I rely on learning to achieve immortality.

He had naturally heard of jade slips.

When cultivators reach a higher level, the techniques and knowledge they learn become increasingly complex, making it difficult to record them simply with pen and paper. They must use immortal jade slips to record them.

Correspondingly, one needs to use their divine sense to examine the contents of the jade slip.

The problem is that not everyone has a sense of consciousness.

After a Foundation Establishment cultivator breaks through, they naturally develop divine sense. However, he was only a Qi Refining cultivator and did not have divine sense, so he was unable to view the jade slip.

This made Xu Zhou somewhat perplexed when facing the jade slip.

Could it be that the gift Zheng Feng gave us has turned out to be a useless piece of junk?

Xu Zhou naturally didn't believe it.

Since Zheng Feng can access the inheritance, it means he has already mastered divine sense. Both are Qi Refining cultivators, so why can he do it while I can't?

Therefore, Xu Zhou took a leave of absence to return to the sect and go to the Scripture Pavilion to consult the classics.

After careful investigation, he finally found the reason.

It turns out that cultivators who practice Qi Refining can also possess divine consciousness.

Unlike Foundation Establishment cultivators who naturally possess divine sense, Qi Refining cultivators need to cultivate a secret technique called "Visualization" in order to nurture their own divine sense.

Once a cultivator masters divine sense, they can access jade slips, making their daily cultivation and the use of magical artifacts and spells much smoother and more effortless, bringing numerous benefits.

However, compared to Foundation Establishment cultivators, the spiritual sense cultivated by Qi Refining cultivators is still much weaker.

Moreover, cultivating divine sense is extremely difficult, and the corresponding visualization techniques are almost as thick as cultivation manuals. Furthermore, most require the assistance of special spiritual objects, which are often quite valuable.

Ordinary Qi Refining cultivators are already exhausted from improving their cultivation level, and have no time to spare for cultivating their divine sense.

In any case, as long as you can establish your foundation, you will naturally awaken your divine consciousness. Why waste time starting to cultivate during the Qi Refining stage?

After understanding the whole picture, Xu Zhou couldn't help but smile.

To others, cultivating divine sense would undoubtedly be a waste of time, but for him it was different.

As long as he continues learning, Xu Zhou's lifespan will almost stop. As for what he learns, Xu Zhou doesn't care as long as it can be useful.

Divine sense is undoubtedly a powerful ability. If one can truly master it, it will be of great use to his future cultivation and self-protection.

There aren't many visualization techniques in the Sutra Repository; only three can be practiced during the Qi Refining stage.

One method required a large amount of rare and precious materials for cultivation, while the other was a quick cultivation method, which, although simple to practice, contained hidden dangers. In the end, Xu Zhou abandoned both of these visualization methods and chose the last one, "The Cold Sleep Visualization Method."

This visualization method also requires the assistance of spiritual objects to cultivate, but its value is relatively low, which Xu Zhou can barely accept.

After returning to his cave, he briefly flipped through the "Contemplation Method of Cold Sleep".

The unique feature of this visualization method lies in using yin spiritual objects to simulate the state of hibernation in living beings, thereby enhancing the power of the soul and giving birth to divine consciousness.

However, there is still a long way to go before we can learn how to simulate hibernation.

Xu Zhou had never studied visualization techniques, and roughly estimated that it would take at least ten years to master them.

He calculated that the knowledge he still had to learn was that he could study the "Thousand Needles Meridian Opening Method" for another three or four years, and he couldn't see the array inheritance in the jade slip before he had divine sense. Even if he spared ten years to study the visualization method, it wouldn't have much of an impact.

Thirteen or fourteen years later, his cultivation level was only at the mid-stage of Qi Refining. Although he could apply for the inheritance of alchemy, it would be quite difficult.

In short, learning is always a good way to make the most of your time.

Xu Zhou calmed down and immersed himself in books again in the cave.

