I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 116: Ninety Years of Progress

Whether or not the restriction could be lifted still depends on Shi Manrong's fortune. Lan Chang'an estimated that the success rate remained relatively low. If Shi Manrong could truly lift the restriction with this method, achieving the third-rank formation master level in the future could be considered a sure thing.

By then, not only would Lan Chang'an look at her with new-found respect, he might even consider hugging her thigh in advance.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, do you really have no thoughts about that ancient ruin?" Shi Manrong's expression was slightly disappointed.

Lan Chang'an seemed interested in the opportunity she mentioned but showed no intention of cooperation. Shi Manrong had thought this would be the biggest temptation to draw Lan Chang'an's help, followed by her beauty and talent.

That ancient ruin was suspected to have been created by a formation master, containing high-level formation master inheritances, which were highly attractive to her.

"Even a Fake-Dan Immortal perished in that ruin. This Lan has some self-awareness." Lan Chang'an shook his head with a smile.

The opportunities and treasures in the ruin were indeed very enticing to him. Involving the quality of the finished core, and the life-bound magic treasure, even if he had sufficient lifespan, he would still have to consider competing for them.

But all this was contingent on whether or not he could guarantee his own safety. For instance, when he'd ventured into the Black Fog Mountain Range, though there were inherent risks, they were manageable overall.

"By the way, Fairy Shi, besides you and Qi Immortal, does anyone else know the location of that ancient ruin?" Lan Chang'an asked a crucial detail.

"Qi Immortal is a wandering cultivator who enjoys exploring and inadvertently discovered that ancient ruin. To keep the secret and enjoy the opportunities alone, only I assisted him after being implanted with a restriction." Shi Manrong explained.

Lan Chang'an didn't fully believe all of this. He couldn't be sure if that Fake-Dan Immortal left any fallback methods to inform others through certain means.

That ancient ruin…He would have to wait and see for at least a few decades, waiting for his strength to rise above the Fake-Dan, and only with the help of a third-rank formation master would he consider it. Otherwise, regardless of how enticing Shi Manrong made her description sound, he wouldn't spare it a glance.

…

After the transaction, both parties got what they needed.

Shi Manrong's only regret was not obtaining Lan Chang'an's full assistance.

Over their years of acquaintance, she felt this neighboring peak master was not an ordinary cultivator. An elder at the Foundation Establishment stage with an excellent mindset, owning a second-rank demonic beast, raising a Profound Water Turtle, and he had a defensive formation similar to those in the ancient ruin.

Moreover, this neighbor's appearance, temperament, and principles greatly appealed to her. If he were the kind of man who took feelings too seriously and clung to her, she would have no interest.

"Fairy Shi, please step aside."

Lan Chang'an raised his hand, preparing to lift the restriction in the study.

He found that Fairy Shi hadn't put on her shoes yet, and a pair of delicate jade feet in white stockings stepped on the floor.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, since we've finished our transaction, shouldn't we discuss personal feelings?" Shi Manrong smiled charmingly, her graceful steps elegant. Previously, Lan Chang'an had expressed that transactions and personal matters should be handled separately.

She wrapped her arm around Lan Chang'an's, looking delicate and pitiful, her head nestled against his chest.

"How does Fairy Shi want to discuss it?"

This time, Lan Chang'an didn't resist, smiling slightly as he held Fairy Shi's waist.

"How to discuss it is up to Fellow Daoist Lan."

Shi Manrong's face, like a silver plate, blushed faintly, her hand lightly touching her skirt's waist.

A cool breeze passed below Lan Chang'an, and Fairy Shi's moonlit dress slipped down, revealing her smooth jade-like legs.

Shi Manrong softly said, "My body is that of a broken willow. Bound by the restriction, I fear my life may not last many years. Fellow Daoist Lan need not pity me."

There was no bed in the study; the two embraced intimately for a long time, moving to the desk.

Outside the cave, the moonlight was enchanting.

Two hours later.

Shi Manrong tidied her cloud-like hair, and cast a cleansing spell, leaving her moonlit dress spotless. She gracefully bent over to slip on her embroidered shoes, but a sudden pain appeared between her brows, accompanied by a stifled groan.

Lan Chang'an smiled apologetically and helped support Fairy Shi.

