The Long Journey to Immortality

Wen Erya said "ruthlessly," "I learned some divination techniques from Senior Wang Han in the secret realm, and I wasn't worried about my junior sister's safety at all."

Han Lu was slightly surprised, but followed Wen Erya's words and said, "I also learned some swordsmanship from Senior Fang Lin in the secret realm, which is why I was able to turn danger into good fortune and return safely."

This statement is somewhat exaggerated and deliberately crafted, but it is only half true.

Noticing that the feeling of hugging her junior sister was a little different this time, Wen Erya quickly put her arms around Han Lu.

"Let's sit down first."

Having not seen each other for a long time, Han Lu had a lot to say to Wen Erya.

Wen Erya was also curious about where Han Lu had gone during those eleven months.

After all, her divination skills were not yet fully developed. She could only know that Han Lu was still alive and everything was going well, but she could not predict where Han Lu had ended up or when she would return.

Chapter 406 The Story of Eleven Months

Without any hesitation, Wen Erya grabbed the teapot, poured herself half a cup of hot tea, and asked, "Junior Sister, where have you been for the past year? Have you been stuck in the ancient cultivation secret realm?"

Because at the moment before leaving the ancient cultivation secret realm, Wen Erya was still with Han Lu.

Naturally, only she would make such a guess.

Han Lu didn't answer directly, but instead asked, "Senior sister, you haven't mastered divination yet. Can't you tell where this year is going?"

Wen Erya shook her head. "The path of divination is profound and complex. I have only practiced it for a year. How could I possibly be able to calculate it so clearly and understand it so well? Junior sister, don't keep me in suspense. Tell me quickly."

"Here's what happened," Han Lu began calmly, having had plenty of time, "After receiving Senior Fang Lin's inheritance in the ancient cultivation realm, I encountered a small accident when I was teleporting out of the realm..."

"After I left the ancient cultivation secret realm, I did not return to the deep valley near the Seven Mountains Alliance, but was unexpectedly teleported to the Great Yu Dynasty."

Seeing Wen Erya's slightly confused expression, Han Lu explained, "That place is also similar to the Central Plains, only it's larger, has more resources, and more high-level cultivators."

"As for the location, it's in the western wilderness of the Western Regions," Han Lu pointed in a general direction and concluded, "The Western Human Race mentioned in the legends of the ancient cultivation era lived in the Great Yu Dynasty. The cultivators and mortals of the Great Yu Dynasty are the descendants of those Western Human Race."

Of all that I've said, only the last sentence is truly useful.

Upon hearing this, Wen Erya seemed to suddenly realize something and said, "Oh, I always thought the Western people in the story referred to those barbarians from the Western Regions."

Compared to the fierce racial battles in the early stages of the ancient cultivation era, the story of the human race's great victory did not spread widely. Even as a princess, Wen Erya only learned at this time that there was a cultivation civilization similar to the Central Plains in the west of this world.

"So, that means," Wen Erya reacted quickly after learning the location and general situation of the Great Yu Dynasty, "Junior Sister, you traveled through almost half of the Great Yu Dynasty, the entire Wilderness, and the entire Western Regions to return to the Central Plains?"

"It only took eleven months?"

Wen Erya realized how absurd this was, and her gaze couldn't help but sweep over Han Lu from head to toe.

He looked at Han Lu's dyed hair, then at her features which were different from before, and finally his gaze settled on her chest.

Wen Erya scratched her head. "Junior sister, did you fight your way here? Tell your senior sister, what is your cultivation level now? Did Senior Fang Lin use some kind of enlightening technique on you, allowing you to advance to the Golden Core or even Nascent Soul stage?"

Although Wen Erya was unaware of how dire the situation was in the Dayu Dynasty, she did know how dangerous and treacherous the wilderness was.

In her opinion, only Han Lu's cultivation level could have advanced by leaps and bounds in a short period of time, making it possible for her to accomplish such a feat in eleven months, setting off from the Great Yu Dynasty, traversing the wilderness and the Western Regions, and successfully returning to the Central Plains.

