I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 303

## Chapter 299: Nascent Soul (Nascent Soul) Banning Ring

The Feng Kingdom’s cultivation world, Ao Yue Palace.

A snow-covered main peak where clouds and mist intertwined, stood a jade-white palace complex, resembling a heavenly palace that was as cold as the high altitudes.

The spiritual energy near the icy peak had clearly reached the fourth rank.

Suddenly, a lotus platform with three-colored petals flew out from within the jade-white palace.

On the platform stood a beautiful female cultivator wearing a moon-white palace dress. She was about twenty years old, with a willow waist and a snow-white face as serene as a painting. Her eyebrows held a hint of faint coldness and melancholy, like a lonely fairy from an ice palace.

“Junior Sister Wen Yue, Master’s intention in forbidding you to leave Ao Yue Palace’s sphere of influence is truly out of concern, to protect your special Innate Dao Body.”

Another beautiful woman with a vermilion mark between her eyebrows and wearing a gauze skirt flew out from the jade-white palace, landing on the lotus platform treasure.

“Right now, the demonic battlefield has spread to the southeastern border of the Feng Kingdom, and the kingdom is also unstable. It’s impossible to rule out the possibility of demonic cultivators lurking around. You only formed your Golden Core two years ago, Wen Yue. It’s better to focus on honing your skills for a few more years and cultivate a life-saving technique. By then, Master will naturally grant you more freedom…”

The woman in the gauze skirt comforted her softly, patiently persuading her.

“Master isn’t keeping her word.”

Xia Wen Yue gently pursed her red lips, saying in a low voice, “Initially, it was agreed that after I formed my Golden Core, I would be allowed to go out on my own to visit relatives and friends.”

During her Foundation Establishment stage, Xia Wen Yue had spent sixty years cultivating, successfully forming her Golden Core two years ago. The upper-level True Core had decorated her Golden Core with the Dao rhyme, making it a half-step Golden Core.

“Times change, Palace Master was seriously injured in the demonic war, and her Nascent Soul was damaged. Master, as Palace Master’s disciple, possesses an immortal Golden Core at the peak of the Golden Core stage. She is currently in seclusion, focused on reaching the Nascent Soul stage. She doesn’t have the spare energy to ensure your safety, Junior Sister.”

“Senior Sister Nalan is right. Wen Yue should be mindful of the bigger picture and not cause trouble for the sect and Master.”

Xia Wen Yue’s starry eyes flickered, and she sighed lightly, no longer insisting.

“It’s best that you can think like this, Wen Yue.”

Senior Sister Nalan breathed a sigh of relief.

If a Golden Core cultivator insisted on going out, it was hard to keep a constant eye on them.

Xia Wen Yue’s “Cold Soul Jade Marrow” Innate Dao Body started to nurture “Tai Yin Jade Liquid” after she formed her Golden Core. By the middle to later stages of the Golden Core stage, it would slightly contribute to her Nascent Soul advancement, making her a target of the demonic cultivators.

Although this contribution wasn’t as significant as a Nascent Soul Pill and wasn’t a decisive factor, it was still highly coveted.

Within the Feng Kingdom, there were many powerful young talents from prominent families vying for Xia Wen Yue’s attention.

Even during Xia Wen Yue’s Foundation Establishment stage, there had been Golden Core cultivators “lowering themselves” to court her, showering her with gifts.

“Wen Yue won’t go out easily, but Senior Sister, you must inform Wen Yue of any external intelligence. Especially news from the Jing Kingdom, and…”

“I know, you mean the whereabouts of that cheap teacher you had before you entered the sect. Senior Sister will definitely pay attention.”

Senior Sister Nalan smiled sweetly.

“This jade slip contains the intelligence you’re interested in.”

Before leaving, Senior Sister Nalan handed a jade slip to Xia Wen Yue.

“Thank you, Senior Sister.”

Xia Wen Yue, riding on the lotus platform, returned to her solitary and remote third-rank spiritual vein mountain peak.

Xia Wen Yue stood on the cliff edge of the solitary peak, her eyes like deep autumn ponds, calm and still, yet exuding an indescribable coldness.

