Life entered a different mode. Those who left with him, besides Ding Baiying, included the original eight singing girls, as well as some maids Ding Baiying had arranged for him over the years. Adding to this were the guards sent to him by the court, making a total of nearly a hundred people.
This made Lu Xuan's entourage appear somewhat bloated. However, no one thought there were too many people; on the contrary, everyone felt there were too few. The council even proposed to dispatch a special army for Lu Xuan to ensure his safety. However, Lu Xuan refused. What would it look like to be traveling with an army while sightseeing?
Lu Xuan wasn't simply sightseeing in the traditional sense. In fact, he was collecting scriptures from various schools of thought, especially Taoist and Buddhist methods of cultivating qi and nourishing life.
Did he want to cultivate immortality? There was a definite answer, mainly because he'd already transmigrated twice; cultivating immortality shouldn't be a problem, right? Lu Xuan himself knew the chances were practically zero. However, given that this world had a well-established martial arts system, he wondered if he could take this opportunity to advance further.
Taoism has had the concept of cultivating Qi since ancient times. Lu Xuan didn't have time for it before, but now that he has put aside all his burdens, he naturally wants to study it carefully. On one hand, he wants to live longer, and on the other hand, he wants to try to understand his own time travel and the secrets of his body.
This was not a simple problem, but fortunately, Lu Xuan was able to sense his own body and was certain that he still had enough time.
He collected countless Qi cultivation methods from various Taoist sects. Because this world didn't have true internal energy cultivation, most Qi cultivation methods were simply ways to strengthen the body. Lu Xuan could only start from scratch, exploring step by step.
Not only did he explore, but Lu Xuan also traveled to famous mountains and rivers all over the country, trying to find a so-called blessed land to help him take the most difficult first step.
Unfortunately, this world doesn't seem to support cultivation. Lu Xuan spent decades synthesizing hundreds of different martial arts from around the world. He also integrated almost all the seemingly reliable Qi cultivation techniques from history, attempting to cultivate both internal and external strength to break through the limits of life. But sadly, he ultimately failed.
Lu Xuan was not discouraged. He hadn't had high hopes to begin with; he just wanted to give it a try and find something to do in his long life.
As time passed, Lu Xuan reached his 120th year in this world. That is to say, he is now 140 years old.
Lu Xuan finally felt old. He could even sense that death was already standing in front of him, waiting for him to breathe his last.
He felt that his longevity was due in part to his exceptionally gifted body and remarkably strong vitality, and in part to the effectiveness of his Qi cultivation methods.
It's important to understand that he synthesized thousands of Taoist scriptures and methods from across China, summarizing twelve sets of Qi cultivation methods that theoretically best suited him. He hoped to break through the limits of the human body and comprehend the legendary spiritual energy or true qi. Although he ultimately failed, the fact that those Taoist methods had survived suggests there's some truth to them. He felt those Qi cultivation methods must have had some effect on his body, extending his lifespan to some extent. However, such things are probably impossible to prove.
By now, everyone Lu Xuan knew had died. He had been lonely in this world for far too long. He himself had begun to consider giving up. In the end, everyone is the same—struggling to live. Now, Lu Xuan didn't want to struggle anymore. And in that moment of mental relaxation, he felt an unprecedented weariness wash over him. Perhaps this was the feeling of death.
But in that instant, Lu Xuan's eyes suddenly lit up. What did he sense?
A gentle breeze flowed into my body.
Was it an illusion? He tried his best to stay conscious and feel the flow of energy.
Because he had been practicing these Qi cultivation methods for decades. So long that his entire body had developed a natural circulation mechanism.
That wisp of air just now was generated during his last unconscious practice of the Qi cultivation method.
Unfortunately, this last breath seemed to have exhausted all of Lu Xuan's energy. No matter how hard he tried, his consciousness still completely plunged into darkness.
------------
Ending Remarks
First of all, I'm relieved that this volume has been successfully completed. As many people have said, this volume is like throwing out the entire outline.
