I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 315

## Chapter 311: Rise and Fall of the Sea

Lu Changan recalled that before he left Liang Guo, the Chen Guo cultivation world was destroyed. The Nascent Soul ancestor of the Tian Luo Sect had his physical body destroyed, and his Nascent Soul spirit body escaped.

However, that was decades ago.

“Reporting to Black Owl, the Tian Luo Sect suffered major defeats in the war against the Demon Path, causing displeasure among the leader of the Righteous Path, ‘Chu Tianfeng.’ A few years ago, the Tian Luo ancestor was seriously injured again, his Nascent Soul escaped, and he is currently recovering. Chu Tianfeng simply handed over the command of the Jing Guo cultivation world to the Xuan Yin sect leader, Liang Shaotian…”

Zhou Qingxuan replied, explaining the situation in detail.

Seriously injured again, with his Nascent Soul escaping?

Lu Changan felt strange. It seemed that the Tian Luo ancestor’s strength was on par with the Li Huo Shangren.

They were both mediocre Nascent Soul cultivators, not particularly outstanding.

The opposing Nascent Soul Zhen Jun came from a top Demon Path sect in Da Qing, naturally with a certain gap in strength and foundation.

Lu Changan instinctively felt a little tempted by the escaped Nascent Soul spirit body.

But to light up the fifth life, according to the vague information provided by the Jiu Yin Bei, he needed to devour ten Nascent Soul, or the Nascent Soul of a single Nascent Soul celestial.

Lu Changan directly dismissed the idea. The risk was too high, with little benefit.

This wasn’t a plan he could implement at this stage.

“Major defeats of the Tian Luo Sect?”

Lu Changan was interested in the Jing Guo cultivation world.

This neutral cultivation country not only produced the Child of Destiny but also had a powerful leader like Liang Shaotian and a fierce bandit like Xiang Jinglong.

Lu Changan had spent many years in Jing Guo, digging out Xia Wenyue, the Heavenly Dao body.

According to Zhou Qingxuan’s description, the Tian Luo Sect had three major setbacks:

First, Chen Guo was defeated too quickly and occupied by the Beast King Valley, putting Feng Guo in a double bind.

Second, the Tian Luo Sect was severely infiltrated by the Wu Jian Men, leaking information numerous times, affecting the war situation and angering the higher-ups of the Righteous Path Alliance.

Third, a few years ago, the Demon Path occupied half of Jing Guo’s territory. The Tian Luo Sect was given command, but they lost miserably, their Nascent Soul ancestor was seriously injured, and they escaped again.

Chu Tianfeng was thoroughly disappointed with the Tian Luo Sect and handed over the command to the Xuan Yin sect.

Lu Changan was speechless after hearing this.

Back then, the Tian Luo Sect suppressed and dominated within their own sect. The Xie clan turned the sect into a family-style organization, covering the sky with one hand in Chen Guo.

They were invincible domestically.

But they were so incompetent in the external war against the Demon Path.

Not only that, the Tian Luo Sect also brought their domineering style to Jing Guo, fighting for spiritual veins and territory.

The local forces in Jing Guo resented the Tian Luo Sect and preferred to support the former Xuan Yin Demon Path.

At least the Xuan Yin sect was efficient and didn’t have so many tricks up their sleeve.

During the two times when the Tian Luo ancestor was seriously injured, the command was temporarily given to the Xuan Yin sect, and they both stabilized the situation.

After the intervention of the Child of Destiny, Ling Yu Zhen Jun, the Demon Path dared not send Nascent Soul cultivators to Jing Guo.

Without Nascent Soul Zhen Jun on either side, the Xuan Yin sect integrated the major cultivation forces in Jing Guo and drove out the Demon Path army.

Of course, the success of the expulsion was also attributed to the prestige of Ling Yu Zhen Jun.

Liang Shaotian himself was not good at fighting.

However, his disciple, Li Hai, was skilled in strategy and command.

Xiang Jinglong, as a third-order body cultivator, excelled in small-scale battles.

Liang Shaotian’s personal reputation was earned through fighting.

On the Demon Path battlefield, Liang Shaotian had killed the Jie Dan cultivators of the Beast King Valley. Even more Demon Path cultivators had died at his hands. He had achieved great military exploits.

