The Long Journey to Immortality

This inevitably filled Han Lu with curiosity, wondering what the differences were between the two mountain courtyards, and what the scenery was like on Hanchan Peak, the highest peak of Zhengyi Gate in the East Mountain Courtyard.

Both of them had been given a lightness spell by Fu Chen, so they moved several times faster than when Han Lu followed the main group to the Five Elements Mountain Academy.

Fu Chen was a chatterbox, and his mouth never stopped moving even while they were on the road.

After Han Lu casually inquired about the recent apprenticeship and about Piaomiaozi, Fu Chen proceeded to recount all the information he knew about these matters.

"Elder Piaomiao has only been a Golden Core cultivator for twenty years. In the beginning, when he had just advanced to the Golden Core stage, the sect used all sorts of tricks to give Elder Piaomiao a lot of disciples."

"Elder Piaomiao is by nature a gentle person, so he naturally welcomes all who come."

"Nearly twenty people were involved in closing the door and entering the room alone, and the number of registered disciples is countless."

"Even now, twenty years later, and a number of disciples have left due to reasons such as cultivation level and sect rules, Elder Piaomiao still has nearly twenty disciples listed under his name."

"Therefore, due to limited energy and cultivation resources, Elder Piaomiao usually only accepts one disciple each time he attends the disciple-acceptance ceremony recently."

"This time, Elder Piaomiao had already chosen someone, and apart from that one, the others were just going through the motions."

At this point, Fu Chen slowed his pace slightly. "So, Junior Sister Han, Elder Piaomiao made an exception for you, so he must value you highly."

“It’s not that exaggerated,” Han Luke still remembered what Piaomiaozi had said before Fu Chen came, “I’m just a nominal disciple.”

"There's nothing we can do about it." As he said this, Fu Chen's expression was slightly agitated, and his eyes were even gesturing to Han Lu to ask questions quickly, so that he would reveal a secret that couldn't be kept any longer.

Han Lu realized this and figured that the secret Fu Chen knew was probably not something too important to hear, so she went along with it and asked, "What, little master, is there any other story behind it?"

Fu Chen feigned caution, lowering his voice slightly before continuing, "I've reviewed your file. Logically speaking, in any of the recent years' disciple-acceptance ceremonies, any Golden Core elder would have accepted you, Junior Sister Han, as their personal disciple."

"But this time is different."

Fu Chen didn't rush to solve the mystery, but instead asked a question first, "Junior Sister Han, do you know about the Thirteenth Princess?"

Han Lu shook her head, "I don't know, but judging from this title, she should be the thirteenth princess of the Jin Kingdom in the Southern Dynasty?"

“That’s right,” Fu Chen said, displaying a remarkable talent for storytelling. “The Thirteenth Princess, who has just turned fifteen, has also come to the Zhengyi Sect to participate in this apprentice recruitment ceremony.”

"It is said that when he took a talent test at the age of eight, he was confirmed to have a top-grade single water attribute spiritual root."

"While the changes of dynasties in the secular world have little to do with our Zhengyi Sect, as long as we continue to send the full amount of tribute every year, the elders and seniors in the sect will not care at all who sits on the throne of the Southern Dynasty."

"But as a princess, she must have plenty of cultivation resources in her storage bag."

"With such talent, coupled with a large amount of spirit stones and pills, and with a little nurturing, it is almost certain that he will form a golden core, and achieving the nascent soul is not impossible."

"Therefore, several Golden Core elders in our mountain academy are hoping to take this thirteenth princess as their last disciple."

"It's just that Elder Piaomiao was extremely lucky and indeed contributed a lot to the sect after forming his Golden Core. Otherwise, it wouldn't have been Elder Piaomiao, who is still relatively inexperienced and has over four hundred years of lifespan left, to take this Thirteenth Princess as his disciple."

Having revealed this secret, which was barely a secret to outsiders, Fu Chen felt good, and Han Lu's doubts were completely resolved.

Indeed, the information recorded in Han Lu's file is quite different from that of the Thirteenth Princess, not to mention that the Thirteenth Princess also has a prominent background in the Jin Kingdom.

Training apprentices is, most of the time, a thankless and arduous task.

However, training the thirteenth princess and taking her as an apprentice would definitely be a worthwhile investment.

"I see. That's only human nature. Even a Golden Core cultivator like Master can't escape this."

Han Lu simply made a mental note of the Thirteenth Princess, thinking that having such a talented fellow disciple would definitely make the future competitions, both small and large, more interesting.

