I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 69: Qi-Refining Ninth Layer

To Mu Ershun, Lan Chang'an was not only his Uncle but also his talisman arts mentor.

This relationship was second only to his biological father.

Mu Ershun, now thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, nearly forty, had reached the seventh layer of Qi-Refining and was a senior middle-grade talisman master. He could not have gotten to where he was today without Lan Chang'an's support.

"Ershun, it's been many years. You look more and more like your father." Lan Chang'an smiled, noticing Mu Ershun's slightly protruding belly.

He beckoned Mu Ershun and Lin Lu to sit down.

"Uncle Lan, this is a gift my father asked me to bring." Mu Ershun handed over a storage pouch.

Lan Chang'an opened the storage pouch, and with a quick glance, he was slightly moved.

Inside the storage pouch were materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill, worth hundreds of spirit stones.

These materials did not overlap with the ones Zhao Siyao had gifted him back then.

Even though these materials mostly overlapped with what he had already collected, one particular jade bottle caught his attention.

It contained a clear liquid, which was precisely the auxiliary medicine February Tears that Lan Chang'an currently lacked.

February Tears was not particularly valuable or effective on its own; it required a specific environment to form and was hard to come by.

With this, Lan Chang'an only lacked the Xuanling Fruit for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

"Given Erqing's status, he might only have worked part-time as a spiritual planter husband. Could he easily gather such resources? Moreover, he also aims to achieve Foundation Establishment." Lan Chang'an sensed something amiss.

He immediately inquired about Mu Jiuan's situation.

"Jiuan was accepted as a disciple by a Foundation Establishment senior and left Feiyue Lake a year ago," Mu Ershun replied.

This statement differed from what was mentioned in the letter.

Li Erqing was no longer the simple peasant boy he once was; he had rich life experiences and it was normal for him to be more reserved.

Lan Chang'an speculated that there were hidden details in this matter not mentioned in the letter.

Mu Ershun's visit to Huanglong Immortal City was mainly to convey greetings from his father and present a tribute.

He stayed for two days, received guidance on talisman arts from Lan Chang'an, and then left Huanglong Immortal City.

...

Two years later.

Lan Chang'an, now sixty-one years old, was close to reaching the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.

On this day, news of Master Guan's death arrived.

The death was sudden, earlier than Lan Chang'an had expected.

Guan Qiaozhi cried until she looked like a tear-streaked mess, blaming herself for being distracted and not taking good care of her master.

Lan Chang'an examined the body and confirmed it was a natural death.

In the months before his death, Master Guan had secretly purchased life-extending supplements.

Initially, these supplements made him feel more energetic, but they ultimately drained his body's functions, acting as a poison.

Master Guan was Lan Chang'an's guide into the world of cultivation in this life.

Out of respect, Lan Chang'an helped Guan Qiaozhi arrange the funeral.

According to Master Guan's last wishes, everything was kept simple, and his ashes were scattered in the mountains around Huanglong Immortal City.

Guan Qiaozhi, as his disciple, observed a hundred days of mourning.

Afterwards, she officially moved into Water Moon Residence, taking care of Lan Chang'an's daily life.

...

When Guan Qiaozhi moved in, Lan Chang'an did not hold a banquet nor perform a wedding ceremony.

This made Guan Qiaozhi feel somewhat disappointed.

If it were a concubinage, some cultivators would notify friends and family and host a banquet to show importance.

Lan Chang'an's indifference indicated he was more inclined to treat her as a maid rather than a concubine.

Lan Chang'an noticed Guan Qiaozhi's slight discontent and had a conversation with her.

"Qiaozhi, you still have a chance to reconsider your two choices from back then." Lan Chang'an, out of respect for Master Guan, was willing to take in this girl.

Guan Qiaozhi indeed had her uses in managing household chores, taking care of pets, making talisman papers, and warming the bed, which Lan Chang'an didn't mind.

But she was not essential.

"Senior Brother Lan, I do not regret my decision back then. Even as a maid, I am willing to serve you forever." Guan Qiaozhi said with clear, determined eyes. She was willing to serve Lan Chang'an, a decision made after careful consideration.

