Chapter 138 Choice

Inside the Xianyang Palace, Gao Yao sat opposite Ying Zheng, with Xiang Shaolong accompanying them.

Gao Yao took out a jade box, placed it on the table, and slowly opened the lid.

In an instant, a faint light rose from the box, and three round pills appeared and disappeared in the light, emitting a strange fragrance that made the two people who smelled it feel refreshed and comfortable from the inside out, as if they had inhaled a large breath of pure spiritual energy.

Xiang Shaolong asked in surprise, "Is this what Cui Wenzi was researching that you found?"

Gao Yao made no attempt to hide the fact that he had ordered someone to find Cui Wenzi and assist him in refining medicine; Ying Zheng and Xiang Shaolong were fully aware of this as well.

Gao Yao nodded, "That's right, this is the elixir of immortality that Cui Wenzi refined."

"Immortality?"

Not only was Xiang Shaolong shocked, but even Ying Zheng couldn't help but gasp for a moment.

After all, the opportunity he had been searching for his whole life had suddenly appeared before him, and it was hard for him to remain calm.

“Only three of these are available, absolutely unique.” Gao Yao spoke with certainty, and no one doubted his words, not even Ying Zheng and Xiang Shaolong.

Gao Yao closed the box again, gently raised his eyes to look at Ying Zheng, "Your Majesty, taking this medicine will grant you immortality, and the so-called death calamity is naturally not worth mentioning."

Ying Zheng calmly met his gaze and rationally asked, "The Imperial Advisor's visit is surely not just about presenting medicine, is it?"

“Not bad.” Gao Yao took out a small booklet and placed it next to the jade box. Compared to the jade box, the booklet seemed particularly ordinary. However, Ying Zheng and Xiang Shaolong’s eyes were inexplicably drawn to this booklet.

"This is a brand new cultivation technique that I've developed recently, which I've named the Star Gazing Technique. It allows for flying, escaping into the earth, reaching for the moon, and chasing stars..."

Xiang Shaolong's breathing became noticeably heavier.

"None of them can be done."

"Cough cough..." Caught off guard by Gao Yao's words, Xiang Shaolong's breathing became disordered, and he couldn't help but cough.

Gao Yao curled the corners of his mouth and explained again: "However, when you first start practicing, you can first guide the Qi in your body to circulate through your meridians, like a gentle stream nourishing your internal organs, which can make your body healthy and free from all diseases. This is the foundation for prolonging life."

As cultivation deepens, one's Qi can condense into a pill. This pill, like a dazzling star, shines brightly within the dantian, continuously nourishing the physical body, making the skin as delicate as a baby's and the bones as hard as metal and stone, impervious to the erosion of time.

"That sounds familiar," Xiang Shaolong asked. "Golden Core?"

“You could say that,” Gao Yao raised an eyebrow, meeting Ying Zheng’s still calm gaze, and continued, “More importantly, once you reach the advanced level, you can break through the boundary between life and death, and your soul and body will merge into one, reaching a state of immortality.”

At that time, heaven and earth existed in perfect harmony, allowing one to overlook the rise and fall of the world and transcend the cycle of life and death. Even if struck by swords, one would hardly be harmed; the passage of time would not decay one, achieving a state of immortality. However, reaching a high level was not an easy task.

Gao Yao pointed at the jade box and booklet on the table. His meaning was clear: taking medicine would achieve the desired result in one step, while cultivating martial arts would face numerous obstacles and might not even lead to the desired outcome. It all depended on Ying Zheng's choice.

Ying Zheng did not make a choice immediately, but calmly asked, "Since it is a method of star observation, which star are you observing?"

"Could it be that you specially had someone collect these celestial stars?" Xiang Shaolong asked, frowning.

Gao Yao shook his head, his gaze towards Ying Zheng carrying a unique depth: "It is the Great Qin. I have linked my cultivation technique with the fate of the Great Qin. As long as the star of the Great Qin remains, the cultivation technique can continue to be practiced; as the fate of the Great Qin prospers, the cultivation technique will advance smoothly."

"Your Majesty has asked me twice about the fate of the Great Qin Dynasty. Now, I will tell Your Majesty frankly that by practicing this technique, the fate of the Great Qin Dynasty and the destiny of individuals will be closely linked and interdependent. If the Great Qin Dynasty lasts for thousands of years, then Your Majesty will live forever."

