Mortal: The Path to Immortality

The act of eliminating traitors caused quite a stir within the sect.

Master Wang was furious. Following the secret letter and the steward's testimony, he removed several hidden agents from the sect overnight, and he himself broke out in a cold sweat.

Having made such contributions, Lu Nanzhu and Li Feiyu's status underwent a dramatic change.

Lu Nanzhu was well aware of the principle that "the tallest tree in the forest will be felled by the wind," and when recounting the events to higher-ups, he deliberately emphasized Li Feiyu's outstanding contributions.

This gesture greatly pleased Li Feiyu, and it also made Sect Leader Wang value Li Feiyu even more. Li Feiyu was promoted to an elite inner disciple and awarded a Marrow Cleansing Pill from the medicine storehouse, making him one of the potential candidates to succeed the sect leader.

In contrast, Lu Nanzhu's promotion was much more low-key. He was officially promoted to an inner disciple and, based on his quick wit demonstrated during the operation, was assigned to the Transmission Hall. This position not only allowed him to legitimately study various martial arts classics in the Transmission Hall, but also provided excellent cover, allowing him to avoid many unnecessary chores.

Thanks to the rescue that night, the relationship between Lu Nanzhu and Han Li quickly thawed.

On this day of rest, the two gathered as usual by the lake behind the mountain to exchange their cultivation experiences. Lu Nanzhu knelt on the ground, a piece of paper laid flat on the stone in front of him, writing with flowing strokes, completely absorbed in his work.

Han Li sat cross-legged opposite Lu Nanzhu, looking at the stack of books placed beside him with slight surprise. Those were all copies of "The Blinking Sword Technique" that he had transcribed from memory, a thick stack of them.

After a while, Lu Nanzhu put down his pen and carefully stacked the papers neatly: "Brother Han, these are the 'Blinking Sword Technique.' I previously browsed through them in the Seven Absolutes Hall's library and found them quite wondrous. They are most suitable for cultivators like us who have spiritual energy but no true qi. After learning them, dealing with ordinary martial artists will be a piece of cake, and even against internal martial arts masters, we will have a fighting chance."

Han Li was shocked by the sheer size of the "Blinking Sword Technique" and even more amazed by Junior Brother Lu's monstrous memory. "Then thank you very much, Junior Brother Lu." With that, Han Li took out a few bottles of pills from his pocket and handed them to Lu Nanzhu.

"I'll give these bottles of Yellow Dragon Pills to my junior brother as a token of my gratitude."

A hint of joy flashed in Lu Nanzhu's eyes as he deftly took the porcelain bottle: "Brother Han, you're too kind! With these bottles of high-quality spiritual herbs, the subsequent cultivation techniques will surely be much more efficient. If you ever encounter any difficulties in the future, please don't hesitate to ask. There's no need for us to stand on ceremony."

Han Li casually flipped through the sword manual, his expression still somewhat solemn. Although he had already cultivated the Nameless Mantra to the sixth level, the chill running down his spine whenever he thought of Doctor Mo's greedy gaze.

Just as Junior Brother Lu said, he currently possesses spiritual power but hasn't mastered any real magic, making him unable to directly confront Elder Mo. This sword technique is his only lifeline right now. Thinking this, Han Li no longer hesitated and carefully packed the organized books into his basket.

Lu Nanzhu noticed his preoccupation and tentatively inquired, "Senior Brother Han, have you been struggling with your cultivation techniques these past few days? You look so troubled. Why don't you tell me? Perhaps I can answer some of your questions?"

Han Li remained silent for a moment, then turned his head and asked casually, "Junior Brother Lu is very knowledgeable, and I was just about to ask you a question. Do you think that besides helping those with spiritual roots absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, these immortal techniques can also cure diseases, save lives, and prolong life?"

