The Long Journey to Immortality

Immersed in the story, the three of them completed nearly thirty years of narrative on their first night, writing about how Han Lu, Wen Erya, and Yi Qiyan met, befriended, and cultivated together in the Zhengyi Sect within the illusion.

The two screenwriters worked together seamlessly, chatting and laughing, while Han Lu, the actress and director, had a tough time.

In this team, Han Lu was the only "programmer," and it took her a lot of effort to turn the two planners' ideas into a fantasy world.

Although various methods could be used to deceive Zhan Yujun, whose cultivation level was only at the Qi Refining stage, making her completely unaware of the loopholes in the illusion.

But since it was a gift after all, Han Lu still wanted to make it flawless so that her friend could have the best experience when her dreams came true in the fantasy world.

It wasn't until noon the next day that the three of them went together to Lü Zhi and Yi Qiyan's new home on the Dragon Head Islands to once again extend their congratulations to their two friends who had spent most of the night in bed working on their mission of having a baby.

Weddings and wedding nights have various customs and traditions, and naturally, on the second day after the wedding, there are also many unique customs that only the East Sea has to offer to the newlyweds.

It was fortunate that Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi were both Golden Core cultivators; otherwise, after these two days of torment, an ordinary mortal or low-level cultivator would have been completely exhausted.

When the wedding ceremony was being planned, Lü Zhi complained bitterly about the complicated and superficial customs.

But when he was about to marry Yi Qiyan and spend the next few hundred years together, he wished he could add another custom and ceremony, imbuing this marriage with all the beautiful meanings.

Therefore, when Han Lu, Wen Erya, Xiao Ran, and Kong Qiaosheng, who arrived a moment late, arrived at the couple's new house, Lü Zhi had already made all the preparations and was just waiting for them to help with the "gift-giving".

After such a sensitive night, Han Lu and the others naturally wouldn't forget to tease Lü Zhi and Yi Qiyan about it.

Considering that Lü Zhi had "enlightened himself" last night and maxed out his shamelessness skills.

Therefore, the main target of the jokes was Yi Qiyan.

The main attackers were Wen Erya and Han Lu, while Kong Qiaosheng joked around on the sidelines, and Xiao Ran cheered them on and watched the fun from the sidelines.

It has to be said that married women are completely different from those before marriage.

The usually cheerful Yi Qiyan became quite shy.

Han Lu and Wen Erya's few words made Yi Qiyan's cheeks flush.

Being easily embarrassed, Yi Qiyan could only change the subject, "Erya, you just wait. Next time you marry Xiao Ran, I will definitely get my revenge."

These words still carried some weight. Putting herself in Yi Qiyan's shoes, Wen Erya immediately stopped teasing her and even took the initiative to help Yi Qiyan fend off Han Lu's advances.

After making a few more jokes, feeling that the time was right, Han Lu smiled and apologized, then stepped aside to make room for the bridesmaid Wen Erya and best man Kong Qiaosheng to help the newlyweds complete the traditional wedding ceremony on their first day.

Wen Erya and Kong Qiaosheng each took out a flower basket from their storage bags.

The flower basket contains five-colored petals.

Wen Erya and Kong Qiaosheng, in a very ordinary way, carried flower baskets in one hand and grabbed petals from them with the other, throwing them at the newlyweds.

Some of the five-colored petals fell to the ground, while others danced in the wind and eventually landed on Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi's clothes and hair.

This gesture symbolizes that the newlyweds, who have just formed a new family, will be blessed with five fortunes in the future.

The more petals on your body, the more good fortune you will receive.

The bride and groom were both monks, but neither of them resorted to cheating at this time.

The two remained standing, bathing in the rain of petals, spreading their arms as wide as possible, following custom to let as many petals as possible settle on them.

Lacking experience, and with both of them having excellent figures, even though Yi Qiyan deliberately didn't tie her hair up, only about one-fifth of the flower petals remained on their bodies.

