The Long Journey to Immortality

“It’s none of our business,” Feng Ruyi said, having no intention of getting involved. “Let’s just stay in this city for half a day and take a stroll around.”

Feng Ruyi, who had originally planned to travel around the Western Prefecture, changed her mind.

Although her strength far surpassed that of the local forces, she had no intention of causing trouble for herself or getting involved in the conflicts of outsiders.

Han Lu and Feng Ruyi had similar thoughts, so when Feng Ruyi said that, she naturally went along with it.

"Okay, it's good to go back to Sanfenglin sooner."

Although she planned to go and return quickly this time, Han Lu was more than happy to spend more time with her parents in Sanfenglin.

The difference between the mortal world of the Great Yu Dynasty and that of the Central Plains is not significant; the only difference is that the Great Yu Dynasty is more closely integrated with the cultivation world.

In the Great Yu Dynasty, there are many independent cultivators. For example, on the streets of Jiayu City, you can see many independent cultivators practicing alone.

There are many independent cultivators like Xiao Ran who make a living in various parts of the Great Yu Dynasty, and even more cultivators in the Wild West Prefecture who earn spirit stones in the wilderness to support their cultivation.

In other words, Jiayu City is still some distance from the wilderness. Otherwise, there would probably be seven or eight Golden Core cultivators living here year-round, and a large number of magical beast resources would be traded in the market.

The two Golden Core cultivators wandered around, keeping a low profile.

However, her outstanding appearance and unique temperament still caused many monks with excessive hormone secretion to have unrealistic thoughts.

Within half a day, three groups of people came to chat with him.

Fortunately, the cultivators of the Great Yu Dynasty, due to their harsh living environment, were generally quite perceptive and had high emotional intelligence.

Once they get close to Han Lu and Feng Ruyi and sense their aura and the protective energy emanating from their bodies, they shut their mouths, which they had just opened to say, and slink away to avoid provoking the two and getting blood splattered in the street.

Ultimately, a strong foundation of cultivation is the best protection against trouble.

Many times, even the most careful cultivators cannot escape trouble coming their way.

Just like when Han Lu and Feng Ruyi left Jiayu City, they noticed several fierce battles between rogue cultivators outside the city.

It could be due to grudges, greed, or simply robbery.

The chaos in the cultivation world of the Great Yu Dynasty was magnified several times over in the Western Barbarian Prefecture.

"I really don't know what thrilling and interesting things happened to Xiao Ran during the six months he spent earning spirit stones in the Western Barbarian Prefecture," Han Lu muttered to herself, while recalling her brief experience in the Great Yu Dynasty when she was still a Foundation Establishment cultivator. "It's fortunate that Fellow Daoist Wenren escorted me back then, otherwise, I definitely wouldn't have been able to arrive here so smoothly."

Switching to a more discreet method of aerial flight, Han Lu and Feng Ruyi spent about half a day traversing the narrow and long Manxi Prefecture and entering the desolate territory.

To prevent some impulsive cultivators from trying to hunt phoenixes and making a fortune off them.

After entering the wilderness and traveling about three or four hundred miles, the two true spirits transformed back into their true forms and continued their journey.

"Is this the Four-Winged Phoenix? It is indeed quite different from other phoenixes," Feng Ruyi murmured as she looked at Han Lu. "It is about 70% similar to the legendary phoenix."

"Hmm," Han Lu cried out, trying to communicate with Feng Ruyi in the language of phoenixes, "Fly, it will take at most seven or eight days to reach the Three Phoenix Forest."

As her cultivation level improved, Han Lu became increasingly convinced that it was not impossible for her to settle in the Wilderness and travel between the Wilderness and the Central Plains after advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm.

Chapter 1110

Relying on their status as the true spirit of the phoenix, Han Lu and Feng Ruyi flew around in the air in a flamboyant manner, but they did not encounter any trouble.

As a true spirit, when traveling in the wilderness, there are clearly many more powerful beings. Upon entering the field, one can see true spirits and magical beasts with cultivation levels surpassing one's own passing by in the distance. However, Han Lu finds it more comfortable and relaxed than traveling in the Great Yu Dynasty.

It felt like a fish in water.

