A journey through immortal realms begins with a phantom tale.

As time and space shifted, Luo Cheng found himself standing on the land of Linming Star. He cupped his hands in thanks to the void, saying, "Thank you, Venerable Yuangu."

"You're welcome," came a gentle reply from the void.

At the Lotus Lake Cottage in Huanlangtian, Tian Gu stood on a lotus leaf, like a fairy in a painting, a faint smile on her lips, as if recalling the past: "This little fellow, I wonder where he came from, he's really interesting." The news that Luo Cheng had brought to Lingxu had already made her feel good about him.

Upon arriving at Linming Star, Luo Cheng immediately sent a message to Li Qiang—a cultivator's communication method using a flying sword.

In no time, Li Qiang arrived outside Qilong City. Upon seeing Luo Cheng, his face was filled with joy: "Senior Brother, you've finally arrived!"

"Hmm." Luo Cheng smiled gently and asked, "Where are Lao Gan and the others?"

"Who knows? Immortals love to wander around. I have no idea where they went." Li Qiang waved his hand. "Never mind them, come on, I'll take you to explore Qilong City!"

"Great!" Luo Cheng laughed. "Lin Star is a sacred place for cultivation. I've heard there are more cultivators here than on Fengyuan Star."

The two quickly arrived at the gates of Qilong City. The cultivators guarding the city greeted Li Qiang with cupped hands, saying, "Senior Li Qiang!"

Someone looked at Luo Cheng curiously: "Senior Li, who is this?"

After the battle between Luo Cheng and Qian Shanyong, Qian Shanyong and Dai Nanfeng stopped pursuing Li Qiang, so he didn't change his name or hide his identity. In the original story, Lin Mingxing cultivators only knew "Senior Mu Zi" but didn't know who Li Qiang was.

The city's guardian cultivator led the two into the city, explaining as they walked, "Senior, we have a rule in Qilong City that we must test your cultivation level. This isn't meant to make things difficult; there are benefits—those with higher cultivation levels can get discounts when shopping in the city and enjoy special privileges."

Luo Cheng looked at Li Qiang: "Junior brother, have you tested it?"

When the topic of the Xuanjin Stone test came up, Li Qiang was a little embarrassed: "Senior brother, I wasn't paying attention at the time and used a bit too much force."

"I understand, I understand." Luo Cheng nodded with a smile. "Our power is somewhat special."

Li Qiang became interested: "Senior brother, what are you planning to do?"

"You've done everything you could, what else can I do?" Luo Cheng joked.

Li Qiang chuckled, clearly quite pleased with what he had done back then.

As they were talking, a steward brought over a Xuanjin Stone and respectfully said to Luo Cheng, "Since you are Senior Li's senior brother, your cultivation must be even better. Please leave your mark on this Xuanjin Stone."

"Uh..." Luo Cheng was speechless. He didn't expect that the other party would bring a new Xuanjin Stone because they were afraid that he would destroy the previous mark.

Luo Cheng laughed and said, "Junior brother, how deep was your imprint back then? As your senior brother, I can't be weaker than you, can I?"

"Only half a centimeter."

Luo Cheng channeled his divine power into his palm. To him, the Xuanjin Stone felt as soft as sand, easily leaving a mark with a gentle press. He carefully pressed down and imprinted a palm print one centimeter deep on the stone.

The surrounding cultivators were all astonished at the sight. The manager, however, looked completely at ease, as if it were only natural.

Luo Cheng looked at the palm print and asked with a smile, "Will this work?"

Everyone could immediately see that this senior hadn't used his full strength, and they quickly replied, "It's feasible, it's feasible!"

The stewards and the city guards became even more respectful towards such a highly accomplished person.

Li Qiang used his divine sense to transmit his voice: "Senior brother, what realm are you in now?"

"Second Heaven," Luo Cheng replied, scrutinizing him for a moment before exclaiming in surprise, "Junior Brother, you've actually reached the Third Heaven?"

