Dan spirit creature was quite poor, and the Five Elements Earth attribute didn’t resonate well with it, so its effectiveness was probably even worse than Lu Chang An’s.

A few days later, the vortex of spiritual energy in the heavens and earth dissipated smoothly.

Above the cave on Yun Lai Peak, rays of auspicious light and clouds surrounded the area, and sounds of the Great Dao echoed.

The signs of the Xuan Shui Gui’s final True Dan completion were not as impressive as Lu Chang An’s when he achieved the Immortal Golden Dan, but better than the Di Yan Shu back then.

“A half-step Golden Dan, acceptable.”

Lu Chang An breathed a sigh of relief. He used his divine sense to check on the Xuan Shui Gui in the secluded room of the cave.

The azure True Dan within its body was covered in half of its surface with glittering golden veins, containing the essence of the Great Dao.

Lu Chang An realized that this was probably a three-quarters Golden Dan, and this foolish creature almost slowly formed an Immortal Golden Dan.

This outcome was the best possible scenario within Lu Chang An’s expectations.

With the vision of a Nascent Soul True Jun, he knew that a half-step Golden Dan or an Immortal True Dan makes no difference in the final Heart Demon Tribulation of the Nascent Soul Tribulation.

The Xuan Shui Gui, being a long-lived species, has a solid foundation and strong defense.

It is relatively easy for it to break through realms and withstand the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation that comes before the Heart Demon Tribulation.

For the Xuan Shui Gui, forming this quasi-Golden Dan, compared to a real Golden Dan, doesn’t have much impact on its future transformation.

…

The Xuan Shui Gui’s achievement of a half-step Golden Dan caused a stir throughout Jin Yun Valley.

Lu Chang An didn’t hold a grand True Dan ceremony. Moreover, over half of the sect’s cultivators had gone to the front lines of the demonic invasion.

Even so, a considerable number of high-level cultivators, True Dan cultivators and above, came to offer congratulations to the higher-ups of Jin Yun Valley.

Lu Chang An could only hold a small celebratory banquet to entertain the True Immortals he knew.

“Congratulations, Lu True Immortal, on raising a third-order Xuan Shui Gui. It’s truly enviable.”

“Old man has come to admire the ‘Turtle True Immortal’s’ good fortune.”

The Alchemy Elder, “Chen Dan True Immortal,” chuckled with his beard stroking and touched the Xuan Shui Gui’s shell.

After the Xuan Shui Gui formed its True Dan, its size expanded further, its shell now over four zhang wide.

The turtle was gentle and docile, and it didn’t mind when other True Immortals came to touch it.

“Haha! Let’s share in the Turtle True Immortal’s good fortune!”

Following Chen Dan True Immortal’s lead, the other guests followed suit.

During this period, the Zhao master and disciple had gone to the front lines.

Otherwise, Zhao Tan Er would have interacted with the Xuan Shui Gui properly.

Zhang Tie Shan, the master of Jin Yun Sect, was also at the front lines.

The Grand Elder was injured and guarding Jin Yun Valley while recovering.

To minimize casualties, the sect’s cultivators, especially the high-level ones, had been rotating at the front lines.

For this celebration, the Grand Elder came in person.

As a Cultivator of the Dao of Longevity, the Grand Elder was still youthful, with white hair and a rosy complexion. He was five feet tall, dressed simply. Apart from the weariness on his face, he hadn’t changed from twenty years ago.

“Lu True Immortal, this Turtle True Immortal will also be eligible for a salary for guarding Jin Yun Valley.” The Grand Elder examined the massive Xuan Shui Gui, his eyes bright with admiration and envy.

A long-lived, Earth-grade bloodline great turtle, reaching the third order, is a powerful combat force, especially suitable for guarding the mountain gate.

During the celebration, the Grand Elder made an exception and displayed his culinary skills, cooking several Yun He (Cloud Crane) Chickens, which were snatched up by everyone present. He specially picked out a fat, juicy Yun He Chicken and fed it to the Xuan Shui Gui.

Inside the cave on the mountain peak.

The Di Yan Shu poked its little head out, looking at the Xuan Shui Gui, who was enjoying its popularity and eating the chicken.

It salivated, its eyes filled with longing, and a bit of sourness in its heart.

