I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

In an instant, Lan Chang\'an\'s facial features and aura underwent a dramatic transformation, becoming a vigorous and heroic young man.

"Is this Gao Cheng?"

Lan Chang\'an conjured a water mirror with a flick of his finger, marveling at his reflection.

Not only had his appearance changed to that of Gao Cheng, but even his eye color, hair, skin tone, aura, and mana fluctuations had transformed accordingly.

His cultivation level also reached the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

"The core of one\'s soul and cultivation methods remain unchanged, but the external manifestation is completely different," Lan Chang\'an observed for a long time and concluded.

Fuzzy images transmitted from within the depths of the mask recorded its origin from an ancient and mysterious creature. Within the incomplete information lay instructions on how to use the mask.

"The simplest and most effective way to assume someone’s identity is to kill the target and let the mask devour their essence blood and soul."

"This identity replacement is nearly perfect, even the strongest of ancestors, exerting their bloodline sensing methods, would find it difficult to find any flaws."

"Alternatively, collecting the target\'s blood and magical aura and integrating them into the mask can achieve a similar effect, though slightly inferior."

"The mask’s disguise leans towards the soul level, and its effect is primarily related to spiritual sense."

"It can not only hide one’s cultivation level but, if the spiritual sense is strong enough, it can even simulate a higher cultivation level."

This last point surprised Lan Chang\'an.

At first, he thought the mask was only good for disguise and hiding cultivation levels. He didn’t expect it could also mimic higher cultivation levels.

The premise, however, was that the spiritual sense must reach the corresponding level.

Currently, Lan Chang\'an simulated "Gao Cheng" with a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation because his own spiritual sense slightly surpassed that of an average late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.

That evening, while soaking in a bath, Lan Chang\'an quietly collected Guan Qiaozhi\'s blood and magical aura.

Returning to his room, he put on the mask, transforming into a beautiful and pure young woman, his voice and aura nearly indistinguishable from Guan Qiaozhi.

He also learned that this mask could record the appearance and aura of up to three people.

"A mask that can play a hundred faces. Let\'s call you \'Hundred Illusions Mask\'," Lan Chang\'an removed the mask, returning to his original appearance.

...

Half a month later, in the secret room on Little Turtle Peak.

Lan Chang\'an sat cross-legged, a damaged black-gold scimitar floating in front of him.

He channeled Evergreen mana with both hands to nurture this embryonic magical treasure.

Because he hadn’t reached the Core Formation Realm, he couldn’t store the magical treasure in his dantian to nurture it.

After nurturing it for a long time, the spirituality within the embryonic magical treasure showed the slightest change.

Whoosh!

A faint pale green spiritual fire, like candlelight, emerged from Lan Chang\'an’s palm.

This was the Foundation Establishment spiritual fire cultivated through the Evergreen mana.

Lan Chang\'an\'s Foundation Establishment spiritual fire, like his mana, was average in power. But as his mana increased, the spiritual fire’s potency also rose.

Lan Chang\'an summoned the Foundation Establishment spiritual fire to repair this broken magical treasure prototype.

He was not short of materials for magical treasures.

Ten years ago, when the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm opened, he had invested in Zhao Siyao, who brought back the third-rank black iron crystal, a material for crafting magical treasures.

The general utility of the third-rank black iron crystal matched well with the embryonic magical treasure.

Puff~

Lan Chang\'an took out the third-rank black iron crystal, burned it with the Foundation Establishment spiritual fire for a long time, and dissolved a very small piece of it, adding it to the broken part of the magic treasure prototype to repair and temper it.

Lan Chang\'an planned to spend several years fully integrating this piece of third-rank black iron crystal into the embryonic magical treasure.

By then, the weapon would not only be fully repaired but its quality would also improve through nurturing and tempering.

...

Whoosh!

A transmission talisman flew in, attaching itself to the door outside the secret room.

Lan Chang\'an retrieved the talisman, and Guan Qiaozhi\'s voice came through, saying that Zheng Centipede had arrived.

