Mortal: The Path to Immortality

Watching Lu Nanzhu drive away, Han Yunsong also began to have some doubts:

"Are those fragments really some kind of treasure? Oh well, let's hope they satisfy him."

"Brother, this matter was handled poorly by Yunzhi. I didn't know that Senior Lu had successfully established his foundation so quickly, which put you in a difficult position," Yunzhi said to her brother somewhat embarrassedly.

"It's alright, you did very well. This person has only been in the sect for a short time, yet he has already successfully established his foundation in just a few years. It seems that he is indeed worth befriending."

Our ancestor instructed us to recruit as many promising cultivators as possible within the sect.

It's a pity... this senior Lu is truly too promising. We can't offer help in times of need, we can only add to his already splendid achievements.

After saying that, he turned back to the stone table and began to study the old objects.

......

Before long, Lu Nanzhu arrived at a cave dwelling not far from the main peak. Now that he had reached the Foundation Establishment stage, he needed to report to his master as soon as possible.

As he approached the cave, the restrictions at the entrance automatically activated.

As you step into the cave, Elder Wang's deep and powerful voice echoes in the tranquil space.

"Attain utmost emptiness, hold fast to stillness. All things arise together, and I observe their return."

At this moment, Elder Wang was kneeling on a futon, teaching his three disciples in front of him, when he suddenly turned his gaze to the entrance of the cave.

The three disciples were listening intently. Sensing someone entering, they followed their master's gaze and turned their heads to look.

Lu Nanzhu looked reserved. He quickly stepped forward, lifted his robe, and knelt down to pay his respects.

"Disciple Lu Nanzhu has been fortunate enough to achieve Foundation Establishment. I have come to pay my respects and request your instruction, Master."

Elder Wang narrowed his eyes slightly, stroked his white beard, and gave a soft "hmm":

"Rise. Your foundation for cultivation is complete, congratulations. From this day forward, you shall be my formal disciple."

He then introduced the three disciples in front of him to Lu Nanzhu.

"These are your senior brothers and sisters."

After Lu Nanzhu stood up, he subtly sized her up.

The leader, a scholar with late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, dressed as a scholar, with a folding fan at his waist, and a smile on his lips, was looking at Lu Nanzhu.

The senior sister in the middle, with a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level, wore a light blue gauze dress. While her appearance wasn't exceptionally beautiful, her outstanding temperament made her stand out. She was fiddling with the emerald green prayer beads on her wrist.

The last one, a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator, was burly and wore a fiery red short jacket that revealed his taut arm muscles, with a chivalrous air shining in his eyes.

"I am Lu Nanzhu, greetings to all my senior brothers and sisters." Lu Nanzhu remained courteous as always.

The three men smiled and nodded in acknowledgment.

Elder Wang slowly rose and walked to Lu Nanzhu's side. The three disciples also stood up behind Elder Wang.

"Please keep this token safe; it is my proof of identity."

I observe that although you have just established your foundation, your fundamental nature is profound, which suggests that you have cultivated some special techniques.

Since you have no shortage of cultivation techniques, you can use this item to obtain some resources to aid your cultivation within the sect.

After saying this, he turned to his disciples and instructed them:

"That concludes today's lesson. You may all return to your residences and ponder on your own. I too shall begin my cultivation."

Lu Nanzhu accepted the black iron token, bowed again in thanks, and then left the cave with his three senior brothers and sisters.

As soon as I stepped out of the slightly cool barrier of the cave, a scorching heat came from my side and back.

"Haha, Junior Brother Lu! You have a very calm and composed personality, much more pleasing to the eye than those who have just established their foundation and already act arrogantly."

With a hearty laugh, the red-robed senior brother suddenly hooked his large, thick hand around Lu Nanzhu's shoulder.

"By the way, my name is Kong Yuan, and these are your Senior Sister Fan and Senior Brother Su."

The enthusiastic senior brother Kong introduced each person to Lu Nanzhu. Lu Nanzhu also bowed to each of them.

