The Long Journey to Immortality

In the end, the spirit sword bypassed the two and struck the giant barrier at the edge of the arena.

With a crisp sound, the spirit sword floated back to Han Lu's side, but the surrounding array barrier shattered like a broken mirror.

Upon hearing this resounding sound, the cultivators who were strolling around couldn't help but turn their gazes toward the area where Han Lu and the others were. They witnessed the formation, which was said to be able to withstand an attack from a Nascent Soul Realm expert, shatter and collapse, revealing the figures of several cultivators who were sparring within it.

Chapter 859 Illusory Realm Refines the Heart

Among the passing cultivators was a Foundation Establishment cultivator who had come from the Central Plains to visit friends in the East Sea. He naturally recognized Han Lu and Wen Erya, who were fighting in the arena, from afar.

When he heard his friend lamenting that "this formation that could withstand an attack from a Nascent Soul cultivator was actually destroyed," he enthusiastically introduced "Fairy Zhenfeng" to his friend. He even took out a picture book that he didn't know where he got it from and introduced her to his friend, who was in the East Sea and had only been staying in the Central Plains for a few months due to kinship, as "the pride of the younger generation of cultivators in the Central Plains."

The destruction of the site's formation and the resulting commotion naturally attracted the attention of the area's administrators.

Because it was already known that the young master, Lü Zhi, was using this area.

Therefore, when they arrived, the managers did not confront them or blame the users of the venue for improper use, but instead demanded compensation.

Instead, he rushed to the venue with a smile to apologize to Lü Zhi.

He claimed that he had neglected to manage the area properly and had failed to adequately protect the surrounding terrain.

He praised Lü Zhi and Han Lu, along with their companions, for their extraordinary magical power, as they were able to destroy the formation despite only having the cultivation level of the Golden Core Realm.

Such actions naturally drew laughter from everyone.

Following the steward's words, Lü Zhi also praised, "Han Lu, your sword strike was indeed powerful, as expected of..."

Thinking that there were outsiders present, Lü Zhi quickly changed his words and continued, "Using my natal magic weapon to unleash the sword intent I have specially studied."

The transition was a bit awkward, but there wasn't a major problem.

"Old Guo, when will this formation be repaired?" Lu Zhi asked casually, trying to ease the already awkward situation.

The cultivator from the Immortal Pavilion, known as Lao Guo, roughly calculated, "I have already sent someone to invite the formation master from within the pavilion."

"The materials are all readily available, and in my opinion, the formation has not been completely destroyed."

"If everything goes smoothly, it should be repaired in half an hour at most."

"If the young master and his friends do not mind, please come and sit in the lounge here."

For cultivators, half an hour is a very short time.

Furthermore, the formation was indeed destroyed by Han Lu's sword. If you think about it carefully, if it weren't for Lü Zhi's involvement, they might have had to pay a sum of spirit stones.

Therefore, everyone agreed and followed "Old Guo's" arrangement, going to the rest room to wait for the formation to be repaired before considering the sparring.

From the moment they arrived at the lounge, everyone's conversation revolved around Han Lu.

Kong Qiaosheng, who had the lowest cultivation level but the best writing skills, used all sorts of beautiful words to praise the sharpness of Han Lu's sword strike just now.

Wen Erya, out of curiosity, pressed Han Lu to tell her if she had truly gained some insight.

Yi Qiyan was talking about her original plans.

She had planned to let Lü Zhi face Han Lu's attack alone while she waited for an opportunity to counterattack, but that stunning sword strike just now had stunned her, causing the opportunity to slip through her fingers.

Lu Zhi first described how he felt when he faced that sword, then felt sorry for his magic weapon and jokingly said that he would ask Han Lu to help repair and compensate him.

Han Lu responded to her friends' questions and jokes one by one.

At the same time, she was also savoring the wonderful feeling she had when she unleashed the spirit sword in that attack.

After pondering for a while, Han Lu said to Lü Zhi in a joking tone, "If I had used that sword strike against your Spirit Realm Shield just now, and you had been able to withstand it for a while, even if it was only for three breaths, I would most likely have successfully broken through and reached the minor success level in one of the paths of swordsmanship."

