The Long Journey to Immortality

Yunmin Daoist's question was essentially a waste of time.

Some Golden Core cultivators who weren't seated at the conference table were eager to participate, hoping to share their brilliant strategies and insightful opinions to impress others.

It would be even better if I could be invited to sit at the conference table.

A Golden Core cultivator stood up from the audience and shared his thoughts.

Chapter 124 Who Will Go to Their Death? Conservative Treatment.

After the three leaders on the stage nodded in agreement, the Golden Core cultivator who had been eager to speak earlier bowed to everyone and introduced himself, "I am Huai'an Daoist, the sect leader of Chuyun Sect. I was greatly inspired by the insightful opinions of the alliance leaders, sect leaders, and patriarchs. I thought I would also like to say a few words and share my humble opinion to elicit further discussion. I also hope you will all give me your guidance."

After exchanging pleasantries and polite exchanges, Daoist Huai'an offered his suggestion: "No one can say for sure whether the matter of the Great Yu Dynasty is good or bad. Even with the accounts of three Nascent Soul cultivators who defected from the Great Yu Dynasty to the Central Plains, none of you fellow Daoists here can guarantee that you can clearly explain what the various sects of the Great Yu Dynasty actually think, or whether they really intend to invade the Central Plains through the teleportation portal."

"If the Great Yu Dynasty treats us kindly, this teleportation gate linking the two places may become the key to the further progress of the cultivation civilization in the Central Plains. Everyone, including myself, will have a 10% to 20% chance of advancing to the Nascent Soul stage because of the use of this teleportation gate and trade and exchanges with the Great Yu Dynasty."

"Is that right?"

Summarizing the speeches of the two faction leaders and explaining the advantages and disadvantages, Daoist Huai'an looked around and saw that everyone was agreeing with his point of view before continuing.

"In my opinion, the benefits of this matter outweigh the risks."

"After all, according to the descriptions of those three traitorous cultivators, although the Jitian Palace is the only dominant force in the Great Yu Dynasty, there are still many sects within the Great Yu Dynasty that are at odds with the Jitian Palace."

"Unless an earth-shattering event occurs that shakes the very foundation of the Great Yu Dynasty, the Jitian Palace is most likely incapable of leading these sects to unite as one and launch an invasion against the Central Plains, attempting to plunder the cultivation resources of the Central Plains."

"On the contrary, those small sects in the Great Yu Dynasty would certainly be very willing to exchange things with us Central Plains sects, try to break away from the control of the Extreme Heaven Palace, and develop slowly."

"Therefore, I support the opinion of Fellow Daoist Sima, the leader of the Seven Mountains Alliance, but on the premise that we find out who controls the teleportation gate and whether the situation in the Great Yu Dynasty is really as those three traitorous cultivators described."

"If that's not the case, then it's best to destroy this portal."

The Taoist Huai'an's analysis was reasonable and well-founded. Although he did not offer any more specific or innovative ideas, it still gave many wavering cultivators in the room their own answers.

Immediately, a Golden Core cultivator chimed in, suggesting, "Why don't we arrange for a few fellow cultivators to go to the Great Yu Dynasty through the teleportation portal to see for themselves? It'll be easy to tell whether it's true or false."

Upon hearing this, many cultivators in the audience couldn't help but laugh.

Someone quipped, "If it was your idea, then you do it."

“I’m not going,” the speaker said honestly. “Going to the Great Yu Dynasty is too dangerous. I haven’t lived enough yet.”

The laughter from the audience grew louder and louder, and even Daoist Yunmin couldn't help but chuckle at the blunt truth.

Master Long coughed and spoke to maintain order, "Everyone, please be quiet."

When the Valley Master of Xuan Yang Valley spoke, all the Golden Core cultivators immediately fell silent.

After hesitating for a moment, Master Long decided to speak the truth, “Actually, the three of us have thought about and discussed sending a few fellow Daoists through the teleportation portal to the Great Yu Dynasty to investigate, but as that fellow Daoist said, the danger is too high and none of us are willing to go.”

"If any fellow Daoist present is willing to contribute to the Central Plains and be a pioneer, then please step forward now and take on this task."

As soon as Master Long finished speaking, many cultivators who had been standing to attend the meeting without seats immediately sat down on the ground, disregarding their image, for fear of being misunderstood.

Most cultivators remained silent, burying their heads in the sand, unwilling to let this trouble fall on their own.

Everyone's reaction was exactly as Master Long had expected.

Having finally reached the Golden Core realm and possessed a lifespan of at least six hundred years, these cultivators, with sect ties to them, would not consider risking their lives to test the attitude of the Great Yu Dynasty in this peaceful and prosperous era.

