Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

The New Year arrived quietly as Wang Mian continued his daily cultivation.

The newly engraved memorial tablet was placed on the offering table, incense and candles were lit, wine and dishes were laid out, a pile of underworld coins were burned, and Wang Mian bowed in worship.

"Disciple Wang Mian respectfully beseeches the blessings of all the venerable masters, that my path in the coming year may be smooth, that I may obtain countless spirit stones, one hundred and eight magical artifacts, and one thousand bottles of elixirs..."

Even Bai Jiuniang beside him couldn't stand it anymore. The previous masters had passed away on cranes, not ascended to heaven. The highest level of their cultivation was only the fifth level of Qi Refining, not the Great Ascension of Qi Refining.

Even if they exhausted their good karma in the netherworld, they still could not fulfill such a wish. They were not afraid of being taught a lesson by their late master in a dream.

"It was just a joke." Wang Mian looked at his master's memorial tablet, somewhat reminiscing about the days when he was still alive. Every year during festivals, he would joke with his ancestor in the same way.

Back then, Songlintan was poor, so the master would always try his best to find some spiritual objects so that Wang Mian could have a prosperous year with some spiritual energy.

"I suppose my master is doing well in the afterlife, being cared for by all the former masters." Wang Mian burned several more stacks of Underworld Emperor coins inscribed with his name.

Just like Cangsongzi back then, who would remember his deceased master during festivals, Wang Mian today also remembers his deceased master in the same way.

After preparing some food and wine, Wang Mian looked at the blazing Netherworld Emperor Coins and said, "Master, if I ever have the ability to descend to the Netherworld, I will definitely come to see you."

To ascend to the celestial court or descend to the netherworld—such abilities are beyond comprehension; who knows when or how long it will take to acquire them, let alone in this lifetime?

The path to immortality is long and arduous; he has only taken a small step, and the Foundation Establishment stage is still an insurmountable peak.

After paying respects to their ancestors, Wang Mian and Bai Jiuniang finally began their New Year's feast.

This year's New Year's banquet featured spirit fish, spirit frogs, spirit rice, and spirit vegetables—the very feast that Cangsongzi had promised him.

Wang Mian used to look forward to the New Year the most, but now, that burning anticipation is gone from his heart.

After the New Year's feast, Bai Jiuniang busied herself cleaning up the leftovers, while Wang Mian leaned back in his bamboo chair, closed his eyes, and focused his mind on the golden seal in his mind.

[Lower Grade Qi Refining Method: Diligently practice twenty 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 sixty times until mastering the spell, and you will gain the ability to change your appearance.]

[Mastering the Four Seasons Sword Technique: Practice diligently 1100 times to acquire the essence of the Four Seasons Sword Technique.]

Time flies like an arrow, and before he knew it, he had lived in this bamboo forest for three months and cultivated for three months.

Over the past few months, Wang Mian has consumed more than 150 spirit stones in his cultivation. His cultivation level is just one step away from the fourth level of Qi Refining.

After the New Year, he planned to make a trip to Chicken Head Mountain to see what the Su Clan's attitude was and whether he could exchange it for a Dragon Grass.

We need to go to Taixi Lake again and find a way to kidnap another cultivator from the Lü family and interrogate him to extract the middle chapter of his cultivation technique. The year's plan starts in spring, and there are many things to be done.

While Wang Mian was pondering his spring plans, things were not so peaceful elsewhere on Fallen Mountain.

Fallen Mountain, Maple Forest.

Every year in the depths of winter, the maple trees in the Maple Forest of Luopo Mountain, having lost all their leaves, appear menacing in the winter sun.

Deep in the maple forest, covered with thick snow.

The ancient maple tree, which had collapsed many years ago, stretched across the maple forest, resembling a huge object and standing out conspicuously. Its trunk was about two hundred meters long and three or four zhang in circumference, and it was covered with a thick layer of snow.

There is a small courtyard outside the ancient maple tree, which contains a whole universe. Doors and windows have been opened in the trunk, and cultivators live inside. People can be seen going in and out from time to time.

This is the Maple Forest Cave.

Its spiritual land is located within the area of ​​the ancient maple tree roots, where the spiritual energy is quite abundant and has accumulated over time. It was occupied by a female cultivator many years ago. After many years, the female cultivator took in a disciple, who called himself White Eyebrow.

At the base of the ancient maple tree, the number and spacing of the windows in the trunk indicate that someone had carved out a three-story dwelling inside.

At the window on the top floor, a young man gazed at the snow-covered maple forest, his brows furrowed with sorrow and his expression filled with resentment.

During this festive season, a hint of longing and tenderness lingered in his eyes. He gently stroked the white skull in his hand with his thumb, and his expression darkened as he gazed towards Songlintan.

His expression changed several times. He took a deep breath to calm himself down and finally walked out of the room after a long while. He saw two people on guard outside the door.

