Chapter 1

Great Zhao, Lin'an Prefecture.

By the West Lake, the white jade railings stretch endlessly. After a spring rain, the air is slightly cool, carrying a hint of sweetness.

The emerald lake water ripples, gently swaying the lotus leaves on the surface. In the center of the lake, the red-lit pleasure boats are already beginning to stir with the excitement of the spring night. Graceful women lean against the windows of the boats, their eyes twinkling.

Scholars and literati stroll along the rain-soaked green stones of the long embankment, composing poetry and couplets. From time to time, they tiptoe to catch a glimpse of the alluring figures on the pleasure boats, hoping to enjoy the beauty without boarding the boats.

"Alas, it's too far to see clearly."

"Why don't we buy a pleasure boat and get closer? We might even see the courtesan, and it would save us a lot of silver."

On the long embankment, a young man in a blue robe holds a wine jug, takes a sip, and mutters to himself.

"But if I don't see the courtesan, I won't spend any silver."

The young man frowns and counters himself: "Scholars and literati love a bit of romance."

"Forget it, without silver, there's no romance. I can't even afford the inn's room rent anymore."

The young man sighs, unable to enjoy the pleasure of free viewing, which leaves him quite melancholic.

He raises the wine jug and takes a sip, enjoying the beauty of the West Lake.

A gentle breeze blows, and the willows sway gracefully.

Looking at the bustling West Lake, the young man's eyes gradually fill with ripples of emotion.

He never imagined that one day he would encounter such an absurd situation, being transported to a distant era, into the body of a scholar heading to the capital for the imperial exams.

The scholar himself was not poor, coming from a wealthy family in Chongzhou. However, he did not understand the principle of not showing off wealth. Just before reaching the capital, he was robbed, his guards fled, and he was beaten, leading to the arrival of a穿越者 (穿越者 means "穿越者" in Chinese, which can be translated as "穿越者" in English, but in this context, it means "a person who has traveled through time" or "a time traveler").

The young scholar, both in his past and present life, is named Anle. His name is easy to accept. In his past life, he was an art student admitted to an art academy, with considerable talent in painting.

After arriving in the capital, he managed to buy some drawing paper and charcoal with the one tael of silver hidden in his pocket. He sold a few sketches in a unique style, earning some silver, and barely managed to establish himself.

In Anle's memory, there was no dynasty called Great Zhao in his past life. However, after inheriting the memories of this body, Anle gained a vague understanding of the world.

This world is not ordinary. There are cultivators, and the situation is chaotic.

On his journey to the capital, Anle saw that human lives were as cheap as grass, and there were frozen corpses on the road.

Foreign powerful nations were eyeing the south, ready to invade and conquer the land of Great Zhao, completely occupying the Central Plains.

The capital of Great Zhao was originally in the north, facing off against the barbarian tribes for eight hundred years. Eventually, the barbarians grew stronger, and the emperor of Great Zhao ordered the entire court to move south, establishing the capital in Lin'an to avoid the sharp edge of the conflict.

It has been five hundred years since Great Zhao moved south, and the capital Lin'an is extremely prosperous, with nightly revelry. The desire to reclaim the lost northern territories has long been buried under the prosperity.

In Great Zhao, all things are inferior, except for cultivation.

Even scholars are not as esteemed as cultivators.

The imperial exams are divided into two levels: Jia and Yi. Even if you have outstanding literary talent and can become a capable minister, if you are not a cultivator, you can only rank in the Yi category. Only cultivators can rank in the Jia category and become the top scholar.

Anle cannot cultivate, but he wants to live a decent life in this era. Ranking in the Yi category is a viable path.

This is why Anle chose to continue to the capital to prepare for the imperial exams.

Moreover, Anle has a grand ambition: to aim for the Jia category top scholar position.

If he can achieve this, he will truly have made it, rising to the top in one leap.

Although he has not yet cultivated, he still has hope because he has the advantage of being a time traveler.

Looking at the rippling surface of the West Lake, Anle's pupils dilate, and a semi-transparent light screen appears before his eyes.

…

【Name: Anle】

【Time Qi: 2 strands】

【Time Dao Fruit: None】

…

A simple light screen, which appeared three days ago when Anle first arrived in Lin'an Prefecture.

After several attempts, Anle discovered that he could draw a grayish flow called Time Qi through the light screen.

Although Anle has not yet figured out the function of the grayish flow, there is no doubt that he must rely on this to step into cultivation.

In Great Zhao, cultivators are highly esteemed. Once you step into cultivation, you are registered with the government and receive a monthly salary. It is said that even the lowest-level cultivators receive thirty taels of silver per month.

Thirty taels of silver is enough for Anle to live comfortably in Lin'an.

