Mortal: The Path to Immortality

After hearing Qiong Laoguai's telepathic message, everyone was shocked, while Fuyunzi and Nishang had smiles and anticipation on their faces.

"Senior Qiong is joking. That 'Shadowless Kite' is a second-tier demon beast."

Although it's only the early stage of the second tier, its speed is incredibly fast. Without extraordinary methods, the disciples would likely struggle to cope.

Li Huayuan shook his head repeatedly in denial.

"Hey—Junior Brother Li, don't be in such a hurry. How could I let my disciples help for nothing?" Old Monster Qiong immediately took out a "talisman" that was shining with golden light from his storage bag.

"I am nearing the end of my life and have no descendants."

"If any disciple manages to successfully retrieve the feathers of the 'Shadowless Kite' for me, I will bestow this 'Invisible Needle' talisman upon him."

Upon hearing what Old Monster Qiong said, the lower-level disciples immediately erupted in a commotion.

That "Invisible Needle" is Old Monster Qiong's natal magic weapon. It's a talisman created by having the ability to extract the natal magic weapon from a late-stage Core Formation cultivator. Let alone Qi Refining disciples, even Foundation Establishment cultivators would consider it an incredible opportunity.

Old Monster Qiong walked past the crowd, dragging the gleaming talisman in one hand.

The disciples around them breathed heavily, their eyes fixed on the talisman. Some even unconsciously licked their lips, their greedy expressions impossible to conceal.

Lu Nanzhu and Han Li both lowered their heads secretly, thinking to themselves: This opportunity, though great, is likely a death knell. A bloody battle will ensue over that damned bird's feathers.

"Alright, I have said all I wanted to say. Please make yourselves at home."

Seeing that the time was right, Old Monster Qiong let out a strange laugh and his figure blurred as he flashed to the headquarters of the Hidden Moon Sect.

Although the leaders of each faction looked doubtful, they all knew the old monster's temperament and could not stop him. They could only lead their disciples back to their camp to rest.

......

Three days later, just as the sun began to peek over the horizon, the leaders of the seven factions gathered at the edge of the forbidden area.

Seven magical treasures, radiating spiritual energy, were simultaneously unleashed, launching an attack on a certain point in the sky.

With a cracking sound, a deep black crack appeared in the previously empty air.

"The barrier has been broken, enter quickly! We can't hold out much longer!" the leader of the Giant Sword Sect roared.

In an instant, countless disciples surged into the spatial rift like a swarm of locusts crossing a river.

A five-day agreement, life and death are decided, and this forbidden land, silent for sixty years, welcomes new outsiders.

......

With a dizzying sensation, Lu Nanzhu landed steadily on a patch of wet mud.

He flipped himself into a thicket of bushes and cautiously extended his divine sense to probe outwards.

The surrounding area was filled with towering trees, and the occasional chirping of birds could be heard.

After confirming that there were no threats around, he took out the map that Song Ji had given him from his storage bag.

"Giant Wood Forest."

Lu Nanzhu lightly tapped the dark green mark on the map with his finger.

Located in the northwest corner of the forbidden area, this place is filled with towering trees and miasma, making it an excellent hiding place, but also a barren land.

"There are still three days until the central area opens. Our top priority is to collect as many Foundation Establishment Pills as possible from the outer areas."

Lu Nanzhu swayed, unleashing the movement techniques from "The Legend of Fuyao," his entire body moving like a bird, swiftly weaving through the branches of the giant tree.

Several hours later, thanks to the help of the spirit-seeking rat "Mancang", Lu Nanzhu quickly collected a lot of rare herbs in this barren land.

In his search for the "Purple Monkey Flower," he began to gradually move closer to the center of the forbidden area.

Finally, following the map's directions, Lu Nanzhu discovered a patch of purple monkey flowers next to a hidden pile of rubble.

Then, just as he was about to reach out and pick it, he paused, turned around, and shouted to the tree trunk behind him:

"Fellow Daoist, have you seen enough? Your skill in concealing your presence is truly lacking. Should I expose you now?"

As he spoke, Lu Nanzhu gripped the double blades tightly in his hands to protect his chest, his body tense, ready to strike.

"Several years have passed since we last met, but Junior Brother Lu is still as vigilant as ever."

A familiar voice came from behind the tree trunk. Immediately afterwards, a dark-skinned boy dressed in the robes of a Yellow Maple Valley disciple emerged, carrying a long golden sword and looking wary.

