I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

“Guild Master,” Gao Songbai stood up to greet the newcomer.

It was a beautiful woman, draped in snow-white robes with silver hair, exuding an icy elegance. Her skin was as smooth as jade, and she appeared to be in her early twenties.

“So, it’s Hanyu Immortal! What an honor for someone like me to be received by the president of the Snow Fox Merchant Association herself,” Lan Chang\'an spoke with a humble tone, though his body exuded a matching Fake Dan level of spiritual power.

Their spiritual pressures briefly clashed in the air before they both withdrew them.

Before arriving, Lan Chang\'an had already gathered information on the key figures of the Snow Fox Merchant Association. He knew that the most prominent cultivator stationed in the city was Hanyu Immortal, who had taken over as the guild’s president a few years ago.

“Xiang Immortal, you’re too polite,” Hanyu Immortal’s expression remained composed as her icy blue eyes sized up the elderly man in the straw raincoat across from her.

After exchanging pleasantries, they both took their seats.

Gao Songbai, who had initially received Lan Chang\'an, discreetly exited the side hall.

Lan Chang\'an maintained his Fake Dan aura, but the Hundred Illusions Mask continued to slowly drain his spiritual sense.

Disguising himself at a lower level of cultivation required minimal energy, almost negligible. However, posing as a higher-level cultivator was a different story, making it unsustainable for long periods. Nevertheless, maintaining the disguise for a short transaction like this wasn’t too taxing.

“I’m familiar with almost every Immortal in the Jing Kingdom’s cultivation world, but I don’t believe I’ve heard of Xiang Immortal before. May I ask where you come from?” Hanyu Immortal’s voice was clear and pleasant, her tone conveying curiosity.

“I am but a wandering loose cultivator from a small, insignificant place. Not worth mentioning,” Lan Chang\'an responded dismissively.

Within the Jing Kingdom\'s cultivation world, while there were many Fake Dan cultivators, those who were well-known had either made a name for themselves or were part of major sects. If a Fake Dan cultivator was still unknown, they were either in hiding or from an obscure background.

Hanyu Immortal could see that the other party didn’t wish to reveal his true identity, so she didn’t press the issue.

In fact, the surname "Xiang" triggered some associations for her.

However, the man before her was vastly different from the one in those rumors, so she couldn’t jump to conclusions based solely on a name.

Lan Chang\'an had deliberately chosen to use the surname "Xiang" for a reason.

If the Snow Fox Merchant Association suspected he was Xiang Jinglong, they would be even more cautious in their dealings.

On one hand, Xiang Jinglong was a formidable figure, having reached quasi-third-rank in body cultivation, a rarity even among Fake Dan cultivators.

On the other hand, with the Demonic Sect being a powerful force, the Snow Fox Merchant Association wouldn’t want to risk making an enemy of them.

If the transaction went awry, Lan Chang\'an could always use the identity of "Xiang Immortal" as a fallback.

It was worth noting that Lan Chang\'an himself had also cultivated his body to quasi-third-rank, an extremely rare feat among Fake Dan people.

Three years ago, when he was on the Jiuchen Merchant Association’s spirit ship, Xiang Jinglong had led a group of Demonic Sect cultivators who had intercepted the ship and forced Lan Chang\'an to pay 3,000 spirit stones as a "ransom."

That unjust expense was something Lan Chang\'an had silently kept track of ever since.

...

“This third-rank demonic core, our Snow Fox Merchant Association is willing to purchase. Does Xiang Immortal prefer payment in spirit stones or a trade in kind?” Hanyu Immortal got straight to the point after completing her appraisal.

During this appraisal, the demonic core remained in Lan Chang\'an’s hands, and he allowed her to inspect it with her spiritual sense. Coupled with Gao Songbai’s earlier evaluation, Hanyu Immortal had already formed a solid judgment on the core’s quality and value.

