Mortal: My name is Ma Liang, and I also possess a magic brush.

Upon hearing this, Xiang Zhili's gaze sharpened like an eagle's, staring intently at Ma Liang as if trying to see through him inside and out.

He activated his divine sense and repeatedly scanned Ma Liang's body, but the result made him even more puzzled. The boy in front of him was just an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivator with a common three spiritual roots. He had no special aura or magic weapon fluctuations and looked no different from an ordinary cultivator.

Yet this seemingly insignificant little guy not only dared to expose his long-hidden identity to his face, but also dared to argue his case under his pressure, even showing a bit of fearlessness.

Ma Liang stood still for a moment, then said, "Senior, don't you want to hear what we're trading?"

Xiang Zhili nodded. "Alright, tell me. What do you want after risking your life to come to me?"

"Before making a deal with you, senior, I would like to point out your misunderstanding of the Reverse Spirit Channel."

"Oh?"

Upon hearing this, a hint of interest flashed across Xiang Zhili's previously indifferent expression. He raised his hand, signaling Ma Liang to continue.

Ma Liang then continued, "The so-called Reverse Spirit Passage is actually a temporary passage specially opened by people from the spirit world to descend into the human world. Once they return to the spirit world, this passage will close on its own. The reason why you have spent so much time searching for it without success lies here."

"So, according to you, this Reverse Spirit Passage no longer exists?"

Xiang Zhili's eyes suddenly narrowed. "But you just said you knew about the Reverse Spirit Passage. Are you perhaps tired of living and dare to play tricks on this old man?"

"Senior, please calm down!" Ma Liang quickly interjected. "I haven't finished speaking yet; please allow me to explain the whole story!"

"Hmph!" Xiang Zhili snorted coldly, his voice tinged with impatience. "You'd better explain yourself clearly. If you dare to utter even the slightest lie, don't blame me for being ruthless!"

Ma Liang composed himself. "While the Reverse Spirit Passage no longer exists, I do know of another path to the Spirit Realm—that is the Spatial Node."

What is a spatial node?

"Spatial nodes are not man-made passages, but rather places where boundaries are weak, often hidden in spatial rifts between two realms."

"It is a naturally formed boundary connection point, not a temporary creation like the Reverse Spirit Channel, and it is also a key path for cultivators to enter the spirit world."

"However, such nodes are often chaotic with spiritual energy and frequent spatial storms. Ordinary cultivators would face a nine-out-of-ten chance of death if they approached them, and even Nascent Soul stage experts would need to rely on powerful treasures to barely pass through."

Xiang Zhili tapped his fingertips repeatedly on the table, the tapping sound exceptionally clear in the room, carrying the unique pressure of a Nascent Soul cultivator: "You've said so much, how do I know what you're saying is true?"

Ma Liang was already prepared. "Reporting to senior, I am not a native cultivator of this world. I ended up here due to some special reasons, and therefore I know some of the secrets of the cultivation world that are unknown to others."

"Oh?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Xiang Zhili's eyes. His gaze instantly locked onto Ma Liang, and his powerful divine sense enveloped him, carefully probing his subtle expressions and soul fluctuations.

With his Nascent Soul stage cultivation, discerning truth from falsehood was a matter of a single thought, yet after scanning Ma Liang several times with his divine sense, he couldn't detect even the slightest sign of lying from him.

"So, you're actually a cultivator from the spirit realm?"

Xiang Zhili's tapping abruptly stopped, his gaze sharpening. "If you are not from this world, how did you cross the barrier between the two worlds to come to the human realm?"

Ma Liang looked troubled. "Senior, please forgive me, but my arrival in this world was purely by chance. The reasons are too complicated to explain in a few words. Moreover, that path has long been cut off, and I have no way to return. If you wish to leave this world through this path, I'm afraid you will be disappointed."

Xiang Zhili stared at Ma Liang for a moment, then, remembering his long-standing fruitless search for the Reverse Spirit Passage, finally relented.

