The Long Journey to Immortality

After spending an hour reading, Han Lu stretched, rubbed her temples, and exclaimed, "This is truly an unexpected bonus!"

Of the sixty-seven volumes of storybooks, only eight are about the ancient cultivation era.

As Wen Erya said, most of the content has been artistically embellished and, through generations of oral transmission, has undergone the test of time, completely changing its appearance from the historical truth.

But it is precisely because of these artistic processings, some changes and adaptations, that Han Lu found it enjoyable to read, unlike the boring experience she had when she first looked it up in the library.

After reading all eight volumes of the storybook, Han Lu gained a more comprehensive understanding of the ancient cultivation era 100,000 years ago.

According to the history of the human race, the ancient cultivation era can be roughly divided into four parts.

In the First Era, humanity was enslaved and ruled by other races. Physically weak, humans could only rely on their relatively strong reproductive ability to maintain a place in the primitive world.

In the second era, the ancient cultivation era truly arrived. A genius discovered a method of cultivation and led a group of his kind with spiritual roots to begin cultivating, using spiritual power and the power of Taoist magic to fight in the wilderness.

In the third era, powerful cultivators successively attained enlightenment and advanced to the level of Nascent Soul, and humanity truly stepped onto the stage of barbarism.

The Fourth Age was the golden age of humanity during the barbaric era.

After several large-scale and protracted wars, the Eastern Human Race drove out the True Spirits and Demons that were hostile to them from the Central Plains.

The Western Regions were also brought under the control of the Western Humans.

Humanity officially became the largest race in the human realm, the true ruler of this world.

The era in which Han Lu lives now can also be considered the fourth era.

As for whether it was the end of the Fourth Era, Han Lu, who was unaware of the inscription on the stone tablet in the Ancient Cultivation Secret Realm, couldn't say for sure.

After reading through it roughly, Han Lu did not accept all of the records, but through these stories, which were probably only 30% or 40% true, she gained a general understanding of the events she might encounter in the "Moon Pearl World".

Based on the stories in the book and the dividing lines of these eras, Han Lu roughly figured out which era she had "traveled" to a few days ago.

"At the end of the third era," based on the clue that Senior Fang Han had advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, Han Lu came to an accurate conclusion, "After Senior Fang Han advanced to the Nascent Soul stage, the human race and other True Spirit races that were on good terms with the human race went to war with the Dragon race, the ruler of the barbaric lands at that time, and the Dragon race's vassals. They eventually won the war, bringing nearly 100,000 years of prosperity to the human race."

"According to the text in the story, the Phoenix Clan was an ally of the human race during that period."

"It seems that in the end, Feng Yang accepted Fang Lin's invitation and joined the war against the dragons."

This period of history is extremely fascinating, with five out of the eight storybooks recording interesting events from this time.

As for what opportunities or benefits she might gain from this through her eyes and ears, Han Lu was too lazy to think about it for the time being.

With more than twenty days until the full moon next month, Han Lu didn't want to overthink things and give herself a splitting headache.

"Let's wait until we get to the Royal Library and see more accurate historical records before we think about anything else."

Carefully putting the storybook in front of her into her storage bag, Han Lu casually blew out the oil lamp and, using the dim moonlight for illumination, sat down on the throne that had been placed on the bed earlier.

Although the capital of the Southern Dynasty was the territory of the emperors of the Southern Dynasty, there was no imperial aura here.

The spiritual energy in the capital city is very ordinary, and it cannot compare with the amount of spiritual energy in the Zhengyi Sect, let alone a first-class cultivation holy land like Hanchan Peak.

With scarce spiritual energy, efforts are often made with little reward.

However, Han Lu still followed her habit, sitting cross-legged on the Dharma seat, activating the spirit-gathering array on the Dharma seat, breathing in and out the spiritual energy in the air, and trying to open up the spiritual energy channels in her body and open up the acupoints.

Chapter 131 Wen Erya's Mentor

Overnight, in the mortal world, even a top-notch genius like Han Lu could only barely increase the spiritual energy channels a little. She still needed to cultivate for at least five more hours before she could try to open the 110th acupoint in her body and get one step closer to the fourth level of Qi Refining.

