I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 433

## Chapter 428: Ties Resolved, Ten Years Fleeting

Several days later.

The news of Chang Qing Zhen Jun’s return to Jin Yun Valley spread throughout Liang Guo’s cultivation world, including the remote Wu Ye City.

On this day, two streams of light belonging to two cultivators who had achieved Jie Dan (Condensation Stage) approached Jin Yun Valley.

“Xiao Chuan, pride can’t fill your stomach. Be respectful when you see your Uncle Lu later. Chang Qing Zhen Jun keeps his promises and is usually good to his descendants and juniors.”

The middle-aged man, with slightly graying temples, wore a wide purple robe with intricate patterns. He spoke to the young man beside him with a heavy voice, full of advice.

The Dan (Pill) force emanating from his late-stage Jie Dan cultivation level revealed his identity as the first hermit cultivator in Liang Guo, “Wu Ye Zhen Ren” (Nightless Real Person).

The young man flying alongside Jiang Ye Chen was dressed in a light blue long robe. He had a fair complexion and a refined demeanor.

“Who was it who said ‘even if he ascends to Nascent Soul (Nascent Soul), we don’t have to fawn over him’? Now, Father is being so formal.”

Shi Xiao Chuan responded indifferently.

“You scoundrel! Weren’t you the one who strongly agreed with my words back then? You even said ‘a proud spirit doesn’t bend its neck!'”

Jiang Ye Chen, his face reddening with anger, scolded him.

“Whether we come to Jin Yun Valley or not, Xiao Chuan will follow Father.”

Shi Xiao Chuan shrugged, nonchalantly.

“If we don’t come, we’ll simply disband Wu Ye City. If I see Lu Zhen Jun, I will be respectful and polite, but I won’t beg him for anything.”

“Alright! Just don’t scowl when Father speaks later.”

Jiang Ye Chen sighed.

Due to his upbringing, Shi Xiao Chuan resembled him in certain ways. Coupled with his outstanding talent, he inevitably held some pride.

Under the influence of his subconscious thoughts, Shi Xiao Chuan didn’t have a good impression of the former Chang Qing Zhen Ren.

From Shi Xiao Chuan’s perspective, Chang Qing Zhen Ren had abandoned his elderly adoptive mother, Shi Man Rong, in his early years. He then sought new pleasures, showing favoritism and fickleness.

Recently, he had heard that Chang Qing Zhen Jun’s concubine, Xia Xian Zi, had successfully achieved Nascent Soul. Jiang Ye Chen couldn’t hold back any longer.

He changed his mind and decided to take Shi Xiao Chuan to pay a visit to Lu Chang An.

…

Upon reaching Jin Yun Valley, the disciples guarding the mountain didn’t dare to neglect their duty and immediately reported the news.

Soon, a decree came from Chang Qing Peak’s Daoist Hall, stating that Lu Zhen Jun would receive the two of them.

Jiang Ye Chen breathed a sigh of relief.

In the past, he hadn’t come to see Chang Qing Zhen Jun because of his so-called pride, his unwillingness to rely on others, and also because he feared that the other party would be too busy and indifferent after his rise to power, making his visit pointless.

Under the guidance of a sect cultivator, the father and son entered the heart of Jin Yun Valley.

Shi Xiao Chuan put away his casual expression and felt an inexplicable tension. It wasn’t as relaxed as he had expected.

The personal reception of a Nascent Soul Zhen Jun was also a first in Shi Xiao Chuan’s cultivation career.

They stepped into a side hall in the Daoist Hall mansion.

They saw Chang Qing Zhen Jun, sitting quietly, his familiar figure in a white robe.

“Jiang Ye Chen of Wu Ye City, greets Lu Zhen Jun.”

“Junior Shi Xiao Chuan, greets Uncle Lu.”

Jiang Ye Chen and Shi Xiao Chuan bowed together.

Seeing Lu Chang An again, who remained youthful and unchanged in appearance despite the passage of hundreds of years, Jiang Ye Chen felt a mix of emotions.

Those cultivators of the same era, whether old friends or enemies, had all turned to dust.

Nine out of ten Zhen Dan cultivators had died from old age.

Lu Chang An was the only one among the people he knew who had ascended to Nascent Soul.

Shi Xiao Chuan was slightly stunned. He had seen Chang Qing Zhen Ren once when he was young, accompanying his adoptive mother.

The image of the man from a hundred years ago almost perfectly overlapped with the one in front of him, except for the added touch of maturity and depth that came with time.

