First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

By the time we finished breakfast, the sun was already high in the sky.

Xu Mu flew to the mountaintop to cultivate the "Samadhi True Fire Technique".

After more than a year of practice, when he circulated his energy, he could feel his dantian getting warm.

I believe that in another year or two, I will be able to ignite the "fire of the people" in my dantian and sea of ​​qi.

Because it was ignited purely by absorbing the energy of the sun, this fire is the purest and most yang of the sun.

According to the description in the manual, this fire is quite powerful and should be able to compensate for "a sudden flash of the sword".

In addition, a total of four defensive magic items, three magic-grade flying swords, two ordinary flying swords, a speed-up talisman, and four communication talismans were found in the storage bags of the four people.

After all, they were four cultivators at the high level of Qi Refining, who had been robbing rogue cultivators for many years and had a considerable fortune.

If Xu Mu hadn't decisively used the "Sword of the Eye" technique and instantly killed two people, he would have been in grave danger.

Those flying swords replaced the five ordinary flying swords he lost in the battle, which was a significant improvement.

Those who pursue the way of the sword don't care much about the quality of the sword, because with the blessing of sword intent, even a leaf or a stick can become a divine weapon.

Xu Mu, a "formation cultivator," relies more on magic weapons, so this is a pure buff.

In terms of defense, including the defensive magic treasure given by Yan Qing, there are a total of five magic treasures.

However, these are all low-level magic items, and having too many would be useless; they are more suitable for selling for money.

Magical artifacts themselves don't have any specific grading system; they are only categorized as suitable for use during the Qi Refining stage, Foundation Establishment stage, and Core Formation stage.

However, the terms "Qi Refining Stage Magic Treasure" and "Foundation Establishment Stage Magic Treasure" don't quite fit into everyday language, so many people are used to calling them low-level, mid-level, high-level, and top-level.

The magic weapons used during the Qi Refining stage are low-level magic weapons, but Qi Refining stage cultivators themselves will not specifically emphasize that they are low-level, they will only call them magic weapons or magic artifacts.

The different functions, materials, manufacturing processes, and market demands of various magical artifacts will lead to different prices.

For example, the price of storage bags is much higher than that of defensive and offensive magic items.

Among offensive magical artifacts, flying swords have the most mature manufacturing process, so their price is relatively low.

Many magical artifacts with special functions are either custom-made or crafted by individuals for their own use, and are rarely circulated in the market.

The price of defensive magic items is reasonable, as they are considered a necessity for cultivators in the Qi Refining stage.

Xu Mu estimated that if he sold these items secondhand, he could probably make three or four hundred talismans and earn a fortune.

However, Nanlian Valley is now fraught with hidden dangers, so we must be more cautious next time we go there.

……

In the evening, Xu Mu began to practice the "Jade Purity Qi Observation Technique".

This spell requires the use of moonlight and water to "open the eyes," which makes up for the problem of having nothing to do at night and being able to play with the twin sisters.

When the moonlight is bright, prepare a basin of clean water and place it in front of you to view the moon in the water.

The important thing is to have a calm mind.

Many Taoist practices emphasize mental state, so the higher the level of a cultivator, the more they understand the importance of their mindset.

However, without the talent for cultivation, even the best temperament is useless.

A genius's mindset is one of humility and a thirst for knowledge; a mediocre person's mindset is one of utter incompetence.

Xu Mu is an exception. He doesn't have much talent, but he can accumulate it over time. He also has no problem with his mindset and doesn't need to rush at all.

He would stop practicing after half an hour, go back to his room, hug the twin sisters and play together, and then go to sleep.

In the days that followed, he stayed at home farming, cultivating himself, "sharpening his sword," "lighting a fire," and "opening his eyes."

She lives a peaceful and happy life with her two adorable cats.

……

The sun was shining brightly that day.

The villagers of Bishi Village were too hot to work in the fields and sought refuge under the trees to cool off.

A man in plain clothes walked into the village. Under the blazing sun, he kept wiping away sweat. His clothes were washed until they were almost white, and there were patches sewn on the elbows. He looked like a poor scholar.

Sweating profusely, he walked into the village and found an old man watching over a child under a tree. He asked, "Old man, I have a question for you. It's rumored that there's an old sage living in the nearby mountains who can cure all diseases with miraculous healing powers. Is that true?"

The old man chuckled and said, "That's certainly true. Everyone in the village knows this old sage, and many people have received his favors."

Fan Ju's face immediately lit up with joy, and he quickly asked, "Then where is he now?"

The old man looked at him and asked, "You've come seeking medical help, haven't you?"

"That's right." Fan Ju quickly cupped his hands in greeting.

"My elderly mother is bedridden, and the local doctors are all helpless, so I have no choice but to come here for treatment."

The old man sighed, shook his head, and said, "There are many people like you who seek medical help, but this old sage only helps people based on fate and doesn't save people easily."

"I borrowed some money from the village, though it was meager..." Fan Ju quickly pulled out a small money pouch from his sleeve.

The old man waved his hand: "The old sage never takes money, he only cares about fate."

"What... is fate?" Fan Ju asked sincerely.

The old man smiled and said, "Fate is fate."

The old immortal descends the mountain about once every six months to carry some manure back as fertilizer, grows his own melons and fruits, and lives in seclusion in the mountains, never concerning himself with worldly affairs. He is beyond the comprehension of us ordinary mortals.

He would only occasionally use his miraculous skills to treat the villagers when he came down from the mountain.

In recent years, many people have come seeking his help, but only those with a special affinity can receive his treatment. For those without this affinity, even a fortune for medicine will be of no use.

"Then... when will the old immortal descend the mountain next?" Fan Ju asked earnestly.

"It's hard to say..." the old man said, glancing at the people sitting next to him enjoying the cool air.

"Judging by the time, it might take a month or two," another old man said, fanning himself.

"One or two months..."

Fan Ju quickly bowed and said, "Please, venerable elder, show me the way. My mother has worked hard all her life, hoping only that I could pass the imperial examinations and achieve fame. Now she is afflicted with illness and I fear her days are numbered. I wish to care for her, but she is no longer there!"

As he spoke, he couldn't help but shed tears, which he wiped away with his sleeve.

The old men looked at each other, then sighed, "So it's just that we're not meant to be."

"How can anyone accept this!" Fan Ju cried out in anguish.

"Then you can't go up the mountain either. There are many demonic beasts on the mountain. Ordinary people would only die if they went up. We can only receive divine grace when the old immortal comes down the mountain," the other elders said.

Fan Ju shook his head: "By then, my mother will have already passed away."

With a resolute look in his eyes, he cupped his hands and asked, "Please tell me, sir, which mountain does this old immortal live on? I will go directly to find him."

"this……"

The villagers looked at each other in bewilderment.

"If you insist on going up, we won't stop you... but you'll die in the jaws of a tiger before you even reach the deep mountains."

"The old immortal lives in a deep place, in a valley in the deep mountains. There used to be a tiger demon in the valley, which we called Bloodmouth Valley. Now that the old immortal has subdued the tiger demon and lives there, we should call it Medicine God Valley."

"The old immortal prefers peace and quiet, so he lets those demonic beasts guard the mountain. If you die in their jaws, that's your own fault, and the old immortal won't care."

"Even without monsters, the mountain path is treacherous; how could a mere scholar like you possibly traverse it?"

Everyone offered their advice.

Fan Ju, however, was determined: "If I cannot obtain the elixir for my mother, then I will go with her in death!"

Seeing how filial he was, the villagers let him stay in the village for the night and then go up the mountain early the next morning.