Mortal: The Path to Immortality

"Fellow Daoist Lu, it is truly remarkable that you have reached such a level of cultivation as a rogue cultivator." Yang Liansheng nodded approvingly, his politeness increasing further, and then said earnestly:

"I wonder if you have found a place to stay since you came to the island?"

Kui Xing Island boasts abundant spiritual veins. Fellow Daoist, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, according to the island's rules, you may occupy a treasure mountain brimming with spiritual energy on your own, and open a cave for secluded cultivation, if you so wish.

However, the selection of a mountain peak still requires the fellow Daoist to personally go to the "Ascending Immortal Pavilion" to register.

"How about this? My shift just ends today, so I'll personally lead you to the 'Ascending Immortal Pavilion' to choose a cave dwelling, and take care of the registration process while we're at it. What do you think, fellow Daoist?"

Upon hearing this, Mr. Gu, who was sitting to the side, felt a sudden unease.

He glanced at Lu Nanzhu furtively and saw that the masked immortal master was silent. He immediately became anxious and clasped his hands together, twisting them back and forth in front of him.

The old man secretly groaned, fearing that once Lu Nanzhu had Master Yang as his guide, he would no longer need Gu Jia's guarantee after arriving at Dengxian Pavilion, choosing a sacred mountain, and settling in. He would then simply leave, abandoning the previous duel agreement.

Lu Nanzhu caught a glimpse of Old Man Gu's reaction out of the corner of his eye.

After withdrawing his gaze, he politely clasped his hands in a fist and bow to Yang Liansheng, declining the offer.

"Thank you for your kind words, Fellow Daoist Yang. It is of great honor to have you guide me."

However, I had already promised Master Gu while I was on the ship that I would take care of something for him first. In the meantime, I will stay at Master Gu's residence.

Once everything is settled, I will proceed to the "Ascending Immortal Pavilion." If a new cave dwelling has been opened then, I will certainly prepare spiritual wine and invite Fellow Daoist Yang to my residence for a drink!

"Oh? Hahaha! I see. I was being presumptuous." Yang Liansheng was slightly taken aback upon hearing this, then glanced at the relieved old man Gu and burst into laughter, understanding the implication.

He didn't insist, and very graciously bowed in farewell, saying, "Since you already have arrangements, I won't delay your business any longer. There's plenty of time in the future, farewell."

After bidding farewell to Yang Liansheng, the group smoothly passed through the dock.

As soon as they exited the border, the Gu family steward, who had been waiting outside, hurriedly came to greet them.

The group boarded the spacious beast-drawn carriage specially arranged by Old Man Gu, and, pulled by docile pack animals, swayed and rocked along the main road back to the Gu residence.

Along the way, looking at the completely different exotic scenery outside the car window, Lu Nanzhu would still lift the curtain every now and then to ask the guide, Master Gu, about the current situation and taboos of the cultivation world in this place.

Han Li listened silently from the side, occasionally memorizing these key pieces of information.

Seemingly remembering something, Lu Nanzhu asked again, "Master Gu, has that Fellow Daoist Yang always been so enthusiastic?"

After recalling for a moment, Gu Dongjia cautiously said, "To be honest, Immortal Master Yang is not usually very warm-hearted. Perhaps he only decided to befriend you this time because he saw your profound cultivation."

Upon hearing this, Lu Nanzhu lowered the curtain and sat quietly in the carriage, lost in thought.

Half an hour later, the carriage finally stopped in front of a vast and imposing mansion. This was the Gu family's residence on Kui Xing Island.

Upon entering the mansion, Lu Nanzhu and his two companions did not accept the luxurious guest rooms and maids arranged by Master Gu, but instead requested to find a quiet place.

Old Man Gu dared not disobey, and immediately led the three to a secluded, desolate forest behind the Gu residence.

Lu Nanzhu was drawn to the tranquil environment, so together with Han Li and Qu Hun, they built two simple but clean thatched huts in the bamboo forest clearing behind the mountain and settled down there.

Before moving into the bamboo grove behind the mountain, Lu Nanzhu stood by the fence and repeatedly gave instructions to Gu Dongjia, who was following closely behind:

"Master Gu, my fellow disciple and I will be busy with cultivation in the coming days."

Unless it is urgent, do not send anyone to disturb me at the back mountain. I will personally descend the mountain to fulfill our agreement when the competition takes place a month from now.

"Rest assured, Immortal Master, this old man understands and would never dare to let his servants disturb the two lords' peaceful cultivation!"

Gu Dongjia bowed repeatedly and withdrew. With Lu Nanzhu's words, the last weight in his heart was finally lifted.

Once the footsteps of the mortals had completely disappeared at the end of the mountain path, Lu Nanzhu and Han Li returned to their thatched hut.

Lu Nanzhu raised his hand and cast several spells, setting up a simple array around the thatched hut.

After doing all this, he sat cross-legged. He took out several bottles of pills from his storage bag, tilted his head back and swallowed them, and began to cultivate his inner energy.

......

A month later, in the bamboo forest on the back mountain.

Lu Nanzhu and Han Li went down the mountain together, leaving Qu Hun alone to continue guarding the gate at the thatched hut on the back mountain.

They followed Master Gu, who had been waiting for a long time, through the streets of Kuixing Island, and finally arrived at the gate of a magnificent palace.

Master Gu stepped forward and gently knocked on the door.

A moment later, with a muffled thud, the heavy palace doors slowly opened, revealing a handsome young man dressed in white.

