The Long Journey to Immortality

Since the age of twelve, Wen Erya has been cultivating under the guidance of a former Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Zhengyi Sect who remained in the palace as a retainer.

In three years, she, who possessed top-grade spiritual roots, not only cultivated to the fifth level of Qi Refining, but also solidified her foundation and became thoroughly familiar with many cultivation knowledge of the Qi Refining stage.

This is the main reason why she felt she could help Han Lu, the "Taoist disciple," in choosing the secret manual.

Han Lu, who had experience in cultivating at the Nascent Soul stage, did not refuse Wen Erya's kind offer.

Under Han Lu's direction, the two divided the tasks briefly.

Han Lu first made simple requests, and Wen Erya selected protective manuals that she thought suited Han Lu's tastes based on these requests and handed them to Han Lu.

Then, Han Lu selected the cultivation method she wanted to learn from the introduction of the secret manuals given by Wen Erya and exchanged it.

"As for me..." Han Lu, the client, pondered for a moment and put forward two requirements. "The first is that it must be a protective spell that a Daoist disciple or someone with the first level of Qi Refining can practice. After all, even the best secret techniques and cultivation methods are only worthy of being called good if they can be used."

In the morning, Han Lu's rapid progress during her intensive training led her to reassess her future strength.

In Han Lu's current view, there is a good chance that she will have successfully opened her first spiritual vein and advanced to the first level of Qi Refining by the time of the competition five months later.

“Secondly, I hope to learn a protective spell that can provide me with comprehensive protection,” Han Lu gave a counterexample, “instead of a spell that simply conjures a shield in front of me.”

Han Lu, who prides herself on her superior magical power among her peers, doesn't mind expending more spiritual energy when using protective spells; the protective effect is what she values ​​most.

Wen Erya nodded slightly, indicating that she understood Han Lu's thoughts.

Perhaps because it was the first time in his life that he had helped a friend, Wen Er Ya put in extra effort, enjoying the spiritual pleasure that helping others brought.

While Han Lu was still flipping through the introduction to the third manual, Wen Erya presented her with a manual that she thought suited Han Lu's taste.

One person picked, and the other selected; their teamwork was quite good.

Before long, ten manuals passed through Han Lu's hands. After carefully reviewing and evaluating them, she set them aside.

It's not that Han Lu has too high a standard, but rather that Xiaoyaozi has too high a standard.

From Wen Erya's perspective, many of the techniques were quite suitable for Han Lu, but if Han Lu were to evaluate them from Xiaoyaozi's point of view, she would feel that there were always a few shortcomings or problems.

There's nothing that can be done; these techniques are low-level, meaning they can only be practiced by novice cultivators or those at the first level of Qi Refining. From the perspective of a Nascent Soul cultivator, they are naturally full of loopholes and problems.

Seeing that nearly twenty cultivation manuals had passed from Wen Erya's hands to Han Lu's and then been returned to the bookshelf, Han Lu noticed the sweat on Wen Erya's forehead and her slightly changed expression, and felt quite embarrassed.

She blinked and came up with a pretty good idea.

"Senior Sister Wen, I have an idea, what do you think?"

Wen Erya turned to Han Lu and said, "Junior sister, tell me."

Han Lu didn't mention her own affairs first, but instead asked Wen Erya a small question, "I noticed earlier that Senior Sister Wen seems to really like that book, 'The Azure Lotus Sword Manual,' right?"

Wen Erya nodded slightly and said, "That's right, I really like that sword technique, but the 'Hundred Treasures Weapon Control Technique' is more important to me right now. Otherwise, I would definitely choose to exchange for this sword technique."

Hearing this, Han Lu was certain that her plan was feasible, and continued, "Then, Senior Sister, you should also have quite a few protective spell manuals, right?"

Wen Erya hummed in agreement. "I do have a few water-attribute protective techniques."

“That makes things easier,” Han Lu suggested. “Senior sister, how about we make a small deal?”

"I will help you exchange the Azure Lotus Sword Manual. In return, you will bring a protective cultivation technique that meets those two requirements and exchange it with me. This way, you can learn one more sword manual, and I will get the protective cultivation technique I desire."

"what do you think?"

