I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 423

## Chapter 418: Snow Mountain Holy Land, Yun’s Twin Stars (Rest and Adjustment on the 21st)

Accompanied by incredulous and questioning voices, cracks appeared on the surface of the Taoist Master’s statue.

“Taoist Master, what kind of tone is that? Are you perhaps not welcoming Xu?”

A figure in elegant blue robes stood with his hands behind his back, smiling faintly.

“Daoist Friend Xu, it’s been a hundred years. Your advancement to the Nascent Soul stage is fine, but your divination skills also advancing to the fourth stage is truly excessive.”

The towering Taoist Master statue, amidst the wind and sand, remained silent for a moment before a voice of resentment could be heard.

He had anticipated Lu Chang An’s ascension to the Nascent Soul stage, but his divination reaching the fourth stage, putting him on the same level, was completely beyond expectation.

Fourth-stage divination masters, let alone in the Eastern Region, were rare even in the prosperous Greater Qing Central Region.

Fourth-stage medium-grade diviners appeared only occasionally in a given era, often dying of old age soon after.

“Having four fourth-stage skills is nothing to speak of. Taoist Master, there’s no need to make a fuss and try to elevate me.”

Lu Chang An seemed dissatisfied with such achievements.

Although he possessed fourth-stage treasure talismans and had created a fourth-stage puppet, his puppet and talisman skills had not yet fully entered the fourth stage.

When he finally had three fourth-stage skills, he would then have bragging rights, making this life worth living.

“Haha, Daoist Friend Xu is truly too humble.”

The cracks on the surface of the Taoist Master’s statue split further, widening the gap.

“Sigh, Daoist Friend’s current abilities are beyond my comprehension. I can’t afford to offend you. I’m truly a little uneasy about letting you come to the Snow Mountain Holy Land.”

A sigh of helplessness came through.

“Taoist Master, you’re overthinking. Sitting here in the Snow Mountain Holy Land, even a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator wouldn’t be able to do anything to you. If you’re not at ease, then we’ll meet outside.”

Lu Chang An said nonchalantly.

The Snow Mountain Holy Land involved the core secrets of the Feng Yuan Nation and the Taoist Master.

As Lu Chang An understood, the Snow Mountain Holy Land could control the Feng Yuan Nation’s weather environment to a certain extent, mainly focusing on the eight wild city tribes and their surrounding areas.

Therefore, from such a long distance, the Feng Yuan Nation Master could create a stone statue as a vessel to communicate with him.

Crack!

The Taoist Master statue crumbled into dust, no longer speaking.

Using the identity and image of Xu Xuan, Lu Chang An flew within the Feng Yuan Nation, heading towards its central region.

This was his previous life’s appearance, the identity he initially used when he came to the Feng Yuan Nation.

He had used this identity to interact with the female cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion and had some connection with Guan Qiaozhi’s reincarnation, the descendant of the Li Huo Upper Person’s Dao Companion.

…

On the way, Lu Chang An’s own fourth-stage divination power was significantly suppressed.

The Taoist Master had laid out a large network of fate and destiny for hundreds of years, utilizing the Snow Mountain Holy Land to turn the Feng Yuan Nation into his own chessboard.

External Nascent Soul True Jun or fourth-stage diviners were like big fish and sharks. Once they entered, the Taoist Master would sense them.

Lu Chang An pondered, “If I wear the [Black Wind Cloak], will I be able to avoid the Taoist Master’s network detection?”

After passing through the territories of two wild city tribes, Lu Chang An entered the heartland of the Feng Yuan Nation.

At that moment, a Nascent Soul遁光 (Dun Guang – a technique to travel through the air) emerged from the clouds ahead, carrying a young Taoist with rosy lips, white teeth, handsome and refined features, and dressed in a sky-blue Taoist robe.

“Is this Mr. Xu? I am Zhong Liang Qi, sent by my master to escort you to the Snow Mountain Holy Land.”

The young Taoist bowed and greeted him, appearing respectful and polite.

Zhong Liang Qi was the Taoist Master’s closed disciple and blood descendant. He was the youngest to enter the sect, having cultivated for only a hundred years.