Okay, I admit I had that feeling. Did everyone notice that the climax of the previous volume was a meticulously planned, small-scale battle?
I thought the previous volume would focus on details, while this volume would be more macro-level. But clearly, it's a bit off.
It's not a complete disaster, and the overall subscription rate is still within my acceptable range, but compared to the previous volume, it's definitely far behind.
So, I'll learn from this experience for the next volume. I'll try to write a more detailed and engaging story. At least I won't abandon the outline (lol).
So far, this is the book I've done the best with. It's also the one I've put the most effort into. For this book, I bought original copies of *The Longest Day in Chang'an*, *The Fifteenth Year of Wanli*, *The Ming Dynasty Under a Microscope*, and other supplementary materials. *The Ming Dynasty Under a Microscope* was originally intended for a climactic section on taxation. However, as I mentioned in the book, I was completely baffled by the Ming Dynasty's tax system, so I cut it. Nevertheless, it's still a good book, and I recommend everyone to read it.
Finally, I apologize in advance for any shortcomings in this volume that may have caused you dissatisfaction. I will make it up to you in later stories. I hope you will continue to follow and subscribe to this book. Your subscriptions are my motivation for creating.
Let me also talk about the issue of tipping.
I don't usually ask for tips, so I don't usually thank readers for them in the chapters. But a lot of readers still tipped my stories. This really touches me and makes me feel ashamed.
In my opinion, simply watching the official content is more than enough. Donating is a great act of kindness. Everyone should do what they can afford. Especially for students, if you're not rich, please don't donate casually.
Last but not least, thank you for reading my story.
------------
Chapter 180 Time Flies in the Mountains (First Update, Please Subscribe)
In the mountains and forests, a figure was running swiftly. His movements were light and agile, like that of a nimble ape. Trees, hillsides, and rocks—all obstacles were like playthings before him.
He could even climb and run swiftly up a 90-degree vertical cliff without slowing down in the slightest. When he jumped from a height, his body felt as if it had become lighter, carrying a light, floating sensation. He would land on a tree branch without even breaking a branch as thick as two fingers.
The next second, he was running across the top of the dense forest. Just like those martial arts heroes in movies, leaping high and low. His feet glided through the slender branches and leaves, as if he were flying.
The journey lasted about fifteen minutes. The figure slowly descended in front of a cave.
This man was none other than Lu Xuan. However, he now looked nothing like the noble and imposing figure he had in the previous world. He was dressed in tattered clothes made of a combination of cloth and animal hides. His hair was disheveled, and his beard was unkempt, looking as if he hadn't groomed himself in a long time. He looked like a beggar.
However, a glint of light flashed in his eyes, then quickly disappeared, giving the impression that all his brilliance was contained within. Despite running and jumping for nearly a quarter of an hour, his breathing remained perfectly steady. He paused briefly, then entered the cave.
This is a cave, which looks like a huge limestone rock, sculpted by an underground river over countless years. In front of the cave is a small stream.
The man first scooped up some stream water and washed his face. Then he went into the cave.
Inside the cave, there were some simple living utensils. A pile of dry grass was arranged to resemble a bed. There weren't even any blankets or quilts. There were only a few unidentified animal hides.
On the other side were some mushrooms, dried meat, and wild vegetables. Hanging in the open space was a ceramic pot, simmering a mixture of some kind of root vegetable, mushrooms, meat, and wild vegetables. It looked like it had been cooking for some time, emitting a rich aroma.
He casually sat down on the ground, picked up a ceramic bowl he had made himself, and filled it with a large bowl of hot porridge. He blew on it a couple of times, then gulped it down. He finished most of the porridge in one go before letting out a long sigh. Then he stood up and walked deeper into the cave.
It's described as being deep inside, but it's actually only a dozen meters away. There's a huge, smooth stone wall there. It's covered with writing and various patterns carved using unknown methods.
At the very top of these characters were three words: Ape Strike Technique.