I proved immortality through the imperial examination.

Chapter 160 The Land of Five Spirits
"Brother Dong, keep an eye on it."

Xue Xiang called out, summoned the magic carpet, leaped onto it, and flew high into the air. He then cupped his hands towards Princess Yong from afar and said, "Please come closer, Your Highness."

Princess Yong's robes fluttered lightly, her slender feet hovering in the air, like a streak of light sweeping across the sky.

With just this one turn, Xue Xiang could tell that Princess Yong must have at least the strength of the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Xue Xiang pointed to the magic carpet, and Princess Yong ascended it. A gust of wind blew, causing her skirt to flutter and her robes to tighten, revealing a slightly exaggerated figure.

Before Princess Yong could speak, Xue Xiang opened his lips and uttered a sword-like aura, immediately followed by a scream from the northwest.

"Wei Ruyi's four spirit pets are trying to eavesdrop."

Xue Xiang took out a stone seal the size of a fingernail, infused it with spiritual power, and the stone seal emitted light.

"Jieyin, what a treasure."

Princess Yong's bright eyes lit up.

Xue Xiang said, "I traded with a friend, and I also got this magic carpet. There are so many treasures in the world."

He was telling the truth; he spent an afternoon lying on the magic carpet and found it incredibly convenient.

Driven by thought, it can go up or down, high or low, and its speed is not slow.

The only drawback is that it consumes a lot of spirit stones; when using it, spirit stones must be placed in all four positions simultaneously.

However, its superior performance had completely won over Xue Xiang.

Xue Xiang then sent Dong Xiaoping over to inquire about the price. The owner of the treasure naturally offered a flattering answer, saying that since Young Master Han had taken a liking to it, he would give it to him as a gift.

Dong Xiaoping was a clever man, and he quickly used tactful means to find out the bottom price: a black crystal core.

Xue Xiang took out a black crystal core and then a cyan crystal core, and then he took the magic carpet.

He obtained this boundary seal using a similar method, spending a white crystal core.

In addition to providing a secluded space for private conversations, it also serves as a warning system.

"Where did you get so many good friends, my lord?"

Princess Yong cut to the chase and asked the question that had been troubling her the most.

Xue Xiang said, "They all need something from me; they can't be considered true friends."

Xue Xiang couldn't explain the existence of the little cutie to Princess Yong. He was also clear-headed and knew that the group under his command had only gathered for profit and would naturally disperse when the profit was gone.

May I sit down?

Princess Yong smiled slightly, but her exhaustion was hard to hide.

"You can lie down or anything."

Xue Xiang sat down first.

Princess Yong slowly sat down, hugging her knees with both hands. Her bright yellow skirt spread out, highlighting her slender waist and prominent hips.

She tousled her hair with her fingertips, her lowered eyes shimmering like water, as if she had shed all her weariness and guardedness.

The weather was perfect, and the breeze was gentle.

Xue Xiang didn't try to find a topic to talk about, and the two just sat quietly.

After a long silence, Princess Yong broke the silence, "The recent updates of 'The Mortal World' are quite good, and it's becoming more and more philosophical."

I really liked a line I wrote in a chapter update a while ago.

It is said that one cannot simultaneously possess youth and the understanding of youth.

That is nice.

But you're barely twenty, in the prime of your youth, so where do you get your insights into youth from?

"Some people's age isn't written on their faces."

"Does that mean someone like me has my age written all over my face?"

Princess Yong turned her head to the side, her eyes shining like stars.

Xue Xiang waved his hands repeatedly, "Yuanjun's beauty is unparalleled, surpassing all others; where are the traces of time?"

Princess Yong spat lightly, her pretty face flushed, but she couldn't hide her joy.

A breeze blew by, causing her chest to rise and fall slightly, making the curves of her clothes even more alluring.

Xue Xiang stared at her quietly, lost in thought.

Suddenly, a whistling sound rang out.

Princess Yong composed herself and said solemnly, "It was Elder He who summoned me earlier, and I cannot stay here any longer."

Be careful, leave this place quickly; that is the right way.

Xue Xiang nodded, "But if I were to deal with Wei Ruyi now and let her go, it would surely cause endless trouble."

