I bear witness to immortality in the human world.

Chapter 182 A Brief Period of Peace

"Master Wu."

"My lord."

As Wu Ming descended from the fifth floor of the Silou building, he encountered several officials from the Shenxing Si along the way, all of whom bowed respectfully to him, including Feng Yong, whose expression was somewhat complicated.

After breaking through the third blood coagulation stage, Feng Yong had undergone two years of honing his skills and was considered a rising star. He was transferred to the Internal Affairs Department of the Censorate. However, when he encountered Wu Ming in the department building, he could sense the huge gap between them simply by feeling the blood aura that Wu Ming did not deliberately conceal. He could only bow his head in respect.

Wu Ming didn't care, he just nodded slightly at him and walked out of the building.

During his visit to Liu Muyuan, he learned some information he wanted to know, as well as some news he had not paid attention to before. In addition, he received great benefits, namely the black dragon soft armor he was wearing and the Golden Source Soul Jade.

in addition,

He also gained a deeper understanding of the power of the Black Emperor Subduing Demon Diagram. It was clear that a primordial spirit treasure like the Golden Origin Soul Jade was far inferior to the Black Emperor Subduing Demon Diagram in terms of level. Even with a primordial spirit realm of at least the seventh refinement, such as Liu Muyuan, he could not detect the existence of the Black Emperor Subduing Demon Diagram at all.

In other words, even if he goes to the capital of Yong Kingdom, he can use the power of this map with relative peace of mind without worrying too much. As for going to Da Jin in the future... that is too far away and need not be considered for the time being.

The main martial arts are manifest, while the Taoist arts are hidden. Taoist arts, including magical treasures, are highly concealed when not actively used. Even beings one or two levels higher would find it difficult to detect them clearly, let alone the Black Emperor's Demon Subduing Diagram, which is so profound that it is difficult to see through. Even a master of the ninth level of refinement might not be able to detect it.

Wu Ming left the Censorate.

Not long after.

He returned to his mansion.

Upon arriving at the backyard of the mansion, a petite and charming maid in a green dress bowed to him with a joyful expression.

"Sir, you are back."

Wu Ming nodded slightly to Xiao Mei, who had come out to greet him.

When the young girl first arrived at his residence, she was pale and thin. Even if she wasn't ugly, she was far from beautiful. But now, after more than two years of recuperation, at the age of fourteen or fifteen, her appearance has begun to blossom, and she has gained some charm amidst her youthful innocence.

To Wu Ming's slight surprise, after carefully examining Xiao Mei, he noticed a subtle change in her spirit and energy, and thoughtfully asked, "Have you successfully cultivated your primordial spirit?"

"Reporting to the young master, the first refinement was completed not long ago."

Xiao Mei's starry eyes sparkled as she responded sweetly.

"Very good, continue your cultivation."

Wu Ming nodded and offered a word of praise.

The cultivation of the Primordial Spirit lineage is much more difficult in its initial stages than martial arts. It took nearly two years for Xiao Mei to complete the first refinement of the Primordial Spirit by relying on the most basic Taoist scriptures and doctrines in the Cautious Punishment Division, which shows that Xiao Mei does indeed have some aptitude in Taoist arts.

However, the path of Taoist magic is not only difficult to enter, but it is also much more difficult to truly possess strength than martial arts. One must cultivate one's primordial spirit to the third level. Although Xiaomei is quite talented, it is still uncertain whether she will be able to reach the third level in the future.

"If you can cultivate your primordial spirit to the third level in the future, I will go to the household registration office to remove your slave status. At that time, you will be able to make a living on your own and it will be easy for you to seek a position in this city."

Upon hearing this, Xiaomei immediately stopped bowing and knelt down in front of Wu Ming, saying, "My life was given to me by you, young master. In this life, I only wish to share your burdens and dare not have any other desires."

She had once suffered from hunger and cold, and only survived thanks to Wu Ming's shelter. It was also from Wu Ming that she obtained precious cultivation methods, which enabled her to embark on the path of cultivation. Although she was young, she was very clear-headed. Moreover, being a girl, she never had any thoughts of settling down and making a living.