“A good student of a great master, a fine piece of jade.”

Lu Chang An gave a compliment, merely engaging in courteous conversation.

At the Nascent Soul True Jun level, having cultivated for hundreds of years, he had seen countless geniuses and was no longer surprised.

Those who could ultimately become Nascent Soul were only a small fraction, not enough to make a Nascent Soul elder look upon them with special favor and seek out their companionship.

After half a day.

Lu Chang An entered the very center of the Feng Yuan Nation.

A towering snow-capped mountain, reaching for the clouds, came into view, with icy currents and cool winds rushing towards him.

In the endless, hot, and dry desert, this snow-covered holy mountain presented a magnificent and unique spectacle.

Unlike ordinary Nascent Soul forces, there were few people on the Great Snow Mountain, only a few hundred in total. However, they were all elite, almost all at the Zhu Ji stage or higher.

In terms of the number of Jie Dan cultivators alone, it was even more than the Golden Cloud Valley.

Near the Great Snow Mountain, there were some Feng Yuan Nation native cultivators who had come to the mountain to make a pilgrimage and pay their respects.

Those who came to make a pilgrimage could only reach the halfway point of the mountain.

Under the escort of Zhong Liang Qi, Lu Chang An descended from the sky, directly entering the peak of the holy mountain shrouded in mist.

The mountaintop was covered in snow, which did not melt, emitting a moderate coolness, not as icy and bone-chilling as he had imagined.

Lu Chang An’s powerful senses detected the natural formations of the Snow Mountain Holy Land. With a mysterious hub as its center, it skillfully borrowed the power of heaven and earth, constructing a profound array.

His divine sense clearly felt the resistance, unable to penetrate the secrets hidden beneath the snow and ice of the holy mountain.

At the peak of the snow mountain, there were no towering palace buildings. Instead, it was very peaceful.

Zhong Liang Qi led Lu Chang An to a bamboo forest dwelling.

“Mr. Xu, I have long admired you from afar. I am finally able to meet you today.”

A Taoist with a clear and gaunt appearance, dressed in a snow-white Taoist robe, stood smiling in front of the dwelling, waiting for him.

At first glance, his complexion and aura seemed like that of a young man in his thirties, but his hair and eyebrows were all silver, giving him a sense of age and exhaustion.

The Taoist Master’s pitch-black pupils were larger than usual, like two drops of concentrated ink. As they slowly rotated, they resembled the black dots in the Yin-Yang symbol.

If he hadn’t become a Nascent Soul and hadn’t achieved fourth-stage divination before, facing this mysterious Taoist Master, who was adept at divination and destiny, Lu Chang An might have revealed some of his secrets.

At this moment, Lu Chang An was dressed in blue robes, looking elegant and refined, arriving alone at the other’s Daoist domain, appearing calm and unhurried.

“When I was cultivating in seclusion in the Feng Yuan Nation, I was fortunate enough to receive your care, Taoist Master. I have come today to pay my respects and fulfill my promise.”

Lu Chang An bowed and spoke earnestly, exchanging greetings with the Taoist Master.

Without the Taoist Master’s creation of favorable circumstances, Lu Chang An, with his abilities and divination skills at the time, would not have been able to trick and outmaneuver the Peacock Saintess, who was carrying a fourth-stage beast king.

Although the Taoist Master did this out of his own position, being wary of the Beast King Valley and harboring dissatisfaction towards the Peacock Saintess.

One hundred years ago, before Lu Chang An left the Feng Yuan Nation, the Taoist Master had calculated a future tribulation for him, and the two had made a private agreement.

After Lu Chang An left, the Taoist Master promised to conceal his destiny in the Feng Yuan Nation, protecting those involved.

The progress of the Green Wood True Jun’s pursuit of his target was relatively slow. The impact of the demon sect war was one factor, but the Taoist Master’s behind-the-scenes concealment of destiny was also crucial.

In the end, the Green Wood True Jun was ambushed by the Beast King Valley and the Wu Jian Men, two Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivators, on his way to the Feng Yuan Nation, suffering severe injuries and barely escaping with his life.

