I can identify everything, but this is an upgraded version of identification.

"Hmm... My friend is at most at the second level of Qi Refining, so he is probably not among the fellow Daoists discussing the Dao."

Su Changming nodded as well.

"Not so, not so. Even low-level cultivators sometimes have unique understandings. Among the fellow cultivators I invited, there are quite a few with the early stage of Qi Refining."

Fang Shaohong shook his head.

"I see... I've learned something new."

Su Changming nodded and cupped his hands in greeting.

As you walk through the City Lord's Mansion, you can see exotic flowers and stones everywhere, all exquisitely carved. If they weren't all ordinary objects, they would probably be inferior even to the Flowing Cloud Sect.

"Fellow Daoist, how is the scenery of my City Lord's Mansion?"

Fang Shaohong smiled.

"The scenery is exquisite and the craftsmanship is ingenious."

Su Changming said indifferently.

He meant that the place was nice, but not particularly good.

"I'm sorry to have made a fool of myself, fellow Daoist. It is certainly far inferior to the Flowing Cloud Sect."

Fang Shaohong said.

How did you know who I am?

Su Changming believed that he should not have been exposed to the other party.

He had previously told the Imperial Guards that he was visiting relatives, but now he was saying he was looking for a friend.

Moreover, he had not revealed his aura before, but now he unleashed the aura of the late stage of Qi Refining without any restraint. Coupled with the strength of his magic power, some people would believe that he had reached the peak of Qi Refining.

Logically speaking, the two should be unrelated...

"I apologize, fellow Daoist, but my servant has drawn your portrait without permission."

Seeing Su Changming's puzzled expression, Fang Shaohong took out a piece of high-quality Xuan paper and said.

The paper depicts a handsome young man whose appearance is identical to that of Su Changming.

Su Changming suddenly realized that the magic in this world was strange, with not only surveillance-like recordings, but also magic that could reverse time and allow one to see the past.

However, these were things that ordinary people couldn't use, and he subconsciously believed that ordinary people couldn't record his face.

However, they overlooked the fact that ordinary people can also record their faces through drawing.

This painting is so lifelike... I was fooled by those ancient paintings of the Xingyi school in my past life. How could a real portrait painter not paint a portrait that resembles the real person?

"I see……"

Su Changming nodded.

"So...fellow Daoist, are you here to find relatives, or to find friends?"

Fang Shaohong asked.

"He is both family and friend. To be honest, this friend is my servant, but to me he is no different from a friend or family member."

Su Changming said.

"May I ask your cultivation level and age, fellow Daoist?"

Fang Shaohong continued.

"He is no more than thirteen years old, his cultivation level is no more than the second level of Qi Refining, and he has a red birthmark on his forehead."

Su Changming said slowly.

He carefully observed the changes in Fang Shaohong's expression.

"Is that so... Su Rui, thirteen years old, her cultivation level is no more than the second level of Qi Refining, and she has a red birthmark on her forehead... I've never seen her before."

Fang Shaohong said naturally.

"Fellow Daoist, you've extended a wide invitation to fellow Daoists, but have you truly not invited me, your friend?"

Su Changming said seriously.

"No, if you don't believe me, feel free to search the entire City Lord's Mansion."

Fang Shaohong looked completely calm and composed.

"I apologize for my abruptness. Perhaps my fellow Daoist has simply gone to visit relatives. I only guided him onto the path of immortality half a year ago, so he must still have some familial ties and has gone to visit relatives and friends. Putting myself in his shoes, I can't help but think of returning home in glory."

Su Changming said with a smile.

"That must be the case. You must be an inner disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect. You actually have the spare resources to guide mortals onto the path of immortality. That fellow Daoist is quite lucky."

Fang Shaohong's tone was somewhat envious.

"Judging from the young master's tone, even the resources of an entire city aren't enough for cultivation?"

Su Changming countered with a question.

