I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals-Chapter 354: Preparing for Transformation

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Chapter 354: Preparing for Transformation

Lan Chang'an carefully stored away the Profound Heart Beast Pill, preparing to leave.

"Wait, Fellow Daoist Xu!"

True Monarch Red Serpent suddenly spoke, his smile cold and calculating, appearing all the more sinister against the dark snake tattoos that slithered across his skin.

Lan Chang'an’s heart tightened slightly, but his expression remained impassive.

"What guidance does Fellow Daoist Red Serpent have to offer?"

"Have you ever heard of the 'Ancient Nether Hall' in the Central Region?"

Red Serpent’s tone turned serious, his gaze unreadable.

"The Ancient Nether Hall? I have heard rumors."

Lan Chang'an nodded, feigning mild curiosity.

Having spent decades in the Central Region, he had indeed heard whispers of the Ancient Nether Hall—a Nascent Soul-level forbidden land said to contain great fortune and peril.

It was rumored that even some mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouses had obtained their opportunities from it.

"According to the signs, the Ancient Nether Hall, which appears once every few centuries, is set to re-emerge in the Central Region's forbidden zone in the coming years."

Red Serpent’s voice lowered, his words deliberate.

"You should already know of the opportunities and benefits within the Ancient Nether Hall. I am gathering powerful cultivators to explore it together—doing so would improve our chances of survival and securing great fortune."

"Fellow Daoist Xu doesn't have any forces to rely on in the Central Region, would you be interested in forming an alliance with us?"

Red Serpent extended an invitation with a friendly demeanor.

Lan Chang'an shook his head and replied firmly:

"I appreciate Fellow Daoist's kindness, but I am of ordinary talent and prefer to avoid unnecessary conflicts."

The Ancient Nether Hall was a Central Region-specific Nascent Soul forbidden land, filled with extreme danger.

As a mere Core Formation cultivator in disguise, Lan Chang'an had no intention of participating.

Once the Earth Burrowing Rat successfully transformed, he would have a fourth-rank demon king as protection.

This would make his future cultivation journey significantly easier, especially in acquiring Nascent Soul resources.

There was no need to risk himself in such a perilous venture.

Red Serpent’s expression revealed a hint of regret, but he did not press the matter.

Over the vast, barren plains, the two cultivators parted ways, flying off in opposite directions.

Lan Chang'an headed deeper into the Red Moon Merchant Association's territory, while Red Serpent lingered, his eyes flickering with a calculating gleam.

After flying a thousand li, Red Serpent deliberately slowed his pace and landed within a dense forest, waiting.

Roughly two hours later, a young man with white hair, wearing plain robes and an ancient saber at his waist, arrived from the sky, descending into the forest.

"Fellow Daoist Nagong, I made you come for nothing. That loose Nascent Soul cultivator was really cautious and didn’t allow me any opportunity to delay him. Otherwise, given your current peak strength…"

Red Serpent smiled ingratiatingly, his tone carrying a trace of respect.

The white-haired young man, clad in humble garments, exuded a murky and ancient aura.

If a high-level cultivator from the Great Yuan’ Southern Region were present, they would instantly recognize his true identity—

The "Demonic Blade" Nangong Xiu.

"Xu Xuan? There’s no such name among the Nascent Soul cultivators of the Great Yuan’ Southern Region."

Nangong Xiu’s face remained expressionless, his gaze unfathomable.

He was a wanted Nascent Soul criminal pursued by the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, the Southern Region’s top faction.

Now, he was hiding within the Central Region, biding his time.

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"That person does not resemble a demonic cultivator from the Northern Ghost Palace. Most likely, he hails from the Eastern Region or the coastal regions."

Red Serpent spoke regretfully.

He had suspected that this Xu Xuan still carried dragon-related materials—or possibly other rare coastal spirit beast resources, all of which would be of immense value to beast-taming sects like Great Snake Mountain.

"A loose Nascent Soul cultivator is of little concern. Our priority is the Ancient Nether Hall."

Nangong Xiu’s voice remained cold, showing no further interest in Xu Xuan.

"Over the years, have you gathered enough high-tier demonic essence crystals to enter?"

Red Serpent inquired.

"It's still a bit short."

Nangong Xiu shook his head slightly.

"If necessary, can Fellow Daoist Red Serpent lend me what I lack?"

"Of course! As long as Fellow Daoist is willing to aid me within the Ancient Nether Hall, a few materials are of no consequence."

Red Serpent agreed enthusiastically.

"As for the materials to repair my 'Heavenly Blade'—does Fellow Daoist have any leads?"