Eight years ago, Lu Chang An mysteriously disappeared in the Liang Kingdom, and no trace of him was found.

Lu Chang An was alone, with no partner or offspring, and he didn’t leave a soul lamp, something that indicated life or death.

According to rumors, the Turtle Daoist had run away ahead of time to avoid the war.

There was unconfirmed intelligence from the demonic cultivators: Lu Chang An had run away, and was captured and killed by the Peacock Saintess, who was after the secrets of his cultivation of the Xuan Shui Gui (Mysterious Water Turtle).

Later, Xia Wen Yue asked her Senior Sister to invite a divination master, but they encountered an invisible resistance, only confirming that Lu Chang An wasn’t dead, but his fate was unknown.

“Mister Lu, sixty years have passed since we last met… In a few more years, perhaps Wen Yue will forget your face.”

Xia Wen Yue’s Qingdai (dark blue) eyebrows slightly furrowed, she muttered softly.

They hadn’t seen each other for many years, and Lu Chang An rarely contacted her proactively.

Under the long years of sixty years,

Her longing for Lu Chang An, that trace of affection she hadn’t dared to confess back then, now… was fading away!

After entering Ao Yue Palace and becoming a half-step Golden Core cultivator, Xia Wen Yue’s perspective had broadened. She was no longer the naive family cultivator she once was.

Among Xia Wen Yue’s numerous suitors, there were many Earth Spirit Roots, Innate Dao Bodies, and even sect geniuses who had formed their Golden Cores.

Compared to those stunningly talented young men, Lu Chang An, who had formed a lower-level True Core, even with his talisman art and medical skills, could only be considered ordinary in her circle.

Mister Lu, whom she had admired and looked up to in her younger years, had naturally lost his halo.

It wasn’t difficult for her to guess that Lu Chang An’s motives were the same as those of the other suitors: he was after the Tai Yin Jade Liquid that she was nurturing.

The difference was that Lu Chang An wasn’t like those others, using love and pursuit as a disguise.

She felt fortunate that Lu Chang An hadn’t taken advantage of her when she was young and naive, deceived her emotions and body.

If she had lost her virginity, it would have affected her future nurturing of the Tai Yin Jade Liquid.

Although her feelings had faded, Xia Wen Yue was still grateful, remembering his past kindness in saving her life.

She kept her promise under the vow of the heart demon, and didn’t tell anyone.

Returning to her subworld on the solitary peak, Xia Wen Yue took out the jade slip her Senior Sister gave her and checked the intelligence she was interested in.

“The Jing Kingdom hasn’t been invaded by the demonic cultivators on a large scale yet, just small-scale probes and friction…”

“The Xia clan of Qing Sha Wan (Clear Sand Bay), the old clan head is not as healthy as he used to be, with only twenty or thirty years left to live. Luckily, Xia Ming Qu has formed a fake Golden Core.”

“Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley)… hm? That Fairy Zhao, she died in battle, her beauty perished!”

Finally, Xia Wen Yue’s calm face showed a ripple.

She had been paying attention to Fairy Zhao’s situation, because she was Mister Lu’s beloved friend of two hundred years.

Many years ago, she had considered Zhao Si Yao a potential rival for love. Now, thinking back, she felt a wave of melancholy.

“Fairy Zhao died in battle, her fate uncertain. Would Mister Lu appear now?”

A sense of pity flashed in Xia Wen Yue’s eyes as she pondered.

Perhaps it was the inertia of missing him for so many years.

There was an obsession in her heart: regardless of love or gratitude, she wanted to see Mister Lu, who never seemed to age, once more.

…

Liang Kingdom, Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley).

Qun Ying Shan (Heroic Spirit Mountain), in front of a newly erected tombstone.

Zhao Tan Er, looking thin and haggard, with her clothes dirty and disheveled, knelt on the ground, her eyes swollen, crying like a weeping willow.

“Master, it’s all Tan Er’s fault!”

“If you hadn’t given Tan Er that third-rank middle-grade escape talisman, you wouldn’t have died.”

Zhao Tan Er repeated the same words at the tombstone many times, like a neurotic person.

