I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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“...You are Uncle Lan?”

Lan Chang'an followed the voice and turned to look at the Foundation Establishment cultivator from Feng Kingdom who had spoken.

It was a man in his late twenties, dressed in a long robe. His face was handsome and pale, and his posture was upright and imposing.

If this man were a few years younger, his appearance and temperament would have somewhat resembled Lan Chang'an.

"Nephew Jiuan?"

Lan Chang'an showed a surprised expression. He hadn't expected that the person he had discussed with Li Erqing a few days ago, "Mu Jiuan," would cross paths with him under such circumstances.

The last time he met Mu Jiuan was more than sixty years ago.

At that time, Mu Jiuan had apprenticed under an elder of the Golden Sun Sect, and along with his Daoist companion Yu Yufu, they had visited Lan Chang'an at Wuqi Mountain, bringing along valuable gifts as a token of respect.

However, it was only under his father's pressure that Mu Jiuan begrudgingly went to visit Lan Chang'an.

There was no genuine uncle-nephew relationship between them.

Having been taken to Feng Kingdom at a young age, where he married and cultivated in the Golden Sun Sect, Mu Jiuan naturally felt distant from his kin and friends back in the Liang Kingdom, including his elders.

Moreover, with the two nations being enemies and the distance between them great, their ties had essentially been severed.

"Junior Brother Jiuan, you know this person?"

In the group, a tall man in a red robe, a Foundation Establishment cultivator in the late stage, furrowed his brow and asked.

Mu Jiuan looked troubled. He forced a smile and transmitted a message:

"Senior Brother Guang, this man is an elder from my home in Liang Kingdom. Uncle Lan is just a wandering cultivator and not affiliated with any sect. Can we let him go?"

"As your elder, he looks so youthful despite his age, rides a Profound Water Turtle as a mount, and his power exceeds that of ordinary sect disciples. Are you certain he's just some insignificant loose cultivator?"

Senior Brother Guang sneered, his tone filled with doubt and malice.

"Junior Brother Jiuan! We previously decided to attack the Maple Leaf Huang Family as a warning to others, and we refrained from targeting your father's family, already giving you plenty of face."

"And now, not only have you failed to turn the Mu family of Feiyue Lake to our side, but you're also trying to protect an elder who isn’t even blood-related to you?"

Mu Jiuan opened his mouth but was left speechless.

In his earlier years, Mu Jiuan had been accepted as a disciple by an elder of the Golden Sun Sect, and later married the elder's granddaughter. In the sect, he had flourished, receiving ample resources.

However, twenty years ago, his master, a True Dan cultivator in the late stage, had unfortunately fallen in a war between cultivators.

Although he still had some connections with his senior brothers and fellow disciples, his status and treatment within the sect were no longer what they used to be.

Otherwise, he wouldn't have had to undertake a dangerous mission deep within enemy territory.

Still, he was hoping to earn some battle merits and compete for resources to reach the Core Formation Realm.

"Jiuan, since it's an old person you know, this old man will make the decision to give him a way out."

An aged voice sounded from the dense forest half a li behind Lan Chang'an.

A green-robed elder appeared out of thin air on the treetop.

"A Fake Dan cultivator adept in concealment techniques?"

Lan Chang'an's back went cold. He had only just detected this person’s presence.

For someone to infiltrate deep into enemy lines and lead a team on a mission, the leader was bound to possess exceptional abilities.

"Thank you, Master Lu!"

Mu Jiuan's face lit up with joy, and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators respectfully bowed.

"However, sparing his life is already an exception. If we let this man leave without any cost, it will be difficult for me to convince the public!"

Master Lu's tone shifted, and his narrow eyes focused coldly on Lan Chang'an, who was seated on his Profound Water Turtle.

"Hand over your storage pouch, leave the Profound Water Turtle behind... and get lost!"

Mu Jiuan's face changed slightly at these words, but he didn't plead any further.

A spiritual pet and a storage pouch filled with valuables were all external possessions.

Saving Lan Chang'an's life, Mu Jiuan felt, was already the limit of his duty.

"Nephew Jiuan, I'll see you later."

Lan Chang'an smiled as he bid farewell to Mu Jiuan.

The Feng Kingdom cultivators all thought he had surrendered.

However, Lan Chang'an didn't hand over his storage pouch. Instead, he took out a blue talisman, just shy of being a third-rank, and fired it toward the Profound Water Turtle's belly.

