We Agreed On Experiencing Life, So Why Did You Immortals Become Real?

Chapter 597: It Was as Though He Had Seen Them Somewhere Before

For the month after Xiao Mo emerged from the Book of a Hundred Lives, it was as though the book had vanished. There was not the slightest sign of activity from it.

Whenever Xiao Mo asked, the Book of a Hundred Lives would simply say, “The next life is still being prepared. Please wait patiently, Host.”

In the past, even when the next “life experience” required a long time to prepare, it would at least provide some sort of preview.

But now, it would not offer so much as a scrap of “version information.”

That made Xiao Mo feel that the next life would not be simple.

As the days passed, the Book of a Hundred Lives gradually blurred Xiao Mo’s memories of the Nine-Tailed Heavenly Fox life in order to keep his soul from being overwhelmed by such vast recollections.

In the end, he could remember only a few vague figures.

Still, Xiao Mo was not overly concerned.

As his realm rose and his soul grew stronger, those memories would gradually unlock again.

That became a source of motivation for him.

No matter what, even if those “life experiences” were false memories, Xiao Mo had still personally lived through them.

He did not want to forget them.

...

Half a month later, at the Dao Inquiry Altar within the imperial palace, three formations enclosed the altar layer by layer, preventing even the slightest trace of spiritual power from leaking out.

No one outside could perceive what was happening within.

Heavy snow drifted down from the sky like willow catkins. The Dao Inquiry Altar had already been blanketed in white, as though covered by a thick quilt of snow.

Xiao Mo sat atop that “quilt,” attempting to break through into the Cave Dwelling Realm.

Jiang Qingyi, her face veiled in light gauze, sat on the eaves with a long sword in her arms. She appeared calm as she watched Xiao Mo, but her grip on the sword only grew tighter.

Yan Ruxue and Qin Mujiu stood on opposite sides of the Dao Inquiry Altar, unconsciously curling their fingers tight. Their eyes never left Xiao Mo, and a trace of unease lingered in their gaze.

Snow continued to fall over Xiao Mo’s shoulders and hair, piling up in a thick layer until he looked almost like a snowman.

Yet none of the three dared approach him, afraid that taking even one step forward would disturb his state of enlightenment.

Xiao Mo had already remained at the Dao Inquiry Altar for ten days. This was the most critical moment.

In Yan Ruxue and the others’ eyes, for an emperor to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm was already an extraordinary accomplishment.

And yet, in less than a year, Xiao Mo was about to enter the Cave Dwelling Realm. Talent such as his was rare in the entire world.

What puzzled them most was that they had thought the karma brought by the dynasty’s fortune would become an obstacle to Xiao Mo’s cultivation.

Instead, it had become a source of help.

Still, none of them mentioned it to him. Everyone had secrets of their own.

Even so...

They did not have much confidence that Xiao Mo would successfully enter the Cave Dwelling Realm.

The number of cave dwellings a cultivator had to open depended on their spiritual roots.

For example, someone with metal-and-wood dual spiritual roots needed only to open two cave dwellings to enter the Cave Dwelling Realm.

But Xiao Mo possessed five spiritual roots.

Although cultivators with five spiritual roots would possess cave dwellings far superior to those of ordinary people after entering the Cave Dwelling Realm, the difficulty of doing so was entirely different.

Still, the three women had already made their preparations.

If anything went wrong with Xiao Mo’s breakthrough, they would immediately interrupt it. No matter what, they had to preserve his life.

After the time it took for half an incense stick to burn, Yan Ruxue and the others’ eyes widened.

The final moment had arrived.

Specks of light like fireflies appeared at Xiao Mo’s brow, arms, and legs.

This was the sign that the body’s cave dwellings had begun to form.

His spiritual power resembled a long strand formed from gathered fireflies. Beginning at the crown of his head, it flowed counterclockwise through every cave dwelling in his body.

When the five cave dwellings were linked together by his spiritual power—

A fierce wind rose across the Dao Inquiry Altar, sweeping the snow from the ground into the air.

Ripples of spiritual power burst outward, but the formations contained them, preventing them from spreading beyond the altar.

At last, as the snow settled once more, Xiao Mo slowly opened his eyes.

Yan Ruxue and the others all let out heavy sighs of relief.

Genuine delight filled Qin Mujiu’s eyes. She stepped forward and gave him a graceful curtsy.

“Congratulations, Brother Emperor, on entering the Cave Dwelling Realm.”

“Hmph. You only got lucky.”

Jiang Qingyi turned her head away and spoke coldly, but her arm loosened around the sword she had been clutching. She had held it so tightly that the scabbard, pressed through her skirts, had left a faint red imprint on the skin beneath.

“There was indeed a measure of luck involved.”

Xiao Mo rose to his feet with a gentle smile and offered the three women a cupped-hand salute.

“Thank you all for guarding my way these past few days.”

“Standing guard was nothing.”

Yan Ruxue stepped forward and extended a slender hand. Her sleeve slipped across her wrist, revealing a length of fair forearm as she gently brushed the snow from Xiao Mo’s shoulders and hair.

Then she raised her lovely face to look up at him, her eyes filled with tenderness.

“How do you feel, Your Majesty? Are you all right?”

“I’m fine.” Xiao Mo nodded. “After entering the Cave Dwelling Realm, the resonance of the Way and the surrounding laws both feel much clearer.”

Yan Ruxue smiled faintly. “This is only the beginning. Once Your Majesty enters the upper three realms, you will truly see an entirely different world.”

“Then I’ll take your good wishes to heart.”

Xiao Mo smiled and returned her salute.

Seeing the respectful yet tender exchange between Xiao Mo and Yan Ruxue, Qin Mujiu puffed out her cheeks.

But she quickly composed herself, then walked brightly between them and unobtrusively put some distance between the two.

“All right, enough about that. Brother Emperor has broken through, so this is a happy occasion. I hear the snow at Ten Thousand Carp Lake is lovely. Shall we go there, brew some tea, and watch the snow?”

“That is a good suggestion.” Xiao Mo nodded.

“Since Your Majesty is going, then naturally I will accompany you.”

Yan Ruxue gave a light nod.

Qin Mujiu turned to Jiang Qingyi, who was still perched on the edge of the wall.

“What about Sword Immortal Jiang? Will you come with us?”

“What is there to see in fish? Boring.”

Jiang Qingyi turned her head away.

“The fish at Ten Thousand Carp Lake may not be much to look at, but the snowy scenery there is unrivaled once winter comes. Without the National Preceptor, it would lose something.”

Xiao Mo smiled and offered Jiang Qingyi a cupped-hand salute.

“National Preceptor, would you honor us with your presence?”

After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Qingyi said nothing. She simply leaped down from the wall and headed toward the side gate of the Dao Inquiry Altar—the way to Ten Thousand Carp Lake.

“She’s all grown up, yet she’s still so difficult.”

Qin Mujiu curled her lips and muttered under her breath.

Yan Ruxue covered her mouth and laughed softly, while Xiao Mo pretended not to hear.

“Come on, Sister Ruxue. Let’s go.”

Qin Mujiu took Yan Ruxue by the arm and held her close as the two walked ahead like sisters, leaving Yan Ruxue and Xiao Mo no chance to exchange any more flirtatious looks.

As Xiao Mo watched the three slender figures walking through the snow, his thoughts began to drift.

For some reason...

It felt as though...

He had seen them somewhere before.