I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals-Chapter 357: Grand Ceremony, Gathering Wealth

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Chapter 357: Grand Ceremony, Gathering Wealth

Great Yu Kingdom, Central Imperial City.

The majestic and solemn Imperial Dragon Hall was filled with several distinguished figures.

Seated on the dragon throne was a man dressed in a purple-gold dragon robe, exuding an aura of natural authority and dominance. His broad forehead and dignified presence made it clear that this was no ordinary individual.

The intricate design of his robe bore a striking resemblance to one of the Nine-Five Supreme Treasure Dragon Artifacts from the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty—the Imperial Dragon Robe.

It was said that the royal ancestors of the Great Yu Kingdom had migrated from the Fenghua Province and the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty ten thousand years ago. Back then, their founder was a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator, who had established the vast Great Yu Kingdom.

However, the kingdom today controlled less than half of what it had during its peak.

A Nascent Soul cultivator, an elderly man in ancient robes, sat in one of the chairs below the dragon throne and spoke in a low voice:

"Your Majesty, the emergence of that fourth rank Rat King has disrupted our original plans, bringing great uncertainty.

With Yunxia Sect now possessing three Nascent Soul-level combatants, they have surpassed both Great Snake Mountain and most noble clans in our kingdom."

"If the ‘Yunxia Twin Monarchs’ gain further opportunities within the Ancient Nether Hall, it will become increasingly difficult to bring them under imperial rule."

The Great Yu Emperor remained expressionless, deep in thought.

After a moment, he asked:

"Immortal Xiang and his spirit pet were not originally cultivated by Yunxia Sect but are instead guest elders. Do you believe we have a chance of recruiting them?"

The elderly cultivator hesitated before replying:

"Your Majesty, there is a slight possibility, but it will be difficult.

From what I have learned, one of the Yunxia Twin Monarchs—Fairy Purple Mist—holds Immortal Xiang in high regard. She has shown him great favor, and their relationship is not shallow."

The next response came from a female cultivator dressed in red robes, with a bright, noble appearance and a face like a jade disk.

"However, True Monarch Yunlan appears to have a cold relationship with Immortal Xiang. Perhaps we can use this to our advantage… just like back then when we divided the Daoist couple."

At those words, several individuals in the hall exchanged knowing smiles.

It turned out that the rift between the Yunxia True Monarchs was not a natural occurrence, but rather the result of imperial intervention.

To achieve this, the imperial court had secretly mobilized a grandmaster-level diviner to uncover key information.

Two hundred years ago, Purple Mist True Monarch had a beloved senior brother who was devoured by demons during the Central Region Demonic War.

Though Yunlan True Monarch was not the direct killer, he had orchestrated events from behind the scenes, ensuring that Purple Mist’s senior brother was trapped and consumed by demons, leaving no remains.

At the time, Yunlan True Monarch was extremely cautious, leaving behind no incriminating evidence and even establishing a solid alibi.

Purple Mist True Monarch investigated thoroughly but found nothing suspicious—she remained in the dark for years.

However, the imperial family, through its vast resources, subtly manipulated circumstances so that Purple Mist True Monarch eventually discovered the truth.

By then, she had already become a Nascent Soul cultivator. The revelation left her heartbroken, and her relationship with Yunlan True Monarch completely shattered.

Because of this emotional estrangement, the Yunxia Twin Monarchs could no longer fully integrate their dual cultivation techniques, reducing their combined strength.

Otherwise, the Yunxia Twin Monarchs' techniques were of the same origin and with their dual cultivation method united, they could fight against mid-stage Nascent Soul opponents.

The Great Yu Emperor shifted his gaze toward another seat, his voice steady:

"Yuanjin, I heard you played a role in that rat demon’s transformation?"

The seat he looked at did not hold a physical person, but instead, the projection of a young man in a python-patterned robe.

The youth's eyes were as sharp as cold stars, radiating a sword-like intensity.

