Mortals have the same lifespan
That night, Xu Shulou had another dream.
In the dream, after her magic power was abolished, she begged someone to take her into the Yuankong Secret Realm, just to find a magical herb to help her rebuild her meridians.
The secret realm was dangerous, especially for someone like her who had already wasted her skills. She relied on her meager remaining spiritual power to drive the magic weapon to protect herself, and found several monks who promised to give her the remaining magic weapon after the matter was accomplished, in exchange for their protection.
In addition, the story also implies that she used her beauty as a bargaining chip.
Xu Shulou has already put everything on the line.
She almost escaped death before she got that magical herb.
Just at this moment, Lu Beichen and his master's sect stood in front of her. It turned out that Bai Roushuang was injured in the secret realm and needed this spiritual herb to save her life.
They said the same old thing: You are not in danger of your life, but she is in a hurry to save her life. After all, we are sisters, how can you be so heartless? At worst, we can help you find another spiritual herb later.
Xu Shulou naturally refused, and when they realized that they couldn't coax him, they simply snatched him away.
She could only watch as Lu Beichen and the others in the sect gave the spiritual herb to her junior sister, and also watch as Bai Roushuang's injuries healed quickly and her cultivation level improved due to the power of the spiritual herb.
After Bai Roushuang woke up, she thanked all the senior brothers and Lu Beichen softly, but she seemed to be the only one who didn't pay attention to her, the former senior sister who was forced to give up the spiritual herbs.
No one paid her any attention. Seeing how loving they were, Xu Shulou almost bit her teeth off. She dug her nails into her palms so hard that blood flowed down her fingers.
So much so that when she was awake, she could still feel Xu Shulou's hatred in her dream.
It was already early morning. Xu Shulou blinked, feeling the slightly warm sunlight shining on himself.
Someone happened to knock on the door: "Sister, are you up?"
Xu Shulou recognized that the voice was exactly Bai Roushuang whom he had just dreamed of. Being torn between dreams and reality was extremely dangerous. If it were someone with an unstable mind, he would probably have lost his mind and projected his hatred onto Bai Roushuang in reality.
Xu Shulou calmed down slightly and said, "Come in."
Bai Roushuang was still wearing a very gentle and beautiful plain dress. After entering the door, she saluted a little stiffly: "Senior Sister."
"Please sit down." Xu Shulou made tea and poured a cup for her and himself. "What do you want to see me about?"
"Sister, I want to ask about the Yuankong Secret Realm," Bai Roushuang squeezed the teacup in her hand, seeming to find it difficult to speak, "I wonder what the secret realm looks like?"
"Inside the secret realm is another world, totally unlike the human world," Xu Shulou looked at her with a smile, "Why? Want to go take a look?"
Bai Roushuang's thoughts were discovered, and her face turned slightly red: "I wonder if I am qualified to go with you?"
Xu Shulou did not answer: "Practice swordplay with me for a while first."
———
The two of them fought at the top of the mountain. Xu Shulou could see that Bai Roushuang was more serious than the last time they practiced.
"You should have known about the several realms of a cultivator when you first entered the sect," Xu Shulou called out, "You are now at the third level of the Qi training stage. As long as you can successfully build your foundation, you will be able to live several decades longer and truly embark on the path of the Tao."
"I know," Bai Roushuang nodded, hesitated for a moment, and couldn't help asking, "Senior Sister, has there ever been someone in the cultivation world who could never enter the foundation-building stage?"
Xu Shulou didn't intend to lie to her, and nodded, "Yes."
Bai Roushuang bit her lip: "So...what happened to those people in the end?"
"Live like any mortal, grow old, and die like any mortal."
Bai Roushuang shuddered unconsciously. Compared to ordinary people, those who had once had a glimpse of the way to immortality but were ultimately rejected would probably find it even more difficult to accept such a fate.
For example, herself, Bai Roushuang clenched her fist. From the first day she entered the world of cultivation, she secretly vowed that she would never be a mortal again.
She was thinking about this for a moment, and then she heard Xu Shulou continue: "It was not until a few hundred years ago that a cultivator discovered that he could use natural materials and treasures to forcibly raise a person's cultivation to the foundation-building stage."
Bai Roushuang's eyes flickered slightly, she had heard of this method, and this was exactly the path she was going to take - Lu Beichen was the eldest disciple of Lingxiao Sect, his master and his parents who had ascended to heaven were all extremely powerful cultivators, he must have the resources to help her build her foundation.
"However, the cultivation level gained by using elixirs is equivalent to changing one's fate," Xu Shulou looked at her and continued, "From now on, your journey of cultivation will definitely be difficult."
If you want to continue to improve your cultivation level after reaching the foundation-building stage with the help of elixirs, you will no longer be able to do without the help of spiritual medicines.
Bai Roushuang was slightly shocked.
There is actually no shortcut to the path of cultivation.
Xu Shulou had said this before.
However, even if this road is difficult, it is better than being a mortal again, isn't it?
"Would you look down on such a person?" Bai Roushuang asked suddenly.
Xu Shulou was slightly startled: "What?"
"I know that there are actually many people in the world of cultivation who look down on cultivators who use elixirs to forcibly build their foundations. But is it wrong to choose to use elixirs to improve one's cultivation?" Bai Roushuang seemed to be obsessed with getting an answer.
Xu Shulou shook his head slowly: "It is human nature to pursue immortality. Who would be willing to accept their fate if there is hope for immortality?"
Yes, Bai Roushuang felt a little emotional. Who would accept their fate? But then she heard Xu Shulou say, "But you are different."
Bai Roushuang's heart tightened: "What did you say?"
Xu Shulou looked at her seriously: "What are you afraid of? Are you afraid of suffering?"
