I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals 443

## Chapter 437: Shaking the Eastern Regions, On the Eve of the Decisive Battle

When Lu Changan returned to the frontline stronghold, the demonic army led by Elder Fang had already retreated in an orderly manner for tens of miles.

Apparently, Elder Fang had received intelligence about Yuanliu City and dared not linger any longer.

“Elder Lu, I have not failed my mission.”

Several Jindan cultivators responsible for guarding the city came to report, returning the previous puppets to Lu Changan.

Having lost the Fourth-Rank Beast King, the demonic army led by a single Nascent Soul cultivator was unable to break through the frontline stronghold in a short time.

“You’ve done well. I will recommend you for a commendation.”

Lu Changan collected the slightly damaged puppets, not minding them, and asked with a smile,

“How effective were the puppets in defending the city?”

“Reporting to Elder Lu, the Third-Rank puppets are very useful for defending the city. Although they consume a lot of Spirit Stones, they can effectively reduce casualties.”

“Unfortunately, these high-rank puppets are too rare, and they’re in high demand and short supply during wartime.”

The Jindan cultivators were satisfied with the effectiveness of the Third-Rank puppets.

Those who weren’t puppet masters couldn’t fully utilize the puppets’ potential, especially in high-mobility and complex battles.

However, it was different in defensive battles. The puppets’ materials were sturdy, they didn’t fear anything, and they could reduce casualties among the Righteous Path Alliance cultivators.

“I will ask Alliance Leader Chu to try to purchase more Second-Rank and Third-Rank puppets from the territory of the Two Sects.”

Lu Changan nodded and smiled, laying the groundwork.

During wartime, the price of all kinds of war supplies would increase dramatically, such as puppets, talismans, and magical artifacts.

Lu Changan planned to refine a large batch of Second-Rank and Third-Rank puppets or talismans and secretly trade them with Alliance Leader Chu in exchange for battlefield merits.

Among them, refining puppets took more time, but with the help of Master Wei, he could handle most of the crafting process.

Lu Changan only needed to handle the core components, requiring genuine puppet master skills to manipulate the puppet’s soul power.

In this way, Lu Changan could make a fortune from the war, solidify his cultivation techniques, and reduce the casualties of the Righteous Path Alliance cultivators.

It was truly a win-win situation.

At the Nascent Soul stage, displaying two Third-Rank techniques was considered relatively normal.

The real challenge was breaking through to Fourth-Rank techniques.

Lu Changan possessed three Fourth-Rank techniques, making refining Second-Rank and Third-Rank puppets and talismans effortless and efficient.

…

Tens of miles away, in the clouds, Elder Fang’s Nascent Soul power spread out, preventing Lu Changan from the stronghold, along with Earth Rock Jun, from pursuing him.

Fortunately, Lu Changan didn’t do so.

Elder Fang didn’t regret the decision to let Lu Changan go.

The bad news from the Yuanliu City battle had further raised his estimation of Lu Changan’s strength.

It was unnecessary to make a major enemy of such a troublesome person.

The force that would rule this territory in the future was the Beast King Valley, not the Nether Spring Sect.

As reinforcements, he had no direct interest connection with Lu Changan and the Righteous Path Alliance.

Lu Changan remained expressionless, watching Elder Fang lead the demonic army away.

“It’s not advisable to attack Elder Fang now, because regardless of the outcome, it could attract the attention of the Demon Sect leader, ‘Nether River Demon King’.”

Lu Changan also had reservations about Elder Fang.

As the disciple of the Demon Sect’s first leader, a suspected reincarnation, he must have extraordinary means of self-preservation.

According to the available information and divination calculations, the Nether Spring Sect’s Grand Elder was one of the biggest threats to him in the Eastern Regions.

It was rumored that during the retreat of the Demon Sect in the Central Regions, Nether River Demon King used his sect’s treasure and his Second Nascent Soul to contain and resist the Nascent Soul grand cultivator for a considerable amount of time.

…

Back in his cave in the city, Lu Changan set up formations and multiple restrictions before taking out the sealed jade box containing Black Feather True君’s Nascent Soul.

The baby-like black-robed man was weak and powerless, deeply poisoned, covered in frost, and sealed by restriction talismans.

“Lu Turtle! I am unfortunate to have fallen into your hands, and I will never reveal any information!”

Black Feather True君’s Nascent Soul gritted his teeth and spoke forcefully, struggling against Lu Changan’s grasp.

He still had the option to shatter his soul at this moment.