His wolfish ambitions will never be curbed.

Princess Yong paused for a moment, "If I kill him here, and the news gets out, I will definitely be held responsible."

My reputation being ruined is a small matter, but it will definitely implicate everyone in the Yong Prince's Mansion.

But there was one man, Zhao Tang, who betrayed me and caused the deaths of many of my guards.

"If you have the strength, my lord, please kill this traitor for me."

Xue Xiang nodded, "Don't worry, Lord Yuan, I will handle it properly."

Princess Yong rose, cupped her hands in greeting, and said, "Take care, my lord, until we meet again."

"See you later."

Xue Xiang returned the greeting with a cupped hand.

A moment later, Princess Yong went far away.

Princess Yong had just left when Dong Xiaoping was summoned to her side.

Xue Xiang whispered three instructions:

Firstly, ordering Wei Ruyi to write a confession was intended to instill fear in him, preventing him from acting rashly after regaining his freedom.

Secondly, strip Wei Ruyi and others of their personal treasures, leaving nothing out.

For the sake of Princess Yong's reputation, Wei Ruyi cannot be killed at this moment, but the necessary protective measures must be taken.

We must take the benefits that are rightfully ours.

Dong Xiaoping accepted the order and left.

The mountain breeze gradually subsided, and the sound of the forest rustling like a tide.

The stench of blood lingered, and smoke still rose from the remnants of battle flags amidst the scorched earth.

Xue Xiang sat cross-legged on the magic carpet, gazing at the drifting clouds in the distance.

Half an incense stick later, Dong Xiaoping returned and presented a roll of frosty paper, the ink on which was still wet.

Xue Xiang unfolded the document, read through the text, and couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

The entire article is subtly sharp and intricately connected.

Dong Xiaoping laughed and said, "This was done by Sun Laosan. He used to be a scribe, and it was easy for him to praise or criticize people with a single word."

He first wrote one, using Wei Ruyi's tone, and then took it to Wei Ruyi for her to copy.

The above clearly explains how Wei Ruyi plotted to harm the Princess Consort of Yong in an attempt to seize the title of Prince Yong.

At the end, he signed his name and pressed his fingerprint.

With this confession, Wei Ruyi can't cause any trouble.

Xue Xiang put Fu Bian into his storage ring, quite satisfied.

Just then, Dong Xiaoping took out a bunch of storage rings and storage rings.

"We searched everything. There was an old man in the Core Formation stage who wanted to hide something. Tong Feiyu took the space stones and checked them one by one. He found that the old man had hidden a storage ring in his hair."

Dong Xiaoping was smug.

Xue Xiang also felt that Dong Xiaoping was useful, but unfortunately, such a person was not someone he could use for long, and their relationship was only temporary.

He collected a whole host of storage treasures and stuffed them all into his waist pouch.

There's no other way; these storage treasures can't be stored inside storage containers, so they can only be worn on the body.

What's more troublesome is that each storage treasure has a spatial restriction, which cannot be opened without secret methods.

Just like the strange storage ring that Xue Xiang exchanged at Yunmeng Academy, he still hasn't been able to open it.

Xue Xiang laughed and said, "Brother Dong, you did a great job. Please bring Wei Ruyi over."

A moment later, Wei Ruyi was brought forward.

Dong Xiaoping retreated to a distance.

Xue Xiang looked Wei Ruyi up and down. He was disheveled, covered in dirt, and barely breathing, as if his bones had been removed.

Xue Xiangqian suddenly gave Wei Ruyi a big hug.

Wei Ruyi was jolted awake and immediately came to her senses. "No way, this bastard won't even spare my chastity?"

He was terrified when Xue Xiang released him, patted him on the shoulder, and said, "You're not young anymore, learn your lesson and get lost."

Wei Ruyi was dumbfounded, wondering what Xue Xiang was up to.

He was in a daze when Xue Xiang raised an eyebrow. "Really not leaving?"

Wei Ruyi felt as if she had been granted a pardon and fled in a frenzy.

Xue Xiangchong nodded to Dong Xiaoping, who immediately understood.

Shortly after, a burst of white light erupted below, followed by a massive explosion that shook the heavens.

Before long, the world returned to peace.

