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On the rugged mountain path, the four people's footsteps left varying depths of marks on the stone steps where the morning dew had not yet dried.

Zhang Tie walked at the front, carrying a backpack that was almost half a person tall, filled with medicinal herbs and dry rations brought from the Seven Mysteries Sect.

His skin gleamed with a faint metallic sheen in the morning sun, and each step he took caused the ground to tremble slightly.

"Stop." Su Ning suddenly raised his hand, his gaze sweeping across the dense forest ahead like lightning. "There's the aura of a demonic beast nearby."

"What? A demonic beast?"

Almost simultaneously, a gray shadow darted out from the bushes!
It was a wolf-shaped monster with a completely black body, its fangs dripping with putrid slime.

"That's an Ironback Demon Wolf!" Li Feiyu instantly drew his longsword, only to find that Su Ning had already disappeared from the spot.

"boom!"

With a muffled thud, Su Ning appeared behind the demon wolf, his hand casually resting on the wolf's head.

Before the monster could even let out a wail, blood suddenly spurted from its seven orifices, and it collapsed limply to the ground.

Han Li's pupils contracted slightly...

He clearly saw a wisp of spiritual energy flash across Su Ning's palm; Su Ning was far more mysterious and powerful than he had imagined.

The powerful Ironback Wolf Demon in front of him seemed like nothing more than a blade of grass; Su Ning shattered its head with a single palm strike.

"We'll have an extra meal tonight." Su Ning shook his hand and turned to look at Han Li. "Junior Brother Han, the gallbladder of the demon wolf can be used as medicine."

"Yes, senior brother, I understand."

"Don't be afraid! We'll encounter many more things like this in the future."

"Senior Brother Su, you seem to know a lot about the outside world?"

"It's all from what Master told me! I think if it weren't for the influence of that ghost, Master might not have become like this."

"Senior brother, can you tell us about Master's story?"

"Actually, Master was originally a great master in the martial arts world of Jingzhou. Unfortunately, he later encountered a battle between cultivators and realized that in the eyes of cultivators, mortals were nothing but ants. So he abandoned his family and searched everywhere for opportunities to cultivate immortality. Then he encountered a wisp of remnant soul, namely the rogue cultivator Yu Zitong who possessed Master's body. The Everlasting Spring Skill is the cultivation technique that Yu Zitong practiced. Over the years, Master has been searching for a disciple who can cultivate the Everlasting Spring Skill, so that the two of them can possess each other."

"What? Possession?"

"It's an extremely vicious cultivation technique. When the cultivator whose body is possessed is taken over, their body and soul will be destroyed, and their body will become the possession of the two of them."

"..."

As night fell, the aroma of roasted wolf meat wafted from the campfire.

Han Li took out a jade bottle from his pocket and poured out four pale blue pills: "Senior brother, these are 'Qi Gathering Pills,' which will help our cultivation."

Li Feiyu took a pill and examined it carefully in the firelight: "The quality of this pill... is even better than the ones refined by the alchemy elders of the Seven Mysteries Sect."

He gave Han Li a meaningful look, "Junior Brother Han is truly a man of hidden talent."

Han Li felt a tightness in his back and subconsciously looked at Su Ning.

But the other party simply swallowed the pill calmly, closed his eyes and began to regulate his breathing, showing no intention of asking about its origin.

However, Han Li found it strange that Su Ning was not curious at all.

This question lingered in Han Li's mind for several days.

Until one rainy night, when he was secretly accelerating the ripening of the spiritual herbs in the cave, Su Ning's voice suddenly came from the cave entrance:
"Diluting the elixir with morning dew will make its effects milder."

Han Li froze, nearly dropping the Palm Heaven Bottle from his hand.

“Junior Brother Han, I already knew.” Su Ning leaned against the stone wall at the cave entrance, the moonlight casting a silvery glow on his profile. “Everyone has secrets, and I respect your destiny. You don’t need to be too wary of me.”

