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Chapter 200: Border Closure

Given Zhang Tieshan’s battle merits, wealth, and connections within the sect, it was expected that he would be awarded a genuine Crystal Condensation Pill.

Zhao Siyao might not have been comfortable divulging such sensitive information in her letter.

“The quality of one’s Core can theoretically be hidden,” Lan Chang\'an thought.

Having reached the peak of Core Formation in his previous life, he was privy to many secrets.

For example, if Lan Chang\'an were to achieve a superior-quality True Dan in the future, he could use the Evergreen Technique’s aura-concealing abilities to disguise it as a middle or low-quality Core.

However, this scenario likely didn’t apply to Zhang Tieshan.

The difference between a True Dan and a Fake Dan was significant, and the phenomena during Core Formation were difficult to conceal.

Zhang Tieshan hadn’t secretly formed his Core in some isolated place; he did it at Jin Yun Valley’s third-rank spirit vein, under the watchful eyes of many, including the sect’s True Dan Elders.

Therefore, Lan Chang\'an was nearly certain that Zhang Tieshan had indeed formed a Gray Dan, and there was no deception involved.

After a long period of contemplation, a thought flashed through Lan Chang\'an’s mind:

“Could it be that he’s using an extremely dangerous Core Dissolution Technique?”

In Lan Chang\'an’s previous life in Great Kun, certain Nascent Soul-level sects possessed secret arts for dissolving and reconstituting one’s Core.

Core Formation was essentially the process of condensing the liquid magical power of the Foundation Establishment Realm into a solid Core.

This process wasn’t entirely irreversible.

If a cultivator was dissatisfied with their Core’s quality, they could theoretically shatter the Gray Dan and revert their magical power to its liquid state.

Some ancient sects held secret techniques that could “dissolve the Core and return to liquid,” allowing the cultivator to purify their spiritual power and attempt to form a Core again, with the possibility of slightly improving the quality.

However, such techniques were almost legendary due to the extreme conditions required!

The process of dissolving one’s Core was incredibly dangerous and unstable.

From Lan Chang\'an’s perspective, based on his knowledge from before his transmigration, the Core of a Core Formation cultivator was akin to a miniature nuclear bomb.

Without the proper Core Dissolution Techniques, an average cultivator attempting to dissolve their Core had a 99% chance of blowing themselves up.

In his previous life, Lan Chang\'an had only obtained a fragmented version of the Core Dissolution Technique that had been circulated, and without the help of any external force, the success rate was less than 10%, which could be said to be a nine out of ten chance of death.

Such high risks meant that Lan Chang\'an had never even considered trying it.

Those ancient sects that possessed intact secret techniques had a success rate of over 30%.

With a Nascent Soul True Monarch personally overseeing the process and the use of rare medicinal elixirs, the success rate could become quite reasonable.

“If that’s the case, then Zhang Tieshan likely has access to a high-level Core Dissolution Technique,” Lan Chang\'an mused.

He was intrigued. His long lifespan and the Evergreen Technique, which excelled at healing, meant he had a naturally higher tolerance for failure than other cultivators.

The process of dissolving the Core would gravely injure the cultivator, leading to varying degrees of backlash.

This would damage their foundation, requiring a long period of recovery and the use of many rare resources.

When Guan Qiaozhi was attempting Foundation Establishment, Lan Chang\'an had discreetly tested this theory while assisting her.

When Guan Qiaozhi failed, Lan Chang\'an had used the Evergreen Technique to spend a small portion of his lifespan, quickly healing her wounds and preventing any damage to her foundation.

After just a few months of rest, she had been ready to make another attempt.

Lan Chang\'an had long wondered if this method could be applied to Core Formation.

Poor Core quality?

Then keep dissolving the Core and starting over!

Theoretically, with a long enough lifespan, one could eventually wash out a superior-quality Core.

However, this hypothesis was predicated on having a reliable Core Dissolution Technique.

The key was ensuring that each dissolution and return to liquid didn’t result in catastrophic failure.

“Wait! Even if Zhang Tieshan has a top-tier Core Dissolution Technique, without a Nascent Soul True Monarch at Jin Yun Valley to oversee the process, the success rate wouldn’t be very high.”

With this hypothesis in mind, Lan Chang\'an identified a possible flaw.

The quality of the Core Dissolution Technique was one thing, but external help was just as crucial.

If one had access to the legendary Yin Yang Water, they could safely dissolve their Core even without a Nascent Soul elder’s assistance.

If Zhang Tieshan truly intended to go down this path, Lan Chang\'an suspected that he had access to some other fortuitous opportunity.

“It seems this Tianfeng Immortal’s small Core Formation celebration is worth attending.”