Suppressing the urge to cheat, Lü Zhi muttered to himself, "It's a little short."

Regardless of the outcome, everyone shouted in unison, "May the five blessings come to your door, and may your life be happy and fulfilling."

After the first ceremony was completed, the second ceremony began in quick succession.

The best man and maid of honor pulled the newlyweds away from each other.

They were given a black Go stone and a white Go stone.

This custom is similar to the coin toss before a Go match, only slightly different.

The black pieces symbolize boys, and the white pieces symbolize girls.

Each husband and wife holds one or two chess pieces and compares them with the other's.

If the number and color of the chess pieces are all the same, then it signifies a series of auspicious meanings such as "hearts in harmony".

Of course, most newlyweds who get married in the East China Sea will be holding two chess pieces and doing this at this time.

In the East China Sea, there is no concept of family planning. Even Golden Core cultivators, once married, mostly yearn for a house full of children and the blessings of many offspring.

Naturally, Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi had discussed this beforehand, and the chess pieces in their hands were exactly the same.

Turning around, they opened their arms, the black and white twins in their hands symbolizing their hopes for the future.

A complete process was followed in sequence.

The Golden Core cultivators were having a great time, not being careless at all.

It took about 45 minutes to complete all nine East China Sea customs and rituals.

The four then escorted the bride and groom to pay respects to the groom's parents, where they would try to bring good fortune.

It started at noon and didn't stop until evening.

The wedding was finally complete when Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi took away the bedding, two sets of new clothes, two pairs of bowls and chopsticks, and other daily necessities they had prepared from their "old home".

On the fifth day after the wedding, Han Lu and Wen Erya, having completed the preparations for the illusion, bid farewell to Yi Qiyan, Lü Zhi, and Kong Qiaosheng, who would be living in the East Sea for several more years, and embarked on their journey back to the Central Plains with Xiao Ran.

[Author's Note] Monks are probably both progressives and conservatives.

Chapter 1044 The Light Bulb: Han Lu

The three traveled together in Wen Erya's flying magical artifact.

As soon as they set off, Wen Erya asked Han Lu about her plans.

Although the two usually address each other as senior sister and junior sister, Han Lu is often the backbone between them.

“I have a brilliant idea,” Han Lu said mysteriously. “This time, let’s go back to the sect first, find out about the current situation of Zhan Yujun’s two children, adjust my plan slightly, and then go to find Zhan Yujun.”

After such a long time apart, it feels a bit off that they only come to each other's door because the other person's "death is imminent."

Han Lu naturally wanted to make some more preparations, or simply find a legitimate reason to visit him.

They completely concealed the rather unpleasant reason for the visit.

Han Lu's idea was supported by Wen Erya.

In fact, Wen Erya had been worried about this as well.

“That’s a good idea. We can start with Yujun’s children and find a suitable reason,” Wen Erya praised. “Why didn’t I think of that?”

Han Lu helped Wen Erya find a reason, "Isn't it normal that Senior Sister has been busy being a bridesmaid and making up illusions lately, so she didn't think of this for a moment?"

Wen Erya smiled and said, "Junior Sister is so considerate."

Xiao Ran, who was standing to the side, stepped forward and said, "Erya, what are you saying? I've helped you a lot, haven't I been considerate and caring towards you?"

Wen Erya gently pinched Xiao Ran's cheek. "You're very considerate too. You were a great help this time."

The playful banter between the young couple gave Han Lu a few goosebumps.

Quickly changing the subject, Han Lu asked for the first time how Wen Erya and Xiao Ran got together.

Faced with this topic, the young couple exchanged a glance and ultimately decided that Xiao Ran would tell Han Lu the story.

After all, it's easier and more comprehensive for the person who takes the initiative to say such things.

Feeling that he had gained Han Lu's approval, Xiao Ran no longer felt the "guilt" he had when he recounted this experience to Han Lu at their wedding.

