Traveling through time to cultivate immortality: a life and death test

Jiujiuyuan Teahouse was located on an island in the center of an inner lake in the northern part of the city. It was more like a larger pond than a lake. On the island stood a single, three-story Western-style building, surrounded by water and connected to the outside by a small bridge. Liu Xing and Nie Xiaoqian crossed the bridge and arrived at Jiujiuyuan Teahouse together.

The shopkeeper, upon seeing the two Foundation Establishment masters arrive, trudged over to greet them and ushered them to a private room on the third floor. Liu Xing tossed him two spirit stones and told him to quickly brew a pot of good tea. The two of them sat facing each other by the window. After a while, the shopkeeper personally brought the tea over and then excused himself, not wanting to interrupt their conversation any further.

Nie Xiaoqian gently picked up the teapot, set out the teacups, and poured a cup of tea for Liu Xing and herself. Her movements were light and graceful. Liu Xing watched her quietly, admiring her graceful movements.

"Why are you looking at me?" Nie Xiaoqian felt a little embarrassed when Liu Xing looked at her. Her cheeks turned slightly red and she scolded him.

"Miss Xiaoqian is also in disguise, right?" Liu Xing waved his hand, removing his disguise and revealing his sunny and handsome true face. He also set up a soundproof barrier to prevent anyone from peeping.

"Please don't blame me, Master Liu. My master has placed restrictions on me since I was a child, hiding my true appearance. That's why I can't show my true face to you. Master Liu, just think that what you see now is my true face, hehe." Nie Xiaoqian was very happy to see Liu Xing reveal his true face, and at the same time she apologized and explained her situation.

"That's fine. Everyone has their own secrets." Liu Xing didn't mind. His powerful sense detected a subtle unnaturalness in Nie Xiaoqian's expression, which led him to make such a guess. This was unnatural, and without a strong sense and careful observation, it would be impossible to detect it.

"I wonder what Miss Xiaoqian wants to talk to me about?" Liu Xing asked curiously.

"I just want to confirm if it's you." Nie Xiaoqian replied with a smile.

"Your nose is really sharp. You can guess right every time." Liu Xing sighed again. Nie Xiaoqian remembered that he had called her a dog nose before, so she rolled her eyes at Liu Xing in annoyance.

"Do you know that there will be an underground exchange meeting in Nancheng District soon?" Nie Xiaoqian asked mysteriously.

"I've heard of it, but I don't have the channels to get in." Liu Xing sighed.

"I have it!" Nie Xiaoqian blurted out.

"Really? Where? When does it start?" Liu Xing asked in surprise, looking at her straight.

"Hehehe, Mr. Liu, don't be anxious, I will tell you slowly." Nie Xiaoqian saw Liu Xing looking impatient and joked with a sweet giggle.

It turns out the underground swap meet is held three months later; this is actually an established rule. Each underground swap meet is held three months after the public auction, which takes place every three years. The location changes constantly, and the organizers adjust the location and entrance accordingly to avoid being tracked. Attendees are generally brought in by established customers. The organizers have a strong base of established customers, and as each underground swap meet approaches, they invite established customers and give them tokens. Each established customer can bring one new customer to the meet, and the token indicates the specific location of the swap meet.

"So that's how it is. No wonder I haven't heard any news after asking around for a long time." Liu Xing suddenly realized that it was a membership-based system.

"That's right. Without the guidance of old members, there is no way out." Nie Xiaoqian responded.

"Miss Xiaoqian, how do you know so much?" Liu Xing asked curiously.

"To be honest, Mr. Liu, the underground exchange meeting was organized by our sect." Nie Xiaoqian revealed an even more shocking secret.

"Ah, what a coincidence? What sect are you from?" Liu Xing was stunned. It was really unexpected.

"We are the Huanxi Sect, a small sect, and we mainly make a living in Haibin City. Actually, I want to meet Mr. Liu and invite you to join the Huanxi Sect. By the way, I also want to invite you to participate in the underground exchange meeting." Nie Xiaoqian took the initiative to explain her purpose.

"No wonder, they've been eyeing me for a long time. What could Huanximen see in me? The only thing I have to show off is this pretty handsome face." Liu Xing joked.

"Young Master Liu is really humorous. He boasts about his melons like Wang Po selling melons, and he has no shame. I saw Young Master Liu's extraordinaryness in the Sutra Library. He knows everything after reading thousands of books, and he has also made in-depth research on such obscure and difficult prohibitions. Today, I saw Young Master Liu spending huge sums of money at the auction, but he did not look like a disciple of a big sect. So I knew that Young Master Liu must be an extraordinary person with a bright future, so I want to try to recruit him." Nie Xiaoqian really has the ability to judge people. She saw something after only two meetings.

"The City Lord's Mansion has the final say in Haibin City. I'm afraid the Huanxi Sect is in a bad situation trying to survive in the cracks," Liu Xing said incisively.

"Young Master Liu has sharp eyes. The Huanxi Sect is indeed not as easy as imagined. But my master is the sect leader, and he has the cultivation level of the early Jindan stage. There are also two guest elders in the early Jindan stage. I have more than ten sisters and fellow apprentices who are all cultivators in the foundation-building stage. So the overall strength is not weak. In addition, we have a relationship with the City Lord's Mansion. One of my sisters is the second wife of City Lord Han, and the City Lord's Mansion will also take care of us. In fact, the underground exchange meeting was held at the suggestion of City Lord Han, and 60% of the proceeds belong to the City Lord's Mansion." Nie Xiaoqian didn't know why she trusted Liu Xing so much and actually told him everything.

"So that's how it is." Liu Xing finally understood the reason.

"So, Mr. Liu, are you interested in joining our Huanxi Sect?" Nie Xiaoqian looked at Liu Xing with anticipation.

"I have no intention of joining any sect. I may disappoint Miss Xiaoqian." Liu Xing rejected Nie Xiaoqian's invitation without much thought. He didn't want to be bound by anything.

"Oh, okay. Our temple is too small and really can't accommodate a great Bodhisattva like Master Liu." Nie Xiaoqian said very disappointedly.

"To be honest, young lady, I'm a weapon refiner. The magic weapons I craft can be sold through your Huanxi Sect. We'll split the profits 70% and 30% of the time. How about we work together?" Liu Xing suddenly thought of an idea. He was going to research weapon refining and puppet making, so his finished magic weapons needed a sales channel. Since he was already getting along well with Xiaoqian, he might as well give it to her.

"Cooperation? Great! Thank you so much for your support, Master Liu. We'll have a happy collaboration!" Nie Xiaoqian was taken aback, but quickly reacted and happily agreed, her previous sense of disappointment vanishing. She even extended her hand to shake Liu Xing's, and Liu Xing naturally took her small hand. The delicate white hand felt soft, boneless, and smooth in his. Liu Xing didn't think anything of it, but Nie Xiaoqian blushed all the way to her neck. This was her first time having skin-to-skin contact with a man. Liu Xing was puzzled as to why she was blushing again.