The Long Journey to Immortality

However, any cultivator who has practiced in several sacred cultivation sites will answer "yes" immediately when asked this question.

However, the mortal realm is inherently barren of spiritual energy and lacks resources for cultivation.

Cultivation grounds are rare, and ordinary places are mostly chaotic in terms of the five elements, which makes the spiritual energy turbid and muddy, like muddy water.

The Cold Cicada Peak where Han Lu is currently located is such a treasure land of cultivation, filled with water-attribute spiritual energy, to the point that all cultivators acknowledge that spiritual energy possesses attributes.

With her single water elemental root and excellent qi perception, Han Lu thrived in this environment.

Although Qi Refining cultivators can only internally observe the acupoints that have been opened within their bodies and cannot project their divine sense outwards, all these changes are so intense that it is difficult for a cultivator with such keen Qi senses as Han Lu not to notice them.

As soon as she entered meditation, Han Lu noticed the difference between cultivating here and cultivating normally or during major cultivation sessions.

If we compare spiritual cultivation to falling in love with spiritual energy...

Even Han Lu, who possesses an exceptionally strong sense of energy, still needs to actively court the spiritual energy like a suitor, buying it gifts and ornaments, and communicating with it frequently in order to absorb the spiritual energy into her body for cultivation.

During their intensive cultivation, Han Lu and the spiritual energy were like having an incredibly harmonious relationship, with each being equal and getting what they needed.

But at this moment, Han Lu, a female cultivator who usually had to bow down to spiritual energy, seemed to have become a high and mighty princess, while the spiritual energy became a "lickspittle," eager to pry open Han Lu's skin and actively crawl into her body's acupoints, just to get a taste of her beauty.

This change made it incredibly easy for Han Lu to draw spiritual energy from the air, even easier than breathing or drinking water.

Not to mention that the air we breathe now is oxygen from oxygen tanks, and the water we drink is unpolluted spring water from the Tianshan Mountains.

He absorbed so much water-attribute spiritual energy into his body and then transformed it through his spiritual root.

Naturally, the spiritual energy within Han Lu's body that could be used to open acupoints and create channels increased several times or even dozens of times to aid in cultivation.

Silently reciting the incantation, Han Lu manipulated the more than twenty clusters of spiritual energy that had condensed in the blink of an eye to "open up pathways" within her body.

These twenty clusters of spiritual energy were more concentrated and substantial than usual, and there were even some signs that they were about to transform back into a liquid state.

The only drawback is that this spiritual energy exudes a chill.

The chill slowed down the flow of spiritual energy within her body, making her cultivation technique less fluid than usual.

But this is just a minor flaw.

With so many young and strong laborers helping to open up the spiritual energy channels, Han Lu felt as if a complete spiritual energy channel could be formed in the blink of an eye.

Only one-third of the twenty clusters of spiritual energy were used, and the spiritual energy channel from the thirty-seventh acupoint to the thirty-eighth acupoint was completely opened.

Without hesitation, Han Lu directed the remaining thirteen clusters of spiritual energy to launch an attack on the tightly closed acupoints instead of wasting energy on the "wasteland".

Han Lu's not-so-sturdy acupoints had never seen such a formation before.

With the help of an inside agent who had been lurking since the reincarnation of Xuanpin, they launched an attack with just a few wisps of spiritual energy and successfully broke through the city gate, opened up and completely occupied this acupoint, and planted Han Lu's flag.

Having just captured the city, Han Lu was contemplating whether to conserve her energy or continue her advance when twenty clusters of spiritual energy, supplied through the spiritual energy channel, gave her a reason to continue.

With the perfect timing, location, and human factors in place, the spiritual energy army within Han Lu's body grew larger and larger, something even Xiaoyaozi had never encountered before.

With more and more spiritual energy being used to expand territory and open up spiritual veins, the speed of cultivation advancement naturally becomes faster and faster.

If someone were to observe Han Lu's cultivation progress, they would be surprised to discover something.

It took Han Lu nearly an hour to open up the spiritual energy channel and unlock the thirty-eighth acupoint, which was only about three or four times faster than during her major cultivation.

