The Long Journey to Immortality

On the arena, a twelve or thirteen-year-old girl was facing off against a nearly thirty-year-old "elderly monk".

Seeing this scene, Han Lu was slightly puzzled, but she quickly learned the whole story through the conversation between the two on the stage and the discussion between their friends below the stage.

Chapter 1197

One of them was twelve or thirteen years old, just beginning his cultivation. He was young, ambitious, and immature.

One of them was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and had already suffered a defeat on the path of cultivation. Although he was still young, he was lost, lacked self-confidence, and temporarily lost his way forward.

Coincidentally, both the girl and the young man on the stage were at the second level of Qi Refining.

The conflict between these two young cultivators was naturally related to their respective cultivation levels.

The conflict between the two was not complicated.

What to do with the disciples of his own family who had not had a smooth path in their cultivation was a constant worry for Han Dangnian and other high-ranking members of the Han family.

So, the family also thought of "making use of waste" and finding something for these idle young men to do.

Following his usual practice, a high-ranking member of the Han family arranged for these three older cultivators, whose cultivation levels were at the second or third stage of Qi Refining, to help tutor the children in the clan.

Under normal circumstances, there will be no problem with this arrangement.

Children who are just beginning their spiritual practice will listen attentively to the instructions of their older siblings and practice the Taoist methods.

Even older monks in a period of uncertainty will find spiritual solace in diligently teaching their younger clansmen.

But this time, something unexpected happened.

The girl on the stage is named Han Chuxue. Although she is only thirteen years old, she has been practicing Taoist arts for three years and has the cultivation level of the second level of Qi Refining.

Han Chuxue is a genius among the younger generation and is regarded by the vast majority of the Han family's senior members as a rising star who will be able to advance to the Golden Core Realm in the future.

Han Chuxue received exceptionally good treatment within her clan, far surpassing that of Han Yinshuang, who was initially assigned to the Zhengyi Sect of the Southern Dynasty.

This naturally led Han Chuxue to develop a spoiled, willful, and self-centered temperament from a young age.

Full of ambition and anticipation that she could reach the end of the path of cultivation, Han Chuxue naturally looked down on the cultivators in her clan who had failed.

Every time she was given advice by these losers, she lost her temper, feeling that following them in her spiritual practice was a waste of time.

A few harsh words were inevitable.

It's alright if you encounter an older cultivator who has a good temper and has lost all ambition.

This time, however, Han Chuxue's harsh words landed squarely on Han Lei, an older cultivator who had not given up on his cultivation.

Han Lei, who still harbored dreams of cultivating immortality, was furious and showed no respect to the young genius of his clan.

The two argued, and eventually it escalated to the point where they had to settle their differences by fighting each other with magic.

Such conflicts have occurred in the past, and occasionally they would escalate to a fight. However, this time, Han Lu happened to witness it.

"That's quite interesting," Han Lu said, focusing her attention on the young genius Han Chuxue. "She's only thirteen years old and already has the cultivation of the second level of Qi Refining. Calling her a genius is no exaggeration."

"It's just that he has a bad temper, but he's still young, and he can be corrected with some teaching."

Han Lu had been commenting on Han Chuxue's appearance and had already decided to spend the next few days teaching this promising young girl, hoping to give her a chance to become a Golden Core cultivator and see if she could help the Han family find and cultivate another Golden Core cultivator in the future.

As for Han Lei, who stood opposite Han Chuxue, Han Lu regarded him as a touchstone.

"If someone is young and skilled in both cultivation and combat, then their future is naturally bright." Han Lu had high expectations for Han Chuxue.

It's customary to exchange a few words of verbal sparring before engaging in a battle of wits.

Not to mention that Han Chuxue and Han Lei had already been arguing before.

It's perfectly normal to mutter a few words before hitting someone.

"Little sister Chuxue, you are so young yet so disrespectful and speak such foul language. Today I will teach you a lesson." Han Lei's face was slightly red, clearly showing his anger. "You have only been cultivating for three years, so you must not have any magic weapons. Today I will only use my spells and external skills to fight you."

"You piece of trash, what right do you have to teach me?" Han Chuxue retorted sharply. "And... Han Lei, don't mistake me for someone else. Who told you I don't have any magic weapons?"

As she spoke, Han Chuxue took out a spirit lamp from the storage bag at her waist. "Look, this is my magic treasure, a mid-grade fourth-level magic artifact. You, a piece of trash who has been cultivating for more than ten years and is still only at the second level of Qi Refining, do you have such a magic treasure?"

Han Lei's face turned even redder, and his anger burned even more fiercely.

However, that statement is not entirely wrong.

Lacking strength and cultivation, with only one spirit stone in his storage bag, he had never even possessed a magic tool, let alone a fourth-grade magic tool.

“However, I don’t like bullying people either,” Han Chuxue put away her magic weapon, “I’ll fight you empty-handed.”

"Don't cry or try to kill yourself when I beat you to a pulp."

Han Lei gritted his teeth and continued his verbal sparring with Han Chuxue, who was more than ten years younger than him, saying, "Don't go complaining to anyone if you lose later. You can't handle losing."

"Hmph, I'm not a sore loser. Can we begin?" Han Chuxue said disdainfully.

Listening to the two young people, who were about 150 years older than her, arguing, Han Lu just found it amusing.

Through their verbal sparring, Han Lu gained a better understanding of Han Chuxue's situation.

"She's quite articulate."

