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Today, Qingsha Bay was livelier than it had been in hundreds of years.
Beams of light streaked through the sky, flying boats, magical weapons, and spirit beast mounts whizzing by like shooting stars, their brilliance dazzling. One after another, guests arrived in quick succession, a spectacle of splendor.
Most of the guests who had come to offer their congratulations were in the Foundation Establishment stage, though occasionally, the aura of an Immortal could be sensed amidst the crowd.
The Core Formation ceremony was being held in a grand hall at the heart of Qingsha Bay.
The grand hall was divided into two sections: the main hall and the side hall.
The side hall was used to receive ordinary guests whose presence wasn’t closely connected to the celebrant.
The main hall, on the other hand, hosted those of higher status, most of whom were invited personally.
Lan Chang'an sat high atop a white jade Dao platform at the head of the main hall, overlooking the proceedings.
Below him, rows of distinguished guest seats were arranged, each accommodating either a single individual or small groups of two or three.
From time to time, the sound of congratulatory gifts being announced echoed through the hall:
“The Wu Family of Hengshan presents a 300-year-old Black Spirit Mushroom. Elder Wu Chen offers his regards!”
“The Snow Fox Merchant Association presents a set of third-rank talisman tools, including a brush, spirit ink, and an inkstone. Presented by Immortal Hanyu!”
“Tengxing Merchant Association presents a third-rank Bluewood branch. Offered by Shen Bixin!”
Lan Chang'an didn’t recognize most of the cultivators offering gifts. However, whenever he heard a familiar name, he would pay a bit more attention.
Immortal Hanyu had arrived early, but her gift was formally presented today. As the representative of a prominent merchant guild, she was seated not far from Lan Chang'an in a position of honor.
Shen Bixin was dressed in a flowing silk dress, her figure full and graceful, but her face showed the signs of aging, appearing to be in her forties or fifties, with visible wrinkles and dark spots.
She brought with her a pale and delicate young man who bowed deeply before the jade platform. The boy was only at the Qi-Refining stage and kept his head lowered, trembling slightly, not daring to look directly at the dignified “Evergreen Immortal” atop the platform.
“Immortal Lan,” Shen Bixin began with a respectful bow, “this humble one, Shen Bixin, and my son, Song Xi, offer our heartfelt congratulations. May Immortal Lan have a long life and an everlasting immortal path.”
Lan Chang'an’s voice was warm and comforting, like a spring breeze, as he replied, “Fellow Daoist Shen, we have known each other for many years. There’s no need for such formality.”
He glanced briefly at the boy named Song Xi, a flicker of thought crossing his mind before arranging for Shen Bixin and her son to be seated next to Immortal Hanyu.
Though their conversation was brief, it was enough for the nearby guests to discern that Lan Chang'an and Shen Bixin shared some past acquaintance.
As noon approached, the number of cultivators who had come to offer their congratulations swelled to several hundred.
Hmm?
Suddenly, Lan Chang'an, who was sipping a toast from a Fake Dan Immortal, felt his gaze drawn toward the outskirts of Qingsha Bay.
A foreign True Dan aura was rapidly approaching.
Though it was also at the early Core Formation stage, this newcomer’s aura was far stronger than Lan Chang'an’s.
...
Some dozens of li away from Qingsha Bay, a luxurious carriage with dragon-patterned carvings was gliding through the air. It was dark green in color, pulled by two spirit beasts with antlers resembling those of deer.
The carriage was semi-open, with only a canopy woven from the feathers of rare spiritual birds providing shade from above.
Seated at the rear of the carriage was a young man in a green jade robe, draped in a black cape. His aura exuded wealth and authority.
The coachman driving the carriage was an imposing, purple-faced man in the late Foundation Establishment stage.
“Young Master Ling, we’re almost at Qingsha Bay,” the coachman, Fang Zhong, said respectfully as he tightened the reins and slowed the carriage’s speed.
