Mortal: The Path to Immortality

A full year has passed since the ancient teleportation array ruins incident.

That collapse of the ground buried the truth of Elder Lin's disappearance and all the bloodshed deep underground. The cultivation world of Yuanwu Kingdom only knew that the Fu family had lost two Core Formation cultivators, but no one knew the heart-stopping events of that night.

Inside the secret chamber of the cave in the Abandoned Spirit Valley.

Lu Nanzhu sat cross-legged on a blue stone platform, his eyes closed and his brows furrowed.

He was currently studying the second level of the "Controlling Meridians and Transforming Spirit Technique" step by step.

Beside him, a sphere hovered in the air, emitting a faint, exotic fragrance. This was the "Snow Queen Fragrance" that he had refined many times. This fragrance could not only calm the mind and stabilize the will, but also make one's mind clear.

He slowly opened his eyes, his gaze falling on the jade slip in his hand, but the image of Xiao Suxin unconsciously surfaced in his mind.

"That time I carried her back to the bamboo house and fed her that spiritual liquid... After she woke up and finished explaining the 'sect questioning' and 'cultivation' matters, why did she run away as if she were fleeing? I don't know what she was afraid of."

Lu Nanzhu muttered to himself, but the corners of his mouth involuntarily curved into a smile. He then sighed softly and brought his thoughts back to the jade slip.

The mystery of the second level of the "Controlling Meridians and Transforming Spirit Technique" lies in "Changing Meridians through Changes in the I Ching". From this level onwards, practitioners can try to explore the methods of manipulating and reshaping their meridians.

Although he can only repair some minor meridians now, this method, which fundamentally changes a cultivator's physical talent, still amazes him.

Each level of this method is an extreme test of the practitioner's spiritual consciousness and magical power.

Fortunately, when cultivators practice this technique, they can greatly enhance their spiritual sense and soul strength.

With the aid of "Snow Queen Incense" and the profound foundation provided by the "Taiyi Muhua Scripture", Lu Nanzhu did not encounter any insurmountable bottlenecks in his cultivation.

The only challenge was the demanding level of comprehension, which forced him to be extremely patient, and he had only just barely grasped the basics of the second level.

He stopped his cultivation and took out a black jade slip—the "Corpse Vein Transformation Technique" left behind by Yu Liancheng.

It turns out that this technique shares the same origin as the "Controlling Meridians and Transforming Spirit Technique." However, it has two important differences. First, this technique requires the use of demonic energy for cultivation, making it a thoroughly demonic art.

Secondly, the "Controlling Meridians and Transforming Spirit Technique" is merely a secret method for enhancing spiritual awareness and strengthening the meridians, lacking some ruthless killing techniques. However, this demonized technique is a demonic art with numerous killing methods, such as the technique that can refine enemies into corpse puppets.

Although Lu Nanzhu had no intention of cultivating demonic arts, the unpredictable techniques he encountered might provide him with a lot of inspiration in terms of combat methods and future cultivation.

After finishing his tedious meditation, Lu Nanzhu, as usual, first went to inspect the herb garden and the spirit beast garden.

In the herb garden, several kinds of peculiar medicinal herbs he had never seen before were thriving. He had found them in Yu Liancheng's storage bag. Although he didn't know their names, he planted them all, believing that "they'll be useful no matter what."

In this spirit beast garden, besides the two level-two spirit beasts—"Mancang" and Lei Yuanpeng, as well as the spirit insect Eating Bee, a special "new companion" is sitting on an ice platform radiating cold air in the pool.

It was a Snow Beast egg that had been re-analyzed by "Little Inkstone".

As an improved breed, it is not only immune to all poisons, but also can breathe gray-white cold flames after reaching adulthood, which can be used to defeat evil spirits and heretics. It even needs to devour evil spirits to improve its cultivation. This makes Lu Nanzhu look forward to its future combat power.

After inspecting his herb garden and spirit beast garden, he returned to the stone table and looked at the pile of "spoils" on the left. His gaze fell on the nine flying needles engraved with the words "Twilight Cloud".

Recalling the power of Liancheng's dying blow that day, he felt a chill in his heart, but unfortunately, he could not refine that magic weapon in his current state.

On the table to the right was his "experimental result." It was a prototype puppet made of a century-old sandalwood frame and a section of spirit-devouring vine for its body.

He is trying to use the Soul-Eating Vine, which can absorb spiritual energy, as the puppet's body, attempting to create a living puppet that can "grow on its own," but unfortunately, the current experiment is not going well.

Finally, Lu Nanzhu walked towards a furnace radiating heat.

As the furnace lid was lifted, a bright green pill fell into his fingertip, emitting a wonderful fragrance. This was a spiritual pill made primarily with the "Nine-Leaf Wind-Riding Orchid," specifically designed to aid in the cultivation of the second level of the "Soaring Record."

"Bu Tian Ge..." Lu Nanzhu murmured to himself.

He had already completed his physical tempering before cultivation several months ago. After successfully cultivating to the second level, if he were to use the "Stepping Heaven Song" secret technique with all his might, even an ordinary early-stage Core Formation cultivator might not be able to stop him.

