Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

Tiemuling.

The huge tree stump, which had been struck by lightning and broken, was still about two zhang tall and about one zhang in diameter, and was surrounded by thick ironwood.

The tree stump was covered with thick, glossy green moss, and ancient vines, like spider webs, were entangled with the surrounding thick ironwood.

This is the sacred site of Tiemuling. Through the joint efforts of several generations of Tiemuling cultivators, the inside of the tree stump has long been hollowed out, becoming a spacious cultivator's cave.

On Mount Luopo, the cultivators are diverse, and their dwellings are naturally varied and strange, with cultivators' dwellings in the sky, on the ground, and in the water.

At the top of Tiemuling.

At this moment, Jiang Hao sat atop the largest ironwood tree on the ridge, a tree that has been struck by lightning every year, leaning against a branch and gazing at the verdant landscape.

Looking out from a high vantage point, one can vaguely see several monks' cave dwellings, including the Pine Forest Pool Cave Dwelling.

Looking around, a staggering figure was walking towards Tiemu Ridge on the distant mountain path. Upon seeing that familiar figure, Jiang Hao finally breathed a sigh of relief. With a few leaps, he landed on the branches and ran off into the distance.

Jiang Hao looked him over and noticed that the usually energetic Tie Gu Sou was now covered in sweat from rushing around.

His eyelids were swollen, his expression was unsteady, and his face was pale. Looking further down, his legs were trembling and his thighs were shaking.

"Your disciple is unfilial, causing your master to suffer." Jiang Hao was filled with shame, and tears streamed down his face.

Iron Bone Elder, whose physique was even more robust than his apprentice's, had a thick coat that couldn't conceal the abundant hair on his chest, with his curly sideburns tangled together and his bald head gleaming.

His seemingly robust figure now gives the impression of being weak and exhausted after a financial crisis.

"I only collected two bowls of kidney essence. I'm just a little weak, not about to die. Why act like a little girl?" Iron Bone Old Man reprimanded.

In this desolate mountain of cultivation, when one is down on one's luck, who wouldn't use their kidney essence and blood to exchange for some resources for cultivation?

Those cultivators who have no spiritual ground, no disciples, and no cultivation level even rely on selling their kidney essence and blood to make a living.

Not wanting to show his fatigue in front of his apprentice, Tie Gu Sou took a step forward, but after a few steps, he found that he felt even weaker.

He spoke sternly: "Hurry up and stop the horse pissing in your eyes, carry me on your back, and go back to your cave to rest."

A dignified cultivator in the mid-stage of Body Refinement lost two bowls of kidney essence, and now struggles to walk, no longer possessing the vigor of his youth.

Back then, even after losing three bowls of kidney essence, he remained calm and composed, walking with ease.

Jiang Hao responded, hoisted the Iron-Bone Old Man onto his back, and said with some dissatisfaction, "Two bowls? That Jade Pot Demoness is asking for such a high price?"

The Iron-Boned Old Man remained silent.

Jiang Hao carried him along the mountain path, saying to himself, "When my cultivation level is high enough, I'll capture that demoness and have her prepare a bowl of Yin Essence for you every day to nourish your body, Master."

"Master?"

"You rebellious disciple, watch the road! You've made your master stumble!" the Iron-Boned Old Man replied weakly.

Back at the cave, Jiang Hao placed him on the couch in the inner room on the first floor, then boiled a large bowl of dark, aphrodisiac herbs and forced him to drink it.

He wiped his mouth with the rag, and the Iron-Boned Old Man opened his palm, revealing a long jade box. He handed the jade box to Jiang Hao.

Then, speaking earnestly, he said, "Master is getting old. Perhaps he can protect you for another ten or eight years, but after that, he won't be able to protect you anymore."

"You've known Mian Ge'er of Songlintan since childhood. He's showing signs of rising in power. Remember to keep in touch with him. He'll be a helper when you encounter difficulties in the future."