This was Yu Yuanjin, a formidable early-stage Nascent Soul sword cultivator, and one of the finest warriors of the Great Yu Kingdom.

"Your Majesty, that is indeed the case."

Yu Yuanjin did not attempt to hide the truth and calmly explained the past event.

During a Nascent Soul Exchange Gathering in Cloudsky City, through Fairy Purple Mist’s introduction, Yu Yuanjin had sold a Thunder-Dissolving Pearl to Immortal Xiang.

His reasons were twofold:

Firstly, it was out of appreciation for Fairy Purple Mist.

Secondly, the fourth-ranked Azure Profound Wood that Immortal Xiang took out was a precious spirit wood for creating sword magical treasures, and it was also coupled with a third-rank mid-grade puppet.

From this transaction, Yu Yuanjin not only gained resources but also strengthened his connection with Fairy Purple Mist.

Although he held admiration for her, he had no desire to claim her. In his heart, swordsmanship was his ultimate pursuit.

However, the imperial court had always hoped for a closer relationship between Yu Yuanjin and Fairy Purple Mist.

In an ideal scenario, they wished for Yunlan True Monarch to perish, allowing Yu Yuanjin to marry Fairy Purple Mist, thus gradually bringing Yunxia Sect under imperial influence.

The Great Yu Emperor chuckled.

Instead of reprimanding Yu Yuanjin for inadvertently aiding Earth Burrowing Rat’s transformation, he viewed it as an opportunity.

"Yuanjin, when Yunxia Sect hosts its Transformation Ceremony, you will represent the imperial family."

"As you command, Your Majesty."

Yu Yuanjin’s projection bowed in acceptance.

...

Half a year later.

Early in the morning, the inner hall of Qingluan Peak.

A well-built half-human, half-demon rat was sitting cross-legged, clad in a purple-red robe, gnawing on a fourth rank Earth Spirit Ganoderma from within a jade box.

Ever since its transformation, Earth Burrowing Rat had been gradually developing more human-like limbs. Within the sect, it typically maintained a hybrid form, but in private or when burrowing, it preferred to revert to its original beast form.

Lan Chang'an had no particular opinion on this.

After all, demon beasts transformed into human forms because it was more attuned with the Great Dao.

However, certain True Spirit bloodlines were so powerful that they could attain vast magical power without ever transforming.

"Alright, when you attend the ceremony later, observe more and speak less. Be careful of those Nascent Soul old monsters trying to manipulate you."

Lan Chang'an walked over and habitually patted a small tuft of purple-gold fur on Earth Burrowing Rat’s head.

The fourth rank Earth Spirit Ganoderma it was eating had been a gift from Yunlan True Monarch on the eve of the ceremony.

The purple-red robe it wore was personally crafted by Purple Mist True Monarch, woven from fourth rank silkworm silk, making it impervious to fire and water and incredibly durable.

Even Lan Chang'an couldn’t help but envy such lavish treatment.

After all, Earth Burrowing Rat was now the sacred beast of the Yunxia Sect, enjoying a prestigious status far beyond that of an ordinary guest elder.

Its personal cultivation domain was now located dozens of li away, within a fourth rank spirit vein, connected to Qingluan Peak by underground tunnels.

Lan Chang'an understood the intentions of the Twin Monarchs, but he was happy to play along.

After all, this meant that Yunxia Sect would shoulder part of Earth Burrowing Rat’s cultivation resources, reducing his own burden as its master.

...

Half an hour later.

The outer peak of the Transformation Ceremony was now bustling with representatives from various factions across the Great Yu Kingdom and its surrounding regions.

Sect Master Hu was personally overseeing the event, and managing guest receptions and ensuring proper arrangements.

At the very center of the ceremony, Lord Earthrock, as the main figure of the event, sat at the highest position, alongside the Yunxia Twin Monarchs.

Lan Chang'an, on the other hand, was seated in the front rows below, where Core Formation Great Cultivators were typically placed.

