Cultivating Immortality from the Book of Life and Death

Chapter 356 Xuanyuan Pavilion Cave Abode. (First Update!)

Thinking of this, Zheng Que followed Lu Maohong outside and said, "Lord Xiang asked me to participate in the Immortal Examination."

"I have already agreed."

"Senior Lu, how much do you know about this Immortal Trial?"

Upon hearing about the Immortal Examination, Lu Maohong frowned immediately, but after glancing at the cultivation levels of the two ghost servants beside Zheng Que, his expression quickly softened.

He didn't answer the question immediately, but quickened his pace and led Zheng Que outside.

A moment later, the two left through the gate. After being warmly seen off by two constables at the entrance, they hurried away and entered a quiet alley with high walls on both sides. Only then did Lu Maohong finally speak: "Zheng Que, why did you have to participate in the Immortal Examination?"

"With your aptitude, it will take you ten to twenty or thirty years at most to reach the Foundation Establishment stage."

"For us cultivators, this amount of lifespan is nothing."

"Why take such a risk for the sake of temporary cultivation speed?"

Upon hearing this, Zheng Que was not surprised. Lu Maohong didn't even know that Foundation Establishment was divided into Human Grade, Earth Grade, and Heaven Grade, let alone the Dao Heart mentioned by the Prefect.

In a flash, Zheng Que shook his head and said directly, "Senior Lu, participating in the Immortal Trial can help build a better foundation for your Dao."

"Moreover, although Lord Xiang didn't say it to me explicitly, he hinted that this immortal test is related to my future core formation."

"Cultivators who do not participate in the immortal examination will not receive much from the imperial court."

A better foundation?
Forming a pill?

Lu Maohong was stunned for a moment, but quickly understood. The prefect must have told Zheng Que a lot about cultivation.

This kind of knowledge is something that ordinary independent cultivators simply cannot access.

Even for a cultivator like him who belongs to the imperial court and has worked tirelessly for it for decades, no one would come to tell him because he has no superiors!
Thinking of this, Lu Maohong's expression immediately turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "I don't know much about the imperial examination."

"In the past few decades, Hengshui County, which we just encountered, has produced a few young cultivators who have participated in the Immortal Examination."

"However, all those cultivators died; not a single one passed the immortal test..."

"I wonder if those worshippers in Hengshui County know anything about the Immortal Examination."

"I'll go visit them later and ask them for you, but it will take a little time."

Zheng Que listened and nodded slightly.

With his current strength, he is not afraid of the Celestial Trial.

But while we may not be afraid, we must still make the necessary preparations.

If Lu Maohong could help him find out information about the Immortal Examination, that would be ideal.

If that doesn't work, then we'll think of another way...

Thinking of this, Zheng Que immediately said, "Thank you, Senior Lu!"

"By the way, Lord Xiang just lent me his cave dwelling in Xuanyuan Pavilion to stay in."

"But right now, I don't recognize the path to this Xuanyuan Pavilion cave..."

Upon hearing this, Lu Maohong burst into laughter, saying with satisfaction, "Good lad!"

"It seems that the Prefect values ​​you highly."

"I will take you there now!"

As he spoke, he turned Zheng Que around and immediately headed in one direction.

After leaving the alley, you immediately enter a street. Although this street is not the main street, it is densely packed with shops on both sides and bustling with pedestrians. The people coming and going all carry spiritual energy and yin energy, and are mostly cultivators.

Amid the bustling scene, there were many traces of ghost servants and corpse puppets, all with their heads bowed and eyes lowered, closely following their masters.

This kind of liveliness was quite different from the liveliness of Taiping County, and even had a sense of yin and yang living together. On the way, Zheng Que gave Lu Maohong a general explanation of the situation of human character, earth character, and heavenly character Dao foundation.

Lu Maohong listened very attentively. Although he was now working for the imperial court, he was originally a rogue cultivator and would not normally have access to such information.

Unfortunately, he realized this too late; it was no longer possible for him to establish a Heavenly Rank Dao Foundation.

