Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

With a change of appearance, Wang Mian transformed into a young cultivator, with the palm-sized Bai Jiuniang sitting on his shoulder, riding the horizontal sword magic weapon as they landed on the outskirts of Fenglei Valley.

Looking into the distance, only ruins remain of Fenglei Fortress, overgrown with weeds.

There was no trace of the Lü family members present, but rather a number of early-stage Qi Refining cultivators were busy in the spirit field. Their auras were mixed and chaotic, making it easy to determine that they were rogue cultivators.

The Lü family's intentions were clear: even while avoiding disaster, they had not completely abandoned the Fenglei Fortress spiritual land.

Unable to find the Lü family cultivators, Wang Mian wouldn't go so far as to kill even the rogue cultivators and tenant farmers. He quietly led Bai Jiuniang away from Fenglei Valley and headed towards Luopo Mountain.

The Diao clan used to have many birds and spies in the mountains searching for him, but now there is no longer that feeling of being watched everywhere.

Wang Mian flew towards Wanxiang Valley.

The slightest hint of his presence drew Hua Gu out. Upon seeing that the newcomer was an unfamiliar cultivator, she was on guard, holding a magical artifact, and was about to utter words of expulsion.

Then I noticed the tiny dog, no bigger than my palm, perched on his shoulder, and a feeling of familiarity washed over me.

His appearance and physique were different, and his aura was like looking at flowers through a fog, with a thick fog obscuring his vision. Even the little dog had changed drastically, yet she felt a sense of déjà vu.

"Mian-ge'er?" she asked uncertainly.

The young cultivator standing not far from her laughed out loud: "Aunt Rong, it's been a long time."

Several months have passed since we parted ways at Yuer Bay. Apart from Hua Gu's cultivation level improving and being close to the fifth level of Qi Refining, she remains unchanged.

Upon hearing this address, she was certain that the person before her was Wang Mian.

"This spell is quite peculiar, it's completely flawless. Having this spell on hand would greatly increase my safety." Hua Gu put away her magic weapon and stepped forward, unable to contain her curiosity, she reached out and pinched Wang Mian's cheek.

She squeezed him a few times before letting go, and led Wang Mian into Wanxiang Valley.

He pressed him down onto the wooden chair, then busied himself packing several kinds of wild fruits and brewing a pot of wildflower honey that Wang Mian liked to drink, before sitting down again on the opposite side of Wang Mian.

"I am relieved to see that you are safe and sound. Is the Lü family still looking for you?" The last time he received a message from Wang Mian was when he left Luopo Mountain, and he had not heard from Wang Mian since.

I poured him a cup of wildflower honey. Seeing that he was safe and sound, unharmed, and showed no signs of distress or injury, I felt much relieved.

It's estimated that Lady Lü couldn't do anything to him.

"Thank you for your concern, Aunt Rong," Wang Mian said.

She waved her hand, telling Wang Mian not to stand on ceremony, as it was only natural for an elder to care about a younger one.

She then carefully examined Bai Jiuniang's changing eyes and jade-green demonic claws. Only when they were inches apart could she sense the surging demonic power emanating from Bai Jiuniang.

With her cultivation level of almost reaching the fifth level of Qi Refining, she couldn't sense the depth of the difference.

"It broke through again?" She looked surprised. Hua Gu knew that Bai Jiu Niang already had a cultivation level comparable to the fifth level of Qi Refining, but when she saw her again this morning, her aura was several times richer and deeper than before.

Wouldn't that mean... being able to defeat someone at the sixth level of Qi Refining?

Wang Mian reached out and wiped his cheek, dispelling the magic and returning to his original appearance. He smiled and nodded, "Ninth Sister just broke through the minor barrier yesterday. She has returned to the mountain to visit her elders and take care of some matters."

Hua Gu was delighted by this gesture.

Upon hearing that he needed to do something, he immediately asked, "Is there anything I can do to help?"

Wang Mian shook his head and declined. Now that he and Bai Jiuniang were working together, they were only going to Fengxiang Forest to ask for someone. He figured that the White-Browed Old Mother wouldn't refuse him that request.

Having accomplished this task, he had fulfilled a long-cherished wish.

"Two buckets of new honey have absorbed some spiritual energy. They won't be ready to be harvested for the next couple of days. Let me harvest them and pack a few bottles for you. You can also dilute them with honey water when you're out," said Flower Maiden.

Such heartwarming words inevitably moved Wang Mian. After his master passed away, only these few seniors had shown him much care, so when he returned to Luopo Mountain, he was determined to visit them.

After chatting for a long time, Hua Gu made up the bed and invited him to stay for the night.

The next day, when Wang Mian quietly left, he left behind a bottle of healing pills and a bottle of qi-boosting pills before slipping away from Wanxiang Valley. When Hua Gu woke up in the morning, Wang Mian was nowhere to be found, with only the two bottles of pills left on the table.

The sudden departure caused Hua Gu some complaints, and she immediately went to check the beehives and prepare the jade bottle.