“Hehe, the renowned ‘Evergreen Immortal,’ the oldest loose cultivator in the Jing Kingdom to achieve Core Formation in the past few hundred years. I’m rather curious to see this figure for myself,” the young master said casually, his tone relaxed as if he were on a sightseeing trip.
“Young Master, you are the youngest Core Formation cultivator in the Jing Kingdom’s history. That Lan Chang'an, who only managed to form his core at the age of over 170, is hardly worthy of comparison to you,” Fang Zhong flattered, a look of disdain crossing his face.
However, deep inside, Fang Zhong couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy. Over 170 years to form a core? He found it bitterly unfair.
Years ago, when Fang Zhong and Lan Chang'an had been stowaways on the same cross-border spiritual ship, they had shared drinks and conversations as equals.
But after entering the Jing Kingdom, their paths diverged when they joined different chambers of commerce.
Who could have imagined that Lan Chang'an would go on to form a core while Fang Zhong’s guild, the Xinyue Merchant Association, fell into decline within just a decade?
Now, Fang Zhong had been sold off to the Taifeng Merchant Association, one of the three great merchant guilds, and had become nothing more than a servant to this young master.
“Ling Feng, the young master of the Taifeng Merchant Association!”
“How could this proud son of heaven personally come to Qingsha Bay to congratulate him?”
The dragon-carved carriage made its ostentatious approach, drawing the attention of countless cultivators.
Many among the crowd recognized its owner.
“The young master of Taifeng Merchant Association, Ling Feng!”
A booming voice announced from afar, “Ling Feng, Young Master of Taifeng Merchant Association, presents two third-rank precious gems as a gift of congratulations!”
The announcement resounded clearly into the grand hall, and the news quickly reached Lan Chang'an.
“Ling Feng, the Young Master of Taifeng Merchant Association?”
Whispers and gasps spread among the Xia Family and the gathered guests.
Lan Chang'an frowned slightly and asked, “Was this person on the invitation list?”
Lan Chang'an had heard of the reputation of the Taifeng Merchant Association. The current leader of the Merchant Alliance was a late-stage True Dan Great Cultivator from that guild.
"We didn’t invite the Taifeng Merchant Association. I don’t know why they’ve come."
Xia Mingqu was also puzzled.
Thinking of something, he added:
"Oh, right, Young Master Ling is the youngest cultivator in Jing Kingdom to advance to the True Dan stage in hundreds of years."
“How young?” Lan Chang'an asked curiously.
“It is said that he formed his core in his eighties after building his foundation before the age of thirty. He’s only just over a hundred years old now.” Xia Mingqu transmitted his thoughts, his eyes showing envy.
That Young Master Ling's birth was too good!
The Taifeng Merchant Association is regarded as the top guild in the Merchant Alliance, unimaginably wealthy.
It’s rumored that the Crystal Condensation Pill used by Young Master Ling for his Core Formation was of the superior quality. He even used three types of superior spiritual items for Core Formation.
Otherwise, with his earth spiritual roots, it would have been impossible for him to advance so quickly.
"A True Dan cultivator this young?"
Lan Chang'an was astonished. Even in his previous life, he had rarely heard of someone so young advancing to the True Dan stage.
Why had this unexpected guest come to his Core Formation celebration?
Could it be that he intends to bully an old man like me?
...
The visitor’s status was distinguished, so Lan Chang'an personally stepped out of the main hall to greet him, meeting the esteemed Young Master Ling Feng.
"For someone like me, who has only formed my Core in old age, what virtue or ability do I possess to warrant Young Master Ling's honored presence?"
Seeing the white-clothed man who seemed to be eighteen years old, Young Master Ling froze slightly.
“Immortal Lan,” Ling Feng said with a hearty laugh, “you truly live up to your reputation as a master of life-nurturing techniques. You look much younger than I imagined!”
Lan Chang'an smiled faintly, though inwardly he noted the curious gleam in Ling Feng’s eyes. It was the kind of gaze one might use to admire a rare treasure or an amusing mascot.
