The Long Journey to Immortality

Most phoenixes cultivate steadily using beast cores when they reach the Transformation Realm, and the Imperial Extreme Pill is useless to them. This little trick naturally becomes a topic of conversation at this time, suitable for talking about.

However, Fengyou also found some highlights that could be learned from and applied.

"In the future, if any half-blooded person uses the cultivation methods of human cultivators to cultivate the Golden Core, they can save a lot of blood and sweat."

The cultivation speed of a True Spirit in the Transformation Realm is characterized by slowness, but also by stability.

The vast majority of talented True Spirits can cultivate to the Nascent Soul Realm within two thousand years.

There won't be too many obstacles or bottlenecks during this period.

Even those True Spirits with poor talent can still possess combat power comparable to mid-to-late stage Golden Core cultivators by virtue of their True Spirit bloodline, and enjoy a carefree lifespan of five to six thousand years.

Leaving aside factors such as intelligence, true spirits can avoid many detours in cultivation compared to human cultivators; they are truly born with a silver spoon in their mouths.

Only a mixed-race person like Han Lu would insist on the cultivation path of a human cultivator when she reaches the Transformation Realm, instead of choosing a safe and easy path.

The same magical treasure and a groundbreaking method of using pills perfectly explained why Han Lu, whose cultivation was already outstanding, was able to achieve results surpassing those of ordinary geniuses in a short period of time. Only then did Feng You, the father, feel at ease and no longer worry that his daughter had used some evil method that damaged her foundation in order to achieve quick success.

As a phoenix, Feng You could only offer Han Lu a few pointers on the cultivation of the "True Phoenix Manual".

Unfortunately, although Han Lu has formed a beast core, all these years she has simply let it breathe and breathe freely, using it as a "battery".

Feng You didn't have much to say to Han Lu, who was practically a blank slate in the Transformation Realm.

Based on the technique, Fengyou offered a few key points.

After all, Han Lu will eventually need to further develop the True Spirit Bloodline within her. These words will come in handy sooner or later.

After discussing these matters, the two said a brief goodbye, marking the end of Han Lu's first day of "reuniting" with her family.

From then on, Han Lu's pace of life changed from the fast pace in the Central Plains and the Great Yu Dynasty to the slow pace in the wilderness.

However, Han Lu, who was enjoying family life, did not become complacent in her cultivation. On the contrary, due to her state of mind and environment, she improved even faster than when she was cultivating in the Central Plains.

Han Lu temporarily put aside the official business she was entrusted with, while Feng You was busy running around for her.

Soon, the patriarchs of the three phoenix clans in the Three Phoenix Forest all learned of this matter.

The other two clan leaders reacted similarly to Feng You, both taking the calamity that would occur a thousand years later very seriously and clearly stating their intention to participate and contribute.

Upon learning this news, Han Lu saw it as a good start.

Han Lu's journey was smooth sailing, and the exchange between the Great Yu Dynasty and the Central Plains regarding the "calamity" was equally successful.

Xuan Chengzi, Han Lu, and Zi E delivered the intelligence as special envoys.

Shortly after Xuan Chengzi returned to the Central Plains, several groups of special envoys traveled between the East and West, delivering messages and exchanging information, leading to a consensus between the two sides within just three months.

However, despite the consensus, both sides still have many internal issues, and it will take a long time before they can truly begin to take the initiative to respond positively to the "calamity".

After all, the Zhengyi Sect and Xuanyang Valley have never joined forces on such a major event, whether internally or externally.

Furthermore, there was a lack of unity of thought within the Jitian Palace, and this vast sect was not a place where the Venerable Zhetian could rule alone.

The so-called "internal strife" is unlikely to shake the authority of the Heavenly Venerable in the Extreme Heaven Palace, but it can hinder progress and reduce efficiency in such an important matter.

But this is also a good start.

It is conceivable that in the future, when the Eastern and Western human races come into deep contact with the True Spirits and magical beasts again, they will no longer be in a hostile posture, but will be given the same "name" and unite and fight for the world they live in.

