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

Liu Xing didn't rush to contact the cultivators. He needed to think things over and deal with some personal matters. So he returned to Peach Blossom Valley with Dongfang Qing.

Since he had discovered traces of a cultivator, the Ice and Water Sutra was most likely a cultivator's technique, not a mortal's internal cultivation method. No wonder it possessed so many incredible abilities. Furthermore, the Ice and Water Sutra's six levels were likely only a partial technique; there were more to follow. And how to utilize spiritual energy? There must be corresponding techniques. All of this was a mystery to Liu Xing, beyond his comprehension. He would have to wait until he met another cultivator to find the answers.

The most troublesome thing is, if I embark on the path of a cultivator, what will happen to Qing'er?

Liu Xing decided to retreat immediately, first to improve his skills to the peak of the sixth level, to fully prepare for what was to come. So he asked Qing'er not to disturb him, took some dry food and water, and went into the wooden house and closed the door.

A year had passed since the door was shut, a length of time that had caught Dongfang Qing completely off guard. She'd wanted to force her way in several times; she desperately wanted to see her brother, Xing. But as a martial arts expert, she knew that a retreat couldn't be easily interrupted. Otherwise, at best, all the progress would be lost, at worst, he'd go into a trance and die. If her interruption had caused Xing Ge any harm, she wouldn't have forgiven herself. So, she stared at the door almost every day, her heart pounding with anxiety. This year had been the most difficult for her.

The door finally opened, and Liu Xing emerged triumphant, having finally reached the pinnacle of the sixth level, encountering a barrier to breakthrough. Without the follow-up techniques, he dared not attempt a breakthrough. Without the corresponding techniques to practice, his realm would fall back. Qing'er was overwhelmed with emotion, throwing herself into Liu Xing's arms, bursting into tears, expressing her longing for him. Liu Xing held her tightly, offering constant comfort. His Qing'er had lost weight, and it was truly hard on her.

"Qing'er, you're already 18 years old and an adult, why are you still crying like a child? Aren't you ashamed?" Liu Xing kissed her tears and said distressedly. After a long time of comforting, Qing'er finally calmed down.

The couple then began to show off their affection, watching the sunrise and sunset together, playing with koi fish, and practicing sword dances together. They laughed in the peach blossom forest and expressed their feelings in front of the campfire.

Liu Xing was very depressed and couldn't figure out how to start the conversation for a long time.

"Brother Xing, you have something on your mind, can you tell me about it?"

Qing'er was a clever woman; she could sense her lover's hesitation. She even had a premonition that he would leave her. From the moment they met in Tongtian River until now, only five or six years had passed, and her brother Xing had already reached the pinnacle of the world. What a monstrous talent, unprecedented and unrivaled. How could his future be trapped in this tiny mortal world? Her travels in the martial arts world over the past few years had given her a lot to think about life. She was no longer the impulsive little girl, less naive and more rational. Meeting such an outstanding brother Xing, who had accompanied her, loved her, and cared for her for so many years, was a blessing she had earned over several lifetimes. How could she force it?

However, she loved her Xing Gege so much that she could only numb herself, spending every day with him counted. She greedily savored every moment of happiness together, not daring to think about the future. During the year that Liu Xing was in seclusion, she woke up from dreams so many times, each time dreaming of her Xing Gege soaring away on a cloud, and no matter how she chased him, she couldn't catch him, and she couldn't catch him. Every time, she cried loudly in her dreams, she couldn't bear to leave her Xing Gege.

Liu Xing didn't know how to begin, so he told her how he'd learned the Ice Water Art, how he'd learned about cultivators, and briefly explained their pursuit of immortality, their destined fate of solitary quest. He also loved his daughter, but this love was destined to be fruitless, because immortals and mortals would never see each other again.

Dongfang Qing asked Liu Xing for the Bingshui Jue technique to try, but after a month, he still hadn't found the Qi sensation and knew he didn't have the talent for it, that cultivation wasn't his forte. Liu Xing had told him the story of the old man Hentian, who had practiced diligently for thirty years without even beginning. He figured the technique must have specific physical requirements.

"Qing'er, I don't want to practice Taoism anymore. Let's stay together for the rest of our lives." Liu Xing hugged Qing'er and said emotionally.

"Brother Xing, Qing'er can't bear to leave you." Dongfang Qing said crying.

Cultivators are chosen from among the best, and heaven had chosen her lover. How could she possibly ruin his future and deprive him of his chance at immortality? Loving him meant thinking about him. She would deeply love Brother Xing for the rest of her life, but she couldn't be his bond. She couldn't be so selfish as to tie him to her side. Qing'er decided to leave, allowing Brother Xing to pursue his dreams.

She hugged her lover tightly, tears streaming down her face, and refused to let go for a long time. She loved her brother Xing too much and didn't want to leave. Her heart was in great pain, and she finally gathered her courage, let go, and flew away with her supreme lightness skill.

Liu Xing was stunned and didn't catch her, so he hurriedly chased after her. However, he didn't have the Qinggong skill, and he couldn't outrun Qing'er at long distances. He ran desperately, but Qing'er slowly slipped away from his perception. He panicked, as if he had lost a treasure, and was completely lost. He ran desperately in the direction where Qing'er disappeared, running until he was exhausted, but he still couldn't catch up. He collapsed to the ground, crying desperately. Qing'er had left for him, and her heart must be more painful than his.

"Qing'er, why are you so stupid? I don't want to practice cultivation anymore. Let's be together forever, okay? Don't run away." Liu Xing roared and collapsed to the ground powerlessly.

Dongfang Qing knew that Liu Xing had amazing perception, so she didn't dare to stop all the way, running as fast as she could, not knowing the direction. She wanted to get away from here, she wanted to run to the ends of the earth, not let Liu Xing find her. If Brother Xing couldn't find her, he would naturally go to explore the path of cultivation. She loved Liu Xing to death, and when she was tired of running, she sat down and cried, and when she woke up from crying, she continued to run. Her heart was so painful, and she wanted to give up many times and go back to find Brother Xing, but she couldn't go back, she couldn't, she thought of Brother Xing's daily efforts for her, and she couldn't ruin his future. She could only hide Brother Xing in her heart, she had to be strong, she had to bear the sin of this love.

For the past year, Liu Xing has been desperately searching, traversing the entire territory of Shangwu State and returning to Misty Rain Pavilion and Peach Blossom Valley numerous times, yet he's found no trace of his beloved Qing'er. The world is so big, where on earth are you, Qing'er? Only after Qing'er left him did he realize how much she meant to him. He was filled with pain and remorse.