I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 310

## Chapter 306: The Sandstorm Arrives

Ten miles from the heart of the Green Grass Oasis was the heavily guarded mountain gate of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

A stream of clear water flowed through the ancient and elegant palaces, pavilions, gardens, artificial mountains, and waterside pavilions. On a stone platform along the shore, stood a woman in palace attire. Silk ribbons encircled her, emitting a delicate fragrance. She appeared to be a mythical fairy from a painting, with a delicate head and eyebrows, and an elegant posture.

“I’ve been waiting for you for so long, Mr. Xu. I’m finally able to welcome you.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy smiled sweetly, her moonlit eyes gazing at the refined middle-aged man she hadn’t seen in four or five years. Her voice, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, echoed with delightful melodies in Lu Chang’an’s ears.

“I apologize for making the Rainbow Moon Fairy wait. I am honored by your reception,” Lu Chang’an bowed respectfully.

Even without any romantic feelings, he found himself captivated by the sight of the former number one beauty in the Liang Kingdom. It was a pleasant and uplifting experience.

Her face had definitely changed!

Unconsciously, he examined the beautiful face, observing the subtle changes in her physiognomy. The grayish-pink shade of imminent death, a sign of a fatal disaster, had been diluted by a faint purple light. If the original omen had been a disastrously fatal one, it now appeared as a moderately fatal sign.

“Mr. Xu, you said you didn’t know anything about physiognomy.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy gave him a playful glare, filled with charming affection.

“I only know a bit, nothing worth mentioning,” Lu Chang’an chuckled. This time, he didn’t deny it.

The Rainbow Moon Fairy was not naive. She had her suspicions during their last encounter at the auction.

“In two months, the Xuan Yin Pavilion will celebrate the opening of its new mountain gate, and we’ll be inviting numerous Daoist friends. At that time, the many female disciples from the various Myriad Sound Towers in surrounding Immortal Cities will return to the new mountain gate for the first time.”

Standing by the river, the Rainbow Moon Fairy swayed gracefully, her palace gown fluttering in the wind as she described the progress of the Oasis mountain gate to Lu Chang’an. Her words implied that he would be the first to see their new mountain gate, even before most of the Xuan Yin Pavilion cultivators.

“I am merely an ordinary Jie Dan True Immortal, Mr. Xu. Why would the Rainbow Moon Leader bestow such great importance upon me?”

Lu Chang’an’s gaze flickered with uncertainty. Even as a third-rank alchemist, which was even more rare and esteemed in the Feng Yuan Kingdom, it wasn’t enough to warrant such high regard from the peak Jie Dan mid-stage leader of a sect.

The Rainbow Moon Fairy smiled gently, “The Xuan Yin Pavilion, when selecting male guest cultivators, examines not only their skills and learning but also their character. You, Mr. Xu, helped save Ruotong and the others back then. Your noble character is truly admirable.”

“You can’t judge a book by its cover. We’ve only met twice. How can you be so sure about my character, Fairy?”

Lu Chang’an found her explanation rather flimsy.

“My qin art has reached the realm of ‘Qin Heart Enlightenment.’ As long as I interact with someone closely, I can generally judge the goodness or evil in their heart.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy spoke frankly, maintaining her dignified posture.

Through this ability, the Xuan Yin Pavilion had purged and expelled several malicious guest cultivators in its early years.

Qin Heart Enlightenment?

Others might be impressed and deceived by this claim. But Lu Chang’an, with his Nascent Soul perspective, knew that Qin Heart Enlightenment merely signified exceptional qin skills. It wasn’t reliable for determining the goodness or evil in a person’s heart.

It might be effective against low-level cultivators with unknown backgrounds. But against cultivators of the same level who are cautious or possess protective artifacts, mere qin heart perception could lead to mistakes.

“Mr. Xu, don’t overthink it. You only need to understand one thing: we have no ill intentions towards each other.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy pursed her lips, her voice soft and clear, like tinkling springs.

In fact, her explanation was somewhat evasive.

