I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 326

## Chapter 322: Fourth-Order Treasured Talisman

In a guest room at the top of Wu Ye Town’s mountain, two guests from afar were staying, a man and a woman.

The middle-aged cultivator in a wealthy merchant’s attire had a round, fair face, slightly plump, and a smiling expression that gave off a friendly vibe.

This person was Song Xi, the son of Shen Bi Xin, with a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation.

“Grandfather, a year has passed. Will Elder Chang Qing break his promise?”

There was also a young woman in the guest room, her hair like a waterfall, with bright eyes and a charming smile, radiating elegance and beauty. She looked apprehensive.

Because her grandfather planned to give her to the Elder as a maidservant.

“It’s hard to say. Elder Chang Qing’s whereabouts are unpredictable, and Elder Jiang didn’t explicitly say he was the one who sought us out. It’s just our speculation.”

Song Xi’s thoughts were unsettled. Over a hundred and twenty years old, he was always known for his composure, but now he felt a sense of unease and anxiety.

After all, a promise made by that Elder could determine his future cultivation destiny, and even the prosperity of his family.

Even a late-stage Foundation Establishment ancestor who commanded respect, could not help but feel anxious and insecure.

“I wonder if the description in the ‘Legend of Chang Qing’ is true…”

Shen Lian’er pursed her lips, lost in thought. Her pretty face flushed slightly as she drifted into her imagination.

The Legend of Chang Qing recorded that Elder Lu was handsome and elegant, a rare beauty among men!

Thus, when her grandfather mentioned giving her to the Elder as a maid, Shen Lian’er didn’t resist, her heart even had a secret anticipation.

For a young cultivator like her with ordinary aptitude, it was a chance to soar to great heights, to transform from a sparrow to a phoenix.

Whoosh!

At this moment, a sound transmission talisman flew into the guest room, bringing a message.

“Elder Chang Qing has arrived!”

Upon receiving the message, Song Xi’s face lit up with excitement. His voice trembled slightly with emotion.

He had waited for this moment for over a hundred years!

“No need for Elder Jiang to personally accompany me!”

Lu Chang An exchanged pleasantries with Jiang Ye Chen, then went alone to the guest room where Song Xi and his granddaughter were.

“Greetings, Elder Chang Qing.”

Song Xi and his granddaughter bowed respectfully.

“No need for formalities, descendants of old friends.”

Lu Chang An waved his hand, his tone amiable as he surveyed the two.

The middle-aged Song Xi, with his amiable smile, vaguely resembled the young, fair-skinned boy that Shen Bi Xin had brought with her to the Foundation Establishment celebration.

What surprised Lu Chang An was that this man was also cultivating a Wood-based Longevity Cultivation Technique. His physical condition was well-maintained, with almost no signs of battle.

“This is my granddaughter, Shen Lian’er.”

The long-haired young woman beside him was a Qi Refining cultivator. Her facial features resembled the former beauty, Shen Bi Xin, but her temperament was somewhat inferior.

Shen Lian’er stole a glance at Elder Chang Qing, her heart pounding, unable to meet his gaze.

“Hmm.”

Lu Chang An ignored their mental activities, not even inquiring about the current state of the Shen family or the Song clan.

He directly took out a jade box, pushed by his Dan Qi, and placed it in front of Song Xi and his granddaughter.

“According to the choice you and your mother made back then, this is Lu’s fulfillment of his promise.”

Inside the jade box lay a Foundation Establishment opportunity.

A slightly flawed Ning Jing Dan, only one or two tenths less effective than a perfect one.

This was one of the three Ning Jing Dans that Lu Chang An had refined back then.

Furthermore, there was a mid-to-high-grade Foundation Establishment spirit treasure.

Song Xi opened the jade box, his expression brightened, his heart filled with elation.

The Foundation Establishment opportunity he had yearned for, was finally in his grasp.

Elder Chang Qing was indeed a man of his word, a man of noble character! The ‘Tale of the Xuan Gui’ didn’t deceive!

“Thank you, Elder Lu, for your grace. The Song family will forever remember your kindness!”

Overwhelmed with emotion, Song Xi bowed his head in gratitude.

