I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 400

## Chapter 396: Shifting Tides, Capturing a Nascent Soul

Lu Chang’an activated the [Dragonwood Staff], ready to pursue his victory.

The domineering Wu Zhen Jun, retreating in a sorry state, cracked a slight smile. A black whirlwind suddenly enveloped him, and he quickly vanished, a speed that was surprisingly fast.

He had actually escaped the range of the puppet army’s battle formations.

Although the Wu Zhen Jun appeared brave, he was cunning and cautious in reality. Lu Chang’an chased after him, exceeding the puppet formation range, and this man picked up his double-edged trident, fighting head-on with unparalleled ferocity. If Lu Chang’an re-established the puppet formation, the Wu Zhen Jun would quickly pull away.

“You little rascal, you think you’re a brute and want to play tug-of-war with this Zhen Jun, huh?”

Lu Chang’an narrowed his eyes, finding it somewhat amusing.

“Haha! Xiang Dalong, the outside world’s assessment of you is exaggerated. Without your spirit pet and puppets, this Zhen Jun could take on two of you!”

The Wu Zhen Jun laughed unreservedly, relying on his heavy magic armor treasure and his almost-fourth-tier physique to repeatedly pull back. He didn’t seek victory, only to hold Lu Chang’an back for a while.

“Now you dare to besiege Jing Wufeng’s Nascent Soul Zhen Jun? There’s not a single one who’s easy to deal with.”

Lu Chang’an pondered silently, not falling for his provocation. The Wu Zhen Jun, being in the early Nascent Soul stage, could be considered a well-rounded warrior. His protective treasure was strong, coupled with his almost-fourth-tier physique, making him less susceptible to threats without using killer moves.

Even a regular mid-stage Nascent Soul would struggle to kill the Wu Zhen Jun. The ideal scenario was to trap him within a formation and beat him down, just like what they did to the Crimson Nether Snake King last time.

“Then let’s play.”

Lu Chang’an deployed his puppet control techniques, sixteen puppets forming a puppet array, floating in the air around him, forming a massive arc of electric light. Lu Chang’an, with the power of the puppet array, drove the Wu Zhen Jun back in a panic.

The puppet army formation was indeed less effective in guerilla warfare than in positional warfare. But for bullying weaker enemies, it was sufficient, its imposing presence being something a low-stage Nascent Soul couldn’t provoke. Of course, against a mid-stage Nascent Soul who fought on the move, it would be powerless.

Squeal!

The earth beneath Lu Chang’an rumbled with earth-elemental energy, as the Rock Demon waited for an opportunity to strike.

The Wu Zhen Jun, wary, flew high into the sky, already on guard against the Rock Demon. If he were to be surrounded by Lu Chang’an, the puppet array, and the Rock Demon, even someone as strong as him would face danger. Although he was confident he could hold out until Ming Shui Zhen Jun arrived, there was no need to take that risk.

Unexpectedly, the Rock Demon didn’t target the Wu Zhen Jun but instead burrowed in another direction.

…

“Daoist Nangong, Fairy Lingxue, be careful!”

The Wu Zhen Jun, suppressed by Lu Chang’an, managed to send a voice transmission.

Whoosh!

Fairy Lingxue, her fingers forming incantations, fluttered her snow-white palace dress, her long hair flowing, her ice-like beauty striking. She was a vision of elegance, her ice-like beauty resembling a snow goddess, as snowflakes danced around her. She deployed her [Ice Soul True Light] and [Ice Spirit Sword Blade], cooperating with Nangong Xiu to suppress Jing Wufeng.

The Wu Zhen Jun’s voice transmission had just reached them.

BOOM!

The ground swelled into a large sand dune, exploding with a loud bang. A giant rat king, enveloped in flying sand and yellow dust, charged out from below, carrying with it an explosion of sand and gravel, aiming for Fairy Lingxue, who was floating gracefully in her dress.

“Scourge!”