“I would like a third-rank earth-attribute demonic core,” Lan Chang\'an was equally direct.

He didn’t bring up the Crystal Condensation Pill—it wasn’t realistic. Such a strategic resource, even if the Snow Fox Merchant Association had one, they would never sell it to an outsider.

“An earth-attribute demonic core?” Hanyu Immortal’s delicate brows furrowed slightly as she responded with a bit of hesitation, “Our guild doesn’t currently have any earth-attribute third-rank demonic cores in stock. However, if Xiang Immortal is willing to wait for a year or so, we can definitely acquire one through other channels.”

From Hanyu Immortal’s tone, Lan Chang\'an surmised that the Snow Fox Merchant Association likely had other types of third-rank demonic cores.

A year or so was short in comparison to Lan Chang\'an’s long lifespan, but for a transaction, it was rather lengthy.

He didn’t want to let too much time pass and risk unforeseen complications, so he adjusted his plan.

“Does your guild have any third-rank Sha Yuan Pills?” Lan Chang\'an asked.

The Sha Yuan Pill was a pill made primarily from third-rank demonic cores. It could help demonic beasts break through to third-rank.

This pill required fewer rare supplementary ingredients, with the demonic core itself containing demonic energy. Its alchemical process was relatively simple.

However, due to its fierce medicinal properties, the risk of backlash from a failed breakthrough was extremely high.

For this reason, the Sha Yuan Pill was only suitable for demonic beasts, and it was considered a cruder, stripped-down version of the Crystal Condensation Pill.

In terms of suitability and value, the Sha Yuan Pill was inferior to the Crystal Condensation Pill.

Nevertheless, for demonic beasts, the effects of the Sha Yuan Pill were not much weaker than the Crystal Condensation Pill; it was just that the risk and potential backlash were far greater.

“We do have one Sha Yuan Pill in stock, but it would take up to ten days to have it delivered from one of our other branches,” Hanyu Immortal said after a brief moment of thought.

Ten days was acceptable to Lan Chang\'an.

After attending the auction, waiting a few more days for the trade would be manageable.

“However, one third-rank low-grade demonic core alone wouldn’t be enough to trade for a Sha Yuan Pill,” Hanyu Immortal added.

“You must understand that the main ingredient in a Sha Yuan Pill is a third-rank demonic core, but there are also supplementary ingredients and the fee for the third-rank alchemist who refines the pill…” Hanyu Immortal remained composed and elegant, but she didn’t yield an inch when it came to negotiating the value of the transaction.

“That’s not entirely accurate,” Lan Chang\'an shook his head. “The difficulty in refining a Sha Yuan Pill is relatively low. Using a third-rank demonic core as the primary ingredient, a single batch yields more than just one pill.”

“Besides, the demonic core I’m offering comes from a late-stage third-rank demonic beast with a lightning attribute, making its demonic energy extremely pure and more valuable than an ordinary low-grade third-rank core.”

“In my opinion, your guild should not only provide a genuine Sha Yuan Pill but also offer some additional compensation,” Lan Chang\'an countered firmly.

Hanyu Immortal smiled slightly, her lips curving in acknowledgment, “Xiang Immortal is quite knowledgeable about the market. However, as a business, we must at least break even on our acquisitions. A deal without profit is a loss.”

“What profit? Your guild can’t make friends?” Lan Chang\'an, disguised as the elderly man, smirked, a bit shamelessly.

Hanyu Immortal was momentarily taken aback, but her icy demeanor didn’t falter, and she wasn’t offended.

In the end, the two sides compromised.

Lan Chang\'an would trade his third-rank demonic core for a genuine Sha Yuan Pill.

“I am staying at the Xunxian Residence. You may contact me within ten days, or the deal will be void,” Lan Chang\'an said as he prepared to leave, the deal now finalized.

“Xiang Immortal, could you provide a deposit? It need not be of significant value, just a small token to show your sincerity,” Hanyu Immortal suggested.