After their encounter at the auction, the Rainbow Moon Fairy had given the matter some thought when Lu Chang’an had examined her physiognomy.

Three years later, in the heartland of the Feng Yuan Kingdom, she found a secluded divination master and offered him a melody, persuading him to perform a divination for her.

The divination master said: she was destined for a short, tragic life, facing a fatal劫难 (jie nan) (fateful disaster). However, she had met a benefactor, providing a chance for a turn of events. But the danger of that劫难 still lingered.

The Rainbow Moon Fairy asked for clues about her benefactor.

The divination master said it might be someone she had interacted with, otherwise her fate wouldn’t have undergone such a significant change.

The Rainbow Moon Fairy looked back over the past years, and the only person she had interacted with who seemed somewhat inscrutable was that Mr. Xu.

…

“The Rainbow Moon Leader is right.”

Lu Chang’an stopped pursuing the matter further. They both had no ill intentions, that much was certain.

The group of female cultivators who had initially fled to the desert had all endured a hard life. To survive, to ensure the continuation of their sect, and to achieve certain goals by using their beauty and sound道 (dao) (way) skills, was only human.

“Would Mr. Xu be willing to stay as a guest for two months in the Green Grass Oasis until the day of the mountain opening celebration? Any of the sound道 female cultivators in this pavilion would be willing to perform for you.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy’s eyebrows and eyes were exquisite, her invitation containing a hint of anticipation.

“Any female cultivator, including the Rainbow Moon Leader herself?”

“Of course.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy nodded, her clear eyes subtly shifting as she glanced at him.

“I agree.”

Lu Chang’an accepted, appearing to be captivated by the Rainbow Moon Fairy’s beauty and musical talent.

In truth, these factors played a part. In the Liang Kingdom’s past cultivation world, ordinary True Immortals would have considered it a dream to even catch a glimpse of the Rainbow Moon Fairy, let alone hear her perform a solo piece.

As the leader of the Xuan Yin Pavilion, she possessed exceptional qin art and sound道 skills, which could enhance the mental state of Jie Dan cultivators. Even a single performance by her would benefit Lu Chang’an.

“Mr. Xu, perhaps you’ll grow to love this place if you stay a little longer.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy was delighted. She hadn’t expected Lu Chang’an to change his mind so easily.

Based on his previous personality, even with gentle persuasion, he wouldn’t have agreed. His willingness to stay in the Green Grass Oasis increased the likelihood of him becoming a guest cultivator at the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

“Han’er, arrange a room for Mr. Xu.”

After chatting for a while, the Rainbow Moon Fairy, busy with her duties, called over a petite, dainty maid in a green dress.

“Mr. Xu, I will lead you there.”

The maid in a green dress was named Li Han, a fake Dan cultivator. Though her status as a maid was humble, she was actually the Rainbow Moon Leader’s close confidante, having served her mistress for a couple of centuries.

“Thank you, Miss Han.”

Lu Chang’an glanced at the maid in a green dress. Her appearance was no less beautiful than Guan Qiaozhi in his previous life, but she wouldn’t stand out among the dazzling beauties of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

“Mr. Xu, we’re here.”

Not long after, the maid Li Han brought Lu Chang’an to a secluded courtyard building upstream of the river.

Lu Chang’an thanked her and entered the courtyard building.

He then noticed Li Han heading to a nearby mansion for a visit.

“Han Fairy, did you run out of the perfume again?”

The owner of the mansion was a gentle, elegant young man in white robes, with a warm and pleasant voice.

Lu Chang’an was slightly surprised to see that the Eastern Medicine Master lived next door.

Judging by the tenderness in Li Han’s eyes, it was clear she harbored a secret affection for Eastern Xi Fang.

She deliberately arranged for Lu Chang’an to stay here, so she could pass by and see the man she loved.

Unfortunately, though, her love was unrequited. Eastern Xi Fang treated her politely but without any romantic interest.

Li Han didn’t mind, though. She said her goodbyes with a bell-like laugh and left.

