The Long Journey to Immortality

"However, I imagine my sister has been cultivating within the Nine True Sect all these years."

"I just don't know what level she has reached in her cultivation, or whether she has broken through to the Foundation Establishment Realm."

"Elder Wen, are you going to help my mother find my sister?"

Wen Erya nodded and said, "That's right, it can also be considered as helping Yujun fulfill a wish."

Hearing this, Guan Long's face lit up with joy, and he said, "Thank you so much, Elder Wen. When I received this letter, I was still worried about what to do."

Guan Long doesn't have a wide network of connections outside the Zhengyi Sect. In addition, due to his cultivation, his relationship with his sister is not as close as it was in childhood, so it will be quite difficult for him to persuade the lost Guan Feng to return home.

In Guan Long's opinion, it was more suitable for an "outsider" like Wen Erya, who possessed high cultivation, to take action.

"The Nine Truths Sect?" Wen Erya recalled the location of this sect and immediately set off.

The Nine Truths Sect is a small sect affiliated with the Zhengyi Sect. Many of its cultivators are those who were eliminated from the Zhengyi Sect but still yearn to continue their cultivation.

Back then, immediately after Guan Feng left the Zhengyi Sect, a senior sister who was familiar with Guan Feng and had switched to cultivating in the Jiuzhen Sect after leaving the Zhengyi Sect extended an invitation to this indomitable cultivator.

Guan Feng was thus able to successfully join the Nine True Sect and continue her path of cultivation.

Wen Erya thought she would be able to see Guan Feng in the Nine True Sect.

However, when they arrived at the destination and revealed their identities to the cultivators of the Jiuzhen Sect to inquire about Guan Feng's whereabouts, they learned that Guan Feng had left the Jiuzhen Sect ten years ago.

"After breaking through to the early stage of Foundation Establishment, Senior Sister Guan went to the East Sea to cultivate," a cultivator who was familiar with Guan Feng told Wen Erya. "I don't know anything else."

For older cultivators who want to advance further, there's little hope of success if they simply bury themselves in arduous training.

Only by gaining experience and learning from others can one have a chance.

Guan Feng chose this path to go to the East Sea to continue his cultivation as a rogue cultivator.

“Donghai…” Wen Erya said with some distress, “Then it’s not a problem of not being able to find the person, but a problem of whether the person is still alive or not.”

However, Wen Erya did not want to give up on this matter so easily.

In her view, that beautiful dream was actually a farewell gift from Han Lu to Zhan Yujun, and she had come empty-handed.

Therefore, she had to help Zhan Yujun fulfill this wish before she could say goodbye to her friend with a clear conscience.

Chapter 1057 Entrusting Him with an Important Responsibility

Half of the East Sea is the territory of the Immortal Pavilion.

Because of Wen Erya's relationship with Yi Qiyan and Lü Zhi, this half of the East Sea can be considered Han Lu and Wen Erya's territory, by a rounding up.

While it's not feasible to act arrogantly and domineeringly up there yet, it's still somewhat possible to try and find a cultivator by using the Immortal Pavilion.

Not long after Zhan Yuyun passed away, Wen Erya did not hesitate to return to the sect to ask for leave and left a letter and sword for Han Lu explaining the purpose of her trip to the East Sea before boarding the ark again and embarking on her journey. After returning to the Central Plains from the East Sea for only half a month, she once again went to that region that most cultivators considered to be full of danger and opportunity.

While Yi Qiyan was heading to the East Sea to search for someone with the help of the Immortal Pavilion, Han Lu, who had just begun her secluded cultivation ten days prior, received another letter from the Qingxu Sect Master, a paper sword.

The paper sword arranged to meet her at the Five Elements Mountain Academy the following night, but it didn't mention a single word about the details of their meeting.

Han Lu was slightly puzzled, but she assumed that the Qingxu Sect leader was discussing some confidential matters with her and didn't think much of it.

The few days of cultivation cleared away all the negative emotions in Han Lu's heart, allowing her to face many things with a calm mind again.

As for the patterns on the golden elixir, there were naturally no obvious changes after only ten days.

Han Lu estimated that it would take at least another six months to complete the drawing of the eleventh Dan pattern.

This is because she has been taking Thousand-Petaled Golden Lotus to aid her cultivation.

This kind of spiritual plant, which can strengthen the golden core, more or less helped Han Lu in drawing the golden core patterns during cultivation.