He continued his tempering work for a moment, then Lan Chang\'an put away the embryonic magical treasure and left the secret room.

Slow work yields fine results; there was no need to rush.

In the study of the cave mansion, Lan Chang\'an received Zheng Centipede.

"For the past half month, the beast tide on the frontlines has been weakening, and Huanglong Immortal City has passed the dangerous peak period, and the situation has stabilized..." Zheng Centipede reported.

Lan Chang\'an had also sensed that the beast tide was nearing its end.

In recent days, the number of scattered demonic beasts from the frontlines around Wuqi Mountain has gradually decreased.

After all, it was just a small beast tide occurring every few decades, not enough to pose a real threat to the Liang Kingdom\'s cultivation world.

"There\'s also news about Huanglong Immortal..."

Zheng Centipede’s tone became a bit more serious.

Huanglong Immortal?

The following news left Lan Chang\'an astonished and puzzled.

"During the beast tide, Huanglong Immortal left Huanglong Immortal City for the Black Fog Mountain Range. Are you sure this news is accurate?"

"The accuracy of this information is over eighty percent." Zheng Centipede was confident in his intelligence.

The Zheng Family’s Apricot Villa, located directly south of Huanglong Immortal City, was much closer.

He added, "Huanglong Immortal didn\'t go alone; a group of formation masters also went to the Black Fog Mountain Range. This matter couldn\'t be hidden from those who were paying attention."

"Mm."

Lan Chang\'an nodded, not asking further.

After Zheng Centipede left, Lan Chang\'an pondered for a while, speculating on the purpose of Huanglong Immortal\'s actions.

Before the beast tide erupted, Huanglong Mountain had been recruiting experienced formation masters, including formation geniuses like Fairy Shi.

In recent years, Master Manrong’s formation attainments had advanced rapidly, and she was probably one of the formation masters taken away this time.

"Could it be that ancient ruin?"

Lan Chang\'an had a thought but quickly dismissed it.

"No! If it were about conquering an ancient ruin, it would be done in secrecy, the fewer people knowing, the better. Such a large-scale mobilization is unlikely."

"At Huanglong Immortal\'s level, he would only risk going deep into the Black Fog Mountain Range for opportunities that could potentially elevate him further or prolong his lifespan by several decades..."

...

A few days later.

Deep in the Black Fog Mountain Range.

Above a hilly area, several powerful auras at the True-Dan level gathered.

In the center was a middle-aged man in a grand black-yellow robe, with a broad forehead and bronze skin, standing on a massive third-rank Huang Dragon Beast.

Seeing this beast was like seeing the person himself, as it represented none other than the number one loose cultivator of the Liang Kingdom\'s cultivation world, Huanglong Immortal.

At this moment, Huanglong Immortal and several other Immortals were quietly conversing, overlooking the land below.

Below, in a hilly area spanning hundreds of li, formation masters were scattered about.

Each formation master was at least a second-rank senior, holding formation tools and busy in their designated areas. In midair, two third-rank formation masters were in charge, both at the Fake-Dan stage.

At this time, a voluptuous woman in a moonlit plain dress flew over on a beam of light.

"Fairy Shi, the Earth Deity Formation on the southeast side, has the problem been solved?"

One of the third-rank formation masters, an old man with a goatee, looked at Shi Manrong with a kind face and smiling eyes.

"It\'s been dealt with, there are metal ore veins underneath that place, which caused a little deviation to the formation." Shi Manrong was not overly humble, her voice calm and gentle.

Over the years, her attainments in formations had skyrocketed, only limited by her cultivation to the quasi-third-rank.

On Huanglong Mountain’s command, she came to the Black Fog Mountain Range to set up formations. Her status and position were second only to the two third-rank formation masters, playing a central coordinating role.

"Observe and learn. The experience of laying down a large combined formation is rare." The goateed old man said, his voice full of concern, his bright eyes lingering briefly on Shi Manrong\'s voluptuous curves.

"If there’s anything you don’t understand, you can privately seek out this old man for help."

