The Long Journey to Immortality

I wonder if it's because they knew Han Lu and Wen Erya were coming.

The snow that had been falling for a whole week in the Yanzhao region finally stopped the moment the three of them left Tangmen.

Because Wen Erya was unwilling to squeeze into Han Lu's flying carriage with Song Zhengqi, the group chose to travel to the Yan Yang Sect ruins on foot.

Strolling through the snow, a pair of beautiful women used their lightness skills to leap and move lightly across the snow. If it weren't for Song Zhengqi, this rough man, being there, it would definitely be considered a beautiful scene.

Along the way, Han Lu would occasionally ask Song Zhengqi a few questions about the Yan Yang Sect. Song Zhengqi answered some of them and some he didn't know, but he tried his best to answer them one by one.

Compared to unofficial histories and rough accounts from who-knows-how-many years ago, Han Lu obtained far more useful information about the Yan Yang Sect from Song Zhengqi, a local.

When Han Lu heard that the Yan Yang Sect had been thoroughly destroyed in the decades following its demise, her expectations for this long journey diminished by a third.

Wen Erya, on the other hand, who had said she was just accompanying Han Lu, actually followed behind her with a bit of a tourist mentality.

She asked Song Zhengqi, "Song Zhengqi, why is the Yan Yang Sect named after Yan Yang, which was established in this icy and snowy place?"

Song Zhengqi had explored this question, and when he answered it, he wanted to split each sentence into three.

"Legend has it that more than 5,000 years ago, a spiritual vein suddenly appeared in Yanzhao, which barely became a treasure land for cultivation."

“However, that spiritual vein is extremely cold, and the temperature in the Yanzhao region has dropped considerably compared to before the spiritual vein was developed…” Looking at the surrounding environment, Song Zhengqi added, “It’s even colder than it is now.”

"The environment is harsh, and the density of spiritual energy in the spiritual veins is only average. This place is not suitable for establishing a sect."

"In the end, it was a Golden Core cultivator who practiced the 'Blazing Sun Technique' who chose to establish a sect here. Because the cultivators in the sect only had the Blazing Sun Technique to learn, the sect was named the Blazing Sun Sect even though it was located in this icy and snowy place."

The question was answered, but Wen Erya's curiosity led to a second question: "What about Tangmen? The Yanyang Sect should have been about the same size as Tangmen five thousand years ago, or even slightly larger. Why is Tangmen named as such? Does the sect only have one cultivation method for its disciples to practice?"

This question involves some sect secrets, but Song Zhengqi still provided an answer for Wen Erya: "It is said that it comes from the name of the sect's founder. Back then, the founder found some offshoots of the Yan Yang Sect's spiritual veins under the current mountain gate of Tangmen, set up an array, created a small piece of auspicious land, and then founded Tangmen."

"As for the cultivation techniques, I'm not sure how many there are, but there are at least ten."

"The cultivation world is currently stable. Tangmen has friendly relations with many cultivation sects of similar size, and exchanging cultivation techniques is not uncommon in the current cultivation world."

The two disciples of the Golden Core cultivators from major sects were indeed unaware of the hardships faced by cultivators from minor sects.

The channels for advancement are monopolized by major factions, making it easy for smaller sects to survive but difficult to develop.

Song Zhengqi, who was not yet in the management of Tangmen, couldn't say such hurtful things, didn't know how to say them, and had no need to say them.

After casually saying a few words, Song Zhengqi pointed to a spot not far away and said, "Look, the ruins of the Yan Yang Sect are under that snowfield."

Han Lu looked in the direction Song Zhengqi was pointing and said, "There's nothing there, just snow."

Song Zhengqi replied, "That's right, I said it was under the snow."

Han Lu's expression changed slightly, and she muttered to herself, "It seems that coming here in winter is not a good idea."

Chapter 142 Traces of the Times, Forbidden Zone

Snow is just snow, after all, and it cannot stop the three cultivators from exploring.

