The Long Journey to Immortality

“I am quite well-known in Dongshan Academy. Fellow Daoist Long can find out where I live by just asking anyone there.”

"If you find it troublesome, you can send me a paper sword invitation once you arrive at Zhengyi Sect."

With Long Qian's cultivation level, he could travel from east to west in about ten days while traveling back and forth in the Central Plains and other places.

Even with such rudimentary means of communication, the auction is still timely.

Han Lu felt that there wouldn't be any problems simply revealing this information.

After all, her identity is 70% true, so even if Long Qian knew that she was not a member of the Han family listed in the Northern Dynasty's Han family genealogy, it wouldn't be a big problem.

"Oh, so the fairy is a disciple of the Zhengyi Sect. No wonder she has such demeanor and cultivation." It is not uncommon for cultivators from Northern Dynasties families to cultivate in Southern Dynasties sects, so Long Qian was not too surprised.

Although she knew it was just polite talk, Han Lu still felt refreshed after being praised like that. "You flatter me, Fellow Daoist Long. This matter is not troublesome, is it?"

"No trouble at all, no trouble at all, leave Han Xianzi's matter to me." Although she hadn't received a single spirit stone yet, Long Qian had already imagined herself easily earning three hundred spirit stones just by helping to pass on messages.

It was a small matter, and there was money to be made, so Long Qian was naturally willing to help out and keep an eye out for it.

The two enjoyed tea and the moon for a while longer before Long Qian wisely took her leave.

Although only a little over half an hour had passed since leaving Han Lu's courtyard, Long Qian's storage bag was filled with valuable items that could be sold for thousands of spirit stones, making it a truly fruitful trip.

The next day, Han Lu did not leave the courtyard, but instead stayed in her room meditating and cultivating herself.

On the third day of the auction, Han Lu attended with a golden invitation.

Although many good items were auctioned off, Han Lu only raised her paddle once and made one bid, acquiring a book that recorded many obscure formation setups and countermeasures for twenty-five spirit stones.

Formation formations were Han Lu's weak point, so learning more and strengthening her skills would definitely be beneficial.

Furthermore, since the memories within the remnant soul are incomplete, Han Lu is also worried that there might be unsolvable formations blocking her way when she goes treasure hunting in a few days.

Even last-minute cramming can make the treasure hunt a few days later go a little smoother.

At this auction, many valuable items found only in ancient cultivation realms were sold at high prices.

In addition, there are nearly five hundred other cultivation items worth seeing.

With so many items up for auction, many Golden Core cultivators who came to participate in the auction made a profit, making their trip worthwhile.

The final item up for auction was a mid-grade spiritual artifact.

This magical artifact was eventually bought by a cultivator in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm for a high price of 25,000 spirit stones.

This cultivator not only acquired his desired item but also displayed his magnanimity, bringing a perfect end to this grand and prestigious auction attended by numerous high-level cultivators.

Chapter 438 The Guide

After the auction ended, nearly half of the cultivators did not choose to leave immediately, but instead took advantage of this rare opportunity to stay in the valley and continue exchanging ideas.

Business was still good in the temporary market, and many mid- to high-level cultivators who had not won anything at the auction also appeared in the temporary market.

Hoping to use the spirit stones they hadn't spent, they could find some items they liked.

Several Golden Core cultivators, who were short of spirit stones but had kind hearts, borrowed the land to hold several paid preaching conferences, sharing some of their cultivation experiences and insights with Foundation Establishment cultivators who were willing to pay spirit stones to attend and listen.

Having participated in similar events in the Great Yu Dynasty before, Han Lu, who possessed some of Xiaoyaozi's memories and had already perfected her plans for the future, did not join the other late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators in this lively event.

She knew very well that participating in such activities would not bring her any improvement, and there was no need to waste spirit stones and time.

Long Qian, on the other hand, a cultivator who had clearly given up all hope of advancing to the Golden Core stage or even the mid-stage, spent two spirit stones to buy a ticket and attend a lecture.

Not only did she listen, but Long Qian also took notes very seriously.

Clearly, it is expected that soon, a book such as "The Cultivation Experience of a Golden Core Cultivator" will be completed and sold under Long Qian's management, opening up a new profit point for his business.

In addition, several high-level cultivators took advantage of this rare opportunity to hold a private trading event.

Han Lu also received an invitation because she had a gold invitation and was staying in a "first-class room".

Although I really want to participate.

However, considering that it was somewhat inappropriate for her to participate in such an event with her shallow cultivation level, Han Lu ultimately declined in a tactful manner.

However, Long Qian sent him an invitation to a small trade fair among Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Central Plains.

Therefore, Han Lu stayed in the valley for another day.

Unfortunately, nothing of interest to Han Lu appeared at the trade fair; she only managed to sell a few extra magical artifacts she had seized from the cultivators of the Great Yu Dynasty for a good price.

The matter of "removing the mental barrier" has been declared a success, and Han Lu's most important task now is to quickly obtain the "Foundation Building Realm Treasure" left behind by Xiaoyaozi.

Naturally, as soon as the trade fair ended, Han Lu left the valley without stopping and returned to the Five Poisons Sect to find Yi Qiyan and the guide she had arranged for her.

Upon Han Lu's return, Yi Qiyan immediately inquired whether Han Lu had purchased any desired items at the auction.

Han Lu simply took out the book on formations and said, "There were a few things I wanted, but they were all sold for high prices and I couldn't get them. In the end, I just bought this book on formations."

"I did manage to buy some basic materials, talismans, and elixirs in the market outside the auction venue, which can be considered a small gain."

Yi Qiyan picked up the array book from Han Lu's hand with great curiosity, "Let me take a look."

