I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 88: Switching Identities

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In his previous life, Lan Chang'an had studied the lost art of crafting treasure talismans. Unfortunately, the inheritance he received was too fragmented to allow him to create anything beyond a defective prototype.

Unfortunately, the inheritance he received was too incomplete, resulting in only a defective product and not a true success.

With his energy tied up in managing the cultivation family, cultivating, and achieving the status of third-rank talisman master, he didn't have the time to devote to this endeavor.

Three difficulties stood in the way of successfully nurturing a treasure talisman.

First, the treasure talisman required an exceptional base material, ideally a piece of spirit wood imbued with spirituality.

Second, it needed a long period of nurturing, sustained over many years.

Third, it required a specific quality of magical power and the methods used to nurture it.

"In my previous life, I didn’t lack excellent materials, but I didn't truly succeed mainly because of the second and third points."

In his previous life, he managed a family of cultivators, reached the peak of the Core Formation Realm, and became a third-rank talisman master with very limited energy to spare for anything else.

The fire-based cultivation technique he practiced was also unsuitable for nurturing.

According to the incomplete inheritance, wood-based techniques are the most suitable for nurturing.

In this life, Lan Chang'an happens to have long years of lifespan and plenty of free time.

The Ancient Trees Evergreen Technique was suitable for nurturing treasure talismans.

Many wood-based techniques were beneficial to spirit plant growth, fostering their healthy development. The Evergreen Technique was no exception, and its effects were even more pronounced.

Lan Chang'an never considered becoming a spiritual plant cultivator so he'd never developed that aspect of his abilities.

For example, with the Profound Water Turtle, its growth rate has greatly accelerated under the nurturing of the Evergreen Technique.

"If I want to nurture a treasure talisman, the basic material for the talisman must be at least second-rank superior spiritual wood bark, and third-rank spiritual wood bark would be even better." Lan Chang'an's goal was clear.

The treasure talisman has extremely high requirements for the talisman material, which was beyond the scope of the Qi-Refining stage.

Now that he had advanced to the Foundation Establishment Realm, it still wasn't easy to obtain.

As a talisman's raw material, spiritual wood bark was particularly compatible with the wood elemental Evergreen Technique.

The process of nurturing the treasure talisman is like cultivating a spiritual plant.

If the talisman material is good, nurturing it for decades or centuries can create a treasure talisman whose power is hard to estimate when unleashed.

...

A few days later.

Lan Chang'an moved out of the cave mansion at the foot of Huanglong Mountain in advance.

He didn’t want to stay under the eyes of the Immortals.

The Fake-Dan Immortals on the mountain were slightly interested in him as a mascot but didn’t want to lower themselves to visit him.

As for Huanglong Immortal, he was elusive, with a wide circle of friends, and was rarely at the Huanglong Mountain.

"After the Foundation Establishment stage, daily cultivation requires a second-rank spiritual vein. In the future, I need to find a quiet and stable Dao field." Lan Chang'an secretly planned.

Pills and spiritual stones can indeed make up for the lack of spiritual veins to a certain extent. But taking too many pills can lead to impure mana and unstable foundations.

Relying solely on pills for unlimited improvement in cultivation is unrealistic!

Spiritual stones are suitable for supplementing mana, but long-term dependence on them for cultivation reduces a cultivator's sensitivity to the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.

Speaking broadly, it lowers one’s compatibility with the world, hindering the comprehension of the Dao.

...

On the way back.

Lan Chang'an visited a post station to send a letter to Feiyue Lake.

"Greetings, Senior." The cultivator at the post station respectfully saluted upon seeing a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

This letter was sent to Li Erqing.

Lan Chang'an planned to visit the Mu Family a year later.

He didn’t mention the specific reason for visiting the Mu Family in the letter to avoid any leakage of information.

Lan Chang'an planned to sell the standard Foundation Establishment Pill in his possession to the Mu Family of Feiyue Lake.

To draw superior-grade talismans and nurture treasure talismans, a lot of spiritual stones are required.

Keeping the Foundation Establishment Pills was useless, as Lan Chang'an had no intention of having descendants, so naturally, he wanted to cash them in.

Since he was selling the Foundation Establishment Pill, he might as well do a favor and sell them to the Mu Family of Feiyue Lake.

After all, the Mu Family had taken him in when he was only at the first layer of Qi-Refining, which was a kindness.

In the Mu Family, Lan Chang'an had freeloaded and spent two to three decades, passing the most vulnerable stage of the Qi-Refining period, a pleasant time.

Even if Lan Chang'an sold the Foundation Establishment Pill at market price, the Mu Family would be grateful.

Competing in auctions for Foundation Establishment Pills is highly competitive and attracts attention.

Without sufficient strength, one could easily be targeted by hidden rogue cultivators, posing significant risks.

Rival forces might also openly or secretly interfere.

The cost of purchasing Foundation Establishment Pills is one thing.

Whether one can protect the pills and successfully advance amidst various risks is another challenge.

Mu Renlong's Foundation Establishment back then was either achieved by bearing the risks and secretly obtaining it from the black market or by acquiring key materials and privately collaborating to refine pills.

That secret Foundation Establishment cost the Mu Family greatly, depleting their resources for years.

...

On the same day, upon returning to Water Moon Residence.

The neighborhood of Jinxiu Lane was in an uproar.

"Congratulations to Senior Lan on achieving Foundation Establishment!"

The familiar neighbors and acquaintances from the past all came to congratulate him with changed attitudes.

"Senior Lan, you're finally back. I’ve been waiting for a long time." Du Wei, smiling broadly, came with his wife to pay a visit with a gift box in hand.

"Brother Du, there's no need to be so polite." Lan Chang'an didn’t neglect Du Wei and invited him in.

