I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 347

## Chapter 343: Disciple of Tian Yi

Lu Chang’an knew that there were some dangerous spatial rifts in the ancient battlefield, often accompanied by abnormal spatial fluctuations. It was because the spatial barriers were unstable that this forbidden zone contained spatial nodes leading to Da Qing.

After waiting for half a day, Lu Chang’an didn’t detect any anomalies and officially set off, leaving the hidden cave where the space formation of Ting Hai Ge was located. This place had an extremely advanced formation concealing it. The surrounding rock walls were made of materials that could block spiritual sense perception, making it difficult to be discovered from the outside.

Relying on the memory route of Sha Hai Zhen Jun, Lu Chang’an successfully walked out of the complex maze-like underground cave. The Wan Mo Valley, with its gray sky and gloomy sun, came into Lu Chang’an’s vision.

“The spiritual energy of this place, and all species, have been polluted. Only suitable for demonic creatures and some demonic beasts to survive.” Lu Chang’an had previously noticed that his Chang Qing Gong (Chang Qing Technique) was sluggish, and the spiritual energy was filled with demonic energy, killing intent, turbid qi, and other foul substances. He mainly relied on spirit stones and pills to restore his mana.

Lu Chang’an carefully flew towards the outside of Wan Mo Valley, avoiding certain areas that were too dangerous. Luckily, there were map markers in his memory, helping him circumvent most of the hazardous regions. Ordinary Jie Dan (Pill Formation) cultivators coming to this place would face high risks, with a death rate exceeding 70%.

Even Sha Hai Zhen Jun, who only had a limited understanding of this place, had not personally explored most of the unknown areas. In Da Yuan, no one dared to claim full knowledge of the Middle Region forbidden zones. Wan Mo Valley was just one of the forbidden zones in the ancient battlefield, close to the most central and core area, where the ancient demonic beast was suppressed, the Endless Abyss.

On the way, Lu Chang’an discovered some corrupted demonic third-order spiritual veins, and even a fourth-order one.

“Too bad.” Lu Chang’an suppressed his aura and kept his distance. Those spiritual veins were not suitable for human cultivators to practice, as they were often occupied by powerful demonic creatures and mutated demonic beasts.

Two days later, Lu Chang’an killed two third-order demonic creatures and escaped from the deep levels of Wan Mo Valley, approaching the outer region. The outer region of the valley was mostly explored by humans, so the danger would be much lower.

Suddenly, Lu Chang’an sensed a powerful demonic creature’s aura rushing out from inside Wan Mo Valley, quickly approaching his location.

“Not good! Fourth-order demonic creature’s aura!” Lu Chang’an’s heart throbbed from a distance, and the Di Yan Shu (Earth Rock Rat) and Xuan Shui Gui (Mysterious Water Turtle) in his spirit beast pouch became restless.

The fourth-order demonic beast was extremely fast, accompanied by a gloomy roar, like the muffled sound of a dragon’s cry.

“Could it be a dragon bloodline demonic creature?” Lu Chang’an was surprised. Even if he used the Blood Transformation Escape, he couldn’t pull away in time. In a forbidden zone like Wan Mo Valley, using Blood Transformation Escape would expose a strong blood essence aura, like a torch in the night, attracting even more demonic creatures.

After a few breaths, the surrounding area within dozens of miles was filled with black and yellow flying sand and crimson wind. A demonic dragon, twenty zhang long, with brown and yellow scales covering its body, appeared in Lu Chang’an’s perception, radiating the terrifying aura of a mythical creature.

“Demonic Stone Heart Dragon! Who provoked this terrifying demonic beast from the forbidden zone?” Lu Chang’an perceived the anger in the dragon’s roar.

He noticed that the demonic Stone Heart Dragon’s scales had a few shallow marks, but no blood. It was a Heavenly-Rank bloodline pseudo-dragon, and its demonic transformation made its killing intent even stronger. Even a Nascent Soul Zhen Jun (Nascent Soul True Monarch) wouldn’t want to provoke this demonic creature.