"Fellow Daoist is mistaken. Although my father is the city lord, in order to maintain the operation of White City, he not only cannot profit, but also has to spend a lot of money every year. I may look glamorous, but when I am cultivating, I have to think for a long time about even a second-hand spiritual weapon."

Fang Shaohong's tone was somewhat bitter.

"I see……"

Su Changming nodded.

"I wonder what kind of spiritual root that mortal possesses? Fellow Daoist, you are actually willing to guide him onto the path of immortality?"

In Fang Shaohong's view, nothing in this world is good without reason. He figured Su Changming must have seen that the other party had good talent and used him as a furnace.

"Miscellaneous Fire Spirit Root".

Su Changming said.

"A miscellaneous fire elemental root?"

Fang Shaohong paused abruptly, his expression shifting repeatedly.

"Fellow Daoist is quite generous... to spend resources on someone as rare as a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator."

Fang Shaohong chuckled.

"Cultivators with poor natural talent are not necessarily limited to Qi cultivation; they may not only focus on wealth, companions, methods, and location."

Su Changming said

"But what if none of these four words apply?"

Fang Shaohong sneered.

"Could it be that the name 'Young Master' doesn't indicate any talent or ability? How did he manage to cultivate to the point of Qi Refining Perfection?"

Su Changming countered with a question.

"Hehe... You're right, everyone has their own destiny."

Fang Shaohong's expression softened, and he nodded.

"We've arrived. Fellow Daoists are all in the main hall. Your arrival at this time is quite timely."

As soon as Fang Shaohong entered the main hall, many cultivators sitting on the ground bowed to him.

"Young Master is back. Is this a new fellow Daoist?"

A cultivator dressed in purple robes asked in response to the voice.

"Fellow Daoist Mu, this is also an inner disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect. Do you two know each other?"

Fang Shaohong asked.

"So it's a junior brother from the Flowing Cloud Sect. Having nothing else to do during the New Year, he's come down the mountain for a stroll?"

This fellow Daoist rose and cupped his hands in greeting.

"Hello, senior brother."

Su Changming nodded.

Neither side doubted the other's identity as a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect. The surrounding five kingdoms were all within the sphere of influence of the Flowing Cloud Sect, and the disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect held extremely prominent status. Many cities would treat the disciples of the Flowing Cloud Sect as honored guests.

In contrast, the Flowing Cloud Sect has strict punishments for those who forge disciples' identities.

If caught, the entire family will be executed, and the ringleader will have his soul extracted to suffer the torment of a lamp burning for a hundred years.

There is a substantial reward for whistleblowers.

This is why, for hundreds of years, no one has ever dared to impersonate a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect.

As for why the Flowing Cloud Sect wields such power within the Xia Kingdom.

Firstly, because the Flowing Cloud Sect is powerful and has many high-level cultivators, even the Xia Dynasty is wary of its strength and treats it as an honored guest.

Secondly, there was the long-standing conflict with the barbarian kingdoms that were opposed to the Xia Dynasty. Within the barbarian kingdoms, there was an equally powerful sect called the Blood Spirit Sect, which was also on good terms with the barbarian kingdoms and hostile to the Flowing Cloud Sect.

This has led to an atmosphere of nation versus nation, and religion versus religion.

Besides the dominant Xia Kingdom, there are several smaller kingdoms around it, and within each of these smaller kingdoms, there are several sects.

"Senior brother has been in the inner sect for over ten years and no longer listens to the elders' lectures. I wonder if the elders giving lectures now are still the Fifth Elder and the Sixth Elder?"

The senior student scratched his head.

"The Seventh Elder has been giving lectures recently."

Su Changming said.

"The Seventh Elder? Haha, times have really changed."

The senior brother laughed and slowly nodded.

Su Changming thought to himself that this senior brother was probably pretending to ask the lecturing elder, but his real intention was to determine his identity.

If I hadn't actually attended a class at the Transmission Hall a couple of days ago, I probably would have been mistaken for someone impersonating a disciple of the Flowing Cloud Sect.