The Long Journey to Immortality

However, when Yun Daoren recalled that past event in the book and mentioned that small sect, he specified the approximate location of the sect.

"But at least I have a general direction," Han Lu comforted herself. "Once my cultivation improves further, I can try to search there. Maybe there are still ruins of this small sect from five thousand years ago, and I can find some clues in them."

"Judging from the description in the text, the ingredients for this elixir should not be too precious. If I find the formula, I should be able to make some with my wealth."

Having found a direction to solve the problem, Han Lu was in a great mood.

She read the little notebook three more times, memorizing all the key points before she stopped.

The matter has made a breakthrough, but Han Lu has no intention of stopping there.

Her cultivation level is still shallow, and she does not have the right or ability to leave the sect at will to go out and cultivate.

Not to mention whether or not they could find the elixir is another matter entirely.

Even if you find the formula and the medicine, whether it's suitable for you is another matter entirely.

The matter was not yet finalized, and Han Lu understood that she should explore several more ideas and methods and make several contingency plans.

The guidance Han Lu received from a certain cultivator's memoirs caused a slight change in the books she was reading.

There are fewer books on the basics of cultivation, but more books on the personal experiences of cultivators, such as memoirs and biographies.

And sure enough, this small adjustment, after four hours of reading time, actually allowed Han Lu to find two other possible ways to solve the problem at hand.

One of them is still a medicinal pill.

This elixir is called "Warm Sun Protective Pill," and it was created by a female rogue cultivator.

This female cultivator was ambushed while pregnant, and the fetus inside her was poisoned by cold.

Once the fetus grows up and begins to cultivate, the spiritual energy it has just absorbed will be frozen by this inescapable cold poison.

This female cultivator, whose cultivation level was at the late Golden Core stage, found someone skilled in alchemy and developed this kind of pill.

Although the disease cannot be cured, it can allow her child to cultivate like a normal cultivator.

The book records the recipe for this elixir, but looking at the medicinal materials needed to refine it, Han Lu was certain that obtaining the "Warm Sun Protective Pill" would be at least ten times more difficult than obtaining the "Cold Dispelling Pill" mentioned by Daoist Yun.

The second type is ritual implements.

In his notes, a master craftsman mentioned a simple idea for creating magical artifacts that could filter spiritual energy.

This ritual implement can easily purify turbid spiritual energy and remove impurities.

With a few more modifications, Han Lu thought it might be able to help her.

"However, this seems to be a sudden idea of ​​this weapon-refining master, not something that can be done."

The magical implements described in this book are indeed similar in function to "perpetual motion machines" and "water cars," which, from the perspective of ordinary cultivators, is an impossible feat.

Even so, Han Lu still wrote down this information.

Although there were some breakthroughs, the ending was ultimately not very satisfactory, and Han Lu didn't want to spend any more time on books.

In response, Han Lu could only comfort herself by saying, "Even if I don't find a solution to the problem, this speed of cultivation is satisfactory enough." She then lazily stretched, returned the book to its original place, and left before the steward of the Transmission Hall reminded her that time was up.

[Author's Note] After updating three chapters, I feel more confident to address the feedback you've given.

Actually, I've entered a very Zen-like state lately, much like when I was writing the second half of Miss Shadow. I update, write, update, write every day.

I have seen all the opinions and suggestions you have given. They were very sincere and practical, and I have been reflecting on them and making changes. However, because I have about 32 chapters saved, the changes that you see are somewhat delayed.

I'm happy to hear your feedback; it means there are still people reading and thinking I can improve the writing. (This is so much better than the lifeless intermissions of Miss Shadow.)

I will continue to write and improve as I go, instead of "stopping and revising." (If I were to stop updating, I would probably write stories like "The Married Life of a Live-Streaming Housewife" or "My Roommate Became a Prince with the Most Beautiful Female Warrior in the World, But I Became the Female Warrior.")

So, thank you all for your support. I hope that the changes I make with your help will make this book more interesting.

