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

Upon seeing Jiang Ming return safely, Ye Tao immediately pressed her shapely body against him, her watery eyes filled with admiration.

"I underestimated you. Time flies. In the blink of an eye, you've already reached the eighth level, which is considered top-tier in Tongzhou City."

Holding Ye Tao's plump buttocks, Jiang Ming took out a treasure bottle containing the earth's energy and waved it in front of her. "This is for you."

"Hmm? You actually managed to get an extra strand." Ye Tao grasped the bottle with some surprise, and although she was a little excited, she readily shook her head and refused.

She poked Jiang Ming's restless little hand and said coquettishly, "I don't want it. This thing is very precious. You can keep it for your cultivation."

I have no shortage of cultivation resources. As long as I ask, my family will find whatever they can for me.

"I'm giving it to you, so feel free to accept it. It seems that the experts in the Ye family these days are all hired retainers, not family members, so they can't be relied on in the end."

With this, you can at least save some time, and besides, this wisp of earth energy will definitely be better than anything you can buy.

Sitting in a chair, holding the soft, fragrant jade in his arms.

Jiang Ming tenderly tucked the bottle into Ye Tao's collar.

Looking at the golden bamboo that had already been planted, I felt a warmth in my heart. No matter what, Ye Tao was always so reliable and always tried her best to share my burdens.

"Take this as a reward for helping you cultivate the Golden Thunder Bamboo."

After a moment of hesitation, Ye Tao finally blushed and accepted it, then gently pressed her soft red lips against Ye Tao's.

He indulged in pleasure for a while, and when he woke up it was already the next day.

Satisfied, Jiang Ming broke free from the beauty's embrace, rubbed his still-warm cheeks, and bid farewell to Ye Tao.

Life is full of divergent paths. No matter how good the relationship is, and you stay together all the time, there will eventually be disagreements. After all, one cannot stay in the arms of others for long.

Those who cultivate themselves should focus their energy on improving themselves.

On the way back to Wanfa Sect, the blacksmith's workshop with its carved railings and jade steps is still there, but the helpless boy who was cheated and desperately wanted to survive is gone.

"Brother Jiang, I can't even see through your cultivation level..." He came over to greet him somewhat embarrassedly.

Wang Yousheng's cultivation level is still at the fifth level. In order to save cultivation resources for his descendants, he is now living frugally, which has even delayed his cultivation.

"Why think so much? Just live the life you want. Have you had the baby? Boy or girl? How's their aptitude and understanding?"

After exchanging pleasantries, Jiang Ming gained a deeper understanding of Wang Yousheng's situation.

The child was a little girl. After Zhou Yi examined her, he found that her physical attributes and comprehension were only average.

If he is willing to put in the effort to cultivate, he may have the opportunity to break through to the later stage in the future. Because this child is quite well-behaved, Zhou Yi has now accepted him as a disciple.

Jiang Ming couldn't help but smile at the thought that his grandfather would have someone to keep him company.

He cupped his hands in farewell to Wang Yousheng and went into the pavilion to visit Zhou Yi.

The old man's cultivation had been hindered, and he had made almost no progress in the past year, but he was clearly content with this situation.

After changing out of his training clothes, he lovingly taught the children, starting from the starting line. At the same age, other children were still babbling.

Wang Yousheng's daughter has already started listening to the cultivation techniques.

"You kid, you've reached the eighth level?" Zhou Yi put the little girl down with some surprise, tossed the scripture aside, and quickly pulled Jiang Ming aside to ask about his experience.

Hearing that Jiang Ming had gained the favor of a Foundation Establishment True Person and was thriving in the inner sect.

Zhou Yi smiled with delight and praised repeatedly, "Grandpa didn't misjudge you. You are indeed a promising talent."

Now that you've found a platform to showcase yourself, Grandpa is truly happy for you, cough cough cough…”

After coughing excitedly a few times, Zhou Yi waved his hand and looked at Jiang Ming leisurely, saying, "Don't worry about me. My health is not bad. I just suffered a minor injury not long ago."

"Who did this? I'll kill him for Grandpa." Frowning, Jiang Ming's murderous intent surged, and his ruthless gaze terrified Wang Yousheng's youngest daughter, who scrambled to hide behind Zhou Yi, sobbing softly.

"Haha, it's nothing. It's not a dispute between cultivators. I am now without desires and wants, so naturally I won't get into conflicts with anyone."

The reason she got injured is because the little girl's birth bone structure determines her potential.

I suffered from this very problem back then, which is why my cultivation stagnated. But this child is different; she's so young.

There was a real opportunity to improve, so I searched for ancient texts and tried to expand her innate abilities. Although I succeeded, it also caused me some backlash, but it wasn't a big deal.

Seeing Zhou Yi finish speaking so calmly, Jiang Ming felt a little relieved.