“Zhi Zhi!” The Di Yan Shu in the spirit beast pouch was both terrified and somewhat excited. The Stone Heart Dragon, with its Heavenly-Rank bloodline, possessed a Stone Heart and a refined spirit pill (Jing Po Da Dan), which were treasures for Earth-element cultivators and demonic beasts of the same attribute.

“Go!” Lu Chang’an, remembering some information about the demonic Stone Heart Dragon from Sha Hai Zhen Jun, had no intention to fight.

“Wu~ Hu!” The demonic Stone Heart Dragon’s crystal yellow eyes noticed the bald man in blue robes, turning into a blurred yellow shadow.

In an instant, the dragon’s claws, enveloped in black and yellow miasma, extended from the clouds, striking towards Lu Chang’an’s crown.

Lu Chang’an, with his cultivation of both body and technique, activated a third-order top-grade Wind Escape Talisman, turning into a gust of wind, dodging the dragon’s claw attack at a speed beyond the demonic dragon’s expectation.

Lu Chang’an wouldn’t just sit and wait if he was caught by a demonic creature. He immediately summoned his nearly fourth-order puppet and the trembling, excited Di Yan Shu.

Lu Chang’an appeared below the demonic dragon’s belly, wielding a rope-like treasure, which crackled with lightning, transforming into a thunder whip dozens of zhang long, accurately strangling its neck. At the same time, he kicked the demonic black dragon’s abdomen with all his might.

Meanwhile, the blue-armored puppet and the Di Yan Shu appeared on both sides of the demonic dragon’s abdomen, launching a close-range attack.

Strangled by the thunder whip, the demonic dragon trembled, and its abdomen was struck by three heavy blows, letting out a deafening roar. It clearly hadn’t expected that the little rascal in front of it would dare to engage in close combat.

The demonic Stone Heart Dragon violently shook its body, the terrifying force, accompanied by black and yellow罡风 (Gang Feng – a type of powerful energy in cultivation), forcefully broke free from the thunder whip. The powerful aftershocks knocked the three little bugs away, sending them flying.

A distance opened between the two.

“Zi Zi!” The demonic dragon’s neck scales smoked with a wisp of black smoke, and shallow wounds appeared on its abdomen.

Lu Chang’an steadied himself with difficulty, his grip on the rope-like treasure cracked, bleeding.

“Wu~” The demonic dragon’s yellow crystal eyes, filled with killing intent, showed a hint of wariness, staring coldly at the three while also looking around.

Lu Chang’an realized that the demonic dragon was not afraid of him and the others. The previous attack had barely broken through its defenses. The shallow wounds were not as deep as the tiny wounds already on the demonic dragon’s body.

There must be something nearby that the demonic dragon was wary of.

…

Hundreds of zhang away, in the shallow layer of the void hidden by the flow of flying sand, a young man in a green silk robe with light blue eyes was floating.

Jing Wu Feng’s clothes and hair were messy, his face pale. He took out a sheep fat bottle and drank a thousand-year-old spirit milk, quickly restoring his mana, which had been depleted by more than half. The Heavenly Character Token didn’t provide specific terrain routes. He had accidentally passed through the demonic Stone Heart Dragon’s territory and was hunted down. The demonic Stone Heart Dragon’s supernatural powers and defenses countered him. Jing Wu Feng possessed the Unbound Void Body, specializing in space and wind-based secret techniques, with unparalleled mobility. But even if his mana ran out and he died of exhaustion, he wouldn’t be able to pose a real threat to his target.

“Huh! That bald Jie Dan cultivator actually blocked the demonic Stone Heart Dragon’s attack and didn’t die?” Jing Wu Feng looked surprised.

“Immortal Pill Formation, cultivation of both body and technique, mutated Earth-element rat demon, near fourth-order puppet…”

“Could this person be a prodigy from a Nascent Soul holy sect?” Jing Wu Feng stroked his chin, his eyes flashing.

