The Long Journey to Immortality

Han Lu still remembered Qiu Bin's help in finding a "good match".

She thought that if Qiu Bin did a good job, she would give him this bank card as a big gift.

Having received the gift from Hans Company, Wen Erya and Han Lu did not linger in this most dangerous place in the world. They used their magic to leave immediately.

Hans Company had no intention of deploying drones or sending security personnel to track Han Lu and Wen Erya.

Having finally learned the truth, they had no intention of provoking the two fierce and beautiful female cultivators again.

After leaving the Hans Company, the two sisters didn't exchange any words. Instead, they tacitly affixed a phantom talisman to themselves and returned to their rented hotel in Hans City in an inconspicuous manner.

Back at the hotel, the two discussed their plans for the next few days.

"Junior sister, how about we stop by the Hans Company in the cities along the way on our way to the primeval forest and try to get some more magical treasures?" Wen Erya, perhaps because she was more grateful to the resistance forces, did not keep in mind the fact that the Hans Company had just offered treasures and cooperated with her.

Han Lu was indifferent, but she didn't want to completely ruin her relationship with Hans Company. "Senior sister, the two of us probably already have nearly 140 or 150 magical artifacts in our storage bags. A few more won't make a difference."

"Furthermore, after causing such a commotion, if the Hans Company still wanted to keep a few magical artifacts in their hands for further research, they would have already moved all the magical artifacts that were originally hidden in various cities."

“If we continue searching, it will be like looking for a needle in a haystack; we will mostly just be wasting time and will not get satisfactory results.”

Han Lu's words made sense, so Wen Erya didn't insist on her own opinion. She simply nodded and said, "Junior sister is right. Besides, we can't take all the benefits. We have to leave some for others."

Be a man to stay on the line and meet each other in the future.

After all, given what they've gained, it's a certainty that they'll receive several spiritual artifacts as a reward from the sect in the future.

Wen Erya didn't want to become an enemy of other cultivators of the same level and cause trouble after returning to the Central Plains because she had made too much profit in the ancient cultivation secret realm.

"Senior sister is right," Han Lu praised.

Afterwards, the two discussed for a while about going on an adventure into the primeval forest.

Since Han Lu took the initiative to bring this up, Wen Erya still had many unclear points about the details and even the purpose behind it, so she took this opportunity to ask her clearly.

"The purpose? It's probably to find herbs and refining materials left behind by ancient cultivators," Han Lu said. "Senior sister, didn't you notice that the ancient cultivator treasures we've obtained so far are only magic weapons, nothing else?"

"I did get half a bottle of the elixir, but after 100,000 years, it has probably lost its medicinal effect."

Wen Erya took half a second to think it over and realized that it was indeed true. "So, Junior Sister thinks that we can find spiritual plants and refining materials left behind by ancient cultivators in the undeveloped primeval forests outside the city?"

“Absolutely right,” Han Lu said. “Because only cultivators at the Qi Refining stage can enter this place, the various restrictions set up 100,000 years ago must have collapsed long ago, which is why so many obviously valuable magical treasures fell into the hands of Hans Company.”

“But crafting materials and rare herbs are not like magic treasures, which are easily recognized as valuable by ordinary people. The probability of them being left behind is not small.”

“We believe that if we spend some time, we can definitely make something in the primeval forests outside the city.”

Han Lu used very conservative words, after all, she didn't know if the ancient cultivators really only left behind magic treasures in this secret realm, and not as she imagined, leaving a lot of cultivation resources for them, the younger generation.

The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Having already obtained so many high-level magic treasures, Han Lu did not expect to acquire a large number of rare herbs and top-grade refining materials in the next twenty days.

Wen Erya nodded slightly upon hearing this, "There is indeed a possibility. I will listen to my junior sister."

Having reached a consensus, the two used their smartphones to find a world map of the Ancient Cultivation Secret Realm and tried to discuss a suitable route from Hans City to the primeval forest, and then determined a general direction for exploration.

Of course, we also need to discuss what preparations need to be made.

After all, with so much technology in this world, neither Han Lu nor Wen Erya wanted to live a life of hardship in the primeval forest. They were eager to rely on technology to make their lives more comfortable in terms of food, clothing, shelter, and transportation while searching for treasures.

After searching online for guides on how hikers explore primeval forests and records of paranormal events encountered by hikers in certain areas of the primeval forest, Han Lu and Wen Erya quickly decided what camping supplies to prepare for the two cultivators and which directions and areas to focus on.

After drawing a clear route on the map, Han Lu and Wen Erya went together to a wilderness supplies store near the hotel to buy necessities.

Many items that are extremely important to ordinary hikers but dispensable to cultivators were removed from their shopping list, while items that are merely icing on the cake for ordinary hikers became their first choice.