He had fought against the “Peacock Saintess” without defeat, even though he was slightly suppressed.

Liang Shaotian was known as the number one Jie Dan cultivator of the Righteous Path Alliance.

After the Xuan Yin sect established its sect on the Jing Guo border, it recruited widely and absorbed fresh blood, gradually growing stronger.

After going through the war, the Xuan Yin sect’s strength increased instead of decreasing, becoming the number one cultivation force in Jing Guo.

“Two hundred years of rise and fall, the evil cultivator who was once wanted by the sect and infamous, has now quietly become a giant in the cultivation world.”

Lu Changan recalled his first encounter with Liang Shaotian.

At that time, the other party was also a small figure.

An injured early-stage筑基 evil cultivator, chased and injured, his cultivation level had fallen, and he was in danger.

…

Half an hour later, after questioning Zhou Qingxuan, Lu Changan had a general and comprehensive understanding of the Demon Path war situation of the Righteous Path Alliance.

The main battlefield of the Righteous Path Alliance was the Feng Guo cultivation world, where three Nascent Soul sects resided.

The Chen and Yan countries in the southwest had both been occupied by the Beast King Valley.

Feng Guo was vast and rich in resources, with many cultivation sects and family forces, making it the toughest bone for the Demon Path to crack and the backbone of the Righteous Path Alliance.

Once Feng Guo fell, it would mean that the entire Righteous Path Alliance was on the verge of collapse.

The Beast King Valley’s strategy had formed a semi-encirclement.

If they conquered Jing Guo and Liang Guo, it would be equivalent to flanking Feng Guo’s rear.

At that time, the besieged Feng Guo would also be doomed.

The appearance of the Child of Destiny in Jing Guo changed the course of the war, stopping the Beast King Valley’s invasion at the border of Jing Guo.

“That Ling Yu Zhen Jun also saved Liang Guo by the way.”

Lu Changan thought to himself.

Liang Guo was adjacent to Jing Guo. Once Jing Guo fell, Liang Guo would be next.

With the serious injury of the Beast King Valley’s leader, the Demon Path’s invasion slowed down.

The two camps were currently in a stalemate.

Zhou Qingxuan also mentioned a rumor.

It was said that the Righteous Path Alliance and the Beast King Valley might negotiate a truce, with private contact between their high-level officials.

This was good news for the vast cultivation world of the Righteous Path Alliance.

However, Lu Changan frowned.

For him personally, this was bad news.

These years, the Peacock Saintess hadn’t bothered him, mainly because she was tied up with the cultivation war.

There were relatively few Nascent Soul confrontations on the Demon Path battlefield.

As a top Jie Dan cultivator, the Peacock Saintess was an important force on the Demon Path battlefield, greatly influencing local wars.

She couldn’t spare more than a year or two to chase after Lu Changan in the Boundless Desert.

During wartime, it was risky to go to the enemy’s rear.

Moreover, the Demon Path war was a rare opportunity for her.

She could plunder resources, gain military merit, and exchange them for precious Nascent Soul-level resources.

The greater the military exploits, the higher her priority in getting a Nascent Soul Pill within the Beast King Valley.

Once the Demon Path war ceased, even if it was only for a few years.

The Peacock Saintess would be free!

This woman had failed once and tasted defeat at Lu Changan’s hands.

If she acted again, she would certainly not be careless. She might even ask her powerful fellow sect members for help.

“Fortunately, the worst situation didn’t happen.”

Lu Changan was fortunate that Jing Guo and Liang Guo had both defended themselves.

The Beast King Valley’s influence couldn’t reach the Feng Yuan Guo in the vast desert interior.

The Peacock Saintess could only rely on her own abilities to deal with Lu Changan, she couldn’t use force to suppress him.

…

The puppet clone didn’t leave the Zhou family immediately.

Lu Changan wanted to learn more about the Demon Path battlefield, which would help him with future divination.

He wanted to question Xing Peng, the Wu Jian Men’s incense master personally.

Zhou Qingxuan was Xing Peng’s superior, controlling the insect restriction on the latter. It was stabilized every three years.

A few days later.

A mysterious figure in gray and white robes, wearing a hood, quietly entered the Zhou family.

“Xing Peng, I pay my respects to Black Owl.”

