My path to immortality was smooth sailing.

After Qiu Niang accepted the order and left, Wei Jing did not rush to see his uncle. Instead, he first strolled slowly in the courtyard to stretch his stiff muscles from sitting for so long.

After two years of seclusion, the secret chamber was no more than a small space. At this moment, the mountain breeze brushed his face, carrying the crisp scent of newly melted snow, making him feel somewhat dazed.

"Qi Refinement Level 5..." He clenched his fist, feeling the spiritual energy flowing within his body much more smoothly and powerfully than before. If he were to encounter Chu Qingshan again, he wouldn't need to dodge in a sorry state anymore; he was confident that he would not be defeated in a head-on confrontation.

After two years of arduous training, his cultivation level has increased significantly.

……

As night fell, stars hung low over the vast wilderness atop Jade Stacked Peak.

Wei Jing's courtyard, however, was warmly lit.

Qiu Niang set out dinner on a bluestone platform in Wei Jing's courtyard. Beside the platform, an old plum tree was in full bloom, its fragrance wafting through the air. A few petals drifted down with the wind into the bowls and plates, becoming a natural embellishment.

But at this moment, no one paid attention to this heartwarming scene.

Wei Yue stared wide-eyed, looking Wei Jing up and down.

"Jing'er, you've really reached the fifth level of Qi Refining?"

Elder Wei Qingmu was also present, and he looked at Wei Jing with a gratified expression.

This child is outstanding in terms of talent, temperament, and diligence. He truly has the makings of a prodigy, and his cultivation has greatly increased since emerging from seclusion this time.

Perhaps he really does have some potential for foundation building.

"Hehe! A lucky breakthrough." Wei Jing had a faint smile on his face.

"Amazing! A true dragon has emerged from my family line!" Wei Yue's face flushed with excitement.

After a lifetime of hard work and forty years of arduous cultivation, I have only reached the sixth level of Qi Refining.

His nephew, on the other hand, had only been on the path of cultivation for six or seven years, yet he was already about to catch up with him.

How could he possibly stay calm?

Wei Tiezhu looked at Wei Jing with very complicated feelings. The two of them had entered Jade Stack Peak together to study and cultivate, but...

He sighed softly, and after a moment he raised his head, lifted his glass, and said:

"Brother Jing!"

"Haha! Together!" Wei Yue laughed, and Wei Qingmu also picked up his wine glass.

The four clinked glasses, the wine went down their throats, and a warm sensation rose from their stomachs, spreading throughout their limbs and bones.

"Good wine!" Wei Tiezhu smacked his lips, temporarily suppressing the worries in his heart.

"Is this the jar of Hundred Flowers Spirit Wine that Uncle treasured?"

Wei Yue snorted: "If it weren't for my nephew coming out of seclusion, you wouldn't be able to drink it."

The three of them burst into laughter, and even Qiu Niang, who was standing to the side, covered her mouth and chuckled.

After a few rounds of drinks, Wei Jing straightened his expression and asked:

"Uncle, the Suixu Secret Realm is about to open. Has anyone in the clan spread the word? How will the spots be allocated?"

Upon hearing this, Wei Yue slowly put down his wine glass, and Wei Qingmu's movements also suddenly stopped.

"Last year, Wei Long broke through to the fifth level of Qi Refining, and his prestige in the clan has been growing day by day. He is showing signs of becoming the number one young person in the Wei family."

"As for you..."

"Jing'er, you have kept a low profile for the past two years, and apart from that amazing performance two years ago, there has been no news of you. In terms of reputation, you are indeed not as good as Wei Long."

Wei Qingmu waved his hand and said, "Now that Jing'er has come out of seclusion, he has also reached the fifth level of Qi Refining, which is no less than that Wei Long."

"The spots in the Suixu Secret Realm are not determined by reputation, but by potential and strength."

"That's true." Wei Yue agreed with this statement.

Wei Long? Wei Jing pondered, lost in thought.

He was confident he was no weaker than anyone else at the same cultivation level. His only worry was Wei Long's background; he was the grandson of the Grand Elder Wei Lie. If…

"Has Wei Yun broken through?" Wei Jing suddenly asked.

If Wei Yun breaks through to the seventh level of Qi Refining, she will have entered the late stage of Qi Refining, and in that case, she will definitely occupy one of the two spots.

