The Long Journey to Immortality

All we can hope is that the spirit of the Stealing Heaven Bottle will work harder to produce more ripening liquid, so that the Zhengyi Sect cultivators can extract more of the Stealing Heaven Bottle's remaining value each month.

How to answer? Naturally, the answer should be to the people, things, and events that the cultivators who came here could not possibly have mentioned to the Stealing Heaven Bottle.

So Han Lu started talking about some things that weren't too important, but were closely related to the sect and quite interesting.

Which Nascent Soul Realm experts are currently stationed in the sect, and what interesting stories or anecdotes surround them?

What are the existing systems and activities of the sect since ancient times? How have they been carried out in recent years, and what changes have occurred?

What actions has the sect taken against external forces over the years, and what role has Han Lu played and what contributions has she made?

Finally, drawing on her previous answer, Han Lu introduced the "catastrophe a thousand years later," concluding with this topic.

When answering, Han Lu discovered that among the miscellaneous skills she possessed, besides chess and playing the zither, the storytelling skills she learned from the storyteller were the most frequently used.

With her eloquent tongue, she watched as the frost on the aloof spirit's face slowly melted away, and a smile appeared on its face at the positive changes that Zhengyi Sect had made over the years.

Once Han Lu's story came to an end, the spirit quickly suppressed its smile, maintaining its superior demeanor, and commented calmly, "Not bad."

Han Lu pressed on, saying, "The Zhengyi Sect's achievements are largely due to Senior Ping's efforts."

"If it weren't for the senior's monthly manipulation of the Heaven-Stealing Bottle to produce spiritual liquid, how could the sect have flourished and become what it is today?"

Unexpectedly, Han Lu wanted to offer a few more words of "flattery" in a frank and honest manner, but the spirit interrupted her.

"These days are coming to an end soon."

Hearing the spirit suddenly say this, Han Lu's heart tightened. "What's wrong, Senior Bottle? Has something happened?"

The spirit suddenly changed the subject, asking Han Lu, "Junior, do you think you can ascend to the Spirit Realm?"

Han Lu answered without hesitation, "No problem."

"What about the realm of gods?" the spirit asked again.

Hearing an unfamiliar term, Han Lu judged from the progression of the questions that the spirit was referring to the divine realm, which must be a higher level world than the spirit realm.

"It seems that the origin of the Stealing Heaven Bottle is even greater than I imagined."

Although she really wanted to say yes, Han Lu gave a different answer out of honesty and integrity.

"I don't know. I can only answer that question when I get to the spirit world."

Hearing this, the spirit of the Heaven-Stealing Bottle sighed and said, "Alright, I think your chances are slim, but you are still the cultivator with the greatest chances among those I have encountered over the years."

"I'll choose you to take me home."

Chapter 1072 The Spirit's Plan

Hearing this, Han Lu was stunned for a moment before she realized what was going on.

"Senior Ping, do you mean you want to come with me?"

The spirit corrected Han Lu, "Who said that? I didn't say that."

“What I mean is… you’re very good, with great talent, and you’re very likely to ascend to the Spirit Realm. I’ve chosen you to be my bodyguard and escort me to the Spirit Realm for the time being.”

"If the journey is smooth, then you will continue to be in charge of escorting me to the realm of the gods."

"If things don't go well, you must take full responsibility and help me find another cultivator who has the potential to ascend to the God Realm so that he can take over and ensure a good start and a good finish."

The spirit bottle had not only made its own plans, but had even considered Plan B, which involved having Han Lu help find a backup plan.

In terms of intelligence alone, the spirit bottle even surpasses many cultivators.

Having suddenly received so much information, Han Lu felt overwhelmed and couldn't keep up.

"Stop, stop."

After making a gesture, Han Lu repeated Ping'er's words in detail and asked a question.