At that moment, a block of ice in Han Li's heart quietly melted.

Three months later, on the night of the full moon, the spiritual energy in the mountains and forests suddenly surged!
Su Ning sat cross-legged beneath the waterfall, with seven cyan vortexes around him swirling like dragons.

Li Feiyu, who was keeping watch in the distance, was shocked to see that the waterfall's water flow was actually flowing backwards and condensing into countless ice crystals in the air.

"Seventh level of Qi Refining... Is this the power of the Great Perfection of the Everlasting Spring Technique?"

At the same time, a bright green light shone brightly in the cave where Han Li was.

The Heavenly Bottle in front of him floated in mid-air, with jade-like spiritual liquid dripping continuously from its mouth, irrigating the dozen or so spiritual herbs below.

Those medicinal herbs grew, flowered, and bore fruit at a rate visible to the naked eye...

"It's done!" Han Li grabbed the newly refined "Nourishing Essence Pill" and swallowed it without hesitation.

The spiritual energy within his dantian instantly surged, and the fourth spiritual energy meridian finally took shape!

Fourth level of Qi refining!

On the other hand, Zhang Tie's situation was somewhat strange.

His bare upper body was covered with spiderweb-like metallic patterns as he frantically pounded his chest with a tree trunk, producing a metallic clanging sound.

Most surprisingly, the hard granite beneath his feet was cracked inch by inch by his feet!
The mess Mo Juren and Yu Zitong messed with Zhang Tie's body last time actually led Zhang Tie to develop body refinement in the right direction by accident.

If we can find a genuine body-refining technique for Zhang Tie in the future, his future prospects will definitely not stop here.

At the campsite in the early morning, Li Feiyu sat cross-legged on a blue stone, his face solemn.

He tried to circulate the "Eternal Spring Skill" according to Han Li's teachings, but he was still unable to draw qi into his body.

"Don't rush." ​​Su Ning suddenly appeared behind him and placed a hand on his back. "It seems that your spiritual root attribute is somewhat special."

A cool spiritual energy flowed into Li Feiyu's meridians, and he immediately "saw" the condition within his body...

Several major meridians were strangely dark green!

"This is...toxin?"

“No, it’s a mutated wood spirit root.” Su Ning withdrew his hand. “You’ve been taking the Marrow Extraction Pill for a long time, and the toxins have fused with your spirit root. Ordinary cultivation methods are indeed not suitable for you.”

As he spoke, he took out a jade slip from his bosom: "This is the 'Azure Fiend Sword Technique,' which is perfect for your physique."

Li Feiyu took the jade slip, and as soon as he probed it with his divine sense, he felt a jolt throughout his body...

This is no ordinary swordsmanship; it is clearly an extremely profound martial arts manual!

"Senior Brother Su, you..."

"Shh." Su Ning held up a finger. "This is a secret between us."

That night, Li Feiyu finally succeeded in drawing in Qi and officially entered the second level of Qi Refining.

Unbeknownst to him, a hundred miles away, perched atop a tree, a jet-black raven watched the camp with blood-red eyes before vanishing into black smoke...

……

“We’ll reach Tainan Valley in seven more days.” Han Li unfolded the map, but his brows suddenly furrowed. “But this area is marked as the ‘Ghost Spirit Gate Warning Zone’.”

The four of them looked at each other.

Ghost Spirit Sect is a notorious demonic sect in the area, specializing in capturing lone cultivators to create puppets.

“Taking the detour will add another half month to the journey,” Zhang Tie said in a muffled voice, his fist clenching unconsciously, making a metallic scraping sound.

Su Ning pondered for a moment, then suddenly looked at Li Feiyu: "What level have you reached in your Azure Fiend Sword Technique?"

"You've just started, but..." A glint of green light flashed in Li Feiyu's eyes, "I can sense that the toxic spiritual energy is very strong."

“Very good.” Su Ning’s lips curled up slightly. “I have a plan.”

