Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Improving Spiritual Root Aptitude

"Finally, we've flown out of the outer reaches of these Hundred Thousand Mountains. These past two months have been a constant escape, and I've also fought several battles with others. I'm truly exhausted."

As Wu Fan muttered to himself, he took out a map and began to examine it carefully.

He is currently at the border between the Spirit Mirror Sect and the Myriad Beasts Sect. It won't be long before he returns to Falling Star Valley. He estimates that it will only take him about ten days to fly at full speed.

However, given his current uncertainty about the situation in the Chu Kingdom, and the fact that the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect has rebelled, it would be best to find someone to find out more about the situation.

With this in mind, Wu Fan began to fly towards Falling Star Valley.

Before long, he scanned the road ahead with his divine sense and discovered that several caravans were approaching, carrying some elderly, weak, women and children, all heading towards Falling Star Valley.

Although there were dozens of accompanying cultivators, they were all at the Qi Refining stage, with the lowest being the first level of Qi Refining and the highest being only the ninth level. Judging from their appearance, they were a family of cultivators.

Leading the group was a kind-faced, white-haired old man, riding a unicorn beast, who was constantly urging the caravan behind him to hurry on.

"Faster, faster!"

Upon seeing this, Wu Fan raised an eyebrow and immediately increased his speed.

Soon after, he slowly landed in front of the white-haired old man at the front of the group of carriages, and spoke calmly:

"Fellow Daoist, please wait."

The white-haired old man was caught off guard when he suddenly saw a handsome young cultivator appear before him.

He looked up and carefully examined the other person, and realized that the other person was emanating a powerful aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator, which gave him a sudden shock.

He immediately pulled on the reins, stopping the beast from moving forward, then raised his hand to stop the carriage behind him, his eyes revealing panic and vigilance.

However, Qi Refining cultivators are nothing but ants in front of Foundation Establishment cultivators. The difference in their cultivation levels gives him an instinctive sense of awe.

Suppressing his panic, he immediately dismounted from the unicorn and bowed to Wu Fan, saying:

"Foundation Establishment Senior, I am Qin Fujun, the head of the Qin family in Tiaoma Town. May I ask what orders you have given us by stopping us here?"

As he spoke, his voice trembled slightly, and he looked at Wu Fan with even more panic.

The cultivators around the carriage behind him also turned their gazes to Wu Fan, their expressions revealing a hint of panic.

Inside the carriage, several young children curiously peeked out, staring at him with their round eyes.

After all, it was rare to see the head of the family being so respectful to such a young person.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need to panic. I've only been in seclusion for many years and have just emerged today. I happened to be passing through this place and wanted to inquire about the current situation in the Chu Kingdom. I wonder if anything major has happened recently? Why are you fleeing in such a hurry?"

When this matter was brought up, the patriarch of the Qin family, Qin Fujun, showed a helpless expression on his face, sighed deeply, and then said with some resentment:

"Senior, you may not know this, but a little over a month ago, the Myriad Beasts Sect, for reasons unknown, suddenly launched a surprise attack on the Spirit Mirror Sect. Caught off guard, the Spirit Mirror Sect lost several territories in succession. Although they subsequently recovered and stabilized their defenses, the flames of war had already spread to the territory where my family resided. I had no choice but to hastily evacuate with my entire clan..."

"Oh? Is that so?!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan nodded slightly, a thoughtful expression on his face.

One month ago...

It was after the men in black in the valley attacked them that the Myriad Beasts Sect launched a war against the Spirit Mirror Sect.

Based on this timeline, the allied forces of the six sects of Yan Kingdom will likely arrive in a few days.

After all, the power of the Ten Thousand Beasts Sect alone is ultimately insufficient to destroy the Spirit Mirror Sect.

Thinking about it that way, it's not too bad news.

According to the map of the Chu Kingdom, the Lingjing Sect and the Wanshou Sect are adjacent to the border of the Yan Kingdom, and the Falling Star Valley happens to have the territory of these two sects as a buffer.

As long as the Spirit Mirror Sect doesn't completely collapse, Falling Star Valley will be fine for the time being.

