We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 578: If I Can Successfully Emerge from Seclusion, May I Become Young Master’s Concubine?

Ten years passed.

Xiao Mo’s injuries had already healed completely, and his cultivation realm had reached the late stage of the Jade Pith Realm.

Meanwhile, the great war between the Human Alliance and the Demon Alliance had ignited once more, burning even hotter than before.

Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng returned to the battlefield to resist the Demon Alliance’s assault.

Looking back, Tushan Meng and Tushan Jingci had once often appeared at the very front of the battle formations.

But now, their figures could no longer be found anywhere on the battlefield.

Rumor had it that Tushan Jingci had already reached the middle stage of the Immortal Realm and was currently cultivating bitterly in seclusion, attempting to break through in one stroke into the late stage of the Immortal Realm.

If that rumor was true, then once an upper three realms cultivator entered seclusion, a hundred years could pass in the blink of an eye. For many years to come, no one would be able to see Tushan Jingci.

As for Tushan Meng, the rumor was that because of that vast spell formation, she simply could not get away.

But no matter what, after another fifty years of slaughter and tempering on the battlefield, together with dual practice with Gui Junmeng every night, the bottleneck of Xiao Mo’s late-stage Jade Pith Realm gradually began to loosen as well.

Gui Junmeng, too, was steadily advancing toward the late stage of the Immortal Realm.

By now, Gui Junmeng’s cultivation progress had completely caught up with Tushan Jingci’s.

On the other side, Liu Shui, who had always stayed beside Xiao Mo, had also cultivated with extraordinary diligence and had reached the late stage of the Golden Core Realm.

Decades ago, after Liu Shui pressed Xiao Mo’s hand against her chest and was then discovered by Gui Junmeng, she had indeed run out in shy embarrassment and shut herself in her room.

But Liu Shui also knew that she could not keep avoiding them forever.

In the end, Liu Shui still walked out of the courtyard.

A few days later, when the several of them met again, although it was somewhat awkward, neither Xiao Mo nor Gui Junmeng brought up that matter again.

After that, as if the three of them had reached a tacit understanding, they continued living as they had before.

Although Liu Shui had not been taken by Xiao Mo as a concubine, in truth, the way Liu Shui looked after Xiao Mo’s daily life was already not much different from that of a concubine.

Another twenty years passed.

Liu Shui’s cultivation realm did not advance in the slightest.

Just as Xiao Mo had expected, Liu Shui’s talent was ultimately limited. The Golden Core Realm was likely her limit, and it would be difficult for her to make any greater breakthrough.

But Sister Liu Shui desperately wanted to break through into the Nascent Soul Realm.

Xiao Mo vaguely felt that the reason Sister Liu Shui was so anxious might have been because she had been affected and stimulated by him and Junmeng.

His and Gui Junmeng’s cultivation realms had indeed risen extremely quickly.

But the problem was, looking across all existence, how many people could cultivate as quickly as he did?

Gui Junmeng noticed that Liu Shui’s dao heart was somewhat unstable, so she wanted Xiao Mo to go and advise her.

In truth, even without Gui Junmeng saying anything, Xiao Mo had already intended to do so.

In the days that followed.

Xiao Mo deliberately found several opportunities to speak with Liu Shui heart-to-heart, tactfully telling her that the Golden Core Realm was already very impressive.

What Xiao Mo said was also the truth. In any sect, a Golden Core Realm cultivator was already an elder-level figure, and their lifespan could reach a thousand years.

The overwhelming majority of cultivators could never reach Sister Liu Shui’s realm.

“Sister Liu Shui, you are only a little over two hundred years old right now. The road ahead is still very long. Just walk forward steadily. Perhaps in the future, you will encounter an opportunity and step into the Nascent Soul Realm.”

Listening to Xiao Mo’s words, Liu Shui lowered her head, and a trace of disappointment quietly passed through her eyes...

“Young Master... I know...”

Liu Shui raised her head and looked at Xiao Mo seriously, her voice carrying a few complicated notes.

“It is only that, Young Master, I still know the depth of my own cultivation talent.”

“Although I reached the late stage of the Golden Core Realm when I was only a little over two hundred years old, and at first glance my cultivation truly seems extremely fast, all of this was only because I happened to encounter a cultivation method suited to my constitution.”

“Daoist Yunxi knew long ago that my talent was limited, and that it would be as hard as climbing to heaven for me to enter the Nascent Soul Realm in the future. My spirit root was originally suited to exerting strength in the early stages of cultivation.”

“That is why the Dao Cloud Art Daoist Yunxi passed on to me allowed my cultivation to go smoothly from the very beginning. I used only two hundred years to cultivate to the Golden Core Realm, but as my age and realm increase, cultivation will become more and more difficult for me...”

“Of course, Young Master, I am not saying this because I blame Daoist Yunxi. Before Daoist Yunxi taught me the Dao Cloud Art, she had already explained the gains and losses to me.”

“But... I still want to take one step forward... while the gate to the Nascent Soul Realm has not completely closed, I want to try.”

“Otherwise, if another hundred years pass... then I truly will have no hope left...”