This Fairy Shi, with the charm of a mature woman, gave Lan Chang'an the best experience he ever had in this life.

After letting Shi Manrong rest and regain her strength, Lan Chang'an escorted her out of the cave mansion.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, if one day, the restriction on me activates, and I no longer exist, will you remember me?" Before parting, Shi Manrong looked at him, seemingly with a hint of sorrow.

"Be optimistic." Lan Chang'an smiled in response, encouraging her.

Her words and actions were gentle, but he met them with firmness. He wasn't susceptible to such temptations.

Shi Manrong probably had alternative plans to break the restriction, either risky or requiring some unwilling sacrifice.

…

Returning to the cave mansion.

Lan Chang'an reviewed the transaction just now, checking for any gaps.

Firstly, the formation in that ancient ruin had similarities to the one he obtained from the ancient cultivation civilization in his previous life. This was likely why Shi Manrong initially took an interest in it.

Lan Chang'an didn't even ask for the exact location of the ruin. Without the assistance of a third-rank formation master, he wouldn't consider it at all.

Secondly, Shi Manrong was suspected of pitting a Fake-Dan Immortal, or at least have given it a push, she may not be an ordinary cultivator.

After the transaction, Fairy Shi continued their transient relationship, perhaps not just out of admiration or to alleviate her loneliness. She might have an intuition that he wasn't an ordinary cultivator, so she clung to him as if grasping at straws.

…

In the following half-year, Wuqi Mountain remained peaceful.

Fairy Shi's visits became less frequent; she often stayed within her cave or hurriedly ventured outside.

Lan Chang'an guessed she went to the market or immortal cities, seeking various methods or items to break the restriction.

The spell would not activate for another five to six years—there was still time before it became a crisis.

One day, Lin Ye invited Lan Chang'an to visit him at Little Pill Peak. Compared to when he first settled in Wuqi Mountain, Lin Ye had a few more wrinkles on his face.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, have you heard about Alchemist Hua's assassination?"

After three rounds of drinking, red spots appeared on Lin Ye's old face, and he chuckled.

"Alchemist Hua's assassination? When did this happen?" Lan Chang'an asked in surprise.

"Just recently, in the past month. It's said he was ambushed by hired assassins on his way home. Hua Heng barely escaped death using his life-saving means but was seriously injured." Lin Ye said gloatingly.

Hired assassins?

No matter if it's true, it sparked an idea in Lan Chang'an.

As long as the employer kept their identity secret and had sufficient financial resources, the risk of hiring assassins was low.

"Who would hire assassins to kill Alchemist Hua?" Lan Chang'an probed.

"That's unclear."

Lin Ye stroked his beard and smiled.

That is hard to say," Lin Ye said with a smile, stroking his beard. "This Hua Heng may appear reputable, but he employs underhanded tactics and petty tricks in his alchemy. Perhaps he once wronged someone, and attracted their hatred."

…

Returning to his cave mansion, Lan Chang'an fell into deep thought.

A scene from over a decade ago flashed in his mind, where Alchemist Hua smilingly handed the just refined superior-quality Foundation Establishment Pill to Fu Xuemei.

In that incident, Alchemist Hua was considered the mastermind and was the one proactively currying favor with Fu Xuemei.

Now that Alchemist Hua was injured, it seemed like an opportune time for revenge. Lan Chang'an deliberated further but concluded this wasn't necessarily the case.

Alchemist Hua, who narrowly survived an assassination attempt, was now like a startled bird, more vigilant than ever before.

At the same time, he couldn't be sure if this was a trap.

Some years ago, Lan Chang'an inquired about Lin Ye and Alchemist Hua's relationship; they indeed had no interactions. No obvious suspicion arose from Lin Ye's side.

Perhaps the one who hired the assassins was Lin Ye. Seeing the assassination failed, he hinted to Lan Chang'an, hoping he would deliver another blow.

"If there's no reasonable scapegoat, killing Alchemist Hua might arouse Fu Xuemei's suspicion."

…

Another half a year passed.

A significant event occurred in the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world.

Cultivators from the three major sects, Jin Yun Valley, Xuan Yin Pavilion, and Liuyun Sect, launched a full-scale assault on the hidden demonic cult stronghold near the Black Fog Mountain Range.

