The Long Journey to Immortality

Seeing that Han Lu was only asking about some ordinary things and was not pressing the matter of them seizing the property of mortals, the three cultivators relaxed considerably.

The tallest and thinnest of the three, the third brother who had been silent until now, replied, "In response to your question, senior, the sects of Jiang'an Prefecture did not get involved in the conflict between Ningzhou Prefecture and Yangdan Prefecture. It's just that some sects in Ningzhou Prefecture were looking for trouble and wanted to drag Jiang'an Prefecture into this mess as well."

"and……"

The monk hesitated when he spoke the second half of his sentence, clearly unsure whether he should say it at this moment.

Upon hearing this, Han Lu realized that the hidden reason was the key to the three cultivators' decision to flee to Dongzhou Prefecture.

"Tell me, and what?" Han Lu pressed.

The leader of the three chimed in, "Senior, this matter is related to the Extreme Heaven Palace. Although it's not exactly a secret, speaking of it is still somewhat..."

He found a suitable word, "There's something inappropriate about this, senior. Are you sure you want to hear it?"

Upon hearing about the Jitian Palace, Wenren Ou, who had been standing aside indifferent to the matter, also came over.

Hailing from the Central Plains, Han Lu didn't feel much awe towards the Jitian Palace, a force she hadn't actually met. As for watching Young Master Xiang mediate between Jiulong Mountain and Xuanyu Temple, Han Lu didn't include it in her interactions with the Jitian Palace.

"Speak freely," Han Lu said casually. "There are only five of us here. Even if there are eavesdroppers, how could it possibly reach the ears of the cultivators from the Extreme Heaven Palace?"

After saying this, Wenren Ou subconsciously touched his ear and turned his head slightly.

Immediately afterwards, Wenren Ou spoke up, "This senior is a Golden Core cultivator, please speak freely."

After hearing Wenren Ou's words, and considering the methods Han Lu had previously used that ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators couldn't achieve, the three cultivators believed him to be 70% convinced. They then stopped hesitating and boldly shared the rumors they had heard.

“Senior,” the tall, thin cultivator among the three asked, worried that Han Lu might only partially understand his story, “do you know why Ningzhou Prefecture and Yangdan Prefecture are fighting each other?”

Han Lu casually said, "Isn't it just that the previous generation of the Supreme Heaven Palace Master lost his position and is now trying to find another way, organize forces, and seize power from the outside?"

“That’s right,” the tall, thin cultivator continued, “and because of the war, most of the rogue cultivators in Ningzhou Prefecture and Yangdan Prefecture were either recruited to temporarily join the two sects or fled to nearby prefectures like us. So, for a time, it became much more difficult for the two forces to recruit rogue cultivators in their own prefectures to strengthen their power.”

Han Lu nodded slightly, indicating that she was listening.

"Therefore, the Ningzhou Prefecture, representing the former palace master's forces, set its sights on neighboring prefectures such as Jiang'an Prefecture."

"Rumor has it that a Golden Core cultivator from a sect in Ningzhou Prefecture has come to Jiang'an Prefecture with a decree from the Palace Master of the Jitian Palace to forcibly recruit rogue cultivators."

"Although it's a clearly marked price, paying spirit stones to hire someone, we're not stupid. Who would be willing to risk their life for ten spirit stones?"

"Therefore, the three of us brothers came to Dongzhou Prefecture together, intending to stay here for half a month, listen to the news, and then decide whether to continue our escape westward." Traveling long distances in the Great Yu Dynasty with the cultivation level of Qi Refining was also a dangerous thing, so it is easy to understand why the three of them made such a decision.

Han Lu had many questions after hearing just a few words.

"What is this Palace Master's Decree?"

"It is an order token issued by the Palace Master of the Extreme Heaven Palace. Failure to comply is tantamount to opposing the Extreme Heaven Palace."

Before Han Lu could speak again, Wenren Ou interrupted with a question.

"Wait, didn't you say that Ningzhou Prefecture represents the power of the previous Palace Master? How come there are Golden Core cultivators carrying the Palace Master's order, recruiting people for Ningzhou Prefecture?"

The tall, thin cultivator cast an inquiring glance at Han Lu.

This was also the question Han Lu wanted to ask, so she nodded, signaling the other person to answer quickly.

“The previous Palace Master was still a Palace Master,” the tall, thin cultivator replied. “The previous Palace Master of the Extreme Heaven Palace had only gone into seclusion to cultivate and had retired behind the scenes; he hadn’t actually become an immortal. Naturally, he could still issue Palace Master’s orders.”

