I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 236: A Certain Something

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Unfortunately, “Cold Soul Jade Marrow” was a rare innate Dao physique, and the ancient text Lan Chang'an had come across in his previous life didn’t provide detailed information about its specific abilities.

Lan Chang'an had heard of various common innate Dao physiques, such as the Fire Spirit Treasure Body, the Wood Essence Dao Body, and the Netherworld Body. These mainstream physiques not only granted faster cultivation but also bestowed their owners with extraordinary innate abilities.

From what the ancient text mentioned, Lan Chang'an speculated that the “Cold Soul Jade Marrow” was not only a cold-attribute Dao physique but also possessed a peculiar “beneficial effect” for others.

This was likely why those with such a physique had to hide it at all costs to avoid bringing disaster upon themselves.

“Cold Soul Jade Marrow… Jade Marrow…”

Lan Chang'an murmured to himself, thinking about Xia Wenyue’s bones, which had a crystalline, jade-like quality and exuded a coolness.

Although she was only at the Qi-Refining stage, the quality of her jade-like bones had already surpassed that of normal humans, allowing them to resist years of accumulated cold energy.

If Xia Wenyue truly possessed an innate Dao physique, when she reached the Foundation Establishment Realm, the jade marrow within her might undergo a qualitative transformation, potentially achieving effects comparable to rare spiritual treasures.

“It seems I’ll need to look into more ancient texts about innate Dao physiques in the future,” Lan Chang'an thought. Having cultivated for three lifetimes, this was the first time he had discovered an innate Dao physique so close to him, and it piqued his curiosity.

Once again, he channeled his Evergreen spiritual energy, dispersing the cold energy within Xia Wenyue and simultaneously nourishing the hidden ailment in her navel.

“S-Senior Lan…”

Before long, Xia Wenyue awoke with a soft murmur.

She felt her blood flowing smoothly, her body filled with a comforting warmth and a vibrant energy, like the fresh breath of spring.

Looking up at the white-robed man before her, whose demeanor was as gentle as jade, her pale face flushed with a tinge of rosy warmth.

“I’ve dispelled the accumulated cold energy in your body. It shouldn’t relapse for a while. You need to focus on recuperating and avoid overworking yourself.”

Lan Chang'an withdrew his hand from her wrist and calmly advised her.

“Thank you for saving me, Senior Lan.”

Xia Wenyue rose and offered a respectful bow, her eyes filled with a hint of shyness as she lowered her head, her face still tinged with the warm flush.

However, the lingering warmth and vitality in her body left her feeling conflicted.

During her brief unconscious state, the treatment she had received, though indistinct, had left her feeling more comfortable than any other treatment she had undergone in the past. Even the clan leader, who was somewhat skilled in healing, had not been able to match this level of relief.

“Have you ever taken any Youth Retaining Pills in the past?” Lan Chang'an asked casually, observing how her pale, youthful face seemed unaffected by the passing years.

“My mother gave me one when I was younger,” Xia Wenyue answered softly, looking down at her feet, not daring to look straight into Senior Lan's eyes.

Lan Chang'an didn’t expose her lie.

Having consumed a Youth Retaining Pill himself, he was well aware of its effects.

It was clear that Xia Wenyue had never taken such a pill.

This only solidified Lan Chang'an’s belief that she possessed an innate Dao physique.

The unique qualities of the “Cold Soul Jade Marrow” had provided her with a frozen-youth effect, delaying the signs of aging.

“Have you had your condition examined by an experienced healer before?” Lan Chang'an asked.

“When I was a child, my mother took me to see a skilled pharmacist. At that time, my symptoms weren’t as severe, so they only prescribed some warming tonics to dispel the cold. But over the years, none of the treatments worked, and I was told it was a congenital weakness, the cold energy passed down from the womb,” Xia Wenyue explained, her eyes clouded with a hint of melancholy.

“The clan leader also examined me a few times, but eventually, he gave up…”

Lan Chang'an nodded thoughtfully.

“Alright, go and rest now.”

Lan Chang'an waved his hand dismissively, letting her leave the medicine room.

Xia Wenyue left, feeling conflicted and a bit disheartened.