That third-rank escape talisman was the best one Lu Chang An could give, aside from his treasure talismans.

Actually, Zhao Tan Er had used it two years ago, dodging a life-or-death situation in the demonic war.

If not for that talisman, Zhao Tan Er would have been the one who died.

Whoosh!

At this moment, a golden遁光 (escape light) of the mid-Golden Core stage descended from the sky.

“The murderer, is it confirmed to be Black Crow Daoist?”

Zhang Tie Shan, waving his sleeve, made a deep bow and offered incense before asking in a deep voice.

“Yes, Tan Er saw it with her own eyes.”

Zhao Tan Er wiped her tears, her silver teeth clenched, her voice filled with hatred and killing intent.

Black Crow Daoist, a demonic cultivator from Beast King Valley, was a ruthless True Core stage cultivator at the mid-stage.

He was close to the late-Golden Core stage in strength, with records of slaying fellow cultivators at the same stage from the Righteous Path Alliance. His highest achievement was to restrain two mid-Golden Core cultivators simultaneously.

“If I encounter him on the battlefield in the future, if there’s a good opportunity, Zhang will slay this villain and avenge Junior Sister Zhao.”

Zhang Tie Shan’s slightly dark face revealed anger, he promised with a bow.

Apart from Lu Chang An, he was the person Zhao Si Yao had the best relationship with in her life, and they were also fellow disciples.

“Thank you, Uncle Zhang.”

Zhao Tan Er bowed respectfully, expressing her gratitude.

Her strength was far from Black Crow Daoist’s. If she encountered him alone, she’d be lucky to escape with her life.

Zhang Tie Shan was powerful in battle, he had formed his True Core eighteen years before Lu Chang An, and now he had also advanced to the mid-Golden Core stage.

In the entire Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley), only Zhang Tie Shan and Black Crow Daoist had a chance of fighting against the latter, aside from the Grand Elder.

“I heard that when you arrived to meet Junior Sister Zhao, she was still breathing, barely. Junior Sister Zhao, did she have any regrets?”

Zhang Tie Shan fell silent for a while, feeling guilty.

Because the sect master, Xuan Xiao Daoist, had been seriously injured, his strength had significantly declined. Zhang Tie Shan would inherit the position of sect master in the future.

He had been very busy in recent years, taking on some of the sect master’s duties, and hadn’t been able to pay more attention to Zhao Si Yao.

Moreover, as the helm of Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley) and someone from the Enforcement Hall, he needed to be fair and impartial, and couldn’t be too obvious in favoring anyone during the demonic war.

“Master said: Tell him not to come back.”

Zhao Tan Er bit her lower lip, her face filled with memories.

At that time, Zhao Si Yao, lying in her arms, was dying, her face pale, her appearance that of a middle-aged woman, her chest, abdomen, and legs were pierced by black feather needles.

Zhao Tan Er was in despair, unable to do anything. She had thought, if she had Lu Shu’s medical skills, could she have saved Master?

Actually, Master left her two last words before she passed away.

The other one she kept in her heart, and didn’t tell Zhang Tie Shan.

“Him?”

Zhang Tie Shan pondered, his resolute gaze fixed on the distant north of the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

As the helm of the sect, he knew some inside information, and he guessed that Lu Chang An had gone to the Feng Yuan Kingdom in the depths of the Endless Flying Sand Desert.

“Lu Chang An, as Junior Sister Zhao’s closest friend, you’re not coming back for revenge, Zhang understands. Black Crow Daoist, Zhang will kill him for you!”

Zhang Tie Shan muttered in his heart, resolving firmly.

However, that Black Crow Daoist was a standout among mid-Golden Core cultivators, and he had only recently reached the mid-Golden Core stage, he wouldn’t be confident enough to kill him within ten years.

The reason he understood Lu Chang An was because Zhang Tie Shan knew that the latter was facing a more terrifying enemy.

That was the Peacock Saintess!

A few months ago, Zhang Tie Shan, along with three other Golden Core cultivators, including one at the late-Golden Core stage, had once joined forces to fight against the Peacock Saintess, only to be routed.

