I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals
Chapter 431: Beast King Awakens, War Begins

Chapter 431: Beast King Awakens, War Begins

“Good!”

Hearing Lan Chang'an’s reply, Elder Ten Thousand Crane was secretly overjoyed.

Once this brat agreed to the wagered battle, he would spare no cost, burn his life force, unleash his secret techniques, and temporarily reach the level of a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator.

And with the unexpected assassination strike, they had a good chance of killing Lan Chang'an.

The Unseen Gate’s Vice Sect Master's long spike treasure was designed to destroy the soul. Unless Lan Chang'an had the deep foundation of someone like True Monarch Cyanwood, he might not even get the chance to have his Nascent Soul escape.

...

Lan Chang'an stepped onto the battlements—but paused in place, not stepping beyond the protective boundary of the formation.

“What does this mean, True Monarch Lan? With this old man showing such sincerity, you still don’t dare to come out and settle our personal grudge?”

Seeing Lan Chang'an’s hesitation, Elder Ten Thousand Crane cursed inwardly. This little bastard really is a turtle.

“Elder Ten Thousand Crane, could you repeat what you just said?” Lan Chang'an asked with a half-smile.

“If you still don’t dare to duel under such circumstances, then this old man shall henceforth call you ‘Turtle True Monarch’ to all who will hear it.”

“Good!”

Lan Chang'an readily agreed and took a step back, fully returning inside the fortress formation.

“You—!”

Elder Ten Thousand Crane’s flower-like white eyebrows twitched violently. His face turned ugly, and his raspy voice trembled with agitation.

He was both shocked and suspicious, had Lan Chang'an seen through their plan?

That shouldn’t be possible.

This plan wasn’t made on a whim. It had the backing of the Beast King Valley’s leadership, and they had expended major favors to invite the Vice Sect Master of Unseen Gate.

Even the three demonic True Monarchs behind him didn’t know the details.

“Turtle Lan! You don’t even dare face an aged, dying peer in battle, then bear the name of Turtle True Monarch for life!”

Elder Ten Thousand Crane, his composure broken, shouted in fury.

“Old man, you’ve only got a hundred or so years of life left, how could your life be as valuable as that of this True Monarch?”

“If an old bastard like you goes for mutual destruction and even if it only messes up my hairstyle, that’s still not worth it!”

Lan Chang'an waved his hand, disinterested.

Elder Ten Thousand Crane’s face turned green, his chest heaving. He nearly exploded with rage.

Never in his life had he seen such a shameless, life-preserving fellow cultivator and be so righteous about it.

Beside him, Yin Yuanhai looked at Lan Chang'an with the expression of someone suffering from severe constipation.

...

On the fortress walls, the cultivators of the Righteous Dao Alliance watched as Elder Ten Thousand Crane cursed and withdrew.

At the same time…

The detection formation within their territory triggered a warning.

Lan Chang'an noticed subtle changes in the shadows cast by the city wall, the nearby grass and rocks—soon the disturbance spread to a range over a hundred li.

The changes were extremely subtle. Had he not already been on guard, he might not have noticed the clues.

“As expected! That old bastard was playing dirty outside the arena, no honor at all.”

Lan Chang'an sneered coldly in his heart.

During his earlier divination, he had sensed an uncertain danger.

And recalling the past incident with Master Lihuo, he had naturally stayed cautious.

Someone who could bypass all his sensory awareness and conceal themselves like this, it could only be someone from Unseen Gate.

And most likely, a mid-stage Nascent Soul big shot from that sect, with a spiritual sense stronger than Lan Chang'an’s own.

On the ground, the kneeling Peacock Saintess still had tear stains at the corners of her eyes. She glanced at the direction where her grandfather had helplessly retreated and let out a sigh of relief.

“Pei Nu,” Lan Chang'an looked down at her face with a hint of pity in his eyes, “do you really believe you hold such importance in your grandfather’s heart?”

“You were nothing more than a pretext, a sacrificial pawn in that so-called wagered battle. A Nascent Soul cultivator from Unseen Gate was lying in wait, planning to assassinate me in secret.”

“If this True Monarch had actually died, do you think you’d still be alive?”

