I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals-Chapter 366: The Peacock Calamity

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Chapter 366: The Peacock Calamity

Looking at Ye Fanchen, who remained calm and composed, a strange glint flickered in Lan Chang'an’s eyes.

Using puppet and magical treasure to block the attack just now was merely a diversion.

With his peak third-rank body refinement mastery, Lan Chang'an had no intention of exposing his strength under the watchful eyes of others.

“The wood-element divine ability I used earlier did consume quite a bit of my energy. However, Fellow Daoist Ye, do you perhaps feel a slight ache in your sea of consciousness? A sense of emptiness and discomfort in your body…?”

A peculiar smile surfaced on Lan Chang'an’s face.

"Hmm? Hiss! Could it be that you…?"

Ye Fanchen focused his senses, and his expression changed as he realized a faint, throbbing pain in his sea of consciousness.

His internal mana was slightly chaotic, and his body felt somewhat fatigued and hollow.

Though he had not confirmed any symptoms of poisoning, Ye Fanchen broke out in a cold sweat and instinctively retrieved a precious detoxification pill.

At that brief moment—

Whoosh!

Lan Chang'an’s figure left only an afterimage in Ye Fanchen’s vision before vanishing into the clouds.

The next instant, the immense spiritual pressure of a Core Formation Great Cultivator descended upon the third-rank spirit ship below like a mountain of a hundred thousand catties.

“Be careful!”

“Why is Xiang Dalong attacking?!”

On the spirit ship’s side, Elder Ye, the masked man, and Tie Danxin—three Core Formation cultivators—felt the terrifying rumble of powerful Core energy, their hearts sinking.

The three Core Formation experts had been attacking the grand formation of the mining site and were caught completely off guard by Xiang Dalong’s sudden assault.

Withered Vine Hand!

Lan Chang'an performed a sinister wood-element secret art. His arm abruptly swelled, extending into withered yellow vines, forming a massive vine hand over ten zhang long, which ruthlessly struck toward the three Core Formation cultivators on the spirit ship.

“Quick! Block it—”

Elder Ye’s scalp tingled as he activated a banner-type magical treasure to protect himself and threw out a third-rank talisman.

The masked man summoned a third-rank puppet to shield himself as he rapidly retreated.

However, he soon realized that the massive, deadly vine hand had not targeted him or the puppet before him.

Boom! Boom!

The withered yellow vine hand swept past Elder Ye and Tie Danxin.

“Fanchen, my dear nephew—save me!”

Elder Ye, a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, was sent flying. His protective banner magical treasure dimmed, and the light barrier of his third-rank talisman was forcibly shattered.

Elder Ye was in a miserable state, his scholar’s cap knocked off, his hair disheveled.

“Elder Xiang, spare me…”

Tie Danxin, an early-stage Core Formation cultivator and the weakest among them, let out a tragic scream as the withered yellow vine hand gripped his body. His protective spiritual light extinguished, leaving him defenseless.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Tie Danxin’s sturdy, dark-skinned body withered into a dried corpse.

The cultivators of the Ye Clan’s faction were horrified. The weaker Fake Dan and Foundation Establishment cultivators hastily retreated in fear.

“Tsk tsk, absorbing this man’s life essence and blood is enough to replenish my earlier consumption.”

After killing Tie Danxin, Lan Chang'an’s complexion became noticeably rosier, and his mana surged with newfound vigor.

“We’ve been tricked!”

Ye Fanchen’s face turned ashen. As he gave chase, he discovered that Lan Chang'an had already returned to his peak state.

The Withered Vine Hand, a sinister wood-element technique that drained cultivators of their life essence and blood, appearing in Elder Xiang’s hands was not surprising to Ye Fanchen or the other Core Formation cultivators present.

Unlike the Great Qing, the entire Great Yuan was rife with demonic cultivation, with true orthodox sects being a rarity.

Even the Yunxia Sect was merely an offshoot sect, not a part of the true orthodox Dao path.

Lan Chang'an cultivating the Withered Vine Hand was, in fact, another ruse—a killing technique meant to conceal the overwhelming regenerative and endurance capabilities of the Evergreen Technique.