Lan Chang\'an decided to attend the event and investigate.

...

Zhang Tieshan’s Core Formation celebration was scheduled for two months later.

It was said to be a relatively private affair, with only a small circle of sect members and close friends invited.

Lan Chang\'an arrived at Jin Yun Valley a day ahead of the event.

At the sect’s entrance, he encountered some other celebrants, including two individuals who had come without invitations.

"Fellow Daoist, could you help us out by passing a message? We fought alongside Immortal Zhang in the past and took down a wanted criminal together. We’re really close!"

"Really close? Then why didn’t Immortal Zhang send you an invitation?"

The gatekeeping disciple sneered, looking at the pair as if they were clowns.

"Immortal Zhang’s Core Formation celebration isn’t open to the public. Only those with invitations are allowed in!"

Lan Chang\'an wasn’t surprised to see this.

Zhang Tieshan had been cultivating for over 120 years, and there were countless cultivators that he knew or had dealt with.

"Please enter, Talisman Master Lan."

The disciple recognized Lan Chang\'an and, after glancing at his invitation, warmly welcomed him through the gates.

"Talisman Master Lan? Isn’t that the ‘Turtle Talisman Master’ from Wuqi Mountain?"

"I heard this man has known Immortal Zhang since their youth. They’ve been friends for over a hundred years."

"This Talisman Master Lan is quite reputable. When I was still in the Qi-Refining stage, I heard that he was a late bloomer, reaching Foundation Establishment at an old age."

"Oh, it’s him. That makes him a senior worthy of respect."

As they watched the white-robed man walk away, the cultivators at the gate whispered among themselves, showing a few moments of respect.

...

At Jin Yun Valley’s core, atop the mountain with the third-rank spirit vein, there stood an elegant and ancient mansion.

This was Zhang Tieshan’s new Daoist residence, situated in an environment with spiritual energy far superior to that of Wuqi Mountain.

"Talisman Master Lan, we have many guests today, and my master is currently meeting with two Core Formation cultivators. He really doesn’t have any free time."

A young man with a stern face, dressed in a pale blue robe, greeted Lan Chang\'an with an apologetic bow.

The young man’s name was Yu Qinghai, a disciple of Zhang Tieshan with early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation. He had average aptitude and wasn’t particularly noteworthy.

Lan Chang\'an had only met Yu Qinghai once or twice, unlike Zhao Tan’er or Lin Lu from the past, with whom he had been closer.

"No problem. It’s not the day of the celebration yet. Just inform your master when you have time."

Lan Chang\'an nodded.

"I will! Tomorrow, you’ll be able to meet my master. In the meantime, I’ll arrange a guest room for you on the mountain."

As Yu Qinghai spoke, two more visitors arrived, one of whom was at the late-stage Foundation Establishment.

Yu Qinghai couldn’t attend to everyone, so he called over a Qi-Refining servant girl to show Lan Chang\'an to his quarters.

"Qinghai, you go on. I’ll drop by to visit Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Lan Chang\'an wasn’t upset.

With the influx of guests celebrating Zhang Tieshan’s Core Formation, the master and disciple were undoubtedly overwhelmed.

Lan Chang\'an understood the situation.

From Foundation Establishment to Core Formation, a cultivator’s status and standing changed drastically.

At Jin Yun Valley’s peak, there were fewer than ten True Dan cultivators at any given time.

During lean periods, the sect might have only two or three True Dan cultivators.

Fake Dan cultivators weren’t at the absolute top but were certainly part of the upper echelon.

Whoosh!

Just as Lan Chang\'an was leaving Zhang Tieshan’s residence, a streak of light shot through the sky, radiating the aura of a Fake Dan cultivator.

"Martial UncleTan…"

Yu Qinghai greeted the newcomer with a smile, allowing the Fake Dan elder to enter the mansion without announcement.

...

Inside a picturesque cave residence in Jin Yun Valley, birds chirped and a gentle stream flowed.

Three Foundation Establishment cultivators—one man and two women—sat facing each other.

"I bet Uncle Lan didn’t get to see Uncle Zhang just now."

Zhao Tan’er covered her mouth as she laughed, her crescent-shaped eyes sparkling with amusement.

"Tan’er!"

Zhao Siyao lightly reprimanded her, urging her disciple to behave.

"What Tan’er said is true. Now that Fellow Daoist Zhang has become a Fake Dan cultivator, his social circle has changed. It’s only natural that casual visits won’t be granted."

Lan Chang\'an’s tone was calm, showing no signs of offense.

"Tan’er, Uncle Lan\'s mentality is worth learning from you."

