The Long Journey to Immortality

Han Lu spoke in a moderate tone, but many cultivators around her who were watching Xiao Ran heard everything she said.

Suddenly, Han Lu uttered the name of Fang Lin, an ancient and powerful cultivator, which immediately piqued the curiosity of many people about Xiao Ran's background.

Many cultivators whispered among themselves, speculating whether Han Lu's words were true or false, and who Xiao Ran really was.

Xiao Ran quite enjoyed being the center of attention and receiving praise from a beautiful female cultivator like Han Lu.

He made a token gesture of modesty, saying, "It's nothing special, I've only learned a little bit of what Senior Fang Lin taught me."

"But Fairy Han," Xiao Ran said, getting down to business, "did you learn anything you wanted to learn from my sword fighting just now? If there's anything you don't understand, feel free to ask."

Xiao Ran was quite grateful to Han Lu for her generosity in helping him avoid losing face on the stage.

Now, naturally, he thought of returning the favor and sharing his knowledge generously, so that this fairy Han, whom he had only known for less than two hours, wouldn't mistake him for an ungrateful villain.

Compared to Xiao Ran, Han Lu was more concerned about the way others looked at her.

Furthermore, Xiao Ran's next words were likely a so-called "secret that is not passed down to others," so she didn't need to waste her "face" by letting someone eavesdrop on things that even spending spirit stones might not be enough to learn.

She smiled and said, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, since you've put it that way, I won't stand on ceremony. But after we get back, come to my room and we'll discuss this in detail."

"well."

Xiao Ran didn't have any impure thoughts, but many of the surrounding cultivators were having all sorts of wild ideas.

Subconsciously, he regarded Han Lu and Xiao Ran as a pair of friends with an ambiguous relationship.

After the two chatted for a while, a stranger approached Xiao Ran, using the two recent arena matches as an excuse to strike up a conversation.

These strangers included cultivators from Jiulong Mountain, cultivators from other sects in Dongzhou Prefecture, and ordinary rogue cultivators.

Although the cultivation environment in the Great Yu Dynasty was harsh, there were still quite a few cultivators who were always looking to get acquainted with other cultivators and make good connections.

Whether it was due to his deep cunning or his "naivety," Xiao Ran told several cultivators he had only known for a few minutes about the matter of his lost storage bag.

Most of the cultivators, after hearing this, symbolically expressed their pity for Xiao Ran and cursed the thief.

Some kind-hearted people who wanted to befriend Xiao Ran, a fake Core cultivator, generously donated some spirit stones from their storage bags as a "meeting gift" to him.

The number wasn't large, but when put together, it still reached three digits.

These spirit stones were merely icing on the cake, but Xiao Ran still thanked them all and carefully noted down the names and Daoist titles of the kind cultivators, promising to visit them in the next few days.

In just one trip to the arena area, Xiao Ran earned a full three hundred spirit stones.

Such wealth is comparable to that of a Qi Refining cultivator who has practiced for twenty years.

Touching the storage bag, Xiao Ran glanced at Han Lu standing beside him, who was looking up at the game intently. He felt that he was almost forgetting the unpleasantness that losing the storage bag had brought him.

He sighed inwardly, "Indeed, coming to Jiulong Mountain was the right decision, and that cry of 'Fairy, please stay!' was the right one."

Thinking of this, Xiao Ran felt even more grateful to Han Lu. He wanted to express his gratitude again, but when he looked at Han Lu's profile, he hesitated to speak.

After hesitating for a moment, he decided to repay Han Lu's trust with his actions and express his gratitude to her.

In a place like the Great Yu Dynasty, where people are so wary and hostile towards strangers, only Han Lu, a cultivator with "Central Plains blood," would do such a "foolish thing."

Han Lu, who always preferred to be Han Lu rather than Xiaoyaozi, would unconsciously extend kindness to strangers who seemed reliable.

It's normal for Xiao Ran to be moved; given his personality and behavior, it's even more normal for him to repay kindness.

While Xiao Ran was busy socializing and making a fortune in spirit stones, Han Lu, standing below the stage and only half a meter away from him, focused all her attention on the arena.

While watching the game, Han Lu's eyes were filled with curiosity.

On the gambling arena at Jiulong Mountain in Dongzhou Prefecture of the Dayu Dynasty, many insidious methods that she had never seen before were openly displayed by the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Dayu Dynasty.

What kind of spirit sword was forged with the blood of twelve infants?

What compass was forged by sacrificing ninety-nine mortals?

What kind of magical artifact is made from the skull of a cultivator?

These bizarre and evil things, in Han Lu's eyes, all appeared on the stage in less than an hour.