This person is Wen Qiang, the cultivator in charge of guiding people here.

Wen Qiang leaned out halfway and, upon seeing the newcomer, greeted him politely: "Oh, Mr. Gu has arrived."

However, when his gaze unconsciously swept backward and landed on Lu Nanzhu behind Gu Dongzhu, Wen Qiang's gentle expression instantly froze.

He hurriedly strode out of the palace gate, bowed deeply to Lu Nanzhu, and clasped his hands in a salute, saying:

"Junior Wenqiang greets senior! I was unaware of your arrival and have failed to greet you properly."

The duel inside is about to begin. Senior, please follow me.

After exchanging a few whispered instructions with Master Gu and Han Li outside the hall, Lu Nanzhu entered the main hall under Wen Qiang's guidance, leaving Master Gu and Han Li, who was at the Qi Refining stage, to wait quietly outside the palace.

The hall was quite spacious, but there were very few cultivators inside.

Apart from a white-haired elder with an air of otherworldly wisdom who was presiding over the competition and was in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, the remaining cultivators standing below were all at the Qi Refining stage.

When the Qi Refining stage cultivators turned around at the sound and saw Lu Nanzhu walking in with Wen Qiang, the hall instantly fell silent.

The expressions on the faces of the group were incredibly varied—some were filled with doubt, some with shock, and a few timid ones instinctively took a few steps back.

"Strange, there don't seem to be many cultivators participating in this merchant competition today." Lu Nanzhu stopped and looked around, raising his eyebrows slightly, a hint of suspicion flashing in his eyes.

Seemingly noticing the confusion in the eyes of this Foundation Establishment senior, Wen Qiang, who was standing to the side, quickly explained:

"Senior, you may not know this, but the rumors on the island that the Gu family has invited a Foundation Establishment expert to be their retainer have been circulating for the past few days.

Upon learning that their senior would personally participate in the competition, the business owners knew that the immortal masters they had invited were no match for him. To avoid needlessly losing manpower and face, they all hurriedly withdrew.

The old abbot, with his sage-like demeanor, dared not be the slightest bit presumptuous when he saw Lu Nanzhu approaching.

His initial Foundation Establishment level divine sense touched Lu Nanzhu and then immediately withdrew. He quickly stood up from his chair, hurriedly stepped forward, and politely clasped his hands in a fist and bow, saying:

"Haha, greetings, fellow Daoist. I never imagined that the Gu family, a mere mortal merchant, could actually invite a Foundation Establishment cultivator like you to lend their assistance. You are truly fortunate. It seems that today's duel will most likely have to be canceled."

The white-haired old man chuckled dryly, then turned his head, his gaze sweeping over the few remaining Qi Refining cultivators behind him, and asked with a hint of amusement:

"Are you all still determined to go up on stage and spar with this senior?"

"The Gu family actually managed to get a Foundation Establishment cultivator to personally participate; they really hit the jackpot."

A short, stout cultivator at the sixth level of the Qi Refining stage muttered to himself with a hint of sourness.

The hall fell silent for a moment, and the cultivators looked at each other in bewilderment.

After a moment, a Qi Refining cultivator dressed in yellow finally stepped forward, bowed deeply to Lu Nanzhu and the red-robed elder, and said:

"We juniors were truly unaware that it was you, senior, who had come here in person today."

Although there had been many rumors circulating in the city, I still held onto a sliver of hope. My visit today was absolutely not intended to be disrespectful to you, senior. Please forgive me, please forgive me!

Seeing that someone had taken the lead, the other Qi Refining stage cultivators followed suit, bowing and offering sincere apologies, fearing that this senior would cause them trouble later.

"It's alright." Lu Nanzhu stood with his hands behind his back. "I won't hold it against you."

Now that you've seen me, you may leave. I'll accept this merchant's certificate on behalf of the Gu family for now.

Upon hearing Lu Nanzhu's words, the Qi Refining stage cultivators in the hall felt as if they had been granted a pardon and breathed a sigh of relief.

They bowed to the two Foundation Establishment cultivators again, and then left the hall somewhat disheveled.

"Hehe, since all the other contestants have voluntarily withdrawn, then according to the rules, this token belongs to you, fellow Daoist."

Seeing this, the old man in charge of the event didn't hesitate and took out a blue jade slip from his sleeve, handing it to Lu Nanzhu.

Lu Nanzhu took the jade slip, checked it briefly to make sure it was correct, exchanged a few more pleasantries with the white-haired old man, and then turned and left the hall.

After stepping out of the palace gate, Lu Nanzhu didn't waste any words and casually tossed the blue jade slip to the approaching Master Gu.

Old Gu hurriedly took the voucher with both hands, and after reading it carefully, his old face instantly turned red with excitement.

Although he was already 70-80% certain beforehand, the old man was still trembling with excitement when he actually held this "trading certificate" that concerned the family's fortune in his hands, and thanked Lu Nanzhu profusely.

"The two immortal masters' life-saving grace and their benevolent act of giving me a second chance will forever remain in my Gu family's memory!"

Master Gu, holding the jade slip, bowed repeatedly and said, "Please wait a few days, two immortal masters. Once I have completely finalized your permanent residency qualifications on this island, I will personally deliver the two guarantee letters to you!"

Lu Nanzhu and Han Li exchanged a glance, both seeing the satisfaction in each other's eyes, and then nodded in unison.

"In that case, I'll have to trouble you, Master Gu. Let's go back," Lu Nanzhu said calmly.