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

"Is it such an easy victory?"

The lower-level cultivators were just there to watch the excitement. They saw a giant rat pounce on Liu Xing, only to be sent flying by Liu Xing's punch, and the fight was over. Everyone thought the rat was too weak, and they all suspected that it was a deliberate shill arranged by the Thousand Machines Sect to show off the power of their new leader.

Only the high-level cultivators at the stage could truly appreciate the power of the rat demon and Liu Xing's prowess. However, only the demon king and the Nascent Soul ancestors truly grasped the true nature of Liu Xing's abilities. They had overstated Liu Xing's abilities, but ultimately realized they had underestimated him. With his mid-stage Jindan cultivation, he simultaneously faced the spiritual attacks of both a peak-level seventh-level rat demon and a demon king, defeating them with a single blow. This level of strength put many of the Nascent Soul ancestors present to shame. At this point, no one dared to underestimate Liu Xing, and they all considered him a peer.

The demon kings and Nascent Soul ancestors sat at attention, their eyes wide open. The news that the Thousand Machine Sect had produced a demon named Liu Xing would soon spread throughout the world. While smaller factions were buzzing with excitement, the larger sects felt a heightened sense of crisis.

"This person is so powerful, no wonder the ten great Jindan masters were wiped out." The Yuanying elder from the Lianshi Sect who came to watch the ceremony thought silently in his heart that the mystery of the failure of the ten great Jindan masters to assassinate Liu Xing was finally solved. It was not because the other party had Yuanying bodyguards, but because he himself was indeed powerful.

"It is very likely that the demon baby will be killed by this boy." The Yuanying elder of the Demon Cult who came to watch the ceremony sighed.

"This boy is really amazing. If he advances smoothly, it is not impossible for mankind to have another god." The Bull Demon King, who had been calm all this time, was finally moved at this moment. He even exaggeratedly thought that Liu Xing might very well become the next leader of mankind.

There were constant cheers, praises, and even the sound of swallowing of saliva from the audience. Everyone was confused, excited, terrified, and incredulous, with all kinds of emotions coming one after another.

At some point, Elder Su floated onto the stage and stood in front of Liu Xing.

"That was just a sparring match between the younger generation. Don't take it personally! I declare today's ceremony over! Tomorrow at 1:00 AM, I will begin my ten-day Dharma lecture. Interested Taoists, please remember to attend." Elder Su's resounding voice echoed, instantly drowning out the voices of everyone else in the audience. Despite the blessing of the forbidden formation, Elder Su's cultivation was still terrifying.

The audience gradually left, but today's events had left a deep impression on them. The storyteller immediately spun the story of Master Liu of the Thousand Machines Sect defeating a Level 7 rat demon with a single punch into a melodrama, and upon arriving at the teahouses and taverns, the story was quickly recounted. The cultivators who hadn't been there were even more fascinated. They pulled their friends to confirm the story's authenticity, each one regretting not having attended the ceremony. It was a testament to the sharpness of merchants' noses and their ability to accurately grasp business opportunities. Once this story spread, business at the shops skyrocketed, with many customers drawn solely to Master Liu's heroic tale.

After being injured, the Rat King remained terrified, fearing that the Thousand Machine Sect would take revenge on him later. Liu Xing considered him his mortal enemy, and now he was the power holder of the sect. The Thousand Machine Sect was so far from his territory. If he mobilized his troops to hunt him down, he would surely be unable to escape.

The Rat King thought silently, "The Bull Demon King is the only one who can save his life now." Previously, relying on the sheer size of his Qiongshu clan and their dominance, he hadn't taken the Bull Demon King's offer seriously. Now that he was injured, and the Golden-Haired Rat, the most promising demon king, was also seriously injured and dying, losing his chance at advancement, the Qiongshu clan was undoubtedly doomed. And the Qiongshu clan's mortal enemy, the Snake Clan, would surely not miss an opportunity to take advantage of their misfortune. Imagine the difficult situation the clan would face.

"Senior Niu, the Qiongshu Clan is willing to submit to the Qingniu Clan. Please, as we are all descendants of the Land Demons, grant us protection. From now on, I will serve you at your beck and call." The Rat King, desperate, finally lowered his noble head after figuring out the key. He now knelt before the Bull Demon King, begging bitterly.

"Please stand up quickly, Rat King. What difficulties are you facing now? Tell me and I will see if I can give you some help to the best of my ability. Why do you want to surrender?" The Bull Demon King hurriedly helped the Rat King up and asked with pretended concern.

The Rat King cursed him inwardly, calling him an old fox, but he had no choice but to bow his head under the eaves. He explained how he and Liu Xing came to be enemies, saying that this was a deadly feud that could not be resolved.

"So, with Liu Xing's terrifying strength and growth rate, even if he survives this time, he will be doomed in the future. Once you die, the Qiongshu clan will be in danger. As far as I know, you are the only demon king in the Qiongshu clan right now?" The Bull Demon King said after pondering for a moment.

"That's right. I beg Senior Niu to have mercy on our clan. From now on, the Qiongshu clan will follow the lead of the Qingniu clan." The Rat King bowed again.

"Alas, it's my fault for being soft-hearted. From now on, the Qiongshu Clan will live together with the Qingniu Clan. You just stay by my side and don't leave at will. Even if Liu Xing is so bold, he won't dare to challenge the prestige of a level ten demon king!" The Bull Demon King reluctantly accepted the Rat King's request and showed off his muscles domineeringly.

"Thank you for your protection, Senior Niu. My Qiongshu clan will be a vassal of the Qingniu clan for generations to come!" Seeing that the Bull Demon King finally agreed, the Rat King prostrated himself in gratitude.

Next, Elder Su began his lecture, starting with his Qi Refining stage and progressing all the way to the late Nascent Soul stage. The audience, mostly low-level cultivators, were given a profound and accessible explanation, drawing on Elder Su's profound insights. Many of the people, previously skeptical, suddenly found clarity after hearing his explanations. Some were so enraptured by the insights, while others found a breakthrough point. They desperately suppressed the urge to break through, listening for ten days before returning to seclusion. Hearing a great cultivator publicly preach is a once-in-a-millennium opportunity, especially for independent cultivators without a sect.

For ten days, all the cultivators had listened with rapt attention. Even the demon cultivators from the demon race had learned something from Elder Su's sermons, which would benefit their future cultivation. They had come from far and wide, and this one sermon alone made their journey worthwhile.

Liu Xing and Nie Xiaoqian were sitting next to the master, listening with great interest. Many of the problems that had previously been difficult for them were suddenly enlightened, and they understood a lot of things in an instant.

Many Nascent Soul ancestors also listened attentively. Breaking through a minor realm was more difficult for them than for lower-level cultivators to reach a major realm. At the Nascent Soul stage, they were already teachers themselves, and many cultivation problems had to be solved on their own. Having a great cultivator provide personal guidance was invaluable to them.

For ten days, the area around the lecture platform was completely silent. Only Elder Su's gentle voice, like the music of the Ninth Heaven, reached everyone's ears. When the ten days were up, the music abruptly stopped, leaving everyone feeling unsatisfied.