“Let’s start from when I was still in the Great Yu Dynasty,” Xiao Ran recalled. “Back then, after I separated from you and Mo Zhehan, I spent only half a year in the Wilderness Prefecture and saved up three thousand spirit stones.”

In terms of pure strength, Xiao Ran, who doesn't have many powerful magic weapons, can be ranked in the middle among cultivators at the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm.

Naturally, with such skills and abilities, he was able to quickly accumulate wealth and raise enough money for his journey while "working" on the edge of the wilderness.

"Once I had enough spirit stones, I hurried on my way. I didn't encounter any trouble along the way, except when I said goodbye to Mo Zhehan at the Jitian Palace, he dragged me into a fight." Xiao Ran scratched his head, seemingly quite helpless about it.

This was the first time Han Lu had heard about this, and she asked, "What? Mo Zhehan didn't mention it to me."

"He's probably a little embarrassed to say it," Xiao Ran raised his head slightly and smiled. "Being defeated by me, who doesn't have many magical treasures, must be a very humiliating memory for him."

It's understandable that Mo Zhehan didn't mention his defeat to Xiao Ran to Han Lu.

Han Lu asked in surprise, "You actually beat Mo Zhehan?"

Both Mo Zhehan and Xiao Ran are in the mid-stage of the Golden Core realm, but in Han Lu's eyes, Mo Zhehan's combat strength is far superior to Xiao Ran's.

"Hmm, what's wrong? Is it strange?" Xiao Ran asked, puzzled.

Realizing that Xiao Ran's understanding of Mo Zhehan was actually limited, Han Lu consciously grasped the key point: "Xiao Ran, has Mo Zhehan ever transformed into a true spirit to fight you?"

"No, why?" Xiao Ran said, "The transformation of the True Spirit only adds a few more methods; it shouldn't increase combat power too much."

Han Lu shook her head, "Mo Zhehan and I are not quite the same. Whether I fight in human form or in the form of a true spirit, my combat power only changes by one or two tenths."

“But Mo Zhehan, if he transforms into a Candle Dragon, he can increase his power by at least 40% or even 50%,” Han Lu further explained. “He is different from me. He knew his identity a long time ago and can transform into a Candle Dragon to fight, which is why he has such a result.”

Hearing this, Xiao Ran said awkwardly, "It seems that Mo Zhehan gave me a handicap."

"I only won by a narrow margin; it seems Mo Zhehan is still more formidable."

"It's embarrassing, let's not talk about it anymore," Xiao Ran said, scratching his head as he turned the page. "After arriving in the Central Plains, thanks to the jade token you gave me, Han Lu, I easily joined the Zhengyi Sect and became an elder."

"Perhaps it's because I was introduced to the Zhengyi Sect by you, Han Lu, that Er Ya often comes to ask if I'm settling in well in the Central Plains. The sect has also arranged for me to carry out a mission with Er Ya several times. Over time..."

"And that's how it turned out."

Xiao Ran's smile grew even brighter. He even exchanged a knowing glance with Wen Erya, not missing this perfect opportunity to "slaughter single people."

The crucial part is overlooked in just a few words about "back and forth".

But Han Lu didn't want to dwell on the matter at that moment.

She figured that if Xiao Ran really explained the whole story of their "back and forth" clearly, she would probably die of sweetness on this ark.

"Alright, that's fine then," Han Lu sighed. "I'm going back to my room now. I'll leave this place to you."

Out of sight, out of mind, Han Lu simply began "seclusion" on the Ark to avoid disturbing the couple's lovey-dovey world.

After wandering around the East Sea and obtaining the Spirit Dew Pill from the Pavilion Master of the Immortal Pavilion, Bitter Tea Hermit, Han Lu unexpectedly found a period of time on her way back where she could cultivate in peace.

Compared to the Thousand-Petaled Golden Lotus, the Spirit Dew Pill is even simpler to use.

Ten pills constitute a "course of treatment," and a cultivator can only take a maximum of ten pills to nourish their Golden Core.