I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Lan Chang'an put away the sandalwood box, recalling the critical information he had extracted from Su Can's mind.

The real Su Can couldn't be killed, his death would immediately trigger the sect's soul lanterns, alerting the Bishan Sect. Instead, Lan Chang'an had sealed him away and hidden him in a secret location within Five Spirits City.

During the Central Region auction, Jade Water Fairy had kept an eye on her disciples, but she couldn't monitor them constantly. Under normal circumstances, Su Can and the other two Core Formation cultivators should have been safe within the city.

However, Lan Chang'an's cultivation of the Heavenly Demon Secret Art defied conventional logic, it allowed him to infiltrate a cultivator's mind like a demonic tribulation.

This method worked best on lower-realm cultivators, especially those with wavering wills or mental vulnerabilities.

That being said, Su Can's willpower was remarkably firm, offering some resistance to the mental invasion.

Initially, Lan Chang'an tried various methods but failed to fully breach his defenses. It wasn't until he mimicked the image of Su Can's revered martial aunt, Jade Water Fairy, that he finally broke through, using softness to overcome hardness.

With the sect's layout now memorized, Lan Chang'an focused his attention on True Monarch Cyanwood's secluded cave abode.

Before long, he sensed Jade Water Fairy leaving Cyanwood's residence after only a brief stay.

"Such a short visit! It seems True Monarch Cyanwood is still in recovery."

Attempting divination within the Bishan Sect proved far more difficult than outside.

It wasn't surprising, major sects in the Central Region possessed treasures to obstruct fate. Forcing a divination might even trigger divination artifacts.

Using Cyanwood's corpse as a medium, Lan Chang'an confirmed that his target hadn't moved and remained within Bishan Sect's boundaries.

Reassured, he waited for the right moment.

...

Several days later...

Bishan Sect's three Nascent Soul True Monarchs remained inactive, and the sect maintained its outwardly relaxed but internally vigilant state.

That night, at the Heavenly Pivot Tower.

This tower was the heart of the sect's grand formation, guarded year-round by multiple Core Formation elders.

Inside, two elderly Core Formation guardians were passing the time with a game of Go.

"Hmph!"

A cold, displeased female voice cut through the air.

"Grand Elder!"

The two guardians nearly jumped out of their skins at the sudden appearance of Jade Water Fairy.

Her icy gaze and the faint but unmistakable pressure of her water-attribute mana left no doubt about her identity.

"Under normal circumstances, I might overlook your laxity. But these are extraordinary times, the Heavenly Pivot Tower is the core of our sect's defenses. If anything were to go wrong..."

Without allowing any excuses, the female True Monarch unleashed a torrent of reprimands.

The two guardians, despite their seniority, didn't dare argue under her wrath.

"Yes, yes..."

They hunched their shoulders, meekly accepting the criticism.

They were at fault, the sect's leadership had repeatedly emphasized heightened security.

Rumors said that the Bishan Sect had provoked a powerful enemy, leaving True Monarch Cyanwood severely injured and forced to rebuild his Nascent Soul cultivation. The increased vigilance was meant to guard against retaliation.

Some guardians, however, had grown complacent.

This is the Central Region, the heartland of orthodox sects. Even the leaders of the Demonic sects wouldn't dare come here and stir up trouble.

Years of peace had dulled their wariness.

"This seat isn't satisfied. I'll inspect the formation personally."

After the scolding, Jade Water Fairy demanded entry to the tower's restricted inner chamber.

The two guardians exchanged resigned looks. It seemed the True Monarch had come tonight for an unannounced inspection, enforcing the sect's stricter policies.

Soon, two more guardians arrived from their rest shifts. With all four formation tokens assembled, they unlocked the inner tower.

Bishan Sect's formation core required all four guardians' tokens for access, except for True Monarch Chen, the most senior figure who could enter alone.

"A mid-fourth-rank formation… such strong restrictions."

Jade Water Fairy's expression remained neutral as she observed the layered defenses, both visible and hidden.

Breaching this place by force would require multiple Nascent Souls working together.

This mid-fourth-rank formation wasn't the work of a single generation, it represented centuries of Bishan Sect's accumulated heritage.

A fully powered formation of this rank also demanded a corresponding spirit vein.

