Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

Pine Forest Pool, inside the cave.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, Bai Jiuniang deftly prepared two tables of spiritual food, warmed the remaining monkey wine, and used her demonic power to lift the wine pot, filling everyone's cups with wine.

Then, she sat down on the stone bench between Flower Girl and Granny Fish, and used her demonic power to draw a clear "please" character, indicating that everyone should start eating.

Iron-Boned Old Man had long known of Ninth Sister's extraordinary abilities, so he was not surprised by this.

The other seniors, who knew very little about Bai Jiuniang, were all astonished by this scene and inevitably felt that the scene before them was somewhat mysterious and strange.

Tsk tsk, this doesn't look like a demonic pet at all, it's more like a virtuous young lady.

Hua Gu adapted faster and said with no small amount of envy, "A demon pet as virtuous and capable as Jiu Niang is truly enviable. Mian Ge'er is indeed very fortunate."

Grandma Yu nodded in agreement. Such a powerful demon pet, capable of managing the household, fighting enemies, and possessing profound cultivation, was something even she, an old woman, envied.

The deer in her home was not even half a bit bigger.

The Bone Daoist remained as sparing with words as ever, saying only, "Excellent!"

As time went by, the group gradually got used to Bai Jiuniang serving them wine and tea, and began to talk about going down the mountain, agreeing to inform each other if they found any promising prospects.

As they got into the conversation, they exchanged a lot of information.

Of them, only Granny Yu was not interested in this. As an array master, she had always been the wealthiest cultivator among them. Even her disciple, Yu Tinghe, had reached the second level of Qi Refining thanks to her abundant resources.

Her skills allowed her to earn spirit stones without fighting, which was the envy of many.

Listening to the conversation of his seniors, Wang Mian went to offer a toast, but was chased away by the seniors who were engrossed in their conversation, and asked to accompany Yu Tinghe and Jiang Hao.

Wang Mian, who had taken his seat, looked at Jiang Hao, who was surrounded by three cultivators from the Green Bamboo Forest and had several wounds wrapped in bandages. He couldn't help but wonder why Jiang Hao had been eating and drinking quietly since the start of the meal.

Brother Jiang's enthusiasm for Fellow Daoist Yu faded far too quickly.

Or did they give up when faced with difficulties?

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I have a request to make, but I don't know if I should speak." Yu Tinghe's face was still a little pale. The trapping of two Qi Refining Level 2 cultivators had depleted her magical power, and she had not yet fully recovered.

If Wang Mian had arrived a little later, she would have lost control of the formation. Fortunately, he arrived in time, which allowed her to maintain her composure and dignity, without appearing disheveled or losing face.

She took this dangerous trip for two reasons: first, to test what she had learned, and second, to honor her friendship with her fellow Daoists.

With the end of World War I, both were gained.

"Fellow Daoist Yu, please speak freely," Wang Mian said earnestly.

Wang Mian still owes both the master and disciple a favor. He will remember Yu Tinghe's help today and will certainly not refuse if she asks for his help.

His earnest demeanor made Yu Tinghe smile.

Master's words were absolutely correct. If one wants to make friends with fellow Daoists of the same age in this desolate mountain, the most important thing is character, followed by talent, and only then cultivation.

"Tinghe wishes to exchange the Green Bamboo Sword magic weapon in your possession for an equivalent amount of spirit stones or spirit herbs. What do you think, fellow Daoist?" Yu Tinghe added, "If you are unwilling, then consider that Tinghe never made this statement."

She really liked the green bamboo sword and happened to be missing a protective magic weapon. Since Wang Mian already had a magic sword, she decided to ask him what he thought of it.

Wang Mian agreed to Yu Tinghe's request without much thought. He was currently short of spirit stones for cultivation, and this sword was useless to him. Since Yu Tinghe liked it, he would simply exchange it for her.

He took out the Emerald Bamboo Sword and handed it to Yu Tinghe; "Fellow Daoist, take a look. If you like it, this magic weapon is yours."

Magical artifacts, spiritual stones, and spiritual medicines.

Jiang Hao felt unable to get a word in edgewise. He took a few more bites of the monster meat. The feeling of sitting at the same table but being so far apart, unable to integrate, made him feel frustrated.

He remained in the same spot, while his brother had unknowingly walked quite a distance.

Fellow Daoist Yu has gone even further than him.

Thinking of all this, Jiang Hao drank two more cups of monkey wine.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, I'll go ask a few seniors to appraise the price." Yu Tinghe held the long sword and examined it for a while, growing more and more fond of the magical weapon. She then got up and asked Hua Gu, Tie Gu Sou, and Gu Daoren to appraise the price.

They didn't involve their own master.

Iron Bone Elder and Bone Taoist examined the magical sword for a moment before finally handing it to Flower Girl. Of the three of them, only Flower Girl was somewhat proficient in identifying magical artifacts and could roughly judge their value.

Hua Gu examined the magic sword closely.

After pondering for a long time, he finally spoke: "Even brand-new low-grade magic artifacts vary in quality. Inferior magic artifacts are worth around fifty spirit stones, while high-quality magic artifacts are worth around one hundred spirit stones. Those in between are mostly worth seventy or eighty spirit stones."

She first told Wang Mian about the market price of low-grade magic artifacts.

Wang Mian nodded.

After Cangsongzi passed away and his ancestral ritual implements were destroyed, he never had any ritual implements and had hoped to own one of his own. He often wandered around the ritual implement shops in the market.

However, Wang Mian was short of money at that time and could not afford any magical artifacts. He was well aware of the prices of magical artifacts, just as Hua Gu had said.