"I……"
"If you feel that cultivation is too hard, I can give you a elixir that can help you build your foundation," Xu Shulou said calmly, "From now on, you will live several decades longer than ordinary people. I will also give you some spirit stones. You can exchange them for silver and live a life of luxury and leisure in the mortal world; or you can continue to stay in the immortal world and keep searching for natural materials and treasures to prolong your life."
Bai Roushuang shook her head subconsciously: "No! I'm not afraid of hardship!"
"Then what are you afraid of?" Xu Shulou asked, "Master will not bring back someone who has no hope of building a foundation. You should trust his judgment."
What on earth was she afraid of? Bai Roushuang was shocked, and her mind became clear for a moment, but she was still a little confused: "I... I don't know... I'm afraid of getting old, ugly, and not looking good anymore..."
The appearance of a cultivator will remain at the moment he enters the foundation-building stage. Bai Roushuang couldn't help but worry that if she was unable to build the foundation for a long time and her beloved was no longer around, Lu Beichen would no longer be willing to give her the elixir even if she wanted it.
Xu Shulou patted her on the shoulder and said, "You are less than 20 years old. You have enough time to work hard to build your foundation. Why do you have to be so hesitant and worried about gains and losses?"
In the dream, Bai Roushuang had been relying on Lu Beichen and other disciples to find rare treasures for her to improve her cultivation. However, she was obviously very talented, and if she practiced diligently on her own, she would surely achieve something.
It is true that Lu Beichen in the story was very generous to her and spent money like water. Even after he had an affair with other women, he still loved Bai Roushuang very much and never stopped giving her elixirs and spiritual herbs.
But Xu Shulou did not want to see her waste her talent as in the story, and end up relying on others to survive and relying on the help of elixirs to complete this journey.
After hearing this, Bai Roushuang remained silent for a long time.
There were two paths before her. Bai Roushuang believed that she was not wrong in choosing to use elixirs to build her foundation. She was just like many ordinary people, easily tempted by the path that seemed easier on the surface.
But... she had to admit that Xu Shulou was right. She was less than twenty years old, so why shouldn't she dare to give it a try?
Bai Roushuang inexplicably felt a sense of heroism in her heart. As she was thinking about it, she heard Xu Shulou change the subject: "Yuankong Secret Realm, if you want to go, I will take you."
Bai Roushuang was stunned. She didn't expect that she would respond so readily: "With my cultivation level, I will probably only hinder you."
"Otherwise, what would you need me for?" Xu Shulou winked at her. "I've trained all those naughty brothers of yours. There are many things rarely seen in the world of cultivation in the Yuankong Secret Realm. Even if you don't go for magic weapons and spiritual plants, it would be good for you to go there and gain some experience."
Bai Roushuang pinched the hilt of the sword in her hand: "Senior Sister, why are you..." You can clearly see that there is a problem between Lu Beichen and me, why are you still so nice to me?
She didn't ask this question after all: "Then I won't go to the mortal world to play. I need to practice seriously during this period of time."
Xu Shulou nodded when he heard this: "Okay, you can always ask me if you encounter any problems in your cultivation."
"Thank you, Senior Sister." Bai Roushuang thought for a moment, "By the way, I will cook today's dinner. I know the tastes of the senior brothers, but I don't know what dishes you like. Today I will cook everything according to your taste."
Xu Shulou was overjoyed: "Okay!"
Bai Roushuang laughed.
Xu Shulou didn't bother to be polite with his junior sister. He started ordering dishes without thinking: "I want four-happiness meatballs, cherry meat, fish fillet in ginger sauce, steamed spareribs with rice flour, stir-fried beef tenderloin with scallions, scallops with osmanthus, and lotus shrimp. You don't need to order all of them, just pick the ones you can cook."
They were all common dishes in the mortal world. Xu Shulou would not embarrass her with those royal delicacies. Bai Roushuang nodded and said, "I can cook them all."
Xu Shulou stood in awe: "You are really amazing."
Bai Roushuang was a little proud: "From now on, if you want to eat something, just say hello."
Xu Shulou was overjoyed and began to imagine a bright future, but then he became worried again. What would he do if such a well-behaved and cooking sister was kidnapped by Lu Beichen?
She frowned slightly, hoping that Lu Beichen would not be as fickle and promiscuous as he was in the stories.
———
At dinner time, all the disciples gathered together. As soon as they saw the dishes on the table, they knew: "These are all dishes that the senior sister likes."
The fifth disciple Jiang Yan wailed, "I knew that once the eldest sister came back, we, the brothers, would lose our position in the hearts of the youngest sister."
Xu Shulou took a proud bite of the steamed spareribs with rice flour and gave Bai Roushuang a thumbs up.
Bai Roushuang didn't have time to respond, she was eating with her head down.
Everyone at the table fell silent as Bai Roushuang added two large bowls of rice.
Xu Shulou praised: "You have a good appetite."
The sixth disciple Ji Ci hesitated: "Junior sister didn't eat so much before."
Bai Roushuang took the time to explain: "Today, my senior sister taught me how to practice sword skills. I was very hungry."
Ji Ci was immediately relieved: "If you hang out with the senior sister, it's only a matter of time before you become a good-for-nothing."
Xu Shulou rolled his eyes at him and said, "Are you also a good-for-nothing?"
"Of course," Ji Ci counted on her fingers, "We have seven gluttons in Mingyue Peak, plus Master, that makes eight."
Xu Shulou was not convinced and was trying to get other fellow disciples to refute him, but he saw everyone using magic to grab the ginger fish fillet. Someone had the sauce splashed all over his face. His miserable state justified the reputation of being a glutton in Ji Ci's eyes.
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