If not for the first round of trial rules, where only one trial participant from each state existed, he would have almost thought this person was one of the other eight prodigies of Tian Yi’s disciples.

“You, good move, shifting the blame!” A cold male voice echoed in the shallow layer of the void.

Was he discovered? The bald man in blue robes from afar was staring intently at the area where Jing Wu Feng was located, with an unfriendly gaze.

Under their pressure, Jing Wu Feng had to grit his teeth, chuckle dryly, and awkwardly emerge from the shallow layer of the void.

“Fellow Daoist, we are both Immortal Pill Formation cultivators, we should work together to…” Jing Wu Feng transmitted a message, trying to negotiate.

Before he could finish his sentence, Lu Chang’an, seeing the demonic dragon shifting its target to Jing Wu Feng, quickly put away his puppet and spirit beast, stuck a talisman on himself, and vanished in a flash.

“Hey… wait!” Jing Wu Feng was stunned. He didn’t expect that the person, with the combat power of a sect prodigy nearing the Nascent Soul threshold, would run away so quickly, like a flowing cloud, expertly.

“Wu! Roar!” The demonic Stone Heart Dragon found its original target again, sweeping up black and dark flying sand and wind, rushing towards Jing Wu Feng.

…

Lu Chang’an flew for hundreds of miles, making sure the demonic Stone Heart Dragon hadn’t followed him before he finally breathed a sigh of relief. He then comforted the Di Yan Shu in his spirit beast pouch.

The Di Yan Shu’s cultivation was about to reach the peak of the late third-order stage. After refining and absorbing the innate turbid qi of the Five Elements Earth, the Di Yan Shu’s overall qualities were comparable to those of an Earth-Rank bloodline. It didn’t have the age restriction of the Chang Qing Gong, so its cultivation speed was naturally faster than Lu Chang’an’s. Demonic beasts reaching the fourth-order stage and transforming were different from human cultivators. They didn’t need things like Transformation Pill.

If he could kill the Stone Heart Dragon with the True Dragon bloodline and obtain its Stone Dragon Heart and refined spirit pill, it would be a great opportunity for the Di Yan Shu to transform.

However, Lu Chang’an had no intention of fighting, and he didn’t dare to entertain such hopes. He knew some information about the demonic dragon. Even a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator, in the geographical environment of Wan Mo Valley, would find it hard to kill it. According to the gossip he remembered, this demonic Stone Heart Dragon had a special origin and was connected to a high-ranking figure in the Endless Abyss.

There were many potential threats in Wan Mo Valley and the Endless Abyss. Lu Chang’an wouldn’t dare to go all out to fight. Besides, he didn’t trust that mysterious foreign cultivator in the green robe.

“That person’s foreign aura hasn’t faded. Could it be that other regions of the Heavenly Heng Continent also have spatial nodes leading to the Endless Abyss?” Lu Chang’an figured out that the person wasn’t a cultivator from Da Yuan. Therefore, he had to be cautious and keep his distance.

Half a day later, Lu Chang’an entered the outer region of Wan Mo Valley, preparing to leave through one of the safe exits.

“Fellow Daoist, please wait.” A voice behind him, accompanied by the rustling of wind, revealed a young man in a green robe surrounded by light wind. Lu Chang’an turned back and confirmed that this person was the cultivator with the most advanced escape technique among the Jie Dan cultivators in this life. Even the Peacock Saintess was far behind.

What truly surprised Lu Chang’an was that the foreign cultivator had escaped unscathed from the pursuit of the demonic Stone Heart Dragon. Looking at the other person’s mana aura, it was abundant and continuous. Even if Lu Chang’an, with his long-lasting Chang Qing Gong, could fight a Nascent Soul Zhen Jun or successfully escape, he wouldn’t be able to maintain such a relaxed demeanor.

“I am Jing Wu Feng. I was pursued by demonic creatures earlier. It wasn’t intentional to shift the blame.” The green-robed man, without any airs, spoke in a friendly tone.

