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Lan Chang'an pondered for a moment, and he more or less understood the thoughts of his old friend from days past.
He and Zhao Siyao had met during their youth when they first embarked on the path of immortality—a friendship that spanned over a hundred years.
The two had once faced life and death together in the Black Fog Mountain Range, aiding each other through their Foundation Establishment stage.
For a considerable time, their relationship was primarily based on the bond of "companionship" as fellow cultivators.
But this "companionship" wasn’t the kind between Daoist partners.
Over the long years, it was inevitable that a trace of admiration and affection emerged between them.
However, both were committed to the pursuit of the Great Dao, prioritizing cultivation above all else.
Under an unspoken mutual understanding, that faint trace of romantic sentiment remained nothing more than a silent, secondary emotion.
Neither of them wanted to disturb the balance of their century-long friendship.
Until one day, Zhao Siyao narrowly escaped death on the frontlines of the battlefield, surviving only thanks to borrowing a treasure talisman from Lan Chang'an.
Having experienced life and death, Zhao Siyao's state of mind subtly changed when she met Lan Chang'an again.
During that meeting, their conversation almost pierced through the metaphorical "paper window" that separated them.
Zhao Siyao sighed at the time and said, "Such a great favor, how do you expect me to repay you?"
She also asked Lan Chang'an when he intends to tie the knot and marry Fairy Shi.
Lan Chang'an had replied, "The cultivation world is ever-changing. The Foundation Establishment Realm only gives one a foothold, but it doesn’t compare to the magical powers and magical treasures of Core Formation Immortals. How could I dare to take a wife and have children at this stage?"
Zhao Siyao had pressed further, "And what if you were to achieve a Fake Dan one day?"
At the time, such a question was seen as a lofty compliment, given Lan Chang'an’s age and talent.
Lan Chang'an, however, responded calmly, "If I achieve a Fake Dan, then I, Lan, would find a female cultivator with whom I have mutual affection, marry, have children, and establish a cultivation family to properly nurture my descendants."
But now, Lan Chang'an had returned to Jin Yun Valley as a True Dan cultivator.
Zhao Siyao’s old hypothetical seemed almost like a "curse" now, one that underestimated him entirely.
The unspoken agreement of the past had now turned into a shattered hope.
Perhaps out of self-reproach, or to avoid the awkwardness, Zhao Siyao didn’t wish to face Lan Chang'an directly after his success.
...
Due to time constraints, Lan Chang'an exchanged only a few polite words with Zhao Tan'er.
"Immortal Lan, the Grand Elder is waiting for you at the back of the mountain," the Jin Yun Valley sect master, dressed in resplendent golden robes, said with a smile.
"Uncle Lan, we’ll talk later," Zhao Tan’er chimed in. Her expression clearly held something she wanted to say to him but kept unspoken.
In the past, as a junior disciple, she had often fretted on behalf of her master and Lan Chang'an, frustrated that neither of them took the initiative.
"Alright," Lan Chang'an nodded and followed Immortal Tianfeng and the sect master, Immortal Xuanxiao, toward the back mountain of Jin Yun Valley.
The Grand Elder of Jin Yun Valley, a cultivator in the late stage of Core Formation, was someone at least on par with Lan Chang'an's achievements in his previous life.
For someone of such stature, far surpassing ordinary Core Formation cultivators, not personally coming out to greet Lan Chang'an was not considered disrespectful.
By a stream in the back mountain...
The Grand Elder, with his crane-like hair and youthful face, stood only five feet tall. He wore simple robes and sat by a campfire.
Lan Chang'an caught a whiff of a meaty aroma that instantly whetted his appetite.
Beggar’s Chicken?
He sharply noticed that beneath the fire pit’s soil lay an ordinary-sized poultry bird.
The savory aroma of meat mixed with the fragrance of green onions, carrying a faint trace of pure spiritual energy. This unique quality suggested that even for Foundation Establishment cultivators, it would be a rare tonic.