Inside, Jade Water Fairy pointed out flaws in the formation's operation while the guardians nodded obediently.

None noticed the black-cloaked rat demon melding into the shadows.

Fifteen minutes later, the inspection concluded.

Before leaving, Jade Water Fairy warned:

"The sect's grand formation must not be neglected! Tonight's inspection stays between us."

"Understood, Grand Elder!"

"We will remember the Grand Elder's decree!"

The guardians didn't overthink it. Jade Water Fairy's surprise visit aligned with her efforts to tighten security.

Whispers claimed she harbored feelings for Cyanwood, while her actions tonight were slightly unusual, they weren't entirely out of character.

With that, Jade Water Fairy withdrew her aura and vanished into the night.

...

Meanwhile, deep within the tower.

The Earth Burrowing Rat King, hidden in the shadows, placed several fourth-rank talismans against the formation's core arrays.

These were fire and thunder-attribute talismans, capable of devastating destruction.

Of course, the grand formation had multiple array nodes, this was merely its heart.

"Destroying this won't collapse the entire formation, but it will severely weaken its power and create exploitable gaps."

Lan Chang'an returned to Su Can's cave abode, still maintaining Jade Water Fairy's flawless guise.

He possessed numerous formation-breaking methods: Restriction-Breaking Talismans, the exotic spirit peacock, and the Profound Light Ancient Mirror.

Against a weakened mid-fourth-rank formation with exposed flaws, he was confident of a swift escape.

"Prepare for retreat before victory."

Regardless of success, Lan Chang'an always secured an exit.

As long as he wasn't caught red-handed, he could deny everything afterward.

The Ten Great Xuan Sects had no reason to wage war against a demonic leader-level powerhouse over a dead Nascent Soul from a foreign sect.

Better yet, he could pin the blame on the Unseen Gate master.

...

Early the next morning.

Bishan Sect, Greenwood Forest Cave Residence.

A familiar azure streak of light descended before True Monarch Cyanwood's residence.

"Greetings, True Monarch."

The servants, accustomed to this frequent visitor, knelt in deference.

"Senior Brother Cyanwood! This junior sister has urgent news!"

Jade Water Fairy's usually serene face bore rare traces of anxiety as she transmitted her voice.

The servants hesitated only a moment, perhaps having been informed prior, before swiftly deactivating the cave's restrictions to let her enter.

As Jade Water Fairy hurried inside, a faint floral fragrance lingered in her wake.

Loose strands of hair partially concealed her slightly pursed lips.

"True Monarch Cyanwood! I'm afraid you never imagined the day would come when you'd be betrayed by your most trusted confidante..."

Beneath the Hundred Illusions Mask, Lan Chang'an's focus reached its peak.

He had to strike fast.

His public appearance as Jade Water Fairy at Cyanwood's cave would soon be exposed, alerting Bishan Sect's other True Monarchs.

Having visited this place several times in Su Can's identity, Lan Chang'an knew the general layout.

In the front chamber, a figure in green robes stood with hands clasped behind his back, as if awaiting a guest.

"True Monarch Cyanwood?"

Lan Chang'an swept his spiritual sense forward while simultaneously unleashing the sealed Evergreen Nascent Soul and mana reserves.

His divine soul power, amplified by his fourth life surged violently, causing a faint splitting pain in his consciousness as it approached the terrifying level of a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator.

Simultaneously...

The "jade hand" hidden within his sleeve tightened around a lethal Barbed Arrow.

A Cyanwood who hadn't fully recovered and lacked soul-defense treasures would never survive this killing blow.

At the critical moment, just as Lan Chang'an locked onto the green-robed figure, his expression abruptly changed.

"Wrong! That's not Cyanwood!"

The Barbed Arrow remained charged in his sleeve but went unfired.

Upon closer inspection, the figure showed glaring discrepancies, and his Evergreen Dao Fruit failed to produce the expected intense resonance.

"Hiss—"

Guided by his spiritual sense, the green-robed figure dissolved into grayish smoke.

The illusion shattered, revealing a burning fourth-rank phantom talisman tied to a severed fingertip of flesh.

Lan Chang'an's face darkened as he instinctively attempted divination.

