Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

The intense sword aura tore through the surroundings, leaving behind one gash after another, as if countless wounds had been slashed across a person’s body by razor-sharp blades.

With the blessing of Shi Xin’s technique, the longsword in Xu Ming’s hand had turned golden, emanating a Buddhist radiance reminiscent of a wrathful Vajra.

Xu Ming swung his sword down.

This might not have been the strongest strike Xu Ming had ever unleashed.

The strongest strike he had ever delivered was back at Tianxuan Sect when he briefly entered the Jade Purity Realm.

But this was undoubtedly the most exhilarating and satisfying strike he had ever wielded.

You say the rules here are yours to set? That only one person can survive?

Why? Who do you think you are?

Even if you are the heavens themselves, if I refuse to accept this rule, I will cut it down with my sword!

What is the purpose of the sword in my hand?

And just as Xu Ming’s sword came crashing down—

The woman in the red dress raised her own sword and flicked it upward.

What seemed like a casual flick was, in reality, an overwhelming surge of sword aura.

Her sword energy carried the searing intensity of Samadhi True Fire, surging upward like ocean waves.

Gold and crimson intertwined, merging and clashing in equal measure.

“Boom!”

A thunderous explosion erupted.

Flames and spiritual energy scattered in the sky.

Xu Ming landed on the ground, flicking his longsword forcefully, sending away the lingering flames.

The woman in the red dress smiled at him.

Until now, Xu Ming had been the one attacking proactively.

But this time, it was her turn.

A red blur flashed past Xu Ming’s eyes.

Xu Ming slashed backward, his blade striking against hers with a sound like hammering iron—he had hit her, but only managed to tear a small opening in her dress, revealing a glimpse of her pale waist.

The red shadow vanished again.

When it reappeared, another sword thrust came toward Xu Ming, forcing him to counter with another swing of his blade.

The third time she appeared before him, the hem of her dress fluttered gently.

And with each movement of that hem, her sword slashed down.

Every strike she delivered was as if she had poured her entire strength into it.

Yet every strike was also frighteningly precise.

Slowly, Xu Ming was drawn into her rhythm.

He did not even realize that he was falling into an unusual state of mind.

Gradually, Xu Ming began to forget himself.

He began to forget what he was doing.

The sword aura and intent in his hands continued to climb higher and higher!

Even the rough and untamed nature of his Grass Script Sword Technique had dissolved into a flowing stream, merging seamlessly with his very blood.

Shi Xin wanted to help Xu Ming.

But just as she stepped forward, she stopped in her tracks.

Though this woman harbored undeniable killing intent toward Xu Ming, with every strike aiming to cut him down—

Shi Xin could feel that she was holding back.

It was as if she were forging a piece of iron, tempering it again and again until it met her desired state.

If, during this process, the iron broke or shattered, then it was simply unworthy.

“No, Xu Ming is going to be in danger.”

Shi Xin still wanted to step forward and intervene.

“Don’t be so hasty—unless you want him to fall into Qi deviation.”

At that moment, a voice reached Shi Xin’s ears.

She turned her full attention to Xu Ming.

Sure enough, Xu Ming had entered a state of enlightenment.

Shi Xin gritted her teeth.

For the first time, she felt powerless.

She knew that all she could do was stand there and watch.

If she intervened now, it would only do Xu Ming more harm than good.

The voice of the woman in the red dress echoed in Xu Ming’s heart:

“Give up. You can’t defeat me. But since your talent is quite impressive, I’ll give you one last chance—kill that nun, and I’ll let you walk out of here alive.”

“Ridiculous!” Xu Ming rejected her outright, even with a hint of disdain. “Since when has my survival ever depended on killing my own companion?”

His sword momentum grew fiercer, and his blood energy surged ever stronger.

“Cultivators are meant to fight against others, to struggle against the heavens. How many have betrayed their partners or even slain their own children in pursuit of the Dao? Let alone this—this is the Rootless Secret Realm.

No one will ever know what you’ve done here.

You will claim all the treasures of the Samadhi Cave, and everything you’ve done will vanish alongside this secret realm. I don’t know what kind of reputation you hold in the outside world, but once you leave, you will only gain more respect.”

The woman in the red dress continued, her words dripping with a seductive allure.

“Hah!” Xu Ming merely let out a cold chuckle, utterly unfazed. “Why waste your breath? Your sword is already slowing down!”

“Clang!”

Xu Ming’s sword struck again, forcing the woman in red to retreat.

Hovering in midair, Xu Ming prepared to deliver one final strike—his ultimate sword!

A look of surprise flickered in the eyes of the woman in red, but even more so—she was delighted.

“Oh?” The woman tilted her head slightly, blinking at Xu Ming. “Is this… Sword Domain?”

A mere Dragon Gate Realm cultivator could already manifest a Sword Domain?

It seems that true geniuses always share certain inexplicable similarities.

Thousands of sword auras poured into Xu Ming’s longsword.

The Flame Sparrow Sword, originally a deep crimson, became veiled in a layer of translucent white.

And within that white, a searing red blazed forth once again.

Xu Ming’s sword intent and sword aura climbed to their peak.

Around his blade, the very space itself was being cleaved apart, revealing traces of primordial chaos.

“A Sword Domain that pushes one’s personal ability to the absolute limit—how fitting for this kid.”

The woman in red mused to herself.

In this world, there were countless kinds of Sword Domains.

Each cultivator’s Sword Domain was unique, born from their own nature and path.

Some cultivators were timid—their Sword Domain leaned toward defense.

Some were cunning—their Sword Domain was ever-changing, unpredictable.

Some were agile—their Sword Domain carried a lively, spiritual quality.

But this man before her—

His Sword Domain was his sword.

It was entirely condensed into his blade.

His Sword Domain was pure, unrelenting sharpness.

If his strength was weak, his Sword Domain’s sharpness would not manifest, like a child waving a kitchen knife.

If his strength was great, his Sword Domain would reach its full potential, like a legendary cultivator wielding a divine weapon.

Just how much faith in himself did he have to cultivate such a Sword Domain?

“Jianjia, I think I’ve found someone with the same spirit as you.”

The woman in red also raised her sword high.

As her sleeve swept across her arm, her snow-white skin was fully revealed, forming a stark contrast against the crimson of her dress.

A towering inferno erupted from her sword, surging tens of thousands of feet into the sky.

White and red clashed.

Both unleashed their final strike.