This Is Immortality

Fortunately, both of them were Blood Transformation experts by now. Going three days and nights without eating, drinking, relieving themselves, or sleeping was a breeze.

Still, being stuck there with nothing to do was genuinely agonizing.

At noon on the ninth day, a figure appeared in the middle of the Immortal Hall.

Besides Ning Yutan and the eight other Immortal Seedlings who had been chosen long ago, there were also two replacements.

One of the two was taking part in the Immortal Ceremony for the first time. At eighteen, he had reached minor mastery in Blood Transformation, falling just short of the original standard of Blood Transformation Perfection.

The other was taking the examination for the second time. He was twenty-seven and had reached major mastery in Marrow Cleansing.

In addition, the emperor—at the very top of the food chain in the entire Immortal Bestowed Dynasty—had appeared.

He wore plain clothes, stripped of every ornament, and his hair hung loose and simple. Had no one nearby addressed him as Palace Master, Li Ji'an would not have seen a trace of the so-called aura of a king about him. He showed none of the majesty of someone long accustomed to high office, let alone the bearing of the Son of Heaven, appointed by Heaven itself. Instead, his aged face was filled with expectation and unease. He looked just like an ordinary old farmer.

It was no wonder he was so expectant and uneasy. According to the Immortal Master's instructions at the Immortal Ceremony ten years ago, if this ceremony once again did its utmost to select Immortal Seedlings for the Immortal Realm, the emperor would be given a Longevity Immortal Pill.

But two Immortal Seedlings who met the high standards had been ambushed and killed, forcing him to choose two reserves to take their places.

Naturally, their quality was a notch lower. He was not only worried that the Longevity Immortal Pill would fall through, but also that the Immortal Master would fly into a rage.

With a show to watch, the time became easier to bear. Li Ji'an carefully observed everyone in the hall, trying to glean as much information as he could.

From Ning Yutan's behavior—much more solemn than usual, but still marked by a few mischievous little gestures—it seemed the Immortal Seedlings had not been subjected to any coercion or control.

Judging by the emperor's attitude toward them, he was quite respectful and eager to curry favor. It seemed he believed these Immortal Seedlings might return as Immortal Masters someday.

And Ning Yutan's ill omen had yet to manifest, which left Li Ji'an somewhat puzzled.

Vmm— A day later, a sound like a sonic boom rang out high above. The Immortal Seedlings and the emperor in the hall below jolted in unison, then immediately prostrated themselves as they had been trained to do, foreheads touching the ground as they waited reverently.

At that moment, aside from the central Immortal Hall, the entire Immortal Seeking Palace had been sealed off. Every other door and window was covered with a seal, and no one was allowed to witness the immortals' arrival.

Only Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin, in a side room of the annex, stared wide-eyed in astonishment at the unidentified flying object high above. It looked like a little boat.

"A flying boat?" The first thing that came to Li Ji'an's mind was the flying artifact from the xianxia novels he had read before transmigrating.

But before he could think any further, the scene in the sky changed again.

The flying boat abruptly vanished, and a figure in flowing robes appeared, hovering in midair.

Following the plan he had made with Ning Sujin, he quickly circulated his qi and blood to dissolve the False Death Pill tucked beneath his tongue. His entire body went limp, and the two of them slumped together. Only their eyes could still move, barely.

Then a gleam flashed beneath the figure's feet. Carrying him, it dived straight down toward the circular opening above the Immortal Hall, which had been left clear for the Immortal Descends.

"A flying sword!" This time, Li Ji'an saw it clearly. It was indeed a flying sword.

The man's face came into view as well.

He had none of the Immortal Demeanor Li Ji'an had imagined, nor any obvious trace of sinister or demonic energy. He was an ordinary middle-aged man who, at first glance, looked no different from a common Martial Artist in the mortal world. Only the faint disdain and aloofness in his eyes as he surveyed the Immortal Seedlings and the emperor stood out.

After landing in the Immortal Hall, the Immortal Master's flying sword suddenly shrank, then slipped into his sleeve and disappeared. The Immortal Master drifted gracefully to the ground.

"Rise and answer me," the Immortal Master said after landing, his voice calm and detached.