Nangong Xiu’s voice remained calm, but there was a trace of tension in his gaze.

Red Serpent sighed and shook his head.

"Difficult. Your Heavenly Blade is an ancient artifact in its embryonic form. Within the Great Yu Kingdom, only the imperial family might possess the necessary materials."

He paused before continuing.

"Aside from that, your best bet is the Ancient Nether Hall."

"Even if you manage to acquire some of the supplementary materials, repairing the blade will require a fourth-rank artifact refiner, which could expose your identity."

His expression turned grave.

After all, Nangong Xiu was a fugitive, wanted by the Heavenly Sword Pavilion.

While Red Serpent was an evil cultivator, he could not afford to publicly associate with Nangong Xiu, only maintaining a covert alliance.

Fortunately, after fleeing to the Central Region, the Heavenly Sword Pavilion's pursuit had significantly weakened.

"So be it. Let us hope the Ancient Nether Hall holds what we seek."

Nangong Xiu understood the difficulty of his situation.

Red Serpent feared his power and would not fully commit to helping him recover.

After all, at his peak, Nangong Xiu had fought mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators without defeat.

However, during a joint siege by the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, he had suffered grave injuries, his magical treasure damaged, and was forced to flee to the Central Region.

Now, all he could do was wait and rebuild his strength.

...

Seven days later, Lan Chang'an re-entered Yunxia Sect’s territory, seamlessly replacing the puppet double that had been occupying his main peak cave residence.

During his absence, the fourth-rank puppet clone, disguised in his appearance, had been stationed at Qingluan Peak.

He had only briefly met with Xiao Qingshan, who failed to notice any anomalies.

His trip had been relatively short, and this minor switch did not attract the attention of the Supreme Elders.

Additionally, True Monarch Yunlan had recently left the sect on an excursion, making this an ideal time to return unnoticed.

Furthermore, the formation barriers within his cave residence were designed to trigger alerts should any Nascent Soul cultivators attempt to spy on him using their spiritual sense.

If the Earth Burrowing Rat successfully transformed, there was a possibility that True Monarch Red Serpent might connect the dots.

By carefully covering his movements, he minimized any risks.

Shortly after returning, Lan Chang'an turned 344 years old.

His fourth life from the Nine Seal Stele was still active.

As long as he avoided combat and excessive use of his spiritual sense, he could maintain its "dormant state" for several more years.

Now, his primary focus was preparing the Earth Burrowing Rat for its transformation—he aimed to initiate the breakthrough within a year.

Over the next six months, he symbolically purchased various spiritual medicines, elixirs, and natural treasures to aid in beast transformation.

He even used his sect contributions to exchange for additional resources, ensuring the appearance of a gradual buildup.

This did not go unnoticed.

Some Core Formation Elders within the sect began to suspect his intentions.

In recent years, the Earth Burrowing Rat had occasionally appeared within the sect, and high-level members were aware that Elder Xiang owned a late third-rank spirit beast.

One day, Lan Chang'an was summoned by True Monarch Purple Mist for a private audience.

Inside the elegant palace atop Zixia Peak, the atmosphere was tranquil yet majestic.

Lan Chang'an stood before the Supreme Elder, bowing respectfully.

"Honorable Supreme Elder, my spirit beast will attempt its transformation in three months. At that time, the use of the sect’s fourth-rank spirit vein to absorb the surrounding energy may cause minor disturbances, so I request your understanding."

He spoke humbly, tilting his gaze toward the high seat.

True Monarch Purple Mist, reclining on a jade bed, exuded an aura of effortless grace.

Her dark, elegant hair was arranged in an intricate cloud-like bun, accentuating her delicate yet imposing features.

Wrapped in a silken violet gown, her figure resembled an ethereal dream, her expression one of relaxed contemplation.

She lifted her sleeve with a languid motion, her tone as light and serene as flowing water:

"Elder Xiang need not be so formal. Many years ago, I already granted permission for your spirit beast to use the fourth-rank spirit vein for its transformation."

She motioned for him to take a seat.

True Monarch Purple Mist inquired about the Earth Burrowing Rat’s progress, expressing mild curiosity about his preparation of the resources.

Lan Chang'an concealed the most critical elements of his plan.

Publicly, the only notable resource he had acquired was the Thunder-Dissolving Pearl, obtained from Yu Yuanjin.

The other materials he gathered appeared rather ordinary—nowhere near the caliber used for Nascent Soul seeds in elite sects, with no superior quality items.