"Lan Chang'an, who recently advanced to Core Formation, greets the Great Elder," Lan Chang'an said humbly, bowing deeply.
He knew well that, while he might be able to fight or even win with individuals like Zhang Tieshan or even the sect master if he unleashed all his trump cards, the Grand Elder before him was an entirely different story.
Even if Lan Chang'an had an Immortal Golden Dan, at his current early-stage Core Formation cultivation, defeating someone at the Grand Elder's level was utterly impossible.
The quality of one’s Core might grant purer spiritual energy, but in combat, the cultivation stage and magical treasures often played a far more decisive role.
"Evergreen Immortal, I heard of your exploits back when you were in the Foundation Establishment stage at Huanglong Immortal City. Now, having advanced to become a true Core Formation cultivator, you’re a model of perseverance in the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world," the Grand Elder said warmly, gesturing with his hand.
"Come! No need to be formal. Sit down and have a taste of this Beggar’s Chicken I’ve raised myself!"
The rich aroma of spiritual meat filled the air as the sect master and Zhang Tieshan, unable to hide their hunger, eagerly took their seats.
The Grand Elder pulled out the roasted, golden-skinned Cloud Crane Chicken and divided it among the four of them.
Taking his first bite, Lan Chang'an felt his appetite surge. The flavor was extraordinary, an explosion of satisfaction that relaxed both his body and spiritual energy. His whole being felt refreshed, his mind clear and serene.
Only then did Lan Chang'an realize that the Grand Elder was quite accomplished in the spiritual culinary arts, one of the Hundred Arts of Immortal Cultivation.
Eating a dish prepared by the Grand Elder not only adjusted one’s physical state but also offered a rare form of mental clarity.
That delightful sensation surpassed even the joy of discussing Dao with Fairy Hanyu.
As the group chatted casually, Lan Chang'an learned that the Grand Elder could be considered a semi-practitioner of a "life-nurturing" cultivation school.
The Great Elder's life-nurturing was not a cultivation technique, but was instead embodied in the culinary path. Through food therapy, using rare and precious ingredients to nourish and maintain the body, ensuring a state of balance, vitality, and longevity.
Partway through, the sect master and Zhang Tieshan excused themselves.
The Grand Elder then began to express his desire to recruit Lan Chang'an, offering quite favorable terms.
"If Fellow Daoist Lan were to become an honorary elder of our sect, you wouldn’t be required to handle any sect affairs, nor would you need to fight on the frontlines. Other than not gaining access to our sect’s core inheritances or certain confidential privileges, the cultivation environment, resources, and stipends would be nearly identical to those of inner sect elders."
"Of course, I won’t insist. Fellow Daoist Lan has only recently returned to the Liang Kingdom, so you may need time to consider. Even if you don’t join our sect, Jin Yun Valley would still be happy to collaborate with you in the future, particularly in terms of third-rank talismans."
Lan Chang'an responded earnestly, "I will consider this carefully. If I were to join a sect within the Liang Kingdom, Jin Yun Valley would undoubtedly be my first choice."
The Grand Elder nodded with a smile, seemingly satisfied with this response.
Over the past century, Lan Chang'an had maintained close ties with Jin Yun Valley and built strong relationships with many of its inner cultivators.
As a newly advanced Core Formation cultivator, a third-rank spiritual vein was essential for cultivation.
Only a sect like Jin Yun Valley could offer Lan Chang'an a stable and comfortable environment for cultivation without imposing excessive obligations.
Joining a group like the Wufu Merchant Association might grant him access to a third-rank spiritual vein, but as their strongest cultivator, he would be responsible for shielding the entire group from external threats, a heavy burden to bear.
Jin Yun Valley, on the other hand, was different—standing under the shade of a great tree meant enjoying its protection.
When calamities struck, the strongest cultivators and core members bore the brunt of the enemy's focus.
...
After Leaving the back of the mountain.
Lan Chang’an noticed Zhang Tieshan waiting for him.
Zhao Tan’er, however, was nowhere to be seen. She had likely gone to inform her master about the latest developments.
