Starting with warding off evil and disaster, one can ascend to immortality after countless tribulati

Quickly regaining his senses, Jiang Ming glanced at the excited Wang Xiaogang, and, with a hint of doubt in his heart, tentatively asked, "May I give up on this level?"

"The Refining Realm is very special. Unless you complete this stage, we will meet again whenever you enter the Refining Realm in the future."

Picking up an ancient book, Wang Xiaogang flipped through a few pages, stroked his beard, and said in a strong voice, "Actually, this isn't necessarily a bad thing."

Although I am not skilled in combat, my theoretical knowledge is unparalleled in this world, and I am not inferior to even Foundation Establishment cultivators.

You should be secretly pleased to be able to study under me.

"Senior... old man, how come you're only at the initial stage of cultivation?" Jiang Ming, who already had doubts, felt his trust in the old man plummet after carefully sensing him.

The credibility of a foundation-building method researched by someone at the early stage of the Qi Absorption Realm is even lower than the probability of Li Wenya winning the Nobel Prize.

"I understand that you don't trust me." He walked to Jiang Ming's side and sniffed the air.

With a confident smile, Wang Xiaogang stood with his hands behind his back and said leisurely, "You have recently been in contact with a cultivator from the Furnace Fire Realm and a demon from the Great Forest Wood Realm, both of whom are at the late stage of the Qi Consumption Realm."

In addition, you carry the lingering scents of willow wood and city wall soil.

Is there any falsehood in what I have said?

"Greetings, senior! I would like to hear more about your theories."

With his eyes wide open, Jiang Ming was only surprised for a second before he immediately slid down to his knees and admitted his mistake. He had thought the old man was a fraud.

Unexpectedly, he actually has some skill.

He was able to figure out the background of the people around him just by sensing a trace of their presence.

Seeing Jiang Ming's attitude, Wang Xiaogang was quite pleased and slowly said, "That cultivator of the Furnace Fire has weakened his aura and should be someone whose lifespan is not long."

Later on, there are huge differences between each minor realm.

The most direct manifestation of this is lifespan. A seventh-tier cultivator only lives for one hundred years, while an eighth-tier cultivator lives slightly longer, at one hundred and fifty years.

Nine stages, two hundred years; perfect realm, three hundred years. His lifespan is not the problem. The most important thing is that his furnace fire has gone astray and has once again gone astray.

After this, his demise is likely not far off.

After hearing Wang Xiaogang's explanation, Jiang Ming's heart skipped a beat.

Many things immediately became clear in his mind. No wonder Zhou Yi suddenly went into seclusion without informing him in advance.

Having witnessed Wang Xiaogang's skills, Jiang Ming quickly poured him tea, trying to get him to share some practical information, "Senior, do you have a way to save people?"

The old man waved the ancient book in his hand, downed his tea in one gulp, and smiled frankly, "Of course I have it, and it's very simple."

"I can help you save people, but what will you give me in return?"

After a moment's thought, Jiang Ming bowed respectfully and said solemnly, "This young man is ignorant of his own limitations and almost offended a senior."

If you do not abandon me, I am willing to become your godfather and do my utmost to fulfill your long-cherished wish!

"You've got it. From now on, you can just call me Master."

The old man readily tossed over a scroll of cultivation manual. He tapped his teacup, and Jiang Ming immediately refilled it. Then, he withdrew his hand and carefully perused the scroll.

"Wonderful, wonderful beyond words!" Although he didn't understand a single sentence, Jiang Ming still complimented him earnestly.

Wang Xiaogang waved his hand dismissively, his gaze sharp as a knife. He took a sip of tea and said with a beaming smile, "You didn't understand, did you?"

"Master's eyes are so discerning, nothing can fool you." Jiang Ming scratched his head, a sense of respect rising in his heart.

He tentatively asked, "Even so, would you still be willing to take me as your apprentice?"

Nodding, Wang Xiaogang's eyes burned with fervor, his words filled with reverence, "In ancient times, there was a virtuous Nascent Soul cultivator, whose Dharma name was the Daoist Lord of Heavenly Affairs."

