Preparing to Descend the Mountain

"Do I look like I'm joking, Sister?" Lu Nan shook his head.

"Can you tell me about the mission you accepted?"

After pondering for a moment, Lu Nan roughly explained the mission's details.

"The Wang Family?" Fu Ye frowned, carefully searching through what she knew.

Lu Nan raised a brow at that. "Sister, you know of the Wang Family?"

Fu Ye did not answer, instead carefully recalling something.

Only after a moment did she suddenly raise her head. "Brother Lu! Is the Wang Family you mentioned that cultivation family a thousand miles away?"

"According to the information, it should be!!!" Lu Nan nodded.

"If it is that Wang Family, then things are a little troublesome!

Ten years ago, Sister saw the Wang Family Ancestor at an auction.

He was already at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage then. Thinking about it now, he is likely already at Foundation Establishment Perfection."

Fu Ye said gravely.

"Ten years?" Lu Nan froze, then looked at Fu Ye in surprise.

Then, with a lapse in judgment, he asked, "Sister, how old are you this year?"

"What? Does Brother Lu think Sister is old?" Fu Ye narrowed her eyes and stared at him with a half-smile.

"Uh..." Lu Nan's body trembled.

He hurriedly shook his head. "No! No! I was curious! Just curious! Sister doesn't need to answer!!"

He then changed the subject. "Then the Wang Family has at least two Foundation Establishment cultivators!!"

As he spoke, his expression grew much more solemn.

Hearing this, Fu Ye also lost her playful expression. "Brother Lu, why not give up this mission?

If you continue, you will definitely come up against the Wang Family."

Lu Nan shook his head. "Giving up is impossible!"

"Why???"

"A Senior Brother in the sect who took especially good care of me went missing because of this mission.

I can't simply stand by. At the very least, if he is alive, I must see the man; if dead, I must see the corpse!"

Seeing Lu Nan's resolute expression, Fu Ye opened her mouth.

In the end, she did not continue trying to persuade him. Instead, she said, "Sister only has one defensive magic treasure capable of withstanding attacks from the Foundation Establishment realm.

It can block a full-force strike from the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, but the price is exceedingly high."

"How much?" Lu Nan's eyes lit up at once.

Fu Ye's red lips parted as she softly spoke a number. "Two thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones!"

"Two thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones? That expensive???" Lu Nan's eyes widened as he cried out.

Fu Ye rolled her eyes. "What else did you expect?? This is already considered cheap."

"Defensive magic treasures are rare to begin with. Sister's is a high-grade magic artifact."

Lu Nan's mouth twitched. He looked at Fu Ye with a dry laugh. "Sister, do you think I could buy it on credit? Deduct it from my future earnings from Spirit Talismans?"

"If it were anyone else, certainly not. But for you, Brother Lu...

Sister can make an exception. And this is far from all you want, isn't it?" Fu Ye nodded.

"If possible, I would also like a Flying Sword at the Top-grade Magic Artifact level, along with some healing and recovery pills!"

This time, Lu Nan did not hold anything back and directly stated everything he needed.

He had expected Fu Ye to tease him, but instead she nodded approvingly. "Brother Lu has thought things through quite thoroughly, but it is still not enough!!"

"Ah? Still not enough??" Lu Nan froze.

Fu Ye did not say anything. Instead, she summoned a maidservant and whispered a few words into her ear.

The maidservant then hurried away, leaving Lu Nan utterly puzzled by the sight.

"Sister, this is?"

"You'll find out soon enough!!" Fu Ye spoke mysteriously, lifting her tea and sipping it leisurely.

Before long, the maidservant who had hurried off returned, carefully carrying a tray.

She walked straight over to Lu Nan. "This is?" Lu Nan turned to look at Fu Ye beside him.

"Ten bottles of Recovery Pills, ten bottles of Qi Condensation Pills, and one bottle of Detoxification Pills,

the Ling Hong Sword, the Body Fortifying Armor, and a Hundred Mile Talisman,

as well as an Array Plate containing the second-grade defensive array, Impregnable Defense.

These should be enough to let Brother Lu return safely!!!"

