Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

Unable to resist the enthusiasm of the Iron-Boned Elder and his apprentice, Wang Mian stayed overnight in the bamboo forest, leaving behind a bottle of healing pills and qi-boosting pills before quietly disappearing into the bamboo sea.

In his storage bag, there was also a small wooden box, inside which were the spirit stones given to him by the Iron Bone Elder and his apprentice.

During their time living in the bamboo forest, the master and apprentice raised quite a few spirit frogs. The spirit frogs grew rapidly and their price was quite considerable. After making some profit, they saved Wang Mian's share of spirit stones.

I handed it over to him during our meal and drinks yesterday.

There weren't many spirit stones among them, only about twenty, but they embodied integrity, keeping promises, and pride and dignity. Wang Mian accepted the spirit stones.

Not long after he left, Tie Gu Sou noticed that his presence had disappeared. He went upstairs to check and found that Wang Mian was nowhere to be seen. Only two bottles of pills were placed in a conspicuous place.

"He's already struggling to find his own cultivation resources, and he's being hunted down with a bounty on his head, yet he still thinks about us, his master and disciples... Sigh!" Iron Bone Old Man felt that he owed this person an ever-growing debt of gratitude.

The sacred land, the family business, the elixirs—weren't all of these things earned by Wang Mian himself through risking his life? Now, it's up to them, master and disciple, to take them as they please.

He was already guilty for not being able to take care of the younger generation, as he was a senior, and now he was indebted to them for their kindness. He felt extremely ashamed and unworthy of his old friend in the afterlife.

"Master, where is my brother?" Jiang Hao's voice came from behind Tie Gu Sou. His master's burly figure blocked his view, and Jiang Hao, standing on tiptoe, looked into the house.

Turning around, the Iron-Bone Elder looked at his disciple and handed him two bottles of pills.

Jiang Hao looked at the medicine bottle in his hand, a look of disappointment on his face. He guessed that Wang Mian might have left the Green Bamboo Forest. They had only spent a day together, and now they had to part again. It was hard not to feel reluctant.

He knew that Wang Mian disliked the pain of parting, but given Wang Mian's current cultivation level, pursuing opportunities was the most important thing, and he didn't know if he would ever return to this bamboo forest.

This desolate, remote place has shallow waters that can't support dragons; it seems things will only get further and further away from here.

In the blink of an eye, he was as different from Wang Mian as a sparrow compared to a swan.

"How can cultivators who seek the Dao spend every day together?" Seeing his disciple's disappointed look, the Iron Bone Elder comforted him, "The affection is in our hearts, and we will meet again someday."

The journey is long, and each person climbs to their own peak.

It is common to meet again after many years apart. However, if the difference in cultivation level and talent between the two is too great, it may be difficult to meet again.

Wang Mian, with his exceptional talent, is on the path of Foundation Establishment and is born with a heart that seeks the Dao. Compared to him, Jiang Hao is far inferior. Having such a friend is both a good thing and a bad thing.

"Master, I understand," Jiang Hao replied, taking a deep breath.

.......

At this very moment, on the southern edge of Luopo Mountain.

A beam of light swept past many cultivators' caves, finally hovering above a lush green maple forest. Wang Mian looked down at the fallen ancient pine tree and could already see that there were cultivators on guard inside.

The cultivators of Luopo Mountain have always disliked uninvited guests like him.

Before long, a cultivator approached and inquired, "Fellow Daoist, this is the cave dwelling of the White-Browed Old Mother. May I ask what brings you here?"

Wang Mian lowered his stance slightly, displaying his fifth-level Qi Refining cultivation without any restraint. The other party, who was only at the fourth level of Qi Refining, changed color slightly under the pressure of Wang Mian's power. Such an attitude indicated that he was probably not there to visit a friend.

The White-Browed Old Mother has made many enemies, so it's normal for some to come seeking revenge.

"I am Wang Yang, a rogue cultivator from Luopo Mountain. I have something to discuss with Senior Bai Mei. Please inform him." His words were loud and clear, and could be heard all around.

Wang Mian adopted another alias and did not reveal his real name.

The white-browed old woman in the ancient maple tree looked puzzled. She had no recollection of the name Wang Yang, nor did she remember offending a Qi Refining Level 5 cultivator surnamed Wang.

Someone surnamed Wang?

Suddenly, she thought of something, got up and flew out of the ancient pine tree. She saw that the cultivator in the sky was a young man, and she became puzzled again: Was this person not Wang Mian from the Shadow Image?

"I have no recollection of you, fellow Daoist. May I ask what brings you here?" The white-browed old woman, whose aura was at the seventh level of Qi Refining, was still somewhat unstable, indicating that she had only recently broken through.

