Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

As late summer transitions into early autumn, the verdant hills are tinged with mottled colors.

The wild fruits on Luopo Mountain ripened again, and Bai Jiuniang always managed to find some Schisandra chinensis, Akebia quinata, and kiwifruit for Wang Mian to eat to change his palate.

Wang Mian picked a string of bright red Schisandra berries from a pile of wild fruits and popped it into his mouth. The sweet taste spread throughout his mouth as he chewed.

This taste is full of memories.

In my childhood, I loved wild fruits, playing, fish and shrimp, and aspired to catch fat fish in the pond and pheasants and rabbits among the pines.

Today's youth are fond of cultivating immortality, skilled in swordsmanship, and diligent, aiming for perfect Qi cultivation and devoted to foundation building.

Time has passed, and the taste of the wild fruits in the mountains remains as sweet as ever, but it can never compare to the wonderful feeling of my magical power increasing day by day and my swordsmanship gradually improving.

After spitting out the pit, Wang Mian grabbed his longsword again, the sword whistling and flashing.

Nowadays, he is quite fascinated by the feeling of making progress step by step, bit by bit, and can feel his strength changing every day.

Summer's heat has passed, and the autumn winds are cool.

I see the sword's shadow every morning and every evening, day after day.

Every day during his practice, Wang Mian would carve a mark on a boulder by the pool. Before he knew it, he had carved thirty marks.

In Wang Mian's mind, lines of text appeared in the golden seal.

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

[One Breaking Realm Shitongmai Pill can increase the success rate of foundation building by 140]

【Accumulation: 101】

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

Wang Mian's two months of tireless cultivation have brought him closer and closer to the third level of Qi Refining. He practices five times a day, and in another ten days he will be able to reach the third level of Qi Refining.

The third level of Qi Refining was a realm that Wang Mian once thought was unattainable. At that time, due to a severe lack of cultivation resources, his cultivation was as slow as a snail.

Now that cultivation resources are plentiful and cultivation level is increasing day by day, after two months of arduous cultivation regardless of cost, consuming dozens of spirit stones, he is about to step into the third level of Qi Refining.

How could Wang Mian, just a few months ago, have imagined this situation?

Having exhausted all hope of spiritual cultivation, he took a desperate gamble, traveling hundreds of miles back to the mountain with trepidation. He then devoted himself to rigorous training day and night, finally breaking through the third level of Qi Refining. The events of yesterday are still vivid in his mind.

Mid-stage Qi Refining, Late-stage Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment... In this life, I will definitely do my best to see the scenery at a higher level.

"Greetings, fellow Daoist!"

What interrupted Wang Mian's thoughts was a woman's voice coming from afar, followed by a streak of light that streaked across the sky and flew straight toward Songlin Pool.

As if sensing something, Bai Jiuniang threw several fat fish back into the pool in the next instant. With a swift movement, she approached Wang Mian's side in a flash, her eyes full of vigilance as she stared intently at the incoming beam of light.

The person who came must be a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator to make Bai Jiuniang so wary.

Wang Mian, raising his guard to the highest level and secretly using his lightness technique, placed his hand on Bai Jiuniang's back with an incredibly practiced movement, ready to escape at any moment.

"Fellow Daoist, there's no need for such vigilance. I have no ill intentions." The female voice entered Wang Mian's ears, and the spiritual light that had flown over suddenly stopped, hovering in the air before slowly descending.

A burst of spiritual light revealed a jade-like banana leaf fan. The newcomer wore a brocade skirt, her hair adorned with pearls and jade, and tassels hung from her waist. Judging from her plump figure and graceful demeanor, she appeared to be around thirty years old.

With a smile on her face and her eyes darting around, she glanced at Wang Mian and Bai Jiuniang for a moment before looking away.

Bai Jiuniang's demonic aura circulated slowly, creating a powerful and unyielding presence. Her nostrils twitched, and one could feel a scent of rouge and powder mixed with a hint of lewdness emanating from the other person.

The smell of kidney essence on his body was almost identical to that of the female cultivators at Yuanyang Slope.

She was definitely not a respectable female cultivator.

Completely unfamiliar, Wang Mian had never seen this person before, and couldn't help but become more wary: "I have never met you before, senior. I was unaware of your presence and what brings you here?"

The Fallen Mountain range is vast and sprawling, dotted with countless spiritual lands. As a result, there are many untrained cultivators in the mountains, and one must be wary and cautious when encountering unfamiliar cultivators.