“Mr. Xu, fate has brought us together as neighbors.”

Eastern Xi Fang smiled and greeted Lu Chang’an.

They exchanged a few polite words but didn’t engage in any deeper conversation.

…

Time flew by, and seven days passed.

Lu Chang’an enjoyed the comfort of the third-rank medium-grade靈脈 (ling mai) (spiritual vein), making his cultivation even more pleasant. He was content with his time in the Green Grass Oasis.

While the Rainbow Moon Fairy only visited him once, he was constantly accompanied by beautiful women every day, each offering their dancing and musical talents.

The Xuan Yin Pavilion’s Oasis mountain gate housed three True Immortal-level beauties, all of whom Lu Chang’an had met.

The first, of course, was the Rainbow Moon Fairy, stunningly beautiful, eclipsing all others.

The second was Jiang Fairy, with a classic and graceful demeanor, ethereal and pure, like a lotus blooming in the mud.

The third was Bai Fairy, dressed in a snowy white gown, cool and distant, graceful like a flying swallow, resembling a celestial being under the moonlight.

Lu Chang’an had met Bai Fairy once.

This woman was cold and aloof, even when facing the esteemed guest, “Mr. Xu.”

She had carried out the Leader’s order and performed a piece on the flute for Lu Chang’an, ethereal like the rain, calm and quiet, barely exchanging a word.

This aloof Bai Fairy, however, showed a preference for Eastern Xi Fang next door, willing to linger and converse with him.

Perhaps in her eyes, the only male guest cultivator at the Xuan Yin Pavilion worthy of her attention was Eastern Xi Fang.

A fake Dan cultivator, Mr. Xu, was older and had no potential to speak of, even if he was a third-rank alchemist.

“Interesting…”

Lu Chang’an smiled, gaining a deeper understanding of the different personalities of the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s high-ranking fairies.

Other recruited cultivators would have been easily motivated by a desire to win over one of these captivating fairies.

On the seventh day, in the evening.

Dark clouds gathered over the Oasis, strong winds howled, whipping up a whirlwind of sand.

“The sandstorm is coming!”

Lu Chang’an observed the celestial phenomena. He had spent many years cultivating in the desert, so such inclement weather was nothing new.

The Outer Sect Alliance area, unlike the Snow Mountain Holy Land or the Eight Great Wasteland Cities, had experienced more significant environmental modifications over the past tens of thousands of years.

The large-scale sandstorms here, imbued with the power of heaven and earth, were equivalent to wide-scale first and second-rank dust storm spells.

During these events, low-level cultivators in the wasteland struggled to survive. Even Jie Dan cultivators, if caught in them, risked their lives.

The oasis and immortal cities protected by formations became safe havens for countless cultivators.

The Green Grass Oasis had a third-rank protective sect formation, impervious to wind and sand.

While a dense, oppressive sky raged with sandstorms outside, the Oasis within remained serene with its bridges, flowing water, and verdant grass.

This stark contrast brought peace of mind to the cultivators inside the Oasis.

…

“Mr. Xu, you seem to be enjoying this leisurely view?”

Eastern Xi Fang, next door, admired the sandstorm, his smile brighter than usual, a stark contrast to the dark scene outside.

“Indeed, this sandstorm is a once-in-a-century sight, quite spectacular,” Lu Chang’an nodded.

Eastern Xi Fang chuckled, noncommittal.

Mr. Xu was exaggerating.

The scale of this sandstorm was seen only once every three or five years in the surrounding ten thousand miles.

“I heard Mr. Xu can perform divination and physiognomy?”

“Just a little bit.”

“Oh? I wonder, have you recently performed divination or physiognomy on yourself, Mr. Xu?”

Eastern Xi Fang’s handsome face was adorned with a playful smile, exuding a touch of mischievousness against the backdrop of the dark clouds and sandstorm.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chang’an’s expression slightly changed. He unconsciously started calculating, but his face took on a puzzled look.

When he tried to divine good and bad fortune, he encountered an inexplicable resistance.