Despite this, Han Lu's state of mind was not affected by the lack of significant improvement in her cultivation after ending her meditation.

On the contrary, when she opened the window and saw the sunrise in the distance, she felt refreshed.

Feeling the warm winter sun shining on her skin, Han Lu understood the reason in just a moment.

"Perhaps it's because of the power of the Moon Pearl?"

Han Lu took out the Moon Pearl, which she had always kept close to her body.

Han Lu has a good memory; she still remembers the introduction Feng Yang gave Feng Jiao when he handed the Moon Pearl to her in the Moon Pearl World.

She guessed that the Moon Pearl was fully activated after absorbing the moonlight that day.

The calming and soothing effects of the Moon Pearl subtly helped Han Lu harmonize her mind.

The state of mind is similar to mood, but it is also different from mood and emotion.

Even the memories of Xiaoyaozi in Han Lu's mind could hardly explain where this thing, which could not be perceived by the soul, existed within the cultivator's body, and how it affected the cultivator's cultivation.

Han Lu, being merely a cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, naturally had no intention of delving into the matter further.

Standing at the window for a long time, watching the sunrise, Han Lu finally exhaled the little bit of stale air in her chest and went to find Wen Erya for breakfast with light steps.

The imperial pastries were exquisite and delicious. Han Lu had been looking forward to this breakfast ever since she had enjoyed the delicious imperial dishes at lunch yesterday.

As expected, Wen Erya, who loves food, did not skimp on her meals, nor did she intend to mistreat her friend Han Lu.

As soon as the two sat down, nearly twenty dishes were served on the table.

She picked up a piece of mung bean cake with three fingers, took a bite with gentle elegance, turned her head to look at Han Lu, and asked, "Junior sister, did you find anything useful from the storyteller's tale?"

"I found some interesting and useful stories," Han Lu said, picking up her white jade chopsticks, taking a red bean spring roll, and crunching on it. "Would you like to hear them, Senior Sister?"

"Of course I would like to," Wen Erya said with a smile. "If my junior sister reads those stories and learns the storyteller's skills, I'll have plenty of fun to enjoy in the future at Zhengyi Sect."

Han Lu quickly swallowed the spring roll in her mouth, cleared her throat with a sip of tea, and then began to tell the story that impressed her the most after reading the storybook last night.

"Then let me first tell you a story from the ancient cultivation era, about how the True Spirit Phoenix Clan split into nine..."

Before Han Lu could finish telling her story, a strange male voice came from outside, "Disciple, who is this girl? Quickly introduce her to your master."

A burst of spiritual energy emanated from outside, completely opening the half-open door.

A middle-aged male cultivator dressed in white with a long beard flew into the house on a spiritual sword.

The male cultivator was extremely skilled at sword control, managing to wield his sword with ease even in such a confined space.

He circled the table on his spirit sword before stomping on it and leaping into an empty seat. Then, he patted his storage bag at his waist, collecting the spirit sword he had just kicked away, thus completing this impressive entrance.

Just from that one "disciple," Han Lu knew the identity of this seemingly "crazy" male cultivator.

Upon seeing the male cultivator arrive, Wen Erya dared not be negligent in the slightest. She quickly stood up, bowed to him, and introduced him, "Master, this is my junior sister from the Zhengyi Sect, Han Lu."

"Junior Sister Han, this is my cultivator master in the palace, Daoist Lan."

Although Wen Erya had already become a disciple of Piaomiaozi in the Zhengyi Sect, Lan Daoren, her mentor, still held the title of mentor.

With only a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation level, Lan Daoren, who liked to put on a show, gave himself a simple Daoist name so that he, a court cultivator, could appear more like a senior expert in front of a junior like Wen Erya.

Upon hearing this, Han Lu also bowed and greeted him, "Greetings, Master Lan."

After Wen Erya's brief introduction, Lan Daoren recalled a name that had appeared in Wen Erya's letters.

"Oh, so you are Han Lu," Lan Daoren stroked his beard, looked at Han Lu, and praised, "Indeed, just as Er Ya said in the letter, not bad, not bad."

Han Lu had no idea what Wen Erya and Lan Daoren had said in their letter, but based on Lan Daoren's words just now, she guessed that it was mostly praise for her.

