I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

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“Senior Brother Nie… you called me out here. What other instructions do you have?”

Wang Feng hesitated, swallowing back the words he had prepared to persuade Nie Yuan to return to Flame Departing Palace.

After attaining Golden Dan, Wang Feng had become the palace’s sole Nascent Soul seed. All of the sect’s treasured resources for nurturing a Nascent Soul cultivator were dedicated solely to him—yet it was still barely enough.

If Nie Yuan truly returned to Flame Departing Palace, things would become… awkward.

“Everything I have achieved today is thanks to Flame Departing Palace’s training and the legacy left behind by our elders. Though I’ve chosen to part ways, I can’t bear to see Flame Departing Palace fall into decline.”

Hearing this, Wang Feng’s heart was stirred.

Senior Brother Nie had unexpectedly achieved an Immortal Golden Dan, and now he mentioned the “legacy left behind by the elders.” Could it be related to the Supreme Elder?

Thirty years ago, the Supreme Elder of Flame Departing Palace had fallen in battle. Investigations conducted afterward yielded no clues, and the sect eventually had no choice but to abandon the matter.

The primary suspect remained the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect, with secondary suspicion falling on Chu Tianfeng and the Unseen Gate.

“I hope Flame Departing Palace can establish a firm foothold in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, with not only Core Formation cultivators but also a quasi-fourth-rank spiritual vein to rebuild its strength,” Nie Yuan’s voice rang out with conviction, his sharp gaze and powerful tone leaving an impression on Wang Feng.

Wang Feng felt a deep sense of respect, tinged with guilt.

Why was Senior Brother Nie unwilling to return to Flame Departing Palace?

It was likely because he didn’t want to compete with him for the resources necessary to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Denied the support of the sect, Nie Yuan had been forced to seek another path on his own.

And yet, Senior Brother Nie bore no resentment. He had even gone so far as to secretly eliminate enemies of Flame Departing Palace. His actions revealed a cold exterior but a kind heart, noble in both intent and character.

In truth, Lan Chang'an had also considered whether he should infiltrate Flame Departing Palace as Nie Yuan to secure greater benefits while fulfilling the wishes of Master Lihuo.

But this plan was too idealistic.

The Nie Yuan identity, after all, was a fabrication created using the Hundred Illusions Mask. He had never cultivated Flame Departing Palace’s techniques.

If it ever came to a confrontation, his cover would be easily blown.

Even if he refrained from fighting, merely associating with Flame Departing Palace’s Golden Dan cultivator or senior Core Formation members would expose discrepancies.

More importantly, if Nie Yuan joined Flame Departing Palace, he would naturally come into conflict with the Wang faction, which currently held power in the sect.

Joining under Nie Yuan’s name would do more harm than good. Forget about revitalizing the sect—it would already be a victory if no internal divisions arose.

“What plans do you have, Senior Brother Nie?” Wang Feng asked.

He understood that killing a single early-stage Core Formation cultivator wouldn’t significantly harm Tianxing Pavilion.

Though they had fallen from grace, Tianxing Pavilion was still a former Nascent Soul-level sect, and their strength far surpassed a sect like Jin Yun Valley.

“I will offer three key contributions to repay Flame Departing Palace for their kindness and the legacy left by the elders. This will sever all karma between us,” Lan Chang'an said after a moment’s pause.

“First, I will remain in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance for one month. During this time, Flame Departing Palace should find a way to provoke a conflict with Tianxing Pavilion. I will take advantage of the chaos to act in the shadows and attempt to eliminate one or two more Core Formation cultivators.”

“Second, I possess a third-rank puppet, which I am willing to sell to Flame Departing Palace at a fair price to bolster the sect’s foundation.”

A third-rank puppet?

Hearing the first two contributions, Wang Feng’s eyes lit up.

If Tianxing Pavilion were to lose two or three True Dan cultivators, the balance of power between the two sects would be completely shattered, and acquiring a third-rank puppet would further tip the scales.

With these two contributions, Tianxing Pavilion would no longer be able to compete with Flame Departing Palace for the quasi-fourth-rank spiritual vein.

“What is your third contribution, Senior Brother Nie?”

