Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

Chapter 190

Xu Ming swung his sword down.

Although Ji Wuming managed to avoid a fatal blow, his arm was severed on the spot.

Ji Wuming let out a scream, retreating quickly to create distance. His eyes narrowed as he glared at the man before him. Meanwhile, his old servant swiftly caught the severed arm as it fell and handed it back to Ji Wuming.

Ji Wuming grabbed his arm and reattached it without hesitation. For cultivators who had reached the Cave Mansion realm, reattaching severed limbs was a simple matter as long as the limb remained intact.

Mo Zhuer blinked her wide eyes, staring at Xu Ming’s back.

For the first time, she felt a sense of security like never before.

But soon, Mo Zhuer couldn’t help but laugh bitterly in her heart. The one giving her a sense of safety wasn’t someone from her own sect but a sworn enemy who had always bullied her.

“Stay close,” Xu Ming said, slightly turning his head toward Mo Zhuer.

Before she could respond, Xu Ming charged forward, sword in hand.

With a single swing, Ji Wuming and his servant barely dodged in time. The mountain behind them was cleaved in two by Xu Ming’s strike.

Ji Wuming knew he couldn’t hold back any longer. This prince-consort of the Wu Kingdom fought like a ferocious beast—completely beyond comprehension.

“Go!”

Ji Wuming flung out a scroll.

The scroll unfurled, revealing a diagram of a sword.

This was a Sword Diagram, an imprint of a master swordsman’s techniques on a medium, usable by anyone as a one-time trump card.

From the Sword Diagram emerged a woman. Her disheveled hair framed an empty gaze, and her flowing white robes accentuated her slender figure, as cold and distant as an ice mountain.

The illusory woman swung her sword, the strike resembling the pale light of dawn that split the heavens, dividing the world into light and darkness.

Xu Ming’s Dao Pattern Eyes attempted to replicate the strike but was clearly outmatched—the technique exceeded the limits of what his Dao Pattern Eyes could copy.

Knowing his swordsmanship wasn’t yet on par with his mastery of fist techniques, Xu Ming sheathed his blade and threw a punch instead.

“Heaven-Splitting Fist!”

The punch unleashed the form of a white dragon of martial intent, colliding with the illusory woman’s strike.

“Boom!”

The clash of true energy and sword aura sent Xu Ming flying backward.

Sensing danger, Mo Zhuer hurried to catch him. Xu Ming’s back slammed into her soft chest, and both coughed up blood from the impact.

Ji Wuming didn’t fare much better. Xu Ming’s fist aura struck him square in the chest, severely disrupting his spiritual energy. This time, the damage was significant.

Seeing an opening, Mo Zhuer brandished her soft sword and lunged toward Ji Wuming, aiming to finish him off.

“If I die, who will clean up the mess for Hehuan Sect? Does the Sect Master intend to leave no room for negotiation?” Ji Wuming said coldly.

Just as Mo Zhuer’s sword tip was about to pierce Ji Wuming’s brow, her blade was suddenly deflected.

The figure Xu Ming had knocked away earlier, Cui Renwang, strode toward Ji Wuming step by step, his injuries seemingly gone.

“Don’t be in such a hurry, Saint Son. I was just taking a short rest. How could I stand by and do nothing?” Cui Renwang chuckled, turning his gaze to Xu Ming. “Since the prince-consort insists, it seems we’ll have to send him to his grave here.”

“Heh, you’re welcome to try,” Xu Ming retorted.

In an instant, a flash of cold light streaked through the air as Xu Ming lunged at Cui Renwang, sword in hand. Cui Renwang countered with his jade flute, deflecting Xu Ming’s strike as their figures collided and tumbled into the forest below.

Meanwhile, Mo Zhuer’s soft sword coiled around Ji Wuming, and the two resumed their fierce battle.

In the forest, Xu Ming planted his stance firmly, thrusting his sword forward. The strike left a mark on Cui Renwang’s chest. In response, Cui Renwang raised his jade flute to his lips, playing a tune that stirred the fallen leaves around them into motion.

The fallen leaves gathered behind Cui Renwang, forming long swords that shot toward Xu Ming.

Xu Ming swung his blade again and again, shattering several leaf-formed swords. His sword danced in intricate patterns, each flourish gleaming coldly under the moonlight. Step by step, Xu Ming advanced, forcing Cui Renwang to retreat.

Xu Ming thrust his sword toward Cui Renwang’s head, but Cui Renwang raised his flute, deflecting the blade. The residual sword energy shot past, obliterating a nearby boulder into dust.

Xu Ming twisted his sword with force, slashing toward Cui Renwang’s head. Sparks flew as his sword met Cui Renwang’s flute. Xu Ming followed up with a punch, and Cui Renwang countered with a palm strike of his own.

Xu Ming’s fist struck Cui Renwang squarely in the chest, the sound of breaking ribs resonating clearly through the impact. At the same time, Cui Renwang’s palm landed on Xu Ming’s chest.