Back in the Great Qing, Lan Chang'an had been chased by True Monarch Cyanwood, another cultivator of the Evergreen Technique, which had made him even more cautious.

The Great Yuan had a far more ancient and powerful cultivation civilization, and he had to hide the unique traits of the Evergreen Technique as much as possible, especially in battle.

…

Clang!

Ye Fanchen’s face darkened as he once again drew the Golden Scale Sword Pool.

“Fellow Daoist Ye, do not panic! I, for one, have always been upright and honorable. How could I possibly resort to such despicable means as poisoning an heir of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion?”

Lan Chang'an spoke righteously, looking at Ye Fanchen’s grim expression.

He truly had not used poison.

Poisons strong enough to threaten a Core Formation Great Cultivator were extremely rare.

His earlier words were merely a deception—he had tricked Ye Fanchen into believing otherwise.

“This old fox…”

Ye Fanchen’s gaze flickered, his emotions shifting. He had now understood the truth.

As a puppet master, Xiang Dalong’s spiritual sense was much stronger than that of an average Core Formation Great Cultivator. The Illusory Leaf Flying Sword technique he had used earlier had slightly infiltrated Ye Fanchen’s soul during their exchange, causing minor damage.

Though such mental injuries were not severe, coupled with the considerable mana consumption from their duel, they aligned perfectly with the “symptoms” Lan Chang'an had described.

Realizing the truth, Ye Fanchen felt a sense of frustration and a rare humiliation.

He would rather have actually been poisoned than be played like a fool by Xiang Dalong.

During the gaps in their battle, Lan Chang'an had eliminated key Core Formation cultivators from the Ye Clan’s side, making Ye Fanchen appear utterly powerless.

“Come, come! There’s still time before a hundred breaths pass. Let’s fight another three hundred rounds, Fellow Daoist Ye!”

Lan Chang'an, now fully restored, activated the Illusory Leaf Flying Sword technique once more.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

Countless verdant leaves, gleaming with life, circled around Lan Chang'an, transforming into countless illusionary sword shadows that fluctuated between real and unreal as they assaulted and entangled Ye Fanchen.

Six Imperial Slashes of the Sky!

Ye Fanchen’s Golden Scale Ancient Sword cleaved through the air, transforming into a twenty-zhang-long blade above Lan Chang'an’s head. It then split into two transparent golden-scaled sword shadows.

As one of the six supreme sword arts of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion, when executed by Ye Fanchen who possessed an unparalleled sword Dao talent, it once again forced Lan Chang'an into a suppressed state.

However, this time, as they clashed again, Ye Fanchen’s heart sank. He felt an unexpected difficulty.

Lan Chang'an had fully recovered to his peak condition, while Ye Fanchen had not. Furthermore, his soul had been slightly eroded.

Perhaps it was an illusion, but Lan Chang'an’s Illusory Leaf Flying Sword now seemed inexhaustible, as if with every swing, it was reborn like spring grass in the wind. It was far more tenacious than before and carried an even stronger erosion effect on the mind.

It was a clear case of weakening and strengthening—one side rising while the other fell.

If this dragged into a prolonged battle, Lan Chang'an’s Illusory Leaf Flying Sword would continue to seep into Ye Fanchen’s sea of consciousness, further dulling his sword Dao intent.

“Just who is this Xiang Dalong? Not only is he a superior third-rank puppet master, but his combat skills are also this difficult to handle…”

Ye Fanchen realized that he had missed his opportunity. Within a hundred breaths, he could no longer defeat Elder Xiang.

His current suppression of Lan Chang'an was not enough to secure victory.

He had a mission awaiting him in the Central Region. He was unwilling to risk unleashing his Dual Sword Form, a desperate move, for the sake of a mere assist.

The price was too great—that was one reason.

More importantly, Xiang Dalong was far from simple. He was deeply hidden, and there was no guarantee that he didn’t have another trump card hidden away.

At this moment, Ye Fanchen found himself in a dilemma, unable to advance or retreat.

“Fellow Daoist Ye, let’s call this battle a draw. Why not leave the fate of the Fujiling Mine to the battle below?”