True Monarch Purple Mist’s elegant brows furrowed slightly.

Compared to Nascent Soul seeds from nascent soul sects, this preparation was indeed lackluster.

However, she acknowledged that Elder Xiang was a loose cultivator from a minor province.

For someone of his background, even reaching this point was already remarkable.

"Do you have anything for the Heart Tribulation?"

Purple Mist’s gaze sharpened slightly.

Lan Chang'an shook his head, feigning helplessness.

"I have not yet found a suitable item. If necessary, I will simply use a top-grade third-rank 'Tranquil Spirit Incense'."

The Tranquil Spirit Incense was mainly used to aid meditation, helping cultivators clear their minds and ward off distractions.

But against the Heart Demon Tribulation, it could only be said to be better than nothing.

True Monarch Purple Mist fell into deep thought before speaking:

"The sect’s treasury contains a fourth-rank low-grade 'Superior Purity Pill.' You may use my personal decree to exchange for it with your remaining contribution points."

Lan Chang'an’s eyes brightened with surprise, and he bowed deeply in gratitude.

"Many thanks, Supreme Elder, for your great kindness!"

The Superior Purity Pill was typically reserved for Nascent Soul seeds and core lineage elders.

Her allowing him to exchange for it was a clear show of favor.

Though not the most powerful heart tribulation spirit item, it was still effective, especially for spirit beasts whose Heart Tribulations were naturally weaker than humans.

As Lan Chang'an prepared to leave, True Monarch Purple Mist offered a final word of reassurance:

"Do your best and trust in fate. No matter the outcome, you will have done your part."

Despite her assistance, she did not hold high hopes for the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation.

Spirit beast transformations were often more difficult than human breakthroughs.

Though their Heart Tribulation was weaker, the Heavenly Thunder Tribulation was significantly stronger. Moreover, the Earth Burrowing Rat’s bloodline was not too good, and it lacked a true counterpart to an Infant Transformation Pill.

She had no way of knowing that the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation conditions were superior to even Yunxia Sect’s own failed Nascent Soul seed, Immortal Yunqing.

...

That same afternoon, Lan Chang'an entered the sect’s restricted treasury with True Monarch Purple Mist’s decree.

Using nearly all his remaining contribution points, he exchanged for the Superior Purity Pill.

It was said that before Immortal Yunqing’s Nascent Soul attempt, this was his original heart-protecting pill.

Lan Chang'an sealed it away carefully, thinking to himself:

"I can save this pill for my own future Nascent Soul breakthrough."

Since the Earth Burrowing Rat now had the Profound Heart Beast Pill, the Superior Purity Pill became unnecessary for its transformation.

If the Earth Burrowing Rat successfully advanced, he already planned to credit True Monarch Purple Mist for her 'great generosity'.

By doing so, he could create a plausible reason for the Earth Burrowing Rat’s success, preventing suspicion from other sect members.

With everything in place, Lan Chang'an used divination techniques to select an auspicious date within the next three months.

Of course, such "lucky dates" were largely a matter of belief, rather than a true deciding factor.

The Earth Burrowing Rat was now in peak condition, both mentally and physically.

It had also thoroughly internalized the transformation technique and was ready for the final step.

Both Nascent Soul breakthroughs and beast transformations followed specific methods.

Fortunately, Lan Chang'an possessed the memories of multiple Nascent Soul cultivators and lacked nothing in terms of knowledge.

...

Three months passed in the blink of an eye.

On this day, the auspicious date that Lan Chang'an had selected finally arrived.

At the heart of Yunxia Sect’s mountain gate, where the fourth-rank spirit vein was located, a sealed underground stone hall had long been prepared.

Within it, the Earth Burrowing Rat had been waiting for days, preparing for its transformation ordeal.

The underground location was deliberately chosen because the abundance of earth-attribute spiritual energy would aid the rat demon’s abilities and energy recovery.

At the same time, certain details of the transformation attempt could be concealed.

The Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation foundation had been meticulously planned.

In addition to the Jiao Dragon Essence Core, the stone dragon heart, and the Thunder-Dissolving Pearl, there was also the special Five-Element Soil.

This soil had absorbed residual energy from the sprouted Xuanmu Vine, which had been tainted with the aura of the dead Xuantian Relic.

Lan Chang'an wasn’t entirely certain of its effects, but based on the instinctive reaction of the Earth Burrowing Rat, it seemed to provide some level of benefit.

Half a day later.

Above the underground stone hall, the skies churned with violent winds and ominous clouds.

A vast surge of spiritual energy flooded toward the location, forming a massive vortex of earth-attribute power.