Hearing Lan Chang'an expose the truth...

Pei Shuyuan felt a chill down her spine and simultaneously sensed a cold killing intent from Fairy Xia.

Just now, the detection formation had responded, and with her understanding of the demonic path and her grandfather, it was very likely that Lan Chang'an’s words were true.

After all, a granddaughter who had lost her potential to reach Nascent Soul no longer held the value she once did in Elder Ten Thousand Crane’s eyes.

Elder Ten Thousand Crane's true goal was to see Lan Chang'an dead, even if it meant sacrificing his once-beloved granddaughter.

“A Unseen Gate Nascent Soul assassin came?”

Yin Yuanhai’s expression turned serious, a wave of fear washing over him.

Previously, he’d thought Lan Chang'an was being overly timid and too cautious, not even daring to step out despite having the advantage.

Only now did he understand why Lan Chang'an, just a loose cultivator with secrets, had managed to survive and thrive in the cultivation world for hundreds of years and become the number two figure in the Righteous Dao Alliance.

Lan Chang'an didn’t tell Yin Yuanhai that the hidden presence just now was likely a mid-stage Nascent Soul powerhouse.

“Seems I’ve now drawn the attention of the demonic path’s top leaders…”

Lan Chang'an pondered silently.

It was only because he was a fourth-rank grandmaster of divination, capable of foreseeing danger and avoiding catastrophe, that he had managed to dodge the hidden killing scheme.

In his mind, Lan Chang'an summoned all known intelligence on Unseen Gate.

Unseen Gate had two mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and the one who came this time was likely the newly advanced Vice Sect Master, who hadn’t been in that realm for even a hundred years.

In a head-on duel, this person posed limited threat to Lan Chang'an, less than other mid-stage Nascent Soul opponents.

Because Unseen Gate’s cultivation methods emphasized stealth and assassination. In straightforward combat, they were weaker than others of the same rank.

“The Six Demonic Sects have been pushing eastward, occupying vast territories in the rear, they need to maintain order.”

“On this battlefield against the Righteous Dao Alliance, to dispatch a mid-stage Nascent Soul from Unseen Gate, even temporarily, is already rare. It’s unlikely they’ll be stationed here permanently.”

“After all, this is not Unseen Gate’s territory.”

Lan Chang'an estimated that Beast King Valley must have paid a hefty price to bring in such a figure.

Someone of that level was reserved for eliminating troublesome, high-threat targets, like True Monarch Cyanwood in the past.

Based on Lan Chang'an’s recent performance, he now barely qualified as such a target.

...

“Fellow Daoist Yin, Wenyue, it's best that the two of you don’t leave the fortress or immortal city alone in the near future.”

Out of caution, Lan Chang'an gave a reminder to the two beside him.

In truth, within the same major realm, while it was easy for a mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivator to defeat someone at early-stage, killing them was another matter, it would take some effort.

Every veteran Nascent Soul cultivator had life-saving trump cards and escape techniques, enough to hold out for some time.

Even if facing a powerful Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, in a direct confrontation, an experienced early-stage Nascent Soul could at least struggle a bit with their ultimate cards, not necessarily be instantly killed.

After all, every Nascent Soul True Monarch stood among the top of the cultivation world, none were ordinary. Each carried immense fate and fortune, they weren't so easily snuffed out.

At the frontlines, due to the presence of the sensing formations, any use of Nascent Soul-level spiritual power would be detected quickly, and nearby allied True Monarchs could respond rapidly.

As long as two early-stage Nascent Soul cultivators were nearby to assist, even a mid-stage opponent would find it difficult to land a fatal blow, despite having the upper hand.

“Concubine understands.”

Fairy Xia nodded. Having received Lan Chang'an’s private voice transmission, she now knew a mid-stage Nascent Soul from Unseen Gate had been present.

“True Monarch Lan speaks wisely. Being cautious never hurts.”

Yin Yuanhai silently agreed. There weren’t many demonic True Monarchs he could beat anyway.

Might as well take Lan Chang'an’s advice, even if it seemed cowardly, at least it kept him alive.