...

one year later.

In front of the Golden Flame Gate.

A figure sped towards them from afar, only stopping when it was close to the mountain gate.

He was a young cultivator with delicate features and an urgent expression. When he saw the disciple guarding the mountain, he quickly stepped forward and showed his disciple's wooden badge: "I am Xu Zhou, a disciple of this sect. I have urgent business to attend to and need to return to the sect. I hope you can make it convenient for me."

Upon seeing this, one of the disciples guarding the mountain immediately smiled and nodded, "So it's Senior Brother Xu. Please go ahead."

After Xu Zhou left, the others watched his retreating figure and couldn't help but whisper among themselves, "Is that the Physician Xu from Baicaotang?"

"He looks young, his cultivation level isn't high, but he's wearing the clothes of Baicaotang; that must be him."

"I heard that this person is not very good at alchemy, but is excellent at medicine."

"Some time ago, someone in the sect suffered a qi deviation while practicing martial arts. Because they didn't have enough contribution points to hire a sect physician, they inquired around and found that this Physician Xu seemed to know how to treat it, so they specially went to Thousand Wood Forest to seek help."

"At the time, the person looked almost half-dead, barely clinging to life. Unexpectedly, he recovered and returned to work in just seven days."

The group chatted and marveled at the sight.

Although they felt they most likely wouldn't need to see a doctor, none of them could say for sure that they wouldn't suffer a qi deviation while practicing, so they treated Xu Zhou with a vague sense of respect.

Xu Zhou had no idea what others were saying about him behind his back; he had rushed back for another urgent matter.

Just days earlier, he received news that Li Zelei had been seriously injured.

Li Zelei and he entered the sect in the same year and have supported each other for twenty years to reach where they are today, becoming close friends. Although as time goes by, the two have fewer opportunities to meet, but that does not mean their relationship has faded.

Upon hearing that the other party was injured, Xu Zhou immediately put down what he was doing and rushed back.

According to reports, Li Zelei was injured while seeking opportunities outside the sect, during which he got into a fight and nearly died.

Fortunately, he had prepared a trump card, a wind speed talisman, which he used at the right moment to escape by running for hundreds of miles.

After being injured, he was afraid of being caught by the enemy, so he rushed back to the sect overnight, which aggravated his injuries.

After returning to the sect, he fell into a coma and never woke up.

Xu Zhou was quite moved by this.

Li Zelei was an adventurous person from the very beginning. He grew up in dangerous places like the Fire Cave and the Dark Valley, and later frequently went down the mountain to train and search for resources. Countless trials and tribulations he went through in secret.

He had originally thought that the other party might have encountered danger during that trip, ending up dead or seriously injured. Unexpectedly, twenty years later, the other party was not only safe and sound, but also made steady progress in cultivation, and his reputation spread throughout the sect.

Xu Zhou gradually began to accept the fact that the other party seemed to have some good luck, but she did not expect that Li Zelei would suddenly be seriously injured at this time.

He hurried to Li Zelei's cave and triggered the surface restriction.

A moment later, the cave door opened, and a slightly thin female cultivator stepped out: "Has Physician Xu arrived?"

Xu Zhou was slightly taken aback when he saw the other party.

He didn't recognize the female cultivator, but since she came out of Li Zelei's cave, the two were clearly close.

When did this happen?

Xu Zhou cursed Li Zelei inwardly for not saying anything about such an important matter, but he had no time to pursue it at the moment. He simply nodded and said, "I am Xu Zhou. How is Senior Brother Li doing now?"

The female cultivator was overjoyed upon hearing this: "Please come in, Physician Xu!"

Xu Zhou entered the cave and soon saw Li Zelei lying on the bed.

Several years had passed, but Li Zelei hadn't changed much. However, he lay on the bed, eyes closed, face ashen, breathing heavily, as if he wouldn't last much longer.