Despite the regret, Han Lu didn't dwell on it for long.

She was just one step away from success; everything was ready. As for the opportune moment, she believed it would eventually come.

Hearing this, Lü Zhi felt sorry for Han Lu and laughed, "How about I stand there again later and let you stab me with your sword?"

"No need," Han Lu felt that it was more appropriate to practice such a powerful technique as "Thrust" on an enemy. "I've already tested the sword. Didn't you want to spar with me when I've transformed into a true spirit? Let's do that once the formation is repaired."

Hearing this, Lü Zhi said excitedly, "That's great! But I'm still shaken by that attack. Han Lu, don't switch between ice and fire later on, my body can't handle it."

"Don't worry," Han Lu said, "I know what I'm doing and I promise I won't let Qi Yan become a widow."

With just one sentence, Han Lu brought the conversation back to the newlyweds.

Yi Qiyan has developed a thick skin during this time and no longer blushes because of these teasing and flirtatious words.

On the contrary, as the wedding approached, Lü Zhi, who was originally open and frank, became reserved.

He changed the subject, showing off the many magical treasures in his storage bag to pass the time.

It must be said that, as the young master of the Immortal Pavilion, he does indeed possess significantly more wealth than Han Lu and others, in terms of the amount he can control.

However, while money can make the devil turn the millstone, it doesn't necessarily mean you can buy a powerful and handy magic weapon.

Although Lü Zhi's magical weapons were numerous and varied, their quality was inferior to Han Lu's.

Because the young master was in a hurry to use the site, the several cultivators from the Immortal Pavilion who were proficient in formations also rushed to repair it at full speed.

He went through each of the dozen or so magical treasures one by one. After a quarter of an hour, the treasures were counted, and the formation was also repaired.

Back on the field, this time, Yi Qiyan took the initiative to leave, leaving only Lü Zhi to face Han Lu.

This exchange was purely for the sake of sparring. If it weren't for her relationship with Lü Zhi and Yi Qiyan, Han Lu, who already fully accepted the Phoenix's identity, would not have agreed to perform such a "show".

He transformed into a phoenix and sparred with Lü Zhi.

With the intention of letting her friend see exactly how many tricks and techniques she had up her sleeve so that they could cooperate in the future, Han Lu brought out all the true spiritual powers she could use.

Now, Lü Zhi not only has to endure the trials of the Nine Heavens of Ice and Fire, but he also has to be beaten by Han Lu using the supernatural powers of Li Feng and Huan Feng.

However, the opportunity was rare, and he enjoyed it immensely. He even asked Han Lu to cast an illusion spell on him, immersing him in the illusion so that he could enjoy his wonderful married life with Yi Qiyan ahead of time.

Han Lu naturally fulfilled his last wish and created a beautiful environment for him.

Under Han Lu's arrangement, Lü Zhi and Yi Qiyan lived happily ever after. In the end, they not only had many children and grandchildren, but they also both advanced to the Nascent Soul stage and finally broke through to the Divine Transformation stage, ascending together to the Spirit Realm to continue being a divine couple.

Unfortunately, Han Lu's current abilities are insufficient, and the illusions she weaves lack details; all the scenes and stories are more like a "summary or outline" that unfolds.

Lu Zhi is a Golden Core cultivator, unlike Chai Tianjiao back then, whose mental state and cultivation were poor.

Such a long story only captivated Lü Zhi for a mere hundred breaths.

Upon regaining his senses, although Lü Zhi did not have the same profound enlightenment as Chai Tianjiao back then, the way he looked at Yi Qiyan now carried a hint of "old married couple" affection.

This change amazed onlookers.

If Han Lu hadn't been so noncommittal about the positive effects of being trapped in a dream, the three of them would have definitely tried it all to hone their minds and improve their spiritual cultivation.

[Author's Note] Sorry, I missed posting one chapter.

Chapter 860 Results of the Handling

There aren't many places worth visiting near the Dragon Head Islands, but Han Lu and the others stayed there for nearly twenty more days under Lü Zhi's care before choosing to leave.

