I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Lan Chang'an took the two top superior-grade second-rank spiritual bamboos and examined them briefly before his heart filled with joy.

The products of the Qingzhu Sect were indeed extraordinary.

The two pieces of spiritual bamboo brought by Chen Fuhai were more spiritually rich than those Lan Chang'an had previously purchased.

Eh?

While observing the spiritual bamboo, Lan Chang'an felt a vague, indescribable sense of being spied upon, causing a flutter in his heart.

This feeling had appeared once before in this life. The last time was in the Black Fog Mountain Range, when he killed the White Jade Python. Shortly after that, he encountered the mysterious Heavenly Moon Wolf.

"The quality is excellent. I will buy it at the auction price, Fellow Daoist Chen, what do you think?"

Lan Chang'an remained calm and looked at Chen Fuhai. At this moment, that vague feeling of being spied upon had already vanished.

Lan Chang'an spent 1,900 spirit stones to buy the two top-quality second-rank spiritual bamboos.

In the future, his focus would be on third-rank spiritual bamboo, and there would no longer be a need to seek out top superior-grade second-rank ones deliberately.

After the transaction, their relationship took a step forward, and they talked about more topics. Due to the earlier feeling of being spied upon, Lan Chang'an became wary of Chen Fuhai.

If Chen Fuhai had used his spiritual sense to probe, it would have been impolite at most, and Lan Chang'an would have definitely detected it. But Chen Fuhai hadn't used his spiritual sense, making that obscure feeling even more strange.

Either there was something wrong with Chen Fuhai, or a cultivator above the Fake-Dan had secretly paid attention to Lan Chang'an.

A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator could pose a threat to Lan Chang'an, he dared not enter the Nine Seal Stele to merge with the second life in front of Chen Fuhai to investigate the situation.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, you look so youthful and healthy. What kind of cultivation technique do you practice?" In casual conversation, Chen Fuhai seemed envious and curious.

Lan Chang'an became more vigilant. There were many too many ways to remain youthful and healthy, and Chen Fuhai was the first to inquire about his cultivation technique because of this.

"It's just an average wood-based cultivation method with moderate power, good for health and longevity. Besides, I usually cultivate my health and take elixirs for maintaining youth." Lan Chang'an's response was flawless.

A life-nurturing cultivation method, combined with elixirs for maintaining youth, and a life of peace for nearly a hundred years, made his explanation sound reasonable.

Realizing that there was something wrong with Chen Fuhai, Lan Chang'an dismissed the idea of befriending a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"I have some shopping to do in Huanglong Immortal City, so I won't disturb you further." Lan Chang'an found an excuse to bid farewell and departed.

"This guy is quite cautious."

Chen Fuhai watched Lan Chang'an leave, his eyes faintly flashing with a ghostly green light.

"If it involves the legendary grand spirit Yan Donglai, I must be more cautious."

...

After leaving the Qingzhu Sect's station, Lan Chang'an found a tea house two or three li away and sat down.

This distance was far beyond the reach of Chen Fuhai's spiritual sense.

He closed his eyes and entered the Nine Seal Stele with his mind.

With the soul imprint of his second life, his spiritual sense extended to the Qingzhu Sect's station to check on Chen Fuhai's situation.

This enhancement of his spiritual sense required concentrated awareness and merging with the Nine Seal Stele, consuming the illumination energy of his first or second life.

It was limited to sensory enhancement and could not be used in combat. Unless he lets the second life descend into his body, consuming the once-in-ten-year opportunity.

At a sect's station, at most, there would be a Fake-Dan Immortal in charge. His enhanced spiritual sense was stronger than that of an ordinary early-stage Core Formation cultivator, and his use of spiritual sense was more sophisticated. He prepared himself to withdraw at any moment.

In a pavilion, Lan Chang'an found Chen Fuhai.

He carefully probed with his spiritual sense, approaching the other party's sea of consciousness. Chen Fuhai's senses did not detect Lan Chang'an's enhanced Immortal-level spiritual sense.

"This is?"

Lan Chang'an observed the other party's sea of consciousness and was startled.

He saw a green, crystalline, and transparent bug floating on the surface of Chen Fuhai's sea of consciousness.

The bug's body was slowly sinking into the sea of consciousness, about to disappear.