If this is already the case before even completing one course of treatment, Han Lu can imagine what it will be like after swallowing all one thousand golden lotus leaves.

Han Lu put down the paper sword in her hand and casually put it into her storage bag. Then she tore off two gold leaves and put them in her mouth.

After enduring the loneliness of another day of cultivation, Han Lu timed it perfectly and only set off for the Five Elements Mountain Academy to meet with the Qingxu Sect Master after the sun had completely set.

They had just met in the Qingxu Sect Master's office when the sect master invited Han Lu to take a walk with him.

He seemed mysterious, as if he had something important to say. Han Lu naturally followed his lead and strolled with him along the mountain path of the Five Elements Mountain Academy, as the Qingxu Sect Master had requested.

The path chosen by the Qingxu Sect Master was very secluded, with protective barriers along the way. So, apart from the initial section where disciples would brush past the two of them, the rest of the time only Han Lu and the Qingxu Sect Master strolled under the moon.

"Elder Zhenfeng," after walking in silence for about a minute until they reached a secluded spot, the Qingxu Sect Master finally spoke, "The publicity plan you suggested has been implemented in the past few days, and the results have been quite good."

"Many disciples who were blinded by the so-called Western democracy have suddenly awakened because of our efforts and have come to understand what the foundation of the Zhengyi Sect is. They no longer talk about fairy tales such as voting to elect the sect leader."

"Yesterday, the secret meeting convened by the two elders who have been committed to promoting democracy within the sect was deserted. Usually, at least a hundred disciples would attend each time, but this time, only a mere fifteen or sixteen people showed up."

"Elder Zhenfeng, we owe this all to you."

With a simple trick, a huge hidden danger was basically resolved, and the Qingxu Sect Master was naturally very grateful to Han Lu.

"Oh, right, there's that matter too," the Qingxu Sect Master continued, not giving Han Lu a chance to be modest. "Fortunately, Elder Zhenfeng discovered it early, otherwise, the sect would probably lose a lot of useful magic treasures every year, suffering a loss of at least 30,000 or even 50,000 spirit stones."

Han Lu didn't think these two things were any particularly important achievements, but answered according to her heart, "The three sect leaders have all treated me extremely well, and as an elder, I naturally have to do my best for the sect."

"I often take leave and live in the wilderness, so I should seize this opportunity to contribute to the sect."

Han Lu's thoughts were very simple, but that did not affect the Qingxu Sect Master's approval of Han Lu's actions.

“A few days ago, several Supreme Elders spoke highly of you to me,” Qingxu Daoist said with a smile. “It is said that the Nascent Soul Realm seniors in the sect also greatly admire you.”

Han Lu was unaware of the first half of the sentence, but having met two Nascent Soul Realm cultivators from the Zheng Yi Sect, she was quite confident in the second half and spoke with absolute certainty.

"I am truly flattered," Han Lu said, bowing slightly and waiting for Qingxu Daoist to finish his sentence.

Han Lu's performance was exactly as the Qingxu Sect Master had expected.

He wasn't in a hurry to get to the point, but instead posed another question to Han Lu.

"Fairy Zhenfeng, what do you think is the foundation of the Zhengyi Sect's gradual growth and expansion over the past ten thousand years, besides its excellent sect leader selection system that ensures the sect is always led by an outstanding sect leader?"

The question was not difficult to answer. Just as Han Lu was about to speak, she suddenly thought of the purpose of Qingxu Daoist's visit to her on this day.

Han Lu lowered her voice and asked, "Sect Master Qingxu, are you going to take me to see the Stealing Heaven Bottle?"

Qingxu Daoist looked slightly surprised. "As expected of the True Phoenix Fairy, she even guessed this."

There was no other way but to answer his own question and finish his opening remarks: "Apart from the selection system for the sect leader, the Stealing Heaven Bottle obtained by the first sect leader has always been regarded as the foundation of the Zhengyi Sect."

"The Heaven-Stealing Bottle, a supreme treasure that surpasses even spiritual treasures, operates day and night to produce spiritual liquid that can nurture spiritual plants. This makes the Zhengyi Sect like a spiritual stone mine that constantly spews out spiritual stones, possessing a stable and abundant fortune."

"The economic base determines the superstructure."

"Only with spirit stones in your pocket can you recruit soldiers and horses and make the sect bigger and stronger."