The female cultivator's voice trembled with tears, but she still forced herself to remain calm as she said, "We've seen a doctor, but the sect's physician said he couldn't cure us. We don't have enough contribution points to ask an elder to help."

"Dr. Xu... as long as it can save him, I... I'll agree to anything."

Xu Zhou grasped Li Zelei's right arm and channeled a burst of magical power into it to probe.

A moment later, he frowned slightly.

Seeing his grave expression, the female cultivator beside him assumed that Xu Zhou was also unable to cure him, and her legs went weak, almost causing her to kneel down.

Fortunately, Xu Zhou was still paying attention to her and quickly reached out to lift her up, saying with a smile, "Don't worry, Senior Sister, Senior Brother Li's injury can be cured."

The female cultivator was slightly taken aback, her face filled with disbelief.

Xu Zhou continued, "Senior Sister, don't panic. Senior Brother Li's injuries are indeed complicated, but I'm about 80% confident I can heal him. Senior Brother Li and I entered the sect in the same year and have a long-standing friendship. I will definitely do my best to save him."

Upon hearing this, the female cultivator's legs immediately went weak.

Two streams of tears rolled down her cheeks: "So, Dr. Xu, you're the junior brother he was talking about?"

Xu Zhou nodded, helped her sit down to the side, and then instructed, "I need to focus on my treatment from now on. Please guard the door for me and don't let anyone disturb me."

The female cultivator, whose body had nearly collapsed, suddenly found a surge of strength. She stood up again, her gaze resolute: "Alright, Junior Brother Xu, go ahead and heal me. I guarantee that not even a fly will be able to get in here during this time."

As she spoke, she walked towards the door, glancing reluctantly at Li Zelei lying in bed as she left.

Xu Zhou could tell that the other party had been taking care of Li Zelei day and night these past few days, which had caused her own condition to be very poor, almost to the point of collapse and fainting.

It is truly commendable that they can still hold on at this moment.

Thinking of this, he couldn't help but glance at Senior Brother Li on the bed with some doubt, thinking to himself that this guy was quite lucky to have found such a good Daoist partner.

After mentally grumbling, Xu Zhou's expression turned serious again.

Li Zelei's injuries were quite complicated.

He had suffered some injuries to his chest and abdomen; pulling back the sheets revealed a bloody mess. Given his mid-stage Qi Refining cultivation, the fact that he hadn't recovered after so many days showed just how severe his injuries were.

But this is only the surface.

Just as Xu Zhou was using his magic power to probe, he realized that Li Zelei's injuries were becoming more serious.

His magical power surged wildly within him, almost completely out of control. Instead of helping his flesh and blood suppress his injuries, it wreaked havoc in his meridians, making Li Zelei's injuries even more severe.

What concerned Xu Zhou the most was that the injury looked somewhat familiar to him.

The chaotic feeling of his magic power spiraling out of control was almost identical to the one he had experienced when he treated Zheng Feng that day.

Xu Zhou had no time to think about the connection; he simply took out his needle bag and began to treat the patient.

Li Zelei's injury stemmed from the loss of control over his internal magical power. Once this part is healed, with his physical strength, he will soon be out of danger.

Xu Zhou had treated similar injuries before, and with that experience, he was much more decisive when administering the acupuncture this time.

However, injuries to cultivators are no small matter, and the healing process is still fraught with difficulties.

Several hours later, Xu Zhou administered the last needle.

Li Zelei on the bed jolted violently, spitting out a mouthful of dark red blood. His breathing gradually calmed, and his chest rose and fell as if he were falling into a deep sleep.

Seeing this, Xu Zhou, who was somewhat exhausted, finally breathed a sigh of relief.

The most troublesome injury has been resolved; all that's needed now is to take some restorative medicine and wait for Li Zelei to recover naturally.

He watched Li Zelei's steady breathing, but a faint doubt arose in his heart.

He couldn't wait for the other person to wake up so he could ask in detail how the injury happened.