I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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Having reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, Lan Chang'an now met the basic requirements to attempt Core Formation.

Back then, Fu Xuemei had started her Core Formation as soon as she reached the ninth level, without consolidating her foundation for long, and ultimately succeeded in forming a True Dan as well.

But that had been out of necessity.

In general, unless forced by time or circumstance, most cultivators would try to reach the peak of Foundation Establishment before attempting Core Formation to improve their chances of success.

If that was not feasible, it was still advisable to consolidate at the ninth level for at least a year or two.

"At my advanced age of 170, I am going to take the path of Core Dissolution, so there’s no need to aim for the peak of Foundation Establishment."

Lan Chang'an had set his Core Formation attempt for a year from now.

If he were to pursue the peak of the ninth level, it would take him at least another ten years at his current cultivation speed. By then, he would be over 180 years old, making him stand out even more.

In theory, a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s lifespan could reach 224 years, but most only lived to around 200.

While cultivators focusing on life-nurturing techniques tended to live longer and stay in better physical condition, it was rare to see anyone at 180 still succeeding in Core Formation. Such cases were virtually unheard of in nearby cultivation nations within the last millennium.

Moreover, Lan Chang'an intended to take the path of Core Dissolution.

For his first Core Formation attempt, he didn’t plan to use external aids like Crystal Condensation Pills or precious Core Formation items, as he didn’t want his initial core to be of too high quality.

The higher the quality of the formed core, the more difficult and dangerous the core-shattering process would become.

Given his lack of experience with Core Dissolution Techniques, he naturally had to play it safe.

"Once I shatter the core and return to the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, my mana will be even purer. In the next attempt, I can improve the quality of the core I form."

This was the principle behind all Core Dissolution techniques.

In the process of shattering a core back into liquid mana, a cultivator inevitably suffers backlash, which can damage their foundation to varying degrees.

Even those with powerful backing would need years of careful healing and expensive resources to fully recover.

In some cases, if the backlash was too severe, it could ruin a cultivator’s chances of ever forming a core again.

But Lan Chang'an was different: his Evergreen secret spell could consume lifespan to heal injuries and repair his foundation effortlessly.

As long as he restored his energy and adjusted his state, he would be ready for another Core Formation attempt in no time.

He had already verified this back when Guan Qiaozhi failed her Foundation Establishment. The backlash had been severe, yet he had been able to heal her completely using the Evergreen Technique.

In short—

Lan Chang'an didn’t have to worry about damaging his foundation.

After shattering his core, he could attempt Core Formation again without a long delay.

Moreover, the Evergreen Technique’s ability to heal with lifespan expenditure was nearly miraculous, capable of resurrecting someone from the brink of death.

He had realized this years ago when he saved the eldest Miss Mu.

This meant that the risks associated with the Core Dissolution process would be significantly reduced for him.

If the backlash during the process were to cause life-threatening injuries, Lan Chang'an could simply spend some of his lifespan to heal himself completely.

As long as there was more longevity, he didn’t need to worry about even the most severe injuries.

This was why Lan Chang'an dared to attempt the Core Dissolution path despite not having a Nascent Soul guardian, even with the Returning Dust Core Transformation Method’s mere thirty percent success rate.

Apart from the Evergreen Technique, he had two additional advantages.

Firstly, he possessed the soul shadow of his second life.

Now that the second life imprint on the Nine Seal Stele had been fully activated, he had access to the full power of his past life as a peak Core Formation cultivator, with a soul that merged perfectly with his current self.

This gave him the level of control over his mana that a peak Core Formation cultivator would have, which was even more beneficial than having a Nascent Soul True Monarch guardian.

During the Core Dissolution process, a guardian’s help was ultimately external support. At most, they could preserve his life and help stabilize his internal energy flow.

Secondly, he had a body tempered to the level of a Fake Dan cultivator.

After studying the Returning Dust Core Transformation Method, Lan Chang'an realized that a strong body also reduced the risks of the Core Dissolution process.