Han Lu laughed and said, "It's not that exaggerated. My cultivation has improved, but I've only advanced to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage."

"Actually, it was only because I found my parents and my mother escorted me all the way that I was able to return to the Central Plains so quickly and safely."

Wen Erya already knew that Han Lu possessed the True Spirit Bloodline while in the ancient cultivation secret realm, so Han Lu naturally had no need to hide anything from her most trusted friend at this time.

"You found your parents?" Wen Erya felt like she had only been talking to Han Lu for a hundred breaths, but one surprising piece of news after another came from Han Lu's mouth, even though she was already mentally prepared.

Han Lu nodded. "We'll talk about this later."

While waiting for Wen Erya, Han Lu kept thinking about how to tell Wen Erya about her story over the past eleven months; she had her own plans.

"Let me tell you about my experiences over the past year. If you have any questions then, I'll explain them to you in detail."

Upon hearing this, Wen Erya nodded slightly, "I'll follow your arrangements."

So, Han Lu began her story from the moment she left the ancient cultivation secret realm.

Because she had practiced storytelling for a period of time, and because she had experienced a wealth of events in the past year, her stories were quite interesting.

Wen Erya listened attentively, occasionally uttering a few words of commentary, but it did not affect the coherence of the story.

Except for a few things that were not suitable to mention to Wen Erya, Han Lu told almost 95% of what she had experienced.

Finally, the story in the Western Regions is glossed over with a brief, understated style.

Even so, it still took a full half hour from beginning to end.

"I only arrived in this town this afternoon. After thinking for a while, I realized that you are my most trusted friend, so I sent you a paper sword and invited you to meet me. Is there still a problem?"

Han Lu picked up the teacup and drank the tea in one gulp.

Wen Erya shook her head, then nodded. "There's nothing seriously wrong. I'm just curious about what these three true phoenixes look like."

Wen Erya swallowed hard, looked at Han Lu, and said, "Junior sister, could you satisfy my curiosity?"

Han Lu pondered for a moment, then nodded.

It quickly transformed into the appearance of a three-winged phoenix, then circulated its power again to return to human form.

As her cultivation level improved and her techniques became more refined, Han Lu became increasingly adept at switching between her true spirit form and human form.

Wen Erya stared wide-eyed at Han Lu's display of supernatural powers.

After a long pause, she spoke again, "Junior sister, this time you not only found your biological father, but you also fused with a true spirit bloodline. Not only that, your cultivation level has actually advanced from the early stage of Foundation Establishment to the middle stage in just one year."

Finally, Wen Erya concluded, "Although the journey was fraught with danger, the gains were substantial; it can be considered a blessing in disguise."

Wen Erya joked again, "Junior sister, you went on a long trip, didn't you bring back a gift for your senior sister?"

Han Lu nodded and gently touched the storage bag. "Of course I brought it. Senior sister, you can choose whatever you like."

Han Lu placed most of the cultivation resources she had purchased from the Great Yu Dynasty in her storage bag on the table.

Wen Erya was slightly surprised. "So many! It seems you really did go on vacation."

While chatting and laughing, she picked up several unknown materials and asked Han Lu about them. From these, she generously selected a few materials that were relatively rare in the Central Plains and put them into her possession.

Although they hadn't seen each other for almost a year, this small detail shows that their relationship remained as close as ever.

Wen Erya stopped making any moves, so Han Lu simply packed up all the remaining items.

“Senior sister, it’s your turn,” Han Lu said. “Tell me quickly how the sect reacted after I didn’t show up that day, and what happened during the year I was gone.”

There was one more thing Han Lu was concerned about, which she planned to ask at the end.

Chapter 407 Death

Compared to Han Lu's colorful and adventurous life in the Dayu Dynasty, in the wilderness, and in the Western Regions, Wen Er Ya's life in the Central Plains Zhengyi Sect was much more monotonous.

Therefore, Wen Erya devoted more ink to the various events that occurred in the deep valley on the day she left the ancient cultivation secret realm due to Han Lu's disappearance.

"I was one of the last few to emerge from the ancient cultivation realm that day."

