Only after unifying the world did I realize that immortals existed in this world.

The day after the meeting in the Mingtang Hall, at Zhaolin Pavilion.

A game of chess between a ruler and his ministers, black and white pieces intertwined.

"【Taihua Qi Cultivation Technique】?"

The ancient book was inscribed with a few powerful characters.

Xie Cangrong looked on with great interest, casually flipping through a few pages, which were filled with complicated and difficult-to-understand incantations and methods of meridian circulation.

He looked up at Liu Bingxuan: "Is this the cultivation technique of a cultivator?"

Liu Bingxuan sat opposite the chessboard, quietly watching the game before him, and smiled, "That's right! This is the basic cultivation technique practiced by disciples of the Taihua Sect. Disciples of the Taihua Sect can use this to comprehend and cultivate, and combine it with their own physical characteristics to learn related techniques under the guidance of their masters."

"One can cultivate up to the fifth realm, [Guarding One]."

Xie Cangrong raised an eyebrow: "[Shouyi]?"

His conversation with Chu Xiangyun was very casual. Even a pure person has her own sensitivity. If you are too purposeful, you won't be able to make friends.

Although Xie Cangrong had heard of the different realms of cultivators, he did not understand the specific details involved, and it was not what he most wanted to know.

Liu Bingxuan smiled and explained to Xie Cangrong, "The first realm of a cultivator is 'Sitting in Oblivion,' where one forgets external things and senses the existence of the Dao. The second realm is 'Fasting of the Heart,' a state of emptiness and clarity where one washes away all distracting thoughts. The third realm is 'Breathing Inhalation,' where one inhales and exhales the spiritual energy of heaven and earth to build the foundation of the Dao body. The fourth realm is 'Guiding,' which guides the flow of Qi and blood, ensuring the smooth flow of all meridians. The fifth realm is 'Guarding the One,' where one embraces the primordial essence and guards the oneness, achieving unity of essence, Qi, and spirit."

"This is just the most general explanation. It's the ideal state that cultivators hope to achieve, but in reality, everyone's experience is different. One can also force a breakthrough through secret techniques, resources, opportunities, etc. Cultivators should try their best to control themselves and get closer to this state. The closer one's state of mind and body is to this state, the higher the cultivation efficiency and the faster the progress. Conversely, one needs to endure hardship and invest resources. This is what is meant by cultivation being the cultivation of the mind."

"The higher the cultivation realm, the better the cultivator's condition, the more extraordinary characteristics they will exhibit, the higher their accumulated mana, and the more powerful spells they can use. For example, a cultivator in the first realm might only be able to feel mana flowing within their body, slightly stronger than an ordinary person, with an accumulation of only a tiny grain of millet, and cannot use spells. In the second realm, mana accumulates to the size of a bowl, and they can use simple spells... In the fifth realm, they can achieve the Three Flowers Gathering at the Top and the Five Qi Converging at the Origin, allowing them to ride the wind freely and roam at will."

Xie Cangrong looked at him with interest: "Looks like they've told you quite a bit! Now they're not hiding anything anymore?"

"Snapped!"

As the chess piece was placed on the board, Liu Bingxuan smiled and said, "It's all thanks to His Majesty's cooperation that Envoy Lu personally came to my residence today to answer my questions!"

This book was a gift from Liu Bingxuan when he sent that letter.

The significance of that letter lies not only in the information it contained, but more importantly in the meaning behind it.

In the eyes of cultivators, Liu Bingxuan sending this letter was already a pledge of allegiance, a very clear statement of taking sides.

After all, this letter was evidence that could give others cause for suspicion. It had been delivered to Xie Cangrong's doorstep. Even if the king was truly magnanimous and wouldn't break with him, he would still be suspicious of it.

The chain of interests requires mutual binding; the exchange of letters is tantamount to handing over leverage. Logically, the cultivator should also give Liu Bingxuan what he needs, grant him a chance at immortality, and guide him onto the path of cultivation.