"Did Fellow Daoist Zhao form her Fake Dan in the year I left?" Lan Chang’an asked Zhang Tieshan, seeking more details about Zhao Siyao, who had avoided meeting him.
"It was indeed the same year. A few months after our trade and your departure," Zhang Tieshan replied after some thought.
Lan Chang’an calculated the timeline. He had left the Liang Kingdom thirty years ago.
Zhao Siyao, being two years younger than him, should have been around 140 years old when she formed her Fake Dan.
Given her background and talent, this was an above-average achievement.
Zhao Siyao wasn’t a second-generation immortal cultivator. She came from a mundane scholarly family and had decent spiritual roots, bordering on high-grade quality.
Many with high-grade spiritual roots failed to even form a Fake Dan, some with disastrous results.
Thus, when Zhao Siyao succeeded in forming her Fake Dan, the surrounding cultivators were neither overly surprised nor unimpressed—they simply offered polite congratulations.
To be fair, Zhao Siyao had put in considerable effort over the past century, facing numerous dangers to reach this stage.
But then again, which cultivator at this level hadn’t fought tooth and nail for their progress?
...
After briefly discussing the refining of the magic treasures, Lan Chang’an noticed that Zhao Tan’er had not yet returned, so he accompanied Zhang Tieshan to the latter’s cave abode.
Lan Chang’an vaguely sensed that Zhang Tieshan’s attitude toward him had shifted since he stayed overnight at Snow Plum Mountain. There was now a touch of deeper respect in Zhang Tieshan’s gaze, occasionally mixed with a trace of unspoken meaning.
"If you feel regret on Fellow Daoist Zhao’s behalf, the Core Dissolution Technique from our past trade—I’ll allow you to teach it to her, without being bound by the heart demon oath," Zhang Tieshan said generously, showing an uncommon magnanimity.
"And now that you and I are both in the early Core Formation Realm, what makes you my elder? Exactly where are you older than me?" Zhao Tan’er retorted with a soft hum, her face flushed red as the rosy glow of dawn. She didn’t seem inclined to concede.
"I’m older than you in age!" Lan Chang’an said, his face stern.
In truth, setting aside his relationship with Zhao Siyao, the tradition of the cultivation world was to determine seniority based on one’s cultivation realm. By that standard, Zhao Tan’er could indeed be considered his equal.
"You’re just using your age as an excuse to act superior," Zhao Tan’er said with a giggle. Her misty eyes sparkled with amusement, though it was hard to tell if she was mocking him or simply teasing.
"With your pitiful tolerance for alcohol, you actually thought you could get me drunk? If you have something to ask, just say it," Lan Chang’an said, exasperated.
"Fine," Zhao Tan’er said. She circulated her Core Formation power, instantly sobering up. Her bright eyes became clear, fixing on the white-robed man before her, who seemed ageless in her memory despite the passage of time.
"Uncle Lan, after advancing to Core Formation, have you grown to disdain my master? Do you think she’s no longer worthy of you?"
True to her straightforward nature, Zhao Tan’er’s question was sharp and direct, cutting straight to the heart of the matter.
"No," Lan Chang’an denied immediately. He offered an example: "Take your Uncle Ergou, for instance. He was born a farmer and is still stuck in the early Foundation Establishment stage. Over the past hundred years, have you ever heard of me treating him lightly?"
"Hmm, that’s true," Zhao Tan’er murmured, wrinkling her delicate nose as she considered this.
Indeed, when it came to old friendships, Lan Chang’an was beyond reproach.
He had always looked out for the descendants of his old friends, such as Lin Lu from back in the day and more recently Li Congren.
Even Zhao Tan’er’s Foundation Establishment Pill had been partly funded by Lan Chang’an’s efforts.
"If you don’t disdain her, then why don’t you take master as your wife? If you feel absolutely no affection for her, then just pretend I didn’t ask," Zhao Tan’er said, pressing on.
