I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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The next day at noon.

The once-a-decade auction in Gutian Immortal City began as scheduled. The grand hall located in the center of the city had already opened its doors to the public.

Unlike other auctions, many of the receptionists at the entrance were lifelike humanoid puppets.

The puppet that received Lan Chang'an's party of five was a female cultivator model with stunning features, an alluring figure, and dressed in a revealing short skirt that showed off her long, fair legs.

Some of the lower- and mid-level cultivators couldn’t tell the difference and were captivated by the puppet’s sensual beauty.

Lan Chang'an’s heart burned slightly. Even from what was on display here, the techniques used in creating these lifelike puppets were worth studying.

"If only I could capture one of these in the wild," he thought. "I’d have Earth Burrowing Rat catch one for me to dissect and study thoroughly."

The layout of the auction house was not too different from those outside the wilderness. However, the style was much more rugged, incorporating a lot of gold and mechanical materials.

Lan Chang'an and Granny Yun, concealing their cultivation levels as Fake Dan Formation cultivators, had no connections in the city and were placed in standard seats near the front. They had no chance of enjoying the high-floating VIP pavilions above.

Lan Chang'an didn’t mind. He was merely here to observe the event and had no intention of standing out.

Whoosh!

A dark-skinned wandering merchant wearing a straw hat soared into one of the VIP pavilions above, directly rejecting the reception of a Core Formation cultivator who was hosting the event.

Granny Yun glanced at the man’s back and felt a chill in her heart, a sense of dread creeping in.

The faint and strange Core energy radiating from him was indecipherable, filling her with unease.

Half an hour remained until the auction began. Cultivators of all kinds gradually entered the venue, including many Core Formation Immortals.

“Xuan Yin Pavilion! Fairy Ni Yue!”

At one moment, a brief commotion broke out in the auction house as countless fiery gazes turned toward the entrance.

A group of graceful female cultivators entered the venue in an elegant procession, all dressed in classical long gowns. They headed toward one of the floating pavilions above.

Leading them was a woman clad in an exquisite palace gown. Silk ribbons swirled around her, framing her delicate eyebrows and moon-like eyes. A veil covered her face, revealing only a pair of bright, moonlit eyes.

Beneath that thin white veil, her ethereal beauty could be faintly seen. The veil barely concealed her peerless elegance and unworldly aura.

“So beautiful…”

Yun Ling lightly covered her mouth, momentarily dazed, marveling at the sight as if seeing a celestial being.

Yun Hao’s eyes sparkled, unable to hide his amazement. A trace of infatuation flickered in his gaze before he reluctantly tore his eyes away as the stunning figure descended into the floating pavilion and activated a barrier of isolation.

It wasn’t that the Yun siblings lacked self-control. Female cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion practiced musical arts and techniques that amplified their natural charm. Their presence and demeanor were enough to captivate even fellow cultivators of similar rank, causing them to develop favorable impressions.

And this woman was none other than the Pavilion Master of Xuan Yin Pavilion herself.

Granny Yun observed Lan Chang'an’s reaction from the corner of her eye.

Lan Chang'an remained composed, his gaze calm and filled with only faint admiration, devoid of any infatuation or longing.

Such poise and natural restraint, without any pretense of aloofness, earned Granny Yun’s silent approval.

“This Mister Xu is truly a refined gentleman of noble character,” Granny Yun thought to herself. “Even Ni Yue’s charm couldn’t sway him. He is indeed a man of lofty virtue.”

Unconsciously, she began comparing him to her late Dao partner.

Though her husband had been an accomplished cultivator, he had taken several concubines in his lifetime. If not for the sake of maintaining his reputation, even he might have wavered when encountering Fairy Ni Yue back then.

Such subtle thoughts could never escape the awareness of a spouse.

Yun Ling, snapping out of her trance, also glanced at Lan Chang'an’s reaction. Seeing his calm demeanor, she couldn’t help but feel a sense of admiration and delight.

“Mister Xu has had no dealings with Xuan Yin Pavilion during his time in Gutian Immortal City. It seems we misunderstood earlier. His relationship with the pavilion’s female cultivators is indeed ordinary, limited only to alchemy transactions.”

Yun Ling and Granny Yun exchanged a glance, silently resolving their previous doubts.

But just as they thought the matter had been clarified, an unexpected voice rang out:

“Mister Xu, my Pavilion Master invites you to join her above for a discussion.”

A female cultivator from Xuan Yin Pavilion, with a broad build and an imposing presence, stepped forward. Her chest rose prominently as she bowed slightly before Lan Chang'an.

“The Pavilion Master of Xuan Yin Pavilion has invited me?”