For major transactions, merchant guilds sometimes signed spirit contracts to bind both parties.

However, binding a Fake Dan cultivator would require a third-rank spirit contract, which was costly to create.

“This supreme-grade magical weapon, your guild can hold onto it for now,” Lan Chang\'an casually produced a metallic orb, gently pinched it, and lightly tossed it to Hanyu Immortal.

He understood Hanyu Immortal’s request—it was mainly to prevent him from backing out and seeking out other guilds for the same transaction.

“Take care, Xiang Immortal,” Hanyu Immortal accepted the magical weapon and took a quick glance at it, only for her expression to shift slightly.

She noticed that the metallic orb had a perfectly imprinted handprint about an inch deep, still radiating residual heat.

What was even more astonishing was that she hadn’t sensed any magical fluctuations when it happened.

“He did that effortlessly with just his physical strength…”

“Could he really be… that person from the rumors?”

Hanyu Immortal’s once calm heart was now disturbed, and her icy blue eyes followed the departing Fake Dan cultivator.

She realized that this display of strength was a warning—telling the Snow Fox Merchant Association not to try any tricks during the transaction.

A Fake Dan cultivator who had refined his body to quasi-third-rank was an elite among his peers.

Even a True Dan cultivator in the early stage wouldn’t be able to deal with him quickly.

...

That evening, Lan Chang\'an returned to his room at the Xunxian Residence.

Earlier in the day, using the Nine Seal Stele, he had secretly monitored the Snow Fox Merchant Association’s headquarters with his spiritual sense.

Hanyu Immortal’s actions showed no signs of suspicion—she had indeed sent out orders to contact higher-ups within the guild to rush the delivery of the pill.

Lan Chang\'an noticed that Hanyu Immortal seemed to hold a certain amount of fear regarding his strength and identity, and she had not disclosed anything to any juniors.

“The Demonic Sect’s influence has taken root in the border regions of the Jing Kingdom, even infiltrating the upper echelons of the Merchant Alliance. Moreover, by controlling key trade routes, they have significant sway within the Jing Kingdom’s Merchant Alliance,” Lan Chang\'an mused.

He knew that most merchant guilds within the alliance were reluctant to make enemies of the Demonic Sect; some even had close partnerships with them for profit.

In the cultivation world of the Jing Kingdom, sects didn’t wield as much power. Though they held some enmity towards the Demonic Sect and had occasional minor conflicts, for the most part, they kept out of each other’s way.

The main reason was that the Demonic Sect’s influence had grown too strong, and dealing with them was not an easy task. They hadn’t made any moves to seize control of third-rank spirit veins within the nation’s borders yet.

Moreover, the leader of the Demonic Sect, Liang Shaotian, was extremely powerful. The “Black Dipper Demon Flame” he wielded was one of the ten great demonic flames of Great Qing. Upon cultivating it to the Small Accomplishment stage, there would be few opponents below the Nascent Soul Realm.

...

Three days later, the auction at Cloudsmoke Immortal City was held as scheduled.

Third-rank demonic cores, Foundation Establishment Pills, superior Life Extension Pills… various rare items attracted the attention of many surrounding cultivation forces.

At the Xunxian Residence, Lan Chang\'an unexpectedly received a VIP invitation, delivered by the Snow Fox Merchant Association.

It turned out that the Snow Fox Merchant Association was one of the main organizers of this auction.

The scale of the Cloudsmoke Immortal City auction was slightly larger than that of the Huanglong Immortal City.

With the VIP invitation in hand, Lan Chang\'an was led by an attendant to an elevated VIP box overlooking the auction hall.

“In an auction of this scale, Foundation Establishment cultivators are the main participants, while Fake Dan cultivators are among the elite. At most, two or three True Dan cultivators will attend, and they’ll likely be in the early stages,” Lan Chang\'an observed the situation in the hall and felt reassured.

