The Long Journey to Immortality

The two Golden Core cultivators spoke first, and Xiao Ran didn't fall behind, interrupting to continue talking about his own affairs.

They talked back and forth, creating a chaotic scene. Both sides were telling their stories and exchanging barbs, clearly wanting to start another verbal battle.

The story between the two sides was not complicated, and even so, Han Lu understood the whole story.

The story begins with Xiao Ran.

Back then, when Xiao Ran was still a Qi Refining cultivator, he practiced at a small sect in this area.

By chance, the only late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator in that sect obtained a third-grade spiritual artifact, which made a Golden Core early-stage cultivator from the Fanhua and Qingxuan sects extremely envious.

In the Great Yu Dynasty, murder and robbery were commonplace.

Finding a good time, the Golden Core cultivator swiftly and decisively slaughtered Xiao Ran's sect and plundered its magical treasures.

Of the 137 cultivators in the entire sect, only Xiao Ran and his junior sister escaped the calamity because they were out on a mission.

Later, after learning the reason for the sect's destruction, Xiao Ran and his junior sister agreed to cultivate separately. Once they each had enough strength, they would try to reunite, kill their enemies, and avenge their fellow disciples in the sect.

Many years have passed in the blink of an eye. Xiao Ran successfully advanced to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm and returned to the prefecture where his original sect was located to seek his reward.

But just before this crucial moment arrived, he learned of his junior sister's death.

Because he was talking to a "stranger," Xiao Ran did not describe in detail the cause of his junior sister's death, but Han Lu judged from his expression that it was probably a tragic story, and that it was inextricably linked to the Fan Hua and Qing Xuan sects.

The outcome of the revenge is self-evident.

The reason why the Fan Hua and Qing Xuan sects will fight against Xiao Ran and Ci Daoren again is because Xiao Ran successfully launched a sneak attack and killed his enemy who was at the Golden Core stage.

Unfortunately, before his death, a remnant of his enemy's soul possessed Xiao Ran's body. This allowed the remaining two Golden Core cultivators from the Fan Hua and Qing Xuan sects to discover Xiao Ran's exact location. In just half a day, they led a group of disciples to find Xiao Ran.

Fortunately, Xiao Ran encountered Ci Daoren after taking revenge and traveled with him for a while. Otherwise, Xiao Ran would probably have been beaten to death by countless cultivators before he could even wait for Han Lu and Mo Zhehan.

The two stories are similar, but the final outcomes they lead to are quite different.

According to the two Golden Core cultivators, Fan Hua and Qing Xuan, Xiao Ran had become a "criminal," and what they were doing now was the right thing to do.

If it were a cultivator who was not familiar with either of them, this matter would most likely have led to a dilemma. The two cultivators, who were originally in the wrong, had managed to fabricate a very good story.

Unfortunately, Han Lu, who made the decision, was not neutral. No matter how eloquently the two cultivators told their stories, Han Lu would stand on the side of Xiao Ran and Ci Daoren.

Just like how the little rabbit will get beaten up by the tiger whether it wears a hat or not.

After symbolically listening to both sides' statements, "Judge" Han Lu finally brought down the gavel.

"Your two sects, Fanhua and Qingxuan, were rude first. It's all karma and retribution. We had already settled things evenly, but now you're ambushing and killing us here. It's really too much."

Upon hearing Han Lu's words, the two Golden Core cultivators from the Mortal Realm and the Azure Profound Realm changed their expressions drastically. They were about to use their abilities to abandon the Foundation Establishment disciples below and try to escape, but Han Lu, who was prepared, stopped them.

"Go!" Han Lu transmitted her voice to Mo Zhehan, issuing the order to act.

With a single phoenix cry from Han Lu, the two cultivators immediately became disoriented and dizzy. The spiritual energy flowing through their spiritual veins went out of control, and the two who were flying in the air suddenly fell to the ground.

At the same time, after receiving Han Lu's instructions, Mo Zhehan quickly unleashed a magical artifact.

A white handkerchief flew out of Mo Zhehan's storage bag, instantly obscuring the disciples of the Fanhua and Qingxuan sects who were originally looking up at the sky.

When a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator makes a move, especially one like Mo Zhehan whose strength far surpasses his cultivation level and who uses a magic weapon, the Foundation Establishment disciples who were resting or watching on the ground have no chance to react.

They only felt that the world before their eyes changed from blue to white, and then from white to black.

