A journey through immortal realms begins with a phantom tale.

Luo Cheng was in no hurry to leave. Even taking a shortcut from Fengyuan Star to the Ancient God's Treasury would take three hundred years, while taking a detour would take several thousand years.

In the eyes of immortals, time flows like water, passing in the blink of an eye.

He thought of Lin Mingxing's matter and a smile appeared on his lips: I wonder if Li Qiang has reforged that Xuanjin Stone.

The Xuanjin Stone is an extremely hard material for refining artifacts. Even cultivators at the Mahayana stage cannot break it. It can only be slowly melted with true fire. Therefore, cultivators in Linming Star use it to test their cultivation level.

When Li Qiang first arrived at Linming Star, he wanted to keep a low profile, but when he saw that the Xuanjin Stone was covered with handprints, he used his divine power to smooth them out, then pressed his own palm on top, leaving a large handprint, which shocked the cultivators of Qilong City.

Seeing Luo Cheng catch a ray of light and then take out some glowing stones to play with, Mei Gu and Lu'er were filled with curiosity but dared not disturb him. Only when Luo Cheng fell into deep thought did Mei Gu softly ask, "What was that just now?"

"Just some gems," Luo Cheng said without further explanation.

The little deer blinked her big eyes: "Uncle Luo, are you a god?"

Luo Cheng smiled wryly to himself. He hadn't expected to be interrupted by Li Qiang's message while chatting with the mother and daughter. He patted the little deer's head: "I'll tell you when you're older."

"Mmm!" Little Deer nodded happily, which she took as tacit agreement.

Mei Gu's face darkened; she felt an insurmountable chasm separating her from Luo Cheng. She sighed softly; no wonder he never accepted her. Composing herself, she asked, "Will you leave?"

"meeting."

"When?"

"I don't know yet."

"When you leave, don't just run away quietly, tell me first, okay?"

"it is good."

Having received her answer, Anita Mui slowly stood up: "I'll go cook."

How could Luo Cheng not know her thoughts? It's just that he wouldn't stay here long; someone else was waiting for him.

Three days passed in the blink of an eye. Luo Cheng bought a two-story building near the courtyard, did some simple renovations, hung up a sign, and the restaurant opened. The name of the restaurant was given by Mei Gu, "Fairy Restaurant"—she thought that if he were gone, this restaurant would be a memento.

On the opening day, Luo Cheng handed over a youth-preserving fruit: "To celebrate the opening."

Mei Gu took it: "What kind of fruit is this?"

"The Youth-Preserving Fruit, eating it can keep you young forever."

Mei held the fruit, her heart filled with bitterness: What did he mean by this? Why was he giving her this?

The restaurant hired two chefs. Luo Cheng taught them some mortal cooking skills and then left them to their own devices, continuing to experience the life of an ordinary person.

As business improved, some people from Tiger Village came to visit, some wanting to hear the stories, others wanting to learn the skills.

When Luo Cheng is in a good mood, he tells stories to the children.

In his spare time, Luo Cheng would also teach the children some skills. For example, if they wanted to do business, he would teach them business acumen; if they wanted to become officials, he would teach them the ways of officialdom; and if they wanted to become great generals, he would teach them military strategy and martial arts.

Time flies, and ten years have passed in the blink of an eye.

The children from back then have grown up. Little Deer is sixteen years old and has blossomed into a beautiful young woman. Some of the children who followed Luo Cheng to learn skills went to the capital, some went into business in the small town, some traveled around, and some even became generals.

Anita Mui's appearance remains unchanged, but her eyes have gained a touch of vicissitude.

That day, Luo Xiaolu returned from the restaurant and saw Luo Cheng lying on a chair sunbathing. She scolded him, "Uncle Luo, are you being lazy again? Why don't you go out for a walk?"

"Too lazy to move," Luo Cheng replied with a smile.

After ten years of mortal trials, his cultivation had reached a critical point. He was just one opportunity away from breaking through to the Second Star Heaven, and his realm was stable with no risk of his body exploding. During this time, Li Qiang often sent messages, talking about Lin Mingxing, such as his encounter with a Luo Tian Immortal named Xuan Long.

Luo Xiaolu was at an active age, and she brought up the matter of going to Beijing again: "Uncle Luo, can you talk to my mom and let me go to Beijing for fun?"

In fact, she had mentioned it when she was twelve years old. Mei Gu knew that the capital was thousands of kilometers away from Qiyun Town, and it would take several years to travel by carriage. Children who went there would only send a letter home once every year or two. She did not want her daughter to go so far away, and she was even more afraid that her daughter would encounter danger.

Luo Cheng sat up: "I've been here for ten years, it's time for me to leave."

