Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

"Ming Gege~~~ Qingwan is here to play with you~~~ Ming Gege~~~"

Early in the morning, Chen Suya was sitting in the courtyard, holding Xu Ming in her arms as they basked in the sun, when a crisp, bell-like voice rang out.

Chen Suya set Xu Ming down and bowed to Lady Qin, who followed closely behind Qin Qingwan. "This humble one greets Lady Qin."

"Chen Jie, we've known each other for three years now. Why so formal?" Lady Qin stepped forward to help Chen Suya up. "I've been busy these past few days and haven't had the chance to visit you and Ming'er. Please forgive me."

"Lady Qin, what are you saying? Everyone in the two houses is thrilled that Miss Qin has been accepted as a disciple by the Grand Elder of the Tianxuan Sect." Chen Suya smiled warmly.

After all, Qin Qingwan and Xu Xuenuo—one being an Innate Sacred Physique and the other an Innate Sword Bone—had already drawn the attention of the Wu Kingdom's court. Both young girls had been summoned to meet the Emperor and later visited the ancestral tomb to offer prayers. They'd only returned yesterday.

"Ming Gege, let's read together!"

Qin Qingwan cheerfully pulled out a book from her arms and handed it to Xu Ming.

Chen Suya glanced at the cover, her expression shifting at the words "Tianxuan Heart Method."

"Miss Qin, this isn't appropriate—"

Before she could finish, Lady Qin gently pressed her hand down. "What's inappropriate? The Master Preceptor herself said Qingwan can share it with whomever she wishes. Chen Jie, you don't need to worry. Let the children play in the courtyard. By the way, I've been wanting to make a pair of embroidered shoes for Qingwan and could use your guidance."

"I…"

Chen Suya still felt it wasn't entirely proper, but Lady Qin had already taken her arm and ushered her into the house.

"Ming Gege, let's read! Xiaobai can read with us too!"

Qin Qingwan excitedly pulled Xu Ming to a bench and made him sit.

The Tianxuan Goose waddled out of its nest and, with a loud "Honk honk honk," jumped up behind them.

"Alright." Xu Ming nodded, not refusing.

He knew this sweet little girl was well-intentioned, wanting to help him cultivate by sharing the book.

Qin Qingwan opened the Tianxuan Heart Method and began reading.

As Xu Ming looked at the words on the page, he rubbed his eyes.

How to put it… He recognized the characters individually, but once they formed sentences, they became completely unintelligible. Worse, when he moved to the second character, he forgot the first.

"Can you understand this, Qingwan?" Xu Ming asked.

"Of course!" Qin Qingwan nodded enthusiastically. "This one is 'mountain,' this one is 'water,' and this one is…"

Qin Qingwan effortlessly recited the Tianxuan Heart Method aloud.

But Xu Ming clearly remembered that Qingwan didn't even know how to read.

To test his theory, Xu Ming wrote the characters "mountain" and "water" in the snow and pointed at them. "What are these?"

Qin Qingwan stared at the characters and then shook her head. "Ming Gege, Qingwan doesn't know."

"…"

She could read the characters in the book but couldn't recognize the same ones written on the ground.

Xu Ming couldn't tell if this book was extraordinary or if it was simply special to Qin Qingwan.

After reading a single line from the Tianxuan Heart Method, several lines of text suddenly appeared in Xu Ming's mind:

[You have read 10 characters from the Tianxuan Heart Method: Dao comprehension +1.]

[Reading the complete Tianxuan Heart Method will unlock the achievement Mini Eternal Spirit Root.]

[Mini Eternal Spirit Root: A cultivable spirit root that grows in quality as you cultivate. With each session, the root will develop further.

Note: Just because it's small doesn't mean it's not cute.]

"…"

Xu Ming's eyebrow twitched. What the heck is a 'Mini Eternal Spirit Root'?

Despite his inner complaints, Xu Ming realized this Eternal Spirit Root might be similar to his Physical Sanctification—both were growth-type talents.

If Physical Sanctification was like a tank stacking HP, then Eternal Spirit Root was like a mage stacking AP.

"Ming Gege, is something wrong?" Qin Qingwan asked when she noticed Xu Ming lost in thought.

"It's nothing, let's keep reading." Xu Ming smiled.

"Mm-hmm." Qin Qingwan nodded and continued reading aloud from the Tianxuan Heart Method.

The Tianxuan Heart Method wasn't very long, and after about half an hour, the two of them had finished reading it.

Xu Ming felt as if something had suddenly sprouted within his body.

A warm current surged through him, making him shiver involuntarily.

When he closed his eyes and focused his thoughts, Xu Ming could clearly see a small sapling growing within his dantian.

Is this a spirit root?

From that day forward, Qin Qingwan came to the Xu family residence every day, bringing the Tianxuan Heart Method with her to read with Xu Ming.

As for Xu Xuenuo, she couldn't join them because just looking at the Tianxuan Heart Method made her feel dizzy and nauseous.

Even Xu Ming could only read it for half an hour a day before feeling the same symptoms.

But Qin Qingwan, on the other hand, remained completely unaffected.

It was clear that people's constitutions could vary greatly.

A year passed, and Xu Ming turned four.

After some probing, he learned that the Xu family estate had a four-hundred-jin stone pillar, which he could barely lift.

As for his Eternal Spirit Root, it remained a small sapling, though it had grown an inch taller compared to when it first appeared.

---

One day, the Sect Master of the Wanjian Sect came personally to the Xu family to take in a disciple.

Xu Xuenuo formally joined the Wanjian Sect.

She had initially wanted to delay her departure, just as Qin Qingwan had done with the Tianxuan Sect, but the Sect Master would not allow it.

The training for sword cultivators was different from that of dao cultivators. Sword cultivation required rigorous practice starting at the age of four or five.

With no other choice, Xu Xuenuo had to leave with the Sect Master.

That day, Qin Qingwan cried loudly, clinging tightly to Xu Xuenuo and refusing to let go.

Xu Xuenuo, too, couldn't hold back her tears and started bawling as well, her cries echoing like the honking of a goose.

"Xu Jiejie, you must come back often to visit," Qin Qingwan said between sobs, sniffling as she spoke.

"I will." Xu Xuenuo nodded and pulled out a red string adorned with a small jade piece engraved with the characters Qingwan. It was as though she had long anticipated this farewell. "This is for you."

"I have a gift for you too, Xu Jiejie."

Qin Qingwan handed over a pendant with a carving of… a snake?

"This is a dragon I carved. It's for you."

"Thank you." Xu Xuenuo put the pendant around her neck.

The Tianxuan Goose, after some hesitation, painfully plucked a feather from its backside and gave it to Xu Xuenuo.

In return, Xu Xuenuo gifted the goose a red string inscribed with the character Goose.

The two girls and the goose then turned their gaze toward Xu Ming.

Xu Ming blinked, then stepped forward and presented his farewell gift. "This stone bracelet is something I picked and polished by the lake."

"It's so ugly." Xu Xuenuo pouted in disdain but quickly snatched the bracelet and put it on her right hand.

"This is for you." Xu Xuenuo handed Xu Ming a red string bracelet engraved with the character Ming. "If anyone bullies you in the future, come to the Wanjian Sect and find me."

"Alright." Xu Ming chuckled. "But what if I can't make it to the Wanjian Sect?"

Xu Xuenuo thought for a moment. "Then every night before you sleep, recite my name once."

Xu Ming was puzzled. "Why?"

"Chunyan Jiejie said that if someone recites another person's name every day and suddenly stops one day, the other person will feel restless."

Xu Xuenuo looked at Xu Ming with utmost seriousness.

"When that time comes, I will come find you."