For this opportunity, he had specifically cultivated Longevity Cultivation Techniques, extending his lifespan, avoiding conflict, and allowing for a more stable foundation.

The corresponding cost was that Song Xi’s battle prowess was always at the bottom among his peers.

Coupled with his poor business management, he had failed to preserve the Shen family’s business and the Song clan’s remaining property during the demonic war, nearly a hundred years ago.

Song Xi lacked any outstanding skills in the hundred arts of cultivation, becoming the poorest late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in the Jing Kingdom.

“The legacy of old friends will eventually be exhausted. You must take care of yourself.”

Lu Chang An’s tone was indifferent as he left these last words. With a blur, he disappeared from the guest room.

Song Xi stood there for a while in a daze.

He clutched the Foundation Establishment opportunity in his hand, his initial exhilaration gradually giving way to calm.

To avoid any unforeseen complications, he decided to request Jiang Ye Chen to cultivate to the peak of Foundation Establishment in Wu Ye Town and form his Golden Core here.

“Grandfather, did you forget something?”

Shen Lian’er opened her mouth, her voice tinged with grievance.

“Forget what?”

Song Xi carefully put away the jade box, his eyelids slightly raised.

“Didn’t you say you would send me to be the Elder’s maidservant…”

“Don’t overthink it! The Elder I mentioned wasn’t Elder Lu. It was someone else.”

Song Xi said slowly.

“Ah…”

Shen Lian’er only then realized that her grandfather had only said to give her to the Elder as a maidservant, but hadn’t mentioned any specific name.

She had automatically assumed it was Elder Lu.

Song Xi glanced at her. Certain words were not appropriate to speak aloud, fearing that the Elders on the mountain might eavesdrop.

He had always planned to give Shen Lian’er to Jiang Ye Chen as a maidservant.

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have let his granddaughter adopt the Shen surname. It wasn’t just because she resembled Shen Bi Xin.

Between Jiang Ye Chen and Lu Chang An, Song Xi actually favored the former’s potential, including his influence as the number one loose cultivator in the Liang Kingdom.

Song Xi also cultivated Longevity Cultivation Techniques, making his battle prowess weak, which he even regretted to some extent.

Weak battle prowess meant he couldn’t compete for resources. Lack of resources meant his battle prowess would further weaken…

In his view, even though Lu Chang An was a legendary Golden Core cultivator, in terms of potential and battle prowess, he was no match for Jiang Ye Chen.

Lu Chang An’s main advantage was his Xuan Shui Gui, a spirit beast with a Heavenly Grade bloodline. He himself had no outstanding battle achievements and was older than Jiang Ye Chen.

Moreover, Jiang Ye Chen was a man of deep affection and valued relationships. Seeing a descendant who looked similar to Shen Bi Xin, he would likely recall their past.

In contrast, Lu Chang An was a lone wolf who viewed romantic relationships lightly. Even if he was willing to take Shen Lian’er as his maidservant, there wouldn’t be any preferential treatment.

Song Xi’s choice was not wrong.

Two months later, after several attempts, Jiang Ye Chen finally agreed to accept Shen Lian’er as his maidservant.

In the years that followed, Song Xi called his relatives to gather and settle around Wu Ye Town.

…

Half a year later.

Lu Chang An and the Ni Yue Fairy rode in a chariot-shaped artifact, returning to the headquarters of their sect in the Feng Yuan Kingdom.

On the way back, the Ni Yue Fairy felt a bit downcast.

Not only had they failed to find any trace of Liu Qing Yan.

They had managed to locate a few of the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s scattered female cultivators, but they had mostly married and had children, unwilling to return.

The Xuan Yin Pavilion’s third-order, high-grade sect headquarters had been occupied by a sect allied with the Jin Yang Sect. They couldn’t see a hope for its recovery in their lifetime.

Even as a Golden Core Grand Cultivator, the Ni Yue Fairy was saddened by the sight of things, helpless against the harsh reality.

In the Chief Guest Elder’s subworld of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

After returning, Lu Chang An immediately took the third-order lifespan-extending pill he had bought at the auction.

This was the fourth third-order lifespan-extending pill he had consumed.

“Extended lifespan for thirty-two years.”

