Reincarnation Girl Becomes Immortal

"I heard that... the previous emperor was in decline because he sought immortality and enlightenment, which led to the downfall of the entire Zhao Kingdom."

“I’m different from him,” Xi Heng shook his head.

Zhao Qianyuan was just a loser; he searched for immortality for half his life but failed to obtain any magical techniques.

She possesses the ability to save and load files, a power so great that even true immortals might find it difficult to attain.

With this power, no matter how difficult the path to immortality may be, even if she reincarnates a hundred times, she will surely be able to step onto the path of immortality as a mortal.

"In short, I will be leaving Jiangning to seek immortality after some time. Would you be willing to come with me, Senior Sister?" Xi Heng asked.

“Of course,” Hong Miao replied earnestly.

Xi Heng smiled faintly: "Senior sister, just treat it as a trip, there's no need to be too serious."

"Traveling...would you like a maid to accompany you?"

Hong Miao had heard that wealthy families would bring a large number of maids, servants, and guards with them when they went on trips.

"It only takes me and my senior sister."

……

In the following days, besides playing around with his senior sister, Xi Heng also took the time to organize the locations and overall plans for the places he would visit in his quest for immortality.

I went shopping with my senior sister several times, and bought a fairly detailed map from various general stores in Jiangning City. I also read through the legends and stories of immortals...

She marked each of the several secret places that were said to have been visited by immortals on a map, planned her route, and specified the items she needed to bring...

A month later, Xi Heng roughly finalized the plan and then left the cozy Jiangning City courtyard with his senior sister.

The two changed into light martial arts attire indoors, filled their bundles with what they needed, hung long swords at their waists, and put on veils to cover their faces with white gauze.

The bundle was placed on the back of the brown horse, and Xi Heng led it out by the reins.

"Senior sister, let's go."

She took out a small map she had drawn and touched the immortal mountain closest to Jiangning City with her finger—

"Our first stop is Gunüshan Mountain."

Humans and mountains together form the "immortal realm".

Legend has it that mortals who cultivate themselves to attain immortality and move into the mountains are called immortals, and the mountains are called immortal mountains.

There are many places in the world that are called sacred mountains, but it is unknown whether there are immortals among them.

……

Chapter 83, No Trace to Be Found

Gunüshan is a series of three mountains connected together. The three mountains stand in the west and are respectively called North and South Gunüshan and Ben Gunüshan.

The lower part of the mountain range is lush and verdant, but in the middle and upper sections, there is little greenery to be seen.

Above, there is much water and rocks, with the water flowing in all directions and branching out, forming a network.

Amidst the gurgling sound of water, two young girls with swords at their waists were climbing the newly laid stone steps.

“Junior sister, no matter how you look at it, this place doesn’t seem like it has any trace of immortals,” Senior Sister Hongmiao said.

Ancient Mountain is not far from Jiangning City. They arrived at the foot of the mountain in just ten days and climbed the mountain along the stone steps built by their predecessors.

On the way up the mountain, you can see many literati and scholars who come here with their entourage to enjoy themselves.

Along the steps, every short distance, you can see a few noodle shops, and even inns and restaurants.

There are many small pavilions in the mountains for people to rest, and many poems and lyrics hang in the pavilions, swaying in the breeze.

There is also an empty plaque next to it, which can be used to compose a poem and express one's literary talent.

Upon entering the mountain, one sees towering peaks upon peaks. A huge rock is carved with the characters for "ancient woman," and next to it stands a notice board prominently displaying the scenic area's introduction:

"On Mount Miaogu, dwells a divine being, whose skin is like ice and snow, whose grace is like that of a maiden; she does not eat grains, but drinks only the wind and dew; she rides the clouds and commands flying dragons, roaming beyond the four seas."

This place is clearly a very lively tourist destination. Even in these chaotic times, there are still groups of literati and scholars who come here to enjoy poetry and music.

As a result, the inns and restaurants in this area did not close down during this period and remained open for business.