After Xiao Zheng suffered a setback in the main hall, before Liu Bingxuan could even offer his condolences, Lu Junfeng personally went to Liu's residence to answer Liu Bingxuan's questions and bring some elixirs out of concern that Liu Bingxuan's aptitude was lacking.

They completely forgot their initial excuse that as a disciple they dared not mislead others.

"Snapped!"

Xie Cangrong placed his piece and asked Liu Bingxuan, "Didn't I ask you for anything?"

Liu Bingxuan shook his head: "No."

"They're quite composed."

Xie Cangrong chuckled, waved the book in his hand, and asked him, "Have you practiced this cultivation method?"

Liu Bingxuan did not answer. He simply put down the chess piece in his hand, closed his eyes, sat cross-legged, adjusted his breathing, focused his mind on his dantian, pressed his left thumb against the base of his ring finger, and inserted his right thumb into the tiger's mouth of his left hand, assuming the posture of a cultivator in meditation.

He let out a soft breath, and his entire spirit seemed to change in an instant.

The entire Zhaolin Pavilion fell silent, and an invisible breeze gently blew, causing the curtains to sway softly.

Immediately afterwards, a lead-colored ethereal flower quietly bloomed in his lower dantian! As the energy surged, a silver flower blossomed in his middle dantian, and a golden flower bloomed in his upper dantian! The three flowers hung in the void, and a beam of mysterious light pierced through them from below. The flower shadows swirled and merged, finally transforming into a dazzling pillar of light that pierced straight to the crown of his head!

Liu Bingxuan suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of golden light in them, his demeanor instantly becoming ethereal and otherworldly.

"Is this what the Five Realms of [Guarding One] refer to as the Three Flowers Gathering at the Crown?"

Xie Cangrong was not shocked at all. Instead, he looked at Xuanqing with great interest: "Xuanqing is truly a genius! In just a few days, he has reached a level that cultivators cannot achieve even after many years."

Upon hearing this, Liu Bingxuan finally couldn't hold back any longer. He shook his head and smiled, his ethereal demeanor vanishing in an instant: "As expected, Your Majesty can't hide it from you. Since Your Majesty has seen through it, please don't laugh at me. I don't pursue immortality, so I can't possibly cultivate. This is just an empty shell! I haven't cultivated any magical power."

Xie Cangrong laughed and said, "You didn't cultivate any magical power, but Xuanqing has cultivated something else."

Liu Bingxuan raised his head, full of vigor and self-assurance, and said, "If Qi Xiu can forge his own path, why can't I?"

"My way is to use strategy to influence the world and words to overturn mountains and rivers."

He knew what kind of person Xie Cangrong was, so he made no attempt to restrain himself from pursuing his goals.

Xie Cangrong couldn't help but exclaim, "Xuan Qing, what a spirit!"

He was someone who stood on the shoulders of giants, a person with extraordinary abilities, while the person in front of him was truly a homegrown genius.

Some are capable ministers in prosperous times, while others are talented strategists in chaotic times.

Liu Bingxuan belonged to the latter category.

With the Great Xia Dynasty at peace and the world undisturbed, he settled down to be a subject of the Great Xia, and his brilliance gradually faded.

Although he advised Xie Cangrong to rest and recuperate, this was only what he believed to be the right thing to say.

But deep down, he felt that this peaceful and prosperous era was not as exciting as the time when he fought for supremacy and rose up in rebellion.

As long as Xie Cangrong is there, the Great Xia will not fall into chaos.

Calm as still water is what everyone hopes to see, but... it's a bit boring.

The appearance of the cultivators made him aware of another, more expansive world, and his passion was ignited.

The stage of this world has become interesting again.

His aim was to assess the situation, maneuver strategically, strategize effectively, and instigate the global landscape.

To contend with Heaven, to contend with Earth, to contend with man—there is no end to the joy.

Liu Bingxuan gave Xie Cangrong a deep look and smiled, "I can't compare to His Majesty's spirit."

Where in the world can one find a monarch with such magnanimity who can tolerate him?