If these techniques were used in the Central Plains, any cultivator who used them would likely be branded as an evil cultivator and immediately wanted, hunted down, and killed.

However, the spectators in front of the arena of the Great Yu Dynasty were not surprised by these moves, even Xiao Ran, a "righteous" cultivator.

Han Lu had mixed feelings about this and could only offer a somewhat inappropriate remark: "Different places, different people."

She only hoped that she wouldn't be completely assimilated during the turbulent years in the Great Yu Dynasty, and become an outcast when she returned to the Central Plains.

Han Lu was very quiet while watching the game and didn't like to talk.

But Xiao Ran wasn't as mature as he appeared. One of his greatest hobbies was pointing and commenting from the sidelines while watching the game.

Since Han Lu didn't join him in his chorus, naturally some people who wanted to get close to Xiao Ran took the initiative to approach him and join him in betting against the cultivators fighting fiercely on the arena, commenting on the intense battles.

The cultivator who approached them was a rogue cultivator named Zhu Lian, who, like Han Lu, was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment.

Zhu Lian was glib and his slick, oily-haired appearance didn't appeal to Han Lu, but Zhu Lian's eloquent tongue was particularly to Xiao Ran's liking.

Therefore, when the three of them stood side by side on the stage, Xiao Ran was sandwiched between the two.

Another great battle ended, and Han Lu was still savoring the two exquisite spells used by the two cultivators in the battle.

Somehow, Xiao Ran and Zhu Lian's conversation turned to Han Lu.

Chapter 278 Madam Xiao?

Zhu Lian pointed to the cultivator on the stage who was celebrating and happily counting the spirit stones he had won, and said, "Although this Fellow Daoist Xue's cultivation level is only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, his sword control skills have five parts of Fellow Daoist Xiao's style. His future prospects are limitless."

These words sounded a little awkward coming from Zhu Lian, a cultivator whose cultivation level was only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. However, Xiao Ran, who had been flattered by Zhu Lian to the point of being somewhat arrogant, was completely unaware of the strangeness in them.

Following Zhu Lian's words, he also commented on the previous duel that had just ended, "Fellow Daoist Zhu is right. If Fellow Daoist Xue were to find a fine spirit sword, he would probably be able to win easily in just two or three moves."

As a sword cultivator, Xiao Ran held the spirit sword in high esteem and naturally did not hesitate to praise other cultivators who were also skilled with spirit swords.

Zhu Lian nodded and smiled, "But there's nothing we can do about it. Not everyone can have a fine spiritual sword like Fellow Daoist Xiao to protect them. By the way, I remember that Madam Xiao's cultivation level is also at the early stage of Foundation Establishment. I suppose Madam Xiao must have received Fellow Daoist Xiao's true sword teachings and is also a top-notch sword cultivator."

"Madam Xiao?" Xiao Ran didn't react for a moment.

Zhu Lian naturally knew that Xiao Ran and Han Lu were not Daoist partners. This statement was purely to bring Han Lu into the conversation, and even had the intention of helping Xiao Ran to make a match.

Zhu Lian gestured towards where Han Lu was standing and said, "What, Fellow Daoist Xiao and Fairy Han aren't Daoist couples?"

"Of course not," Xiao Ran hurriedly denied before Han Lu could even react. "Fellow Daoist Zhu, don't talk nonsense. How could I, Xiao Ran, be so fortunate as to be Fairy Han's Daoist partner? We can barely be considered friends, like-minded friends."

Xiao Ran felt that he got along very well with Han Lu, and since there would be guidance on swordsmanship later, he referred to the two of them as "like-minded".

As for the idea of ​​becoming Daoist partners with Han Lu, it didn't even exist in Xiao Ran's mind.

That's why he hurriedly denied it, lest he ruin the good relationship he had just established with Han Lu.

Seeing Xiao Ran's reaction, Zhu Lian knew he had gone astray in flattering him, so he quickly tried to salvage the situation, smiling apologetically, and said, "Oh, it was my rashness. I thought Fellow Daoist Xiao was handsome and dashing, and Fairy Han was beautiful and charming, so I thought they were a perfect match."

Xiao Ran glanced at Han Lu out of the corner of his eye and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that her expression had not changed. "I dare not say that I am handsome and dashing, but in terms of appearance, Fairy Han is definitely one of the best in Dongzhou Prefecture."

"Fellow Daoist Zhu, there's no need to flatter me," Han Lu said, showing little patience or good temper towards Zhu Lian, who was glib and didn't seem like a good person. "My cultivation is low and my strength is lacking, so naturally I am far inferior to Fellow Daoist Xiao."