“So,” Master Long continued, “everyone should focus on discussing our approach and stop worrying about the attitude of the Great Yu Dynasty.”

However, the cultivator's honest words made this discussion more than just a theoretical exercise; subsequently, quite a few cultivators offered some constructive suggestions.

There are suggestions to set up restrictions or magic arrays at the portal to monitor it.

There were also suggestions to have those three "traitorous" cultivators act as scouts, representing the Central Plains region as envoys to the Great Yu Dynasty to conduct liaison and communication.

Some cultivators also believed that the rogue cultivators from the East Sea should be recruited, offered generous gifts, and have those money-grubbing rogue cultivators help them overcome obstacles and act as bridge envoys between the Central Plains and the Great Yu Dynasty.

These are all good ideas, but Master Long and Daoist Yunmin are not very satisfied with these three ideas.

The portal is located in the territory of the Southern Dynasty. If it is to be monitored and guarded, Xuan Yang Valley and Zheng Yi Sect will naturally need to contribute their efforts. In particular, Zheng Yi Sect will need to arrange for several Golden Core cultivators to be stationed there as sentries.

This is a way to weaken the power of sectarian factions.

The second suggestion is the same.

Sending newly joined Nascent Soul cultivators back to the Great Yu Dynasty? This is most likely a one-way trip. Whether those three "discarded foes" agree or not, the three Valley Masters, Sect Masters, and Alliance Leaders certainly won't say a word in approval.

What about the last one? In the eyes of the three of them, it didn't seem very reliable either.

Whether independent cultivators can cooperate is one thing, but who will provide the spirit stones and resources? Will the invited independent cultivators be able to complete the task wholeheartedly?

These are all problems.

In the end, to avoid being blamed in the future, Master Long, Daoist Yunmin, and Alliance Leader Sima reached a small agreement at the meeting table.

Each of the three companies put forward a proposal, which was then voted on anonymously by their respective subgroups.

Decide how this matter should be handled by voting.

This method may not be the best, but it will definitely not cause controversy.

Master Long and Alliance Leader Sima remained stubborn, one shouting to destroy it, the other shouting to keep it.

Yunmin Daoist had no choice but to remain neutral, adopting the regulatory arguments as his own solutions and opinions.

However, he made a slight modification to the oversight plan, requiring each of the three sects to send a Golden Core cultivator to be stationed and oversee the operation, showing that he did not mind the Golden Core cultivators of the two major sects operating within the Southern Dynasty's territory.

The number of participating sects was not large, so the results of the anonymous vote were obtained in less than half a cup of tea's time.

The sect leaders and elders representing various minor sects at the meeting held different positions, and naturally, their viewpoints also differed.

In the end, the number of supporters for the three viewpoints was roughly the same, but there were more supporters for the regulatory viewpoint.

After all, this viewpoint leaves room for maneuver, is more moderate, and allows for both advancement and retreat.

Conservative treatment is generally more acceptable than risky surgery.

Once the resolution was passed, neither Master Long nor Alliance Leader Situ raised any objections.

With the three parties taking the lead, a simple plan to regulate the portal has emerged.

The portal, which was already under the supervision of the three parties, will now have an additional protective force to prevent it from becoming an outpost for the Great Yu Dynasty's attack on the Central Plains.

The matter of the portal is temporarily put on hold. No one can say for sure whether this approach is beneficial or detrimental, but it is ultimately the result of a vote by the majority. No one wants to cause further controversy, fix the matter, or insist on an extreme outcome.

Having resolved the troublesome matter, the three major sects of the Central Plains took the initiative to propose a good thing that would benefit all the smaller sects.

The three major sects of the Central Plains began to "show their love" at the meeting, bringing up the matter of the ancient cultivation secret realm again, hoping that the smaller sects attending the meeting would also benefit from this important matter concerning the human race.

[Author's Note] Another typhoon is here, and today is another company dinner. Last year's dinner was also on a typhoon day, and it was really tough.

Chapter 125 One Spot, Going Home with Wen Erya

To be honest, the Ancient Cultivation Secret Realm is currently the top priority for the human race, or rather, the three major sects of the Central Plains. They are unwilling to give up their profits by allocating one or more slots to their smaller sects, leaving these smaller sects with only scraps.

Unfortunately, all three sects consider themselves prestigious and righteous, and are quite concerned about their reputation.

During these three months, the cultivation world has had many different opinions on this matter. Some have accused Xuan Yang Valley of betraying the interests of the Central Plains, some have blamed the Seven Mountains Alliance for its inaction, and some have accused the Zheng Yi Sect of trying to take advantage of the situation and stir up trouble.