As you pass by, you can hear people calling out to customers.

Along the way, you can even see maps hanging on notice boards to indicate directions.

To the south is Beixian Cave, to the east is Xianwu Temple, and further away are Yuanjue Wisdom Hall, Shenxian Temple, Qingfeng Temple, and so on...

This doesn't resemble a secluded paradise where immortals would live in seclusion at all; it's more like a well-developed tourist destination.

Logically speaking, cultivators who practice immortality and refine their qi should not live in places so close to the secular world.

Hongmiao is clearly a person of common sense.

"Hmm..." Actually, Xi Heng felt the same way.

Before she came here, she had only read some legends about immortals. She saw the name Ancient Maiden Mountain in the Imperial Study of the palace, so she marked it on the map.

However, the book doesn't mention that Gunüshan has now become a tourist destination.

Xi Heng had just been in a pavilion where people could rest, and had already silently read many poems written by literati about seeking immortality. They all lamented that immortality was unattainable and that seeking immortality was difficult.

Infected by this, she had also lost all hope.

"In that case, Senior Sister, you can come here for sightseeing with me."

Xi Heng never expected that he would find information about immortality techniques on his first trip out.

Even if she traveled all over the country with her senior sister and still couldn't see her, she wouldn't be disappointed.

Once he becomes emperor, he can find someone else.

"Hmm...it seems like the Yuanjue Wisdom Hall is just ahead." The senior sister memorized the map.

Xi Heng looked up and saw a magnificent palace covered with glazed tiles, which looked somewhat golden and resplendent in the sunlight.

Climbing the steps and passing through a brick hole, you can see a pavilion with lanterns hanging in it, and three flower branches swaying and drooping in all directions.

Clusters of bright pink flowers swayed in the mountain breeze, accompanied by lanterns strung together like candied hawthorns, creating a vibrant scene.

The blue bricks were painted with red and yellow paint, the beams and pillars supported the pavilion, the main hall was open, and the faint sound of chanting could be heard from inside.

Thump, thump

The wooden fish produced a pleasant, muffled sound that echoed throughout the main hall and reached Xi Heng's ears from afar.

"Let's go in and see if there are any traces of immortals here."

This is, after all, a tourist destination, and the main hall was wide open. There was a plaque next to it that seemed to have some kind of inscription about the hall, presumably to welcome visitors.

Xi Heng stepped onto the steps and arrived in front of the hall, where he saw a thin monk dressed in blue sweeping the ground with a broom.

Inside the main hall, an old monk wearing a kasaya was sitting on a futon, striking a wooden fish and chanting scriptures.

He had white eyebrows and a white beard, and his robe had several torn patches. Although his clothes were poor, he looked energetic and full of spirit.

As Xi Heng entered, the other party had just finished reciting the scriptures and turned around after putting down the wooden fish.

Upon seeing the two figures, he immediately put his hands together in prayer and uttered the words "Amitabha."

"Have you two ladies come to offer incense and pay homage to Buddha?"

Xi Heng shook his head: "We came here to seek immortality and the Dao. You live on the mountain. Have you ever heard of any immortals living there?"

"Seeking immortality..." The old monk was not surprised at all:

"May I ask you, benefactor, why do you seek immortality?"

"I have found the way to achieve immortality." The girl made no secret of it.

People in this world seek immortality almost entirely for the sake of achieving eternal life.

"If you wish to live forever, you don't need to seek out those ethereal immortals," the monk said gently. "Just recite Buddhist scriptures and chant mantras, and pay homage to the saints and sages, and you will attain Nirvana."

Can chanting scriptures grant immortality?

“That’s right.” The monk nodded.

"Then find me a three-hundred-year-old monk to prove it, and I'll give you ten thousand taels of silver." Xi Heng yawned, completely unconcerned.