Looking into the little girl's bright, innocent eyes, he waved his hand, and the crying child immediately broke into a smile, giggling foolishly.

Zhou Yi kicked Jiang Ming in annoyance, chuckled, and scolded with a laugh, "How can you coax a child like that? Don't cause me any trouble."

Go back to where you came from. This world is so vast, and you are still young. You must explore more.

When Grandpa can't hold on any longer, I'll have to hear you tell me a story...

"I will. I'll collect some longevity pills for you when I have time."

"As long as I, Jiang Ming, have a breath left, I will not sit idly by and watch my grandfather pass away." Nodding in agreement, Jiang Ming felt a chill run down his spine and calmly left.

Looking at Jiang Ming's back, Zhou Yi's hunched body gradually straightened, and a heartfelt pride appeared on his face.

……

……

Inner door.

Elder Li examined Jiang Ming's cultivation level and instantly discovered something deeper.

"The place you went to was the last marker. Many cultivators tried to refine that ley line, but they all died mysteriously."

"There was even a Foundation Establishment cultivator who was seriously injured inside. What exactly is inside?" He cast a curious glance at them.

"Master Li, revealing this might bring karmic consequences and an unfortunate end to your life." Jiang Ming had no intention of revealing the "Eternal Immortality Scripture."

After all, judging from the reaction of the Foundation Establishment evil spirit, he should be very wary of the Heavenly Fire. In that case, the creator of the Eternal Immortality Scripture may not be favored by Lord Zhou.

There are definitely some deeper secrets involved, and it would be unwise to speak out rashly about them.

"Alright, I understand. Let's not talk about it anymore." A true expert's skill is evident from the first move.

Elder Li clearly understood cause and effect better; he realized there was something hidden in Jiang Minggang's refusal.

But he had no interest in knowing the cause and effect of something that could harm a Foundation Establishment cultivator. He couldn't afford to get involved. This old man was already close to his grave, and no one wanted to cause any more trouble.

"Once you reach the eighth rank, you are qualified to enter the Middle Academy. The Middle Academy is similar to the Lower Academy, both following the same model, the only difference being..."

The Intermediate Court only admits 100 people each year, and places are highly competitive.

If you want to enter the Intermediate Court, you have to defeat the lowest-ranked person on the Intermediate Court list. Only in this way can you get into it.

As for how many resources one can get after entering the Intermediate People's Court, it still depends on the ranking; the higher the ranking, the more resources one receives.

If you can make it into the top ten, there's almost no doubt you'll become a ninth-tier cultivator in the future...

After hearing the introduction, Jiang Ming immediately understood.

Compared to the lower house, the middle house is a far more brutal battlefield.

If you want to make it in there, you have to fight and work your way up yourself; connections won't work at all.

After a moment's thought, Jiang Ming asked Elder Li for a list; the rankings in the Central Court were called the Dragon and Tiger List.

The person currently at the bottom is named Bai Hao, who is at the early stage of the eighth rank. Although his cultivation level is not outstanding, his strength should not be underestimated.

Many disciples felt that his ranking was relatively low, and they all took him as their challenger for the first time, but a whole year has passed.

They went through no fewer than ten rounds of competition.

He's still holding onto his ranking, poised to unleash his full potential.

Frowning, Jiang Ming glanced at the list and couldn't help but sigh, "Heroes of the world are as numerous as carp crossing a river."

Of these, seven have reached the eighth level of perfection, all ranking among the top ten.

There are no fewer than several dozen people at the late stage of the eighth rank; these people are the true backbone of the Myriad Laws Sect.

In comparison, the number of people in the mid-term and early stages is actually not large, only a mere thirty.

"You have a long way to go, keep going. If you have enough resources, you can stay in the lower house for a while." Although she knew Jiang Ming was quite capable.

Among those of the same rank, they rarely suffer defeats.

But Elder Li still patiently gave Jiang Ming some pointers.

After all, the Dragon and Tiger List involves conflicts of interest.

When they make their move, no one holds back. Disciples who fail in their challenge will either be injured or crippled, and the consequences of any mishap can be extremely serious.

"I understand, Master Li. Once I break through to the mid-stage of the eighth rank, I will challenge the early stage of the eighth rank and strive to make it onto the list in one go."

Seeing that Jiang Ming was very cautious, Elder Li finally felt relieved, and there was a hint of deep meaning in his eyes, "There are also elders who pass on their skills in the middle courtyard."

The spells they taught were expensive, but you get what you pay for, and their power was indeed astonishing.

Once you've established yourself firmly in the Intermediate People's Court, you can try learning a few moves.

"If I write down the name of the technique I want to learn, can Master Li teach it to me?" Jiang Ming suddenly understood through Elder Li's eyes.

This old man and Old Qin are indeed bosom friends; they're both incredibly greedy.