In the midst of their fierce exchange, Lan Chang'an suddenly chuckled and proposed.

Hearing this, Ye Fanchen’s expression froze, his face burning slightly.

Elder Xiang was returning the favor, giving him a way to step down from this fight gracefully.

...

Below the clouds, at the Fujiling Mine, the battle between the two factions had already reached a decisive conclusion.

“Patriarch!”

The death of Tie Danxin dealt a heavy psychological blow to the faction of the breakaway Tie Clan, causing their morale to plummet.

Among the lower and middle-tier cultivators in the Ye Clan’s faction, the Tie Clan accounted for a third of the numbers.

With the loss of a Core Formation expert and Ye Fanchen being completely held back, the remaining forces of the Ye Clan were no longer able to break through the mine’s third-rank grand formation.

Instead, the cultivators defending the Fujiling Mine, bolstered by the array, launched a counterattack.

The third-rank grand formation wasn’t just for defense. When supplied with enough power, it could unleash large-scale restrictive spells.

“The tide has turned…”

Elder Ye straightened his disheveled robes and hat, his face weary, as if he had aged several years in an instant.

Though this wasn’t an outright defeat—

For the Ye Clan’s faction, failing to capture the mine or inflict a devastating blow was a strategic loss.

The death of the Tie Patriarch was particularly crucial.

With the head of this splinter faction of the Tie Clan gone, the Ye Clan would no longer have sufficient justification to claim dominance over the Fujiling Mine in the future.

Thus, Lan Chang'an’s decision to take time to kill Tie Danxin had been a subtle yet critical move.

“Prepare to retreat!”

Elder Ye made the call without hesitation.

Two Core Formation cultivators and several Fake Dan cultivators worked together to cover the retreat, fighting as they withdrew, allowing the remaining forces to board the third-rank spirit ship and activate its defensive array.

The defenders of the Fujiling Mine erupted into cheers, their morale soaring.

Immortal Xiuyu, having received Lan Chang'an’s voice transmission, chose to stop while ahead, only taking a few prisoners and the wounded rather than launching a full pursuit.

…

Amidst the clouds.

After clashing for a hundred breaths, Ye Fanchen and Lan Chang'an had ceased fighting.

Both of their robes were slightly damaged, and their complexions were not at their best.

Ye Fanchen remained silent, escorting the third-rank spirit ship while remaining vigilant against a possible counterattack from Yunxia Sect.

The third-rank spirit ship changed direction and had just flown several li when,

Whoosh! Whoosh!

From the depths of Yunxia Sect’s territory, the sound of something piercing through the sky echoed. Two Core Formation cultivators were rapidly flying toward Fujiling Mine as reinforcements.

Since Fujiling Mine was on the outskirts of Yunxia Sect’s influence, their reinforcements arrived faster—this was one of the reasons why the Ye Clan had no choice but to retreat.

Lan Chang'an glanced at the two incoming Core Formation cultivators, both of whom were familiar faces.

One was a middle-aged woman at the mid-Core Formation stage—Immortal Jade Plum—who had once been matched with Lan Chang'an by the old sect master.

The other was an exceptionally handsome young man whose core energy was exceptionally refined, surpassing that of his peers. He was none other than Hu Ang, who had formed a Half-Step Golden Dan a few years ago.

Meanwhile, all of the Ye Clan’s cultivators had boarded the spirit ship and were retreating at full speed.

“Fellow Daoist Ye, I appreciate the match.”

Lan Chang'an remained composed, watching as Ye Fanchen left.

Before disappearing into the Nine Fiery Heavens, Ye Fanchen gave Lan Chang'an a deep, meaningful look.

Encountering a rival of equal strength among Core Formation Great Cultivators in the Central Region of the Great Yuan was a surprise for him.

To him, such a well-matched duel was a rare experience.

“What a pity. After this mission, I will have to focus all my efforts on planning my advancement to Nascent Soul. I’m afraid I won’t have the chance to fight this person again in the future.”

Ye Fanchen sighed with slight regret and shook his head.

Lan Chang'an exhaled slightly, then turned to fly back toward Fujiling Mine.