Just then.

Boom!

A deafening roar echoed from outside the Oasis, where the sandstorm was raging.

The third-rank formation protecting the Oasis, shimmering with three-colored light, trembled violently.

Then, the dark clouds and sandstorm parted, as if the sky had been ripped open, revealing a torrent of molten lava flames.

Whoom!

A massive mountain of fire, engraved with crimson gold道纹 (dao wen) (Daoist patterns), radiating destructive heat waves, slammed into the Oasis formation.

In that instant, the ground of the entire Oasis shook subtly, countless creatures wailed and trembled, as if sensing the imminent arrival of the end of the world.

“An attack!”

“No good! A Jie Dan late-stage cultivator!”

The female cultivators of the Oasis were shaken, their hearts pounding.

“All those within the Pavilion, gather! We must resist the enemy!”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy, in her palace attire, wielding a formation令 (ling) (token), soared into the air, immediately calling upon all the cultivators to assemble.

Jiang Fairy, Bai Fairy, and Eastern Xi Fang, the three True Immortal cultivators, flew towards the Rainbow Moon Fairy.

“Everyone, don’t panic! With the third-rank formation, even if a Jie Dan late-stage cultivator arrives, we can still hold our ground,” Eastern Xi Fang reassured them urgently, joining Bai Fairy who was heading in the same direction.

Seeing Eastern Xi Fang actively defending, Bai Fairy’s cold gaze softened, revealing a hint of approval.

Her gaze drifted towards the rear, where Lu Chang’an was lingering.

He wasn’t a cultivator of their Pavilion, so she didn’t reproach him.

“Bai Fairy! Be careful of Eastern—”

Lu Chang’an shouted, offering a kind warning.

Eastern Xi Fang’s suggestive words had sparked some suspicions in Lu Chang’an’s mind.

This man was too well disguised, leaving no trace, only revealing a hint of his true nature at the last moment, just before the enemy attacked.

Boom! Crack!

The third-rank formation was once again struck by the fiery mountain artifact, and a long crack appeared in the three-colored light that pulsed with energy.

The deafening roar drowned out Lu Chang’an’s voice.

“So fast? The thieves outside found the weak point of the third-rank formation so easily.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy’s beautiful face paled, caught off guard.

While the third-rank medium-grade formation of the Oasis had been recently constructed and hadn’t been reinforced, it shouldn’t have been breached so quickly.

Even they didn’t know the weak point of the formation.

“There must be an inside man within the Pavilion, or the formation master was bribed,” Jiang Ruotong said solemnly, channeling her magic into the formation flag to help the Rainbow Moon Leader stabilize the third-rank formation.

At the same time.

“Pfft! Ugh…”

Sounds of discomfort emanated from Bai Fairy and Eastern Xi Fang, who were flying from behind.

“You…”

Bai Fairy groaned, her figure swaying slightly as she pressed her hand against her chest, where a blue, cone-shaped artifact had pierced through.

Poisonous blood stained her snow-white gown.

Bai Fairy’s body went numb with cold, her eyes filled with disbelief.

She struggled to turn her head, looking back at Eastern Xi Fang, but her body was overwhelmed by the terrible poison.

Crack!

Bai Fairy’s snow-white face, clear as the moon, was forcefully twisted 180 degrees, meeting the gaze of Eastern Xi Fang behind her, who was wearing a sinister smile.

“Haha, to fully activate the Green Grass Oasis’s sect formation, it requires three talents working together. Now that one True Immortal is gone, the formation won’t last long. As a member of the ‘Doomed Poison Master,’ I’ve completed my assigned task.”

Eastern Xi Fang chuckled, glancing at Bai Fairy, whose life was fading away. He then stepped onto her delicate body and descended towards the ground of the Oasis.

It turned out he wasn’t a Medicine Master, but a third-rank Poison Master proficient in pharmacology.

He had committed heinous crimes in the “Two Sect Realm,” where the Thousand Mechanism Sect and the Five Poisons Sect clashed, but his reputation in the Feng Yuan Kingdom was insignificant.