Granny Yun and Yun Ling froze, their expressions flickering with astonishment and uncertainty as they turned to look at Lan Chang'an.

“Fairy Ni Yue is inviting Mister Xu?”

Yun Hao’s eyes widened in disbelief. For the first time, a hint of jealousy surfaced toward the man he had always admired.

The Pavilion Master of Xuan Yin Pavilion, this unparalleled beauty among female cultivators, was someone he didn’t even dare to look at directly. Her mere presence made him feel unworthy.

And now, she had sent someone to personally invite Mister Xu.

...

"So it's Fairy Miao."

Lan Chang'an glanced at the robust figure of Miao Jing, the Fake Dan female cultivator, and returned her salute.

He could feel the many curious and jealous gazes gathering in the auction house, and internally, he cursed the Xuan Yin Pavilion's crafty female cultivators.

They could have sent this invitation earlier or later, but no—they deliberately chose to do it during the auction, in front of everyone.

Lan Chang'an had already been in Gutian Immortal City for ten days. If the Xuan Yin Pavilion wanted to invite him, they could have done so privately long ago.

“Mister Xu, surely you wouldn’t reject the Pavilion Master's kind invitation?”

Miao Jing's tone was sweet and teasing, her face—broad as a basin—showing a look of anticipation.

“How could I dare refuse an invitation from Fairy Ni Yue?”

Lan Chang'an maintained his refined demeanor.

At this point, he knew that whether he accepted or not, the attention was already on him.

If he went, he would become the target of jealousy.

If he refused, he would be seen as ungrateful and disrespectful, offending not only Fairy Ni Yue but also her admirers.

With no better option, Lan Chang'an followed Miao Jing and ascended to the floating pavilion belonging to the Xuan Yin Pavilion.

As fate would have it, Lan Chang'an’s puppet clone happened to be in the adjacent pavilion, both pavilions shielded by isolation formations.

Inside the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s VIP pavilion were four women and one man.

Among them were familiar faces: Jiang Ruotong and Miao Jing.

At the center was Fairy Ni Yue, dressed in a flowing palace gown with silk ribbons encircling her.

Without the veil she wore in public, her radiant beauty was fully revealed.

Her face was the embodiment of elegance and grace, with features that could be described as a celestial masterpiece.

“Mister Xu, this invitation was made on a whim. Please forgive me for any abruptness.”

Fairy Ni Yue stood gracefully, smoothing the folds of her gown as she gave a slight bow. Her soft lips parted, and her voice, like the melody of pearls falling onto a jade plate, was as enchanting as her appearance.

Her perfect demeanor and breathtaking beauty could dissipate even the most intense anger in an instant.

For a moment, Lan Chang'an felt as though he were listening to a beautiful symphony. Any trace of displeasure in his heart vanished, replaced by feelings of joy and warmth.

“Truly a top-tier cultivator of the musical arts!”

Lan Chang'an steadied his mind and silently marveled.

He was not entranced by her beauty or charm; instead, it was the power of her musical cultivation at work, resonating with a human’s innate yearning for beauty and harmony.

Any slight dissatisfaction he felt earlier had been completely dissolved by her artistry.

Lan Chang'an did not feel the need to resist. If someone could lift a Core Formation cultivator’s mood simply by their presence, that was a skill worthy of admiration.

No wonder so many cultivators dreamed of marrying female disciples of the Xuan Yin Pavilion. If their musical techniques could consistently provide a serene and positive mindset, it would undoubtedly smooth the path of cultivation and prevent inner demons.

“The Pavilion Master is too polite. Years ago, during my time in Feng Kingdom, I had already heard of Fairy Ni Yue’s illustrious reputation,” Lan Chang'an replied humbly, cupping his hands in respect.

After some pleasantries, Fairy Ni Yue introduced the other occupants of the pavilion.

“Mister Xu, we meet again.”

Jiang Ruotong greeted him with a calm expression and a slight bow.

Aside from Jiang Ruotong and Miao Jing, there was another Fake Dan female cultivator present.

The only male in the group was a tall, handsome cultivator with an elegant demeanor, appearing to be in his thirties.

“This is Dongfang Xi, a Guest Elder of the Xuan Yin Pavilion, a third-rank alchemist proficient in pharmacology and good at detoxifying poisons,” Fairy Ni Yue said, gesturing toward the man.

“I’ve heard much about you, Mister Xu. I’ve long admired your reputation. Your skills in alchemy and pharmacology are truly remarkable,” Dongfang Xi said with a warm smile, his tone polite and gentlemanly.