Fu Chen was slightly surprised to see that Han Lu showed no jealousy whatsoever.

He thought to himself, "Aren't women supposed to be jealous?"

But on the surface, Fu Chen still cautioned, "Yes, but the master can only lead you in; the rest is up to you."

"I have been in the Zhengyi Sect for almost thirty years, but I have seen many outstanding disciples end up becoming just ordinary people."

Whether one's cultivation can improve and advance to the next level depends not only on innate talent but also on one's own efforts.

"Junior Sister Han, don't go around telling anyone about this. It's a little secret, not too big or too small."

Although the cultivation world in the Central Plains is generally harmonious, the two major sects outside the Central Plains have still made some enemies. It's necessary to cover up for these talented disciples before they fully develop their abilities.

After spouting some inspirational platitudes and warning Han Lu not to betray him, Fu Chen stopped dwelling on the matter.

Feng Bailu would agree with such words, but Han Lu only spent half a month before she became dismissive.

The two chatted as they walked, and after about the time it takes for an incense stick to burn, Dongshan Temple finally came into their sight.

Fu Chen then stopped talking about unrelated topics and began discussing the itinerary after arriving at Dongshan Academy with Han Lu.

[Author's Note] The Bookke APP has been updated to a new version. If you encounter unexpected crashes or other issues while reading, you can try updating to the new version.

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Supporting the Great Writer, Room Seventeen of the Seventh Courtyard

"I'll accompany you first to send your file to the Dongshan Academy and register your information. Only then will you truly become Elder Piaomiao's disciple."

“Daily morning classes and regular evening classes also take place there.”

“Next, I’ll take you to the inner treasury to get some items, such as the sect uniforms you need to wear on formal occasions,” Fu Chen pointed to his wrinkled clothes. “Foundation Establishment disciples wear blue clothes, Qi Refining disciples wear white clothes, and there are slight differences between the uniforms of male and female cultivators.”

Although Han Lu did not ask a question, Fu Chen still answered it himself, "There is no difference between the uniforms of the inner and outer sects. The difference in the color of the uniforms is not to classify the disciples of the Zhengyi Sect according to their cultivation level or talent, but simply to make it easier for everyone when they are out and about."

Han Lu knew all about these trivial matters, but she still occasionally hummed in agreement, so that Fu Chen wouldn't seem to be talking to thin air or performing a monologue.

Han Lu was taciturn, and Fu Chen assumed that she was just shy because she had just joined the Zhengyi Sect.

After saying this, Fu Chen thoughtfully led Han Lu to familiarize herself with the key roads throughout Dongshan Academy, so that Han Lu wouldn't get lost like he did on his first day joining Zhengyi Sect.

Upon entering the academy, Han Lu discovered that this senior brother Fu Chen seemed to be quite famous in the East Mountain Academy. Many of his fellow disciples were familiar with him, and quite a few people took the initiative to greet him.

Sitting in the academy, the cultivator who was in charge of registering the files of new disciples in the inner academy was originally a little bored, but when he saw Fu Chen come to him, he became obviously excited.

"Master Fu, why aren't you holed up in your room writing today?" The white-robed monk took Han Lu's file, registering and filing it according to the rules, while chatting with Fu Chen.

"A great writer?" Upon hearing this rather strange title, Han Lu couldn't help but become interested in the content of their conversation.

Fu Chen was quite pleased with the respectful address. "A few days ago, Elder Piaomiao invited me to go with him to the Five Elements Mountain Academy to recruit disciples today, so I brought Junior Sister Han here with me."

“Master Fu,” the white-robed cultivator, though ostensibly helping Han Lu with the files, kept his attention on Fu Chen, “when will Chapter 109 of ‘Seeking Immortality’ be published?”

"It's almost here, just a little bit left. You'll definitely see it next week."

"Could you give me a smug look? Did Junior Sister end up with Fang Yan? Did that Holy Maiden of the Demonic Sect also fall in love with Fang Yan in the end?"

Fu Chen complained in a joking tone, "This is a proper cultivation novel, why are you only concerned with matters of love between men and women?"

The white-robed cultivator flattered, "Isn't this because the great author Fu has vividly portrayed the characters? Can you give me a spoiler?"

Fu Chen remained silent, only giving a meaningful look, leaving it to his junior brother, whom he didn't actually know, to ponder.