However, Feng Ruyi, an outsider, had a completely different feeling from Han Lu.

Along the way, the two also encountered other bird spirits and mythical beasts.

Thanks to her frequent appearances at social events like banquets during the last bird gathering, several fellow bird enthusiasts she happened to meet actually recognized Han Lu as their "benefactor."

A lively exchange ensued, giving Han Lu the illusion that she had already "achieved great success" and become a renowned celebrity in the vast Wilderness, a world inhabited by true spirits and magical beasts.

While Han Lu was interacting with these strangers, most of whom were only nodding acquaintances, Feng Ruyi simply watched coldly from the sidelines, showing no intention of getting involved.

She even showed some wariness, as if she was worried that these bird spirits and magical beasts that came up to greet her and get close to her were all smiling tigers who would launch a surprise attack on her and Han Lu.

Han Lu knew without asking why Feng Ruyi acted this way.

In the Eastern Lands, the human race is only a race of moderate power, and they are not absolutely hostile to the Phoenix Clan. In addition, the theory of bloodlines is deeply rooted in Feng Ruyi's mind. In human territory, this phantom phoenix of the Eastern Lands can naturally travel in the Central Plains and the East Sea with a relatively relaxed mindset and complete her mission.

In the wilderness, many of the bird spirits and magical beasts that are friendly with Han Lu are actually enemies of the phoenixes in the Eastern Land.

In the Eastern Land, there is no such thing as a hundred birds paying homage to the phoenix.

Only countless bird spirits and magical beasts that were once oppressed by the phoenixes cried out in defiance, becoming enemies of the phoenixes and waging great battles against them.

Given such a disparity, it's understandable that Feng Ruyi would behave this way; one could even say that she suppressed her true nature with reason and gave Han Lu, the host, ample face.

The relationship was only ordinary, and Feng Ruyi was destined to be a fleeting visitor. Therefore, Han Lu did not force her to change the lifestyle habits that had been ingrained in every feather on her body for thousands of years, and smiled at the "enemy" race that might have killed her relatives and friends in the Eastern Land.

All Han Lu did was hurry up and try to get to Sanfenglin as soon as possible so that Feng Ruyi could feel some warmth of home in this "foreign land".

Originally, it would have taken seven or eight days to fly to Sanfenglin, but thanks to Han Lu's deliberate speeding up, it only took her six and a half days to return home with Feng Ruyi.

Upon seeing the familiar sycamore grove, Han Lu noticed a slight change in Feng Ruyi's expression.

"It seems that bringing Ruyi to Sanfeng Forest was the right choice if we wanted to discuss cooperation with her."

Han Lu felt that as long as Feng Ruyi believed more and more that the Central Plains World was equally worthy of her care, she would naturally be willing to help her act as a mouthpiece without any pressure or responsibility, opening a communication window between the Central Plains World and the Eastern Land World.

As for the outcome of the contact, Han Lu neither wants to think about it for the time being.

Transforming back into human form, Han Lu pointed to the grove of paulownia trees in front of her and said, "This is the Three Phoenix Grove I told you about before."

"This is the habitat of the Illusion Phoenix, Ice Phoenix, and Fire Phoenix in the wilderness. My parents are here."

"My younger brother, who is more than 20 years younger than me, should still be cultivating in Phoenix Perch Forest at this time."

"That is the sacred land of the phoenixes in this world. Before they reach adulthood, all the phoenixes must go there to cultivate."

"I'm no exception."

"We are all of the same kind. Although you come from the East, my father should welcome you as much as I do."

Feng Ruyi was not apprehensive. Having grown up in a united Nine Phoenix Clan, she believed even more in the power of blood ties than Han Lu.

"If possible, perhaps I would consider staying here and peacefully enjoying my last hundred years or so," Feng Ruyi said calmly.

The reason Feng Ruyi was assigned such a dangerous and one-way mission was naturally because she had been "abandoned".

With insufficient lifespan and only a late-stage Transformation Realm cultivation, she was destined to be useless in the future and was thus used as a "sacrifice" to gain leverage for the Phoenix Clan.

With such a complex story involved, if Feng Ruyi didn't have a deep love for her race, she certainly wouldn't have mentioned the Eastern Phoenix Clan in front of Han Lu.

