The Toll-Road to Immortality (Xianxia)

Calvin, an orphaned street rat with nothing but hunger and desperation to his name, stumbles upon a miraculous artifact—one that offers guidance, purpose, and treasures beyond mortal comprehension. In a world where cultivation demands more than talent or luck, where every step toward immortality is bought with blood and sacrifice, the artifact becomes his lifeline. But power comes at a price. As Calvin navigates the ruthless hierarchies of sects, martial arts, and arrogant young masters, he must balance the artifact’s gifts with the toll they exact. The road to immortality is long, and every choice could be his last. Will the artifact lift him to the heavens—or consume him before he reaches them?