Hearing Han Lu's suggestion, Wen Erya's eyes lit up, but after a moment, she had concerns again. "However, when we entered, didn't that senior brother say that we are not allowed to pass on the cultivation techniques obtained from the Transmission Hall to others without permission?"

Han Lu was very familiar with the rules of the Transmission Hall, and explained, "I can transfer this opportunity to exchange for a free cultivation technique to you. That won't be against the rules."

"In fact, many new disciples who have already achieved cultivation will transfer this opportunity to their fellow disciples in exchange for spirit stones, pills, and other external items that are more direct in improving their cultivation."

Despite having dispelled her concerns, Wen Erya still didn't agree immediately, as she had her own concerns for Han Lu.

"What if the cultivation technique I present still doesn't suit my junior sister's taste?"

"It's alright," Han Lu smiled. "Actually, the twenty-odd sets of cultivation techniques you gave me before were all quite good. It's just that I'm too picky and not good at making choices."

“Instead of wasting time here, I might as well leave the decision to fate and chance,” Han Lu said, casting a trusting look at Wen Erya. “I believe that Senior Sister Wen will not take advantage of me in such a small matter and just throw me a set of cultivation techniques that are not suitable for me.”

The feeling of being trusted was wonderful, so Wen Erya no longer hesitated and agreed to the deal with Han Lu.

Once the matter was settled, the two stopped fussing over the rows of bookshelves.

Wen Erya had actually memorized the book number of "Azure Lotus Sword Manual" long ago, saving them the trouble of making another trip. The two then headed straight for the exit of the Transmission Hall.

After reporting the book number and completing a very simple donation procedure, copies of the two cultivation techniques soon arrived in Wen Erya's hands.

Standing at the exit of the Transmission Hall, Wen Erya excitedly flipped through a few pages, feeling grateful to Han Lu and having a strange feeling.

"Could it be that Junior Sister Han is deliberately pretending that she can't choose a satisfactory cultivation method, so that I can benefit from it and get the sword technique?"

And so, gratitude quickly turned into more practical actions.

That afternoon, Wen Erya, who was at the fifth level of Qi Refining, delivered the paper sword ahead of schedule and then paid a visit to Han Lu's residence at No. 17, Seventh Courtyard.

Upon entering Han Lu's courtyard, Wen Erya got straight to the point, placing copies of three protective cultivation manuals directly on the table.

Wen Erya generously said, "Junior sister, choose whatever you like, you can take them all."

Faced with Han Lu's trust, Wen Erya also gave Han Lu enough trust.

Once a cultivator opens one of certain specific acupoints, their memory will surpass that of an ordinary mortal.

Only when facing someone with absolute trust would someone like Wen Erya directly take out a copy of the cultivation technique and allow others to browse and choose.

Han Lu knew that she shouldn't try to take on too much at once, so she didn't shamelessly accept all three cultivation techniques.

She flipped through the manual while listening to Wen Erya's simple explanation.

Choosing a technique from a complete copy of the manual is much easier than staring at a mere two-page introduction.

Han Lu quickly identified her target among the three cultivation techniques.

After reading through the three cultivation techniques, Han Lu reached out and picked up one, saying, "This one will do."

[Author's Note] I increasingly feel old, and many things I see seem increasingly bizarre and incomprehensible.

Chapter Thirty-Three: Five Elements Qi, Han Lu the Big Eater

The five elements are mutually generating and mutually restraining, but when applied to magical combat, this relationship is closer to a metal fist defeating a wood fist, rather than a metal fist defeating a wood cloth.

This is especially evident in battles between low-level cultivators.

After all, low-level cultivators have low mana and spiritual power, and the outcome of a battle can be decided by the slightest margin. Even a difference in proficiency in a single spell can affect the result of a duel between two low-level cultivators.

This is why Han Lu chose the manual called "Five Elements Qi" from the three protective techniques that all seemed quite suitable as the object of her transaction with Wen Erya.

As the name suggests, "Five Elements Qi" is a spell that transforms the spiritual power within a cultivator's body into protective qi that possesses the attributes of the five elements.

The cultivation threshold is low; one only needs to reach the first level of Qi Refining to begin cultivation.

The effect is good. The protective aura formed outside the body by this technique is somewhat similar to the protective aura carried by a Nascent Soul stage cultivator. It can cover the entire body and be activated at will. And because it has the attributes of all five elements, it can provide good protection against attacks of any element.

