Mortal: Starting by looting Han Laomo's entire herb garden

"Just lucky."

Lu Yan politely ushered Han Li into the cave.

The two sat facing each other at the stone table, and Lu Yan poured him a cup of Yin Sha tea diluted with water.

"please."

Han Li picked up his teacup: "Thank you... uh, Uncle Lu."

"There's no need for such formality between us. Let's continue to address each other as fellow disciples." Lu Yan smiled and took a sip of tea. "I believe that with Junior Brother Han's dedication to the Dao, he will eventually advance to the Core Formation stage."

Han Li smiled wryly: "With my qualifications, I really dare not ask for more."

He paused, then changed the subject: "I wonder if what Senior Brother Lu said about the Heaven-Mending Pill still stands?"

Lu Yan's expression shifted: "Oh? Junior Brother Han has already gathered all the ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs?"

Han Li sighed, a hint of emotion on his face: "I was just lucky. A while ago, I encountered two demonic beasts fighting over a spiritual herb in the outer sea. They both died from exhaustion, and I managed to snag one."

As he spoke, he waved his hand, and ten jade boxes flew out of his storage bag, landing neatly on the table.

Lu Yan opened the jade box and examined each plant; each one was over ten thousand years old and in excellent condition.

As for the other party's claim of "coincidence," he didn't believe a word of it, but he didn't call them out on it either.

He took out a jade bottle from his pocket and placed it on the table: "Junior Brother Han, please take a look. This is the Heaven-Mending Pill."

Han Li's eyes widened in surprise: "Senior Brother Lu has already finished refining it?"

He reached out and opened the bottle cap. Inside, a pill radiating five-colored light lay quietly, its fragrance filling the air.

Lu Yan chuckled: "Isn't it a coincidence? A while ago, a severely injured sea beast somehow escaped to my island, but it died from its injuries. I found a lot of ancient spiritual herbs on its body, so I refined a batch of Heaven-Mending Pills."

Han Li glanced at him, his lips twitching slightly: "Senior brother is really lucky."

Of course he didn't believe it. Over the years, he had frequented Kui Xing Island and had long since found out the origins of the Heaven-Mending Pill.

That is a treasure that can only be obtained in the Void Heaven Palace. It was made by ancient cultivators, and the formula and main ingredients have long been lost in the human world.

I guess Senior Brother Lu happened to get this bottle of pills somewhere and then traded it for spiritual herbs with him.

But... why did he specifically ask for the ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herb? Could it be that the little green bottle has really been exposed? Then why doesn't he try to snatch it?

Han Li remained secretly vigilant, carefully putting away the Heaven-Mending Pill as he prepared to take his leave.

"In that case, I won't bother you any longer."

"Junior Brother Han, please wait."

Han Li's heart skipped a beat, but his face remained calm: "Is there anything else, Senior Brother Lu?"

Lu Yan smiled and said, "Junior Brother Han, why are you in such a hurry to leave? I still have quite a few things here that are useful for Core Formation. If you need them, you can exchange them for spirit stones."

With a wave of his hand, a pile of things appeared on the table with a clatter.

Over the years, he had spent almost all his spirit stones on the process of forming his core, and he urgently needed some start-up capital.

Now that I have successfully formed my core and possess the inner fire, I can refine ancient treasures, and most of my previous magical artifacts are no longer needed.

Han Li originally wanted to go back immediately to study the Heaven-Mending Pill, but when he saw the things on the table, he paused.

He picked up a jade bottle and uncorked it: "This...could it be a Dust-Clearing Pill?"

Having spent years on Kui Xing Island, he naturally recognized this kind of pill that could increase the probability of forming a core.

Lu Yan nodded: "That's right."

He picked up another jade slip: "This book, 'The Great Evolution Manual,' is also helpful for advancing to the Core Formation stage."

He then pointed to the ritual implements on the table and introduced them one by one: "And these too, I don't need them anymore."