"Since this meridian-opening herb is so important, you should quickly send it down the mountain," the Iron-Bone Elder said softly.

A few days ago, his apprentice returned and forced him to take a healing pill. He told him about Wang Mian's situation in Lingxia and that Jiang Hao wanted to ask him to help find out the whereabouts of the Meridian Opening Grass. Hearing that this matter was important, he healed his wounds for a day and went out the next day.

He happened to know the whereabouts of the Meridian Opening Grass; the Jade Pot Demoness had one. He felt that, given Wang Mian's current situation, he should do his disciple a favor.

Having nothing of value, the Iron-Bone Elder had neither spirit stones nor any magical treasures, so he could only barter, exchanging two large bowls of kidney water for this Meridian-Opening Grass.

Subtly, this caused their cultivation levels to decline.

"Master..."

Iron Bone Old Man couldn't stand his little girl's affected mannerisms the most, yet his disciple, who was known for shedding blood but not tears, often acted like this in front of him, as if he was about to wet himself.

Pointing towards the door, the Iron-Boned Old Man roared, "Get out of here!"

Jiang Hao's expression froze.

Nene took the jade box, walked out of the cave, turned back to seal the cave door, and then hurried down the mountain.

From afar, he spotted Bai Jiuniang first.

Bai Jiuniang remained squatting at the entrance of the cave, emanating an aura as dense as that of some mid-stage Qi Refining elders.

Every time Jiang Hao saw Bai Jiuniang, and then looked at Wang Mian, he couldn't help but think: "Young man, if you can't seize this opportunity, you should leave it to me."

He understood that he was actually just envious of Wang Mian.

I envy him for having Bai Jiuniang, I envy him for surviving in this desolate mountain without relying on his master, and I envy him for being about to break through to the second level of Qi Refining.

Bai Jiuniang got up and returned to her cave from afar. Jiang Hao approached, but before he could speak, Wang Mian's figure walked out of the cave.

After a few days apart, Wang Mian's aura became more refined and harmonious, giving the impression that a breakthrough was imminent.

"Here, this is the Meridian-Clearing Herb that my master found and specially brought down for you." Jiang Hao tossed the jade box over: "Take a look and see if it suits your needs."

When the jade box landed in his arms, Wang Mian still looked surprised. He really couldn't imagine how the old senior on Ironwood Ridge had found the spiritual herb.

His original intention was to ask the senior to help him find out about the Meridian Opening Grass, but he never expected that he would send this spiritual herb.

They looked at Jiang Hao with astonished eyes.

Noticing Wang Mian's puzzled expression, Jiang Hao didn't say anything more. After all, extracting essence and blood, and collecting kidney essence, were things that would embarrass cultivators and were done in secret.

"Ahem, my master is incredibly powerful and has a wide circle of friends. You don't need to ask where he came from. Now that you've found the spiritual herb, just enjoy it." Jiang Hao used words to cover up his inner unease.

These words made Wang Mian's lips twitch slightly, a gesture that only occurs when one is extremely speechless.

Jiang Hao's seemingly generous gesture, which only served to conceal the truth, perfectly illustrates that it was not easy for Senior Iron Bone Elder to obtain this spiritual herb.

He was more thoughtful than Jiang Hao since childhood, and he had a certain understanding of what his senior had done.

"Brother Jiang, this medicinal herb didn't come for free..."

Jiang Hao interrupted him, saying, "Brother Wang, this was a gift from my master, just like the pills you gave me before. Besides, we've known each other since childhood and are very close friends. We have a long future ahead of us."

"This doesn't sound like something Brother Jiang would say."

"Hehehe, Brother Wang, you flatter me."

Having said that, Wang Mian knew better than to say anything more.

I had intended to exchange a Spirit Enhancement Pill for the Spirit Herb, so that I could at least have peace of mind regardless of profit or loss. But if I were to act in this way now, it would be disrespectful to the friendship between the two generations.

A steady, long-term approach, with reciprocal gift-giving, is more reliable.

