Shi Lang rested for a bit before he sat up on his cassock and began to read the information he obtained in the ascension hall. He sorted the details and found that the immortal cultivation was similar to the mortal one. Shi Lang would have to climb realms steadily to unlock abilities like his spirit sense and his space ring.
The guy closed his eyes and began to focus on cultivation. However, soon he found that he could not sense the spiritual energy in this place. He was shocked and tried a few more times. After getting no results, he opened his eyes and moved around the room. He wanted to figure out what was going on here.
Just when he was lost in his thoughts, the door was knocked. He woke up from his daze and opened the door. He found a lady who bowed and said, “Young Master, you are being called to the dining hall.”
Shi Lang was taken aback and asked, “Is it that time already.”
The lady nodded humbly, and Shi Lang asked, “Can you give me a few minutes? I would need to change my clothes.”
The lady nodded and stood at the side. Shi Lang slid the door closed and changed himself into a traditional attire. The man sighed as he looked at himself in a bronze mirror. He sighed, and after he was dressed, he left the room. The lady took him to the dining hall.
Shi Lang was feeling nervous about meeting all the family members. He could not help but look around and suddenly sensed the lady. He found she was a mortal and asked, “May I know your name?”
The lady shivered but replied, “I am Mei Xin.”
Shi Lang asked, “Aunty Mei, how long have you been working for the Shi household?”
The lady immediately dropped to her knees, but Shi Lang did not give her a chance. He used the spiritual power in his body to channel it outside and held the lady afloat. He said, “Aunty, you are older than me. I am not yet an immortal. Even if I am an immortal, I should treat others respectfully and with dignity.”
The lady shook her head in hesitation. She was not used to the treatment. Finally, Shi Lang said, “Fine, I will address you as Mei Xin. Can you not kneel now?”
The lady raised her head, caught a glimpse of his face, and nodded. Shi Lang made her stand up and then followed her silently. He was thinking about recovering his spirit energy and why he could not sense it in the surroundings.
While he was thinking, they arrived in a room where all the essential family members were sitting. Shi Lang walked before the table, bowed with his hands clasped, and said, “I greet seniors.”
Shi Yulong smiled and said, “Raise your head and take a seat.”
Shi Lang nodded and sat down on an empty chair. Shi Yua said, “Brother Shi Lang, this is my mother….”
The family was introduced to Shi Lang, and the family’s wives were all impressive people. They were the daughters of the esteemed artifact refiners and apothecaries. Shi Lang was stunned to find that the daughters of Shi Yuwan and Shi Shanwang were military leader and medical officer in the military.
Shi Yulong asked, “Tell us something about the lower realm. What was your world like?”
Shi Lang was the center of attraction. He understood these people were curious, so he said everything he knew. Shi Yuwan rubbed his chin and asked, “Are you telling the truth? There is such a carriage that can run without flying beasts or wheels?”
Shi Lang nodded and said, “Do not worry, Sir. I will try to draw one for you later.”
When the dinner was almost about to end, Shi Lang asked, “I have a question.”
Shi Yuwan nodded faintly and said, “Ask away.”
Shi Lang asked, “Is it normal for me not to sense spirit energy in the house?”
The people were surprised, and Shi Lang said, “I was able to sense it alright when I was outside the manor.”
Shi Yuwan nodded and said, “You see, the manor is surrounded by a layer of isolation formation. This is to prevent any intruder or assailant from using spiritual abilities against us.”
Shi Lang was surprised and then asked, “What you say is an excellent move from a defensive perceptive, but how do you cultivate?”
Shi Shanwang said, “The cultivation rooms. You will be shown one in the morning. For the night, take rest.”
Shi Lang nodded and left the dining hall after wishing them all a good night. The family then exchanged glances, and Shi Yulong asked, “What do you think, Shingmei?”
Lu Shingmei was an elegant lady. She was known for her beauty and could topple over nations in her prime, both with her beauty and martial arts. It was said that Shi Yulong had gone through much pain and suffering to win her heart and affection. She said, “His gaze is clear, his words are blunt. A good and honest character. Yulong, he can fill up the young master title.”
Shi Yuwan asked, “Jingjing, what do you think?”
Yu Jing was nothing less than Lu Shingmei in appearance, but she was gentler. Her occupation was an apothecary or a pill refiner. She smiled faintly and said, “He seems very calm and wise to me.”
Shi Yulong nodded and said, “I wonder what Ning and Wei will say when they return.”
Shi Yua had a wry smile on her face. The two people mentioned by her father were the two elder cousins. They were known as jade beauties and never lost to any man. Shi Lang becoming the young mater will be a troublesome event.
The two girls never thought that a man was needed to extend the glory of their family. So, Shi Yua sighed and mumbled, “They will trouble Brother Shi Lang.”
Shi Yulong nodded, and Shi Ting asked, “Since when did you start addressing him as Brother?”
Shi Yua replied, “Ever since I found that he was not scared when facing Young Master Chi. And when he met the elders, his eyes were firm, and then his blood matched. He was so calm, and his emotions did not fluctuate.”
Shi Ting said, “It could be that he is just waiting for the right opportunity.”
Lu Shingmei sighed and said, “Ting, you do not see past what you wish to see. This is why you have stagnated.”
Shi Ting blushed and lowered her head in embarrassment. Shi Yua said, “Do not overthink. Just watch, and things will clear themselves up.”
The family discussed the issue a bit more before retiring for the night.
…
The following day, Shi Tongli took Shi Lang to the cultivation rooms. This place was a complex in the innermost region of the manor. This place was guarded. Shi Lang could sense someone looking at him from every direction. He did not resist and followed Shi Tongli calmly.
The old man took him inside the complex and asked a man behind the reception counter, “Xiao Gong, give him a family token. His name is Shi Lang.”
The man was surprised, but looking at the cultivation, Shi Lang had his eyebrows jumped. He asked, “Master Tongli, this person is….”
Shi Lang stepped forward and took the initiative to introduce himself, “I am Shi Lang, a distant relative of the Shi family who just arrived here yesterday.”
Shi Tongli cast a side glance and nodded to Xiao Gong as he said, “This young man had been living in the mountains of some distant village. It took him a long time to cross the warring states.”
Xiao Gong was shocked but regained his composure and said, “No wonder you had no time to cultivate. Escaping the warring states must have taken all your time and wits.” 𝐎𝐕𝑙xt.𝗇𝓔t
Shi Lang nodded with a faint smile, and Xiao Gong took out a piece of jade carved with the character of Shi. After thanking the guy, Shi Lang was allocated a cultivation room. The spiritual energy inside this room was ten times more concentrated than the outside.
Shi Lang found a few more people cultivating. He ensured his actions did not disturb the others and found a corner to sit down and practice. He inhaled the spiritual energy with a deep breath and made it pass through his lungs and enter his blood. He was refining his body to the cellular level.
He did not use any sutra for this. The blood will carry the spiritual energy and deliver it to his core, and at the same time, his blood will be gradually refined too. The young man was sniffing in small quantities at the start, but gradually his capacity improved and his skin began to shine with a golden luster.
His speed surprised a few cultivators and he began to gain attention from the other people in the room. Some people were gazing at him with annoyance, while some were confused. At this moment, a guy said, “Do not bother him. He is about to break through to the immortal physique realm.”
The journey to Immortality had begun.