"A Core Formation peak's spiritual sense control, a Fake Dan-level body, and the life-saving Evergreen secret spell… the Core Dissolution path is simply tailor-made for me."

The more he thought about it, the more confident he felt about his plan.

If he chose not to pursue Core Dissolution, he could rely on his current resources to have a ninety-nine percent chance of forming a mid-tier True Dan.

For an upper-grade core, he still had over a seventy percent chance.

As for an Immortal Golden Dan, his chances were slim.

Although his Evergreen Technique provided a solid foundation and his core-forming resources were excellent, his low-grade wood spiritual root held him back.

Even so, he had a high probability of forming an upper-tier True Dan—something usually reserved for cultivators with earth spiritual roots.

But Lan Chang'an’s goal in this life was to reach the Nascent Soul Realm. To improve his odds, he needed to at least attempt for an Immortal Golden Dan.

Even if he couldn’t achieve a Golden Dan, he would aim for the finest True Dan possible, one that approached the threshold of a Golden Dan as much as possible.

…

A few days later.

Lan Chang'an flew to the heart of Qingsha Bay to visit Patriarch Xia.

Inside the tea room at Water Curtain Cave, Patriarch Xia warmly welcomed him and brought out a treasured third-rank spiritual tea.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, you’ve only just reached the ninth level of Foundation Establishment, and you’re already preparing for Core Formation?"

After a cup of tea and hearing Lan Chang'an’s intentions, Patriarch Xia looked shocked.

"At my age of over 170, I can’t afford to wait any longer. Even if I cultivate life-nurturing technique, my physical state will gradually decline with each passing year, reducing my chances of success in Core Formation," Lan Chang'an explained, his tone resigned.

Patriarch Xia sighed. "It’s hard to have it both ways, but I’d still suggest consolidating your foundation for at least a year or two."

"There’s no time," Lan Chang'an shook his head. "I was recently forced into signing a third-rank spiritual contract with a True Dan cultivator from the Xie Family of Chen Kingdom. Only by advancing to a higher realm will I stand a better chance of dealing with it…"

"Xie Wuji? A third-rank spiritual contract?"

Hearing the details, Patriarch Xia’s expression turned serious.

This was indeed a tricky situation.

A third-rank spiritual contract targeted Core Formation cultivators.

Even if Xie Wuji’s contract was an ordinary one, most True Dan cultivators would find it difficult to resist the backlash it imposed.

Only top-tier Core Formation experts or those with spiritual senses close to the Nascent Soul Realm could hope to resist or dissolve it.

But Lan Chang'an, with his previous life’s soul fusion, already possessed spiritual strength beyond the level of a Core Formation expert, which made breaking the contract possible.

If he succeeded in forming a True Dan, his spiritual sense would surge, making it even easier to break free.

"My mind is made up—I’ll attempt Core Formation in one year."

Seeing Lan Chang'an’s resolve, Patriarch Xia sighed and decided not to press the matter further.

"Where do you plan to attempt Core Formation? The Wufu Merchant Association can act as your guarantor and help you rent a third-rank spiritual vein site."

Without waiting for Lan Chang'an to ask, Patriarch Xia offered his assistance.

Lan Chang'an had once saved Xia Shenglan, leaving the Xia family in his debt.

A third-rank spiritual vein was a crucial factor in Core Formation.

If the spiritual energy was insufficient or of low quality, it could lead to unstable energy flow and drastically reduce the chances of success.

This was the "land" in the saying "Wealth, Companionship, Techniques, and Land," emphasizing the importance of location and spiritual resources.

If a cultivator could succeed by simply digging a hole in the wilderness, then the life of a loose cultivator would be far easier.

In the cultivation world, sects, noble families, and merchant guilds monopolized high-grade spiritual vein sites, controlling these critical resources.

The main reason the Jing Kingdom lacked Nascent Soul cultivators was the absence of a fourth-rank spiritual vein.