“So it's alchemist Dongfang,” Lan Chang'an said, giving him a brief glance.

From his observation, this third-rank alchemist seemed to specialize more in herbal medicine and medical techniques rather than pill refinement.

Otherwise, the Xuan Yin Pavilion wouldn’t have been so eager to recruit Lan Chang'an.

After everyone was seated, Fairy Ni Yue did not immediately attempt to recruit Lan Chang'an. Instead, she began by expressing her gratitude for his past assistance.

“This small token is a gesture of our appreciation. Please accept it, Mister Xu.”

Beyond mere words, Fairy Ni Yue waved her sleeve, producing a pink-gold token and a blue jade book.

“This token is the highest-tier VIP pass to the ‘Xuan Yin Hall’ establishments. With it, you may visit any Xuan Yin Hall in the various immortal cities and request a private performance from the resident courtesans. Additionally, you will enjoy a 50% discount on all services.”

“This jade book contains the lost ancient musical score, The Garments of Rainbow and Feather. If you can comprehend it, it will allow you to ascend to divine heights in the musical arts. It is one of the Xuan Yin Pavilion’s oldest treasures.”

Every movement of Fairy Ni Yue’s, every smile, carried the grace of a classical beauty stepping out of a painting, leaving onlookers captivated.

“You have been too generous, Fairy Ni Yue.”

Without refusing, Lan Chang'an accepted the gifts with grace.

During their subsequent conversation, Lan Chang'an carefully observed Fairy Ni Yue’s face.

As he scrutinized her features, he noticed something peculiar, causing him to take a few extra glances.

To the others present, it seemed as though Lan Chang'an was staring at Fairy Ni Yue’s face, a gesture that came across as somewhat rude.

Dongfang Xi’s brows furrowed slightly, his displeasure evident.

Seeing that Fairy Ni Yue remained composed and smiling, Dongfang Xi suppressed his irritation and said nothing. After all, Lan Chang'an was merely staring and had not done anything truly offensive.

Jiang Ruotong, however, felt a faint sense of disappointment.

Previously, Lan Chang'an had remained indifferent to her subtle hints, leading her to believe he was a transcendent, otherworldly gentleman.

But now, in the presence of Fairy Ni Yue’s unmatched beauty, he appeared no different from any other man, unable to resist her allure.

“Mister Xu, are you perhaps skilled in divination and reading my fortune?” Fairy Ni Yue teased with a smile, breaking the tension. Her expression was calm and composed, showing no sign of annoyance.

From a young age, her brilliance and charm had made her the center of attention wherever she went. She was long accustomed to being stared at.

“Fairy Ni Yue overestimates me,” Lan Chang'an replied with a wry smile. “I was simply awestruck by your beauty and momentarily lost my composure. Please forgive my lapse in manners.”

His self-deprecating humor effectively dissolved the awkwardness, earning a round of chuckles from everyone, including Fairy Ni Yue herself.

“What a pity such a beautiful woman will die young,” Lan Chang'an sighed inwardly.

Beneath Fairy Ni Yue’s peerless beauty, he had seen a hint of her destiny.

A tragic fate.

She had a short life ahead of her, unlikely to survive more than ten years.

From her mid-stage Core Formation cultivation, Lan Chang'an could tell that she had once attempted to break through to the late stage but had failed.

This was common among Core Formation cultivators—only one in ten could succeed in advancing further.

Unless one possessed an Immortal Golden Dan, it was nearly impossible to guarantee such a breakthrough.

Though Fairy Ni Yue had unmatched talent in the musical arts, she lacked an innate heavenly spiritual root.

Furthermore, leading the Xuan Yin Pavilion to gain a foothold and take root in this desert, facing the prying eyes of all kinds of jackals, tigers, and leopards had drained her vitality, leaving hidden wounds.

...

Half an hour later, the auction hall was packed, and the auction officially began.

Due to Fairy Ni Yue’s invitation, Lan Chang'an remained in the floating VIP pavilion to participate in the auction alongside the Xuan Yin Pavilion cultivators.

If he were to leave, he would only attract more attention. Staying here not only avoided unnecessary trouble but also provided access to better service.

For someone like Lan Chang'an, a third-rank alchemist, being recruited by a major faction, even one as prominent as the Xuan Yin Pavilion, was a fairly common occurrence.

The first part of the auction featured rare items for Foundation Establishment cultivators and below.

After all, the majority of the participants at the auction were Foundation Establishment cultivators.

During this phase, neither Lan Chang'an nor the female cultivators of the Xuan Yin Pavilion showed much interest in the items being auctioned.

