The Long Journey to Immortality

So, Han Lu approached the courtyard gate on the island in the middle of the lake and gently knocked on the door, "Senior Zhen, I'm here."

Chapter 1188

Han Lu knocked on the door, but there was no answer from inside.

Without giving it much thought, Han Lu assumed that the senior was still cultivating and waited respectfully outside the door.

After waiting for about an hour, accompanied by a fluctuation of spiritual energy in the courtyard, Senior Zhen's voice slowly came out from the courtyard.

"Just come in. There are no restrictions protecting this courtyard, so there's no need for us to be too polite."

Although Senior Zhen was a Nascent Soul cultivator and nearly two thousand years older than Han Lu, he regarded Han Lu as a close friend.

Hearing Senior Zhen's words, Han Lu slowly pushed open the door, which was not locked to begin with, and walked into the small courtyard where Senior Zhen lived in the small world.

There are many more flowers, plants, and trees in the courtyard than when Han Lu last visited.

It seems that during his time cultivating in the small world, Xianyu Ji or other Zhengyi Sect cultivators who knew of the existence of the true senior had sent flowers and plants to this place quite often.

Besides fishing, the senior, who has always loved flowers and plants, naturally takes good care of these "different personalities" of flowers and plants in this small world where spring lasts all year round and the weather is favorable.

After passing through the small courtyard and arriving at the main hall, Han Lu finally saw the Nascent Soul Realm cultivator, True Daoist, again after decades.

The Taoist priest sat upright in a chair in the main hall, his eyes closed, as if he were in deep meditation.

But when Han Lu met this senior whose cultivation level surpassed her own, she suddenly had a certain feeling.

"Although Senior Zhen appears to be in a meditative state, he gives off a feeling of waiting for an opportunity and preparing to strike."

"It seems that after half a breath, Senior Zhen will turn stillness into movement and unleash countless techniques in front of me."

As Han Lu was thinking, Senior Zhen suddenly opened his eyes, looked at Han Lu with a smile on his face, and said gently, "Han Lu, sit down quickly."

"Okay," Han Lu gave a simple bow and sat down in the seat next to Senior Zhen. "It's been almost thirty years since I last saw Senior Zhen. Your cultivation level seems to have improved quite a bit."

Senior Zhen smiled slightly, quite pleased with his progress over the years. "I didn't expect you to see through it. Tell me, how did you figure it out?"

Han Lu then truthfully recounted her feelings upon first seeing Senior Zhen.

Senior Zhen nodded repeatedly, praising, "No wonder you were able to cultivate to the Nascent Soul realm in less than two hundred years."

“You’re right. I qualified to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm back then by comprehending the Dao of Movement and Stillness.”

"Over the years, I've gained a deeper understanding of the Way of Stillness by staying in this small world, which can be considered a breakthrough."

It was said casually, but Han Lu knew the answer without even thinking about it.

It is difficult to increase one's understanding of the principles of heaven and earth. The progress that Senior Zhen has made is far from ordinary, as he described.

“Then I must congratulate Senior Zhen,” Han Lu said, her thoughts wandering. “The deeper one’s understanding of the Great Dao, the higher the possibility of advancing to a higher realm.”

"When you ascend to the Spirit Realm in the future, Senior Zhen will surely be able to overcome all obstacles and climb to a higher realm, just like he did in the mortal world."

Senior Zhen laughed twice, "I invited you here to congratulate you on advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm, but I didn't expect that you would congratulate me first."

“That sounds nice, but I’m also aware of my situation,” Senior Zhen wasn’t a blindly optimistic cultivator who would get carried away by a few words of praise. “If you have a 70% chance of advancing to the Nascent Soul Realm and going to the Spirit Realm to continue on the broad road of cultivation, then I only have a 3% or even 2% chance at most.”

“On the path of cultivation, every step forward is extremely difficult,” Senior Zhen said earnestly, giving Han Lu a “precautionary shot” because he thought her mind might be unstable due to her rapid advancement in cultivation level. “Especially when cultivating in the Nascent Soul stage, there are far too many things more important than talent that will affect your cultivation.”

