Mortal: The Path to Immortality

Lu Nanzhu felt as if his consciousness was floating in a dark void.

He looked up and saw a towering ancient tree emitting a faint blue light standing quietly in the center of the void.

In the depths of his mind, a grand voice suddenly resounded:

"The Tree of Spirits deduces all things."

Immediately afterwards, a string of transparent fruits that had formed on the branches began to flash wildly.

He reached out his hand, his fingertips just barely touching one of the plump fruits.

"Buzz—!"

The instant he touched it, a massive amount of information drained all his energy.

The world before my eyes went black.

......

Lu Nanzhu slowly opened his eyes and found himself lying in bed.

He slowly propped himself up with his hands, straightened his upper body, and cautiously scanned his surroundings.

This is a simple thatched hut, filled with a strong smell of herbs. The furnishings are simple, with several medicine baskets piled in the corner.

"Squeak—"

The door was pushed open, and a dark-skinned, plain-looking boy, about thirteen or fourteen years old, walked in, carrying a bowl of steaming medicinal soup.

The boy paused when he saw that he was awake.

"You're awake?" the boy asked.

Lu Nanzhu suppressed his dizziness and sized up the dark-skinned youth in front of him, already understanding a few things:

"Thank you for saving me, young man. I just felt everything go black and I lost consciousness. May I ask your name, and where I am?"

The young man with dark skin handed the medicine to Lu Nanzhu, then pulled a chair to the bedside, sat down, and said:

"This is 'Divine Hand Valley,' and my name is Han Li. This morning, while I was gathering herbs, I found you unconscious in a cave, so I brought you back."

Lu Nanzhu looked at Han Li, feigning realization, and quickly thanked him. Then he picked up the medicine, lowered his head slightly to smell the aroma, and took a sip without making a sound.

"Oh, right." Han Li took out an octagonal, dark blue "inkstone" from his pocket and handed it over.

"This is yours, isn't it? I found it near you, so I'm returning it to you."

Upon receiving the "small inkstone," Lu Nanzhu recalled that he had previously studied it in a secluded cave, but had fainted due to exhaustion while using it.

The inkstone is concave in the middle and has strange inscriptions carved around it. It is neither gold nor wood, and it is obviously a treasure, but it is very light in the hand.

Recalling the strange feeling the "little inkstone" gave him when he first came into contact with it, Lu Nanzhu thought to himself: This thing is extraordinary, perhaps I am also a person with a predestined affinity with immortals.

After playing with the inkstone for a while, Lu Nanzhu quickly put it away, got up from the bed, and looked at Han Li:

"Brother Han, I am deeply grateful for your help. If you ever need anything in the future, just come to the Foreign Affairs Hall and find me, Lu Nanzhu."

"Brother Lu, you're too kind. It's only right for fellow disciples to help each other. So you're the Lu family member who joined the Seven Mysteries Sect before!? I heard the other disciples in the sect talking about you a while ago, and they all spoke highly of you."

Han Li placed the empty bowl on the table, turned to face Lu Nanzhu, and said with a hint of surprise.

Lu Nanzhu scratched his head sheepishly:

"Brother Han, you flatter me. Although my Lu family has some reputation in Jingzhou, I cannot share in that honor."

In order to toughen us collateral descendants, the clan made us find our own way to make a living, euphemistically called "self-reliance".

It's simply that clan resources are prioritized for core disciples, while the rest of us... are only entitled to scraps.

Realizing he had become too engrossed, Lu Nanzhu quickly loosened his clenched fists and bowed apologetically:

"I misspoke and have made Brother Han laugh at me again."

Seeing that the other party was very polite, he realized that Lu Nanzhu was indeed from a good family. Han Li became more convinced of Lu Nanzhu's identity.

"Brother Lu, there's no need for that. It seems we're both struggling to make a living, and it's fate that brought us together. We'll need to look after each other from now on."

Lu Nanzhu returned the greeting, exchanged a few more pleasantries, and then made a move to leave the room and return to the Foreign Affairs Hall.

Just as he stepped out the door, he hesitated for a moment. After observing that no one else was around, he stepped back inside and solemnly closed the door.