"Nirvana is the elimination of afflictions, liberation from birth and death, and the attainment of Nirvana. One is forever free from all worldly suffering, neither born nor dying, neither defiled nor pure, neither increasing nor decreasing... Possessing all blessings and wisdom, one is forever free from all afflictions and birth and death, and attains the perfect, bright, and tranquil true mind," the old monk said.

"Since there are no monks in the world who live to be two or three hundred years old, what kind of immortality is that?"

Xi Heng said bluntly, "If you can point out a place where there are any traces of immortals in this mountain, I will donate a hundred taels of silver to your Buddhist temple."

"The Daoist path seeks to become an immortal, the Buddhist path seeks to become a Buddha. There is no difference between Buddha and immortal. You, female benefactor, are filled with murderous intent and your karma is clouded. But the Buddha's teachings are vast and allow for repentance; all evil deeds can be eradicated with a single thought. Lay down the butcher's knife and instantly become a Buddha. Have you ever heard of this?" The other party continued preaching.

“There is no need for you to donate money. I only ask you to offer incense and worship Buddha to purify yourself and recite some scriptures to eliminate bad karma. That would be a good deed.”

Xi Heng felt he had only heard a lot of nonsense, so he didn't say anything more to the old monk and left the hall with his senior sister.

Inside the hall, the old monk quietly watched her back, his gaze lingering on her.

Once the figure had disappeared into the distance, he immediately dropped the benevolent and kind expression on his face, beckoned to a young monk beside him, and whispered:

"Although this person has disguised his appearance, his figure and posture are those of a martial artist at the Transformation Realm. His killing intent is surging and fierce. He must be the legendary Princess Zhao who killed Fang Tiande."

"Go to Qingfeng Temple and inform those people from Huangmei Mountain."

……

On the way to the next area, Xi Heng looked down at his body and asked:

"Senior sister, am I exuding a strong killing intent right now?"

Xi Heng felt that he would only unleash his killing intent when he drew his sword to fight, and he would usually keep it to himself.

But just now, the old monk immediately sensed the murderous aura emanating from her.

"A little?" Hong Miao carefully sensed it from the side and could indeed feel a slight chill.

"Well……"

So, Xi Heng tried to restrain himself a bit more.

Have I killed too many people?

She couldn't help but think.

Should we kill fewer people in the future?

The idea had barely formed when Xi Heng dismissed it.

"Never mind, just do whatever you want." She didn't pay much attention and continued to accompany her senior sister as they strolled around the mountain scenic area.

After visiting the Fairy Temple and Fairy Mist Temple, walk for another ten minutes or so, and you will see a cave dwelling called Goddess Palace standing on the mountain wall.

Although it is called a palace, it looks like a cave. At most, the entrance is made of blue bricks and square, and there is a gate outside with two unlit lanterns hanging on it to make it look brighter.

Next to the Goddess Palace is a wooden board that tells the legend of the place where the goddess found her husband and got married.

Upon entering, one is greeted by a bridal chamber scene, with red candles and red gauze as accompaniments, and the bed adorned with floral patterns and paintings of mandarin ducks swimming and birds flying wing to wing.

In the center of the bridal chamber, a double happiness symbol surrounded by a mandarin duck pattern was pasted on the smooth, golden wall.

The surrounding mountain walls are inscribed with texts praising lovers who eventually become a couple.

Xi Heng didn't care much, but after Senior Sister Hong Miao entered, she seemed to be affected by the atmosphere, and her five fingers gripped the handle even tighter.

She glanced at her senior sister and saw that her cheeks were already flushed.

"Senior sister gets shy even like this?" Xi Heng teased.

“Walking in this setting, it feels like…we’re about to get married,” Hongmiao whispered.

“They’re not even wearing wedding attire, how can they look like one?” But Xi Heng didn’t think so.

"A wedding dress?" Hongmiao blinked. "Can I wear it?"

"There's no harm in wearing it once..."

She had barely uttered the words when her senior sister immediately nodded and said:

"I will prepare afterwards."

"..."

For some reason, Xi Heng felt as if he had unknowingly agreed to something incredible.

Time passed gradually.