Although he was Lord Earthrock’s master, cultivation hierarchy dictated status. The vast difference in realm naturally placed him a rank lower in the power structure.

"The Ancestor of the Xiao Clan of Great Yu has arrived to offer congratulations—"

Suddenly, a Nascent Soul-level aura surged from beyond the mountain gates, pressing down over the venue.

A Transformation Stage Demon King's celebration was a rare event in Great Yu's cultivation world.

Because of this, the ceremony had piqued the curiosity of several Nascent Soul True Monarchs, some of whom had personally come to witness the occasion.

Additionally, both Lan Chang'an and Earth Burrowing Rat were latecomers to the Yunxia Sect, making them potential targets for recruitment, further drawing attention.

At this moment, there were already several Nascent Soul cultivators present.

Among them, Lan Chang'an recognized two prominent figures, True Monarch Red Serpent from Great Snake Mountain, Yunxia Sect’s long-time rival, and Alchemist Le from the Alchemist Alliance, a surprising guest.

The presence of Great Snake Mountain’s Supreme Elder was expected. Given their hostile relationship, it was natural for them to come and gather intelligence.

However, Alchemist Le's attendance was unexpected.

Years ago, when Yunlan True Monarch was ambushed and injured, relations between Yunxia Sect and Alchemist Le had soured.

"Immortal Xiang, from the moment I met you at the Cloudsky City auction, I knew you were no ordinary man."

Alchemist Le’s sharp eyes gleamed as he approached, speaking with a warm smile.

Lan Chang'an, caught off guard by the attention, quickly stood and returned the greeting, engaging in polite conversation.

More than a decade ago, at the Nascent Soul Exchange Gathering in Cloudsky City, Alchemist Le had briefly spoken words of encouragement to him and had shown interest in acquiring superior-grade third-rank puppets.

Now, meeting again, Lan Chang'an noticed a clear shift—Alchemist Le was actively trying to befriend him.

Despite his advanced age and lack of combat prowess, Alchemist Le was a powerful figure—he had an extensive network and frequently associated with high-level Nascent Soul cultivators.

With the Alchemist Alliance backing him, few Nascent Soul cultivators would dare offend him lightly.

As they conversed, Alchemist Le’s gaze repeatedly drifted toward Lord Earthrock, seated above, revealing a subtle admiration and longing.

For the past century, Alchemist Le had been obsessed with acquiring external means of protection— life-saving treasures, fourth-rank spirit talismans, powerful puppets.

All of these were intended not only for himself but also to pave the way for his successors.

Although he already owned a peak third-rank spirit beast, obtaining a fourth rank Demon King was not something that wealth alone could accomplish.

The birth of a fourth rank Sacred Beast was a monumental event, comparable to the rise of a Nascent Soul cultivator, if not more unpredictable.

Typically, such powerful demon beasts were only found in ancient sects with deep-rooted legacies.

Upon learning of Lan Chang'an's identity, the Nascent Soul elders present, to varying degrees, took notice, with some curious ones even speaking up to inquire.

The world of Nascent Soul True Monarchs, once an unreachable dream, was now within Lan Chang'an’s grasp.

Unlike before, he no longer needed introductions to step into their circles.

This was the privilege of power.

Lan Chang'an felt a surge of excitement—this was the very world he had once longed for in his past life.

For ordinary Core Formation cultivators, acquiring the chance to advance to Nascent Soul was a task of extreme difficulty, requiring immense fortune.

However, if one can enter the circle of Nascent Soul True Monarchs and obtain the resources to advance to Nascent Soul, it is comparable to lowering the difficulty by a dimension.

"Not being able to recruit Immortal Xiang back then was really a great loss for Great Snake Mountain."

From a distance, True Monarch Red Serpent sighed with regret.

This Nascent Soul cultivator of the demonic path was gaunt and skeletal, draped in a black cloak. His narrow eyes frequently flickered toward Lord Earthrock, scrutinizing him with great interest.

Lan Chang'an felt an instinctive sense of vigilance.