She drew in a deep breath, stubbornness showing in her gaze. “Young Master, next month, I want to go to another Human Alliance army for tempering. I cannot keep letting Young Master protect me.”

Xiao Mo wanted to refuse.

But looking into those stubborn eyes of hers.

Xiao Mo knew—what right did he have to stop Sister Liu Shui from pursuing the Great Dao?

In the end, Xiao Mo nodded and agreed.

For the next forty years, Liu Shui fought across another battlefront, charging at the very front of every major battle.

On the battlefield, between life and death, and through the tempering of demon blood, her cultivation realm finally broke through to the perfected Golden Core Realm.

But while Liu Shui was carrying out a raid mission, she encountered a Demon Alliance ambush.

She burned her essence blood and only then managed to break out of the encirclement.

After Xiao Mo received the news, he immediately followed the talisman script he had left on Liu Shui and went to find her.

By the time Xiao Mo saw her, Liu Shui was drenched in blood, her aura faint and dying.

Because Liu Shui’s injuries were too severe, she could no longer remain at the front line, so Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng brought her back to Seeking Immortality Temple.

Xiao Mo saved Liu Shui’s life.

But Liu Shui had lost far too much essence blood. Not only had the foundation of her cultivation realm been damaged, even her lifespan had been affected.

Unless Liu Shui could break through into the Nascent Soul Realm, gain another thousand years of lifespan, and at the same time comprehend the Great Dao laws of the Nascent Soul Realm, using the power of heaven and earth to repair her damaged foundation on her own...

Otherwise, she likely had only a hundred years left to live.

After Liu Shui woke, she only sat quietly in the courtyard every day, silent and still, as though thinking about something.

Gui Junmeng often stayed by her side, but she did not know how to comfort her and could only keep watch in silence.

Three years later.

When Liu Shui’s injuries had improved slightly, she made a decision.

That night, Liu Shui rose from the stone stool in the courtyard, walked toward Xiao Mo’s courtyard, reached out, and gently knocked on his door.

“Sister Liu Shui...” Xiao Mo opened the door and looked at Liu Shui standing outside, slightly startled.

“Young Master, I apologize for disturbing you so late...” Liu Shui dipped in a bow, a faint blush quietly rising over her cheeks. “There are some things I would like to say to Young Master. Young Master... could you walk with me for a while?”

“Of course.” Xiao Mo nodded and stepped aside. “Sister Liu Shui, please.”

“Thank you, Young Master...”

Liu Shui dipped in thanks once more.

Half an incense stick later.

The two of them were walking through the forest.

The moonlight was like water, falling soundlessly over them, stretching their shadows very, very long, dragging them slowly across the bluestone path.

The two walked side by side beneath the moonlight. Around them, the summer cicadas kept calling, their cries rising and falling, each one louder than the last.

“Young Master... I plan to enter seclusion and attempt to break through into the Nascent Soul Realm...”

After a long while, Liu Shui spoke softly, firmness in her tone.

Hearing Liu Shui’s words, Xiao Mo could not help frowning slightly. His voice carried both gravity and concern. “Sister Liu Shui, attempting to break through into the Nascent Soul Realm is no small matter... Have you truly decided?”

Xiao Mo did not advise her against it directly. He only hoped Sister Liu Shui could think it through properly.

Although Sister Liu Shui now had only a hundred years of lifespan left, if assisted by some superior rare cultivation treasures, perhaps she could still extend her life by another hundred years.

In two hundred years, what kind of opportunity she might encounter was impossible to say.

“I have decided.”

Liu Shui nodded seriously, her gaze firm, without the slightest wavering.

“What use is there in continuing to drag this out? Naturally, I know breaking through to the Nascent Soul Realm is incomparably dangerous, but I want to try.”

She paused, her voice gentle yet stubborn.

“Actually, before I was injured, I had already planned to return to Seeking Immortality Temple after completing that raid mission and attempt to break through into the Nascent Soul Realm.”

“Although an accident happened, perhaps it was not a bad thing. At the very least, it made my resolve to break through into the Nascent Soul Realm even stronger.”

“Only, Young Master...”

Liu Shui turned around and looked deeply at Xiao Mo. In those faintly trembling eyes hid a careful, cautious hope.

“There is one thing I have always wanted to say to Young Master, but I never dared to say it aloud...”

“Sister Liu Shui, there is no harm in saying it,” Xiao Mo replied softly.

“If... I mean, if...” Liu Shui lightly bit her thin lip, her voice unconsciously lowering, as though she were afraid of startling something. “If this time, I can successfully emerge from seclusion... may I become Young Master’s concubine?”

“Sister Liu Shui...” Xiao Mo was just about to speak when Liu Shui gently stepped forward, raised a finger, and pressed it against his lips.

“Young Master does not need to tell me the answer now...”

Liu Shui’s eyes trembled slightly as she looked deeply into his. In that gaze were hope, unease, and a few traces of almost humble pleading.

“After I emerge from seclusion... Young Master can tell me the answer then, all right?”

Seeing how careful she looked, as though terrified of being refused, Xiao Mo’s heart sank slightly.