"..."

The campfire crackled, illuminating the solemn faces of the four men.

No one noticed that the Heavenly Bottle at Han Li's waist was faintly glowing, and the ancient patterns on its surface seemed clearer than ever before...

The mountain road was rugged and shrouded in mist.

As Su Ning and his three companions were making their way along the steep mountain path, suddenly, they heard the rapid sound of horses' hooves behind them, followed by a sharp whistle...

"Remnants of the Seven Mysteries Sect, halt!"

Everyone turned around and saw more than ten black-clad warriors galloping towards them. The leader was a young man with a sinister face and a blood-red longsword hanging at his waist. He was none other than Wolf Owl, the young leader of the Wild Wolf Gang!
Beside him, a dwarf less than four feet tall rode on a short horse, wearing a golden crown and a yellow robe, with an arrogant expression on his face.

He was toying with a golden talisman in his hand, and a faint spiritual light was flowing over it.

Venerable Jin Guang!

Su Ning narrowed his eyes, but secretly he was delighted.

Han Li had thought that their early departure would cause him to miss this opportunity, but unexpectedly, the opportunity came chasing after him.

Don't let an opportunity that comes knocking on your door pass you by!
"Han Li, Li Feiyu, Zhang Tie," Su Ning said calmly, "These Wild Wolf Gang disciples are for you to practice on."

"Okay! Leave it to us."

Wolf Owl was enraged upon hearing this: "Arrogant! Kill them!"

"Whoosh whoosh whoosh—" The Wild Wolf Gang warriors scattered instantly, their swords flashing and shadows closing in on the four!
Han Li's eyes turned cold, and his figure flashed out like a ghost, a short sword appearing in his hand without anyone noticing.

His swordsmanship was personally taught by Li Feiyu, and it also incorporated the subtle and unpredictable nature of the "Phantom Yin Finger" technique, with each sword strike precisely targeting the opponent's vital points!
"Pfft!" A Wild Wolf Gang fighter's throat was pierced, and blood spurted out!

On the other side, Li Feiyu let out a long roar, his body radiating a faint bluish-green light...

It is the poisonous spiritual power of the Azure Fiend Sword Technique!
His palms flew, each strike carrying a corrosive poisonous force. Any enemy struck by his palm winds turned pale and collapsed to the ground convulsing!

"Ahhh! My hand..." a martial artist screamed, watching helplessly as his arm was corroded by the poison, his flesh rotting away!
Zhang Tie, on the other hand, was the most violent.

He let out a low roar, his muscles bulged, and his skin gleamed with a metallic sheen as he charged directly into the enemy ranks, facing the swords and spears!
"Dang! Dang! Dang!"

When swords and blades struck him, they produced a metallic clang, yet they didn't even break his skin!

"Monster!" A member of the Wild Wolf Gang retreated in terror, but Zhang Tie grabbed him and slammed him to the ground!
Boom! Dust flew up, and the man's bones were shattered on the spot!

Seeing his men almost all dead or wounded in the blink of an eye, Wolf Owl's expression changed drastically. He hurriedly looked at the dwarf beside him: "Immortal Master! Please make a move!"

The once arrogant expression of Venerable Jin Guang turned solemn at this moment.

He stared intently at Su Ning, his voice shrill: "Boy, who exactly are you?"

Su Ning stood with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "The one who killed you."

"Arrogant!" Venerable Jin Guang roared, throwing out a golden talisman from his hand!

"Golden Light Talisman, Slash!"

The talisman swelled in the wind, transforming into a three-zhang-long golden blade of light that whistled as it slashed towards Su Ning!

This strike is enough to cut a Qi Refining stage cultivator in two!

However, Su Ning simply raised his hand slightly, and a glint of light flashed at his fingertips...

"break."

"Crack!" The golden light blade shattered inch by inch in mid-air!

"What?!" Venerable Golden Light exclaimed in shock. "You...you're a Foundation Establishment cultivator?!"