This wasn’t the first time Lan Chang’an had faced this question, and he was well-prepared for it.
"The cultivation world is ever-changing. A Core Formation cultivator is only at the threshold of the high ranks. While we may seem impressive, in the grand schemes of the cultivation world, we’re little more than pawns. One misstep, and we face utter ruin."
"Only a Nascent Soul True Monarch can transcend the chessboard and take control of their own fate. Otherwise, our lives are not our own, and danger is ever-present. When one's fate is at stake, how would one dare to take a wife and have children?"
Zhao Tan’er stared at him, her round, bright eyes wide with shock. She opened her mouth as if to argue but found herself at a loss for words.
After all, the recent wars in the cultivation world had claimed the lives of more than a few Core Formation cultivators.
The impending invasion of the Six Demonic Sects would undoubtedly be even more devastating and terrifying.
And Lan Chang’an’s reputation as the "Talisman Master Turtle" wasn’t baseless—his caution and tendency to avoid risks were well-known.
...
Lan Chang’an stayed in Jin Yun Valley for a few days, and Zhao Siyao still hadn't come out.
He sighed softly, choosing not to press the matter further, and bid farewell to Zhang Tieshan, Zhao Tan’er, and others.
"Uncle Lan, are you truly unwilling to see my master one last time?" Zhao Tan’er asked, her lips pursed in dissatisfaction.
For many years, she had been exasperated by the lack of initiative between her master and Lan Chang’an—two people who both stubbornly refused to take the first step when it came to feelings.
"It’s not that I don’t want to..." Lan Chang’an began but suddenly paused, a flicker of inspiration flashing through his mind.
"Tan’er, ask your master to meet me just outside Jin Yun Valley."
Hearing this, Zhao Tan’er’s face lit up with a sweet smile. "Got it!" she replied cheerfully before vanishing like a wisp of smoke, heading straight for Zhao Siyao’s cave abode.
Lan Chang’an said no more. He turned and flew out of Jin Yun Valley.
...
In the mountains several dozen li away from the valley...
A cool mountain breeze stirred Lan Chang’an’s white robes as he stood, waiting amidst the rugged terrain.
It wasn’t long—no more than a quarter of an hour—before a streak of light, radiating the aura of a Fake Dan cultivator, broke through the sky from the direction of Jin Yun Valley.
In his field of vision appeared a tall, graceful female cultivator clad in flowing white robes. Her immortal-like dress billowed gently in the breeze, accentuating her ethereal beauty.
Decades had passed since their last meeting, and Zhao Siyao had subtly changed.
She appeared to be in her early thirties, her hair swept into an elegant updo secured with a phoenix hairpin. Her demeanor was calm and poised, her features refined and mature, with an air of quiet sophistication.
"Fellow Daoist Zhao, it has been a long time. My visit to Jin Yun Valley must have disrupted your seclusion," Lan Chang’an said with a polite smile, clasping his hands in greeting.
He had guessed correctly. Zhao Siyao’s refusal to come out of seclusion wasn’t because she didn’t want to see him, but rather because she felt uneasy about it.
If Lan Chang’an had insisted on meeting her, Zhao Siyao wouldn’t have refused.
Her nature was straightforward and generous, not one to hold petty grudges.
Besides, the two of them had always been friends—deeply bonded through years of camaraderie. Their relationship wasn’t one of those situations where a romantic entanglement, once exposed, would lead to an irreversible estrangement.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, you’ve advanced to the True Dan stage, and yet I didn’t greet you to offer my congratulations. That was thoughtless of me," Zhao Siyao said with a light, self-deprecating smile. Seeing her familiar old friend, she inexplicably felt a sense of relief, her clear eyes softening with warmth.
She carried herself with grace as she returned his greeting, her white robes fluttering gently in the cool mountain wind, outlining a figure both elegant and captivating.
"It was just a lighthearted joke. There’s no need for you to dwell on it," Lan Chang’an said calmly as he flew closer to Zhao Siyao.