“Senior Bottle, do you mean you think I have good talent and high strength, and that I have a 99% chance of ascending to the Spirit Realm, so you want me to accompany you home?” Han Lu changed the word to sound better to save face for the spirit. “If I am not capable enough, then I will have to help you find another cultivator to complete the task of accompanying you home.”

Han Lu's words were almost identical to her own, so the spirit bottle nodded and said, "That's right. So, are you still willing?"

"Of course I'd love to. I'd be more than happy to have such a knowledgeable older sister like Senior Ping by my side." Han Lu originally wanted to say "senior," but in the end she used a younger and more intimate term instead.

"However, I have a few questions. I wonder if Senior Ping could help me answer them?"

Although it was clearly a good opportunity, Han Lu was still quite cautious. She agreed, but she still needed to clear up her doubts.

Seeing that Han Lu readily agreed, the spirit bottle was also satisfied and softened its tone slightly, "Alright, you ask first, and I'll pick and choose the answers."

Han Lu remained silent for a moment, then organized her thoughts before asking, "Senior Ping, since the Heaven-Stealing Bottle is a supreme treasure-level magic weapon, and it was left in the sect because it couldn't be carried in the usual way during ascension, how can you ascend to the Spirit Realm with me?"

The answer to this question is not difficult. Since this plan has been proposed, the spirit of the artifact must have made thorough preparations in advance.

"It's very simple. Over the years, I have been trying to sever ties with the Stealing Heaven Bottle and become an independent entity."

"Now, I can leave the Heaven-Stealing Bottle at any time and possess another magical artifact."

"In that case, as long as the quality of that magic weapon does not surpass that of a spiritual treasure, I will be able to ascend to the Spirit Realm with you and take the first step back home."

Hearing this, Han Lu became slightly nervous. "Senior Bottle, after this, will the Stealing Heaven Bottle lose its ability to generate ripening spiritual liquid?"

“That won’t happen,” Ping’er, the spirit of the Heaven-Stealing Bottle, was well aware of her influence on this treasure from the upper realm. “It’s just that the amount of spiritual liquid produced each month will be reduced.”

"Over the course of about a hundred years, the number of drops will decrease from the current 120 to 130 drops per month to about 70 to 80 drops per month."

The Stealing Heaven Bottle can still be used. Although it reduced the production of spiritual liquid by one-third, it was enough to dispel Han Lu's guilt for "abducting" the artifact spirit.

Seeing that Han Lu's anxious expression had mostly dissipated, the artifact spirit pressed on, saying, "Not only that, if I possess one of your magical treasures, I can also upgrade its grade and give that magical treasure a supernatural power similar to the Heaven-Stealing Bottle."

"It can produce spiritual liquid?" Han Lu was slightly excited.

“That’s right,” the spirit continued, “Although the quantity is certainly not as much as the Stealing Heaven Bottle, it will definitely be of great help to your future cultivation.”

Although she pretended to be aloof and self-sufficient, the spirit knew very well that she was making a deal with Han Lu.

Since it's a transaction, you need to put up some of your chips first so that you can negotiate the price.

As expected, upon hearing the bombshell news from the artifact spirit, Han Lu did not hesitate for a moment.

Han Lu said, "I have no more questions, Senior Ping. When can we begin? Which of my magical treasures would you like to stay in for a thousand years?"

“No rush,” the spirit bottle said calmly. “Take this month’s spiritual liquid first.”

“Okay,” Han Lu suddenly had an idea, “I wonder if Senior Ping could lend me a hand?”

She made another request that wasn't too unreasonable. After pondering for a moment, the spirit bottle said, "My connection with the Heaven-Stealing Bottle is very weak now. Even if I help you, I can only help you get twenty or thirty more drops of spirit liquid at once."

"In this way, it will take me a lot of effort and will affect my future relocation."

"I suggest you weigh the pros and cons."

Having been informed of the pros and cons, Han Lu no longer coveted the "petty gains" that might be worth twenty or thirty thousand spirit stones, and focused more on her long-term interests.

