Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

Emperor Wu was truly in no hurry.

Under normal circumstances, when cultivators emerged from the Rootless Secret Realm, the first thing they would do was report to their emperor or sect leader. They would share what treasures they had obtained, who they had encountered, and whom they had defeated.

This time, however, was the final opening of the Rootless Secret Realm, and due to its chaotic laws, it was certain that even more rare treasures had appeared. There was also a possibility of new, unknown phenomena emerging.

Moreover, because of the instability of the realm’s laws, anyone who died inside was truly dead—there was no coming back.

What could the sects of the deceased do? They would undoubtedly seek justice however they could. Even if no one admitted to the killings and the avenging sects could find no evidence, they would still launch thorough investigations.

This wasn’t just about losing disciples—it was about the sect’s reputation being trampled. No sect could tolerate that.

If they simply acted as if nothing had happened, other sects would undoubtedly look down on them. Your disciples were killed, and you don’t even react? How can you assure the rest of your sect’s safety?

So whenever a sect lost disciples in the secret realm, the repercussions were always extensive.

For this reason, after each expedition into the Rootless Secret Realm, sect leaders and monarchs would immediately summon their people to secretly ask: Whom did you kill?

But Emperor Wu seemed genuinely unbothered.

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan had already bathed and changed. Afterward, they were even led by palace maids to enjoy a meal. Only after they were full and satisfied did they finally make their way to the imperial study to report to Emperor Wu.

The first thing Emperor Wu asked was how many people they had killed.

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan both claimed they couldn’t remember.

Especially Xu Ming.

Back at the summit of Blood Bodhi Mountain, he alone had killed over a hundred people. Then he was hunted down and retaliated, killing another hundred.

He couldn’t possibly have stopped before each kill to ask, “What’s your name? Which sect are you from?”

That was simply unrealistic.

Not to mention, many cultivators had died simply from being caught in the shockwaves of his sword aura—he didn’t even know how some of them had perished.

Wu Yanhan was in a similar situation. During the chaotic battles in the Golden Sands Desert, she had crushed countless opponents with her hammer. In that kind of melee, who could even tell who was who?

Nevertheless, both Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan did their best to recall and report the names of those they were aware of.

Standing to the side, Grand Eunuch Wei recorded every name with pen and paper. Later, they would need this information to clean up any loose ends.

“Your Majesty, this subject has something to report and requests Your Majesty to uphold justice on my behalf.” Xu Ming gave a deep bow and addressed Emperor Wu with a serious expression.

Seeing Xu Ming’s solemn demeanor, Emperor Wu knew this was something serious. “Speak freely. Whatever it is, I will see to it that justice is served!”

“During my trial in the Rootless Secret Realm, I encountered three individuals—Wang Mingshan, Xu Sheng, and Bai Zhan. These three attempted to assassinate me but were slain instead. Monk Shi Xin from Leiming Temple can testify to this!”

Xu Ming named three fellow cultivators from the Wu Kingdom who had tried to kill him.

“Before they died, I interrogated them and learned that they were acting under the orders of a powerful figure within the Wu Kingdom itself—someone who is right here in the capital!”

“Outrageous!” Emperor Wu slammed his palm against the table in fury.

“Your Majesty, please calm yourself,” Wei Xun trembled and immediately knelt.

“Calm myself? How do you expect me to calm myself?!” Emperor Wu grabbed a cup from the table and hurled it at Wei Xun. “Do you have any idea who they were trying to kill?! He is the leader of our literary world! He is our top scholar! He is even the future prince consort of the Wu Kingdom!”

Xu Ming: “…”

Xu Ming wanted to protest—he hadn’t agreed to be the prince consort yet.

But seeing Emperor Wu in a fit of rage, he wisely chose to stay silent.

“Wei Xun! Have the Tingfeng Pavilion investigate this matter thoroughly! Use any means necessary! No matter who is involved, no matter how deep this goes—I want answers! In three months, I want results!”

Emperor Wu trembled with rage—it was clear that this had touched his most sensitive nerve.

“Yes, Your Majesty! This servant will see to it immediately!”

Terrified, Wei Xun scrambled to his feet and practically crawled out of the room in a panic.

Without a doubt, the news that “The top scholar was betrayed in the Rootless Secret Realm” would soon spread throughout the capital, then across the entire Wu Kingdom, setting off a storm.

“Xu Ming, rest assured—I will give you a proper explanation!” Emperor Wu took a deep breath and promised.

“I trust Your Majesty!” Xu Ming cupped his hands in salute.

Although he knew that Emperor Wu valued him primarily for his usefulness, he had to admit—the emperor was, at the very least, an extremely competent leader.

After taking a sip of tea, Emperor Wu leaned back in his chair. “Tell me, what treasures did you obtain? What encounters did you have? I’m quite curious.”

Xu Ming and Wu Yanhan then proceeded to report the rare treasures they had acquired.

However, Xu Ming deliberately omitted mentioning the 1,500 Soldier Orbs, and Wu Yanhan likewise concealed the fact that she had obtained an immortal-grade artifact.

Xu Ming kept quiet about it to cover for Wu Yanhan—after all, this was the imperial family. No matter how harmonious things appeared, conflicts between father and child were not unheard of. Those 1,500 Soldier Orbs were Wu Yanhan’s trump card.

Wu Yanhan, on the other hand, withheld the truth because the immortal weapon was meant for Xu Ming. If she admitted to it, her father would undoubtedly interfere.

As a result, Emperor Wu only learned that Xu Ming had obtained the immortal weapon “Hongxiu”, while Wu Yanhan had acquired the half-immortal armor “Golden Armor”.

Xu Ming then relayed what Hongxiu had told him to Emperor Wu.

Firstly, Xu Ming felt this information was too important to keep hidden.

Secondly, no matter what, Emperor Wu was still the ruler of one of the ten great human dynasties. He stood at a far higher vantage point than Xu Ming and might know some hidden truths.

Wu Yanhan, hearing these revelations for the first time, was visibly shocked and confused.

Sure enough, as soon as Emperor Wu heard what Xu Ming had to say, his expression darkened, and he furrowed his brows.

“Xu Ming, Yanhan—do not speak of what the ancient divine weapon told you to anyone. Not a single person!”

Emperor Wu’s tone was grave.

“I do know something about this matter,” he admitted. “But as things stand, it does not concern us… for now.”

“You two are still young. The weight of these karmic entanglements is not something you can bear just yet.”

“As you climb higher, the truth will reveal itself in due time.”