Mortal: The Path to Immortality

Several hours later, guided by "Mancang's" keen sense of smell, Lu Nanzhu finally found the mine with abundant spiritual energy in this wasteland.

Looking ahead, a striking canyon stretched out before them, shrouded by a faint, indistinct barrier. The spirit stone mine was hidden deep within this canyon.

Lu Nanzhu did not conceal his presence. The cultivators stationed there were extremely perceptive, and almost as soon as he approached, several wary divine senses swept over him.

Immediately afterwards, several cultivators emerged from the edge of the canyon. The leader had a handsome face and sharp eyes. After recognizing the newcomers, he paused slightly and murmured:

"It was him?"

A burly, fleshy-faced cultivator standing nearby noticed his companion's unusual expression, leaned forward, and asked in a deep, gruff voice:

"What? Fellow Daoist Xuan recognizes this person? Judging from his attire, he seems to be a disciple of my Spirit Beast Mountain."

Xuan Le shook his head and replied, "Brother Lü, you may not know this, but several years ago in the Crimson Forbidden Land, this person was highly regarded by Senior Qiong and was even given a talisman in public!"

In just a few short years, he has already advanced to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. It seems Senior Qiong was right about him back then.

"Oh? So it was him." Lu Tianmeng's spirits lifted after hearing this.

He scanned the rapidly approaching figure carefully with his divine sense once more, and chuckled.

"In that case, let's recruit him too. Having another henchman will increase our chances of success in guarding the mine. What do you say?"

"Very well." Xuan Le nodded in agreement and transmitted her voice into the distance, "I am Xuan Le of the Hidden Moon Sect! State your name, you who come!"

"Spirit Beast Mountain, Lu Nanzhu!" Lu Nanzhu slowed his flight and replied, "I have come here on the orders of my sect to assist in the defense of this mine."

After saying that, he casually waved his hand and showed the mission token that the Nascent Soul elder had given him earlier.

Lu Tianmeng scanned the token with his divine sense, carefully confirming its authenticity, before nodding to Xuan Le: "That's right, it's a mission token from the Spirit Beast Mountain, it doesn't seem to be fake."

Upon hearing this, Xuan Le's wariness instantly transformed into politeness, and he quickly opened a gap in the barrier: "Since you are a fellow Daoist who has come to help, please enter the formation immediately!"

Lu Nanzhu put away the token and flew into the canyon without hesitation.

Upon entering the canyon, Lu Nanzhu scanned the area with his divine sense and found that, in addition to the dozens of Qi Refining disciples, there were ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, including himself.

Lu Tianmeng stepped forward, cupped his hands, and asked, "Welcome, junior brother, for coming to lend a hand. I wonder how your master has been lately? He is very concerned about him."

"To be honest, senior brother, I was unable to bid farewell to my master on this trip. When I left the sect, he was still at the front line of Jingu Plain. I think that with his supernatural powers, he will be fine." Lu Nanzhu returned the greeting with a cupped hand and answered frankly.

Lu Tianmeng asked a few more questions, and seeing that Lu Nanzhu answered them fluently, he finally let down his guard and gave Xuan Le a look.

"Junior Brother Lu has traveled a long way to get here, so you must have expended a lot of magical energy. The spiritual energy in the mine is still good, Junior Brother, please go in and recuperate for a while." Xuan Le hurriedly pointed out the way, his attitude enthusiastic.

Lu Nanzhu thanked Xuan Le and, amidst the awe-inspiring gazes of the Qi Refining disciples, slowly walked into the depths of the cave.

Seeing that another powerful Foundation Establishment mid-stage senior was present, the disciples felt the previously oppressive atmosphere ease somewhat.

Reaching the darkest corner of the cave, Lu Nanzhu immediately spotted a familiar figure—the man had dark skin and an ordinary appearance, and was sitting cross-legged on a blue stone with his eyes closed, resting. It was Han Li.

Han Li also sensed someone approaching, opened his eyes, and a look of surprise and joy flashed in them.

He was about to get up to greet him when he saw Lu Nanzhu walk right past him without even glancing at him.

Lu Nanzhu sat down cross-legged casually a few feet away from Han Li, glanced at Han Li, and seeing that no one was around, transmitted his voice to him:

"Senior Brother Han, please forgive my rudeness. The situation is treacherous right now, and there are many people around, so we should be careful in our actions."

Let's keep our friendship a secret from outsiders. We'll drink and celebrate after we've escaped danger.

Han Li remained seated, motionless, but a subtle upward curve appeared at the corner of his mouth. He also closed his eyes and replied telepathically:

"If I, Han, didn't even have this much shrewdness, I would have perished long ago. What you say makes sense, Junior Brother."

