Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

"Next, you might die."

Jiang Luoyu said, her voice calm and unwavering, as if she were merely stating a simple fact.

Xu Xue'nuo's heart trembled slightly.

For a girl just over five years old, the concept of "death" was still vague and distant. Yet she understood one thing—when a person dies, they are gone forever.

Jiang Luoyu explained, "Mingxin Sword Peak is a forbidden ground of the Wanjian Sect. Apart from outer disciples, whether inner disciples, core disciples, or even true heirs, anyone whose path in swordsmanship becomes clouded in confusion and uncertainty may choose to come here to awaken their sword's heart.

"Those who succeed in awakening their sword's heart can dispel their doubts and firmly establish their resolve.

"But for those who fail—at best, they lose their cultivation; at worst, they perish entirely, their Dao coming to an end.

"Mingxin Sword Peak has another name: Burial Sword Peak.

"This place was once an ordinary mountain, filled with streams and forests. However, the former Sect Master of the Wanjian Sect established a rule:

"All who fail here must plant their life-bound flying sword into the peak.

"Over the past thousand years, the peak has been filled with countless swords. The sword energy and intent left behind have turned this place into a land of death."

Jiang Luoyu placed her hand gently on Xu Xue'nuo's head.

"In the year since you joined the Wanjian Sect, I have only taught you some basic mental techniques, literacy, and a few fundamentals of swordsmanship.

"You have not yet truly stepped onto the path of the sword.

"You may be wondering—if you haven't even embarked on the sword's path, how can you awaken your sword's heart?"

Xu Xue'nuo nodded.

Jiang Luoyu turned her gaze toward the cave ahead.

"That's because my swordsmanship requires you to awaken your sword's heart first.

"The path of the sword is like a road. Some people lose their way as they walk it, but that's fine—they can always return to the road and continue forward.

"But my swordsmanship demands that you walk this road unwaveringly from the very beginning. If you lose your way, you will never find it again.

"So, Xue'nuo, before you even set foot on the sword's path, you must understand where your road lies. Once you take that step, there will be no turning back.

"However, I will not force you.

"You can choose not to enter. I will arrange for another elder to teach you. With proper guidance, you will still become a fine sword cultivator."

Xu Xue'nuo lowered her small head, her brows furrowing in thought.

Jiang Luoyu did not rush her. She simply stood quietly by her side, waiting for her decision.

"Master, how old were you when you went in?" Xu Xue'nuo finally asked, looking up at Jiang Luoyu.

Jiang Luoyu thought for a moment. "Four."

"...," Xu Xue'nuo pressed her thin lips tightly together.

After a long pause, she asked again, "If I don't go in and instead study under another elder, can I become the strongest sword cultivator in the world?"

Jiang Luoyu considered her question and shook her head. "No, you cannot."

Xu Xue'nuo then asked, "If I go in and succeed, learning your swordsmanship—then what?"

Jiang Luoyu thought again. "It's possible."

Xu Xue'nuo clenched her fists tightly. When the little girl finally raised her head again, her determination was clear. "Then, Master, I will go in!"

Jiang Luoyu shook her head once more. "You don't have to be the best."

Xu Xue'nuo's lips quivered slightly as she replied firmly, "I want to be the best."

"Are you sure?" Jiang Luoyu asked one last time. "If you fail, you will never see your mother again, nor anyone else you care about."

Xu Xue'nuo nodded, her small face pale with nervousness. "I'm sure."

"Very well."

Jiang Luoyu asked no further questions. She gently placed her slender hand on Xu Xue'nuo's back and gave her a soft push forward.

Before Xu Xue'nuo fully realized what had happened, she was already inside the cave. Behind her came her master's parting words:

"Remember, just keep moving forward."

The cave was pitch dark, yet Xu Xue'nuo discovered she could faintly make out her surroundings.

Step by step, Xu Xue Nuo walked deeper into the cave. Suddenly, she felt a long sword pierce through her body, and an intense pain surged through her entire being.