After spending nearly 20,000 yuan packing a bunch of outdoor gear into a storage bag, the two spent another day exploring Hans City before leaving the modern metropolis the following morning.

Since the news of the confrontation with Hans Company and the fact that the cultivators would be temporarily present in this world was already known to the vast majority of the people, this time, Han Lu and Wen Er Ya chose to travel in Han Lu's flying carriage in a swaggering manner.

The two rode their flying chariot northward, heading towards the northern primeval forest, which was the most talked-about place online and where the most supernatural events had occurred.

[Author's Note] When walking on undeveloped wasteland, watch your step. The nameless plant you accidentally step on might actually be a thousand-year-old, ten-thousand-year-old spiritual plant! (laughs)

Chapter 217 The Pursuers

Han Lu and Wen Erya had just left Hans City, planning to head to the primeval forest in the north, to try to find spiritual plants and Qi-refining materials that might exist in that area that had not yet been developed by the natives of the ancient cultivation secret realm.

Shortly after, Lu Liangcai and his group, who also started from Pengcheng, arrived in Hans City, harboring some hopes and thinking about establishing a cooperation with Hans Company.

Along the way, Lu Liangcai spent a lot of time explaining the benefits of cooperating with Hans Company to the other four people, so that the five, who were not as close or familiar as the Three Heroes of the Western Regions, would temporarily unite and not make a mistake on this matter that he considered extremely important.

Lu Liangcai contributed a great deal, and two cultivators from the Seven Mountains Alliance also mediated the situation.

When the five arrived at Hans Corporation's headquarters, they were barely a team, able to put on a show of strength in front of Hans Corporation.

However, when Lu Liangcai, as a spokesperson, took the initiative to propose cooperation to Hans Company.

The third-in-command of the security department, who had previously hosted Han Lu and Wen Erya, flatly refused.

The reason for the refusal was quite simple.

"We are no longer able to pay the fees you want, so cooperation is out of the question."

After saying this, noticing the change in expression on the faces of the four cultivators behind Lu Liangcai, and to avoid being blamed, the third-in-command of the security department hurriedly took out a copy of the statement written by Han Lu and Wen Erya to Hans Company and showed it to the five cultivators. "Gentlemen, the treasures in Hans Company have all been taken away by these two cultivators. If you really want them, you might as well go find them."

The tactic of shifting blame to the East was executed flawlessly; sure enough, once the statement was presented, the attention of all five was diverted.

"Huh? Wen Erya and Han Lu?" Lu Liangcai was quite surprised when he saw these two names.

Chu Fei from the Seven Mountains Alliance asked, "Brother Lu, are these two of your fellow disciples?"

The statement clearly states the sect to which Han Lu and Wen Erya belong.

“Yes,” Lu Liangcai said in admiration after learning that Han Lu and Wen Erya had taken the treasure from Hans Company before him. “Junior Sister Han and Senior Sister Wen are not only highly skilled in magic, but also have sharp minds. They figured out the key to finding the treasure so quickly. No wonder the elders in the sect regard them as the two most outstanding cultivators among us.”

The four cultivators from the Seven Mountains Alliance and Xuan Yang Valley had only heard of Han Lu and Wen Erya, and knew a little bit about them. They did not take Lu Liangcai's words, which seemed to be boasting about his fellow disciples, to heart.

Yuwen Bing from Xuan Yang Valley said, "I remember Brother Lu was defeated by Han Lu. Are you perhaps trying to elevate your opponent to avoid losing face?"

“Yes, those two female cultivators, how powerful can they be?” Zhongli Li, who was also from Xuan Yang Valley, said disdainfully beside Yuwen Bing. “Everyone, looking at the date on the statement, those two are most likely still in Hans City. Why don’t we go find them, outnumber them, and seize all the treasures they have?”

The two cultivators from the Seven Mountains Alliance were slightly tempted upon hearing this, but they were still hesitant.

Lu Liangcai was extremely unwilling from the bottom of his heart and quickly said, "Fellow practitioners, I think we should find another way and not provoke my two fellow disciples."

"Hmph..." Zhongli snorted coldly, "Brother Lu is unwilling to fight among his own people, yet he wants to get in the way of us causing trouble for those two disciples of the Zhengyi Sect?"

“Yes,” Yuwen Bing said, “Didn’t all the elders make it clear before entering the secret realm that we don’t need to worry about the relationships between different sects when fighting in the secret realm? Even if Brother Lu joins us and snatches the treasures from Han Lu and Wen Erya, do you think they can complain to the elders or seek revenge on you in private?”

“No…” Lu Liangcai hesitated before speaking.

Chu Fei was clearly persuaded by the two from Xuan Yang Valley, and chimed in, "No, Brother Lu, why do you say no? I think Fellow Daoist Yuwen and Fellow Daoist Zhongli make a lot of sense."