Thinking of this, Wu Fan's expression returned to calm, and he slowly spoke:

"Thank you for informing me, fellow Daoist. I am deeply grateful."

"It was nothing, senior, you flatter me."

Hearing the other party's polite tone, Qin Fujun felt even more apprehensive.

The senior in front of me may seem kind, but he is ultimately a Foundation Establishment Realm expert.

The other party's humility and politeness are their own virtues, but one must never lose one's sense of propriety because of it, and take their politeness for granted.

Seeing the other person's expression, Wu Fan nodded to himself:

"Since I've asked you so many questions, I can't let them go unanswered."

After saying that, he casually took a first-grade high-quality magic weapon from his storage bag and threw it to Qin Fujun. Then, it turned into a streak of crimson light and headed into the distance.

Qin Fujun caught the first-grade high-quality defensive magic weapon that was thrown to him with both hands, and his expression immediately lit up with joy. This senior was really generous.

He immediately put it into his storage bag and respectfully bowed in the direction Wu Fan had gone.

......

a few days later.

Outside the market town of Falling Star Valley.

Wu Fan and Zhao Fu worked tirelessly, taking turns traveling, and managed to return to Falling Star Valley a few days ahead of schedule.

......

a few days later.

Outside the market town of Falling Star Valley.

Wu Fan and Zhao Fu worked tirelessly, taking turns traveling, and managed to return to Falling Star Valley a few days ahead of schedule.

At this moment, Falling Star Valley did not experience much turmoil. It simply dispatched many disciples to join forces with the Spirit Control Sect to attack Zhongtianxu City. However, it was heard that a considerable number of cultivators from the six sects of the Yan Kingdom had already been stationed in the city. After several rounds of attacks, the two sides were unable to capture the city despite their prolonged siege.

As long as there is no turmoil in the area where Falling Star Valley is located, this is a good thing.

Therefore, he didn't need to rush back to the sect. He could take this opportunity to check on his second uncle and the others first.

With this thought in mind, Wu Fan's figure flickered, and he landed silently on the ground. He then concealed the aura of a Foundation Establishment cultivator around him and walked into the Falling Star Valley Market.

Upon entering the market, he did not linger and headed straight for his own alchemy shop.

Before long, they arrived near the shops.

He flashed again, turning into a blur and entering the building without alerting anyone inside, silently ascending to the third floor.

Wu Fan pushed open the door and entered. The first thing he saw was an elderly man with white hair, reclining on a deck chair by the window, basking in the sunlight with his eyes closed.

He called out softly, "Second Uncle."

Upon hearing the sound, the old man on the recliner suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze first widening in surprise, then filled with disbelief, and he slowly turned his head.

"Fan'er, it's you?! You're back?!"

The second uncle looked at Wu Fan and immediately became agitated, struggling to get up.

Wu Fan immediately took two steps forward and helped the other man up. Then, he immediately transferred a wisp of spiritual energy from his hand and quietly probed into his second uncle's body:

"Second Uncle, it's me, I'm back. Please take your time, don't rush me."

Looking at his second uncle's now completely white hair, he could sense that the other man's life force was almost gone, and he estimated that he would only have two or three years left. Fortunately, he had returned in time, otherwise he would not have been able to see him one last time.

After Wu Fan helped the second uncle up, his already withered hands gripped his arm tightly.

"Okay, okay, okay, it's good that you're back..."

My second uncle spoke with some agitation, and after catching his breath a few times, he managed to calm himself down somewhat.

"I thought my old bones wouldn't live to see you come back, Fan'er..."

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan felt a pang of sadness and slowly helped his second uncle sit down.

"Second Uncle, it's my fault for making you worry..."

......

Wu Fan and his second uncle, Wu Yuanshan, chatted for more than an hour until his second uncle gradually fell asleep on the recliner. Only then did Wu Fan slowly leave the room and call over his cousin Wu Xiaowan and his younger cousin Wu Xiaoshan.

My stubborn cousin from back then is now in her seventies, and my cousin Wu Xiaoshan is now over fifty.