"Brother Han, I do need your help with something right now."

Han Li stood there warily, somewhat flustered and confused: "Brother Lu, what do you mean by this?"

"Brother Han, you must have heard that the Lu family had an immortal among their ancestors. Time has passed, and this matter has now become just a topic of conversation, with no one delving into the truth anymore."

Previously, I was somewhat curious about this matter, so I searched the clan's library. I actually found some clues.

After being bombarded with a series of messages from Lu Nanzhu, Han Li was also somewhat at a loss.

"Why are so many strange things happening lately? First Zhang Tie mysteriously disappeared, then Elder Mo's bizarre words and actions, and now could it be that we've rescued a 'madman'?!" Han Li felt a little depressed, but still decided to listen to his explanation first.

"An immortal!?... Whether this is true or not is unknown. Brother Lu, could it be that you joined the Seven Mysteries Sect because of this?"

"That's right. According to the book, the founder of the Seven Mysteries Sect was once an immortal... and I have indeed come here because of this immortal opportunity."

"Since Brother Lu knows about this, why not seek that immortal...fate yourself? Why tell me!"

"Brother Han, I heard you've become Elder Mo's personal disciple?"

Seeing that Han Li did not deny it, Lu Nanzhu continued:

"The book records that the Seven Absolutes Master once passed down a celestial cultivation technique, which is located in the Seven Mysteries Sect. I searched through the library of every hall in the sect, but found nothing, except for the Transmission Hall, which I had not yet visited."

Only inner disciples or close associates of the sect leader are allowed to enter the Transmission Hall. I once heard that Sect Leader Wang once gave Elder Mo a token, which allows the holder to enter the Transmission Hall.

"I would like to ask Brother Han for a favor. As Elder Mo's personal disciple, obtaining a token from Elder Mo should not be difficult for you..."

Before Lu Nanzhu could finish speaking, Han Li, his face showing displeasure, immediately raised his hand to interrupt him:

"Brother Lu, please don't say any more! This is impossible. My master has already left the valley to gather herbs, and we don't know when he will return. Moreover, even if my master returns, Han Li may not be able to borrow the token."

Brother Lu, you should go back quickly! I won't tell anyone about what happened today.

Han Li just wanted to get rid of this person as soon as possible so that he could have time to quietly cultivate the nameless incantation given to him by Elder Mo, and also study the little green bottle.

Lu Nanzhu, who was interrupted, was not annoyed. Instead, he calmly added:

"This matter is of great importance, after all, it is a celestial technique, so it is understandable that Brother Han is being cautious. If this matter is leaked, I, Lu, will have no choice but to give up my chance at immortality and go to the prefectural city to seek refuge with relatives and find a way out."

However, if the sect leader finds out that the Han brothers are involved in this matter, it's hard to say whether they can continue to stand in the Seven Mysteries Sect...

However, Brother Han's efforts will not be in vain. If we can find immortal cultivation techniques in the Transmission Hall, we can study them together. As long as we have spiritual roots, we can cultivate the corresponding immortal cultivation techniques.

Legend has it that if one successfully cultivates immortal techniques, one's five senses will be heightened, one's spirit vigorous, one will be able to travel to the heavens and the earth, and one will be omnipotent. It is truly enchanting...

"Spiritual root!? Sharp senses!?" Hearing that Lu Nanzhu's description matched his previous experience, Han Li's original doubts about "cultivation" eased a bit.

Just as Han Li was about to press for more information, Lu Nanzhu turned around, opened the door, and stepped out to leave.

"Brother Han, it's getting late. I still need to return to the Foreign Affairs Hall to hand over some errands, so I won't bother you any longer. Brother Han has no interest in this matter, so please consider it an slip of the tongue on my part."

After saying that, he turned around and glanced at Han Li, then at the small green bottle that Han Li was hiding.

"However, if Brother Han is interested in this 'fate' in the future, he may come to the Foreign Affairs Hall to find me."

Han Li stared blankly at the departing figure, muttering to himself, "Spiritual root... what is that? Could it be that Elder Mo truly imparted immortal techniques? Could this person know something? It's really strange..."