Zhao Siyao, with over a century of experience in the sect, had seen many cases where cultivators struggled to adjust to this widening gap in social status.

"Uh-huh! I’ve always admired Uncle Lan’s calm temperament. He’s like a thousand year old tortoise—steady and patient, with deep reserves."

Zhao Tan’er’s rosy cheeks and respectful demeanor couldn’t fully hide her mischievous intent.

Lan Chang\'an chuckled, recognizing the playful jab in her words.

The metaphor of the “thousand year old tortoise” was a playful reference to his slow pace, both in personality and cultivation.

Zhao Tan’er herself had already reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment and was on the cusp of breaking through to the sixth level, nearly catching up to Lan Chang\'an in cultivation.

After some light-hearted conversation, the topic shifted to Zhang Tieshan’s Core Formation process.

"Originally, Fellow Daoist Zhang had been slated to receive a genuine Crystal Condensation Pill, awaiting the next round of pill refinement at Jin Yun Valley."

"However, this batch of pills was quite subpar, producing only one genuine and one inferior Crystal Condensation Pill."

"At that time, Fellow Daoist Zhang faced two choices: he could compete for the genuine pill, or wait for the next round of refinement, which would take several more years."

By this point, Lan Chang\'an had a clear understanding of the situation.

Zhang Tieshan was only three years younger than Lan Chang\'an and couldn’t afford to delay much longer.

Perhaps due to some pressure or obligation, he had settled for the inferior Crystal Condensation Pill.

"There’s a rumor within the sect that one of the other competitors for the superior pill was a personal disciple of a True Dan Elder. Out of gratitude for his mentor, Zhang Tieshan made a magnanimous gesture and gave up the pill."

"A magnanimous gesture? Did Fellow Daoist Zhao personally ask Fellow Daoist Zhang about this matter?"

Lan Chang\'an raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

Zhao Siyao hesitated for a moment before replying, "Matters like this are quite private. I wouldn’t dare inquire directly with Immortal Zhang."

"Indeed, I spoke out of line."

Lan Chang\'an realized that his lack of reverence for Fake Dan cultivators had caused him to let his guard down in front of Zhao Siyao.

Zhao Siyao’s mentality was only considered normal.

Even though she and Zhang Tieshan were fellow sect members and had known each other for a long time, she was still cautious in her interactions with him.

By evening, Lan Chang\'an was settled in his guest quarters atop the mountain.

"Regarding the Core Dissolution Technique, there’s a saying: the higher the quality of the Core, the more difficult and dangerous it is to dissolve."

"If Zhang Tieshan chose this path, it wasn’t just a matter of magnanimity—it was a clever move that killed two birds with one stone!"

With this realization, Lan Chang\'an grew more confident in his earlier suspicions.

...

The next day, Zhang Tieshan’s Core Formation celebration proceeded as scheduled.

Although the number of attendees wasn’t large, their status was impressive.

Many late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators and Fake Dan Immortals were present.

Lan Chang\'an, along with Zhao Siyao and her disciple, made their way to the mansion atop the third-rank spirit vein.

This time, they were able to meet Zhang Tieshan in person.

The newly ascended Tianfeng Immortal personally greeted them outside his residence.

For a Fake Dan cultivator to personally welcome Foundation Establishment guests was a considerable honor.

"Immortal Zhang."

Lan Chang\'an and his companions cupped their hands in salute, presenting their gifts and offering congratulations.

Zhang Tieshan’s gaze lingered on Lan Chang\'an a little longer than the others as he offered an apology:

"Fellow Daoist Lan, Qinghai mentioned that you visited yesterday. I apologize for not being able to host you properly."

"You’re too kind! Immortal Zhang has just completed Core Formation and is bound to have many obligations."

Lan Chang\'an responded with appropriate modesty.

"Heh, there’s no need for such formality, Fellow Daoist Lan. After the celebration, let’s find time to catch up."

Zhang Tieshan laughed heartily. His complexion, though slightly tanned, was no different from before. However, to those observing him closely, there was a subtle, imposing presence that hadn’t been there before.

Seeing the interaction between the two, Zhao Tan’er couldn’t help but feel a bit surprised.

She sensed that Zhang Immortal’s warmth towards Lan Chang\'an wasn’t just pleasantries; it seemed he valued Lan Chang\'an even more than her master.

After welcoming Lan Chang\'an and the others into his residence, Zhang Tieshan excused himself to attend to other important guests.

Sipping his spiritual tea, Lan Chang\'an discreetly observed Zhang Tieshan, noting that the newly ascended Fake Dan Immortal exuded a calm and steady aura.

That sense of "stability" was something Lan Chang\'an could deeply relate to.

