A journey through immortal realms begins with a phantom tale.

Luo Cheng had mixed feelings.

He dated Li Mengtian for three years; it would be a lie to say there were no feelings between them.

Luo Cheng slowly began to speak: "The path of cultivation is not as simple as you think. Cultivation is going against the will of Heaven. Although one's lifespan is long after cultivation, it does not mean one is immortal. One may be killed in battle; if one's cultivation level is insufficient, one is prone to qi deviation. Moreover, cultivators must also face heavenly tribulations."

Peak immortals like the Azure Emperor and Yuan Gu were all fighting against fate.

After witnessing Luo Cheng's abilities, Li Mengtian was filled with longing for cultivation and eagerly said, "I want to cultivate immortality."

In reality, her life was very difficult. She went to get off work and came home every day, a monotonous routine, and worried about getting married and having children. Under this pressure, she also longed to cultivate immortality. However, she rationally and firmly believed that there were no immortals in the world.

Luo Cheng sighed, "I so wish you could understand me and see things clearly."

Li Mengtian quickly replied, "Of course I understand you. Actually, I've been researching cultivation techniques all along."

Luo Cheng smiled after hearing this. He thought to himself, "It seems everyone around me has become better since I started cultivating immortality. Look, she, who used to have a fiery temper, is now very understanding."

Luo Cheng had intended to leave, but his last lingering thoughts seemed to have vanished. He himself didn't understand why he had come to see Li Mengtian.

Suddenly, the phrase "time is like a knife" flashed through his mind. After attaining enlightenment, Emperor Ye harbored no hatred, only wishing that those of his generation would live long. However, time is merciless, and his contemporaries perished one after another.

Luo Cheng sighed softly, "I can teach you how to cultivate immortality." He only hoped that Li Mengtian could live, and that he could see her again when he returned to Blue Star.

"Thank you, thank you," Li Mengtian said, her voice trembling with emotion. "I'll wait for you to come back."

Luo Cheng did not believe her.

Luo Cheng continued, "If you embark on the path of cultivation, you must change yourself and elevate your realm."

"I see."

Seeing Li Mengtian's expression, Luo Cheng knew she didn't understand. After all, it's difficult for someone who has never been exposed to scriptures and cultivation to comprehend the importance of spiritual realm.

Luo Cheng passed on a cultivation technique to Li Mengtian, then sighed softly, "I don't know if teaching you cultivation is the right thing to do."

"Of course it's correct."

Luo Cheng remained silent.

Where are you going?

"I will go to Fengyuan Star with my master. It's a cultivation planet."

"Can I go?"

"Are you willing to leave your parents, best friend, friends, and teachers?"

Li Mengtian fell silent.

Luo Cheng fell silent and flew into the sky.

Seeing Luo Cheng leave, her best friend hurriedly asked, "Can I cultivate?"

Luo Cheng didn't give Li Mengtian any immortal stones. Her cultivation level was low, and her worldly desires were strong. If no one guided her into the path of cultivation, she might not even survive a mortal lifespan. Therefore, Luo Cheng wasn't sure if teaching her cultivation was the right thing to do; he only hoped she would live.

Li Mengtian gazed in the direction Luo Cheng had disappeared, realizing he no longer loved her and would never return. She knew what she had missed. Did she regret it? She didn't regret it, but her heart ached. Three years together—how could she say she didn't love him anymore?

Luo Cheng felt somewhat lost after leaving. He didn't know how many more years Brother Fu would have to wait. He knew Fu Shan was waiting for Li Qiang. Since he wasn't leaving for the time being, Luo Cheng planned to travel around. He hadn't had time before because he was too busy with work, but now that he had money and free time, he could finally go out and explore.

Where to go? Let's take the train; we might not have another chance to ride it after we leave. Let's go to the place closest to the sky.

Luo Cheng wasn't short of money, so he bought a sleeper berth. Anyway, once he left Earth, he wouldn't need the money.

Before the time travel, Earth was in 2026. But the timeline of the ethereal world was earlier, before smartphones were widespread.

Luo Cheng was waiting for his train at the station. Feeling a bit bored, he calmed himself and regulated his breathing. Soon, his breathing became barely perceptible.

"Handsome guy." Luo Cheng looked up and saw a young woman who looked to be around 20 years old.

She had been observing Luo Cheng for a long time. In her eyes, Luo Cheng was handsome, with a perfect body proportion, skin as smooth as jade, and a special aura. This aura was serene and peaceful; seeing him made her feel comfortable.

Luo Cheng understood that, twenty years from now, people might say that those on the same wavelength attract each other.

The girl had a clean face, bright eyes, and a ponytail; she was youthful and lively.

