Cultivation: I can see the proficiency level

It had been a year since Wang Mian had returned to Songlin Pool. His figure appeared by the pool, and the marks he had made when he practiced swordsmanship were still clearly visible, though they were covered with moss.

The paths he and Bai Jiuniang had once trodden out were once again covered by weeds, leaving only the bluestone path, which pushed the weeds to both sides, still clearly visible.

The pine forest, neglected and unattended, was now piled high with dead branches. When Wang Mian passed by, he startled several pheasants that were hiding there, which flew into the pine forest with cries.

From afar, you can see that the Broken Dragon Stone is broken, and the stone tables and chairs outside it are shattered into several pieces.

The entire Songlintan area was desolate, filled with a sense of desolation and loneliness, completely different from the Songlintan in Wang Mian's memory.

"It's become so desolate." Bai Jiuniang squatted on Wang Mian's shoulder, and seeing the spider webs and the scraggly vegetation, a feeling of unease arose spontaneously.

Upon reaching the entrance of the cave, Wang Mian broke off a tree branch and cleared away the enormous spiderwebs, leaving spiders the size of goose eggs on the ground.

Wang Mian stepped through the weeds sprouting from the cracks in the rocks and entered the cave.

The damaged cave was no longer the familiar place he knew; the rocks were broken, the walls were riddled with holes, and several broken spirit tablets lay on the ground.

Even the most insignificant spiritual lands have been excavated and destroyed, and now there is no spiritual energy left, only deep pits.

With its spiritual energy depleted, this place can no longer even be considered a cave dwelling.

"That's quite an achievement," Wang Mian muttered to himself.

They burned the fragments of the spirit tablets, led Bai Jiuniang out of the cave, and looked up to see the pits left from the battle when they were besieged and killed by the Bian clan, which were still faintly discernible.

The old pine tree remains evergreen, oblivious to the changes in people and things.

The traveler returns home, but home is no longer home.

After walking around Songlin Pool, Wang Mian took one last deep look at his former cave dwelling: "Let's go to Wanxiang Valley. After saying goodbye to Aunt Rong, we'll go to Qiulong City for a visit."

At the foot of Qiulong Peak lies the city built by the Wang clan of the Foundation Establishment Immortal Clan, which is also the largest trading place for cultivators within a thousand miles. He intends to stay in Qiulong City for a period of time to inquire about clues regarding the Hundred-Year Stone Spirit Milk.

I'll probably not be back to this desolate mountain for a long time.

Setting up their magical artifacts, they flew towards Wanxiang Valley. Bai Jiuniang, perched on Wang Mian's shoulder, watched as Songlin Pool grew smaller and smaller. This was the place where she had grown up since childhood, where she had spent seventeen or eighteen years of her happiest, most innocent, and most joyful time.

It was reluctant to part, and so was Wang Mian.

As Songlin Pool disappeared from sight, Bai Jiuniang turned around. In her vision stretched endless mountains and rivers, their verdant hues covering the earth like a mat, while Songlin Pool appeared as nothing more than a drop of water in the sea.

"The Way lies beyond the mountains," Wang Mian said softly. "The pine forest and pool reside within the heart."

Bai Jiuniang nodded slightly.

The light flew over the mountains and landed in Wanxiang Valley. Hua Gu had already received the message and was carrying a plate of dishes out of the kitchen. The stone table in the courtyard was already full of dishes.

"When you return to the mountain, come and stay here for a while." Hua Gu had already been to Songlin Pool, so she naturally knew that the cave was no longer a sacred place and was severely desolate.

Wang Mian's trip to Songlintan was mostly filled with sadness.

Looking at the table full of spiritual food and listening to Hua Gu's words, Wang Mian's wounded heart was somewhat lightened. He picked up a cup of Hundred Flowers Wine and raised his cup: "Aunt Rong, I'd like to toast you."

With their cups clinking, Wang Mian finished his drink.

Hua Gu poured another cup.

She didn't advise Wang Mian to drink less, but instead said, "If you're ever in a bad mood, you can have a few drinks. They may not relieve your worries, but they can help you suppress your sorrows."

Cultivators seek immortality, but in essence they are human, possessing the seven emotions and six desires, as well as sorrow and hatred; they may feel resentment, regret, and vulnerability.

Cultivators are not immortals; even immortals have emotions and desires.

"This time we're going down the mountain, and we don't know when we'll be back. Life is the most important thing, safety is paramount, so don't take any risks or act recklessly... I'm getting all nagging again." As Hua Gu was talking, she realized that Wang Mian was not unaware of these principles.