Lu Liangcai could only reluctantly say, "To be honest, I have some grudges against Han Lu. If we were to really fight, it's not that I wouldn't be able to bring myself to do it, but..."

Lu Liangcai looked at the other four people and said, "I don't think the five of us working together can necessarily beat Han Lu and Wen Erya."

Upon hearing this, all four people except Lu Liangcai burst out laughing.

Yuwen Bing said, "Lu Liangcai, you underestimate yourself and us too much. Five against two and you still can't beat them? Could it be that Han Lu and Wen Erya aren't Qi Refining Level 12 cultivators but late Foundation Establishment cultivators?"

“Exactly, he’s just bragging,” Zhongli patted Lu Liangcai on the shoulder. “Brother Lu, I think even without you, the four of us could beat those two female cultivators to a pulp and make them obediently hand over their magic treasures.”

Chu Fei and another cultivator from the Seven Mountains Alliance, Ming Wenbai, did not express their opinions, but judging from their expressions, their thoughts were not far from those of the two cultivators from Xuan Yang Valley.

Seeing that he could not persuade the four, Lu Liangcai stopped talking and said, "Since you still want to cause trouble for my two fellow disciples, then go ahead. If you lose and die, don't regret it. Don't regret not listening to me."

Yuwen Bing and the others treated him poorly, and Lu Liangcai didn't seem inclined to speak politely either.

"Don't worry," Chu Fei quickly said, to prevent the two cultivators from Xuan Yang Valley from arguing with Lu Liangcai, "Brother Lu, we have listened to your advice, but it is indeed not good for you to get involved in this matter, so perhaps..."

Lu Liangcai chimed in, "Why don't we part ways here and not help each other?"

Lu Liangcai's thinking was very simple: he couldn't and wouldn't do something so foolish as to ask the four of them to beat up Han Lu and Wen Erya.

He also felt it was unnecessary to help Han Lu and Wen Erya fight these four cultivators.

He was unwilling to do things that added to the already splendid situation.

Lu Liangcai's words relieved Chu Fei and Ming Wenbai, who were well aware of Lu Liangcai's strength.

Four against two and four against three are not the same thing.

They naturally hoped that Lu Liangcai, who had some power, would remain neutral.

The four of them only need to deal with Han Lu and Wen Erya to successfully snatch the treasure.

Meanwhile, Yuwen Bing and Zhongli Li of Xuan Yang Valley thought that with one less accomplice to share the spoils, they could make an extra profit.

So the four of them exchanged a few more pleasantries before parting ways with Lu Liangcai "peacefully".

After seeing Lu Liangcai off, Yuwen Bing, who considered himself the leader of the four, asked the third-in-command of the security department who had been waiting nearby, "Do you know where Han Lu and Wen Erya are now?"

Although Hans Company did not intentionally monitor them, Han Lu and Wen Erya's whereabouts, who left Hans City so swaggered away, were still completely known to Hans Company.

After reporting Han Lu and Wen Erya's whereabouts and bidding farewell to the four monks who possessed the ability to demolish the Hans Building, the security director finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Having learned the approximate locations of Han Lu and Wen Erya, Yuwen Bing and the other three did not waste any time in Hans City.

The four of them used two flying magical artifacts to chase after Han Lu and Wen Erya in the direction they had gone.

Chapter 218: Four against two, but they get killed instead?

After watching the five cultivators leave, the third-in-command of the security department, who had previously hosted Han Lu and Wen Erya, quickly reported the news to his superiors.

Concealing the fact that Han Lu and Wen Erya had defeated the formidable Three Heroes of the Western Regions, and successfully stirring up trouble and diverting the blame, this third-in-command was praised highly in front of all the directors.

Hans Company would much rather the cultivators spend the remaining twenty-odd days killing each other rather than coming to cause them trouble.

Soon, many multi-functional drones flying over major cities received a new mission.

That is to keep track of the whereabouts of Han Lu, Wen Erya, and the four cultivators, and try to get to the scene as soon as the battle begins to observe and record videos for research purposes.

Not far from the outskirts of Hans City, in Sky City, Han Lu was piloting her Pegasus chariot at a leisurely pace.

While driving, he chatted with Wen Erya, occasionally bringing up some serious matters.

Han Lu and Wen Erya already had a rough plan in mind regarding how to find possible spiritual plants and materials in the primeval forest.

They believed that there must be many obvious traces of cultivation civilization in the vast primeval forests that have not been developed by modern humans. As long as they found these traces, they would surely find what they were looking for.

Or perhaps it's a feng shui treasure land with particularly dense spiritual energy, where they have a high probability of finding the secret treasures they're looking for.

“I estimate that quite a few cultivators have already entered the primeval forest in search of treasure,” Wen Erya guessed. “After all, compared to the steel city, it seems more like a place where ancient cultivators’ caves and treasures are hidden.”