Seeing this, Wu Ming couldn't help but smile and said, "Get up. If you can really cultivate to the third level and still remain a slave, what kind of logic is that? Even if you don't want to leave the manor, you should at least change your status and stay here."

Whether one has undergone three refinements of the primordial spirit or three coagulations of blood, once one reaches this level, regardless of one's humble origins, whether one is a servant or a servant born into the household, one will have a secure place to live. Even if one is from a powerful and wealthy family, if such a person appears among their servants, they will no longer be treated as a servant. Instead, they will be stripped of their slave status and sent out to manage a property for their master.

After a moment's thought.

Wu Ming returned to his bedroom and took out several more advanced Taoist scriptures, handing them to Xiao Mei.

Since Xiaomei has some talent in Taoist magic, then we should train her a little more. After all, Xiaomei is a maid he personally trained and trusts. Wu Qi and Liu Shi are getting old. If he is far away from Jingye City and not in the mansion for a long time, it will be good for Xiaomei to take care of him here in the future, so as to avoid some servants bullying their masters.

After making simple arrangements for Xiaomei's affairs, Wu Ming went to the side courtyard to meet Wu Qi and Liu Shi, and told them that he would soon be leaving Jingye City for the capital of Yong Kingdom.

Upon hearing this, Liu exclaimed "Ah!" with a hint of heartache and reluctance.

On the other hand, Wu Qi, holding a precious pipe inlaid with gold and jade, waved his hand and said, "Lord Liu is taking you to the capital, which is a good thing. Just go. Your mother and I are doing very well in this city, so you don't need to worry."

Wu Ming knew perfectly well whether Wu Qi and Liu were doing well. After all, there were more than seven or eight servants in the mansion just to take care of the two elders. Since he was promoted to the position of chief steward, his status had changed drastically, and there was almost no one in Jingye City who dared to oppose him. As a result, Wu Qi and Liu were able to live a much more carefree life.

Wu Qi often went out with his hands behind his back, followed by seven or eight servants and guards, to stroll in the market or to watch plays in the South Street. Liu Shi, on the other hand, often went out to visit relatives, having servants carry her in a sedan chair to find her sister Wu Yu and hold her grandson.

As the saying goes, aging is closely related to lifestyle, and this is clearly evident in Wu Qi and Liu Shi. Over the years, they haven't aged further; on the contrary, their appearance has been rejuvenated, and they seem even more energetic. Of course,

Wu Ming knew that these were just ways to eat well, sleep well, and recuperate well on a daily basis. Human aging is irreversible. Just as a martial artist's vitality gradually declines with age, he could only do his best to help those around him to take better care of themselves and live longer, but he could not truly extend their lifespan.

After all, even he himself has not truly extended his lifespan yet. To extend one's lifespan, one must at least cultivate martial arts to the fifth stage of blood condensation in order to initially extend one's lifespan, or one must undergo the seventh stage of primordial spirit refinement to acquire the ability to seize another's body and reincarnate.

but.

According to Liu Muyuan, whether it is the body-seizing and reincarnation through the seventh refinement of the primordial spirit, or the martial arts cultivation to the ninth blood condensation, where the blood energy is so thick that even the years can hardly wear it down, it is still impossible to achieve true immortality.

However, these things were still too far away for him, so Liu Muyuan didn't elaborate, and he didn't ask any further questions either.

After all, in Liu Muyuan's view, although he was incredibly talented and exceptionally gifted, he only had a chance to reach the seventh level of the Primordial Spirit Refinement. The eighth and ninth levels were extremely difficult to reach. In the long years that Liu Muyuan had experienced, he had seen some people with even more amazing talents than Wu Ming, but many of them ultimately failed halfway through.

They left the side courtyard of Wu Qi and Liu Shi.

Wu Ming returned to his backyard and finally began to carefully sort out his gains from the Abyss trip. First, regarding merit points, he had previously exchanged for a lot of supplies, and now, after going around in circles and gathering all sorts of miscellaneous items together, he still had 2.13 million merit points, which he could exchange for another batch of useful supplies in the Shenxing Division's treasury.