Li Qiang was somewhat frustrated: "I broke through without even realizing it, and now I feel like I can barely suppress the Divine Chess Power."

"You..." Luo Cheng was both amused and exasperated.

Li Qiang, on the contrary, was quite philosophical about it: "If I had known, I wouldn't have cultivated godhood in the first place."

"It's alright." Luo Cheng suppressed his smile. "I'll pass on my recent insights to you first, and then help you stabilize your cultivation level."

"Senior brother, you're only at the second level of cultivation, can you help me stabilize my realm?" Li Qiang said, but his eyes were full of curiosity.

"What, you underestimate your senior brother?"

"No, no!" Li Qiang quickly waved his hand, but he couldn't suppress his excitement: "Senior brother, how about we have a spar sometime?"

"Sparring? Aren't you afraid you won't be able to suppress your cultivation level?"

"With my senior brother here, what do I have to be afraid of?"

Luo Cheng passed the test and received a token, which allowed him to enjoy special privileges in Qilong City. As the two walked down the street, cultivators frequently recognized Li Qiang and greeted him warmly, to which Li Qiang responded in kind, as if meeting old friends.

Luo Cheng sighed inwardly, realizing he could never learn such social skills. He said, "The cultivation atmosphere on Lin Star is indeed much stronger than on Feng Yuan Star."

"Yes," Li Qiang nodded, then added, "However, there are also many low-level cultivators here, and life is not easy for them."

Upon hearing this, Luo Cheng thought to himself, "It seems that Li Qiang has already made contact with the lower-level cultivators of Qilong City and even helped them."

"Junior brother, let's find a place to rest first, and I'll help you stabilize your cultivation level."

"good!"

Led by Li Qiang, the two arrived at a secluded courtyard—his temporary residence. Luo Cheng looked around and then transmitted his recent insights into cultivation to Li Qiang. After receiving the information, Li Qiang stood still, quietly digesting it.

After a long while, he sighed, "Senior brother, in terms of understanding cultivation levels, I am truly inferior to you. With your foundation, even if you break through to the fifth level, you can still steadily suppress your cultivation."

"No rush to break through." Luo Cheng thought to himself that with his current strength, he should have no problem breaking through the outer perimeter of the Illusionary Star God Formation.

Subsequently, Luo Cheng released his Divine Chess Power to help Li Qiang calm the restless energy within his body. In Li Qiang's perception, Luo Cheng's Divine Chess Power was pure and stable, which both shocked him and pointed him in the right direction.

After the guidance was completed, Luo Cheng shared his insights: "Junior brother, the Divine Chess Power belongs to a higher level of power. It has both destructive and creative power; it contains both the law of death and the law of life. You need to carefully comprehend it."

"I see!" Li Qiang suddenly understood, gaining a deeper understanding of power.

"Compared to Immortal Yuan Power, Divine Chess Power is more inclusive and has greater vitality."

"Understood!"

"Taoist cultivation emphasizes the clarity of the primordial spirit, which is entrusted to the void, neither born nor dying."

"In this respect, it is in line with Buddhism." Li Qiang received the inheritance of Elder Zhi and also obtained a large number of Buddhist treasures, so he did not reject Buddhism. He felt that Buddhist supernatural powers had their merits.

"We practitioners learn the Dharma and the principles."

"right!"

After their exchange, almost half a month had passed. Both of them had gained a lot. Li Qiang learned a lot from Luo Cheng, and Luo Cheng also learned a lot from Li Qiang.

Li Qiang has a very deep understanding of magic, weapon crafting, and alchemy, which is something Luo Cheng lacks.

Luo Cheng said, "Junior brother, you left behind a legacy in Linming Star, and I would like to leave one here as well."

"That's a good thing!" Li Qiang readily agreed.

"Leaving a legacy isn't urgent for now." Luo Cheng changed the subject: "Junior brother, do you know where Xuanlong lives?"

"I know." Li Qiang smiled wryly, remembering something. "Senior brother, you don't know, I had a bit of an unpleasantness with Brother Xuanlong the first time I met him."

