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Chapter 234: Lifespan Exceeds 500 Years
Chapter 234: Lifespan Exceeds 500 Years
Chapter 234: Lifespan Exceeds 500 Years
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When Fang Zhong exposed his identity, Lan Chang'an wasn’t angry—he had expected this day to come.
After all, Lan Chang'an had arrived in the Jing Kingdom through connections with the Xinyue Merchant Association, specifically by leveraging his relationship with Li Congren, the grandson of Li Erqing.
Previously, Lan Chang'an had kept a low profile within the Wufu Merchant Association, performing modestly, which didn’t warrant much attention from the Xinyue Merchant Association.
But after defeating Fang Zhong two years ago and rescuing Xia Shenglan, and more recently “breaking through” to the late Foundation Establishment stage, Lan Chang'an inevitably attracted the scrutiny of the Xinyue Merchant Association’s higher-ups.
Moreover, Fang Zhong had surely exaggerated Lan Chang'an’s strength after his earlier humiliation.
If Lan Chang'an had revealed his true strength back then and killed Fang Zhong, his identity would have been exposed much sooner—perhaps even before the Earth Burrowing Rat formed its core.
“Did you come here just to reveal my true identity?” Lan Chang'an didn’t bother maintaining his façade anymore, speaking in a cold tone.
“I’m not a wanted man,” he continued. “In the Liang Kingdom, I’m a law-abiding, reputable loose cultivator. So even if my identity is leaked, it means nothing to me.”
In other words, there was no leverage to be gained from exposing Lan Chang'an.Fang Zhong was momentarily taken aback before awkwardly laughing. “Big Brother Lan, you misunderstand. I’m not here to threaten you. After all, we’re both from the same homeland.”
Fang Zhong’s situation differed from Lan Chang'an’s.
While Fang Zhong was a deserter from the Liang Kingdom and a wanted man, hiding in the Jing Kingdom to evade capture, Lan Chang'an’s identity as a well-known, reputable cultivator could stand up to scrutiny, with no hidden dangers lurking behind him.
“Big Brother Lan, I’m here on behalf of the Xinyue Merchant Association to invite you to join us. If you agree, the guild is willing to offer you three times the benefits you’re currently receiving from the Xia Family!”
“You needn’t worry about the second-rank spirit contract either, an immortal will step in and help you crack it.”
“Big Brother Lan, you’ve always been one to avoid unnecessary risks. You should be aware of the vast difference between the two guilds. When the nest falls, no egg remains unbroken…”
Fang Zhong’s argument was logical and persuasive.
“Sorry to disappoint you, but I’ve already grown accustomed to life in Qingsha Bay. I have no desire to upend my life again,” Lan Chang'an said after a brief pause, shaking his head.
He had settled down at Qingsha Bay’s Autumnwind Isle, where both of his spiritual pets had found suitable habitats.
The Xuanmu Vine was firmly rooted, and connected to the earth’s energy at the bottom of the deep pond, creating a secretive cultivation environment.
Moreover, the Xia Family had treated him fairly, and the key decision-makers within the family weren’t bad people.
With such a stable environment and favorable conditions, there was no reason to gamble on an uncertain future elsewhere.
“Well then, I wish you success on your path,” Fang Zhong shrugged and, without pressing further, swiftly departed.
Fang Zhong had come alone for this negotiation, with no ambush waiting nearby.
That was why Lan Chang'an was willing to chat with him and didn’t feel the need to eliminate him.
Now that Fang Zhong and the Xinyue Merchant Association knew Lan Chang'an’s true identity, they likely understood that sending one or two late Foundation Establishment cultivators wouldn’t be enough to deal with him.
Lan Chang'an himself was at the late Foundation Establishment stage and had a spiritual pet of comparable strength.
More importantly, he was also a skilled talisman master, possibly even at the quasi-third-rank level.
Even if the Xinyue Merchant Association sent a Fake Dan cultivator, there was no guarantee they could resolve the situation quickly, and there was always the risk that Lan Chang'an might escape.
...
Two days later.
An elderly man, thin and frail, dressed in a straw cloak, flew into the misty, water-covered immortal city.
Lan Chang'an was quite familiar with Cloudsmoke Immortal City by now.
As usual, he checked into the Xunxian Residence, but this time, he didn’t need a guide.
Using his spiritual sense, Lan Chang'an swept the inn but found no trace of Wang Feng.
Wang Feng, the young master from the Liang Kingdom who had been gravely injured and suffered damage to his dantian and meridians, had once stayed here.
During their first parting, Lan Chang'an had even given him a medicinal recipe for healing.
Now, with no sign of Wang Feng, his fate remained uncertain.
Lan Chang'an didn’t dwell on it—it had merely been a small gesture of goodwill.
The next day.
Lan Chang'an visited the Snow Fox Merchant Association in the city and paid a visit to Hanyu Immortal.
This time, the cold and beautiful Hanyu Immortal greeted him with a restrained yet delighted warmth in her demeanor.
“The third-rank beast pills and Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients you requested may take about half a month to gather. Why don’t you stay at my estate and let me host you for a while?” Hanyu Immortal suggested.