“May I ask, what is your Daoist name?”

“This one’s surname is Xiang.” Lu Chang’an was secretly alert and kept a distance from Jing Wu Feng.

“It turns out to be Xiang Zhen Ren (Real Person Xiang).” Jing Wu Feng smiled and looked at the bald man in blue robes.

“Jing Daoist, why are you chasing after me?” Lu Chang’an asked expressionlessly.

“To be honest, I am not a cultivator from Da Yuan. You should have figured that out. I am from a foreign state and accidentally entered an ancient forbidden zone, traversing through a spatial rift to get here… Xiang Daoist, you are a native cultivator from Da Yuan. I am a newcomer here and would like to inquire about some information from you. Of course, I won’t take advantage of you. I will offer a reward.” Jing Wu Feng bowed his head and explained the reason.

“So it is like that. I have seen records of this kind of inter-region traversal in ancient texts. I didn’t expect to encounter one today.” Lu Chang’an was half-believing and half-doubting his explanation, but didn’t pursue the matter further.

The information Jing Wu Feng wanted included the map routes of the Middle Region forbidden zones, the current situation in Da Yuan, and the distribution of forces. Lu Chang’an knew all this from Sha Hai Zhen Jun’s memories.

“This jade slip contains the information you need, Jing Daoist.” Lu Chang’an immediately copied a jade slip. For his current soul state, it was effortless.

As for the reward, he didn’t care. It wasn’t a secret anyway. Most of this information was common knowledge for Jie Dan cultivators. Facing a mysterious, powerful foreign cultivator, Lu Chang’an didn’t mind offering a favor.

…

“The three major cultivators of Da Yuan! The Ghost Palace, the Sword Pavilion, and the Sixteen Sects of the Sea Suppression…” Jing Wu Feng received the jade slip, scanned it with his spiritual sense, and pondered.

The Da Yuan side didn’t have any proper righteous sects at all. The Ghost Palace in the Northern Region was the leader of the unorthodox and evil factions. The strongest Sword Pavilion in the Southern Region was decisive in their killings, loved warfare, and was far from merciful. The Sixteen Sects of the Sea Suppression controlled the coastal area, monopolized the sea routes and trade, and colluded with pirate forces. They engaged in murder, arson, and looting.

Although the cultivation civilization was developed and resources were abundant, it was much more brutal than the Qing Zhou side. However, for true strong individuals, it was actually a good thing.

Jing Wu Feng’s lips curved slightly, he spread out his palm, and took out a demonic creature’s claw and a scale from the demonic Stone Heart Dragon.

“These two materials are my reward for inquiring about information.”

“Jing Daoist is generous.” Lu Chang’an took the two materials, slightly moved.

The Stone Heart Dragon scale was a high-quality fourth-order material, which could be used for refining weapons, puppets, and even fourth-order talismans. The demonic creature’s claw, as an important part of the demonic creature, was also barely at the fourth-order level.

Exchanging non-confidential information for two fourth-order materials, Lu Chang’an had gained an advantage.

After the exchange, the atmosphere between them became much more cordial. They had gained a preliminary understanding of each other’s personalities.

“Do you have any interest in hunting that fourth-order Stone Heart Dragon in the future, Xiang Daoist?” Jing Wu Feng suggested.

“The demonic Stone Heart Dragon’s Stone Heart and refined spirit pill are both contaminated, useless for our human cultivators.” Lu Chang’an said calmly.

“Hehe, indeed useless for human cultivators. However, Xiang Daoist’s mutated Earth-element rat demon has a demonic core containing Earthly Demonic Turbid Qi. That demonic dragon’s Stone Heart and refined spirit pill are a perfect match in attributes and are actually rare nourishing substances.” Jing Wu Feng spoke lightly, revealing the truth.

Upon hearing this, Lu Chang’an fell silent for a few breaths. This person’s insight and understanding were terrifying. The Di Yan Shu had only briefly taken action, but he had seen through much of its potential.