However, his complete Nascent Soul spirit body was far from a dead end and had several chances for survival.

For example, if the situation of the Demon Sect war reversed in the future, the Beast King Valley might redeem him.

The Righteous Path Alliance had captured a Demon Sect Nascent Soul for the first time, and they might use him as a bargaining chip.

Or, if Lu Changan fell in the Demon Sect war in the future, he might be rescued, not impossible.

“Heh.”

Lu Changan didn’t bother with any nonsense. He tightly gripped Black Feather True君’s weakened Nascent Soul and contacted the [Nine Seal Monument] in his mind.

Buzz!

The mysterious ancient monument emitted a hazy white light that, along Lu Changan’s conscious arm, enveloped and rolled up Black Feather’s Nascent Soul.

“No! This is—”

Black Feather True君’s Nascent Soul felt an immense terror and cried out in shock, being sucked into the Nine Seal Monument by the irresistible power of the reincarnation rules, instantly turning into particles.

“Eighty-five percent!”

In the last moment before his consciousness vanished, Black Feather True君 faintly heard Lu Changan’s murmured words.

Lu Changan’s consciousness entered the [Nine Seal Monument].

Within the fifth reincarnation frame, the illuminated area had indeed increased by ten percent.

Now, only fifteen percent remained to fully illuminate the fifth reincarnation.

The fifth reincarnation of the Nine Seal Monument corresponded to the Nascent Soul stage.

Devouring a Nascent Soul Heavenly君 or ten Nascent Soul spirit bodies would fully illuminate it.

Lu Changan was filled with anticipation. After devouring the first Nascent Soul spirit body, “离火上人,” he had unlocked the basic functions of the Nine Seal Monument, three autonomous abilities of reincarnation.

If he illuminated the fifth reincarnation, would he gain new abilities?

…

Over the next few days, Lu Changan began to sort through Black Feather True君’s vast and fragmented memories.

In Black Feather True君’s sea of consciousness, the core heritage secrets of the Beast King Valley were protected by restrictions. Without a higher level of cultivation, it was difficult to retrieve them through soul search.

However, after being devoured by the Nine Seal Monument, all kinds of cultivation inheritance, sect secrets, and everything else would be revealed.

It would just take time to sort through the massive fragments of memories.

Because he hadn’t unlocked the method to transform the reincarnation, Lu Changan could only read the memories as a third party.

Therefore, unlike离火上人, he couldn’t fully illuminate the fourth reincarnation, transforming it into his own reincarnation past, inheriting the other’s cultivation techniques, magical powers, and various cultivation skills.

Even so, the knowledge Lu Changan gained from the memories was invaluable.

First, there was a set of beast-taming inheritance from the Beast King Valley, including some secret teachings.

Lu Changan wouldn’t switch to the beast-taming school, but this knowledge would help him better cultivate Xuan Shui Gui and Earth Rock Jun, training their skills and talents.

The Beast King Valley’s heritage had lasted for over ten thousand years. It had been a small branch that split from the top beast-taming sect in the Central Region. Even in the Tianheng Continent, their beast-taming inheritance was close to the top.

Within the memories, there were also some secrets of the Beast King Valley, along with their strategic deployment in the Demon Sect battlefield.

However, the Beast King Valley must have anticipated soul search and interrogation, so their strategic deployment might have been adjusted accordingly.

Somewhat regrettably, Black Feather wasn’t a core elder of the Beast King Valley, so the secrets he knew were certainly not as much as Elder Wan He.

In the memories, there was also a deeper understanding of the [Black Sky Wings], including the secret techniques for merging wing magical artifacts with the cultivator’s bloodline.

However, Lu Changan didn’t possess Black Feather True君’s special bloodline, so he couldn’t replicate it, and besides, he didn’t want to become a birdman.

…

After Black Feather True君’s soul perished, the sect’s Ten Thousand Soul Hall reacted, and the Beast King Valley received the news immediately.

The upper echelons of the Beast King Valley were furious and heartbroken, and also somewhat surprised.

They had thought that Lu Changan would capture Black Feather True君’s Nascent Soul and use it as leverage to drag things out for a while.

Even if they interrogated him with soul search, it would take time.

In the half-month that Lu Changan spent sorting through the memories, he also sent people to communicate with Alliance Leader Chu on the main battlefield in Feng Country.

Although the Nascent Soul cultivators guarding neighboring strongholds could send urgent messages, they were mostly warnings, requests for assistance, or simple information.

Detailed and comprehensive intelligence required scout transmission.