In that instant, the obscuring mists of heavenly secrets parted before the truth.

"Seven... Star... Temple!"

His voice dripped with icy fury as he spat out each syllable.

The full picture became clear.

That fingertip came from Cyanwood's own body, otherwise, it couldn't have deceived his tracking divinations.

More crucially, a divination power surpassing his own had guided Cyanwood's escape and concealed his trail.

Without such intervention, the Cyanwood who lacked divination expertise could never have evaded this ambush.

In all of Great Qing, only the Seven Stars Temple possessed both the capability to shield Cyanwood and the foresight to blindside Lan Chang'an.

Suppressing his fury, Lan Chang'an acknowledged the setback.

This was the Central Region, the orthodox territory.

Here, the Seven Stars Temple held every advantage. Even matched divination skills would inevitably fall short.

...

Lan Chang'an did not leave immediately. His powerful spiritual sense scoured every corner of True Monarch Cyanwood's cave abode, searching for any possible clues.

For some reason, his heightened senses faintly detected the illusion of being observed from afar.

Hmm?

His search soon yielded results.

Behind the main seat in the front chamber, he discovered a hidden compartment.

Bang!

A palm strike shattered the wall, revealing another concealed layer etched with mysterious seven-star array patterns connected to the cave's spirit-gathering formation.

"Fellow Daoist Changqing, to uncover this so swiftly, your reputation is well-earned."

A distant, aged voice echoed.

Hum—

The array patterns on the hidden wall glowed, seven bright and dim star sigils flickering like a shifting celestial chessboard.

Suddenly, an ethereal figure stepped out from the seven-star array, a mysterious Daoist in dark robes, holding a horsetail whisk. His form was translucent, neither fully real nor illusory.

"This humble one is the Master of Seven Stars Temple. If I have offended you, I ask Fellow Daoist Changqing for your magnanimity."

The Daoist clasped his hands in a sincere bow.

"Master Mi, as expected it was you."

Lan Chang'an's tone turned icy.

"Since arriving in the Central Region, I deliberately avoided the Seven Stars Temple to prevent entanglement. Yet you still interfered!"

Master Mi smiled apologetically, his murky, aged eyes studying Lan Chang'an.

The Hundred Illusions Mask's disguise naturally couldn't deceive those heaven-piercing eyes.

Lan Chang'an met his gaze squarely.

Master Mi's vision seemed strained, as if struggling to focus.

"You... you..."

The Daoist shuddered, his voice trembling slightly.

Wrinkles deepened across his aged face as regret flashed in his eyes, moisture gathering at their corners.

"I thought only the Fengyuan Kingdom's Heavenly Master was a fourth-rank divination master. I never imagined Your Excellency was one as well."

"A miscalculation... A grave miscalculation..."

Had it merely been a matter of divination mastery, Master Mi wouldn't have been so shaken.

But the figure before him stood calmly within an orthodox sect's territory, exuding an aura that seemed to look down upon all of Great Qing.

Such transcendent presence, Master Mi had only witnessed it once before, in that Nascent Soul Great Cultivator from the Taiyue Sect years ago.

"Blind old fool! You didn't even discern my roots, yet you dared help Cyanwood escape."

Lan Chang'an snorted coldly, hands clasped behind his back.

Suddenly, a spiritual sense pressure nearing the Great Nascent Soul level filled the cave.

Whoosh!

The air seemed to solidify. Dust particles floated in an invisible force field as heaven and earth spiritual energy instinctively gathered around him, as if paying homage to an ancient sage.

"This humble one admits his error!"

Even across vast distances, Master Mi's true form trembled under the spiritual suppression, unable to conceal his shock.

"Did Cyanwood flee beyond this province?"

Lan Chang'an retracted his aura as abruptly as he had unleashed it, his tone indifferent.

As a fourth-rank divination master himself, he knew how to deal with peers.

If strategy failed, brute force would suffice, overwhelming power crushed all tricks.

Especially since this wasn't Master Mi's true body but a projection fused with consciousness, precisely the kind of technique Lan Chang'an countered perfectly.

A single strike could cripple this manifestation.

"Correct. Cyanwood left before the auction. By now, he's likely beyond Qing Province."

Master Mi dared not lie.

He then explained the full context.