The Green Wood True Jun’s strength was comparable to that of a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator, so the Taoist Master naturally feared him, not daring to let this unwelcome killer god easily enter the Feng Yuan Nation.

The Green Wood True Jun’s final outcome was likely a tacit understanding between the Feng Yuan Nation and the Beast King Valley’s fourth-stage divination masters.

…

“Mr. Xu, please come to my humble abode to talk.”

The Taoist Master’s mysterious eyes scanned Lu Chang An, inviting him to enter the dwelling behind him.

Even on his own territory, facing Lu Chang An, the Taoist Master’s divination intuition was not at ease.

Perhaps it was because he couldn’t see through the other, or perhaps because this person possessed means to threaten him.

The dwelling, though small, had an interior space comparable to a Nascent Soul cultivator’s cave abode. Besides the main hall, it had pavilions, towers, and gardens, with flowing water, complete in every detail.

“This dwelling is actually an ancient cave abode, modified inside…”

Lu Chang An, with his discerning eyes, saw through the surface decorations, detecting the layout and materials of the cave abode.

“Where have you been these past few years, Mr. Xu? Why has your fate and destiny disappeared from the entire Eastern Region of Greater Qing?”

The Taoist Master dismissed his disciples and talked privately with Lu Chang An.

He knew Lu Chang An’s true identity, but during their indirect contact and interaction in the past, they had dealt with each other as “Mr. Xu.”

Lu Chang An’s arrival in the Feng Yuan Nation this time was clearly not meant to be high-profile, avoiding the attention of the demon sect forces.

“Xu has been cultivating in a secluded realm outside the Eastern Region, a place isolated from the world, so it’s normal that the Taoist Master can’t calculate me.”

Lu Chang An, being a fourth-stage divination master himself, was ready with a plausible excuse.

The Taoist Master knew that Lu Chang An was hiding something, but he didn’t continue asking.

“Daoist Friend Xu, you’ve arrived at the right time. The ‘Poison Dragon Pool’ of the Outer Sect Alliance has cultivated a miniature fourth-stage spirit vein on the oasis, capable of accommodating one Nascent Soul cultivator for cultivation. Although I have used divination and destiny to delay it for many years, I could not change the outcome. I had to allow the Nascent Soul elders from the Two Teachings Land to settle down outside the Eight Wild Cities.”

The Taoist Master’s expression became serious, getting to the point.

He had foreseen this matter a hundred years ago, which was why he had made friends with Lu Chang An, who was expected to become a Nascent Soul and whose background and connections were extraordinary.

“The Feng Yuan Nation is located in a vast, boundless desert. Outsiders coming here to cultivate the wasteland, promoting the shared prosperity of this land’s cultivation civilization, isn’t that completely a good thing?”

Lu Chang An smiled faintly, making a sarcastic remark.

How can someone sleep peacefully beside your bed?

The Snow Mountain Holy Land, which is located in this secluded desert oasis, stands above the rest, with its own rules. With the addition of external forces, there will inevitably be conflicts and changes in the situation.

“If it were that simple, I wouldn’t be so wary and intolerant.”

The Taoist Master smiled wryly and sighed.

“Those Nascent Soul elders from the Two Teachings Land, a few of them know the secrets of the Snow Mountain Holy Land. Their purpose is not to simply come and cultivate the wasteland, but to seize this Snow Peak treasure land beneath my feet. The Outer Sect Alliance is merely their bridgehead.”

“I see.”

Lu Chang An nodded slightly, having some speculation about the underlying causes and consequences.

Some Nascent Soul elders in the Two Teachings Land were unable to survive there, having lost their mountain range Daoist domains. Previously, two or three of them had set their sights on the Snow Mountain Holy Land in the Feng Yuan Nation.

The Outer Sect Alliance was located in the southeast region outside the Eight Wild Cities of the Feng Yuan Nation, bringing together a large number of external cultivators and forces.

In the early years, only a small number of cultivators from the nations under the protection of the Daoist Alliance were present. This number increased in recent one or two hundred years due to the demon sect wars.

However, the majority of the forces and cultivators in the Outer Sect Alliance still came from the Two Teachings Land. Behind them were migrations from forces in the Two Teachings Land, including even traitorous branches of the Five Poison Teachings and the Thousand Machine Teachings.