Some Nascent Soul-level beast taming sects possessed secret methods to forcibly enslave fourth rank demon beasts.

Although Great Snake Mountain was an enemy faction, their presence here to assess Lord Earthrock’s strength was expected.

"This mutated Earth Burrowing Rat contains an incredibly rich aura of ‘Earth Fiend Qi.’

"Its magical power is not inferior to demon kings of earth-grade bloodlines.

"However, I wonder what its actual combat abilities are…"

True Monarch Red Serpent was an expert in beast taming. With a single glance, he could roughly estimate Lord Earthrock’s level.

As a newly ascended Transformation Stage Demon King, Lord Earthrock was naturally weaker in direct combat.

Moreover, under bloodline restraint, there was no way it could be a match for Scarlet Abyss Serpent King—in a one-on-one fight, it would likely be crushed.

...

"The Great Yu Imperial Family arrives—Tianyuan Sword Monarch and Princess Zhiwei have come to offer their congratulations!"

That afternoon, the Transformation Ceremony welcomed its most prestigious guests yet.

Upon hearing the announcement, the Yunxia Twin Monarchs and Lord Earthrock rose from their seats to greet them.

Tianyuan Sword Sovereign was none other than Yu Yuanjin, a Nascent Soul powerhouse whose strength surpassed many of the True Monarchs present.

More importantly, he was a direct representative of the Great Yu Imperial Family, the dominant force within the region.

From what Lan Chang'an knew, the Great Yu Imperial Family ranked among the top hegemonic powers in the Central Region of the Great Yuan, on par with the Beast King Valley.

The imperial family boasted multiple mid-stage Nascent Soul cultivators, and their founder was a former prince from the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty in the Fenghua Province, giving them a foundation far deeper than most sects.

Under Sect Master Hu’s arrangements, Yu Yuanjin and Princess Zhiwei were seated in the front row, alongside the top Nascent Soul cultivators.

The attending Nascent Soul elders and powerful guests all greeted them with polite respect, engaging in cordial exchanges.

Yu Yuanjin’s gaze fell upon Lan Chang'an, the corners of his lips curling slightly.

Lan Chang'an could not afford to ignore him, especially given that he had previously obtained the Thunder-Dissolving Pearl from Yu Yuanjin, a treasure that had played a crucial role in Lord Earthrock’s tribulation breakthrough.

Since Lord Earthrock was frugal, the Thunder-Dissolving Pearl had only been partially consumed. Once repaired, it could still be useful for Lan Chang'an’s own future Nascent Soul tribulation.

Lan Chang'an rose from his seat and gestured for Lord Earthrock to descend.

The man and beast approached Yu Yuanjin’s seat to express their gratitude.

The surrounding high-level cultivators took note of this moment, exchanging looks of mild surprise.

Their astonishment was not because of Yu Yuanjin, most had already gathered intelligence about the Thunder-Dissolving Pearl transaction and were aware that Lord Earthrock had received substantial support from Yunxia Sect’s True Monarch during the breakthrough.

What truly shocked them was the subtle interaction between Lan Chang'an and Lord Earthrock.

The simple wave of a hand, and a fourth rank Demon King obediently complied.

"This transformed Rat King is extraordinarily well-behaved…

Immortal Xiang must have raised it from infancy, their bond is akin to that of parent and child.

Even after surpassing its master in cultivation, it remains utterly loyal."

Both True Monarch Red Serpent and Alchemist Le couldn’t help but envy what they had just witnessed.

Especially True Monarch Red Serpent.

Although he was the Supreme Elder of Great Snake Mountain, the Scarlet Abyss Serpent King under his command had a more ancient bloodline and greater raw strength. At times, it did not fully submit to his orders.

Compared to Lan Chang'an’s absolute control over Lord Earthrock, his own authority over his beast companion seemed lacking.

"Lord Earthrock, Immortal Xiang, there’s no need for such formalities. Our past trade was fair and square."

"Truth be told, even I did not expect this outcome."

