Cultivation begins in Qingfeng Market.

He simultaneously activated two high-grade first-tier magic artifacts—a fiery red flying sword to directly block the attack.

A black, cone-shaped magical artifact struck from behind, instantly piercing the opponent's chest.

Luo Yu remembered the look in that man's eyes before he died very clearly.

Despair, resentment, and a hint of...confusion.

They probably couldn't understand how a cultivator at the seventh level of Qi Refining could possess two high-grade magic artifacts and wear a top-grade magic robe at the same time.

Luo Yu lowered his head and looked at his hands.

This was the first time he had killed a cultivator.

"Luo Yu!"

He An's voice came from behind.

Luo Yu turned around and saw He An striding towards him, followed by several guards.

"Are you alright?" He An looked him up and down, his gaze lingering on the first-grade top-quality robe for a moment, and his lips twitched.

Luo Yu shook his head: "It's nothing."

He An nodded, his gaze sweeping over the corpse on the ground, then looking at Luo Yu, without saying a word.

But someone nearby couldn't resist.

"Captain, who's this kid?"

A middle-aged cultivator approached and lowered his voice, "I have four high-grade magic artifacts and two top-grade magic artifacts."

This fortune is greater than all the Qi Refining cultivators in our team combined.

He An glanced at him: "Don't ask too many questions."

The cultivator gave an awkward smile, stepped back a few paces, and began whispering to his companion.

"I bet he's Captain He's illegitimate son."

"Bullshit! How old is Captain He? Not even thirty, right? Where would he get a teenage illegitimate child?"

"That's even more impressive—even illegitimate children are willing to give away so many magical artifacts. This relationship... tsk tsk..."

He An heard this and his face turned dark.

He took a deep breath, and the pressure of his Foundation Establishment stage aura emanated from him, causing the muttering cultivators to shrink back.

"Go clean up the battlefield."

The group slunk away.

He An walked over to Luo Yu and patted him on the shoulder.

"Ignore them, they're just gossiping."

Luo Yu nodded.

Night falls.

The guard set up camp on the grassland and lit several bonfires.

The firelight flickered in the night wind, casting long shadows on everyone.

Luo Yu sat by the fire, staring blankly at the flickering flames.

He An brought over two bowls of hot soup, handed one to him, and sat down next to him.

"It's the same for the first time you kill someone," He An said casually, taking a sip of soup. "You'll get used to it."

Luo Yu held the bowl without saying a word.

He actually killed three people when he was a mortal, back when he was among the cultivators...

This was indeed the first time he had killed a cultivator.

He An glanced at him and then asked, "Your cultivation has reached the late stage of Qi Refining, so you can begin cultivating the Hundred Beasts True Technique. Which kind of demonic beast's essence do you plan to absorb?"

Luo Yu raised his head, his eyes regaining some sparkle.

"I've made my choice. Firebird."

He An raised an eyebrow: "Fire Sun Bird? A first-tier high-grade demonic beast, it has a violent temper and is not easy to tame."

Luo Yu nodded: "When I reach the tenth level of Qi Refining, I plan to absorb the essence and blood of the second-tier demonic beast, the Burning Feather Sparrow, to establish my foundation."

He An was stunned for a moment, then understood.

"Are you planning to... target the Four Spirits?"

Luo Yu hummed in agreement.

He gazed at the firelight, his eyes gradually hardening.

"The spiritual body of a hundred beasts needs to be rebuilt again and again, each time replenishing the foundation of the Dao and the origin of life."

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, I plan to focus on the four types of essence blood and move closer to the Four Spirits, though not the actual Four Spirits, but similar demonic beasts.

The Vermilion Bird can be replaced by the Burning Feather Bird, the Azure Dragon by the Azure Scale Python, the White Tiger by the Howling Moon Tiger, and the Black Tortoise by the Black Water Turtle.

He paused, then continued, "After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, use these four types of essence blood as the core to control the essence blood of all beasts."

Through repeated rebuilding and strengthening of its foundation, it ultimately transformed into a superior Dao Foundation and a Hundred Beast Spirit Body.

He An remained silent for a long time after listening.

"This road is difficult," he said softly.

Luo Yu turned to look at him; the firelight reflected on his face, flickering on and off.

"Which path to immortality isn't difficult?"

He An opened his mouth, but couldn't say anything.

Luo Yu continued, "My dream is to become as strong as the Guardian."

"guard?"

"Hmm." Luo Yu's gaze passed over the campfire and looked into the distance. "The kind of person who can control their own destiny."

He An was silent for a moment, then reached out and patted him hard on the shoulder.

"Then take care."

The battle continued in the days that followed.

Luo Yu followed the guard team, engaging in battles with the Jie Xiu time and time again. From initial awkwardness to gradual proficiency, and finally to complete mastery.

He killed the second, the third, the fourth...

A month later, his soul successfully broke through to the seventh level of Qi Refining.

And this conflict, which lasted for more than a month, has finally come to an end.

The Cangyun Mountain Guard killed three Foundation Establishment cultivators and over a thousand Qi Refining cultivators, but lost one Foundation Establishment cultivator and over a hundred Qi Refining cultivators themselves.

The cultivator retreated in a sorry state, no longer daring to cross the boundary easily.

End of the year.

A group of uninvited guests arrived at Cangyun Mountain.

Lin Zhao stood at the entrance of the market, his brows furrowing slightly as he gazed at the approaching spirit boat in the sky.

More than a year ago, Elder He reported that a group of disciples from the sect would be on a mission and would pass through Cangyun Mountain.

According to the rules, Cangyun Mountain is required to provide intelligence and some basic supplies.

The number was said to be around ten people.

Lin Zhao followed the sect's rules and prepared the best.

But this wait lasted a year.

Now they've arrived—more than thirty people.

Since it was previously said that there would be ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, Lin Zhao only prepared ten second-tier cave dwellings, and the rest were first-tier cave dwellings.

A second-tier top-grade spirit boat broke through the air and landed directly in front of the market entrance.

The hatch opened, and more than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators filed out.

Lin Zhao's gaze swept over, and his heart sank slightly.

These thirty-odd people were clearly divided into two groups.

The first batch consisted of three cultivators at the peak of Foundation Establishment and nine cultivators at the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

These twelve men possessed powerful auras and sharp eyes, clearly seasoned veterans who had experienced countless battles.

Especially those three peak-level disciples, Lin Zhao could sense the aura of Core Formation techniques emanating from them—these were core disciples of sects who had apprenticed to Core Formation, and they possessed life-saving trump cards bestowed upon them by their masters.

The second group consisted of more than twenty people in the early stages of Foundation Establishment. They were all quite young, and their eyes were filled with curiosity and excitement.

Judging from his appearance, he should be a newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator who has just left the Dao Inquiry Hall—based on the timeline, he is one of his junior brothers from the next two years.

Lin Zhao wore a polite smile, but her mind was racing.

More than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators, plus those three peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.

This force is something that Cangyun Mountain really couldn't withstand without him in charge.

What are they here for?

Was he really just passing by?

Or does the sect have some special mission that requires so many people?

Lin Zhao suppressed his thoughts and led Yan Chiheng and Elder He to greet them.

More than thirty Foundation Establishment cultivators filed out. The young man at the head of the group glanced at the entrance to the market, his gaze lingering on Lin Zhao for a moment before moving away.

It was as if he had only glanced at the stones by the roadside.

Lin Zhao, still smiling, raised her hand in a gesture of respect.

The young man casually cupped his hands in return, his gaze already passing over Lin Zhao and landing on the bustling streets of the market.

The rest of the people didn't even give him a second glance.