Listening to Fu Ye's casual description, Lu Nan's heart skipped a beat.

He did not know how much the Array Plate cost, but the other items alone

were likely worth at least four or five thousand Medium-grade Spirit Stones. Touched, he joked, "It will take at least one or two years to repay all this!

Sister, aren't you afraid I'll run away??"

"A monk may run away, but the temple cannot, can it??

If Brother Lu truly runs away, then Sister can only go to the Azure Lotus Sword Sect and demand an explanation!"

Fu Ye shot him a glare.

"Thank you, Sister!!!" Lu Nan suddenly stood, his expression solemn.

"Be careful! If something is wrong, flee far away at once. Your life is the most important thing!!"

Fu Ye stared at him and said in a grave voice.

Then she asked, "When are you leaving???"

"Tomorrow!!"

After speaking, Lu Nan stood up. "It is getting late, so I won't disturb Sister any longer!"

After seeing Fu Ye nod, he turned and left the private room.

After returning to his residence, Lu Nan took out the Ring Fu Ye had given him.

He sorted through everything inside, then bound the Flying Sword and Body Fortifying Armor to himself.

Only then did he sit cross-legged in meditation and adjust his condition.

After a long while, once he had adjusted himself to peak condition, he sat before the Alchemy Furnace again.

He began refining pills, and his stockpile of spirit herbs visibly dwindled.

"Phew..." Standing before the mountain gate, he looked down the mountain.

He took a deep breath and headed toward the foot of the mountain, passing through Mountain Market on the way.

He went straight to Azure Lotus Market at the foot of the mountain. Standing at the entrance to the market once more,

he watched the endlessly busy peddlers and porters, his heart filled with emotion.

He suddenly thought of the innkeeper who had helped him back then, and a trace of gratitude flashed through his eyes.

If not for him, he did not know whether he could have endured until the Azure Lotus Sword Sect's entrance examination.

Following the route in his memories, Lu Nan arrived before an inn.

He looked up at the familiar signboard and stepped inside.

The moment he entered, a youth came forward. "Young Master, are you here to eat or stay the night???"

Looking at the sharp-eyed youth, Lu Nan smiled faintly. "Is Shopkeeper Mo here? I'm looking for him!!"

"Shopkeeper Mo?" The youth looked at Lu Nan in surprise. "Young Master, may I ask who you are??"

"Just tell him a friend surnamed Lu has come to visit!"

"Alright!! Young Master, please wait a moment!!"

After watching the youth enter the back kitchen, Lu Nan looked around and casually found an empty table to sit at.

Soon, Shopkeeper Mo emerged from the back kitchen at a quick trot, wearing a kindly smile, his skin fair and soft.

He swept his gaze around and spotted Lu Nan rising to his feet.

"Congratulations, Immortal Master Lu, on joining the Azure Lotus Sword Sect!!!" As he spoke, he bent at the waist in salute.

But Lu Nan reached out to stop him. "Shopkeeper Mo, what are you doing?? Just call me Little Lu!!!"

"That will not do. Immortal Master Lu sounds much better!" Shopkeeper Mo shook his head.

He then examined Lu Nan carefully. "Immortal Master Lu is already a Formal Disciple???"

"How did you know?" Lu Nan asked in surprise.

"I have spent some time in Azure Lotus Market, after all. I know a little about the Azure Lotus Sword Sect's rules!" Shopkeeper Mo said with a light laugh.

Then he added, "Immortal Master, please sit. I'll have the kitchen prepare something delicious at once!"

As he spoke, he turned around, but Lu Nan stopped him. "There is no need, Shopkeeper Mo. I have important business to attend to down the mountain.

I cannot stay long. I came this time just to see you."

As he spoke, he took out two porcelain bottles from his Ring and handed them over. "These are Body Tempering Pills and Qi and Blood Pills. They can strengthen the body and improve one's health."

He then handed Shopkeeper Mo a Sword Leaf. "This is my token. In the future, bring this Sword Leaf when you come looking for me.

I can help you once, as repayment for Shopkeeper Mo's kindness in taking me in back then."