He had seen this sort of reaction before, a hundred years ago, when he had achieved Foundation Establishment at the ripe old age of seventy.
But just as he raised his hand to invite Ling Feng into the main hall, another Core Formation aura—far more domineering than Ling Feng’s—descended upon Qingsha Bay.
“This aura... it’s from a demonic cultivation technique!”
Ling Feng’s expression shifted, his previously casual demeanor replaced by sharp vigilance.
The newcomer’s aura was also at the early Core Formation stage, but their presence was even more overwhelming than Ling Feng’s.
"This person once remarked that I rely too heavily on external resources, achieving the fastest cultivation speed in the Liang Kingdom in centuries, but with limited future potential."
"May I ask if Fellow Daoist Lan agrees with his assessment?"
Ling Feng smiled faintly, waiting to see how this amiable old man would handle this delicate question.
The hall fell silent for a moment.
Ling Feng and Lan Chang'an were two extremes—the fastest and the slowest cultivators in Jing Kingdom to achieve Core Formation in centuries.
This question was sharp and implied an unavoidable choice:
Agree with Li Hai’s words, and Lan Chang'an would align with the demonic sect.
Disagree, and he’d risk offending the demonic sect to favor the Merchant Alliance.
"In the cultivation world, there are geniuses who rise swiftly and those who achieve greatness later in life. Anything is possible."
"Whether Fellow Daoist Li’s words are correct or not will depend on who achieves greater success in the future," Lan Chang'an replied, skillfully deflecting the question and throwing it back at Li Hai and Ling Feng.
Whoever had the greater strength would be proven right.
"Fellow Daoist Lan speaks wisely!"
Many guests applauded his response.
Ling Feng’s expression remained unreadable, and he had no rebuttal.
After all, the cultivation world respected strength above all else, and currently, he was no match for Li Hai.
Li Hai, with his earth spiritual root, had been trained by Liang Shaotian since an early age, making him a top-tier talent second only to Ling Feng in cultivation speed.
"The accomplished individuals that Immortal Lan speaks of, who achieve greatness later in life—could that perhaps be a reflection of your own aspirations?"
Ling Feng raised his cup in a toast, a faintly meaningful smile on his face.
"I don’t aspire to achieve greatness later in life," Lan Chang'an replied calmly. "I only wish to live longer. That’s all."
Live longer?
Ling Feng chuckled lightly. That did align perfectly with Lan Chang'an's nicknames, "Turtle Talisman Master" and "Evergreen Immortal."
Based on his past actions, what Lan Chang'an said was clearly the plain truth.
Ling Feng finished his drink in one go.
After probing him, his interest in Lan Chang'an greatly diminished.
Just a cautious old Turtle Immortal clinging to life.
...
Half an hour later, Ling Feng left Qingsha Bay in his luxurious carriage.
The unexpected presence of two prestigious guests, Ling Feng and Li Hai, had added to the renown of Lan Chang'an's Core Formation celebration.
The reputation of his old age Core Formation would soon spread throughout Jing Kingdom's cultivation world.
Aside from Ling Feng and Li Hai, other True Dan cultivators also attended the celebration—such as Huang Lang Immortal from the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association.
Lan Chang'an couldn’t understand why Huang Lang Immortal, someone he had no prior dealings with, would personally come to Qingsha Bay.
"If Immortal Lan had formed his Core a few years earlier, you might have met an old acquaintance from Liang Kingdom," said Huang Lang Immortal, dressed in a fur-lined cloak, sitting in Ling Feng's previous seat. His bright eyes shone, and his face radiated a friendly smile.
"An old acquaintance from the Liang Kingdom?"
Lan Chang'an thought of Fu Xuemei, someone he had confronted years ago while secretly protecting a caravan from the Snow Fox Merchant Association.
What kind of deal had Huang Lang Immortal and Fu Xuemei reached? Lan Chang'an didn’t know. But from his words, it seemed Fu Xuemei might have left Jing Kingdom.
...
Before sunset, the cultivators who attended the Core Formation celebration gradually dispersed.