Fairy Lingxue’s delicate eyebrows furrowed, an instinctive aversion manifesting on her face. Anyone who prevented her from seeking revenge was her enemy. However, she couldn’t ignore the attack of a fourth-tier demon king. She had to temporarily abandon her pressure on Jing Wufeng.

Ice Lotus Bloom!

Fairy Lingxue gently caressed her chest, and a jade-like ice lotus treasure floated out from her skirt.

Whoosh! Swoosh, swoosh…

The ice lotus treasure split into seven, each blooming with a light green ice crystal lotus, revolving gracefully around her, a breathtaking display of icy beauty, like a dream. The seven ice crystal lotuses were both offensive and defensive. Three of them automatically flew out, clashing with the Rock Demon’s dark rock claws, with “ding, ding, ding” sounds.

Ice chips flew, the dispersing cold energy forming a layer of frost on the Rock Demon’s claws. The Rock Demon bared its teeth, its eyes glowing fiercely, as it continued to pursue Fairy Lingxue.

However, the seven ice crystal lotuses, each weighing like an iceberg, revolved, sending out attacks and defenses, making it difficult for the Rock Demon to break through.

The Rock Demon’s bloodline demon energy brewed within its body, unleashing a swirling storm of sand, aiming to shred Fairy Lingxue.

“Child’s play!”

Fairy Lingxue’s eyes were cold, revealing a hint of disdain, her figure in her flowing palace dress, elegant and ethereal.

BOOM!

Her [Ice Spirit Physique] enhanced her ice-elemental divine arts, unleashing a mighty ice and snow storm, overwhelming the Rock Demon’s sand storm.

The Rock Demon squeaked, suppressed by Fairy Lingxue’s divine arts. The cold invaded its body, and its demon energy was partially frozen.

Ice Spirit Chain!

Fairy Lingxue’s killing intent surged. With a flick of her finger, she summoned a silver-crystal chain made of black iron, taking advantage of the Rock Demon’s slowed movements, binding it.

“Master, save me!”

The Rock Demon, trapped in the ice and snow storm, called out in fear. The demon king’s body, bound by the black iron ice lotus treasure, had its blood and demon energy frozen by the terrifying cold, making it difficult to break free. Fairy Lingxue’s divine arts and treasures had exceptional control. Although she couldn’t kill the fourth-tier demon king in a short time, she might be able to freeze it and capture it.

Once the two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators and other stronger cultivators arrived, even if Lu Chang’an and Jing Wufeng could escape, the Rock Demon would have no escape.

“Zhen Jun Changqing, using a spirit pet to deal with me, you really overestimated yourself.”

Fairy Lingxue exuded a noble air, the seven lotuses around her dimming. She channeled more of her energy into the [Ice Spirit Chain], determined to capture the Rock Demon.

“Fairy Lingxue, well done!”

On the other side, the Wu Zhen Jun, suppressed and slightly injured, couldn’t help but praise loudly, his fighting spirit rising. If they could capture the Rock Demon, it would greatly reduce Changqing Zhen Jun’s strength.

Xiang Dalong, without his fourth-tier spirit pet, would no longer be able to contend with mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators. He would only be considered a strong opponent among early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, unable to match the significant gap between himself and the White Bone Headmaster and Wu Zhen Jun.

“This woman is indeed quite capable. No wonder Jing Wufeng, despite being chased and killed for so long, is still unable to do anything about her.”

Lu Chang’an secretly praised her. Once ensnared by Fairy Lingxue’s ice spirit arts, even being slowed down, Jing Wufeng would face the risk of being attacked by a group. Furthermore, as Fairy Lingxue wouldn’t fight alone, Jing Wufeng wouldn’t easily provoke her.

…

“Master…”

Seeing the Rock Demon calling for help, its demon king body gradually covered with ice crystals, its master, Lu Chang’an, looked grim.

“Haha! Zhen Jun Xiang, let’s have a good duel.”

Lu Chang’an attempted to rescue it, but the Wu Zhen Jun, like a sticky plaster, clung to him, even at the cost of injury, just to hold him back.