With his experience, he could naturally tell that Ye Fanchen still had trump cards left unrevealed.

However, Lan Chang'an had no desire to engage in a life-or-death battle with Ye Fanchen, even if he was certain of victory.

In today’s battle, he could kill all of the enemy’s cultivators—except Ye Fanchen.

If he were to kill Ye Fanchen or severely damage his cultivation foundation, he would bring disaster upon himself.

The Heavenly Sword Pavilion was the ruler of the Southern Region and one of the three strongest cultivation factions in the Great Yuan.

Their top cultivator was a Nascent Soul Great Cultivator who stood at the peak of the Great Yuan.

Even if Lan Chang'an were to break through to Nascent Soul in the future, he would still have to tread cautiously in the presence of such figures.

...

“Elder Xiang is back!”

As Lan Chang'an descended from the clouds, the Core Formation cultivators at Fujiling Mine showed respectful and eager expressions, actively coming forward to greet him.

Hu Ang and Immortal Xiuyu, both disciples of the Nascent Soul True Monarch, dared not show the slightest negligence.

“Haha! Immortal Xiang’s power is boundless! He turned the tide and sent the Ye Clan cultivators fleeing like stray dogs!”

“Elder Xiang suppressed the heir of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion! Such an achievement truly makes him the number one Core Formation cultivator of the Great Yu Kingdom!”

Amid the flattering and enthusiastic voices around him, Lan Chang'an entered the mine as the center of attention.

“I only barely managed to fight the Heavenly Sword Pavilion’s heir to a draw…”

Lan Chang'an chuckled but didn’t bother explaining further.

A late-stage Core Formation Great Cultivator, whose strength would have crushed ordinary True Dan cultivators, had an exalted status.

He, on the other hand, was considered to be standing at the absolute top of the Core Formation level.

Inside the Hidden Bamboo Pavilion.

Upon returning to his residence, Lan Chang'an received the reinforcements—Hu Ang and Immortal Jade Plum.

“Elder Xiang, in this battle, we killed one Core Formation cultivator, two Fake Dan cultivators, and several Foundation Establishment cultivators…”

After organizing the battlefield, Immortal Xiuyu came to report the situation. Together, they discussed the allocation of spoils and rewards.

Only one Core Formation cultivator from the enemy side had perished, so the loot was not particularly appealing to someone at Lan Chang'an’s level.

He only took Tie Danxin’s storage pouch. As for the spoils from the Fake Dan and Foundation Establishment cultivators, he distributed them to the cultivators who had fought at the mine.

Beyond the material spoils, this battle would also earn them considerable merit points from the sect, which would benefit all the cultivators involved.

As the highest-ranking authority at the mine, Lan Chang'an’s words and decisions directly influenced the resource distribution for lower-level cultivators, affecting the cultivation paths of many.

…

“Elder Xiang, our forces now have a clear advantage over the Ye Clan’s invading cultivators. If we pursue them while they retreat, their fortress strongholds a few hundred li away will have resources left behind in haste. This is a perfect chance to raid and plunder them.”

Hu Ang’s eyes gleamed as he proactively suggested.

“That’s right! Our Yunxia Sect’s territory is not a place where outsiders can come and go as they please.”

“Even if we can’t wipe them out completely, we mustn’t let them escape too easily.”

Immortal Xiuyu and Immortal Jade Plum both agreed with Hu Ang’s proposal.

“Cough, cough… To be honest, my battle with Ye Fanchen just now greatly drained my vitality. I’ve actually suffered rather severe internal injuries.”

Lan Chang'an coughed twice, his breath weakening, and a troubled expression appeared on his face.

“In that case, since Elder Xiang is injured, we’ll have to abandon this plan.”

Hu Ang sighed lightly, his face showing a trace of regret.

The two female Core Formation cultivators also let go of the idea.

With Ye Fanchen escorting the Ye Clan’s retreating forces, they dared not give chase without Lan Chang'an’s protection.

None of them were surprised that Lan Chang'an had sustained injuries.

"So, he really was wounded! If he could have easily repelled Ye Fanchen of the Heavenly Sword Pavilion despite being a loose cultivator from a small outer region, that would have been too heaven-defying."