“That will have to wait until the first two tasks are completed,” Lan Chang'an said with a faint smile, deliberately keeping it a mystery.Nôv(el)B\\jnn

Wang Feng nodded eagerly. “I would be more than willing to purchase the third-rank puppet. As for the first task, I will return to discuss it with my grandfather. I’m certain he will cooperate.”

“Good,” Lan Chang'an said simply.

Without further delay, he brought out a third-rank python puppet, its massive coiled body stretching five to six zhang and instantly occupying most of the stone palace's space.

Testing the puppet.

The python puppet lashed its tail, striking Wang Feng’s protective barrier.

The light of the barrier dimmed by more than half in an instant, leaving Wang Feng thoroughly shaken.

“It truly is a third-rank puppet!” Wang Feng exclaimed, ecstatic.

“Forty thousand spirit stones,” Lan Chang'an stated flatly.

For reference, a low-grade magical treasure typically sold for around 20,000 spirit stones and was suitable for Fake Dan or early True Dan cultivators.

Puppets of the same level, however, were significantly more expensive, often selling for 40,000-50,000 spirit stones.

High-level puppets required costly core crystals to operate during battle. Additionally, after a fight, repairs were necessary, incurring further expenses.

In essence, using a puppet in combat was akin to burning money.

“No problem,” Wang Feng agreed without hesitation.

He didn’t have enough spirit stones on hand—only about 20,000—but to avoid potential complications, he offered a few third-rank materials to cover the remaining cost.

With the deal concluded, Lan Chang'an even made a small profit.

“Senior Brother Nie, do you know anything about the Supreme Elder’s whereabouts?” Wang Feng couldn’t resist asking after the transaction was finalized.

Back then, when the Supreme Elder had used his Nascent Soul to possess Wang Feng, Wang Feng’s consciousness had been sealed, leaving a blank memory of that period.

“Hmm, I once encountered a fragment of the Supreme Elder’s residual soul near the border between two nations. I managed to retrieve a few scattered memories and some of his personal belongings,” Lan Chang'an said, his tone measured and thoughtful.

“As for how he passed, the fragment of his soul was too weak and soon dissipated, leaving no clues…”

This explanation aligned with the backstory Lan Chang'an had already crafted for Nie Yuan’s attainment of Golden Dan.

“The border between the two nations…”

Wang Feng’s eyes narrowed as a cold glint flashed within them.

The Xuan Yin Demonic Sect had been highly active along the border in those days, and their current stronghold was also located near Jing Kingdom’s frontier.

Lan Chang'an chose not to linger on the topic of the Supreme Elder.

Before leaving, he issued a stern warning:

“Let me make this clear. I will not meet with any other Flame Departing Palace members, including Elder Wang.

If I discover that anyone from Flame Departing Palace is trying to track me down, our cooperation will end immediately. The third contribution will also be forfeited.”

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“Senior Brother Nie, you’ve done so much for Flame Departing Palace. Rest assured, I, Wang Feng, will remember your kindness and will never be ungrateful,” Wang Feng replied sincerely, understanding Nie Yuan’s concerns.

With Nie Yuan’s superior aptitude and the lack of sect support, his Immortal Golden Dan clearly stemmed from significant opportunities, likely tied to the Supreme Elder.

Nie Yuan’s precautions were perfectly reasonable, especially to guard against Flame Departing Palace exploiting him for his secrets.

Half a month later.

Near a water marsh, several hundred li from a third-rank immortal city in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

Above the clouds, the faint and hazy Barbed Arrow suddenly materialized out of thin air.

The instant it appeared, a sharp, ear-piercing whistle echoed across the sky, akin to the sound of metal scraping against metal. The sound drilled into the ears and pierced straight into the target’s sea of consciousness.

Shing—

The shimmering, silver-blue arrow shot forth in a flash, instantly piercing toward a refined man with a long beard and scholarly demeanor.

“Bold of you to attack me!”

The long-bearded man roared in fury, his reddened eyes oozing blood as he glared at the incoming assault.

Ding!

A jade pendant leapt from his waist, forming a protective layer of milky white light to shield him from the strange and sinister attack.

However, the third-rank treasure lasted less than a moment.

Crack!

The jade pendant shattered, unable to withstand the full power of the Barbed Arrow.

