Mortal: The Path to Immortality

The afterglow of the setting sun stretched their shadows long, and the streets of the city gradually quieted down, with only the sound of their footsteps audible.

Han Cailing walked beside Lu Nanzhu with her head down, still tightly clutching the medicinal herbs Elder Xiao had given her when she patronized the clinic earlier.

After much hesitation, she finally raised her head and broke the silence:

"Senior, I only knew that you had profound cultivation, but I did not expect that your medical skills were also so amazing."

If Cailing hadn't seen it with her own eyes today, she truly wouldn't have believed that there were immortal masters in this world willing to offer free medical consultations in their clinics for complete strangers.

Lu Nanzhu listened to the words of praise, but only smiled faintly, his gaze sweeping over both sides of the street:

"It was just a few minor skills I learned by chance when I was young, nothing special."

"But Miss Han, you are so knowledgeable about the medicinal properties of those hundreds of herbs. Such skill is something an ordinary doctor would likely acquire in less than ten years of practice."

"Senior flatters me." Upon hearing this, Han Cailing's expression suddenly dimmed. "My father said that my aptitude is inferior and I should not force myself into the path of cultivation. That would only make me a stepping stone for others, which is too dangerous."

So, they had me learn some medical skills from my mother, saying... even if we lost her protection in the future, at least we'd have a skill to rely on, and we could survive."

Lu Nanzhu's heart skipped a beat. He had already reached into his storage bag, intending to take out a few bottles of pills suitable for Qi Refining stage cultivators as a reward for her help today.

But after hearing these words, he slowly lowered his hand.

In this cruel world, a girl with no background and no outstanding talent, carrying a few bottles of cultivation pills, may not be as secure as one who possesses a skill to save lives.

He looked at Han Cailing's slender profile, let out a long sigh, and thought to himself:

"The hearts of parents are always full of love and concern."

Soon, the two returned to the gate of the Han residence.

As if remembering something, Lu Nanzhu took out several thick books from his storage bag.

The covers of these books are slightly worn, but inside are medical classics and pharmacopoeias that he personally annotated over the years, from the Seven Mysteries Sect to the Abandoned Spirit Valley.

"Since Miss Han is interested in medicine, I'll give you these books as a gift." Lu Nanzhu handed the books to Han Cailing, then took out several blue talismans from his pocket and gave them to her as well.

"The path of cultivation is not limited to absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth and transcending the heavens and earth. After examining the cases in this medical clinic, I have seen the big picture from small details and saved countless lives. This is also a form of cultivation."

He pointed to the talismans and earnestly encouraged them:

"Keep these talismans safe; they might save your life in a critical moment. With your character and these medical books, you're sure to make a name for yourself in medicine in the future."

Han Cailing took the book in astonishment: "Senior, this..."

"Take it," Lu Nanzhu said, looking at her.

Han Cailing hugged the heavy books tightly and bowed deeply, saying:

"Cai Ling will certainly live up to the expectations of her predecessors."

Lu Nanzhu nodded slightly, then bid farewell to Han Cailing and returned to his room.

......

In Fengzhou, in a dark and damp karst cave, the air was filled with a strong smell of blood.

On several naturally formed stalactites, Han Zhen, the head of the Han family, was tightly bound by several chains imbued with dark red spiritual energy, unable to move.

With a violent cough, Han Zhen slowly woke up from his coma.

He struggled to lift his head, his gaze passing through the flickering candlelight, and saw a young cultivator dressed in the robes of a Spirit Beast Mountain disciple not far ahead. The man was facing away from him, busy at a stone table covered with all sorts of strangely shaped magical artifacts and equipment.

He glanced around again and noticed that the clan disciples who had accompanied him earlier were also bound, their fates unknown.

"Who...who exactly are you?" Han Zhen's voice was hoarse, his eyes filled with surprise and doubt. "I have always maintained good relations with Spirit Beast Mountain, so why have you captured me and brought me here? Could it be that Elder Lin sent you?"

The man slowly turned around; it was Luo Jin.

"Uncle, you really have a short memory." Luo Jin put down the tools in his hands and slowly walked towards him. "Thirteen years ago, you led people to seize the spirit stone mine of the Luo family in Fengzhou and slaughtered all the Luo family cultivators guarding the mine. What? You've already forgotten?"

Han Zhen's pupils suddenly contracted: "You are... from the Luo family?"