Hu Ang secretly pondered.

His current body had fused with the remnant Nascent Soul of True Monarch Yunlan, with the latter taking dominance in rebuilding his cultivation. Even if he reached late-stage Core Formation, he wouldn’t dare claim an assured victory against Ye Fanchen.

Currently, he was only at the early Core Formation stage. While he had inherited the legacy of a Nascent Soul expert and possessed all manner of secret techniques, he was absolutely no match for Xiang Dalong.

After all, both Xiang Dalong and Ye Fanchen were top-tier Core Formation Great Cultivators.

"Just another sixty years of patience, and I won’t have to fear this guy anymore."

"At that time, I will confront Ziyan, gain the support of the sect’s heritage, and re-enter Nascent Soul realm."

Hu Ang had a clear roadmap for his path of re-cultivation.

For now, he had not yet revealed his true identity to his Dao companion. One reason was that his strength was still insufficient, and he feared being eliminated by hidden enemies before he could fully rise again.

Another reason was that remaining hidden within the sect allowed him to better observe and uncover issues within the Yunxia Sect—including potential traitors and those harboring ulterior motives.

His patience and secrecy were, in truth, a form of silent protection for his Dao companion.

...

Half a day later, at dawn.

The Ye Clan cultivators’ third-rank spirit ship had left Yunxia Sect’s territory and entered the outer reaches of the Ye Clan’s dominion, one of the four great noble clans of the Great Yu Kingdom.

At this point, the third-rank spirit ship slowed down.

While at full speed, a third-rank spirit ship was faster than most Core Formation cultivators. However, the consumption and strain were significant, making it impossible to sustain for too long.

Additionally, the ship had sustained some damage during the previous battle.

“Uncle Xiang, I still have a mission to complete, so I won’t be returning to the Ye Clan. As for the remaining half of my payment, I feel unworthy of accepting it. Please relay this to the Patriarch.”

Ye Fanchen’s expression was calm as he addressed Elder Ye Xiang.

“Fanchen, you have already done your best—there is no need to feel guilty. This mission involves tracking that devil’s whereabouts, be careful.”

Elder Ye Xiang’s smile was warm as he exchanged a few words before watching Ye Fanchen depart.

With a gust of golden sword light beneath his feet, Ye Fanchen soared away, soon disappearing into the Nine Fiery Heavens.

Flying several thousand li away—

A sudden unease gripped Ye Fanchen’s heart.

The two ancient swords strapped to his back trembled slightly.

The swords were sentient, and their quivering carried an unmistakable hint of fear.

"This is…?"

Ye Fanchen’s expression stiffened.

Following the direction of the swords’ resonance, he turned his gaze back toward the Ye Clan’s third-rank spirit ship.

…

Over the outskirts of the Ye Family’s power, Above the mountain ranges.

The third-rank spirit ship glided through the clouds.

Suddenly—

A chilling, otherworldly peacock cry echoed from above the Nine Fiery Heavens.

“What is that sound?!”

Inside the third-rank spirit ship, Elder Ye, the masked man, and several Fake Dan cultivators felt a shudder deep in their souls.

Their bloodlines trembled involuntarily as if an unfathomable catastrophe had descended upon them. The eerie peacock cry resonated through their very beings, bringing an instinctive dread—an omen of impending doom.

Elder Ye grew restless, his spiritual sense sweeping above the ship, only to feel his scalp go numb in terror.

Above the clouds, a twisted five-colored beam of light, radiating an aura of forbidden destruction, descended from the heavens, piercing through layer upon layer of clouds, hurtling straight toward the third-rank spirit ship.

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At the end of the five-colored beam, the vague silhouette of a five-colored peacock loomed—mysterious and ancient, regal and elegant…

“Five-colored peacock?! Quick! Run—!”

Elder Ye’s face turned ashen, his entire body erupting with mana as he barely managed to let out a desperate roar.

However, before his voice even faded, the annihilating five-colored divine beam had already struck its target.

Boom! Crack!

The thick, reinforced hull of the third-rank spirit ship—its powerful defensive formations—everything was rendered meaningless. The five-colored divine light easily obliterated them.