“Now that husband has publicly humiliated the Peacock Saintess and enraged Beast King Valley, the intended result has already been achieved. What will you do with her next?”

Xia Wenyue’s gaze shifted toward the kneeling and silent Peacock Saintess.

“The strategic goal has been initially met, but… this woman may still have value later.”

Lan Chang'an replied thoughtfully.

He could tell that Fairy Xia was somewhat uncomfortable with the public humiliation inflicted on Pei Shuyuan earlier.

“Husband has already humiliated her. If it’s about vengeance, then perhaps she should be executed quickly. Keeping her nearby is an unnecessary variable and risk.”

Xia Wenyue looked Lan Chang'an straight in the eyes, voicing her suggestion.

“Killing her is too wasteful. Better to take her back to headquarters as a hostage.”

Yin Yuanhai instinctively shook his head as he glanced at the stunningly beautiful Pei Nu still dressed in bridal attire.

“From here on, this woman will serve as an ordinary slave, no more public displays. Pei Nu is not just Lan’s personal servant. She is also Wenyue’s handmaid.”

Lan Chang'an looked toward Xia Wenyue, seeking her approval.

He had no choice. Now that Fairy Xia had reached the Nascent Soul realm and stood as his equal, her status and voice were no longer inferior, she was well within her rights to raise objections.

Lan Chang'an’s own Dragon Phoenix Dual Cauldron Technique relied heavily on her to compensate for the lack of a follow-up chapter in the Evergreen Technique.

When they discussed the Dao together, although Fairy Xia was reserved, she was overall obedient and cooperative.

She was not some NPC or accessory without autonomy.

Lan Chang'an needed to respect her opinion appropriately.

“Fine.”

Fairy Xia’s heart eased. A smile bloomed on her face.

Pei Shuyuan, still kneeling on the ground, let out a breath of relief, though her heart grew increasingly desolate.

Never could she have imagined that the one to speak up for her, the only one to offer her a shred of dignity… would be Lan Chang’an’s woman.

...

Several days later...

The news that the Peacock Saintess had been disgraced and made a public slave spread to the rear camps of the Beast King Valley faction.

The cultivators of Beast King Valley were shaken. Fury swept through the ranks.

The incident was like a great empire waging war on a weaker land, only for its noble princess to be captured by a local barbarian king, and then publicly humiliated.

They had always been the ones to bully the small states and now the tables had turned?

Such disgrace, how could it be tolerated?

It was an inversion of the natural order!

In no time at all, righteous fury blazed throughout Beast King Valley. Calls for all-out war grew louder by the day.

Even among the upper echelons of Beast King Valley, the momentum for war was rapidly building.

Elder Ten Thousand Crane and Black Feather True Monarch, two Nascent Soul powerhouses, held undeniable influence in the valley.

The Peacock Saintess herself had many admirers within the sect, including some veteran middle and late Core Formation cultivators.

Tensions at the front between the two factions escalated. Several small-scale battles broke out between the two sides. The skirmishes among scouting cultivators were especially fierce, both sides suffered casualties.

The situation was on the verge of spiraling out of control.

...

Original Yan Kingdom, Beast King Valley.

Within a massive valley, an imposing and rugged complex of colossal structures stretched across the land. Beast yards, bird nests, spiritual cleansing pools, all of them surrounded the central Beast King Hall like stars encircling the moon.

Inside the Beast King Hall—

Elder Ten Thousand Crane descended on a flying crane and stepped into the great hall.

“Sect Master.”

The first person he saw was a burly, lion-maned man in a purple robe, Sect Master Meng of Beast King Valley.

“Senior Brother.”

Sect Master Meng’s face was stern, but he gave a slight nod upon seeing Elder Ten Thousand Crane.

“Grand Elder.”

Elder Ten Thousand Crane then looked to the uppermost seat, where a chubby white-haired old man reclined lazily, looking like a living incarnation of the Laughing Buddha.

“Sigh… This old man has always loved peace. I never wanted an all-out war with the Righteous Dao Alliance.”

“But with this scandal, the radicals in the sect can no longer be restrained.”

The Grand Elder rubbed his exposed belly, still drowsy-eyed, letting out a helpless sigh.