The two were sent flying apart.

Blood trickled from the corner of Xu Ming’s mouth as he steadied himself.

Just as Xu Ming was about to press forward again, he frowned, sensing a sudden surge of heat spreading through his body.

Cui Renwang rubbed his chest, his ribs snapping back into place instantly.

“Feeling hot? Thirsty?” Cui Renwang asked with a grin, clapping his hands to disperse some powder.

“That palm I struck you with is called the Heart-Eating Palm. Normally, when a cultivator is hit by it, their most primal desires are triggered, turning them into a beast in heat. Within moments, their blood boils, and they die.

“But you, prince-consort, are truly remarkable. That palm seems to have had no substantial effect on you. Still, it should make you uncomfortable for an hour or two, at least.”

As he spoke, Cui Renwang’s gaze lowered to Xu Ming’s crotch. His eyebrows furrowed slightly. “The prince-consort is… truly impressive. Enough to make any man envious.”

With that, Cui Renwang summoned a massive cauldron, its surface adorned with embroidered mandarin ducks.

The cauldron’s oppressive aura sent a chill down Xu Ming’s spine.

“A… half-immortal weapon?!”

Without hesitation, Xu Ming turned and fled.

The effects of the Heart-Eating Palm were bad enough, stirring his primal instincts, but manageable. He could fight through it if needed. However, with his internal energy already clashing from earlier—his spiritual energy and martial energy in conflict—the Heart-Eating Palm only exacerbated the situation. And now, with the addition of a suspected half-immortal weapon, Xu Ming knew retreat was the only option.

Above, Mo Zhuer held her ground against Ji Wuming and his servant, showing no signs of defeat.

However, she couldn’t focus entirely on the battle, her eyes frequently darting toward the forest below.

To her surprise, she saw Xu Ming running, seemingly in distress, toward another direction.

“Worry about yourself!” Ji Wuming’s voice interrupted her thoughts, as he struck a palm toward her.

Mo Zhuer countered with her own palm strike, using the momentum to propel herself toward Xu Ming.

“Don’t follow me!” Xu Ming shouted as he saw her approaching.

“What?” Mo Zhuer called back, confused.

She then noticed a massive cauldron chasing Xu Ming.

As the cauldron’s lid was about to seal him inside, Xu Ming unleashed a sword strike, sending towering waves of sword energy that forced the cauldron to retreat.

“Behind you!” Xu Ming yelled at Mo Zhuer.

She turned just in time to see nine nails flying toward her.

Xu Ming activated his martial energy, stepping to her side in an instant. With a single sword sweep, he deflected six of the nails, but three pierced his body—one in his thigh, one in his left shoulder, and one in his right arm.

Seeing Xu Ming standing in front of her, Mo Zhuer’s eyes flickered as she stared at him, lost in thought.

He saved me?

Why would he save me?

What reason does he have to save me?

“What are you spacing out for? Go!” Xu Ming shoved Mo Zhuer forward. “Fly toward Xuanyue City! I’ll hold off this Sect Master of the Hehuan Sect. If I die, you must deliver Sheng Sheng to Qin Qingwan of Tianxuan Sect! Here’s today’s temporary antidote, but the ultimate cure—Qin Qingwan has it! Now go!”

With a sharp turn, Xu Ming charged straight at Ji Wuming.

Xu Ming saving Mo Zhuer didn’t mean he had any real feelings for her.

To him, if she lived or died, it didn’t matter.

What Xu Ming cared about was Shen Shengsheng.

Not knowing Mo Zhuer’s true character, Xu Ming lied to her, claiming that Qin Qingwan held the cure. That way, Mo Zhuer would have to bring Shen Shengsheng to Tianxuan Sect!

But now, Xu Ming had no choice but to carve a path for Mo Zhuer to escape.

In desperation, Ji Wuming activated his Soul-Nailing Pins.

Xu Ming felt as though his soul was being torn apart, but he gritted his teeth and held firm.

Heaven-Splitting Fist – Mountain Shaker.

Xu Ming punched forward.

Ji Wuming summoned a tortoiseshell shield, but Xu Ming’s fist went straight through it, piercing Ji Wuming’s heart.

“Impossible!”

Ji Wuming looked down at the fist embedded in his chest, disbelief etched on his face.

He couldn’t comprehend it—how had he died from just a single punch?

Falling from the sky, Ji Wuming hit the ground, eyes wide open in shock as his life slipped away.

“Young master!” Ji Wuming’s elderly servant cried out in anguish. But instead of avenging his master, the old man turned and fled.

The massive cauldron came flying toward Xu Ming once more. Xu Ming kicked it away with a powerful strike.

Mo Zhuer gave Xu Ming one last glance before turning to fly toward Xuanyue City.

Cui Renwang moved to intercept her, but Xu Ming unleashed a wave of sword energy, forcing him back.