Senior Zhen used himself as an example, telling Han Lu some interesting stories from when he was still a Nascent Soul cultivator.

In the story of the true senior, he was not the most talented cultivator among his peers, but many cultivators who were more talented than him and whose cultivation speed was much faster than his in the Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, and even Golden Core stages all failed early on. Only he was able to advance to the Divine Transformation stage because he comprehended the Dao of Movement and Stillness for some reason.

Hearing this, Han Lu naturally understood what Senior Zhen wanted to say to her.

“I understand what you mean, Senior Zhen,” Han Lu promised. “I am aware of the difficulty of cultivating to the Nascent Soul Realm and have no intention of underestimating it.”

"That would be best." Senior Zhen picked up the teacup beside him, took a sip, and was very satisfied with all the qualities that Han Lu had demonstrated.

Han Lu asked curiously, "Senior Zhen, how did you comprehend the Dao of Movement and Stillness? Could you tell me about it so I can see if there's anything I can learn from you?"

"If you could impart some invaluable wisdom on the principles of movement and stillness, that would be even better."

Given the close relationship between Senior Zhen and Han Lu, he naturally wouldn't refuse Han Lu's small request.

"But..." Senior Zhen tried to explain, "Many things cannot be described in words, such as the Way of Movement and Stillness. I cannot tell you all the mysteries I have come to understand in words."

Han Lu naturally understood what this meant, and gave an example, "Like the sword techniques I've come to understand, right?"

"That's right, but I can still tell you a few words about how I studied and comprehended this great path."

The senior directly explained why he was able to comprehend this principle.

"It's probably because I enjoy growing flowers and fishing."

"That's why I can understand the movement of life passing by and the stillness of a tranquil mind."

Senior's answer was concise and to the point. Although it was only two short sentences, it still provided Han Lu with a lot of help.

"Does Senior Zhen mean that if I want to increase my understanding of swordsmanship, I can put down the sword and pick up a brush to practice calligraphy and ink painting, and seek opportunities in the process?" Han Lu thought to herself.

"The subtext of the second sentence is that, just as there are many different words to express the meaning of swordsmanship, the way of movement and stillness that Senior Shin comprehended is also quite complex. In addition to the two kinds of movement and stillness that Senior Shin mentioned, there are other profound principles in it."

After briefly organizing her thoughts, Han Lu spoke them aloud, and the senior couldn't help but clap his hands in praise, "Han Lu, you have great wisdom!"

After being praised by the senior in the Nascent Soul Realm, Han Lu couldn't help but tidy her hair behind her ear to hide the smile on her face, but she was already overjoyed inside.

After realizing that Han Lu did indeed have some understanding of the cultivation path from the Nascent Soul Realm to the Deity Transformation Realm, Senior Zhen talked to Han Lu for a while longer and then gave her some advice.

"If you have the chance to meet Fairy Piao, I believe she can offer you some more help."

Han Lu recalled how a "female senior at the Nascent Soul Realm" had demonstrated her swordsmanship in front of her, prompting her to gain some insights. She nodded in agreement with the true senior's statement.

[Author's Note] Domestic cultivation games tell us that sometimes being beautiful is more useful than talent.

Chapter 1189

Compared to the true senior who lives in a small world, the whereabouts of that fairy can only be described as "unpredictable".

"In short, she usually only stays in the sect for three to four years within a hundred years."

"I wonder what she's been busy with all this time," Senior Zhen muttered. "She's already a Nascent Soul cultivator, I wonder what could possibly bother her for so many years."

Hearing what sounded like gossip, Han Lu couldn't help but become interested.

"Senior Piao, have you been troubled by various matters while you've been away all these years?" Han Lu asked at the opportune moment.

Senior Zhen didn't know much either, and since it was inappropriate to discuss the private affairs of fellow cultivators behind their backs, he simply replied, "After Fairy Piao advanced to the mid-Nascent Soul stage, she traveled outside the sect for a long time."

"I don't know exactly what they're busy with."

"But it shouldn't be one of those clichéd, melodramatic love-hate relationships."