At that moment, he suddenly understood the experience and feelings of his adoptive mother. He understood why she and Lu Chang An had naturally parted ways, without resentment or animosity.

For the long life of Chang Qing Zhen Jun, his mother, Shi Man Rong, was just a passerby in a certain period. Shi Man Rong had understood this long ago. She was content with the beautiful time they had shared and never desired a title or a final outcome.

“Jiang Dao You, don’t be so formal. There are very few people left in Liang Guo that I know, from my past.”

Lu Chang An showed a wistful look and gestured for them to sit.

In the hall, Lu Chang An reminisced with Jiang Ye Chen, his tone casual, without putting on any airs.

Shi Xiao Chuan listened quietly from the side. When the conversation turned to him, he responded respectfully.

“For Xiao Chuan’s age, achieving the level of a third-order, medium-grade Array Master is not easy. However, the cultivation path is paramount, and you need to know the order of priorities.”

Lu Chang An only gave a brief commentary.

As for specific cultivation, Jiang Ye Chen, who had achieved late-stage Jie Dan, would provide guidance and instruction.

Shi Xiao Chuan had an Upper Grade Spiritual Root and his cultivation had reached the peak of the early Jie Dan stage.

To ordinary people, he was a rare genius, but from Lu Chang An’s perspective, he was only average.

The quality of his condensed Zhen Dan was middling, also unremarkable.

With such a foundation, his hope of reaching Nascent Soul was slim. In a major sect, he wouldn’t even be considered a backup candidate for the position of a Nascent Soul seed.

Due to devoting part of his energy to studying formations, Shi Xiao Chuan’s chances of reaching late-stage Jie Dan were also slim.

Jiang Ye Chen also had an Upper Grade Spiritual Root. His ability to reach late-stage Jie Dan was due to his past bravery in battle, as well as some fortuitous encounters.

An hour later.

Lu Chang An rose to see them off.

Before they left, he bestowed upon Shi Xiao Chuan some gifts.

Apart from a late-stage Jie Dan breakthrough pill, defensive talismans and puppets, there was also a set of fourth-order formation inheritance.

This set of formation inheritance partially originated from Da Yuan, differing from the schools in Da Qing. It should help Shi Xiao Chuan’s formation attainment.

Lu Chang An’s talent for formations was better than his talent for pill refining. It was inferior to his talent for talismans and puppet refining.

However, he had less time to dedicate to learning new cultivation techniques in recent years.

Shi Xiao Chuan was different. He had better talent, and with his slim chances of reaching Nascent Soul, he would have more time to study formations. He might have the potential to become a fourth-order Array Master.

…

Under the astonished gazes of Jin Yun Valley cultivators, Jiang Ye Chen and his son embarked on their return journey.

“Father, why didn’t we ask for Lu Zhen Jun’s help with the trouble in Wu Ye City before? If the previous promise could only be used once, Xiao Chuan would rather…”

Shi Xiao Chuan opened the brocade box containing Lu Zhen Jun’s gifts and, after scanning them with his spiritual sense, couldn’t help but feel a weight on his heart. He swallowed the rest of his words.

During their previous conversation, Jiang Ye Chen had not explicitly mentioned the difficulties faced by Wu Ye City.

In the early days, Wu Ye Town was built by Jiang Ye Chen and Shi Man Rong with painstaking effort. Over the past hundred years, they had worked hard together to build it up, and it had been hard-earned.

Shi Xiao Chuan had grown up there since he was a child, so he was actually more reluctant to part with it. He wasn’t as relaxed as he had previously said.

“In the cultivation world, cultivation and strength are the fundamental prerequisites for everything. Under the condition of only having one promise, Lu Zhen Jun’s cultivation guidance is more important for you.”

Jiang Ye Chen stroked his beard and smiled, having his own plans:

“If the information is correct, we stayed with Lu Zhen Jun for the longest time among all the descendants and juniors he received, a full hour.”

“An hour?”

Shi Xiao Chuan pondered and admired his father’s wisdom. He had used one promise for two favors.

Sure enough.

Several days after Jiang Ye Chen and his son returned, the situation in Wu Ye City turned around.

The high-level cultivators from the sect who had been sent to investigate left the city one after another.

The various forces in the Jin Yang Sect camp who had been trying to seize the interests of Wu Ye City all fell silent and stopped their probing actions.

Many observing large trading companies and large families took the initiative to seek a meeting, intending to discuss major collaborations with Wu Ye City, demonstrating their sincerity.

Wu Ye City not only resolved its crisis but also welcomed better development opportunities.

“Father was right, pride can’t fill your stomach.”

