Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

Holding the Jinghong Sword and using the Lightness Technique, Wang Mian lightly stepped onto the tip of the Dragon Bamboo, lowering the tip slightly.

A few snowflakes fell softly, covering the bamboo tips.

With a body as light as a feather, feet on bamboo tips, a long sword in hand, a snow-covered bamboo forest beneath his feet, and the howling wind in his ears, the handsome young cultivator exuded an air of otherworldly elegance.

Bai Jiuniang, standing swiftly on her feet, stood steadily above the bamboo forest, facing Wang Mian from afar.

next moment.

Wang Mian lightly touched the green bamboo and flew towards Bai Jiuniang. The sword in his hand, Jinghong, spread its light inch by inch, and his sword moves were all killing moves from the very beginning. In a short while, he was in front of Bai Jiuniang.

The demonic energy suddenly erupted, condensing into a cyan protective shield in front of Bai Jiuniang.

The sword light collided with the demonic energy in the next instant. The sharp Jinghong Sword, empowered by the sword light, broke through half the depth of the solidified demonic energy, but could not continue and was powerless to continue.

The sword's edge dissipates, and sword energy arises.

Wang Mian's longsword, imbued with sword energy, shattered the thick demonic aura with a deafening roar.

Wang Mian emerged from the dissipated demonic power, only to see a white shadow flash before his eyes, followed by a huge dog paw that slammed down, instantly shattering his protective magic.

Wang Mian, caught off guard by the hidden passage, had no time to react.

The dog's paw landed precisely on his face, and he felt as if a rolling boulder had hit his face, sending him flying.

It comes quickly and goes even faster.

Like a shooting star, Wang Mian crashed into the snow-covered bamboo forest, smashing several thick bamboo stalks before finally falling into the thick snow.

Bai Jiuniang retracted her raised forelimbs, looked at the spot where Wang Mian had disappeared, and with two light flashes, appeared in the bamboo forest. A human-shaped outline was clearly visible beneath her feet.

moment.

The snow burst open, and Wang Mian rubbed his cheek with one hand, shaking the snowflakes off his clothes.

"Ninth Sister, next time you slap someone, don't hit them so hard." Bai Ninth Sister, who was very careful with her strength, only made him suffer a little pain and did not cause him any serious injury.

Since Jiu Niang broke through the mid-grade barrier, he had not sparred with her. Wang Mian, who had been diligently cultivating for two months, had now made more than halfway through the third level of Qi Refining and was itching to test his skills, so he suggested a sparring match.

And that's how the scene just now happened.

Bai Jiuniang approached him swiftly, and with a clean and decisive slap, she knocked him into the bamboo forest.

"Again, I want to see just how big the gap is between me and someone at the fifth level of Qi Refining." Wang Mian raised his longsword again, covering the Jinghong Sword with sword energy, and his killing move brought up a flurry of snowflakes.

A surge of azure demonic power erupted, and Bai Jiuniang quickly created distance with a few flashes.

Wang Mian swiftly approached, unleashing a barrage of sword energy.

The sword energy that posed a considerable threat to Bai Jiuniang was always narrowly avoided by her, her dodges so effortless and natural, flowing smoothly and with extreme ease.

Wherever the sword energy passed, the thick bamboo stalks slowly fell down and crashed into the snow.

To make Wang Mian feel the vast difference in their speed, Bai Jiuniang stopped dodging and unleashed her full power, her surging aura striking directly at Wang Mian's heart.

The overwhelming force, like a mountain pressing down, distorted his movements.

In a flash, Bai Jiuniang was already in front of Wang Mian. Her palm, wrapped in thick demonic power, effortlessly broke through his protective magic and landed on Wang Mian's face.

boom!

Bai Jiuniang didn't even dare to use magic, fearing that she might lose control and hurt Wang Mian.

This exchange was almost like when it was a child, playing with the mice in the mountains, kneading and shaping them as it pleased.

Once again, he smashed a human-shaped hole in the snow. When Wang Mian got up, he put the Jinghong Sword into his storage bag and refused to mention continuing the sparring.

He already knew that the gap was like a chasm.

After two sparring sessions, the arrogance and haughtiness he had developed after defeating the mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator were completely vanished without a trace by Bai Jiuniang's two slaps.

Compared to Bai Jiuniang, Zhou Shang is indeed nothing.

Bai Jiuniang was born with extraordinary talent, possessing abundant demonic power, a strong demonic body, and immense magical power. She also had the ability to appear and disappear unpredictably and move with lightning speed.

Furthermore, now that it has broken through a minor barrier, even the sword energy poses a much smaller threat to it, and Wang Mian's strongest move is nothing more than that sharp and piercing sword energy.