“Never thought the prince-consort would fancy a demoness from the Western Regions,” Cui Renwang mocked.

“Ha! That demoness isn’t even worthy of tying my shoes!” Xu Ming sneered coldly, his blade and fists attacking in close quarters.

Mo Zhuer glanced back twice, biting her lip hard.

She knew she should feel liberated.

That man, Xu Ming, was surely going to die at Cui Renwang’s hands.

If Xu Ming hadn’t lied to her, all she needed to do was bring Shen Shengsheng to Tianxuan Sect, and Qin Qingwan would provide her the cure.

In the end, not only would Xu Ming die, completing her mission, but he had also helped her eliminate a competitor. The final victor would be her!

Yet Mo Zhuer couldn’t stop herself from looking back toward Xu Ming’s direction.

Suddenly, she stomped her foot and turned around, flying back toward the battle.

“Mo Zhuer, what are you doing?! Go to Xuanyue City! Let that man die!” she cursed herself. “Don’t tell me… you’ve actually fallen for that man?”

She flew faster and faster.

In her mind, memories surfaced of Xu Ming dripping candle wax on her, making her roast meat, and kicking her aside when she tried to seduce him.

Yet during this time, she had never slept so soundly. Every time she faced certain death, he had stood in front of her.

Back in the forest, Xu Ming was fending off both the massive cauldron and Cui Renwang.

It was clear that Cui Renwang couldn’t fully control the cauldron. He could only use it to divert Xu Ming’s attacks. Otherwise, Xu Ming believed he might already be dead.

Meanwhile, Xu Ming, with both his Dao Pattern Eyes and Blood Qi Frenzy activated, could feel his body reaching its limits. He was being completely drained, and at this rate, death was inevitable.

Running away wasn’t an option either—there was no way to shake Cui Renwang off. Once his stamina and spiritual energy were exhausted, he’d be nothing more than prey.

“If I’m going to die, I’m taking someone down with me.”

This thought suddenly surfaced in Xu Ming’s mind.

He charged forward, shattering the air as his foot smashed into Cui Renwang’s jade flute, cracking it. Cui Renwang was sent crashing to the ground again.

What followed was a relentless storm of sword energy, stabbing toward Cui Renwang with fury.

Xu Ming refused to give him any breathing room.

At this moment, Xu Ming noticed the massive cauldron hovering in the air had stopped moving.

Maybe Cui Renwang was worried it might trap them both.

Even better!

Xu Ming pressed the attack in close quarters, beating Cui Renwang down with everything he had.

Cui Renwang tried multiple times to create distance, but Xu Ming clung to him like a leech.

However, Xu Ming’s strength and sword energy were steadily weakening. The clash between his Martial Qi and spiritual energy within his body was intensifying.

Blood flowed from Xu Ming’s ears, eyes, and nose.

Seeing Xu Ming in this state, Cui Renwang’s lips curled into a grin.

He wasn’t in a rush anymore.

Looking at him now, Cui Renwang estimated Xu Ming would collapse and die within half an incense stick’s time.

But what Cui Renwang didn’t know was that Xu Ming, determined to fight to the death, was entering a mysterious and profound state.

Xu Ming felt as though he existed and didn’t exist at the same time, as if he had transcended his physical form and was gazing down upon the world from above.

He seemed to merge with his fists, with the sword in his hand.

Xu Ming knew he was going to die, but before he did, he wanted to throw one last punch, one final sword strike.

He felt that if he didn’t unleash them, he would regret it for the rest of eternity.

Suddenly, Xu Ming reached a critical, indescribable threshold. He stopped in his tracks and closed his eyes.

Cui Renwang had no idea what Xu Ming was doing, but he swiftly widened the distance between them.

“Fall!”

Under Cui Renwang’s command, the massive cauldron descended toward Xu Ming, completely locking onto his presence. There was no way for Xu Ming to escape.

But Xu Ming had no intention of dodging.

He punched upward at the cauldron. The force of his punch condensed into the form of a massive dragon, slamming against the cauldron and holding it in place.

With another thought, Xu Ming’s body seemed to dissolve into nothingness. His sword transformed into a streak of light, piercing toward Cui Renwang’s chest, with Xu Ming following behind like a trail of smoke.

Cui Renwang’s pupils contracted sharply.

By the time he realized what had happened, he looked down to see a massive hole in his chest.

The sword had left no trace. Xu Ming, now back in physical form, holding his sword, couldn’t even comprehend what had just transpired.

“Impossible…” Cui Renwang’s trembling eyes reflected disbelief.

“Ha… Ha… Impossible… How is this possible? I was killed by a mere Sea Observation Realm cultivator? How could this be?!”

Cui Renwang’s voice grew frenzied, nearly deranged. He reached out toward the massive cauldron, gripping it tightly.

“If that’s the case, then you’re coming to die with me!”