Mortal: The Path to Immortality

One day, Lu Nanzhu, wearing a mask, arrived at a large market in the Yuanwu Kingdom.

He walked through several noisy stalls where independent cultivators gathered and stopped in front of a fairly decent-sized pharmacy.

Stepping over the threshold, the store is spacious, with wooden counters lined up in a row, emanating various medicinal aromas.

After observing for a while, Lu Nanzhu discovered that there was a constant stream of cultivators coming to buy and trade, including some Foundation Establishment cultivators with decent cultivation levels, which showed that the shop had considerable resources.

A sharp-eyed servant behind the counter noticed that although Lu Nanzhu was wearing a mask and his face was obscured, his unfathomable cultivation level was undeniable. He quickly approached with a beaming smile and bowed respectfully.

"This junior greets the senior. May I ask what you wish to purchase today? Our shop has been operating in this market for over a hundred years. We not only have common enhancement pills, but also some rare demon beast cores and ancient spiritual herbs."

Lu Nanzhu had no intention of getting entangled with him any longer, and stated his purpose directly in a hoarse voice:

"I need 'Frosty Scales'... or reliable information about this herb. Price is negotiable."

Upon hearing these seven words, the servant, who had been speaking eloquently just moments before, froze. He racked his brains for a long time before awkwardly wiping the cold sweat from his brow and bowing, saying:

"Please forgive me, senior. Such rare treasures are not in stock in our shop. This is a matter of great importance, and I am truly unable to make the decision. Please, senior, move to the reception room and wait for a moment. I will go and ask the shopkeeper to come downstairs to answer your question."

Lu Nanzhu nodded slightly and followed the servant into a quiet private room.

A moment later, a steady sound of footsteps came.

The beaded curtain was lifted, and a middle-aged cultivator with a large belly, dressed in gold-embroidered brocade, walked in. He had a friendly face and his cultivation had reached the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

Behind him followed a gaunt-faced early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed in simple gray robes.

The middle-aged man in brocade robes entered the room and repeatedly clasped his hands in greeting, smiling like a Maitreya Buddha: "A pleasure to meet you! I am Wang Ci, the owner of this Hundred Herbs Pavilion. I'm sorry to have kept you waiting, fellow Daoist."

Then, he turned to the side and introduced the gray-clad man behind him with great familiarity: "This is Fellow Daoist Li Feng. May I ask how you are addressed?"

Lu Nanzhu glanced at the two of them and replied in a flat tone, "No need for formalities, my surname is De."

"So it's Fellow Daoist De." Manager Wang didn't beat around the bush, sitting down to the side and speaking truthfully.

"To be honest, the servant just mentioned that you wanted to find the 'Blazing Frost Scale Grass.' This plant grows in a treasure land where Yin and Yang converge, and our shop is indeed unable to collect it."

However… if we're talking about this herb, my fellow Daoist Li here actually knows of a place where it grows.”

Lu Nanzhu's heart skipped a beat, but he remained expressionless, simply turning his head away to await what would happen next.

Li Feng, dressed in gray, was quite decisive. He immediately stepped forward and said in a deep voice:

"Six months ago, in order to refine a batch of pills, I risked going to the 'Sealed Sea Fire Abyss' on the border of Dongyu Kingdom."

While searching for a fire-attribute spirit herb called "Red Bell Velvet," I once saw a mature Blazing Frost Scale Grass growing in a crevice in the rocks.

Unfortunately, within several dozen feet of that spiritual herb lurked an extremely troublesome level-four peak demonic beast, the "Black Spirit Smoke Mother," which I was simply unable to handle alone.

He paused, glanced at Lu Nanzhu with a critical eye, and said sincerely, "Judging from Fellow Daoist De's profound magical power, you must have extraordinary abilities. Would you be willing to come with us?"

"If we can subdue that demonic beast together, the spiritual herb will belong to you, fellow Daoist. As for the other opportunities in the secret realm, we'll each rely on our own abilities, shall we?"

Dongyu Kingdom? And the Sea-Sealing Abyss again?

Lu Nanzhu frowned slightly, thinking that he would most likely have to go to Feng Haihuoyuan.

In today's cultivation world, where deceit and treachery abound, why would a complete stranger give away such an opportunity?

Having lived for over a hundred years, Li Feng could easily see the suspicion in Lu Nanzhu's eyes. He gave a self-deprecating laugh and reached into his storage bag to pull out an exquisite wooden box covered with several spirit-sealing talismans.

As the talisman was removed and the box lid was lifted, a strange herb, entirely crimson with several velvety flowers resembling copper bells at its tip, was revealed. The herb's appearance immediately brought with it a slight wave of heat.

"Since Fellow Daoist De is knowledgeable, he will naturally recognize this item." Li Feng showed the wooden box around before carefully resealing it.

"Red Bell Velvet cannot grow without extremely hot pure Yang fire veins. This spiritual herb was forcibly picked by me right under the nose of that Black Spirit Smoke Mother, almost losing half my life."