Seeing Lu Chang’an entangled, Fairy Lingxue felt reassured. Her lips tightened, the cold air surging as she focused on trapping and freezing the Rock Demon.

At that moment, an unexpected change occurred.

The Rock Demon’s fur exploded, its earth煞 energy erupting, shattering many of the ice crystals.

BOOM!

A sandstorm erupted again, intertwining with the ice and snow storm, obscuring vision and senses.

Pfft!

The giant rat demon opened its mouth, spewing a stream of dark yellow flames, instantly melting the surrounding ice and snow, reaching Fairy Lingxue.

The sudden change caused Fairy Lingxue’s delicate face to slightly change, but she didn’t panic. She had been using most of her energy to control the [Ice Spirit Chain]. In a hurry, she could only control the seven ice spirit lotuses around her, merging them into one, forming a larger ice lotus.

The dark yellow煞 flames were the Rock Demon’s innate demon flames, containing powerful earth煞 energy.

When they collided, the ice lotus dimmed and extinguished, falling down. The dark yellow煞 flames also dimmed significantly, hitting the ice-like shield that Fairy Lingxue hurriedly activated around her.

The ice shield flickered, almost collapsing, barely holding back the flames. Fairy Lingxue’s delicate face was grim, a sense of relief mixed with trepidation. If the innate demon flames had struck successfully, she would have suffered a major injury to her physical body.

However, before she could breathe a sigh of relief, a more deadly sense of crisis swept over her.

The fourth-tier rat king’s enormous maw, after spewing out its innate demon flames, didn’t close.

C hiss!

A black and green fang, following closely behind, pierced through Fairy Lingxue’s dimmed ice shield the moment the innate demon flames extinguished.

At that moment, time seemed to freeze.

The swirling sand and snow collided, their power shaking the heavens and earth, blocking out the world outside.

Fairy Lingxue, her flowing palace dress billowing, her body stiffened in mid-air, a gaping hole was torn through her abdomen.

Blood seeped out from the back of her snow-white palace dress.

C hiss!

The black and green fang, leaving a trail of poisonous blood, instantly returned to the Rock Demon’s mouth.

The Rock Demon quickly closed its mouth, concealing the presence of the true fourth-tier puppet hidden within.

The final change and stealth attack were mere moments. Even Fairy Lingxue herself hadn’t seen clearly, thinking it was some kind of hidden treasure of the Rock Demon.

“Fourth-tier poison… infant poison…”

Fairy Lingxue’s Nascent Soul felt drowsy, and she fell weakly, a dark red snake pattern appearing on her snow-white face.

The black and green fang’s strike, on its own, was comparable to an early-stage Nascent Soul, crushing and destroying her internal organs. This ice spirit physique was fatally wounded.

What was even more terrifying was that the black and green fang was smeared with fourth-tier poison, containing infant poison that eroded the Nascent Soul’s soul.

Lu Chang’an had obtained the fourth-tier poison from the Crimson Nether Snake King, and its memories included the recipe for the poison. The snake king’s poison sac was the core material for crafting the fourth-tier poison.

…

“What happened!”

On the other side, the Wu Zhen Jun, who was being pressured by Lu Chang’an, could only catch glimpses of the collision of sand and snow, obscuring the sky. He didn’t have the strength to focus his consciousness to investigate the chaotic area.

Was it the Rock Demon desperately counterattacking?

The flying sand and yellow dust still swirled, but the ice and snow storm in that area suddenly collapsed and scattered.

“This… how is this possible!”

The Wu Zhen Jun’s heart trembled, as he sensed Fairy Lingxue’s rapidly fading aura, plummeting to the bottom in the blink of an eye.

“Fairy Lingxue! This old man warned you before, don’t be hasty with revenge, take it one step at a time.”

Lu Chang’an chuckled lightly.

It turned out his first target was Fairy Lingxue. It wasn’t because she was weak; on the contrary, her innate ice spirit divine arts were quite troublesome.