Lu Nanzhu remained expressionless, his fingertips gently caressing the cool porcelain bottle as he slowly replied, "As far as I know, the spiritual energy absorbed by this immortal technique is the essence of heaven and earth, which is indeed a miraculous medicine that can bring the dead back to life for mortals. For common ailments such as wind-cold, heat-dampness, broken bones, and internal injuries, a mere wisp of spiritual energy is enough to clear the blockages and cure the disease, not to mention prolonging life."

At this point, Lu Nanzhu changed the subject, looking at Han Li and lowering his voice slightly: "But if it's a man-made, insidious restriction..."

For example, I once heard of a spell called the "Blood Arrow Ghost Spell," which is said to corrode vital essence and cause someone's hair to turn white overnight. Ordinary immortal incantations are powerless against it." As he spoke, he spread his hands, his tone quite helpless.

Upon hearing this, Han Li immediately tensed up and asked somewhat anxiously, "Then... how can this kind of insidious curse be broken?"

"The one who tied the knot must untie it," so only by finding the one who cast the spell can we know the solution. Lu Nanzhu said solemnly.

After hearing Lu Nanzhu's words, the image of Doctor Mo's withered old face, his glaring white hair, and the undeniable aura of decay that he usually exuded overlapped perfectly with the symptoms of the "Blood Arrow Yin Soul Curse" in his mind.

"Since the nameless incantation has no effect on his illness, then... he has another purpose!?" Thinking of this, Han Li felt a chill run down his spine. Although his mind was in turmoil, Han Li's calm and suspicious nature prevented him from revealing everything about Doctor Mo.

"Junior Brother Lu, besides magic and this 'Blinking Sword Technique,' are there any other ways to protect yourself? As you know, there's no way to learn magic for now, and practicing sword techniques isn't something that can be done overnight. If I encounter bad guys again like last time, I still won't be able to fight back..." Han Li finally voiced his concerns.

After hearing this, Lu Nanzhu took out a wooden box from the cloth bag at his waist. The box was filled with fine sand, and embedded in the sand were two fruits the size of pigeon eggs, completely black and covered with irregular bumps.

"This object is called the 'Dark Box,' and it is a strange fruit. If it is subjected to violent external pressure, it will explode instantly, and the hundreds of tiny seeds and iron-hard seed coat fragments that burst out can even pierce through a door panel. If you are hit by the explosion at close range, you will be seriously injured even if you don't die."

"These were originally for my own self-defense, so I'm giving some to Brother Han."

Han Li was secretly delighted upon seeing this and took the heavy wooden box. This kind of simple and easy-to-use hidden weapon made him feel at ease. With this item, combined with the "Blinking Sword Technique," he thought he could save his life from Doctor Mo.

"Thank you, Junior Brother Lu. These two 'dark boxes' are truly a godsend for me." Han Li solemnly put them into his robes and hid them close to his body. Although he was curious about how such strange fruits could be found in the back mountain, he wisely refrained from asking any further questions.

Lu Nanzhu waved his hand, saying casually, "It's alright. But Brother Han should still use it carefully."

After exchanging a few more pleasantries, the two returned to their respective residences.

After returning to his room, Lu Nanzhu locked the door and pulled a box from under the bed. Inside were several bottles of Jade Ring Pills, the first six levels of the "Eternal Spring Technique" manual, and another wooden box. This wooden box was identical to the one he had given to Han Li during the day.

He took out the wooden box and opened it, revealing a pile of "hidden boxes" inside. After reaching the third level of Qi Refining, Lu Nanzhu had used the "small inkstone" multiple times to deduce and cultivate some strange medicinal plants. These "hidden boxes" were derived from the seeds of a medicinal plant called "Sound Box".

The fruit of the "Sounding Box" would burst open when ripe, scattering its seeds and sometimes even breaking other plants nearby. Recognizing its destructive power, Lu Nanzhu decided to breed it. After several months of effort, the fast-growing and powerful "Dark Box" was born.

Thinking of this, Lu Nanzhu was secretly delighted.

"Doctor Mo would never have imagined that Han Li possessed such a deadly weapon. It's time for Doctor Mo to experience the power of the 'Little Inkstone'!! Art—is an explosion!!"