"Is something the matter?" Luo Cheng asked.

"Hey bro, where are you going?"

"The place closest to the sky."

"I'm going too." The girl had originally planned to go to the capital, but after hearing Luo Cheng's suggestion, she decisively changed her plans. Deep down, she felt she couldn't miss Luo Cheng, or she would regret it.

"My name is Lin Chen, what's yours?"

"Luocheng".

"Is it the same morning?"

"I am the city of the city."

"I am the morning."

The girl chatted with Luo Cheng for a while, then said she was going to the restroom, but actually went to exchange her tickets. During this time, she called home, and her parents asked why she wasn't going to Beijing. The girl didn't know how to answer; she couldn't very well say she changed her plans for a handsome guy. But she just didn't want to be separated from Luo Cheng, even if it was only for a brief meeting. Perhaps this was love at first sight? Yet, she didn't feel her heart racing. Lin Chen only felt peaceful and relaxed beside Luo Cheng.

As departure time approached, Lin Chen could only get a hard seat ticket. However, she planned to switch to a soft sleeper after boarding, hoping to travel with Luo Cheng.

After having their tickets checked, the two boarded the train. Lin Chen, having learned Luo Cheng's seat number, quickly found the train conductor and moved to sit next to Luo Cheng. They were in the same compartment, both in lower berths.

Luo Cheng was a little surprised, thinking that this girl had a bit of a princess-like temper. Of course, he didn't know that Lin Chen had changed her plans to go with him.

Looking out the window, Lin Chen said, "I've wanted to go to Sky City for a long time. A lot of people went there after the Sky City Railway opened."

Luo Cheng knew that twenty years later, many people would walk to Sky City, saying that it was the closest and purest place to the sky, a place that could purify the soul.

Luo Cheng didn't talk much; Lin Chen did most of the talking. Two stops later, the two of them were the only ones in the compartment.

Seeing Luo Cheng lie down, Lin Chen felt inexplicably shy, yet also secretly expectant.

Luo Cheng closed his eyes, replacing rest with cultivation. A faint spiritual energy emanated from his body, unconsciously purifying the air in the private room.

Lin Chen was tired and drifted off to sleep. She slept exceptionally well that night.

"Oh dear, how long have I been asleep?" she exclaimed in shock when she woke up and checked the time. "I've slept for 13 hours! I'm going to wash my face."

As soon as she opened the door, a pungent odor hit her, almost suffocating her. "Why is the air outside so bad? Is it altitude sickness?"

Lin Chen retreated into the private room, feeling the tranquil, refreshing atmosphere and sweet scent. "It's him?" Lin Chen was even more shocked; she found herself feeling comfortable near Luo Cheng. "Who is this person?"

Lin Chen went out again, enduring a brief period of discomfort, to wash up in the restroom before returning to the private room. "The private room is still the most comfortable."

"Hmm?" Someone passing by the private room noticed something was wrong. "Do you have an oxygen concentrator here? The air is so fresh."

Lin Chen didn't speak. In her heart, this was her and Luo Cheng's private space, and she didn't like others coming in.

"Are there any spare beds here?" The person wanted to change seats.

Lin Chen replied curtly, "I don't know."

"I'll go ask."

Lin Chen was a little unhappy.

Luo Cheng said, "People will get on the train in a few stops."

"Hmm." Lin Chen nodded gently, then asked, "Are you hungry? Have something to eat." She took out pastries and fruit and handed them to Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng had already reached the Nascent Soul stage, and his body no longer needed mortal food; eating too much would require circulating and refining the energy. He only ate one apple and then stopped.

Then, the two moved into the private room, making it a room for four. Lin Chen silently accepted this, though he was unhappy about it, he didn't show it.

Even with two more people, the air in the private room remained fresh because spiritual energy can purify the air.

A day later, the train was about to enter the plateau region, and the train conductor explained the precautions.

Luo Cheng listened quietly, taking it as an opportunity to broaden his horizons. With his physique, he could survive on Mars; altitude sickness wouldn't affect him.

Lin Chen listened attentively and secretly noted down the key points.

Strangely, Lin Chen felt fine and even energetic as long as he was in the carriage with Luo Cheng. However, he felt unwell as soon as he left the carriage with the others.

Lin Chen asked Luo Cheng curiously, "What's so special about you?"

Luo Cheng casually replied, "I am a cultivator."

"I don't believe it." Although Lin Chen discovered many unusual things, he still didn't believe it.

Luo Cheng stopped explaining. In any case, it was just a chance encounter, and they wouldn't see each other again once they left Earth.

For some reason, Lin Chen felt a pang of sadness and said, "I believe you."