“Master! Well done! From now on, you’ll be an Elder Protector of my ‘Volcano Sect,’ Fang!”

A booming, deep laugh echoed from outside the Oasis formation.

Three Jie Dan cultivators and six fake Dan cultivators emerged from the sand behind the massive fiery mountain.

The leader controlling the fiery mountain artifact was a man with thick eyebrows and a square face, clad in iron armor.

He stood like a mountain, his surging 丹力 (dan li) (Pill Power) resembled a raging river, exuding the powerful spiritual pressure of a Jie Dan late-stage cultivator.

…

“Fang Zhen? It’s you!!”

Inside the Oasis, the Rainbow Moon Fairy’s face contorted in anger as she recognized the identity of the newcomer, a former high-ranking cultivator from the Liang Kingdom.

“We have no grievances, why would you attack cultivators from our former country?”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy’s moonlit eyes flashed with bloodshot red, her voice shrill as she demanded an explanation.

“Rainbow Moon Daoist, you are too attached to the mundane world!”

Fang Zhen remained impassive, his voice indifferent.

“Back then, we were both at similar cultivation levels, and my aptitude was even slightly inferior to yours.”

“Yet, today, while you remain a Jie Dan mid-stage cultivator, I have become a Jie Dan late-stage cultivator. This is because I am ruthless and cunning, and I attack cultivators from my former country without hesitation.”

Because he was familiar with those from his former country, Fang Zhen had prospered in the Feng Yuan Kingdom through “killing those he knew,” making a fortune silently and smoothly.

There was little risk in eliminating those former country cultivators, as no one would stand up for them.

Regarding the native Feng Yuan cultivators, he tried his best to avoid conflict and employed a strategy of winning over those who held positions of power.

“Don’t waste my time! I only want the Rainbow Moon Fairy. Seize her and bring her back to give birth to my children…”

Behind Fang Zhen, a muffled voice like rumbling thunder echoed.

It was a giant with dark green skin, wearing a scale-like armor, a long braid, and a purple nose ring. His large nose was thick, his rough hands clutched a black iron chain as thick as a child’s arm.

This individual emanated no spiritual energy, only raw physical strength and a strange power.

“Break it for me!”

The dark green skin of the long-braided body cultivator was like a cowhide, his entire body bulging with muscles, each a protruding bump. He transformed into a prehistoric bull, crashing headfirst into the cracked third-rank formation.

Bang! Crack!

The third-rank mid-grade body cultivator, capable of shaking mountains, forcefully “squeezed” his way through the cracked formation into the Oasis.

Even Fang Zhen’s eyelids twitched.

This was a third-rank mid-grade formation, capable of pulverizing ordinary low-grade artifacts.

“Ersa Luo! Stop! Don’t let Fang Zhen use you…”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy’s face turned pale, recognizing the long-braided giant who had crashed in.

This was Ersa Luo, the descendant of the king of the Divine Wind Tribe, who had pursued her in the past.

Clang! Clang!

She twirled in her flowing gown, summoning an ancient qin that radiated a brilliant琉璃青光 (liu li qing guang) (glazed green light). Her slender fingers plucked the strings, producing an icy, cool melody.

Invisible waves of sound, affecting the mental level, enveloped the long-braided giant, Ersa Luo.

“Rainbow Moon…”

Affected by the melody, Ersa Luo’s bell-like eyes revealed a flicker of reason and calm, his killing intent dissipating considerably.

“When the Xuan Yin Pavilion first arrived in the Feng Yuan Kingdom, I helped you so much, but you abandoned me in the end. How heartless.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy’s face was tinged with sorrow, her voice mournful.

“Ersa Luo, the Xuan Yin Pavilion provided you with due compensation, we did not mistreat you. You insisted on not asking for anything in return, taking nothing!”

“Ersa Luo! This woman is cunning, using beauty and music to toy with your emotions. Don’t be swayed by her melody!”

Fang Zhen, outside the formation, roared, his voice carrying mental energy.