Still brimming with residual power, the arrow screamed onward, letting out a terrifying whistle as it hurtled straight for the man’s head.

“What a vicious treasure!”

The long-bearded man’s expression shifted drastically. He erupted with the mana of a mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, forming a protective shield of energy in the shape of a glowing halo.

But the Barbed Arrow possessed an astonishing level of piercing power. In an instant, it drilled through the thick protective shield, leaving a small hole in its wake.

The man hurriedly summoned a bronze mirror, which radiated a deep green light. With a sharp clang, the mirror deflected the arrow, sending it flying backward.

Its power now halved, the arrow ceased its assault, transforming into a faint shadow before streaking back ten li to the blue-robed youth who had launched it.

The sheer range of the attack left the long-bearded man utterly horrified.

His attacker was a full ten li away.

Ordinary Core Formation cultivators—whether at the early or mid-stage—could typically attack within a range of two to three li at most.

Beyond that, their magical treasure’s power would weaken drastically.

For heavier magical treasures, the range would shrink even further.

Only sword cultivators, who specialized in long-range combat, could effectively deal lethal damage at longer distances.

“Resilient willpower—and possessing a third-rank treasure capable of defending against mental attacks,” Lan Chang'an murmured to himself, slightly surprised.

Though his initial strike had failed to kill the mid-stage Core Formation cultivator, it had inflicted severe damage to the man’s soul, reducing his combat strength by several levels.

...

“This isn’t good! There’s more—”

The long-bearded man, still reeling from the spiritual backlash, suddenly sensed a surge of monstrous demonic energy and magical fluctuations.

Whoosh!

A massive sandstorm erupted, forming a whirling vortex of yellow sand that covered an area spanning several hundred zhang.

The man’s flying light faltered, his speed dropping to less than forty percent of its usual pace.

Within the swirling vortex of sand, a sharp, fan-sized claw flashed out of nowhere, striking toward the man’s back with ghost-like speed.

Thud!

The blow sent him flying backward by dozens of zhang, his protective barrier dimming significantly.

“Great Elder, save me!”

Knowing he was no match for his attacker in his weakened state, the long-bearded man clutched a token and urgently transmitted a distress signal.

But just as he called for help, the familiar sharp whistling of the Barbed Arrow once again rang in his ears.

“No!—”

Pain flared in the man’s mind as his soul was wracked with excruciating torment. Blood poured from his eyes, ears, and nose as his body swayed unsteadily.

From dozens of zhang behind him, a fully-charged Barbed Arrow emerged from the shadows like a silent reaper.

Shlick!

The arrow flashed forward, tearing through the long-bearded man’s head. His body stiffened as his soul crumbled to dust.

“If one Barbed Arrow isn't enough, two will do the job.”

Standing ten li away, Lan Chang'an waved his hand lightly, and the two Barbed Arrows flew back into his grasp.

Squeak, squeak!

At the same time, the Earth Burrowing Rat scurried onto the battlefield to swiftly clean up.

It opened its sharp maw wide, devouring the long-bearded man’s True Dan along with the remnants of blood and any lingering traces of spiritual energy in the area.

“Hmm, they’re coming so quickly?”

Lan Chang'an’s spiritual sense detected an approaching presence from several dozen li away.

The newcomer radiated the unmistakable aura of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, moving toward him with alarming speed.

Considering the long-bearded man’s possession of a third-rank treasure capable of defending against mental attacks and his ability to buy time, Lan Chang'an speculated that the man had been bait.

What the other party hadn’t anticipated, however, was that Lan Chang'an’s long-range attack capabilities were so bizarre and deadly that the trap backfired.

“Time to run!”

With the battlefield cleared, Lan Chang'an stowed the Earth Burrowing Rat into his spirit beast pouch and fled northeast into the Nine Fiery Heavens.

Late-stage Core Formation cultivators were not his target.

Even with all three Barbed Arrows fully charged, their ability to threaten a late-stage Core Formation expert was limited.

The charged strike of a single Barbed Arrow was comparable to the full-force attack of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, but its strength lay in its range and stealth, not raw power.

To ensure he wouldn’t be caught, Lan Chang'an pulled out an excellent quality mid-grade third-rank treasure talisman.