Dong Xiaoping quickly reported, "It's all resolved."

Clearly, Xue Xiang released Wei Ruyi, but had no intention of letting go of Wei Ruyi's subordinates. Princess Yong pleaded with Xue Xiang to execute Zhao Tang, who had betrayed her, but Xue Xiang's plan was to wipe them all out in one fell swoop.

Those invited here by Wei Ruyi must all be his confidants.

Sooner or later they will be rivals. If we don't weaken them in advance, will they just cause us trouble later?
"Pass down the order: I'll put in a little extra effort for a double hunt tomorrow."

Xue Xiang said loudly.

Dong Xiaoping was overjoyed and immediately announced the news of the "double hunt tomorrow" in a deep voice.

In an instant, cheers filled the entire valley.

The term "double hunt" means hunting twice tomorrow.

These people gathered under Xue Xiang's command, all for the sake of the monster crystal cores.

The hunting frequency had already been reduced to once a day, but it has now been increased to twice a day.

Everyone was overjoyed.

Before long, a Qin soldier came to report, "My lord, the cave has been opened, but it is empty inside."

Dong Xiaoping snorted, "It was expected. Wei Ruyi was just setting a trap for Princess Yong here. There's no way there's any treasure inside."

"It's not entirely without merit. There's a five-colored spiritual vein that leads directly into the cave, as well as a magnificent underground space that leads to who knows where."

Qin Bing said, "The interior is filled with spiritual energy, which is very comfortable and clean. There is a stone bed inside."

I've already had it cleared out; you can stay here tonight, young master.

What is your opinion, young master? Young master…

Qin Bing and Dong Xiaoping both looked at Xue Xiang, but Xue Xiang did not react at all, so they assumed that he was extremely disappointed.

Little did he know, Xue Xiang was already utterly shocked.

"The Land of Five Elements is a chosen treasure land for Foundation Establishment. The power of the five elements is balanced, making it perfect for Foundation Establishment and breakthrough."

Xue Xiangqiang suppressed his overwhelming joy and said, "Fine, we'll stay here."

If there's nothing else, please feel free to do as you please. We can meet again tomorrow.

The Qin soldier agreed and happily went to relay the order.

Xue Xiang put away the magic carpet and headed straight for the entrance to the blessed land cave.

The cave entrance was wide open, the stone steps were slightly damp, and there were shallow moss marks.

The natural stone patterns on the wall look as if someone had lightly drawn them, flowing into loops.

As you go deeper in, a cool, sweet scent gradually fills the air.

Like new bamboo shoots after the rain, carrying the first wisp of fragrance on the wind.

After entering for about three zhang (approximately 10 meters), the cave suddenly opened up.

A natural, large room, like a courtyard inside a mountain.

The dome hangs high, stalactites hang down, milky white as jade, slowly dripping down.

The sound of dripping water was clear as it fell into a pool of clear water.

A glimmer of light rose from the water's surface, and with a ripple, it spread five colors across the wall.

At the very center, five beams of spiritual light burst forth from the earth.

A green hue, like newly sprouted willow branches, carrying the vitality of wood, stretches endlessly.

A wisp of crimson light, like a flowing spring of fire, flickers between light and shadow, its heat surging beneath the surface.

A line of yellow earth, thick and heavy like fields, rises slowly, as stable as a mountain.

A white light, sharp as gold, seemed to conceal the edge of a thousand blades, its chilling aura intimidating.

A mysterious light rose from the deepest depths, carrying a stillness as cold as water, always flowing with myriad phenomena while remaining motionless.

The five colors appear together and attract each other, forming an invisible knot.

Linghui walked around the cave like five small dragons, moving between the rocks.

Xue Xiangli stood at the heart where the five veins converged, quietly listening to the breathing of the earth's lungs.

The true energy in his chest and abdomen was gently caressed by some kind of force.

It was as if someone had opened a window for him, and the winds from the mountains and the sea rushed in at the same time.

"A truly wondrous and spiritual place."

he whispered.

"Yes, the five elements aligning at the burial site is extremely rare."

Wen Xiang walked in, followed by several Core Formation experts.

Everyone looked around at the blessed land and marveled at it.

