On the path to immortality, I can see destiny.

Zhao Fan lay motionless in the shadows of the bushes for nearly two hours.

Only when the sun was setting and the light in the forest was dim, and there was no longer any sound of pursuit from afar, did he use his still-strong right arm to support himself and move out of his hiding place very slowly.

After confirming that there was no danger around, Zhao Fan broke off a relatively thick and straight tree branch to use as a crutch, gritted his teeth, and limped towards the general direction of Fuling Mountain that he remembered.

As darkness fell, he needed to find a temporary place to treat his injuries.

Before it got completely dark, he found a shallow cave half-hidden by dense vines under a sheltered rocky cliff. The cave was not deep, but it was enough to shelter him from the wind and rain and to provide adequate cover.

He first lay down beside a thin stream seeping from a crack in the rocks nearby, greedily drinking several mouthfuls of the icy, bone-chilling mountain water, which slightly relieved the burning sensation in his throat.

Then he tore off the slightly cleaner lining of his tattered clothes, dipped it in cold water, and slowly wiped away the bloodstains and dust that had congealed on his face and neck.

The cold stimulation caused the wound to contract, bringing sharp pain, but it also cleared his dazed mind somewhat.

Back in the shallow cave, he sat cross-legged, forcing himself to endure his exhaustion, and first looked inward at himself.

The situation was slightly better than he had imagined, but it was by no means optimistic. There was hardly a good spot on his body, especially the place where he had been injured by the black-clad leader, where the wound was so deep that the bone was visible.

He composed himself, took out the Rejuvenation Pills he had refined from his storage bag, and there were still a dozen or so left in the jade bottle. He poured out two and swallowed them.

The pill entered the stomach and transformed into a warm medicinal power that spread throughout the body, focusing on nourishing several serious wounds.

Using the warmth from the melting pills, he calmed his mind and began to slowly and laboriously circulate the Heavenly Origin Technique.

As soon as he started practicing, the stinging pain in his parched meridians intensified, but he endured it, guiding the sparse spiritual energy he had drawn from the mountains and forests, mixed with the power of the elixir, to perform the most basic circulation within his body.

With each cycle of circulation, the stinging pain lessened slightly, and a faint wisp of spiritual energy was regenerated within the dantian.

The night was spent in silent cultivation.

The next day, as dawn broke, Zhao Fan opened his eyes.

The effects of the Rejuvenating Pill had mostly worn off, and the pain in the wound became clear again, but at least he could move around without any problems.

He tried to stand up, but his body was still weak and numb, and he couldn't exert any strength. However, he could walk with difficulty by using his crutches.

He had to leave and return to the relatively safe Su family home as soon as possible.

In the days that followed, Zhao Fan began a long and arduous journey.

He dared not take the official roads or obvious mountain paths, relying only on his general sense of direction and vague memory of the terrain to traverse through the vast mountains and forests.

Traveling during the day, he used a cane to move at a much slower pace than the average person, trying to avoid areas where monsters might inhabit or where the terrain was too treacherous.

When they came across a stream, they would replenish their water supply, identify some edible wild fruits and berries to fill their stomachs, and occasionally set the simplest traps. If they were lucky, they could catch a pheasant or a rabbit, and use the most primitive method to make a fire and roast it to fill their stomachs and maintain their strength.

At night, he would find a secluded place to rest, take one or two Rejuvenation Pills, and then meditate to regulate his breathing, slowly repairing the wounds on his body with the Heavenly Origin Technique.

With the help of the Rejuvenating Pill and his own recuperation, his injuries were healing at a slow but steady pace.

The wounds under his ribs and on his shoulder gradually closed up, and tender new flesh grew. The dull pain in his internal organs also lessened day by day.

The only lingering feeling of weakness within my body remained, even though my spiritual energy had recovered considerably.

The Rejuvenation Pills in his storage bag were decreasing one by one. By the time he took the third to last one, more than half a month had passed.

His external injuries had mostly healed, but his face was still pale from blood loss, and his breathing was much weaker than when he was at his peak.

One afternoon, he leaned on his worn-smooth wooden cane and crossed a sparsely wooded ridge.

When the familiar mountain outlines and the settlement shrouded in the faint light of the array came into view, Zhao Fan's tense nerves finally relaxed uncontrollably.

In the distance, there was a small town where a large number of ordinary people gathered; we had arrived at Sujia Town.

What followed was a strong feeling of dizziness and exhaustion.

He took a few deep breaths to calm himself down, then, leaning on his cane, he walked step by step toward the gate of the Su family's mountain at the foot of the mountain.

When the Su family members guarding the gate saw him, they were first taken aback, then recognized him, and their faces showed surprise.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao?"

Zhao Fan waved his hand, his voice steady but tinged with weariness.

"Please inform Fellow Daoist Su that Zhao Fan has returned."

The young man dared not delay. One of them ran in to report, while the other respectfully led Zhao Fan slowly into the mountain.

The news spread quickly. Before Zhao Fan had even reached his residence halfway up the mountain, Su San's figure was already striding down from above.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao!"

Su San saw Zhao Fan's appearance from afar, and the usual smile on her face disappeared, replaced by concern and seriousness.