Affixing the escape treasure talisman to his body, his speed instantly surged to near that of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.

With this boost, as long as he remained outside the range of his pursuer’s spiritual sense, the odds of evading capture were overwhelmingly in his favor.

…

Half an hour later.

Lan Chang'an’s expression darkened as he looked into the distance. Several dozen li away, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator’s light streaked through the sky.

Even from this range, his enhanced spiritual sense—boosted by the fusion of his past life’s soul—could clearly make out the appearance of the pursuer. It was a red-robed Daoist with a bulbous, wine-red nose.

“Peak late-stage Core Formation... and proficient in tracking techniques. My speed is inferior to his.”

Lan Chang'an quickly realized that with just his mid-grade third-rank escape talisman, he couldn't escape the other party's pursuit.

Facing him head-on wasn’t viable. Even if he used all of his trump cards, the odds of victory were slim, and killing the opponent outright was out of the question.

His fused past life’s state primarily enhanced his spiritual abilities but provided only a limited boost to his mana.

Even if he were at his peak state from his previous life, fighting a late-stage Core Formation cultivator from a former Nascent Soul-level sect would still be a daunting task.

That said, killing Lan Chang'an wouldn’t be easy for the red-robed Daoist either.

Lan Chang'an’s defensive capabilities far exceeded the expectations of ordinary cultivators. He had a third-rank demon beast, a third-rank puppet, third-rank body refinement techniques, a plethora of third-rank treasure talismans, and other means of survival.

The title of “Turtle Immortal” was well-earned.

“Enough!”

Lan Chang'an wasn’t willing to waste time in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance. Prolonging this chase would only lead to unnecessary complications.

He had two stronger escape methods at his disposal.

The first was a top-grade third-rank escape treasure talisman, which, if activated outside the range of spiritual sense detection, could easily widen the gap and break the enemy’s tracking abilities.

However, Lan Chang'an chose the second option because top-grade third-rank treasure talismans had the potential to be nurtured to the fourth-rank, making them too valuable to use lightly.

He pulled out a Minor Teleportation Talisman and infused it with mana.

Whoosh!

In an instant, Lan Chang'an vanished from his original location and reappeared dozens of li away, high in the sky.

The distance between him and the red-robed Daoist had now increased by nearly a hundred li.

To throw off his pursuer, Lan Chang'an removed the robe that carried Nie Yuan’s spiritual aura and dropped it into a ravine below.

He then affixed another mid-grade third-rank escape talisman to himself and flew off in a completely different direction.

Half a day later.

After confirming that the red-robed Daoist had not caught up, Lan Chang'an finally breathed a sigh of relief.

While it was true that in a life-or-death battle, it was unknown who would be the one to die between them, as a self-proclaimed “longevity cultivator,” why would he risk entangling himself with such a strong opponent?

If the Daoist had some sort of hidden trump card, it would be too easy for Lan Chang'an to fall into an unexpected trap.

“Fighting weaker opponents is far more enjoyable. Crossing realms to duel isn’t my style.”

Lan Chang'an sighed inwardly.

Fighting against weaker cultivators was safer, more efficient, and far more satisfying.

As long as he lived long enough, even the greatest adversaries of the past would eventually age and fade.

For longevity cultivators, occasionally abusing vegetables and punching the elderly was far more beneficial for maintaining peace of mind and health.

Life-or-death battles that pushed one’s limits, awakening hidden potential or triggering breakthroughs during combat... Let the young ones chase such fleeting moments of glory.

...

Seven days later.

Lan Chang'an exited the borders of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

In truth, he had only ventured into the mid-rear regions of the Alliance and had no interest in exploring further into this land, even though its prosperity and cultivation opportunities surpassed those of the Righteous Dao Alliance.

After all, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance was still under relentless assault by the Six Demonic Sects.

Despite its strength, the Alliance was being invaded by Blood Spirit Sect and Illusion Demon Palace, two demonic sects only slightly weaker than Beast King Valley.

In the end, Lan Chang'an returned to Jin Yun Valley in the Liang Kingdom, completing his journey within the planned three-month timeframe.