After processing her identity information, Han Lu, who was now recognized as a disciple of the Misty Child Sect by the Zhengyi Sect, mentioned what had just happened as she left the academy for the inner treasury.

Fu Chen seemed somewhat helpless as he explained, "I was just bored, so I wrote a novel, which barely managed to gain some minor fame."

As lifespan increases and time accumulates, a cultivator's talent becomes increasingly limited.

Naturally, when they are bored, many cultivators will engage in "extracurricular activities" to enrich their lives in other ways, earn spirit stones along the way, and try to use more cultivation resources to help themselves break through their bottlenecks.

While there aren't many cultivators like Fu Chen who engage in literary creation, there are quite a few.

The most famous of them all was a mysterious Golden Core cultivator who used the pen name "Laughing True Man".

The novel "The Immortal's Journey to the Spirit Realm," which was very popular among cultivators, was written intermittently and piecemeal for a full two hundred years before it was finally completed. It outlasted many Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators who read and followed the updates, making it a rare spectacle in the world of cultivation novels.

Han Lu asked curiously about the book's title, and Fu Chen told her it was titled "Seeking Immortality."

Han Lu had seen this book while queuing outside the Moyu City outpost, but did not buy it.

She prefers reading short, concise, and fascinating books to long, dramatic novels.

However, judging from this point of view, Fu Chen's reputation in the cultivation novel world is not as small as he claims.

After going through the inner vault again, Han Lu found a storage bag with the words "Zhengyi Gate" printed on it attached to her waist.

The storage bag contained not only two well-fitting white female cultivator uniforms, but also five spirit stones, four meridian-opening pills, a book about Qi refining cultivation common sense, and a restriction waist tag that could open a small courtyard in the inner gate of Dongshan Academy.

Fu Chen explained the origins and uses of the items in the storage bag to Han Lu in detail.

"This uniform needs to be carefully stored. Don't be like me and just stuff it in without knowing how. When you need to wear it, you can't fit into it. Junior sister is a female cultivator, so you can't dress as casually as I do."

"These five spirit stones and four Meridian Opening Pills are my junior sister's allowance for this month."

"When a disciple of a Golden Core Elder is cultivating Qi, he can receive five spirit stones and two to four pills of any corresponding level from the inner palace every month. However, if you can get along well with Elder Piaomiao, the pills and spirit stones that Elder Piaomiao casually bestows may be equivalent to half a year's supply from the sect. You may even get a few handy magic tools."

"Don't let the unassuming appearance of this booklet fool you; it contains quite a few basic cultivation tips that Qi Refining cultivators need to know."

"If you put it outside, I'm afraid you could sell it for a spirit stone and someone would want it."

"Reading more will greatly benefit your cultivation."

"The rules and regulations of the Zhengyi Sect are also written at the end of the booklet."

“Junior sister, although you are Elder Piaomiao’s disciple, you still need to abide by the rules and regulations. If you violate the sect rules, you will not only be punished by the Law Enforcement Academy, but you may also have your monthly spirit stones and pills deducted.”

"To break the rules for the sake of momentary pleasure is definitely not worth it."

……

"The waist tag says the residence assigned to my junior sister by the sect," Fu Chen said, pointing to the waist tag, "Inner Sect Seventh Courtyard, Number Seventeen."

"The Seventh Academy is good. It's not far from the academy and other places, so Junior Sister Han can walk less when she goes there every day."

"This is also my junior sister's identity token; she needs it every month when she goes to the Imperial Household Department to collect supplies."

"Information such as contribution points will also be recorded in this identity badge."

Fu Chen returned the waist token and asked specifically, "Junior Sister Han, is there any other problem?"

"The young master explained it very carefully, and I understood everything."

As a senior student in the auxiliary field, Fu Chen is undoubtedly qualified, and is ten times better than Feng Bailu.

The outer gate is on the outside, the middle area contains the academy, canteen, medicine garden and other places, and the mountains and low peaks inward are the territory of the inner gate.

Han Lu's residence was on a low peak called Longyuan Peak, which was only forty or fifty feet above sea level.

The Seven Courtyards consist of a series of interconnected but isolated courtyards enclosed by walls.

Compared to outer disciples, inner disciples have much better living conditions.

As a Golden Core cultivator disciple, Han Lu had to live alone in a room, which gave her, who already preferred quiet and harbored many secrets, a greater sense of security.

Pretending to be unfamiliar with the process, Han Lu, under Fu Chen's guidance, "learned" how to use the token and unlock the restriction.