Yu Yuanjin’s tone was light, but his sharp gaze remained locked onto Lan Chang'an, carrying an undeniable pressure that surpassed that of ordinary Nascent Soul cultivators.

For a brief moment, as Lan Chang'an met those cold star-like black eyes, he felt a faint, piercing pain in his soul, a clear sign of the vast power gap between them.

"Immortal Xiang, sit down for a moment."

After Lord Earthrock returned to the high platform, Yu Yuanjin personally invited Lan Chang'an to sit beside him.

"This is my niece, Princess Zhiwei. She treasures the third-rank puppet you crafted for her."

Lan Chang'an turned his gaze to the veiled princess seated beside Yu Yuanjin.

Princess Zhiwei was dressed in an exquisite imperial gown, her long, straight black hair cascading down her back. Her elegant demeanor and stunning beauty made her a true national treasure.

The white silk veil covering her face did little to conceal her ethereal allure, instead adding to her mystique.

Even Lan Chang'an had to admit—aside from Purple Mist Fairy, Princess Zhiwei was the most beautiful and refined female cultivator he had seen in Great Yu.

"Zhiwei greets Elder Xiang."

Princess Zhiwei lifted her gown slightly and offered a graceful curtsey, her voice clear and melodic.

Her dark, radiant eyes sized up the good-looking balding youth in front of her.

From then on, Yu Yuanjin spoke less, subtly guiding the conversation so that Princess Zhiwei and Lan Chang'an interacted freely.

Despite this being their first meeting, the princess’s demeanor was warm and natural, leading their discussion through topics ranging from puppet refinement and spirit beast training and personal cultivation experiences to anecdotes and myths from the Great Yuan.

Along the way, she subtly probed for details about Lan Chang'an’s background.

Ever since Lord Earthrock’s transformation, various factions had attempted to investigate Lan Chang'an’s origins, but no concrete answers had surfaced beyond the fact that he was an outsider to the Central Region.

By this point, Lan Chang'an had realized Yu Yuanjin’s intention—he was subtly trying to match him with Princess Zhiwei.

After about fifteen minutes of conversation, Lan Chang'an politely excused himself and returned to his seat.

"What do you think of him?"

Yu Yuanjin closed his eyes and sent a transmission to Princess Zhiwei.

"His cultivation and talents are exceptional, and his knowledge is impressive.

But he feels a bit… rough around the edges. Not exactly my type."

She responded honestly.

Yu Yuanjin’s sharply arched brows furrowed slightly.

"Are you looking down on him just because you’re of royal blood?"

Princess Zhiwei glanced toward Lord Earthrock on the high platform and smiled playfully.

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"If you include Lord Earthrock in the equation… then perhaps I would be the one marrying up."

Yu Yuanjin nodded in understanding.

"As long as you recognize the opportunity, that’s what matters."

...

The Transformation Ceremony lasted for several days.

Countless guests and representatives arrived, each presenting gifts to Yunxia Sect.

The higher the cultivation level or the stronger the faction, the more generous the offerings.

However, most of these gifts were part of established alliances and existing debts of gratitude.

Per a prior agreement, 30% of the total offerings would go directly to Lord Earthrock.

Even this fraction of the total was an enormous sum of cultivation resources.

Additionally, some guests personally gifted Lord Earthrock treasures, separate from the formal ceremony offerings.

For example, Alchemist Le privately gave him a bottle of fourth rank spirit pills, while Princess Zhiwei gifted a basket of rare imperial fruits, entrusting Lan Chang'an to deliver them.

The imperial fruits were so rare that even the Great Qing and Great Yuan didn’t have them.

Originally, Lan Chang'an intended to sample just one—but before he knew it, he had eaten over half the basket.

With both his share of the formal gifts and private tributes, Lord Earthrock had profited immensely from the ceremony.

If solely used for cultivation, these resources could sustain Lord Earthrock for many years.

However, if allocated toward refining magical treasures or developing new divine abilities, it wouldn't last too long.