Lying on the ground, Xu Xue Nuo clutched her abdomen tightly, unable to scream from the agony.

When the pain subsided slightly, she slowly crawled up and continued walking forward. Blade after blade of sword energy tore through her body, and with each step, it felt like chunks of her flesh were being carved off.

It was hard to imagine how such a young girl could endure all of this.

"Mother…"

After walking for what felt like an eternity, Xu Xue Nuo saw her mother.

Just as she took a step toward her, her mother stared coldly at the young girl, raising a finger and saying, "Why, why must you be born a daughter?"

Xu Xue Nuo froze, her entire body turning icy cold. She wanted to say something, but the words wouldn't come out.

"Keep moving forward." Remembering her master's words, Xu Xue Nuo shut her eyes, covered her ears, and continued walking.

But Xu Xue Nuo found that even with her eyes closed and ears covered, she could still see and hear everything happening inside the cave.

She kept walking forward, step by step, until she lost her balance and fell into a deep pool of water.

Xu Xue Nuo didn't know how deep the pool was—she only felt herself sinking endlessly.

Struggling to swim upward, she saw her mother blocking her path. Her mother's words pierced through her body like needles.

"An innate sword bone… What a useless innate sword bone."

"Sister, why does Mother hate you so much?"

"What's the point of learning the sword? What's the use of being a so-called lofty Sword Immortal? Can you help your brother obtain the hereditary title?"

"From today onward, you are removed from the family."

"Leave."

Xu Xue Nuo slowly stopped struggling.

It felt like everything about her life had lost its meaning.

"So what? Life isn't just about cultivation. And you—didn't that elder sister say you have an incredible innate sword bone? Why are you crying?"

Just as Xu Xue Nuo was about to completely close her eyes, the voice of a bastard child drifted into her ears.

Dazed, the young girl opened her eyes and saw the courtyard—and her past self, crying.

"You weren't driven out of the house. You were removed from the Xu family registry so that you wouldn't be affected by Wu State's national fate. I guess that's about right."

"Alright, alright. You're going to be a great Sword Immortal in the future. And if your brother can't obtain the title, what does that have to do with you? It's his own fault for being incompetent."

"Who said no one likes you? Lady Qin likes you. Qing Wan likes you. My mother likes you. Even the big white goose likes you."

"Fine. I like you too."

"Here, take this. If you ever get bullied, come to Wan Jian Sect to find me."

"Alright, but what if I can't make it to Wan Jian Sect?"

"Then recite my name every night before you sleep."

"Why?"

"Sister Chun Yan said that if someone recites another's name every day and one day stops, that person will feel restless. At that time, I'll definitely come to find you."

"Tsk, just a bastard child… So annoying," Xu Xue Nuo muttered irritably as she sank deeper and deeper, but a faint smile curled at the corners of her lips.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous boom echoing across the Wan Jian Sect, everyone turned to look in the same direction.

A pillar of sword energy erupted from the forbidden grounds, soaring into the sky. One after another, longswords emerged from the stone ground of Mingxin Sword Peak, piercing straight through the clouds, connecting heaven and earth.

In Tianji City, an old man slowly opened his eyes.

Lifting his head, he moved his fingers in calculation, then smiled while shaking his head. In his eyes was a mix of surprise, admiration, and deep emotion.

With a wave of his hand, a sheet of white paper flew out, spreading across the world.

At that very moment—

The Four Sacred Lands, the Five Great Sects,

The lands of the Northern Wilderness barbarians,

The Kingdom of Ten Thousand Demons in the Southern Desolation,

The Western Demon Cult and Buddhist Nation,

And the ten great human dynasties of the East—

Countless sects and kingdoms, large and small, witnessed the same scene.

Even Xu Ming, who was carrying heavy loads while running laps in a courtyard, instinctively lifted his head.

Above, a sheet of white paper appeared in the sky, and words began to emerge upon it:

[Xu Xue Nuo, five years old, enters the Cave Mansion Realm.

Her life-bound flying sword: Qingming.

Ranked tenth on the Qingyun List.]