After stating the market price, Hua Gu returned the magic sword to Wang Mian: "This magic sword is of intermediate quality, has been used for a long time, and has some minor flaws. The price of sixty-five spirit stones should be reasonable."

After observing the fish for a while, Grandma Yu nodded in agreement. Aunt Hua was impartial and gave a fair valuation, ensuring that neither of the two younger generations suffered a loss.

Handing the magical artifact to Yu Tinghe, Wang Mian said with a smile, "Fellow Daoist Yu, this magical artifact is yours."

Holding the Green Bamboo Sword in one hand, Yu Tinghe hurriedly took out the spirit stones from her storage bag, only to find that she didn't have enough. She had no choice but to beg her master for help.

Grandma Fish smiled and replenished the spirit stones.

"Senior, Fellow Daoist Tinghe and I are now friends, so please waive the five spirit stones." Wang Mian left the five spirit stones unclaimed as a friendly price.

Yu Tinghe shook her head in disagreement; she had no intention of taking advantage of Wang Mian.

Her assistance to Wang Mian was partly for her own benefit, and this should not be confused with friendship.

Granny Yu reached out and tapped Wang Mian's forehead, admonishing him, "You're also someone who doesn't know how to manage money. Cultivation is a long process, and spiritual resources are hard to come by. Every spirit stone has a great use, so you need to be careful with your money."

In this desolate mountain, every spiritual stone is extremely rare.

In the arena, Iron Bone Elder struggled to look away from the spirit stone, unwilling to lose face as a senior. Among everyone present, he was the most talkative, and he also felt the most deeply the words of Granny Yu.

Giving away five spirit stones so easily? You're young and naive!

Under the persuasion of several seniors, Wang Mian finally accepted the spirit stones, thus completing the transaction of the magical artifact.

There was nothing else to do. The seniors all took their leave, first seeing off Bone Daoist, then Granny Yu and her apprentice, and finally Senior Flower Maiden.

Wang Mian was unable to send out any of the thank-you gifts he had prepared, as they were all politely declined by several seniors.

Only Iron Bone Elder and Jiang Hao remained in the cave.

"Brother Jiang, please accept this storage jade token. I've stored some spirit stones inside for your cultivation." Wang Mian pulled him aside and stuffed the jade token he had pulled off Lu Wenbo into his hand.

This portion can be considered Wang Mian's gratitude, and also Jiang Hao's spoils of war. Several Qi Refining Level 1 cultivators had a few spirit stones taken from their bodies, and Wang Mian added some more to make it round.

When faced with a formidable enemy, Jiang Hao was willing to risk his life with him, and if they reaped any rewards, he was willing to share some with Jiang Hao.

Yu Tinghe has no shortage of spirit stones or storage jade tokens, but these are precisely the things that Jiang Hao both desires and lacks. Wang Mian guessed part of the reason for his unusual behavior today.

"I appreciate your kindness, Brother Wang, but I cannot accept these things." Jiang Hao pushed the jade pendant back.

If it were for spirit stones or magical artifacts, he wouldn't have been so resolute and willing to risk his life. What made him go to such lengths was friendship.

Everyone needs to cultivate, and everyone needs spirit stones. He needs them too, but they shouldn't be taken away from Wang Mian's cultivation resources.

"Brother Jiang, cultivation is like rowing against the current; if you don't advance, you fall behind. You don't want to stay at the first level of Qi Refining for too long, do you?" Wang Mian's words hit the nail on the head.

Jiang Hao fell silent.

Having been hit where it hurts by Wang Mian, he now feels that he is falling further and further behind Wang Mian in terms of cultivation, and there is also a clear gap between him and Yu Tinghe. He is worried that if he falls too far behind, he will not even be able to see his shadow in the future.

Wang Mian has the ability to cut through the third level of Qi Refining, while he can't even defeat three people who are at the first level of Qi Refining.

"Keep it. Just like you told me, there's plenty of time in the future." Just like that meridian-opening herb, there's give and take, and there's plenty of time in the future.

After much earnest persuasion from Wang Mian, Jiang Hao finally agreed to accept the storage jade token, though his eyes were red and misty, looking as if he was about to cry.

Seeing his reaction, Wang Mian interrupted, "Don't be so dramatic! Senior, you should discipline your disciple; he cries at the drop of a hat."

Sitting on the stone bench, the old man with iron bones quietly watched the two laughing and joking. A smile unconsciously appeared on his face. Seeing that they had finished talking, he suggested taking Jiang Hao back to Tiemuling.

Wang Mian did not try to stop them, watching the master and disciple leave carrying the hind leg of the demon beast, clutching a thank-you gift he hadn't yet given.

After seeing his guests off, Wang Mian finally had time to sort through his spoils.

Lu Wenbo's storage jade tablet contained more than a dozen spirit stones. His two junior brothers, who were at the second level of Qi Refining, each had a few spirit stones in their cloth bags, plus the sixty-five spirit stones they got from selling their magic artifacts.

Wang Mian counted the spirit stones piled on the stone table; there were ninety in total. This was the first time in his life that he had possessed so many spirit stones.

With such abundant spiritual resources, how far can one's cultivation level be pushed?

Wang Mian closed his eyes, and the golden emblem shone brightly in his mind.

[Lower-grade Qi Refining Method: Diligently practice four hundred times until the practice is perfected, then one can enter the third level of Qi Refining]

[Introduction to the Four Seasons Sword Technique: Practice diligently a thousand times, master the sword technique, and you will obtain the sword energy of the four seasons.]