That’s right. The Stone Dragon Heart, after being purified, could be used as an important spirit object to assist the Di Yan Shu in transforming in the future.

Demonic beasts and other species didn’t follow the Nascent Soul path. Instead, they formed a refined spirit pill within their bodies, refining their own essence into the pill.

Therefore, fourth-order transformed demonic beasts had greatly enhanced resistance to soul secret techniques and unlocked more bloodline inheritance talents and supernatural powers.

The fourth-order demonic dragon’s refined spirit pill was equivalent to the “Heavenly Infant Fruit” Lu Chang’an needed. It could be eaten directly or refined into a holy medicine suitable for demonic beasts, helping them advance to the fourth-order stage and transform. Being a Heavenly-Rank bloodline, a True Dragon descendant, the effects of these two items would exceed those of ordinary transformed demon kings.

“Even two Nascent Soul cultivators working together would find it difficult to take down the demonic Stone Heart Dragon, let alone the two of us Jie Dan cultivators.” Lu Chang’an shook his head.

Strength was one aspect, but the geographical environment of Wan Mo Valley made it very risky to fight. Not to mention, Lu Chang’an didn’t know Jing Wu Feng’s background and had natural mistrust.

“It is indeed difficult today, but if we prepare well in the future, there is a chance.” Jing Wu Feng nodded with a smile, knowing Lu Chang’an’s concerns.

“If Xiang Daoist needs it in the future, you can invite me to join you. If we succeed, the Stone Dragon Heart and refined spirit pill will all belong to you.”

“Jing Daoist is so righteous and generous. Surely, you won’t help for nothing?” Lu Chang’an asked in surprise.

“Of course. Xiang Daoist will owe me a promise. In the future in Da Yuan, I will need you to assist me in completing a matter.” Jing Wu Feng stated his requirement.

“I will consider it.” Lu Chang’an didn’t give a definitive answer. At least, he needed to wait until the Di Yan Shu reached peak third-order and the near fourth-order puppet’s quality was upgraded to fourth-order before considering it.

“Good, I will wait for your good news, Daoist Xiang. I won’t force you.” Jing Wu Feng said cheerfully.

The two left contact information in Da Yuan’s Middle Region’s largest fairy city. Jing Wu Feng turned into a gust of wind and vanished from sight in a few breaths.

“This person has a great background. His escape technique is as profound as Sha Hai Zhen Jun’s Water Escape Grand Technique.” Lu Chang’an’s eyes flickered, and after pondering for a moment, he flew out of Wan Mo Valley in a certain direction.

…

Seven days later, Lu Chang’an flew out of the Middle Region forbidden zone. During his journey, he passed by many ruins left behind from the ancient battlefield. Everywhere, the spiritual energy was weak. Along the way, he gradually encountered more cultivators. Many cultivators from different parts of Da Yuan were exploring and excavating the outer region of the Middle Region forbidden zone. Lu Chang’an finally entered the normal part of Da Yuan’s cultivation world.

Da Yuan’s Middle Region was relatively poor in spiritual veins and materials, but it was vast, three times the size of Da Qing’s Eastern Region. Even the weakest region in Da Yuan was at least one level higher than the Middle Region of Da Qing, where the ten sects of the Xuan Men (Mysterious Daoist Sect) were located.

As he moved away from the Middle Region forbidden zone, the spiritual energy gradually became more active. Lu Chang’an’s escape speed increased significantly.

Three days later, he entered the territory of the Wan Feng Sect in the Middle Region. It was one of the strongest cultivation forces near the Middle Region forbidden zone, with a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator residing there.

Wan Feng Sect encompassed multiple cultivation nations, two Nascent Soul sects, numerous Jie Dan sects as vassals, and countless cultivation families. The area influenced by Wan Feng Sect alone was close to the territory of the former Daoist League.