The master had instructed it to avoid appearing in front of other True Immortals as much as possible.

The Di Yan Shu’s eyes flickered, then it retracted its head, hiding in the dark recesses of the cave.

After the celebration, the Grand Elder spoke privately with Lu Chang An.

“If Lu True Immortal stays in Jin Yun Valley, the Xuan Shui Gui will enjoy elder status, and the resources needed for its training will be provided by Jin Yun Valley.”

The Grand Elder wanted to bind Lu Chang An and the Xuan Shui Gui to Jin Yun Valley.

A third-order Xuan Shui Gui has nearly two thousand years of lifespan!

Even if it can’t ascend to the fourth order and transform, it can protect the sect for a long time.

“Old man’s lifespan is nearly five hundred years, with only a hundred years left. In the future, Jin Yun Valley will be left to Tie Shan, Xuan Xiao, and Lu True Immortal…”

Lu Chang An could feel the earnestness in the Grand Elder’s words.

“The future is unpredictable, but as long as Lu is in Jin Yun Valley, the Xuan Shui Gui will guard it together.” Lu Chang An responded delicately.

“Moreover, the Xuan Shui Gui has been raised by Lu since it hatched, with over a hundred and fifty years of companionship. If someone else were to replace me, it wouldn’t be used to them.”

Hearing this, the Grand Elder naturally understood.

Such a spiritual beast, raised from a young age, often has a strong sense of loyalty, even more reliable than one’s children or disciples.

It is very difficult for outside cultivating forces to bypass Lu Chang An, the master, and make the Xuan Shui Gui into a sect-protecting spiritual beast.

Indeed, the cultivating world has many methods of control and enslavement.

But such coercive measures, even if successful, would create a future sect-protecting spiritual beast that could easily turn against them, leading to major risks and not being worth it.

…

Half a year later, Lu Chang An was nearly one hundred and ninety-six years old.

The Xuan Shui Gui’s ascension to the third order did not cause much of a stir in the cultivating world of Liang Guo.

The demonic invasion was the focal point of this era.

One day, Lu Chang An received a letter from the Mu Family of Fei Yue Lake.

Li Er Qing was nearing his end.

Lu Chang An left Yun Lai Peak, riding on the massive Xuan Shui Gui, and met up with the Zhao master and disciple.

Due to Lu Chang An’s earlier divination of Li Er Qing’s demise, the Zhao master and disciple had specially adjusted their time at the front lines.

Zhang Tie Shan also instructed his disciples to attend Li Er Qing’s funeral.

The three of them prepared to go ahead of time to see Li Er Qing one last time.

Woosh!

The massive Xuan Shui Gui, pulling a surging blue water wave of escaping light, carried three True Dan cultivators and flew out of the mountain gate of Jin Yun Valley.

In the eyes of outsiders, Lu Chang An hadn’t stepped out of Jin Yun Valley for nearly twenty years.

“Tsk tsk, Turtle True Immortal is finally willing to leave the mountain gate of Jin Yun Valley.”

“Now that he has a third-order, long-lived Xuan Shui Gui to protect him, his self-preservation ability has greatly increased, and he has two female True Immortals accompanying him. He really doesn’t fear the bounty.”

Some of the mid to high-level cultivators of Jin Yun Valley were watching Lu Chang An and the others’ movements.

On the broad, comfortable back of the turtle, Lu Chang An sat in the middle.

Zhao Si Yao and Zhao Tan Er sat on either side, a foot or more apart.

From a distance, the one man and two women on the back of the great turtle looked as if they were nestled together.

“Chang Qing True Immortal is so lucky! Perhaps he has already taken the Zhao master and disciple as his dao companions, possessing two female True Immortal dao companions.”

“It’s fate! With a third-order, long-lived Xuan Shui Gui, Chang Qing True Immortal’s status has skyrocketed, even the Grand Elder has to show him respect.”

“That’s right, just looking at the face of the third-order, long-lived Xuan Shui Gui, those female cultivators are willing to become his dao companions. Lu Chang An might be the next Huang Long True Immortal.”

Under the envious and jealous gaze of many, the third-order great turtle disappeared into the clouds.

(To be continued.)

(End of Chapter.)

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