Liang Shaotian, who had already advanced to the early Core Formation Realm, engaged in a fierce battle with the sect's experts. Ultimately, outnumbered, he was forced to retreat after sustaining injury.

The demonic cult stronghold was destroyed by the sects of Liang Kingdom's cultivation world. This battle greatly boosted the prestige of the several major sects.

"The cultivation world's situation is stable. Liang Shaotian's high-profile actions, establishing a hidden stronghold is akin to claiming the title of king over a mountain and defying the general trend. It's unlikely to succeed." Lan Chang'an wasn't surprised by this result.

The cultivators involved in the siege were just a small portion of the three major Core Formation sects, they hadn't moved all their forces.

The strongest faction in the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world, Flame Departing Palace, as well as the Qingzhu Sect in the eastern region, did not participate in the operation.

…

Liang Shaotian's grave injury and defeat occurred when Lan Chang'an turned eighty-seven.

His personal cultivation was approaching the third level of the Foundation Establishment stage. At this time, Lan Chang'an faced a problem: Guan Qiaozi had reached the ninth layer of Qi-Refining. To be exact, she stepped into the ninth layer of Qi-Refining half a year ago.

Counting the years, Guan Qiaozi had been serving Lan Chang'an's every beck and call for a few decades already.

One day, Lan Chang'an sent a message talisman, summoning Guan Qiaozi to the secret room.

"Senior Brother Lan, what do you need from me?" Guan Qiaozi's eyes sparkled with anticipation, her eyebrows painted and lips red, wearing a white gauze dress.

Ignoring her gaze, Lan Chang'an asked sternly:

"Qiaozi, have you made any preparations for Foundation Establishment?"

"Foundation Establishment? Not yet." Guan Qiaozi was stunned for a moment, then shook her head. "Thanks to Senior Brother Lan's care, reaching the ninth layer of Qi-Refining at my age is already no small feat. Living in the vast second-rank spiritual vein of Little Turtle Peak is already a blessing. As for the Foundation Establishment stage, I dare not hope for it."

Guan Qiaozi knew how difficult it was to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill. It wasn't just about having enough spirit stones. Without such a pill, given her aptitude and current age, her chances were slim.

Lan Chang'an looked at her: "Do you want to reach Foundation Establishment?"

"Yes." Guan Qiaozi bit her lip lightly; this was the dream of every Qi-Refining stage cultivator.

It wasn't something she dared to hope for, but it certainly was a fantasy she'd entertained.

"I've received word from Alchemist Lin that there exists a certain black-market channel through which one can purchase inferior Foundation Establishment Pills at a lower price, these pills can increase the success rate by 15%." Lan Chang'an said.

"Foundation Establishment Pill?" Guan Qiaozi's breath tightened, her chest heaving, and her eyes sparkling.

"This jade slip contains the method and insights for Foundation Establishment. Spend some years polishing your cultivation and digesting these insights." Lan Chang'an handed her the jade slip and instructed her accordingly.

"It is unclear whether I will be able to acquire an inferior Foundation Establishment Pill. But you must prepare yourself to attempt Foundation Establishment before the age of sixty."

"Yes, Senior Brother Lan." Guan Qiaozi took the jade slip, the rims of her eyes reddened slightly, weeping softly.

She never thought Lan Chang'an would plan to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill for her, a mere concubine of his.

She knew Lan Chang'an's disposition; without a high degree of confidence, he wouldn't have brought this up.

…

Time flew by, and three years passed.

Lan Chang'an reached ninety years old.

In the secret room of Little Turtle Peak.

The mana lake in Lan Chang'an's dantian subtly expanded, and the power of his Evergreen Technique grew even more robust.

"At the age of ninety, reaching the third level of Foundation Establishment, I'm in the last stage of the early Foundation Establishment." Lan Chang'an remained calm.

Climbing these minor stages only measured one's cultivation progress, with each level increasing the total mana by two or three-tenths at most. Only when one broke through to the middle stage of Foundation Establishment would there be a substantial increase in strength.

He murmured, "It seems Qiaozi is already fifty-eight. I wonder how her preparations for Foundation Establishment are going."

(End of Chapter)