"Despite her young age and clumsy manner of doing things, she speaks like an adult," Han Lu deduced. "It's probably because her parents didn't raise her well, rather than because Han Chuxue is inherently like this. It seems there's still hope for correction."

Han Lu's expectations for Han Chuxue grew even higher. She continued to stand on the periphery, acting as an observer while also preparing to make her move.

Children don't know their own strength, and she didn't want to see either of them get seriously injured in a battle between their own kind.

The battles between cultivators in the Qi Refining Realm are quite monotonous and boring, not to mention that the two cultivators on the arena relied solely on spells and external techniques, without even using a single magic weapon.

In the eyes of Han Lu, a Nascent Soul cultivator, this battle was utterly tasteless and uninteresting.

With the desire to learn more about Han Chuxue, Han Lu kept using her divine sense to "scan" the two young cultivators on the arena.

Han Lu was trying to find out what kind of cultivation technique Han Chuxue was practicing, how it felt to circulate spiritual energy, and whether there were any major problems with her basic skills in this way.

The two fought on the arena for less than a hundred breaths before both were panting heavily.

However, judging from their performance on the stage, Han Chuxue truly lives up to her reputation as a little genius.

They played with great skill and strategy, while Han Lei was in a sorry state.

Seeing that he was running out of steam and about to lose face, Han Lei did not hesitate and decided to use his secret weapon, which he had not wanted to use before.

Han Lei made hand seals, circulated his spiritual power, and shouted, "Go!"

A thunderclap suddenly burst from his mouth, hurtling towards Han Chuxue's location.

Caught off guard, Han Chuxue hurriedly tried to dodge, but it was too late.

Just as Han Chuxue thought she was about to be injured and would have to continue fighting despite her injuries, a light curtain descended from the side.

The thunderclap struck the light barrier and vanished instantly.

At the same time, the light barrier separated the two, forcibly ending the battle.

Chapter 1198

After unleashing the Thunderclap Technique, Han Lei felt his spiritual energy depleted and stagnant, and he coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Han Chuxue was also startled and broke out in a cold sweat, instinctively looking in the direction from which the light screen was emitted.

Seeing that it was a female cultivator with long, flowing black hair, wearing a new-style white gauze dress, and with a delicate face who made the move, Han Chuxue immediately breathed a sigh of relief.

"It must be one of the elders in the family. If they were caught fighting in private like this, they would definitely get a scolding," Han Chuxue thought to herself. "I wonder who this senior is? He looks familiar, but he doesn't seem to be a member of the family."

With doubts in her heart, Han Chuxue quickly stood up, brushed the dust off her clothes, and bowed respectfully to Han Lu, who had just helped her, saying, "Thank you for your help, senior."

Han Lu stepped onto the stage, waved to Han Chuxue to indicate that there was no need for formalities, and then looked at Han Lei, who was kneeling on the ground coughing up blood.

"To fight among your own kind with such ruthlessness," Han Lu rebuked. "I'll heal your wounds first, and then we'll settle your score later."

After saying that, Han Lu casually cast a simple healing spell.

Points of pale blue light flew out from her body, enveloping Han Lei, who was clearly already seriously injured.

Part of the spiritual energy adhered to Han Lei's body surface to heal his external injuries, while another part entered through his mouth to heal his internal injuries.

With the combination of internal and external treatments, in just three breaths, Han Lei, whose face had been patchy with red and gray, regained his complexion and was able to stand up shakily.

Realizing that he had gone too far, Han Lei lowered his head and took the initiative to admit his mistake, saying, "I was rash."

After reprimanding Han Lei, Han Lu turned to look at Han Chuxue, who was secretly laughing to herself.

“Han Chuxue…” Han Lu said seriously.

Hearing the senior who had just made the move call her name in such a tone, Han Chuxue quickly stopped her gloating laughter and lowered her head as well.

With earnest words, Han Lu tried to convey some correct values ​​to Han Chuxue, saying, "Now that I'm telling you, you might not understand, so you don't have to listen."

"But you must understand that there are always people more capable than you."

"You are a top-notch genius in the clan, but in the Central Plains, there are countless young cultivators with more outstanding talent than you."

"If this continues, we'll suffer in the future."

He stepped forward, patted Han Chuxue on the shoulder, and stuffed a bottle of pills into her hand. "Speak kindly, act modestly, and be humble. Only then can you go further on the path of cultivation."

Han Chuxue did not take this senior, whose cultivation level was unknown and who might be a member of the Han family, too seriously.

However, considering that the other party had given her more pills, Han Chuxue still nodded in agreement, indicating that she had learned her lesson.

Han Lu shook her head slightly, but said nothing more.

"Han Lei, come with me."

Han Lu stepped off the stage, and Han Lei, who had recovered, quickly followed, so as not to add another crime to his already guilty conscience.

After Han Lu left, the children began to speculate about the identity of this suddenly appearing senior.

Some say Han Lu is a family elder.

Some say that Han Lu is a Foundation Establishment cultivator who cultivates outside the home and occasionally returns.

Han Chuxue, who received a full thirty "Meridian-Opening Pills" from Han Lu, believed that Han Lu must be a good friend of an elder in the Han family.

Leading Han Lei back to her residence, Han Lu sat down in the main seat, looked at Han Lei who still had his head down, and said, "Do you know what you did wrong?"

At this moment, Han Lei was no longer as obedient as before, and instead began to question Han Lu's identity.

"Senior, are you a member of the Han family? How can you question and punish me privately?" Han Lei and Han Lu began to discuss the rules.