Yi Qiyan, who cultivated in the Southern Frontier, knew a little about formations, a kind of unorthodox and unorthodox practice.

At least, compared to Han Lu, Yi Qiyan's skill in formations is much higher.

After flipping through a few pages, Yi Qiyan casually asked, "It looks pretty good. How many spirit stones did it cost?"

"Twenty-five yuan," Han Lu said nervously.

Although she is a second-generation fairy, she still hopes to "get a bargain" at the auction.

Upon hearing this, Yi Qiyan praised, "That's a small profit."

"This book is part of a set of ancient books on formations, consisting of three volumes."

"This set of formation books is available in our Five Poisons Sect."

"A set like this can easily sell for a hundred spirit stones."

"All things considered, one book would cost at least thirty spirit stones."

Hearing that she had gotten a small bargain, Han Lu's already good mood improved even more.

"Then, Saintess Yi, could you lend me the other two books from the Five Poisons Sect?" Han Lu asked, her tone slightly exaggerated and humorous, making a request that was neither too big nor too small.

Yi Qiyan chuckled lightly, "Han Lu, you're too kind. It's just reading a book, nothing serious."

With that, Yi Qiyan wrote down a warrant, "Take this, and you can read whichever book you want in the Scripture Pavilion."

Another generous gift was presented, and Han Lu chuckled as she accepted it, saying, "You're too kind."

"We're friends, so next time I visit Zhengyi Sect, don't hold back from me," Yi Qiyan said with a smile.

Hearing this, Han Lu hesitated slightly, "Okay, but you have to wait for me for thirty years, until I become the head of the Zhengyi Sect."

"Right now I am just an inner disciple, so I can't give you the top-tier treatment you would receive in the Zhengyi Sect."

Amidst laughter and conversation, Han Lu and Yi Qiyan got down to business.

“Yi Qiyan,” Han Lu asked, “is the guide you told me about in the sect now? Could I meet her now?”

“No problem, I’ll summon her over.” Yi Qiyan took out another piece of paper, wrote a word on it, transformed it into a paper sword, and sent it out.

In order to complete the task assigned by Han Lu, Yi Qiyan had already arranged for the guide to stay in a small house near her residence, ready to meet Han Lu and serve her.

Sure enough, only two minutes after the paper sword flew out, a sound came from outside the door.

First came a soft knocking, followed by a voice that sounded like a little girl's.

"Your Holiness, I have arrived."

"Come in."

As soon as Yi Qiyan finished speaking, a female cultivator who was a head and a half shorter than Han Lu entered Yi Qiyan's room.

"Let's get acquainted," Yi Qiyan said, pointing to Han Lu sitting in front of her. "Han Lu is a disciple of the Central Plains Zhengyi Sect. You will be serving her for the next few days."

“Mao Ningyu, Qi Refining Level 7,” Yi Qiyan introduced to Han Lu. “Han Lu, she will be your guide for the next few days.”

"This..." Han Lu looked at Mao Ningyu, who looked like a fourteen or fifteen-year-old girl, and wondered if she was really a qualified guide.

"Don't let her young appearance fool you, she's actually ten years older than me," Yi Qiyan answered before Han Lu could ask. "Mao Ningyu's appearance is due to her cultivation techniques."

"Greetings, Senior Han." Mao Ningyu was only a Qi Refining cultivator, and although she was older than Han Lu, she still addressed Han Lu as Senior.

While this form of address may seem a little formal, it does fit the relationship between a guide and their employer.

Hearing this, Han Lu didn't ask any more questions, but simply said, "Mao Ningyu, I suppose you already know the goal of my trip. I wonder if you've done your homework these past few days and figured out where the waterfall cave I'm looking for might be?"

“In response to Senior Han,” Mao Ningyu replied, “the Holy Maiden told me about your request five days ago. Although I haven’t left the sect to travel in the Southern Frontier in the past two years, I still remember which places in the Southern Frontier have waterfalls of the scale you described.”

As she spoke, Mao Ningyu took out a map from her storage bag. "It's roughly in these six places, some near and some far. I hope Senior Han can point out the order."

Mao Ningyu was well-prepared, and Han Lu's trust in her immediately increased from 70% to 90%.

"Let's start with the nearby and then move on to the farther ones."

[Author's Note] There are still 3 days until I can start my holiday and rest at home.

Chapter 439 Searching for the Cave

Han Lu temporarily postponed her reading and studying.

They rested for a day at the Five Poisons Sect.

Early the next morning, Han Lu called her guide, Mao Ningyu, and flew towards the waterfall closest to the Five Poisons Sect.

Due to its topography, southern Xinjiang has very few waterfalls in its relatively small area.

In Xiaoyaozi's remnant soul's memory, the cave where the "Foundation Establishment Realm Treasure" was hidden was located behind a medium-sized waterfall about twenty or thirty meters high.

Naturally, with such conditions, the six possible treasure locations that Mao Ningyu selected would be much more accurate.

Han Lu had a clear plan: if the treasure hidden in the "Water Curtain Cave" was not found in these six places, then she would have Mao Ningyu continue to lead the search for every waterfall in the southern border region.

Southern Xinjiang is not large. Even using this "exhaustive" method, Han Lu believes that it will only take about half a month to find the true location of Xiaoyaozi's treasure.

The first waterfall was only a three-hour walk from the Five Poisons Sect. Han Lu drove the flying horse carriage carrying Mao Ningyu and arrived in a little over a quarter of an hour.

Flying in the air, Mao Ningyu lifted the carriage curtain and pointed to a waterfall below, saying, "Senior Han, this is it."

After lowering the Pegasus chariot, Han Lu looked at the waterfall in the distance, which was about twenty-seven or twenty-eight meters high, and the sound of water hitting the surface of the water echoed in her ears.