Xuanming Heaven-Tearing Claw, Primordial Demon-Suppressing Seal, Five Thunder Heavenly Heart Net, Pivot Lightning Heart-Slaying Nail, Five Thunder Order, Purple Lightning Hammer, Soul-Capturing Bell, Nine Nether Soul-Capturing Mirror, Azure Thunder Cone.

Han Li examined each item one by one, secretly marveling. These magical artifacts were all top-grade, each one surpassing Feng Yue's yellow parasol.

This guy is richer than me. He even said he wasn't good at killing before?

"These are exactly what Junior Brother needs." He suppressed his emotions and looked up to ask, "But... could some of the demon cores be used as payment?"

"Of course."

Han Li paid with twenty level-five demon cores, plus a few hundred-year-old spiritual herbs and some spirit stones, taking all of these things into his pocket.

After the deal was struck, Lu Yan's eyes darted around, and he took out two more golden-backed mantis eggs.

"Junior Brother Han, are you interested in raising spirit beasts? What do you think of these two golden-backed mantis eggs?"

He didn't have the time or resources to raise insects; his three spirit beasts were already resource-intensive enough, and he couldn't afford to add any more.

Han Li's eyes flickered. He was genuinely interested. Ever since he saw Li Huayuan's silver-armored horned python, he had wanted to get a spirit beast to raise, but he hadn't had the right opportunity.

"I am indeed interested, but I have already traded all my spirit stones to my senior brother..."

Lu Yan waved his hand dismissively: "Then I'll owe you for now. Just remember me when you have another ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herb in the future."

Han Li's heart skipped a beat. Why was Senior Brother Lu so certain that he could produce a ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herb?

He couldn't refuse the opportunity to increase his trump card, so he accepted the insect eggs with both hands: "In that case, I will accept them without hesitation."

"I'll also give this list of strange insects to my junior brother." Lu Yan took out a jade slip and handed it over.

Han Li thanked him verbally and put the jade slip into his storage bag.

Once the transaction was complete, he dared not linger and took his leave.

Lu Yan escorted him out of the cave and watched his disappearing light vanish into the horizon.

Yin Yue then popped out, her eyes darting around: "Brother Lu, this kid must have a secret to be able to produce so many ten-thousand-year-old spiritual herbs. Why don't we..."

Lu Yan glared at her: "Don't talk nonsense! This person has a very heavy karma on his shoulders, which I cannot bear for the time being."

"Cause and effect?" Yin Yue tilted her head, puzzled.

Lu Yan sighed and explained, "This matter involves the secrets of the True Immortal Realm, and several Dao Ancestors are involved behind the scenes. It is not something we can covet."

"What is the Dao Ancestor?"

At this moment, Celestial Talisman Master also floated out from the Soul-Nourishing Wood, his illusory figure becoming more solid: "Young Lu, what you just mentioned, could it be the division of the Immortal Realm?"

Lu Yan nodded: "That's right. Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Core Formation, Nascent Soul, Deity Transformation, Void Refinement, Body Integration, and Mahayana are the realm classifications that are popular in the world."

Above them are True Immortals, Golden Immortals, Taiyi, Daluo, and Dao Ancestors.

Only by cultivating a single law to its ultimate level and surviving the Great Tribulation of the Dao can one become a Dao Ancestor. That is the end of the path of cultivation.

"Ugh... Wow!" Silver Moon opened her mouth wide, clearly stunned by the amount of information.

After a long silence, Master Tianfu slowly spoke: "Young Master Lu, have you been to the Immortal Realm?"

Lu Yan didn't answer directly, but simply shrugged, a meaningful smile playing on his lips:

"you guess."

At this moment, Yin Yue suddenly spoke up: "Brother Lu, during the time you were in seclusion, all the insects in the insect chamber were eaten."

Lu Yan raised an eyebrow. Could it be a gold-devouring insect?

Before he went into seclusion, he deliberately kept all insect eggs except for the Golden-backed Demon Mantis in the insect chamber in order to attract the Gold-eating Insects.