These words alone made Han Lu understand the deeper meaning behind them.

"You mean the previous palace master might regret passing the position to the current palace master, but couldn't directly seize power, so he secretly supported it in this way?" Wenren Ou also understood the deeper meaning. "Have you considered that the palace master's decree might be fake?"

However, the three cultivators at the Qi Refining stage said miserably, "So what if it's fake? If we were really found and forcibly conscripted to work for Ningzhou Prefecture, do you think we could escape from the hands of a Golden Core cultivator?"

Wenren Ou glanced at Han Lu, then at the three cultivators who seemed to have lost their nerve before the battle even began, and nodded involuntarily.

Faced with the choice between risking death for taking the spirit stones and being killed by a Golden Core cultivator for opposing the Heavenly Palace, these three cultivators chose neither and simply ran away.

The simple-minded second brother among the three added.

"It is said that the new palace master will also issue a palace master's order to recruit strong reinforcements and send capable generals to Yangdan Prefecture to supervise the battle."

"I think Jiang'an Prefecture is not far from chaos. It's fortunate that the two major sects in Dongzhou Prefecture put aside their disputes and temporarily reconciled. Otherwise, we would probably be fighting here too."

"I think the Great Yu Dynasty is going to be in chaos for a while."

Upon hearing this, Han Lu's expression changed slightly.

She raised her hand, signaling the three to leave, and then stood there lost in thought.

Although after her battle with the inner demon Xiao Ran, she was confident enough to survive against ordinary early-stage Golden Core cultivators, it did not mean that she could openly defeat one.

She couldn't help but imagine what it would be like to be attacked by a Golden Core cultivator wielding the Palace Master's Decree.

Should we fight, flee, or bribe them with spirit stones?

The numerous uncertainties made Han Lu, who was used to doing things steadily, feel uneasy.

"If that doesn't work, should I take a longer route?" Han Lu asked herself, but she immediately rejected the idea.

Such a short journey has brought about so many changes. Who knows if the Great Yu Dynasty will really be plunged into a full-scale war if she spends another month taking a detour? If that's the case, it would be better to cross the front line as soon as possible before the Nascent Soul cultivators appear to join the battle.

The more Han Lu thought about it, the more reliable this new idea seemed.

Safety aside, it's at least easier to control and falls within Han Lu's acceptable and tolerable range.

After concealing her tracks and changing her appearance, Han Lu kept a low profile and traveled in a low-key manner. She felt that her luck should not be too bad, and she bumped into the arms of a mid-to-late stage Golden Core cultivator who wanted to go on a killing spree.

However, in the end, Han Lu decided to wait and look for other information to see if the three were exaggerating and whether the situation in the neighboring prefectures had deteriorated to the point they claimed.

Chapter 340 Stepmother

The three of them went back to their room and put their belongings into their storage bags before Han Lu led the four of them back to the inn where they were staying.

At Han Lu's request, the three cultivators shamelessly apologized to the elderly couple in front of them.

Wenren Ou also recounted how the three of them had damaged the Zhang family's courtyard and how they had compensated the family with gold, silver, and spirit stones.

Having obtained such a satisfactory result, the Zhang couple were naturally very grateful to Han Lu and Wenren Ou, and even said that they would erect a statue of Han Lu in their ancestral hall and offer incense to him every day.

Han Lu initially wanted to refuse, but remembering some rumors she had heard, she didn't say no and tacitly approved of the elderly couple's slightly exaggerated way of expressing their gratitude.

According to legend, if a cultivator is worshipped by a mortal, he can also be influenced by the will of Heaven and receive something similar to good karma.

Han Lu also wanted to experience it for herself and see if the rumors were true.

The unwelcome guest followed Wenren Ou back to his room.

Wenren Ou, who was about to leave the small village, would vacate his room for these three cultivators.

Han Lu then took out the map that recorded the situation of the thirty-two prefectures of the Dayu Dynasty, spread it out on the table, and began to study it carefully.

Although she planned to stay in the small village for a few more days to find out the truth, Han Lu still wanted to plan ahead and come up with several options so that it wouldn't be too late to make arrangements when the situation changed.

Just as Han Lu was pointing and marking on the map, Wenren Ou pushed open the half-closed door and came in uninvited.

Seeing Han Lu staring intently at the map on the table, Wenren Ou secretly wondered, "Could it be that Senior is also leaving Dongzhou Prefecture? Considering the question just now, she's most likely heading east?"

