Mortal: The Path to Immortality

"I wonder if any disciple managed to obtain the feather of the 'Shadowless Kite' for me during this trial?"

Old Monster Qiong held the talisman in his hands and looked at the disciples of various sects with hope.

Some of the disciples stood on tiptoe to look at the golden talisman, but then shook their heads in disappointment.

Some looked around, seemingly curious about which lucky person would win this treasure.

Just as Old Monster Qiong thought the plan had failed again and put away the talisman in his hand, Lu Nanzhu walked out of the camp, bypassed Elder Wang, and cupped his hands to Old Monster Qiong, saying:

"This junior is unworthy, but by sheer luck I obtained some feathers from the 'Shadowless Kite,' which I am willing to offer to Senior Qiong."

Old Monster Qiong looked at Lu Nanzhu with a slight smile on his lips, not surprised at all, and walked up to him.

"Is this true? Let's take it out and see."

After saying that, Lu Nanzhu took out several large, jet-black feathers that exuded spiritual energy from his storage bag and presented them to Old Monster Qiong with both hands.

At this moment, the brocade-robed cultivator from the Hidden Moon Sect could no longer sit still and roared angrily at Lu Nanzhu:

"So that's where the injured 'Shadow Kite' went! Turns out it was you who got lucky, you're despicable! Shameless!"

Lu Nanzhu wasn't annoyed. He straightened his chest, looked coldly at the brocade-robed cultivator, and replied calmly:

"Fellow Daoist, I have no idea what you are referring to. These feathers are indeed ones I picked up."

"Still trying to deny it! Do you think the feathers of that 'Shadowless Kite' are just roadside flowers and grass? How could they be so easily found!?"

"Fellow Daoist, I don't understand why you are angry that I obtained these feathers? Is it simply because you failed to obtain them yourself, and therefore you are taking your anger out on me?"

Moreover, even if what you say is true, that you let the 'Shadowless Kite' escape, thus benefiting me, it's because you lacked the strength! You have no one to blame but yourself!

"You!!" The monk in brocade robes glared at Lu Nanzhu, but there was nothing he could do.

"Enough! How dare you lose your composure in front of Senior Qiong! What kind of behavior is this!?" Elder Wang immediately stepped forward and pretended to be angry at Lu Nanzhu.

"Grandmaster is right. Senior Qiong, please forgive me for my rudeness." Lu Nanzhu quickly bowed to Seniors Wang and Qiong to apologize.

"Very well, let's not argue about this anymore." After saying that, Old Monster Qiong took the feathers, examined them from all angles, and nodded in satisfaction.

"Indeed, this is exactly what I need."

Old Monster Qiong then took out the "Invisible Needle" talisman and prepared to bestow it upon Lu Nanzhu.

Just then, Lu Nanzhu bowed and requested again:

"Thanks to your kindness, senior, I was fortunate enough to obtain this item and present it to you. I dare not covet your treasure, but... I hope you can clear up some of my doubts about my cultivation path."

Upon hearing Lu Nanzhu's request, Old Monster Qiong stopped offering the treasure and laughed:

"Oh? Interesting lad, tell me about it?"

Having obtained Qiong Laoguai's permission, Lu Nanzhu sincerely asked:

"Thank you, Senior. Senior is an expert in escape techniques. Do you know if anyone has practiced escape techniques and thus slowed down their own cultivation?"

"When I was practicing the art of escape, I often felt that my progress was stagnant. I have devoted a great deal of energy to resolving this problem, but to no avail."

After hearing the question, Old Monster Qiong frowned, stroked his beard lightly, and said:

"Cultivation stagnation? Cultivating escape techniques is inherently beneficial to a cultivator's meridians and body, so it should also improve the speed of cultivation. How can it be considered stagnation?"

Even in my centuries of life, I have never heard of such a thing.

As Qiong Laoguai spoke, he shook his head slightly.

After hearing this explanation, Lu Nanzhu was not satisfied, but still thanked him respectfully:

"Thank you for your explanation, senior. It seems that I was too eager for quick success in practicing escape techniques, which led me to neglect the cultivation of the techniques themselves. That's why I have this problem."

After listening, Qiong Laoguai once again activated his divine sense to look at Lu Nanzhu, as if trying to see through him.