Chapter Sixty-Eight: Re-ascending Cold Cicada Peak

Of the three methods, finding the Cold-Repelling Pill is the easiest in terms of feasibility.

According to Yun Daoren's story, the sect he served, "Yan Tian Sect," was located near Duanmu City, the westernmost city in the present-day Southern Dynasty.

Due to its geographical location, it was one of the few cities in the Southern Dynasties that leaned more towards the Seven Mountains Alliance than the Zhengyi Gate.

After all, distant water cannot quench immediate thirst, and the citizens of Ruimu City are more willing to entrust their lives and property to the Seven Mountains Alliance, a cultivation force that protects them and keeps them from the troubles of the Western Regions' military attacks.

The Seven Mountains Alliance has a good relationship with the two major sects in the Central Plains. If Han Lu can get help from Piaomiaozi and go there, she might even find one or two enthusiastic Seven Mountains Alliance cultivators as guides to help her solve her problems.

However, because it is close to the Western Regions, there are occasional stragglers or cultivators who infiltrate the Central Plains, making it much more dangerous than the Zhengyi Mountains where Han Lu is currently located.

So searching for traces of the Cold-Repelling Pill there is not difficult, but it's not easy either.

After leaving the Hall of Transmission, Han Lu also decided to work towards this goal, so that she would not be affected by the coldness contained in the spiritual energy when she cultivated on Cold Cicada Peak, and could achieve a faster cultivation speed.

However, when the small courtyard where she was supposed to meet Si Xing'er appeared in the distance, she still wanted to give it a try and go find Si Xing'er.

"They met under the pretext of deciding on a compensation plan, subtly probing and trying to get information from the other side."

After setting a simple battle plan for herself, Han Lu took the initiative to enter the courtyard and find a steward of the Transmission Hall to inquire about Si Xing'er.

As the chief disciple of the Transmission Hall of Dongshan Academy, Si Xing'er's residence was naturally in the management room of the Transmission Hall.

Han Lu asked someone to help her give her name, and soon she met Si Xing'er.

"Hello, Senior Sister Si," Han Lu said proactively.

"What's wrong?" Si Xing'er put down the measuring tool in her hand, rubbed her temples, and temporarily freed herself from her official duties. She asked, "Have you decided to return the token to me?"

“No,” Han Lu said with a smile, “Senior Sister Si, I went to Cold Cicada Peak to cultivate a few days ago and felt pretty good, so I decided to choose the fourth option that Senior Sister Si proposed.”

Si Xing'er then asked, "Then why did you come to see me today?"

Han Lu quickly explained her purpose, "I just wanted to express my gratitude to Senior Sister Si, and I also have some minor questions about cultivation that I'd like to ask you."

"Go ahead and speak." Si Xing'er was also overwhelmed by the complicated matters and was willing to take a short break to talk to Han Lu.

Han Lu briefly recounted the troubles she had encountered, taking the opportunity to play the victim.

She wasn't expecting Si Xing'er to help her solve the problem; she just wanted to start a conversation and see if she could use this little trick to get a few more moments to cultivate on Hanchan Peak.

“Junior Sister Han, this matter is difficult to resolve,” Si Xing’er said. “It’s only natural for a Daoist disciple to encounter such situations while cultivating on Hanchan Peak.”

"As for how to solve it, when you reach the Foundation Establishment stage and cultivate based on the dantian and qi sea, this problem will naturally be solved."

Hearing this, Han Lu adjusted her tone and manner, "Then, Senior Sister Si, wouldn't I be at a disadvantage like this? Could you let me cultivate in the quiet room on Hanchan Peak for a little longer? Even just an hour would be fine."

“That won’t do,” Si Xing’er explained.

"We originally planned to give you two hours."

"But considering your current low cultivation level, we've increased it to four hours to avoid you suffering a loss."

After saying that, Si Xing'er added, "The quiet rooms on Hanchan Peak are in high demand."

Then, as a senior student and someone who had been through it all, she kindly gave Han Lu some advice.

