First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

"Alright, that's enough. The mortal realm is just ahead, it'll definitely be safe."

Xu Mu and Yan Qing landed at the edge of the cultivation world.

"I really admire you. Going to the mortal realm first will basically allow you to avoid all those with ill intentions. No one knows better than you how to protect yourself."

Yan Qing looked at the land of the end times ahead and sighed.

In his eyes, the mortal realm was like a vast desert. Ordinary people wouldn't go into the desert unless necessary, just as cultivators don't like to enter the mortal realm.

He himself was unwilling to enter the mortal realm, so if Xu Mu hadn't wanted to go to the mortal realm himself, he wouldn't have specifically entrusted this task to him.

"You flatter me, it's just a little survival wisdom." Xu Mu chuckled.

"Thank you very much for the escort, Senior Brother. Farewell." He cupped his hands in farewell.

"I wish you a speedy foundation building, and I look forward to seeing you again." Yan Qing returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

Xu Mu smiled and nodded, then turned and stepped into the mortal realm.

With his cultivation level of the sixth level of Qi Refining, entering the mortal realm was like a bird with broken wings, or like stepping into a quagmire.

However, he felt at ease.

Although the sect is large, the waters are too deep, and there are too many ferocious beasts in the deep sea. I can't control it.

It's better to live in this mortal world, this muddy swamp. I'm just like that mudfish who loves to play in the mud.

……

After watching him disappear into the woods, Yan Qing turned and went back.

He didn't notice that even after entering the mortal realm, Xu Mu's appearance did not age.

Most cultivators practice techniques to preserve their youth, but these techniques require a continuous consumption of magical power to maintain their bodies.

The more exaggerated the method of preserving youth, the greater the consumption of magical power.

If someone's appearance is that of an old man, but they insist on maintaining the appearance of a young man, then their magical power will be consumed in great quantities.

Similarly, the amount of magical power consumed when a young man transforms into an old man is about the same.

Unless it's just a facial disguise while the body remains unchanged, what's the point? How can an aging body compare to a young and strong one?

Xu Mu was over sixty years old, but he always presented himself as young, so people would assume that he had used a youth-preserving technique and would not pay any attention to it.

In reality, he has always looked the same as he always has, and he never ages.

He could control aging, but he prefers a youthful mindset and a youthful appearance.

……

Sunlight was broken into fragments by the leaves and sprinkled onto the weeds below.

Xu Mu stepped through the weeds and walked through the woods.

The forest is dense and often shrouded in mist. Wild animals roam the forest, so mortals cannot get close to the immortal mountain, nor can they tell that it is an immortal mountain.

It took him a lot of effort to find the sect back then.

First, they found the outer village of the sect and asked someone for directions before finally finding the location of the sect's Welcoming Immortal Platform.

Now, as we venture out, although the spiritual energy is gradually thinning, making it inconvenient to fly on a sword and restricting our freedom, and we are also a bit hungry, safety is the most important thing. We can't help but feel happy and have plenty of time to enjoy the flowers and plants along the way.

"It's a pity I'm uncultured, otherwise I could really compose a poem to express my current state of mind," Xu Mu sighed repeatedly.

After struggling in the mortal world for 150 years, searching for immortals and seeking enlightenment, he finally found the immortal mountain, but he could only stay there for 26 years before he couldn't stand it anymore.

Looking back suddenly, I realize that the mortal world is still the best.

"Do not yearn for the ethereal immortals on the mountain, I only wish for a peaceful slumber in the mortal world."

After racking his brains, he finally managed to come up with a line of poetry.

……

As the sun gradually moved westward, the orange-yellow sunset shone on the ancient road.

The sound of horses' hooves.

The wheels rolled over the road, kicking up some loose dust.

"Why is the Taoist priest traveling alone here?"

Inside the carriage, a young and beautiful lady asked curiously.

Xu Mu took off his Qinglan Daoist robe, but this attire was still the usual attire of a cultivator.

The mortal world has always held Taoists in high esteem, even in awe, for a simple reason: the Tao truly exists in the world.

Even without magic, one can still perform rituals to pray for blessings, ward off disasters, and help the souls of the deceased find peace.

Xu Mu smiled and said, "It is said that immortals roam around here, so I came here to seek immortality and ask questions."

