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

Two years flew by in the busy process, and Liu Xing's magic power reached the peak of the seventh level, mastering spells like Water Arrow, Ice Cone, Water Shield, and Ice Shield to perfection. He limited his talisman production to submitting only two finished fifth-level talismans per day, but even this was considered rapid progress, and Manager Wang praised him endlessly. In fact, his success rate now reached a staggering 2%, with talismans at least sixth-level, and some even seventh-level, so he always submitted previously refined talismans. His storage bag held nearly three thousand primary talismans, a formidable treasure worth five thousand primary spirit stones. He received a salary and bonus of a few dozen spirit stones working for the Wang family, but in his eyes, these became insignificant.

Every three months, Manager Wang would travel to Fangshi to deliver finished talismans and purchase raw materials. The Wang family owned a shop selling talismans in the nearby city. This time, Liu Xing pestered Manager Wang about going to Fangshi to see the world. Seeing Liu Xing's excellent performance and good behavior, Wang Fu agreed to take him. So the two packed their belongings and set off. Fangshi was a five-day journey from the Wang family's residence, and the journey was exhausting. Wang Fu had traveled this route so often that he was familiar with it. Liu Xing followed behind, memorizing the route by heart. He planned to separate from Wang Fu in Fangshi and return alone, so he couldn't get lost.

Arriving at the entrance to the market, the two landed and walked in. Flying and fighting were prohibited within the market. Senior Li, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, was stationed there, so no one dared to act rashly. The market was established by the Wantong Chamber of Commerce, specifically to serve the nearby low-level Qi Refining cultivators. To enter the market, one had to pay an entrance fee of one spirit stone. Once inside, one could set up stalls and trade freely.

Liu Xing was visiting the city for the first time, and he looked around curiously. Steward Wang, who had an errand to report to, left ahead, and they parted ways, reminding him to be careful. Liu Xing, intending to go his own way, bowed and said goodbye, then began to wander around aimlessly.

There were so many good things! Liu Xing looked at them with such curiosity that he looked completely new. There were all kinds of basic techniques and spell manuals, various herbs and healing potions, various magical instruments, talisman paper and talismans, and all sorts of other sundry items. The dazzling array of things was so overwhelming that Liu Xing was overwhelmed.

"I saw this thing first, how could you come and snatch it away?"

"Don't worry, fellow Daoist. This piece of meteorite is something I must get. I have been searching for it for a long time. I need it to increase the power of a magic weapon. Please give it to me. I am willing to buy it for double the price." The latecomer said excitedly, holding tightly in his hand a piece of black unknown ore.

"Who cares about your money? I need it to refine my own weapons." The former argued furiously. The two of them were vying for it, each with a gusto. It seemed that when scarce resources were sought after, their prices would skyrocket. Liu Xing silently watched the various transactions, silently estimating the price level.

Suddenly, a mask on a stall piqued his curiosity, and he picked it up to examine it. The stall owner, who hadn't been open for a long time, immediately began to enthusiastically introduce it, "This mask is from Bailian Pavilion. It's incredibly effective at concealing your appearance, even Foundation Establishment cultivators can't see through it. It's truly an essential tool for covert operations, and you deserve it, fellow Daoist."

"How much?" Liu Xing asked cautiously.

"Thirty spirit stones." The stall owner stretched out three fingers and said loudly.

Liu Xing listened, put down his mask and left without saying anything. He said he would never kill people like that. The stall owner immediately ran after him with an apologetic smile:

"Brother, please stay. Brother, please stay. I'm not open yet, so I'll give you a discount. What's your price?"

"Ten spirit stones, no more," Liu Xing said firmly. The two of them then bargained, eventually settling on fifteen.

Liu Xing put on the mask, transforming into a middle-aged man in his forties. It was truly lifelike, and anyone below the Foundation Establishment stage would surely be unable to discern it. Liu Xing was very satisfied, and his next move became much easier. He then went to a clothing store and spent a spirit stone on a dozen sets of clothes and several bamboo hats. Finding a deserted place, he changed his clothes and put on the bamboo hats. No one could recognize him as being from the Wang family.

Besides the street vendors, there were also numerous shops along the street, all permanent stalls run by guilds of commerce and aristocratic families. They sold magical instruments, elixirs, talismans, and cultivation techniques, and so on. Liu Xing browsed through them all, asking questions and gaining a wealth of insights. There were elixirs designed to enhance Qi training, such as Qi Gathering Powder and Qi Training Pills. They were said to be made from a variety of precious, century-old medicinal herbs. Liu Xing wanted to buy some to reduce his arduous training time, but at a hundred spirit stones per bottle, he couldn't afford it! Furthermore, the quantity in a bottle was too small to be of much use. Despite the high prices, they were still in high demand, with many cultivators who had reached bottlenecks willing to spend their fortunes to acquire them, hoping to use them to break through. There were mid-grade, high-grade, and even a few top-grade instruments, so impressive that even Foundation Establishment cultivators would envy them. Liu Xing's mouth watered at the sight of them, considering he was broke and had no magical instruments. A mid-grade magical instrument costs 200 spirit stones, a high-grade one 500 spirit stones, and a top-grade one 1,000 spirit stones. It's incredibly expensive. He'd worked for the Wang family for ten years and only earned a little over 100 spirit stones. He couldn't even afford a mid-grade magical instrument. It was pathetic. He went to the talisman shop, which was owned by the Wang family, but no one recognized him, so it didn't matter. The talisman business was booming, with a constant stream of customers. The talismans were good and inexpensive. A dozen of the fifth and lower talismans cost ten spirit stones, a dozen of the sixth, and five more for each additional talisman. From this, Liu Xing silently estimated his own worth.

……

On an island nation, incomparably far from the Shangwu Kingdom, a woman of unparalleled beauty sat on a rocky beach, gazing blankly at the surging sea. This woman had arrived here three years ago, weeping constantly, and when she tired of crying, she would practice swordplay. Initially, some foolish young men tried to tease her, but they were all slain with a single blow of their swords. Eventually, no one dared to disturb her. Gradually, she settled down here, living like a normal fisherman, catching her own fish, sometimes trading them with villagers for vegetables and other daily necessities.

"Brother Xing, are you okay? Qing'er really misses you." The girl hugged her knees tightly, tears in the corners of her eyes, and boundless loneliness surrounded her.

"Brother Xing, have you found a cultivator? Have you started cultivating immortality?" The girl murmured to herself, with endless longing entangled in her.

"Brother Xing, don't be silly. Don't look for lovers everywhere. Love cannot become a shackle for you." The girl was still a little worried that she didn't hide far enough and would be found by her lover, which would delay his future.

"Brother Xing, you are so good to Qing'er, Qing'er is satisfied, Qing'er will always love you, let me be your woman again in the next life." The girl seemed to recall some good memories, with a smile on her lips and tears in her eyes, which was very sad and beautiful, making people feel very distressed.