She had hoped that Lan Chang'an, with his knowledge of health and cultivation, would have some insight into her condition and offer a cure.

But all he had done was stabilize her condition, without delving deeper or showing any particular curiosity.

“She probably doesn’t fully understand her own Dao physique. Perhaps her mother knew the truth and warned her to avoid letting outsiders examine her too closely. That’s likely why, during my first two years on Autumnwind Isle, Xia Wenyue was wary and refused my offer to help with her illness,” Lan Chang'an surmised as he watched the frail girl walk away.

The characteristics of her innate Dao physique had only begun to manifest as she advanced in her cultivation and age. It had taken Lan Chang'an’s careful examination to even notice them.

In her early years, before she had embarked on the path of cultivation, her condition was likely mistaken for an ordinary congenital illness. No healer had discovered the true nature of her body.

“As long as the ailment she inherited from the womb is eradicated and her body properly nourished, she can practice a cold-attribute cultivation method to unlock her physique’s potential. Then, everything will fall into place,” Lan Chang'an thought, his mind formulating a treatment plan for Xia Wenyue.

However, her condition had caused irreversible damage due to the prolonged cold energy in her body. Regular pills and healing methods were insufficient to cure her.

Only by expending his own lifespan to channel his Evergreen technique could he fully eliminate the root of her ailment.

He had some experience with similar situations, having used this technique to hatch the Profound Water Turtle’s egg and heal Mu Bingyun’s damaged foundation.

However, Xia Wenyue wasn’t related to him in any meaningful way. Lan Chang'an wasn’t inclined to sacrifice his own lifespan to save someone else’s life.

Moreover, since this involved an innate Dao physique, recklessly intervening could entangle him in karmic consequences.

...

On Autumnwind Isle.

Over the next half-year, Xia Wenyue was delighted to notice that her body had gradually improved, and her cultivation progressed more smoothly.

In fact, she even found herself advancing faster than other cultivators with similar spiritual roots in the clan.

This newfound hope encouraged her to take better care of her body, using medicinal tonics and training diligently.

However, this improvement lasted less than six months.

After that, her condition relapsed. The cold energy once again built up in her body, and her frail constitution returned to its former state.

As her cultivation advanced, the symptoms worsened, and every full moon, she was wracked with pain as the cold energy gnawed at her bones and organs.

Xia Wenyue realized that her earlier recovery had been due to Lan Chang'an’s intervention.

It was his treatment that had temporarily expelled the cold energy and alleviated her condition.

Now, she longed to ask Lan Chang'an for help again, but she hesitated, unsure of how to approach him.

Before her mother had passed away, she had warned Xia Wenyue never to trust anyone in the clan except for the clan leader regarding her condition.

She had also been told never to let an outsider examine her.

If no special opportunity arose, her mother had said, it would be better to live an ordinary life. Otherwise, her rare beauty and physique would bring disaster upon herself and those around her.

“Mother… I still haven’t avenged your death, nor have I found my real father. I can’t resign myself to being a weak, sickly girl for the rest of my life,” Xia Wenyue thought to herself, determined after enduring another excruciating full moon night.

The effectiveness of Lan Chang'an’s healing abilities had given her hope.

However, she had once refused his help and now only had a tenuous relationship with him as a medicine apprentice and servant, master and maid.

Asking for his help again would be difficult and embarrassing for her.

...

Two months later, with the arrival of winter, rivers froze under the biting cold.

Autumnwind Isle’s temperature plummeted, and Xia Wenyue’s condition worsened as the cold energy within her reached its peak. She could barely manage even simple tasks like gathering herbs.

Any slight use of her mana would trigger the cold energy to surge through her body, causing intense pain.

One day, after another fainting spell, she awoke feeling the familiar warmth and vitality return to her body.

“If this continues, you’ll shorten your lifespan. You may even lose your life.”

She opened her eyes to see Lan Chang'an standing nearby, hands behind his back.

“Senior Lan, what should I do?” Xia Wenyue asked weakly.

“If you stop cultivating, your symptoms will ease,” Lan Chang'an replied calmly.

“Stop cultivating?” Xia Wenyue smiled bitterly, holding her chest as she coughed lightly.

For a cultivator with ambitions on the path of immortality, giving up cultivation was akin to giving up life.