The time he had spent away from Yunlai Peak had been short enough that the illusory presence aura he had left in his cave abode had not yet dissipated. Everything was just as he had left it.

Sitting cross-legged in meditation, Lan Chang'an reflected on the potential flaws in his recent actions.

Though some hidden dangers remained, he was confident they could be attributed to the Nie Yuan persona he had adopted.

“Two True Dan elders from a rival faction eliminated. One third-rank puppet traded.”

“Not to mention, the lead on that hidden treasure vault…”

Lan Chang'an nodded in satisfaction. His three promised contributions to Flame Departing Palace had indeed made an impact on its path to recovery.

The third contribution was a clue to a hidden treasure vault belonging to Master Lihuo, the late Supreme Elder of Flame Departing Palace.

The clue had come from the fragmented and disorganized memories that Lan Chang'an had painstakingly sifted through over the years.

According to the memory fragments, Master Lihuo had secretly established the treasure vault several years before the great war in the Black Fog Mountain Range. It contained a large stockpile of cultivation resources meant for rebuilding the sect.

However, the exact location of the vault remained unclear.

The memory fragments provided only vague details, and searching the Black Fog Mountain Range for the treasure trove would require an immense amount of time and effort.

Furthermore, without cultivating Flame Departing Palace’s core techniques, Lan Chang'an wouldn’t even be able to bypass the restrictions guarding the treasures.

The vault was designed so that only a true inheritor of Flame Departing Palace’s core legacy could unlock it.

The supplies to rebuild the sect had very few high-grade items, and Lan Chang'an didn't want to waste too much energy venturing deep into the Black Fog Mountain Range.

Rebuilding the sect required more than just eliminating one or two Core Formation elders from rival factions.

This was why Lan Chang'an had ultimately decided to offer this clue to Flame Departing Palace as his third contribution.

“To forge iron, one must be strong oneself.”

Lan Chang'an had no intention of wasting his own time and energy chasing after uncertain rewards in a treacherous region like the Black Fog Mountain Range.

By offering the clue to Flame Departing Palace, he could leverage their resources to search for the treasure trove instead.

With his three contributions—eliminating rival elders, providing a third-rank puppet, and offering the treasure vault clue—Lan Chang'an believed he had given Flame Departing Palace a solid foundation to regain its strength.

...

"How far am I from fulfilling Master Lihuo’s final wish?"

Lan Chang'an’s consciousness entered the Nine Seal Stele.

The shadow of the purple-robed Daoist—his fourth-life imprint—flickered faintly in the monument, surrounded by dancing flames. However, it had yet to fully materialize or engrave itself into form.

Up until now, this shadow had always felt distant, as though there was an invisible barrier separating it from Lan Chang'an.

It was not like the imprints of his first and second lives, which felt perfectly integrated with him, with no distinction between them.

Huh!

At this moment, Lan Chang'an sensed something unusual—the sense of distance and separation from the purple-robed True Monarch’s shadow had noticeably lessened.

What was even more surprising was that, over time, this barrier seemed to be dissolving further.

"It seems I’ve been on the right track after all."

Lan Chang'an smiled with relief.

His actions to push for the revival of Flame Departing Palace were clearly having a significant effect.

The final wish of Master Lihuo did not specifically demand the birth of a Nascent Soul True Monarch.

However, it did require certain conditions: the sect needed to produce an Immortal Golden Dan cultivator, and secure a suitable mountain gate to reestablish its place within the cultivation world.

This much Lan Chang'an had gleaned from the faint messages emanating from the shadow of the purple-robed True Monarch in the Nine Seal Stele.

Over the next year or two, Lan Chang'an occasionally observed the changes in his fourth-life imprint in the Nine Seal Stele.

At the same time, he kept an eye on the overall situation surrounding Flame Departing Palace in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

The results were promising.

The sense of separation between Lan Chang'an and the purple-robed True Monarch’s shadow continued to diminish.

Meanwhile, Flame Departing Palace had also made steady progress.

After Tianxing Pavilion lost two of its True Dan elders, it had become much more cautious and withdrawn, even going so far as to pull out of the competition for the quasi-fourth-rank spirit vein.

It wasn’t just the loss of two mid- and early-stage True Dan elders that had caused Tianxing Pavilion’s retreat.