Lu Chang An opened his eyes. The one hundred and twenty years of lifespan he had previously spent to restore the Xuan Teng to its full verdant glory, was finally recouped.

His total lifespan reached 1095 years.

Due to his diligent practice of divination cultivation, his lifespan would slowly erode over the years.

“The high-level resources I purchased during this trip to the Righteous Path Alliance are enough to last for many years.”

Lu Chang An sorted through his material gains, sinking into contemplation.

The treasure materials for body refinement were enough to sustain him to the late-stage third-order.

He had also prepared enough materials to attempt to become a third-order, high-grade puppet master.

Next, he would dedicate more energy to puppetry and body refinement.

…

Time flew by, twelve years passed.

Lu Chang An’s age reached 280.

As he had expected, the Xuan Yin Pavilion had been developing smoothly these years. The Miao Yin Lou had established itself in major fairy cities, generating steady income and maintaining good relationships with various forces of the Outer Sect Alliance.

There were also some promising young talents emerging in the new generation of the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

The only regret was that the Green Grass Oasis was only a third-order mid-grade spirit vein, only cultivated for a few decades.

Unless there was a special opportunity, the spirit vein would be unlikely to ascend to third-order high-grade within two or three hundred years.

The Ni Yue Fairy’s cultivation efficiency was inevitably affected.

She could only set up gathering spirit formations in her subworld, invest more spirit stones, and supplement them with precious spirit pills.

Fortunately, this didn’t impact Lu Chang An much.

He had at least seventy years before he could advance to the mid-stage Golden Core from the early stage.

In this year, there was bad news.

Lu Chang An failed to create a third-order, high-grade puppet.

He didn’t advance in his puppetry skills.

Third-order, mid-to-low grade puppets were rare in the major forces of the cultivation world.

Third-order, high-grade puppets, comparable to Golden Core Grand Cultivators, were extremely rare in the world.

In a sect like the Jin Yun Valley, it would be considered a sect-protecting treasure, revered like a Buddha.

Lu Chang An had been prepared for failure. The difficulty of creating a third-order, high-grade puppet was beyond imagination.

Fortunately, he was still a third-order, high-grade refiner, able to maximize his material recovery and refining, minimizing losses.

“After material recovery, I can barely afford to create a third-order, high-grade puppet again, with only a 30% success rate.”

In the secret chamber of his subworld, Lu Chang An stared at the pile of disassembled materials, lost in thought.

Ultimately, he decided to adjust his approach.

Instead of creating a brand new third-order, high-grade puppet, why not strengthen and enhance the existing mid-grade puppets?

Lu Chang An possessed two puppet avatars, their materials had been tempered and strengthened over the years, making them the finest in their class, their strength comparable to peak mid-stage Golden Core cultivators.

“These two puppet avatars, especially the assassin puppet, I am intimately familiar with their construction principles. If I gradually modify and strengthen them, upgrading them to third-order, high-grade, it would be slightly easier than creating them from scratch.”

Lu Chang An’s new plan would maximize the advantages of a third-order, high-grade refiner.

Even if other puppet masters had this idea, they wouldn’t have the same conditions.

Apart from the bad news, Lu Chang An also received some good news.

After advancing to the mid-stage Golden Core, his efficiency in nurturing treasured talismans had significantly improved.

His two strongest talismans had reached the threshold of the fourth-order!

When these two talismans were forged over a hundred years ago, they were already based on third-order, high-grade materials, nurtured by the Chang Qing Golden Core’s power for years.

Moreover, six other talismans had reached the third-order peak.

The remaining talismans were mostly third-order, mid-to-high grade.

The emergence of fourth-order talismans gave Lu Chang An more diverse trump cards.

Lu Chang An couldn’t help but look forward to the future: Two or three decades later, advancing to the late-stage Golden Core, while also pursuing third-order, high-grade body refinement, and nurturing more fourth-order talismans.

By then, facing ordinary Nascent Soul True Masters, he wouldn’t just be able to defend himself, he would even have the ability to maneuver and scheme.

Of course, it would still be unrealistic to fight them head-on across cultivation levels.

Even with the benefits of his fourth reincarnation, the huge gap in power couldn’t be bridged.