Xing Peng bowed, unable to see through the puppet clone’s true nature. Sensing the spiritual energy far exceeding his own, he felt a chill in his heart.

A few years ago, Lu Changan traded for a fragmented puppet inheritance from the Thousand Machine Sect at an auction, absorbing the imitation techniques within.

Ordinary puppets don’t have true soul power.

But Lu Changan’s puppet clone does.

Combined with the imitation techniques of the Thousand Machine Sect, as long as he doesn’t use his full strength or stay in contact for a long time, a mid-stage Jie Dan cultivator wouldn’t be able to tell.

“As far as I know, the upper echelons of the Beast King Valley are divided on whether to negotiate a truce. They haven’t reached a unified opinion. Even if they truce, it’s just a delaying tactic. They’ll still settle the score in the future.”

Xing Peng replied.

His elder brother was the Shadow Captain of the Wu Jian Men. He became a late-stage Jie Dan cultivator twenty years ago and had a certain position in the Wu Jian Men.

Because of this relationship, Xing Peng’s ability to sniff out news about the upper echelons of the six Demon Path sects surpassed ordinary incense masters and altar masters.

“What do you think are the chances of a truce?”

Lu Changan asked through the puppet clone.

“Probably fifty-fifty, depending on two factors.”

Xing Peng pondered.

“First, it depends on Ling Yu Zhen Jun’s attitude, how much he cares about Jing Guo and the Righteous Path Alliance.”

“Second, it depends on whether the other five sects of the six Demon Path sects can spare some effort to provide assistance. Among the six Demon Path sects, there are cultivators who can check Ling Yu Zhen Jun, not none.”

Hearing this, Lu Changan thought for a moment.

The six Demon Path sects expanded eastward, invading multiple territories at the same time.

The Righteous Path Alliance was just one of them.

The Beast King Valley’s strength was considered to be among the top of the six sects, with one sect attacking all the countries’ territories.

If it weren’t for the variable of the Child of Destiny, the Beast King Valley would have already succeeded.

If the other few sects had spare energy during the invasion, they could help each other, but it would require a hefty reward.

“Besides asking for reinforcements, the Beast King Valley has another trump card. They have a sealed fourth-order Beast King with a Heavenly-grade bloodline, who has lived for thousands of years and possesses strength comparable to a peak mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.”

“However, that strongest fourth-order Beast King can’t be fully controlled. It’s prone to losing control and backlash. It once almost brought about the Beast King Valley’s annihilation. Unless it’s absolutely necessary, the Beast King Valley wouldn’t unleash this double-edged sword.”

Xing Peng revealed another secret of the Beast King Valley.

A sealed strongest Beast King!

Lu Changan couldn’t help but gasp. The Beast King Valley’s foundation and strength were terrifying.

It almost wiped out the Beast King Valley. The strength of that strongest Beast King was probably close to that of a Nascent Soul cultivator.

If they could completely control that sealed Beast King, the Beast King Valley might be able to compete for the top spot among the six Demon Path sects.

“How is the Golden Cloud Valley doing now?”

Back then, Lu Changan had been forced to flee the Golden Cloud Valley and left in disgrace.

“After the Golden Cloud Valley’s sect leader was succeeded by Tian Feng Zhen Ren, the overall situation has been stable and steadily improving.”

“Five years ago, Tian Feng Zhen Ren severed the arm of the Black Raven Zhen Ren on the Demon Path battlefield, almost killing him. His reputation skyrocketed.”

Tian Feng Zhen Ren was Zhang Tieshan’s dao name.

The Black Raven Zhen Ren was a strong mid-stage Jie Dan cultivator of the Beast King Valley, the direct killer of Zhao Siyao.

Such news made Lu Changan’s heart flutter a little.

Xing Peng then presented a jade slip containing detailed information about the Golden Cloud Valley.

“Two years ago, Zhao Taner advanced to the mid-stage Jie Dan, becoming the Golden Cloud Valley’s number one female Jie Dan cultivator.”

“The Grand Elder was seriously injured, his strength was impaired, and he retired to the second line.”

“Zhang Tieshan, as the sect leader, controls the Golden Cloud Valley…”

Lu Changan felt a mix of emotions. The war situation of the Righteous Path Alliance, as well as the forces and acquaintances he was once familiar with, were constantly changing and advancing with the passage of time.