At that time, the spirit beasts controlled by the Peacock Saintess didn’t yet include the Five-Colored Peacock with its Heavenly Grade bloodline.

The spirit weapon remnant reminded him that this woman was very dangerous and told him to be extremely careful.

During the battle, the Peacock Saintess had paid attention to him and left a brief remark: “Tian Feng Daoist? I heard you have a good relationship with the Turtle Daoist.”

At that time, Zhang Tie Shan’s scalp tingled, he sensed danger.

Even with his spirit weapon remnant and spirit weapon fragments, the Heavenly Talent Saintess from Beast King Valley was someone he could only look up to.

As a top-tier sect from the Great Green Region, Beast King Valley was rumored to possess a sect treasure that was a replica of a spirit weapon, forged from spirit weapon fragments.

After learning about Zhao Si Yao’s death, Zhang Tie Shan investigated Black Crow Daoist’s information and learned that he had pursued the Peacock Saintess a hundred years ago.

Later, the Peacock Saintess’s achievements made Black Crow Daoist feel inferior, so he decided to cling to her, becoming her lackey.

Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley) was just a Golden Core sect within the Righteous Path Alliance, they couldn’t possibly provoke the Peacock Saintess. Otherwise, they might be targeted in the future, even facing a reckoning.

The Peacock Saintess wasn’t an ordinary Nascent Soul seed, she had a high chance of becoming a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Her foundation, coupled with the powerful beast taming talent of the “Myriad Spirit Dao Body,” once she became a Nascent Soul cultivator, her strength would be exceptional among those at the same stage.

“Lu Chang An, if you’re not Yan Donglai reborn, it’s best that you never come back…”

…

The heart of the Endless Desert.

The eastern edge of the Feng Yuan Kingdom, the He Yuan Oasis, a landscaped garden daoist temple.

“So that’s how it is.”

Lu Chang An put away the few divination objects stained with blood, his voice hoarse.

He remained silent in mourning for a while.

He had just consumed life essence and blood, and obtained a relatively accurate divination result.

In destiny, only one of Master and disciple Zhao could survive.

Lu Chang An guessed from this that Zhao Si Yao most likely gave the third-rank middle-grade escape talisman to her only disciple, whom she treated like a daughter.

If she could choose again, Zhao Si Yao would probably still exchange her life for Zhao Tan Er’s survival.

After all, she was only at the fake Golden Core stage, and could only survive for less than a hundred years at most.

“From the divination, the Peacock Saintess isn’t the murderer. As the Saintess of Beast King Valley, she wouldn’t personally take action against a mere fake Golden Core cultivator.”

“However, even if she didn’t give specific orders, the Golden Core cultivators below her, her pursuers, if they understand her intentions, someone would naturally step forward.”

Lu Chang An felt slightly guilty, his karma had somewhat affected Zhao Si Yao.

Of course, even if she hadn’t been affected, based on divination, Zhao Si Yao had given the escape talisman to her disciple, and this fate was inevitable.

The karma of the Peacock Saintess had only accelerated the process.

On the demonic battlefield, the death rate was very high, and fake Golden Core cultivators were considered high-level cannon fodder.

Fake Golden Core cultivators had no potential for advancement, even if they died, it wouldn’t cripple the cultivation sect, so there was no need to feel too sorry.

Therefore, some high-risk missions were often carried out by fake Golden Core cultivators.

“She wants me to return to the Liang Kingdom?”

Lu Chang An caught the Peacock Saintess’s intention.

After all, Zhao Si Yao was Lu Chang An’s best friend and beloved friend in the world.

Lu Chang An tried to divine the deeper reasons and karma, but encountered an invisible resistance.

“There is a divination master, hiding the celestial secrets. That person’s skills and techniques are above mine.”

Lu Chang An pondered, giving up on divination.

Divination wasn’t omnipotent, there was an invisible game of wits.

If one could divine, one could naturally conceal, even mislead.

Just like playing chess, there was offense and defense.

Divination masters were a niche group, but top-tier sects like the Six Demonic Sects all had strong divination masters, who concealed certain secrets and strategies of the sect, preventing divination.