Ersa Luo chuckled cruelly, “What I want is you, Rainbow Moon! You should know that!”

“A fateful disaster…”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy sighed bitterly, her tone filled with regret.

Back when the Xuan Yin Pavilion had been shattered in the war, their elderly, weak, and infirm members had fled to the Feng Yuan Kingdom, facing a pack of wolves and tigers, their situation precarious.

At the time, to establish a foothold for the Xuan Yin Pavilion, she had used Ersa Luo’s affection for her to some extent, giving him a glimmer of hope.

As the saying goes, “Every action has a consequence,” and today she was facing the repercussions. A fateful disaster!

“Rainbow Moon Daoist, don’t you dare resist. From now on, the Xuan Yin Pavilion will become a subsidiary force of my ‘Volcano Sect,’ Fang. I will show you mercy, and treat your female cultivators well.”

Fang Zhen’s calm voice held an eerie chill.

If he could control the female cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion and the Myriad Sound Tower industries, venturing into the flesh trade, he could generate a constant stream of income and acquire an intelligence channel.

This would be a major asset for him as he made his move to dominate the Feng Yuan Kingdom.

“This concubine would rather die than see the Xuan Yin Pavilion fall into your hands.”

The Rainbow Moon Fairy’s clear eyes hardened. Her fingers flew across the strings of her glazed green qin, unleashing a symphony of warfare, a clash of swords and horses.

Countless arc-shaped waves of sound, capable of shaking the soul, pierced towards Ersa Luo in a dense barrage.

“Hiss! Aaagh…”

Ersa Luo’s eyes stung, bloodshot and tearing, his consciousness shook, and his blood flow surged violently.

He was actually being suppressed and injured by a seemingly fragile and beautiful fairy.

…

While the Rainbow Moon Fairy subdued Ersa Luo, Fang Zhen and his companions outside were rapidly breaking through the formation.

At that moment, the Oasis descended into chaos once again.

“No good…”

“Leader, we’ve been poisoned!”

Maid Li Han and other fake Dan and Jie Dan female cultivators, their foreheads purple, their eyes glazed over, collapsed onto the ground.

“Eastern Xi Fang did this! The perfume he gave us was laced with something…”

Jiang Fairy gritted her teeth, exhibiting signs of discomfort. She channeled her magic to suppress the poison, the scent of perfume radiating from her body.

Only after taking a third-rank antidote pill did she manage to stabilize herself and avoid passing out.

But the rest of the female cultivators in the Oasis had lost their magic and fainted.

“Don’t worry, both fairies! You are valuable assets that the Fang Leader is prepared to take. The ‘Soft Fragrance Powder’ I developed, combined with the perfume, only makes them faint and lose their magic. It doesn’t harm them.”

Eastern Xi Fang sat cross-legged in the Oasis grass, clapping his hands against the ground, activating the surrounding herbs. A vast, green mist enveloped the entire Oasis.

It turned out Eastern Xi Fang had tampered with the perfume he gave to the Xuan Yin Pavilion female cultivators. The perfume itself contained no harmful ingredients, so it wouldn’t be suspicious.

But when combined with the medicinal herbs he secretly planted among the Oasis vegetation and activated, the two together triggered the effect of the ‘Soft Fragrance Powder.’

Even if not every female cultivator used the perfume he had prepared, they would still absorb some of its components through contact.

Unfortunately, the Rainbow Moon Fairy had never used his perfume. Her powerful magic and her special constitution, naturally radiating her own fragrance, made her immune to the poison. She likely possessed an artifact that protected her against poisons.

“Fang Leader, I have exceeded expectations and completed my task!”

Eastern Xi Fang smiled serenely, his gaze sweeping across the vast Oasis, surveying his impressive “achievements.”

The only living beings left standing were two True Immortal fairies.

Wait… there was one more…

Eastern Xi Fang realized he had overlooked something.

“Haha, Master Eastern, are you looking for me?”

A warm, masculine voice echoed from behind him.

(End of chapter)

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