At that moment, a terrifying demonic aura erupted, reaching the absolute peak of the third-rank Great Demon level.

Within the Yunxia Sect, many Core Formation cultivators instantly felt the disturbance and were visibly shaken.

"What a powerful Great Demon aura!"

Even for a beast attempting transformation, the sheer force of the Earth Burrowing Rat’s demonic pressure was unusual.

The spiritual pressure it was emanating far exceeded that of the sect’s few Core Formation Great Cultivators—including Lan Chang'an himself, it's master.

Sitting cross-legged near the entrance, Lan Chang'an could sense the vast flow of energy surging underground.

He inwardly nodded in satisfaction.

"As expected of a fourth-rank spirit vein—it’s almost at the mid-grade level."

Back when he had attempted his Nascent Soul breakthrough in his past life, he had never had access to such favorable conditions.

The sect’s spirit vein was only a step away from being fully mid-grade fourth-rank.

If the two Nascent Soul elders had no objections, Lan Chang'an wouldn’t mind cultivating here for many years.

On Zixia Peak, tens of li away.

True Monarch Purple Mist stood at the summit, gazing at the shifting energies in the distance.

Her graceful, slender figure, adorned in flowing violet robes, appeared almost ethereal beneath the moonlight.

Her delicate jade-like hands rested on the railing as her light-purple, star-like eyes observed the unfolding phenomenon.

"This rat demon has a solid foundation. As a mutated species, its demon energy contains the essence of Earthly Fiend Qi."

Compared to the full sect lockdown that had occurred during Immortal Yunqing’s Nascent Soul tribulation, the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation event was less strictly monitored.

Nearby, Lan Chang'an remained seated, guarding the area.

He turned his gaze briefly toward Yunlan Peak, the seat of the absent True Monarch Yunlan.

"True Monarch Yunlan still hasn’t returned? That’s good—one less unstable factor to worry about."

Within Yunxia Sect, Lan Chang'an’s closest relationship was with True Monarch Purple Mist.

She had been his greatest supporter, and he trusted that she would not sabotage his efforts—in fact, she was likely to assist and protect his interests.

After all, she had been the one to discover his potential, and she had come to trust and appreciate his value.

True Monarch Yunlan, however, was a different story.

Lan Chang'an had an intuition that this person was always wary of him.

True Monarch Yunlan’s desire for control over the sect was strong, and his authority within the sect was far greater than that of True Monarch Purple Mist.

If the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation succeeded, it would shift the balance of power—something that Yunlan might not appreciate.

Three days later.

As time passed, the phenomenon grew increasingly intense.

The turbulent tides of spiritual energy spread outward, expanding to hundreds, then thousands of li.

Unexpectedly, the momentum of the transformation tribulation was far greater than anticipated.

Three years prior, when Immortal Yunqing had attempted his Nascent Soul breakthrough, his tribulation had not been any stronger than this one.

It was important to note that Immortal Yunqing had possessed an Immortal Golden Dan, considered the strongest foundation for a Nascent Soul ascension.

Whoosh—

A massive ring-shaped vortex of spiritual energy formed, expanding outward in a ten-li radius.

At its center, a pillar of golden-brown earth energy shot skyward, connecting to the underground stone hall.

Above, the storm clouds thickened, swirling with ominous power.

These were the first signs of the approaching Heavenly Thunder Tribulation.

Lan Chang'an narrowed his eyes.

"The moment a beast’s inner core successfully transforms into an ‘Essence Spirit Core,’ it triggers the Heavenly Tribulation."

He observed the still-forming tribulation clouds.

If the transformation failed, these Heavenly Tribulation clouds would dissipate naturally.

However, at this moment, the dark thunderclouds were continuing to accumulate—signaling that the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation process was advancing successfully.

If the process was stagnating, the growth of the tribulation clouds would slow.

...

At the critical moment when the Earth Burrowing Rat was condensing its Essence Spirit Core, an unexpected presence rapidly approached from outside Yunxia Sect.

Whoosh—

A streak of white light, carrying an overwhelming Nascent Soul aura, shot across the sky like a falling comet.

The approaching force was powerful and oppressive, sending waves of spiritual pressure crashing across the sect’s protective formations.

Lan Chang'an’s expression darkened slightly as he probed the intruder’s mana signature—

It was True Monarch Yunlan.

For the past two years, Yunlan had spent most of his time outside the sect, likely investigating the Ancient Nether Hall.

Even though Lan Chang'an confirmed his identity, his wariness did not subside.

