The Long Journey to Immortality

"Huh?" Han Lu was a little surprised. "What's wrong? Did you trigger the mechanism incorrectly?"

Mo Zhehan shook his head, "It's probably because too much time has passed, and the mechanism has become damaged, making this trapdoor unable to operate as smoothly as it was when it was set up."

"Ah!" Han Lu exclaimed in surprise, "Then what should we do? Since forcibly breaking through will trigger an unknown and extremely dangerous restrictive formation, isn't the only way out to repair this gate?"

Mo Zhehan said, "Now it seems that's true; a forceful approach definitely won't work."

Han Lu looked at Mo Zhehan with expectation, "Can you fix it?"

“If we know the internal structure of the mechanism, we can use ice parts to replace and repair the internal parts, thus giving the mechanism a new life,” Mo Zhehan said, looking at Han Lu. “Han Lu, this is your specialty.”

“I can certainly handle this, but I don’t understand this mechanism,” Han Lu pressed. “If you know its internal structure and how to repair it, then I can give it a try.”

Mo Zhehan paused for a moment, then simply said, "I'll look into it and give it a try."

Mo Zhehan was not absolutely certain.

After all, this thing is a mechanism from tens of thousands of years ago, and the methods used to set it up have long been lost.

He, being a half-baked amateur, didn't think he could definitely restore or repair it.

Not to mention that many things are much harder to repair than to manufacture.

All he could do was try his best.

Mo Zhehan's expression turned somewhat grim as he carefully examined several key parts of the mechanism once more with his divine sense.

“Almost everything inside is broken,” Mo Zhehan gestured. “It’s like piecing together a human figure from a pile of broken bones. Ten thousand people can create ten thousand different shapes, but it’s not so easy to restore it.”

Han Lu didn't understand these things, "Then why don't you give it a try?"

“Okay,” Mo Zhehan replied, forcing a smile, “Anyway, even if we’re wrong, things won’t get any worse.”

Holding the jade tablet, Mo Zhehan drew up a blueprint based on his intuition and limited knowledge of mechanisms.

After handing the jade tablet to Han Lu, Mo Zhehan gave a brief explanation, letting Han Lu know what kind of ice parts she should use her spiritual power to create inside the mechanism, either for replacement or for reinforcement.

This was a piece of cake for Han Lu.

Less than a hundred breaths after Mo Zhehan finished explaining the task, Han Lu followed Mo Zhehan's instructions and placed the ice parts in the positions designated by Mo Zhehan within the mechanism.

The mission was accomplished, but the outcome was uncertain. After taking a deep breath to adjust his mindset, Mo Zhehan tried to trigger the mechanism again using the method he had just found.

This time, the gate remained unmoved.

Clearly, the drawing Mo Zhehan had just made was flawed and could not be coupled with the still intact components inside the mechanism.

“Sigh,” Mo Zhehan put down his hand, quite frustrated, “Could it be that we’re trapped here because of this ordinary mechanism?”

"Why did your expression change when you said the second half of that sentence?" Han Lu noticed the change in Mo Zhehan's micro-expression.

Mo Zhehan, shameless as ever, said honestly, "I'm just happy to think that I might spend the rest of my life with you here."

Faced with the shameless Mo Zhehan, Han Lu was speechless.

"Alright," Han Lu touched the hair by her ear, "At worst, I'll cultivate here until I reach the mid-to-late stage of the Nascent Soul Realm before going out."

"Anyway, there are plenty of resources in the storage bag, so even if the spiritual energy here is a little sparse, it won't matter."

As long as there are enough elixirs and miraculous medicines, the lack of spiritual energy is indeed not a big deal.

"Just try again," Han Lu suggested. "Draw ten more blueprints, and I'll try them one by one. Maybe we'll stumble upon the perfect solution and escape."

This was a last resort, and Mo Zhehan had no objections.

Thus, Mo Zhehan entered the "problem-solving" stage, trying his best to use his imagination and not-so-solid basic knowledge to solve the problem.

Han Lu occasionally "caused trouble" from the sidelines, sometimes closed her eyes to study the secret techniques she had just acquired, and sometimes tried to repair them following Mo Zhehan's guidance.

After several attempts, Mo Zhehan drew a total of fifty drawings, but in the end, he still failed to satisfy the "client" of the "trapdoor".

With limited mental capacity and abilities, Mo Zhehan's output speed became slower and slower, and Han Lu naturally gradually ran out of work.

After glancing over a few useful cultivation techniques and practicing them a few times, Han Lu took out the miscellaneous books from her storage bag.

Thinking of taking this opportunity to study history and read Longfeng's personal biography, I tried to find a way to escape.

[Author's Note] I have to shorten this post, otherwise it will end up with over 300 million views.

Chapter 1139

Han Lu took out a miscellaneous book containing information about how Longfeng managed the islands in the East China Sea back then, and began reading it with great interest.

After reading only half of it, Han Lu suddenly realized something.

"Mo Zhehan!"

Han Lu's shout startled Mo Zhehan, who was engrossed in the graphics and structures. "What's wrong?"

"I've got an idea," Han Lu said without keeping him in suspense, immediately taking out a number of jade tablets categorized as miscellaneous books from her storage bag. "Since this mechanism was very likely created by the Dragon and Phoenix themselves back then, one or both of them were obsessed with this art."

Han Lu held the jade tablet and looked at Mo Zhehan, "Among these miscellaneous books, there are some that discuss the science of mechanisms, and perhaps the answer to the problem we are facing lies within these books."

Hearing Han Lu's words, Mo Zhehan's eyes lit up. "Very likely."

Without further ado, the two immediately divided the jade pendant that Han Lu had just taken out into two groups.