The ship, spanning dozens of zhang, was instantly blasted open, a massive hole tearing through its structure, nearly shattering it into four pieces. Flames roared, and agonized screams filled the air.

"Ahhh—!"

In the blink of an eye, over a hundred cultivators were reduced to ash under the destructive flames of the five-colored light, their remains either completely incinerated or left as charred, incomplete corpses.

Even the residual shockwaves of the explosion were enough to instantly melt defenseless Fake Dan cultivators.

The few remaining survivors were all gravely wounded, their expressions twisted in utter horror.

With a thud, Elder Ye, his robes scorched black, coughed up a mouthful of blood as he crawled out from the wreckage of the shattered ship.

“A five-colored peacock! At least a Heaven-grade bloodline… a legendary species carrying the diluted blood of a true spirit…”

The masked man, having been positioned farther from the impact, had only sustained minor injuries. Gazing up at the five-colored peacock’s form above the clouds, he couldn’t help but take a sharp breath, his heart pounding violently.

The spiritual pressure emanating from that five-colored divine light was nearly on par with that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

Fortunately, it had been a single-target divine ability rather than a large-scale spell—otherwise, the casualties would have been even more catastrophic.

“Scatter and flee!”

Elder Ye didn’t even dare to glance at the five-colored peacock a second time. Without hesitation, he slapped a quasi-fourth-rank life-saving escape talisman onto himself.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

His figure split into several purple afterimages, each speeding away in different directions, moving even faster than a Core Formation Great Cultivator could normally achieve.

"That old fox runs fast!"

The masked man quickly summoned a third-rank flying boat and sped toward the heart of the Ye Clan’s territory.

Even though one of the Ye Clan’s Nascent Soul True Monarchs had gone to the imperial court for negotiations, there was still another one guarding their ancestral lands.

Against this five-colored peacock, only a Nascent Soul cultivator could stand a chance.

But just as he was escaping—

A five-colored Feather Blade flashed across the sky like a streak of light, nearly teleporting as it sliced toward one of Elder Ye’s escaping afterimages.

“Senior Peacock, spare me—!”

Elder Ye’s entire body turned ice-cold, despair consuming him.

The speed of that five-colored Feather Blade was so overwhelming that he had no time to react or evade.

Splurt! Crack!

The defensive magical treasures he had barely managed to activate, along with his protective barrier, shattered like fragile paper.

In the next instant, the five-colored feather light swept past him—his body was cleaved from head to toe, splitting cleanly into two halves.

"No—!"

The masked man had just activated his flying boat when he witnessed this scene. His legs trembled uncontrollably.

As he reached for his strongest life-saving puppet—

His body suddenly froze, his eyes widening in shock.

Swoosh!

A thinner five-colored Feather Blade streaked through the back of his skull.

His corpse, left eerily intact, fell lifelessly onto the flying boat.

“Senior Peacock, spare us!”

Amidst the burning wreckage of the crumbling third-rank spirit ship, the surviving cultivators either fled in desperation or fell to their knees, begging for mercy.

Whoosh!

A swirling mist of five-colored wind swept through the air.

A colossal peacock silhouette, its wings spanning several zhang, radiated a chaotic, ancient bloodline aura—an overwhelming presence that carried the shadow of death.

It glided across the battlefield like an unapproachable deity.

None of the surviving cultivators dared to look directly at its form.

For those beneath the Nascent Soul realm, even their spiritual senses were incapable of piercing the five-colored wind to glimpse its true visage.

A few breaths later—

Another noble, icy peacock cry echoed through the clouds.

The majestic form of the five-colored peacock disappeared into the Nine Fiery Heavens, its speed rivaling that of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

The surviving cultivators, shaken beyond belief, would forever carry this nightmare in their memories.

No one even noticed that the storage pouches of Elder Ye and the masked man had vanished.

Among the survivors, a lone, aging Foundation Establishment cultivator was left captivated by the peacock’s mesmerizing beauty.

Many years later, on his deathbed, he compiled a book titled "The Peacock Chronicles", writing a tragic yet poetic tale of love between a human and a peacock.