The local resources are also severely lacking...

As they spoke, the surroundings became increasingly quiet, and soon a huge archway appeared before them, with a line of ancient seal script characters written on it: "Xuanyuan Pavilion Qingrao Prefecture Cave Branch".

Behind the archway was a square, and Zheng Que looked toward the square.

The square seemed boundless, with no end in sight. It was empty except for a chain extending from the ground in the middle.

The chains soared upwards, connecting to a floating island in the air.

The floating island was shrouded in clouds and mist, its shadows indistinct. All that could be seen was a chain extending from this island to an even higher floating island.

And so, the floating islands, linked by chains, spiraled upwards, disappearing into the depths of the sky, beyond the reach of the naked eye.

The scene is magnificent and spectacular, but it can only be seen up close.

Whether it was before entering the city and looking out over the entire Qingrao Prefecture, or just now when the two of them were in the distance, it seemed as if there was an array obscuring the view, and they couldn't see anything.

At this moment, the archway and the square were completely deserted, with no guards in sight.

Lu Maohong was not surprised at all. Standing under the archway, looking up at the floating islands, he said to Zheng Que, "This is the cave dwelling that Xuanyuan Pavilion opened in the prefectural city."

“Every floating island we see now is a separate cave.”

“Each cave dwelling is personally crafted by top array masters, with a series of arrays set up to gather spirits, dispel yin, isolate aura, sound, and curses, prevent eavesdropping and divination, and replenish qi and nourish beauty…”

"It is said that on each of these floating islands, a high-level cultivator has migrated a spiritual vein there, which is why the islands are rich in spiritual energy and have an inexhaustible supply."

"Unfortunately, the cost of cultivation here is extremely high, and it is not something that ordinary people can do."

"You have gained the favor of the prefect and are fortunate enough to enter. You must seize the time to cultivate and not waste a single second!"

"Otherwise, it would be a waste of resources!"

Zheng Que nodded and said, "Okay!"

Lu Maohong continued, "This place is protected by an array. Without the key to enter the caves, you cannot get close to them. Take out the key, infuse it with spiritual power, and you can enter."

Zheng Que took out the jade pendant shaped like a carriage as instructed. After activating it, the jade pendant instantly flew out of his hand and transformed into a real carriage, its shape and outline exactly the same as when it was the jade pendant.

"Sorry..."

The moment the carriage appeared, a semi-transparent steed immediately materialized in front of it, raising its head and neighing. The carriage opened automatically, and a suction force pulled Zheng Que and his two ghost servants into the carriage. The steed's hooves left the ground, and it immediately galloped towards one of the floating islands.

Seeing this scene, Lu Maohong's face flashed with envy, and he immediately transmitted his voice and said, "Zheng Que, I live in the fifth house on the left in Dingjia Lane in the west of the city, with a lantern with the character 'Lu' hanging in front of my door."

"I should be able to find out about the immortal examination for you by tomorrow."

"Come find me tomorrow around 3 PM."

Sitting in the carriage, Zheng Que watched as Qingrao Prefecture grew smaller and smaller beneath his feet. Clouds and mist passed through the window, yet the carriage felt as smooth as if it were flat ground, without the slightest bump. He clicked his tongue in amazement and loudly replied, "Excellent!"

The swift horses pulled the carriage nimbly through the air, and soon, through layers of white clouds, they approached a floating island shrouded in mist.

The floating island was surrounded by thick fog, which completely obscured it, making it impossible to see any details except for the lush trees and its slightly elongated shape.

The carriage plunged into the interior of the floating island, and immediately, thick fog filled the view, making everything a white blur and impossible to see.

This situation lasted for a moment, then suddenly the carriage landed steadily on solid ground, the horse neighed again, and the carriage once more transformed into a jade pendant, falling into Zheng Que's hands.

In an instant, the thick fog around us vanished without a trace, and everything became crystal clear, with our vision no longer affected in the slightest.

(End of this chapter)