Wei Kui Shi was a prime example, a defector from the Thousand Machine Teachings. Wei Kui Shi had joined forces with others to establish the “Xuan Ji Lou” (玄机楼 – mysterious machine building) in the early years, representing the forces of the puppet way.

In the past, the Outer Sect Alliance did not have a fourth-stage spirit vein, so no Nascent Soul elders resided there permanently. They only provided support behind the scenes, planting a seed.

Now, the layout of the Nascent Soul elders from the Two Teachings Land has made a breakthrough.

As for why the Taoist Master didn’t stop the development of the Outer Sect Alliance.

In the past, the Eight Wild Cities, which were under the control of the Snow Mountain Holy Land, had also fought against the Outer Sect Alliance.

However, the Nascent Soul elders behind the Outer Sect Alliance were numerous, and the Taoist Master had no way to stop them, so he had to compromise.

The Taoist Master, sitting in the Snow Mountain Holy Land, could withstand a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator, and his strength was far superior to that of a Nascent Soul early-stage cultivator in the Eight Wild Cities region.

However, if he left the Feng Yuan Nation, abandoning his fourth-stage divination, his combat strength would only be enough to deal with one Nascent Soul elder.

Therefore, the Taoist Master had stayed in the Snow Mountain Holy Land for many years, staying in the Feng Yuan Nation and rarely leaving.

He was very safe in the Snow Mountain Holy Land. If he left the Feng Yuan Nation, especially if he took the initiative to attack, he would be at risk.

…

“What exactly about the Snow Mountain Holy Land attracts those Nascent Soul elders?”

Lu Chang An asked curiously.

“It wouldn’t hurt to tell you. This isn’t a top secret.”

The Taoist Master hesitated slightly before revealing the general reasons:

“This ancient Great Snow Mountain has nurtured a natural treasure within it, merging with the entire mountain, inseparable. Before the Middle Ages, the treasure nurtured in the snow mountain was refined by the ancestors into a secret treasure, combined with the natural formations, becoming the hub of an ancient grand array. It can control the weather and influence the improvement of the desert environment of the Feng Yuan Nation.”

“The successive Taoist Masters of the Great Snow Mountain have refined the secret treasure, controlling the natural formations and the ancient remnants of the grand array, wielding the power of heaven and earth. When facing external Nascent Soul cultivators attacking, they are invincible. However, this treasure land has also restricted the advancement of the successive head cultivators of the Snow Mountain. The Snow Mountain secret treasure is difficult to separate and take away, lacking the ability to expand outward.”

After listening, Lu Chang An pondered.

The Taoist Master must have concealed some information about the Snow Mountain secret treasure.

The Snow Mountain lineage has been so long-lasting, and its position in this secluded oasis is beyond reproach, unaffected by the external situation, surpassing those Nascent Soul sects.

After all, the head cultivators of the Snow Mountain over the past ten thousand years have all been surnamed Zhong.

How could other Nascent Soul forces achieve this?

Lu Chang An guessed that the person who refined the Snow Mountain secret treasure could receive the help of the Feng Yuan Nation’s cultivation civilization’s luck, making it easier for them to advance to the Nascent Soul stage.

However, this boundless desert, located in the most remote and barren land of Greater Qing, has a poor natural environment, with a lower upper limit than the Daoist Alliance.

Therefore, in recent ten thousand years, there has been no news of a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator born in the Feng Yuan Nation.

…

“Taoist Master Zhong, how do you intend for Xu to fulfill the promise from back then?”

Lu Chang An’s expression was calm and composed as he spoke.

“Currently, the Nascent Soul elders who haven’t given up on coveting my Snow Mountain treasure are mainly two sworn enemies. The rest are just temporary helpers, hired to create a show of force. They don’t have any intention of fighting to the death, so they’re not a worry.”

The Taoist Master sighed deeply, his deep gaze fixed on the direction of the Two Teachings Land.

“One of them is called ‘Wan Lao Gui’ (万老怪 – Ten Thousand Old Monster). He’s a Nascent Soul cultivator from a ruined sect in the Two Teachings Land, skilled in divination, with skills reaching the third stage upper grade. He’s also a puppet master, possessing a heritage-reduced quasi-fourth-stage puppet.”