The world has been operating smoothly for three years with this kind of "minor fluctuation".

However, a seemingly minor incident caused a slight ripple in Han Lu's life, who had been living in a remote home for three years.

One day, Fengyou went to find his daughter and told her about the matter.

"A bird festival will be held in Sanfeng Forest in half a month."

"As my daughter, you will also be attending and meeting guests. Please make some preparations so as not to be impolite in front of outsiders."

Hearing this, Han Lu perked up.

This was the first time she had participated in a diplomatic event between True Spirits and Demonic Beasts in this capacity. Even if Feng You hadn't said anything, she didn't want to lose face in front of outsiders.

"What is the Hundred Birds Gathering?" Han Lu sat up straight and asked her first question.

Chapter 962 The Hundred Birds Gathering

The so-called Hundred Birds Gathering is a product of the period after the end of the True Spirit Era.

The war ended with a "conditional surrender," which means that the hatred between the two sides did not completely end with the extinguishing of the war.

Even after entering a peaceful era, the various races of true spirits and magical beasts, which were torn apart during the great war, continue to have conflicts.

There was no large-scale hot war, but small-scale skirmishes occurred every month.

This situation is not what the human race and the dragon and phoenix races, who are focused on self-cultivation and moral development, would want to see, even if it means fighting to the death.

The three parties sat down together again in what appeared to be a "peaceful" manner after the war, using this incident as a starting point to discuss the issue of postwar reconstruction.

The final decision was that the Dragon and Phoenix clans would take the lead in organizing a joint event, relying on their racial prestige and strength to forcibly mediate, so as to prevent a small-scale conflict from becoming the fuse for the next major war.

The activities organized by the phoenixes are called the "Hundred Birds Gathering," which brings together the majority of the bird spirits and magical beasts that have survived the great war to hold a get-together.

Initially, it was once every hundred years, but later, as the emotions of various ethnic groups eased and they forgot their hatred, it was changed to once every two hundred years.

Each time, the event is organized and handled by one of the three phoenix clans that live in the same sycamore grove.

This time, it was the turn of the Three Phoenix Forest, where the Illusion Phoenix, Ice Phoenix, and Fire Phoenix resided.

The dragon clan and its relatives are numerous and live in the wilderness and the East Sea, so each of them takes the lead in organizing activities.

Initially, a so-called "Dragon Feast" was held every fifty years, but it was later changed to once every two hundred years.

Back then, in the ancient cultivation secret realm, the Dragon Daoist of Xuan Yang Valley went to the East Sea to participate in a fellowship event for the Dragon Clan, which was the "Dragon Feast" hosted by the East Sea Dragon Clan.

As time has passed, this once highly successful activity has been passed down as a tradition.

However, its significance has changed from mediating conflicts to fostering relationships, and the form and nature of the activities have undergone considerable changes, with the atmosphere shifting from serious to relaxed.

With the change in nature and the addition of many interesting and beneficial activities for personal spiritual practice, many groups that were previously excluded from the activities of the two races naturally wanted to join in the fun.

In organizations like the Phoenix's "Hundred Birds Gathering," there have been dozens of such gatherings over the past ten thousand years, with many insectoid monsters and true spirits relying on their wings and ability to fly in their youth, also requesting to join.

After much wrangling and back and forth, it wasn't until the recent Five Thousand Years' Bird Gathering that true spirits of the Zerg gradually began to appear.

The "Dragon Feast" organized by the Dragon Clan is even more extravagant; almost every member of the clan who is related to the Dragon Clan will take the initiative to request to attend the feast.

This resulted in the "Dragon Feast" becoming larger and larger with each event.

It's no wonder that many high-ranking members of the dragon race are hoping that their clansmen can control their lower bodies.

In a tone that was half scientific and half joking, Feng You gave Han Lu a brief introduction to the origins of the Hundred Birds Association and answered Han Lu's questions.