At the same time, there were many celestial objects that could resist divination or increase its difficulty.

Since his divination wasn’t as good, Lu Chang An analyzed it from the perspective of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

After a long time, he had a sudden flash of inspiration.

“Heh! Little Peacock, this Daoist has found your weakness…”

Lu Chang An suddenly realized.

It turned out.

Back then, the Peacock Saintess chased after Lu Chang An, only to be tricked, her primary spirit beast had one of its wings broken, its essence damaged. The Spirit Controlling Silver Ring she wore on her ankle, this personal item, was also taken by Lu Chang An.

Such a humiliating experience had greatly impacted the proud Peacock Saintess’s mental state.

She even developed a complex.

Even a small flaw in her mental state, in the future Nascent Soul tribulation, could be amplified infinitely.

Especially the terrifying Heart Demon Tribulation.

If she didn’t resolve her complex, she wouldn’t be able to advance to the Nascent Soul stage, the risk would be extremely high.

Or rather, she simply wouldn’t dare to face the Nascent Soul tribulation.

Even if she asked a Nascent Soul True Monarch to kill Lu Chang An, it wouldn’t solve the root problem. She had to do it herself, to truly achieve peace of mind.

Of course, this was just Lu Chang An’s analysis from the perspective of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

“It’s a sure thing. Otherwise, the Peacock Saintess wouldn’t have asked a divination master to hide this matter.”

Lu Chang An could basically confirm it.

Knowing the truth, Lu Chang An had taken the initiative.

In other words, he had grasped the Peacock Saintess’s Nascent Soul advancement banning ring.

If Lu Chang An went into hiding, never returning, the Peacock Saintess’s chance of becoming a Nascent Soul cultivator would be slim.

If Lu Chang An didn’t give her a chance, she wouldn’t have any hope.

The only concern was that if the Peacock Saintess couldn’t find him in the future, she might target Zhao Tan Er, Li Er Qing’s descendants, or even take revenge on Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley).

“The Peacock Saintess has just reached the late-Golden Core stage, only twenty years or so, and it will be many years before she reaches the peak of the Golden Core stage. She’s far from that point yet.”

Lu Chang An estimated that the Peacock Saintess wouldn’t be in a hurry until she reached the peak of the Golden Core stage and prepared for the Nascent Soul tribulation.

By then, the demonic invasion war would probably have reached a decisive stage.

The Peacock Saintess wasn’t an Earth Spirit Root, her Innate Dao Body’s characteristics gave her a slightly weaker boost to her cultivation speed compared to an Earth Spirit Root.

…

Half a year later.

Inside the garden’s secret chamber, in a third-rank tempering medicine pool.

“Third-rank mid-stage Body Tempering!”

Lu Chang An’s giant dark golden body, with dense golden circular scales like fish scales, gradually subsided on his surface.

The terrifying bodily strength and blood pressure disappeared within the secret chamber.

Two weeks later.

He consolidated his cultivation, able to control the power of the “Golden Luo Invincible Body” at will.

Lu Chang An announced to the outside world that he was in seclusion.

In fact, he quietly left the He Yuan Oasis.

He flew towards the edge of the desert, heading straight for the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

With his Body Tempering advancing to the third-rank mid-stage, Lu Chang An’s strength and self-preservation ability had significantly improved.

Even so, Lu Chang An wasn’t planning to go to the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world in person.

Two months later.

Lu Chang An flew to the edge of the Flying Sand Desert, near the border of the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

“Go!”

Lu Chang An sat in the sand beast carriage below the sand layer, controlling his puppet clone.

Swish!

The hooded assassin, wearing a gray-white robe and a black cloak, turned into an invisible shadow and flew into the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

The hooded assassin had the soul power of a late-Golden Core cultivator from his previous life, with powerful spiritual senses and perception.

His magical power cultivation was comparable to a mid-Golden Core cultivator, capable of using most of the common spells used by human cultivators.

He excelled in stealth, surpassing Lu Chang An.

He went to the Liang Kingdom on Lu Chang An’s behalf, there was little difference between him and his original body.