“Senior Lan, I want to continue cultivating. It’s the only way for me to change my fate,” Xia Wenyue said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“You’ve examined me twice now, Senior Lan. You must have noticed something unusual about my body. Before my mother passed, she told me that my special physique, once I reach a certain level, could benefit others,” Xia Wenyue said, her pale face showing a hint of helplessness. She bit her lip and decided to gamble everything.

“If you can cure me and help me cultivate, I’ll serve you for life as a servant or concubine. This body—everything—will be at your disposal.”

“Haha! You trust me that much?” Lan Chang'an laughed, amused by her desperation.

“I’ve heard from the clan that you’re a trustworthy person, Senior Lan, known for your good reputation in the Liang Kingdom. A few years ago, you saved Shenglan without asking for anything in return,” Xia Wenyue said with a faint smile, choosing her words carefully.

“Moreover, with my cultivation advancing, I’m sure you’ve already noticed the peculiarities of my physique after treating me twice.”

There was another reason she didn’t mention.

This was still the Xia Family’s territory, and they had elders, including a powerful clan leader at the Fake Dan stage.

Even if Lan Chang'an had other intentions, the clan leader could intervene and control the situation.

“You’re a clever girl, Xia Wenyue. Very well, I happen to be curious about innate Dao physiques. I’ll give you a chance,” Lan Chang'an finally agreed.

“Thank you, Senior Lan!” Xia Wenyue said gratefully, bowing deeply.

“Don’t be too happy just yet,” Lan Chang'an said coldly. “Your condition is not a minor issue. Each time I treat you, it will drain my vital energy, and it will take years of careful treatment. I can’t guarantee success.”

“Senior Lan, I’ve studied medicine. I know this will be difficult, and unless a high-level healer intervenes, there’s no cure. Even if it fails, I won’t blame you, and I will gladly serve you for the rest of my life,” Xia Wenyue replied solemnly.

“It’s good that you understand. From now on, I’ll personally treat your condition every two months,” Lan Chang'an promised.

Xia Wenyue bowed once more, deeply grateful.

Lan Chang'an instructed her to sit cross-legged and placed his hand over her navel, channeling his spiritual energy to nourish and heal her.

For the first few years, Lan Chang'an didn’t intend to use his lifespan to cure her completely.

He would only alleviate her symptoms, allowing her to maintain her health and continue her cultivation.

Even this lesser treatment was far superior to what other wood-attribute techniques could offer.

Lan Chang'an had two reasons for holding back.

First, if he cured her too quickly, it would draw too much attention.

He had no desire to become some famous miracle doctor in the area, drawing undue attention.

Second, he didn’t want to do all the work, only for someone else to swoop in and reap the benefits.

He wasn’t sure who else might be aware of Xia Wenyue’s condition.

At the very least, the clan leader, Xia Hongyu, seemed to know something.

Xia Wenyue’s mother had passed away, but her father’s identity was still a mystery—another unknown factor.

So, until Xia Wenyue advanced to the next stage of her cultivation, Lan Chang'an decided to observe her further, keeping his full healing abilities in reserve.

Even Xia Wenyue’s character would need to be tested over time.

...

Over the following six months, thanks to Lan Chang'an’s regular treatments, Xia Wenyue’s complexion improved noticeably.

Her cultivation progress returned to normal, and she was able to cultivate smoothly once again.

In two years’ time, after her body had fully recovered, Lan Chang'an planned to help her switch to a cold-attribute cultivation technique.

One day, inside his cultivation chamber, Lan Chang'an focused his magical power, nourishing a set of fifty or sixty treasure talismans floating before him.

These treasure talismans glowed with a radiant light, their aura far surpassing that of ordinary talismans.

Most of them emitted an energy equivalent to the low-third rank, and some were nearing the mid-third rank in power.

A few, however, remained at the quasi-third rank level.

These talismans were primarily crafted over the years with materials provided by the Wufu Merchant Association.

As a resident talisman master, the Xia Family naturally wouldn’t waste Lan Chang'an’s talents as a quasi-third-rank talisman master.

Every year, they supplied him with materials for quasi-third-rank or third rank talismans, and Lan Chang'an refined some of the more spiritually infused materials into treasure talismans.