These merits belong to the Jingye City territory. Although there are two departments in the capital, the merits of the two departments in the capital and Jingye City are not interchangeable. Therefore, you should use them up as much as possible before leaving.

Next is the corpse of the Five Transformations Demon King, which is also of extraordinary value, but it is not suitable to sell it for the time being.

In addition, he needs to accumulate enough demonic energy to suppress the demons, enough to activate the Demon-Subduing Pestle once more, which would at least kill a fifth-level Refinement and Fifth-Level Blood expert. However, this method is a trump card and should not be used lightly unless absolutely necessary.

Finally, there were also a number of precious natural treasures, such as the Millennium Stone Heart Milk, which were just the kind of treasures he could use.

"The practice of martial arts skills cannot be abandoned."

Wu Ming weighed the crimson-black gold spear in his hand, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

After listening to Liu Muyuan's guidance, he learned that in martial arts, once one cultivates to the 'ultimate level,' it makes no difference whether one's spirit and body are united. Moreover, the 'ultimate level' is the key to advancing to a higher realm in martial arts through blood condensation.

For him, the realm of martial arts is his foundation and a great reliance for his primordial spirit to continuously advance. Therefore, he cannot slack off in his cultivation of martial arts, even though his strength in martial arts is still far from comparable to that of the Dao.

"In the days to come, I will cultivate my primordial spirit while also practicing the Thunderclap Spear Technique."

Wu Ming let out a soft breath.

He didn't know how long Liu Muyuan meant by "a few more days," but for the next period of time, he would finally be able to settle down completely and cultivate peacefully in the city.

During this period, it would be best to break through to the fifth level of the Yuan Shen Dao Fa (Primordial Spirit Dao Technique).

……

time flies.

More than a month has passed in the blink of an eye.

In the backyard of the Wu residence, Wu Ming was practicing his spear technique, holding a crimson-black gold spear. His eyes gleamed, and the spear, like a bolt of lightning, thrust forward repeatedly. Suddenly, his blood energy abruptly subsided, and he thrust the spear forward.

boom!
This shot was like a thunderclap, piercing through the air, its sharpness fully revealed.

In front of Wu Ming was a wooden stake made of ironwood. Although the tip of his spear was still nearly two feet away from the stake, when the spear fell, the stake emitted a buzzing sound and then exploded with a bang.

"I've finally mastered it."

Looking at his own shot, Wu Ming nodded slightly.

He was already highly talented in martial arts, and with more than a month of training, plus the assistance of the Millennium Stone Heart Milk, a spiritual treasure that could temporarily enhance comprehension, mastering the twelfth move of the Thunderclap Spear Technique was naturally not difficult.

Once he mastered this twelfth move, his skill would be only one step away from the 'perfect realm', or more accurately, only a hair's breadth away. As long as he broke through that barrier, he could reach the pinnacle of skill!
For a martial artist who has achieved four blood coagulations, it is extremely difficult to reach the pinnacle of their skills; they are practically unheard of. After all, even among martial arts masters who have achieved five blood coagulations, only a small number can comprehend the techniques of the pinnacle.

From the thirteenth move to the final sixteenth move, the Thunderclap Spear Technique is a masterful skill.

Wu Ming had been studying the thirteenth move for a long time, but he still had no idea how to do it. Or rather, the thirteenth move was purely a display of the ultimate skill and had no connection with the actual moves.

He didn't know if he could master the techniques of the Transcendent Realm at the fourth stage of Blood Coagulation. On the contrary, his cultivation of the Primordial Spirit had been progressing steadily during this period, and he had truly reached the limit of the fourth stage of Refinement, even faster than Wu Ming had expected.

The transition from the fourth to the fifth level of refinement is a bottleneck, far more difficult than the transition from the third to the fourth level. Although Wu Ming was confident, he was calm and never acted rashly. He had been consolidating and accumulating experience in recent days, but now he felt that he was almost there.

(End of this chapter)