A gray-robed Core Formation cultivator looked around, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Wood gives birth, fire refines, earth sustains, metal stabilizes, and water nourishes."

The rotation is orderly and the relationships are interdependent.

This is truly a treasure trove.

Huang Feng said, "No matter how precious the land is, this place of demonic obstacles is not suitable for long-term residence."

"Anyone with children or grandchildren who wish to establish a foundation for immortality can choose to bring them here."

Everyone laughed.

Soon, Xue Xiang noticed the cave on the west side, where a large amount of spiritual energy was pouring in.

He walked in that direction, reached the entrance of the cave, looked down, and saw that the cave below was extremely wide, like a giant abyss.

Wen Xiang explained, "The convergence of the five elements and the crisscrossing of the earth's veins have formed such a unique underground space, which is perfectly normal."

We heard from the Qin soldiers that the young master will be staying here tonight, so we will not disturb him any longer.

After all, we'll need your help tomorrow, young master.

At that moment, everyone took their leave.

Xue Xiang did not try to stop him.

Soon, the blessed land was emptied of everyone.

Xue Xiang stopped Dong Xiaoping and asked him to find him another top-tier protective array.

Dong Xiaoping accepted the order and left, while Xue Xiang lay down on the stone bed with soft cushions, secretly planning his escape route.

He was well aware that although he seemed to have a large following and could kill with a single word, there was actually a hidden danger lurking beneath the surface.

The root cause lies in the fact that the team under his command was hastily assembled.

People gathered under his command because they wanted to obtain the crystal core.

The hunting season in the Land of Demons is drawing to a close, and the Red House will open the day after tomorrow.

This means that his team is on the verge of disbanding.

At that time, I'm afraid some people with ulterior motives will regard him, Xue, as the greatest blessing.

Xue Xiang even secretly thought that there were probably many people plotting against him, but because he had a large and diverse force, those people were wary of him.

When the hunt comes to an end, I'm sure I'll become the first target for those with ulterior motives.

People without thought, he must worry about.

Unfortunately, even now, Xue Xiang still hasn't figured out a way to break the deadlock.

He was being closely watched and had no room to move around independently.

He deliberately sent people away, but he was afraid of arousing suspicion that he was going to run away.

"Wait, a hole in the ground."

Xue Xiang was startled and sat up abruptly, his mind racing.

Half an incense stick later, Dong Xiaoping returned and told Xue Xiang that someone was willing to sell a unique formation called "Eight Views of Mountains and Rivers," which had maximum defensive capabilities and could withstand continuous attacks from Nascent Soul cultivators.

But the price is three black-grade crystal cores, and there's no room for negotiation.

Xue Xiang didn't bother to check whether Dong Xiaoping had any middlemen making a profit; as long as he thought it was reasonable, that was enough.

Without hesitation, he took out three black crystal cores.

Half an incense stick later, Dong Xiaoping brought back the Eight Scenic Spots of the Mountains and Rivers, as well as the treasure's owner, an old man surnamed Zhang.

Under the tutelage of the elderly man surnamed Zhang, Xue Xiang quickly mastered the key to setting up the formation and then tested its power on the spot.

Xue Xiang was very satisfied.

After seeing off the elderly man surnamed Zhang, Xue Xiang summoned Dong Xiaoping, Tong Feiyu, and Qin Bing.

He spoke frankly, “The three of you, though I have many men under my command, you are the only ones I can truly trust.”

Of course, there's also Elder Wen.

Now that Elder Wen has gone to hunt monsters, and you three are here, I'll speak frankly.

What I mean is, even after we leave this place, we shouldn't lose contact.

If any of you three need anything, you may come and find me.

These three black-grade crystal cores are the proof.

As he spoke, Xue Xiang handed over three black-grade crystal cores, distributing them to the three individuals.

Whether it was an act or genuine, all three were deeply moved.

After all, they had worked hard for many days, but what they got was less than a single black-grade crystal core.

"You all deserve it, so I won't say anything more. Brother Tong, you keep watch outside the cave. Brother Dong and Brother Qin, I'll trouble you two to come with me into the cave to explore."

I've heard that a wondrous sight is born where the five spirits gather; we mustn't miss it.

(End of this chapter)