"Of course, if you think highly of me, I can pass on my skills to those old guys. We're all at the ninth level of cultivation, so why should they be able to pass on their skills while I can't?"

Jiang Ming chuckled and readily agreed. In fact, Elder Li was indeed very efficient.

Last time, when he wanted to learn a martial arts technique, a few days later, Elder Li found Jiang Ming a living technique, knowing that he was not good at comprehension.

He even specially selected a female disciple.

With this kind of service attitude, this contribution point should be earned by the old man!

"By the way, Master Li, I just saw a female cultivator surnamed Qin in the Central Courtyard. Could she be a descendant of Elder Qin?" he asked, puzzled.

Elder Li didn't hide anything, nodding with a hint of regret in his eyes, "Aside from being lewd and liking to keep male disciples as mistresses, this child is actually quite a genius."

She never cultivated to a higher level; instead, she went her own way, following an unorthodox path. Although her cultivation is slow now, she still has some hope of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage in the future.

Qin Caihuan silently memorized this name.

Jiang Ming was filled with mixed emotions. She hadn't shown up even after Old Qin passed away, so their relationship didn't seem to be very good.

Despite the gossip, Jiang Ming didn't delve into it since Old Man Li hadn't mentioned it. He quickly exchanged for a large amount of resources and then returned to the Treasure Fish Pond to focus on his cultivation.

He now has a total of 20,000 contribution points.

He also has 100,000 spirit stones, bringing his total assets to a full 300,000.

Although most of the pills needed for eighth-level cultivation cost five hundred spirit stones each, Jiang Ming could afford such a large sum of money.

He bought 400 pills at once and silently began refining them.

Even though cultivation is full of difficulties and dangers, it is not as difficult as a powerful brick flying down, or two hundred thousand spirit stones falling down.

Even though Jiang Ming's aptitude was poor, he still managed to break through to the mid-stage of the eighth rank, although he had already spent most of his resources.

But Jiang Ming felt no regret. Spirit stones were only worth spending on himself.

Before heading to the Central Court, Jiang Ming went to visit Tuoba Youyou, but the girl was in seclusion and did not respond to Jiang Ming.

After thinking it over, Jiang Ming decided not to disturb them and calmly headed to the Intermediate People's Court.

Intermediate Court!

The middle courtyard is very different from the outer courtyard. It is a very small area with only a few areas for cultivators to live in, and most of the remaining area is almost entirely cave dwellings.

There are only one hundred cave dwellings, numbered from one to one hundred.

The higher the ranking of a cave, the more abundant its spiritual energy, which is more beneficial for cultivation. In addition, the contribution points distributed by the sect each month are also based entirely on the ranking.

The top ten will receive 12,000 contribution points per month.

From eleventh to twentieth place, ten thousand contribution points.

Once you reach the top 100, you'll only have 3,000 contribution points left.

However, this is not a small amount. After all, three thousand contribution points can be exchanged for thirty thousand spirit stones.

Over the course of a year, it amounted to a full 36 spirit stones.

It was comparable to the gains Jiang Ming made in his cultivation secret realm.

Unlike the arrogance of the elders of the lower courtyard, the elders of the middle courtyard were very kind.

After all, those who enter the Central Academy from the Organic Valley will most likely become ninth-order or even higher-level perfect cultivators in the near future.

At that time, we might even work together again.

It's pointless to start a fight over something so trivial.

"Young friend, you've already reached the mid-stage of the eighth rank. It seems you have grand ambitions."

Could it be that they're aiming to break into the top fifty in one fell swoop?

Stroking his beard, the slender Elder Duan cast a curious glance at him.

Looking at Jiang Ming's calm demeanor and the visible aura of fortune, I couldn't help but feel a little excited.

"I want to challenge the 100th person. Is he still at the early stage of the eighth rank?" Elder Duan frowned, puffed out his beard, glared, and turned away.

His brows furrowed in bewilderment.

He had seen many cautious disciples, but those as cautious as Jiang Ming were actually quite rare. How could someone fight a late-game opponent in the mid-game? Did he still have any shame?

You don't want any reputation at all, do you?

After a moment of internal grumbling, Elder Duan still frowned and agreed, then rang the bell to summon the hundredth person over.

This man's name is Du Gang. He was seriously injured during a mission and spent a long time recuperating, which delayed his cultivation.

He was clearly surprised to hear that he was going to reach the mid-stage of the eighth rank.

Coming to her senses, she looked at Jiang Ming with an extremely bitter expression.

Bitter!

Is this even human? Why didn't you come after me later?

Despite his complaints, Du Gang had no choice but to bite the bullet and face the challenge.

To test his own strength, Jiang Ming played very conservatively, but he always managed to keep Du Gang on the defensive.

Unable to win, and not allowed to admit defeat in the fight, Du Gang's face broke down in an instant. He sized up Jiang Ming, his eyes blazing with anger!