Cultivating immortality begins with discerning the secrets of heaven.

Before they knew it, the day to head to Fire Cloud Valley had arrived.

Lin Yun boarded the bamboo leaf boat piloted by Lin Hairong; it was a flying spirit boat.

Back then, a Foundation Establishment elder from the Taiyuan Sect, who was skilled in weapon crafting, owed the Lin family a favor and crafted three bamboo leaf boats for them as repayment.

Besides Lin Yun, there was another member of the Zhong family on the bamboo leaf boat, named Lin Yang.

Lin Yun was familiar with this person; they were of the same generation, possessed the aptitude of three spiritual roots, and cultivated a rare earth-based cultivation method, having already reached the third level of Qi Refining.

"Greetings, Young Master Lin Yang!" Because they were from a branch family, they were able to address the offspring of the main branch as "Young Master" or "Young Master."

Lin Yang said seriously, "Cousin Lin Yun, what you're saying is quite meaningless. We grew up together on the main mountain, why be so distant?"

It's true that the three main branches compete with each other, but ultimately they are all cultivators from the Lin family, so their relationship isn't really that bad.

Moreover, Lin Yun has a grandfather who is a clan elder. Even if he is demoted to a branch family, no one would be foolish enough to actually regard him as a member of a collateral branch of the family.

Lin Yun shook his head and said, "That's one way of saying it..."

However, Lin Hairong, who was piloting the bamboo leaf boat, glanced at him sideways and interrupted, "Alright, stop joking around, sit tight and hold on, I'm about to activate the spirit boat."

As soon as he finished speaking, Lin Hairong channeled a stream of pure spiritual energy into the core spiritual runes of the spirit boat, and the spiritual runes at the bow of the boat began to glow.

The next instant, the bamboo leaf boat unleashed a powerful thrust and flew away at an extremely fast speed.

"So fast!" Lin Yun couldn't stand up in time and sat down on the deck with a thud. Fortunately, he was protected by spiritual light and was not thrown off.

He couldn't help but look outside the spirit boat. Wisps of air swept across the hull, leaving Huangzhu Mountain, where the Lin family lived, behind. It quickly became a small dot and finally disappeared from sight.

For the past sixteen years, he has lived a secluded life in the Lin family, and this is the first time he has traveled far away by bamboo leaf boat.

Lin Hairong smiled faintly and explained, "This bamboo leaf boat was crafted for my Lin family by an elder of the Upper Sect who was also a weapon-refining expert. When fully activated, it can unleash a speed exceeding that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator."

"However, this speed of flight cannot be sustained and consumes a lot of spiritual energy. Unless being chased, one should always fly in a way that conserves spiritual energy."

After letting his nephew experience rapid flight briefly, Lin Hairong slowed down the activation of his spiritual power.

"Besides flying through the air, this boat can also withstand a full-force attack from a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator. After such an attack, the protective spiritual runes on the bamboo leaf boat will collapse."

"Why not have that senior refine more protective spirit runes?" Lin Yun asked curiously.

Lin Hairong patiently explained, "Due to the limited materials, this ship can only carry a limited number of spirit runes, so some offensive and defensive capabilities have been sacrificed."

"You will understand all this once you learn about weapon crafting."

"Go to Fire Cloud Valley and study diligently. If one day you are respected as masters, the family's three bamboo leaf boats will be entrusted to you for renovation."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yang immediately replied solemnly, "Lin Yang will remember Uncle Hairong's teachings!"

  

Huangzhushan and Huoyun Valley are some distance apart; one is in the southwest of Xiangnanling, and the other is in the due north.

Without considering the consumption of mana, even a cultivator in the late stage of Qi Refining would need about three days to travel at full speed without sleep.

Lin Hairong piloted the spirit boat, stopping occasionally to rest and recover his spiritual energy. It took him about five days to arrive at Fire Cloud Valley.

The bamboo leaf boat slowly descended, and waves of heat rushed towards us.

Fire Cloud Valley is surrounded by several volcanoes, forming an inward-sunken valley. Dark red cracks spread across the bottom of the valley, and no green vegetation can be seen in sight.

Lin Yun broke out in a sweat just as he got close.

"It's so hot. Are there really cultivators willing to cultivate here?" Lin Yun sighed. He had to admit that the environment here was far worse than that of Huangzhu Mountain in the Lin family.

Lin Yang replied seriously, "Cultivation is not about indulging in pleasure. In order to stay in the spiritual veins to cultivate, rogue cultivators from the outside world can endure even the harshest environments."

This is true. The number of spiritual veins in the cultivation world is limited, while the number of cultivators is enormous. Naturally, not everyone can have the opportunity to cultivate in a spiritual vein.

"Don't worry, in fact, every cave and the surrounding houses in Fire Cloud Valley are protected by protective barriers that can insulate against the heat."

"Let's go, I'll take you to pay your respects to Master Mo."

With that, Lin Hairong led Lin Yun and the other into Fire Cloud Valley, then climbed a mountain and arrived at Master Mo's cave.

"Lin Hairong from the Lin family has come to pay a visit. Is Master Mo inside the cave?"

hum!

A flash of light appeared, and the restrictions in front of the cave were lifted, revealing an old man with thinning hair and a stern demeanor.

"Greetings, Master Mo!"

Upon seeing this, Lin Yun and Lin Yang quickly clasped their hands and bowed.

Master Mo, with his hands behind his back, nodded calmly and said, "Lessons begin the day after tomorrow morning. Don't be late."