Unless he could obtain the core inheritance of the Thousand Mechanism Sect, forge puppet formations, and create a Spirit Puppet that imitates the Five-Colored Peacock True Spirit.

…

In a good mood, Lu Chang An invited the Ni Yue Fairy to his estate for tea and music.

The path of cultivation requires both exertion and relaxation. This is how to maintain a lasting mental state and willpower.

Willpower stems from a cultivator’s beliefs, fighting spirit, and determination.

This willpower is not inexhaustible. It needs to be replenished and restored.

Cultivators who become pure cultivation machines, numb and lacking in spirit, become inefficient. They are prone to mental barriers and often have a low ceiling in their achievements.

The female cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s Sound Dao were precisely helpful in supplementing willpower and breaking through mental barriers.

“Has the demonic war in the Beast King Valley not started yet?”

After listening to a piece of music, Lu Chang An’s mood calmed further. He asked.

The thirty-year ceasefire agreement signed between the Beast King Valley and the Righteous Path Alliance had not only expired, it had been over two years.

In the past two years, the demonic war hadn’t restarted.

“Not yet, but the Beast King Valley is restless. They have already mobilized demonic armies, fourth-order Beast Kings…”

The Ni Yue Fairy shook her head, glancing at Lu Chang An. She had a feeling that this man wished the demonic war would rage on.

The Xuan Yin Pavilion’s Miao Yin Lou had now established a complete intelligence network, extending beyond the Outer Sect Alliance region.

Thanks to their good relationship with the Snow Mountain Holy Land, there was a mutual exchange of favors. The Miao Yin Lou had started laying down roots in the Tribal Wasteland, without any resistance from local forces.

This wasn’t Lu Chang An’s achievement.

It was because the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s Qiu Xianzi had developed feelings for the Snow Mountain Holy Land’s Heavenly Master.

According to the Ni Yue Fairy, Qiu Xianzi was lovestruck and couldn’t help but sneak out to meet the Heavenly Master, even exchanging letters.

Based on her intuition and experience, the Ni Yue Fairy was not optimistic about this relationship, but she dared not interfere.

“My dear Lu, you seem so eager for the demonic war to begin. Could it be that you’re a hidden agent of the ten great Xuanmen sects in the Great Qing Eastern Region?”

The Ni Yue Fairy smiled sweetly. With her graceful curves, she nestled in Lu Chang An’s embrace, probing him cautiously.

Lu Chang An, a mere loose cultivator, had achieved such heights, with unfathomable strength, surpassing Golden Core Grand Cultivators.

The Ni Yue Fairy believed he had a deep background, perhaps a pawn in the ten great Xuanmen sects’ plans.

“That’s right! Lu is a reincarnated cultivator arranged by the ten great Xuanmen sects. My purpose is to stir up the waters in the Great Qing Eastern Region, so that the six demonic sects don’t have a peaceful time to recuperate.”

Lu Chang An’s gaze was sharp, his words resounding.

“Such a secret… my dear Lu, you are willing to tell me this?”

The Ni Yue Fairy was stunned. She covered her lips with her hand, half believing and half doubting.

Then, she became as gentle and affectionate as a bird, leaning on Lu Chang An, her expression overflowing with admiration and continued to probe with questions.

Lu Chang An remained composed as he spun his tale, secretly amused.

A fierce demonic war would benefit Lu Chang An.

The fact that the Beast King Valley was not causing trouble was a secondary concern.

He had been cultivating for decades at the mid-stage Golden Core. The late-stage Golden Core was no longer far off.

When he reached the late-stage Golden Core, he would need to plan for the Nascent Soul opportunity.

Lu Chang An had always been a man of foresight, planning ahead.

With experiences spanning multiple lifetimes and the perspective of a Nascent Soul, Lu Chang An knew that it was nearly impossible for a loose cultivator to have a path to advance to the Nascent Soul level throughout the Great Qing regions.

Nascent Soul True Masters, throughout the various realms of the Tian Heng Continent, were absolute upper echelons, rulers of the fate of countless lives.

However, the upper echelons’ paths to advance to the Nascent Soul stage, including fourth-order spirit veins, Foundation Establishment spirit treasures, etc., were mostly controlled by major cultivation forces.