Two hundred and twenty years ago.

Zhang Tieshan, Lu Changan, Zhao Siyao, Lin Yi, and Li Erqing were all contemporaries, having known each other during their Qi Refinement stages.

In their early years, the young master Lin Yi, during his Qi Refinement stage, befriended Zhang Tieshan. He probably didn’t expect that the latter would achieve such heights and become the helm of the Golden Cloud Valley.

Even Lu Changan didn’t expect that Zhang Tieshan would reach this level two hundred years ago.

During his time in Huanglong Immortal City, Lu Changan killed the “Evil-faced Flying Eagle” and collaborated with Zhang Tieshan, a筑基 cultivator of the Enforcement Hall, to achieve mutual benefit.

At that time, Lu Changan flattered him, saying: “In a few years, I may see Brother Zhang become an elder of the Enforcement Hall.”

Zhang Tieshan at that time just smiled without saying anything.

“Old Zhang becoming the head of the Golden Cloud Valley is good news. When Old Zhang makes the Golden Cloud Valley strong and prosperous, it will be a place I can rely on in the future.”

Lu Changan thought to himself.

The Golden Cloud Valley possessed a medium-sized, third-order, high-grade spiritual vein, and even had the potential to be nurtured into a quasi-fourth-order spiritual vein.

In the future, when Lu Changan became a Jie Dan cultivator, he would need a third-order, high-grade spiritual vein.

What?

The Golden Cloud Valley doesn’t welcome cultivators who ran away in the past?

Lu Changan believed that: “With a friendship spanning two hundred years, Old Zhang will surely overcome any objections and welcome my return as a king!”

“Old Zhang avenged Siyao on the battlefield. It shows that he is a loyal person, just like me!”

Lu Changan felt a pang in his heart.

He speculated that Zhao Taner’s smooth advancement to the mid-stage Jie Dan might have been aided by Old Zhang.

Actually, Lu Changan didn’t owe the Golden Cloud Valley anything when he ran away.

Before leaving, he left the Golden Cloud Valley with vital insider information.

According to Xing Peng’s jade slip records:

A few years ago, when half of Jing Guo was occupied by the Demon Path, the Liang Guo cultivation world provided strong support, leaving their own territory vulnerable.

The Wu Jian Men’s insiders who had infiltrated the major forces in Liang Guo took advantage of the situation and caused chaos in the rear.

In that great upheaval, the Golden Cloud Valley, due to its prior clearing of the poison within the sect, was prepared and minimized their losses.

This was the greatest return Lu Changan had given to the Golden Cloud Valley before running away.

…

A few days later, the puppet clone obtained enough intelligence and returned to the desert.

Lu Changan put the hooded assassin puppet into his storage bag.

“Half-step Golden Core… Yin Jade Liquid…”

Before returning to Feng Yuan Guo, he looked far away towards the direction of Feng Guo and the Aoyue Palace.

After becoming a Jie Dan cultivator, Xia Wenyue’s “Cold Essence Jade Marrow” Heavenly Dao body had begun to nurture Yin Jade Liquid.

In the early stage of Jie Dan, the Yin Jade Liquid was still in its initial stage of nurturing and had little benefit for Nascent Soul cultivation.

It would only mature in the mid-to-late stages of Jie Dan and would have a certain benefit for advancing to Nascent Soul.

According to ancient records, the Yin Jade Liquid nurtured in the late stage of Jie Dan was almost equivalent to half a Nascent Soul Pill.

Lu Changan was only in the mid-stage Jie Dan now. Even if it was successfully nurtured, taking it too early would waste the effect of the “Yin Jade Liquid.”

For all these years, Lu Changan had never been to Aoyue Palace and never contacted Xia Wenyue. This was to avoid suspicion.

“After eighty years, that girl is in a Nascent Soul sect, achieving a half-step Golden Core, she has seen a lot and her feelings must have faded…”

Lu Changan had only planted a seed in Jing Guo, not invested much.

Even if it failed, it wouldn’t be a big loss.

He never thought of using his feelings to blackmail Xia Wenyue.

He didn’t believe that after a hundred and seventy years, she would still remain unchanged.