He targeted her because she had a strong desire for revenge, which was a fatal flaw. Moreover, her ice spirit arts and treasures were excellent for controlling and capturing others.

As long as he killed her, Lu Chang’an and Jing Wufeng could come and go freely, and even if Ming Shui Zhen Jun came, she wouldn’t be able to keep them. The fourth-tier poison would be even more effective against Fairy Lingxue. The Wu Zhen Jun, after all, had a nearly fourth-tier physique, his body was strong, and his heavy magic armor was also very defensive.

…

Fairy Lingxue fell to the ground, her whole body covered in ice and snow, using a secret technique to freeze herself.

She stabilized her injuries, slowing the invasion of the poison.

At that moment, a powerful and chilling black water遁 light, radiating the pressure of a mid-stage Nascent Soul, sped towards the ancient battlefield from the demonic clouds in the distance.

“Daoist Ming Shui is here!”

The Wu Zhen Jun’s heart, which had sunk to the bottom, finally felt a sense of relief. He was pushed back by Lu Chang’an, who had the power of the puppet array, leaving him in a sorry state, his injuries worsening. Sensing Ming Shui Zhen Jun’s presence, Fairy Lingxue abandoned the idea of her Nascent Soul escaping her body, and with a final burst of her remaining controllable energy, used a freezing secret technique.

Whoosh!

A majestic wave of icy snow erupted from Fairy Lingxue, sweeping out in all directions.

Squeal, roar!

The Rock Demon’s demon king body, enduring the icy cold, opened its bloody maw and bit down on Fairy Lingxue’s head.

However, with a “crunch” sound, Fairy Lingxue’s entire body transformed into a beautiful ice sculpture, the crystal ice, an inch thick, only developed tiny cracks, which were repaired by the cold energy.

The Rock Demon couldn’t bite through it, whether it was the head or the legs.

Lu Chang’an instructed the Rock Demon to ignore the frozen Fairy Lingxue. She was fatally wounded, poisoned by the infant poison, and had frozen herself, losing her fighting ability, essentially achieving his objective.

The Rock Demon, abandoning the ice sculpture fairy, dashed forward to assist Lu Chang’an in killing the enemy.

“Daoist Ming Shui, save me!”

The Wu Zhen Jun, using the Blood Shadow遁, even sacrificing his blood and lifespan, ran for his life, not daring to be surrounded by Lu Chang’an, the puppet array, and the Rock Demon, especially since Lu Chang’an seemed to have poisonous tricks up his sleeve.

“Daoist Ming Shui, hurry and help me!”

Nangong Xiu also sent a call for help from the other side. His plain clothes had several bloody cuts, and his face was pale, his energy depleted.

There were strange sounds in the shallow depths of the void. The [Voidless Blade], thin as a cicada’s wing, occasionally disappeared from the perception and consciousness, cutting towards Nangong Xiu in an eerie, unpredictable way.

In the void, silver rippling wrinkles appeared from time to time, like ripples on the surface of the space, blocking Nangong Xiu’s escape route.

It turned out that after the Rock Demon attacked Fairy Lingxue, Jing Wufeng had his hands free, reversing the situation, and launching a counterattack against Nangong Xiu.

Nangong Xiu’s Heaven Blade inheritance was domineering and unmatched, but it consumed a lot of energy. Jing Wufeng wasn’t good at head-on confrontations and was initially suppressed, but his divine arts were effective because they were unpredictable and highly mobile.

Ordinary protective measures couldn’t withstand the spatial cuts.

…

“The two of you, hold on! I’ll be there soon.”

Ming Shui Zhen Jun pushed her Water 遁 art to its limit, her consciousness scanning the battlefield.

Fairy Lingxue was poisoned and frozen, so she couldn’t rely on her. Lu Chang’an was chasing after the Wu Zhen Jun, who was badly injured, with blood spilling from his mouth.

Nangong Xiu, wielding his ancient Heaven Blade, was surrounded by a domineering blade aura, dozens of meters long, fighting defensively, retreating step by step, in a precarious situation.