The sun and moon traverse the sky, and the future is long.

"Alright, I'll accept the gift. Please thank Senior Iron Bone Elder for me." Wang Mian asked him to wait a moment before heading into the cave.

Then, Bai Jiuniang, with wisps of demonic energy, carried a steaming bowl of spiritual rice, along with two large bowls of side dishes still smoky from the wok, and gently placed it in front of Jiang Hao.

After staring at the food for a long time, Jiang Hao finally turned to look at Bai Jiuniang.

Seeing that Bai Jiuniang didn't avoid him, but instead offered him more hot tea, Jiang Hao cautiously asked, "Jiuniang, you don't dislike me anymore?"

Bai Jiuniang shook her head; she was narrow-minded and not that generous.

The medicinal herbs were sent by Jiang Hao. He shouldn't have come with such good intentions, only to return to the ridge without even getting a hot meal.

"Alright, a hearty meal is a pleasant surprise." Jiang Hao picked up his rice spoon and began to eat heartily.

Have I not eaten Jiu Niang's cooking for years? Does my palate have become so heavy now?

How can you endure such salty food every day, my brother?

Wang Mian carried out a tiger demon hind leg weighing about two hundred pounds and placed it next to Jiang Hao: "Take it back and have a taste."

Tiger legs?

It's still the Demon Tiger!

"Brother Wang, I don't need this demon leg. Do you still have any tiger penis?" Jiang Hao, who had been looking for something to nourish Iron Bone Old Man, was pleasantly surprised but also felt that such words were shameless. He hurriedly explained, "Well... I've been... a little weak lately."

Wang Mian stared at his muscular physique for a moment.

Jiang Hao felt uneasy under that gaze, as if Wang Mian had seen through something. Just as he was about to change the subject, a long object appeared on the demon's leg.

"I thank you, Brother Wang," Jiang Hao said, bowing.

Wang Mian cupped his hands in greeting, his tone sincere: "It should be I who thank Brother Jiang and Senior Iron-Boned Elder."

Watching Jiang Hao devour his food and finish it all, Wang Mian saw him off.

Wang Mian looked down at the open jade box in his hand, where a plant called the Meridian-Opening Grass lay quietly.

He looked at the figure carrying the demon's leg in the distance, past the figure climbing the mountain, and gazed at Ironwood Ridge, which was just blocked by the verdant hills. His thoughts were complicated.

For the next few days, Bai Jiuniang stayed in the cave without leaving her side.

Inside the stone chamber, figures diligently cultivate day and night.

Day after day.

Feeling the magical power swelling within his dantian, Wang Mian, who was sitting cross-legged, opened the jade box beside him and swallowed the meridian-opening grass like a cow chewing on a peony.

The essence of the medicinal herb gradually diffused, following the meridians, clearing away the tiny meridians that had been blocked and stagnant, and the medicinal effects made the meridians even more clear and resilient.

As the main ingredient for refining the Meridian Opening Pill, Meridian Opening Grass is generally used as a spiritual medicine to lay the foundation before cultivation. Wang Mian once swallowed a Meridian Opening Grass when he was young.

While not exactly rare, the herb Tongmai is scarce and considered a precious medicinal herb.

I quickly glanced at the gold medal.

[Lower-grade Qi Refining Method: After diligently practicing it once, the skill will be perfected, and one can enter the second level of Qi Refining]

Wang Mian concentrated his mind and placed two spirit stones in his hands, preparing to cultivate one last time and break through to the second level of Qi Refining.

As spiritual energy is absorbed and circulates throughout the body, the spiritual energy in the meridians gradually intertwines and grows stronger, eventually converging into the dantian.

Like water overflowing when full, or water flowing into a channel, it eventually bursts through the dam like a flood. The dantian suddenly expanded, and the previously abundant magical power became empty again.

The large bowl was transformed into a wooden basin, but the water in the bowl could not fill the wooden basin.

Second level of Qi Refining.

become!