Black Feather True君 had perished so quickly.

Lu Changan’s explanation was that Black Feather True君 was stubborn and shattered his soul while being tortured and interrogated.

The reason was simple, just enough, no need to be too rigorous.

Lu Changan wasn’t worried about the secret of the [Nine Seal Monument] being exposed. In the cultivation world, there were too many evil cultivators and Demon Cultivators who practiced soul refining, including devouring and utilizing Nascent Soul.

The Nascent Soul of cultivators was a great tonic for both humans and beast-type cultivators.

Several days ago.

The Beast King Valley’s corresponding frontline region had sent a young Nascent Soul cultivator to replace Black Feather True君’s position.

Not only that, but Lu Changan’s stronghold area and the neighboring frontlines were also cleared of all Fourth-Rank Beast Kings and high-rank combat beasts.

Lu Changan was a bit regretful, missing the opportunity to bully old men.

In the battle that day, he had captured Black Feather’s Nascent Soul and killed Elder Wan He’s physical body, causing Lu Changan’s fame to spread far and wide.

His reputation wasn’t limited to the Righteous Path Alliance or the Demon Sect battlefield.

Soon, it would spread throughout the Eastern Regions.

Even the great forces in the Central Region, as well as other regions, would learn of Long Qing True君’s name.

In the three kingdoms of the Righteous Path Alliance, no cultivator dared to doubt that Lu Changan was the second-in-command, after Alliance Leader Chu Tianfeng.

At the same time, the public perception of Earth Rock Jun and Xia Xianzi also improved.

After all, they had played a major role in capturing Black Feather True君 in the battle that day.

There were rumors that Long Qing True君 had entered an ancient cave or secret realm and obtained a great opportunity.

Otherwise, the magical artifacts and treasures on Earth Rock Jun and Xia Xianzi were too powerful, and they had never appeared in the surroundings. It was as if they had obtained them out of thin air.

There were also rumors that Long Qing True君 was a powerful being who had seized possession of someone’s body and cultivated again. Otherwise, with such low aptitude, how could he have grown to this level as a lone cultivator?

Lu Changan simply chuckled at these rumors, unconcerned.

At his current level, he didn’t need to worry about the greed of others for any secrets about his apparent opportunities.

…

Half a month later.

After roughly sorting through Black Feather True君’s memories, Lu Changan was ready to return to the Righteous Path Alliance headquarters.

Now, the pressure on Lu Changan and Xia Xianzi’s frontline region was greatly reduced.

After the Beast King Valley’s Fourth-Rank Beast Kings and high-rank combat beasts withdrew, they temporarily abandoned attacks in this area.

Only small-scale skirmishes and intelligence gathering by scouts remained, maintaining the flow of information.

Even so, Lu Changan and Xia Xianzi had effectively checked the Beast King Valley’s three True君.

The Beast King Valley’s main battlefield had shifted to the south of Feng Country.

Alliance Leader Chu, a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator, and the Beast King Valley’s leader, Meng Zongzhu, were both on that front.

The Beast King Valley had lost two Nascent Soul cultivators in a short time, and they no longer had any advantage in terms of top-tier combat power. Even if the Righteous Path Alliance’s Nascent Soul cultivators took the initiative to engage in open battles, they wouldn’t necessarily lose.

In terms of top-tier combat power, the Beast King Valley’s only advantage was that they had one more mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

According to intelligence reports, the Beast King Valley had already withdrawn some of its elite cultivators and beast kings who had been aiding the Seven Kingdom Alliance, and they began to gather more reinforcements from their territory.

Against this backdrop, Lu Changan felt comfortable returning to the Righteous Path Alliance headquarters.

His stronghold had Earth Rock Jun stationed there, along with several Third-Rank puppets.

The Righteous Path Alliance headquarters wasn’t too far from the frontline. With a Nascent Soul cultivator’s speed, it wouldn’t take much time.

As soon as he arrived at the mountain city formation where the Righteous Path Alliance was located, Yin Yuanhai, who was stationed at the headquarters, came out to greet him.

“Congratulations, Elder Lu, for capturing and killing two Demon Sect Nascent Soul cultivators, turning the tide of the war and achieving extraordinary merits. My master speaks highly of you, and I am also convinced and admire you greatly.”

“I wish I could have fought alongside Elder Lu…”

This time, Yin Yuanhai was more enthusiastic. His words were full of flattery.

Lu Changan chuckled, not exposing Yin Yuanhai’s insincerity.