Immediately afterward, Venerable Jin Guang himself denied this absurd conjecture, "Impossible! How could a Foundation Establishment cultivator be mixed up with these mortals?"

Su Ning did not answer. In a flash, he appeared in front of the Golden Light Master like a ghost!

Because Su Ning knows that villains die from talking too much, he wouldn't be foolish enough to become a villain himself.

"You—" Jin Guang Shangren hurriedly summoned a bronze mirror magic weapon, and a beam of blazing golden light shot out from the mirror!
Su Ning neither dodged nor evaded; the power of space in his palm trembled slightly, and the golden light was twisted and blasted back towards the Golden Light Master himself!
"Ah!" Jin Guang Shangren screamed in agony as half of his body was burned by his own golden light!

He panicked completely and turned to run away, only to see Su Ning grab him with five fingers...

"Space Confinement!"

Master Jinguang was immediately trapped in a quagmire and could not move!
"Spare me! Fellow Daoist, spare me!" the Golden Light Master cried out in terror. "I'll offer all my treasures!"

Su Ning sneered: "Kill you, and the treasure will still be mine."

Having said that, he flicked his finger, and an invisible blade of space swept across the neck of the Golden Light Venerable…

"puff!"

A head flew high into the air, blood splattering everywhere!

Su Ning casually took off the Golden Light Master's storage bag, scanned it with his divine sense, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.

As expected, there was an Ascension Token from Yellow Maple Valley!

He took out the ancient bronze token, which was engraved with the words "Ascension to Immortality" and faintly exuded spiritual power.

Han Li and his two companions had already dealt with all the Wild Wolf Gang warriors and were walking over.

"Senior Brother Su, this is..." Han Li's gaze fell on the Ascension Token.

"Ascension Token," Su Ning said calmly. "The holder of this token can join one of the seven major sects without taking the exam. However, judging from this Ascension Token, it seems to be from Yellow Maple Valley."

Upon hearing this, both Li Feiyu and Zhang Tie's eyes flashed with envy.

Han Li calmly asked, "What does Senior Brother intend to do?"

Su Ning glanced at him, then suddenly smiled: "You want it?"

Han Li was taken aback, then shook his head: "This item is precious and should rightfully belong to Senior Brother."

Su Ning simply tossed the Ascension Token to him, saying, "Take it! I don't need it."

Su Ning thought to himself, with his own strength, why would he need an Ascension Token to enter the sect?

Han Li hurriedly caught the token, deeply shocked. Su Ning had actually given him such a precious Ascension Token.
Li Feiyu and Zhang Tie, who were standing to the side, were also dumbfounded, but soon Li Feiyu smiled and said, "Junior Brother Han, it seems that Senior Brother Su values ​​you very much."

Zhang Tie scratched his head: "Senior Brother Su is so generous!"

"It's not without conditions!"

"Senior brother, just say it! As long as it's something I, Han Li, can do, I'll do it without hesitation."

“Zhang Tie’s situation makes it difficult for him to enter a cultivation sect! However, you, Li Feiyu, and I will definitely be able to enter, so from now on, you will be responsible for our cultivation pills.”

"Alright! Senior brother, if I, Han Li, break this oath, may I be struck by lightning."

"The Ascension Token is very precious! You must not show it to others easily."

"clear."

After cleaning up the battlefield, the four continued on their way.

Han Li held the Ascension Token, his mind filled with countless thoughts.

He glanced at Su Ning in front of him and suddenly felt that this mysterious senior brother was becoming more and more unfathomable.

I wonder what Suning's background is? Why doesn't he care about the Ascension Token?

As he was pondering, Su Ning suddenly stopped and looked into the distance: "We're almost at Tainan Valley."

In the distance, in the misty valley, shimmering light can be faintly seen, and cranes soar.

That will be their first stop on their journey into the true world of cultivation!
...(End of chapter)