The real turning point was a rumor that began spreading in the cultivation world.

The rumor claimed that Flame Departing Palace now had not just one Golden Dan cultivator Wang Feng, but also a second Golden Dan cultivator Nie Yuan in the shadows, whose combat prowess was even greater.

Both were considered Nascent Soul seeds for the sect.

This caused Flame Departing Palace’s prestige to soar.

In the long history of the cultivation world, cases of Golden Dan cultivators slaying opponents of higher realms were rare, but not unheard of.

Some of these cultivators had even been recognized as geniuses of their generation, shaking the era with their achievements.

With the rumor seemingly credible, neighboring cultivation factions around Flame Departing Palace began to reconsider their stance.

Even if they could defeat Flame Departing Palace, what then?

With an Immortal Golden Dan hiding in the shadows, any victory could be short-lived.

If Nie Yuan eventually advanced to the late stage of Core Formation, his threat would only grow.

Should he one day step into the Nascent Soul Realm, he might even rank among the strongest of True Monarchs.

"Two great Golden Dan cultivators, one in the light and one in the dark—Flame Departing Palace played this move beautifully!"

Upon hearing this news, Lan Chang'an couldn’t help but applaud.

Recently, another piece of news arrived from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance:

Flame Departing Palace had successfully purchased a quasi-fourth-rank spirit vein and was in the process of rebuilding its mountain gate!

The sense of separation between Lan Chang'an and the shadow of the purple-robed True Monarch diminished to less than ten percent, he could barely detect any separation.

He had a strong premonition:

Once Flame Departing Palace relocated to its new mountain gate and established itself in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance with its current level of prestige, Master Lihuo’s final wish would be fulfilled.

...

On this day, Lan Chang'an, who had turned 192 years old, descended to the underground stone hall beneath Yunlai Peak.

The Profound Water Turtle stood guard near the Xuanmu Vine Gourd with a protective presence.

When Lan Chang'an arrived, the turtle was busy using a cloud rain spell to nourish the gourd vine’s withering branches.

The turtle’s aura rippled outward, revealing that its cultivation had reached the peak of the second rank!

“Time flies… even the Profound Water Turtle is about to face the threshold of advancing to become a third-rank Great Demon,” Lan Chang'an murmured, calculating the time.

It had been 150 years since the Profound Water Turtle hatched.

Although its growth defied convention, its cultivation progress was still slightly slower than that of ordinary demonic beasts.

This was likely not only due to the nourishment of Lan Chang'an’s Golden Dan mana but also the unknown benefits provided by the Xuanmu Vine Gourd.

The Profound Water Turtle wasn’t the only one nearing a breakthrough.

The Earth Burrowing Rat had also reached the early peak of the third rank, but its breakthrough was being deliberately concealed.

Lan Chang'an was wary of exposing the identity tied to his "Xiang Immortal" persona. Such a revelation would bring complications with Hangyu Immortal, Xiang Jinglong, and the Ten Thousand Beasts Merchant Association.

As such, the Earth Burrowing Rat would have to remain hidden, unable to show off its strength as a third-rank demonic beast.

The Profound Water Turtle, however, didn’t have as much baggage.

With its long lifespan and unique bloodline as a rare Earth-grade attribute spirit beast, its advancement to the third rank was merely a matter of time.

Lan Chang'an lightly traced the patterns on the turtle’s shell, contemplating the most auspicious date for its advancement.

Suddenly, the Nine Seal Stele in his mind let out a faint hum.

Lan Chang'an froze for a moment, then broke into a joyful smile. His consciousness dove into the Nine Seal Stele.

Within the frame of the fourth life, the shadow of the purple-robed True Monarch, once faint and incomplete, began to shift.

Waves of formless smoke drifted from its surface as a brilliant crystal-white light swept across the frame, illuminating the once hazy figure.

The light rippled through the semi-formed shadow, washing away its half-real, half-illusory state.

When the glow faded, the purple-robed True Monarch’s soul shadow stood fully formed.

Its aura now exuded purity and vitality, imbued with the elegance of immortality and the charisma of a sage.

Engraved perfectly into the fourth frame of the stele, it now seemed lifelike, brimming with divine grandeur.