Before long, Old Monster Qiong handed the talisman to Lu Nanzhu:

"It's not exactly enlightening, just some common insights. Since I didn't teach you anything, just accept this talisman. I'm not like others with bad gambling ethics."

After speaking, Old Monster Qiong glanced at Li Huayuan in the distance. Li Huayuan also tilted his head, avoiding his gaze.

Before Lu Nanzhu could respond, Qiong Laoguai, after accepting the feathers, spoke first to Lu Nanzhu:

"Young friend Lu, if you wish to learn some powerful escape techniques, you can come to the Hidden Moon Sect to find me. I have never accepted a personal disciple before."

"Cough—cough—! Senior Qiong, this is not appropriate. Lu Nanzhu is a disciple of my Spirit Beast Mountain, how can he join the Hidden Moon Sect?"

Moreover, the cultivation techniques of my Spirit Beast Mountain are profound and extensive, no less than those of your Hidden Moon Sect.

To prevent his partner from being poached, Elder Wang stepped between the two before Lu Nanzhu could answer.

"Thank you for bestowing this treasure upon me, Senior. My strength is meager, and if I were to become your personal disciple, it would be an insult to your reputation. I beg you to rescind your order."

Lu Nanzhu quickly refused. He certainly couldn't be a traitor, otherwise he'd have a hard time surviving on Spirit Beast Mountain. Besides, who knew if this old ghost wanted to take him as a disciple or as a prospective disciple?

Seeing that he had been rejected, Old Monster Qiong said nothing more, but simply returned to the flying boat of the Hidden Moon Sect and went back to the sect with the other disciples.

After the disciples handed over the medicinal herbs required by the sect, this forbidden area trial finally came to an end.

After exchanging a goodbye glance with Han Li, Lu Nanzhu followed the other disciples and boarded the giant bird.

The back of the crimson roc was much emptier than when it arrived. Lu Nanzhu found a place to sit down and meditate as usual.

He had only rested for a short while when Elder Wang summoned him to his side:

"Lu Nanzhu, you obtained the feather of the 'Shadowless Kite' this time, which was quite good and commendable. You have brought honor to the sect. I have decided to accept you as a disciple. Are you willing?"

Lu Nanzhu immediately bowed and said, "Disciple greets Master!"

Although being a nominal disciple was just a title, with Elder Wang's powerful backing, his life within the sect would be much easier. Moreover, he didn't have a choice in being a disciple, and he was afraid of offending this elder by refusing.

Elder Wang immediately bestowed two magical artifacts upon him, then had Lu Nanzhu stand beside him, and rode the Peng bird back to the sect at high speed.

......

A few days later, Lu Nanzhu was heading to Elder Xiao's cave with practiced ease.

He had previously exhausted his energy in the Crimson Forbidden Land and spent some time recovering his mana in the Abandoned Spirit Valley, so he did not immediately go to find Elder Xiao.

He was filled with anxiety. He had expended a great deal of energy on this Red Heart Sunflower, but whether it would bring him the desired result remained to be seen.

Just as Lu Nanzhu was pondering, he finally arrived at Elder Xiao's cave dwelling, skillfully passed through the opened barrier, and entered the dwelling.

"You're back? I heard that you lost many disciples on this trip to the forbidden area. Were you injured?" Elder Xiao asked, still sitting behind the white curtain.

Lu Nanzhu stepped forward, bowed respectfully, and then presented the Red Heart Sunflower.

"Thanks to your blessing, senior, I am unharmed. I have fulfilled my mission. Please take a look at this spiritual herb, senior."

After the elixir was remotely captured by the curtain, Elder Xiao, standing behind the curtain, spoke with slight excitement the moment he saw the fiery red elixir:

"Good...good! The product is in perfect condition and the medicine is old enough. Lu Nanzhu, you have indeed impressed me."

Then, he flew the thing he had prepared to Lu Nanzhu's eyes. It was a golden page that clearly recorded a complete cultivation technique.

Lu Nanzhu took the book, scanned it with his divine sense, and then looked towards the curtain with some confusion.

"Senior, can the drawbacks of this 'Wind Spirit Body' be resolved with just this technique?"

"I will not go back on my word in helping you. This book, the Taiyi Muhua Scripture, can indeed help you resolve the drawbacks of your 'Wind Spirit Body'."