"However, cultivation techniques and elixirs of immortality cannot coexist. So, Your Majesty, should we choose the elixir or the cultivation technique?"

Ying Zheng gave him a deep look, and without hesitation placed his hand on the booklet, "I choose Great Qin, I want Great Qin to last for ten thousand generations!"

...

"you……"

Leaving Xianyang Palace with Gao Yao, Xiang Shaolong looked at his profile, hesitant to speak. Could such a miraculous skill truly be created by a mortal like Gao Yao?

"What's wrong? Do you want the elixir of immortality?"

Gao Yao shook the jade box, deliberately misinterpreting his meaning, "Since His Majesty doesn't need medicine, the right to use this medicine is still in my hands. I'd like to give you one?"

Xiang Shaolong rolled his eyes. "Don't make it sound like you're selling cabbages on the street, okay? This is a miraculous medicine!"

So, do you want it?

"Don't tempt me," Xiang Shaolong waved his hand, looked at the newly paved road with cement, and smiled slightly. "Look, I have contributed to Xianyang. Compared to a meaningless immortality, I would rather share life and death with the Great Qin, which has given everything."

"You should keep this medicine safe."

After Xiang Shaolong finished speaking, the complex emotions in his heart instantly dissipated. He put his arm around Gao Yao's shoulder and said loudly, "I haven't met this alchemist Cui Wenzi yet. Take me to see him. Is it true that he was taught by Prince Qiao? Is it really true that he has lived for three hundred years..."

Xiang Shaolong realized that whether it was the Ziwei Emperor or the mortal Gao Yao, they were both his friends.

He actually preferred Gao Yao to the current one. Even though he had a quirky sense of humor, even though he liked to pause and gasp when he spoke, even though he always enjoyed seeing him make a fool of himself… wait, the more he thought about it, the more he felt like he was getting the short end of the stick?

"Did you get Xiaoyue to come up with some modern cuisine again? I want to eat at your place tonight!"

"So suddenly? Aren't you going back home?"

"I'm not going back, we're having a big feast tonight!"

...

"Brother Yi!"

Yi Xiaochuan, who was shopping at the market with Xiang Yu, suddenly heard a familiar call. He turned around and saw Liu Ji and Xiao He. He was a little dazed for a moment, "Brother Liu, Brother Xiao."

From the time we recognized each other until the star fell from the sky, a lot happened. It feels like we haven't seen each other for a long time, but it's actually been less than half a month.

"Brother Yi, it's been a long time."

The four of them walked together. When they saw Liu Ji and Xiao He greeting him warmly, Yi Xiaochuan suddenly felt a little guilty and explained, "I'm really sorry, I've been too busy lately..."

“I understand,” Liu Ji said with exceptional understanding. “We’ve also heard about the major event of the falling star.”

"Who are these two?" Xiang Yu suddenly asked, seemingly trying to help Yi Xiaochuan out of a tight spot.

Yi Xiaochuan then realized what had happened and couldn't help but scream in his heart, "Help! What kind of historic meeting has he just facilitated? Xiang Yu and Liu Bang!"

On second thought, Xiang Yu was Xiang Yu of Xianyang, and Liu Ji could never evolve into the founding emperor Liu Bang. Yi Xiaochuan suddenly felt a sense of absurd humor.

"These are Liu Ji and Xiao He, friends I met in Pei County. This is Xiang Yu."

"I have met Commandant Xiang."

Liu and Ji greeted him politely, and Xiang Yu nodded, pretending to be meeting them for the first time, and asked, "Do you recognize me?"

"My three brothers met Commandant Xiang once when they took the military examination. Afterwards, we served in the army and hope that Commandant Xiang will take care of us."

Liu Ji habitually shamelessly tried to establish a connection, and the implication was clear: all three of them had passed the national examination.

Xiang Yu "suddenly realized" and seemed very easy to get along with. "It seems that Brother Liu's three brothers are all exceptional talents. The matter of the Heavenly Star has passed, and the Palace Examination will be held soon. I look forward to seeing the three of you in the training ground at that time."

"Thank you for the reminder, Commandant Xiang."

Liu Ji smiled with satisfaction. "See, the news has arrived!"