"This humble Zhao Hongsheng leads the ten Immortal Seedlings in paying homage to the Immortal Master. May your life be as long as Heaven itself, and may fortune shine upon you!" The emperor immediately led the way in bowing three times and kowtowing nine times.

"Are these the Immortal Seedlings for this ceremony?" The Immortal Master swept his gaze directly over Ning Yutan and the other nine, his face expressionless.

"In answer to the Immortal Master, these ten are indeed the chosen ones."

"Hmm? You haven't even reached Blood Transformation Perfection? Can you not find any better Immortal Seedlings?" Suddenly, the Immortal Master's gaze sharpened as he fixed it on one of the replacements.

The emperor's face changed instantly. Sweat beaded on his forehead despite himself.

"Please calm your anger, Immortal Master, please calm your anger. There truly was an unexpected mishap this time. It was all because of those damned bandits. They ambushed and killed the Immortal Seedlings—they deserve a thousand deaths..."

"Hmph! Mortal affairs have nothing to do with me. If you're incompetent, I'll find someone else. I don't care who handles matters for me or who receives the reward. I care only about the result."

"Please forgive me, Immortal Master, please forgive me. Please give this humble one another chance. I swear there won't be any more mistakes." The emperor's face was drained of color as he frantically kowtowed.

"If the quality falls again at the next ceremony, you won't even be worthy of meeting me." The Immortal Master gave a cold snort.

"Thank you, Immortal Master, thank you, Immortal Master. I will certainly do everything in my power and will not disappoint you again..." The emperor let out a long breath, but disappointment washed over him as well. The Longevity Immortal Pill promised ten years ago was naturally out of reach now.

The Immortal Master no longer looked at him. He lifted his gaze to the ten Immortal Seedlings, his manner considerably gentler. "You possess immortal bearing and must not fail to honor Heaven's grace. Come with me to the Immortal Realm at once. Once your cultivation bears fruit, do not forget the kindness shown to you today."

"We will obey the Immortal Master's decree!" Ning Yutan and the other nine answered in unison.

"Do not resist!" The Immortal Master nodded and swept his hand through the air. All ten Immortal Seedlings rose with him, slowly ascending into the sky.

Once they passed through the circular opening above the hall, the Immortal Master released the flying boat from earlier. It swelled against the wind and received them aboard.

Without pausing for even an instant, it turned into a streak of light and shot toward the northern horizon...

At dawn the next day,

With the Immortal Master gone, the Immortal Hall, which had been heavily guarded in recent days, returned to its usual emptiness. Apart from a few eunuchs and palace maids on duty, not a single guard remained.

"So this is immortality!" The effects of the medicine were beginning to wear off slowly for Li Ji'an and Ning Sujin. They could move their faces again and speak.

But at that moment, both of them were lost in their own thoughts and said nothing.

"Strictly speaking, he was a cultivator!" Li Ji'an had finally formed a clear idea of what immortals in this world were.

He was very satisfied with the result.

There was no need to say much about the strange path. Compared with divine cultivation or the Immortal Realms of the Primordial World and the like, those paths had far too high a starting point. Their mysterious divine powers and Immortal Methods were too profound and made no sense. His secret of "returning to youth" might not stay hidden, and the danger was too great.

In a world where mortals cultivated immortality, there were certainly dangers at every turn, but of two evils, he would choose the lesser.

As long as he was cautious and steady, and stayed alive, he could accumulate strength over one lifetime after another. Someday, he would become an immortal.

"Sister Jin, has Yutan's ill omen disappeared?" That was the one thing still troubling him.

Ning Sujin came back to herself from her reverie. Seeing Li Ji'an's face pressed against hers, she instinctively tried to move away.

But her whole body was weak and powerless; only her face could manage the smallest movements.

She strained with all her might, but not only did she fail to move away from Li Ji'an's face, their cheeks shifted until their lips met instead.

Their eyes met. Ning Sujin was overcome with embarrassment and anger. She tried to turn her face away, but she had already run out of strength.

Feeling soft, warm lips pressed against his own, Li Ji'an could only sigh helplessly. Ning Sujin was pinning his whole body down, leaving him squeezed into the corner. The wall was right behind his head, making it nearly impossible to turn.

"Can't you move a little?" Seeing that Li Ji'an hadn't even tried to turn his head, Ning Sujin snapped in exasperation.