Feng You's words were amusing, and knowing that Feng Yang's statement contained some exaggeration, she relaxed considerably and no longer took this event, which sounded like a "high-level dialogue," too formally.

Han Lu then asked, "How long will the Hundred Birds event last, and what activities will take place?"

Feng Yang said, "The Hundred Birds Festival lasts for both long and short periods of time. In the earliest days, it usually only lasted for five to seven days."

"But now, like the last one, it lasted for a full half month."

"This time, it will be hosted by Sanfenglin. It has been decided that it will last for half a month."

Initially, there were few participants and limited activities. Furthermore, the parties had grudges against each other, so each event lasted only a very short time. A few meetings were held, and a few private negotiations were conducted. The Phoenix then mediated the disputes between the parties, and the event was considered a success.

But now, there are many participants, a variety of activities, and harmonious relationships among all parties.

Such rare recreational activities in the wilderness are naturally welcome, and the longer they can be kept open, the better.

"As for the specific activities..." Feng You said somewhat embarrassedly, "They are still in the midst of intensive preparations. We will try to add some new ideas, but the activities that were more successful at the Hundred Birds Gathering in the past will still take place this time..."

Feng You counted on her fingers, "The Hundred Birds Banquet, the Six Arts Competition, the Beauty Pageant..."

"Oh, right, there's also the matchmaking event," Feng You said with a smile. "Daughter, there's probably no need for you to participate in this event right now."

Having thought about this matter a lot over the past three years, Han Lu has basically figured out her mindset and attitude towards Mo Zhehan, and is taking this opportunity to explain it to her father.

"Dad, Mo Zhehan and I are not officially in a relationship."

Upon hearing this, Feng You retorted, "But you've already made Feng Hong call him brother-in-law."

Han Lu was speechless, and not wanting to tell her parents about Feng Hong's early romance, she could only vaguely say, "There's a reason for that, but it's not convenient to tell you."

Before Feng You could continue to find fault or ask further questions, Han Lu quickly continued, "I have now seen my true self clearly and figured out my own thoughts."

"I only see Mo Zhehan as a like-minded friend."

"If he can fulfill his promise to me, then I wouldn't mind becoming his Daoist partner."

"But if he can't, it means he can't walk alongside me on the path of cultivation. In that case, we are destined to be apart, so it's better to remain friends."

After hearing her daughter's idea, Fengyou felt a bit conflicted, unsure whether she should be happy or unhappy.

He could only reply, "You don't need to explain this to me. As long as you are happy, daughter, I will support you."

After speaking her mind, Han Lu felt much more relaxed and steered the conversation back to the Bird Gathering.

"Dad, why would a social gathering for people of all ethnicities involve matchmaking?" Han Lu asked a question that she found somewhat puzzling.

Fengyou replied, "In the past, intermarriage was arranged to promote harmony among different ethnic groups and to allow people to mix with each other."

"This activity was one of the first events held at the Hundred Birds Festival."

"Now that people of all ethnic groups have become more open-minded, it is natural for them to carry on this activity."

"Although not many young men and women ultimately find love at the Bird Festival, one or two couples will successfully pair up and eventually live happily ever after each year."

“Back then, I also attended a matchmaking event to make up the number of people,” Feng You said, stroking his stubble. “At that time, there were also many men and women who had already hit it off in private, who would take this opportunity to formalize their relationship and leave some old-fashioned elders speechless.”

The Great Yu Dynasty had many exchanges with various barbarian races, and the free thinking of human cultivators had long taken root in some true spirit beasts, but the old guys and old ideas still existed.

These young men and women's actions of pursuing free love through traditional means have a bit of a "tit-for-tat" feel to them.

Chapter 963 Illusory Garden Tour

Han Lu's interest in the Hundred Birds Society grew even stronger after hearing such a story.

"What about beauty pageants?" Han Lu asked again.

“This event does have a story,” Feng You said. “I’m not sure exactly when this event started at any of the bird festivals.”

"However, because it received many positive reviews, it was kept."