Cultivating Immortality, Starting from Childhood Sweethearts

[System Rewards Settling…]

[System Rewards Settlement Complete.]

[Detected: Host endured three punches from Wu Kingdom's Grand Pillar, Mo Peinan (Limit-Realm Martial Artist). Martial Intent +100, Physical Strength +100, Skill—Limit-Realm Three Punches acquired.]

[Limit-Realm Three Punches: When the host uses this skill, they can temporarily gain the martial intent of a Limit-Realm Martial Artist, allowing them to comprehend and unleash three punches infused with that intent. The exact power of these punches depends on the host's current cultivation and strength.

Note: The physical burden of Limit-Realm Three Punches is immense. Using this skill may cause severe exhaustion, requiring a long recovery period. The host should exercise caution when using it.]

[Detected: Host engaged in a life-or-death battle with Shen Shengsheng and was pierced through the heart, once again approaching death. However, the host ultimately awakened Shen Shengsheng, leading to the following rewards: Regeneration +50, Fire Resistance +50, Blood Qi +50.]

[Rewards issued.]

[System Reminder: The host has now faced near-death twice. If true death occurs, the system will be powerless to revive you. Please act with caution and avoid reckless behavior.]

As the system's voice faded, Xu Ming's consciousness gradually returned.

"Xu-gege (Brother Xu)! Xu-gege!"

Upon hearing his groan, Shen Shengsheng, who had been keeping watch by his bedside, immediately brightened with joy.

She had been waiting countless days for this moment—finally, Xu Ming had woken up.

"Yanhan-jiejie (Sister Yanhan)! Xu-gege seems to be waking up! Yanhan-jiejie!"

Shen Shengsheng rushed out of the room, calling out to Wu Yanhan, who was in the courtyard preparing medicine.

Wu Yanhan quickly lifted her skirt and hurried inside. A faint trace of soot stained her fair cheeks.

Inside the room, Xu Ming was still letting out weak groans of pain.

Wu Yanhan immediately approached and took his pulse.

Though she wasn't a dedicated medical cultivator, as a martial artist, she needed to have a clear understanding of her own body. Frequent injuries were common among martial artists, so she had picked up some medical skills along the way.

"Your Xu-gege is on the verge of waking up," Wu Yanhan said with relief. She then turned to Shengsheng, "Shengsheng, go bring the medicine from the courtyard. I'll transfer some martial qi into Xu Ming to see if I can ease his pain—he must be in unbearable agony right now."

"Alright!"

Shengsheng nodded quickly and dashed out of the room to retrieve the medicine for Xu Ming.

Wu Yanhan helped Xu Ming into a sitting position, then removed her shoes and climbed onto the bed, sitting cross-legged behind him. Pressing her hands against his back, she began channeling her martial qi into him.

As Wu Yanhan's qi entered Xu Ming's body, the pained groans gradually subsided, and his tightly furrowed brows slowly relaxed.

A moment later, Shengsheng returned with the medicine. Following Wu Yanhan's instructions, she carefully fed the concoction to Xu Ming.

"Hahh…"

After ensuring Xu Ming had finished the entire bowl, Wu Yanhan let out a deep breath, the faint scent of medicinal herbs lingering in the air.

Seeing that Xu Ming was drenched in sweat, Shengsheng quickly lifted her sleeve and gently wiped his face with delicate care.

Five breaths later, a healthy flush returned to Xu Ming's complexion, and his eyelids fluttered open.

"Xu-gege!"

Tears welled up in Shengsheng's eyes as she saw him regain consciousness.

"Shengsheng…" Xu Ming smiled weakly. "Why are you crying? See? I'm fine."

Wu Yanhan got off the bed and gently laid Xu Ming back down. "While you were unconscious, Shengsheng cried who knows how many times. She refused to leave your side, no matter how much we told her to rest."

Xu Ming looked at Shengsheng.

Her cheeks were tinged with red as she whispered, "Xu-gege got hurt so badly and was unconscious all because of me. Taking care of you… is only natural."

"It's not as serious as you say. Besides, I didn't die."

Xu Ming gently stroked Shengsheng's face.

Shengsheng grasped his large hand tightly, pressing it against her cheek.

Xu Ming turned to Wu Yanhan. "While I was unconscious, what did His Majesty say?"

He knew very well that the huge commotion at the Princess's Manor couldn't have gone unnoticed by the Wu Emperor. There was no way the emperor wouldn't summon Yanhan and Shengsheng.

And as for Shengsheng's secret, it was impossible to keep it hidden any longer.

For an emperor—especially an ambitious one—the thing they cared about most was their legacy in the annals of history, their ranking among all human emperors throughout time.

To be remembered as a ruler who would be praised for generations, it wasn't enough to simply govern well. More importantly, did you expand your empire? Political achievements could be overturned by later generations, but the land you conquered—whenever people spoke of those territories, they would first think of you.

The simplest and most direct way to expand an empire's borders was to strengthen the army.

The research involving Shengsheng might create an inexhaustible, never-ending army of human-demon hybrids. That temptation was immense—no ruler could ignore it.

"While you were unconscious, my father did summon Shengsheng and me to the palace.

When I met him, he didn't bother to hide his intentions—he wanted Shengsheng to stay in the royal palace.

I knew exactly what he was thinking.

If Shengsheng stayed in the palace, she would likely end up dissected by the imperial physicians.

But after I opposed him, my father weighed his options and ultimately gave up on the idea."

Wu Yanhan's response was simple and direct, without any embellishment.

"Mm."

Xu Ming nodded.

The fact that Yanhan and Shengsheng were able to leave the palace so easily already told him the reason why.

Even if the Wu Emperor obtained Shengsheng and had the imperial physicians study her, there was only a possibility they could uncover this new technique.

But if the emperor forcibly kept Shengsheng in the palace…

His only daughter would turn against him—without a doubt.

Not to mention, Beihai's goodwill was tied to him.

Right now, Wu Kingdom was surrounded by enemies, facing both internal unrest and external threats.

If their relationship with Beihai soured further—if Beihai even went so far as to wage war against Wu Kingdom—the consequences would be unthinkable.

The Wu Emperor wasn't a fool. This was an easy decision to make.

This incident also made Xu Ming realize that if one wanted to have more choices in life, they needed to have enough leverage.

And that leverage came from having absolute strength.

"That reminds me," Xu Ming said, his expression thoughtful. "Didn't you say before that you had the imperial physicians examine Shengsheng? Why didn't they report anything to your father?"

Wu Yanhan's lips curled into a smirk. "Did you really think the entire palace is under my father's control?"