Having purchased the information in advance, he was already aware of most of the auction items, with about 90% accuracy.

Among all the items, the one that piqued his interest the most was the second-rank superior Life Extension Pill.

Lan Chang\'an speculated that his main competitors would be late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and Fake Dan cultivators.

Life Extension Pills were primarily sought after by the elderly.

Ordinarily, older Foundation Establishment cultivators sought ordinary second-rank Life Extension Pills for their high cost-effectiveness.

As for True Dan cultivators, with their lifespans of five to six hundred years, they usually sought third-rank Life Extension Pills. Most of the elder True Dan cultivators had already consumed second-rank Life Extension Pills.

In addition, those who had already consumed regular second-rank Life Extension Pills would see greatly diminished effects from taking superior ones.

Therefore, Lan Chang\'an predicted that the chances of True Dan cultivators bidding on the second-rank superior Life Extension Pill were slim.

Even if they did, so what? There were still Fake Dan cultivators with limited lifespans who would dare to compete.

After all, the difference between Fake Dan and True Dan stages was only half a major realm.

In actual combat, three Fake Dan cultivators working together could barely stand their ground against an early-stage True Dan cultivator.

In the VIP box to Lan Chang\'an’s left, three boxes away:

“Father, the patriarch is interested in the second-rank superior Life Extension Pill, but he didn’t attend the auction in person. Could he be worried about the Xinyue Merchant Association making a move on our family’s estate?” Xia Mingqu remarked, sensing the strong auras of several Fake Dan cultivators in the hall and feeling somewhat uneasy.

“It’s not that serious,” responded Xia Mingqu’s father, a tall, thin middle-aged man with a white complexion and a cloth cap on his head.

Xia’s father, Xia Yongzhong, was the president of the Wufu Merchant Association.

“The patriarch has already taken a regular second-rank Life Extension Pill. This time, he mainly sent us to try our luck. If the competition is too fierce, we don’t need to force it,” Xia Yongzhong explained with a smile.

“Hmm? Isn’t Alchemist Wu here for this auction?”

The hall was almost full, and both Xia Yongzhong and Xia Mingqu scanned the crowd but didn’t spot Lan Chang\'an.

“That’s odd. I told him about the auction days ago. He’s been searching for a late-stage Foundation Establishment breakthrough pill, and this auction happens to have one. Why wouldn’t he come to try his luck?” Xia Mingqu wondered.

The Xia family cultivators, of course, didn’t realize that Lan Chang\'an was nearby in another VIP box, attending the auction under the guise of a Fake Dan cultivator.

...

An hour later, the auction entered its second half, and the atmosphere became increasingly intense.

“The next item up for auction is a highly anticipated treasure for many elderly cultivators: the holy elixir for prolonging life, the second-rank Life Extension Pill!”

On stage, an old auctioneer with dark skin announced with excitement.

“This auction features three second-rank Life Extension Pills, one of which is the extremely rare superior second-rank Life Extension Pill! A superior Life Extension Pill can increase the longevity effect by more than 30%…”

Before the auctioneer even finished speaking, the eyes of several elderly Foundation Establishment cultivators and a few Fake Dan cultivators lit up with anticipation.

“As everyone knows, a Life Extension Pill of the same rank only works once, and its effects cannot be stacked.”

“However, the superior Life Extension Pill is different. After taking a regular Life Extension Pill, consuming a superior one can still provide an additional two or three years of life.”

After the auctioneer finished the introduction, the bidding for the superior Life Extension Pill began.

“The starting bid for the superior second-rank Life Extension Pill is 4,000 spirit stones, with a minimum increment of 100 spirit stones per bid.”

Rare as it was, the superior second-rank Life Extension Pill only offered 30% more effectiveness than the regular version. Yet its starting price was already more than double what Lan Chang\'an had encountered in the auction back in the Liang Kingdom.

Lan Chang\'an understood that this was due to marginal utility.