With such a disparity in skill, a sparring match would be impossible. If this were a life-or-death struggle, Wang Mian would have died at Bai Jiuniang's hands several times over.

Bai Jiuniang gently patted Wang Mian's shoulder, whimpering a few times to comfort him.

It knew that Wang Mian was not as bad as he seemed. His mastery of swordsmanship allowed him to execute each move with ease. It was unwilling to take direct hits from sword moves imbued with sword energy, because that sword energy could indeed harm it.

The difference in cultivation level between it and Wang Mian was too great. It was already a case of the strong bullying the weak. If Wang Mian relied on his sword energy to defend and not attack, it would take it a long time for it to defeat Wang Mian.

If it were someone at the fourth level of Qi Refining, Wang Mian wouldn't be in such a sorry state.

"I'm not discouraged. Knowing the gap is a good thing, so I won't become complacent or arrogant," Wang Mian said with a smile.

With the highly intelligent Bai Jiuniang by his side, she could always help Wang Mian realize his place and extinguish his inner restlessness.

Practice diligently step by step, and make steady progress little by little.

"Let's go back." Wang Mian was focused solely on cultivation at the moment.

Bai Jiuniang responded and led Wang Mian back to the bamboo house. As soon as they entered the bamboo house, Wang Mian began cultivating again, and Bai Jiuniang quietly lay down beside him.

She had been studying the Four Seasons Sword Technique since Wang Mian was struggling with it, and had continued studying it until now, when he had mastered the technique and his sword energy was generated spontaneously. She understood the changes within it better than anyone else.

Wang Mian's cultivation level also increased from the first level of Qi Refining to the third level, and he knew best about the arduous training involved.

Feeling the fullness of his restored magical power, Wang Mian closed his eyes, and lines of text appeared in his mind like golden seals.

[Lower-grade Qi Refining Method: Diligently practice 260 times until the practice is perfected, then one can enter the fourth level of Qi Refining]

Consuming one Dragon Grass before breaking through a cultivation realm can increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by 150%.

[Accumulation: 150]

[Beginner's Guide to the Dust-Covering Technique: Practice diligently 280 times until mastering the spell, then you can obtain the ability to change your appearance.]

[Mastering the Four Seasons Sword Technique: Practice diligently 2350 times to acquire the essence of the Four Seasons Sword Technique.]

It has been a month since he returned from the Southern Wilderness Market. He has been cultivating every day, practicing swordsmanship, magic, and cultivation techniques, and has made considerable progress in all of them. Compared to when he first broke through to the third level of Qi Refining, his progress has been enormous.

Wang Mian planned that in another month, when spring would arrive and his magical power cultivation reached the limit of the third level of Qi Refining, he would make another trip to Taixi Lake and try to obtain the middle section of the Lü family's Qi Refining Technique.

Now that things have come to this, the matter of the cultivation method is of utmost urgency.

.........

South of Luopo Mountain, inside Yangchang Gorge.

The massive canyon twists and turns, with complex and varied terrain and countless cracks in its cliffs. It is home to many spiritual herbs and medicines, making it a popular destination for cultivators seeking adventure.

Somewhere in the canyon, two burly figures were squeezed in a mountain crevice, looking at the figure carrying a magical artifact, seemingly searching for and pursuing someone.

"Disciple, someone has really set their sights on us. If we are discovered, I will stop them, and you run out of Yangchang Gorge and back to Wanxiang Valley," Tiegu Sou instructed.

In recent days, he had keenly sensed that someone was pursuing him and his apprentice. They had tried to avoid it several times, but still couldn't shake it off. Today, even hiding in this corner, they were still caught up with.

Over the years, he had offended too many people, and Tie Gu Sou couldn't figure out which side was the enemy. The other side had many people and was powerful. He felt that he couldn't protect his disciple and didn't want his disciple to get involved as well.

"Master, I have already reached the second level of Qi Refining," Jiang Hao replied. "Besides, Senior Hua Gu's Wanxiang Valley is not a childcare center."

The more dangerous the situation, the less he should run away.

Having survived countless brushes with death, Jiang simply couldn't believe she wouldn't make it this time.

"What's the use of the second level of Qi Refining? Didn't you see that everyone coming here is using a magic weapon?" Iron Bone Old Man slapped him on the head: "As long as the green hills remain, there will always be firewood to burn. I'll definitely be fine. You run first and go back to wait for me."

Jiang Hao touched the spot on his head where he had been slapped.

He shook his head again.

Helpless, the Iron-Boned Old Man could only crouch down and continue to observe the situation.