"Huh?" Luo Xiaolu was startled. She knew he would leave, but she didn't expect it to be so sudden.

No sooner had the words left his mouth than a young man led two people into the courtyard, two of whom were carrying Mei Gu.

"Uncle Luo!" The young man in the lead said with a playful smile.

"It's you?" Luo Xiaolu recognized him and shouted angrily, "Hu Ben, why are you grabbing my mother? Let her go!"

"Whether or not to release him depends on Uncle Luo's decision," Hu Ben said, looking at Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng remained calm, as if it were none of his business.

Luo Xiaolu was both angry and anxious: "Hu Ben, do you have any conscience? Back when you were begging in Qiyun Town, it was Uncle Luo who took you in, taught you kung fu and how to do business. How can you repay kindness with enmity?"

"Don't bring up the past!" Tiger Ben didn't want to recall his days of begging. "Old man, if you know what's good for you, hand over the Youth-Preserving Fruit, or don't blame me for being ruthless with this woman!"

Mei said urgently, "Brother Cheng, don't give it to him!"

Luo Cheng raised his hand and used his teleportation magic, and Mei Gu instantly appeared beside him. He looked at Hu Ben: "You're like a frog in a well, never knowing how high the sky is."

After Luo Cheng finished speaking, he sent Hu Ben to the harsh environment of the Western Continent—whether he could survive depended on his luck.

When Hu Ben's men saw their boss disappear into thin air, their legs went weak with fear.

Luo Cheng glanced at them and said indifferently, "Get lost."

The group felt as if they had been granted a pardon and fled in a sorry state.

Only the three of them remained in the courtyard. Luo Xiaolu remembered Luo Cheng's words, and her eyes reddened: "Mom, Uncle Luo is leaving."

Anita Mui stood there, stunned. She had been prepared, but when the moment actually arrived, she realized she was never ready. Tears streamed down her face, but she couldn't utter a single word.

Luo Cheng pointed a finger, and a golden light flew into Luo Xiaolu's brow. His voice rang directly in her mind: "Little Deer, this is a cultivation technique. If you want to learn it, then study it on your own; if you don't want to learn it, then live an ordinary life."

"Uncle Luo! Uncle Luo!" Luo Xiaolu cried out, but received no response.

After a long while, she said sullenly, "Mom, Uncle Luo is gone."

"Mmm," Mei Gu responded softly, tears streaming down her face.

Will he come back?

Mei remained silent.

Suddenly, Luo Xiaolu remembered something: "That's right, Mom, Uncle Luo gave me a cultivation technique, we can cultivate immortality too!"

"Can we... really do it?" Anita Mui murmured.

As for Luo Cheng, he did not leave directly, but went to the capital.

In the capital, there lived a man named Song Qingshu, who also came from Tiger Village. Years ago, he studied martial arts under Luo Cheng and, disliking his own name as rustic, asked Luo Cheng to give him a new one. Luo Cheng casually suggested "Song Qingshu," which he found very pleasant to hear, and he has used it ever since. After changing his name, his luck seemed to change; after passing numerous examinations, he entered the capital and became a high-ranking official.

Luo Cheng went directly to the Song residence. Song Qingshu was both surprised and delighted to see him, and quickly bowed, saying, "Greetings, Uncle Luo!"

"I never imagined that you would become such a high-ranking official in just ten years."

"It's all thanks to Uncle Luo's guidance."

"I've come to tell you that I'm leaving this planet."

"Uncle Luo..." Song Qingshu said with a face full of reluctance. If it weren't for Luo Cheng, he would still be farming in Tiger Village.

"You've done well these past years," Luo Cheng nodded. "Haven't you always wanted to cultivate immortality? I'll pass on a cultivation technique to you; figure it out yourself."

"Thank you, Uncle Luo!"

Afterwards, Luo Cheng went to see the other children. Those with kind hearts were taught immortal arts; those with impure intentions were all sent to the Western Continent.

With the matter settled, Luo Cheng took a step out and arrived in outer space.

The power of divine strategy surged within his body, breaking through the bottleneck—he stepped into the second stage of divine cultivation, the Second Desire Heaven.

"Finally, I've broken through." Luo Cheng sighed softly. Judging by the time, Lone Star should have reached Lin Star by now.

After breaking through to the second level, he could sense something inexplicable and indescribable within his divine heart. The second stage of cultivating divinity was more difficult than the first.

Luo Cheng took out a communication talisman, and a moment later, a channel appeared in the void, from which came Yuan Gu's gentle voice: "Luo Cheng, congratulations on your breakthrough."

"Master Yuangu, could you please take me to Linmingxing?"

"it is good."