Cultivating immortality begins with discerning the secrets of heaven.

Graduation is here, marking the end of my two-year journey of learning weapon crafting.

For a moment, everyone was still a little unaccustomed to the fact that they would have to rely on themselves on the path of weapon forging from now on, as there would be no more guides.

After leaving Master Mo's cave, Yang An sighed and clasped his hands in a fist salute to the others:

"Everyone, it is fate that we are fellow disciples. After today's farewell, we do not know when we will meet again."

"Why don't we exchange contact information? That way, we can stay in touch if we need any help in the future!"

Upon hearing this, the cultivators from the Qi Refining Clan showed signs of interest.

The Yang family of Biyueze is a well-known Foundation Establishment family in the Nanling Mountains, mainly engaged in raising spirit fish.

If one could befriend this member of the main branch of the Yang family, it would definitely bring many benefits.

"Brother Yang is absolutely right!"

"Yes, we can keep in touch more often in the future, and maybe we'll have a chance to get together again."

"..."

However, apart from the few disciples of the Qi Refining Clan, the rest of them were not very interested.

Especially the two from the Zhong family; Zhong Jie left without saying a word, riding his magical artifact.

Zhong Mo calmly replied, "I have urgent matters to attend to in the clan, so please excuse me."

After saying that, Zhong Mo left gracefully, leaving many people with expressions of regret.

If we could be on good terms with these two members of the Zhong family, that would be the best outcome. This is a thousand-year-old family that has produced a Core Formation Realm expert in the past, with a very profound heritage.

  

Lin Yun showed interest. Making friends to this extent would obviously be entirely beneficial, and would provide more avenues for obtaining intelligence in the future.

Therefore, he also left behind his own method of communication.

...

A few days later, the courtyards on the outskirts of Fire Cloud Valley suddenly became a bit deserted, as most of the disciples from various families who had come to learn martial arts had left.

"Brother Lin Yun, it's almost time."

Shouts came from outside Lin Yun's courtyard. Lin Yang had been waiting for a long time and was obviously eager to return to the family as soon as possible.

After quickly tidying up all his belongings, Lin Yun took one last look at the small courtyard where he had lived for two years before leaving.

With more than a year to go before the Taiyuan Ascension Conference, the entire cultivation world of the Cangxuan Southern Region is already stirring with excitement.

Many independent cultivators began heading towards Taiyuan Immortal City, fearing they would miss this grand event that would affect the entire Southern Region.

Even some rogue cultivators from outside the Southern Region will come here, after all, the Taiyuan Sect is one of the top sects in the entire Cangxuan Region. If one can join it, it can definitely change one's destiny.

"I've kept my cousin waiting. Let's go," Lin Yun said.

Lin Yang couldn't help but sigh, "Two years have passed in the blink of an eye. I still vividly remember the scene when Uncle Hairong brought us here."

The two talked as they walked out of the valley.

After leaving Fire Cloud Valley, a sudden surge of intense spiritual energy swept out.

"Is this...a magical duel?" Lin Yang was slightly startled and instinctively tried to avoid it.

Having learned from his previous experience, he has developed the good habit of not joining in the fun.

However, Lin Yun sensed a familiar aura from it. He followed the fluctuation of the spiritual energy and saw Zhong Jie lying on the ground in a very disheveled state.

And the person who beat him up like this was none other than Chen Guan!

Chen Guan still wore a warm smile on his face, just like always.

"Brother Zhong Jie, the outcome is already decided, so there's no need to try again, is there?"

Upon hearing this, Zhong Jie's eyes turned bloodshot, and he continued to struggle to stand up, but Chen Guan's casual strike had left him without even the strength to stand.

"How is that possible? We're both at the fifth level of Qi Refining, but I'm using my family's Foundation Establishment technique..."

Sensing Chen Guan's ease and control, Zhong Jie grew increasingly unwilling to give up, and he dug his fingers deep into the soil.

Despite being born into a family with a thousand-year history, why can't he even compare to a branch of the Chen family?

Why...

Chen Guan remained perfectly calm: "Continuing this will inevitably lead to injury. Let's end this sparring session here."

After saying that, Chen Guan took a step forward, ignoring Zhong Jie who was still struggling on the ground.

He saw Lin Yun and Lin Yang watching, and chuckled as he clasped his hands in a fist salute: "So, you two brothers Lin are also returning to your families today?"

Lin Yang nodded repeatedly in agreement, saying, "That's right, the lease for the courtyard just expired."

"Brother Chen, are you planning to return to the Chen family next?"

However, Chen Guan shook his head and said, "I plan to go directly to Taiyuan Immortal City. The Ascension Conference is approaching, so I might as well go to the immortal city of the upper sect to broaden my horizons."

Hearing this, Lin Yang asked curiously, "Brother Chen Guan, with such strength, why don't you directly participate in the Ascension Tournament and strive for a top-ten ranking?"

With Chen Guan's abilities, sweeping away other Qi Refining stage cultivators would be a piece of cake.

If you manage to get into the top ten, you'll be awarded a Foundation Establishment Pill!

"Hehe, the weapon-refining tradition of the Taiyuan Sect's Hundred Refinement Peak is profound and extensive. I would also like to get a glimpse of its splendor," Chen Guan replied with a light laugh.

However, Lin Yun, standing to the side, knew perfectly well that this guy was probably worried that if he performed too brilliantly, he would attract too much attention from the powerful cultivators of the Taiyuan Sect.

Therefore, he chose to participate in the weapon-refining assessment of the Ascension Conference, hoping to enter the Taiyuan Sect through the path of weapon-refining skills and seek a safer path.

"Fellow Daoists Lin, I shall take my leave now. See you in Taiyuan Immortal City."

After saying that, Chen Guan flew straight away from Fire Cloud Valley.

Lin Yun and Lin Yang clasped their hands in greeting to him and then left in different directions.

After they left, Zhong Jie finally got up from the ground, his hair disheveled, his eyes bloodshot as he stared at the direction where Chen Guan had disappeared on the horizon.

"Chen Guan...this guy must have a huge secret; he's clearly a member of a branch of the Chen family..."

...

More than ten days later, Lin Yun and Lin Yang returned to Huangzhu Mountain.

However, the family did not hold any welcoming ceremony for them, but instead directly assigned them a lot of tasks to make ore pickaxes.

Lin Hairong approached the two of them immediately and said:

"The family has acquired the mining rights to the Purple-veined Copper Mine and urgently needs a batch of refined iron ore picks. Your return is just in time!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Yang took a deep breath and said with an extremely solemn expression, "Leave this matter to the two of us!"

The texture of purple copper ore is extremely hard, far exceeding that of ordinary rocks.

Given that it has been mined by various families for so many years, it is not an easy task to mine copper from it again.

The Lin family has finally obtained the mining rights, so naturally they cannot afford any mistakes.

"Uncle Hai Rong, does your family have any fine iron ore pickaxes readily available?"

"If you have any, you can show them to us so we can have an idea of ​​what they look like."

Lin Yun didn't rush to make any boasts, but instead planned to first see what those pickaxes looked like.

...