First achieve immortality, then cultivate immortality.

After hiding for a few days, Wang Yin finally stopped bothering him.

He wanted to seize the Foundation Establishment Pill from Mu Changfeng, but he didn't necessarily need to find Xu Mu, so Xu Mu was finally able to relax again.

That day, Master Chen Xuan invited him to play chess again.

The backyard of the Hall of Transmission is quite spacious, with mountains, water, flowers, and plants, creating a tranquil and elegant atmosphere.

A chessboard was set up on the stone table, and two people were playing chess.

While playing chess, Xu Mu took the opportunity to ask for guidance: "Master, I have been studying alchemy for three months, but I still can't get the hang of it. I really can't figure it out. Could you please teach me again?"

This alchemy technique is divided into nine stages, each stage representing a different level of pill refinement.

He exchanged for a first-level alchemy technique at the Treasure Pavilion for 100 talismans, but failed to learn it, which was a huge loss.

Master Chen Xuan placed the white pieces down and said with a faint smile, "This alchemy technique is connected to the Qi cultivation technique, or rather, the Qi cultivation technique was derived from the alchemy technique."

Ancient sages observed the heavens and earth, comprehended the great Dao, and refined rare and precious materials into elixirs for consumption, which was the earliest method of cultivation.

Later, people simply regarded themselves as elixirs, using heaven and earth as a furnace to refine themselves; this is the art of Qi refining.

You must understand that alchemy is actually a philosophy, not a technique. It's inherently difficult to learn and requires personal enlightenment.

Xu Mu nodded helplessly.

The more you learn, the more you realize the profoundness of alchemy.

Alchemy is not about burning; it's about combining medicinal herbs to create an elixir.

There are many kinds of materials for alchemy, including not only spiritual herbs, but also minerals and rare materials. How could these things turn into a round spiritual pill on their own? Naturally, there must be a mysterious force that makes it into a pill.

The key to alchemy lies in this mysterious and profound power, which is called "alchemy essence".

Those who cannot comprehend the essence of alchemy will never be able to refine pills; at most, they can only help others process alchemy materials.

Xu Mu is in this situation now. He has clearly mastered the alchemy techniques to a very high level, but he just can't make pills.

"I can't teach you this either; you'll have to figure it out yourself," said Master Chen Xuan.

"Okay, I understand..." Xu Mu nodded gently and continued to place his pieces.

Seeing that his thoughts were completely calm, Master Chen Xuan raised an eyebrow and said, "I thought you would feel anxious. Those who seek the Dao will all learn alchemy. Those who cannot learn alchemy will find their path on the road to enlightenment narrower than others."

Xu Mu smiled and said, "What I'm doing is called 'playing dumb.' My life is finite, but knowledge is infinite. To pursue the infinite with the finite is perilous."

Master Chen Xuan chuckled upon hearing this: "Insightful! Although you are only at the fifth level of Qi Refining, your Dao heart is insightful, which is truly rare."

"You flatter me, sir." Xu Mu cupped his hands in greeting.

"Haha, there's no need for formalities between us. If you weren't so young, what's wrong with us addressing each other as fellow Daoists?" Venerable Chen Xuan said with a smile.

"Ah? How dare this disciple overstep his bounds? Please don't be so disrespectful, Master." Xu Mu quickly waved his hand.

Master Chen Xuan smiled and continued to place his pieces in the game.

He thought for a moment and said, "With your temperament, perhaps you can..."

But the next moment he shook his head: "Never mind, forget I said anything."

Xu Mu asked in confusion, "Why is the Venerable One hesitating? Is there something you're having trouble saying?"

Master Chen Xuan pondered for a moment, then asked, "Have you ever heard of the Demonic Path?"

"The demonic path? Does 'Supreme Master' refer to those demonic cultivators despised by the world?"

"That's right, but the original demonic path wasn't as despised as it is now."

The true demonic path is merely a method of cultivation. Ten thousand years ago, the founders of the demonic path were respected. However, their disciples were too easily led astray, committing evil deeds, which damaged the reputation of the demonic path.

"Oh? Please explain it to me, Master." Xu Mu immediately became interested.

As everyone knows, demonic cultivators are synonymous with bad people.