Before that battle, Yin Yuanhai had repeatedly requested to be removed from Lu Changan’s command, hoping to escape his orders.

But he hadn’t expected that he would be gone for just a short time when Lu Changan would achieve such great merits.

The Bright Moon Palace’s Jin Yue True君 and Xia Xianzi had also shared in the merits.

Yin Yuanhai was inevitably a bit depressed.

As a newly promoted Nascent Soul cultivator who had only reached this stage for less than a hundred years, he was in a stage of resource accumulation and desperately needed opportunities and merits.

“Elder Lu, my master has informed me that if there are any precious materials not available in the treasure vault, he will coordinate with other Nascent Soul cultivators in the alliance to try to meet your needs.”

“Good, this jade slip contains a list of the materials I require.”

Lu Changan was prepared, handing him a jade slip.

He had mentioned this request in his letter to Alliance Leader Chu earlier.

The materials in Great Qing were not as abundant as those in Great Abyss, so Lu Changan didn’t request anything too extravagant.

Besides his need for building a Fourth-Rank puppet formation in the future, Lu Changan also wanted to refine and repair the [Five Beast Poison Fire Fan] he had obtained from “Old Demon Shen.”

Old Demon Shen had once hired someone to refine this fan, using the blueprints of the spirit treasure [Five Beast Poison Fire Fan] to create a replica, hoping to craft a top-grade magical artifact.

Because of the high difficulty and exceeding the standards of a normal top-grade magical artifact, the final product wasn’t successful, with minor flaws, falling short of expectations.

This fan suited Lu Changan’s tastes, matching his wood-attribute cultivation techniques. He planned to repair it.

The [Five Beast Poison Fire Fan] not only had the poison fire technique but also concealed three feathered poison needles.

If he could successfully repair and refine it, combined with the three higher-quality [Flying Feather Needles] from Elder Wan He, it would become a versatile and venomous magical artifact.

Moreover, this repair and refinement process was valuable experience.

Lu Changan dared not hope to craft a true spirit treasure.

In the future, when he reached the mid-stage of the Nascent Soul stage, if conditions allowed, he might attempt to craft a replica, counterfeit spirit treasure of the [Five Beast Poison Fire Fan].

…

Lu Changan stayed at the headquarters for only half a day, exchanged a large amount of resources, and then returned to the frontline stronghold.

The Beast King Valley had basically abandoned large-scale attacks in the area where Lu Changan and Xia Xianzi were stationed.

The other frontlines of the cultivation war weren’t as intense as they had imagined.

The main reason was that the Beast King Valley had lost two of their top-tier Nascent Soul cultivators and no longer had the crushing superiority.

The Beast King Valley had initially not wanted to go to war, but under the influence of an invisible hand, they found themselves deeper and deeper into the quagmire of war.

“The next few years will likely be a stage of stalemated and protracted war.”

Based on the available intelligence and his divination skills, Lu Changan had insights into the future situation.

As expected.

In the following three or four years, the Demon Sect war fell into a stalemate, with both sides deploying massive “expendable resources” in intermittent bursts.

The Righteous Path Alliance primarily focused on defense, occasionally striking out with surprise attacks, only losing a few strongholds and individual cities.

The Beast King Valley, as the attacking side, suffered even greater losses. Initially, it was mainly their combat beasts and spirit beasts that suffered heavy casualties, but later on, human cultivators also died in large numbers.

Two years ago, Lu Changan launched a surprise attack, reaching the main battlefield in the south of Feng Country, using the [Desolate Extinction Divine Light] to kill another Fourth-Rank Beast King.

Meng Zongzhu of the Beast King Valley was furious and wanted to pursue Lu Changan on the spot, but Chu Tianfeng stopped him.

At the same time, in those years, some Second-Rank and Third-Rank puppets gradually appeared on the strongholds and cities of the Righteous Path Alliance, far exceeding the numbers in previous cultivation wars.

Among them, Zhang True君 of Jin Yun Valley even used a quasi-Fourth-Rank war puppet to thwart the Beast King Valley’s surprise attack with overwhelming numbers.

These medium- and high-rank puppets saved the lives of many Righteous Path Alliance cultivators.

Rumors spread within the Righteous Path Alliance that Alliance Leader Chu had secretly sent people to the territory of the Two Sects to create a batch of Second-Rank and Third-Rank puppets.

There were also rumors that this matter was related to Lu True君.

The Beast King Valley asked the Wu Jian Men to investigate the source of the puppets, even attempting to intercept them on their way to the territory of the Two Sects, but they had no concrete results.