Hearing this, Elder Ten Thousand Crane looked a little awkward.

At present, he and Black Feather True Monarch were essentially the leading voices of the radical faction, and they had even persuaded Sect Master Meng to support the cause.

It wasn’t that they wanted to fight at all costs but this time, the public humiliation delivered by the Righteous Dao Alliance was too severe, sparking outrage across Beast King Valley.

Peacock Saintess herself wasn't that important, but she was the symbolic link in the marriage alliance between two Nascent Soul factions.

Lan Chang'an’s slap wasn’t just a personal affront, it was a blow to two True Monarchs' dignity, and a humiliation to Beast King Valley, one of the top demonic sects that had shaken Great Qing.

“Once total war begins, many will die. Are you prepared for that?”

The Grand Elder munched on broad beans while uttering seemingly compassionate words.

However, his dispassionate tone and lazy expression created a strange sense of disconnect from his message.

Elder Ten Thousand Crane knew all too well: this Grand Elder had lived longer than anyone else in Beast King Valley, and over the centuries, had killed more high-level cultivators within the sect than anyone.

That said, the very idea of establishing peaceful trade and slow assimilation of the Righteous Dao Alliance, that was his strategy.

Had things continued without disruption, in several decades or centuries, the Righteous Dao Alliance would likely have crumbled and merged into the demonic faction.

However, in recent years, an unexpected variable had emerged.

That was Evergreen True Monarch.

Sect Master Meng said with a grave tone: “If we still don’t go to war, what face does Beast King Valley have to stand as an equal among the Six Demonic Sects?”

“It’s a pity our plan to take down Lan Chang'an failed. If we had at least seriously wounded him that day, forced his Nascent Soul to leave his body, we could’ve stabilized morale and control.”

Elder Ten Thousand Crane said regretfully.

The Vice Sect Master of Unseen Gate had been invited at great cost, both in terms of favors and resources.

That person was also a mid Nascent Soul cultivator and he wasn’t from Beast King Valley. He wouldn’t continuously risk his life on their behalf.

“There’s a reason he’s called ‘Evergreen’. That Turtle Lan is extremely cautious and has the shelter of the Heavenly Master's fate. Killing him really isn’t easy.”

The Grand Elder shook his head. It had only been an attempt, after all.

He spread his hands and asked lazily: “If you're determined to go to war, fine. What’s the current state of preparation?”

Sect Master Meng replied thoughtfully:

“Back during the previous cultivation war, our reserves of war beasts, especially fourth-rank Demon Kings, have mostly reached the end of their lifespans.

“Plus, with our support to the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, most of our resources were depleted.”

“However, over the past years, I’ve dispatched people to the Black Fog Mountain Range to hunt second and third-rank demon beasts. We’ve gathered enough beast stock to sustain another round of large-scale cultivation warfare.”

The Grand Elder finally frowned for the first time:

“This is all a bit rushed. You guys should restrain yourselves.”

“The Seven Kingdoms Alliance side hasn’t stabilized its footing. The Righteous Dao Alliance hasn’t been fully subdued. It’s not yet the time to strike at the Black Fog Mountain Range.”

When the Six Demonic Sects expanded eastward, they selected this region in part because of the endless beast resources of the Black Fog Mountain Range.

If they could fully conquer the Righteous Dao Alliance’s nearby territory and develop the mountain range’s beast sources over centuries, Beast King Valley could very well become the leading sect among the Six Demonic Sects.

“Our high-ranking cultivators are incredibly valuable. We can’t afford to let them bleed out endlessly in war.”

Sect Master Meng understood the Grand Elder’s concern and quickly added:

“I’ve already given orders to the Beast Hunting Hall not to go deep into the mountain’s core. There are too many demon beasts there anyway, every time there’s a beast tide, some get driven out into the open.”

In the past, the Six Demonic Sects had no direct border with the Black Fog Mountain Range in the Central Region. Though they had heard certain rumors, they felt little fear.

Even when the Ten Xuan Sects gave birth to a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator centuries ago, the demonic sects were not eradicated.