After that meeting, Shi Xiao Chuan had let go of his prejudices. After this experience, he felt a mixture of emotions in his heart.

…

Several months later.

The impact of Lu Chang An’s return to Liang Guo’s cultivation world on the situation exceeded the expectations of Jiang Ye Chen and his son.

A few days ago, representatives of the two major Nascent Soul sects in Liang Guo held a meeting to negotiate.

The power structure of Liang Guo’s cultivation world was reorganized.

Previously, Jin Yun Valley, as a newly established Nascent Soul force, lacked a foundation and had only one Nascent Soul Zhen Jun, controlling one-third of Liang Guo’s territory.

With the addition of Lu Chang An, Jin Yun Valley was essentially equivalent to a sect with three Nascent Soul battle strengths, making such a power distribution somewhat inappropriate.

In the cultivation world, the right to speak is always measured by strength.

After Lu Chang An supported his concubine in achieving Nascent Soul, Jin Yang Zong finally agreed to make concessions.

The Wei Dao League intervened to mediate the matter.

From now on, Jin Yang Zong and Jin Yun Valley would each occupy half of Liang Guo’s territory and power.

Due to geographical factors, Wu Ye City remained within the territory controlled by Jin Yang Zong.

As the “losing” party, Jin Yang Zong received compensation for some resources during the negotiation. Furthermore, the half of the territory they controlled had better resources and spiritual veins.

This outcome exceeded Zhang Tie Shan’s expectations. Besides the resource compensation, he was also promised several interventions by a fourth-order Artifact Refinement Master.

Jin Yun Valley, behind the restricted area.

Lu Chang An and Zhang Tian Feng raised their cups and drank, savoring every sip; reminiscing about their past years of hardship and seeing their present mastery of the world’s affairs.

Hundreds of years ago, when they first entered the cultivation world, they were just small cultivators in the Qi Refinement stage, standing as mere pawns.

Who would have thought they would one day be the masters of the cultivation world’s winds and waves?

In the end, both men, slightly drunk, couldn’t help but feel a sense of loneliness.

Looking back on their past, the friends and lovers they had known in their era had long turned to dust. Only they stood at the peak.

…

When Lu Chang An and Zhang Tie Shan were clinking their cups and inviting the moon to join them.

From the direction of Feng Yuan Guo, a third-order Qing Zhou (Green Boat) sailed through the endless desert, riding the wind and clouds, entering Liang Guo’s cultivation world.

On board the third-order flying boat were a man and a woman, both exuding Jie Dan aura, making others avoid their gaze.

“Brother, thank you for accompanying your little sister on this long journey to the Wei Dao League in Liang Guo.”

The clear voice of the woman came from the flying boat. She was a Jie Dan female cultivator dressed in a light green, classical fairy dress, with star-like eyes and a dazzling smile. Only a piece of white gauze concealed her beautiful face as the “Yun Meng Xian Zi” (Cloud Dream Fairy).

“No problem! It’s like a new cultivation experience for us siblings to travel across the wilderness together. Besides, this trip to the Wei Dao League will allow us to purchase a lot of resources and learn about the situation of the demon war.”

The man on the flying boat was about thirty years old, wearing a straight-sleeved blue robe. He stood tall and straight like a pine tree, with an aura of heroism in his brows and eyes.

This pair of siblings, of course, were Yun Hao and Yun Meng, the famous Yun siblings of Feng Yuan Guo.

After entering Liang Guo, they changed their identities and appearances using secret techniques.

Using the cultivation level of Qi Refinement cultivators, they entered the northern part of Liang Guo, passing through the Black Blood Road, the gap in the Black Mist Mountain Range.

Several days later, they reached Wu Qi Shan.

Looking at the undulating mountains shrouded in mist, they were not high or dangerous.

Yun Meng felt a sense of déjà vu, a familiar feeling surging through her.

After achieving Jie Dan, she had changed her Daoist title and name because she had been having strange dreams.

The most familiar thing in her dreams was a spirit turtle and a gentle man in a white robe. They made her feel exceptionally close.

After careful consideration, Yun Meng didn’t believe it was due to wishful thinking.

The Xu Xian Sheng (Mr. Xu), before disappearing, had interacted with her in a familiar way, dressed in white and accompanied by a spirit turtle.

After achieving Jie Dan, more similar scene fragments appeared in her dreams. Yun Meng realized that those were hints from Xu Xian Sheng before his departure.

Three years ago, Yun Meng heard about the major changes in the situation of the Outer Sect Alliance and the legends about the mysterious Green Dragon Society. She went to Xuan Yin Pavilion (Mysterious Sound Pavilion) to inquire.

