First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

"Do you have a jade slip?" Lu Yiming asked.

"Yes, why?"

"I owe this opportunity to you. Hmm... I can't give you the entire inheritance, so I'll give you an escape technique as compensation. Do you want it?"

"I want it!" Xu Mu immediately took out his jade slip.

As long as there is still "blank space" inside the jade slip, it can be written directly with one's mind. If a special refining technique is used, all the contents can be cleared and rewritten, making it a very convenient document-type magic weapon.

He currently possesses two jade slips: one given to him by Yan Qing, and the other a spoil of war he acquired after defeating the four cultivators in Nanlian Valley.

Lu Yiming took the jade slip containing the Earth Escape Technique and smiled, saying, "I can tell you're not someone who enjoys fighting, so compared to methods of combat, an escape technique that allows you to advance or retreat is the best choice."

After saying that, he placed the jade slip between his eyebrows, closed his eyes, and focused on writing the contents.

A moment later, he returned the jade slip to Xu Mu.

"This is 'Thousand Miles of Clouds and Mist,' a wind-based escape technique. It allows for short-distance movement during combat and can cover a thousand miles in an instant when escaping."

Xu Mu's eyes lit up immediately: "So high-class!"

He placed the jade slip between his eyebrows and glanced at it briefly. It was clearly much more advanced than the Earth Escape Technique, probably comparable to the most secret and powerful techniques of major sects.

Lu Yiming smiled mysteriously, offering no further explanation.

"There wasn't much blank space on your jade slip, so I managed to write it all down for you. I can't add any more insights. You can study it first, and ask me if you have any questions," he said casually.

Xu Mu nodded and asked curiously, "You know water movement and wind movement techniques. You've really learned a lot."

"Haha, I know a little bit." Lu Yiming said modestly.

"Like you, I don't really like fighting, so I've practiced a few escape techniques. As long as I don't fight, no one can hit me." He chuckled.

"Tsk tsk, easy for you to say. It takes real skill to actually learn it. With your talent, I think you can at least become an inner disciple of the sect," Xu Mu said.

"Hey, what's so great about being an inner disciple? It's much better to be a free and easy cultivator." Lu Yiming waved his hand.

Upon hearing this, Xu Mu felt that he must have been an inner disciple of some sect to have obtained such advanced techniques.

Judging from his age alone, this guy is definitely still very young. He is already a high-level Qi Refining cultivator, and Foundation Establishment is only a matter of time. He is definitely up to the standard of an inner disciple.

As for why he abandoned the sect and chose to become a rogue cultivator... he didn't say, so Xu Mu naturally didn't ask any further questions.

……

Over the next few days, the two stayed in the mountains, drinking, eating fish, and exchanging Taoist teachings.

Cultivators value spiritual companions, wealth, and location. While "spiritual companion" is often used to refer to spouses, it can also refer to friends and teachers.

Only by exchanging ideas and learning from like-minded people can one go further on the path of seeking the truth.

"Where are you planning to go next?" Lu Yiming asked.

"Hmm... I need to find a market to trade cultivation resources. I definitely can't go to Qinghua Mountain in the east, the Wang family is furious, so I can only try to go to the west."

"The west... that's where you can enter the 'Demon Realm'. It's rather chaotic, but it's definitely the best place for rogue cultivators."

Xu Mu nodded, but he didn't really agree.

Chaos means danger; murder and robbery are commonplace. It is said that even demonic cultivators have infiltrated the area, slaughtering an entire city of mortals in order to refine magical artifacts such as the Myriad Soul Banner.

He's a person who always seeks stability, so that place was the worst option for him, and he didn't even consider it at first.

However, now there is no choice but to go, otherwise the east is even more dangerous, and it is easy to be persecuted by those powerful and domineering families.

"It would be better if you went there. A friend of our association does business there. She's a trustworthy person. If you need anything, you can contact her."

As for the price... you can decide for yourself.

As he spoke, Lu Yiming took out an identity token made of black iron and tossed it to Xu Mu.

"These are our identification tags from our fellow members. Show them to her; maybe she'll give you a friendly price," Lu Yiming said with a smile.

"You're giving this to me like this? It looks quite valuable." Xu Mu turned it over and examined it. It felt heavy in his hand, and its black color gave it a mysterious feel. It looked quite substantial.

"It's alright, I'll just get another one from the gang." Lu Yiming didn't care at all.

I don't know whether to say this group is careless, or that he's more careless...

"With this iron plaque, am I considered a member of your gang?" Xu Mu asked.

"Yes and no. A brand is just a brand. Whether someone shares the same ideals or not, they will judge for themselves, and the same goes for you."

Upon hearing this, Xu Mu accepted it.

This so-called fellowship group seems to suit his taste quite well.

As expected of a gang composed of independent cultivators who yearn for freedom.

However, he is definitely not suitable to join, because he needs a long period of cultivation. If he joins such a niche organization, his secret to immortality will be discovered, and he will face great risks.

It's fine to use it as an identity token; it can be used when necessary.

"I have something to take care of and plan to go around to the south, so I won't be traveling with you," Lu Yiming said.

Xu Mu nodded.

The other party has just obtained an ancient inheritance and must have something important to do. There's no need for him to ask further, since everyone has their own secrets.

"Then farewell," he said, bowing slightly.

"Farewell, until we meet again." Lu Yiming smiled and clasped his hands in a fist salute.

Until we meet again.

Without saying much, the two parted ways.

Since we are kindred spirits, as long as we keep going, we will meet again.

……

After parting ways, Xu Mu flew on his sword, heading west towards the mountains.

Lu Yiming provided him with the location of the market and information about the recommended merchant; he just needed to follow the directions.

The western part of the Qinglan Mountains is not geographically special; it is also a range of mountains, rivers, and forests. However, it belongs to the "Demon Realm".

The Demon Realm is the territory of the demon race, just as the cultivation world belongs to cultivators and the mortal realm belongs to mortals.

The mortal realm is a land in the decline of Dharma, which objectively prevents cultivators from entering.

The Demon Realm is the result of a long period of integration between the human and demon races. It is also a place rich in spiritual energy, with each race ruling over the other.

There is no absolute separation between the three; they are always intertwined and can interact with each other.

The division between the cultivation world and the demon realm is not as clear-cut as in the mortal world, so conflicts often occur along the border.

While major sects had to carefully abide by the rules, independent cultivators took advantage of the loopholes, venturing into the demon realm to find spiritual herbs or hunt demonic beasts as a source of income.

At the same time, some small sects at the Core Formation or even Foundation Establishment levels also occupy positions.

Due to the complex web of forces and the constant competition among cultivators for resources, friction was inevitable, leading to chaos in that area, making it a no-man's-land.

……

More than a month later, Xu Mu arrived at a city called "Five Thunder City".

This is a city with a history. It was once a fortress to resist the demon race, and now it is an outpost for cultivators to enter the demon realm.

In terms of scale, neither Huashan City nor Nanlian Valley can compare.

Among the passersby on the roadside, seven or eight out of ten are cultivators, mostly independent cultivators, and occasionally you can see disciples from different sects coming here for training.

This place is full of opportunities to make money, but it's also a mixed bag.

Many cultivators had a rough, unruly air about them, making them look like they were not to be trifled with.