After their defeat, a truce was negotiated—whereby the Six Demonic Sects retreated from the central stage of the cultivation world, eventually settling near the Black Fog region.

It must be said, even before that Ten Xuan Sects Nascent Soul Great Cultivator had advanced, he had never been able to defeat the Grand Elder of Nether Spring Sect.

The Grand Elder of the Nether Spring Sect was a natural genius. To master divine abilities like the Second Nascent Soul and Underworld River Purgatory, he had spent an unimaginable amount of time and effort.

Had it not been so, he might have ascended to Great Cultivator status ahead of the Ten Xuan Sects' prodigy.

Given the harsh limitations of the Great Qing’s cultivation environment, perhaps only one miracle cultivator could be born every few thousand years.

...

Boom!

Suddenly, an inexplicable tremor rippled up from the depths beneath Beast King Valley.

By the time it reached the Beast King Hall, it was only a faint tremble.

The Grand Elder, Sect Master, and Elder Ten Thousand Crane all fell silent for a moment.

“What’s the status of the Beast King’s seal? Any signs of loosening?”

The Grand Elder spoke first.

The so-called Demon Kings bred and raised by Beast King Valley for war were pseudo-fourth-ranks, not true Demon Kings. They were infused with the blood essence of the sealed Beast King.

The real Beast King, the strongest of them all, possessed a Heaven-grade bloodline, along with half-demonic heritage. With an incredibly long lifespan, it had been sealed by Beast King Valley and kept in slumber.

Sect Master Meng answered: “There’s no issue with the sealing formation. However, with the war approaching, we’ve begun drawing its blood essence again, which has caused some reaction. Occasionally, it will struggle and shake the seal.”

This true Beast King was something Beast King Valley could not fully control. In the past, it had nearly brought about the sect’s destruction.

If it were ever unleashed onto the battlefield, it might not distinguish between friend and foe.

If they could ever truly master it, Beast King Valley would have a legitimate shot at becoming the leader of the Six Demonic Sects.

But in reality, it took the combined effort of two mid-stage Nascent Soul True Monarchs just to barely suppress it.

If it ever went berserk, it could annihilate the entire Beast King Valley.

Unless absolutely necessary, Beast King Valley would never use this forbidden, double-edged sword.

...

Half a year later.

Across the frontlines of the three nations under the Righteous Dao Alliance, cultivators and battle beasts from Beast King Valley surged forward like locusts, gathering en masse in a relentless tide, a full-scale invasion was underway.

In the past several months, countless skirmishes and small-scale clashes had erupted on various frontlines.

Fortunately, the Righteous Dao Alliance had begun preparing and training for war over a decade ago, and their borders were now garrisoned with ample cultivator armies.

In the sector that Lan Chang'an was stationed, the invading Beast King Valley forces were even more numerous than in other areas.

Multiple battles involving hundreds of cultivators had already broken out.

Since the Righteous Dao Alliance was on the defensive, their side sustained fewer losses.

However, part of Beast King Valley’s casualties were borne by their battle beasts and spirit pets, who absorbed much of the damage.

As a Nascent Soul cultivator, Lan Chang'an stood suspended above the clouds, unable to directly intervene in the ground-level battles between lower-realm cultivators.

With his expansive Nascent Soul spiritual sense, he saw clearly, day after day as mid- and lower-tier cultivators perished in the chaotic clashes, many in tragic and gruesome ways.

If he ever saw one of his own side’s cultivators flee the battlefield, Lan Chang'an would swiftly execute them without mercy.

As someone targeted by Beast King Valley, he was constantly being monitored and confronted by enemy Nascent Soul cultivators, effectively tied up in a power standoff.

In the sector adjacent to Fairy Xia’s, Lan Chang'an was currently facing off against three Nascent Soul cultivators from Beast King Valley, True Monarch Fang, True Monarch Guo, and Black Feather True Monarch.

Of the three, True Monarch Guo was not a core member of Beast King Valley, but rather a Nascent Soul cultivator from a subordinate faction within their rear occupied territory.

Beast King Valley had at least three such subordinate Nascent Soul allies publicly deployed to the battlefield.