"Then there's no need to trouble Senior Ping with this matter; I'll handle it myself."

As she spoke, Han Lu quickly activated the fourth magic array protecting the Heavenly Stealing Bottle.

With the help of formations and restrictions, he controlled this magic weapon that surpassed even a spiritual treasure, despite only having a mid-stage Golden Core cultivation level.

It was described as manipulation, but the method was closer to stimulating the instincts of the Stealing Heaven Bottle.

Although the spirit bottle said it wouldn't intervene, it still helped Han Lu a little without harming itself.

What was originally a somewhat bumpy process became incredibly smooth.

However, just twenty breaths later, the ice pot that Han Lu had prepared beforehand contained a full 133 drops of the Heaven-Stealing Bottle Spirit Liquid.

After completing the sect's mission, Han Lu steered the conversation back to her deal with the spirit bottle.

“Senior Ping, now it’s time for our personal matters.”

“Alright,” said the spirit bottle, “bring out a few magic treasures of decent quality first.”

"Let me choose."

Han Lu replied, "Yes."

The experience of "appraising treasures" with Senior Zhen a month ago came in handy at this time.

Han Lu skillfully took out many magical treasures from the storage bag and offered them to the spirit bottle for selection.

Among them, the worst was the Bone-Corroding White Jade Bottle, a magic weapon that Han Lu used when she was in the Qi Refining Realm.

It was only because of its resemblance to the Heaven-Stealing Bottle that Han Lu took out this magical artifact at this time and brought it to this elegant hall.

Her most prized possession was the Moon Pearl that she always wore around her neck.

With A-Yu's help, Han Lu learned the approximate grade of the Moon Pearl, which is why she took out this personal treasure at this time.

“Senior Ping, these are about all the items,” Han Lu said, pointing to the twenty-one items on the ground. “Please feel free to use them.”

Chapter 1073 Transaction, Integration

There are numerous magical treasures on the ground, and even the appraisers from the Immortal Pavilion would not be able to distinguish their grade and supernatural power in a short time.

However, as a spirit of the artifact, even though it is the spirit of an auxiliary magical artifact like the Heaven-Stealing Bottle, the Bottle still has a natural ability to judge magical artifacts and can identify magical artifacts and materials based on its intuition in a short period of time.

With just a glance, the spirit of the treasured artifact, Ping'er, instantly discerned the value and worth of these magical items and valuables, thus determining her ideal future residence.

“This is it,” Ping’er said, pointing to the Moon Pearl. “Although it’s not a magic weapon, it’s still an excellent dwelling.”

"Han Lu, what is this called?"

Perhaps because they were about to begin a long period of time together, the spirit Ping'er called Han Lu by her name for the first time.

"The Moon Pearl is an artifact that has been passed down from the ancient cultivation era. It originally belonged to a phoenix senior from the ancient cultivation era, and now it has fallen into my hands after many twists and turns."

Han Lu didn't explain everything clearly in one go; she also had her own ulterior motives.

She hoped that after the spirit bottle "resides" in the Moon Pearl, it would help her understand more about this treasure, enabling her to better control it and thus benefit from it.

“Not bad, it has history, origins, and is of high quality. It’s a good thing,” Ping’er praised her future residence again. “Place the Moon Pearl closer to the Stealing Heaven Bottle, and I’ll move now.”

Han Lu guessed that the spirit was in such a hurry to leave that it had been cooped up in this dark and gloomy cave for far too long and longed to "escape its misery" as soon as possible.

Han Lu hurriedly put the other magical treasures and resources back into her storage bag, and then used her artifact control skills to make the Moon Pearl slowly float up and drift toward the Stealing Heaven Bottle located in the center of the cave.

The fourth array and restriction were still activated, which allowed the Moon Pearl to successfully reach a position no more than two meters away from the Stealing Heaven Bottle.

"Senior Ping, is this alright?"