The Long Journey to Immortality

Five of the nine spirit swords continued to unleash lightning, while the other four, under Han Lu's command, attacked Xiao Ran, the inner demon.

In just three breaths, the inner demon Xiao Ran manipulated the software like a snake, weaving and circling amidst the attacks of the four spiritual swords, holding his own.

Although Han Lu did not gain an advantage from this move, Xiao Ran's idea of ​​breaking the formation with a single sword was successfully thwarted by Han Lu.

His face grew increasingly pale, and Xiao Ran, the inner demon, secretly regretted his actions.

"If I had known, I would have stayed in the cave to recover more spiritual energy before coming out to capture Han Lu. I never expected that a mere early Foundation Establishment cultivator would have such abilities."

However, a Golden Core cultivator certainly possesses more than just these abilities. The inner demon Xiao Ran completely abandoned any thought of showing mercy to women, and only wanted to display his power in front of Han Lu, so he unleashed all his strength.

Just as the two were locked in fierce combat, another force suddenly emerged from outside the sword formation. Immediately afterward, a magical artifact broke into Han Lu's sword formation and intervened in their battle.

This magical artifact was a soft rope, yet it moved through Han Lu's sword formation with impunity, proving far more effective than the soft sword wielded by the inner demon Xiao Ran.

Just as Han Lu was wondering who had come without warning, whether they were friend or foe, she discovered that the magical artifact that had broken into the sword formation was immediately heading towards Xiao Ran in the center of the formation.

Although it's still impossible to determine whether someone is friend or foe based on this, Han Lu is still eager for her inner demon, Xiao Ran, to be subdued as soon as possible.

Sure enough, this soft rope, which appeared out of nowhere, became the last straw that broke the camel's back.

Xiao Ran, who already had very little spiritual power, was no match for this spiritual artifact-level soft rope.

In an instant, he was bound tightly with soft ropes and could not move.

Upon seeing this, Han Lu immediately withdrew the sword formation and cast an illusion.

As expected, the genuine Xiao Ran was still battling his inner demons in his sea of ​​consciousness, and Han Lu's illusion technique had a significant effect.

In less than five breaths, Xiao Ran's eyes, once clear, became confused again, and he finally fell into a deep sleep.

Thus, with the help of other experts, Han Lu was able to subdue Xiao Ran, who had already reached the Golden Core stage.

Having shed her semi-spiritual state, Han Lu turned her head to look in the direction from which the soft rope had flown.

Sure enough, a group of people driving camels came into her view.

Upon seeing the strange attire worn by the leader of this group, Han Lu couldn't help but call out his identity.

"The Compassionate Daoist?"

Chapter 324 The Compassionate Taoist's Assistance

Han Lu wasn't seeing things. Riding a camel across the deep blue desert, she happened to be passing by the group of people who were Ci Daoren and his seven disciples who had left Mingsha Village a while ago.

Although she didn't know why the other party would use their magic to help her solve the problem, Han Lu still consciously stepped forward to greet them.

"Thank you for your help, Senior Ci." Han Lu felt that Ci Daoren would prefer this form of address, so she addressed him that way.

"It's a trivial matter, not worth mentioning," Ci Daoren dismounted from the camel that ordinary mortal merchants would ride, stood in front of Han Lu, looked at Xiao Ran who was tied up and sitting on the ground asleep, and asked, "Fairy, did your friend suffer from madness after being possessed by a demon after forming his core?"

“Senior Ci is half right,” Han Lu said, not quite understanding how Ci Daoren could tell that Xiao Ran was fighting her because of his inner demons. But she still explained carefully, “My friend is indeed being invaded by inner demons, but he has only temporarily lost control of his mind and body. He has not gone mad.”

"Then there is still hope." Ci Daoren clearly wanted to do another good deed while on his journey.

Han Lu was overjoyed upon hearing this and said, "Please enlighten me, Senior Ci."

Although Han Lu was proficient in illusion techniques that attacked the mind and possessed the Illusionary Phoenix Divine Power, she did not know how to invade Xiao Ran's sea of ​​consciousness and help him overcome his inner demons.

If the compassionate Taoist could lend a helping hand, that would be wonderful.

"That's simple. I have a rudimentary secret technique here. Fairy, you might as well take it and practice it. With your strength, which allows you to fight a Golden Core cultivator for a hundred rounds, you should be able to master this technique in less than a hundred breaths."