"If your spiritual veins are damaged by the cold spiritual energy on Hanchan Peak, you must go down the mountain to recuperate immediately and not try to tough it out."

"You can try dividing the four hours into four sessions. This way, as a Dao Child Realm cultivator, you can gain more benefits in the quiet room on Cold Cicada Peak."

Si Xing'er only gave Han Lu advice for ordinary cultivators; she had no idea what had happened to Han Lu in the meditation room on Han Chan Peak.

Otherwise, she would definitely think that Han Lu was greedy and had too much to ask for.

However, Si Xing'er's words also inspired Han Lu.

"Would it be better if I changed it to twice a week, every two hours, to cultivate on Cold Cicada Peak?"

Han Lu was unaware of the exact time when the cold air affected the operation of her cultivation technique, nor did she know how long she had been meditating in the quiet room of Cold Cicada Peak before she could reach the limit state of opening an acupoint at that moment.

Lacking information, she couldn't judge whether the idea was good or bad.

"Why don't we try going to Cold Cicada Peak again next month, which is four days from now?" Han Lu felt that this attempt would only bring her benefits and no drawbacks.

So Han Lu asked Si Xing'er how to control the restrictions and set a timer for the quiet room.

Si Xing'er obtained Han Lu's token and personally taught her how to use it.

Si Xing'er's enthusiasm for her fellow disciples is one of the reasons why she was able to become the chief disciple of the Transmission Hall.

"Just like this, you can control the restrictions in the meditation room and make them open and operate at regular intervals."

"However, the time limit for this token is already fixed. No matter how you manipulate it, you will only have four hours a month."

Having taught Han Lu how to manipulate the restrictions, Si Xing'er looked at the large amount of official documents in front of her, sighed, and said, "Alright, Junior Sister Han, I have other things to do. If you have no further questions, you can leave now."

Han Lu didn't waste any more time with Si Xing'er. After confirming that she had mastered the method of controlling the restriction, she thanked her and left.

Four days later, a new month arrived, and there were exactly two months left before the competition began.

Perhaps because the situation of spirit stone mining has improved, this time, Zhengyi Sect first restored the amount of spirit stone supplies for inner disciples to the usual level.

Although this action caused dissatisfaction among many outer disciples, it also completely reassured them.

In their view, the sect's actions were tantamount to sending a signal that the period of "lack of food and clothing" would soon pass, and everything would return to normal next month.

The extra spirit stone didn't make Han Lu very happy, but she was quite excited about having four more hours to enter the meditation room on Hanchan Peak in the new month.

Having left the inner treasury, Han Lu, who had just successfully opened her fiftieth acupoint two days prior, focused her attention on the quiet chamber on Cold Cicada Peak.

She only hoped that the little trick inspired by Si Xing'er would work, so that she could advance to the first level of Qi Refining in the quiet room of Hanchan Peak this month, and open up a few more acupoints.

"I hope that once I leave the meditation room, in addition to having a complete spiritual meridian, I will also be able to open up seven or eight more acupoints."

Filled with anticipation, Han Lu climbed Hanchan Peak again and entered the quiet room where she had stayed seven days earlier.

Chapter Sixty-Nine: Senior Master

The place on Hanchan Peak was no different from when Han Lu last visited.

It seems that a powerful being is cultivating in the No. 5 meditation room next to the No. 6 meditation room.

Although there were restrictions to conceal and protect her, Han Lu could still feel an incredibly powerful aura coming from the direction of Room No. 5 when she stood next to the courtyard, and there were also several beams of light emerging from the courtyard.

"It's most likely some Golden Core or even Nascent Soul cultivator practicing powerful supernatural techniques in a quiet room?" Han Lu secretly wondered.

Feeling this powerful pressure, a strange thought suddenly came to her mind.

"What if this senior makes a mistake while practicing his secret technique and blows up this meditation room, affecting me in the process?" Han Lu muttered to herself. "Maybe I should come back another time?"

This idea is not a random, unfounded thought, but a well-founded concern.