Song Zhengqi was not exaggerating. Even though nearly half of the Yan Yang Sect's ruins were buried under snow, he still fulfilled his responsibility as a tour guide very well, as he was quite familiar with the area.

Standing beside several broken stone pillars covered in snow, Song Zhengqi explained.

"This is the mountain gate of the Yan Yang Sect. The huge stone with the words 'Yan Yang Sect' engraved on it disappeared hundreds of years before I was born."

"It is said that the last sect leader of the Yan Yang Sect was killed here, which led to the extinction of the Yan Yang Sect's more than 700-year-old lineage and the eventual destruction of the sect."

In that chaotic and disordered world of cultivation, the rise and fall of small sects depended primarily on the cultivator with the highest cultivation level within the sect.

That cultivator possessed formidable combat power, which naturally enabled the sect to flourish and become powerful.

That cultivator stopped progressing in his cultivation but was good at training disciples. Given time, even a small sect could naturally become a mountain king.

The cultivator died during the battle due to insufficient strength, which would severely damage the sect. For a sect as small as the Yan Yang Sect, its demise would be inevitable.

After walking a few steps deeper into the ruins, Song Zhengqi stopped in front of a row of dilapidated houses without roofs.

"This is the best hiding spot in the Yan Yang Sect for playing hide-and-seek. You can hide or go around it."

"It is said that the original residence of the Yan Yang Sect disciples was here."

"I looked like this when I was born."

"When the Northern Dynasty emperor expanded his palace, he took some of the ancient building materials directly from here. Otherwise, this house, which was fortified and protected, would not have turned into this state in the wind and rain."

Speaking of his job as a tour guide, Song Zhengqi did it conscientiously, but Han Lu and Wen Erya were ultimately there to "hunt for treasure" rather than to sightsee.

After walking around for a while, Han Lu took the initiative to ask some questions.

"Where are the alchemy rooms, or the transmission hall and library of the Yan Yang Sect?"

Song Zhengqi casually replied, "They're long gone. Those vital locations were looted when the Yan Yang Sect was destroyed."

"Legend has it that thousands of years ago, only an empty shell remained. More than a thousand years ago, during a cold winter, the bookshelves and wooden cabinets in those three rooms were also dismantled by disaster victims and used as firewood."

Hearing this, Han Lu was basically certain that this trip to the Yan Yang Sect would end in failure.

Thinking about it carefully, that's indeed the case.

The Yan Yang Sect has disappeared from the cultivation world of the Central Plains for five thousand years. It is only because of the "barren land" of Yan Zhao that it is difficult to leave any trace.

In other places, even the remains of this ruin would be nowhere to be found, making it impossible for younger cultivators like Han Lu, Wen Erya, and Song Zhengqi to admire and reminisce about the past.

Perhaps noticing the slight disappointment on the faces of the two beautiful female cultivators, Song Zhengqi, the guide and local, was eager to bring out something more interesting to save face for the Yanzhao region.

After pondering for a moment, Song Zhengqi had an idea and quickly said, "Actually, the Yan Yang Sect isn't entirely made up of ruins; there is a decent place here."

Sure enough, after saying that, Song Zhengqi noticed that the two beauties had turned their gazes to him again.

"About a mile in this direction, there is a cave from which a cold wind blows out, regardless of the season."

"The area around Yanzhao is colder than other areas in the northern part of the Northern Dynasty, and seventy percent of that is due to this strange cave."

“That place was designated as a forbidden area when the Yan Yang Sect still existed, and no one was allowed to approach it.”

"Now that the Yan Yang Sect is gone, no one would go there unnecessarily."

Upon hearing this, Wen Erya asked, "Why?"

“Yes, why?” Han Lu asked as well.

Song Zhengqi feigned mystery, saying, "It is said that when the Yan Yang Sect was destroyed, a Golden Core cultivator entered that forbidden cave, but never came out."

Hearing this legend, Han Lu became curious about the cave. "Even Golden Core cultivators perished inside? Take us to see it."

Song Zhengqi was quite responsible. "You can look around, but don't even think about going in."