Instead, he quickly transmitted a message to True Monarch Purple Mist, warning her of the situation.

From a logical standpoint, there was no reason for Yunlan to actively sabotage the Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation.

After all, if the Yunxia Sect gained a new fourth-rank demon king, it would be more beneficial than detrimental to the sect’s overall strength.

However, Lan Chang'an’s concern lay elsewhere—

What if the approaching figure was an imposter?

In the cultivation world, identity disguises and body possession were not unheard of, especially when a sect’s defenses were momentarily weakened.

Right now, due to the massive spiritual energy draw from the transformation process, the sect’s protective formations were slightly unstable.

If an enemy attacked at this moment, it would be the perfect opportunity.

Upon receiving Lan Chang'an’s message, True Monarch Purple Mist couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

In reality, she was the one who had summoned Yunlan back.

She had done so to ensure that nothing unexpected occurred during the transformation trial.

Both Nascent Soul breakthroughs and spirit beast transformations required large amounts of spiritual energy and would inevitably attract Heavenly Tribulation.

This meant that, for a brief period, the sect’s defensive formations would be at their weakest.

Although she didn’t particularly care about the Earth Burrowing Rat’s success, she still considered precautions necessary.

As for Yunlan, his mind was entirely occupied with the Ancient Nether Hall.

He had little interest in a mere rat demon’s transformation, especially since he believed its chances of success were minimal.

Even Yunqing failed to reach Nascent Soul despite his talent and superior conditions. This low-bloodline rat demon has even less potential—there’s no way it will succeed.

That was the extent of his thoughts on the matter.

As True Monarch Yunlan arrived at the sect’s protective barrier, True Monarch Purple Mist hesitated for a brief moment before allowing him inside.

She had momentarily probed his aura with her spiritual sense before deactivating the protective array.

This subtle act of hesitation and verification was not lost on Yunlan.

His expression darkened slightly, and a faint sense of estrangement passed through him.

"Purple Mist, what is the meaning of this?"

His voice carried a hint of displeasure.

This level of mistrust was uncommon between them, and it left him with a feeling of unease.

Purple Mist simply smiled softly, explaining the situation.

"Don’t take it personally, Senior Brother. Elder Xiang is simply protective of his spirit beast and wishes to eliminate all potential risks."

She continued, her voice gentle and reassuring:

"Besides, when Yunqing underwent his Nascent Soul tribulation, Elder Xiang was prevented from entering the sect—and he had no objections."

Her words were meant as a defense of Lan Chang'an’s actions, but in Yunlan’s ears, they sounded like a pointed comparison.

As century-long Dao companions, Yunlan and Purple Mist had maintained a stable relationship.

But today, she had actively defended an outsider over him.

Not only that, she had even drawn a comparison—implying that Elder Xiang was open-minded while he, True Monarch Yunlan, was overly sensitive and narrow-minded.

A flicker of dark emotion flashed through his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it, keeping his expression calm and composed.

Instead of arguing, he smoothly changed the subject.

"How far has the transformation progressed?"

Yunlan asked, keeping his tone neutral.

He walked to Purple Mist’s side, standing beside her on the peak, observing the distant tribulation clouds.

Purple Mist responded without hesitation:

"The rat demon has a good chance of passing the first stage."

Yunlan remained silent for a moment before asking:

"How long has it been?"

True Monarch Yunlan sensed the vast fluctuations of heaven and earth, feeling an intangible pressure that left him secretly astonished.

"Three days."

Purple Mist answered easily.

Yunlan’s expression subtly shifted.

"Only three days?"

He narrowed his eyes, his thoughts racing.

It was already progressing this quickly?

Before he could contemplate further, the gray tribulation clouds swirling above the sect suddenly expanded further, their forms growing more dense and ominous.

Faint streaks of azure lightning crackled within their depths.

"The tribulation clouds have fully formed… Could it be that the rat demon has already—"

Yunlan’s voice trailed off in disbelief.

BOOM!

At that moment, a deafening explosion erupted from the underground stone hall.

A pillar of earthly demonic wind, carrying Nascent Soul-level power, shot into the sky, shattering the ground above.

A massive crater, spanning hundreds of zhang, appeared at the site, revealing a colossal beast rising from below.

A giant rat demon, its fur gleaming with a metallic luster, rose into the stormy skies, its eyes burning with raw power.

Whoosh!

From its mouth, it spat forth a massive demon core, glowing with eerie yellow light.

The orb radiated terrifying demonic energy, its very presence causing the surrounding structures to crumble into dust.