Xu Xian Sheng left a message for her, suggesting that she could visit Xiao Gui Feng (Small Turtle Peak) on Wu Qi Shan if she had the time.

At night.

With their cultivation levels, it was easy for them to sneak into Xiao Gui Feng.

Now, Xiao Gui Feng was the ancestral home of the “Qi Family,” a cultivation family, and the headquarters of the Long Wei Biao Wei Ju (Long Wei Escort Agency).

Over two hundred years of change, the layout of Xiao Gui Feng had undergone significant changes. However, the old pond at the top of the mountain was still there, used to wash and refine magic weapons and weapons, according to ancestral instructions.

Yun Meng stood in front of the pond, feeling a sense of déjà vu again. Several vague memory fragments from her dreams suddenly became clear.

Many years ago, a young girl stood barefoot on the back of a Xuan Shui Gui (Dark Water Turtle), playing in the water.

“The Tomb of Shi Mu (Maternal Teacher) Guan Qiao Zhi.”

On a mountaintop, Yun Meng found a tomb with a superior position. The writing on the tombstone caught her attention, making her feel a sense of déjà vu again.

“Guan Qiao Zhi…”

Yun Meng repeated the name silently, closed her eyes, and more familiar images and scene fragments appeared in her spiritual sea.

Yun Hao, who accompanied her along the way, couldn’t help but ponder, not bothering to interrupt.

After a long time, Yun Meng opened her eyes and revealed a hint of understanding.

The next day, after inquiring.

The Yun siblings learned that Xiao Gui Feng was the former residence of the legendary Nascent Soul cultivator in Liang Guo, “Chang Qing Zhen Jun.”

Chang Qing Zhen Jun had a Xuan Shui Gui with Earth Grade bloodline, so he named this peak “Xiao Gui Feng” in his early years.

In recent years, rumors and stories about Chang Qing Zhen Jun had been circulating widely in Liang Guo’s cultivation world.

It was said that Chang Qing Zhen Jun had not forgotten his old debts and helped his concubine, Xia Xian Zi, achieve Nascent Soul, causing quite a stir.

“Xia Xian Zi… Xuan Bing Zhen Jun… concubine?”

Yun Meng found out that after Xia Xian Zi achieved Nascent Soul, she had not been made his wife.

Who was the position of wife reserved for?

Yun Meng Xian Zi knew that it wouldn’t be her.

According to the memory scenes in her dreams, she was only a concubine. Besides serving her master, she fed and accompanied the water turtle, watching it grow up little by little.

Of course, the memories that Yun Meng had gained now were mostly scene fragments. They had a sense of detachment, as if experienced in a dream. She hadn’t truly awakened her previous life.

The former cultivation site at Xiao Gui Feng, where she had spent the most time, had awakened more images and details from her dreams due to the stimulation of seeing it again.

…

Half a month later.

The Yun siblings arrived at Jin Yun Valley and presented a greeting card to Chang Qing Zhen Jun, introducing themselves as Jie Dan cultivators.

They were informed that Chang Qing Zhen Jun was in seclusion and not receiving guests.

Outside the mountain gate, Yun Meng waited for half a month and didn’t receive any response.

She felt somewhat disheartened and left with her brother, Yun Hao.

“Xu Xian Sheng took a concubine and also has a Nascent Soul fairy as his companion…”

Before setting out, Yun Meng knew that she couldn’t have any expectations or aspirations.

A hundred years ago, before leaving, Xu Xian Sheng had refined a Ning Jing Dan (Condensation Crystal Pill) for her and her brother, and also left her a top-grade Jie Dan spiritual object.

Xu Xian Sheng had not only not wronged her but had even shown her kindness.

Leaving Jin Yun Valley, two days later, they passed by a lake.

Splash!

The waves surged in the lake, and the clouds gathered in the sky, unleashing a heavy rain.

Under the curtain of water, a massive, dark green Xuan Shui Gui emerged from the lake.

“Big Turtle, is that you?”

Yun Meng looked at the giant turtle as it swam towards her affectionately, letting her sit on its back and play. It all felt so natural.

Laughter like silver bells soon echoed through the rain-filled lake.

Yun Meng Xian Zi seemed to return to her childhood, her hair damp, her long dress soaked by the water, outlining her full curves.

“Is that really the same water turtle?”

Yun Hao opened his mouth slightly, sensing the faint spiritual pressure emanating from the Xuan Shui Gui. It was even more threatening than the late-stage Jie Dan cultivators he had encountered.