Nearby, Liang Kingdom and Chen Kingdom each had a fourth-rank spiritual vein, thus each supporting a Nascent Soul-level sect.

"How about Cloudsmoke Immortal City? It’s nearby."

Among the immortal cities in Jing Kingdom, Lan Chang'an was most familiar with Cloudsmoke.

Speaking of which, over the years, he had been so focused on cultivation that he hadn't contacted Hanyu Immortal of the Snow Fox Merchant Association much.

"That’s a good choice," Patriarch Xia nodded. "Back then when you first arrived in the Jing Kingdom, you got your identity token as a Merchant Alliance cultivator, so with our merchant guild vouching for you, it won’t be difficult to arrange."

"All you need to do is pay a fee to rent a third-rank spiritual vein site and prepare for Core Formation."

Drawing large amounts of spiritual energy for Core Formation would disrupt the flow in a third-rank vein and the city's protective formation, so permission from the city authorities was required.

In addition to verifying identity, a significant fee was necessary to pay the owners of the spiritual vein site.

Having been in Jing Kingdom for years and with local backing, Lan Chang'an’s application process would be relatively smooth.

…

Over the following months, Lan Chang'an continued to consolidate his foundation while waiting.

"The final requirement for Core Formation… I hope everything goes smoothly."

Even with the experience from his past life, Lan Chang'an felt a bit of nervous anticipation.

In his previous life, he had encountered some obstacles when forming his core.

Two months later.

An Immortal from the Merchant Alliance arrived, accompanied by Patriarch Xia, to conduct an initial verification of Lan Chang'an’s identity.

Lan Chang'an discreetly presented a small gift.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, the review process is stricter than in previous years."

After seeing off the Merchant Alliance Immortal, Patriarch Xia spoke seriously.

"With the influx of cultivators from the Liang Kingdom and the infiltration of the demonic Unseen Gate, the Merchant Alliance has tightened its scrutiny!"

"In the past, bribing with extra spirit stones or treasures could get you access to a third-rank spiritual vein, even if you were a loose cultivator or had an unclear background."

"However, Fellow Daoist Lan, please rest assured! Your record is spotless and without any criminal history; you’ll pass the review."

After a few reassuring words, Patriarch Xia left to handle more matters on Lan Chang'an’s behalf.

Another three months passed.

Finally, good news arrived from Patriarch Xia.

Lan Chang'an traveled to the nearby Merchant Alliance station, where he underwent a final review and received a token confirming his verified identity.

After nearly half a year, Lan Chang'an had secured his Core Formation site.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, luckily your record is clean and your reputation is good," Patriarch Xia remarked afterward. "Otherwise, in these tense times, the Merchant Alliance is being exceptionally harsh in its review of foreign cultivators."

As he explained, he revealed that some foreign cultivators, even with sponsorship from local merchant guilds, had either been denied or delayed for further investigation.

"Maybe it’s true that good deeds come back to you," Lan Chang'an replied with a smile, realizing that his steady approach to building connections and goodwill had indeed paid off.

Had he been quarrelsome and antagonistic, he might have faced obstacles, perhaps even deliberate attempts to sabotage his Core Formation.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, if you trust me, I would be honored to act as your guardian during Core Formation," Patriarch Xia offered kindly.

To act as a "guardian" was to provide post-failure support, potentially life-saving aid.

Failing at Core Formation often left cultivators gravely injured; without a guardian to help stabilize them, they were in mortal peril.

Given Lan Chang'an’s advanced age for a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Patriarch Xia was realistic about his success odds.

Even forming a Fake Dan would be considered a stroke of luck.

Patriarch Xia himself had attempted Core Formation at an age twenty years younger than Lan Chang'an was now.

…

Shortly after Lan Chang'an passed the Merchant Alliance’s review, a shocking piece of news spread throughout Jing Kingdom’s cultivation world, even reaching neighboring nations.