However, it only took Han Lu five quarters of an hour to open the thirty-ninth acupoint.

The time taken to open the 40th acupoint was even shorter, less than 45 minutes.

If things continue this way, Han Lu will only need a quarter of an hour at most to successfully open the forty-first acupoint.

Such astonishing speed, if word got out, would probably leave almost every cultivator speechless.

One hour consists of eight quarters.

Four hours consist of thirty-two quarters of an hour.

If Han Lu can maintain this speed, she will definitely become a cultivator after leaving the meditation room, having been a novice before entering it.

While Han Lu was in deep meditation and immersed in her cultivation, she was unable to perceive the passage of time, but she was certain that she was on a fast track, and her cultivation speed was at least ten times faster than usual.

However, her good fortune didn't last long. When Han Lu successfully opened her forty-second acupoint, she noticed some changes in her body under the influence of the chill brought by the spiritual energy.

The circulation of spiritual energy became increasingly difficult, as if the spiritual energy was about to freeze into ice within Han Lu's body.

For this reason, Han Lu's ability to guide and direct spiritual energy was also significantly affected.

A train runs fast because of its locomotive.

The spiritual power that led the expansion of spiritual energy had a problem, which naturally slowed down the pace of cultivation.

This made Han Lu feel somewhat uncomfortable.

Who wouldn't want to break through and advance as quickly as they did just now?

With a few points of focus, Han Lu pondered, "How should I solve this problem? If I can maintain this rapid speed for two-thirds of these four hours, maybe next year I can prepare to participate in the small competition for the seventh or even eighth level of Qi Refining."

However, Xiaoyaozi had never encountered such a thing before. Entering an unknown territory, his cultivation experience was unable to provide her with any help for the time being.

In the quiet room, there was nothing outside to rely on.

Han Lu could only put the matter aside for the time being and continue her cultivation at a rate of about 45 minutes to break through one acupoint.

Even so, this speed is still astonishing.

When the four-hour period was up, the restrictions in the meditation room were activated, shielding the spiritual energy of the Cold Cicada Peak from the courtyard.

Sensing the change in the density of spiritual energy around her, Han Lu remained seated in the quiet room for a while, greedily absorbing the last remaining spiritual energy in the courtyard. She then widened and extended the remaining spiritual energy channels a little further before reluctantly leaving.

When they reached the summit of Hanchan Peak, it was just lunchtime, and Han Lu had only activated thirty-seven acupoints.

As Han Lu left the meditation room, the moon had just risen in the sky. On her way back, it was as if she had experienced a second reincarnation, and her cultivation progressed by leaps and bounds.

Han Lu opened a total of forty-nine acupoints in just four hours.

Han Lu is just a hair's breadth away from opening all fifty-six acupoints, completely opening her first spiritual vein, advancing to the first level of Qi Refining, and becoming a cultivator.

Chapter Sixty-Five: Finding a Solution

Great harvest.

In just four hours, Han Lu successfully opened 12 acupoints. Naturally, she made up her mind to choose the fourth compensation method provided by the Transmission Hall and take full advantage of the Transmission Hall.

After leaving Hanchan Peak, Han Lu did not return to her courtyard immediately, but instead went to the inner warehouse.

Han Lu's purpose in going to the inner treasury was simple: she wanted to see how many contribution points it would cost to exchange for the right to use the quiet room on Hanchan Peak in the inner treasury of Dongshan Academy.

Upon arriving at the inner treasury, they inquired with a steward who was responsible for guiding the disciples to "shop" outside the treasury.

Han Lu was somewhat well-known in Dongshan Academy. The steward recognized her and exclaimed in surprise, "You want to cultivate in the inner treasury on Hanchan Peak? Junior Sister Han, I remember you were still a Daoist disciple."

"It's very cold up there. The pure water-attribute spiritual energy is chilly and not very friendly to cultivators."

“It is both troublesome and difficult for low-level cultivators to meditate and cultivate at the top of Cold Cicada Peak.”

Han Lu replied dismissively, "I was just curious and asking casually. Senior brother, could you tell me?"