A short while later, Xiao Mo nodded and said in a low voice, “Sister Liu Shui... I understand...”

“Thank you, Young Master...”

Liu Shui smiled and dipped in a deep bow.

“I have no other important matters. I want to walk here a little longer and sort out my thoughts. Young Master should go back and rest well.”

“During this period of preparation before seclusion, if Sister Liu Shui needs anything, just tell me and Junmeng. We will certainly do everything we can to help,” Xiao Mo said sincerely.

“All right...” Liu Shui curved her eyes and nodded gently, her voice soft as a wisp of spring breeze.

“Then I will head back first.” Xiao Mo cupped his hands in farewell, turned, and walked back the way they had come.

Liu Shui stood where she was, staring blankly at Xiao Mo’s figure. Her gaze followed him as he walked farther away step by step, as though she wanted to engrave his back into her heart.

When Xiao Mo had completely disappeared into the moonlight, Liu Shui gathered the strands of hair drifting in the wind, curved her eyes in a faint smile, and spoke in a voice so soft it almost scattered with the breeze.

“Young Master... being able to meet you was truly wonderful...”

...

The next day.

Liu Shui began making all kinds of preparations to enter seclusion and attempt to break through into the Nascent Soul Realm.

As for so-called Nascent Soul formation, to put it in simpler terms, it meant making one’s soul fully condense into an independent Nascent Soul.

Even if the physical body were destroyed in the future, the Nascent Soul could still survive, whether by seizing another person’s body or by relying on rare cultivation treasures to reshape a physical body. Both were possible paths.

So before entering seclusion, Liu Shui had to expel the impurities from the spiritual power in her body and condense that spiritual power.

After all, a Nascent Soul could only be nurtured inside the body of a cultivator whose spiritual power was pure enough.

In addition, Liu Shui also needed to take some pills that could nourish the soul and strengthen the power of the soul, thereby increasing her chances of forming a Nascent Soul.

Beyond that, Liu Shui also had to rely on spell formations and certain specific cultivation methods to clear away all distracting thoughts in her heart, bringing her inner self to its calmest possible state.

Because when forming a Nascent Soul, the most crucial step was to face one’s inner demon directly.

And before entering seclusion, the calmer one’s heart was, the less likely one was to be bewitched by the inner demon.

Of course, the effect of this kind of preparation was limited.

Otherwise, so many people would not fall before the trial of the inner demon.

During the period in which Liu Shui was preparing, Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng used their own military merit to exchange for many precious rare cultivation treasures for her.

As long as something could increase her chances of forming a Nascent Soul by even the slightest amount, Xiao Mo was never stingy.

Liu Shui tried hard to refuse.

But how could Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng possibly let her refuse?

“Thank you, Young Master and Junmeng...” Unable to decline in the end, Liu Shui looked at the storage pouch the two handed to her and could only accept it.

She lowered her head, her small hands gripping the pouch’s opening tightly. “Even if I cannot emerge from seclusion smoothly this time, if there is a next life, I will surely repay you both.”

“Sister Liu Shui, please do not say such things.” Gui Junmeng shook her head gently, reached out, and held Liu Shui’s hand, her voice soft. “I believe Sister Liu Shui will definitely emerge from seclusion safely.”

Liu Shui smiled faintly, showing that she would definitely not disappoint Gui Junmeng.

But everyone knew.

How could stepping into the Nascent Soul Realm possibly be easy?

A single thought during seclusion could very well be the line between life and death.

...

A year passed.

Liu Shui’s preparations were more or less complete. She could enter seclusion now.

Xiao Mo and Gui Junmeng found her a blessed grotto-heaven abundant in spiritual power, and personally built a spell formation for her to serve as her place of seclusion.

After Liu Shui stepped into the blessed grotto-heaven, the spell formation activated.

Seeking Immortality Temple would have disciples take turns standing watch outside the spell formation, guarding the way for Liu Shui.

And it was in the second month after Liu Shui entered seclusion.

Xiao Mo, who had already reached the perfected completion of the Jade Pith Realm, also entered seclusion to break through toward the Immortal Realm.

In the second year of Xiao Mo’s seclusion, Gui Junmeng sensed something as well and also entered seclusion, attempting to break through to the late stage of the Immortal Realm.

In the twelfth year of Xiao Mo’s seclusion.

A tremendous sound rang out from the Tushan clan grounds.

With Moon God Mountain at the center, the earth for tens of thousands of miles around shook.

Circles of spiritual-power ripples spread into the distance, reaching as far as a million miles away.

The Great Dao laws around Tushan shattered, then condensed anew. One obscure and difficult-to-understand immortal sound after another drifted out.

Such an enormous disturbance drew endless speculation from the other demon clans and the humans. None of them knew what Tushan was doing.

“It’s done!”

Yuan stood on a mountaintop, looking at the grand formation that had officially been completed. Her fingers clutched her sleeves tightly, and in those usually indifferent eyes appeared an incomparable heat.

“Sister... little sister... wait just a little longer...”

“Yuan will soon... bring you back...”