"I was simply lucky to stumble upon a fortuitous opportunity that allowed me to barely achieve True Dan. Fellow Daoist Zhao, on the other hand, has done an extraordinary job training a disciple who has also attained a True Dan," he added.
"There’s no need to console me," Zhao Siyao said, shaking her head slightly. "Forming a Fake Dan was well within my expectations. It’s simply my fate that I lack the ability to break through my own shackles."
Zhao Siyao was well aware of the difference between a Fake Dan and a True Dan.
One marked the end of the road, while the other still held hope for reaching even greater heights.
After all these years, she had come to terms with her reality.
Fortunately, her disciple, Zhao Tan’er, had excelled beyond expectations, becoming a True Dan cultivator under her guidance. It was a small source of comfort and pride.
"A Fake Dan cultivator with a lifespan of more than three hundred years, the rest of your life is still long. If Fellow Daoist Zhao is content with her current circumstances, living a peaceful life or perhaps establishing a family of immortal cultivators wouldn’t be a bad path," Lan Chang’an said.
He understood that Zhao Siyao’s achievements were already within the expectations of those around her.
The sense of regret only arose when compared to others—an old friend with lesser talent who had achieved True Dan, and a personal disciple who had surpassed her.
For most lower-tier cultivators in the cultivation world, forming a Fake Dan was already an unattainable pinnacle.
"Establishing a family... I have no interest in such things," Zhao Siyao said, shaking her head slightly. "Tan’er is enough—she’s like a daughter to me."
If she didn’t truly like someone, or if they didn’t share the same aspirations, she’d rather remain alone. Having Zhao Tan’er by her side was more than sufficient.
"If Fellow Daoist Zhao is unwilling to accept this fate and still holds a shred of hope for the Dao, willing to risk everything, I could offer a potential path..."
"The path of Core Reformation?"
"Yes. Fellow Daoist Zhang is willing to provide the Core Dissolution Technique and his personal insights from his success," Lan Chang’an said.
"Forget it. I appreciate both of your kindness," Zhao Siyao said after a moment of contemplation. Her bright eyes briefly lit up with hope before dimming once more, settling into a calm serenity.
"I failed thirty years ago, and now, at this age, my potential has diminished. There’s no need to trouble anyone or cause Tan’er unnecessary worry..."
The truth was, even if she were given another chance, and even with a genuine Crystal Condensation Pill, she wasn’t confident she’d succeed in forming a True Dan.
...
The two of them continued their conversation for a long time, eventually settling down on a large rock to sit side by side.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, their shadows stretched out behind them, the distance between them growing so small it was as though they were a pair of Daoist partners leaning on one another.
Lan Chang’an broke the silence. "Of the immortal seedlings who left Hengshui Prefecture back then, only you, I, and Li Erqing remain."
"Li Erqing... He has no more than twenty years of lifespan left. I plan to visit him," Lan Chang’an said, recalling the letter Li Erqing’s grandson had sent him in Jing Kingdom years ago.
Li Erqing had expressed a heartfelt wish: to see his old friend, Lan Chang’an, one last time in this lifetime.
Back then, the cultivation wars were raging, and Li Erqing had feared he would never get the chance to meet Lan Chang’an again.
"I’ll go with you," Zhao Siyao said softly, her face filled with a distant nostalgia.
"Alright, let’s head out now," Lan Chang’an said as he took her hand.
They rose into the air together, carried by the wind.
A streak of azure light enveloped the pair, his white robes and her white dress blending as they ascended into the skies above.
"This is my first time in the Nine Fiery Heavens," Zhao Siyao said, her bright eyes sparkling with joy as she took in the breathtaking view of the uncharted winds above the clouds.
"Oh, I nearly forgot to tell you something," Zhao Siyao suddenly said, turning to look at Lan Chang’an. "Fairy Shi once came to see me and left a message for you."
"Oh? What did she say?"
"She said there’s something very important she must tell you. Once you return to the Liang Kingdom, you must seek her out."
"When was this?"
"Over twenty years ago."