"When I presented the numerous treasures I obtained from the ancient cultivation realm, the sect leader and many elders were as happy as if the sect had become the number one in the Central Plains."

"And when I explained that you had also obtained just as many secret treasures as I had, I even felt that the sect leader probably wasn't as excited when he broke through to the Golden Core stage as he was that day."

Being able to completely outmaneuver Xuan Yang Valley in this matter is naturally a great joy for the leader of the Zheng Yi Sect, who has always been second best.

“But when the portal was completely closed and you were still nowhere to be seen…” Wen Erya recalled the scene that day, “the full moon, which seemed to have become round and bright for the sake of the Zhengyi Sect, was completely obscured by dark clouds.”

Although it was just a few words, Han Lu could imagine the changes in the mood of the Zhengyi Sect's high-ranking members that day.

"I was asked a lot of questions at the time, and the sect leader was only slightly relieved when he learned that we would be together when we left the secret realm."

"Immediately afterwards, an elder skilled in divination and I, at the request of Sect Master Yunmin, performed a divination to determine your whereabouts."

"Strangely, the elder who was skilled in divination could not find your whereabouts, but I, a Qi Refining cultivator who has only learned a little bit, knew that you were safe and sound through the divination."

"Only then could the sect leader and the other elders be truly at ease."

When Wen Erya mentioned this, Han Lu couldn't help but sigh in her heart that the Central Plains was still the best.

"However, because you still possess a great treasure, the sect leader and the elders have decided to announce that you have died in the ancient cultivation secret realm, so as to prevent other sects from coveting the treasures you possess."

"But in private, they still arranged for people to search for your whereabouts in the Central Plains, the Western Regions, and even the East China Sea."

Wen Erya couldn't help but complain, "Who knew you would unexpectedly go to the Great Yu Dynasty in the western wilderness?"

"If you don't find the right path, you'll naturally return empty-handed."

"To avoid the news leaking and arousing suspicion from other sects, the large-scale search only lasted for about a month."

"Although the divination shows that you have been safe and sound, the sect clearly believes that you really died in the ancient cultivation secret realm by accident."

Wen Erya's divination skills were questioned to some extent, but there was nothing she could do, since Han Lu had completely disappeared from the world.

"It's said that the sect will now instruct the elders to keep an eye on your whereabouts while you're on missions, but that's all they do."

"I imagine that if you can appear at the sect tomorrow, your master, elders, and sect leader will be just as happy as they were in the deep valley that day."

Regardless of how many magical treasures and cultivation resources Han Lu brought back, as long as this promising disciple can return safely, it will undoubtedly be a valuable asset for the Zhengyi Sect.

Wen Erya's work combines reality and fiction, including both events that actually occurred during this period and her own inferences based on what she saw.

Han Lu listened attentively and, based on the information provided by Wen Erya, modified her original plan in her mind.

Clearly, the way the higher-ups of the Zhengyi Sect treated her was more humane than Han Lu had imagined.

"Hearing what you're saying, Senior Sister," Han Lu gently rubbed the corner of the table, "if I return to my sect, will I need to keep a low profile? How many people know about my death?"

When she said the last few words, Han Lu couldn't help but feel a little awkward.

“Probably all the cultivators in the Central Plains,” Wen Erya said, suppressing a laugh. “To avoid arousing suspicion, the sect announced your death when they were searching for you. The matter of the Ancient Cultivation Secret Realm is of great importance, and some of the details have been made into stories and spread among the people.”

"Perhaps the storyteller we met in the capital also knew of your unfortunate passing, and might have even shed a few tears for you."

This gave Han Lu a bit of a headache.

So, in the Central Plains, she had already become a dead person in a social sense.

"Did they hold a funeral for me?" Han Lu asked again.

Wen Erya nodded, "It's done. We made a cenotaph and placed it in the cemetery at Dongshan Courtyard. What, do you want to burn some paper money there?"

Han Lu pursed her lips, shook her head slightly, and looked quite helpless.

Fortunately, Han Lu was just an unknown nobody in the Central Plains who possessed a great treasure, but she gained some influence because of the Ancient Cultivation Secret Realm incident.