He was left to fight Wei Long for the last one.

"Probably not. Breaking through the major bottleneck in the late stage of Qi Refining isn't that easy." Wei Qingmu shook his head.

Upon hearing this, Wei Jing felt somewhat relieved.

The group then chatted idly, having finally managed to sit together.

"Zhu Zi, is something on your mind?" Wei Jing patted his shoulder; he had already noticed that something was wrong with Wei Tiezhu.

"I...I...sigh!" Wei Tiezhu sighed.

"I'm preparing to leave Jade Stack Peak." After saying this, Wei Tiezhu's expression darkened.

Everyone fell silent. Wei Qingmu gently put down his wine cup. The surroundings were quiet, except for the crackling sound of the fire in the stove.

"I'm too untalented. After seven years of cultivation, I'm still stuck at the first level of Qi Refining."

"I have been diligently cultivating. Every day before dawn I get up to meditate and absorb the spiritual energy of heaven and earth. After everyone else has finished working in the spirit fields, I am still cultivating."

"I practice when it rains, I practice when it snows, I practice during the day, and I practice at night."

"Can……"

Wei Tiezhu's voice grew softer and softer, his shoulders trembling slightly.

He raised his head, his eyes red-rimmed, and looked at Wei Jing. The candlelight reflected on his face, clearly illuminating his resentment and confusion.

"Child, we've all been through this feeling," Wei Qingmu gently comforted him.

"yes!"

"That feeling of being lost and directionless, no matter how hard you try, it's all in vain. You've been stuck at a bottleneck for years, your cultivation has stagnated and you can't make any progress. It's just so frustrating." Wei Yue also felt the same way.

After saying that, he grabbed the wine glass on the table and drank it all in one gulp.

Wei Tiezhu's words seemed to evoke Wei Yue's memories, and he was quite emotional.

Wei Jing remained silent. His uncle Wei Yue and the clan elder Wei Qingmu were moved by Wei Tiezhu's words, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber.

Wei Jing, however, was not very empathetic. If he were to say something insincere to fit the current situation, it would be too fake.

So he simply kept quiet.

"I've made up my mind. I'll leave Jade Stack Peak and live the life of a wealthy man." Wei Tiezhu forced a smile.

"Zhu Zi, you're still young, why jump to conclusions so early!" Wei Jing couldn't bear to see his friend leave, so he finally spoke up to persuade him.

Wei Qingmu sighed softly, picked up his wine glass, then put it down again, as if he wanted to say something but hesitated.

"It's better to give up sooner rather than later, so you don't suffer." Wei Yue was quite philosophical about it.

"Brother Jing, you don't need to persuade me. My mind is made up. Come, let me toast you." Wei Tiezhu said earnestly.

"Come!"

The two clinked glasses, and Wei Jing felt a pang of sadness.

"Congratulations, Brother Jing, on your boundless path to immortality and your attainment of the Dao and the establishment of your foundation," Wei Tiezhu said again, as if he had finally spoken his mind, or perhaps it was because Wei Yue's spirit wine was so potent.

Wei Tiezhu completely let loose and became a chatterbox.

Just like when they first met, Wei Tiezhu chattered incessantly around him.

Later, everyone realized that the real reason Wei Tiezhu gave up his cultivation was his maid, Xiaoju.

According to clan rules, ordinary people are not allowed to linger on Jade Stack Peak. However, because the two were still young a few years ago, the clan specially sent maids to take care of them.

Now that Wei Jing and his companion have grown up, they no longer enjoy special privileges and no longer need anyone to take care of their daily meals.

So Xiaoju was sent back down the mountain three months ago.

But Xiaoju was pregnant, carrying Wei Tiezhu's child.

"Xiaoju is pregnant?" Wei Jing was taken aback when Tie Zhu said this.

"You said you were working hard to cultivate, were you lying to us?" Wei Jing scrutinized him with a suspicious look.

The young man was a Taoist immortal, and the young woman fell in love with him. They spent seven years together day and night, and with such intense passion, it was only natural that they would steal the forbidden fruit.

"No, I'm not lying." Wei Tie's face turned red, and his stammering made everyone laugh.

A glint flashed in Qiu Niang's eyes as she stood to the side, and then she suddenly realized.

So this is how it can be done?