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

Liu Xing strolled around the imperial city. The palace was too big. Even with his current perception that could cover an area of ​​three kilometers, he still couldn't fully explore it. In order to avoid unnecessary trouble, he sneaked into the palace with Dongfang Qing. The huge building complex and the strict guards demonstrated the majesty of the imperial power. The three thousand beauties in the harem, the exquisite meals, the dazzling array of antique calligraphy and paintings, jewels and jades, demonstrated the extravagance of the imperial power. After the court session, the naughty Qing'er secretly sat on the dragon throne, but grumbled that it was too hard and uncomfortable. Liu Xing's destination was the Sutra Hall, so he accompanied Qing'er in the palace for a few days, then sent her out and asked her to wait for him in the capital. Dongfang Qing toured all over the palace and was satisfied. When the novelty wore off, she obediently went out.

The Imperial Palace's collection of books was larger than the three major sects combined. It was as vast as the library at Tsinghua University in his previous life, an entire building filled with books. "I hope I can find the answers I need here," he thought with eager anticipation. And so, like a bookworm, he immersed himself in a sea of ​​knowledge.

Three months later, Liu Xing emerged from the library, still refreshed. The Ice Water Technique was truly miraculous. Memorizing such a vast amount of knowledge, he felt no strain on his brain at all, seemingly even having enough energy to spare. Furthermore, he could retrieve information quickly, instantly recalling what he had read. He thought of the computer in his previous life, which eliminated the need for memorization and simplified retrieval of much knowledge. There was a saying in his past life: "For external matters, ask Google; for domestic matters, ask Baidu." With his current knowledge, he was a living computer.

In the library, he found numerous myths and folk tales: seven fairies descending to earth, the Dragon King appearing to control the clouds and rain, a day in the mountains lasting a hundred years on earth, demons and monsters wreaking havoc on the mortal world, and a fox fairy falling in love with a scholar. It was so numerous that it was hard to tell whether they were true or false, and Liu Xing was skeptical. However, a travelogue mentioning cultivators piqued his interest.

It's said that cultivators of the 'Cultivation Realm' (Cultivation Realm) seclude themselves in deep mountains and swamps, cultivating in seclusion, intent on seeking the truth of immortality, and forbidden to mortals. Cultivators possess extraordinary abilities, capable of wielding flying swords to soar into the heavens and earth, and even moving mountains and filling the seas with immense power. Cultivators live longer than mortals, their arduous training dedicated to achieving immortality. The author of the travelogue even swore his words were true, claiming that a cousin of his was a Cultivator who had appeared in his family's time of crisis and saved them. Other travelogues also recounted stories of Cultivators, and he compared them with local diaries and historical records, finding them remarkably authentic. This led him to believe that Cultivators existed, but the individuals who had seen them were nowhere to be found, and their accounts were only fragmentary.

Then, Liu Xing sneaked into the emperor's study to look for more traces of the cultivators. Since the cultivators are so powerful, they must have something to do with the imperial power. Finally, he found a book of ancestral precepts in a secret compartment, which clearly stated that "descendants in later generations must obey the orders of the immortals, and can ask the immortals for help in matters beyond human power." It also recorded some records of the immortals taking action. There was once a demon that caused chaos in the harem, and the immortals took action to eliminate the chaos in the government and the country, and the world was clear. Before this dynasty, there were demons and monsters that caused warlords to split the country and constant wars. The people were miserable. After the immortals took action, they slew the demons and helped establish this dynasty and return peace to the world. Liu Xing judged that the immortals referred to here should be cultivators. So, Liu Xing thought silently:

Cultivators really exist, how do we find them?

The spiritual power I cultivate is so special, is it a method of cultivation?

Liu Xing was excited about finding some clues, but he also had more doubts and troubles.

The best solution now was to ask the emperor for the method to contact the immortals. Only by finding a cultivator could he answer his doubts. However, this matter needed to be carefully considered and not rushed. If he acted rashly, he might offend both the emperor and the cultivators, and that would be a disaster. So he left the palace and found an inn with Dongfang Qing to stay while he considered his next move.

In the upper study, the emperor finally finished reviewing a day's worth of memorials. He pressed his brow, feeling truly sleepy. Perhaps it was a dazzle, but he sensed a figure standing before his desk. He looked up, startled to see a young man in white silently watching him. The emperor, also at the peak of the Acquired Realm, could sense no trace of his presence. Knowing he had encountered a peerless master, he hesitated to act rashly.

Suddenly, a dark figure leaped out of the shadows and lunged at Liu Xing. It was none other than the Emperor's Shadow Guard. Liu Xing had long sensed the Shadow Guard's presence, but remained silent. The Shadow Guard possessed Xiantian-level strength, slightly inferior to Bai Jianfeng. Since his breakthrough, all martial arts in the world were worthless. Even the world's top Xiantian masters were mere chickens and dogs in his eyes, their movements like geese and ducks, instantly crushing them. Now, the Shadow Guard extended his claws to attack, but his grasp was merely a phantom. For some reason, Liu Xing's neck was now grasped by his hand, instantly immobilizing him.

The emperor was horrified. Such powerful means must be no ordinary person. Such a hermit would have long since disregarded power and would not be oppressed by imperial authority. What was he seeking?

"I wonder what instructions you have for me, young man?" the emperor asked cautiously.

"Let me make a deal with you." Liu Xing said lightly.

The emperor finally let go of his worry. He was relieved that it wasn't an assassination attempt. His most valuable possession was the throne, but compared to his life, it wasn't something he couldn't give up. So, he waited patiently for Liu Xing's next words. Liu Xing left his shadow guard behind and stared at him. The emperor understood and waved his hand for the guard to withdraw. Before such a master, the outcome would be the same with or without a guard.

"Help me contact the cultivators, and I will help you cleanse your essence and marrow, so that you have the opportunity to break through to your innate state." Liu Xing said without question.

The emperor was startled. He was indeed a cultivator. No wonder he had such strength at such a young age.

"I didn't know that the immortal had come. I was blind and I deserve death." The emperor fell to his knees on the ground, shaking all over, not knowing whether he was afraid or excited.

"Stand up and talk. Tell me how you contacted other cultivators." Liu Xing asked in a pretentious manner.

"A family heirloom jade talisman, activated by royal blood, can summon the immortals." The emperor stood up and took out a jade pendant and handed it to Liu Xing.

Liu Xing took the jade pendant and sensed the rich spiritual energy. He knew it was not an ordinary thing, so he asked the emperor if he agreed to the conditions just now. Of course the emperor agreed. Once he entered the innate state, his vitality would be enhanced, and he could sit on the throne for many more years. How could he not agree? Then, Liu Xing asked the emperor to lie down, and practiced the mysterious skills to help the emperor cleanse his bones and marrow. After Liu Xing's realm breakthrough, he was already familiar with combing the meridians for mortals, and it took only an hour. The emperor felt that his body became lighter and many impurities were discharged. He was dirty and smelly all over. He practiced the internal skills and found that many blocked meridians had been unblocked. The meridians were also widened and strengthened. He was ecstatic. There was hope for the innate state. He bowed down and said, "Thank you for the gift of the immortal! Thank you for the gift of the immortal!"

"I'll take the jade pendant and keep it for safekeeping. I'll come find you when the time is right," Liu Xing said calmly. When the emperor looked up, he found that the person had disappeared.