The Long Journey to Immortality

"If one could spend nearly 70% of their time each year on spiritual practice."

"Based on the current rate of being able to successfully draw twenty red patterns per day and night."

……

"Perhaps I only need thirty-five years to complete all twelve Dan patterns and successfully break through to the late stage of Golden Core."

This result caused Han Lu, who was in a meditative state, to involuntarily raise the corners of her mouth and reveal a slight smile.

[Author's Note] The client representative for this project was such an idiot. It made me so angry!

Chapter 892 The True Phoenix Fairy's Debut Work

Having achieved such results, Han Lu is now even more excited than when she first reached the first rank of Core Formation.

After all, achieving the Core Formation stage ultimately involves following the path of predecessors, adhering to the path set by a genius like Senior Fang Lin.

However, the breakthrough she has achieved in using the Imperial Extreme Pill is entirely due to her own understanding of the path of cultivation combined with a flash of inspiration and wit.

Upon examining the inner core, Han Lu saw that its surface was covered with seven pill patterns and five faint pill pattern marks. She couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "No wonder so many talented cultivators research and create their own unique cultivation techniques and choose to walk their own path."

"It feels wonderful to achieve success in this way."

Having gained unique insights, Han Lu couldn't help but feel an urge to show them off to others.

Unfortunately, most of his friends and disciples had only heard of the name of the Imperial Elixir and had never had the opportunity to take this "miracle drug".

In this regard, Mo Zhehan might be a good confidant, and he would certainly give Han Lu the positive feedback she wants.

But now, Mo Zhehan has returned to the Great Yu Dynasty and is no longer by Han Lu's side. Han Lu is also somewhat reluctant to tell the cultivators of the Extreme Heaven Palace, who can produce the Imperial Extreme Pill, about something that is so beneficial to cultivation.

Han Lu sat cross-legged on the bed, muttering to herself, "If I tell Mo Zhehan about this, he will definitely pass on this good news that allows him to make the most of the Imperial Pill to his master. In this way, the Jitian Palace can use the Imperial Pills they produce to help the sect's disciples overcome the hurdle of the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm more quickly."

"It will definitely lead to an increase in strength."

"Currently, the relationship between the Central Plains and the Great Yu Dynasty's Heavenly Palace is harmonious, but I dare not guarantee that it will remain so hundreds or thousands of years from now."

"It's best to avoid doing things that might aid the enemy."

Although the difference in their birthplaces did not necessarily cause any estrangement between Han Lu and Mo Zhehan in matters large or small, it was enough for Han Lu to selectively retain some secrets that might be detrimental to the Central Plains.

"It seems best to keep this a secret," Han Lu thought for a moment. "However, if other disciples of the Zhengyi Sect were fortunate enough to obtain the Imperial Extreme Pill but were unaware of the techniques and tips I discovered, wouldn't that be a waste?"

"We should find a good way to let the lucky younger disciples of the Zhengyi Sect know about this matter and gain unexpected benefits from it."

"In this way, I can benefit future generations, forge good relationships, and also satisfy my little vanity."

"What should we do?"

Wealth and honor without returning home are like wearing brocade at night.

Han Lu's story of forming her core twice and the secrets behind it could not be publicly promoted due to her bloodline limitations. Now that she has finally found a technique with some promotional value, she naturally hopes to let more Zhengyi disciples who possess the Huangji Pill know about it.

After a moment of contemplation, Han Lu had a good idea.

"Why not write this idea, along with my experience and insights gained from consuming numerous elixirs, into a thin book and donate it to the sect's academy?"

"If a disciple of a sect obtains the Imperial Pill, he will definitely go to the academy to look up information and find better ways to use this 'elixir'."

"At that time, I will definitely notice the experiences and insights I have written down."

"That way, I can achieve my goal smoothly."

"The sect elder who benefited from this will surely remember my kindness, and we will definitely be able to forge a good relationship."

Han Lu imagined the excited expression on the face of an elder of the Zhengyi Sect who had purchased the Huangji Pill for a fortune a hundred or a thousand years later, when he accidentally came across her book in the academy and discovered her creative insights. Without hesitation, she began to draft her first book on cultivation and practice.

Han Lu had experience in compiling books, but this was her first time writing one.