"Alright, I'll trust you this once. Tell me in detail, where exactly is that spatial node, and what dangers does it hold? Also, why did you specifically tell me this? What do you want in exchange?"

Ma Liang looked directly at Xiang Zhili and said, "For this first transaction, I need to use the information from this spatial node to borrow 20,000 spirit stones from you."

Xiang Zhili looked on incredulously and subconsciously asked, "The twenty thousand you mentioned... is it high-grade spirit stones?"

Ma Liang shook his head. "It's a low-grade spirit stone."

"Low-grade spirit stones?" Xiang Zhili exclaimed in surprise. "Although I have not personally witnessed the spatial node and do not know its specifics, since it can serve as a path to the spirit world, this secret is by no means ordinary."

"But you're only exchanging 20,000 low-grade spirit stones? And you're even borrowing them?"

Xiang Zhili's face darkened. "Kid, you're not here to make fun of me, are you?"

Ma Liang quickly waved his hands, "Senior, please don't misunderstand! You may think that borrowing 20,000 low-grade spirit stones using the secret of spatial nodes is indeed like playing around."

"But finding a spatial node is one thing, being able to enter it is another, and most importantly, being able to safely reach the Spirit Realm is yet another matter entirely! I am merely a junior with a meager cultivation level in the late stage of Qi Refining. If I dare to ask for too many benefits, I simply cannot bear it."

"Furthermore, I plan to return these 20,000 low-grade spirit stones to you, senior, if I happen to meet you again in the Spirit Realm in the future."

Xiang Zhili suddenly burst into laughter, "You little rascal, you're becoming more and more unpredictable. Interesting, very interesting!"

With that, he flicked his wrist, and a storage bag slammed onto the table with a thud. "Inside are 20,000 low-grade spirit stones. Now, tell me about the spatial node."

Ma Liang picked up the storage bag and tucked it into his waistband without checking it, then spoke.

"A spatial node leading to the spirit world is located within the Void Spirit Hall of the Beiye Xiaoji Palace."

Upon hearing the words "Xiaoji Palace," Xiang Zhili immediately stopped smiling and paced back and forth in the room with his hands behind his back.

He wasn't surprised that Ma Liang knew about the existence of the Little Extreme Palace. Since Ma Liang could reveal his identity, he must have his own secrets.

The more he thought about it, the more likely it seemed.

After all, the Little Extreme Palace was created by the Ice Soul Fairy, and it is very ancient. It is very possible that there is a path leading to the Spirit Realm.

Xiang Zhili pondered for a moment, then stopped. "Alright, kid, I believe you. But if you dare to deceive me, hmph!" Before he finished speaking, a chilling aura emanated from him.

Ma Liang quickly bowed and clasped his hands, saying, "This humble one would never dare to deceive you, senior."

Xiang Zhili nodded, his expression softening somewhat. "Alright, now that the first transaction is complete, what do you want to exchange for the second one?"

Just as Ma Liang was about to speak, a sharp pain suddenly shot through his head. He instinctively pressed his temples, his face turning slightly pale.

Xiang Zhili had already noticed something was wrong. In just a short while, the boy had pressed his head down several times, his expression revealing his pain.

He didn't ask any more questions, but just waited quietly.

After a short pause, Ma Liang took a deep breath.

"For this second transaction, I intend to use the precautions for passing through spatial nodes to earnestly request your help, senior, to retrieve something for me."

Upon hearing that he was to take action himself, Xiang Zhili thought, "As expected, things are not that simple." He raised his hand to signal Ma Liang to continue.

Ma Liang composed himself and said, "This junior begs you to help me obtain the Great Evolution Manual."

Upon hearing "Dayan Jue," Xiang Zhili raised an eyebrow. "Are you talking about the 'Dayan Jue' that Qianzhu Sect teaches for cultivating spiritual consciousness?"

