Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

The Emerald Dragon and the Heluo Fish were relentlessly attacking everyone by the lakeshore.

These two ancient beasts showed no sign of intelligence—only an overwhelming desire to destroy everything in their path. It seemed that as long as someone stood before them, they would stop at nothing to obliterate them.

Of course, the cultivators present were not to be underestimated. Anyone who had made it to this place was no ordinary practitioner—they all had their own skills. Without hesitation, they charged at the Emerald Dragon and the Heluo Fish, weapons flashing.

After all, these two ancient divine beasts did not exude an aura of utter despair. The cultivators believed they had a chance to win. And if they could slay these two creatures, they would undoubtedly profit greatly from the endeavor.

The bodies of these divine beasts were filled with treasures. Take the true dragon, for example—its reverse scale, its dragon pearl, even every single one of its scales was worth a fortune.

“You’re not going up?”

Shi Xin asked, turning to look at Xu Ming, who stood beside her.

At this moment, Xu Ming looked like a spectator at a play, showing not even a hint of intent to attack. There was no trace of that focused, opportunistic mindset—the kind where one waits for others to weaken their prey before striking.

“Why should I?” Xu Ming smiled.

Besides, if I step in, I’ll only make these cultivators wary of me. The moment anything happens, I’ll be the first one they turn their blades against.

If they think killing these two creatures will bring them benefits, let them have at it. To me, it’s nothing special.

And anyway, have you ever seen a dragon before? If I go up there, it’ll only take a few moves to cut it down. Right now, this is a perfect chance for you to admire it a little longer.”

Shi Xin: “…”

If anyone else had said this, Shi Xin would have thought they were being arrogant. But coming from Xu Ming, it felt entirely believable—he truly had that level of power.

Sure enough, under the relentless assault of the cultivators, the Emerald Dragon and Heluo Fish gradually fell into a disadvantage.

“Hooowl!”

With a furious roar, both creatures spewed out a blast of icy breath toward their attackers, then smashed through the frozen lake surface with their heads and dove back into the depths, vanishing from sight.

Watching the dragon and fish flee, many cultivators felt an itch in their hearts—they were tempted to chase after them. However, they also feared that if they went in, they might never return.

Of course, some were willing to gamble on fortune hidden within danger. They plunged into the ice lake in pursuit of the two divine beasts. Yet, after entering, no sound came from them again.

“Yiya.”

At that moment, the distant temple in the center of Bilong Lake slowly creaked open its grand doors.

Everyone lifted their heads to look, but the distance was too far, and the swirling snow obscured their vision. They could not see what lay within the temple at all.

Even when Xu Ming activated his Dao-Pattern Eyes, all he saw was darkness—proof that the temple was protected by a formidable formation.

The level of this formation was incredibly high. It could even block his vision.

“Let’s go take a look.”

Xu Ming said to Shi Xin, then started walking forward.

More than treasure, Xu Ming was far more interested in the story behind this place.

According to what Shi Xin had told him before, this was a fragment from the ancient past—one that held records of a long-lost history.

And it wasn’t just Xu Ming; many other cultivators also decided to press forward and uncover the truth hidden within the temple.

More and more people were heading toward the temple.

Xu Ming swept his gaze over the cultivators around him.

He had heard that the desert had already collapsed, revealing one sinkhole after another. The opportunities within had likely been completely seized, causing the spiritual energy to dissipate, which explained the phenomenon.

In other words, within the Rootless Secret Realm, the only well-known place of fortune left was Bilong Lake. There was a high chance that Yan Han and Qing Wan would appear here.

However, there were too many people, and the lake was vast. Xu Ming had yet to spot them.

Perhaps they hadn’t arrived yet. Or maybe they had, but had already entered the temple.

Xu Ming led Shi Xin to the front of the temple.

Even standing right at the entrance, peering inside revealed nothing but pitch-black darkness. The interior was completely obscured.

If they wanted to know what was inside, they had no choice but to step in.

But this time, Xu Ming didn’t intend to be the first to enter. He wanted to see if there were any brave souls willing to go in first.

And sure enough, there were.

Lured by the potential of great fortune, an eight-foot-tall, burly demon cultivator stepped forward, pushed open the door, and was the first to walk in.

As the first person entered, more and more cultivators followed, stepping into the temple one after another.

“Let’s go in as well,” Xu Ming said.

Shi Xin nodded, reaching out to grab the corner of Xu Ming’s robe.

It seemed that, for Shi Xin, this action had already become a habit.

The moment Xu Ming and Shi Xin stepped into the temple, a wave of dizziness washed over them.

When Xu Ming opened his eyes again, the temple was empty.

There was no one else—only himself.

“Another illusion?”

Xu Ming thought to himself.

Otherwise, how could so many people have entered, yet he was the only one left?

Holding his divine weapon, “Hongxiu,” Xu Ming took steady steps forward.

The temple was grand and imposing, filled with statues of various deities and Buddhas, each carefully arranged. Some of these divine figures were familiar to him, while others were completely unknown.

The murals on the walls were not teachings of enlightenment but scenes of gods and Buddhas engaged in slaughter.

It depicted a vast battlefield, littered with corpses.

Atop a mountain of bodies, a monk stood, an image starkly at odds with traditional Buddhist ideals.

Xu Ming wondered what Shi Xin would think if she saw these murals.

She had always been compassionate and kind-hearted.

Yet the monks in these murals were slaughtering without restraint—to say they “killed without mercy” would be an understatement.

Xu Ming continued deeper into the temple.

He was determined to find out exactly what was going on in this place.

The deeper he ventured, the more Buddha statues he encountered.

Some exuded kindness and serenity.

Some had wrathful, Vajra-like expressions.

Some had their eyes tightly shut.

Some had three heads and six arms.

“Xu Ming.”

Just as he was observing the statues, a voice called out from not far away.

Xu Ming lifted his head and saw Shi Xin walking toward him.

He stepped forward—

And suddenly, Shi Xin took another step, throwing herself directly into his embrace.