It wasn’t until the second half of the auction, when items intended for Core Formation cultivators occasionally appeared, that the atmosphere began to heat up.

“A juvenile Golden-Feathered Eagle, starting price: 2,500 spirit stones.”

“The Golden-Feathered Eagle is a rare superior-grade bloodline spirit bird, uncommon in the wilderness. Renowned for its exceptional flight and reconnaissance abilities, it is a ferocious aerial predator. With sufficient investment in resources and spiritual materials, the Golden-Feathered Eagle can grow rapidly into a formidable flying mount…”

The auctioneer’s introduction ignited a wave of excitement among the participants.

“3,000 spirit stones!”

“3,500!”

“3,800 spirit stones!”

Due to its practicality, strong overall capabilities, and quick growth, the Golden-Feathered Eagle attracted fierce competition from various factions and independent cultivators.

“4,000 spirit stones!”

Even Miao Jing from the Xuan Yin Pavilion joined the bidding.

Lan Chang'an’s expression turned slightly unusual, but he didn’t participate.

This very Golden-Feathered Eagle was actually something his puppet clone had sold off as stolen goods, and now someone arranged for it to be auctioned for a higher profit.

Lan Chang'an had too many resources to offload. Sending everything to the auction to maximize profits would risk exposing his connections.

“Next item: 200 pounds of mid-grade third-rank Cloud Peak Ore. Ideal for crafting magical treasures or constructing high-quality puppets.”

“200 pounds of Cloud Peak Ore, a significant quantity. Starting price: 6,000 spirit stones, with minimum bids of 100 spirit stones.”

In the vast wilderness, mineral resources were relatively abundant, but high-grade ores remained expensive.

For reference, an average low-grade magical treasure would sell for just 10,000 to 20,000 spirit stones.

“6,300 spirit stones… 6,600 spirit stones…”

“8,000 spirit stones!”

A hoarse, indifferent voice came from the neighboring VIP pavilion. The speaker was the straw hat wandering merchant.

The auction hall fell momentarily silent.

“8,000 spirit stones. Any higher offers? Cloud Peak Ore is highly versatile and absolutely worth the investment…”

The middle-aged auctioneer, with bronze-toned skin, raised his voice enthusiastically.

“Hehe, eight thousand two hundred spirit stones.”

A calm, casual voice rang out from a distant VIP pavilion on the right.

There, a silver-robed Core Formation cultivator, appearing to be in his forties with a neatly groomed two-inch beard, lounged casually.

“8,500 spirit stones.”

The straw hat wandering merchant frowned but raised the bid again.

“Heh, 8,600 spirit stones. This Cloud Peak Ore seems fated for this Immortal.”

The silver-robed cultivator smiled faintly, his tone relaxed.

“Immortal Yunhe of the Canglong Water Stronghold, a newly ascended Core Formation cultivator from the Beihe Family,” someone in the audience identified the silver-robed Immortal.

The Beihe Family controlled a spiritual land of marshes and waterways in the region.

“8,800 spirit stones.”

The straw hat wandering merchant raised the bid yet again.

Immortal Yunhe chuckled lightly, preparing to increase his bid by another 100 spirit stones.

Boom!

Suddenly, his sea of consciousness trembled violently as an overwhelming and oppressive spiritual sense locked onto him.

“Brat! Are you trying to oppose me, Dao Lord, of the Azure Dragon Society?”

A cold, threatening voice echoed in his mind.

“Hmph, unless you plan to never leave Gutian Immortal City, this poor Daoist will let you have these 200 pounds of Cloud Peak Ore.”

The oppressive spiritual sense made it difficult for him to breathe, and the threat was crystal clear.

“Late Core Formation Great Cultivator!”

Immortal Yunhe’s face turned pale as fear gripped his heart.

His clan didn’t even have a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, and offending a late Core Formation Great Cultivator for a third-rank material was a risk of extermination for the whole clan.

For a third-rank material, was it worth risking the destruction of his entire clan?

“8,800 spirit stones. Any higher bids? If not, the Cloud Peak Ore will go to the fellow Daoist in VIP Room 8.”

The auctioneer, quick to adapt, hurriedly concluded the bidding.

A few observant cultivators in the audience noticed something amiss. Judging by Immortal Yunhe’s expression, they could guess what had happened.

“Outrageous! Using spiritual sense to intimidate others during an auction!”

The black-robed Core Formation cultivator overseeing the auction rose to his feet, his expression furious, his gaze sharp.

According to the auction rules, using spiritual sense to threaten others would result in the offender being expelled, and the bidding results would be nullified.

“Chuan’er, that person is a late Core Formation expert, are you sure you want to confront him?”