By the time they realized what was happening, all eleven cultivators at the mid-to-late Foundation Establishment stage had already been suppressed by the magical handkerchief used by Mo Zhehan, and could only barely stretch their arms and legs to struggle.

Han Lu also used one of her magic weapons immediately after Yi Fengming activated his soul attack.

Taking out the pouch that once housed a former Nascent Soul cultivator from her storage bag, Han Lu silently recited the incantation and stuffed the two Golden Core cultivators, who were temporarily unable to resist, into it in one go.

The cultivators from these small sects are only so-so in terms of strength.

With Han Lu's strength, which allowed her to completely suppress Qiu Xing, dealing with these two cultivators would be a piece of cake, especially given that the attack was launched suddenly.

In the blink of an eye, the situation changed so dramatically that Xiao Ran and Ci Daoren were overjoyed.

"Thank you, fellow Daoist, thank you, fellow Daoist," Ci Daoist stepped forward and thanked Han Lu. "Without you, fellow Daoist, even if this fellow Daoist Xiao and I didn't die here today, we would be seriously injured."

"We were able to escape today thanks to the help of the two fellow Daoists."

Han Lu smiled and looked at Ci Daoren, asking, "Ci Daoren, so many years have passed, it seems you don't remember me."

Ci Daoren was somewhat bewildered by these words.

Han Lu then looked at Xiao Ran, "Fellow Daoist Xiao, have you forgotten even you?"

Xiao Ran's gaze lingered on Han Lu's face for three breaths before he exclaimed, "You're Han Lu?!"

Chapter 936 Recognizing an Acquaintance

"You finally recognized me? Have I really changed that much over the years?" Han Lu said, glancing at Mo Zhehan.

Mo Zhehan nodded, but did not answer.

Xiao Ran scratched his head slightly embarrassedly and said, "It was my fault for being blind. I never expected to meet Fairy Han here."

Immediately afterwards, Xiao Ran sighed and lamented, "I never thought that after so many years, I would be saved by Fairy Han again today."

"Back when I was forming my core, it was Fairy Han who helped me protect the Dharma and did me a great favor."

"Unexpectedly, I ran into Fairy Han today, and it was Fairy Han who came to my rescue, saving me from the brink of disaster with Fellow Daoist Ci."

“Calling me Fairy Han is too formal. Just call me Han Lu,” Han Lu said mysteriously. “There must be a divine will in the dark. Perhaps it is because Fellow Daoist Ci has accumulated too much good karma through good deeds that the divine will has allowed me to happen to pass by this place today.”

Ci Daoren's relationship with Han Lu was much more "unfriendly" than Xiao Ran's. In addition, Han Lu not only saved him this time, but also saved his disciples.

Naturally, his gratitude towards Han Lu was much stronger than that towards Xiao Ran.

“You’ve spoken, Fairy Han. My actions are merely small acts of kindness, how can they compare to the great acts of kindness performed by Fairy Han?”

"No matter what, I must thank you properly today, Fairy..." After a moment of contemplation, Ci Dao Ren took out a magic treasure from his storage bag. "Please accept this jade hairpin magic treasure, Fairy."

"This treasure is not of high quality, but it has the effect of calming the mind and nourishing one's energy."

"Wearing it during cultivation has remarkable effects, and it seems very suitable for fairies to use."

Without refusing, Han Lu casually accepted the magic weapon, which was only a third-grade magic artifact, and said, "This hairpin is very beautiful, I like it very much."

Since advancing to the Golden Core Realm, Han Lu has maintained her long, flowing hair, so the hairpin doesn't serve much of an aesthetic purpose for her.

Han Lu also possesses several similar magical artifacts, such as the Moon Pearl, which has similar effects.

The reason for accepting it now is simply to make Cidaoren feel more at ease, so that she doesn't feel too indebted to her and develop any unnecessary psychological burden.

Seeing that Ci Daoren had given him a gift of thanks, Xiao Ran hesitated for a moment, but ultimately, because he was short of money, he chose to shamelessly play the fool.

Unfortunately, he lost his storage bag due to drunkenness years ago, resulting in the loss of all the resources, spirit stones, and magical treasures he had accumulated over the years.

Furthermore, he was merely a rogue cultivator, and over the years, as a Golden Core cultivator, he had not accumulated much wealth at all.

Although he is not exactly penniless, he doesn't have many spirit stones or magical treasures to his name.

