Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

Xu Ming held Shen Shengsheng’s small hand as they walked back to the courtyard.

Shengsheng’s little feet hopped with every step, looking utterly adorable.

Seeing Shengsheng’s cheerful expression, Xu Ming couldn’t help but smile. He hoped that Shengsheng would grow up carefree and happy, just like this.

However, recalling his earlier conversation with Wu Yanhan, Xu Ming let out a soft sigh.

Xu Ming truly wished that Yanhan would leave this place.

It wasn’t because Xu Ming looked down on Yanhan or thought of her as a burden. Rather, in the face of upper-five-realm cultivators, middle-five-realm cultivators were utterly insignificant. The gap in power was insurmountable, enough to make one despair.

Yanhan’s potential for future achievements was undoubtedly limitless.

But for now, Yanhan needed to focus on giving herself more time to grow, instead of stubbornly charging ahead knowing the path was a dead end.

Unfortunately, Yanhan was simply too headstrong.

Once she set her mind on something, there was no convincing her otherwise. She’d been this way since they were children—always like this.

“Brother Xu, frowning… doesn’t look good,” a soft, timid voice pulled Xu Ming out of his thoughts.

Shengsheng tugged gently at Xu Ming’s sleeve, looking up at him hesitantly.

Xu Ming snapped back to the present and picked Shengsheng up in his arms. “It’s nothing, just thinking about something.”

He shifted the topic with a smile, “What has Sister Yanhan been teaching you lately?”

“Boxing!” Shengsheng said happily.

“Boxing, huh,” Xu Ming’s lips curled into a smile. “Is it the set of punches you were practicing with Sister Yanhan in the courtyard earlier?”

The boxing technique Xu Ming had seen in the yard before was a basic form from the Blood Asura style, meant for laying a solid foundation.

“No, it’s not that,” Shengsheng shook her little head.

“It’s not? Then what boxing technique did Sister Yanhan teach you?” Xu Ming asked curiously.

“She taught me… taught me…” Shengsheng frowned, her tiny brows knitting together.

She couldn’t remember the name of the boxing technique Yanhan had taught her.

“Why don’t you show me instead, hmm?” Xu Ming suggested with a smile, his curiosity piqued about what Yanhan had taught Shengsheng.

“Okay, okay!”

Shengsheng wriggled in Xu Ming’s arms, and he put her down.

She hopped onto the ground, planted her little feet into a horse stance, and began to punch.

After just a few moves, Xu Ming immediately recognized it. Shengsheng was practicing none other than the Nine Dragons Azure Cloud Boxing.

This boxing technique was the royal boxing style of Wu Kingdom.

Only members of the royal family were allowed to practice it. The only exception was if someone had achieved great military merit, in which case they might be rewarded with this technique. řÁ₦o͍ᛒЕş

Xu Ming was surprised to find that Yanhan had directly taught this to Shengsheng.

Yanhan genuinely treated Shengsheng well—she truly regarded Shengsheng as her own younger sister.

Of course, if Yanhan hadn’t been sincerely devoted to Shengsheng, Xu Ming wouldn’t have entrusted Shengsheng to her care.

But what surprised Xu Ming even more was that Shengsheng seemed to have an incredible talent for boxing.

At first, her moves were not entirely standard, and there was some clumsiness.

But soon, Xu Ming noticed Shengsheng entering a mysterious, indescribable state of enlightenment.

This kind of state usually required at least a Mercury Realm martial artist to achieve.

But Shengsheng hadn’t even formally started as a martial artist yet.

Could it be that Shengsheng was truly a genius?

“Roar—hoo!”

After completing a small set of moves, Shengsheng closed her stance, her performance looking impressively proper for her age.

“Brother Xu, d-did I do well?” Shengsheng asked excitedly, her tiny eyes brimming with anticipation as she awaited her brother’s praise.

“Yes, you did wonderfully,” Xu Ming crouched down and patted her little head.

“Shengsheng is actually very talented. I believe that as long as you keep practicing, you’ll surpass Brother Xu one day.”

“Really?” Shengsheng’s eyes sparkled brightly.

“Of course.” Xu Ming gently pinched Shengsheng’s nose. “But Shengsheng, why do you want to learn boxing? Practicing boxing is very tough, you know.”

Shen Shengsheng shook her head and said, “B-because Sister Yanhan said… if I learn boxing well, I can… I can always stay by Brother Xu’s side and protect him.”

“…”

Hearing Shengsheng’s answer, Xu Ming’s hand froze slightly as he patted her head. A wave of warmth surged through his heart.

“It’s okay, Shengsheng. You don’t need to protect me—I’ll protect you,” Xu Ming said softly.

“No way!” Shengsheng crossed her little arms stubbornly, looking defiant. “Shengsheng… Shengsheng wants to protect Brother Xu. Shengsheng wants to always stay by Brother Xu’s side!”

“Alright then.” Xu Ming stood up and took Shengsheng’s hand, continuing their walk. “Once Brother Xu has some free time, I’ll teach Shengsheng how to practice boxing. I look forward to the day Shengsheng can protect me.”

“Mm-hmm!” Shengsheng hopped happily a few times.

About the time it took for one incense stick to burn, Xu Ming returned to the courtyard with Shengsheng, only to see a woman standing at the entrance to his residence.

“Miss Yue,” Xu Ming stepped forward and greeted her with a bow.

Seeing Xu Ming, Yue Lou breathed a sigh of relief. “Young Master Xu, you’ve finally returned.”

Xu Ming asked, “What brings Miss Yue here? Is there an urgent matter?”

“It’s not urgent, but it’s good news.” Yue Lou smiled and said, “Martial Aunt Qin has come out of seclusion.”

—

“Boom!”

Inside a cave at Sanshi Peak, a loud explosion rang out as Xia He flew out of the cave.

Following closely behind Xia He was a whirlwind of sword qi fueled by spiritual power.

Xia He turned around and formed a hand seal, driving his bronze longsword into the ground.

An Eight Trigrams Formation spread outward from the longsword, quickly dissipating the storm of sword qi.

Steadying himself at the cave’s entrance, Xia He glared intently into the depths of the cave.

Earlier, he had seen two people fleeing the cave but had no chance to pursue them. Xu Cang’s sword qi had intercepted him directly.

It wasn’t until now that Xia He finally emerged from the cave.

“Why leave so soon? Won’t you stay and exchange a few more moves with this old man? Weren’t you so eager to meet me before? Why leave in such a hurry now?”

An elderly voice echoed from within the cave.

“Hmph! You old relic, let’s see how smug you are in a few days!” Xia He snorted coldly, ignoring the provocation, and turned to leave.

Now that Xu Cang’s seal was broken, Xia He had no way of dealing with him. But so what? Xu Cang wasn’t getting off Sanshi Peak either. He would eventually become the stepping stone for Xia He’s ascension to the Ascension Realm.

As for the two cultivators who escaped, Xia He would find them, but they weren’t a priority right now.

In five days, the Zixia Grand Ceremony would commence. He refused to believe that anything significant could happen in just five days!

Five days!

Just five more days, and all those old geezers like Xu Cang would be dead!

Then, Xia He would ascend to the Ascension Realm. By that time, no one would be able to stop him!

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