“No problem, this is my job.” Not many disciples of the Zheng Yi Sect consulted on this matter. After recalling for a moment, the steward told Han Lu the specific numbers. “I wonder if Junior Sister Han has been to the summit of Han Chan Peak. There are quite a few quiet rooms there for cultivators to practice and cultivate.”

"The distance between the meditation room and the cold pool varies, and the contribution points required for cultivation within each room also differ."

"The outermost meditation room requires a payment of approximately 500 contribution points to enter, and one must cultivate there for four hours."

"The few quiet rooms closest to the cold pool require 600 contribution points to use for four hours."

Upon hearing these two numbers, Han Lu immediately abandoned her plans to work diligently within her sect, earn contribution points, and exchange them for extra opportunities to cultivate in the secluded chambers of Hanchan Peak.

Generally speaking, a Qi Refining cultivator in the Zhengyi Sect, even if he devotes all his time outside of cultivation to working hard for the sect, can only earn about fifty contribution points a month.

The jobs offered within the Zhengyi Sect are in high demand. Whether it's the Transmission Hall, the Law Enforcement Academy, or the Academy, they all prefer to hire cultivators with higher levels of cultivation to serve them.

For a cultivator of Han Lu's level, earning 500 contribution points to redeem rewards would likely require a year or even a year and a half of hard work.

In this case, it would be better to spend the time earning contribution points on meditation and cultivation, which would be more beneficial to improving one's cultivation level.

After thanking her, Han Lu turned and left.

If this path is blocked, then we must find another one.

Despite her cultivation level advancing rapidly in the blink of an eye, Han Lu found herself troubled and lost in thought.

Seeing a smooth road laid out before her, Han Lu, who wasn't stupid enough to be caught in a door, naturally tried every possible way to walk on this smooth road a little longer and stay a little longer.

"Should we go talk to Senior Sister Si? See if we can pour out our grievances and get some more time to cultivate in the meditation room?"

"I doubt it will be easy. After all, this is definitely not something that Senior Sister Si can decide on her own. Just looking at the compensation of cultivating in the meditation room, it's already a huge bargain for me when converted into contribution points."

"They probably won't let me bargain anymore, so it's best not to talk about it, lest the benefits I've already gained slip away."

……

"Then why not go find Master? He must have a quiet room on Cold Cicada Peak for us to use. Why not ask him for it?"

"Perhaps not, this is not something I can easily bring up. Besides, although Master is a Golden Core cultivator, he doesn't have much say in the East Mountain Academy."

"If his closed-door disciple or his cultivation has reached the mid-to-late stage of Foundation Establishment, then there might still be a possibility of talking."

"To make such a request as a mere Daoist novice with only the status of a nominal disciple? It's definitely impossible to accomplish this."

Han Lu was reluctant to tell Elder Piaomiao that "four hours of my cultivation on Hanchan Peak is equivalent to six months of hard training for an ordinary cultivator."

Both Feng Bailu and Xiaoyaozi felt that it was best to keep this matter a secret for the time being.

……

A few more names flashed through Han Lu's mind, but disappeared in an instant.

Han Lu's foundation in the Zhengyi Sect was still shallow. She came up with several methods, but she immediately refuted them herself.

Walking back to the courtyard from the inner warehouse, Han Lu still couldn't find a good way to stay in the quiet room of Hanchan Peak for even a quarter of an hour longer.

Han Lu filled the bathtub with hot water, quickly took off her clothes, and soaked her body in the warm water to dispel the lingering chill. At the same time, she tried to use her brain to solve the problem while bathing, a time when her mind was most open.

The warm water stimulated Han Lu's skin, causing her face to flush red, giving her the illusion of her blood surging.

After steeping her hair in water for the time it takes to make a cup of tea, Han Lu shook her wet long hair and slowly tidied it with her hands.

Han Lu recalled the scene when she encountered the chill that "froze" her spiritual power, slowing down her cultivation speed.

She muttered to herself, "Perhaps I can try a different approach."

"If I can't walk on this smooth road any longer, I can try to get myself into a carriage and carry my spirit sword instead of walking. That would achieve the same or even better results."