I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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"Nephew Jiuan, you truly possess outstanding talent and appearance. Uncle Lan has heard about you for a long time."

Lan Chang'an smiled as he observed the handsome man in feathered robes. Mu Jiuan had outstanding looks and temperament, his eyes bore a resemblance to his birth mother, Mu Caiwei, to some extent.

It was said that Mu Jiuan had delicate features since childhood, not looking much like Li Erqing, which made him disfavored by his father. Only after discovering his remarkable spiritual roots did Li Erqing pay him any attention.

Li Erqing's favorite son had always been Mu Ershun, who seemed almost cast from the same mold as his younger self.

In the cultivation realm, it was difficult for someone to wear another's green hat. Even low-level cultivators could vaguely sense whether someone was their own bloodline descendant or not. Certain Blood Dao techniques could allow one to sense their bloodline descendants within a certain range.

One reason Lan Chang'an didn't consider taking a wife or having children was because doing so would leave him vulnerable.

...

"I heard that Uncle Lan is a second-rank talisman master. This bottle of late second-rank Yellow Ox Blood can be used to create spiritual ink for talismans. It's a small token of your nephew's appreciation."

Mu Jiuan smiled calmly and handed over a blood bottle.

"Nephew Jiuan is very considerate."

Lan Chang'an accepted the bottle, his tone friendly.

Mu Jiuan indeed lived up to being a disciple of a Nascent Soul-level sect's elder, with a generous gesture.

It's a pity it wasn't a power inside the Liang Kingdom. Otherwise, this connection could have been beneficial for Lan Chang'an.

The two exchanged pleasantries and took their seats, while Guan Qiaozhi poured tea. Lan Chang'an chatted with Mu Jiuan and his wife, Yu Yufu, inquiring about the cultivation world in Feng Kingdom. Most of the conversation consisted of Lan Chang'an asking questions and Mu Jiuan answering, with Yu Yufu occasionally adding a word or two.

Mu Jiuan was neither humble nor arrogant, displaying good manners. However, Lan Chang'an noticed that Mu Jiuan's respect and politeness were superficial, almost perfunctory. Mu Jiuan showed little interest in deepening the relationship with him.

Lan Chang'an could understand this.

Setting aside the seniority aspect, Mu Jiuan was also an early Foundation Establishment cultivator and a favored disciple of an elder of a Nascent Soul-level faction. Not only that, Mu Jiuan even managed to woo the Core Formation elder's granddaughter, making their relationship doubly familial.

Mu Jiuan's status was far above Lan Chang'an's who was a wandering Foundation Establishment cultivator. Without familial affection, Mu Jiuan naturally lacked respect and felt distant towards him.

"Jiuan, how did you come to Liang this time?" Lan Chang'an asked.

Crossing the borders of cultivation kingdoms was a long journey, potentially facing threats from robbers. This was the main reason Mu Jiuan hadn't returned for many years.

"My master is visiting 'Wangyue Immortal City' near Liang's border this time. I came along to gain some experience and took the opportunity to make a visit." Mu Jiuan replied.

Lan Chang'an had heard of Wangyue Immortal City, located on a fourth-rank spiritual vein. Although it was on Liang's border, it was not governed by any neighboring nations. It was a large, neutral immortal city, influencing several surrounding cultivation kingdoms, with a very mysterious background.

"Uncle Lan, your nephew is out for a limited time and cannot stay for long."

Within less than half an hour, Mu Jiuan took his leave.

Lan Chang'an did not try to keep them and saw the two off outside his cave residence. He guessed that Mu Jiuan felt distant not only from him but also from this homeland. Mu Jiuan was already over forty and had spent more time in Feng Kingdom than anywhere else, forming a Daoist partnership there and finding contentment in settling down.

...

Mu Jiuan and Yu Yufu left Little Turtle Peak, flying out of Wuqi Mountain.

"Jiuan, this Uncle Lan seems interesting. Why didn't you chat a bit more?" Yu Yufu seemed reluctant to leave. She felt Lan Chang'an was not an ordinary cultivator, but unfortunately, their time together was limited, she couldn't get to know him better.

"If it weren't for my father's insistence, I wouldn't have come at all." Mu Jiuan's tone was bland.

"In Liang, besides a few relatives at Feiyue Lake, there's nothing worthwhile for me to remember."

"This is your homeland. It's hard to come back, so you should cherish it a bit." Yu Yufu took his arm.

"Cherish? My father's favorite son will always be Ershun, even though I obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill for him back then." Mu Jiuan's handsome face showed a hint of loneliness.