After that brief meeting, Master Mo turned and walked back into his cave.

So classy!

Lin Yun was somewhat surprised. This Master Mo was even more arrogant than he had imagined, and he hadn't even greeted his second uncle.

"Second Uncle, shouldn't we have a formal apprenticeship ceremony with tea offerings or something?"

Lin Hairong shook his head and said, "You are only nominal disciples. As for the spirit stones for your training, the family has already provided them."

"That's enough for now. Let's go. I'll take you to your living and spiritual practice place from now on."

On the outskirts of Fire Cloud Valley, small courtyards were built, which would be where Lin Yun would live for the next two years.

The cave dwelling in the core area of ​​the spiritual vein costs eighteen spirit stones to rent for a year, while the outer courtyards are much cheaper, costing only six spirit stones.

The Lin family wasn't exactly a wealthy and powerful clan, so naturally they rented out the outer courtyard for them.

The spiritual energy is somewhat thin and the environment is average, but it is still a cultivation paradise that many independent cultivators can only dream of.

After settling in, Lin Hairong quietly took a book about two fingers thick and handed it to Lin Yun.

"This is a body-refining technique I obtained from the family library. You can try practicing it in your spare time."

"Thank you, Second Uncle!" Lin Yun accepted the body-refining inheritance without any hesitation and put it into his storage bag.

Lin Hairong said earnestly, "Yun'er, although you were implicated and demoted to a branch family, don't harbor resentment towards your father and the family because of this."

"After all, this Lin family is not the Lin family of my Ji lineage."

Lin Yun nodded and said, "Second Uncle, don't worry. I understand this matter. The family has already done me a great favor by giving me life and raising me. Of course, I will not hold a grudge against the family because of this."

Hearing Lin Yun's words, Lin Hairong felt relieved.

"I won't say more. Just study hard here, and I'll be waiting for the day you become successful."

With that, Lin Hairong walked out of the courtyard and released the bamboo leaf boat again.

Lin Yun and Lin Yang came out from their respective courtyards to see him off, respectfully clasping their hands in a fist and palm salute: "Second Uncle (clan uncle), take care!"

Lin Hairong piloted the bamboo leaf boat into the air, glanced at the two of them, and said:

"Fire Cloud Valley is also home to some capable rogue cultivators. You two should not provoke or offend them. However, if anyone dares to cause you trouble, the Lin family is not someone to be trifled with."

"Study hard; the family has high hopes for you."

After leaving these words, Lin Hairong urged the bamboo leaf boat to disappear into the sky above Fire Cloud Valley.

Watching his second uncle walk away, Lin Yun sighed inwardly, realizing that he would truly have to rely on himself from now on.

"The Lin family's bamboo leaf boat lives up to its reputation; it is indeed fast enough."

From another courtyard not far away, a young man dressed in white with a gentle smile on his face walked out.

"Oh, I forgot to introduce myself. I'm Yang An from the Yang family of Biyueze!"

Other Foundation Establishment family members!

The Yang family of Biyueze is also one of the cultivation families in the Xiangnanling area. Located on the east side of Xiangnanling, the family members are skilled in raising spirit fish.

It is said that you can catch many precious spirit fish by simply casting a net in Biyueze.

Before Lin Yun could speak, Lin Yang stepped forward, clasped his hands in greeting, and said, "Greetings, Brother Yang. I am Lin Yang from Huangzhu Mountain, and this is my cousin, Lin Yun!"

Yang An produced a paper fan from somewhere and chuckled as he fanned himself, "Greetings, Brothers Lin. I heard that an elder of your Lin family recently gambled away a fortune at the casino in Zhongling City. His magnanimity truly earns my admiration."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yun's lips twitched slightly. This guy really knew how to... bring up the very thing he shouldn't have said.

However, unsure whether the other party harbored ill intentions, he remained silent and did not respond.

Lin Yang couldn't help but glance back at Lin Yun's expression, and after confirming that things were not going well, he breathed a slight sigh of relief.

"Hehe, Brother Yang An, did you come alone from your Yang family?" Lin Yang changed the subject.

Yang An nodded and said, "It's currently the fishing season, and my family can't spare many people, so I'm the only one who's come here to learn the craft."

"Yesterday I saw that the Chen family sent three people over to learn weapon crafting. I heard that one of them was from a collateral branch of the family."

Upon hearing this, Lin Yun silently calculated the number of people in his mind.

Including himself, there are now six people, all of whom are descendants of Foundation Establishment families.

And this doesn't even include the Zhong family, the most powerful family in Xiangnanling, as well as some other families that specialize in alchemy, who may also send their members.

A preliminary estimate suggests that there are at least ten disciples who are learning weapon crafting from Master Mo this time!

"I'm afraid it's all for the additional weapon-refining disciple slots at the next Taiyuan Ascension Conference, and this is only for the Southern Ridge region..."

Lin Yun sighed inwardly, already daring not to imagine how lively the next Taiyuan Ascension Ceremony would be.

After becoming acquainted with Lin Yun and the other man, Yang An said goodbye and returned to his courtyard.

"Cousin Lin Yun, I'm going back to cultivate now. This courtyard was rented by the family with spirit stones, so we can't waste it." After saying that, Lin Yang hurriedly returned to his own courtyard to cultivate.

Lin Yun, who was new to the place, naturally did not intend to wander around. He returned to the courtyard and took out the body-refining method book that his second uncle had just handed him.

Blood-Moving Technique!

...