“Would that be appropriate?” Lan Chang'an hesitated.
“Xiang Immortal, do you think I—a mere Fake Dan cultivator—am dangerous? Why act so distant? Or do you not wish to repay the promise you made to me?”
Hanyu Immortal’s rosy lips curved into a playful smile, her tone a mix of teasing and mock reproach. Her cool and refined demeanor gave her an irresistible charm.
“If staying at your estate for half a month counts as repaying one of my debts, then I see no reason not to,” Lan Chang'an said with a smile.
“Xiang Immortal thinks beautifully, since when is there a rule that simply eating and staying for free counts as repaying a debt?” Hanyu Immortal chuckled, her laughter like the sound of silver bells.
That evening, Hanyu Immortal personally hosted a banquet for Lan Chang'an.
The two shared several jars of spirit wine, and although both were Fake Dan cultivators, the wine was enough to make them slightly tipsy.
As they drank and conversed, the distance between them gradually lessened. Their topics ranged from the situation in the cultivation world to internal rivalries within the merchant guilds, and even their personal experiences.
Hanyu Immortal, it seemed, didn’t handle her liquor well. Her delicate, snow-like complexion became tinged with a faint blush, like the morning sun rising over a snowy landscape.
“Xiang Immortal can be considered a dragon among men in this generation. Haven’t you ever thought about finding a Dao companion?”
Her clear, icy eyes shimmered as she looked at Lan Chang'an in genuine curiosity.
“No. I’m just a crude man—what female cultivator would look twice at me?” Lan Chang'an said, taking a swig of wine. He could easily read between the lines of her words and played along.
“You’re too modest. With your current status, comparable to a True Dan cultivator, what female Fake Dan cultivator wouldn’t be interested in you?”
Hanyu Immortal, dressed in her silver robe, leaned in closer and refilled Lan Chang'an’s cup with a graceful hand.
As she drew nearer, he caught a faint scent like that of snow lotus, and when his leg shifted, it brushed against the smooth, exquisite fabric of her skirt.
“To receive such praise from Hanyu Immortal… it truly puts me in a good mood,” Lan Chang'an laughed.
They drank two more jars of spirit wine, and the distance between them grew even smaller, so much so that they could feel each other’s breath.
Before he knew it, the once aloof and dignified Hanyu Immortal was half-leaning, half-sitting in his arms, her silver hair disheveled, her snow-white robe slipping to reveal long, slender legs as smooth as jade.
“No, we can’t, Xiang Immortal…”
With a gasp, Hanyu Immortal parted her full, ruby lips from Lan Chang'an’s, her hands grabbing his gnarled fingers and pushing them away from her nearly half-opened robe.
“Heh, Hanyu Immortal, why not? Weren’t you the one who seduced me first…”
At this moment, Lan Chang'an was fully playing the role of “Xiang Immortal.” The guise of a proper gentleman didn’t suit this persona, and being bold and direct was more in line with the rough and uninhibited image of Xiang Immortal.
...
Ten days later.
In the elegant chamber filled with the scent of sandalwood, the fine bedframe made from second-rank spiritual wood creaked loudly, almost as if it was about to collapse.
Hanyu Immortal’s pale arms supported herself on the edge of the bed, her smooth, delicate back facing the straw-cloaked elder who held her by the waist.
Their clothing lay strewn about the room in a chaotic mess, trampled underfoot.
Suddenly, a communication talisman flew into the room. The two of them glanced at it, but without breaking stride, they continued their… interaction.
Half an hour later.
Hanyu Immortal, now clad in a pristine, snow-white palace gown, calmly retrieved the communication talisman.
“Big Brother Xiang, the third-rank beast pills and Foundation Establishment Pill ingredients you requested have all been gathered,” she said in a measured tone.
“Your merchant guild is efficient,” Lan Chang'an remarked.
“When you rise to even greater heights in the future, don’t forget the kindness of me and the Snow Fox Merchant Association.” Hanyu Immortal smiled.
“I won’t forget. After all, I made a heart demon oath the other day, didn’t I?”
Lan Chang'an spoke boldly.
As the head of the Snow Fox Merchant Association, Hanyu Immortal was no easy conquest. Initially, she had maintained a delicate distance, carefully guarding her virtue.
But once they became intimate, she had asked Lan Chang'an to make a heart demon oath, using his “Xiang Immortal” identity, that he would never betray the merchant guild or her personally.
Lan Chang'an had found it amusing but went along with it, making the oath under the name “Xiang Immortal.”
After their intimate moments, Hanyu Immortal had become fully convinced of Lan Chang'an’s identity as “Xiang Immortal.”
After all, his body was so strong that he had already broken several beds, and her own body, that far exceeded the strength and flexibility of a Foundation Establishment female cultivator, had barely withstood the “onslaught.”
And so, in this rather humorous fashion, Lan Chang'an had enjoyed ten days of free food, free lodging, and more.
...
In a side hall.
Lan Chang'an and Hanyu Immortal sat at the head of the room.