Han Lu guessed Zhu Lian's general idea and naturally wouldn't get involved.

Zhu Lian had assumed that the beautiful Han Lu would be like other beautiful female cultivators, easily swayed by such tactics and arrogant, but Han Lu's unpredictable answer left him speechless for a moment.

Xiao Ran smoothed things over, saying, "Fellow Daoist Zhu is just telling the truth. Fairy Han, don't think too badly of people. As for Fairy Han, there's no need to be too modest. I think Fairy Han's achievement of reaching the Foundation Establishment realm in just three years speaks for itself."

Zhu Lian was also shocked when she heard the time, and her reaction was even worse than when Xiao Ran heard Han Lu casually mention it.

He sighed inwardly, "To reach the Foundation Establishment stage in just three years? This Fairy Han must be under twenty years old, she's really well-developed... No, it seems this Fairy Han is the real big fish, I must also cultivate a good relationship with her."

Thinking of this, Zhu Lian did not hesitate and continued to elaborate on what had happened before, "So that's how it is. I admire Fairy Han's cultivation speed. Perhaps only Senior Wenren Mu of the Extreme Heaven Palace, who can achieve Foundation Establishment in two years and Golden Core in ten, can rival Fairy Han in terms of talent."

Zhu Lian linked Han Lu with the most famous genius of the Dayu Dynasty. Although it was a deliberate attempt to flatter him, it also genuinely stirred up hatred for Han Lu.

These words were met with disdain by a cultivator standing not far from the three.

"You still want to be compared with Senior Wenren? You have twelve spiritual veins and have reached the second level of Core Formation. It's not just about your fast cultivation speed."

"If we're talking about speed, wouldn't those cultivators who have the talent for cultivation but are willing to practice the 'Stealing Heaven Technique' advance even faster?"

The chaotic cultivation world of the Great Yu Dynasty discouraged many young people with cultivation talent from entering it. They only wanted to learn simple techniques similar to the "Stealing Heaven Technique" to prolong their lives and become long-lived mortals.

The cultivator who interrupted was clearly a fan of Wenren Mu and had some prejudice against female cultivators, which is why he subconsciously belittled Han Lu without understanding the situation.

Han Lu glanced at the other person and, seeing that the other person had an ordinary appearance and seemed to be a passerby, and was not a disciple of Jiulong Mountain, she did not take the other person's words to heart.

On the contrary, she became curious about Wenren Mu, the genius that Zhu Lian had mentioned.

However, she didn't ask any questions rashly, lest she reveal that she wasn't a local from Daewoo.

Han Lu continued to maintain a low profile, echoing the words of the cultivator who had questioned her, "I am worlds apart from Senior Wenren, Fellow Daoist Zhu, please don't put me on the spot."

The barbed words made Zhu Lian, who had only intended to flatter Han Lu, feel slightly awkward.

"Fellow Daoist Han is too modest," Zhu Lian said, and then stopped trying to start a conversation about Han Lu, this unusual female cultivator, lest his already low impression of her drop even further.

After watching two more gambling matches, the three of them stood there and Zhu Lian suddenly challenged Han Lu, saying that he would invite Han Lu to a friendly match with ten spirit stones as the stake.

However, Han Lu declined the invitation with silence.

Zhu Lian was quite helpless because Han Lu was so stubborn and wouldn't listen to reason.

Xiao Ran, seeing that many cultivators with cultivation levels reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage had just arrived at the arena, seized the opportunity to go on stage and accept someone's invitation to fight.

This time the bet was a little bigger, a full two hundred spirit stones.

But in the end, Xiao Ran still won by a small margin.

In just one afternoon, Xiao Ran went from having nothing to becoming a cultivator with some resources.

It has to be said that with a high level of cultivation and strength, earning spirit stones is really not difficult.

With five hundred spirit stones now in his storage pouch, Xiao Ran and Han Lu returned to their residence together. Their lips twitched slightly, and they couldn't help but smile.

Even after making money, Xiao Ran did not forget his promise to Han Lu.

He followed Han Lu directly back to her courtyard and into her room, preparing to provide her with one-on-one private tutoring.

Chapter 279 Wenren Mu

After Xiao Ran and Han Lu returned to Han Lu's temporary residence in Jiulong Mountain, Han Lu did not rush to have Xiao Ran practice swordsmanship. Instead, she took out some tea leaves that she had brought from the ancient cultivation secret realm from her storage bag and brewed a cup of tea for her and Xiao Ran, intending to inquire about Wenren Mu first.

Of course, Han Lu's intention in brewing this cup of tea was also to first communicate with Xiao Ran verbally and lay some groundwork for the actual combat training.