In the Imperial Study Room of the Imperial Palace, Emperor Jin Geng was reviewing the papers from the palace exam.

    The triennial grand examination was an important talent selection for Great Xia, relating to the foundation of the state, so he took it very seriously.

    Today, after the conclusion of the palace exam, he sat in the Imperial Study Room, correcting the papers of the tribute scholars.

    "What a splendid piece!" He couldn''t help but praise as he read through the papers in his hand.

    The essay cited classics creatively and the prose blossomed with brilliant expressions, every word a gem. It was truly unique among the papers he had reviewed.

    Emperor Jin Geng turned to the examinee''s name and saw ''Li Shiming''.

    His expression shifted slightly, as the name Li Shiming had come up multiple times in recent reports.

    Most importantly, Li Shiming had close ties with Royal Tributor Gu Jia, who had visited Li Shiming''s residence on many occasions, and Li Shiming had also attended several cultivators'' gatherings.

    From this, Emperor Jin Geng was certain that Li Shiming was also a cultivator.

    Based on what he knew about Gu Jia, even he, the Emperor, couldn''t command much respect from Gu Jia, let alone socialize with him.

    "It''s a pity, such talent yet cannot be utilized!" Emperor Jin Geng shook his head. He had planned to make Li Shiming the top scorer, but knowing that Li Shiming was unlikely to take an official position, he couldn''t choose him for that. Experience new stories on empire

    The more he appreciated Li Shiming''s writing, the more he resented the fact that Li Shiming could not be employed by him.

    Emperor Jin Geng really wanted to place Li Shiming among the top three ranks, allowing him the bare minimum qualification of an Advanced Scholar.

    While he thought this way, Emperor Jin Geng also had to consider Gu Jia; even if he disregarded Gu Jia, he didn''t want to offend Li Shiming, the cultivator, over this matter.

    "Then let''s make it third place!" Emperor Jin Geng decided as he picked up the imperial brush.

    The next day, the Advanced Scholars who came to express their gratitude entered the grand hall of the Imperial Palace, where the eunuch announced the results.

    When it was announced that Li Shiming was the third place, the officials and newly advanced scholars present realized that Li Shiming, who should have been there, was absent.

    Even the eunuch who read the decree couldn''t help but turn to glance at Emperor Jin Geng, expecting to see him anger.

    However, to the surprise of all officials and new scholars, Emperor Jin Geng did not get angry.

    Gu Jia watched Li Shiming''s expression with great satisfaction. He had done this deliberately to dissolve Li Shiming''s attachment to the mundane world.

    Cultivators lead solitary lives, having to distance themselves from the worldly life and its clamor.

    Only those Cultivators who can endure solitude can pursue higher realms.

    The two Cultivators sat in their chairs, watching what was taking place in the grand hall.

    Li Shiming felt the distance between himself and the secular world, but this did not impact his pursuit of cultivation.

    Having been given a second chance at life, he cherished it exceptionally, desiring to live longer, to travel to every corner of the world, to see the true nature of the world.

    "Brother Gu, can cultivation grant eternal life?" Li Shiming asked amidst this atmosphere.

    "How old do you think I am?" Gu Jia chuckled in response to the question.

    Li Shiming observed Gu Jia carefully. Gu Jia appeared to be between forty-five and fifty years of age, but considering Cultivators might seem younger, he made a guess.

    "Are you seventy years old, Brother?" he ventured, inflating the number deliberately.

    "Haha!" Gu Jia burst into laughter before continuing with a hint of melancholy, "I am one hundred twenty-three years old this year. Despite over a century of arduous cultivation, I am still here in the secular world, waiting for death."

    Li Shiming stared at Gu Jia in astonishment. He had not expected Gu Jia to be one hundred twenty-three years old.

    In the world of mortals, the appearance of someone over a hundred and ten years old was already considered an extremely auspicious sign, let alone being over one hundred twenty.

    And looking at Gu Jia, he hardly seemed one hundred twenty-three years old. Judging by his condition, living another few decades seemed to be no problem at all.

    "The lifespan of a Qi Refining Cultivator can reach nearly two hundred years. However, due to various reasons related to a Cultivator''s body, it''s pretty good to reach one hundred and fifty years old," Gu Jia explained to him.

    "Then does that mean higher-level Cultivators live even longer?" Li Shiming asked again.

    "The lifespan of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator starts at two hundred years. Beyond that, I can''t say for sure, but it''s inevitable that the higher the cultivation, the longer the lifespan," Gu Jia answered with certainty.

    At this moment, Li Shiming''s thoughts on cultivation became exceptionally firm.

    He had the computer room space, the IBM z15 mainframe server, and countless research findings from his past life; he was convinced that he could travel further on the path of immortality and achieve a long, enduring life.