The man had several storage bags hanging from his waist, suggesting he had been involved in many battles with other cultivators.

"Senior Brother Han?" Lu Nanzhu's expression froze for a moment, his previously tense killing intent weakened a bit, and he gradually lowered the twin swords in his hands.

"Junior Brother Lu, is it really you? Rumors within the Seven Mysteries Sect say you died in Jingzhou Prefecture... I knew you wouldn't die so easily."

Han Li stood at a distance, holding his long sword, his eyes filled with surprise and wariness.

"This is a long story," Lu Nanzhu said calmly, completely abandoning his previous air of authority.

"It's surprising that Brother Han has joined Huangfeng Valley. It seems that a lot has happened in 'Divine Hand Valley' since we parted ways years ago."

Upon hearing the words "Divine Hand Valley," Han Li's tense back visibly relaxed a bit, and he said with a wry smile:

"Junior Brother Lu, please don't make fun of me. I only joined the sect by chance. It's Junior Brother Lu who has managed to cultivate to the eleventh level of Qi Refining in just a few years."

Looking at his junior brother, whose cultivation level was nearly equal to his own, Han Li felt both happy and somewhat disappointed. After all, Han Li had entered the path of immortality much earlier than Lu Nanzhu. Now, Lu Nanzhu's cultivation level was actually on par with his, which made Han Li, who possessed the little green bottle, feel a little ashamed.

"It seems that this Junior Brother Lu has quite good aptitude, at least above mine," Han Li thought to himself.

"It was just a lucky breakthrough; I have to thank my senior brother's cultivation technique for it." Lu Nanzhu said, while subtly concealing the pile of rocks behind him.

"Within the forbidden area, all factions are engaged in a life-or-death struggle. Brother Han, your appearance at this time is surely not just to catch up with me, is it?"

Upon hearing this, Han Li's gaze followed Lu Nanzhu's sleeve to the pile of rubble behind him, then he spread his hands:

"To be honest, I came here following a strange fragrance."

After saying that, Han Li actually took a few steps back.

"Brother Han is still the same as ever, extremely cautious."

Lu Nanzhu began to calculate rapidly in his mind:

"This forbidden area is fraught with danger. In addition to the groups of disciples from various sects, there are also all kinds of strange monsters."

My trip is time-sensitive and my mission is demanding. If I can temporarily rely on Han Li's strength, my chances of success will likely be much higher.

After all, it's incredibly difficult to find someone trustworthy in a forbidden area.

Han Li is one such example, and I am well aware of the many methods he employs.

After thinking for a while, Lu Nanzhu suddenly spoke:

"This patch of purple monkey flowers, you and I will share it equally."

Han Li was stunned for a moment, clearly not expecting his junior brother to offer a discount.

"What does Junior Brother Lu mean?... I am not a greedy person. Since you were the one who discovered the Purple Monkey Flower first, it should rightfully belong to you."

Han Li shook his head, his gaze sweeping over the twin blades in Lu Nanzhu's hand. His tone was calm, but he didn't move an inch.

Lu Nanzhu chuckled inwardly; this old devil Han was still the same—he wouldn't act until he saw the benefit. He simply stepped aside, revealing the patch of spiritual herbs emanating a faint purple aura hidden among the rubble behind him, and said frankly:

"Brother Han, there's no need for that. Back in Shenshou Valley, if it weren't for Brother Han giving me that scroll of martial arts technique, I wouldn't have achieved what I have."

"Since we've met by chance in this forbidden area today, I'll consider this Purple Monkey Flower a token of my gratitude. Please, Brother Han, do not refuse."

After saying that, he used his magic to pick all the purple monkey flowers behind the pile of rocks, and pushed half of them in front of Han Li.

Seeing that Lu Nanzhu was so generous, Han Li no longer refused and reached out to accept the spiritual herbs.

After putting the items into his storage bag, Han Li looked at Lu Nanzhu and got straight to the point:

"Junior Brother, I accept your kind offer. Such a generous gift, I suspect, isn't just for that scroll of cultivation technique?"

Seeing that the time was right, Lu Nanzhu no longer concealed anything and said solemnly:

"Since Brother Han is so straightforward, I won't hold back either."

"Besides searching for Foundation Establishment herbs, I've also been entrusted with a mission to travel to a forbidden area called 'Hundred Flowers Grove'."