Afterwards, Li Qiang took Luo Cheng on a tour of Qilong City and introduced him to his friends. Luo Cheng presented each of these people with a treasure.

Because of Luo Cheng's protection, which helped Li Qiang withstand the pressure from the immortals, Li Qiang did not cause a ruckus in Qilong City, nor did he destroy the cultivators' spiritual artifacts, which meant he had less "fun".

After exploring Qilong City, the two went out together to find Xuanlong. On the way, Li Qiang asked about the immortals: "Senior brother, what do you think those immortals wanted from me?"

Luo Cheng said, "The Lone Star descended to the mortal realm, and seeing you was just a side thing; his main purpose was to find the Ancient God's Treasure."

"Ancient God's Treasure?" Li Qiang had heard of the name Ancient God's Treasure, but he didn't know any specific information about it. He was quite curious about it.

"Junior brother, we definitely have to go to this ancient divine treasure. You'll know once we get there."

"Alright." Li Qiang knew that there was no point in asking his senior brother if he didn't want to talk about it.

Luo Cheng then said, "By the way, you know that the Azure Emperor wants to take you as his disciple, right?"

"I've heard about it."

"He took you as his disciple because you are the key to their godhood."

"Me?" Li Qiang was even more confused.

"Junior brother, we need you to help us become gods and ascend to the divine realm."

"Alright then," Li Qiang said helplessly. "Senior brother, you're speaking in riddles again."

Luo Cheng's tendency to only say half of what he meant left Li Qiang wanting more. However, he was easygoing and didn't dwell on things he couldn't understand: "Senior brother, with you here, I don't need to think about anything."

"Right now, our main task is to improve our strength in preparation for going to the ancient treasure."

"Senior brother, what level of strength is required to enter the Ancient God's Treasury?"

"Even a Heavenly Lord's strength is barely enough. Even so, in the Ancient God's Treasury, he can only barely protect himself."

"Senior brother, how strong is the Heavenly Lord?"

"Better than Lao Gan."

Li Qiang suddenly realized. With his current cultivation level, he couldn't even defeat Qian Shanyong, let alone a Heavenly Lord. He asked curiously, "Senior Brother, if we disregard cultivation levels and only consider strength, can you compare to a Heavenly Lord?"

"If we only consider strength, I am evenly matched with the Heavenly Lord."

"Hehe!" Li Qiang laughed, then added, "Senior brother, I'd like to spar with you."

"Let's talk about sparring after we meet Xuanlong."

"Great!" Li Qiang thought to himself with glee. When he met Brother Xuanlong, he would have to ask his senior brother to help him regain the face he lost last time.

The two quickly arrived at Xuanlong's residence. Li Qiang didn't use a communication talisman; instead, he shouted directly into the air, "Brother Xuanlong, I'm here!"

call out!

A burst of golden light flashed, enveloping a figure who landed beside the two. The newcomer was none other than Immortal Xuanlong. Upon seeing Li Qiang, he frowned slightly: "What's all the noise about?"

If Li Qiang had come alone, Xuanlong would probably have already made his move. But he couldn't see through Luo Cheng's cultivation level, so he held back.

The golden light dissipated, revealing a cold-faced immortal with no expression on his face.

"Brother Xuanlong, this is my senior brother," Li Qiang said with a smile. "Look at you, you've been cultivating for too long, your face is almost turning into a zombie's."

"Oh," Xuanlong responded indifferently, his gaze sweeping over Luo Cheng.

Luo Cheng understood. These immortals could take a nap for hundreds or even thousands of years, and a single cultivation session could last for tens of thousands of years. If Li Qiang hadn't come to Linming Star, the cultivators here probably wouldn't even know that an immortal was living in seclusion there.

Xuanlong sized up Luo Cheng and asked, "Are you also a cultivator?"

"Exactly," Luo Cheng replied, then said, "Shall we have a spar?"

He knew that these immortals wouldn't communicate with them unless they demonstrated their strength.

Ultimately, it all comes down to ability.