At this point, the Qingxu Sect Master coughed lightly, paused for a moment, and continued, "Therefore, based on Elder Zhenfeng's contributions to the sect, the sect also places absolute trust in you. For the next six months, the task of collecting the Heaven-Stealing Bottle Spirit Liquid every month will be entrusted to you."

"I hope that Fairy Zhenfeng will live up to my expectations and those of the elders and the Supreme Elder, and complete this task beautifully. In the future, even when living in the wilderness, she can still consider herself an elder of the Zhengyi Sect."

"Elder Zhenfeng, would you be willing to help the sect collect spiritual liquid over the next six months?"

Because the Qingxu Sect Master was familiar with Han Lu, he spoke more politely and tactfully, but his meaning was clear.

Although those words did not inspire Han Lu to "die for one who understands her," they thoroughly piqued her interest.

That's the Heaven-Stealing Bottle.

However, it surpasses even the most precious treasures of the Lingbao level.

Now, she can not only see, but also use.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

Han Lu answered without hesitation, "I do."

Chapter 1058 Treasure-Protecting Illusion Array

Although Qingxu Daoist's question was not entirely perfunctory, he had not actually considered that Han Lu might refuse to take on this responsibility, which was more like a reward, at this moment.

As a Golden Core cultivator, Daoist Qingxu was certain that even a well-traveled and knowledgeable cultivator like Han Lu would be unable to resist the temptation of seeing and using a magic weapon that surpassed even a spiritual treasure.

Qingxu Daoist quickened his pace slightly. "Then let's go now. I'll take you to see the Heaven-Stealing Bottle, this supreme treasure, and teach you how to break the array restrictions protecting it and, with the help of another auxiliary array, activate this supreme treasure that even a Nascent Soul cultivator would find difficult to fully activate."

In a succinct sentence, the two of them succinctly stated their "mission" for the evening. Han Lu was well aware of it and was overjoyed, looking forward to meeting this treasure that she had heard so much about since entering the sect.

Following the mountain path, Qingxu Daoist led Han Lu to a bamboo forest where there was no road.

Although Han Lu, a Golden Core cultivator, was not very knowledgeable about formations, she was quite skilled in illusion techniques.

Naturally, just by looking at the bamboo forest in front of her, she could tell that the spiritual plants, wind chimes and green bamboo, planted here, had formed a huge illusion array.

Clearly, the Heaven-Stealing Bottle is hidden in this bamboo forest.

Daoist Qingxu pointed to the bamboo in front of him and asked, "Elder Zhenfeng, would you like to try to break the restrictions here?"

After a moment's thought, Han Lu said, "It's worth a try."

After making a gesture of invitation, Qingxu Daoist stepped aside, put his hands behind his back, and looked forward to Han Lu's performance.

This formation was set up to deal with Nascent Soul cultivators. Qingxu Daoist only possessed the "key" to dissolve and break the formation because he was the sect leader of the Zhengyi Sect. He knew how to control and break the formation without being affected by the illusion.

Knowing the power of this formation, Qingxu Daoist felt that even if Han Lu were Huanfeng, it would be unlikely that she could directly break the formation and find the path in the bamboo forest.

Unfamiliar with formations, Han Lu could only deal with the illusion formation blocking her way by using the same methods she used to deal with illusions.

Upon entering, Han Lu activated the "True Phoenix Manual" to awaken her illusionary bloodline, entering a semi-true spirit state.

Upon entering the bamboo forest, the wind chimes of green bamboo around Han Lu rustled and seemed to have grown legs as they moved around her.

Seeing this unusual scene, Han Lu knew that she had been "spellbound" by an illusion.

First fall into the illusion, then try to break it – this is Han Lu's method for breaking the formation.

The bamboo doors, arranged in various combinations, formed a hundred paths in front of Han Lu.

The main purpose of the illusion array is to trap rather than kill. As long as the cultivator trapped in the array is trapped for a long time, the purpose of setting up the array is achieved.

Being sleepy, to put it simply, is a waste of time.

These hundred paths, used to confuse the cultivators within the formation, are the key to trapping the enemy in this bamboo forest illusion formation.

Back then, the recluse Wang Han, who was still serving the Jitian Palace, relied on a magical artifact to guide him through the bamboo forest and successfully arrived at the cave where the Heaven-Stealing Bottle was kept.

This time, Han Lu could only rely on her instincts as a phoenix to try and solve this puzzle.

Squinting, Han Lu relied solely on her senses to try and choose the possibly correct path from the hundreds of possible paths before her.