When Master Lan arrived, the maidservant who was serving him noticed him and quickly served him tea and presented him with a new set of bowls and chopsticks.

"Master, you probably haven't had breakfast yet either, why don't you eat with us?" Wen Erya extended an invitation.

Although Lan Daoren was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, he still needed to eat every few days to replenish his strength. The delicacies in front of him naturally tempted him, who usually cultivated in seclusion.

He accepted Wen Erya's invitation without hesitation, picked up his chopsticks and began to point out the dishes on the table.

The arrival of Lan Daoren brought Han Lu's story about "ancient cultivators and nine phoenixes" to an abrupt end. The storyteller on the table became Wen Erya, who took the initiative to bring up the story of how she met Lan Daoren and became his disciple.

It turns out that Lan Daoren was Wen Erya's mother's senior brother, and he became a court monk because of Wen Erya's mother.

The two became master and apprentice because Wen Erya's mother acted as matchmaker.

Otherwise, with his mediocre cultivation level and being a cultivator practicing in a small sect in the Northern Dynasty, Lan Daoren would have nowhere to find an outstanding disciple like Wen Erya.

These words piqued Han Lu's curiosity about Wen Erya's mother.

"Senior sister, do you know how your mother met your father? If it's appropriate, you can tell me," Han Lu inquired.

Wen Erya didn't care, but she didn't answer directly. Instead, she gave an example: "Just think of it as Sister Zhu marrying a prince, and that prince happens to ascend the throne as emperor in the future."

Han Lu had expected there to be some dramatic and moving love story, but she was surprised to find that it was just like that, and she was slightly disappointed.

Wen Er Ya, who had lived in the royal family since childhood, found it all quite ordinary and didn't feel anything special.

"My mother is quite happy in the palace. Because she is a cultivator, she has more privileges than other concubines. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to leave the palace occasionally to stay with me and see me."

At the dinner table, Lan Daoren, in his capacity as Wen Erya's "enlightenment master," inquired about Wen Erya's recent cultivation progress. It was through this conversation that he revealed his true purpose for coming to the Thirteenth Princess's residence that day.

"Erya, Master has a small favor to ask, would you be willing to help?"

"Master, tell me," Wen Erya didn't immediately agree, "what trouble have you encountered?"

"It's not that difficult to come out, it's just that an old friend came to the capital of the Southern Dynasty the day before yesterday to visit me," Lan Daoren told the story in detail. "Back when we were young, we were both friends and rivals, and our cultivation levels were evenly matched."

"On the day I left the sect, he joked with me, saying that thirty years later, we should have our disciples fight to determine who is better than whom."

"As it turns out, this year marks the thirtieth year, and he came looking for me with four apprentices."

"There's no other way, Wen Erya. Would you be willing to fight for your master and save face?" Lan Daoren asked.

Hearing that it was just a contest of magic, Wen Erya, the champion of the Zhengyi Sect Grand Competition, naturally wouldn't be intimidated.

"Okay, no problem. Junior sister, are you coming? Help your senior sister keep up the fight."

After all, the other party had brought four disciples, and Wen Erya thought she could ask Han Lu to help Lan Daoren and her make a good impression.

Han Lu nodded and did not refuse.

It was just a small favor, but Han Lu wanted to repay Wen Erya for her care and for providing her with convenience in many ways.

Chapter 132 Fighting with Fewer People

Having agreed to this task, the two highly skilled disciples under the name of Piaomiaozi of the Zhengyi Sect also took on a part-time job, temporarily acting as henchmen.

Do it, love it.

After finishing breakfast, Wen Erya and Han Lu didn't even have time to savor their food. They rode on Lan Daoren's spirit sword and flew towards a cultivator's cottage on the outskirts of the Southern Dynasty's capital.

Although one can fly on a sword in the early stages of Foundation Establishment, only cultivators like Lan Daoren, whose cultivation has reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment or above, can carry other Qi Refining cultivators on their swords.

Most cultivators active in the mortal world do not mind living among ordinary people without cultivation, residing in the areas where ordinary people live. However, there are always exceptions and cultivators from other places.

The courtyard inn called "Cultivator's Abode" on the outskirts of the capital was the main place for these cultivators to live, interact, and socialize near the capital of the Southern Dynasty.