First, Lan Chang'an had connections and a stable future as a senior superior-grade talisman master.

Second, Lan Chang'an was reliable, and his appearance and temperament both appealed to her.

Although Lan Chang'an was decades older than her, such an age difference was negligible in the cultivation world.

Of course, Guan Qiaozhi's willingness likely had some personal motives beyond these two points.

If Lan Chang'an was lucky enough to succeed in achieving Foundation Establishment, her status would rise accordingly.

Common sense told her: "At sixty-one, the chances of failing to achieve Foundation Establishment are higher."

Lan Chang'an had no close relatives.

Upon his death at a hundred years, as a first-rank superior-grade talisman master, his accumulated wealth would rightfully be inherited by Guan Qiaozhi.

...

After Guan Qiaozhi officially moved in, Water Moon Residence was well-managed.

Daily chores, delicious meals, pet care, and preparation of talisman materials were all handled impeccably.

Lan Chang'an had much peace of mind, enjoying the same treatment Master Guan had in the past, as if he had gained another layer of warmth.

He could focus more on cultivation, body refinement, and grinding his skills, or go out to make friends.

Half a year later.

In Water Moon Residence, inside a secret room.

A surge of mana fluctuated, bringing a faint spiritual pressure.

"At sixty, I have reached the ninth layer of Qi-Refining."

Lan Chang'an opened his eyes, filled with the sediment of time and the cycle of the seasons.

His mana within him increased by twenty to thirty percent, faintly approaching the upper limit of the Qi-Refining stage.

As expected, it took him nine years to advance from the eighth to the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.

In this life, he was now sixty-two, entering his sixties.

As a concubine, Guan Qiaozhi calling him "old master" would not be out of place.

The longevity benefits of the Evergreen Technique made Lan Chang'an appear about twenty years old.

With jade-like features and an ethereal, tranquil aura, dressed in a white robe, he exuded serenity.

This youthfulness was not merely a superficial thing but rather a jade-like quality that radiated from within.

Lan Chang'an usually restrained his aura to avoid standing out too much.

"At sixty, I reached the ninth layer of Qi-Refining. By seventy, I should be able to reach Foundation Establishment." Lan Chang'an had long estimated this.

Reaching the peak of the ninth layer of Qi-Refining would take as much time as advancing from the eighth to the ninth layer.

In theory, one could attempt Foundation Establishment at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.

Most cultivators, for deeper foundations, chose to attempt Foundation Establishment at the peak of the ninth layer.

At Lan Chang'an's feet, the Profound Water Turtle greedily absorbed the residual aura of the Evergreen Technique.

The turtle's actual cultivation was not far from the mid-stage of the first rank.

The turtle was adept at concealing its aura and was in perfect harmony with Lan Chang'an. It never revealed its magical abilities to anyone other than him.

Guan Qiaozhi, not proficient in beast taming, couldn't discern its true nature despite their frequent contact.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Lan, on advancing to the ninth layer of Qi-Refining." Two days later, when Lan Chang'an emerged from seclusion, Guan Qiaozhi was waiting outside.

She had a charming and beautiful face, and she wore a light beige robe that showed off her lithe figure and delicate charm.

That day, Guan Qiaozhi prepared a table of delicious spiritual food to celebrate, greatly satisfying Lan Chang'an's appetite.

With the advancement in cultivation, Lan Chang'an was in an exceptionally good mood.

Guan Qiaozhi's eyes sparkled, her lips lightly parted, and her cheeks blushed.

After cleaning up, she withdrew.

In the middle of the night.

After drawing a few talismans, Lan Chang'an emerged from the talisman room.

"Senior Brother Lan, your concubine is waiting for you to bath." came a soft, enchanting voice from outside.

Guan Qiaozhi, draped only in a sheer white gauze, almost transparent, revealed her delicate and curvaceous figure.

Outside the gauze, her smooth, jade-like shoulders and long, snow-white legs were like a feast for the eyes.