"Who?"

The transparent insect opened an eye full of dense pupils, glowing with a ghostly light, making one's scalp tingle.

Before the insect could probe, Lan Chang'an decisively withdrew his spiritual sense. The insect's soul fluctuation was not stronger than Lan Chang'an's enhanced spiritual sense.

He left the tea house and went to a nearby inn near the Jin Yun Valley station, temporarily staying there.

"That bug, could it be the legendary Heaven and Earth magical insect 'The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu'?"

In the guest room, Lan Chang'an pondered for a long time and found a possible match in his previous life's vast memories.

The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu was a soul-path Heaven and Earth magical insect, mysterious and unpredictable, possessing at least a heavenly-grade bloodline.

Lan Chang'an didn't know much about this insect, having only seen some rumors in ancient books. It was said that The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu could reside in and control multiple living targets. This residence did not affect the target's independence, including memory, wisdom, and cultivation.

This gu insect itself was not particularly adept at combat, relying primarily on the host target that it infested. The stronger and more potential the host had, the better. The two formed a symbiotic relationship.

"When I probed with my spiritual sense, that soul gu was about to sink into the depths of the sea of consciousness. If I hadn't encountered it at just the right moment, even an ordinary Core Formation Immortal wouldn't be able to notice Chen Fuhai's abnormality." Lan Chang'an thought.

Now it seemed that the Heavenly Moon Wolf back then was also a target of the "The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu." Perhaps it had just recently infested, and thus not fully integrated, allowing him to sense something amiss. Years ago, Chen Fuhai "narrowly escaped death," but he never returned to Huanglong Immortal City, perhaps to avoid exposing this weakness.

"Should I expose Chen Fuhai?"

"No, this insect is mysterious and unpredictable, capable of inhabiting multiple targets at the same time. I can't afford to offend it." Lan Chang'an quickly shook his head.

Even if exposed, it would not be convincing. According to legends, a matured The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu could reside in and control over a hundred living beings.

The one Lan Chang'an encountered might not be the main gu and is far from its mature form. Otherwise, the infested targets wouldn't be at the Foundation Establishment level.

The original Heavenly Moon Wolf came from the Black Fog Mountain Range, which spanned nearly half of Great Qing. The infested targets of "The Hundred Abodes Soul Gu" might not be limited to the Liang Kingdom and could also be in surrounding cultivation countries.

Lan Chang'an concluded:

Be wary of Chen Fuhai and pretend to be unaware.

This kind of strange insect coexisted with its host and was not a world-destroying true spirit, so it would not bring great disasters to the cultivation world.

...

A few days later, a large auction was held in Huanglong.

Lan Chang'an went to see if he could find something he needed. Besides spiritual bamboo, Lan Chang'an also needed second-rank Life Extension Pills. Additionally, the Earth Burrowing Rat had been stuck at the peak of the second-rank early stage for over ten years, so he hoped to find pills and treasures to aid its breakthrough.

Some years ago, Lan Chang'an had communicated with the Zhou Family Foundation Establishment cultivators, intending to purchase second-rank mid-grade Earth Spirit Pills or corresponding breakthrough resources.

The Zhou Family politely declined his request, saying that resources for helping demonic beasts advance to the mid second-rank were scarce even for themselves.

This auction did not feature any such breakthrough items either. However, there was another item that would be helpful to the Earth Burrowing Rat.

"Black Blood Lotus Seed, it can enhance blood-path cultivation methods. These seeds are not suitable for most human cultivators, but some certain bloodline-type demonic beasts can slightly enhance their bloodline by consuming it, limited to superior-grade and below bloodlines."

"Starting price, 1,200 spirit stones."

"1,300... 1,500..."

The bidders included Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Beast Taming Zhou Family. The Black Blood Lotus Seed was not a popular auction item due to its limitations and small enhancement effect.

"2,300."

In the end, Lan Chang'an bid successfully for the item.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator competing with him was Zhou Qingxuan from the Zhou Family. However, Lan Chang'an had hidden his identity, so Zhou Qingxuan didn't recognize him, only giving him a cold, displeased glance.

Over the years, this woman still looked like a young girl, perhaps having taken the Youth Retaining Pill.