However, because she had read many books that monks had created at will, she felt no pressure.

"Anyway, the gold is inside, and the surface is a little rough. As long as there are no mistakes, that's enough."

Han Lu only hopes that in the future someone won't take her book and say she's misleading students. If it's just a few simple criticisms, saying her writing is disjointed and dull, she won't care at all.

Although Han Lu has only cultivated for a hundred years at most, she has a lot of real knowledge. If she takes some of it and puts it together with her experience in taking and using the Imperial Extreme Pill, it would be no problem to write a book called "The True Phoenix Fairy's Manual of Pill Taking Experience".

The process of mentally drafting the manuscript took less than fifteen minutes. Then, Han Lu used her magical artifact manipulation skills to grind ink for herself with an ink stick, attempting to transform the manuscript in her heart into individual ink characters.

The calligraphy skills I had practiced in my spare time during my spiritual practice came in handy.

The brushstrokes are fluid and powerful, penetrating the paper.

Han Lu's calligraphy alone adds a lot to her works.

With a clear plan in mind, one can write with divine inspiration.

Even including the time spent pausing to organize her thoughts and words, Han Lu completed a manual of no more than fifty pages, recording her experiences with taking twenty-one kinds of pills, in just one and a half hours.

After drying the ink, Han Lu looked at the manuscript on the table and said, "This should be good enough. It's much better than some cultivators' poorly made memoirs."

A manuscript created with the mental power of a Golden Core cultivator is naturally free of any typos.

However, Han Lu still wanted to make it perfect, so she quickly flipped through it again to make sure there were no errors or misinterpretations before putting the manuscript away and heading to the Dongshan Academy.

At this time, the Dongshan Academy was still managed by Piaomiaozi, but Han Lu didn't need to trouble her master with such a trivial matter.

I randomly found a minor official in the academy, handed over the manuscript, and explained some trivial details. That was it.

This is not a privilege to act, but rather the power that Han Lu uses as a sect elder.

The sect would be more than happy to have its elders share their experiences, insights, or even just positive cultivation stories with the disciples.

Even if there are no special rewards, there will be no obstacles set for the elders' behavior.

In the coming days, Elder Zhenfeng's manuscript will be organized and bound into a book by the Fanren Bookstore under the Zhengyi Sect. A few copies will then be printed and stored in the academy for the disciples of the Zhengyi Sect to read at will, acquire knowledge from it, and make it their own.

After completing all this, Han Lu's eagerness to show off and share completely faded away.

Now that she was free from worldly entanglements, she could peacefully resume her previous tranquil and focused spiritual practice in her own residence.

Chapter 893 Parting Again

After meditating in semi-seclusion for half a month, Han Lu completely stabilized the improvement in her cultivation brought about by taking the Imperial Extreme Pill.

While Han Lu was diligently cultivating, Yi Qiyan, who was still temporarily residing in the Zhengyi Sect, began to try to communicate with the so-called "middle faction" in the sect, in accordance with the plan she had made in the East Sea, in an attempt to pave the way for her return to the sect for cultivation.

Yi Qiyan was, after all, the former Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect.

Although it was perfectly legitimate for her to stay at the Zhengyi Sect as a guest, the Five Poisons Sect was ultimately her home.

Although the southern border and the Central Plains are not far apart, it still takes some time for messengers to travel back and forth.

Furthermore, although the centrist leader had anticipated that Yi Qiyan would ask her for help, he never expected that Yi Qiyan would retrieve the sect's token "Five Poisons Token," which had been lost thousands of years ago, and use such a significant treasure as a bargaining chip.

After weighing the options carefully, exchanging several letters to negotiate, and even sending a disciple to the Zhengyi Sect to meet with Yi Qiyan in person and confirm whether the Five Poisons Token in Yi Qiyan's possession was genuine, the "centrist" leader, who had some prestige within the Five Poisons Sect, publicly expressed his support for Yi Qiyan within the sect, acting as an intermediary for her and taking the initiative to communicate with the current sect leader, who was from the opposition party.

The intention was merely to make things difficult for Yi Qiyan and interfere with her cultivation advancement as a genius from the opposing "faction," without any intention of splitting the sect or provoking a war.

