Immortality and Cultivation: This old man seeks enlightenment through mere survival.

At dusk, the sun sets in the west.

The orange afterglow of the setting sun dyed the thin mist on the lake the same color, resembling fiery clouds on the horizon.

The lake surface shimmered, and the rain in the pavilion had just stopped.

.........

At this moment, Xu Yan'er walked in from outside.

Now she is more mature, wearing a tight red dress, her pretty face reflected on the lake, revealing a touch of heroism.

His brows no longer held a hint of caution and restraint, but rather a greater sense of composure and confidence.

As the manager of Youjian Dange, appointed by Lu Zaian.

Xu Yan'er has been diligent and conscientious for the past three years and has never made a mistake.

They performed their duties very well.

Lu Zaian was also generous with his spirit stone rewards, and would occasionally give her some pointers on her cultivation when he had time.

Xu Yan'er has now reached the threshold of the sixth level of Qi Refining.

"Reporting to the Pavilion Master, three cultivators came to Youjian Pill Pavilion today, claiming to be old acquaintances of the Pavilion Master..."

Seeing their confident assertions, Yan'er decided against drawing conclusions and came to report to the Pavilion Master.

Xu Yan'er has come here to report something.

Having spent a lot of time with Lu Zaian, she also knew his temperament.

She's approachable, but also doesn't like trouble...

At the beginning, Xu Yan'er was confused about her future.

After all, she was under a restriction placed on her by Lu Zaian.

Later, Xu Yan'er realized that she had been overthinking things.

As long as you don't leak secrets (and can't leak secrets anyway), you can focus on doing your job well.

Lu Zaian treated all the servants very well.

As for that matter, Lu Zaian always acted on mutual consent.

Lu Zai'an wouldn't refuse someone like Xueyi who actively throws herself into his arms.

But Lu Zaian would not force any of the other maids below him...

"Oh?...Who is it? Did they introduce themselves?"

Lu Zaian's nonchalant voice came from the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

Even though I am a Foundation Establishment cultivator, I still encounter some clueless individuals.

These few years.

Every now and then, someone will come to Youjian Dange pretending to be an old friend, trying to get a discount or commit some other evil deed...

Or they might use his name, both inside and outside the city, as a front for swindling and deception...

And for these people.

Lu Zaian also has zero tolerance for such behavior; once he discovers something, he will make an example of someone to deter others.

Huangze City wouldn't say anything about it.

A mere Qi Refining ant dares to undermine the banner of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

They have neither the strength nor the reason to back them up.

If I don't kill you, who will I kill?

“They didn’t introduce themselves, they just said that the word ‘medicine field’ would remind the Pavilion Master of it…” Xu Yan’er replied.

"Oh...are those three men or women? What is their cultivation level?"

Inside the pavilion, Lu Zaian's expression shifted, and he stopped fiddling with a certain part of the snow-white garment.

"Two men and one woman, with indistinct physical features; one of the men was slightly overweight."

As for cultivation level... please forgive me, Yan'er cannot tell.

However, it shouldn't be past the Qi Refining stage.

Xu Yan'er answered truthfully.

After a long while, a soft sigh came from Lu Zaian's pavilion in the middle of the lake.

"Go and call them over..."

Xu Yan'er was stunned, not expecting Lu Zai'an to actually agree.

"Does the Pavilion Master really know them?"

"Um--?"

Xu Yan'er's expression turned serious as she realized she had said the wrong thing.

"It was Yan'er who spoke out of turn... This servant will go and invite them here right away..."

After Xu Yan'er left, Lu Zaian poured himself a glass of wine, staring blankly at the liquid, his expression dazed.

The herb field... the herb field... could it be them?

Xueyi, being adept at reading people, noticed Lu Zaian's unusual behavior and stood up softly, saying:

"Master, this servant will go tidy up the table first..."

"……Um."

Apart from the unfinished pot of "Romance in the Snow," Xueyi quickly cleared away the leftovers on the table and then left.

About a quarter of an hour later.

Xu Yan'er led three cultivators, who were looking around nervously, to the lake shore.

"Master, the person has been brought."

"Okay, please step back."

Without saying a word, Xu Yan'er turned and left, leaving the three people standing there in a daze.

The lake in front of us was shrouded in a thin mist, and only a pavilion in the middle of the lake could be vaguely seen.

"Junior Sister, do you think this big shot is really the person we're looking for?"

The fat man, with his shifty eyes, looked around cautiously and whispered to his junior sister.

"There shouldn't be any mistake. The name, appearance, and details of the alchemy techniques all match..."

The female cultivator, whose appearance was plain and even somewhat ugly, was absolutely certain.

"Shh! Stop using telepathy right now. You might not be able to hide it from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. What if he's not..."

Another thin male cultivator, looking tired, quickly offered a reminder.

However, he hadn't finished speaking yet.

A strong wind suddenly swept across the lake, the layers of formations opened, and the thin mist dissipated!

At the same time, a weathered voice suddenly rang in their ears.

"It's been so many years! Come on over, everyone, Lin Feng, Jiang Qiuyue, and Han Yu..."

Lu Zaian's divine sense surveyed the entire Chunqiu Pavilion and discovered their true identities as soon as the three entered.

"this……!"

The three of them were startled and exchanged glances.

The secrets hidden deep within were directly exposed.

However, a sense of relief welled up in my heart the next moment.

They made the right bet!

The three men resumed their disguises, revealing their true appearances.

Jiang Qiuyue was still beautiful, but she looked haggard.

Lin Feng was no longer the dashing man he once was; instead, his temples were already graying, and his brows showed signs of fatigue.

Han Yu has also lost a lot of weight...

They really were three disciples from the Spirit Medicine Valley!

As the mist dissipated, the three saw an elderly man with silver hair and white eyebrows, looking elegant and composed, pouring wine and drinking alone in the pavilion in the middle of the lake.

That ethereal and unrestrained aura was worlds apart from theirs.

"It really is you, Master Lu... Senior Lu..."

Jiang Qiuyue's eyes lit up, but she realized it was inappropriate before speaking, her gaze dimmed, and she changed her words.

In the world of cultivation, realm is equivalent to seniority.

Lu Zaian, who was once their junior brother, has transformed into a high-ranking Foundation Establishment cultivator...

But they were like stray dogs.

After the destruction of the Spirit Medicine Valley, they drifted aimlessly in the northern airspace for six or seven years...

If it weren't for a chance encounter with a rogue cultivator named "Lu Zaian" in Huangze City who had reached the Foundation Establishment stage...

Moreover, he looks exactly like Lu Zaian, whom they know.

Jiang Qiuyue and the other two will not come either.

Especially after they traced it back to Youjian Dange.

They discovered that most of the pills there bore traces of Xiao Fenlin's methods.

This is a clue that only the people of Lingyao Valley could see.

They immediately became even more certain.

The Foundation Establishment cultivator in Huangze City was indeed Lu Zaian, whom I had known before.

Lin Feng stepped forward, and together with Jiang Qiuyue and Han Yu, bowed to Lu Zaian, saying:

"The three of us juniors have not yet congratulated Senior Lu on achieving Foundation Establishment. With the Great Dao ahead, there is hope for immortality!"

Upon hearing this, a hint of amusement flashed in Lu Zaian's eyes.

Interesting, congratulations to myself on the prospect of immortality...

The next moment, Lu Zaian's expression returned to its coldness, and he said indifferently:

"If you're here to congratulate me, then forget it."

If we meet old friends and reminisce, I can offer you a drink.

"If you're looking for refuge, then you can go back to where you came from..."