"Ershun's aptitude is so poor, yet my father still wants to help him establish a foundation, asking me, his younger brother, to lend a hand. This time, at least half of the resources I'm honoring him with will go directly to Ershun."

Yu Yufu blinked her pretty eyes: "Your father is indeed biased, but it's because you don't look like him."

"I think you resemble Uncle Lan a bit in terms of appearance and temperament?"

Mu Jiuan's expression froze.

"Sigh, back then, when you helped obtain that Foundation Establishment Pill for your father, you repaid the grace of raising you. There's no need to dwell on it." Seeing her husband's displeasure, Yu Yufu changed the topic.

The pair flew out of Wuqi Mountain, a middle-aged Foundation Establishment cultivator with a haggard face crossed paths with them. The middle-aged cultivator was Chen Sheng, Shi Manrong's ex-husband.

...

Chen Sheng flew directly towards Little Turtle Peak, one of the three main peaks.

The steward Lan Lin noticed him but did not approach.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, Chen has something to discuss." Chen Sheng shouted loudly in front of Little Turtle Peak.

"Senior Chen, my master is in seclusion and will not receive visitors for some time." Guan Qiaozhi showed a polite smile.

"Chen doesn't believe it! You quickly go and inform him this is the last time I'll come to him." Chen Sheng frowned, his tone displeased.

Guan Qiaozhi did not respond. His heart surged with an inexplicable fury as he released the pressure of Foundation Establishment, intending to force his way inside

Guan Qiaozhi was so frightened that her face lost its colors, her hands clutching the command token as she activated the mountain's protective formation, blocking Chen Sheng at the gate.

"Chen Sheng!"

A cold reprimand came from the direction of Xiao Pan Peak.

"Manrong, it was my mistake. I acted impulsively just now, but I did all this for you." Chen Sheng immediately flashed an earnest smile.

"You still haven't scrammed?"

"Yes, yes! I'll scram right away." Still reluctant to depart, Chen Sheng gazed longingly at that enchanting silhouette.

...

After Chen Sheng flew out of Wuqi Mountain.

Shi Manrong, in a simple dress, flew to Little Turtle Peak.

She spoke softly: "Fellow Daoist Lan, I caused you trouble just now."

"No harm done, he was only scaring the little girl, he wouldn't dare to actually barge in uninvited." Lan Chang'an walked out of his cave.

To Wuqi Mountain, Chen Sheng was considered a nuisance—a man who refused to let go, clinging desperately to his ex-wife in hopes of winning her back. The man was almost neurotic, always worrying his ex-wife would start seeing someone else.

Seven years ago, Chen Sheng first sought out Lan Chang'an, asking him to watch over his ex-wife, keeping an eye out for any miscreants.

Lan Chang'an perfunctorily agreed.

In the following years, Chen Sheng visited multiple times. He requested Lan Chang'an to create opportunities for his ex-wife to reconsider. He even begged Lan Chang'an to persuade her.

Exhausted by these bothersome requests, Lan Chang'an stopped responding to Chen Sheng entirely, just as the other two peak masters did.

...

Lan Chang'an had some understanding of the grievances between Shi Manrong and Chen Sheng over the years.

Shi Manrong's family was destroyed when she was young, and she had been engaged to marry Chen Sheng, the young master of the Chen Family.

The Chen Family's ancestor was willing to keep his word, so he took Shi Manrong under his wing with plans to fulfill the engagement when the time came.

But at that time, Chen Sheng hadn't cared for her at all. Firstly, Chen Sheng already had a favorite female cultivator. Secondly, the young Shi Manrong wasn't particularly attractive.

Fortunately, Shi Manrong's exceptional talent in formations played a role in the family, preventing her from being bullied.

Later, under the Chen ancestor's pressure, Chen Sheng reluctantly took her in as his wife but treated her coldly.

A few years after the ancestor's death, Chen Sheng demoted Shi Manrong to concubine and wedded the female cultivator that he liked instead.

Shi Manrong could not stand it any longer.

In a fit of rage, she left the Chen Family, leveraging her formation talents and seizing opportunities, she advanced to Foundation Establishment earlier than her ex-husband.

With her cultivation greatly improved, Shi Manrong's appearance and temperament became outstanding, gaining fame in the surrounding neighborhood as the genius formation master—Fairy Shi.

The Chen Family declined over the decades after Shi Manrong left. Chen Sheng, to establish his foundation, mortgaged and sold the family's second-rank spiritual vein. Over the years, the only remaining line of cultivators from the Chen Family resided in a first-rank high-grade spiritual vein.