Whoosh! Boom!

A massive dark-blue wave surged forward, carrying both Lan Chang'an and the Profound Water Turtle, crashing through the left front side.

The Fake Dan cultivator from Feng Kingdom was stationed behind him. Lan Chang'an chose to break through the front.

Mu Jiuan was positioned on the right side, and Lan Chang'an didn’t want to put him in a difficult position, so he decided to break through on the left.

The quasi-third-rank water-type spell unleashed a terrifying momentum, causing the three Foundation Establishment cultivators in that direction to turn pale.

Taking advantage of the water element, the Profound Water Turtle's speed surged, surpassing even that of late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Stop him!"

Senior Brother Guang, who didn’t get along with Mu Jiuan, shouted angrily. He summoned a magical treasure prototype, an iron ring, which transformed into a massive wheel about six or seven zhang in size, radiating a dazzling light as it intercepted Lan Chang'an.

Accompanying Senior Brother Guang, three other mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators also attacked.

Pfft! Pfft! Chirp!

The massive dark-blue wave was blocked by Senior Brother Guang's magical treasure prototype and the supreme-grade magic weapons of the three Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"As expected of elite Foundation Establishment cultivators from a Nascent Soul sect, handling a Fake Dan spell with such ease."

Lan Chang'an remained calm. He lightly tapped his storage pouch.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three puppets floated above the blue wave.

At the forefront was a top second-rank turtle puppet.

Behind it were two archer puppets, one superior-grade and the other top-grade second rank.

Bang!

The turtle puppet charged forward, knocking aside Senior Brother Guang’s magical treasure prototype by several zhang.

Senior Brother Guang was shocked. As he stabilized his now-dim magical treasure prototype, he realized that the turtle puppet was completely unharmed.

"So tough! The defense of this turtle puppet is comparable to that of a quasi-third-rank demonic beast!"

Despite being a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Senior Brother Guang could only barely defend against the turtle puppet's aggressive assault, forcing him to retreat step by step.

At the same time, the long-range attacks from the two archer puppets, combined with the Profound Water Turtle's water ripple spell, suppressed the other three mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Seeing this, Mu Jiuan and the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators on his side were stunned.

Lan Chang'an, alone, was able to suppress four elite Foundation Establishment cultivators from their sect, including Senior Brother Guang, who wielded a magical treasure prototype.

Mu Jiuan knew that Senior Brother Guang's strength surpassed his own by a good margin.

Mu Jiuan did not intervene due to his relationship with Lan Chang'an. The two Foundation Establishment cultivators beside him, who had a good relationship with him, hesitated as well, especially since Lan Chang'an wasn’t breaking through on their side.

The next moment, they would be immensely thankful for their decision.

"Those who dare stand in my way, die!"

Lan Chang'an shouted loudly. With a wave of his sleeve, a half-moon-shaped black scimitar, gleaming with a golden sheen, surged forward like a tidal wave, slicing toward the Feng Kingdom cultivators.

"Not good!"

Master Lu, who had been slowly approaching from the rear, suddenly turned pale.

The power of this strike far surpassed that of an ordinary magical treasure prototype, on par with a Fake Dan expert.

"Ahh! Ahh!"

Wherever the scimitar passed, protective shields shattered, blood sprayed, and bodies were cleaved in two.

Two of the mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, who had been suppressed by the puppets, were caught off guard and fell on the spot.

"Hiss!"

The third mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator hastily activated a life-saving talisman, barely fending off the remnants of the black-gold scimitar, but still lost an arm in the process.

However, before he could last much longer, an arrow from the top-grade archer puppet pierced his skull, and his lifeless body fell to the ground.

In just two breaths, Lan Chang'an had slain three mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The only one left blocking his path was Senior Brother Guang, a late Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Junior Brother Jiuan, save me—"

Senior Brother Guang's scalp tingled as he desperately cried out for help.

With three Foundation Establishment cultivators dead, Senior Brother Guang was left alone, besieged by three powerful puppets and the Profound Water Turtle. His control over his magical treasure prototype was waning as his magical power drained.

He activated a quasi-third-rank protective talisman, but the protective shield rapidly dimmed under the relentless assault, on the verge of collapsing within moments.

Shh!

At that moment, Lan Chang'an’s black-gold curved scimitar magical treasure prototype slashed toward Senior Brother Guang’s face.

"Stop!"