Ci Daoren could barely offer a suitable magical artifact for a female cultivator as a thank-you gift, but he had nothing to offer.

"Han Lu," Xiao Ran said, adopting a more affectionate way of addressing her, "I'm so grateful to you this time. I have nothing to offer as a thank you gift, but if you ever need any help in the future, please feel free to contact me."

Han Lu wasn't looking for any reward, and given her decent relationship with Xiao Ran, she accepted the empty promise without any pressure.

Xiao Ran is a cultivator from the Great Yu Dynasty, while Han Lu mainly operates in the Wilderness and the Central Plains. This promise is nothing more than an empty check that is unlikely to be fulfilled.

Seeing that Han Lu accepted the gift, Xiao Ran breathed a sigh of relief and inquired about Han Lu's affairs. "Han Lu, after all these years, I didn't expect you to have advanced to the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm. If it weren't for that, I might have recognized you the moment you appeared."

"Han Lu, how did you cultivate? Your advancement speed is too fast!"

"Back then, I only knew that you were highly skilled in combat, but I never imagined that your talent for cultivation was also so great."

Back then, when he had just advanced to the Golden Core Realm, Han Lu had only advanced to the mid-Foundation Establishment Realm a few months earlier.

Now, judging from Han Lu's thunderous attack just now, Xiao Ran can tell that he has been overtaken by the newcomer.

Xiao Ran considered himself a top-tier genius among rogue cultivators, but he paled in comparison to Han Lu.

Han Lu had become basically immune to such compliments after hearing them so many times.

But when it came from Xiao Ran's mouth, it was somewhat different from the compliments others offered.

After chatting for a while, Han Lu talked a bit more about her own affairs and introduced Mo Zhehan to these two "old friends".

"Mo Zhehan, a disciple of the Extreme Heaven Palace."

Han Lu's introduction was very simple.

However, when they heard that Mo Zhehan was a disciple of the Jitian Palace, the expressions of the two cultivators from the Dayu Dynasty changed, and they both raised Mo Zhehan's status in the cultivation world from that of an ordinary mid-stage Golden Core cultivator by half a step.

Xiao Ran clearly had the wrong idea and said, "Han Lu, you're traveling with Mo Zhehan, could it be that you two..."

It's no wonder that Xiao Ran had impure thoughts when male and female cultivators traveled together alone.

"No, that's not it." Han Lu's answer was crisp and clear, leaving Xiao Ran no room for imagination.

Mo Zhehan nodded, acknowledging Han Lu's statement while clearly demonstrating his stance to this "suspected love rival," saying, "I'm just working towards that goal."

Han Lu did not raise any objection to this statement.

Xiao Ran was unaware that Mo Zhehan considered him a rival in love, but he was curious about the strange relationship between Han Lu and Mo Zhehan.

Just as he was about to ask another question, Ci Daoren suddenly spoke up, steer the conversation toward the main topic.

"Fairy Han, why don't we settle this matter first before discussing personal matters?" Ci Daoren was still worried about the two Golden Core cultivators who had been captured earlier, fearing that the story might take an unexpected turn and capture a minor demon would attract a major one.

Han Lu said, "What Cidaoren said makes sense."

"This matter mainly concerns the two of you, Ci Daoren and Xiao Ran. Tell me how you intend to handle this matter."

He grabbed the pouch hanging at his waist, lifted it up, and patted it twice to calm the two cultivators inside who had regained consciousness and were trying to escape.

After pondering for a moment, Xiao Ran replied, "Those Foundation Establishment cultivators below are no problem. Anyway, I am just a rogue cultivator with no fixed abode. I don't need to worry that they will seek revenge on me someday in the future, just like I did half a month ago."

"Just release it."

Then, his gaze fell on the pocket in Han Lu's hand. "As for these two, let's cut the weeds and eliminate them completely, and finish them off right here."

"Otherwise, even if they don't come looking for me, they might still cause trouble for Fairy Han and Fellow Daoist Mo."

As always, Xiao Ran was clear about right and wrong, and the solution he offered was no different from the one Han Lu had in mind.

“Alright then,” Han Lu said, seeing that Xiao Ran’s idea suited her, and was about to make a decision. “My magic weapon has the ability to refine cultivators, so I’ll simply refine the two of them, and their golden cores will be the spoils of war, which we four can divide equally…”

Han Lu was interrupted by Ci Daoren halfway through her sentence.