With a hint of envy, Anle dismisses the light screen. The scholars and literati on the side of the embankment become restless, seeing a pleasure boat in the center of the lake light up with red lanterns. The curtains on the boat are lifted, and graceful maids in light yellow dresses slowly step out, standing on both sides.

Although they are far away, the maids' graceful figures and beauty rival those of the courtesans on ordinary pleasure boats, stirring the hearts of many scholars and literati.

This scene is special. According to the original owner's memory, Anle understands that the pleasure boats on the West Lake are graded. The boats in the center of the lake are of the highest grade, and the courtesans on them are the most prestigious.

There is even a rumor that the courtesan on the top-ranked pleasure boat in the center of the lake is a cultivator with considerable cultivation!

A cultivator as a courtesan, how could the scholars and literati not be excited? It's an additional charm of the profession.

If they could have a moment with her, even composing a hundred poems would not be enough to describe the experience.

Suddenly, a commotion arises among the scholars on the embankment.

"Immortal Yunrou has arrived!"

"So beautiful, a sword immortal, unparalleled in beauty!"

"If I could board Immortal Yunrou's pleasure boat, my life would be worth it, even if I fail the spring exams!"

…

The scholars and literati chatter incessantly, their words filled with excitement.

Anle stands on the embankment, raises the wine jug, and takes a sip. The wine spreads a rich aroma on his slightly upturned lips, and his eyes narrow with excitement.

"Finally, she's here."

A hundred meters above, a brilliant sword light streaks across the sky, and a long sword pierces the air.

On the sword, a woman in a white dress stands gracefully, her long black hair flowing. The mist on the lake seems to be stirred by the sword's aura, creating a transcendent and otherworldly scene.

The sword-wielding woman lands on the pleasure boat, and the maids on both sides bow. The white-dressed woman turns her head, smiling, her face covered by a veil, revealing only her eyes, which seem to emit an electric current.

The scholars on the embankment are stirred, their hearts racing with excitement and desire.

Although it is not the first time he has seen this, Anle is still stunned, especially by the sight of the sword-wielding flight, which is incredibly impactful.

The role of a sword immortal, played in this era, is a challenge no scholar can resist.

In Anle's slightly narrowed eyes, the transcendent and otherworldly white-dressed courtesan on the pleasure boat is surrounded by several strands of grayish flow, like writhing dragons.

Counting carefully, there are more than a dozen strands of grayish flow.

The grayish flow stands out against the white mist on the lake. Although they are far away, Anle can see them clearly, and they seem to have a strong attraction to him.

Anle has been spending his days by the West Lake, specifically to observe this cultivator courtesan. The two strands of Time Qi in the light screen were obtained from Immortal Yunrou over the past two days.

The first time he saw Immortal Yunrou on the embankment, Anle detected the Time Qi on her. With more than a dozen strands, he could only extract one strand per day.

So, Anle has been coming to the West Lake every day to wait and watch.

One strand per day, slowly extracting.

Although he does not yet know the function of Time Qi, he follows the principle of "take it if you can," and more is always better.

A pale golden light screen appears before his eyes.

In the light screen, the 【Time Qi】 section flickers.

Then, Anle sees a strand of grayish flow detach from the top-ranked pleasure boat in the center of the lake, floating freely like a dandelion seed.

The grayish flow crosses the lake, finally swirling around Anle's fingertips.

Strangely, the grayish flow, which was originally gray, turns golden when it swirls around Anle's fingertips, like a golden light emerging from the mud, shining brightly as it enters Anle's body.

In the light screen, the Time Qi increases by one strand.

As for why it turns golden, Anle does not understand.

Since he does not understand, he does not dwell on it.

Mission accomplished, Anle takes a large sip of wine, feeling satisfied.

With a bit of luck, Anle tries to extract another strand of Time Qi from the top-ranked courtesan, but the 【Time Qi】 section in the light screen no longer flickers, indicating that he is in a cooldown period.

Slightly disappointed, Anle leaves without lingering, pushing through the excited and flushed scholars and literati behind him, and walks away with his wine jug.

However, just as he steps out of the crowd and takes a few steps, Anle is startled.

Because the golden flow he just extracted is now burning like a golden incense stick, emitting a gentle smoke.

Then, Anle sees a scroll unfold before his eyes, with scenes playing out like a movie.

The first scene is a woman's boudoir.

The curtains are lightly drawn, and the room is filled with the scent of cosmetics.

On the bed, a graceful and alluring figure is faintly visible.

Upon closer inspection, Anle is shocked.

Because this alluring figure…

Is the sword-wielding courtesan who flew over the West Lake and boarded the pleasure boat, the female sword immortal!