"The Xuan Yin Demonic Sect has occupied a spiritual vein and formally established itself as a sect, openly recruiting disciples?"

When Lan Chang'an heard this, he was astonished.

In the past, demonic sects were unrecognized and operated in the shadows, growing quietly without openly claiming territory or recruiting.

Now, one had brazenly established itself as a legitimate sect, vying with established sects on equal footing?

The Xuan Yin Demonic Sect had set up in the outskirts of the Black Fog Mountain Range, between Liang and Jing Kingdom—closer to Jing, in fact.

"The three major sects of Jing Kingdom are letting this slide?"

Lan Chang'an quickly obtained more information and insider details from Xing Peng, an Incense Master of the Unseen Gate.

Supposedly, the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect’s establishment had been tacitly approved by Chu Tianfeng, the most powerful cultivator in Feng Kingdom.

Naturally, Jing Kingdom’s three major sects were displeased and protested.

How could we sleep soundly with a rival at our doorstep?

Half a month ago, the three sects had dispatched three late-stage Core Formation experts to duel and wager against Liang Shaotian, a mid-stage Core Formation expert.

Liang Shaotian defeated two of Jing Kingdom’s late-stage Core Formation experts in a row.

He fought the third to a draw, despite the opponent being at the peak of Core Formation.

As a result, Jing Kingdom’s three sects lost the wager, effectively conceding the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect's right to operate on Jing Kingdom’s border.

From now on, the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect would be allowed to openly recruit disciples from nearby regions.

Moreover, their cultivators could freely visit major immortal cities and market towns.

In simple terms, the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect would be legal in the future.

"Liang Shaotian’s growth is terrifying; he’s as fast as an earth spiritual root talent! And his power even lets him fight above his level," Lan Chang'an thought with shock.

In his past life, his own strength had been on par with an ordinary late-stage Core Formation cultivator from Jing Kingdom’s sects—likely on the level of the two that Liang Shaotian had defeated.

"Liang Shaotian is still only mid-stage Core Formation. If he advances to the late stage, he might be the strongest below Nascent Soul in all neighboring cultivation nations."

"With this guy's merciless and unpredictable nature, Chu Tianfeng is taking a big risk by allowing this potential threat to grow unchecked…"

According to information from the Unseen Gate, the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect originated from the remnants of the former Xuan Yin Demonic Sect, which was once one of the Seven Giants of the demonic path.

Due to ideological differences and internal conflicts, the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect had broken away from the Seven Giants, eventually declining due to various factors.

The new Xuan Yin Demonic Sect was essentially a significant offshoot of the old Xuan Yin Demonic Sect.

Now, the six demonic sects were eyeing Feng Kingdom hungrily, seeking an opportunity to expand. The Xuan Yin Demonic Sect, sharing origins with the six sects, was still somewhat connected to them.

Most Nascent Soul experts would have chosen to eradicate the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect, seeing it as a potential threat, but Chu Tianfeng took the opposite approach, supporting their establishment as an official sect.

"Liang Shaotian may be powerful and unpredictable, but at least he holds a certain respect for 'Senior Yan'…"

…

Half a year later.

At the age of 171, Lan Chang'an arrived in Cloudsmoke Immortal City with Patriarch Xia’s accompaniment.

To use the third-rank spiritual vein, Lan Chang'an needed to pay a considerable fee.

Patriarch Xia had arranged this payment in advance as a gesture of goodwill.

Now, all that remained was for Lan Chang'an to check in with the city authorities to finalize his rental of the third-rank spiritual vein site for his Core Formation attempt.

Inside the main hall at the center of Cloudsmoke Immortal City—

"Fellow Daoists, I’m afraid there’s a bit of a delay. Your reserved Core Formation time will need to be pushed back by at least one or two months."

A Fake Dan cultivator dressed in crane robes, the deputy city lord, spoke with a blank expression.