Having known Zhang Tieshan for over a hundred years, Lan Chang\'an had long recognized his firm resolve and lofty ambitions.

Achieving a Fake Dan typically led to a period of stagnation, where the path to further advancement seemed uncertain.

Under normal circumstances, there would be some joy, but also an underlying sense of disappointment and confusion.

The celebration itself was relatively low-key, mostly centered around socializing and networking.

During the event, Zhang Tieshan shared his insights into the Core Formation process, candidly discussing his shortcomings.

This act earned him much praise from the attending Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Zhao Siyao and her disciple listened attentively.

Lan Chang\'an appeared equally engrossed, showing signs of admiration.

...

After the celebration, Lan Chang\'an bid his farewells and left.

He did not stay behind to follow up on Zhang Tieshan’s earlier comment about catching up privately.

His decision was based on two factors:

First, he had already confirmed his suspicions and saw no need for further probing.

Zhang Tieshan’s actions and mindset were one clue.

Analyzing his Daoist title “Tianfeng”, it was evident that he still had high aspirations.

For most Foundation Establishment cultivators who formed a Fake Dan, their chosen titles tended to be more modest, in line with their limitations.

Zhang Tieshan’s title wasn’t particularly flamboyant.

It was only through careful observation that Lan Chang\'an could infer deeper meaning from such a detail.

Second, Lan Chang\'an’s cultivation level and status were still far below Zhang Tieshan’s.

There was no certainty that Zhang Tieshan’s offer to "catch up" wasn’t just a polite gesture.

Had he stayed on the mountain and waited for the other party\'s “summons”, he might become a joke.

While Lan Chang\'an was certainly intrigued by the Core Dissolution Technique, he wasn’t in a hurry.

Once he reached the late-stage Foundation Establishment and had more leverage to offer, he could revisit the topic with Zhang Tieshan.

...

A few months later.

The three peak masters of Wuqi Mountain gathered at Little Turtle Peak, the atmosphere tense.

"The borders of Liang Kingdom have been sealed by the sects?"

"Fellow Daoist Lan, are you sure this information is accurate?"

Ye Fei looked doubtful, staring at the calm and composed white-robed man who hadn’t changed much in decades.

The news of the important border checkpoints being sealed by Liang Kingdom’s major sects had arrived so suddenly—it was shocking.

Had it been anyone else, the two peak masters would have immediately questioned the validity of the information.

Shi Manrong, though initially taken aback, had regained her composure. Her chest rose and fell as she asked:

"In recent days, we haven’t seen Fellow Daoist Lan leave Wuqi Mountain. Where did this information come from?"

"This news comes from the Zhou Family, as well as the Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain."

Lan Chang\'an didn’t hide the source.

The Li Family of Snow Plum Mountain was a family of cultivators founded by Li Congren, the grandson of Li Erqing. Their territory was close to the northwestern border of the Liang Kingdom.

Li Congren’s family had even engaged in trade with merchants from the neighboring Jing Kingdom.

As soon as the border was sealed, Li Congren had been informed and immediately relayed the news to both Feiyue Lake and Lan Chang\'an.

Combining information from both sources, Lan Chang\'an was confident that the border closures were real.

The three peak masters fell into a brief silence.

The closure of the Liang Kingdom’s borders signaled a major event.

Such drastic measures often indicated a conflict on the scale of a national war, which could impact not only Wuqi Mountain but also the fate of individual cultivators.

Lan Chang\'an had his own theories, but he kept them to himself.

...

Back at Little Turtle Peak.

Lan Chang\'an glanced at the lazily swimming Profound Water Turtle and the Earth Burrowing Rat, busy loosening the soil in the spirit field.

"Forget it, I’ll wait and see how things unfold."

Originally, Lan Chang\'an had planned to visit Liaoyuan Immortal City to purchase information from Tian Zhi Pavilion.

However, given the current situation, it was better to prepare for the worst.

He had mentally prepared himself for such an event years ago.

With such significant developments, more news would undoubtedly follow soon.

"For now, I’ll focus on maintaining my territory. Even in the worst-case scenario, it’ll take time for the situation to spread to Liang Kingdom’s heartland and pose a threat to Wuqi Mountain."

Lan Chang\'an, who was already 139 years old, quickly quieted his mind.

He took out his writing materials and penned letters to Zheng Centipede and Jin Yun Valley.

Soon after, Lan Chang\'an immersed himself in cultivation and the study of his skills.

From age 139 to 140, this final year marked Lan Chang\'an’s transition from mid-stage to late-stage Foundation Establishment.

It was also a turning point in the history of Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world.

And that year passed in the blink of an eye!

200 chaps complete!

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