Lan Chang'an had heard that decades ago, two or three of the seven great cultivation families wanted to marry Zhou Qingxuan to form an alliance. The Zhou Family naturally refused, unwilling to let a Foundation Establishment spirit beast tamer genius marry outside.

Aside from Zhou Qingxuan, Lan Chang'an also recognized other familiar faces at the auction, such as Lin Lu and Fairy Shi.

...

After the auction, Lan Chang'an returned to the inn and reverted back to his original appearance. He then took out the Black Blood Lotus Seed he had won.

"Squeak squeak!"

The Earth Burrowing Rat eagerly emerged from the spirit pet pouch, wagging its tail and showing a longing expression.

Lan Chang'an flicked the lotus seed, and the Earth Burrowing Rat accurately leaped up and swallowed it in one bite.

After consuming the Black Blood Lotus Seed.

Lan Chang'an observed for a while but didn't notice any obvious changes. Only the rat's blood energy slightly increased.

After buying the two spiritual bamboos and the Black Blood Lotus Seed, Lan Chang'an's spirit stone reserves were running low. He had also spent quite a lot on puppetry. Several second-rank puppets he had refined were not easy to liquidate for now.

Lan Chang'an left the inn, intending to sell some second-rank low-grade talismans.

...

"Uncle Lan!"

A white-faced middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator flew towards the Jin Yun Valley station, delighted to see Lan Chang'an.

"Little Lu." Lan Chang'an smiled. He had seen Lin Lu at the auction but didn't greet him due to his hidden identity.

Lin Lu enthusiastically invited him to the Jin Yun Valley station.

In an elegant room, they chatted over tea.

"In three or four years, the 'Green Underworld Mysterious Realm' will open. Uncle Zhao and Uncle Zhang are preparing to participate. My cultivation is shallow, so I have no qualifications to join." Lin Lu mentioned the situations of Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan.

The Green Underworld Mysterious Realm was something Lan Chang'an had been silently paying attention to as well.

The longevity items he needed, opportunities for Core Formation, and third-rank spiritual bamboo had all appeared in the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm.

Most of the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm's slots were controlled by sects. Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan also obtained slots through competition, paying a considerable price.

The sect's top talents, such as those with earth spiritual roots, were generally not recommended to take risks unless they insisted on going in. Those with good backgrounds and decent talent also didn't need to take risks either.

"Uncle Lan, have you visited the Mu Family in recent years?" Lin Lu had recently visited Feiyue Lake, finding it difficult to describe the situation.

"No, but I've heard a bit." Lan Chang'an hadn't been to Feiyue Lake for about ten years.

In recent years, the Mu Family had declined compared to the time they had two Foundation Establishment cultivators. The descendants of Li Erqing had become a powerful new branch, causing overt or covert conflicts with the old Mu Family branch.

The old Mu Family branch included descendants of Mu Renlong and Mu Maode, such as Mu Chengji, Mu Xiuyun, and Mu Yunfei.

The conflicts were mainly about family resources and power. Li Erqing could remain aloof, but his descendants, including the female cultivators they married, inevitably fought for it.

With poor relations between the two branches, internal strife would naturally arise, hampering the overall development of the family. Huang Tankong's schemes before his death were beginning to show.

"I heard that a few of Uncle Li's granddaughters-in-law changed their children's surname to 'Li' to please him, the Foundation Establishment ancestor."

"Changed to Li?"

Lan Chang'an frowned slightly but did not comment. He had completely severed ties with the Mu Family; other people's domestic affairs were none of his business.

The last letter he received from Li Erqing was a year ago. His cultivation had reached the second level of Foundation Establishment only a few years ago, after more than twenty years of cultivation.

"It's just an isolated case," Lin Lu added, "Uncle Li initially opposed it too. but perhaps later considered preserving some bloodline connection to the Li family, so he permitted these few exceptions."

After chatting for an hour or two, Lan Chang'an left the Jin Yun Valley station. He had no intention of meddling in the Mu Family's affairs. From Li Erqing's perspective, his actions weren't particularly egregious.

That day, he went to Huanglong Immortal City to sell some second-rank talismans, earning some spirit stones which he used to purchase supplies.

A few days later, Guan Qiaozhi and Mu Bingyun arrived at the rendezvous point, and the three boarded a flying boat to depart Huanglong Immortal City.