“Join forces with Daoist Nangong.”

Ming Shui Zhen Jun’s priority for rescue was Nangong Xiu, as he was a powerful fighter, posing a threat to both Lu Chang’an and Jing Wufeng.

The Wu Zhen Jun, hearing her voice transmission, felt a bit annoyed but had no choice but to fly towards the area between Nangong Xiu and Ming Shui Zhen Jun.

Ming Shui Zhen Jun approached another dozens of miles, her cold white palm outstretched, summoning a deep blue and black ancient sea flag.

BOOM, whoosh!

The ancient flag flew out in the wind, unleashing a natural disaster storm, leading a towering black water wave, forming a world of light black ocean.

In an instant, the raging storm ocean formed a black sea world, covering a radius of ten miles, engulfing Jing Wufeng and Nangong Xiu.

“Heaven and Sea Saint Flag, one of the inherited sea flag treasures of the Listen to the Sea Pavilion.”

Although the treasure had been repaired and modified by later generations, Lu Chang’an still recognized its lineage.

…

Inside the Heaven and Sea Saint Flag’s black sea realm, the black waves roared, sweeping around, countless black waves transforming into dragons and pythons, quickly entwining Jing Wufeng.

Jing Wufeng seemed unwilling to give in. Seeing that he was about to be severely injured, even threatening Nangong Xiu’s life, he stubbornly endured the black waves and attempted to kill.

“Presumptuous!”

Ming Shui Zhen Jun’s voice was hoarse, her face turning cold. She hadn’t expected Jing Wufeng to be so reckless, falling into her sea flag’s domain. If Jing Wufeng had stopped in time, he could have used his spatial divine arts to avoid this water area.

So much the better!

The target was trapped in this water area, constrained on all sides. Ming Shui Zhen Jun’s various divine arts could be enhanced.

Whoosh, whoosh!

Ming Shui Zhen Jun, controlling the Heaven and Sea Saint Flag, formed massive black and gray whirlwinds, emitting icy energy, surrounding Jing Wufeng from all directions.

Nangong Xiu finally caught his breath and quickly retreated, taking a few spirit pills to recover his injuries and energy.

Whoosh!

The Wu Zhen Jun, who was being chased, also crashed into the gloomy and dark sea flag domain.

“Black Water Daoist, you’re finally here.”

The Wu Zhen Jun, his injuries severe and his energy greatly depleted, hurriedly gathered with Ming Shui Zhen Jun and Nangong Xiu.

“Perfect! The three of us, together with the sea flag domain, are enough to trap Jing Wufeng and wait for Daoist Jin Kun and the others to arrive.”

Ming Shui Zhen Jun, a mid-stage Nascent Soul, had her energy pressure coupled with the towering waves, dominating the scene. A wave of black water rose, transforming into a soft, black circular platform, supporting Ming Shui Zhen Jun, Nangong Xiu, and the Wu Zhen Jun.

The Wu Zhen Jun took advantage of the opportunity to take a pill and recover. Nangong Xiu had absorbed the spirit pills, his energy stabilized, and he stood behind them.

“Daoist Nangong, you’ll…”

Ming Shui Zhen Jun’s instructions were cut short.

CLANG!

Nangong Xiu’s hand, which had always held the hilt, suddenly unleashed his swordsmanship, slashing a heaven-splitting bolt of red and blue blade energy, instantly passing through Ming Shui Zhen Jun and the Wu Zhen Jun.

Pshh!

Flesh and bone scattered, the ancient blade stained with blood.

“Nangong Xiu!”

A cold and furious voice echoed through the sea flag domain.

The domineering and powerful blade energy, dozens of meters long, simultaneously cut through Ming Shui Zhen Jun and the Wu Zhen Jun at the waist.

“Ah…”

The Wu Zhen Jun screamed, his body being shattered instantly by the blade energy, comparable to a mid-stage Nascent Soul, as he was taking pills and recovering, completely unprepared.