A few cultivators remained at Qingsha Bay with the Xia Family, seeking cooperation or hoping to privately meet Lan Chang'an, the newly-advanced True Dan cultivator.
Lan Chang'an, however, didn’t meet everyone. After carefully filtering them, he only received a few people—including Shen Bixin and her son.
Inside the study on Autumnwind Isle...
"Immortal Lan, you once promised a favor. You said your word would hold, and today, I have something to ask."
Shen Bixin pulled her son, Song Xi, along and both knelt down together.
"I hope that Immortal Lan will take my son as your disciple," Shen Bixin pleaded.
Hearing this, Lan Chang'an remained silent for a few moments.
When Shen Bixin and her son came to congratulate him, he had already expected this request.
The favor owed from years ago, when Shen Bixin had gathered materials for him, was finally being cashed in—and the return she sought was immense.
"I will be leaving Jing Kingdom soon and will be wandering without a fixed home. I don’t have plans to take on a disciple," Lan Chang'an said calmly. "However, if Fellow Daoist Shen insists, I can accept him as a nominal disciple, though I won’t have much time or energy to teach him."
"Alternatively," he added, "I can offer a second choice: If your son seeks me out in the future, before reaching Foundation Establishment or Core Formation, I will grant him a chance for advancement."
Shen Bixin deliberated for a moment before choosing the second option. After all, it was clear that Lan Chang'an wasn’t particularly eager to take on a disciple.
"Xi’er, hurry and thank Immortal Lan," Shen Bixin said to her son.
"Thank you, Immortal Lan," Song Xi said, bowing deeply. Hearing about the opportunity for Core Formation advancement stirred something in his heart.
The towering status of a True Dan cultivator was something he had deeply felt today. Compared to becoming a nominal disciple, the second option seemed far more practical.
It won't be until many years later that Song Xi would realize what he had missed today.
Lan Chang'an smiled warmly as he sent Shen Bixin and her son off.
He was a man of his word. Excluding cases of coercion, he always fulfilled promises made within his ability to keep.
If Shen Bixin had insisted, he would have accepted Song Xi as a disciple and upheld the basic duties of a teacher. However, just as he had anticipated, the mother and son were swayed by the second option.
...
Later that night, as the celebratory commotion in Qingsha Bay finally quieted, Lan Chang'an retreated to his study.
In the shadows, a figure wearing a gray-white hooded robe appeared in the corner.
"Did you notice anyone suspicious at today’s ceremony?" Lan Chang'an asked, hands clasped behind his back.
"There were a few, mostly insignificant ones. However, there is one individual you should pay close attention to."
"Oh? Who is it?"
"Huang Lang Immortal!"
Lan Chang'an was not surprised. From the first time he met the other party under the mask of "Immortal Xiang," he had sensed something unusual about Huang Lang Immortal.
"What issue do you see with him?"
"Huang Lang Immortal practices a soul perception secret art that allows him to sense a target's emotional fluctuations and, in some cases, even probe their inner thoughts. This kind of spiritual technique originates from one of the Six Sacred Sects—the Beast King Valley," Xing Peng said cautiously.
"Beast King Valley? And the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association? Could there be a connection between the two?"
"I do not have clearance to access higher-level intelligence, but based on scattered clues, I suspect that the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association may have branched out from the Beast King Valley a long time ago," Xing Peng speculated.
Upon hearing this, Lan Chang'an began to grasp the implications.
The Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association had likely been infiltrated or turned by the Unseen Sect—a notorious subsect of the Beast King Valley.
"Moreover, the Beast King Valley is very likely the main assault force preparing to invade the borders of Feng Kingdom and the surrounding regions."
Xing Peng threw out another shocking piece of information.
"The Beast King Valley as the main force? Does that mean the Six Demonic Sects have only sent a single branch to attack Feng Kingdom's surroundings?" Lan Chang'an asked, realization dawning on him.
"One branch is enough," Xing Peng said after a pause, deciding to speak plainly.