"Senior brothers, is it also necessary to stop my junior brother from going to discuss something with Master?" His tone was full of dissatisfaction, showing none of his usual timidity and cautiousness.

Upon hearing this, the two exchanged a glance and then stopped blocking his way. They simply followed closely behind him, as if they were escorting a prisoner or guarding a criminal to prevent him from escaping.

The way the two of them acted was completely unlike what a senior brother should be like.

The young man walked down the stairs without saying a word, until he reached the first floor, where he stopped in front of the heavy stone door.

Heavy boulders were embedded in the ancient maple tree, forming a solid and sturdy cultivation chamber. The stone door was sealed, firmly locking the spiritual energy inside.

"Master, your disciple Hou Cheng requests an audience." The young man stood outside the stone gate, his voice penetrating through a small hole in the gate so that the person inside could hear it.

No one answered.

A moment later, the stone door opened with a rumble, revealing an old woman with white hair and eyebrows. When she saw Hou Cheng waiting at the door, she frowned.

His usual submissive, obedient, and flattering attitude and words were completely gone. Instead, he seemed to have a resolute, "what's the use" attitude.

The stark contrast between his previous and current behavior immediately made her sense something was wrong, and she had a premonition that trouble was about to strike.

"Why did you come down to me instead of focusing on your cultivation?" Her voice clearly carried a hint of reproach.

For her, during this crucial period, she did not want any unexpected complications, and she especially disliked any sudden troubles.

However, this disciple has changed so much that things may not turn out as she wishes.

Hou Cheng seemed oblivious to the reprimand in her words and continued, "This disciple has successfully switched cultivation techniques, but today during my practice, the image of my nemesis kept appearing in my mind, and I almost suffered a qi deviation."

Hou Cheng's words contained a very clear implied meaning, as well as a kind of nonchalant acceptance of the situation.

His fate was full of misfortune. His master suffered a calamity, and he was subsequently hunted down to the point of having nowhere to go. He managed to escape by sheer luck, hoping to achieve great success in his cultivation and avenge his great enemy.

But he was kidnapped and brought back to this maple forest, forced to switch to cultivating martial arts, and forced to practice every day.

Hou Cheng never wanted to be this apprentice. He was truly outnumbered and outmatched. Once captured and brought back to this Maple Forest, he had little chance of escaping.

With no way to escape his fate, he remained submissive for more than half a year, then switched to cultivating new techniques. Having acquired a trump card that made his opponents hesitant to act, he devised a plan to use one enemy against another.

"Are you threatening me?" The old woman with white eyebrows turned cold.

This disciple is indeed important, but she finds it hard to accept that he uses this importance to threaten her.

What angered her even more was that such a change of events occurred at this crucial juncture.

Hou Cheng shook his head: "This disciple only wants to ask Master for help in eliminating the enemy. Otherwise, I fear that one day I will suffer a qi deviation and all my previous efforts will be in vain."

There are many rumors in the cave that the White-Browed Old Mother's disciples are nothing more than henchmen, aside from the furnace vessels. She has never explained this, so it must be true.

In this desolate mountain where evil magic, demonic magic, and cunning magic all exist, the practice of "replenishing one's essence" is just commonplace.

Since Hou Cheng was captured, he has been practicing his cultivation techniques every day. He has no shortage of spiritual energy and has a constant supply of pills. The White-Browed Old Mother only asks him to cultivate diligently and break through to the fourth level of Qi Refining as soon as possible.

His senior brothers and sisters are in the same situation as him. It is likely that when he enters the mid-stage of Qi Refining, it will be time for them to be drained of their vital essence.

They were heavily guarded, with no hope of escape. After being sexually exploited, most would be crippled even if they didn't die.

He dared to make demands and threaten the White-Browed Old Mother only because of his important status as a furnace cauldron.

"You're quite the cowardly little rascal. How's your nemesis's cultivation level?" the White-Browed Old Mother asked him.

"He's at the first level of Qi Refining, or perhaps even the second level. He has a dog demon by his side, and it's incredibly fast."

If this patient little turtle were to fight to the death, it would only delay important matters.

The early stages of Qi Refining weren't a big problem, and the White-Browed Mother didn't want this to affect the crucial plan, so she nodded in agreement to Hou Cheng's request.

She summoned two mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators: "Third brother, fourth brother, I'll leave Hou Cheng's matter to you two. Also, check whether Little Mouse is dead or alive since he hasn't returned for so long."

The two should be.

"Thank you, Master." Hou Cheng bowed in thanks, but his face showed no gratitude whatsoever.

The White-Browed Old Mother remained silent, her face icy cold. She simply emitted a beam of spiritual light, activating the Heart-Eating Gu within Hou Cheng's body.

A minor punishment was imposed.

In an instant, Hou Cheng was seen sweating profusely, rolling around on the ground, his veins bulging from the pain, and screaming in agony.