Hearing “Wan Lao Gui”, Lu Chang An received a message from Wei Kui Shi’s transmission.

It turned out that the Nascent Soul elder behind the Xuan Ji Lou, a puppet force in the ancient Tian Tian Fairy City, was none other than Wan Lao Gui.

“The other is called ‘Shen Yao Shi’ (沈药师 – Shen Pharmacist). He’s a skilled medical practitioner, but he’s also a fourth-stage poison master. He’s also known as ‘Shen Lao Xie’ (沈老邪 – Shen Old Evil) in the Two Teachings Land. He possesses a poisonous dragon, bred through secret techniques, with a strength roughly equivalent to a fourth-stage beast king from the Beast King Valley. This Shen Lao Xie is more dangerous than Wan Lao Gui, possessing a fourth-stage strange poison.”

After understanding the enemy’s situation, Lu Chang An had a good grasp of things.

Wan Lao Gui and Shen Lao Xie were stronger than ordinary Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators, no wonder they were giving the Taoist Master a headache.

“Taoist Master Zhong, do you plan to join forces with Xu to deal with these two?”

Lu Chang An’s expression was relaxed as he smiled.

Two against two, no pressure.

“No! I’ll stay here in the Snow Mountain Holy Land, providing divination and luck for True Jun Xu, and providing some funding and compensation.”

The Taoist Master said he would not go out to fight.

Lu Chang An’s smile froze, his lips twitching.

“Taoist Master Zhong, you’re not joking? You want Xu to deal with two True Jun for a promise from back then? Xu is a newly promoted Nascent Soul, with weak magical power.”

The Taoist Master was unfazed, smiling lightly.

“Daoist Friend Xu, you dared to come to the Snow Mountain Holy Land alone. You must have the means to protect yourself even against a Nascent Soul mid-stage cultivator.”

“Moreover, I don’t need you to kill those two old monsters. You only need to slay or severely injure one of their physical bodies and destroy the newly cultivated miniature fourth-stage spirit vein in the ‘Poison Dragon Pool’. Without a fourth-stage spirit vein, the Outer Sect Alliance won’t be a threat to the Feng Yuan Nation. Give it another one or two hundred years, and those two old fellows will be in their twilight years, with not much life left, losing their motivation, and they’ll naturally give up.”

After learning about the task, Lu Chang An’s expression eased slightly.

The Taoist Master didn’t ask him to risk his life and he didn’t insist on killing the Nascent Soul elders.

The Taoist Master’s decision not to participate was probably because he was worried that someone would steal his home while he was away from the Feng Yuan Nation.

If he was delayed outside for a long time, and other Nascent Soul elders invaded the Snow Mountain Holy Land, given enough time, they could refine the [Snow Mountain Secret Treasure], controlling the weather in the Feng Yuan Nation and turning the tables.

Even if the probability was low, the Taoist Master didn’t need to take such a risk.

“Severely injuring one is not difficult. But it must be ensured that one of the old monsters is alone.”

Lu Chang An pondered, pointing out a difficulty:

“A fourth-stage spirit vein is indestructible. Without great supernatural powers, it cannot be destroyed in a short time. Moreover, intentionally destroying a heaven and earth spirit vein is harmful to one’s own luck.”

Spirit veins are nurtured by the power of heaven and earth and are related to the luck of a realm.

The higher the level of the spirit vein, the more difficult it is to destroy, and the greater the karmic retribution for destroying it.

For example, a Jie Dan cultivator who wants to destroy the main vein of a fourth-stage spirit vein would be like scraping a surface.

If heaven and earth spirit veins were so easily destroyed, without any consequences, the cultivation civilization传承 (transmission) of the Heaven Heng Human Realm would have long been cut off.

Perhaps even the legendary Heavenly Ancestor Spirit Vein would have been blown up.

In ancient times, a great being had thoughts of destroying the world. However, during the implementation process, before he could find the Heavenly Ancestor Spirit Vein, he only destroyed a few fourth or fifth-stage spirit veins and was met with karmic retribution. He was plagued by misfortune, being hit by meteorites falling from the sky while walking, inexplicably making enemies everywhere, and eventually being killed by a group of people.