"good."

Han Zhen scrutinized the young man before him again, his gaze darting around for a moment before he burst into laughter.

"What are you laughing at?!" Luo Jin asked, somewhat puzzled.

Han Zhen stopped laughing and said, "I have committed many evil deeds, so I expected this outcome."

However, in the end, I was defeated by you, a cultivator who has just entered the Foundation Establishment stage. It's truly laughable.

Enraged, Luo Jin lunged forward, grabbed Han Zhen by the collar, and shouted in a deep voice:

"Even on the verge of death, you still dare to be stubborn! Today I will avenge my father and mother!!"

Han Zhen, struggling to breathe, said hoarsely, "Since I have already embarked on the path of immortality, my fate of life and death is determined by Heaven."

Luo Jin's veins bulged on the back of his hand, and his voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth:

"Back then, your Han family, relying on your connection with Old Ghost Lin of Spirit Beast Mountain, ran rampant in Fengzhou. You killed my father and mother! You forced my sister to become Old Ghost Lin's furnace! Your crimes are too numerous to count!!"

He loosened Han Zhen's collar, calmed down, took a few steps back, and said:

"If it weren't for the old ghost who has reached the Core Formation stage backing you up, your Han family would just be an ordinary, insignificant nobody in Fengzhou."

"You, the head of the Han family, have really made a shrewd deal! You've truly found a 'path to heaven' for the Han family!"

Han Zhen's face flushed red from being strangled, and he coughed violently a few times before saying resentfully:

"Get on the good side of... a Core Formation Elder? The Path to Heaven? Hmph! What do you know, junior!?"

He barely managed to lift his head, looking directly at Luo Jin with a hint of sorrow in his eyes.

"If I hadn't been that old devil Lin's dog back then, my entire Han family would be slaughtered today!!" Han Zhen's voice was hoarse.

"The cultivation method practiced by that old ghost Lin is very strange, and he often needs to 'absorb and replenish' to break through the bottleneck."

To gather enough resources, they forced us, their dependent little families, to resort to trickery and plunder. If we couldn't hand over enough resources and furnace cauldrons, they would select someone from my Han family's direct lineage to provide for their stamina cultivation!

Luo Jin paused slightly, and the anger on his face lessened a little.

"Your Luo family's mine was personally designated by Old Ghost Lin. He said there's something he wants in the mine, and it must be acquired." Han Zhen was lost in disgusted memories, his breathing becoming increasingly rapid.

"The Han family is nothing more than his puppet master. Whoever he wants to die, Han has to lead his men to kill them without the slightest hesitation."

This so-called dependence is nothing more than a chain around the neck; the more you struggle, the tighter it tightens.

"So what!" Luo Jin shoved Han Zhen hard against a stone pillar. "No matter what, my parents' lives! My sister's life! It's all your fault!"

"I am now at your disposal," Han Zhen said with difficulty. "However, if Old Ghost Lin finds out, you might be in trouble given your strength."

After saying that, Han Zhen chuckled mockingly a few times.

"You don't need to worry about this." Luo Jin lowered his hands and returned to the stone table. "I will find a way to make your entire Han family and that old ghost Lin pay for my family's lives."

After listening, Han Zhen looked directly at Luo Jin, somewhat puzzled.

"Senior, we can begin." Luo Jin said, steeling his resolve and bowing his head.

A moment later, a plume of purplish-black smoke erupted from behind Luo Jin, enveloping him.

As the smoke gradually dissipated, Luo Jin emerged, his eyes gleaming with a dark purple light. He stretched out his hands and looked around.

"The body after the meridians were reshaped is indeed excellent; I am very satisfied!"

Seeing Luo Jin suddenly advance to the Pseudo-Core Realm, Han Zhen immediately sensed something was wrong and shouted loudly:

"No! Don't hurt my family! Don't hurt Cailing and Lin'er! I'll do anything you ask! Please!"

As he spoke, he struggled to break free of the chains binding him.

Luo Jin slowly walked over, the eerie dark purple light in her eyes sending chills down one's spine. Looking at Han Zhen before her, she said with some disdain:

"Tsk tsk, barely enough as the main material for the 'Hundred Refined Corpse' in the early stage of Foundation Establishment."

"Who are you?!" Han Zhen's eyes were filled with fear and despair.

"I, Liancheng, am from the 'Corpse Palace'."