Master Lu, the Fake Dan cultivator, rushed forward from behind, his voice filled with both shock and rage.

"Hmph!"

Lan Chang'an snorted coldly, his voice resonating like thunder.

For an instant, Senior Brother Guang froze as he was about to activate a second talisman.

The next moment, his vision went black, and he lost consciousness.

"Senior Brother Guang!"

Mu Jiuan gasped, a chill running down his spine.

He watched in horror as the estranged Senior Brother Guang, from head to torso, was cleaved in two by a single strike.

In the brief moment after Lan Chang'an had slain four Foundation Establishment cultivators, a squeaking sound echoed.

Squeak! Squeak!

An orange-purple demon rat scurried across the ground and through the air, swiftly collecting the storage pouches of the fallen cultivators one by one.

Almost immediately after Lan Chang'an finished his slaying, the Earth Burrowing Rat delivered the loot onto the turtle's back.

"Hmm."

Lan Chang'an smiled and nodded, accepting the loot before casting a glance toward Mu Jiuan on the right.

"Uncle Lan..."

Mu Jiuan’s pupils contracted, his throat tightening as he forced a smile. Instinctively, his body began to retreat.

Looking at the eternally youthful and serene Uncle Lan, Mu Jiuan felt an overwhelming sense of shock, coupled with an indescribable fear and unfamiliarity.

His father, Li Erqing, had always shown immense gratitude and respect toward this Uncle Lan, but Mu Jiuan had never taken it seriously, begrudgingly visiting him in the past.

If not for that reluctant visit years ago, the two would not even have known each other.

And if not for that, today’s encounter would have ended with Mu Jiuan sharing the same fate as the four dead cultivators.

...

"Who are you, daring to kill the disciples of my Golden Sun Sect?"

With the overwhelming spiritual pressure of a Fake Dan cultivator, the green-robed elder finally arrived at the scene, his ghostly figure hovering in the air.

"This Lan is just a loose cultivator."

Lan Chang'an positioned the turtle puppet behind him, with the two archer puppets flanking his sides.

The power he had displayed earlier, combined with his formidable puppets, was enough to put him on equal footing with a Fake Dan cultivator.

Forcing down the killing intent within his heart, Master Lu hesitated, summoning his magical treasure but not daring to attack recklessly.

He couldn't believe that Lan Chang'an was merely an ordinary loose cultivator. He must have a significant background.

Had he known Lan Chang'an possessed such strength, Master Lu would never have made the decisions he did.

Their team of cultivators was deep in enemy territory, primarily tasked with subversion and covert sabotage. They were in no position to confront the sects of Liang Kingdom head-on.

Their mission was essentially guerrilla warfare, avoiding direct confrontation with stronger forces.

"Master Lu."

Mu Jiuan and the remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators breathed a collective sigh of relief and quickly regrouped with the elder.

Lan Chang'an made no move to stop them.

"In consideration of my nephew Jiuan, I will spare your lives today."

Lan Chang'an’s gaze swept indifferently over Master Lu and Mu Jiuan.

Swish!

With a wave of his sleeve, Lan Chang'an retracted his puppets and sat atop the Profound Water Turtle.

Following his original route, the massive dark-green turtle carried the calm and composed white-robed man as they rode the waves into the sky.

Watching the distant figure of the man and his turtle, Master Lu's face darkened with indecision.

Even though Lan Chang'an had withdrawn his puppets, Master Lu still didn't dare to make a move.

From Lan Chang'an’s unhurried demeanor, he could sense that the man still had strength to spare, making him unfathomable.

"Master Lu, what should we do now?"

"Collect the bodies and leave the scene!"

Master Lu gritted his teeth and made a firm decision.

Given Lan Chang'an’s strength and tactics, if he had chosen to stall them, reinforcements from the sects of Liang Kingdom would eventually arrive, and this elite squad of Feng Kingdom cultivators deep in enemy territory would face certain doom.

Lan Chang'an’s parting words were no exaggeration.

Gathering their fallen comrades, the elite cultivators from Feng Kingdom quickly retreated.

"Master Lu..."

As they made their way back, Mu Jiuan noticed Master Lu’s deep, probing gaze on him, and he lowered his head in shame.

Master Lu looked at him meaningfully and said,

"Don't blame yourself. If not for the fact that you are this man’s junior, we might all have perished in Liang Kingdom today..."

(End of chapter)