Of course, the drawbacks are also obvious.

Cultivation involves transforming the spiritual energy containing the five elements in the air into spiritual power through the spiritual root and storing it in the acupoints, spiritual meridians, dantian, and golden core within the body.

The spiritual energy stored within the body was long ago imprinted with the five elements corresponding to the cultivator's spiritual root.

Restoring and releasing it is not an easy task.

Even "mediocre" cultivators at the seventh, eighth, or even tenth level of Qi Refining can only sustain this Qi for a short while.

The process of entering and exiting requires a large amount of spiritual energy to be consumed during the transformation, and it also places certain demands on the user's sense of energy and spiritual root talent.

It was Wen Erya's master in the palace who wanted her to learn some tricks about spiritual energy conversion from this secret manual so that she could use wood-attribute spells. Otherwise, Wen Erya wouldn't have carried this manual, which was somewhat "useless" for low-level cultivators, with her.

However, these shortcomings, which are considered serious by ordinary cultivators, are not considered major problems by Han Lu.

The excellent protection that the Five Elements Qi can provide is exactly what Han Lu values.

"There are many spells that can provide protection for a long time. Even in evening classes, you can learn common water-attribute protective spells."

“But protective spells like the Five Elements Qi are hard to find,” Han Lu said, flipping through the copy of the manual quickly. “It also contains techniques to help cultivators quickly convert the Five Elements techniques…”

"Senior Sister Wen, this time, I've gotten the better of you."

Wen Erya wasn't too concerned about whether the transaction with Han Lu was equivalent; she was already satisfied with obtaining the cultivation technique Han Lu desired.

If she could take care of her junior, Han Lu, in this transaction, she would be more than happy to do so, as she felt like a senior sister.

She did not point out any further shortcomings in the exercise.

While in the Transmission Hall, the two had communicated countless times. Wen Erya already knew that Han Lu must have made the decision after careful consideration, so she didn't waste any more words.

“It doesn’t matter, as long as Junior Sister Han likes it,” Wen Erya said, her tone becoming slightly more serious. “However, Junior Sister, you can just take a look at this cultivation technique, but don’t spread it around.”

"Don't worry," Han Lu said, stroking the pages of the book. "I guarantee that no one else will ever see this book from me and learn the Five Elements Qi."

After completing the transaction, Wen Erya did not rush to leave, but sat for a while longer, sharing with Han Lu the cultivation essentials of the transformation of the five elements spiritual power in "Five Elements Qi".

Han Lu had encountered this knowledge before, but not in depth.

Xiaoyaozi understood the key points and tricks, but these key points and tricks were completely useless to cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.

Therefore, Han Lu listened very attentively when Wen Erya shared her experiences.

However, this was the first time Wen Erya, who had only been practicing "alone" for three years, had acted as a teacher or mentor. She spoke with great care, but in terms of her ability to impart knowledge and skills, she could only be described as mediocre.

In order to share what she had learned with Han Lu as much as possible, Wen Erya stayed in Han Lu's courtyard for another half hour before leaving.

It was already late, but this was at the Zhengyi Gate, and Wen Erya was a cultivator at the fifth level of Qi Refining. So Han Lu, who was only a Daoist disciple, simply saw her "Senior Sister Wen" to the door and then bid her farewell.

I watched Wen Erya leave.

Standing at the entrance of the courtyard, Han Lu couldn't help but compare her senior sister Wen Erya with the senior brothers and sisters Feng Bailu had encountered before, and couldn't help but sigh.

"Senior Sister Wen is better than all those senior brothers and sisters no matter how you look at it."

"but……"

Han Lu then said self-deprecatingly, "No matter how you look at it, Han Lu is better than Feng Bailu."

People with different identities, talents, and appearances naturally receive different treatment.

Having figured this out, Han Lu stopped trying to sigh and complain about the "unfair" treatment she had received on Fengbai Road. Instead, she silently enjoyed the moonlight for a while before returning to her room to continue her cultivation.

At night, the spiritual energy in the air is more easily absorbed and transformed by cultivators practicing water-attribute techniques, even on summer nights.

Han Lu naturally wouldn't let such precious time for cultivation be wasted in self-pity or in boredom.