The blade energy, penetrating his body, shattered his internal organs in an instant. His nearly fourth-tier physique crumbled like dust, unable to withstand it at all. In an instant, the Wu Zhen Jun’s physical body was destroyed, and an invisible blade intent permeated his Nascent Soul soul.

The Wu Zhen Jun’s consciousness trembled with icy fear, his Nascent Soul spirit body escaping slower than it should have.

Swoosh!

The Nascent Soul spirit body, having just escaped the destroyed physical body, was met with several strands of silver threads, sparkling with electric arcs. The space warped and doubled, blocking his path, binding the Wu Zhen Jun’s Nascent Soul layer upon layer.

Whoosh!

Jing Wufeng teleported in, taking out a silver bottle.

A silver wind cloud swirled, sucking the bound Nascent Soul spirit body into the bottle, then placing a sealing talisman on the bottle.

From the moment the Wu Zhen Jun was cut, to his Nascent Soul escaping and being captured, it all happened within a couple of breaths.

Whoosh!

Ming Shui Zhen Jun, also cut in half, transformed into a puddle of black water, splashing a pool of blood on the spot.

…

At the farthest corner of the sea flag domain, black waves rose, revealing Ming Shui Zhen Jun’s beautiful figure, with long hair flowing down her back. Her cold and beautiful face was pale, her blue-black dress was torn with a bloody gash, revealing a large expanse of cold white skin.

“Nangong Xiu! You dare to betray the agreement!”

Ming Shui Zhen Jun’s silver teeth clenched, her face grim, her bright and icy eyes staring fixedly at Nangong Xiu, who had just attacked. If it weren’t for being in the sea flag domain, she could have dodged the fatal attack with a thought, and it wouldn’t have been a simple wound.

Wuu!

Nangong Xiu, clutching the hilt of his blade, endured the pain spreading through his soul, and spat out a mouthful of blood. This was the backlash from breaking the oath. Even though he had used a secret technique from Jing Wufeng to mitigate most of it beforehand, it was still unbearably painful.

“Cough… Daoist Jing has saved me. Moreover, he offered a higher price!”

Nangong Xiu wiped the blood off his lips, showing no guilt, matter-of-factly.

Years ago, he was chased and pursued by the Heaven Sword Pavilion, his injuries were severe, and it was Jing Wufeng who secretly helped him escape.

On the surface, the two of them had also fought, their relationship was not good. Nangong Xiu lost to Jing Tian Zhen Jun, admitting defeat but also receiving guidance from him, which benefited him greatly.

“Daoist Nangong, you have repaid Jing’s favor by doing this. What happens next doesn’t concern you.”

Jing Wufeng smiled calmly, bowing slightly.

“You two be careful! Ming Shui Zhen Jun, although a newly promoted mid-stage Nascent Soul, is quite good at protecting herself within the sea flag domain.”

Nangong Xiu, enduring the backlash from his oath, returned the salute.

Jing Wufeng waved his hand, coordinating with Lu Chang’an outside, splitting open a gap in the sea flag domain.

Nangong Xiu, clutching the hilt of his blade, remained vigilant and crossed paths with Lu Chang’an.

One in, one out.

“Daoist Nangong, thank you for your efforts.”

Lu Chang’an smiled, giving him a friendly look. Initially, he had estimated that the enemy could have eight Zhen Jun-level forces, including the uncertain Asura Ghost King. If it weren’t for the existence of Nangong Xiu, a hidden piece, greatly increasing their chances of victory, Lu Chang’an wouldn’t have participated in such a risky operation.

As Lu Chang’an entered the sea flag domain, Jing Wufeng, using his spatial body technique, his [Voidless Blade] appearing and disappearing, launched a proactive attack against Ming Shui Zhen Jun.

“Zhen Jun Xiang, now there’s only Ming Shui Zhen Jun left. Let’s work together and try to kill her before ‘Old Monster Jin Kun’ arrives, to eliminate any future threats.”

(End of Chapter)

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