Turns out, Bishan Sect's Elder Chen and Master Mi had been acquaintances since youth.

Before the auction, Elder Chen had secretly requested Master Mi to divine Cyanwood's fortunes.

The divination revealed an impending death calamity.

Bound by friendship and shared orthodox ties, Master Mi intervened, obscuring heavenly secrets to avert disaster.

Assuming Lan Chang'an only had the Fengyuan Heavenly Master's backing, Master Mi hadn't considered the consequences gravely.

"This seven-star array was left to persuade Fellow Daoist Changqing to reconcile. Cyanwood vowed never to oppose you again, hence my involvement."

Master Mi smiled bitterly.

His intention to mediate as an impartial elder had backfired spectacularly.

"Knowing Cyanwood's and my history, how could such grudges dissolve so easily?" Lan Chang'an shook his head.

After a pause, Master Mi ventured cautiously:

"While devouring the Evergreen Dao Fruit would grant True Monarch Lan longevity and power, the drawbacks will far outweigh the benefits."

"Why so?"

Lan Chang'an's heart chilled. The Seven Stars Temple's ancient astrological traditions might hold secrets about the Evergreen Technique.

"I can say no more."

"Some truths cannot be spoken, only inferred. As a divination master, you understand."

Master Mi's clouded eyes held unspoken warnings before he fell silent.

"I see."

Lan Chang'an guessed further revelations might invite heavenly retribution or doom the Seven Stars Temple.

That single hint had likely skirted dangerous limits.

"Which province did Cyanwood flee to?"

He changed topics, pressing for answers.

"Cyanwood told no one, not even the two Fellow Daoists from his sect."

Master Mi pondered, then added:

"But I surmise he went to Heavenly River Province. Of neighboring regions, only there could offer him safety."

Perhaps to atone, Master Mi divined the likely destination.

"Heavenly River Province..."

Lan Chang'an frowned, accepting the failed assassination.

His current standing and absorbed memories provided some knowledge of surrounding realms.

Reaching Heavenly River Province from Qing required traversing two equally vast territories.

Heavenly River Province's cultivation civilization dwarfed its neighbors, consistently hosting multiple Great Nascent Souls in every era.

Ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators would face a long and perilous journey crossing vast distances and natural chasms to reach that place from Qing Province.

Lan Chang'an thought to himself, he would have to wait until he reached the peak of early Nascent Soul before making long-term plans.

By then, the destination might not necessarily have to be Heavenly River Province.

In his previous life, Kun Province's cultivation civilization was notably weaker overall, making it the safer choice instead.

...

"The Seven Stars Temple shall not interfere in my affairs in the future. That departed Nascent Soul Great Cultivator from the Taiyue Sect, his lifespan pales in comparison to mine."

With a flick of his sleeve, Lan Chang'an collected the flesh and blood of the finger Cyanwood had left behind.

"Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Lan. This humble one will keep today's events confidential. As Master of Seven Stars Temple, I owe you a personal favor."

As they spoke, two Nascent Soul auras approached rapidly.

"Who dares trespass upon Bishan Sect!?"

True Monarch Chen and Jade Water Fairy, having detected anomalies at Cyanwood's cave, were closing in fast.

True Monarch Chen summoned an array banner, activating the sect's grand formation.

Boom! Crackle!

Above the cave, thunder and fire clouds intertwined, the formation's power radiating mid-stage Nascent Soul-level pressure.

When their spiritual senses swept over the scene, both froze.

A plain-faced man in green robes stood calmly in the front chamber, hands clasped behind his back.

Beside him, a translucent figure projected from the seven-star array on the wall, none other than the Master of Seven Stars Temple.

"Senior Brother Cyanwood? That's not right-"

Jade Water Fairy's initial confusion gave way to icy clarity as she glared at Lan Chang'an. She'd been informed of Cyanwood's departure upon returning.

True Monarch Chen demanded, "Who are you? Why disguise yourself as Cyanwood to infiltrate our sect? If you don't give an explanation, don't blame this seat..."

"Fellow Daoist Chen and Fellow Daoist Tian, Let this Fellow Daoist leave, don't make things difficult." Master Mi's aged voice carried undeniable authority.

"Master Mi...?"