Lu Changan didn’t want to test human nature.

Therefore, he only got Xia Wenyue’s willing promise, making her take an oath of heart demon.

As a Heavenly Dao body, she would have the potential to become a Nascent Soul cultivator in the future.

Therefore, the constraint of the “Oath of Heart Demon” would be much greater than that of ordinary cultivators!

This constraint, coupled with the favor of rebirth.

If there was no external interference, Xia Wenyue was more likely to hand over the “Yin Jade Liquid.”

Lu Changan planned to break through to the late stage of Jie Dan, prepare for Nascent Soul cultivation, and then go to look for Xia Wenyue to fulfill the promise of the Yin Jade Liquid.

…

Two months later,

Lu Changan returned to Feng Yuan Guo and deliberately inquired about the war situation of the Righteous Path Alliance in the two tribal wastelands.

“Are the natives of Feng Yuan Guo really not interested in external information?”

The information Lu Changan obtained about the war was very delayed, lagging, and inaccurate.

Feng Yuan Guo, located in the heart of the vast sand sea, was isolated due to its harsh environment and remoteness, like an island, with little contact with the outside world.

Thousands of years of experience had given them confidence:

Even if the outside world fought to the death, it wouldn’t affect the “brilliant ancient civilization country” in the center of the desert.

The Tianzhi Tower, which existed in all the countries of the Righteous Path Alliance, didn’t even establish a branch in this barren land.

However, Lu Changan believed that the upper echelons of Feng Yuan Guo, such as the Snow Mountain Holy Land, would be somewhat aware of the outside world.

The “Celestial Master” of the Snow Mountain Holy Land was said to be proficient in divination. With a little information, he could know about everything in the world without leaving his home.

With the Celestial Master controlling the situation, the natives of those wastelands didn’t need to care about the outside world.

The situation was better when he returned to the Outer Sect Alliance territory.

The Outer Sect Alliance gathered cultivators from various places, some from the Two Religions’ territory, and others from the Righteous Path Alliance.

It was rumored that over the long years, some cultivators from beyond Da Qing had crossed over from the northern regions of the desert.

The most mysterious intelligence organization in the Outer Sect Alliance was called “Yellow Sand.”

Through the Yellow Sand organization, Lu Changan was finally able to obtain information about the war in the Righteous Path Alliance, although it was delayed, it was more reliable.

This intelligence organization was said to be from the Two Religions’ territory. In the past, they didn’t focus on the situation in the Righteous Path Alliance.

But in recent years, the war between the Righteous Path Alliance and the Demon Path had been too fierce.

The battle between the Child of Destiny and the leader of the Beast King Valley had shaken the eastern regions of Da Qing, attracting their attention.

The Yellow Sand intelligence organization provided Lu Changan with a more reliable source of information. He didn’t have to come and go frequently, keeping an eye on the situation in the Outer Sect Alliance.

…

One day, Lu Changan returned to the Green Grass Oasis, the mountain gate of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

That night, the Fairy of the Night Wind visited personally. After some warmth, she asked Lu Changan about the war situation in the Righteous Path Alliance.

The information Lu Changan brought back was more comprehensive and detailed than that of the Yellow Sand organization.

“If they really truce, I would like to return to my hometown in Liang Guo.”

The Fairy of the Night Wind smiled, her eyes sparkling, and she said happily.

The truce in the Demon Path war benefited the vast majority of cultivators, but not Lu Changan.

“Your former mountain gate spiritual vein was occupied by the forces of the Jin Yang Sect. If you go back, you’ll only be reminded of the past.”

Lu Changan poured a bucket of cold water on her.

The Fairy of the Night Wind rolled her eyes at him, her clear eyes dimming slightly, filled with sadness.

“By the way, did you find out anything about ‘Liu Qingyan’ that you were asked to look for?”

That night, before Lu Changan left, the Fairy of the Night Wind had given him some instructions.

Years ago, fellow sect members who returned from Liang Guo brought back news:

There was a Xuan Yin Pavilion female cultivator named “Liu Qingyan” who formed a True Core and later disappeared in the war.

The Fairy of the Night Wind had sent people to inquire, but unfortunately, the cost of coming and going was high, and she hadn’t gotten any definite information.

“No.”

Lu Changan shook his head.