"At that time, the fairy will use her skills to enter your friend's sea of ​​consciousness and fight against the inner demon, while I will stop here for a moment to help the fairy protect her."

"In most cases, it will only take the time it takes to drink half a cup of tea for your friend to be able to resolve his inner demons and return to his physical body with the help of the fairy."

Cidaoren offered a solution and enthusiastically suggested that he and his disciples help protect the Dharma to relieve Han Lu's worries.

After hearing Ci Daoren's words, Han Lu hesitated for a moment, but soon, after thinking clearly about the comparison of her strength with Ci Daoren's group, she realized that she was worrying unnecessarily.

Looking at Fu Chou, who was following behind Ci Daoren, Han Lu noticed that the ferocity on his face had disappeared.

Although it is unknown whether Fu Chou has come to a realization or has been influenced by Ci Daoren's words and actions, it can be seen from the side that Ci Daoren is now consistent in word and deed.

"If Ci Daoren is really just putting on a show and is actually still doing all sorts of evil, then he might as well just rely on his strength to deal with me and Xiao Ran together. There's no need to resort to any tricks."

"Now it seems that Cidao has really reformed."

Han Lu naturally wouldn't refuse the goodwill offered by a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator.

Han Lu thanked her repeatedly, "Thank you very much, Senior Ci. I will follow your instructions."

"Very good."

Ci Daoren casually took out a piece of white paper from his storage bag, used his spiritual power to write a simple incantation on it, and handed it to Han Lu.

After taking the blank paper, Han Lu glanced at it and grasped most of it. She felt confident that she could use it smoothly to briefly enter Xiao Ran's sea of ​​consciousness with the help of a secret technique to resolve the crisis.

"I have learned it, and I would like to ask for your guidance, senior."

"Don't worry, it's just a matter of time. Although I'm in a hurry to get on my way, I won't miss this good deed," the compassionate Taoist promised again.

Having received these words, Han Lu was completely relieved of her worries.

She casually released a burst of spiritual energy to help Xiao Ran up from the ground. Then, she grabbed Xiao Ran's shoulder with one hand and silently recited the incantation that Ci Daoren had just taught her.

In a daze, as soon as the incantation was finished, the time in front of Han Lu changed.

"Is this Xiao Ran's sea of ​​consciousness?"

Before Han Lu lay a barren mountain range, with many broken swords stuck in the rocky cliffs.

The sounds of fighting rang out not far from Han Lu. She looked in the direction of the sound and, sure enough, there were two Xiao Rans fighting hand-to-hand.

Time was of the essence; this technique could only allow her, with her early Foundation Establishment cultivation, to infiltrate Xiao Ran's sea of ​​consciousness for the time it takes to brew a cup of tea. To enter again, she would need to wait another seven days.

She didn't want to stand still and waste time.

As if by instinct, Han Lu had no spiritual power in her sea of ​​consciousness and could not activate the True Phoenix Manual, but she successfully transformed into a three-winged True Phoenix.

With a flap of her wings, Han Lu, transformed into a three-winged phoenix, soared through the mountains and arrived at the place where the two Xiao Rans were fighting fiercely in the blink of an eye.

The two were locked in a fierce battle in their sea of ​​consciousness, evenly matched, when Han Lu, who had transformed into a three-winged phoenix, suddenly arrived, causing them to instinctively stop their fists from striking each other's chins.

"What kind of true spirit is this?" The two couldn't help but wonder at the same time.

Although the two Xiao Rans have almost identical facial features, Han Lu, who is familiar with Xiao Ran, immediately recognized which one was the real one and which one was the inner demon based on their temperament.

Without hesitation, Han Lu looked up and let out a cry.

The chirping sound seemed to resonate within the two Xiao Rans.

Upon hearing this cry, Xiao Ran felt a surge of power coursing through his body.

However, after hearing the phoenix's cry, Xiao Ran, the inner demon, felt as if he had been struck on the temple. He felt dizzy and his mind was swollen, and even the form in his sea of ​​consciousness became much more blurred.

The inner demon, dizzy and swaying in place, was completely unaware that he was about to face a terrible disaster.

"correct."

Han Lu's chirping was merely to verify her judgment, lest her newcomer turn out to be a hindrance.