An aged voice sounded in the black-robed cultivator’s ear.

“A late-stage Core Formation cultivator? Why would someone like that participate in this kind of auction?”

The black-robed cultivator’s face turned pale, and cold sweat dripped from his palms.

In this region of the Outer Sect Alliance, there were no fourth-rank spiritual veins or Nascent Soul cultivators. Late-stage Core Formation cultivators were the most powerful beings here, lording over nearby oases and spirit lands.

“That mysterious individual is also the sender of the grand finale item—the Crystal Condensation Pill.”

The aged voice stopped speaking after delivering this revelation.

The black-robed cultivator slumped back into his seat, abandoning his attempt to enforce the rules.

The auction’s strict regulations only applied to ordinary cultivators. They held no sway over true powerhouses.

While the Mysterious Mechanism Tower had its own late-stage Core Formation cultivator overseeing the city, that expert rarely interfered with external matters, focusing entirely on studying puppet techniques.

As long as the mysterious bidder didn’t go too far, even the Mysterious Mechanism Tower wouldn’t want to provoke such a powerful figure.

...

In the latter half of the auction, the straw hat wandering merchant made several more bids on various items.

The items he bid on included materials related to alchemy, puppetry, and poisons, showcasing his extraordinary wealth and boldness.

After seeing what had happened to Immortal Yunhe earlier, no other Core Formation cultivators dared to confront this mysterious figure head-on.

"Forget it."

Fairy Ni Yue sighed softly, giving up on one of the spiritual materials she had been competing for.

“At least it spares me some trouble,” Lan Chang'an thought to himself, nodding subtly.

Thanks to this auction, the materials he needed for the construction of his second mid-grade third-rank puppet were basically put together, with some surplus materials for future use.

The final few items of the auction included a mid-grade magical treasure and a third-rank Water Spirit Pearl, all of which fetched prices in the tens of thousands of spirit stones but drew only moderate interest.

Finally, the most anticipated item of the auction was revealed, drawing intense focus from all factions.

“The grand finale of today’s auction—a genuine Crystal Condensation Pill!

This rare elixir can significantly increase the chances of successfully forming a Core and is an unparalleled treasure in the Fengyuan Kingdom,” the auctioneer announced, his voice filled with excitement.

“As requested by the consignor, bids may include third-rank Life Extension Pills or advanced puppet-crafting techniques as trade-in options or partial payment.”

“The starting bid for this genuine Crystal Condensation Pill is 38,000 spirit stones, with minimum bid increments of 1,000 spirit stones.”

Even before the auctioneer’s words had fully settled, bids erupted like a tidal wave.

“40,000 spirit stones!”

“41,000!”

“45,000 spirit stones!”

The bids climbed rapidly, quickly surpassing the 50,000 mark.

As expected, the Xuan Yin Pavilion joined the competition but ultimately failed to secure the item.

In the end, the Crystal Condensation Pill was won by a Core Formation elder from a major merchant association.

The elder had taken out a fragmented puppet-crafting inheritance from the Thousand Mechanisms Sect that satisfied the consignor. This allowed him to offset 20,000 spirit stones and gain priority in the bidding.

"Surprisingly, it's him..."

When the straw hat wandering merchant went to verify the puppet-crafting inheritance, the female Core Formation cultivators from Xuan Yin Pavilion were shocked.

This mysterious individual, suspected to be a late-stage Core Formation expert, had displayed both wealth and power during the auction, even using spiritual sense to intimidate others.

It was entirely unexpected that the Crystal Condensation Pill was also his consignment.

Such a mysterious and formidable figure commanded both respect and fear from the various factions present.

Fairy Ni Yue’s clear eyes sparkled as she lightly bit her red lips, contemplating whether to take the opportunity to approach this person.

After all, proximity often leads to advantageous connections.

However, she was well aware that this wandering cultivator was no ordinary figure and likely not someone to be trifled with, making such a venture inherently risky.

In the end, she didn’t need to decide.

The straw hat cultivator gave her no chance at all.

After the auction concluded, he vanished from the venue like a ghost, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

...

With the auction officially over, the attendees gradually began to disperse.

Lan Chang'an appeared to have been an uninvolved observer throughout, making only modest gains.

He stood, preparing to take his leave and bid farewell to the Xuan Yin Pavilion cultivators.

“Mister Xu, please wait.”

A melodious, ethereal voice drifted over, accompanied by a faint lingering fragrance.

Fairy Ni Yue approached him with a serene smile, her elegant steps light as lotus petals, stopping before him.

“I have something I wish to discuss with you,” she said, her tone warm and inviting.

(End of chapter)

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