Chen Sheng himself was without a second-rank spiritual environment to cultivate in.

Upon seeing the reborn Shi Manrong, Chen Sheng was astonished and sought to rekindle their relationship, hoping to move to Wuqi Mountain to cultivate alongside her.

...

"Fellow Daoist Lan, to express my apologies, Manrong will host a banquet at my residence to comfort the frightened Qiaozhi." Shi Manrong's hair was elegantly tied, her demeanor dignified, with a smile in her clear eyes.

She specifically mentioned Guan Qiaozhi. They had known each other for seven or eight years.

Shi Manrong occasionally visited Little Turtle Peak, initially to observe the mysterious formations there. Over time, Lan Chang'an and this elegant Fairy Shi became quite familiar. Their philosophies were very compatible.

Both placed importance on cultivation, believing skills were necessary to protect one's path, and held opinions regarding romantic relationships rather lightly; neither desired a Daoist partner nor marriage. Whenever their conversations took place, both parties left feeling satisfied.

Lan Chang'an also admired this woman quite a bit—especially her noble and unsullied demeanor, which emanated from enduring hardship and suffering like the fragrance of plum blossoms.

A few years ago, Shi Manrong invited Lan Chang'an to visit her residence, but out of concern that Chen Sheng might hold grudges against him, Lan Chang'an declined due to his own laziness in involving himself further. Even still, Chen Sheng persisted in his pursuit, perhaps seeing Lan Chang'an as a good-natured pacifist.

"Senior Brother Lan?" Guan Qiaozhi's charming eyes flickered slightly, hinting at some interest.

"All right." Lan Chang'an nodded. This time, taking Guan Qiaozhi along should dispel any suspicions.

Shi Manrong was a genius when it came to formations and was expected to become a third-rank formation master in the future. Lan Chang'an gladly befriended her.

...

Xiao Pan Peak.

Shi Manrong's cave mansion was tastefully decorated and filled with fragrant flowers and the chirping of birds. Servants brought out dish after dish of exquisite spiritual food.

"This is the two-hundred-year-old Green Plum Spirit Wine from my humble collection, it's beneficial to both men and women." Graceful and composed, Shi Manrong poured it for the both of them.

"Green Plum Spirit Wine?" Guan Qiaozhi's eyes sparkled with delight; she had heard this wine had the effect of beautifying the face, nourishing yin, and helping with fertility. Excited by these prospects, she inadvertently drank several cups too many.

In her excitement, she underestimated the strength of this second-rank spiritual wine, unwittingly becoming intoxicated before falling asleep.

Two serving girls stepped forward to escort Guan Qiaozhi to a side room where she could rest.

"Fairy Shi, your Green Plum Spirit Wine tastes somewhat different from the usual one." Lan Chang'an took another sip. There were no harmful toxins, but its medicinal effects were slightly unusual.

He met the gaze of Shi Manrong's clear, limpid eyes, and they exchanged a glance that held tacit understanding.

"What is it about it that differs?"

The soft, melodious voice sounded like clear water flowing past his ears. Lan Chang'an suddenly felt that the Fairy Shi before him seemed particularly beautiful, dignified yet pure, gentle yet alluring, making him feel the urge to get close to her.

This wasn't a love potion. It was rather a natural aphrodisiac contained within spiritual wine.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, do you find me beautiful?"

Dressed in robes of moonlight, Shi Manrong possessed elegant bearing and curves that were full and rounded. She sat before Lan Chang'an, gently leaning against him, her face framed like a silver disk with a faint blush.

Lan Chang'an's spiritual sense had already swept across the cave mansion, finding nothing out of the ordinary. The two had known each other for seven or eight years; their views aligned, and they admired one another greatly. If this was merely to spice up a short-lived relationship, there would be no harm.

"Has Fairy Shi considered this clearly?" Lan Chang'an asked as he wrapped his arms around her waist.

Shi Manrong lifted her skirt, gracefully turning on the spot, her supple and well-rounded derrière sitting firmly upon his lap.

"What do you mean 'considered'? Does Fellow Daoist Lan fear I'll cling to him?" Shi Manrong chuckled softly, her chest rising and falling.

Lan Chang'an lowered his voice. "Let me make it clear beforehand: I will not sire children."

Shi Manrong fell silent, her smile fading.

Suddenly, she lifted one long leg in an elegant arc, then landed from Lan Chang'an's body, smoothing her skirts as she returned to her refined and dignified demeanor.

Lan Chang'an blinked, wondering if he might have been too straightforward?

(End of chapter)