"Look at your foundation, it's incredibly solid! Much stronger than mine when I was just establishing my foundation! It seems Master was right, the cultivation method you're practicing really has some merit."

Senior Brother Kong patted Lu Nanzhu's shoulder again, making Lu Nanzhu's shoulder blade crack.

"When the time is right, I'll take you to explore some hidden realms and ruins nearby, to give you some training. You can get a lot of good treasures there! I guarantee you'll stumble upon some great opportunities!"

Lu Nanzhu was somewhat uncomfortable with this sudden enthusiasm, but still smiled politely:

"Thank you for your kind words, Senior Brother Kong. If I have the time, I will definitely follow you to broaden my horizons."

"Just listen to him bragging."

Suddenly, Senior Sister Fan stopped, the prayer beads on her wrist making a crisp clinking sound. She couldn't help but speak, a hint of a playful smile flashing in her eyes.

"Junior Brother Lu, you're new here, don't be fooled by Junior Brother Kong. His so-called treasure hunting is probably just picking up some unwanted junk."

"Hey—! Hey—! Senior sister, you're wronging me by saying that," Senior Brother Kong quickly retorted.

"How am I wronging you? Previously, the sect recruited some disciples to investigate the ruins of a 'teleportation array,' and you and several fellow disciples answered the call."

After much effort, all they managed to collect were some old and broken pieces, which they eventually sold cheaply to Han's son.

In my opinion, only he would want those old, worn-out items; if they were left on the roadside, no cultivator would even glance at them!

Senior Sister Fan's teasing continued unabated.

After his senior sister exposed his shortcomings in front of everyone, Senior Brother Kong crossed his arms in front of his chest and stubbornly defended himself, saying:

"Senior sister, that's not fair of you! Although that Han family boy's cultivation level is not obvious, he does have good judgment."

He knows his stuff! Besides, those fragments were picked up from near that damaged 'teleportation array,' so they might be related to it!"

Upon hearing the words "Han family boy" and "fragment," Lu Nanzhu's heart skipped a beat. He immediately asked curiously:

"Did Senior Brother Kong also visit that 'teleportation array' ruin?"

"Oh, Junior Brother has also heard of that place? That's right, it's said that there were intense fluctuations of spiritual energy there decades ago."

The elders of the sect sent people to investigate, but found nothing except a damaged ancient teleportation array, so they sealed off the area.

Later, they successively dispatched disciples to investigate the area.

After hearing this description, Lu Nanzhu immediately became interested, and his mind began to work rapidly:

"It sounds like the 'ancient teleportation array' that Senior Brother Kong mentioned is not the same one that Han Li used later."

That's interesting. Could it be that this timeline has changed? I don't have the Heaven-Mending Pill or the Great Teleportation Token. I should still go check out those ruins when I have the chance.

To figure out the secrets of that fragment, I'll inevitably have to make a trip to Yuanwu Kingdom to seek the help of the array master, Xin Ruyin.

Afterwards, the group returned along the mountain path, chatting and laughing all the way.

As they chatted and laughed, they reached a fork in the path. Lu Nanzhu bid farewell to his three senior brothers and sisters and flew alone on his magical artifact toward his abandoned spirit valley.

Back in the bamboo hut in the Valley of Abandoned Spirits, Lu Nanzhu skillfully activated the simple defensive barrier around the perimeter.

He took out the "small inkstone," skillfully sprinkled a few seeds on it, and his consciousness was once again drawn into that secret realm.

In the secret realm, the spirit tree rose from the ground, towering like a tower.

What delighted Lu Nanzhu the most was that the number and width of the layers that the spirit tree could deduce had increased considerably, and it could now deduce as many as seventy or eighty generations.

"It's increased by more than double..."

He muttered to himself. This meant that he could now "see" further and "see" in greater detail.

"It seems that the most urgent task is to continue improving some spiritual plants. Perhaps we should start with this 'Spirit-Ghosting Moss'..."