Without realizing it, the number of treasure talismans that Lan Chang'an had nourished in his hands had grown to as high as fifty to sixty.

“After consuming so many Life Extension Pills, I finally got some results. The speed at which I can nourish treasure talismans has increased several times compared to when I was at the early Foundation Establishment stage.”

Lan Chang'an smiled to himself, satisfied with his progress, and with a wave of his sleeve, he put away all the treasure talismans.

...

Half a year later, Lan Chang'an reached the age of 152.

On this particular day, feeling that he was in excellent condition, he retrieved another batch of materials for Foundation Establishment Pills and began another alchemy session.

Seven days later, Lan Chang'an successfully opened the furnace and produced one genuine Foundation Establishment Pill and two inferior ones.

“This is the first time I’ve ever refined a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill in three lifetimes of cultivation,” Lan Chang'an mused, delighted with his achievement.

Although the Foundation Establishment Pill was now useless to him, it was still a strategic resource, and refining a genuine pill was a significant milestone, marking him as an experienced second-rank alchemist.

Xia Wenyue, unaware of the reason for his good mood, noticed that Lan Chang'an seemed particularly happy.

She brought over a pot of spirit wine and a table of dishes, accompanying him for a half-day of casual drinking.

“Master Lan, did you have a Dao companion back in the Liang Kingdom?” she asked, curious.

“No,” Lan Chang'an replied simply.

“A concubine, then?”

“I suppose you could say I had one,” Lan Chang'an said after a moment’s thought.

“Master Lan, you’ve been expending your own vital energy to heal me. Aside from your curiosity about my physique, what do you expect from me in return? Could you give me a hint?” Xia Wenyue asked cautiously, her snowy face tinged with a light flush of intoxication.

She had recently begun addressing him as “Master Lan” due to their doctor-patient relationship and their years of close proximity.

After all these years, with the occasional private healing session, it was only natural that some ambiguous feelings had started to stir.

She knew that Lan Chang'an had always remained calm and indifferent toward her, showing only mild admiration for her beauty.

But today, after a few drinks, his words seemed to carry a deeper meaning.

“Perhaps, one day, I’ll need to take something from you,” Lan Chang'an said vaguely, not entirely certain himself.

He had a theory that once Xia Wenyue reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he might be able to extract the jade marrow from her body.

If his theory was correct, this marrow could be comparable to a rare heavenly treasure, offering a cultivator tremendous benefits.

“Something from me?” Xia Wenyue blushed even deeper, her cheeks turning red as she bowed her head in embarrassment.

“If there’s anything you need from me, Master Lan, it’s yours to take,” she said shyly.

“The future is always uncertain. Maybe I’m just overthinking it—it’s more of a casual bet than anything else,” Lan Chang'an chuckled. “Some innate Dao physiques are as rare as heavenly spiritual roots. In the future, Lan might have to hug Xia Wenyue's thigh.”

His comment wasn’t entirely in jest.

He cultivated slowly, whereas those with innate Dao physiques were favored by the heavens. Anything was possible.

Hearing his words, Xia Wenyue’s face grew even hotter, and she nearly buried her face in her chest.

She bit her lip, her thoughts racing: Master Lan had always remained calm in the face of my beauty, showing only mild appreciation. Why, after some wine, did he suddenly start speaking in such a suggestive way?

To Xia Wenyue, his words felt like a veiled hint.

Later that evening, she mustered the courage to offer to help Lan Chang'an bathe and change clothes, only to be swiftly dismissed with a wave of his sleeve.

...

The next morning, after finishing his routine cultivation and treasure talisman nourishing, Lan Chang'an received a letter that had arrived through the Jing Kingdom’s merchant guild channels.

Outside his residence on Autumnwind Isle.

Xia Wenyue approached the letter courier and received the message.

As soon as she took hold of the letter, a sharp sound echoed—"squeak!"—and the letter suddenly vanished from her hand.

Her delicate face paled in shock for a moment, but she quickly regained her composure, understanding what had happened.

“Master, this is your letter. It’s from the Liang Kingdom.”

Lan Chang'an had just risen when the childlike voice came to his ears.