“There’s no need to truly destroy it. Just split and downgrade the spirit vein. As long as Mr. Xu can severely injure or kill one Nascent Soul elder, you’ll have enough time to do this. The Great Snow Mountain can also provide array masters.”

“Those two Nascent Soul elders don’t always stay in the Outer Sect Alliance. Sometimes, only one of them sits in charge. I can work with Mr. Xu to use divination to calculate the time when one is alone.”

The Taoist Master finished, flipping his hand to bring out two fourth-stage spirit talismans and two bottles of fourth-stage spirit pills, providing material support.

“After the matter is settled, you can choose items from the Snow Mountain’s treasure vault as compensation, within a certain value. The better the result of the commission, the greater the compensation afterwards. For example, if you completely kill one Nascent Soul elder, the agreed compensation will be doubled.”

“Very well, Xu will act alone.”

After bargaining, Lu Chang An agreed on a suitable compensation range.

He secretly thought, “It’s good that this old dog isn’t going. It saves me from being affected by his strength.”

Acting alone, he could also enjoy the spoils of war.

…

Half a day later.

Lu Chang An discussed with the Taoist Master and obtained detailed information about the target.

They worked together and performed divination.

“Our luck isn’t very good. Shen Lao Xie from the Poison Dragon Pool has been sitting in charge for the past few years. He’s more difficult to deal with. That Wan Lao Gui is on the move, traveling back and forth between the ancient Tian Tian Fairy City and the Two Teachings Land frequently.”

“Should we manipulate fate a bit? I can create a better opportunity for you to strike in three to five years at most.”

Taoist Master’s white eyebrows furrowed slightly as he suggested.

“No need! At most, it’s two Nascent Soul early-stage cultivators, and they don’t live together.”

Lu Chang An shook his head.

He didn’t want to stay in the Feng Yuan Nation for too long, avoiding being noticed by the Six Demon Sects.

That evening, Lu Chang An quietly left the Snow Mountain Holy Land.

On the way, he changed identities again, receiving the Taoist Master’s protection of fate and destiny, and traveled smoothly, with no one noticing his whereabouts.

…

A few days later.

Lu Chang An flew out of the Eight Wild Cities region of the Feng Yuan Nation, entering the territory of the Outer Sect Alliance.

When he was cultivating in seclusion in the Feng Yuan Nation, he spent most of his time in the Outer Sect Alliance.

The River Source Oasis, where he had once stayed, and even the Grass Fragrance Oasis, where the Xuan Yin Pavilion was located, were all part of the Outer Sect Alliance’s territory.

The River Source Oasis was closer, and Lu Chang An deliberately passed by there.

The Li Huo Upper Person of the fourth life had arranged his descendants, including his Dao Companion, in the River Source Oasis.

Lu Chang An had encountered Grandma Yun and the Yun siblings in this place in his early years, obtaining a cultivation Daoist domain through this lineage of Li Huo Upper Person.

“Yun’s Twin Stars? The legendary Jie Dan siblings…”

Lu Chang An’s divine sense slowly swept across the River Source Oasis, learning about the situation there.

The descendants of Li Huo Upper Person had taken root in the River Source Oasis, developing a Yun clan, becoming the dominant cultivation family in the oasis, controlling a trading firm.

Yun Hao and Yun Ling, the siblings, had both formed their True Dans, becoming the legendary Jie Dan siblings known far and wide.

Yun Ling forming her True Dan was within Lu Chang An’s expectations.

Before leaving, he had left her with a top-grade Jie Dan spirit object. As the reincarnation of Guan Qiaozhi, she was favored and cultivated by Yun Yan, Li Huo Upper Person’s Dao Companion.

It was said that the Yun siblings had cultivated a joint attack secret technique, making them extremely powerful in combat.

Over the decades, Yun’s Twin Stars had slain numerous high-level sand beasts in the surrounding areas and eradicated several sand bandit forces in the Feng Yuan Nation, leaving behind a legendary tale.

(End of Chapter)

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