Ma Liang quickly waved his hand, "What you say is true, senior. This is indeed the technique, but I do not mean for you to go to the Thousand Bamboo Sect."

A hint of doubt flashed in Xiang Zhili's eyes, signaling him to continue.

Ma Liang then revealed the details of the Ye-surnamed cultivator in Huangfeng Valley: "That Ye-surnamed cultivator possesses the first four levels of the Great Evolution Technique. I only ask that you, senior, help me obtain these first four levels. As for the remaining three levels, I have my own plans and dare not trouble you, senior."

"I have another request. I hope you will allow me to first master the first level of the Great Evolution Technique before I can tell you the complete information."

Xiang Zhili suddenly flicked his sleeve, causing the teacup on the table to vibrate and make a buzzing sound.

"You brat, are you afraid I'll change my cultivation method?"

Ma Liang felt a tightness in his chest from the pressure, and could only bow again, saying, "This humble one dares not."

Having said that, he maintained his bowed posture and said no more.

The room fell into a deathly silence.

Xiang Zhili suppressed his aura and coldly snorted, "I'll agree if you agree. I'll place a restriction on you now, and if everything you say is true, I'll remove it for you afterwards!"

Ma Liang stood up. "Senior is too kind. If what I say is true, once you received news of the spatial node, you would probably rush to the Spirit Realm immediately. How could you possibly have the chance to remove the restriction for me here?"

Xiang Zhili stroked his beard and laughed upon hearing this, "What's so difficult about that? Didn't you boast before that you could also ascend to the Spirit Realm and return the spirit stones when you met me there? Then let's agree to meet in the Spirit Realm, and on the day we reunite, I will lift the restrictions on you!"

"Senior, please don't joke with this young man! When my mind is free of distractions, there is still a sliver of hope for me to ascend to the Spirit Realm. If you were to place a restriction on me, that restriction would remain within my body for a long time, inevitably becoming a demonic obsession within me, at which point ascension would be absolutely impossible. How about... I swear an oath to the Heavenly Dao, ensuring that every word I say is true?"

Xiang Zhili turned around and sat back down at the desk, tapping his fingertips on the table.

"Oaths are the easiest things to break; I can't trust them."

Ma Liang's eyes flickered slightly after a moment of internal struggle.

"Since you and I cannot reach a consensus, I will take my leave. However, I must remind you that although the location of this spatial node has been revealed, without the correct method of entry, going there rashly will ultimately lead to certain death."

After saying this, he cupped his hands in greeting again, then turned to leave.

Ma Liang walked out of his residence without Xiang Zhili stopping him or forcing him to stay.

This left him unsure of the situation, but he couldn't worry about anything else.

Now that we have spirit stones in hand, our top priority is to exchange them all for Soul Nourishing Pills.

As for the "Great Evolution Manual," we can only make plans for it later.

Inside the house, Xiang Zhili watched Ma Liang's departing figure, a meaningful smile suddenly appearing on his lips.

"This kid is trying to play the old man's game of feigning retreat to advance."

"Since you want the Great Evolution Technique so much, then I'll keep it safe for you for now. Lest you, kid, stumble upon it by chance and actually manage to steal the technique from that Ye-surname cultivator."

As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Zhili's figure became transparent, and after a few flashes of light, he disappeared from the room.

In a secluded meditation room, Uncle Ye was sitting cross-legged, surrounded by a faint aura of spiritual energy.

Suddenly, a figure appeared in front of him without warning.

Uncle Ye was startled. Just as he was about to see who it was, an invisible force struck him, and everything went black before his eyes. He instantly fainted.

A moment later, Xiang Zhili held the scroll of the "Great Evolution Technique" in his hand, flipping through it word by word, nodding occasionally, clearly quite satisfied with this spiritual cultivation method.

Meanwhile, Uncle Ye, who was standing to the side, had already stopped breathing and collapsed on the ground.