"Thank you for your kindness, Elder Ke." Shi Manrong responded gracefully, exchanging pleasantries before heading to another location.

Within the hundred-li radius, formation masters were stationed in each area, with even Fake-Dan Immortals managing the formation flags.

As Shi Manrong flew some distance, she suddenly sensed a terrifying aura that made her heart skip a beat.

Whoosh! Boom!

The ground shook violently, and a mighty wave of dust and air swept over.

Roar!

A deafening roar echoed, shaking the mind, and a powerful sound wave approached from hundreds of miles away.

Shi Manrong groaned, her sea of consciousness aching, her body swaying, blood and energy churning within.

"Not good! We haven\'t even lured it in yet, but our target has arrived..."

In the clouds above, the several Immortal\'s expressions changed slightly.

Suddenly, a low terrifying whistling sound shot straight toward the formation area.

"Watch out!"

Huanglong Immortal let out a low cry, sensing something.

However, by the time he heard the commotion, it was too late to stop it.

Boom!

A giant stone the size of a house, blazing with flames like a meteor, crashed into the formation.

"Ah!"

In mid-air, a Fake-Dan third-rank formation master’s scream abruptly ceased.

His body, merely grazed by the giant stone, made a cracking sound as bones shattered, internal organs were crushed, and his corpse flew out miles away.

Boom!

The giant stone hit the ground, creating a large crater, with the surrounding ground cracking and spreading. The powerful shockwave crushed a Foundation Establishment cultivator who was guarding the formation area.

Pale-faced, Shi Manrong tumbled to the ground, wind-blown debris scratching her skin. The skirt of her robe fluttered upward, exposing her thighs.

Her forehead throbbed with pain, and the feeling of something warm came from it, it was a drop of brain matter that fell from mid-air.

Just now, the trajectory of the giant rock passed only dozens of zhang away from her.

The third-rank formation master who died was the goateed old man who had been watching her back earlier.

Had he not been distracted, he might have had a chance to dodge.

"Form the formation! Follow the original plan."

From above the clouds came a deep and steady voice, imbued with an inexplicable sense of confidence.

Ignoring the blood on her forehead, Shi Manrong helped the remaining third-rank formation master coordinate and activate the formations in various areas.

A few dozen li away, the ground trembled. Amidst rolling dust, a giant ape with a stone body and azure eyes, ten zhang tall, charged forward.

The azure-eyed giant ape held a giant stone in one hand and a dark wooden stick in the other.

Following it was a large group of stone monkeys, all at least second-rank.

"Azure-eyed Stone Ape! Late third-rank, heaven-grade bloodline..."

It was not until this moment that Shi Manrong witnessed the target of this mission, and she couldn\'t help but gasp aloud.

Buzz!

Before the azure-eyed stone ape arrived, a light shield radiating four colors of light, like an inverted bowl, covered the hundred-li radius.

Bang!

The giant ape’s dark wooden staff, transforming into a massive pillar dozens of zhang high, struck the four-colored light shield, causing it to tremble.

The faces of many of the Foundation Establishment cultivators who were maintaining the formation flushed red and swelled with tension.

"Attack!"

Huanglong Immortal summoned a grand yellow mountain seal, infusing it with the dense core power of a mid-Core Formation cultivator.

The massive mountain seal, resembling Huanglong Mountain, descended from the sky, emitting dim golden light, pressing toward the azure-eyed giant ape.

Roar!

The third-rank Huang Dragon Beast beneath Huanglong Immortal roared like a true dragon, its thick claw striking toward the giant ape’s head.

The azure-eyed giant ape sneered.

With a flick of its giant staff, it sent the mountain seal flying, its light scattering, and crashing back toward Huanglong Immortal.

Clang!

The giant ape’s head collided with the third-rank Huang Dragon Beast’s claw, producing a sound like metal striking stone, sending the beast flying.

"Wretched beast, die!"

The other Immortals summoned their magic treasures, speeding like lightning, causing mountains to shake and the earth to tremble as they fought in groups against the third-rank great demon of heaven-grade bloodline.

(End of chapter)