With Bai Jiuniang by his side, Wang Mian addressed her as "senior" without much respect, his tone implying questioning.

"I am Zhi, and I live in the Coral Cave on the eastern slope of Luopo Mountain. My child is about to embark on the path of cultivation, and I have prepared a grand banquet. I was passing through your esteemed place while inviting a friend to the banquet, and I sensed the aura of this demon from afar, so I came to take a look. I apologize for my intrusion," Zhi explained with a smile.

As she explained the whole story, she glanced at Bai Jiuniang again, sensing the aura of that mid-grade demon beast.

When he looked at Wang Mian again, he added, "Fellow Daoist, you are blessed with good fortune."

There are no obvious flaws in Zhi's words.

When Wang Mian was twelve years old, Cangsongzi also held a longevity banquet for him. This banquet was considered a blessing and hope for the younger generation, symbolizing a long and prosperous life. Secondly, it was considered a way to pass on connections and to get to know elders and peers.

"My family's demonic pet has mediocre bloodline. Senior still has to work hard for offspring, so I won't keep you here to rest." Wang Mian had no intention of chatting with her and declined her invitation.

When a strange cultivator suddenly showed up at his door, especially one who was a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator, Wang Mian still felt that the other party might have ulterior motives, even though his words were reasonable and well-founded.

They even suspected that she might be related to Master Cuizhulin, and came here specifically to test her.

Thinking of this, Wang Mian's hand unconsciously touched the hilt of his sword, and Bai Jiuniang's demonic aura became increasingly intense and violent, with a hint of murderous intent permeating the air.

"I apologize for my intrusion. I have disturbed your peaceful cultivation. Please forgive me and I will take my leave now." Sensing the murderous aura locking onto her, Zhi apologized.

Her apology wasn't out of fear of Wang Mian, but rather out of fear of that dog demon.

As she ascended into the air with her magical artifact, she tossed out an invitation: "If you have the time, fellow Daoist, you are welcome to attend the banquet. Coral Cave awaits your arrival."

Before the words were finished, the magical artifact soared into the air, while only the invitation floated to Wang Mian's front, where it was bound by Bai Jiu Niang's wisps of demonic power and could not move.

Staring at the figure that left so decisively, Wang Mian frowned, suspicion and doubt welling up in his heart.

This person's arrival is suspicious.

The invitation floated into Wang Mian's hand, and Bai Jiuniang condensed a line of text: "The invitation is not poisonous, but the person coming has no good intentions and is slightly malicious."

Bai Jiuniang, possessing the perception unique to demon beasts, sensed that the other party's arrival was ill-intentioned.

He opened the invitation.

[To commemorate the coming of age of my son, Muyun Chong, on this auspicious occasion of the beginning of a new cycle, I respectfully prepare this Everlasting Vegetarian Feast!]

Welcoming the Crane's Arrival

[Honorable Immortal Brother]

[Please come at that time to enjoy tea, discuss philosophy, and witness my son's first foray into the world of Taoism.]

[Meeting Location: Coral Cave at the eastern foot of Luopo Mountain; incense will be burned at noon in anticipation of the meal]

[This humble student, Yang Qiu, of the Yangzhi clan, respectfully invites you, having washed your hands, and requests that you bring your fellow practitioners and eminent disciples to share in the joy of this Dharma.]

It was indeed an invitation, but the name of the person invited was not even filled in. After reading it, Wang Mian felt even more suspicious, and even felt that his brain was not good enough to see the implications behind it.

Wang Mian, who had no intention of attending the banquet, burned the invitation: "Whatever her schemes may be, just focus on your training and be prepared."

He couldn't figure it out, nor did he want to. He would deal with whatever came his way, and in the end, all schemes would come down to whose skill was superior.

Holding his longsword, Wang Mian began to concentrate on practicing swordsmanship again.

Bai Jiu Niang twitched her nostrils, sensed for a moment, and confirmed that there were no threats from all directions. She then went to the edge of the pool to catch a few fat fish to make soup for dinner. She felt a little regretful that she had released those fat fish earlier, as it had taken her a long time to catch them.

The sound of sword beams piercing the air rang in her ears. Bai Jiuniang used her demonic power to scoop up a thin fish, which it disdainfully tossed back into the pool.

Neither the man nor the dog knew that after leaving Songlintan, the Zhi family descended Luopo Mountain.

They headed straight for Luhua Ferry Market.