However, many cultivators used their words to criticize the three major sects for being too domineering and ignoring the interests of other smaller sects.

Public opinion is a powerful force, and the three major sects are all confident that they can obtain satisfactory benefits from the ancient cultivation secret realm.

Thus, at Long Zhenren's suggestion, the three parties reached a tacit understanding almost instantly, bringing the smaller sects in the Central Plains into this important matter concerning the human race.

This matter is of great importance. With the three parties having reached an agreement, raising it at the meeting table is more like asking "who supports it and who opposes it," without allowing other minor factions to bargain on this matter.

The three major sects have left a path for advancement for each of the smaller sects.

Two months before the opening of the Ancient Cultivation Secret Realm, the three major sects will organize a large-scale selection competition in the deep valley. Each sect, regardless of size, is only allowed to send one Qi Refining disciple to participate in the competition. The selection competition will choose one Qi Refining cultivator to participate in the Ancient Cultivation Secret Realm.

Upon hearing this arrangement, many sect leaders with some power couldn't help but shine.

There must be great treasures hidden in the ancient cultivation secret realm. If the disciples of the sect can pass the selection and become the only cultivator from a small sect outside of the three major sects in the Central Plains to enter the secret realm, and bring out a large amount of cultivation resources from it.

It would be a foregone conclusion that this sect would stand out and become the fourth largest sect in the Central Plains during this peaceful era.

The Zhengyi Sect and the Seven Mountains Alliance want to become the number one sect in the Central Plains, but don't these smaller sects also want to become the fourth?

With such a generous gift presented, just by looking at the expressions of the Golden Core cultivators around the conference table, the three leaders of the Central Plains sects knew that the rumors circulating in the streets would soon vanish.

With the two major issues resolved, the meeting was considered a complete success. The Golden Core cultivators returned to their respective homes and began their preparations according to the arrangements made at the meeting.

Meanwhile, within the Zhengyi Sect, Han Lu once again visited the library of the Transmission Hall, hoping to find some books about history and records of the ancient cultivation era, so as to do more research for her next trip to the Moon Pearl World.

The impact of this matter is not the same, but its significance is considerable.

It gives Han Lu the feeling that she is busy and contributing to this matter, which provides her with a sense of psychological satisfaction.

However, the ancient cultivation era was 100,000 years ago. In this cultivation era where human Nascent Soul cultivators only have a lifespan of about 2,000 years, the span of 100,000 years is enough for many historical truths to be buried deep and many historical records to be lost.

At least, the Zhengyi Sect, a sect with a history of only ten thousand years, does not have many ancient texts recording stories from the era of ancient cultivators.

Perhaps, only in some ancient but now weakened small sects in the Central Plains region, there might be similar books that would present Han Lu with the history of the human race's difficult survival.

Returning empty-handed from the Zhengyi Sect's library, Han Lu thought of Wen Erya, who had once told her many stories about the ancient cultivation era.

Feeling that she had an excellent relationship with Wen Erya, Han Lu approached Wen Erya almost without hesitation and asked her to help with the matter.

"Junior sister, do you mean you want to borrow a few books about the ancient cultivation era?" Wen Erya asked in return.

Han Lu nodded and lowered her demands a bit. "I'm quite curious and would like to know more. If you find it difficult, senior sister, you could at least lend me a book to read."

Wen Erya nodded, then shook her head. "It's just borrowing books. Even if my junior sister wanted me to borrow ten books, it wouldn't be a big problem. It's just that the timing is a bit inconvenient."

"What's the trouble?" Han Lu asked, puzzled.

"Huh? Junior sister, there are only five days left until the New Year, have you forgotten?" Wen Erya asked in surprise.

Han Lu blinked, then remembered that there was indeed such a thing, and smiled awkwardly, "I understand, it's because Senior Sister is going home, right?"

Although Han Lu and Wen Erya have been disciples for less than a year, they are both highly accomplished disciples of the Golden Core sect and have just won the championship in the Grand Competition, so they naturally have certain privileges.

It's just a small matter like going home for the New Year. Even without informing Piaomiaozi, just going to the inner treasury to take care of things would be enough to get a leave slip approved smoothly, allowing me to go out.

“Well,” Wen Erya explained, “In fact, I plan to set off for home tomorrow to celebrate the New Year, and then stay for half a month before returning to the sect to cultivate.”

"Although we are cultivators, we have only been cultivating outside for half a year. We still have considerable attachments in the mortal world. A balance between work and rest, going home to visit relatives and friends might even be helpful for our cultivation..."

When the topic of going home came up, Wen Erya suddenly shut her mouth.

She thought of Han Lu's background and how Han Lu couldn't go home during this time of family reunion.