That Liu Qingyan was him, he didn’t need to look for her at all.

Hearing this, the Fairy of the Night Wind showed disappointment. Losing a True Core female cultivator was a loss for the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

After returning to the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

Lu Changan accelerated his divination practice and strengthened his abilities to deal with potential future threats.

Improving divination, accelerating the consumption of lifespan, and quickly improving it to a third-order, high-grade level.

Third-order, high-grade divination skills, combined with six or seven third-order divination artifacts he had on hand, would greatly enhance his divination abilities and could also hide his fate.

This was the highest priority.

Not only to deal with the Peacock Saintess and the Beast King Valley.

Lu Changan would face “fellow sect members” from the central region of Da Qing in the future, those who practiced the Eternal Green Skill. If his divination was stronger, he could gain the upper hand.

In terms of strengthening his abilities, his cultivation wouldn’t improve in the short term.

Lu Changan focused on body cultivation, puppets, talismans, and formations.

In the Xuan Yin Pavilion, with the blessing of the sound dao melody, Lu Changan’s cultivation speed in all arts was faster.

…

Two and a half years later.

Lu Changan turned 244 years old. While cultivating in the Xuan Yin Pavilion, he silently paid attention to the war situation in the Righteous Path Alliance.

With enough information sources, Lu Changan sometimes did some divination.

The results of the divination became increasingly unfavorable.

Over the past two or three years, although the Righteous Path Alliance and the Beast King Valley were still in a stalemate and hadn’t truced, the situation had stabilized.

Based on intelligence and divination, Lu Changan felt that the possibility of a truce was gradually increasing.

The Beast King Valley might need to recover for some time, digest the territory they had already occupied, and then start another war after the Child of Destiny left.

Lu Changan had plans to deal with future crises.

If the truce was short, he could hide for a while, it wouldn’t affect his cultivation much.

He didn’t even need to hide.

Staying in the Xuan Yin Pavilion and joining forces with the late-stage cultivator, the Fairy of the Night Wind, using the third-order formation, no Nascent Soul cultivator could defeat him.

At worst, he could reveal his true identity as the Turtle Talisman Master to the Fairy of the Night Wind, giving her a “surprise.”

Normally, a Nascent Soul Zhen Jun wouldn’t allow the Peacock Saintess to command her and take the risk of crossing the enemy’s rear and going deep into Feng Yuan Guo.

The Celestial Master of Feng Yuan Guo wouldn’t allow a foreign Nascent Soul cultivator to come to their territory.

Moreover, the Peacock Saintess’s main goal was to resolve her inner conflict. If she used a Nascent Soul cultivator, it would scare Lu Changan away, and she might never find another chance.

If the truce lasted a long time, the Peacock Saintess would have enough time to deal with him, which would be tricky.

Lu Changan had two options:

One was to run away even further.

Cross the poisonous swamp and go to the Two Religions’ territory.

Or, take a detour to the central region of Da Qing, the territory of the Ten Great Xuanmen sects, where the Demon Path forces wouldn’t dare to invade.

It would be a long journey. To go to the central region, he would have to cross through other territories invaded by the Demon Path, taking a long detour, which would also be risky.

The second option: Use the same trick again, use the clues of Mr. Xu and the Xuan Yin Pavilion as bait to capture the Peacock Saintess.

Even if he couldn’t defeat the Peacock Saintess, capturing the Five-colored Peacock and refining a mimic true spirit form, a Five-colored Peacock puppet.

The premise of the second option was to confirm that he could deal with the Peacock Saintess’s killing power and that she wasn’t accompanied by a Nascent Soul cultivator.

Even though this possibility was extremely low, he had to consider it.

No matter which choice he made, it was important to improve his divination.

Third-order, high-grade divination, although it couldn’t predict Nascent Soul cultivators’ fate, could still get some clues with preparation, through lifespan divination.

Over the past two years, Lu Changan had consumed twenty years of his lifespan, and his divination skills were close to the third-order, high-grade level.

The effect of consuming lifespan was excellent.

Although he had lost a lot of lifespan, Lu Changan also received good news.

The third-order Longevity Fruit he obtained from the Wan Hua Trading House had finally matured.

The materials for the third-order Longevity Pill were already prepared.

(End of Chapter)

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