“First, find a place to settle down and transition.” Lu Chang’an decided to retain the image of the bald man in blue robes and keep his cultivation at the Jie Dan mid-stage, avoiding being too high-profile.

Half a day later, he reached Wu You City, a high-level fairy city with a good commercial atmosphere, as remembered from Sha Hai Zhen Jun’s memories. The controllers behind Wu You City were composed of sects and families affiliated with Wan Feng Sect. The highest level of residence they provided was third-order top-grade caves.

Lu Chang’an rented a third-order mid-grade cave for temporary accommodation. He planned to integrate into the local environment first, and then look for a more stable spiritual vein dojo after becoming familiar with the surrounding forces. A third-order top-grade spiritual vein was no longer enough for Lu Chang’an’s needs. He wanted to pursue a fourth-order spiritual vein dojo. When he reached peak Jie Dan late-stage and prepared to challenge the Nascent Soul stage, a fourth-order spiritual vein would be essential.

The owners of fourth-order spiritual veins were basically Nascent Soul-level forces. High-level fairy cities like Wang Yue Fairy City, which were neutral and free and could offer fourth-order spiritual veins, were almost non-existent in Da Yuan. Cultivation forces in Da Yuan competed fiercely, and weaker forces often depended on stronger forces, making it impossible to accommodate neutral and independent entities. Even in Wang Yue Fairy City, cultivators who wanted to borrow a place to form their Nascent Soul had to sign spirit contracts and pay a certain price.

Lu Chang’an still needed six or seventy years to reach peak Jie Dan. He needed to lay the groundwork in advance to gain the trust of a Nascent Soul-level force. Otherwise, when he gathered the resources for forming his Nascent Soul, he wouldn’t have anywhere to use them.

…

Inside the third-order cave in Wu You City, Lu Chang’an took out the blue-armored puppet, which had been suppressed for a long time.

“The Heaven and Earth environment here is indeed different from Da Qing, with a higher upper limit. In my lifetime, I would never have imagined leaving Da Qing and coming to a more prosperous place for cultivation.” The blue-armored puppet’s eye sockets glowed with two green ghost flames, and its tone became excited. Its ghost spirit consciousness released its spiritual sense and examined the cultivation civilization of Wu You City.

“Wei Kui Shi (Puppet Master Wei), the resources here are abundant. I have recently obtained some fourth-order materials. It may be possible to accelerate the completion of the fourth-order puppet.” Lu Chang’an took out several fourth-order materials obtained from Tian Luo Lao Zu (Elder Tian Luo) and the two given by Jing Wu Feng as a reward. The fragment of the Spirit Void Ancient Pillar, fused with precious spatial treasures, was not taken out for now.

“Good! My puppet body is almost ready to be upgraded to fourth-order quality. The only thing missing is the materials. As long as I cultivate the puppet spirit to the Nascent Soul level, I will be able to forge the perfect true fourth-order puppet.” The blue-armored puppet excitedly examined the new fourth-order materials, satisfied with Lu Chang’an’s progress. Because of the constant nourishment from the second-life soul power, the blue-armored puppet’s ghost spirit consciousness gradually stabilized, and the puppet spirit cultivation speed increased significantly.

Lu Chang’an estimated that in less than a hundred years, or at least sixty years, the puppet spirit would be able to cultivate to the Nascent Soul level.

“Lu Zhen Ren (Real Person Lu), don’t forget the agreement we made.”

Lu Chang’an said solemnly, “Wei Kui Shi, you have helped me greatly in forging the true fourth-order puppet and teaching me the core puppet techniques. This Real Person will certainly uphold our promise.”

According to their agreement:

Wei Kui Shi would do his best to help Lu Chang’an forge the true fourth-order puppet and teach him the core puppet techniques of the Thousand Mechanism Sect. After the true fourth-order puppet was forged, Wei Kui Shi would use this puppet body to personally seek revenge in the Two Sects Region, and Lu Chang’an would cooperate with his actions.

(End of chapter)

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