After a long separation, perhaps because people are more easily moved as they get older, Wu Xiaowan's eyes remained red and she couldn't calm down for a long time.

After catching up with the two, Wu Fan took out a storage bag and handed it to them.

Inside were a top-grade spiritual artifact and an ordinary spiritual artifact, several high-quality first-tier magic artifacts, and finally several bottles of pills suitable for Qi Refining stage cultivation.

He then gave them detailed instructions, explaining that a major war would soon break out in the cultivation world of Chu, and that the two of them should sell their pill shop at a low price in the next few days, and immediately take their second uncle, Wu Yuanshan, away from Luoxing Valley Market and return to their hometown in Mishui Town, Qingxi County, to take refuge and weather the storm.

If the situation in Chu continues to deteriorate, it is also possible to leave Chu directly.

The wealth they've accumulated in Falling Star Valley Market over the years, if used sparingly, is enough to ensure a worry-free life of cultivation resources for the next few decades.

After settling everything in, Wu Fan left Falling Star Valley Market.

Afterwards, he went to the Bai family, exchanged a few pleasantries with the head of the Bai family, and then went straight to see Niu Dazhuang.

......

"Big brother, come on, have some food. These are all your favorite dishes."

As Niu Dazhuang spoke, he got up and poured wine into Wu Fan's empty glass.

Wu Fan raised his hand to hold his wine glass, his smile gentle, and slowly began to speak:

"Dazhuang, we've been brothers for years, no need for such formalities. Sit down, I'll do it myself."

Niu Dazhuang grinned, his already honest face now lined with wrinkles. After putting away the wine jug and sitting down, he wiped his mouth with his hand.

"Alright, alright, big brother, you can pour the food yourself, and I can serve you some, right?!"

Looking at Niu Dazhuang, who had become worldly and shrewd, Wu Fan shook his head helplessly, picked up his chopsticks, and put a piece of braised pork belly into his mouth.

Seeing that his friend was now surrounded by children and grandchildren, with three wives and concubines, living a comfortable and carefree life, he was genuinely happy for his childhood friend.

At this moment, Niu Dazhuang picked up his wine glass again and raised it to Wu Fan:

"Come on, brother, it's been so long since we've gotten together for a drink. Let's have a good time today!"

Wu Fan picked up his wine glass and clinked it forcefully against Niu Dazhuang's.

After that, Niu Dazhuang started rambling on and on, starting from his childhood and talking about his grandson's story.

He spoke vividly, his eyes brimming with satisfaction.

The wine glasses were filled and emptied again and again. The dishes on the table gradually got cold, and Niu Dazhuang's voice grew softer and softer until he was completely drunk and passed out on the table.

Wu Fan summoned Niu Dazhuang's three wives and had them help him back into the house to rest. Then, he turned to look into the distance and instantly transformed into a streak of light, disappearing from the spot.

A moment later, he appeared on a mountaintop covered with blooming camellias.

Standing before me was a beautiful woman of dignified bearing, around thirty years old. She has a graceful figure and a gentle and quiet temperament. Her hair is neatly styled up, without any fancy pearls or jade. Only a simple hairpin holds her hair back, which makes her features look even more gentle and her demeanor serene.

The beautiful woman slowly turned her head, her gaze falling on Wu Fan, and smiled gently.

Her appearance remains as radiant and captivating as it was back then, but with the passage of time, she has gained a touch of gentle and mature charm.

She just stared at him quietly, without saying a word for a long time.

"Young Miss, it's been a long time!"

Wu Fan, seeing Bai Ruanyu still in a daze, broke the silence between them by speaking first.

Upon hearing this, Bai Ruanyu immediately realized what was happening, her face flushed slightly, and she said in a low voice:

"Walk with me for a while."

Upon hearing this, Wu Fan nodded slightly.

Camellias covering the mountain swayed gently in the breeze, their pink, white, and crimson petals rising and falling slowly in the air, like swirling clouds or fluttering butterfly wings.

The two walked side by side, petals clinging to their shoulders, blending with the falling blossoms, each step revealing a new scene, as if gently caressing the entire green mountain.