Gao Songcheng, an Elder of the Snow Fox Merchant Association handed over a storage pouch.
Lan Chang'an accepted the pouch, quickly inspecting its contents before nodding in satisfaction.
Inside were two bottles of third-rank beast pills. With one pill per month, the Earth Burrowing Rat would be well-provisioned for several years.
The Earth Burrowing Rat, cultivating underground at Autumnwind Isle, had limited access to spiritual energy, so it couldn’t afford to go without these pills.
Additionally, the storage pouch contained two sets of auxiliary materials for the Foundation Establishment Pills.
With the critical main ingredient already in his possession, Lan Chang'an had tasked the Snow Fox Merchant Association with sourcing the rest, which hadn’t been difficult for such a large organization.
“Here are the spirit stones.”
Lan Chang'an handed over a heavy pouch of spirit stones to Hanyu Immortal.
“Thank you, Xiang Immortal, for doing business with our merchant guild.”
Hanyu Immortal smiled as she counted the stones.
“I have other matters to attend to. I’ll visit again next time,” Lan Chang'an said, rising to leave.
“Take care, Xiang Immortal.”
Hanyu Immortal escorted him to the guild’s entrance.
As she watched him walk away, recalling their recent encounters, her expression remained calm, though she suppressed a hint of physical discomfort.
...
After leaving the Snow Fox Merchant Association, Lan Chang'an didn’t leave Cloudsmoke Immortal City right away.
He had heard of a small auction taking place in the city, where a common second-rank Life Extension Pill would be available.
After waiting for several days, Lan Chang'an, disguised as a white-haired old man at the late Foundation Establishment stage, participated in the auction.
Successfully purchasing a second-rank Life Extension Pill, Lan Chang'an returned to Qingsha Bay without incident.
Upon his return to Autumnwind Isle, he gave the third-rank beast pills to the Earth Burrowing Rat, which happily retreated to its underground dwelling.
Inside his cultivation chamber.
Lan Chang'an consumed his sixth ordinary second-rank Life Extension Pill.
This time, the effects weren’t nearly as potent as the last time he had taken a superior pill.
It only extended his lifespan by five years.
That was within his expectations, as the effects of such pills diminish with each use.
“Finally, I’ve surpassed 500 years!”
Lan Chang'an’s current lifespan had reached 502 years, putting him firmly within the lifespan range of a True Dan cultivator.
After taking the Life Extension Pill, Lan Chang'an’s thoughts turned to the fact that the Xinyue Merchant Association had uncovered his true identity.
“The Wufu Merchant Association will learn of this eventually as well,” Lan Chang'an contemplated whether he should reveal his identity to the Xia Family ahead of time.
In the end, he decided to let things take their course.
Regardless of whether it was Lan Chang'an or Wu the alchemist, his needs remained the same.
He required a stable spiritual vein to cultivate until he reached the peak of the Foundation Establishment stage, which could take decades.
...
Another half-year passed.
Lan Chang'an was now 148 years old.
It had been eight years since he had broken through to the late Foundation Establishment stage on Little Turtle Peak.
Lan Chang'an felt that he had made significant progress, now more than halfway through the seventh level of the Foundation Establishment stage.
Three days later, after giving his two apprentices some time off, Lan Chang'an bathed, burned incense, and prepared to enter seclusion for alchemy.
This time, he would attempt to refine Foundation Establishment Pills.
Seven days later.
After consuming one set of ingredients, Lan Chang'an successfully completed the process.
“One failed pill… two inferior-grade pills...”
Lan Chang'an stared at the three pills in his hand—one was charred and cracked like a piece of black coal, while the other two were full and lustrous, though they bore only three and a half Dao lines.
Despite being inferior-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, they were still highly sought after by low-level cultivators.
For loose cultivators, even an inferior-grade pill was a dream come true.
Lan Chang'an stored away the two inferior pills, saving the remaining set of ingredients for when he felt more confident in his alchemy skills.
In his study at Autumnwind Isle, Lan Chang'an reflected on the recent alchemy session, identifying areas for improvement.
...
A few days later, the Young Master Xia Mingqu paid Lan Chang'an a visit.
“Come in, young master,” When Lan Chang'an saw the dignified Xia Mingqu, he noticed a trace of unease on his face.
His maidservant, Xia Wenyue, was also present, serving tea and water.
As the two drank tea and conversed, their discussion ranged far and wide.
Xia Mingqu sighed, “The neighboring countries’ cultivation wars have reached a stalemate. Aside from the chaos at the borders, there are many deserters and loose cultivators fleeing into the Jing Kingdom, destabilizing the trade routes.”
“To ensure the safety of our guild’s cultivators, we’ve purchased many high-quality talismans, but they’re still in short supply.”
“High-quality talismans are always in demand,” Lan Chang'an replied calmly.
Xia Mingqu’s smile was as warm as spring as he looked at Lan Chang'an and asked,
“Alchemist Wu, do you happen to know any skilled talisman masters? The Wufu Merchant Association is willing to employ them at a heavy price and treat them as honored guests.”