Besides, the fact that a superior Life Extension Pill could slightly extend lifespan even after taking a regular one made it especially valuable.

“4,500!”

“5,000 spirit stones!”

“5,300… 5,800… 6,000 spirit stones!”

In a short time, the price of the superior Life Extension Pill surged past 6,000 spirit stones.

One had to know that even second-rank Foundation Establishment Pills, as strategic resources, often sold for this range at auctions.

“7,000 spirit stones!” Lan Chang\'an decisively raised the bid by 1,000 spirit stones, his bold move drawing murmurs of discontent from several of the elderly cultivators.

A few spiritual senses scanned him, probing his intentions.

Lan Chang\'an snorted coldly, unleashing his Fake Dan spiritual pressure and using his formidable spiritual sense to shake off any impolite probes.

Several late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators paled as their spiritual seas trembled, suffering a backlash.

“What a strong spiritual sense!”

Among the few Fake Dan cultivators who had been competing fiercely, two now regarded him with trepidation.

The spiritual sense that Lan Chang\'an had revealed was clearly stronger than that of an ordinary Fake Dan cultivator.

“7,200,” came a familiar voice, young and confident. Lan Chang\'an recognized it as Xia Mingqu.

“8,000 spirit stones!” Lan Chang\'an’s voice was domineering, and the bid had now far exceeded the pill’s base value.

“Mingqu,” Xia Yongzhong signaled to his son to stop bidding.

“Child understands,” Xia Mingqu sighed.

The Fake Dan cultivator competing for the pill was clearly powerful and mysterious, and not someone they could afford to offend.

Besides, it was very worthless to raise the price any further. A regular second-rank Life Extension Pill typically sold for no more than 3,000 spirit stones at auction.

“Congratulations to this esteemed Daoist for winning the auction\'s only superior Life Extension Pill,” the auctioneer announced enthusiastically.

In the end, Lan Chang\'an secured the superior second-rank Life Extension Pill for 8,000 spirit stones.

Most of the remaining competitors either feared Lan Chang\'an’s strength or simply felt that it wasn’t worth pushing the price any higher.

Fake Dan cultivators generally had wealth far exceeding 10,000 spirit stones, but having a liquid cash flow of that size to spend on a mere three years of extended life was rare.

Moreover, there were other factors to consider—responsibilities, familial obligations, and so on.

“A regular second-rank Life Extension Pill can extend a normal cultivator’s life by more than ten years with the first dose, but further doses have no added effect. When I first took one, it extended my life by over 20 years. However, subsequent doses diminished in effectiveness,” Lan Chang\'an recalled.

The fifth second-rank Life Extension Pill he had taken had still granted him an impressive 8-year extension.

As of now, Lan Chang\'an had 469 years left to live.

“Normally, a regular cultivator could expect a superior Life Extension Pill to offer an additional 30% extension, possibly even more.”

Lan Chang\'an was curious to see how much extra life he could gain from his first-ever superior second-rank Life Extension Pill.

...

Just before sunset, Lan Chang\'an returned to his suite at the Xunxian Residence.

In addition to successfully bidding on the superior Life Extension Pill, he had also acquired two third-rank materials.

These third-rank materials could be used in the future to craft third-rank puppets or enhance the durability of his quasi-third-rank puppets.

During the auction, Lan Chang\'an had been quite assertive, drawing the attention of several factions.

However, a powerful Fake Dan cultivator could easily bear the weight of such wealth exposure.

After the auction ended, several factions sent representatives to visit Lan Chang\'an, some probing, others attempting to curry favor.

Lan Chang\'an, remaining aloof, declined all visits, including those from other Fake Dan cultivators.

Among the visitors was none other than Xia Yongzhong, the president of the Wufu Merchant Association, and Xia Mingqu’s father.

Lan Chang\'an naturally made no exceptions, leaving the Xia father and son eat a closed door.