This decision was made partly to solidify the relationship that Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi had just established.

On the other hand, it was to ensure a complete conclusion, so that through Lü Zhi's or rather, the Immortal Pavilion's information network, they could receive information about Young Master Lan Ya as soon as possible and know what kind of ending he ultimately suffered after being schemed against by Han Lu and Lü Zhi.

This is like a play with eleven acts, but only ten acts have been performed so far.

Han Lu, who was concerned about the matter and was the mastermind behind it, was unwilling to wait until she returned to the Dragon Head Islands three months later to find out the final outcome of this drama.

The matter was neither major nor minor, but because nothing like it had happened in over three hundred years, Dongweng Shop took it very seriously.

They rely on the aura tokens left behind by the monks who join the Chamber of Commerce as escorts and protectors.

The two monks chosen by Han Lu as "witnesses" ultimately could not escape the pursuit of Dongweng Shop.

After the two were arrested, and under duress using magic and mind-altering drugs, they confessed to the facts and identified Lin Jinhuan as the real mole.

With no hope of recovering the materials, the last glimmer of hope that Young Master Lanya had been clinging to was also shattered.

Fortunately, the news was kept secret and did not actually spread.

Otherwise, Young Master Lanya would probably be used as a negative example, either being kicked out of Dongweng Shop to become a rogue cultivator in the East Sea, or being sent to a remote branch to serve as a Golden Core Realm shop manager and part-time escort protector, having his last bit of remaining value squeezed out.

Considering his past good performance, the presence of influential figures who spoke well of him, and the fact that Lü Zhi, influenced by his father, did not pursue the matter to the bitter end, he was spared a complete wipeout.

Lan Ya Gongzi, who was only meeting the shop owner for the second time, was fortunate enough to receive a lenient sentence.

He remained the manager of those eight branches, but his status as the so-called successor was stripped away, and he lost all hope of future promotion.

His status within Dongweng's shop plummeted from heaven to earth, and nearly a century of hard work went down the drain. If it weren't for his Golden Core cultivation, Young Master Lanya would probably be heartbroken.

If such an arrangement were true, and there really were a fairy musician, she could indeed take care of Young Master Lanya's business in the Star Islands again, giving this disheartened man some financial comfort.

Lan Ya Gongzi, a top-three candidate for the future chairman of Dongweng Shop, met a dismal end, casting a shadow over the already highly anticipated selection of the Dongweng Shop's heir.

It just so happens to be the time when the older generation of leaders of the two chambers of commerce "retire".

This naturally added a lot of conspiracy elements to the minds of those in the know.

Many competitors with vested interests in Lanya Gongzi are considered potential instigators, masterminds, or investors.

In the end, they managed to clear Lü Zhi of suspicion and essentially distance himself from the matter.

When the news reached the Dragon Head Islands, Han Lu and the others reacted in different ways.

Lu Zhi was so happy that he threw another banquet. While expressing his true feelings, he also took the opportunity to announce that he was "taken" and bid farewell to his past life.

Wen Erya, however, felt that her side's retaliatory actions had gone a bit too far.

In her view, Young Master Lanya deliberately provoked the conflict and wasted 20,000 spirit stones. Such punishment was not commensurate with him, so she naturally felt a little pity for him.

As a pure cultivator from the Central Plains, Wen Erya's reaction was perfectly normal.

It would be strange if it weren't like that.

Yi Qiyan, Han Lu, and Kong Qiaosheng's reactions fell somewhere in between.

They believed that Young Master Lanya deserved his punishment, and because the enmity between them wasn't particularly deep, they weren't as excited as Lü Zhi.

Yi Qiyan and Kong Qiaosheng's joy at receiving the resources and Lü Zhi's feelings stemmed from empathy.

Han Lu, on the other hand, was more pleased because it was rare for her to win by using her wits.

As it was, although not everyone was 100% satisfied, it ultimately brought the story to a successful close.

The day after Lü Zhi hosted the banquet, Han Lu and Wen Erya took Yi Qiyan to say goodbye to Lü Zhi.