A bamboo grove.

As Wang Mian landed, he saw Tie Gu Sou walking out of the latrine with his belt pulled up. Tie Gu Sou had just finished a satisfying release.

Before he could even fasten his belt, he saw a young cultivator land. Unable to sense the depth of the cultivator's aura and unsure whether he was friend or foe, the Iron Bone Elder immediately took out his magic weapon.

"Hey! Who goes there?" Iron-Bone Old Man shouted, his voice so loud that it shook the withered bamboo leaves to the ground.

Jiang Hao, shirtless, jumped from the second floor of the bamboo building. His dark eyes were still sleepy. He landed on the ground, his bare feet sinking into the mud.

Unable to sense Wang Mian's cultivation aura, he quietly retreated to his master's side.

Wang Mian laughed at this.

"What brings you to my bamboo grove, senior?" Seeing him laugh, Jiang Hao also asked, holding a long stick, looking just like a smaller version of the Iron-Boned Old Man.

Putting away his magical artifacts, Wang Mian wiped his face, revealing his true appearance. Upon seeing the real Wang Mian, both master and disciple maintained the same slightly agape expression of surprise.

Jiang Hao was the first to react. He walked a few steps to Wang Mian, his face full of joy at the reunion: "Brother Wang, I've really missed you terribly."

Master said yesterday that Wang Mian was going back to the mountain, and he really came back today. He's even more efficacious than the immortals.

Looking left and right, he didn't see that Wang Mian was injured, and his smile grew even more joyful.

"Senior, Brother Jiang, I came back to the mountains on business and came to see you." Wang Mian bowed to Tie Gu Sou, and seeing the whip marks on his face that had not completely faded, he felt a pang of guilt.

Upon seeing Wang Mian, the Iron-Boned Old Man showed little emotion, only a great joy at the return of his junior to the mountains. He pulled Wang Mian to sit down, looking left and right.

Seeing that he was safe and sound, she said repeatedly, "It's good that you're back, it's good that you're alright, it's good that you're healthy."

Jiang Hao brewed some coarse tea and caught a few of the fattest spirit frogs. Looking at the palm-sized white dumpling on Wang Mian's shoulder, he tentatively called out "Ninth Sister".

The white dough ball landed and instantly transformed into the size of a domestic dog.

"Why have your eyes and claws changed?" Jiang Hao, who had only wanted to call Bai Jiuniang to cook some porridge, was somewhat surprised to see the significant changes in Bai Jiuniang.

"Ninth Sister has broken through!" Wang Mian replied.

Bai Jiuniang extended strands of demonic power, took the spirit frog from Jiang Hao's hand, and went to the kitchen on her own, still ignoring Jiang Hao.

Instead, he released his aura, and the pressure made Jiang Hao, who was at the second level of Qi Refining, break out in a cold sweat. His legs were trembling, and he felt like he couldn't breathe. He was facing imminent disaster, with a long sword pressing against his neck.

It still harbors a grudge over that snotty nose, and every time it sees Jiang Hao, it still gives him a cold shoulder.

Only after Wang Mian spoke did it stop threatening Jiang Hao.

"Brother Wang, now even a Qi Refining Level 6 cultivator can't defeat it?" Jiang Hao gradually recovered and walked to Wang Mian's side, but he couldn't sense any of Wang Mian's aura.

Wang Mian nodded.

Ordinary Qi Refining Level 6 cultivators are no match for Bai Jiuniang now. Her lightning-fast escape speed allows her to unleash a killing move and kill most cultivators before they can even react.

Iron Bone Old Man also exclaimed, "Brother Mian, your concealment technique is truly amazing."

Having not seen him for several months, he had some idea that Wang Mian's cultivation level was now quite high, since the matter he mentioned was most likely a trip to the Maple Forest.

If someone dares to stroke the whiskers of a tiger at the sixth or even seventh level of Qi Refining, how could their cultivation level be low?

"Mian-ge'er, are you planning to go to Fengxiang Forest this time? Are you sure you can make it?" Tie Gu Sou asked with concern. "If you're a little short, I'll invite a few fellow Daoists to go with you."

There seem to be rumors circulating about the White-Browed Old Mother, that she has broken through to the late stage of Qi Refining and is no longer at the sixth level of Qi Refining.

Bai Jiuniang alone cannot cross that dragon's den and tiger's lair.

"I was fortunate enough to break through and am now at the fifth level of Qi Refining. If I go with Ninth Sister, the White-Browed Old Mother should give me some face," Wang Mian replied.

Iron-Boned Old Man: ? ?

Jiang Hao: ? ? ?

Qi Refining Level 5?

The master and disciple stared at each other, their eyes filled with disbelief. In such a short time, he had already broken through to the fifth level of Qi Refining? If they didn't see each other for a few more months, wouldn't he be at the sixth level of Qi Refining?

After several years, could it be that you've reached the Foundation Establishment stage?