If not for the need to manage their vast conquered territory, Beast King Valley and its vassals could likely dispatch even more Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

...

Dozens of li away in the clouds, True Monarch Fang overlooked the bloody melee on the battlefield below and said calmly:

“True Monarch Lan, this cultivation war was initiated by you. If the three nations of the Righteous Dao Alliance had simply submitted peacefully to the Six Sacred Sects, millions of cultivators wouldn’t have to die.”

As he spoke… a heavily wounded Fake Dan cultivator from the Righteous Dao Alliance was surrounded by over ten war beasts from Beast King Valley. In the blink of an eye, he was torn to pieces, leaving a bloody mess on the ground.

At the same time, several Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Beast King Valley side were obliterated by Core Formation cultivators of the Alliance in a flash of thunder.

“True Monarch Fang, if I’m not mistaken, it was your Six Demonic Sects who started the invasion, wasn’t it? The Righteous Dao Alliance and the entire vast Eastern Region have long suffered under your tyranny and warfare.”

Lan Chang'an’s voice carried a cold sarcasm, neither warm nor harsh.

“Are you saying it's a crime for us to defend our homeland and interests, to drive out invaders?”

The Righteous Dao Alliance was merely one of many regions across the Eastern Region that had been invaded.

All across the region, alliances like the Seven Kingdoms Alliance and others had risen up, forming resistance fronts against the demonic expansion.

But most of those struggles had ended in failure—either the sects were destroyed, or they surrendered to the Six Demonic Sects.

“The cultivation world is a realm of survival of the fittest. The expansion of the Sacred Sect, our march eastward is unstoppable.”

True Monarch Fang’s tone was indifferent, as if speaking the natural order of the world.

...

Lan Chang'an sneered:

“Such a powerful Sacred Sect… and yet you were all driven into the Eastern Region, now fighting over scraps in remote lands.”

True Monarch Fang wasn’t offended at all. He replied calmly:

“If you, True Monarch Lan, had the divine powers of a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, if you could dominate a province and sweep through the Heaven Honoured Continent, I would bow before you without resistance.”

“Good! We’ve stood in opposition for days without exchanging blows. Today, allow Lan to witness the power of a personal disciple of the demonic leader Underworld Demon Lord.”

Lan Chang'an had now experienced firsthand the deep-seated arrogance of demonic cultivators—their complete submission to power, and utter disdain for virtue.

Hummmm—!

As his voice fell, the two True Monarchs drew closer. Their Nascent Soul auras exploded, and above their heads formed cloud rings of spiritual power, each spanning over a li.

Streams of green and yellow elemental aura surged and clashed in the skies.

Ten Thousand Withered Vine Hand!

Lan Chang'an waved his hand, stirring his surging spiritual power. His arm suddenly swelled and extended, transforming into a massive withered-yellow vine, forming a giant vine hand twenty zhang long, emanating a rotten, sinister yin-wood demonic aura that slapped outward with terrifying force.

This was a wood-element demonic secret technique, used for overwhelming weaker foes, it could drain the victim’s vital blood, replenishing the caster’s wounds in return.

“Hmph.”

True Monarch Fang remained calm, his sleeves fluttering. With a gesture, he summoned a swirling funnel of murky yellow underworld water, within which stirred what looked like billions of dark star grains and spectral sand.

Chhhhhh—!!

The Withered Vine Hand that Lan Chang'an had unleashed was instantly entangled by the yellow underworld water. The wicked power of the wood path began to dissolve at visible speed, slowly unraveling and vanishing into nothingness.

What was stranger still was that the spiritual energy behind True Monarch Fang’s technique surged by another thirty percent, as if he had converted and absorbed a portion of Lan Chang'an’s power.

“So my previous intuition was right, this man's cultivation art contains Dao principles related to reincarnation cycles.”

Lan Chang'an had tested the waters, and it was immediately verified.

“Mediocre.”

A trace of disappointment crossed True Monarch Fang’s face, as though he had overestimated his opponent.

He raised his hand and struck out.

The swirling yellow underworld water flew forth like a coiling ancient yellow dragon, its power growing with each rotation, closing in on Lan Chang'an with intense, ferocious strikes.

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