Mortal: The Path to Immortality

A hidden cave.

Lu Nanzhu skillfully set up two defensive formations at the cave entrance before turning around and focusing his gaze on the depths of the cave.

At this moment, Xiao Suxin was sitting cross-legged on a sandstone platform in the cave, her eyes closed and her hands forming a mudra in front of her.

There was a natural circular skylight above the cave, through which the cool, bright moonlight poured down, enveloping her completely.

The moonlight seemed to be drawn by an invisible force, transforming into strands of silvery-white light that gradually condensed and dissipated around Xiao Suxin as she circulated her internal energy.

Bathed in the moonlight's spiritual power, her body became translucent and radiant, glowing with a faint, warm light.

With the warm glow of the light, the white silk dress that clung to her body appeared as if it were a transparent veil.

Through the plain clothes, the snow-white outline beneath was no longer concealed.

Her delicate skin, as white as mutton fat jade, was on full display.

There was also a graceful curve, which, under the light and shadow, outlined the proud undulations of the peaks and the charming waist with unparalleled realism, appearing faintly visible through the thin garment occasionally stirred by the breeze.

After staring blankly for a while, Lu Nanzhu suddenly came to his senses.

Knowing he had been somewhat impolite, he forcibly withdrew his gaze from further exploration, found a nearby corner, sat down cross-legged, and closed his eyes to regulate his breathing.

An hour later, the moonlight spiritual energy on the high platform gradually faded away.

Xiao Suxin slowly stopped practicing her cultivation technique, ending her healing process.

She slowly opened her eyes, turned her head to look at Lu Nanzhu, who was sitting cross-legged in the corner, his eyes closed as he meditated. As if she had thought of something, she couldn't help but chuckle softly.

She coughed lightly twice, breaking the silence in the cave, and took the initiative to speak:

"I know about your situation. I didn't expect you to be so lucky. You managed to escape the encirclement and pursuit of the Spirit Control Sect right under the nose of the Supreme Elder."

However, the Liu family of the Spirit Control Sect are still searching for your whereabouts, so it's best if you don't go back to Spirit Beast Mountain.

Upon hearing Xiao Suxin speak, Lu Nanzhu also stopped his cultivation, opened his eyes, and stood up.

He removed his mask and replied with a wry smile, "Senior, you flatter me. I only managed to escape with my life because of my agility."

As for Spirit Beast Mountain, now that I know I've become a bargaining chip in the hands of the higher-ups, I naturally have no intention of going back.

Xiao Suxin nodded slightly, then stood up: "After this incident, you must have seen the cruelty of the cultivation world. Have you decided where you'll go from here?"

After pondering for a moment and considering it carefully, Lu Nanzhu decided to conceal the secret about the Chaotic Star Sea, only vaguely saying:

"To be honest, I had made a pact with a close friend I've known since we were humble beginnings. We planned to take advantage of this upheaval to leave Yue and go to a remote border region to seek opportunities and start anew."

I understand that someone of my mediocre talent, if I were to waste half my life in the sect without any resources or opportunities, would likely find it difficult to make any progress in my cultivation.

Therefore, I thought of going out with my close friend to try my luck, hoping it might help me advance my cultivation further.

"A close friend? Is it that young black man who appeared at Ruyin's house before?" Xiao Suxin stepped down from the gravel platform, a look of realization flashing in her eyes.

"You two do have some ambition."

She stopped in front of Lu Nanzhu, looked him over a few times, and softened her tone:

"Since you already have your own plans, I won't say anything more. You are calm, insightful, and decisive. Perhaps your future achievements on the path of cultivation will be limitless."

As she spoke, she flipped her hand and took out a slightly yellowed booklet and a heavy storage bag from her storage bag, handing them to Lu Nanzhu together.

"This book records some of my alchemical insights over the years, which may be useful for your future study of alchemy."

As for these spirit stones and materials, consider them my way of repaying your life-saving grace. Please accept them.

Seeing this, Lu Nanzhu did not hesitate and readily accepted the gifts, then bowed and thanked him.

After putting away his belongings, Lu Nanzhu looked at the white-clad fairy before him and asked hesitantly, "Senior is currently entangled with Le Anran of the Yuling Sect, and the higher-ups of the Spirit Beast Mountain are deliberately trying to bring them together. I'm afraid there's nowhere left for you in the Yue Kingdom. I wonder what your plans are for the future?"

When Xiao Suxin heard him ask, she looked at Lu Nanzhu with some curiosity, a slight smile playing on her lips, and said leisurely:

"As for me, the Tiannan region is so vast that I can only seek refuge with a neutral sect that is not afraid of the demonic path, or perhaps return to my old profession and become a carefree rogue cultivator."

She walked slowly past Lu Nanzhu, her back to him, and continued, gazing at the night sky outside the skylight:

"However, if Tiannan really doesn't have any good options... I think that 'Le Anran' is quite handsome and comes from a good family. At worst, I can go back to the Yuling Sect and become his cultivation partner. It would be better than spending my whole life wandering around in fear."

"Oh no! This is absolutely impossible!"