Thinking of this, Wenren Ou asked softly, "Senior, are you heading east?"

This wasn't a secret. Because of what had happened before, Han Lu also felt that Wenren Ou, this second-generation immortal, was quite to her liking, so she casually replied, "Yes, we need to go east."

"Why don't you take me with you? I'm heading east too."

"No," Han Lu refused.

"I'm willing to spend five thousand spirit stones." Wenren Ou, a second-generation immortal, was wealthy and powerful.

Han Lu continued to refuse, saying, "I can barely protect myself, let alone be your bodyguard."

Wenren Ou asked in confusion, "Senior, you are a Golden Core cultivator. With such cultivation, wouldn't it be an easy matter for you to simply avoid the battle and cross two or three prefectures?"

This conversation made Han Lu feel awkward. Helpless, she could only reveal her secret: "When did I tell you I was a Golden Core cultivator?"

Wenren Ou blinked and said in surprise, "Senior, I saw you demonstrate your flight this morning. There's no such thing as being humble or belittling your cultivation level."

Han Lu explained, "That's because I practice external martial arts techniques; it's just that I can jump high."

Han Lu introduced herself in a rather unconventional way, "Let me reintroduce myself. I am Han Lu, a Foundation Establishment cultivator who is slightly more powerful than the average early Foundation Establishment cultivator. That's all."

Wenren Ou still didn't believe it. "Senior, you're just saying this on purpose because you don't want to involve me. Just now, the skill you casually displayed in that courtyard, I don't think it's something a Foundation Establishment cultivator could do."

Wenren Ou was knowledgeable and well-versed in the arts, and he was very clear about the upper limits of the abilities of cultivators at each level below the Golden Core Realm.

In his view, Han Lu did not chant any incantations, but casually created three summoned creatures comparable to the seventh or eighth level of Qi Refining cultivation.

Only cultivators at the Golden Core stage can accomplish such a feat.

Han Lu opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but found that no matter how truthful she was, her "fan" Wenren Ou would misunderstand her as being modest or joking.

So, Han Lu ultimately just said, "I've told the truth, interpret it however you like," and continued to focus on studying the map, thinking about how she should avoid this civil war that could very well sweep across the entire Great Yu Dynasty in the next few years.

Seeing that Han Lu was getting impatient, Wenren Ou decided not to dwell on the matter in front of Han Lu, his senior.

“I can understand why Senior Han wants to keep a low profile. My father never publicizes his name or fame to outsiders.”

"But Senior Han, are you really not going to consider being my bodyguard for a while and earning these five thousand spirit stones?" Wenren Ou still wanted to get closer to Han Lu.

“Not interested,” Han Lu said. “Speaking of which, isn’t your father Wenren Mu? With his status in the Jitian Palace, he could easily find you a few bodyguards at the Golden Core or late Foundation Establishment stages. Who in the Da Yu Dynasty wouldn’t give you some face?”

Wenren Ou was slightly surprised. "Senior Han, how did you know my father was Wenren Mu? Did I mention him to you? Indeed, my father's reputation is quite high in the prefectures near Jiang'an Prefecture."

Han Lu said irritably, "You're practically mentioning my name, I'm not stupid."

Wenren Ou chuckled awkwardly, "Hehe, as expected of a senior, you know everything. But I had a little argument with my father, so I thought I'd come out for a walk. How could I possibly ask him for help again?"

"Besides, if I ask him for help, won't I just be dragged back immediately and forced to continue meditating and cultivating in front of the white wall?"

"This is so boring."

With just two sentences, Han Lu conjured up a little story about discord between father and son, attributing Wenren Ou's presence there to running away from home.

Being young, Han Lu had no interest in interfering in other people's family affairs. She simply indulged her gossipy nature and casually inquired, "So, what happened that caused you to have a conflict with your famous genius father from the Great Yu Dynasty?"

Wenren Ou sighed and said, "My father was bewitched by a bad woman and wanted to make that female cultivator named Fairy Yunxiao my stepmother."

Through Xiao Ran, Han Lu learned a lot about Wenren Mu's story.

Wenren Mu achieved fame at a young age, but he did not abandon his wife, who was not very talented and had low cultivation.

Wenren Mu's Daoist partner was only at the Qi Refining stage and died twelve years ago.

This Wenren Ou is likely the offspring that Wenren Mu's wife voluntarily conceived for him, knowing that her days were numbered.

With lofty goals and no intention of focusing on having offspring early on, Wenren Mu naturally had little affection for the son that Wenren Ou "forced" upon him.