“There shouldn’t be any problem,” Han Lu, now in human form, led the way, “as long as you like the atmosphere and environment here.”

In the sycamore grove, two phoenixes, transformed into human form, walked side by side, occasionally exchanging a few words.

In this place where the phoenixes roost, Feng Ruyi and Han Lu both lowered their guard against each other and grew closer.

Along the way, they naturally encountered phoenixes on guard duty outside the Three Phoenix Forest.

But with Han Lu's face, the "strict" protection she receives from the outside world...

After entering the core area of ​​Sanfeng Forest, Han Lu was pondering whether to help Feng Ruyi settle in her home temporarily or go to find her father first when she happened to meet Feng You, who was strolling and chatting with an elder in the Wutong Forest.

"Father!" Han Lu excitedly flew forward, "I'm back."

Greeting each other with a standard father-daughter embrace, Fengyou was surprised that Hanlu had returned to Sanfenglin so quickly.

"Daughter, you've only been gone for four or five years, why are you back already? Are you planning to settle down in Sanfenglin, or is there something important that brings you here?"

Feng You hit the answer in an instant.

Han Lu felt a little guilty for not being able to keep her promise to return to Sanfenglin and live with her parents, family, and clansmen at the agreed time.

“This…it’s a pity it’s the latter,” Han Lu turned slightly to the side, “Father, let me introduce you, this is Feng Ruyi…”

Upon hearing the phoenix, whose name sounded similar to his wife's, appear before him, Feng You couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.

"It's Huanfeng, but I don't think I've seen you before. Are you a member of the clan who has been separated from you?" As the clan leader, managing a clan that is not very large, Fengyou naturally recognizes every member of the clan and knows their appearance and name.

Before Feng Ruyi could explain, Han Lu interrupted, "Ruyi comes from the East."

A simple sentence surprised Feng You, the battle-hardened leader of the Illusion Phoenix Clan.

"The phoenix from the East?" Although the elder beside her also knew about this, Feng You still suggested immediately, "Daughter, let's go back to the room and talk about it."

After saying this, Fengyou quickly exchanged a few words with the elder beside him and gave instructions.

Immediately afterwards, he led Han Lu and Feng Ruyi to the clan's council hall for a private meeting.

[Author's Note] Suddenly it's the end of the year again... Work is getting busy.

Chapter 1111

The three sat down in the reception room in the Three Phoenix Forest. Feng You activated the room's restrictions before asking a question.

"What happened?" Feng You asked, though he was still confused. He was careful with his words. "How did you two meet and come to the Three Phoenix Forest together? What's the story behind this?"

Feng Ruyi and Feng You were not familiar with each other, so her answer when she spoke first was naturally very simple.

"Outside that teleportation portal in the Central Plains, I occasionally met Han Lu."

“She recognized me and invited me to visit Sanfenglin.”

"I thought we were all of the same kind, so I accepted the invitation."

"So here we are."

Feng Ruyi was not wrong, but Han Lu still added her own thoughts and explained the cause and effect to her father.

The story begins five years ago when Feng Ruyi arrived in the Central Plains.

Then, he mentioned why he tried to cross the gate to the Great Yu Dynasty at this time, and how he happened to meet Feng Ruyi by chance.

Finally, he briefly explained his purpose for coming and once again mentioned to Fengyou his idea of ​​communicating and cooperating with the Eastern World.

"That's about it. I'm not really sure what Fellow Daoist Ruyi is thinking either," Han Lu said, carefully choosing her words. "So I thought I'd bring her to Sanfeng Forest to see if she'd change her mind and become a mouthpiece to help us communicate with the Eastern World."

“One-way communication,” Han Lu added, “It’s a pity that Fellow Daoist Ruyi’s current methods cannot receive messages from the Eastern World.”

"If we are to truly form a partnership, or even just attempt an exchange, it may take ten or twenty years to see the outcome."

Information exchange takes time. If the Eastern Lands truly have the idea of ​​cooperation, a second diplomatic envoy needs to be sent to the Central Plains to truly establish a connection.

“I see,” Feng You said, having understood the whole story. “In that case, Ruyi, you can stay at Sanfeng Forest for now.”