Upon hearing this, Lu Nanzhu hurriedly tried to dissuade him, saying, "Senior, on the way here, I interrogated those demonic cultivators. Rumor has it that although 'Le Anran' is handsome, he is actually ruthless and is most skilled in 'sexual cultivation techniques'."

If the senior really goes, he'll most likely be used as a 'furnace' for breaking through his cultivation level. This matter needs careful consideration!

Hearing Lu Nanzhu's somewhat incoherent and hurried speech, Xiao Suxin, who had her back to him, finally couldn't help but burst out laughing.

She turned around, smiling radiantly at the young man before her: "I didn't expect you to actually take it seriously. I, Xiao Suxin, have cultivated for so long, how could I possibly be interested in such an incompetent person who relies on the protection of his elders?"

She paused, her smile fading, glanced at the full moon through the skylight, and continued in a slightly softer tone:

"Back in the Great Jin Dynasty, my sect was destroyed, and I ended up wandering in the southern part of the country. Now, leaving the Spirit Beast Mountain is just a return to the days of wandering I lived back then."

"The phoenix will not perch on any tree but the parasol tree, so there is no need for you to be overly saddened by leaving the sect, senior."

Seeing her somewhat dejected, Lu Nanzhu also let go of his reserve and earnestly comforted her:

"How could such a vast place as Tiannan be confined by a small spirit beast mountain?"

Senior, you are exceptionally talented. Now that you have escaped the shackles, you only need to temporarily avoid the troubles of Yue Kingdom and devote yourself to cultivation.

"When you one day attain the Dao Fruit, where in this vast world can you not go? At that time, you will naturally find your own true 'wutong tree'."

After hearing Lu Nanzhu's words of comfort, Xiao Suxin stared at him blankly.

Under the moonlight, her clear eyes suddenly lit up:

"If I hadn't known back in Ling Shou Mountain that you were a native of Yue, I would sometimes have really thought that you were a 'stranger' who had wandered into this place, just like me."

But you're right, I was being too attached to appearances.

At this point, Xiao Suxin took a deep breath, and her whole demeanor returned to its usual aloof and graceful fairy-like appearance.

"Alright. Lu Nanzhu, farewell. If fate allows, we shall meet again. Take care."

As soon as she finished speaking, Xiao Suxin's body shone brightly, and she transformed into a beam of light that shot into the sky. She flew directly out of the skylight above the cave, passed through the outer array of restrictions, and disappeared into the night.

Watching the disappearing light gradually fade away outside the skylight, Lu Nanzhu stood still for a moment.

Without further hesitation, he raised his hand and retrieved all two sets of array flags and formations at the cave entrance. He put on the mask, then activated the "Step to Heaven Song" escape technique, transforming back into a streak of blue-green light as he emerged from the cave.

Taking advantage of the last vestiges of night before dawn, they continued their arduous journey back to the abandoned mine where the ancient teleportation array was hidden.

After several days of travel, Lu Nanzhu finally arrived near the agreed-upon abandoned mine.

However, when he concealed his aura and hid in the shadows to observe, he discovered that many demonic cultivators had already been stationed around the mine, mainly from the Demon Flame Sect, with a small number of Ghost Spirit Sect disciples patrolling and guarding the area.

Fortunately, Lu Nanzhu did not alert anyone. Instead, he relied on his memory to find an extremely hidden underground passage—a secret entrance that he and Han Li had deliberately left as a backup plan and concealed with a concealment array when they escaped from the mine.

After walking down this narrow, dark passage for a long time, Lu Nanzhu suddenly stopped, and a barrier in front of him was flashing with spiritual light.

He immediately took out a communication talisman from his storage bag, whispered a few words, and then flicked it into the restriction.

After a few breaths, the restriction in front of them suddenly dissipated.

Lu Nanzhu slipped inside and saw Han Li holding a repair diagram of the ancient teleportation array next to the huge ancient teleportation array. He was gesturing with his brows furrowed, while Qu Hun stood silently by his side.

Seeing Lu Nanzhu finally appear wearing the cold mask, Han Li breathed a sigh of relief, put away the array diagram, and joked with a smile, "Brother Lu, you've finally arrived."

"If you don't show up in another two or three days, I'm already thinking of giving up on this place and going elsewhere to become a wandering cultivator."

"Haha, I was delayed by some things on the way, please forgive me, Brother Han." Lu Nanzhu smiled and cupped his hands in greeting.

He moved closer and subconsciously scanned Han Li with his divine sense, discovering that Han Li's cultivation level was indeed no longer what it used to be.

Lu Nanzhu quickly leaned forward, deliberately sniffing the air intently, and jokingly said with a smile:

"Eh? It's been over a year, how come Brother Han only has the cultivation level of Qi Refining, and you also have a faint fragrance about you?"

Upon hearing Lu Nanzhu's question, Han Li scratched the back of his head somewhat embarrassedly and said:

"Sigh, it's a long story, a long story!"

Lu Nanzhu looked enlightened and replied with a smile:

"Oh—! I understand, I understand!"

The two then used the collected materials and followed the markings on the blueprints to repair the ancient teleportation array.

......

Just above the mine shaft where the two were working busily, inside a large tent.