That cavern is extremely special; not only does it grow this Crimson Bell Velvet, but the nearby stone walls also nurture the 'Blazing Frost Scale Grass' that you require, fellow Daoist. I utter not a single falsehood.”

At this moment, Manager Wang, who was standing to the side, also spoke up at the opportune moment, his tone carrying a hint of frankness and a businessman's shrewdness:

"Don't worry, my friends. Our business is all about long-term vision."

In these chaotic times, rare and precious herbs are out of stock, and the small shop urgently needs some rare items to bolster its reputation.

This time, I asked Fellow Daoist Li to invite several Foundation Establishment stage experts, including Fellow Daoist, to jointly explore the Fire Abyss.

"As for the remaining spiritual herbs that you all harvested through your joint efforts, I, Wang, will not covet them. I am willing to purchase them all at a 20% premium over the local market price. I will not let you fellow Daoists have taken this risk for nothing."

Lu Nanzhu sat in the chair, not speaking immediately. He interlaced his fingers tightly together, his thumbs spinning rapidly.

He quickly went through the whole thing in his mind.

Sealed Fire Abyss was originally a potential location for him to obtain "Heavenly Fire Liquid," and now with the discovery of "Blazing Frost Scale Grass," it can be said to be a godsend.

As for whether these two harbor malicious intentions... Now that he has mastered the second level of the "Soaring Record," as long as the opponent is not a Core Formation stage cultivator, in this extreme environment filled with wind, fire, and storms, he is absolutely confident that he can escape unscathed, in terms of speed and survival alone.

"Since Manager Wang and Fellow Daoist Li have put it this way, it would be rather rude of me to refuse," Lu Nanzhu said, his tone softening as he clasped his hands in a gesture of acceptance.

"Haha, with your help, fellow Daoist, our chances of victory have increased by three times!" Li Feng clapped his hands and laughed, his expression completely relaxed. Then, his expression turned serious, and he began to carefully instruct them:

"The 'Sealed Sea Fire Abyss' will experience a period of calm every two years. Counting the days, it will be at its weakest point in a month."

However, to enter the secret realm, one must first cross the upper Fire Abyss, which is hundreds of feet deep and filled with scalding lava.

Beforehand, fellow Daoist, please prepare sufficient top-grade magical artifacts or talismans for fire repelling and cooling. On the eve of the secret realm's opening, please arrive here to meet us. At that time, you will need to obtain the 'credential' required to traverse the secret realm's restrictions from Manager Wang.

"A forbidden token?" Lu Nanzhu's eyes narrowed, and his brows, hidden beneath his mask, furrowed slightly. "Although I have lived deep in the mountains for a long time, I have heard of the Sealed Fire Abyss. How come I have never heard of needing any token to enter?"

Seeing this, Wang Ci was not surprised; instead, he chuckled with a touch of smugness.

"Fellow Daoist, you may not know this. Beneath the Fire Abyss and above the secret realm, there is actually a layer of restrictive formations set up by an ancient powerful being."

The formation draws upon the spiritual energy of the Fire Abyss, creating an inexhaustible source of power. Even when the sea of ​​fire's activity diminishes dramatically in the middle of the year, and the restrictions are at their weakest, an ordinary cultivator would have to exhaust almost all their magical energy to force their way through.

At this point, Manager Wang patted his large belly and lowered his voice:

"Using ordinary methods to pass through that restriction would consume a great deal of magical power."

If you exhaust most of your spiritual energy at the entrance of the secret realm, you'll be like a lamb to the slaughter when facing monsters and competition from other players of the same level once you enter.

The tokens in Wang's hands were 'golden talismans' secretly crafted by several major sects guarding the secret realm. Wearing these talismans could obscure the array's perception and allow one to easily pass through the restrictions.

"It was only through sheer connections that Wang managed to shamelessly pry open those few treasures from those major sects."

He held up three fingers and looked at Lu Nanzhu with a smile:

"The items are extremely valuable, and I, Wang, can lend them to you all for free, but the rules must be set beforehand."

The rare herbs that you brought out from the secret realm must be divided into three parts, which will be 'rent' for this store as proof.

As for the remaining 70%, if you are willing to sell, my previous promise of a 20% premium will still stand. What do you say?

After hearing this very business-like explanation, Lu Nanzhu felt completely at ease.

The presence of an exchange of benefits further increases the likelihood of the story's authenticity.

"Manager Wang's business acumen is truly impeccable." Lu Nanzhu stood up and gave the two men a slight bow.

"In that case, I will go back and prepare some fire-resistant items. I will visit you promptly in a month."

"Then this old man and Fellow Daoist Li will wait here for good news." Manager Wang and Li Feng stood up at the same time to see him off.

A moment later, Lu Nanzhu, dressed in a blue robe and wearing a mask, walked out of the shop and disappeared into the street.

We began making some preparations for this trip to the Fire Abyss.