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

"Fellow Daoist Mei, how dare you come to my humble residence alone? Are you taking advantage of the fact that my Miao village is deserted?" the old man roared, seemingly an angry question, but in reality, a warning to his two junior brothers. Liu Xing saw through it but kept silent, quietly waiting for his reinforcements to arrive.

"Brother, what's going on?" A moment later, two middle-aged men in the early stages of foundation building arrived at the room. Seeing the old man confronting Liu Xing as if he were facing a formidable enemy, they immediately ran to his brother's side, each drawing their own magical weapons, ready to jointly resist. Liu Xing stood with his hands behind his back, his demeanor composed, without the slightest aura fluctuation.

He waved his hand, and Duoduo appeared before him. The pressure from the Level 4 monster made the three of them retreat several steps. Terror filled their eyes, knowing they were no match for it. They thought the Miao village was in danger today.

"Duoduo, go guard the door and help the three fellow Taoists patrol the Miao village to prevent other enemies from taking advantage of the opportunity to break in." Seeing that the purpose of deterrence was achieved, Liu Xing sent Duoduo out.

"Hello, three fellow Taoists. I have no ill intentions here, but I want to make a deal with you." Liu Xing bowed again and explained his purpose.

The three elders also hurriedly returned the greeting, inviting Liu Xing to take a seat and offering him spiritual tea. Finally, he lowered his stance. Being inferior to the other party, he could only wait and see. He would try his best to meet the other party's demands as long as they were not excessive.

"Brother Mei has amazing strength. We were blind to recognize his talent. Please forgive us." The old man apologized first.

"My three fellow Daoists, I am truly rude to come here uninvited." Liu Xing waved his hand, showing that he didn't care about the previous hostility. He also lowered his posture and spoke in a gentle manner, which made people feel good about him.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Mei, for not blaming me. I'm Ge Laigang, and these two are my junior brothers, Ge Laiyong and Ge Laiqiang." The old man introduced them to Liu Xing. Liu Xing knew that Ge Lai was a common surname among the Miao people, so he nodded in greeting.

"Our Miao village is poor. I wonder what kind of deal Brother Mei wants to make? I'm afraid there's nothing that would catch your eye." The old man asked. Although he had a vague idea that it might be related to the poisonous insect, it was still better to ask clearly.

"I've noticed your village's golden silkworm Gu is quite remarkable, so I'd like to ask you for the method to cultivate it. I'll definitely offer you a satisfactory exchange." Liu Xing stated his request directly, his words firm and resolute, indicating his determination to obtain it. The three elders exchanged a glance, realizing they had indeed come for the golden silkworm Gu.

"Forgive me, Brother Mei. The art of raising Gu has been passed down in my Miao village for thousands of years and has never been passed on to outsiders. I really cannot agree to your request." The old man said he was in a very difficult situation.

"Don't worry, Fellow Daoist Ge Lai. I'm only asking for the technique of raising Gu for reference. I can swear not to pass on the secret technique inherited from your village to others. Fellow Daoist, you can take a look at my exchange conditions. Whether it's a large formation to protect the village, or a top-grade magic weapon, or even a fourth-level demon pill or an elixir to improve the foundation-building stage, I can satisfy you." The conditions thrown out by Liu Xing were too tempting, so he was not afraid that they would not be tempted.

Sure enough, after hearing Liu Xing's exchange terms, the three elders were really shocked by his wealth and grandeur. Every item was something they urgently needed, so it was impossible for them not to be tempted.

"Forgive me, Fellow Daoist Mei, but please allow us to discuss this matter." The elder requested a discussion before giving a response. Liu Xing waved his hand, indicating that it was up to him. The three of them then deployed a soundproofing enclosure and began to discuss the matter in whispers, even arguing a bit. Liu Xing leisurely sipped his tea, patiently awaiting the outcome of their discussion. After a long while, the three of them seemed to have reluctantly reached a consensus.

"We want to see the elixir first," the old man said nervously. With a wave of his hand, Liu Xing revealed a delicate jade bottle on the table. The bottle was crystal clear, emitting a soft green light, making it clear it was no ordinary object. The old man carefully took the bottle and poured out a pill. The pill was plump and full, brimming with spiritual energy. The very scent of the pill stirred his own magical powers. The old man stared at it intently, unwilling to let go, his greed evident. Liu Xing observed the three of them silently. What cultivator could resist the allure of increased magical power?

"Let's trade for this pill!" After a long moment, the old man finally agreed, not even glancing at Liu Xing's other terms. He then pulled out a jade slip and handed it to Liu Xing, who then carefully stored the Soul-Enriching Pill. Liu Xing wasn't surprised by the old man's choice. He took the slip, pressed it to his forehead, and began to read it carefully.

The words "Ge Lai Gu Cultivation Technique" immediately come to mind, followed by a comprehensive list of precautions and methods for cultivating Gu, an introduction to several powerful Gu insects, methods for performing Gu techniques and methods for rescuing them, and so on. It seems the old man's claim that this is an ancient tradition is correct; without the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation and continuous research and summary, such a comprehensive cultivation system would be impossible.

"Please, Fellow Daoist Mei, swear an oath not to pass on this secret technique. Otherwise, if everyone knows the antidote, our Miao village will be doomed." Seeing Liu Xing put down the jade slip, the old man stood up and said solemnly. Liu Xing naturally understood the old man's concerns, having made a previous oath, so he also solemnly swore not to pass on the secret technique.

"Fellow Daoist Ge Lai, I have some questions about Gu Shu and would like to discuss them with you." Liu Xing took the opportunity to raise his doubts. The old man was overjoyed to have obtained the elixir and was in high spirits. He had already exchanged the entire manual with the old man. Naturally, he was open and honest about some of his questions. Although Liu Xing had eventually come to understand this knowledge through his contemplation of the secret techniques, having someone to answer his questions and resolve his doubts would help him avoid many detours and accelerate his cultivation. So, he didn't hold back, asking every detail, no matter how big or small.

There are many varieties of Gu insects, some of which are used to poison enemies, while others are used to control their movements. Among them, the Golden Silkworm Gu, Liu Xing's favorite, is the one he favors. It involves gathering twelve venomous creatures—serpents, centipedes, spiders, toads, and earthworms—to devour each other. After a year, only one remains, forming the Golden Silkworm Gu. The Golden Silkworm Gu must be stored in the Dantian and continuously nourished with one's own spiritual energy, while also periodically feeding it with one's own essence and blood, gradually forming its own natal Gu.

The entire Gu-rearing process is incredibly complex and time-consuming, requiring meticulous attention to every step. A single misstep can easily lead to a backlash from the insects. The cultivation process also requires supplementary herbs to help the insects establish their shape and growth, as well as incantations to complete the ritual, training, and control of the natal Gu. The Golden Silkworm Gu is one of the most challenging to cultivate. In the entire Miao village, only the Miao woman Liu Xing encountered had managed to successfully cultivate it in the past three hundred years. Besides her exceptional talent, she also had a lot of luck.