He pioneered the ancient Taoist tradition that lasted for thousands of years, and countless mortals used his methods to seek immortality and enlightenment, thus witnessing the myriad worlds.

Legend has it that he always taught according to aptitude, and he especially liked to teach his slow-witted disciples. Under his guidance, all three thousand dull-witted people shone brightly!

I created this new method with the sole aim of being on par with it, to benefit the world with this new method, and to give everyone an equal opportunity to seek the Dao.

That's why I've been waiting for a clumsy disciple, and today you've arrived!

"..." Jiang Ming paused for a moment, then suddenly remembered that he seemed to have heard similar words somewhere before.

For some reason, whenever I try to think deeply, my memory suddenly becomes hazy.

After a moment's hesitation, Jiang Ming stopped investigating and silently bowed. "This disciple wishes to first grasp the imagery of the fire in the furnace. Could Master offer some advice?"

"My cultivation level is only at the third stage of Qi Refining, and I cultivate Sword Edge Gold, which is vastly different from Furnace Fire. How could I possibly give practical advice?"

The only help I can offer is to teach you the method of integrating the five elements.

Once you've grasped the concept of the fire in the furnace, don't rush to learn other cultivation techniques. I'll personally select and guide you on your next step.

"Let's go. I need to continue refining the theory and hand this manual over to that cultivator in the furnace of fire. If he has any comprehension, he can escape this calamity."

After saying this, Wang Xiaogang lightly flicked his sleeves.

As if sensing something, the Refining Realm instantly expelled Jiang Ming.

After pausing for a moment in the cave, Jiang Ming carefully put away the cultivation manual, but did not rush to see Zhou Yi.

During a period of seclusion, the worst thing to do is to be disturbed suddenly.

Even if Zhou Yi took the wrong path, we'll have to wait until he comes out of the pass on his own before we can discuss it further.

Looking at the talisman in his hand that was about to expire in a few days, Jiang Ming pondered for a moment and then rushed to Hou Tu Peak to visit Tuoba Youyou.

The key to making friends lies in reciprocity.

The girl gave him three wood-elemental magic treasures last time, and he was worried about how to repay her, but now he has a way.

According to Wang Xiaogang, without passing this test, the future cultivation secret realms would be practically impossible.

No matter how much Jiang Ming begged and pleaded, he couldn't change this fact.

There's nothing we can do; that's just how the rules are in the Refining Realm.

The ancestral laws cannot be changed; unless the five elements are harmonized, there is nothing anyone can do about it.

After waiting a moment outside the quiet room, Tuoba Youyou came out to greet him with her bare, white feet.

Rubbing her sleepy almond-shaped eyes, she smiled apologetically and quickly swallowed several pills to stay awake.

He then sat cross-legged on the ground, poking his pink soles with a sense of unease. "Fellow Daoist, do you need my help?"

"Senior Sister Youyou, I was injured in the Refining Realm and won't recover for a while."

I don't need this talisman this month, so I came here specifically to give it to you.

"For me?" she asked, pointing excitedly to her chest.

Seeing Jiang Ming nod decisively, Tuoba Youyou gently accepted the talisman and lightly grasped Jiang Ming's hand with her fair skin.

"Thank you, junior brother. I just happened to fail once this month."

With her eyebrows arched into crescents, Tuoba Youyou rummaged through her storage bag, then handed over a box of pastries with a slightly guilty smile.

"Unfortunately, I was in a hurry to enter the Refining Secret Realm to cultivate and didn't have time to entertain my junior brother."

These are my favorite pastries. I'm giving them to my junior colleague as a token of my apology.

I'll let you know as soon as I have any suitable resources for my junior colleague.

Upon hearing this, Jiang Ming accepted the pastries and tactfully took his leave. On his way back, he couldn't help but feel a little uneasy.

She reciprocates gifts readily, displaying a generous and intellectual personality.

Compared to Xu Youwei, Senior Sister Tuoba is practically a saint!

I'm so touched! To punish Xu Youwei, she must deduct more from Liu Xin's inheritance!