But as they talked, they couldn't control their words and kept talking more and more.

Everyone says that the Fallen Mountain is dangerous, with vicious cultivators, desperate criminals, and desperate ghosts. In fact, the cultivators in the Fallen Mountain all believe that the outside world is even more dangerous and treacherous.

"I don't mean any nonsense. I understand Aunt Rong's concern." Wang Mian poured her some wine and toasted her again: "If I have time, I will often go back to the mountain to visit Aunt Rong."

Even if a cultivator at the late stage of Qi Refining is in good health, their lifespan is only 170 years. Very few can live past this limit. Most cultivators at the early or middle stage of Qi Refining reach 100 years of age before they are old and frail.

Foundation Establishment cultivators, on the other hand, have a lifespan of over three hundred years, and can live for several hundred years, which is truly carefree and unrestrained.

Aunt Rong is now less than the fifth level of Qi Refining, but she is already over fifty years old. In another ten years, her meridians will age and she will have no more potential for cultivation, leaving her only with old age.

"To be over fifty and still have younger generations to care about me, that's enough," Hua Gu said with a smile.

"Aunt Rong is not old now, so it's possible for her to find another junior brother or sister." Granny Yu has disciples, Old Man Tiegu has disciples, Old Man Baitou has disciples, and Aunt Hua can also take on a disciple.

First, there are disciples to pass on the knowledge; second, there are disciples to show filial piety.

She said she would think about it some more and didn't want to easily accept disciples, as it was a serious matter and she was used to being free.

As Hua Gu was speaking, Bai Jiu Niang suddenly stood up, looked at the black dot on the horizon that was gradually approaching and becoming more conspicuous, and sensed that there was a lot more presence around her.

He let out a low growl.

"A large number of cultivators have surrounded us." The demonic power condensed into words.

Wang Mian frowned, not understanding why his whereabouts had been exposed. He had already changed his appearance, and Bai Jiuniang had also suppressed her aura to a very low level and reverted to her original form, turning into a palm-sized creature.

Despite being so cautious, they still managed to get exposed.

"Mian-ge'er, you must leave immediately." Upon seeing Bai Jiu-niang's reminder, Hua-gu instantly sobered up, stuffed the storage jade token into Wang Mian's arms, and told him to escape.

Wang Mian shook his head.

I can already sense the aura of cultivators slowly emerging around the valley. That's a phenomenon that only occurs when the concealment technique is put away. Qi Refining Level 5, Qi Refining Level 6, Qi Refining Level 7.

While surrounding Wanxiang Valley, the aura also firmly locked onto him and Bai Jiuniang.

"It's too late." Wang Mian looked at Bai Jiuniang, who was gradually revealing her true form, and then at Hua Gu: "I'm sorry, Aunt Rong, this time I've dragged you into this mess."

Enveloped in demonic energy, Bai Jiuniang tossed her behind, revealing her enormous true form as she gazed at the approaching cultivator in the air.

Four or five magical artifacts suddenly hovered in the air, each with a deeper aura than the last. Wang Mian could sense that the lowest level of cultivation among them was the seventh level of Qi Refining.

One of them had an aura several times stronger than that of the Qi Refining Level 7 cultivator beside her.

That is, the eighth level of Qi Refining.

Several birds took flight from the branches, heading towards the dark flock of birds. One landed on the shoulder of a Qi Refining Level 7 cultivator. Only then did Wang Mian realize that those few ordinary birds were the real reason he had been exposed.

Birds, by virtue of their ability to see and hear, truly use every means at their disposal.

"Don't worry about me, Mian-ge'er. You and Jiu-niang can escape." Hua-gu looked at this inescapable trap and felt despair.

At this moment, in Wanxiang Valley, whether in the valley or in the air, even the cultivator with the lowest cultivation level had an aura several times stronger than hers, clearly at the fifth level of Qi Refining.

She knew she was just a burden, only dragging Wang Mian down.

Wang Mian did not answer Hua Gu, but looked up at the sky. He had already recognized two of the figures: Lü Xingshui and Bian Zening. He also recognized a figure above the valley: Bian Dongxu.

"You think highly of me." Wang Mian looked at the leader.

He's no longer a spineless coward. Even if a Qi Refining Level 8 leader were to take him down, it would take breaking a few of their teeth.

After swallowing a few pills, Wang Mian held a long sword in one hand and a talisman in the other, already prepared to fight to the death.

Seeing that he had no intention of surrendering and was determined to put up a stubborn resistance, the cultivator at the eighth level of Qi Refining in the air stopped wasting words and gently pressed down with his palm.

"kill!"