In times of peace, Lu Chang An, besides plotting to obtain Xia Wen Yue’s Tai Yin Jade Liquid, had no other path to advancement.

To ascend to the ranks of True Master, he needed a great change, a subversion of the existing order!

And the demonic war was an opportunity to overturn that existing order.

In the previous demonic war, no Nascent Soul sects on the Righteous Path Alliance side had been completely destroyed, mainly because of the intervention of Ling Yu True Master.

If the demonic war became more brutal, the deaths of Nascent Soul True Masters and the destruction of major sects would become commonplace.

At that time, Lu Chang An, a late-stage Golden Core cultivator, would have a chance to fish in troubled waters and obtain a Nascent Soul opportunity.

This wasn’t just an opportunity that Lu Chang An was waiting for.

It was also a once-in-a-millennium opportunity for medium-to-small sects like the Jin Yun Valley and the Xuan Yin Pavilion to ascend to a higher level!

Years ago, Lu Chang An had calculated that, at least in the Great Qing Eastern Region, this was his greatest opportunity to seek a path to advancement.

If he relied solely on his own foundation, the benefits of past lives, and the support of the Tai Yin Jade Liquid, he would only have a 70% chance of advancing to the Nascent Soul level in the future.

Such a low success rate was unacceptable to Lu Chang An.

…

Two years later.

The demonic invasion war that Lu Chang An had been waiting for, finally began again.

Both sides had recuperated for years and regained much of their strength. The moment the war started, a Nascent Soul battle erupted.

Simultaneously.

On a snow-covered holy mountain at the heart of the Feng Yuan Kingdom.

The Feng Yuan Heavenly Master, wearing a snowy white Taoist robe, with a lean and bony face, and silver hair and beard, sat beside a chessboard in front of his hermitage.

The chessboard was a divination artifact, the grid on it like an invisible web of fate, changing and vanishing, intersecting with the chess pieces.

“The ten great Xuanmen sects are indeed behind this. However, the six demonic sects have a countermove this time, the mysterious ‘Master of the Wu Jian Men’ may take action. The ten great Xuanmen sects are too far away, ultimately their reach is limited…”

The Heavenly Master’s silver eyebrows furrowed slightly, his expression less than optimistic.

Thirty years ago, during the demonic war, he had been able to sit back and watch. He had sensed the involvement of the ten great Xuanmen sects, and he had calculated that the Great Qing Eastern Region could withstand it.

But now, the celestial mechanisms were becoming increasingly obscure, especially with the leaders of the Xuanmen and the demonic sects both participating in the game, even intervening directly.

His divination skills were unparalleled in the Great Qing Eastern Region. But if the Middle Region was included, there were numerous other talented individuals who could match his abilities.

“Hmm! That Turtle Elder, whose background is unclear, who seems to have the support of a Nascent Soul, could he really be a hidden pawn of the ten great Xuanmen sects?”

The Heavenly Master pinched his fingers to calculate, his expression revealing surprise.

One or two years ago, he had accidentally captured a faint, uncertain celestial factor, indicating that Lu Chang An might be a secret agent of the ten great Xuanmen sects.

But this celestial factor wasn’t definitive.

It could be something that someone had heard and believed. Or perhaps a layout by others to mislead the celestial mechanisms.

The Heavenly Master’s actions always prioritized knowing oneself and one’s enemy.

He would not act rashly towards things he couldn’t see through, such as Lu Chang An, who seemed to have the support of a Nascent Soul.

The Xuan Yin Pavilion’s Qiu Xianzi was actually a pawn he had laid. Through her as an information channel, he learned about Lu Chang An’s intentions and background.

Over these years, through understanding and calculation, he had confirmed that Lu Chang An, at least, had no hostile intentions and his interests aligned with his own.

“It seems I need to accelerate my progress and find an opportunity to have a conversation with that young man.”

Unless absolutely necessary, he shouldn’t leave the Snow Mountain Holy Land, especially the Great Qing’s native regions. But communicating with the outside world wasn’t difficult.

The Heavenly Master’s pupils, like two swirling pools of ink, slowly rolled, and his mind was made up.

(End of Chapter)

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