"Oh." At this moment, Luo Cheng was very indifferent, as if he were out of place in the world, carrying an ethereal and otherworldly artistic conception.

Suddenly, Li Mengtian's shadow flashed by, and Luo Cheng snapped out of his transcendent state. He had spent three years with Li Mengtian, and she had never trusted him.

Lin Chen sat up, subconsciously took Luo Cheng's hand, and said sincerely, "I believe you. It's just that cultivation is too incredible. Really, I believe you."

"Hmm." Luo Cheng smiled.

Lin Chen immediately stopped, his face flushed, "How embarrassing!" But he also found Luo Cheng's scent pleasant. A Nascent Soul cultivator, having purified impurities within his body and able to circulate internally, naturally exudes a delicate fragrance.

Luo Cheng sensed Lin Chen's sincerity and asked, "Do you want to cultivate immortality?" He regretted asking immediately, knowing that the path to immortality was arduous.

"Yes." Xia culture is full of myths and legends, and most people are full of fantasies about gods and immortals. With the opportunity right in front of him, Lin Chen did not hesitate.

Luo Cheng said, "Cultivating immortality goes against the heavens and is extremely arduous. Will you still cultivate it?"

"Yes." Lin Chen said decisively.

"Alright." Luo Cheng handed Lin Chen a jade slip. The Chongxuan Sect is unique; its core disciples address each other as brothers and can freely accept disciples. For example, Li Qiang accepted Zhao Hao as his disciple as soon as he arrived on Tianting Star, even though Zhao Hao was already an old man at the time.

Lin Chen learned how to use the jade slip and placed it on his forehead. Instantly, a massive amount of information flooded into his mind.

After a while, she opened her eyes, looked at Luo Cheng, and exclaimed in disbelief: "The cultivation realm is too powerful. It can move mountains and overturn seas. So there really are immortals in the world."

The two passengers next to him exchanged a glance: "Brother, we also want to cultivate immortality."

Luo Cheng resolutely refused: "Cultivation is not for you."

"Brother, you're treating people differently."

Luo Cheng's eyes narrowed, and his aura surged. The two passengers trembled, sweat beading on their foreheads, feeling as if they had encountered a tiger—no, even more terrifying than a tiger.

This aura wasn't directed at Lin Chen, but it still shocked her and made her understand what it meant to be an immortal.

Luo Cheng withdrew his imposing aura and said calmly, "You are not welcome here." It was already a favor to let them stay in the private room before; their desire to cultivate immortality is too far-fetched.

The two passengers left the compartment, muttering, "Just because we're not pretty?"

Inside the private room, Lin Chen asked, "If I weren't a beautiful woman, would you teach me how to cultivate immortality?"

"It depends on fate."

Lin Chen didn't get the answer he wanted, so he stopped asking.

Luo Cheng explained, "They are not suited for cultivating immortality."

Why?

"Firstly, immortal techniques should not be passed on lightly; secondly, their character is not up to par." After saying these two points, Luo Cheng said no more.

With Luo Cheng's wisdom, he could see through the two men's nature at a glance. If they cultivated immortality, they would become unrestrained with power. They would either suffer a qi deviation and self-destruct, or be corrupted by demonic hearts and become demons themselves. If demons appeared on Earth, it would bring disaster to civilization. Luo Cheng didn't tell Lin Chen any of this.

Cultivating immortality is not that simple.

In the next part of the trip, Luo Cheng explained the basics of cultivation to Lin Chen. Although Luo Cheng was unfamiliar with the cultivation world, he had read Buddhist scriptures and Taoist texts and knew quite a bit about cultivation theories.

By the time the train arrived in Sky City, Lin Chen had already learned about cultivation.

"So cultivation level is that important?"

"Yes." In this ethereal world, cultivation level is of paramount importance. If one's cultivation level is insufficient, it is difficult to improve, and even if one reaches the Tribulation Transcending stage, one may not be able to overcome the Heavenly Tribulation.

The two left the train station and saw the magnificent Wencheng Palace.

"It's Wencheng Palace."

Afterwards, the two visited Wencheng Palace and sampled local delicacies. During this time, Luo Cheng told Lin Chen mythological stories and theories about cultivation, which Lin Chen listened to attentively. This was something Luo Cheng had never done when he was with Li Mengtian. When he was with Li Mengtian, she would give him a cold shoulder whenever cultivation was mentioned, telling him to be realistic.

Time flew by, and about ten days passed. During this time, Luo Cheng used his cultivation abilities to take Lin Chen to the world's highest peak and the uninhabited area.

In a daze, Luo Cheng sensed that he was about to leave.

Luo Cheng said, "I've left you some immortal stones. Once you reach the Nascent Soul stage, we might meet again."

"Can you take me with you?"