Senior Zhen's speculation is reasonable. Han Lu couldn't figure out what kind of grudge a mid-Nascent Soul cultivator could have that could span a thousand years and remain unresolved even after reaching the Divine Transformation Realm.

Even if you just wait it out, your enemy will most likely die eventually.

Han Lu joked, "Maybe it's a lost item?"

"Perhaps," Senior Zhen agreed with Han Lu's statement. "Everyone has their own destiny. As long as Fairy Piao is still a cultivator of our sect and is still making contributions to our sect, I can't be bothered to care about her."

Each has their own privacy, and their relationship is just that of ordinary colleagues. Even if a true senior is curious, he has no intention of asking questions or investigating in private.

After exchanging a few words of gossip, Han Lu and Senior Zhen returned to the topic of Nascent Soul cultivation.

The senior colleague started by saying, "Tell me your thoughts first, so I can hear them and see if there are any problems with them."

Senior Zhen invited Han Lu to the small world for two reasons: first, to offer his congratulations as a friend, and second, to share his experience and insights on cultivating at the Nascent Soul stage.

This opening is primarily for targeted instruction and individualized teaching, similar to the methods Han Lu used when guiding her disciples.

With guidance from a Nascent Soul cultivator, Han Lu naturally wouldn't try to hide anything at this time.

Besides having prepared the spiritual liquid she had made using the spirit bottle to quickly replenish her spiritual roots in the mid-Nascent Soul stage, Han Lu revealed all her plans for cultivating in the Nascent Soul realm.

With ample preparation, Senior Zhen was already nodding in approval as Han Lu spoke.

At the same time, he also marked out most of the instruction and teaching content in his mental "lesson plan" that he had prepared long ago.

"No wonder, no wonder," the senior thought to himself as he listened. "He has talent, a plan, comprehension, a family, bloodline inheritance, and countless resources to support him."

"It would be strange if Han Lu couldn't cultivate to the Nascent Soul Realm within two hundred years."

After Han Lu had fully expressed her thoughts, Senior Zhen then brought up a few points that were not crucial.

In this way, the original plan of guidance and instruction was transformed into exchange and discussion.

Han Lu realized this and immediately understood that it was because she was well-prepared that the senior's guidance turned into a "subtle hint".

Secretly pleased, Han Lu spoke freely, showing no regard for the identity of the senior Daoist.

However, as a Nascent Soul cultivator, Zhen Daoren's experience in cultivating at the Divine Transformation Realm could still help Han Lu.

In particular, Senior Zhen not only directly recommended which pills could assist Nascent Soul cultivators in their cultivation, but also shared two prescriptions with Han Lu.

With ample resources, Han Lu would not lack spirit stones to purchase medicinal herbs or spiritual plants that could be used directly to refine elixirs.

Han Lu opened the storage bag and took out a jade tablet to write down the two pill formulas.

Unexpectedly, just as Han Lu was recording the pill formula that Senior Zhen had just recited, Senior Zhen suddenly spoke up and asked a question.

"Han Lu, you actually have a magical artifact that has become sentient and has developed a spirit?"

Han Lu was somewhat surprised when Senior Zhen suddenly raised this question.

But since they asked, they must know something.

Han Lu did not deny it, and replied, "Just lucky, just lucky."

Although she could speak the truth to her senior, Han Lu felt that whether or not to speak the truth depended on Ping'er's opinion.

After receiving a result via telepathy, Han Lu continued, "During my tribulation, by chance, one of my magical artifacts became sentient and gave birth to a spirit."

"She was just a little shy and didn't want to come out and meet her senior."

Senior Zhen himself also possessed a magical artifact with a spirit, so he naturally knew the spirit's temperament and had no intention of blaming it. He smiled and said, "It's alright. Most spirits are shy and don't want to meet outsiders."

"It was because of Ayu's help that she sensed the faint scent of her companion and learned that you also possessed a magical artifact with a spirit."

Hearing this, Han Lu breathed a sigh of relief.

She now feels somewhat guilty, like someone who has done something wrong.

Even if Senior Zhen knew about Ping'er's background, nothing would happen to her.