"I see." The maid beside the young lady nodded with a smile.

"There are indeed immortals here, but whether you can encounter them depends on your fate. The Qingfeng Temple we just visited was quite efficacious. Although the person there isn't an immortal, the abbot is very capable."

"Miss, please grant me a marriage proposal..."

"Qing'er!" the young lady exclaimed coquettishly.

Xu Mu smiled. It was indeed more comfortable in the mortal world; he didn't have to be respectful to anyone.

The maid covered her mouth, but couldn't resist asking him again, "Can you tell fortunes?"

"No," Xu Mu answered honestly.

"Where are you drawing the talisman?"

"Won't."

"Exorcising evil spirits?"

"...maybe."

"..." The young lady and her maid looked at each other in bewilderment.

"Then you are a Taoist priest, what can you do?" the maid asked.

Xu Mu thought for a moment: "I know a little about medicine."

Before joining the Qinglan Sect, he had studied medicine and made money with it. Now he also knows alchemy. Calling himself a divine doctor in the mortal world is an understatement.

"Medical skills? That's quite good too."

The maid nodded somewhat reluctantly.

Medical skills seem less impressive than fortune-telling, talisman drawing, and exorcism, perhaps because they are more common? Traditional Chinese medicine practitioners also possess medical skills, so it's not unusual for Taoist priests to know medicine.

Xu Mu clutched his stomach and asked, "Do you have any extra dry rations? I haven't eaten for ages..."

After entering the mortal realm, I was indeed prone to hunger. At noon, I caught a pheasant in the mountains and roasted it. There were no seasonings, not even salt, but I forced myself to eat it.

This life was completely different from that on the sacred mountain, and the inconvenience and discomfort were quite unpleasant at first.

Luckily, he encountered this carriage and accepted the young lady's invitation to hitch a ride. Otherwise, he really wanted to fly to a populated town as soon as possible to eat something flavorful and fill his stomach.

"There are some pastries left. Please make do with them. We'll be in Wuzhou City soon," the young lady said, gesturing for the maid to bring them out.

The maid took out an oil paper package and handed it over.

"Thank you." Xu Mu politely accepted the gift.

"Do you need some water? We have water here..."

The maid glanced at her water jug; it was the one her mistress had drunk from…

The young lady scratched her cheek, blushing slightly. It seemed like this wasn't suitable for men to drink.

"It's alright, I have water."

Xu Mu smiled, reached his right hand into the left sleeve of his robe, and when he came out, he was holding a brown gourd.

"Huh? How can you fit such a big gourd in your sleeve?"

Both girls were surprised.

"A little trick."

Xu Mu smiled mysteriously, a sense of smugness creeping into his heart.

Once you enter the mortal realm, even the most ordinary things can inspire awe; the feeling of being outclassed is truly exhilarating.

A gourd this big can't fit in my sleeve, but I can put a storage bag in it.

After exchanging glances, the master and servant said with certainty, "The Taoist priest is definitely a capable person."

"It's just a superficial skill."

Xu Mu showed off his skills, but he remained humble and kept a low profile. Even though there was probably no one in the mortal world who could threaten him, he still had to play it safe.

Never become complacent or careless; this is the key to long-term success.

The spiritual energy in the mortal realm is scarce, making it difficult to restore magical power. Therefore, he had to be careful with his resources, conserve his magical power, and prioritize safety.

……

Before nightfall, the carriage arrived safely in Wuzhou City.

To avoid gossip, Xu Mu got off the carriage outside the city and walked into the city gate by himself.

I still have a few taels of silver on me. I'll find an inn, have some good wine and food, and fill my stomach first.

Many cultivators who enter the mortal realm must abstain from certain foods, because they will gradually become mortals, and their lifespan will decrease by a percentage, which would terrify anyone who saw it.

The land of the Dharma's decline is not called that for nothing.

The higher the cultivation level of a cultivator, the less willing they are to come to the mortal realm.

Xu Mu had no taboos; he could freely deduct from his lifespan, and if he died, it was his own responsibility.

After eating and drinking to our hearts' content, we'll book another room to rest.

On the immortal mountain, one only needs to sleep for two hours, but in the mortal world, one is especially sleepy and needs to sleep for four hours.

He was tired from walking all day, so he went straight to bed after returning to his room.