Each person checked a group, trying to find any possible "secret books" and the answers that Han Lu might have already put in her storage bag.

Consistent with Mo Zhehan and Han Lu's conjecture, the pair of dragons and phoenixes from tens of thousands of years ago were indeed interested in the study of mechanisms, and among the many ancient miscellaneous books they kept in their inner treasury, there were indeed five jade tablets containing books on mechanisms.

"Hopefully the answer lies within these five jade tablets."

Although Han Lu has become a novice in mechanical engineering under Mo Zhehan's tutelage, she is not confident that she can solve this kind of problem that even Mo Zhehan cannot solve.

Naturally, all five jade tablets eventually ended up in Mo Zhehan's hands.

Han Lu also pinned her hopes for a smooth departure on Mo Zhehan.

Although Mo Zhehan once had a beautiful fantasy of "spending the rest of his life" with Han Lu here, it was only for a moment.

For him, getting out of there as soon as possible, gaining his freedom, and then talking about love is the most urgent thing.

"Leave it to me."

Mo Zhehan frowned as he read through the jade tablets one by one.

When he read the third jade tablet, his expression relaxed considerably.

This jade tablet contains a book on mechanical engineering called "Explanation of the Scriptures, Part 1," written by a human cultivator from the ancient cultivation era.

When he put down the third jade pendant, he finally smiled and said happily, "Han Lu, now we can get out."

"What, did you find a way?" Han Lu pressed.

“Well, just watch,” Mo Zhehan took out a jade tablet, drew a new picture in the blink of an eye, and handed it to Han Lu, “Try it according to the instructions on the picture.”

Han Lu took the jade pendant, read its contents, and said in confusion, "This doesn't seem to be much different from before."

Mo Zhehan tried to explain from a professional perspective, but Han Lu only felt a vague understanding. She only knew that this picture was different from the previous ones and that it had a significant impact.

“Okay, okay,” Han Lu said casually, not dwelling on the differences, “Then leave the rest to me.”

Following the blueprints, Han Lu skillfully summoned a stream of water, allowing it to penetrate the mechanism's interior.

Once the interior of the mechanism was filled with water, she used her Ice Phoenix Divine Power to freely manipulate a portion of the water into ice.

One by one, ice parts reappeared inside the mechanism, effectively connecting the various branches within the trapdoor mechanism and bringing them together once again.

"Is that all?" Han Lu was skeptical, subconsciously feeling that things weren't that simple.

"We'll see if we try." Mo Zhehan was confident that even if this drawing didn't work, he could come up with a new drawing solution that could solve the problem, even if he only had half an hour.

The mechanism was triggered again, and Han Lu was suspended in the air, her gaze fixed on the joint of the trapdoor.

"Click click click".

The sound of the mechanism operating rang out, and this time, Han Lu and Mo Zhehan finally succeeded in working together to repair the mechanism that had long been a piece of junk.

The trapdoor opened, letting in fresh air and clearing a path for the two to leave.

“Let’s go, it doesn’t seem to be underwater outside.” Sensing the different air, Han Lu took the lead and stepped through the trapdoor into the narrow passage. “I wonder where the teleportation array just now teleported us to.”

"It will probably take some effort to return to the Central Plains or the Dragon Head Islands."

Han Lu spoke in a light and cheerful voice, showing no sign of being bothered by these troublesome matters.

After all, compared to almost being trapped inside the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Vault and unable to escape, this minor trouble was nothing to Han Lu.

As expected, after traversing the roughly 500-meter-long rock corridor and passing through three layers of restrictions that were loose on the inside and tight on the outside, Han Lu and Mo Zhehan, seeing the sun again, discovered that they were no longer in the Pocket Islands where the entrance was located.

"Where is this?" Mo Zhehan looked around.

This place resembles a small island, with hardly any people around.

The passage the two emerged from led to a cave, but there was no trace of any array inside or outside the cave.

Using this place as an exit is not much more conspicuous than the entrance to the Dragon and Phoenix Treasury.

Given this, coupled with the layers of restrictions and the unique conditions for opening its gates, Han Lu was not surprised that the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Vault had remained untouched for so many years until the deeply obsessed Slaughter Venerable intervened, finally revealing this treasure mountain to the world.

“I’m not sure either,” Han Lu said, flying a little higher. “But looking around at the vast ocean, it seems we’re still within the East China Sea.”

Han Lu took out a compass from her storage bag. "In that case, as long as we head west, we should be able to reach the Central Plains."

"If all else fails," Han Lu had another plan, "we could also look for uninhabited islands along the way and ask any cultivator we could find."

Their cultivation levels were still there, and they had no shortage of resources in their storage bags. Both of them were influential figures in both the human and true spirit realms.

Although I don't know where I am right now, as long as I'm willing to speak up, there's always a way to solve the problem.

“Then let’s set off first,” Mo Zhehan said, a man of action. “I’ll follow your arrangements.”

Han Lu nodded slightly and casually summoned the Ark.

Before leaving, the two searched the small, uninhabited island, which was no bigger than a city, to make sure there were no traces, records, or messages left by dragons and phoenixes from thousands of years ago. Only then did they board the ark and head west.

Along the way, the two did not see many human cultivators, but they encountered quite a few flying beasts.

“We’re probably in the east of the East China Sea right now,” Han Lu concluded, muttering to herself, “This teleportation array really can travel that far.”

Indeed, how could a teleportation array that requires the "power of love" or twenty drops of true spiritual blood to activate be mediocre?

“Then it would be best if we continued our journey in our true spirit form,” Mo Zhehan suggested.

Without objection, Han Lu put away the ark, and the two transformed into true spirits, traveling together.