"Lian Feihua! The high-ranking members of the six sects had already discussed the division of these spiritual veins and mines within the Yue Kingdom! These mines originally belonged to my Ghost Spirit Sect. Now you've brought people to interfere and forcibly seize this place. What are your true intentions?"

Wang Chan stood in the center of the tent with a gloomy expression, sternly questioning Lian Feihua, who was sitting at the head of the table.

"Oh? Wang Chan, you've recovered so quickly?"

Upon hearing this, Lian Feihua, seated at the head of the table, not only showed no anger, but lazily propped her chin up, her eyes filled with mockery:

"I heard that you wanted to perform a blood sacrifice on the disciples of the seven sects in Yan Family Fortress, but you failed to show off and were instead poisoned by one of the fish caught in the net of Yellow Maple Valley, and had to flee in a sorry state."

Who would have thought that our usually quick-witted young master of the Ghost Spirit Sect would one day make things worse?

"You—!" Wang Chan was hit where it hurt.

Lian Feihua snorted coldly, stood up calmly, and sneered:

"The six sects did discuss this beforehand, but it only allowed your Ghost Spirit Sect to take some territory as the vanguard. It didn't mean that you would monopolize the entire Yue Kingdom!"

Moreover, this mine was conquered by the disciples of my Demon Flame Sect, so it naturally belongs to my Demon Flame Sect.

Just as the two were about to continue arguing, a surge of spiritual energy unexpectedly emanated from the depths of the ground within the tent.

Both of them were startled and immediately forgot about arguing. They quickly lifted the tent flap and rushed out of the tent to look outside.

Not far away, a huge silver beam of light suddenly shot out from the mine entrance, soaring into the sky and creating violent spatial turbulence.

"What...what is that?" Wang Chan couldn't help but ask upon seeing this.

"That's... an ancient teleportation array!" Mo, the protector behind Lian Feihua, couldn't help but exclaim in surprise.

"What?! An ancient teleportation array?!"

At this point, the two young masters of the demonic path could no longer sit still.

At the command of their superiors, the Demon Flame Sect and Ghost Spirit Sect cultivators guarding the mine quickly gathered and sped towards the depths of the mine where the pillar of light was located.

When Lian Feihua and Wang Chan, along with several Core Formation stage protectors, rushed through the ruins and forced their way into the underground hall, they ran right into Lu Nanzhu and Han Li, who were standing in the center of the teleportation array, completely enveloped in silver beams of light.

"It's you—?!"

The moment they saw the two people in the teleportation array, Lian Feihua and Wang Chan cried out in surprise almost simultaneously.

Upon seeing Han Li, Wang Chan trembled with rage, her eyes instantly turning bloodshot, and she roared through gritted teeth:

"Quickly! Stop them for me! Capture that brat from Yellow Maple Valley alive, I'll skin him alive!"

"Oh?" Upon seeing this, Lian Feihua's face immediately showed curiosity, and she teased, "Wang Chan, it seems that the person who made you suffer so much and almost lost your life at Yan Family Fortress was him?"

"What? Judging from your tone, you know this person too?" Wang Chan asked with a gloomy face while directing the Core Formation Guardians to launch a frenzied attack.

"No, I don't know any cultivators from Yellow Maple Valley."

Lian Feihua's gaze slowly shifted to the masked young man in black beside Han Li. Her expression instantly became incredibly complex, and she said coldly,

"However, the masked kid next to him killed Helian Yu in the Sealed Fire Abyss a year ago. Our Demon Flame Sect has been searching for him all over the world for a whole year, and we never expected to run into him here today."

"Haha, it's him?!"

Upon hearing this, Wang Chan was slightly taken aback, then burst into wild laughter.

"Today truly brings double joy! Everyone, listen to my command, launch a full-scale attack! Whoever captures these two will be richly rewarded by the Ghost Spirit Sect and the Demon Flame Sect!"

As several magical artifacts belonging to Core Formation stage cultivators roared towards them from all sides, Lu Nanzhu and his companion in the center of the teleportation array both looked extremely solemn.

At this moment, outside the ancient teleportation array, the two of them had each deployed a set of "Inverted Five Elements Arrays", which were now in full operation, forming two layers of solidified, thick defensive light screens.

With a deafening roar, a combined attack from several demonic Core Formation cultivators slammed heavily into the first layer of restrictions, shattering it into pieces in no time.

Immediately afterwards, those Core Formation magic weapons slammed into the second layer of restrictions, and cracks instantly spread like a spider web.

The two formations could only buy them a few breaths of time.

Just before the second layer of restrictions completely collapsed, the silver light on the teleportation array finally accumulated enough.

Lu Nanzhu took a deep breath, flipped his hand and took out the Great Teleportation Token that emitted a faint blue light, and infused it with a wisp of pure magic power.

Om-!

The Great Teleportation Order instantly unleashed a blinding white light, completely enveloping Lu Nanzhu, Han Li, and Qu Hun in the procession.

The next instant, the huge silver pillar of light suddenly contracted inward, and the three figures in the center of the teleportation array disappeared without a trace, leaving only a pile of abandoned spirit stones with depleted spiritual energy.