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

"However, I have a small request. I will not contact anyone else in Huanximen. I will only contact you. And you need to swear not to leak anything about me, otherwise our cooperation will terminate immediately." Liu Xing said solemnly. He didn't want to be noticed and disturbed by too many people. Firstly, it was for safety, and secondly, it was for safety.

"I promise you, Brother Liu, I swear not to reveal anything about you to anyone," Nie Xiaoqian promised, solemnly swearing an oath. As for the change in how she addressed Liu Xing, Liu Xing didn't mind.

The two then separated and agreed to meet under the Black Star Tower in South City three months later. Nie Xiaoqian took him to the underground exchange meeting.

Liu Xing first returned to his Yulan Bay cave in Xicheng District and placed Jiao Jiao in a pet bag to carry with him. A little extra strength meant a little more safety. Now that he was wealthy, he had to be cautious. Then, Liu Xing transformed himself into a middle-aged, bearded man. He traveled to Nancheng District to familiarize himself with the route and surroundings. The underground exchange was so mysterious, so for safety's sake, it was best to scout the area beforehand. With three months left, he began to frequent the bookstores in Nancheng District again.

Liu Xing had already read most of the basic books. Only about a third of them were different, so he finished them in no time.

Liu Xing wandered the streets. The atmosphere of South City was distinct from the others. The streets were ablaze with lights and revelry, and singing emanated from many shops, sometimes high-pitched, sometimes melodious. Even now, it was dark, yet the streets were still brightly lit. Scantily clad beauties solicited customers, while handsome young men stood outside their shops inviting passersby in for a drink. Liu Xing was intrigued. Immortal cultivators valued a stoic mind, so why was there such revelry here every night? Intrigued, he chose the most luxurious hotel and walked in.

"Welcome, please receive this distinguished guest!" The servant at the door greeted the guest loudly, bending his waist to ninety degrees.

Pushing the door open, I entered a hidden world, where deafening singing greeted me. On a high platform in the center of the hall, a group of beautiful women were posing, swaying their hips and waists in a display of utter seduction. Following the music and the beats, their bodies nimble like snakes, they twisted and twisted around a steel pipe, stimulating the most primal desires of those present. Next to the platform was the dance floor, where a group of young men and women were also bobbing their heads, dancing, and moving their bodies, unleashing their inner selves. Around the hall were booths lined with booths, where some stood up and swayed to the music, others guzzled wine, and even men and women embraced shamelessly.

Suddenly, Liu Xing spotted a familiar figure. Wasn't it none other than Young Master Gao of the He Huan Sect? How could he not be impressed by the man who had paid so much for his Ding Yan Dan, and who was also his financial sponsor? Young Master Gao was now completely intoxicated, as a beautiful woman used her mouth as a cup and her tongue as a tube to pour wine into his mouth. The woman's entire body was pressed against him, her back smooth and exposed, her skirt so short it barely covered her buttocks. While Young Master Gao enjoyed the pleasure of her lips, one hand continuously stroked the woman's back, occasionally patting her hips, causing her to moan softly. These cries often sent Young Master Gao's hormones soaring, while his other hand reached into the clothes of another woman beside him. Looking at Young Master Gao's completely absorbed drunken state, one could tell how much he was enjoying himself.

Liu Xing didn't stop in the lobby, heading straight for the basement. Pushing open the door, the singing from upstairs abruptly ceased, proving the soundproofing was excellent. However, waves of shouting reached him. He approached and saw a crowd gathered around an iron cage, watching two men fight. Both men were unarmed, wearing only shorts. One was muscular and powerful, while the other was thin and monkey-like, yet incredibly agile. The limited space of the cage didn't give him much advantage in agility. The thrilling, life-or-death struggle between the two was breathtaking, sending the onlookers roaring with excitement. The muscular man, covered in blood from scratches, roared furiously. The skinny monkey, careless, had his leg grabbed and, in a moment of panic, struggled to break free. Finally seizing an opportunity, the muscular man slammed the skinny monkey to the ground, dazed and unconscious, unable to fight again. The victorious muscular man scooped up a small pile of spirit stones beside the cage and happily accepted them.

Liu Xing noticed a wooden sign on the cage, which outlined the rules of the contest: both duelists must forbid their mana, forbid personal belongings, and may use their weapons of choice. The winner will receive a generous reward. Liu Xing nodded. Forbidden mana and hand-to-hand combat ensure fairness, which would give physical cultivators a significant advantage. While he was pondering this, two more people entered the cage to fight. During the exciting moments, the audience began to throw spirit stones into the cage as rewards, fueling the ferocity of the fight.

Liu Xing went up to the second floor, which housed a vast casino. A dazzling array of gambling methods, including Pai Gow dice, was a dizzying sight. Liu Xing attempted to use his spiritual sense to examine the dice, but was unexpectedly blocked by a powerful barrier. Any attempt to forcefully break the barrier would be immediately detected, suggesting that such cheating methods had been eradicated. Similarly, attempts to use spiritual sense to read the cards or manipulate the numbers with mana had been prevented by the casino. He wondered if those who cultivated the power of clairvoyance could cheat through sight alone.

Mortals have lost their fortunes to gambling addiction, and even immortals have their own gambling addictions. Just look at the various gambling tables: those with high cultivation levels, including veterans of the Foundation Establishment stage, and those with low cultivation levels, no more than the third or fourth level of Qi Refining, all gathered together to have a blast. Outside, lower-level cultivators would be as cautious as mice around cats when they see higher-level cultivators. At the gambling tables, the distinctions between cultivation levels seemed to disappear. The lower-level cultivators, like men, shouted and shouted with unbridled enthusiasm, completely disregarding anyone. Liu Xing watched in amazement. He had often heard people say that there were no fathers or sons at the gambling table, but today he had witnessed the absence of class at the gambling table.

Liu Xing didn't stay in the building for long, nor did he partake in the drinking and gambling. He simply strolled through the floors, his heart awash with emotion. They say there are differences between immortals and mortals, but in their primal desires, they are no different. Seeing senior masters, usually so high and mighty, indulge in drinking and sensual pleasures, abandoning their dreams of cultivating immortality and achieving longevity, was truly pathetic. The path to immortality is arduous, and immortality elusive. Only by clinging to ideals and adhering to one's heart can there be a glimmer of hope. What he had witnessed today was a lesson in negativity, and Liu Xing reminded himself not to let up even a little, his resolve now even stronger.