"Okay," Han Lu replied casually.

Song Zhengqi led the two deeper into the cedar forest.

Feeling the increasingly cold air around them, Han Lu and Wen Erya knew that the forbidden cave that Song Zhengqi had mentioned was not far away.

A short while later, a cave that allowed the three of them to enter side by side appeared before them.

Standing ten meters away from the cave entrance, the three of them could feel the spiritual energy and cold air emanating from the cave.

Looking at the hole where not a single ray of light shone through, Han Lu's expression was slightly strange.

“At first, I didn’t know why this place was designated as a sacred ground,” Song Zhengqi said, standing in the cave and rubbing his hands. “After all, although it’s a bit cold here, the spiritual energy is much more abundant than in other parts of Yanzhao, so it can be considered a treasure land for cultivation.”

"But when I tried to meditate here, I realized that I had been thinking too simply."

……

Immediately afterwards, Han Lu and Wen Erya felt as if they had returned to Hanchan Peak as they listened to Song Zhengqi's description.

"Has anyone entered this cave recently?" Wen Erya asked.

Han Lu, who was about to ask the same question, had no choice but to shut her mouth and remain silent.

"I've heard of it, but I've never seen it," Song Zhengqi said honestly.

After exchanging a few more casual words at the cave entrance, Song Zhengqi, a cultivator at the ninth level of Qi Refining, felt too cold and suggested, "Gentlemen, why don't we move a little further away and continue our conversation?"

Although Han Lu and Wen Erya were far more resistant to cold than ordinary cultivators, they still took Song Zhengqi's feelings into consideration.

Stepping back slightly, Song Zhengqi suddenly asked, "Senior Han, Senior Wen, are you here looking for something?"

This matter wasn't exactly a secret. Wen Erya glanced at Han Lu, and after exchanging a look, Wen Erya spoke up, "You're here to find something. Have you ever heard of a pill called the Cold-Repelling Pill, which was once refined by the Yan Yang Sect?"

"The Cold-Repelling Pill? You should have said so earlier," Song Zhengqi said. "I've heard of it. Although I don't have one, I know where to find it."

"Have you heard of it? Do you know where to find it?" Han Lu asked in surprise.

Song Zhengqi nodded, "That's right. The Hu family, a merchant family in Yanzhao City that deals in wild ginseng, has the recipe for this Cold-Repelling Pill. Every winter, they send our Tangmen alchemy cultivators to refine it for use in keeping warm during the winter."

"It is said that this pill formula was passed down from the Yan Yang Sect to the Hu family."

This time, Han Lu spoke first before Wen Erya, asking, "Is it sold to the public?"

“Sell them,” Song Zhengqi replied. “Merchants are driven by profit, and the Hu family refines several more batches of pills each year for sale.”

"It will not only allow us to earn more money, but also enable our fellow villagers in the vicinity to have a warm winter."

Upon hearing this, Wen Erya's eyes lit up. For her, problems that could be solved with money were not problems at all.

With a clear goal in mind, Wen Erya said, "Song Zhengqi, take us to the Hu family and see if the pills there are the kind of cold-repelling pills we're looking for."

Since he was already assigned to be a guide, Song Zhengqi naturally wouldn't refuse.

Unexpectedly, after the two had taken only a few steps, Han Lu suddenly spoke up.

"How about this," Han Lu suggested, "you two go to the Hu family and see if you can buy the pills, and I'll wander around here and take a look."

"We will meet at Tangmen this afternoon."

Upon hearing this, Song Zhengqi wanted to say something more, but Wen Erya readily agreed.

She guessed that her junior sister probably wanted to visit this forbidden cave.

This was dangerous, but Wen Er Ya had complete confidence in her junior sister who never caused her any trouble.

Be careful.

"Ah."

So the three of them went their separate ways.

Wen Erya and Song Zhengqi went to the Hu family in Yanzhao to discuss business.

Han Lu then approached the cave that gave her a feeling similar to "moonlight pearl" once again.