Having located the location of her inner demon, she no longer hesitated.

To deal with this kind of clumsy inner demon that can only use its fists and feet in the sea of ​​consciousness, Han Lu doesn't need to use any fancy and powerful moves.

Imitating the stance she had once witnessed when the phoenixes fought in the sea of ​​consciousness, Han Lu opened her mouth and took a deep breath.

The inner demon was as if it were made of paper, and was easily absorbed into the belly of the three-winged phoenix that Han Lu had transformed into.

The demon that entered Han Lu's abdomen transformed into a cloud of black gas, trying to escape but unable to find a way out.

A moment later, the black gas was completely ridiculed by the three true phoenixes, and Han Lu let out a burp, thus announcing a great victory in this battle.

Now that she had killed the inner demon, Han Lu no longer needed to linger in Xiao Ran's sea of ​​consciousness.

Once again, Han Lu used her supernatural powers to heal Xiao Ran's weakened soul, which had been weakened by his battle with his inner demons, before she used her secret technique to leave Xiao Ran's sea of ​​consciousness.

When Han Lu woke up and returned to the real world, Ci Daoren was slightly surprised, thinking to himself, "This female cultivator actually resolved her inner demons so quickly? Could it be that she is also proficient in some kind of soul-binding technique?"

Han Lu nimbly stood up from the ground, looked at Ci Daoren, and said, "Thank you again for your help, Senior Ci. My inner demons have been eliminated. I hope that Senior Ci will take back the magic weapon and set my friend free."

"Congratulations, fairy."

With a wave of his right hand, Ci Daoren pulled open the storage bag at his waist with his left. The soft rope that had been binding Xiao Ran automatically loosened and flew back into Ci Daoren's storage bag.

Han Lu quickly dispelled the illusion spell that had caused Xiao Ran to fall into a coma.

Sure enough, the moment the illusion was dispelled, the familiar Xiao Ran returned to Han Lu's side.

Chapter 325 The Truth, See You Again by Fate

Although Xiao Ran was at his weakest when he successfully formed his core, his inner demons seized control of his body, but he was trapped in his sea of ​​consciousness and was fully aware of most of what had happened during that time.

Because he had often heard the name Cidaoren from Han Lu in Mingsha Village.

At this moment, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator appeared before him along with Han Lu. Combined with the soft rope that broke in from outside the sword formation and the strange true spirit that appeared in his sea of ​​consciousness later, Xiao Ran naturally guessed that Ci Daoren had put in a lot of effort in this matter.

Although Xiao Ran had already reached the second rank of Core Formation and become a Golden Core cultivator, he still treated Ci Daoren, who was half his savior and a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, with the respect due to a junior.

Exhausted, Xiao Ran stood up shakily with Han Lu's help and bowed to Ci Daoren.

"I, Xiao, thank you for saving my life, senior."

Ci Daoren was more concerned with how Heaven viewed the matter than with how much gratitude Xiao Ran, the person involved, had towards him.

Therefore, he remained very humble in his words, not taking credit for himself, and attributed all the credit to Han Lu.

"I didn't really help much, I just used a magic weapon and taught you a few incantations. If you want to thank someone, Fellow Daoist Xiao, please thank your friend."

"Of course, but I still want to thank you for your help, senior. If I have the chance to meet you again in the future, I will definitely repay you handsomely." Xiao Ran bowed again.

At this moment, Fu Chou, Ci Daoren's newly accepted disciple, spoke up, "My master kindly saved you, and you still want to wait until next time to thank him? Who knows when that will be? Are you saying one thing and meaning another, trying to renege on your debt?"

Fu Chou, who was plotting to assassinate Ci Daoren seven days ago, is now speaking up for Ci Daoren.

Ci Daoren's expression was slightly displeased, but he did not reprimand him. He simply said, "Fu Chou, you must not be rude. Fellow Daoist Xiao is certainly not such an ungrateful person."

Han Lu spoke up, "Senior Ci, Xiao Ran lost his storage bag not long ago, so he can't express his gratitude with spirit stones or magic treasures right now."

After hearing Han Lu's explanation and his master's rebuke, Fu Chou said no more.

Han Lu and Ci Daoren spoke up for him, and Xiao Ran's expression softened somewhat after being criticized in front of Ci Daoren's many disciples.