"Lord Gongyang, but we booked this time slot in advance…" Patriarch Xia said with a forced smile, discreetly handing over a bag of spirit stones.

The crane-robed cultivator, Gongyang, was the deputy city lord of Cloudsmoke Immortal City. His affiliated merchant guild was one of the city’s stakeholders.

"Sigh, Fellow Daoist Xia, it’s not that I’m unwilling to help. The Snow Fox Merchant Association happens to have a peak Foundation Establishment cultivator who needs to form a core," Deputy City Lord Gongyang shook his head, pushing back Patriarch Xia’s spirit stone pouch.

"The Snow Fox Merchant Association?"

Patriarch Xia looked resigned. It seemed Gongyang wasn’t deliberately making things difficult.

The Snow Fox Merchant Association was a renowned merchant organization in the Jing Kingdom Merchant Alliance.

They had True Dan cultivators as well as several Fake Dan cultivators and even quasi-third-rank spirit beasts.

The Snow Fox Merchant Association was also one of the powers in Cloudsmoke Immortal City.

"Just one or two months. It’s no big deal."

Lan Chang'an didn’t mind the delay.

Core Formation required a massive amount of spiritual energy. Naturally, the city wouldn’t allow multiple cultivators to attempt Core Formation simultaneously, as that would place a heavy burden on the third-rank spiritual vein.

As Lan Chang'an and Patriarch Xia left, Deputy City Lord Gongyang’s face showed a contemplative expression.

In truth, the Snow Fox cultivator hadn’t requested to cut in line, but Deputy City Lord Gongyang valued his relationship with the Snow Fox Merchant Association and wanted to strengthen it, so he decided to make Lan Chang'an wait.

"That young man looks youthful, but he’s actually over 170. His chances of even forming a Fake Dan are slim."

"Wait… if he fails and dies in the third-rank spiritual vein, that would be bad luck…"

As the manager of the spiritual vein sites, Deputy City Lord Gongyang naturally had access to Lan Chang'an’s review documents.

He didn’t expect Lan Chang'an to succeed in forming a core; he just hoped he wouldn’t die in the attempt.

…

Lan Chang'an and Patriarch Xia booked an inn in the city.

That night—

The Earth Burrowing Rat brought Lan Chang'an a message token.

Over the years, he hadn’t been in touch with Hanyu Immortal from the Snow Fox Merchant Association.

The two of them had hidden contact locations in the Cloudsmoke Immortal City.

Lan Chang'an used a special technique to break the seal on the message token and read the contents.

"Big Brother Xiang, why haven’t you come to discuss the Dao with me these past two years?"

Discussing the Dao was their code for arranging a meeting.

"Big Brother Xiang, my merchant guild has a favor to ask of you. Please respond as soon as possible."

"Big Brother Xiang, if you don’t reply, I’ll come looking for you."

The initial messages seemed normal.

"You… who are you, really? Why did you pretend to be Xiang Immortal and deceive me?"

Seeing this penultimate message, Lan Chang'an’s lips twitched.

Damn!

In the years he hadn’t been cultivating this identity, "Xiang Immortal" had finally been exposed.

With two months to wait in the city, Lan Chang'an had initially planned to meet Hanyu Immortal for a Dao discussion.

Some relaxation before Core Formation could actually help him ease his mind, excessive stress or tension would hinder breakthroughs.

"Forget it!"

He dismissed the idea.

After all, it was merely a fleeting, mutually beneficial relationship—neither owed the other anything.

He opened the final message token.

"No matter who you truly are, our time discussing the Dao together was meaningful. I will wait quietly for your return."

Lan Chang'an felt a pang of discomfort.

Now that his identity had been exposed, he wouldn’t take any unnecessary risks by meeting Hanyu Immortal before his Core Formation.

Who knew if she held a grudge?

Crack!

Lan Chang'an crushed the message tokens in his hand, destroying them all.

Since his disguise had been compromised—

Their connection ended here!