I never expected that Brother Lu would also be conscripted by them? Haha, it seems that we two brothers are indeed destined to meet.

Okay! Just as you said, let's catch up again after I leave.

......

Several days passed peacefully, and the mine was extremely quiet except for the occasional sound of spirit stones being mined.

"It should be soon."

Lu Nanzhu leaned against the stone wall, tapping his knees with his fingertips, as if waiting for something, silently chanting in his heart.

Finally, the unexpected turn of events he had anticipated arrived on this day.

In the distance, dark clouds rolled in, accompanied by the muffled sound of bugles.

Led by a dozen Foundation Establishment demonic cultivators, followed closely by hundreds of murderous Qi Refining disciples, they rushed directly into the canyon.

Within the demonic array, a crimson peacock with a wingspan of several meters soared through the air, its entire body wreathed in demonic flames.

On its back sat a golden, pyramidal palanquin, with layers of thin gauze hanging down, swaying gently in the flames.

Inside the palanquin, a girl dressed in a close-fitting outfit and with neat braids leaned against a soft couch, her eyes filled with disdain. She was none other than Lian Feihua, the little witch of the Demon Flame Sect.

Upon seeing this, Xuan Le's expression turned grave. He quickly led everyone out of the mine and confronted the demonic forces through the protective array.

"It's the Demon Flame Sect and the Heavenly Fiend Sect!" Someone in the crowd shouted in terror. The low-level disciples, who were already like frightened birds, immediately panicked and their hands holding magic weapons trembled uncontrollably.

Lian Feihua didn't even glance at the crowd below, but simply raised her hand listlessly and waved it forward casually.

In an instant, the demonic monsters, like mad dogs released from their cages, launched an attack with strange howls.

While shouting hoarsely to direct everyone to reinforce the great formation, Xuan Le also organized the cultivators to counterattack with spells.

The battlefield instantly transformed into a blood grinder. Screams and the explosions of magical artifacts filled the air.

Low-level disciples fell in droves, and even Foundation Establishment cultivators lost several in the melee.

Lu Nanzhu huddled at the edge of the battle, feinting a few moves with his twin blades before precisely reaping the kills when someone foolishly rushed forward.

He appeared utterly ordinary, attracting no attention whatsoever. But his peripheral vision remained fixed on Lian Feihua in the palanquin.

Finally, it seemed that even the demonic path had grown tired of this war of attrition. Lian Feihua uttered the word "burn".

Several demonic cultivators dressed in black robes stepped out from the crowd, forming a circle around them and chanting incantations as they performed hand seals.

The next moment, several cold and eerie blue-green demonic flames roared out and crashed into the barrier.

In an instant, the seemingly solid canyon formation was burned away as easily as paper.

"The formation has been broken! Retreat!" someone exclaimed in alarm. The defenders panicked and scattered like headless flies.

Guided by an old miner, the seven surviving disciples rushed haphazardly into a hidden tunnel deep within the mine, hoping to escape.

However, just as the last person stepped into the tunnel, the entire canyon suddenly trembled violently, a muffled sound came from the depths of the tunnel, and it collapsed completely in an instant.

……

On the ground, Lian Feihua held a recently used "Earth-Shaking Talisman" between two fingers and gently shook her fingertips.

The attendant beside him quickly bowed and stepped forward respectfully, saying, "Young Master, the spirit stone mine here has been completely cleared out, and all the rebels have been buried underground. There is absolutely no chance of them surviving."

Lian Feihua shook the talisman in her hand, her tone casual: "Take all the spirit stones you can carry and head to the next place."

"Yes!" The waiter acknowledged the order and withdrew.

At this moment, the yellow-robed cultivator who had been accompanying them stepped forward and said with a fawning smile, "Junior sister, the northern border of Yue Kingdom is now basically under our sect's control. We have made a great contribution to the sect."

"A great achievement?" Lian Feihua turned around and gave a cold glance, her sharp eyes instantly freezing the yellow-robed cultivator's smile.

"I've heard that that young Helian is doing very well in Yuanwu Kingdom, and has already acquired a large territory for his sect."

She looked at the devastated mining area and complained, "Senior brother, while others are eating meat, we're still playing 'groundhog' in this wasteland."

My father is so biased; he gives all the good jobs to others. When I get back, I'm going to have a good talk with him.

The yellow-robed monk lowered his head awkwardly, hesitant and not daring to utter a word.

Before long, the demonic expedition team swept away all the resources and left triumphantly.