In the past, when he had requests for Du Wei, it was usually Lan Chang'an who visited Du Wei's residence.

This time, Du Wei came as a junior, formally visiting with his wife and bringing a generous gift.

With his advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm, Lan Chang'an had crossed social classes, switching identities.

In the vast Huanglong Immortal City, Lan Chang'an was now a notable figure.

If he wished, he could even establish a cultivation family.

"Senior Lan, my master asked me to convey his apologies for the unexpected visit of Miss Fu that day."

"He sent me to apologize on his behalf, hoping for your understanding." Du Wei was very humble, bowing deeply.

Unexpected?

Lan Chang'an found it amusing: Alchemist Hua still thinks he can deceive me, treating me like a wandering cultivator with no experience?

If Alchemist Hua was sincerely apologizing, he wouldn’t have sent his disciple.

Alchemist Hua prided himself on his status, and even with Lan Chang'an’s advancement to the Foundation Establishment Realm, he didn’t take him seriously.

An Alchemist of the same rank holds a slightly higher status than a Talisman Master.

Alchemist Hua was in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage and a superior-grade second-rank alchemist.

Lan Chang'an, a newly advanced Foundation Establishment cultivator with low potential, was at most a low-grade second-rank talisman master, with a significant status gap between them.

...

Just after sending off Du Wei, another young married couple arrived.

"Congratulations to Uncle Lan on achieving Foundation Establishment, becoming a model for wandering cultivators in the Liang Kingdom."

Lin Lu and his wife, Li Qiuyue, came with a congratulatory gift.

"No need to be so formal." Lan Chang'an spoke kindly, chatting amiably with the young couple for a while.

Lin Lu, the son of an old acquaintance, had long since reformed and lived a steady life in Huanglong Immortal City, cultivating diligently.

He occasionally came to pay respects and show filial piety.

Lan Chang'an’s attitude towards him gradually changed.

Although Lin Yi had died in the middle of the road, his father's good friends—Zhang Tieshan, Zhao Siyao, Lan Chang'an, and Li Erqing—all achieved Foundation Establishment.

Perhaps, this was the greatest resource Lin Yi left for his son.

Lan Chang'an heard that Lin Lu's wife, Li Qiuyue, was quite domineering at home. Yet upon meeting her, he found her gentle and poised, showing utmost respect toward him.

When Lan Chang'an asked her questions, she appeared rather nervous.

Lin Lu felt a bit proud, thinking his wife only dared to act tough at home.

After Lan Chang'an’s fame from achieving Foundation Establishment, his family status improved, and his wife became more obedient.

Moreover, the Foundation Establishment ancestor of Li Qiuyue’s family was severely injured hunting monsters in the Black Fog Mountain Range a few years ago and wouldn’t live much longer.

...

After a while, the Lin-Lu couple excused themselves, and Lan Chang'an saw them off without leaving his seat.

Unconsciously, he had grown from a weak Qi-Refining cultivator into a dependable pillar revered by the younger generation.

As Lin Lu and his wife reached the entrance of the courtyard.

A young girl in a yellow dress approached.

Lin Lu was slightly dazed, unable to hide his amazement.

The girl in the yellow dress had a face like beautiful jade, bright eyes, and slightly pouted cheeks, looking pure and charming.

Her looks and temperament surpassed the innocent-looking female cultivator from Jin Yun Valley who had deceived him back then.

The girl in the yellow dress glanced lightly.

Lin Lu and his wife felt a powerful pressure, their legs feeling like they were filled with lead.

Foundation Establishment Realm!

Panicked, Lin Lu feared the girl would reprimand them for their earlier rudeness.

"Senior..."

"Is this the residence of Lan Chang'an?" Zhou Qingxuan interrupted him.

"Yes, Senior, this is the residence of my Uncle Lan."

Lin Lu responded respectfully, avoiding eye contact.

"Mm." Zhou Qingxuan nodded, then lightly knocked on the gate with a depressed air, emanating the spiritual energy fluctuations of Foundation Establishment.

She was in a bad mood.

Two or three months ago, Zhou Qingxuan had been greatly surprised to hear that Lan Chang'an had reached Foundation Establishment at seventy, an age considered ancient in the cultivation world.

The Turtle Talisman Master she had once mocked had actually achieved Foundation Establishment at seventy, becoming an inspiring success story.

Lan Chang'an wasn't just a Foundation Establishment cultivator; he was also a second-rank talisman master.

It had only been a few years, yet his status had risen to match her own.

What depressed Zhou Qingxuan was that, due to the urging of her family, she would have to pay Lan Chang'an a personal visit in order to recruit him. Back when she had first met him, it had been Lan Chang'an who sought an audience with her, and now the roles were reversed.

"Senior Zhou, please come in." Guan Qiaozhi said as she opened the courtyard gate to welcome Zhou Qingxuan inside.

In the courtyard stood a small pond, and beside it, a turtle the size of a frying pan lazily blew bubbles. "The Profound Water Turtle? He succeeded in raising it?"

Zhou Qingxuan's eyes brightened; her attention was immediately drawn to the creature. A single glance was all it took for her to discern that this Profound Water Turtle was not sickly but rather quite healthy.

"Hm? Its growth seems abnormal; is it concealing its cultivation?"

Zhou Qingxuan was inwardly shocked. She had personally auctioned off the defective Profound Water Turtle egg back then, yet Lan Chang'an had not only successfully raised the creature, but it had also grown far faster than expected.

"Miss Zhou, long time no see." a man's clear voice rang out, interrupting her thoughts. Standing on the steps leading into the house was a man dressed in white, his demeanor tranquil and mild as jade.

His face and figure seemed almost identical to the young talisman master she had met at Bamboo Leaf Mountain thirty years ago.

(End of chapter)