Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

The woman in the red dress walked toward Xu Ming and Shi Xin, step by step.

In her hand, she held a long sword—entirely crimson, with a straight blade etched with Dao inscriptions.

At first glance, the sword’s material resembled stone, but upon closer inspection, it also had the appearance of refined black iron.

It was slightly wider than a typical flying sword, yet its proportions remained perfectly balanced.

To be honest, the sword gave off an aura of righteousness, yet there was an unusual beauty to it as well.

Judging by its build, it was likely forged for a man. If it had been designed for a woman, it would have been slimmer.

Of course, if a woman preferred using a heavy sword, then that was another matter entirely.

“We meet again—this is the second time now.”

The woman in red stopped a short distance away, smiling at Xu Ming and Shi Xin.

There was a hint of provocation in his voice.

Most people who encountered this woman would be begging for their lives.

But Xu Ming?

Not only did he show no fear—there was even a trace of disdain in his expression.

This was the first time the woman in red had seen such a reaction.

Yet, instead of feeling offended, she found him even more intriguing.

“You really are quite interesting,” she said, pressing a delicate finger against her soft lips. “I just hope you don’t die too soon—otherwise, I’d be heartbroken.”

“I won’t die so easily,” Xu Ming replied casually. “The real question is—when do you plan to kill me? Now?”

“No rush~” The woman winked at him playfully, a hint of mischief in her eyes.

“This time, I definitely won’t let you off~

But…” she added with a teasing smile, “that doesn’t mean you can’t survive.

If you want to live, you’ll have to rely on yourself~”

With that, she vanished before his eyes.

The next moment, more and more cultivators began appearing in this illusory world.

Though many of them had seemed utterly helpless back in the Rootless Secret Realm—like fragile flowers raised in a greenhouse—these were still elite disciples from their respective sects.

Among them were bound to be some who were intelligent.

Some who had the courage to face death head-on.

If they were all useless nobodies, they wouldn’t have made it this far in the first place.

Cultivation was the ultimate trial by fire—the truest test of worth.

As these cultivators arrived in this fiery realm, they, like Xu Ming before them, felt a moment of relief.

They had survived.

They had escaped certain death.

Then, they began observing their surroundings.

They quickly realized that this place had to be an illusion.

After all, it was impossible for a small world to contain another small world.

Yet this place had a sky, volcanoes, and stretched endlessly in all directions.

There was no way it was still inside the Samadhi Cave.

Which meant—it could only be a grand illusion.

As more and more cultivators arrived, everyone became wary of one another.

They believed they had passed the test.

And now, the treasure hidden within the Samadhi Cave was just within reach.

That meant danger.

Who could say whether the person standing next to them might suddenly strike, seeking to kill them and seize the treasure for themselves?

Caution filled the air.

Some cultivators kicked at stones, others clenched handfuls of soil, all trying to analyze the nature of this illusion.

Xu Ming was no exception.

To be honest, this illusion was too real—so real that the stones he touched, the soil he squeezed, felt exactly like the real thing. Even his Dao-Pattern Eyes couldn’t see through it.

Wait…

A sudden thought struck Xu Ming.

Could this place actually… be real?

But that was impossible. A small world containing another small world? He had never heard of such a thing.

—

Half an hour passed.

By now, there were exactly three hundred people in this place.

Another incense stick of time later, no one else arrived.

This meant one of two things:

Either the passage to this place had closed, or—

Everyone else was dead.

“That woman! It’s her again!”

A tense, trembling voice rang out from the crowd.

Everyone looked up.

The woman in red had returned.

She sat high atop a stone, her long legs swaying lazily, feet stretched straight, her expression calm and smiling as she gazed down at them.

“Time’s about up~ Looks like it’s just you people left~”

“Who the hell are you? What do you want?!”

A cultivator stepped forward, shouting at her.

Many others joined in, eyes filled with rage.

Xu Ming figured that this woman was probably responsible for killing their companions.

But beyond the anger—

The strongest emotion in the crowd was fear.

“Hehehe~”

The woman let out a soft, melodious laugh.

“What do I want? What else would I want? You people came here for treasure, didn’t you? Well then—of course I should give it to you~”

As she spoke, she casually waved her hand.

BOOM!

The sky itself split open.

From the rift descended legendary divine beasts—

Qilin. True Dragons. Fire Phoenixes. White Tigers. Black Tortoises. Ferocious mythical creatures—Zheng. Taotie.

And—an army of warriors clad in silver armor.

These warriors had no visible faces.

Their entire bodies were encased in gleaming silver armor, each gripping a long silver spear.

They all stood seven feet tall, towering with overwhelming might.

“I can give you the treasure, sure,” the woman continued with a smile.

“But~ you need to earn the right to take it.

Otherwise… these treasures would rather perish with the Rootless Secret Realm, fading into the chaos of nothingness—than fall into the hands of the unworthy~”

As she spoke, an incense stick appeared in her hand.

She smirked, as if watching an entertaining show about to unfold.

“One incense stick’s time.

If you survive until then—congratulations! You qualify to claim the treasure.

If not… well.

Then it just means you’re not worthy.

And you’ll perish along with these treasures.”

Her gaze seemed to linger on Xu Ming as she spoke.

As if she was speaking to him specifically.

“Don’t disappoint me, alright~?

I’m very much looking forward to this~”