Even if they combined forces, they might not be able to defeat it.

At some point, a half-妖鼠人 (妖-beast rat person) wearing a robe sat by the lake, yawned, and smiled at the Yun siblings.

“Transformed 妖王 (妖-beast King)!”

Yun Hao’s body stiffened, his heart trembled, unable to detect the other party’s spiritual power.

After spending half a day together, the heavy rain in the sky gradually stopped.

Yun Meng understood and said goodbye to the Xuan Shui Gui with reluctance.

“This is a gift from the master.”

Di Yan Jun (Earth Rock Lord) stepped forward and handed a storage bag to Yun Meng Xian Zi.

“Thank you for the gift, Zhen Jun.”

Yun Meng Xian Zi didn’t refuse. She bowed gracefully in the direction of Jin Yun Valley.

She didn’t ask why Lu Zhen Jun hadn’t received her.

This journey had resolved the mysteries in Yun Meng Xian Zi’s heart and had achieved its purpose.

Although she knew the truth, she hadn’t truly awakened her previous life. Her past was like a dream. This life was reality.

Yun Meng Xian Zi returned to the Outer Sect Alliance in Feng Yuan Guo with her brother.

This journey gave her many insights into her cultivation and talisman techniques, and she needed time to process them.

…

Jin Yun Valley, Chang Qing Peak Daoist Hall.

Lu Chang An sat in closed cultivation, his mind inexplicably lightened.

After returning to Da Qing for so many years, he had settled all the karmic ties from his past.

He had intentionally not met the Yun siblings to avoid unnecessary trouble, preventing them from attracting attention from the demon sect’s internal spies.

Lu Chang An had deliberately hinted to Xiao Qing Shan (Xiao Qing Mountain). He had not done the same with Yun Meng Xian Zi, allowing her to develop naturally, making it a good comparison.

For many years after that, the Wei Dao League and the Beast King Valley faced each other in a prepared standoff, without engaging in a cultivation war.

The Wei Dao League considered it training, reorganizing internally.

The Beast King Valley camp had been quiet since Di Yan Jun removed several internal spies.

During this period of balanced standoff, Lu Chang An focused primarily on cultivation and secret cultivation techniques.

Except for occasionally visiting Feng Guo (Feng Country) to secretly meet with Xia Xian Zi and practice the “Dragon Phoenix Double Cauldron Technique.” As they became more proficient in the Double Cauldron Technique, its effects became more lasting, so a monthly visit was enough.

Under his intentional concealment as a fourth-order Divination Master, others didn’t know his exact whereabouts.

…

Time flew by, ten years passed.

Chang Qing Peak’s cave mansion, the secret room.

On this day, Lu Chang An opened his eyes, and the mysterious Daoist patterns in his dark, deep pupils flickered for a moment.

“The ‘Thousand Mechanism Derived Divine Technique’ has reached the sixth level, slightly enhancing my Nascent Soul stage spiritual sense.”

A spiritual sense, almost at the mid-Nascent Soul stage, floated in the secret room.

At this moment, Lu Chang An hadn’t allowed his fourth life to arrive.

Sizzle!

An invisible, thorn-like spike, shaped like a long nail, pierced through a third-order spirit plant in the secret room. The plant’s vitality instantly withered.

The ‘Thousand Mechanism Derived Divine Technique’ had many uses for spiritual sense power, including various puppet control techniques and soul-killing secret techniques.

After ten years of hard cultivation, Lu Chang An had made progress in the cultivation of several of his secret cultivation techniques. For example, the “Deadwood Divine Light” had improved considerably.

His fourth-order level of talisman and puppet refining techniques had become completely stable and were no longer at the beginner stage.

Lu Chang An took some time to draw a batch of fourth-order spirit talismans to deal with various situations. Some fourth-order spirit wood talisman blanks were suitable for nurturing and enhancing.

“If the ‘Thousand Mechanism Derived Divine Technique’ reaches the seventh level, and my fourth life arrives, my spiritual sense power will likely surpass most mid-Nascent Soul cultivators and approach that of a high-level Nascent Soul cultivator. At that point, I will be able to dominate the Eastern Region, and the threat to Qing Mu Zhen Jun will be enormous.”

“Unfortunately, the situation doesn’t allow for it.”

Lu Chang An sighed, looking towards the Seven Nation Alliance. The battle situation over there was a bit chaotic.

Not only that.

In recent years, the Chang Qing Nascent Soul within him had a distant sense, also originating from the direction of the Seven Nation Alliance.

(End of Chapter)

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