Over those few years, Lu Changan had made a fortune from the war, filling his coffers to the brim.

Through exchanging merits, he had obtained a batch of Fourth-Rank materials he needed, including those to repair the [Five Beast Poison Fire Fan].

Last year, Lu Changan asked Zhang Tianfeng to secretly repair and upgrade the [Five Beast Poison Fire Fan].

Lu Changan also used this opportunity to sell off some of his unused magical artifacts and precious materials to Zhang Tianfeng.

Zhang Tieshan was used to this and grew increasingly wary of Lu Changan’s hidden strength.

Judging from the loot he had sold off, Lu Changan must have killed several Nascent Soul cultivators, far more than the outside world had estimated.

Zhang Tianfeng needed to absorb magical artifacts and the golden essence of precious minerals to repair a ruined spirit treasure, and he welcomed any material that fit the magical artifact.

…

Unbeknownst to him, Lu Changan, who was stationed on the frontline battlefield, had already reached the age of 435.

The cultivation war that he had initiated and orchestrated was finally entering the crucial stage of decisive battle.

Inside the stronghold’s cave.

Lu Changan sat cross-legged, cultivating and repairing the [Five Beast Poison Fire Fan], which was now complete.

It was an ancient, simple black feathered fan, and the five main feathers shimmered with blue, green, blue, purple, and red lights.

The three [Flying Feather Needles] obtained from Elder Wan He had been refined and coated with Fourth-Rank hybrid poison, hidden within the fan’s mechanisms.

“Uncle Lu! Definite intelligence has arrived from the main battlefield in the south of Feng Country. The Beast King Valley’s Grand Elder has appeared.”

A beautiful woman in a green dress, with a late-stage Jindan cultivation, entered the True君’s cave, holding a token.

The visitor was Zhao Tan’er.

“Hmm, I already know.”

Lu Changan came out of seclusion, seeing the only disciple of his former friend.

Zhao Tan’er’s aptitude had suffered a bit when she had first tried to breakthrough to the late stage of Jindan, but later, with the breakthrough pills and spirit treasures Lu Changan had given her, she finally advanced to the late stage.

In the past few years, Lu Changan had used his authority in the Righteous Path Alliance to have Zhao Tan’er transferred to the frontline region he was guarding.

This way, he could take care of his old friend’s disciple and let her gain some merits.

The battlefield region Lu Changan was responsible for was relatively safer, causing the Beast King Valley to abandon major attacks.

Many relations of high-ranking officials in the Righteous Path Alliance wanted their disciples and descendants to be transferred to the region under Lu True君’s command.

“Based on past experience, the Beast King Valley’s Grand Elder is reluctant to manage sect affairs and rarely participates in the killing of the Demon Sect war. Once he appears on the battlefield, the Beast King Valley will make a major move, even a decisive battle.”

Lu Changan came to the city wall of the stronghold and looked towards the border region where the Beast King Valley was located.

His Fourth-Rank divination had produced subtle celestial indications today.

The three demonic Nascent Soul cultivators on the opposite side, who had been checking each other for many years, had recently left the frontline battlefield one after another.

Moreover, other Demon Sect cultivators in the Jindan and Foundation Establishment stages were also withdrawing in large numbers.

It seemed they were preparing to transfer to the main battlefield in the south of Feng Country.

Before this, he had received a message from Alliance Leader Chu, preparing to assist the main battlefield.

If the three of them, including Elder Fang, left, he and Xia Xianzi needed to act accordingly.

…

Lu Changan flew out of the frontline stronghold to investigate the situation.

At the same time, he sent a message to Xia Xianzi, asking her to prepare.

If something wasn’t right, they would need to assist the main battlefield in Feng Country together.

If the main battlefield collapsed, the other frontlines would also be powerless.

Just as Lu Changan was about to rendezvous with Xia Xianzi,

Boom!

A powerful and majestic Nascent Soul aura surged from the border region of the Beast King Valley.

The powerful spiritual pressure far surpassed that of all the Nascent Soul cultivators he had encountered on the battlefield before.

Lu Changan’s heart skipped a beat, feeling an intangible pressure.

That Nascent Soul aura was so deep and profound, even surpassing that of the Golden Kun old monster he had encountered in Great Abyss.

“Little friend Lu, where are you going? Why don’t you stay here today and chat with this old man?”

A rumbling sound like thunder came from the clouds in the distance, revealing a plump, round-faced white-skinned old man, looking at Lu Changan with a smile.

(End of Chapter)

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