Both sect elders looked baffled.

"Don't ask too many questions."

Master Mi's stern tone and meaningful glance at True Monarch Chen brooked no argument.

"Very well."

Though reluctant, True Monarch Chen trusted his old friend. With a wave of the banner, the thunderfire parted, clearing a path.

Ignoring them, Lan Chang'an summoned wood-attribute escape light and soared from the cave.

Disguising as Cyanwood had advantages, their matching cultivation arts made the impersonation flawless.

Even in combat, inconsistencies would be minimal.

With the real Cyanwood fled beyond the province, no one could disprove his claims. Consequences mattered little now.

The two Bishan Sect elders watched his retreat with darkened expressions, speculating:

Lan Changqing? Or the Unseen Gate's leader?

Motive pointed to the former; disguise skills suggested the latter.

"Senior Brother Chen! Letting him go? Martial nephew Su Can was replaced and remains missing!"

Jade Water Fairy's silver teeth clenched as she glared at Lan Chang'an. Her instincts screamed this was the straw-cloaked elder who'd humiliated her.

That he'd dared impersonate Cyanwood made her skin crawl.

Were it not for Master Mi's intervention, she'd have flayed him alive on the spot.

"What! Can'er's gone?"

True Monarch Chen's face twisted, Su Can was his prized disciple, a future Nascent Soul candidate.

"Fellow Daoist stop!"

Bloodline ties overriding caution, he redirected the thunderfire net to block Lan Chang'an's path.

"Senior Brother! With the grand formation, we can capture and interrogate him!"

Jade Water Fairy's eyes lit up as she summoned a deep-blue water orb treasure.

Whoosh BOOM!

The orb unleashed several li wide water ripples, tsunami roars reducing pavilions and rivers to dust in its wake.

"Stop—!"

Master Mi's projection shouted impotently before dissolving back into the wall with a sigh.

...

"Ah, junior sister..."

True Monarch Chen had no choice but to join the assault.

What's spilled cannot be gathered.

Channeling the sect formation, he coordinated attacks with renewed confidence.

On home turf, backed by the full might of a mid-fourth-rank array, even a mid-stage Nascent Soul could be suppressed.

Lan Chang'an failed to assassinate Cyanwood and was in a foul mood.

Then, as the two Nascent Soul cultivators of the Bishan Sect took action, the rage in his chest finally found an outlet:

"Good! Very good!"

Hovering mid-air, the green-robed figure unleashed torrents of verdant and forceful mana, summoning the Thunderwood Stake to parry their assaults.

Eyes bloodshot, he threw back his head and roared:

"Bishan Sect shows no mercy, don't blame Cyanwood for turning against you!"

The declaration echoed across the sect, leaving disciples dumbfounded.

"What's going on?! Are the three Grand Elders fighting each other?"

"Quick, hide! We'll clean up once the True Monarchs are done fighting!"

Chaos erupted as cultivators scrambled for safety.

The two attacking elders staggered mid-air, utterly unprepared for this twist.

"Shameless cur!"

True Monarch Chen's face purpled, veins bulging as he bellowed:

"That man is a demonic cultivator in disguise! Everyone, join forces! Don't be deceived!"

Yet with the outcome between the three True Monarchs still undecided, only a portion of the sect heeded the call. Many hesitated, unwilling to pick a side so easily.

After all, Cyanwood True Monarch held mid-stage Nascent Soul power, capable of fighting two at once. It was still unclear who would prevail.

Jade Water Fairy's beautiful face was pale with fury, her eyes widened in disbelief at how far the chaos had escalated.

"The Thunderwood Stake, that's Senior Brother Cyanwood's magical treasure!"

She recognized the charred wooden stake unleashing azure lightning like heavenly tribulation, it was Cyanwood's signature weapon.

Drawing an emerald flying sword, she redoubled her assault.

Just then-

BOOOOM!

An earth-shattering explosion rocked the sect's core.

The grand formation's glow flickered wildly as quakes rippled for miles.

"Elders! The Heavenly Pivot Tower's array core, it's destroyed!"

"The guarding Core Formation elders... they're..."

Watching the distant tower vanish in flames, both Nascent Souls trembled with rage and dread.

"Are you two satisfied with this outcome?"