A few days later.

The hooded assassin approached the Zhou family, who specialized in taming spirit beasts, and remotely used magic spells to stabilize the insect control restriction in Zhou Qing Xuan’s mind.

According to the agreement, Lu Chang An would remotely stabilize Zhou Qing Xuan’s insect control restriction once every ten years.

At the same time, Zhou Qing Xuan also controlled the insect control restriction of Xing Peng, the incense master of the Wu Jian Men (Boundless Gate).

This was just a year earlier than planned.

The Zhou family who specialized in taming spirit beasts, the Supreme Elder’s subworld.

“Could it be that the old geezer is coming back?”

Zhou Qing Xuan, wearing a goose-yellow dress and a delicate face like a young girl, suddenly felt a sensation, she was shocked.

“No good! According to Xing Peng, the Zhou family, Xiao Gui Feng (Small Turtle Peak), and Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley) all have informants from the Wu Jian Men (Boundless Gate)…”

Zhou Qing Xuan furrowed her brows, her heart filled with worry, she didn’t dare to go out easily.

Half an hour later.

Zhou Qing Xuan suddenly noticed that the formation restriction in the subworld was triggered.

“Who’s there?”

She broke out in a cold sweat, only then did she notice a mysterious hooded man appearing in the shadows of the window curtains.

“This one’s code name is ‘Black Owl,’ a member of the Qing Long Hui (Blue Dragon Association). By order of my lord, I’m here to remove the insect control restriction, and I have something to ask you.”

The hooded man’s hoarse, low voice rang out, he had already cast spells to set up a soundproof barrier.

“The Qing Long Hui? The lord you mentioned…”

Zhou Qing Xuan’s face turned pale, her heart filled with horror. She looked at the mysterious hooded man who was standing close to her, feeling a deep awe, she didn’t dare to speak loudly.

The Zhou family who specialized in taming spirit beasts had third-rank formations and sensitive spirit beasts with keen sense of smell. Even a mid to late-Golden Core cultivator wouldn’t be able to enter silently and reach her bedside.

…

Seven days later, outside the edge of the Flying Sand Desert.

Poof!

Lu Chang An emerged from the sand layer, he waved his hand, summoning the hooded assassin flying from afar, and pulled him into his storage bag.

Through the remote control of his puppet clone, Lu Chang An had a conversation with Zhou Qing Xuan, and learned about the war situation in the major cultivation kingdoms of the Righteous Path Alliance.

Including the details of Zhao Si Yao’s death.

“The demonic invasion, focusing on flanking attacks on the Feng Kingdom, they didn’t launch a full-scale invasion of the Jing Kingdom?”

Lu Chang An had been gone for nearly nine years, and the Jing Kingdom hadn’t suffered much loss, he was surprised.

Neither the Feng Kingdom nor the Jing Kingdom had been conquered, so naturally, the flames of war hadn’t reached the Liang Kingdom.

If it hadn’t been for the Peacock Saintess, he could have spent many more years cultivating in the Jin Yun Gu (Golden Cloud Valley) of the Liang Kingdom, perhaps he could have reversed Zhao Si Yao’s death.

“Black Crow Daoist, the direct murderer of Zhao Si Yao.”

Having obtained useful intelligence, Lu Chang An no longer lingered, he returned to the Feng Yuan Kingdom in the depths of the desert.

Perhaps no one would have imagined that Lu Chang An had been back to the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world in a unique way.

Through this action, Lu Chang An had gained more experience in the use of puppet clones.

He imagined that in the future, if he could create a late-Golden Core level puppet clone, the destructive power would be qualitatively different, equivalent to his original body arriving in person.

At that time, he wouldn’t need to take risks, he could remotely control it from a distance, and avenge Zhao Si Yao.

He could even retaliate against the Peacock Saintess, making her wary and no longer implicating his innocent former friends and descendants.

The Peacock Saintess also had disciples and relatives, and a family she came from. She wasn’t a lone wolf.

If she wanted to threaten Lu Chang An, who was alone, didn’t marry or have children, and had a long lifespan, then she was wrong.

(End of Chapter)

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