He strode forward, his gaze sweeping quickly over Zhao Fan, pausing particularly on his left leg, which was leaning on a wooden cane, and his pale face.

"Why does your face look like that? Your breathing is weak and unsteady. What happened?"

"Fellow Daoist Su."

Zhao Fan cupped his hands in greeting, a wry smile on his face.

"To my shame, I encountered some trouble and suffered a minor injury on my way back. Fortunately, I'm fine now and will recover after some rest."

Su San, however, did not believe it easily. He stepped forward and reached out to support Zhao Fan's arm. A gentle and mellow spiritual energy naturally flowed in, helping him to stabilize his body, while his brows furrowed.

"His qi and blood are severely depleted, and his meridians show signs of stagnation. This is no minor injury; could it be that he has encountered a formidable foe?"

Zhao Fan followed the words he had prepared beforehand, his tone calm but tinged with lingering fear.

"About half a month ago, I returned from outside and encountered several bandits outside the market. After a fierce battle, although I managed to defeat them, I was also injured. I had to find a place in the mountains to recuperate for some time before I dared to come back."

"Such a thing is true!"

Su San was also quite surprised. In his memory, there shouldn't be any Qi Refining Stage 7 or 8 cultivators in Zhoujia Market.

"You're all better now, just a little weak. You'll be fine after a few days of rest."

Seeing Zhao Fan's current state, Su San immediately spoke up.

"Fellow Daoist, do not be careless. Many people are injured in battle because they did not take it seriously and damaged their foundation. Fellow Daoist, please go back first. After you return, I will carefully examine you."

Back in the courtyard, Su San sat down at the stone table, her expression solemn.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao, relax and do not resist. Allow me to examine your current physical condition."

"Thank you for your trouble, Fellow Daoist Su."

Zhao Fan nodded and extended his left arm.

Su San placed two fingers on Zhao Fan's wrist, closed his eyes and concentrated. His spiritual power was balanced and peaceful, slowly seeping into Zhao Fan's meridians, circulating throughout his body, and carefully examining him.

At first, Su San's expression was relatively calm. Zhao Fan's external injuries were healing well, and his internal organs were also fine. However, his vital energy was depleted, and his spiritual power was weak, which was indeed a sign of recovery from a serious injury.

However, when his divine sense probed along the meridians to Zhao Fan's lower abdomen, Su San's fingers on Zhao Fan's wrist paused almost imperceptibly.

His brows furrowed, and the spiritual energy he probed became more delicate and subtle, seeping into his body like fine threads.

Zhao Fan felt a very subtle, unusual sensation in his lower abdomen, but the sensation came and went quickly, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Su San repeatedly probed that area with his spiritual power. As time passed, fine beads of sweat gradually appeared on his forehead, his brows furrowed more and more, and his face showed a mixture of doubt and solemnity.

After a long while, he slowly withdrew his fingers and opened his eyes. His gaze towards Zhao Fan held lingering confusion, as well as a deep sense of caution.

"Fellow Daoist Zhao."

Su San spoke slowly, her tone clearly deliberate.

"There's something strange about the injury on your left leg."

"Oh? Fellow Daoist Su, have you noticed something?"

Zhao Fan's heart skipped a beat, but he maintained a concerned expression.

"I just checked and found something unusual in your lower abdomen, but upon closer inspection, I found nothing."

"In that case, fellow Daoist is probably worrying too much. I don't feel any discomfort in my lower abdomen."

Zhao Fan didn't take Su San's words seriously because he sensed uncertainty in them.

"Ugh."

Su San sighed softly, her worry undiminished.

"I hope so. Let's leave it at that for today. If you ever feel unwell in the future, you can tell me. Although I don't know anything about alchemy, I do know some medical skills."

He stood up and pondered.

"I will first prescribe a few formulas for you to nourish your meridians and dispel gloom. You should take them on time and use them in conjunction with spiritual stones to regulate your breathing and strengthen your foundation."

He glanced at Zhao Fan's courtyard again and continued speaking.

"Your injuries have not yet healed, so you should not teach any disciples for the time being. Rest and recuperate here properly. I will also give the order to make this area quieter for you."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Su."

Zhao Fan cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his tone sincere.

"You should rest well. I'll have someone send the medicine over later."

Su San nodded, said no more, turned and left, her steps slightly heavy.

"Fellow Daoist Su, please wait a moment."

Suddenly, Zhao Fan remembered that he had been back for so long but had not seen Xiao Er, so he immediately called out to Su San.

"Why isn't Xiao Er in the yard?"

Su San chuckled and responded.

"I haven't seen you return for a month, and I was worried that your spirit pet might go hungry, so I asked Ziyun to take care of it for you."

"Whenever you need something, just go find Ziyun."

Hearing this, Zhao Fan felt relieved.

The courtyard gate was closed, isolating the outside world.

Zhao Fan sat alone on the stone bench, looking down at his lower abdomen, a hint of doubt flashing in his eyes.

He gently pressed his lower abdomen, where it was completely still and there seemed to be nothing unusual.

He took a slow breath, suppressing all his turbulent thoughts.

The most important thing right now is to restore our strength and figure out what we brought back from that desperate situation from the storage bag.