Without any hesitation, he swallowed the pill in one gulp. As the scorching medicinal power dissolved in his body, Lu Nanzhu once again immersed himself in a new round of seclusion.

......

Several months later, the three-year agreement with Senior Xiao had come to an end, and the three-year agreement with Xin Ruyin and Qi Yunxiao was also just around the corner.

Lu Nanzhu put away his cultivation technique and secretly pondered:

Although he is now a high-ranking Core Formation cultivator, surely he wouldn't break his promise to a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator just because of his status?

Thinking of this, he immediately set off, deciding to personally visit Xiao Suxin's cave.

Arriving at the secluded cave entrance with practiced ease, Lu Nanzhu was surprised to find that the barriers outside the cave smoothly retreated to both sides after sensing his presence.

Lu Nanzhu stepped into the inner courtyard, cupped his hands, and said, "Junior Lu Nanzhu greets Senior Xiao."

On the stone bed, Xiao Suxin still sat upright, but this time, the curtain that had once isolated her divine sense and made her appear and disappear was now drawn high.

Only then did Lu Nanzhu have the opportunity to carefully examine Senior Xiao, who had changed back into women's clothing.

She wore her hair in a simple bun, her moon-white dress spotless. Her face had no seductive charm, only a cool and dignified air that penetrated to the bone. At first glance, she was not stunning, but upon closer inspection, the elegance in her eyes and brows became more and more captivating.

Lu Nanzhu felt a moment of disorientation and stood frozen in place like a clay figure, completely mesmerized.

Seeing Lu Nanzhu staring intently at her, even forgetting to bow, Xiao Suxin's usually cool and aloof face flushed with displeasure. She feigned anger and asked:

"What? Is there something dirty on my face?"

Lu Nanzhu suddenly woke up with a start, his heart skipped a beat, and he cursed himself inwardly: What kind of women haven't I seen in my two lifetimes? How could I have made such a fool of myself today, like a complete novice! He quickly lowered his head and apologized profusely.

"I was out of line, please calm down, senior. I was just worried about whether your injuries from that day had healed. Seeing you looking so well and unharmed today, I can finally put my mind at ease."

"Hmph, glib tongue!" A barely perceptible blush crossed Xiao Suxin's face, but she still reprimanded her sternly, "Let me ask you, after that day, when the sect questioned you, did you give yourself away?"

"Reporting to Senior, this junior has already rehearsed the wording with my fellow disciples as previously stated:"

It is said that when the junior was traveling, he was kidnapped by demonic people, but fortunately Senior Xiao happened to pass by and helped him out.

As for other matters, I was unconscious at the time and knew nothing about them.” Lu Nanzhu answered flawlessly.

Xiao Suxin nodded slightly, tapping the stone bed thoughtfully with her fingertips, then changed the subject:

"Indeed. So you've come today for that female cultivator suffering from the 'Dragon's Roar Physique,' right?"

"Your Excellency is wise. That woman is indeed my close friend, and her illness cannot be delayed."

"As instructed by my senior, I have mastered the first level of the secret technique, and have also begun to grasp the basics of the second level. Therefore, I humbly request that you fulfill your promise and help Nanzhu overcome this difficulty."

Lu Nanzhu used the standard procedure for asking for favors, his tone extremely earnest.

Xiao Suxin's originally relaxed brows furrowed slightly upon hearing the word "close friend," a hint of curiosity flashing in her eyes, but her tone turned colder:

"So, you've spent so much time and effort cultivating this secret technique to save that woman?"

"Exactly," Lu Nanzhu replied without hesitation.

Xiao Suxin's brows furrowed even more, and displeasure was already evident on her face.

"So, you risked your life and were captured by Yu Liancheng before, also to save her?"

"Yes."

"When you sent Qi Yunxiao all the way to Spirit Beast Mountain to fetch reinforcements, was it for her sake?"

"Yes...no, it's not." Lu Nanzhu finally realized that the atmosphere in the mansion was a bit strange, and the inexplicable chill made him shiver.

Before he could finish his sentence, Xiao Suxin coldly ordered him to leave:

"Since your secret technique has improved so rapidly, you should be able to handle the matter of healing her yourself. I have recently felt that my cultivation level is unstable and I need to go into seclusion for a while. You may return now."

As soon as she finished speaking, she waved her hand, and the curtains that had been drawn up fell heavily, completely blocking their view of each other once again.

"This... this junior takes his leave." Lu Nanzhu's face darkened, feeling the chill, and he could only leave the cave with a feeling of grievance.

Inside the curtained room, Xiao Suxin suddenly stood up, complaining with a resentful expression:

"At such a young age, he's already behaving badly! That girl already has someone she likes, and he's actually trying to seduce her. What a lecherous scoundrel! Utterly shameless!"

She stomped her foot in frustration, then, as if remembering something, muttered to herself, trying to cover it up, "No, why am I angry? Let him flirt with whomever he wants, it's none of my business! If I weren't afraid of severing the lineage of my Purple Origin Palace, I should have slapped that little lecher to death just now!"