Wang Mian knew that she had broken through using evil methods and was probably not as good as a seventh-level Qi Refining cultivator who had broken through using orthodox methods, but she was still in the late stage of Qi Refining and her aura completely suppressed Wang Mian.

A silver-white figure emerged from Wang Mian's embrace, exuding a heavy demonic aura, standing shoulder to shoulder with the White-Browed Old Mother.

The sight of the small white dog made her narrow her eyes slightly.

Wang Yang... Wang Mian, this little Jianghu almost fooled this old Jianghu expert. But you can't blame her, after all, the bounty said that this person was at the fourth level of Qi Refining.

It's clearly not the fourth level of Qi Refining, but the fifth level.

That little dog was no ordinary mid-grade demon beast; its aura had broken through two minor barriers, surpassing even the average sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator. Its demonic energy was so strong that it could even faintly contend with her.

At such a young age, with such talent, one must not offend him! If one offends him and is not killed, he will only bring endless trouble in the future.

"Senior, do you recognize me? Then you should know why I have come here!" Wang Mian saw that she looked at Bai Jiuniang with a strange expression, and knew that she had recognized him.

After all, his bounty notice had spread throughout the mountains, and there were images of his likeness as well as images of Bai Jiuniang.

The old woman with white eyebrows sighed.

Wang Mian arrived too late. If he had come a month or two earlier, she could have handed over the person and the things to him. Now, the person is not in her hands, nor are the things.

"Fellow Daoist, you've arrived a bit late. The Lü family knew you had an enemy in my cave, so they sent a cultivator to take that person away. He's probably in Taixi Lake, on Lüzhou Island now," the White-Browed Old Mother explained.

This statement is half true and half false. The person is indeed not here, but she took the initiative to hand him over and exchanged him for a third-rate spiritual vessel.

The successful breakthrough to the seventh level of Qi Refining was entirely due to the power of that furnace.

"Did the Lü family take the person away?" Seeing that the old woman with white eyebrows spoke with such certainty and did not seem to be lying, Wang Mian frowned. He did not expect that the Lü family's secrets had been uncovered.

Bai Jiuniang's nose twitched, and after a moment she shook her head at Wang Mian. She couldn't smell Hou Cheng's hidden presence.

Upon seeing this, Wang Mian's face turned completely gloomy.

The White-Browed Old Mother also sensed his growing murderous aura. The man and the dog were gradually exuding a menacing aura, and their confident expressions suggested that they were not afraid of her, a newly promoted Qi Refining Level 7 cultivator.

They probably have a trump card up their sleeve.

"Young friend, I brought that person back only because he possesses a spiritual body that can be used as a cultivation furnace. I had no intention of making an enemy of a genius cultivator like you. I have also properly disposed of your master's head, intending to wait for your return."

"The Lü family is very powerful, and I cannot afford to offend them. I have no choice but to hand over people and goods. If you do not believe me, I can swear a great oath to my heart demons to prove my innocence."

A young and strong fighter has the advantage. As a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, she shouldn't be so weak and cowardly; she should be full of confidence.

Seeing that Wang Mian and Bai Jiuniang showed no fear, she was unsure whether Wang Mian had any trump cards up his sleeve. After all, the person in front of her had killed several cultivators from the Lü family, and even those at the seventh level of Qi Refining had been turned away by him.

Young and talented cultivators are not to be trifled with by older cultivators, unless one is prepared to trade one for another.

"Thank you for your frank advice, senior. In that case, I shall take my leave." Hou Cheng was not in this maple forest, and his master's head had been taken away. Although he was furious, it was not worth fighting to vent his anger.

The root of everything lies with the Lü Clan of Immortals.

Seeing that he was about to leave, the White-Browed Old Mother breathed a sigh of relief. Since she had not gained any favors this time, she was unwilling to have any more contact with this killing star. No one likes or can stand a cultivator who is always looking to compete with others.

"Young friend, please take care!" The White-Browed Old Mother said goodbye.

Bai Jiuniang transformed into a beam of white light and entered Wang Mian's arms. Wang Mian set up his magic weapon, turned around, and left, gradually disappearing into the verdant landscape, heading towards Songlin Pool.

Unaware of the hatred filling Wang Mian, countless birds flew from the foot of Luopo Mountain into the mountain, forming a dark mass that disappeared into the southern foot of Luopo Mountain. Several cultivators riding on giant birds followed behind the countless birds.

Further on, one after another, cultivators arrived riding magical artifacts and crashed into the southern foothills of Fallen Mountain.

It's like a net that covers the sky and the earth.