Naturally, the current leader of the Five Poisons Sect, after a brief period of assertiveness to appease the "partisan" forces, soon yielded to public opinion and agreed to a temporary truce with Yi Qiyan and her master.

Thus, with the help of this middleman, Yi Qiyan's path back to the Five Poisons Sect was successfully paved.

Yi Qiyan, who had been away from the sect for almost five years, did not hesitate for a moment.

Although she wanted to spend more time with her friends, she was worried about what might happen next, so she decided to return to the Five Poisons Sect as soon as she received the news.

"Anyway, the journey between the Central Plains and the Southern Frontier is only a day's journey. Now that I am no longer the Holy Maiden of the Five Poisons Sect, there should be no obstacle between the Central Plains and the Southern Frontier," Yi Qiyan said with a relaxed expression when she said goodbye to her two friends, not taking it as a big deal. "At that time, whether you come to the Southern Frontier or I come to the Central Plains, it will be an easy matter. The three of us sisters will no longer be like we were twenty or thirty years ago, only able to communicate by letters and unable to meet in person."

Yi Qiyan is right. Han Lu and Wen Erya only regard this separation as a temporary one. They have even made plans to travel to the Southern Frontier together to visit Yi Qiyan's territory.

"What about Lü Zhi? Should we send him a letter to inform him of this? I remember you had an agreement with him," Han Lu reminded him.

Yi Qiyan had her own plans. "There's no rush. When I go back this time, I reckon I'll behave myself for a while and take care of some sect matters."

"Once everything is settled, I will send a message to you and Lü Zhi to avoid causing trouble for each other."

Having engaged in numerous power struggles with many opponents within the sect, Yi Qiyan was well aware of their character.

She didn't think the other party would completely give up interfering with or influencing her just because of the intermediary's statement.

Back in her sect, she would definitely need to use some more methods and effort to enjoy the peaceful life she once had in the Five Poisons Sect, a life slightly different from that in the Zhengyi Sect.

“If you need any help, remember to write to us,” Han Lu said, “just like last time.”

Although the details were somewhat vague, Yi Qiyan knew which time Han Lu was referring to.

She joked, "Is someone going to stand me up again like last time?"

Han Lu confidently assured her, "Definitely not. As long as Saintess Yi Qiyan doesn't ask me to cause trouble for Nascent Soul cultivators, I will definitely grant your request."

Knowing Yi Qiyan's personality and her own abilities, Han Lu dared to make such a vow.

She was certain that if Yi Qiyan had truly encountered a problem that even a Nascent Soul cultivator couldn't solve, she certainly wouldn't drag her or Wen Erya to their deaths.

Yi Qiyan covered her mouth and chuckled twice, saying, "Alright, I'll remember that. When the time comes, the all-powerful Fairy Zhenfeng will have to help me overcome any difficulties."

"Definitely," Han Lu said seriously.

After saying goodbye to Han Lu, Yi Qiyan pulled Wen Erya aside and told Han Lu, "Don't eavesdrop."

After they finished speaking, the two went to the side and whispered to each other.

Han Lu was quite straightforward; she didn't use her divine sense or magic to eavesdrop on their conversation. Instead, she wondered what Yi Qiyan was hiding from her and what she was going to tell Wen Erya.

In just a few words, Yi Qiyan returned with a slightly flushed Wen Erya, laughing and joking.

"Alright, alright, you all go about your business. I'll be right back," Yi Qiyan said with a smile. "Goodbye."

Waving goodbye, Yi Qiyan piloted a magical flying artifact and headed south.

As soon as Yi Qiyan left, Han Lu grabbed Wen Erya's hand and curiously inquired what secrets Yi Qiyan had whispered to her.

Despite repeated questioning, Wen Erya refused to explain, only stammering that it was about some things related to her life.

The answer was too broad, and Han Lu couldn't guess the correct one. She could only suppress her curiosity and gossip to avoid straining her relationship with Wen Erya.

With proper control of her strength, Wen Erya didn't take the matter too seriously.

"Junior sister, that's perfect. I'll be away for a few days. If you need anything, just send a paper sword to my eldest disciple, Han Yinshuang."

"What? Where is Senior Sister going?" Having just returned from her trip, Han Lu couldn't help but feel a little curious.

Wen Erya replied, "Do you remember the empress we chose a few years ago?"