The miasma that cultivators avoid like the plague is something that demonic cultivators find delightful. They actively draw into the miasma to cultivate, committing all sorts of evil deeds and becoming utterly wicked.

Master Chen Xuan smiled and said, "The true philosophy of the demonic path is to preserve one's true nature and not be burdened by material possessions."

"Complete nature" refers to conforming to the nature of things.

Preserving authenticity means maintaining one's true self.

Most demonic cultivators only seek to preserve their true nature, neglecting to safeguard their integrity. This leads to their being corrupted by demonic energy, their degeneration, and ultimately, the committing of horrific atrocities.

Xu Mu thought for a moment: "Miasma itself can disturb one's mind. Using such a thing to cultivate would naturally be extremely harmful. I don't see anything worth cultivating with it."

"Alas, you don't understand. Why are demonic cultivators so difficult to eradicate? It's precisely because their cultivation has no bottlenecks, allowing them to progress much faster than immortal cultivation methods. The key lies in cultivating the mind."

Xu Mu pondered without speaking, suddenly feeling that the other party was encouraging him to become a demon.

Master Chen Xuan smiled and reached into his storage ring to take out a secret manual.

"Although demonic cultivators are despised by everyone, the major sects actually have books on demonic cultivation as a method of practice."

There is no inherent superiority or inferiority among the methods of Taoism; it all depends on individual cultivation.

This manual was given to me by my master. If you are interested, you can borrow it for reference, but be careful not to let anyone else find out.

Xu Mu was stunned; he hadn't expected it to be for real.

Master Chen Xuan smiled faintly and placed the demonic manual on the chessboard. It looked ordinary and unremarkable, just a regular book.

However, alarm bells were ringing in Xu Mu's mind.

Demonic cultivators are to be killed by everyone, and once people find out that they cultivate the demonic path, they will surely die a terrible death.

Master Chen Xuan has always been gentle and refined, and is indeed respected by people, but now his foundation is damaged and his cultivation is difficult to advance.

Is it possible that his master instructed him to cultivate his mind and study demonic arts here?

Probably.

But what if something unexpected happens?

Master Chen Xuan may have his own Core Formation stage master to protect him, but who will protect him?

Xu Mu has been through so much in his life, he's not afraid of being schemed against by bad people, but he's afraid of people who seem nice on the surface but are actually treacherous, and who might get him into trouble.

After hesitating for a while, he withdrew his outstretched hand and forced a smile: "I'm afraid the Master is testing my character. I'm naturally indifferent and almost fell for it."

Master Chen Xuan gave him a deep look, smiled and nodded, saying, "Your character is indeed extraordinary. Everyone laughs at you for only knowing how to farm, but little do they know that the higher one's cultivation, the more one understands the importance of character."

"You flatter me," Xu Mu quickly replied modestly.

Unexpectedly, Master Chen Xuan stopped playing chess, pushed the book, scattering the chess pieces, and said with a faint smile, "You can take this book back for reference, it's alright."

"Huh?" Xu Mu was dumbfounded.

"Master, you're not joking?" he asked weakly.

"Do I look like I'm joking?" Master Chen Xuan smiled faintly, his eyes frighteningly calm.

"What if someone finds out..."

"This is a matter between you and me; why let a third person know?"

Seeing that he was serious, Xu Mu could only awkwardly take the book over.

Master Chen Xuan's expression grew even more amiable, and he smiled and said, "There are countless paths in the world; finding the one that suits you is the true path."

Although you are not naturally gifted, your noble quality lies in your peaceful nature, making you a perfect candidate for cultivating the demonic path. Give it a try; perhaps you can forge a bright future.

Xu Mu could only nod with a forced smile after hearing his charade.

Does the other party not know whether he cultivates demonic arts or is just using him as a guinea pig?

This is truly frustrating. I thought it would be safe to stay in the sect, but I didn't expect there to be landmines everywhere. I stepped on one Wang Yin, and now I've stepped on this one.

"Alright, let's stop playing this game. Go back and study it. If there's anything you don't understand, come and ask me again," said Master Chen Xuan.

"……yes."

Xu Mu finally understood why the other party had taken a liking to him.

He appears gentle and refined, like a spring breeze, but in reality, he doesn't allow himself to refuse.